[columbia10admit]

Originally Posted by jimmorrison

hey thanks!!!saw that u got thru cornell ...good going!!did u apply to wharton also?

no i didnt and i sort of regret it now didnt think i had a snowball's chance in hell, actually! but then.. i wdve never believed that i wd get through columbia either!
where all are u applying? when are u planning to submit your columbia app?

[jimmorrison]

Originally Posted by columbia10admit

no i didnt and i sort of regret it now didnt think i had a snowball's chance in hell, actually! but then.. i wdve never believed that i wd get through columbia either!
where all are u applying? when are u planning to submit your columbia app?

i got thru cornell,gt,simon and got a reject frm Yale after the IV and have my wharton IV scheduled for tmrw..Columbia is next on the list provided I figure out essay two in time :-)..i guess the cornell admit has made me lazy

[columbia10admit]

Originally Posted by jimmorrison

i got thru cornell,gt,simon and got a reject frm Yale after the IV and have my wharton IV scheduled for tmrw..Columbia is next on the list provided I figure out essay two in time :-)..i guess the cornell admit has made me lazy

yale didnt even bother to interview me :(
but whatever.. columbia's better
and all the very best for tomorrow!! i hope you can quit cornell for better stuff
if u need any more help with the columbia essays let me know..
btw, whats your story - finance or consulting?

[jimmorrison]

thx!!i kinda like cornell what has to offer..frm what i gather cornell is as good as columbia in finance except for the specialized HF and PE placements...but it is the middle of nowhere:sad:....thats my major motivation for columbia and ofcourse the added benefits of living in NYC ...story still undecided but I would say 60:40 in favour of finance.

[columbia10admit]

Originally Posted by jimmorrison

thx!!i kinda like cornell what has to offer..frm what i gather cornell is as good as columbia in finance except for the specialized HF and PE placements...but it is the middle of nowhere:sad:....thats my major motivation for columbia and ofcourse the added benefits of living in NYC ...story still undecided but I would say 60:40 in favour of finance.

HEY!! maybe i havent really started at columbia yet but No Way is columbia only-a-bit-better than cornell theyre in different leagues and i dont care what bizweek says!!
see most of my wkexp has been in ibanking.. so im not talking through my hat at least for banking.. the number of ppl on wall st. is Way more for columbia than for cornell!
a good way of getting street gyaan is at bankersball.com ..granted thats just a blog, but their rankings for bschools with most ibank alum is more or less correct.

but besides banking/ other fin, maybe i'd agree. columbia is not so great for consulting, although the NYC edge.. adds tremendous value.

besides: who wants to live in ithaca?

[columbia10admit]

Hi,

have tried to answer your questions as much as possible, you'll find them in blue under your lines. but before i can actually be of productive help to you, i'd like to ask you a few questions if you dont mind. i think these questions will be tough, but the adcoms will want these answers too!
- i assume that you knew what you wanted to do when you applied for the sales job post your mba. why do you want to do finance now - its a complete reversal! what makes you change your mind?
- why did you do an mba if you didnt know what you wanted to do? why didnt you work first, get to know your mind and then apply?
- basically you'll sound very, very confused... if you tell them what you told me. it comes across as a guy who did engineering (different from marketing AND finance), then did his mba without knowing what he really felt passionately about and what he wanted to do, then got into marketing - and in two years wants to shift into something he has never done before and something that is vastly different from anything he's done before.. it will look to them as if you're one very confused guy!

you need to first figure out where you are headed, and more importantly WHY.. what do you like to do, what are your strengths, why are you doing whatever you are.. once you have solid, concrete and Logical answers to these questions, you can convice anyone.. but you need to be clear first.
i'm sorry if i sound rude... and you may well have a good plan.. but you havent told me the plan and im just going to answer based on the information you have given me and what i derive from it.. please send me replies to these questions and i'll try my best to help
if you'd like, just PM me instead of posting here.

Originally Posted by thedevilgod

I need to know, if it is possible for someone from Sales and Marketing Background to fall in love with Finance and now wanting to switch over to finance for various reasons like interest in subject, clarity of subject, need of it as an enabler for future growth?
- sure. anything's possible. but what you have to explain is.. is it Logical?? all this stuff - "interest in subject, clarity of subject, need of it as an enabler for future growth" - this is very vague! interest you can have in anything.. i may be interested in cricket.. but do i need to study about it? and you dont need finance for further growth if you're in sales and thats the career you have chosen, isn't it?
(hey, here's an idea - what do you need marketing AND finance for?? simple - entrepreneurship!! bschools love that word work with that idea! maybe you can say something like wanting to start your own business? think about it, maybe..)

