MBA Fall 2009 Assistance - Profile Evaluations, Essays, Etc.

[URSB]

Hey.. have gone through quite a few posts on PG and basically done a lot of snooping around.. but finally decided to post... Gave my GMAT yesterday.. got a 710 was expecting a little more but anywayz moving along..

Brief profile:

M/23/710/2 yrs of work ex when i apply/BE Computers

Job Profile:

Hardcore corporate sales experience, moved on to marketing strategy... project management(handling 2 projects in different cities).. s/w innovation.. handling a team of sales service guys under me.. coordinating with s/w and h/w teams for a lot of projects.. Lots of tenders/RFP/RFQ experience with tech and commercial feasibility.. SPOC for a complete company IT security audit..

Just some of the main aspects of my profile which involves a lot of general management experience along with operation, project management and above all some strategic planning and innovation product and market wise..

I feel that my work ex is my biggest USP apart from a decent GMAT score and proven academics(Engineering background)


Looking at an MBA in strategy/General management to finally branch into management consulting or the like...

Was wondering if I should consider some of the TOP 10 colleges in the US.. at present looking at the 10 to 20 range with colleges like:

-University of North Carolina
-Purdue
-USC
-Cornell
-Michigan State(cheaper more chance of aid)
-Ohio State
-Georgia Tech(Strong Consulting program, cheap)

IS this a decent set of colleges, should I aim higher.. don't have much time with OCT deadlines not that far away.. Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks,

Uday

[em-bee-a]

Can anybody provide insights as to how to convert Indian scores, percentages into GPA's. am a passout from Mumbai University - Mechanical Engineering and have total average aggregare of 62%.

If any online links are there to do the same, please share.

[chipzip]

@URSB - No expert at this, but just repeating what i keep reading at so many posts:
Your work ex can be categorised into "relevant work ex"
but it's a little less. This may be one are of concern

GMAT score is well above the avg scores for most universities u've mentioned, so shudn't b a problem.

Hope you have good extracurriculars to highlight, which would make ur app stronger.

[URSB]

Hey thanks for the reply... As far as extra curricular activities are concerned..
-Have lots of experience in organizing events during college..
-Was in charge of the entire sports meet 3 out of 4 years in college, this involved interacting and coordinating with various people who were in charge of various sports
Some other which I would rather not bring up on a public forum but involve consulting activities..
-Community service include active participation in developing an Old age home in the City(no certificates)
-Also worked in a little bit of slum development and educating some underprivileged kids

What do u think? Should I push for the Top 10 or stick with 10 to 30...

Thanks,

Uday

[chipzip]

Hey.. You should make sure u highlight these points in ur essays.. They will project u in very good light []
IMO u shud apply to atleast one of the top 10.. ok the strategy is.. if u're desperate to get in this year, then u shud keep most of ur schools safe, but if u're taking a chance, you can apply for some 3-4 top 10 schools.. and if they results dont go ur way, you can apply once again next yr.

Disclaimer: Am no expert at this.. me applying this yr too and have lots and lotsa doubts []

Originally Posted by URSB

Hey thanks for the reply... As far as extra curricular activities are concerned..
-Have lots of experience in organizing events during college..
-Was in charge of the entire sports meet 3 out of 4 years in college, this involved interacting and coordinating with various people who were in charge of various sports
Some other which I would rather not bring up on a public forum but involve consulting activities..
-Community service include active participation in developing an Old age home in the City(no certificates)
-Also worked in a little bit of slum development and educating some underprivileged kids

What do u think? Should I push for the Top 10 or stick with 10 to 30...

Thanks,

Uday

[kunalphanse]

Haven't given the GMAT yet. However, can someone plz comment on my profile. Am planning to apply to Wharton and LBS

B.E - GPA - 3.7/4.0 (Avg Indian school)
M.S - Computers from Univ of Pennsylvania (same as Wharton) - GPA - 3.85
Work Ex - 7 yrs (5 in the US)
Currently working for Lehman Brothers in NYC (Fixed Income analytics/research), since the last 2.5 yrs.
Current title - Asst. VP.
Cleared Series 7/63 exams conducted by NASD for obtaining Registered Rep license for Broker/Dealers in US/NY.
Have also worked for Goldman Sachs in NYC.
Involved in recuritment for Lehman Brothers. Have represented them at Harvard and NYU.

Hoping for 700 + in GMAT.

Thanks,

Kunal.

