‘Ask’ HKUST B-school, Hong Kong: Admissions-related thread hosted by current students

[pitbull]

Originally Posted by isb2009

First of all thanks a ton for helping multitudes of curious minds like mine on the HKUST MBA program.
Work Ex:

• 2 yrs experience in credit risk management with Citibank
• 1.5 yrs experience in post deal M&A integration with Deloitte

Acads:

• Masters in Quantitative Economics from ISI (a top school for post grad in Eco alongwith Delhi School of Economics)
• Bachelors in Economics from Presidency College

EC
Involved with a children's NGO for the last 4 years. Currently helping them reorganise and ensure adequate funding for further expansionPost MBA I'll be looking to make a transition to either pre deal roles in M&A or to PE kind of roles.

How difficult do you foresee that transition will be?

Awaiting your reply. Thanks in advance for your reply.

Hi, You have a great profile. You should also project a strong reason for you to choose HK, over other schools/ geog. Also, with your current experience, you can directly try and apply to PE companies [even without MBA]-the transition is not diff. This would be a big barrier for you to cross as the MBA-adcom will ponder over the reason for a second masters. Also, start your applications early.

I m working for the PE div of a Pvt Bank and I m not even a FIN major, HK has loads of PE firms, both international [Asia-Pacif HQ] and local. No school can assure you an exact job/industry [indian schools are an exception], your ability to network is vital, esp in PE industry. All the best.


_________________________________

Welcome: My hearty welcome to the current batch of MBA students [class of 2010] to HKUST! 6 Indians, 92 students, 23 nationalities.... more on this later. I also have the duty to find a 'successor' for taking up this role and hopefully offer a torchlight to prospective students.

Farewell: My classmates are leaving me, one by one. They are heading to their respective exchange schools to finish off the final term. All the best.

Watch out for Randhir, he is in Beijing and is enjoying Olympics.

[isb2009]

Originally Posted by pitbull

Hi, You have a great profile. You should also project a strong reason for you to choose HK, over other schools/ geog. Also, with your current experience, you can directly try and apply to PE companies [even without MBA]-the transition is not diff. This would be a big barrier for you to cross as the MBA-adcom will ponder over the reason for a second masters. Also, start your applications early.

I m working for the PE div of a Pvt Bank and I m not even a FIN major, HK has loads of PE firms, both international [Asia-Pacif HQ] and local. No school can assure you an exact job/industry [indian schools are an exception], your ability to network is vital, esp in PE industry. All the best.


_________________________________

Welcome: My hearty welcome to the current batch of MBA students [class of 2010] to HKUST! 6 Indians, 92 students, 23 nationalities.... more on this later. I also have the duty to find a 'successor' for taking up this role and hopefully offer a torchlight to prospective students.

Farewell: My classmates are leaving me, one by one. They are heading to their respective exchange schools to finish off the final term. All the best.

Watch out for Randhir, he is in Beijing and is enjoying Olympics.

__________________________________________________ _____________

Thanks a ton Pitbull for the encouragement.

As far as the Indian market goes its quite difficult to beak into a PE firm without a degree from one of the top b schools. I was coming from there.

I am extremely interested in gaining knowledge about the PE industry in APAC markets, more so in places like HK and Singapore. Any idea how do I go about it? Also, as you pointed out is it possible to make a transition to the PE sector without an MBA / M Fin degree?

[mbaqueries]

Dear Randhir and Pratap, thanks for this wonderful thread.

I applied last year to HKUST but dint receive any communication from their side about a ding/ admit.

Anyway I’m glad I didn’t coz I went on to secure a job with a leading pan-emerging markets PE firm and I’m getting some fabulous learning here. I am looking at a MBA next yr, esp a fast paced program such as HKUST, INSEAD, ISB, NUS as I want to continue in this sector. MBA is important at this stage as I have limited growth in my current role and will stagnate by next year.

