Phoren B-school Assistance Desk

[sarpedanda]

Originally Posted by mealiennothuman

Hi,

Welcome to PG. You will find many threads to help you in making you familiar with different colleges.

For starters, I just want to say this.

Try to look at colleges which fit into your overall future plans. A college might be good overall but does it offer what you are looking for? Let me give an Indian b-school analogy. Suppose you get into IIM A and IIM C and you want to pursue Finance. Which college would you go to? Well IIM A is definitely the best as per popular opinion. But for Finance I would leave IIM A for IIM C.

No college is to impossible to get into if you are a good fit with what it offers. For example, no matter how good you are with your experience it would be very difficult to into say INSEAD not because you lack something. But simply because INSEAD's course is more structured for those who already have had substancial managerial experience in the corporate world and now want to move on even more higher.

Its very important to first ask yourself Why MBA? before Where? The answer should be something more than "making tons of money".

Hope that helps a bit.

Hey Abhi,
I fully agree with u.
I have given more details of my future plan.
can u guide me w.r.t that?
BTW howz NUS if I want to pursue finance (as in the faculty, course etc) and what r my chances for getting in.

[gaba]

Hello,My name is Divesh. My profile is as below:ICSE 10th - 60%HSC 12th - 62.33%B.COM - 43%M.COM - 41%I have been working with my family business since sept 2004. We r into retailing of garments nd have two stores at mumbai.I am now interested in doing mba frm UK. However due to poor grades in my graduation i have been suggested universitiies such as UWIC, Aberdeen, etc. However i am interested in going to a better business school.I would b abliged to any kind of advice frm any1 who cud suggest me with a better idea to improve my profile nd get admission into a better university.I would like to know if gmat wud help ?? Nd in any case i would also like to knw how UWIC, aberdeen, birmingham city university, Liverpool john moores university are for mba ?? Thank you for ur advice.

[sethipun]

Hi,

I have been working in IT industry in India for five years now and will be applying to b-schools this year. Can you let me know which are the schools which are best for 'IT' guys. I know that the you will be tempted to answer that 'if your application is good then any school will take you'. But I really want get a list of schools based on:

- how open they are to IT professionals(I just heard that a school rejected an application saying that we dont want to take IT professionals) or which schools have higher conversion rate for IT professionals
- how good are the careers of the IT professionals after the MBA from the school (again based on some data if you have)

[rikgittok9]

Hello Fellow Pagals,

Been a long time since I last posted on pagalguy. But then can never thank everyone enough for helping me get through IIMK.

Today I have a query for a friend of mine and pagalguy is still the best place to turn for help.
She has an offer from London School Of Economics for a 1 Year course called " MSc in International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management " . I am not very sure whether this course could be an equivalent to an MBA in HR. Since it is quite an investment both in terms of money and time it would be great if someone could guide her regarding the same.

It would be great if anyone has any idea regarding the course, its credentials, career options post completion (ROI) etc. Is it worth going there or should she wait for better options?

Please help. any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

Have a nice day !

Regards,
Paromita

[newStart]

Hey, I have just joined Infosys after finishing my college and I am enjoying the work here.But I am planning an MBA after 2-3 years.And in this regard, I have just started some basic research on MBA schools abroad and pagalguy seems to be the place with all the info.
My major worry(which I found out recently) is that my company completely discourages(to put it mildly) recommendations to its employees for an MBA.Even though, I am sure I will be able to convince my project leads and other superiors that I deserve their recommendations for an MBA, this HR policy is pretty much the end of the road for me(as far as recommendations go).I have read that university recommendations are discouraged unless I am planning on a doctorate in management(which I am not planning on).
Has anyone gone through this before? Please advise me. I am considering bailing out of Infosys, if it means they are going to limit my career plans(even though I find it an amazing place to work and learn).

[necromonger]

Originally Posted by newStart

Hey, I have just joined Infosys after finishing my college and I am enjoying the work here.But I am planning an MBA after 2-3 years.And in this regard, I have just started some basic research on MBA schools abroad and pagalguy seems to be the place with all the info.
My major worry(which I found out recently) is that my company completely discourages(to put it mildly) recommendations to its employees for an MBA.Even though, I am sure I will be able to convince my project leads and other superiors that I deserve their recommendations for an MBA, this HR policy is pretty much the end of the road for me(as far as recommendations go).I have read that university recommendations are discouraged unless I am planning on a doctorate in management(which I am not planning on).
Has anyone gone through this before? Please advise me. I am considering bailing out of Infosys, if it means they are going to limit my career plans(even though I find it an amazing place to work and learn).

newstart,

It is admirable you have already started looking at options. Since it is early, I'll add a few points

1. If you are looking at the top programs in the world, you have a few more years to wait so you can get the right experience. In that context, it is critical that you do very well at work, excel at it, have a few good achievements to talk about both at and outside your work. For that to happen, you need to like your work, and the environment you are in.

2. Don't go by unsubstantiated statements because "your friend's-friend said so". It is not your HR that gives recommendations, but your boss and peers (e.g. for INSEAD you can get a peer recommendation) and your company is not involved in this. I doubt your company contract says "don't give MBA recommendations." If you have a good rapport with your supervisor at the time of recommendations, it is really between you and him/her. Don't quit a job you love because of some vague perception. Focus on doing well and creating a strong network and recommendation won't be an issue.

