Hi Puys,I completed my Btech (computer science) in 2011 june and went for cat, expecting 80-90 %.now I have an offer in one MNC company.what should I do now?either one year job in SOFTWARE and then mba or next year mba(rejecting job offer) ,unable to decide and plz tell me difference between 1 year MBA and 2 years mba after 2 years job experience.
My track record
10th-90%(state board)
12th-83.1%(state board)
Btech-65.36%(in an average college)
Mat score :86.23%(composite score:65
I want to join in 6+ l package offered college(finance or any good one).Please suggest me friends.
pls reply me friends

ssk2crazy,

Always a good idea to get a taste of corporate world before doing MBA. At least you will know what you are going after and why. This conviction, when reflected in your essays... makes a compelling application.

You are just getting started in your career. Don't even think about 1 year or 2 year MBA. Think of why MBA first and then aim for the best school that you think you can target to meet your goals. That should be your approach.

MBA Decoder

Hi puys, I'm in dire need of your expert advice. I am just one of those Indian IT Male, having 4 years of experience in the IT industry. I am still stuck with the very basic question, Why MBA? I am not a hardcore techie/developer(I used to be, but not everyone gets good developer friendly projects in the Indian IT industry these days). However, post MBA, I would still prefer to work in the IT industry, most likely as a consultant. My point of concern is, I can join a B-school only in the year 2013. By that time, I'll have over 5 years of experience. Is it good to opt for IT or Operations(or similar) major after having 5+ years of experience? Would it make a significant difference to me financially? The reason I'm asking this is the fact that the salary package offered for these fields is not as lucrative as that in Finance or Marketing. Hence , paying off the education loan would not be that easy. I would request you advice me on the following :
1.) Is it a good time for me to go for MBA?
2.) I'm looking for one-year MBA programmes only, and ISB is what I would target.
3.) Would like your opinion on executive MBA(from IIMs and the like) and INSEAD, as I'm not quite sure if my profile is good enough for these courses.

Rover04,
Why MBA is something that you need to answer for your specific situation. Why one person does an MBA is very different from why some other person does it, as everyone's goals are different. Having said that, one common reason for doing MBA for everyone is that it providers you with the knowledge, the skills, the confidence and the network to reach your goals. For some goals MBA may not be the bridge needed, for instance a developer who wants to continue in that area or a scientist who wantes to continue pursuing research or an entrepreneur who is already putting his/her idea into practice. You need to evaluate the usefulness of MBA for YOUR OWN short and long term goals.

More specifically to your sub-questions:
1) Yes. A 5 year work experience provides you with a solid foundation of work experience to make the best of MBA education
2) That's a choice you are making
3) Executive MBA courses have weekend classes, so one needs to be located in the goegraphical proximity of the school or willing to travel. For your profile, I would suggest a full time MBA, as a big part of the MBA is the overall experience - as much of it is outside the class as is inside.... from our personal experience.

MBA Decoder

my profile: 670/5/2.5 yrs in steel and clean power sector combined/good extracurriculars/10th 90%/12-78%/operations profile

Want to know my chances for the intake of 2012..Which schools should I target? Berkely Haas/IESE are these a possibility?

Sagar, B-schools see your profile in totality, including your undergrad GPA/GMAT score, work progression, career aspirations, the need for an MBA and your fit with the b-school. With the limited information you have given, it is difficult to comment any further. I would say that if you are able to write a strong application, then you would definately be in the race.

One aspect that you should improve upon is the GMAT score. Haas Berkeley's average GMAT is close to 715. Being an Indian male, it would be very competitive for you and a low GMAT score can definately hurt. Therefore, plan out a schedule at this time so that you get ample time to prepare for your GMAT and get it out of the way before you stat writing your applications close to mid- year.

Hope that helps,

MBA Decoder

Hello Sameer,

I need some help in making a choice among the offers I have received from few universities.

My profile is

Personality
24/Male

Education
X - 76%
+1 & +2 - 91%
B.Tech Biotechnology - 72%
M.S. Biotechnology (US) - 3.45/4

GMAT - 710 (Q 49, V39, AWA 5.0)
Work Experience

9 months in R & D in biotech in US.

19 months till date in India as Manager (Operations) in family-operated insurance brokerage.

Extra - Curricular - Consistent since childhood but very limited





Present offers - Queen's, Rotman and HEC Paris.

