[Accepted]

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks a lot for helping us all out in this tough admission process...I really appreciate it..

Could you please let me know which all top 20 schools in US are good in operations
management and/or supply chain management? I know that MIT sloan and CMU tepper are good. ANy idea about others?

Am planning to apply to sloan, tepper, ross, tuck, isb, emory, duke, darden (the last two are an option). Do u suggest any other schools??

When i look at employment stats of top schools such as ross etc, i notice that they place only around 1 to 2 % of thier class in OM. SImilarly the other top schools also don't seem to have a higher number of grads going into the OM Line.

My profile:

Im an IT guy. Have around 3 years of work ex. Was in the financial domain (Mostly mortgage banking ...1.4 yrs and 6 months in IB) most of the time.

I wanted to get into the operations and manufacturing domain. Now atlast i am in the domain that ive wanted to get into. For this, i've had to change my company. This is the 2nd company im working for. I was with my first company for around 2.7 yrs. I did not see myself going into the line that i wanted to over there. My aspirations were not met. So i quit.

I have joined the new one this feb. Ive been in this domain for around 4 months. WHile applying i would have around 8 months in this domain. I am in the auto sector in the manufacturing domain. My client is one of the top auto companies in the US. I like the auto line and would like to continue in that line. I fall into the supply part of the project. I want to learn and grow in this domain.

I have already taken my gmat. Ive score 710. Ive got a balanced score in maths and english. iI scored more than 85 percetile in both sections. I have a 4.5 on the AWA (Would this score of AWA be a concern?)

I have a decent academic record.
10 --> 75 %
12 --> 80 %
Engg (electronics and commn) --> 84 %

Extracurricular --> I play the guitar, i learn french (would be completing the 2nd level by august). I have presented a few papers during m coll and have won a few accolades.

NGO Stuff --> Was doing my bit for the community last year for around 5-6 months...I got a certificate from the top mgmt in my prev comany as i was one among the chosen 10 volunteers for NGOs in about 1000 guys who work in the pune branch of my company.

I had to change companies. SO could not continue...Would be taking it up again this year..

What all do u think do i need to improve in my profile so that i stand a chance to get an admit from the top 10-15 schools?

Ive heard that there are no great openings (especially in operations) for international students in areas other than finance and consulting and that one has to network a lot to get into these other areas...Is this true?

Also, is an international work ex a must, to have a chance of making to these top b schools??

Also, how good is the idea of applying to the top schools (eg wharton, chicago, columbia etc, who are not very well known for OM), graduate from them in OM and try to get into companies in the OM field? Is that possible? This point was just a though i wanted to put across.

Eagerly looking forward to your response...

Cheers,

Sandy,
One school that I am surprised didn't make it onto your list is Purdue's Krannert, which boasts a very strong Operations Management curriculum. In addition, you may want to consider the MMM program at Kellogg. The truly exceptional in this field should also consider HBS.

International experience is not a prerequisite for admission to these programs; however, you will certainly need to demonstrate why you feel it important to travel abroad for this education.

To find out about recruiting, I suggest you contact each program. Tell them of your career interests and request a recent graduate as a contact to find out about how the program helped him through the job search. So much manufacturing is happening abroad now and not in the US that your job search would certainly not be limited to the US and might require more initiative on your part.

The question of whether it is worth pursuing a top "brand" MBA even if it isn't in operations specifically is an interesting one. I would guess that a top name MBA would enable you to make inroads at global automotive companies with ease. These organizations are seeking the analytical and problem-solving skills that the MBA program has helped its students develop. However, your profile thus far does not demonstrate the leadership and exceptionality that these programs are seeking. Hopefully, now that you are in the domain that truly interests you, you will be able to step up to increasing levels of leadership and responsibility in the next couple of years before applying.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
jbloom@accepted.com
Accepted - Helping you write your best!

[paglakahinka]

Hi Jennifer,

Will appreciate if you can please evaluate my profile below -

Indian/IT/Male, work ex. 5.5 yrs as of now, decent extra curriculars and good acads, excellent professional exp. with rewards and promotions, handled IT services projects across various industries(finance, retail, CP - distribution), 1.5 yrs international exp., and in a leadership role since the last 2.5 years. GMAT - 770/5.5

Goal - Looking for general mgmt with a focus on operations/SCM as a subject and strategy as a discipline. SCM as a function will enable me to work across industries and a combination of general mgmt+strategy+my tech. background will help me in leading an operations consulting firm one day (for example) or move to a tech. strategy role in a manufacturing firm(for example).

Shortlisted colleges - US - Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, Tuck, Sloan, Yale, Ross. (need to select 5). Outside US - IIM A, IIM C, INSEAD, Oxford, Cambridge.