[ganeshnkulkarni]

Hi Anshul,
I had posted following query in another thread on PG and you had replied to that. Here are the original query-reply:

----
I am a MBA aspirant from India. i am working with a media company from india (>1500 employees) for 2 years now. My work-exp can be rated excellent, haven't appeared for GMAT yet but diagnostic test says I got 670, so I am targetting 720-730 for GMAT. Acads are good and there are extra-curriculars also
i have 3 questions -
1. How much does the employer profile matters during admissions to top schools ?
2. How these b-schools treat a candidate with a few years of gap (which can be justified and was put it to good use), exceptional work-exp of 2-3 years, a lot of extra-curricular and interests other than job or academics?
3. Which set of schools should I target (meaning top 10/ 20-30 / European / US / 1 year / 2 year) so that I stand a good chance of getting in?

Please, give me your valuable guidance.
---
@Ganesh,

Employer profile does make a difference but what matters more is your contribution and growth.

As long as you can explain how the gap fit well into your long term goals you should be fine.

I would say you have a fair chance at top 20 schools.

Anshul
---

I have related queries -
1. Can you suggest the Stretch, Realistic and Safe schools where I can apply? I am looking for General Management specialisation.
2. In Asia-Pacific region (excluding Australia), which are the schools that I can target safely/realistically? [I have CEIBS, HKUST, ISB, NUS, INSEAD Singapore on my mind]
3. @ Doing research on colleges - should I buy the BusinessWeek Insider OR USNews premium subscription? Which one is better?

I hope you will give your guidance on these.
And thanx for your initiative.

[nagpalkunal]

Originally Posted by em-bee-a

Can anybody provide insights as to how to convert Indian scores, percentages into GPA's. am a passout from Mumbai University - Mechanical Engineering and have total average aggregare of 62%.

If any online links are there to do the same, please share.

You don't need to convert your scores. They know our system alright.

Cheers

[mainak2403]

Hi Puys,

Thanks for all the help you guys are offering to new members like me.
I have gone through a lot of posts and threads in this forum and posting my profile here.

Brief profile:

Male/24 with 4 years of experience by Fall 2009.
GMAT 680/(Q47,V36,AWA 5.0)
B.E in Telecommunications : 73%
XII: 72%
X: 80%

Job Profile:

Product development in the field of embedded services using niche technologies and tools.

Last year I applied to colleges in Canada in the second round as all R2 of US colleges were over.

I got admits from Queen's and Rotman's pretty easily. So wondered If I could do better. Don't know if it was a correct decision, but no point thinking over it.

After my decision I want to get admits from good US B-Schools. I have few colleges in mind which are as follows:

1. Berkely
2. Haas
3. Carnegie Mellon
4. Duke
5. Ross
6. Cornell
7. Krannert

I have good extracurricular during my U-grads. I am a member of Greenpeace and actively involved in it.

My short term career goal is to work in a consulting firm and later on I would like to open my own setup dealing with consulting clients.

Which other colleges would you guys suggest me. Should I give GMAT again to bolster my chances or spend more time on my essays and ask my recommenders for good recos?

[sudhir18n]

Hi Anshul and all.. need ur 2 cents on my profile,

Hi all

I am a Chartered Accountant and a Cost Accountant ( both First attempt) by profession, i have around 44 months of workex till now and plan to apply 2 following schools in fall 09.

Giving my GMAT in Aug 08

harvard//wharton/GSB chicago/columbia/NYU stern/ISB/LBS/TUCK

I am also a certified assesor by CII ( confederation of indian industries) and a certified treasury manager by catalyst consulting group.

Work exp

Was into treasury and forex, financial planning and Analysis, derivatives, product control ( from manufacturing company to TOP I banks).
Has around 8 months of international work in whole Europe and Newyork helped in migration of processes from abroad.

Extra curricular/Community service

Was a school leader and college leader.
represented my school and college in inter college cricket

Stated a group called "Mavericks" consisting of all F1 fans . i was the one of the guys who started it in 2000

helped our office staff to effectively use the paper.

Is a member of our society committee which helps in the day 2 day management of things in our apartments,

Community service

worked with an NGO - sponsored by our company, during the Tsunami ( nagapatanam )

Stated a group in our locality to help people understand the effective and efficient usage of water and helped in putting thru a rain water harvesting plant in the locality.

working with underpriveleged children for their rehabilitation and education.

Post MBA goals.

I want to get into front end Investment banking/PE/hedge funds,work in M&A . Hence i want to apply to schools which are good in finance.

Please let me know which are there areas in need to work and how to i stand applying to these schools.