I also got an offer to attend IESE assessment day, which is a final step before a formal offer. At least 75 % of the students who attend this session make through after this event. So, the dilemma begins HEC vs. IESE vs. Rotman..

adm209 Says

yes i already have an admit from isb and i am trying to figure out whether i should apply to tuck.. in the long term i wnt to setup a business in india (contacts from isb bettter) but would also need capital (more in tuck)..

If you've got India + entrepreneurship plans, I'd go with ISB.

Not sure how you'd get more capital from Tuck. Are you referring to angel funding, business plan competitions etc?

If so, I'd still go with ISB. Because, you'll invest 22 Lakh in the program instead of $160,000. That gives you a (notional) savings of 60 lakhs. And we aren't even considering the opportunity cost.

That's free capital for you, without having to go through cut-throat biz plan competitions. You can invest that money immediately in your business and not have a huge education loan on your head for 10 more years.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

prakash419 Says

Hi, Neo , its not about siding with someone, I have the utmost respect for Sameer and he is a big hearted person who tells the truth and a master consultant.

Prakash-bhai,

I just got my medical report and the doc has confirmed that the size of my heart is normal. What a relief!

I'm glad you've openly shared your views, when most would just take such statements for granted.

When it comes to bschool admissions (or any decisions for that matter), what really matters is the process of independent research and challenging conventional notions. Go in with a strategy that you strongly believe in and you won't be disappointed.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

Hey Guyz,

You are doing an exceptional job of guiding MBA aspirants.
I am engineering graduate having 2.5 years of experience in an Indian IT services company. I will be taking my exams in February 2012. I have following queries, please help me:

1. What are my chances of R3 applications to US B-Schools to apply for Fall 2012?
2. Or, do you suggest me to wait till September 2012 to start applying for 2013 Fall ?
3. Is there any link/web portal with which I can profile colleges, their programs(yrs etc), fee structure and alumnus?

Here is my academic Background:
10th : 91%
12th : 85%
Engineering graduate in Computer Science with an aggregate of 60%

Please guide me with above queries.
Thanks...

prakash419 Says

but we will be fooling ourselves to think that this post diploma work will carry same weightage as post degree one. In US , evrybody works during school or prior to degree.

You are getting hung up on the technicality of post-degree-work-ex. I'm talking about the quality with the assumption being that Dipss has worked at the same job full-time and shown career-progression. Let us be honest here and admit that unless you have a top-notch degree, 7/10 jobs are IT-related and your degree has no relevance to your job.

Consider a simple scenario - A typical IT professional today, 4yr Engg degree ->IT job ->First 2years - Software Engg -> Next 3yrs - Senior Software Engg + career Progression.

WillyWonka-> Diploma ->2yrs IT Work -> 3yr graduation degree + continued work-ex in same company -> Career Progression.

When WillyWonka applies, is he going to say " Oh, i only graduated 3yrs ago and was directly at senior software engg level? I hope not! He has to show that he's been there for 5years (b-schools love Stability) and consequently recos from bosses are relevant because they've known him for 5years.

I would agree with Sameer on this one. While schools "technically" define work-ex as post any-degree, the assumption is that the pre-degree work is usually part-time or one that doesn't involve long-term dedication, growth and responsibilities and manager-harassment and all the other good stuff However, if the person has worked full-time for 5years no less and has shown career-progression and work-place achievements, then it is a proper full-time job worth bragging about.

There are any number of reasons one can give for completing a diploma - the most common one being - "I wanted to study Engg but my family couldn't afford a full 4yr degree hence a diploma and now see i've worked hard and long for 5yrs and achieved so much" spin that a whole lot better than what i've done and you have an amazing story on hand.

Would Steve Jobs have put down 0yrs of work-ex because he never earned a degree? Of course not! the QUALITY of his work is all that matters. Dipss does have a graduation degree and if he's earned it while working full-time, that's more than atleast 70% of us have done.

Hi, Neo , its not about siding with someone, I have the utmost respect for Sameer and he is a big hearted person who tells the truth and a master consultant. I am not taking any side with or against anyone, but we will be fooling ourselves to think that this post diploma work will carry same weightage as post degree one. In US , evrybody works during school or prior to degree , yes sometimes full time for some months or even years bcoz their parents dont pay their fees, but those experiences , though considered are not same as post degree work exp. I hope I cleared my point , but anyway work exp is just a small part , even LBS admitted some fresh enginers from India.

prakash419 Says

With utmost respect to Sameer , I diagree. colleges clearly mention that your experience has to be post degree , at least a bachelors is considered a degree.

