Ask Jennifer@Accepted.com: Application-writing advice for the best global B-schools

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by frensandy

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for taking the time to answer all our questions. It is indeed very helpful.

I am an applicant from India for MBA fall 2008. I have about 4 years exp in the ubiquitous s/w industry with about 1.5 years of experience as a project lead/module lead. I have a low GMAT score of 610 ( quant - 79, verb - 50 and AWA -4 ), an engineering degree with 70%, good extra curriculars, an entrepreneurial attempt and pretty good recos.

1> What do you think are my chances of getting an admit from the following schools ?

Iowa tippe
Babcock - Wake forest
Univerisy of Texas Dallas
Cox school of business

2> What are the my chances of getting aid/assitanceship from these schools ?

Thanks in advance

In my experience, the American programs like their Indian applicants to have higher GMAT scores. To make yourself a more competitive applicant, you will need to boost your score (especially the verbal). I am not saying that you do not stand a chance at these programs, rather that boosting your GMAT would improve your chances.

Good luck!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by pharmablr

Hi Jennifer,

Thank you for all the wonderful advice and guidance on this thread.

My Profile:
GMAT: 750 (Quant: 50 - 95% ; Verbal: 42 - 95%)
Xth: 90% (Distinction in Science and Maths)
XII: 80%

Engg in CS: 77% (Distinction each year)

Work Exp: (3+ years)
1) IBM - 1yr in Business Intelligence Dept ( 05 -06)
2) Director in a Pharma company (with the largest capacity in Southern India based Bangalore) (2006 - till now )
- Responsible for development of International Business Division and converting potential clients to actual customers (mainly Honduras and Kenya). Have successfully launched a product in the last year which has now become the fourth largest selling product for the company.
All the team heads: International Business , Manufacturing, Finance, Domestic Sales and HR report report directly to me.
Huge potential in Pharma Industry and the company is rightly poised with ultra modern manufacturing facilities to capture global outsourcing pie in the healthcare industry.

Extra curricular Activities: Swimming, Kung Fu, Youth camps

Awards: Won debates, impromptu speech contests etc

I am aiming for the January 2009 intake @ INSEAD.
However I have no work experience out of home country.



Kindly advise.

thanks,

INSEAD will be eager to hear how you collaborate with counterparts in Honduras and Kenya and will consider this almost as strong as actually being based in those countries. Obviously, if you can gain spend some time in these markets - even if just for weeks at a time interacting with customers or distributors or the like, then that would increase your ability to talk about what INSEAD wants to hear about in the essays.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by Jerrykantrell

Hi Jennifer,

Well, this is not another 'profile evaluation' request.

Could you tell me what are the B-schools which prefer applicants with higher GMAT\GPA scores in an attempt to get their averages up. I was working in the dreaded Indian software scene for 2 years after which I quit. I am currently working in an NGO. I have been more of an 'extra-curricular' sort of person. So I was wondering if I could manage an admit with a really good GMAT score in a 'decent' US b-school.

Oh wait, it did turn into a profile evaluation request!


Thanks in advance JK

To answer your question: all of them
In other words: no school will accept an applicant with a great GMAT score/GPA that does not have great leadership experience and potential, but if you have great leadership experience (as the NGO role may have allowed you to gain that s/w professionals do not have access to) and your GMAT is high, then you have a chance. Be sure to pull yourself out of the traditional pile by highlighting the impact you have made in the community through your extracurriculars and NGO role.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by fgmat

Thanks Jeniffer for taking such a great initiative...thanks for all your assistance....
I am new to pagalguy.com ....recently went through this link of yours where you are guiding indian students for the application process.....

Here is my brief profile:

Qualifications:


GMAT 750


B.tech

Work experience
Consulting....presently working as Business analyst capacity of American Express...
In total have 3 years of exp as of now....
Presently involved in community services where i m taking care of the education of handicapped children..

Target SCHOOLS as of now:

duke

emory

chicago

darden



Could you please throw some light on what are my chances of getting through these kind of schools..
i m targeting investment banking after my MBA....

thanks!!
-Rohit

In my opinion, Rohit, you may be considered a little young for the MBA program. Your GMAT and differentiated experience seems to take you out of the traditional pile, so that is good, but you will need to demonstrate that you are taking initiatives and making business impacts on American Express. If you can do that and show yourself truly outperforming your peers, then your chances are good.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.