Queries - Can you please comment on the following -
- my goal,
- the selection of colleges viz-a-viz my goal and profile ?
- colleges which you'll suggest should and should not be there in the above list ?

Thank you so much for your time !

Best Regards.

[ploneman]

Hi Jennifer,

Reading this thread has been really insightful and I look forward to some insightful comments from you.

I am an MBA aspirant. I am keenly looking at the top schools in the US because of the kind of work they have been doing in the social/non-profit sector and the availability of loan forgiveness programs which allow me to get back to the non-profit sector once i am through.

My profile : Male/26

Academic History
X = 85.2%
X11 = 74.4%
B.Tech Comp Sc, 2004 = 68.3%

I was placed with Global S/w firm while in college. In IT world lingo that I rarely use now, I was lucky to get into a high value J2EE development project. My ability to quickly learn on the job gave me an opportunity to perform most functions in the s/w development life cycle. I was coding major business functionalities, was part of the build team and was deploying our application at onsite and in various test environments, coordinating with onsite etc. While I was initially overjoyed by the high learning curve, I soon realised that I was missing out on my LIFE. On one hand I was doing everything that senior programmers on our team were doing (they were definitely much more experienced) but on the other hand I didn't see myself doing this for 4-5 more years. Onsite with this job profile just didn't excite me even with the money involved.

Even with six and a half days of 16-18 hrs work, I managed to squeeze out my sunday afternoons to volunteer at orphanages! Soon questioning the effectiveness of our volunteering (playing with the kids is fine but are we improving their chances in life) and recognizing the connect i was able to make with these children, I realized that I needed to do much more to make a difference.

I got interested in the development sector, but i had one fundamental restriction, I decided that i would chase all dreams as long as I am financially independent.

Soon I discovered an amazing and emerging set of ppl called "social entrepreneurs." (Did some serious reading to learn more about them) I was attracted to the concept of business driving social change. The sector seemed to provide me with what I was searching for - meaningful work, some serious learnings on business, passionate workgroup, social impact. Did some more research, found out about an international organization called Ashoka that supports outstanding social entrepreneurs, found a social entrepreneur in chennai and jumped the IT bandwagon 15 months after joining. The switch was a huge financial strain (I took a 45% pay cut) but I ensured that I changed my lifestyle accordingly to be financially independent.

I have spent the last two years working for a non-profit run by an Asoka fellow. Here I not only got exposed to the development sector but also got hands on experience in rural india. Have dabbled in rural marketing (taking innovative products to the rural customer) and executed projects (including planning, budgeting,preparation of annual plans and reports for donors etc) in the villages of eastern UP, Northern Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Managed partnerships with some big indian firms, both "for profit" and "development oriented", with whom we implemented these projects. I have lead teams of two in each of the project areas.

I have since been promoted. I led a team of two and help out extensively in setting up and running of a unique rural retail initiative that my firm is pioneering! Again this is happening in the villages of Tamil Nadu.

I have held administrative responsibilities, been actively involved in recruiting my team members in project areas and been awarded for excellent performance from my firm.

I was recently selected for a very prestigious international fellowship offered to emerging leaders in the Social Sector (10 of us were selected from an applicant pool of close to 300 accomplished individuals from 34 countries.) I am one of the youngest (one of the first Indians) and the only one this year without a graduate degree to be selected for this fellowship. To give you a flavor of the competition my co-fellows (and previous fellows) hold advanced degrees from Stanford, HEC, LSE, Yale, Columbia, Wharton apart from having significantly greater number of years of work-ex and international exposure.

Before I start with the fellowship I wanted to spend some time with my folks and hence quit my non-profit job and headed home to be with my parents. But not one to sit idle, I am presently completing short term assignments with two for-profit social enterprises.

I plan to attend one of the top US b-schools, given my focus on non-profits and development. I have a clear goal that some time soon I want to head a global social enterprise. I have given my GMAT and scored a 700 (QA 49/89%, VA 35/75%, AWA 4.5)

I have played football (for my univ and college), volley ball and table tennis for my college and have a decent extra-curricular record! (Was active during school too - I am a president scout, the highest honor a scout can get in India, Been the school captain and represented the school in Football, Table tennis, quizzes, theater, debates etc)

And even with my very hectic travel schedules I still volunteer with the orphanages I had started out with.

With my average academics in college, can i target stanford, harvard, wharton, kellogg etc?


Thank you.

[thedevilgod]

Hi Jennifer

Though a little early on the scene… but, if that helps, then why not???

Request you to have a look at my profile and give your comments on my profile fitment for US, European B Schools and/or the year I can apply.

Currently I am in Management Consulting, but 5 years down the line I see myself as an Investment Banker or a PE Player.