My Profile: MBA from top 15B Schools in India. Working with a top Consumer Goods organization and making decent money with 2 years of work ex. GMAT is 750. Computer Engineering grad with heavy Extra curriculars and Community service.
- your profile otherwise looks great you can show growth and leadership and everything.. so thats sorted

The problem is, Sales and marketing though dynamic in nature has not as much vastness as finance and coming into business has made me appreciate the value of Finance and the value it adds to an organizaion.
I intend to move to Finance for roles in Private Equity and I-Banking.
- like i said.. you need to have a solid reason for why... and also why you didnt move right after your mba. you see, a million people want to get into banking and PE its got that glamour attached to it, right? and the money! so you need to convince them that you're not just into it cos if that!

Two question based on this:
1. Does Applying to columbia makes a sense, as in will they consider my profile?
- sure, they consider everybody! its up to you to convince them.
honest advice though: columbia has a one-year core. which means that all students do the same basic courses in the first year (with some differences, lets not get into that now). point is - you like everyone else will need to do the same basic courses in marketing! now how will you convince a bschool you need those courses when you've already done an mba?? toughie... on the other hand, try schools like chicago, which have a very flexible system - at chicago you can start electives from day one! chicago sees many indians with mbas, coming into class.. its going to be slightly easier for you to convince them, not columbia. do your research on this one - many schools so a firm NO to second mbas!

2. How good is Columbia for I-BAnking and PE Careers?
- oh this is a silly question!! columbia is THE ONLY ivy league in NYC!! that says it all!
jokes apart, it really IS awesome. download the emplyment report for 2007, thats got everything you need to know. historically more than 50% of the class has done some form or corporate fin (M&A, other ibankign included).
PE is tought to get in from anywhere. and h/w/s shd give you a better shot (like they always do!) but columbia has a huge alum network in PE and have recently started a wonderful program called the PE Pathway by this awesome prof (laura somebody. look the name up, ive forgotten) .. bottom line, for what you're targetting - columbia is one of the best programs in the world

Thanks and Regards

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/business/career/employmentreport/

i know i've been harsh in this post.. and im sorry! but please understand, these doubts are going to occur to Any adcom.. im certainly NOT saying you wont make it to the top bschools! im just saying that there are things you need to address before you are going to be a perfect candidate
good luck! and feel free to PM me or post if you have more questions.

[columbia10admit]

posting an email i got:

I am a US MBA aspirant. I would like to know how much would it cost to get a MBA from Columbia, including tuition, stay, etc. Does the school provide assistantships to students???
If not, How do u go about applying for loans, etc.??

Columbia is one hefty investment i can tell u that but its an investment... the NY location costs but i think in the long term it pays off. if a broke person like me (and trust me, im Very broke) can pull it off, anyone can...
Columbia gives loans without co-signors. It gives need-based loans to US citizens only. Students can apply for fellowships and in the second year, for giving tutorials.
But when I applied i assumed i wouldnt get anything at all. the loan is given based on Columbia's estimate of a moderate lifestyle for 9 months. the second year will cost you about the same thing.
im quoting directly from teh website:
The estimated student budget for the 2008-2009 academic year is listed below. This is a nine month budget for the academic year from September to May (summer not included). The budget reflects the cost of living in New York City and is based on a moderate student lifestyle.

Students who are married with a spouse/partner unable to work and contribute to the household may appeal the budget with the appropriate documentation once school begins in September. Appeals are not an entitlement and can be turned down by the Appeals Committee. We are willing to hear any case but expect that you live within your student means and use judgment and caution before incurring additional expenses as they may not be covered. Please note that the fees are prescribed by statute and subject to change at the discretion of the University's Board of Trustees. Tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 academic year are not ratified until July.
2008-2009 Estimated Student Budget
Cost Categories Student
Tuition (0—21 pts / term) $46,000
Mandatory Fees* $2,237
Health services & insurance $2,306
Books and supplies $900
Room and board $19,440
Personal expenses (clothing, transportation, loan fees, etc.) $4,230
First Year Total Budget $75,113
* Includes casebook, computing, and first-year student activity/preterm fees.
Students may incur additional costs not included in the budget above and should prepare accordingly. Examples include:
- Comprehensive medical insurance;
- Study Tours;
- Medical expenses not covered by insurance;
- Optional activity fees, for example, club dues and event costs.
The room and board budget breakdown is as follows:
Room - $12,240 ($1,360 per month)
Board - $5,850 ($650 per month)
Utilities - $1,350 ($150 per month)

I know this sounds like a lot, but you should assume that with the jobs columbia gets you, you can pay it off in three years MAX. (i know ibankers who have paid it off in 1.5 - 2!)
so dont worry.. the investment pays off

about applying for the loan... well i'll tell u that in detail once i have the loan in hand. right now im still figuring out the paperwork.
good luck!