I would agree with Sameer on this one. While schools "technically" define work-ex as post any-degree, the assumption is that the pre-degree work is usually part-time or one that doesn't involve long-term dedication, growth and responsibilities and manager-harassment and all the other good stuff However, if the person has worked full-time for 5years no less and has shown career-progression and work-place achievements, then it is a proper full-time job worth bragging about.

There are any number of reasons one can give for completing a diploma - the most common one being - "I wanted to study Engg but my family couldn't afford a full 4yr degree hence a diploma and now see i've worked hard and long for 5yrs and achieved so much" spin that a whole lot better than what i've done and you have an amazing story on hand.

Would Steve Jobs have put down 0yrs of work-ex because he never earned a degree? Of course not! the QUALITY of his work is all that matters. Dipss does have a graduation degree and if he's earned it while working full-time, that's more than atleast 70% of us have done.

If the experience has been on a full-time basis, you were getting a salary and you were causing as much pain to your bosses and clients as anybody else in a comparable role, then I'd say there's no reason why it shouldn't be considered on par with others with similar work-ex.

If you bring out the accomplishments in your application and demonstrate that you've done more than your peers, you'd get credit for it.

- More pain?

With utmost respect to Sameer , I diagree. colleges clearly mention that your experience has to be post degree , at least a bachelors is considered a degree.

Hi Puys,I completed my Btech (computer science) in 2011 june and went for cat, expecting 80-90 %.now I have an offer in one MNC company.what should I do now?either one year job in SOFTWARE and then mba or next year mba(rejecting job offer) ,unable to decide and plz tell me difference between 1 year MBA and 2 years mba after 2 years job experience.
My track record
10th-90%(state board)
12th-83.1%(state board)
Btech-65.36%(in an average college)
Mat score :86.23%(composite score:65
I want to join in 6+ l package offered college(finance or any good one).Please suggest me friends.
pls reply me friends

Hi there,

Wishing a happy new year to all members .

I hope you/ the consultants can help me with a crucial decision regarding MIM.

I have recently recieved a 50 % merit award from escp europe for their masters in management program.
Since the beginning i was highly inclined towards the french schools which feature in the top slots in the rankings, however recently i have had doubts about taking up a min. 3 year option for a masters.
I know about escp's brand name. the only hitch is -

1) How much do you think the language will play a role in career search ( French ) ?

2) In the long run, do you think it is really worth spending 3 years ( 2 yeards academic + 1 year compulsory internship ) on a Masters degree and NOT an MBA ?

3) Does anyone have any concrete information about the school's career services, placements- sector wise. avg salary quoted in the web site is decent, but anyone with anything more ?

3) any other top 1 year programs u suggest , apart from LBS/LSE ?

I mean I will be 25- 26 when I start to earn full time.

thanks for your help

abformba

Wish to apply in R-2 with following profile:
------------------------
GMAT-> 660: 48Q / 32V AWA: 5/6
WE (by Aug-Sept'12): 7yrs
Area of WE: Research, Consulting & Advisory (non-IT) / Considerable international experience
Nationality: Indian
Education: Undergrad (Civil Engineering) from Top Engineering School in India, Double Masters and Masters in Management from US
------------------------
Looking for 1 yr MBA programs only (non-internship)

- Post MBA goal is moving to General Management role and Career enhancement
------------------------
Targetting B-schools such as ISB, LBS, JBS, IMD & SAID

Would also like to apply to Kellogg (MS in Mgmnt), INSEAD & IIM-A (PGPX) but not sure about my candidature, possibly will retake GMAT if i don't get through above...

Please advise...

Hi puys, I'm in dire need of your expert advice. I am just one of those Indian IT Male, having 4 years of experience in the IT industry. I am still stuck with the very basic question, Why MBA? I am not a hardcore techie/developer(I used to be, but not everyone gets good developer friendly projects in the Indian IT industry these days). However, post MBA, I would still prefer to work in the IT industry, most likely as a consultant. My point of concern is, I can join a B-school only in the year 2013. By that time, I'll have over 5 years of experience. Is it good to opt for IT or Operations(or similar) major after having 5+ years of experience? Would it make a significant difference to me financially? The reason I'm asking this is the fact that the salary package offered for these fields is not as lucrative as that in Finance or Marketing. Hence , paying off the education loan would not be that easy. I would request you advice me on the following :
1.) Is it a good time for me to go for MBA?
2.) I'm looking for one-year MBA programmes only, and ISB is what I would target.
3.) Would like your opinion on executive MBA(from IIMs and the like) and INSEAD, as I'm not quite sure if my profile is good enough for these courses.