[fgmat]

Jennifer,Thank you very much for your response....

best regds,

-rohit

[sgmat]

Hello Jennifer,

this is such a great initiative ....thanks a lot for providing all of us such important points regarding the application....i have PM you couple of questions....please take out sometime to respond the same.....

warm regards!!

sgmat

[sgmat]

Jeniffer...I have one more question....I have decided to choose my immediate boss as my recommender....could you please advise whom can i choose as the second recommender.....i m in big trouble on this front......please advise....

thanks!!

sgmat

[Jerrykantrell]

Originally Posted by Accepted

To answer your question: all of them
In other words: no school will accept an applicant with a great GMAT score/GPA that does not have great leadership experience and potential, but if you have great leadership experience (as the NGO role may have allowed you to gain that s/w professionals do not have access to) and your GMAT is high, then you have a chance. Be sure to pull yourself out of the traditional pile by highlighting the impact you have made in the community through your extracurriculars and NGO role.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
Accepted - helping you write your best!

From pre-application consulting and strategizing to essay and letter of recommendation editing, resumes, mock interviews, and wait-list tactics - we guide you through the application maze.

Thank you very much
appreciate your taking the time out to answer.

[sanket11]

I am a Production Engg. / B.E. in first class with Distinction from one of the reputed Universities in India.

Working as a Consultant with Private Consultancy Firm affiliated to H. B. Maynard, Cop, USA [Now Part of Accenture]. It's a Manufacturing related Consultancy with domain expertise in MOST (Maynard Operation Sequence Technique.]

1. Consulting Assignments Handled in Blue chip companies: Worked with Clients like Honda, Mahindra & Mahindra, ITC, Gabriel, Kirloskar Group, Perfect Circle (Dana Cop), United Spirits (United Breweries Group), Bharat Forge, etc.

Team Work: In Each of the above mentioned assigned I am responsible for Leading/ Directing & co-coordinating activities of internal team of 3-4 analysts as well as client’s core team of 3-4 members, so in pithy handling team of 8 people.

Lots of Leadership initiatives / roles in handling given assignment.

Communication at all levels right from worker to the VP of company.

1. Responsible for various Initiatives In Company like:

• Responsible for starting a sort of Reading Club aimed at innovation & creativity to solve complex client problems.
• Columnist at the Company website.

1. Community Services:

Affiliated with Vipasyana Meditation Centers.
Affiliated to a Blind school in terms of providing them monthly food grains.
Taught Pranayama to children in my apartment & many others (Intangible benefits to all).
Planning to set up a small library in hometown for underprivileged children next month.

1. Extra Curricular Activities :

Conducted Yoga, Meditation & Pranayama Training Programs for company consultants,
Authored articles on websites on subjects like Lateral Thinking, Philosophy, and Manufacturing related.
Planning to write a small book about my personal exp/ Learning in life till now in next couple of years.
First Level Reiki Course, practicing the same.

1. Professional Achievements:

1. Awarded with "Outstanding Employee of the Year" in 2006-07 (first year of Professional exp.)
2. In each of projects (mentioned above) the concerned client has increased productivity by at least 15 -20 % by either increasing production or decreasing manpower (which is lifetime saving). Some of clients increased the productivity by 100%. Millions of $ saving for each client.
3. Single handedly structured & crafted 3 case studies about the productivity improvement at 3 organizations; the same are published on company web-site.

1. Personal Achievements:

1. • I mentored my father through rough patch in his career by asking him to focus on the spiritual side of life, regenerated his confidence & convinced him to take admission for Distance learning MBA at the age of 46.
   • I mentored one of the managers, 45 years old (at client side) in preparing for GMAT. Also mentored him through the MBA application process as he is planning his MBA from ISB, India.
2. GMAT: Yet to be taken but confident of 700+ as I am planning (started) 8/9 months for the preparation.

Queries:
1. Is my profile competitive enough for Top -10 US B-schools considering my post MBA goal of Strategy/ Management Consultant?

2. Considering that I will apply in Nov.09 with 4.5 years of Experience at the time of joining, I have nearly 1.8 years to further strengthen my profile. How can best utilize this time? What should I do in next 12-15 months to improve my chances?

3. What can be things that may decrease my chances of get in? How can fix them in next 12-15 months?

4. How should I systematically spread my MBA game plan over the next year or two?

[amruthareddy]

How to answer the questions
Why do you want to join MBA PG program?
Tell briefly why we should select you?
State briefly your career goals for the next 5 years(short term) and 10 years(long term)?
Please help me..