Phoren B-school 2009 aspirants

[itch]

@ takeoff09

I am not all that sure while give you an opinion.....
nothing to discourage you ;
negetives:
GMAT: 680
Avg Acads
Less no of work ex,
Positives:
Extra ordinary - extra curricular
Indian/IT/Female (only female part is positive.. do not take it other ways)

I see more negs then positive ...

Kelley and Fuqua are almost in top 15 ... i would say its going to be very difficult.

you either give gmat (Big Risk..universities prefer first GMAT score) or apply
to school in top 30 -40 range ...which is not bad either

take a call .. start your essay preparation because GMAT is just a means ...Essay is what which would help you to sell yourself.... All the best.

Originally Posted by takeoff09

@kunalitbhu

I see you gave your GMAT on 29th of May in Bangalore...

So did I... N yeah, managed to get only 680 (V38, Q46, AWA 5.0 )..

Is there any chance we can blame this on the alignment of the planets dat day ??? or Bangalore ??? .. hehe... Jus kidding....

Anyways, i was wondering abt the same thing.. 'Retake or NoRetake ?' N the decision has to be made quickly since dates are fast disappearing....

I have an additional problem... My engg aggregate is a mere 60%... the rest of the acads are decent though...

N did i mention i was from the dreaded Indian/IT/Female pool ??

In a nutshell... here's my profile...

Indian/IT/Female... Will be shifting to a 'managerial' profile in a month or two..
WorkEx - 2 yrs in Nov '08
Acads - 10th - 86%
12th - 86%
B.E (Mumbai Univ) - 60%
Extra currics - Strong extra curricular activities in school.. Won nearly everything in sight... Elocution, Singing, Dramatics, you name it... Attended an International Conference... Played the guitar in a band... In short, a lot of activities here and there but im not sure it amounts to much..

I ain't aiming for H/S/W and the like... waaaaaayy outta my league...
But will be applyin to Kelley, Fuqua and similar colleges...

So.... any advice ya'll ??

Do i retake it ?

[itch]

@vaibhavrocks

Concentrate on the Btech first . try for CAT / work for some time ... get some maturity then think about GMAT (Not to discourage you)... MBA is for people who know how the industry works ... so Get some work ex .. to actually value add your profile

Originally Posted by vaibhavrocks

i am pursuing my BTech from jaipur....(1st yr)
i am planning to take GMAT in 2011

so i would be a fresher with no work experience....
so pls can u tell me that what are my chances....if i score good gmat score with no work ex......................


thank u
vaibhav

[kunalitbhu]

Originally Posted by JackOfAllTrades

Hi Kunal,

As itch rightly said, for the univs you are targetting, 690 is just fine. Don't worry about it. Spend the time remaining till the application on your essays, resume and refining your application. I dont know much about your background and other details, but with the little information you provided, regarding the papers and all, you can portray a competitive profile.

Yes I think you should mention about your published papers and the impact it had. Did you also continue contributing to the research while working? If yes, it will be all the more important. You just need to show passion in any area of your choice. that's what the B-schools look for, ie "passionate" people.

Regarding the GMAT scores. See if you decide to write your GMAT again and you get a lower score, "technically" a univ always looks at the higher of the two. But keep yourself in adcom's shoes and say you get a score report of a prospective, who;s latest score is lower, what opinion will you form of him. So, in my opinion:

1. Unless you get a low score according to your target schools, you should not retake GMAT.
2. Unless you are too sure of yourself that you'll and you can get a higher score, you should not retake GMAT. Don't play with it. It is not THAT important, but it is. (A 690 is no different from a 710)
3. GMAT is often looked at for judging an applicant's academic abilities. So if you can offset 690 with a good undergrad grades, which you can, you should not retake GMAT. I see you are from ITBHU. ITBHU is a good brand internationally and a GPA of 8 is good. I know that.

Focus on your application, essays, etc and you'll be good. All the best.

Hi JackofAllTrades,

Thanks a lot for ur suggestion. I agree with most of the things u said and 'm really thinking whether to appear for the GMAT again.
And yes I was involved in the research and the paper work all throughout my college years but just couldn't involve myself in the same duirng my working period(say last 3 years). Would this have bad impact n still I should mention those cos 4 of them are now published in International Journals.
Also as Itch mentioned in one of the replies that the unis pefer the first score. I mean is it true?If that is the case then there is surely no point in giving GMA again. Can u pls confirm?
I was browsing through the sites of NTU and NUS but their site is really sad and I just couldn't gather much about it for ex.,the students profile,placements etc. Do u have ne idea reagridng the same?I mean people if neone have ne contact from NUS or NTU passed out then it would be really great so that I can get in contact with the person directly and get info abt the university.

