Ask Jeremy @ MBAMission.com - What it takes to get to the best global business school

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

It seems to me that you are looking for a school that emphasizes academic and practical elements. Virtually every US and European school fits this bill, but if you are limiting yourself to one year programs, Kellogg, Insead and CBS (16 month) program really are the only top-schools that meet your needs. These schools generally require $100K+ in investment and their average GMAT scores are about 700. They should appreciate your family business experience.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
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Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by shreyash_d

Hello Jeremy,

I am a novice to the world of Foreign B-Schools. My work experience is as follows
21 months work in a software MNC
16 months in my Family Business related to manufacturing of Auto Parts. It is a small scale setup started by my father.

I have given the aptitude tests of some of the top Indian B-Schools. But the Group Discussion and Personal Interviews r due for March/April. Recently, I had a chat with a gal studying in one of the topmost B-Schools in India. Nd she found the program to be academically oriented with very less value addition. Apparently, since Indian B-Schools take in freshers as well, many of them cram to get good scores. This was shocking and not something I am looking for in a B-School.

Secondly, Many B-Schools in India dont take Work-Ex in Family Business in the right spirit. I think B-Schools in the West have a totally reverse attitude. Since, M.B.A is a significant and once in a lifetime investment. I wanna explore all the avenues (foreign B-Schools) before finally making a call.

Can u lend me more insight as to
1) Global B-Schools with significant learning coupled with decent placements nd packages.
2) Any good one year program that fits the bill.
3) I have nt given the GMAT and vil b able to give it only after March / April. What would be the best time to give it and get into a B-School at the earliest. What r the scores v r looking at ?
4) Investments to be made.

Thanks,
Shreyash.

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

If you aspire to attend a top-US business school, then "excellence" is the key. there is no pre-determined path and no required number of years of work experience. If you can exhibit excellence in everything you do -- professionally, personally, academically, in your volunteer work, etc. -- you will find your way into a top-school.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by mohit@bits

hi

myself in final year b.e(eee) bits pilani
cgpa- 8.3/10
10th- 91%
12th-97%

placed in a mnc with a package of 5.4 lacs

can u tell me what does it take to get into top us b schools for people like me .
how much expereince i will have to gain to be right for top b schools

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

Well, there still are many question marks in your application. I am not seeing the professional excellence that is characteristic of HBS, Stanford and Wharton admits. After only 1.5 years as a software engineer, without any promotions, you will struggle to standout from the pack. Further, you highlight your lack of extras yourself. If you sincerely want to attend a top-school, you may want to take a year or two and really build your personal and community profiles. Even then, HBS and Stanford are looking for candidates who are truly distinct -- who truly initiate and get things done. As I just wrote in a previous post "excellence" is the key word -- in every area of your life. There are definitely practical things you can do (and I encourage you to visit the long term planning section of our blog for details), but it is more about the big picture and it seems to me that it will take more time for this to evolve in your case.


Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by Aqua4

Hi Jeremy,

I am and m planning to take GMAT somewhere around march -april, 08 and will be trying for next fall i.e 2009. Here is my profile detail, Kindly give me a feedback on it and how can i develop it during the next 12 months which i have :
Professional :
Working with a top MNC as a software engg for the last 1.5 yrs ( Me too an IT guy)

Total experience will be 3 yrs when taking admission.

Academics :
B.Tech in Mechanical engg - 74.3% (aggrergate degree)- from a top 15 Engg institute in India.
Generally in the top 15-20 of the class throughout the 4 yrs.
Have been a topper at school level from the beginning.

Also I took a drop yr ( sabbatical) to prepare for my engg entrance exams(Will i need to explain this to adcomm?????)

Extracurrics:

They are very good but only at the school and college level.( I have been President of the student club at the college also at school level, organized various inter and intra collegiate functioans and fests)

Professionally I haven't done much as my hectic work schedule didn't permit me to do something of this kind.

But now I am taking time to go to work with an NGO which works for the underpriviledged kids and teach them.
also will be taking time off for my passions like singing, music and dramatics(Do you think these will be thought upon by the adcomm??)

Kindly guide me how should I develop my profile during the next 12 months....as I am planning to apply to only a few schools like HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Tuck,LBS etc.

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

I would need more information about you in order to consider your chances. Please fill me in on the details of your career history (promotions?), community activities, academics, etc. There are many variables and it is quite difficult to judge from what you have provided.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by jimmorrison

Hi Jeremy,

My profile-

GMAT-740
graduated from a top 10 engineering college in india
WE-3 yrs by 2008
presently working as a sr. consultant

what do u thing would be my chances in top 30 schools in usa.

I am planning to apply to cornell .
Pls assess my chances and suggest a few good bschools in the us

thanks in advance!!

[MBA Mission]

Jon,

Thank you for your inquiry.

While your education and work experience are impressive, a top-school like HBS or Stanford, will want to see more diversity within your profile and will want to see excellence in these different areas. While a CFA will help, these schools are more concerned with seeing standout leadership in your community or personal endeavors. Can you point to anything in this regard? It will make the difference.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by john_almighty

Hi Jeremy,

I am 26 years old
I have an undergrad in engg from India and a masters in comp sc from oxford univ.
2 years work exp as a Business Analyst in an Investment Bank in London
planning to give GMAT this year and apply to only LBS, Harvard, Stanford and Wharton...... I don't intend to study anywhere else as I am quite happy with my work and I want to do an MBA in finance with some strategy management as well so that I can come back to an investment bank with a background in maths and CS and education in finance as well.

if i do get a 720+ in GMAT with very good SOPs and Reccos ...... what are my chances at these BSchools.