[jimmorrison]

hey!!

did u send the transcripts before submitting the app or is the template enuf?

Regards,

[columbia10admit]

Originally Posted by jimmorrison

hey!!

did u send the transcripts before submitting the app or is the template enuf?

Regards,

the template (which they call 'self reported transcript' should be quite enough. You may have a problem with the GPA section if you did your undergrad in india, though - I did.

[columbia10admit]

an email i got and its reply:

Hi,

I passed out from NIT, Surat with 68% aggregate. I used to be the coordinator of both the cultural as well as technical festivals of our college. Also won a couple of awards at the technical event. And ofcourse, was a member of National Service Scheme for the four years of my duration.

After college, I joined TCS and worked there for 16 months. The job profile was typical of IT domain. worked at the client side, customizing an ERP solution package. Nothing out of the world. In 2006, I joined SAIL as a Management Trainee. Currently a Junior Manager in the IT department of Durgapur Steel Plant (one of the five integrated steel plants of SAIL). I manage the entire network of the plant and have one person reporting directly to me, several others indirectly. I was awarded the Talent Award in SAIL.

I am also a CFA L2 candidate. For the past two years, I am also involved with an NGO, acting as its PR Executive. Hobbies include reading books and playing computer games. GMAT score - 750.

Now, I know my profile doesn't have any WOW factor about it.

firstly, please dont assume that nobody's life is very exciting (unless you're a supermodel or a firefighter - in which case i'd ask why you wanted to app to bschool!) you have to learn to sell yourself; see stories in your life. for example, you said you were in the NSS for 4years and then joined an NGO in PR. now.. was there something out of those SIX years (long time!) that touched your heart? that made you think? did you do something there that affected someone's life? you see in general it may sound boring.. 'i joined this NGO and did x y z work' but if you break it down - 'i worked on the delhi railway station where i met this 8year old who was on drugs. seeing children like him gave me a new perspective on my life and the opportunities i have had. i have worked for the last six years to affect change in those kid's lives. i have had a few successes; that one kid is now educated and works in a steel plant'
you see?? thats a story right there spend an hour thinking and you will come up with something too..
same goes for the other aspects of your life!for example - you didnt study much in college. now youre a geek getting 750 how did that happen? what changed? thats another story! see man.. your life Is pretty interesting

1) So, the first question is can essays make that much of a difference? Do I realistically speaking, still have a chance at the top schools in US? I know the global answer but still have you had any friends who have made it on the basis of their essays. Do you have any idea about the profiles of other students selected from India in Columbia?

in my opinion - essays are THE most important. i got thru columbia with a below avg gmat score, below avg gpa, below avg wkexp and im the youngest in the class so far. what did i do? write good essays i guess so buddy... im the one who has made it to a pretty good college on the basis of my essays! [i also know a guy at work who got thru darden - his GPA was pretty bad. he still got in.]
um not too many indians at columbia this year.. sad. i think ppl dont like it as much as chicago :( so not many apply!
i am sorry i cant tell you about your chances i simply dont know! but if you really like a school.. please apply. look what happened to me with columbia and if you like columbia, you can just ask me questions and i will definitely try to help

2) One thing I especially liked in your posts was the point made about talking to seniors from the colleges which I intend to apply. Were the websites only source of information or are there some other sources too?

thanks! glad u liked my gyaan
websites are your first starting point. they will have email ids of ppl to contact... get in touch with them.. thats second. then.. call up every person in your phone book - be cheap and ask them if they know anyone you can bug thats three!
dont be shy - just call everyone. be polite, do your research, and mostly they help. [i am helping, right ] if they dont help - what the hell. you tried atleast

3) In the short term I intend to get into consulting and in the long term, I want to start my own firm. Do I have to modify my goals to suit to Columbia?

well columbia isnt exactly a 'consulting' school its got lots of ppl going to consulting but its more known for hard core fin - investment banking, sales and trading.
and PLEASE dont modify!! find a sotry that fits what you have done - something that is believable. do incredible research on it. find one story, and THEN find schools that suit. if you're happy with consulting - thats your story. then look at tuck, kellogg, ross, darden.. schools like that .. if you want to appl to columbia, still dont change your story. tell them why you think columbia is what you want despite it not being so big on consulting.

5) Just an opinion, but if you were in my place, would you have had applied to top schools?

ofcourse!! apply APPLY to a school that you really want to go to bas! dekho i have a pretty regualr profile... but if i hadnt apped at all.. i wouldnt have been going to columbia, no?