[Accepted]

Originally Posted by cfadelhi

Hi Jennifer,

This is the first message im writing to you. I thank you on behalf of everyone for all the good advice you give.

My situation is as follows :

My profile
GMAT 720 / 4.0 (I dont know how that happened - 4.0,dont know if it makes a huge adverse impact or not)
Class 10 - 84%
Class 12 - 83%
Bachelors in Commerce Honours, Delhi University - First Class / Distinction
Masters in Economics
CFA (US) - Passed Level III
Work Ex - 4 years in Finance, research,decent international exposure, led a team,many sectors, unknown name though.
1 year in a very well known finance company (2 bn$+ revenue)- corporate lending, top tier exposure
Extra-curriculars & Social work-very good(take my word for it,long list)
Good presentation & Communication skills - Debater

Now, I have an admit to the Cambridge MFIN. Want to ask what you think of this option. I want to work in finance and dont want to switch sectors at all. But I feel that maybe this will be a repetetion of the CFA. Though, the Cambridge brand is huge in India (where I would like to return after 3-5 years in the UK), the fact that this is an MFIN and not an MBA may make me somewhat second-rung here.Cant decide if the MFIN will be a value add for me or not. Also, how good do u think the MFIN is for getting a job in financial services, IB or IM in the UK.

Also, please write a line each on what you think of the Oxford MBA, the HEC Paris MBA. (Important Question-Will any or both of these be better than the MFIN for my career,given my background and future goals of working in IB or IM).Also, how good is HEC Paris specifically for finance.Im open to working anywhere.

I appreciate your help.

PLEASE treat this as URGENT. PLEASE.

God Bless
Thanks
CFADELHI

Hi, CFADelhi. Your extensive work experience and CFA do make me wonder what you will get out of the MFin at Cambridge. On the other hand, the MBA will cover some aspects of finance while exposing you to broader business topics in leadership, capturing new markets, etc.
The Oxford and Cambridge MBA programs are very similarly ranked and esteemed. I suggest you compare hiring information available from both programs and speak to recent grads to determine which will offer you the best career options after graduation. HEC Paris is a great program, but I believe it is less well known - and provides less networking power - outside of France.
On a side note, the AWA score has little impact if any on the admissions process, so don't worry about that.

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by frenz

Hello...
Thanx for taking time out to answer so many queries...

My question-
I left my previous job around 7 months back...my supervisor left the organisation a month before me.....would it be ok to take a reco from him ??

Thanks,
Siddharth.

Hi, Siddharth. As long as you worked with that supervisor for at least a year or two, then you can certainly submit a letter from him. The key is for him to discuss specific examples of you performing beyond the norm - it doesn't matter that it was 7 months ago or that he has since left the organization.
Best of luck!
Regards,

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by karansahni

Hi Jennifer,

I just went through a lot of posts and found a lot of useful information.
Needed some help in deciding which B Schools I should be targetting?
Brief Overwire of my profile:

2 Yrs work ex in leading automobile industry in India

Presently - Network planning since 6 Months - Handling entire North region for 6 months.

Channel Partner Management Profile - Monitor control and manage all factors that lead to a profitable business for channel partners and company. In this profile i worked in a 3 member team responsible for the entire North Region. - 18 Months


720 gmat

CGPA - 3.1/4 (Mechanical Engineer from one of the top 10 Colleges in india)

3 Months of internship in Kuwait with Kuwait Airways(2 Months) and Toyota(1 Month)

what should i project in my essays?

Academically strong in School ( 92 and 91 % in 10th Grade and 12th Grade)
Part of NGO which looks after street children
Vice president of school senate, captain of athletic team, executive member of cultural committee in college, winner


How reliable are the FT Rankings?
Placements with a complete career change are top priority for me.
Colleges that I have shortlisted:
Ross
Duke
Kellogg
Booth
UCLA - Anderson
Berkeley - Haas
Australian Graduate school of Management
Nanyang Singapore
Rotterdam Erasmus - Netherlands

Any colleges that I should add or delete?
How much would my chances of getting into these universities change if I added another year of work ex?

Hi, Karansahni. The network planning role is a bit vague to me still. It is a good role if you are planning the business development side and using economic tools to guide the company. For now, I will assume that is what you are doing. If in the 6 months that you have been in this role you have been able to make quantifiable impacts and lead the company in a certain direction, then you could certainly apply now. If you don't have much to show for your efforts, then I suggest you wait a bit more and concentrate on leading the company strategically through this role. This will give you plenty to talk about in your essays later.
Your 10th and 12th results are irrelevant to the MBA admissions process. And the undergrad leadership is only really useful for a year or two after graduation. After that, the programs you listed are interested in hearing about leadership since graduation. So while the 720 GMAT puts you in the running for these programs, I am not yet seeing the type of leadership and impact that they will be looking for in your profile. AGSM, Nanyang, and Erasmus will be easier than the US schools you listed, but you will still need to show them leadership and not just engineering prowess in your applications.
Good luck in the process!
Regards,

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by anotherSeeker

Hi Jennifer!
Thanks for helping out all us aspirants!
I am an engineer from among the top 10 engg colleges in India ( funny how almost everyone posting on most forums have passed out from one of the "top 10 colleges" Looks like there are lots of different ratings out there :P ).
I have a 81% in engg.
84% in 10th.
89% in 12th.
GMAT - 730 ( I took it last year). Q-51,V-38, AWA 5.5
work ex - 3 yrs (will be 4 in 2010)

I didn't apply last year because I thought I'll give the CAT(Indian MBA test), which didn't turn out too good eventually. I've been working in Europe for the past 3 years now. I've also been to the US for a couple of client trips (one of the biggest telecom operators in the US), including once for conducting training sessions for our clients. I really haven't been able to do much other than work in the past 3 years.
Did manage to get involved in some extra-currics while in college - Press & Media co-ordinator for a few big budget college fest, editor of a tech magazine, part of the Placements Committee on campus. Some more organizational posts in events. Was part of the school swimming team and won various prizes.