Hi

my profile: 670/5/2.5 yrs in steel and clean power sector combined/good extracurriculars/10th 90%/12-78%/operations profile

Want to know my chances for the intake of 2012..Which schools should I target? Berkely Haas/IESE are these a possibility?

I'm an IIM(Indian IT Male) NIT237802 yrz work ex in India & South Korea

But I'm in software development. Since my colg days, I have an option 2 join Oracle as a Consultant but remuneration is lower than what I'm currently getting. Moreover, career growth is almost non-existent.

GIJoe,

The quality and scope of work you do at every subsequent company should show a clear upward revision.
It's tough to assume that Oracle doesn't have career growth options, specially for their consulting position.
But if you are convinced that there's neither professional or financial upside to making the switch, then why are you considering it? If it's just for the brand name, I'd say that's not a good idea.

Can I rejig my career so as to get into HBS/Wharton/Stanford GSB/INSEAD/IMD/LBS??? Will pegging a Software Development Manager/Program Manager position help? Or r Harvard & Wharton unimpressed by non-IITian Indians?

None of these schools look for 'perfect profiles' that folks can strive for. Everything that you've done so far would matter (acads, work-ex, extra currics, any other accomplishments), not just the last 1-2 years.

& yeah, 1 more thing, jab ladka ladki ek samaan hain, toh ladkiyon ko preference kyun? Unfair hai!

Waise toh nationalities, industries aur roles bhi ek samaan hain, sirji. But in the interest of diversity and having multiple perspectives in the class, Adcoms give preference to anyone who can bring in that variety. So given all aspects being equal among 2 candidates, the one who brings in a better diversity factor will have an advantage.

Having said that, please don't do anything drastic to stand out. But if you can launch a million dollar business and sell it off to bigger player, Harvard won't mind.

- Sameer
Founder MBA Crystal Ball

Hi Puys,I completed my Btech (computer science) in 2011 june and went for cat, expecting 80-90 %.now I have an offer in one MNC company.what should I do now?either one year job in SOFTWARE and then mba or next year mba(rejecting job offer) ,unable to decide and plz tell me difference between 1 year MBA and 2 years mba after 2 years job experience.
My track record
10th-90%(state board)
12th-83.1%(state board)
Btech-65.36%(in an average college)
Mat score :86.23%(composite score:65
I want to join in 6+ l package offered college(finance or any good one).Please suggest me friends.

can anyone please suggest me about gmat preparations n universities in the US n UK accepting students widout work experience???

yes i already have an admit from isb and i am trying to figure out whether i should apply to tuck.. in the long term i wnt to setup a business in india (contacts from isb bettter) but would also need capital (more in tuck)..

Assuming the following things...which one do u think i should chose - Dartmouth Tuck or ISB?

1. I am equally inclined towards us and india..maybe slightly more towards us as i would prefer a us based job..n then startup in india in a few years time...

2. i will be able to afford isb fees... tuck with a stretch after taking loan..

3. post mba goal is consulting

Have you got admission to any of these schools or are just trying to figure out?

In my opinion, both are great programs. For many people US/ India would be the deciding factor, but it does not seem like a major factor in your case.

I would think that Tuck is a great program for general management and has a number of courses for strategy& consulting. They have a highly cohesive community, so if you like to live like one big family, then it will be a perfect place. Additionally you will find more diversity (for nationalities) at Tuck.

ISB's advantages are the one year program, having a great name in India and they place maximum of their students in the consulting industry or consulting function. If you are already in India, you can plan a visit to the campus and get a feel for it. That can help you decide.

Eventually, the network from any B-school will matter more than the money you spend to be there, so think of the longer term benefit of being an alum of a particular b-school.

Hope that helps.

Namita at MBA Decoder

I am interested in applying for MSc. in Management/M.S. in Engineering Management in US or Europe but only in top 10-15 repute schools like LSE, Cornell, Northwest etc.

Despicable,

You seem interested in acquiring a masters degree in management. So, why MS and not MBA from a top school. Please explain, so it helps me to answer your question. Thanks!

dear consultants

Assuming the following things...which one do u think i should chose - Dartmouth Tuck or ISB?