Regards,
Kunal

[elecabhinav]

Hello Friends,

I am confused as to which colleges should I apply to for fall 2009? I need your help in zeroing in on the b-schools .Right now these schools are in my mind:

Insead
LBS
ISB
HEC Paris
Oxford
Cambridge
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Nanyang Singapore
My guidelines for choosing a particular B-school are:
· be based in India/Europe/USA/Singapore
· be less than 18 months MBA program
· have good placement
· be recognized in India (in case of a non-Indian school) as I want to return back to India 1 year post MBA
· be a top ranked school
Please let me know your feedback about this list and what other option I can consider based on my profile.


My profile:
X - 90%
XII - 93.75% (Overall ranked 1st across all ICSE board affiliated schools in the city)
B.Tech (Electronics)- 78% (UPTU)
Overall ranked 2nd across all the branches in my college
Awarded institute merit scholarship for 4 consecutive years at my college
GMAT : 750 , AWA 5.0
Work Exp. 4 years by the time MBA starts
Company :Highly ranked software MNC. I am working as Software Quality Engineer and have no International experience till date
Professional Achievements:

• One of my idea was voted as the best idea by my company employees out of 70 ideas submitted at the annual conference of my company
• Was the 3rd employee in my business unit of 75 people to be awarded the distinguished award for doing excellent work in performance benchmarking
• Have written three international paper publications in the field of localization , automation and suite testing.
• Selected into a pool of 12 out of 100 applicants from quality engineering to deliver a technical talk at the annual conference of my company
• Won 1st prize in a video creation contest organized for freshers in my company
• Became Certified Expert in 2008 by securing highest marks (98%) in my business unit which is a record till date
• 5 of my ideas are in the final stage of approval process to become International Patents

Extra curricular Activities:

• Member of an NGO .As a member I visit NGO, spend time, provide technical knowledge and distribute goodies and other stuff to the children at these places
• Holds the post of Vice-President Membership in company’s Toastmasters Club
• Member of the organizing committee of a national level technical fest organized in my college
• Initiated and conducted literary weeks that consisted of events such as quizzes , essay writing contests and debates at my college
• Selected into a group of 20 out of 300 students as a member of core literary council (2nd and 3rd year) and core hobby council (3rd year) of my college
• Was elected Cultural secretary ( 1st Year ) , Mess Secretary (2nd and 3rd year) and Wing Prefect (4th Year) of the boy’s hostel at college
• Won awards in literary activities (quizzes, essay writing etc) during academic career
• Raised funds for National Level college events at college
• Have interest in Numismatics (coin collection ) .Won 1st prize in coin collection contest at college
• Won awards in cultural activities (solo acting , script writing etc) during both academic and professional career

Please help me.

Thanks in advance

[kunalitbhu]

Originally Posted by takeoff09

@kunalitbhu

I see you gave your GMAT on 29th of May in Bangalore...

So did I... N yeah, managed to get only 680 (V38, Q46, AWA 5.0 )..

Is there any chance we can blame this on the alignment of the planets dat day ??? or Bangalore ??? .. hehe... Jus kidding....

Anyways, i was wondering abt the same thing.. 'Retake or NoRetake ?' N the decision has to be made quickly since dates are fast disappearing....

I have an additional problem... My engg aggregate is a mere 60%... the rest of the acads are decent though...

N did i mention i was from the dreaded Indian/IT/Female pool ??

In a nutshell... here's my profile...

Indian/IT/Female... Will be shifting to a 'managerial' profile in a month or two..
WorkEx - 2 yrs in Nov '08
Acads - 10th - 86%
12th - 86%
B.E (Mumbai Univ) - 60%
Extra currics - Strong extra curricular activities in school.. Won nearly everything in sight... Elocution, Singing, Dramatics, you name it... Attended an International Conference... Played the guitar in a band... In short, a lot of activities here and there but im not sure it amounts to much..

I ain't aiming for H/S/W and the like... waaaaaayy outta my league...
But will be applyin to Kelley, Fuqua and similar colleges...

So.... any advice ya'll ??

Do i retake it ?

@takeoff09

May be you are correct that the stars were alligned in such a position that no one of us crossed that 700 barrier.. .Neways which slot did u appear..mine ws 9:00-1:00..
I seriously found Quant somewhat tougher than GMATPrep and my Verbal from my side ws going well. Was really shocked when I saw my score as 690(Q-50,V-33). Was expecting atleast 730+...just cannot figure out till now that what went wrong...

