[dingcrazy]

Hi Jennifer,

My profile is as below:

Undergrad: MEch engg, 77.6%
GMAT: 690

Work-ex: 2 years (as on date) ; since I'm looking to apply to fall 2010 programs, I think this would be considered 3 years
Industry: Engineering Infrastructure (at one of India's leading engineering and infrastructure majors)
Function: Supply Chain Managment; I've worked in a global strategic sourcing project with Accenture management consultants in my firm
International ex: Worked for 2 months in Shnghai as a Sourcing executive and was involved in supplier negotiations and supplier audits

Leadership: Although its not official, I'm supervising the work of a trainee at the moment, and leading the team based out of India on a day-to-day operational basis

Career goals: Consulting/ business developmet + strategy

I'm looking to apply to schools in the US and Canada; but I'm primarily looking to apply to 2 year programs only; Any thoughts on the schools I'm thinking of -

1. Purdue
2. Texas A&M
3. Rochester
4. Georgiatech
5. Univ of Toronto
6. WP Carey, ASU

Do you think there are any schools I'm missing out on ? Do you think its worth a shot applying to Tepper ?

[Patience2008]

Dear Jennifer

I am looking for one year MBA (2010) from global good ranking B-School with scholarship offer.

My profile is:
GMAT: 730
B.Tech. (from 'non IIT/ NIT' college): 74%
XII: 75%
X: 84.4%

Indian IT female: 3 yrs of work exp in SAP-BI from Satyam Computer Services.
Extra Curriculars: Very Good (Sports, Dance)
Leadership Positions: Team Leader(IT), Event Organizer (in college), Choreographer, Secretary and Class representative (in school )
Voluntary Services: Decent
Internships: Decent (in Communication area)
No International Exposure (though extensively interacted with clients of 15 European countries)

I am looking for a career shift in non finance domain and preferably will come back to India within one year after completion of program. My budget is maximum 30-32 lacs(after taking loans) therefore I have restricted myself to one year MBAs.

Could you suggest the B Schools where I have good chances to get scholarship and where I should apply?Which one/two year B Schools give scholarship to good percentage of students? I can also opt for 2 year MBA program if the expenses are within this budget.

Thanks for your time and attention.

[Patience2008]

Just a minor correction :I can also opt for 2 year MBA program if the expenses are within this budget.

[yanivins]

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for all the interesting insights you have shared on this forum. I am planning to apply to top US b-schools and wanted to share my profile with you to know who I will be competing against in the applicant pool.

GMAT: 720, AWA: 5.5
Education: BA(H) Economics (from India's elite liberal arts college); MA Economics.
Age: 29
Work experience (current): 3.5
Work experience at the time of joining b-school: 4.5
Current company: Big 4
Job function: strategy and economic research
Extra curricular activity: Average
Future career aspiration: (1) consulting or (2) strategy or general management role in industry
High School: International school in Japan + I.B. Diploma

Based on my profile can you tell me what are my chances at Wharton, Sloan and Kellog. Any other schools I should look at ?

Thanks,
Vinay.

[incrediblylame]

Hi Jen...

Apologies in advance for boring you with the same kind of enquiry...

I'm a 2k8 engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur
Very modest GPA, bare minimum for degree with Honours.
Loads of leadership and extra-academic and organizational activities
Community service, brief social-entrepreneurial experience
A year's experience in Infrastructure development, domestic as well as International.
I haven't appeared for GMAT/GRE yet
Courtesy my low GPA, I have been told I may not stand a good chance at any of the top B Schools, hence, my best shot is appearing for CAT for IIM's, though I do not want to (no disrespect intended ).
However, your kind advice over the same would facilitate an informed decision on my side. Will more quality workX improve my chances by compensating for the academic scores, in case I try for next year's program, or should I start preparing for CAT?

[hedonist81]

Dear Jennifer,

My profile is as below:
10th Class : 87%
12th Class: 95%
B.E. (Hons) Electrical and Electronics & M.Sc (Hons) Physics from one of the top 5 colleges in India. Graduated with around 3.6 (GPA)

GMAT: 700 (Q50 V34) AWA: 6.0
TOFEL: Took this over 5 years ago and got 287/300. Need to re-take TOFEL in the new format

Work Experience: 6 and ½ years by the time I join in 2010.