1. I am equally inclined towards us and india..maybe slightly more towards us as i would prefer a us based job..n then startup in india in a few years time...

2. i will be able to afford isb fees... tuck with a stretch after taking loan..

3. post mba goal is consulting

Waiting for your opinions..

Regards

Dear Consultants,

I'd like to get your opinion on the success rate of Indian applicants this year at top US Schools (lets say 5 - 20). I've heard from a few people and picked up hints from gmatclub that the competition among Indian applicants is especially high this year. I've also heard that schools like Duke may be cutting down on their intake of Indians.

Have any of you picked up any such trends or experienced this with any of the applicants you have worked with.

Thanks

Thanks Sameer,

Can you highlight a little more on this point and probably if look for 2014 as my entry time, what schools can I hope for with my profile.

Bharat,

Your profile will be substantially different in 2-3 years. Plus your expectations from an MBA will also evolve over these years.

It would be tough to pinpoint at this stage what school would fit your future profile and ambitions as there are too many variable parameters right now.

So I had suggested that you focus on giving it your best at work. In parallel, keep learning about schools, careers and the application process.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

Hi,

Thank you for fielding questions. I have a query regarding ISB. Specifically, is it worth attending ISB Mohali in it's first year of functioning? If not, what do I do if I get ISB Mohali, do you see any way of changing it to Hyderabad?

From my knowledge, you do get to rotate between the two campuses in the 3rd and 4th core terms. Other than that, core modules are to be the same at both campuses.

As Mohali campus would offer specialization in certain concentrations (healthcare and manufacturing) which would not be offered at Hyderbad campus, and Mohali would not offer the IT and Operations major, there is bound to be some movement again during the Elective phase.

If you want to change the location altogether, the best people to tell you this will be ISB admission's team themselves.

Other than that, ISB has promised to keep the Mohali campus at the same level of quality as the Hyd. location, so in my opinion, it is definately worth it to attend the Mohali campus

MBA Decoder

Hi puys, plz help in evaluating my profile

I'm an IIM(Indian IT Male) NIT23|7802 yrz work ex in India & South Korea

But I'm in software development. Since my colg days, I have an option 2 join Oracle as a Consultant but remuneration is lower than what I'm currently getting. Moreover, career growth is almost non-existent.

Can I rejig my career so as to get into HBS/Wharton/Stanford GSB/INSEAD/IMD/LBS??? Will pegging a Software Development Manager/Program Manager position help? Or r Harvard & Wharton unimpressed by non-IITian Indians?


& yeah, 1 more thing, jab ladka ladki ek samaan hain, toh ladkiyon ko preference kyun? Unfair hai!

Plzzz reply. Thanks in advance!

Hi,

Thank you for fielding questions. I have a query regarding ISB. Specifically, is it worth attending ISB Mohali in it's first year of functioning? If not, what do I do if I get ISB Mohali, do you see any way of changing it to Hyderabad?

Thanks in advance

shubhamjaiswal,

You have not mentioned what your career goals are and why you want the MBA. While a lot of professionals want an additional degree, it should also help you in achieving something - for instance an all round knowledge in business, that helps you take on roles where client interaction is required for meeting their business objectives ( I guess currently your objectives are associated with meeting technological requirements of clients). Therefore it is necessary to understand what your career goals are and if its an MBA that will help you achieve them. Your choice of b-school will also depend on these answers.

While your CAT, GATE, SNAP scores will not be used for global MBA programs- its going to be GMAT, which I guess you will be taking. I would like to add that its very competitive for Indian applicants as there are so many of them applying - therefore a high score helps in tilting the balance in your favour. If you can get more than 650, it will be great.

MBA Decoder

well i want to do an mba in finance. i know i need releant experience which i dont have but still can u tell me what college can i get admisiion yo?