Work ex –
1yr – investment banking
9 months – consultant, helping out my brother in his entrepreneurial venture
1.5 yrs (by july 2009) –PE

Lots of extra currics, university topper
Gmat – 660
Pls note my questions –
1. I read on this thread that international work is an important factor in evaluating candidates. I do not have any intl work ex. However I have traveled abroad to around 9 countries. Would this be of any significance?
2. Does HKUST encourage re-applicants?
3. Does the adcom provide feedback for rejected candidates?
3. How is the PE market in HK/Singapore for a future post MBA?
4. How difficult is it for a vegetarian to adjust in HK?
5. I understand that Gmat does not hold that much weightage at HKUST as compared to ISB, INSEAD. Is that true?

I read your views on ISB and INSEAD. Could you also pls share ur views on NUS? And could you also suggest any other face paced programs?

Thanks a lot
Regards

[pitbull]

You are right, PE firms keep their staff numbers really small [~10 ppl] and bring in the consultants for temp work. Even with MBA, PE industry is tough nut to crack into as there is minimal industry-academia interaction. You can meet the PE partners/principal in biz plan competitions, tech symposiums as judges/guest speakers. So an MBA wont simply open doors but put you in a pedestal to be noticed.

I got a chance to meet lots of VCs, IBrs during my biz venture competition. HK-Singapore region is the asian hq / central location for most asia oriented PE firms, try with your network. Officially there are approx 2000 PE firms in india, so try applying thru their website. Also, try to get membership of VC/PE industry portals like AVCJ and they provide the email ids of every single PE company/dir/contact. Not a sureshot way, but u can try.

Make sure you have an attractive CV + cover letter that stand out ! Trust me, i had a glitzy cover letter

Originally Posted by isb2009

__________________________________________________ _____________

Thanks a ton Pitbull for the encouragement.

As far as the Indian market goes its quite difficult to beak into a PE firm without a degree from one of the top b schools. I was coming from there.

I am extremely interested in gaining knowledge about the PE industry in APAC markets, more so in places like HK and Singapore. Any idea how do I go about it? Also, as you pointed out is it possible to make a transition to the PE sector without an MBA / M Fin degree?

[pitbull]

Originally Posted by mbaqueries

Dear Randhir and Pratap, thanks for this wonderful thread.

I applied last year to HKUST but dint receive any communication from their side about a ding/ admit.

Anyway I’m glad I didn’t coz I went on to secure a job with a leading pan-emerging markets PE firm and I’m getting some fabulous learning here. I am looking at a MBA next yr, esp a fast paced program such as HKUST, INSEAD, ISB, NUS as I want to continue in this sector. MBA is important at this stage as I have limited growth in my current role and will stagnate by next year.

Work ex –
1yr – investment banking
9 months – consultant, helping out my brother in his entrepreneurial venture
1.5 yrs (by july 2009) –PE

Lots of extra currics, university topper
Gmat – 660
Pls note my questions –
1. I read on this thread that international work is an important factor in evaluating candidates. I do not have any intl work ex. However I have traveled abroad to around 9 countries. Would this be of any significance?
2. Does HKUST encourage re-applicants?
3. Does the adcom provide feedback for rejected candidates?
3. How is the PE market in HK/Singapore for a future post MBA?
4. How difficult is it for a vegetarian to adjust in HK?
5. I understand that Gmat does not hold that much weightage at HKUST as compared to ISB, INSEAD. Is that true?

I read your views on ISB and INSEAD. Could you also pls share ur views on NUS? And could you also suggest any other face paced programs?

Thanks a lot
Regards

Hi,
I m glad that you got into PE industry. As for the comm from HKUST adcom, probably they were overwhelmed by the sudden spurt in appl.