Neways,as Itch rightly mentioned that ur extra curriculars form ur positive point and may be d grad % negative. I've heard that unis give enuff imp to B.Tech grads .
And regarding Retake even I cannot advise you as i'm in the same state as u r...But u r rite that the dates are disappearing and would suggest you to take risk of some money and atleast book the date as i have done the same. If in few days I make my mind that I should apply with the same score I have, I'll cancel my appointment.

If you are thinking to apply with the same score then if u want we can discuss the colleges and options and how to go for SOPs and Essays.

Regards,
Kunal

[reddyjiit1]

thank u itch fo rur suggestion..

[vaibhavrocks]

Originally Posted by itch

@vaibhavrocks

Concentrate on the Btech first . try for CAT / work for some time ... get some maturity then think about GMAT (Not to discourage you)... MBA is for people who know how the industry works ... so Get some work ex .. to actually value add your profile

i do agree with u sir......
actually my father is having export buisness......
so i just dont want to do any kind of job for work ex....but sir it is very imp for me to do mba in international buisness from one of the good buisness school across the globe.....

so sir if i go without work ex what are my chances.......

thank u sir

[takeoff09]

Originally Posted by itch

@ takeoff09

I am not all that sure while give you an opinion.....
nothing to discourage you ;
negetives:
GMAT: 680
Avg Acads
Less no of work ex,
Positives:
Extra ordinary - extra curricular
Indian/IT/Female (only female part is positive.. do not take it other ways)

I see more negs then positive ...

Kelley and Fuqua are almost in top 15 ... i would say its going to be very difficult.

you either give gmat (Big Risk..universities prefer first GMAT score) or apply
to school in top 30 -40 range ...which is not bad either

take a call .. start your essay preparation because GMAT is just a means ...Essay is what which would help you to sell yourself.... All the best.

@Itch

Thanks for the reality check, dude..

[itch]

@Vaibhavrocks

thanks for giving me so much of respect ... how would appreciate if you do not use "sir" from next time.

As mentioned earlier u need to have some work ex, with out it is realy difficult unless you one among TATA / Ambanis(Mukesh & Anil from stanford Whaton) / or for that matter even Bachchan(Abhishek is from Boston University), who can simply shell money.

You can offcourse get 3-4 years of work ex under your own business...even that is considered as Work ex.

Still recommend you to concentrate on B.tech, and recommend you to google information about the top people (Profile) various universities etc.

also no need to thank me by writing a new Post ..simply press thank button towards the left corner of the post

Originally Posted by vaibhavrocks

i do agree with u sir......
actually my father is having export buisness......
so i just dont want to do any kind of job for work ex....but sir it is very imp for me to do mba in international buisness from one of the good buisness school across the globe.....

so sir if i go without work ex what are my chances.......

thank u sir

[Neo2000]

Originally Posted by takeoff09

Indian/IT/Female... Will be shifting to a 'managerial' profile in a month or two..
WorkEx - 2 yrs in Nov '08
B.E (Mumbai Univ) - 60%
Extra currics - Strong extra curricular activities in school.. Won nearly everything in sight... Elocution, Singing, Dramatics, you name it... Attended an International Conference... Played the guitar in a band... In short, a lot of activities here and there but im not sure it amounts to much..
But will be applyin to Kelley, Fuqua and similar colleges...
So.... any advice ya'll ??
Do i retake it ?

inblue had a 680 and when to Chicago. Your 10th and 12th dont matter. You do have a lot of extra currics and that could be a plus for you. However, if you have nothin in college it kinda neutralises the entire thing.

Your work-ex is low. I would suggest waiting to apply next year so that you are part of class of '12. That could also give you enough time to re-take the GMAT if you are interested, build certain areas of your profile ( extra-currics at work)

Re-taking the GMAT is NOT a risk as itch states. If your score really improves, schools will be only too happy to see it. However, i would suggest a little gap between your test dates more so if you are applying next year. The gap can show that you have taken time off to seriously work on improving your GMAT score. Schools always like higher scores and if you can break the 710 barrier (btw 700 was par for course last year for Indians. Shocking how fast the numbers go up) you should be good.

Originally Posted by elecabhinav

Hello Friends,
Insead
LBS
ISB
HEC Paris
Oxford
Cambridge
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Nanyang Singapore
......
Thanks in advance

INSEAD will be extremely competitive for you. While it does look like you have a lot of extra-currics, INSEAD prefers managers at a mid-level position. The average work-ex also is pretty hight. However its the average, so what you lack in work-ex you will have to make up in your essays. LBS is only slightly less competitive though both are very expensive and unless you have pots of money i'm not sure comin back to India at the end of the MBA or within 1yr makes sense.

Finally, thats a long list of achievements but here's a challenge for you. All resumes to b-schools are usually 1page long(Chicago had a 2page limit this year) What is yours going to read??