I think I’ll be ready for course starting in august 2010 with 4 years of experience

Status – As-is
Age: 27

A peep into my past: My background is a little different from a normal applicant, on the basis of the place I belong to and thus the education I have got – A direct function of that.

10th and 12th have a context to them: I hail from a remote village (punch) in Jammu and Kashmir – A state of India heavily infested with millitancy.

I have studied in Govt schools in one of the most backward states in the country and thus have hampered my grades. Though I am sure, this is the best that was possible in those conditions and thus no regrets!


1996: 10th: Second Division; Top 5 of my batch.
1998: 12th: First Division (70%) – Top 5 of my batch of 250 plus
1999: A year’s drop: Joined B Sc course along with National civil defense society
Dropped it after I got admission in engineering and you can’t transfer credits in India
2003: Graduation: BE (Computer Science) – First Division (63%)
Final year with Distinction
Top 5 of stream
2004: Teacher: 1. Taught at a software language training institute for 9 months
2.Taught at nigh school for women and elders
2006: PDGM (Equal to MBA): 3.23/5 Top 10 of a class of 100

Academic Achievements:

• Top 10 of MBA
• The first student to do an MBA in my entire district
• Topper in Stats & Quants courses at campus
• Top Scored in Engineering Project in entire campus (2000 Students)
• Top 5 in Engineering Batch – Scored Distinction

My Strongest Point: Extracurricular Achievements: (in descending chronology)

• Won championship as Sports captain – Company’s volleyball team
• President – MBA College’s Alumni Team
• Won – Director’s commendation award for Institution Building
• President – MBA College’s debating society
• Secretary – Spic Macay – A cultural society
• Co-founder - Computer Science Society in engineering college
• Team member – College cricket team
• Youngest Sports captain – School Athletics team
• Participated and Won 1500M and 3000M race – Back to back
• Selected to represent school at the Nationals
• Won State level quiz contests
• Won District Level Science contests

Work Experience:
2003-2004: >Teacher in a software institute
> Part time teacher at a night school (Not for salary profile)
2006-2008: > Sales manager with India’s biggest Consumer Goods Company, managing a turnover of US $ 100Mn annually
> Launched one of the biggest consumer goods new product launches in the country gaining 15% market share in 3 months
> Strengthened company’s portfolio by delivering highest growth rate across country in 2 key categories
> Recognized as the best young manager in my company gaining perfect ratings in performance appraisal (Only one in a batch of 40)
> Led a team of 15-20 people for 2 years
2008-2010: > Joined a Big-4 firm as a Consultant in their Advisory services
> Establishing consulting arm of one of the big-4 accounting firms
> Working on Business transformation projects, India entry, Cost Reduction, Strategy design and diversification projects among others (Among the first of its kind in India)
> Currently on a project, where my team is delivering a benefit of $2.5Mn
I also have a working knowledge of Pharmaceutical Industry as I have worked as a summer intern there and traveled to some of the most backward areas of the country.
Community Work:

• Joined National Civil Defense team in my village, helping the administration manage the situation of unrest & problems many time during my 3 years stint (1996-1999). I was rewarded with a chance to join National civil defense college (Again a first in the district)
• Taught in Night school (To ladies and elderly). I still have thank you letters written by people whom I taught how to write
• Part of an NGO to help prostitutes and educate them.
• Part of my company’s environment friendly work efforts

The biggest question on your mind will be, why another MBA?

Well, even after all this; I have not been able to get a flavor of the world. Having the background that I have and believing in the philosophy of “The journey is the reward”, I do not feel that I can be limited and an International MBA is the next challenge to be conquered. An inspiring means, for my envisaged end. I want to expand my horizons, travel all over the world and give back to the world, just an ounce of what it has given to me.

Finance today excites me like no other field and I am itching to make a difference there. Plus my exposure to industry and consulting in manegerial roles have given me that edge in ease of understanding a business model, leadership dynamics, people skills and all this much more easily. Thats why an I Bank or a PE seems to be the best option for me.

Grateful if you can recommend me institutes where my profile can fit in and the exit from there to an I Bank or PE roles is a possibility

Cheers!

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by anandg23

hi jennifer
I have recently got an admit to CUHK. I have info regarding the program and i have also done quite a bit of homework regarding the program before accepting it. I want to a couple of clarifications -
1) How good is doing an MBA from HK in the current scenario considering that the world economy is not playing well.
2) I have gone thru the placement details of CUHK but havent been able to find out properly abt. if you can share some light on it, it will be gr8.
My majors is going to be in Finance cum Investment Banking.