Hi ,
This is my first step in my quest to MBA .
My quest to ace The GMAT and land up in a top tier school had just been a dream due to various family reasons .
Its Now or Never that I nail it this time .
I'm planning to take the GMAT by Jun 2012 and aim to score 730+ .I have a decent academics of 85 in X CBSE , 92 in Xll and 77 in my Engineering (Mechatronics) - Anna university .
My career though has been a roller Coaster .Started my career with Cognizant (Campus recruit) as programmer Analyst in Data warehousing and Business Intelligence but had to resign due to family emergency after 14 months and had to complete a Dad's small construction business project . It was hard time returning back to the job market as I was caught in the IT slump,and got in to a Mortgage Bpo for an underwriting process and worked there for 15 months.Currently working in a Investment banking back end in a Major financial house for the last thirteen months .My total Work Ex as of now is 42 months .
As far as my Extra curriculars are concerned ,I had been a district cricket player during school and I had presented a number of papers in technical symposiums during my engineering.I'm also part of my company's CSR activity and had been teaching Kids of class IXth and X for the last 6 months(4 hrs during weekends) which has started to yield results .
Sorry for this elaborate write up as I wanted to portray the exact scenario.
I'm looking in to top tier MBA's and funds are of major concern (Shoe String budget) .I have done a lil bit of research and most of the legacy top tier schools are out of my reach just cos of funds.I'm looking into 1 year MBA in the 2013 and have short listed
1.Vlerick Leuven , Gent , Belgium
2.NTU
2.ISB
3.Cranfield MBA
4.Warwick MBA
5.SP Jain Global MBA.
Most of the top tier US school are out of my reach due to fees.
It would be great to have your feedback in terms of my profile as well as the B -schools that I have shortlisted .Please suggest me other alternatives (schools) as well .
I wish to make a career in Investment Banking -Research in the long run. Being a typical middle class my first priority is to land in a job as soon as I finish my MBA (finding a job within the first 90 days),with a good value addition to my profile.I stress on this part as its a tricky and risky situation for me and I need to play my cards right.
Your valuable inputs are much appreciated
My Apologies for this lengthyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy post.
Thanks A Ton!
@Mod Neo - oops for being for starting a new thread and not editing the post ..Peace out:cheers:

Hi,

Please comment about the fee waivers/scholarships awarded both at the US and non-US B-schools.

What is maximum percentage of fee waiver given at the top schools?

Also, please share the global rankings for MBA in Marketing.


Many thanks
Radhika

Thanks Sameer. I would like to continue working in Consulting and would specifically want to target strategy consulting firms. Considering that I have lack of international work ex, I am looking forward to working outside India for sometime.
:

All the right reasons to choose INSEAD.

It'll always be a challenge to get international jobs from India. A little easier the other way round, in case the situation arises.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

shubhamjaiswal Says

Can you tell us ur profile and work ex. I too want to apply. CAn't narrow out on my choice. WIll give GMAT in the near future. Also what was ur score.

My profile is

Xth - 76%, Inter (+1 and +2) - 90.3%
UG - 71.4% in Biotech
PG - 3.45/4 in Biotech in US
Work Exp - 9 months in biotech research in US, 19 months in India in family business (insurance)
GMAT - 710
EC - Moderate but consistent since childhood.
Applied to ISB, Queen's, Rotman, IESE, HEC and Nanyang. Interview calls from all except Nanyang till now. ISB was a flop show. But rest seem to be working well.

I need help to make a decision about Queen's before January 12, 2012.

Puys need ur help!!!

10th marks-80%
12th Marks-81%
I have done my engineering frm RV College of Engg-70%(E&C;)
I have certificates(nothing extra-ordinary)
Few games winner and runners up(Winner basket ball festos, winner of mad ads, winner swimming(school), winner dance comp(fest) and few here and there )
Sport and Gaming Head Of college and departmental fest.
almost 1&1/2 yrs of work exp as System Engineer in Infosys.

I want to do an MBA frm abroad.
Can u suggest me an institute to which i should i apply?
I will get above 95% in CAT also this time..
Didn't get throught IIFT, no snap 2012 also.


It will be really helpful if could give me any other options.
Criticism welcomed!!!
If i give GMAT i'm sure i'll get above 650..

shubhamjaiswal,

You have not mentioned what your career goals are and why you want the MBA. While a lot of professionals want an additional degree, it should also help you in achieving something - for instance an all round knowledge in business, that helps you take on roles where client interaction is required for meeting their business objectives ( I guess currently your objectives are associated with meeting technological requirements of clients). Therefore it is necessary to understand what your career goals are and if its an MBA that will help you achieve them. Your choice of b-school will also depend on these answers.

While your CAT, GATE, SNAP scores will not be used for global MBA programs- its going to be GMAT, which I guess you will be taking. I would like to add that its very competitive for Indian applicants as there are so many of them applying - therefore a high score helps in tilting the balance in your favour. If you can get more than 650, it will be great.

MBA Decoder

Thanks Sameer,

Can you highlight a little more on this point and probably if look for 2014 as my entry time, what schools can I hope for with my profile.