3. You have a lot of time before you apply. If your focus is a top MBA, then this is the right time to do things to turn into a well rounded person with many achievements instead of worrying during applications.

good luck! (though luck has little to do with this)

[newStart]

Originally Posted by necromonger

newstart,

It is admirable you have already started looking at options. Since it is early, I'll add a few points

1. If you are looking at the top programs in the world, you have a few more years to wait so you can get the right experience. In that context, it is critical that you do very well at work, excel at it, have a few good achievements to talk about both at and outside your work. For that to happen, you need to like your work, and the environment you are in.

2. Don't go by unsubstantiated statements because "your friend's-friend said so". It is not your HR that gives recommendations, but your boss and peers (e.g. for INSEAD you can get a peer recommendation) and your company is not involved in this. I doubt your company contract says "don't give MBA recommendations." If you have a good rapport with your supervisor at the time of recommendations, it is really between you and him/her. Don't quit a job you love because of some vague perception. Focus on doing well and creating a strong network and recommendation won't be an issue.

3. You have a lot of time before you apply. If your focus is a top MBA, then this is the right time to do things to turn into a well rounded person with many achievements instead of worrying during applications.

good luck! (though luck has little to do with this)

necromonger,
Many thanks for the quick and more importantly, encouraging reply to my queries.
To your point 1:- I am enjoying my work at the moment and I am sure that I will be able to learn and enjoy my work environment, and I predict(/hope :P) that this will be scenario in the future as well.

Replying to 2) The news that HR discourages recos came from my Module lead when the general discussion of MBA came up.But as you said, it is an issue between me and the supervisor. Need to enquire a bit more about the actual HR policy but you have made me see the ray of hope with the "focus on building a strong network advice".

and 3)You say I have a lot of time, but a small and pretty vague research has left me thinking that I barely have any time with me.2010 round 1 applications start soon for many univs and that pretty much scares me.

Again many thanks for those encouraging words.I am a lot more relaxed now than I was 2 hours ago.

P.S.
A technical question!GMAT scores are valid for 5 years but on an average how old can a GMAT score be when I am applying to TOP MBA programs abroad.I am told that TOP MBA schools discourage GMAT scores that are old.

[mkarthik01]

Originally Posted by newStart

necromonger,
Many thanks for the quick and more importantly, encouraging reply to my queries.
To your point 1:- I am enjoying my work at the moment and I am sure that I will be able to learn and enjoy my work environment, and I predict(/hope :P) that this will be scenario in the future as well.

Replying to 2) The news that HR discourages recos came from my Module lead when the general discussion of MBA came up.But as you said, it is an issue between me and the supervisor. Need to enquire a bit more about the actual HR policy but you have made me see the ray of hope with the "focus on building a strong network advice".

and 3)You say I have a lot of time, but a small and pretty vague research has left me thinking that I barely have any time with me.2010 round 1 applications start soon for many univs and that pretty much scares me.

Again many thanks for those encouraging words.I am a lot more relaxed now than I was 2 hours ago.

P.S.
A technical question!GMAT scores are valid for 5 years but on an average how old can a GMAT score be when I am applying to TOP MBA programs abroad.I am told that TOP MBA schools discourage GMAT scores that are old.

"Working" in Infosys....... HA ha ha ha ha....Ho ho ho ho ho.......

Anyways, reccos need not be taken on a letterhead. So stop worrying about that. Your superior/boss, will write it on a plain paper/univ suppied format. In fact, he will almost certainly fill it online. No law can stop anyone from giving a recco. What Infy doesn't allow is, giving a recco on a letterhead. So chill...Concentrate on ur "work"....

[baccardisprite]

Originally Posted by sarpedanda

Yeah man, I shud hav provided more info:
well I am interested for a career in finance through 2 yr MBA(or maybe 16 month program). Although am an IT guy, i have been involved IN banking&finance domain. I am a part of Credit-Suisse(Bank in Switzerland) team. Also due to my inclination towards finance, I am giving NCFM exams.
I plan to do job for 5-6 yrs post Mba(any country) and then if all goes according to plan, start a venture in India. Plz guide me accordingly. Thanks in Advance.

I assume NCFM has something to do with Financial Markets?

IF you manage to pass your NCFM, see if you can use that qualification to gain experience and exposure to finance through a job in this field... EVEN if you have to start at the junior most levels.

If finance is really your calling / passion (NOT just a vague inclination), act on it.... NCFM is one step. Get a job if possible in the field, develop yourself into a solid career to demonstrate the passion. This is important not only to convince adcomms of your passion, but also employers after an MBA who will value your past experience as much as they value your MBA (if not more). In the meantime, learn a foreign language in the next 2 years... invaluable.

Good luck

[shubhuroy21]

hi can some body tell me abt the colleges in australia ,uk,canada which dont require gmat score just require ielts score. i am a graduate in hotel management with 1 year work ex in marketting of financial prioducts so,should i go for them or take any college from mat as i got calls from ms raamaiah, amity varsity ,nsb imis etc plz tell me as my parents quickly want me to finish my mba .i have even left an offer from hdfc standard life bcoz this confusion and sitting at home.