Thanks,
Anand

Hi, Anand. Congratulations on your acceptance. CUHK is certainly a well-renowned program that is growing in international esteem each year (though not as well regarded, it seems, as CEIBS and HKUST). Recruiters seem to think highly of the program, and in my opinion an international MBA education in East Asia is certainly a plus for tomorrow's economy - in which I believe China is supposed to outpace the US by 2015 (if I remember a quote from Fortune magazine correctly).

To find out more details about recruiting, I suggest you do some personal research. First, contact the career counseling office at CUHK for their statistics about the most recent graduating class and find out if students succeeded in finding places in the types of companies you are hoping to join. Second, contact the HR offices of the companies you are hoping to join and ask them about whatever MBA recruiting policies they may have. You should certainly have this type of information before you invest a lot of time and money into a program. Remember too that personal connections that you forge with those companies may pay off later with at least the chance to interview and impress them with your analytical ability and business acumen.

Best of luck,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
jbloom@accepted.com
Accepted - Helping you write your best!

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by paglakahinka

Hi Jennifer,

Will appreciate if you can please evaluate my profile below -

Indian/IT/Male, work ex. 5.5 yrs as of now, decent extra curriculars and good acads, excellent professional exp. with rewards and promotions, handled IT services projects across various industries(finance, retail, CP - distribution), 1.5 yrs international exp., and in a leadership role since the last 2.5 years. GMAT - 770/5.5

Goal - Looking for general mgmt with a focus on operations/SCM as a subject and strategy as a discipline. SCM as a function will enable me to work across industries and a combination of general mgmt+strategy+my tech. background will help me in leading an operations consulting firm one day (for example) or move to a tech. strategy role in a manufacturing firm(for example).

Shortlisted colleges - US - Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, Tuck, Sloan, Yale, Ross. (need to select 5). Outside US - IIM A, IIM C, INSEAD, Oxford, Cambridge.

Queries - Can you please comment on the following -
- my goal,
- the selection of colleges viz-a-viz my goal and profile ?
- colleges which you'll suggest should and should not be there in the above list ?

Thank you so much for your time !

Best Regards.

Hi, Paglakahinka. Unfortunately, I actually still know very little about your chances of admission to most of the programs you mentioned. My sense of the IIM's is that they will be very attracted to your high GMAT score, but the other programs are all interested in details that you omitted from your profile. The programs you mentioned are seeking leaders in thought and action, people who take people who are divided and lack any sense of unified vision, then unite them to propel the entire company or organization forward. If you have managed that type of leadership, then, yes, the schools you listed will certainly be among the schools you should consider. However, if your promotions have put you in charge of teams of programmers building solutions - albeit innovative solutions for renowned companies! - then you may have a more difficult time of convincing them of your worthiness.

You may want to consider programs like RSM Erasmus, IE, Purdue, McCombs, Thunderbird, University of Maryland, Owen, and Notre Dame, which I believe have strong supply chain management departments.

Best of luck in your applications,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
jbloom@accepted.com
Accepted - Helping you write your best!

[sameemo]

Hi Jennifer,
I am interested in doing MBA in Sports/Player Managament. This is due to my interest in Soccer. But i don't have an idea as to which institute offers the course and what are the prospects after doing such a course . Can you please help me with this ?


Regards,
Sam

[saurabhsmit2004]

Hi Jennifer,

I aim to do an MBA in the future from some top MBA school.
I have just passed out from college , and have got a job in a financial services company, a US based bank's back office IT arm, as an Analyst.
Simultaneously, I have a full scholarship for an MS in communication and Computer Security in France.Which option shall I chose?
So, that my chances of being accepted in an internationally top B school increase significantly.

My past record is
Class X: 86%
Classs XII: 73%
B.Tech : Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology(200
B.Tech GPA: 8.78/10.

Regards,
saurabhsmit2004

[applicant]

Hi Jenifer,

I wanted your advice on letters of recommendation.
I will be applying to Darden, UNC and ISB for the session starting in 2009, when I will have 4 years of experience.
I have worked at one company for 1 year (straight out of college) and then moved into my current company (one of the big four consulting firm).
My questions:
1. Does a reco from my first company hold much value (since I was just a fresher then)?

2. Does the designation of the recommender matter much? Since asking for a reco from my immediate supervisor (who is a Principal consultant) is a bit dicey, I've asked for the same form another senior member from my team (designation: Senior Consultant). Wanted your opinion about whether that's OK.

3. Who do you think would be a good choice for a second recommender?

Regards,
Applicant

[Shiningthistime]

I will have 5 years of work ex with a Finance -BPO this Nov'08.I am assistant manager and a graduate (B.sc lifescience) Academics not so good infact very avrage,Profile - nothing much. what can i do get upto the mark of making my profile worthwhile and how much the minimum score required for a guy like me to make it to good B-schools like ISb, NUS or may be schools in US and UK.
Would really appreciate !!!