Work Profile:
I am working as a Project Lead for over 3 years for a major European Chip Design Company, for its Automotive Design Group. I am the Lead Designer for the product and thus, I lead the technical and management of the product design which has defined a new platform of products. I am also, the Project Lead for its derivative product.

As a Project Lead, I handle all issues from project planning, feasibility study, project budgeting, product architecture definition, customer queries etc. The entire project team is based out of 3 different geographical locations across the globe. I manage and co-ordinate the functioning of various teams and align them to the project deadlines and deliverables.

The technical challenges have produced 2 new ideas from my design team which are in the process of being patented by the company.

Before joining the existing company, I worked with an American Chip Design company for 2 years the core design group. Then I moved to the company where I am working now.

International Experience:
I have worked in Belgium for 6 months with a University research lab as part of a collaborative effort between the company and university.

I have visited Austria and Italy numerous times as part of my responsibility as a Project Lead with various product related issues.

I also was one of the two students from my University who was chosen to do a project with a research lab in Italy to work towards my Masters thesis.

My total international exposure has been with teams from over 5 geographical locations and over 2 years.

Other Initiatives:

I have co-founded a Non-profit organization which works towards
a) Developing a democratic platform for children, and
b) For environmental issues in the city

The approach is to sensitize children to the issues of today and help them evolve into responsible citizens of the country.

I am also part of a core group people, a partnership between the Govt. and the civil society. This group works towards spreading awareness about various issues which impact the metropolitan life. This core group has various senior members of the Indian bureaucracy and accomplished members of various NGO.

I have co-authored a paper which has been accepted by an International Journal/Book on sustainable development practices.

Core Focus/ Motivation for an MBA:

As a practicing engineer my approach is scientific. So, I want to be associated with a sector with a technical orientation where I can bring together my engineering bent and my passion for environment and energy efficient solutions.

Thus, post my MBA, I want to work in the energy sector. I think there is scope for enormous innovative solutions which can optimize and make our life efficient. Smart and renewable energy solutions are the need of the hour.

I have identified universities which offer courses and electives where I can study the various aspects of energy and sustainable development.

1)Yale
2)Duke
3)Cornell
4)Northwestern
5)Ross

What are my chances in these universities? Are there any other universities which also offer such courses? Which universities can I assume will be a safe application?

Please advice.

Thank you.

[@nee!]

First of all, thanks for your time and wonderful replies. I am an MBA aspirant and have a few queries. Here, go my details

10th : 85.4%
12th : 92.3%
B-Tech :87.2%

GMAT : Yet to be taken,
Age : 23

Experience: Will complete 2 years this June

Organization: Infosys Technologies
Role : S/W Engr and acting technical lead


Leadership and community services:
1.
a) Was Class Representative during engg for 4 years
b) School Captain
c) Was Sercretary Of Mechanical Engineering Association
2. Trained in BOXING,KARATE
3. Participated and Lead a team of 5 in national Symposiums organised by reputated colleges during Engg.
4. Was head of Personal Relations and Organizer of the Technical Symposium organised by us(my college)
5. Member of ECO club,dealing with environmental based problems.
6. Is a member of Canteen Committee at work place
7. Partcipate in community services organized by my organization.
8. Regular blood donor. Need based as well as in camps(But dont have certificate for all)
9. Joined an NGO and doing good work there.


Awards/Recognition/Certificates:

1. Several awards related to work from my Company.
2. Blood Donationation certificates
3. Won many prizes, certificates from IITs in ROBOTICS competitions conducted at national and international level.
4. Volunteer certificate for organising events in college.
5. Paper Published in International Journal.
6. Diploma in SPANISH. planning for the same in FRENCH


Recommendation Letters:
Have 3 strong Recommendation letters from Superviser, Manager and Lecturer from college(MCA).


My Queries:

1.Could you please let me know the the B Schools out of GLOBAL TOP 30 schools which provide 100% Loan?

2. Suppose, if I get a score of 740 or above then what are my chances in top 20 B-Schools if I target MIT, Chicago, Columbia, Yale, Duke, Tuck, Ross, Boston,? I see my carrer in Sales and Marketing/ Finance.