Does doing courses like FRM and CFA help your application if you are applying for a Fin course in a B School


Thanks for your time
Regards

John

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

To be honest, the schools that you have selected are not terribly competitive. I think that your international experience, managerial leadership experience and GMAT should be enough to carry the day for you. I would be surprised if you did not get at least one admit. You should get more.

Please keep me posted.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by nv2007

Hi Jeremy,

I have been working with an Indian IT major for the last 2.25 years in a mainframes project.

My GMAT score:
Total - 700/92%
Verbal - 38/84%
Quants- 48/85%
AWA- 5.5/83%

Applied to- Boston, Illinois(UIUC), Katz, Paul Merage(Irvine)

Academic background:
Engineering (Chemical) - Average 80%+
Std 12th - 89%
Std.10th- 87%

Extra curriculars:
Won a number of debate competitions in school, college.
Particpated in Technical paper presentation competitions while in college.
participated in marathons,
programs where it is required to visit villages for teaching school children.
have worked a bit for HelpAge India while in school.

Professional achivements:
Was chosen to lead a 4 member team after only a year's experience.Have been awarded by mu business unit for my mentoring and strong analytical skills.

Do I stand a chance at the above 4 colleges?

Thanks,
NV2007

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

With a 650, three years in IT and some recent work at an NGO, I think that you will have a rough time cracking the top-15 and maybe even the top-20 US schools. You may want to consider schools like Simon, Olin and Kelley. These schools are still reputable but are not as competitive as the top-tier schools.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by jjpodipara

Hi Jeremy,

I am looking for an MBA from a middle level university . I am planning to take GMAT in april,expected score is 650 above and apply for 2009 intake.So by that time i will have 3 years experience in I.T.

Academics:

Class 10- 87%
Class 12- 80%
B.tech (mechanical)-65%

Extra curriculars:-
Won certificates at district level for Football and hand ball in school level.Organized lots of events in College.Got appreciations from my company(us based MNC) and Client .

So could you please advice me which are the good universities i can aim .

And i would like to Enhance my profile by working with Some N.G.O.
Also please advice me on what all things can i do to enhance my profile(like social service).Does work Experience in I.T as a software engineer will really count?

[MBA Mission]

Thanks for your inquiry.

I am not sure that I can tell you which schools will offer you a scholarship. I can help with pop-diagnoses, but I can't tell the future! If anything, I would suggest that Babson is a good school to target as I know firsthand, via clients we have worked with, that they have "healthy" scholarships. I recognize the financial challenges that you will be facing, but top-schools should pay for themselves over time. I would probably target higher ranked schools as well and then weigh the various offers, if/once you get them.

I hope that this helps.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by ajit.singh

Hi

I am a medicine graduate. Have long nurtured a dream to be a Health Sector Entrepreneur, but can't find any good B-schools in India who can help me in achieving my dream. Seems like they just can't digest the thought that good doctors can be good entrepreneurs also. All they can do is advise me to get into Masters in Health Administration. Anyways, I've checked out the curriculum of lots of B-schools in US & Europe, and now I feel the problem of abundance. My GMAT score is 730 with AWA 6 and have cleared CAT twice with more than 98 %tile, but turned down admission offers twice from three top-rung B-schools in India. I have a 2 year work-ex in Health Insurance and am currently working since 6 months with a group as part of its market research and analysis and product development as Associate. I had enquired at 3 B-schools which have Health Sector MBA, and could list them out for you if you wish. I just can't decide which will be the best school for me. Is it that all schools famous for entrepreneurship (Babson included) are good enough? Or should I stick to the old criterion of going for the best available? Secondly, finances will definitely be an issue, so if I give you the names of 5-6 colleges which are ready to give me a scholarship,will you please please plzzzzzzzz help Jeremy? I am in such a soup I just can't find help. Can you please guide me to the best school? I can give you all further details you want me to, to help me out.
Thanks for the efforts

[MBA Mission]

Thank you for your inquiry.

Every school has different criteria which they use to evaluate GPA conversions. Most schools provide a scale that you can adjust your grades to; but in the case of Indian candidates, it is usually not a just conversion, as percentages tend to look mysteriously low, even though a 65% can be an A+ in certain degrees. For many candidates, it can be quite wise to find out their respective class ranks and then explain their assumptions in presenting the case for a higher GPA in an optional essay.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission

Originally Posted by jagguguntur

jeremy,

please give reply to my post.

[MBA Mission]

Well, with my last post, I am entirely caught up, as far as I can tell. There are so many enthusiastic PGG users and it is challenging to stay current on all of your questions! Nonetheless, I will continue to do my best to answer everyone's inquiries in a timely manner and appreciate the opportunity that my friends Allwin and Apurv have given me to do so.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Shinewald
MBA Mission

mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Home
646-485-8844
Skype: MBAMission