I've been working in the telecom sector, starting with software development but more of a solutions architect for our client now. I've been involved in one or two application demos for client presentations. Pretty good client interaction. Not officially leading a team, but been handling a project with a few junior members now, including handling budget for the project etc. I think what I've gained most is probably a good in depth knowledge of the telecom billing business, being involved with various business models in telecom.
Ideally, I'd like to move into telecom consulting and I don't see that happening until a few years if i stick to my current job. Hence, hoping the MBA will help me with it. Though, I wouldn't want to close my options while going in for an MBA. So general consulting would be what I'd be aiming for. If not that, then simple business development ( primary advantage being that I would have the opportunity get my hands in marketing and strategy and sales ).

I'm still in the process of shortlisting, but here are a few I've thought of:
ISB
IIMs
NUS
Insead
Darden
Kellogg

The Indian schools and NUS would be where I'd try to concentrate on, primarily because of the lower tuition fees. But I'd like to give a shot at the other schools too. I need to come up with a few more fall back options. I'd appreciate your advice and comments. Do you think I am being too ambitious by applying to Insead or Kellogg with my 'over-represented' profile?

Hi, Seeker. Your statistics are good so I don't think you are being overly ambitious, but I'm just not seeing the type of exceptional leadership and involvement that a place like Kellogg will be seeking. INSEAD will like your European experience and Darden should be a bit less competitive. For all of them, I advise you to tell how you've used your role to help guide your company's direction and how you've adapted and thrived in international environments. I do think that all of the programs will also want to see some more recent community leadership as well.
Regards,

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by austin_writer

Hi Jennifer, I had emailed you a couple of days ago and I said I would post my question on the forum so everyone could benefit. Here is it:

My question is about the McCombs second essay.

The Texas MBA is built around four key pillars of leadership. Describe an experience that you have had that clearly demonstrates your leadership as it relates to one of our four pillars: 1) Responsibility/Integrity; 2) Knowledge/Understanding; 3) Collaborative/Communication; or 4) Worldview of Business and Society.

I have still not completely understood what is expected of applicants here or rather what each pillar stands for in simple terms. Can you help me here? An example for each pillar (this pillar would suit such a candidate) would be great if that can help you explain the concept better.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, Austin. Any pillar can suit any candidate; the key to this essay is to identify one of the experiences from your life in which you were able to make a great impact. When assessing that example, what do you feel made you the most successful? Was it Responsibility/Integrity: your willingness to step up to a role that wasn't really yours but that you felt you could do and/or your maturity to recognize the right thing to do? Was it Knowledge/Understanding: your knowledge, research, and pursuit of information (frankly, I don't think an essay solely about that would be very interesting for the ad com, but I do think that it could be mentioned in the essay)? Was it Collaboration/Communication: your ability to recruit others to your team and motivate them to join and contribute to your mission? Or Worldview: your ability to understand different cultures and backgrounds and integrate that understanding to produce results?
Once you recognize what led you to greatness, you'll have the theme and pillar for the essay.
Good luck with it!
Regards,

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

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[rohitmittal1602]

Hi jennifer,

I am currently B.Tech 3rd year, Comp. Sci and Engg. in NIT Allahabad. I am looking forward to doing MBA from one of the best schools in US or UK. My brief profile is as follows:

10th: 75%
12th: 84%
College Grades: not so good but i am working hard on it. till the end of my engg i expect my CPI to be around 8
Extra Curriculars and achievements: am a part of the organizing committee of one of the National level Knowlege festivals. Have won my prizes in other colleges in dancing. Have won some business events in some of the fests. am the YES!+ president of Allahabad and have organised many AOL courses in Allahabd.


Q: What to add in my profile so that a good G MAT score is the last thing I need?
Q: How much work experience do you suggest is required?
Q: Should the work experience be in management companies or technical companies can also do the job if there is continues progression?

Best Regards,
Rohit Mittal

[cfadelhi]

Dear Jennifer,

Thank you for your views.

Regards

[Zoro]

Hi Jennifer,

I think I just missed an opportunity get your reply by a whisker!!
I was next in line after Austin_Writer and you stopped at Austin_Writer!! :-)

Anyway, I'll wait.

Hope to get the reply from you in next cycle!! :-)

Thanks,
Zoro

[amitdi]

Hi
I have 4 year exp in IT industry working as a support subject mater expert and development team lead. I want to switch to finance.

Following are my academic details:
10th - 86 %
12th - 83 %
B.E IT - 63 %
Recos - Ok
Extra Curricular - Average
Communication - Good

I have appeared for CFA Level 1 in June 2009, results awaited. I am yet to take GMAT. I am looking at MBA Finance/ MS Finance degrees.

Looking at my less exp and non-finance field and not so great extra-curricular, I am ready to settle for not-the-best college. Also, I have some financial constraints, so I am looking at 1-year courses and at upcoming regions like Asia, Aus/NZ, and Europe (Europe minus UK) since these regions are relatively cheaper compared to US/ Canada/ UK. I will prefer to get into college asap, next fall rather than wait.

I have just started doing feasibility study of colleges, so my current knowledge is poor. Considering three scenarios of me getting GMAT scores of 650/700/750, please guide.

[gmanjesh]

Please ignore this post