3. Can you please suggest other reputated schools where my chances are bright?

4. What more can I do to substantiate my profile?

5. Having a work-ex of just 2 years, shall i wait for 1-2 years n get a 3-4 year exp to get into TOP 20 Schools ?

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by Zoro

Hi Jeniffer,

Please help me identify 'stretch' (difficult to get in), 'reach' (fair chance of getting in) and 'safe'(relatively easier to get in) schools from the following list of my targeted schools:
Chicago Booth
Kellogg
Columbia
Tuck
MIT
INSEAD
CMU
ROSS
Darden
Yale

Here is my profile:
Indian/IT/Male Age 29

GMAT: 750(Q51,V40) AWA 5.0

Acads:

• Gold Medal for topping the Mechanical Engineering (from not very well known institution)
• Runner-up at the national Paper Presentation Contest

Work Experience: 8 years

• CRM Consultant with one of the top Indian Software Firms, International Exposure - 2.5 years in US
• Progressed through various roles of increased responsibility.
• Leadership experience of around 5 years. Lead teams of different sizes - last one being 15 members team.
• Currently working as a Pre-Sales Consultant. Played a critical role in winning a 20 M USD deal.
• Leading a community of experts for a particular CRM Product area across the organization
• Editor of the Organization wide News Letter (My own initiative)

Extra-Curriculars:

• While in College, as a member of National service Scheme, lead various initiatives such as Polio immunization, Blood Donation Camps and organizing lecture serieses.
• During the final year, as a core member of Career Services Team, was responsible for generating manifold increase in the job offers at the college.
• Core member of 'Organizing Committe' for College Cultural Festival.(Lead various event committees too)
• Giving back to alma-mater - Mentoring students on Career Service, Higher Education and Industry-Academia connect
• Teaching to under-priviledged children in the slums.

Will really appreciate your help in categorizing these schools, so that I can finalize my shortlist.

Also, I have one doubt - Will my age be a problem (I'll be 30 by the time I join)? I found that for most of the schools average age is between 25 and 27.

Thanks in advance,
zoro

Hi, Zoro. I'm surprised by your list of schools: they are all very competitive in admissions and are thus difficult to rank in difficulty. I suppose I would place Tuck as the most difficult for you and CMU as the least difficult, but I feel very much like I am splitting hairs in that ranking process. Let me explain:
1) Yes, your age is going to be your first challenge. These programs are aimed at professionals who are approximately 27 or 28 when they enter the program. If you are applying at 29, you want to enter at age 30 and graduate at 32. The schools' recruiters are simply not as interested in professionals in their early 30s, so the schools themselves are less interested as well. The exception to this rule is INSEAD, which does remain interested in applicants until their mid-30s.
2) No evidence of community leadership since graduating 8 years ago. This is going to be a big challenge to overcome for all programs but especially the most "community minded" ones like Tuck, Kellogg, and Yale.
I am not saying that you have no chance of admission; I am merely cautioning you to widen the variety of programs to which you are applying and to emphasize the leadership and impact you have had in your career to differentiate yourself from the myriad other applicants.
Good luck in the process!

Regards,

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

Accepted-Helping you write your best!

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by rahul.zutshi

Hey Jennifer,
Thanks for the reply. I have been equally active at my work.
But most of the roles that we execute at our work are not leadership roles.
Most of them are individual tasks mainly catering to some technical component development or validation.

I have been equally active in Sports even after leaving college.

I can project myself as a good team man at work, who always keeps spirit of the team high.

With these Inputs
Can you please suggest me some univ. in US where I can apply for 2010 intake.

Thanks.

Well, unfortunately, technical development and validation are not what the b-schools are looking for. You'll need to find evidence of your leadership in other arenas instead: the community, sports, etc. Since you only graduated 3 years ago, you can still mention college leadership as well, so it seems you should have a fighting chance at the schools you mentioned.
Best of luck with the applications!
Regards,

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

Accepted-Helping you write your best!

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by 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

Hi, Rohit. The top b-schools are interested in students with 3 to 5 years of work experience. The type of company isn't necessarily important. What does matter is that you stand out from the crowd - earning promotions and taking on roles that defy the normal rate of progression. In your profile in particular, I would like to see some more leadership and influence on people. Dancing and organizing committees don't offer you the opportunity to truly show that influence much, so I encourage you to seek other leadership roles.

Regards,

Jennifer Bloom, CPRW

Accepted-Helping you write your best!