My answers
1. Intl work-ex is vital for an 'easy' admit. But the current batch has students who never worked outside home country. Try to talk about the experience / differences you noticed when you travelled outside india ---instead of mentioning the # of countries.
2. I dont know, but you can only make the case stronger by reapplying. Mention what aspect of your profile that has changed, if asked.
3. No, they are really tired now. Prob will need a vacation soon ! Forget about feedback now. You can mail them - but no guarantees.
4. I got my internship through the Career Services Dept, so the PE firms do approach univs. My company is also recrting now, so there are certainly openings, but not many [my company has 7 employees for entire asia]. Language is always a barrier, unless you have a differentiating skill set, or you can convince that you have the passion for the job
4. I m having nightmares ! the current batch of indian students 5/6 are vegetarians. You do get veg food, but you must be the person who adjusts. Esp when you neighbour eats hairy crab and fried scorpions.
5. GMAT~ whats that? Chinese students need ~750, you dont have to worry

I dont do b-school comparisons in public !

[pitbull]

Hi friends, I m not sure if you are aware of this prog conducted by HKUST. It is a masters degree in Finance [dont know why it is called M-of-Science---weird]. It is receiving a lot of attention in the industry as it is conducted by HKUST and NYU. This is more expensive than the FT-MBA, more exclusive, faster too. Try it if your company can sponsor you.


HKUST Master of Science in Global Finance

[p.sharma83]

thanks bosvin for asking these queries.. i have been sifting thro last 32 pages for the same

iam also concerned regarding no pre-MBA wex in FIN and if it could be a hurdle in starting a ibanking career.

[Dreams_are_real]

Hi Pitbull/His Successor,

This is dreams are real. I am insterested in full time MBA in HKUST. my profile.
Eductaion detail: BE Sandwich EEE 5 year course with Industrial Internship 3 years (Manufacturing industry)
Acads: 95.4% in 12th (2nd in school), 9.22/10 in College (3rd in class)
Experience: Cognizant 4+ years (currently in US for last 2 years)
Additional degrees: Certificate in General Insurance (AICPCU/IIA)
Extra curri: Decent (mainly in college, owing to a 5 year course)
GMAT: 660 (Q49, V30) (still looking for the various options on the GMAT front, may be retake, but saw the HKUST website and student profile is 560-700)

Any current students can help me put in evaluating or camparing to existing student profiles.

Thanks,
Dreams are real

[pitbull]

Hey Dreamer: I m quite familiar with your Engg college [ i guess we would even have met in person and shared those old rusty electric motors, i belong to 2003 batch]. Your GMAT is fine ! HKUST doesnt care abt GMAT unless u compete against the chinese applicants. Make sure to convey ur CGPA in either % or [out of 4.0] or explicitly mention 10.0 as the confusion caused may wreck your chances.

World is a small place, as they say. Try to stress your international experience and how it benefited/changed you. Also, the need to come to HK and not do ur course in a US-Bschool closer home.

Another good info: HK job market is going on fine, esp with EU-UK region nose diving in confidence. Loads of students from US/EU bschools are doing internships in the companies in HK.

Do you want to major in finance ? You didnt mention your interests much.

Originally Posted by Dreams_are_real

Hi Pitbull/His Successor,

This is dreams are real. I am insterested in full time MBA in HKUST. my profile.
Eductaion detail: BE Sandwich EEE 5 year course with Industrial Internship 3 years (Manufacturing industry)
Acads: 95.4% in 12th (2nd in school), 9.22/10 in College (3rd in class)
Experience: Cognizant 4+ years (currently in US for last 2 years)
Additional degrees: Certificate in General Insurance (AICPCU/IIA)
Extra curri: Decent (mainly in college, owing to a 5 year course)
GMAT: 660 (Q49, V30) (still looking for the various options on the GMAT front, may be retake, but saw the HKUST website and student profile is 560-700)

Any current students can help me put in evaluating or camparing to existing student profiles.

Thanks,
Dreams are real

[pitbull]

Originally Posted by p.sharma83

thanks bosvin for asking these queries.. i have been sifting thro last 32 pages for the same

iam also concerned regarding no pre-MBA wex in FIN and if it could be a hurdle in starting a ibanking career.

In today's scenario, it is tough to get into IB without FIN workex. But, if at all there is a good place, it is either india or china/hk. All the best