Bharat,
By next year, at the time of applications you'd have 1.5 yrs work-ex, which would be relatively lower than the average for most of the top bschools.

So unless you are sure that you'd be able to show accomplishments that the others with more experience will talk about, I'd say keep working on building the profile.

Apply only when you are confident that you can take on the global (not just Indian) competition.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

Congrats on the double admit, Kushagra!

What are your post-MBA plans? Your choice should be driven by that.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

Thanks Sameer. I would like to continue working in Consulting and would specifically want to target strategy consulting firms. Considering that I have lack of international work ex, I am looking forward to working outside India for sometime.

My concern is, does ISB place well internationally? (into strategy consulting)
Considering the bleak economic condition in Europe. it is a good idea to invest in a European MBA program?

THanks!

My profile is as follows:

1) GMAT - 760
2) Undergrad - 66% (B.A. Economics Honours, LSR)
3) 12th - 93%
4) 10th - 89%
5) Decent ECA
6) 5 week internship at CNBC

Work Experience: 1.5 yrs(till date) - Commodities Trading

I am interested in pursuing MBA with a specialization in finance. From some of the posts I've gone through on PG it seems that 2-3 yrs experience for international bschools seems to be less. Also, what if the experience you have is something like commodities trading where there are no projects or teamwork which you can go on about in your essays? My concern is that after college & until I apply I would not have been involved in any extra curricular activities or social ventures etc. Will this be a big factor that will be considered in my application?

I wish to apply for Fall 2013 by when I will have 3 yrs of work ex. What schools should I be targeting in US & UK? (My undergrad degree is 3 yrs so will that be an issue for US schools)

Mam,

Thanks, again, for the help.
I will surely try to follow the advice.

Thanks
Haresh

Get this thing cleared well, because the average GMAT at HBS is close to 730 and it never hurts to get 20 points more than the class average. You have the time to prepare on your side.

Other than this, HBS values achievers - people who have achieved substantially at work or in the community and those who have showed leadership potential.

To make your profile stronger for applying next year, you can continue to look out for opportunities at work where you get a chance to make a positive impact and where you stretch yourself to learn and do new things.

If you are already not active with extra curricular activities, get going on that front as well - you can pursue your passions outside work or get involved in community....and let this not be the type that you do just to create an impression...do it passionately.

MBA Decoder

Awesome consultants,

i have been following PG posts for more than an year now but have registered today having woken up to realise tht i need something about my career now.

i have one question - what do ppl do to get into the US top 10-15(apart from GMAT)? i mean if u want to get into iits u crack the jee

i realize the answer is not so straightforward here, but there s got to be some pointers. i also realize that u might have answered it earlier, but i seemed to have overlooked it, PG forum being so huge. in that case pls copy paste it here.

about me - IT graduate working in a US bank for the last 2 and a half years(thats my total experience) based in India.
acads
10th -89% ICSE 2003
12th - 86 % CBSE 2005
b.tech - 2009 NIT

i dont need anyone to evaluate my profile but do people like me have a chance? how long is this process going to take considering i am yet to take GMAT

thanks, i m really trying to find my feet here.

kushagra452 Says

Need to decide between INSEAD and ISB admits. Any suggestions puys?

Congrats on the double admit, Kushagra!

What are your post-MBA plans? Your choice should be driven by that.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

I am looking towards pursuing MBA from US in 2013 batch.
:
Work-Ex: Currently working as Associate in MarketRx (6 months now);
:

Bharat,
By next year, at the time of applications you'd have 1.5 yrs work-ex, which would be relatively lower than the average for most of the top bschools.

So unless you are sure that you'd be able to show accomplishments that the others with more experience will talk about, I'd say keep working on building the profile.

Apply only when you are confident that you can take on the global (not just Indian) competition.

- Sameer
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball

Hello,

I got my offer package from Queen's university in Canada few
days back with a 5000 canadian dollar scholarship. However, within 2 days i got
an invite from IESE to attend their assessment day, which is the final
step before an offer. I have heard that 90-95% of the students who attend this event get an offer. So, I'm optimistic that I can get into IESE.

Now, the tough choice is to pick between these two universities. Ranking wise, i
feel IESE is better but economically canada is better for placements.
I need a professional's opinion on this issue. I need to make my choice before
jan 12 for Queen's and by feb 15 for IESE. I'm from insurance
background. So, europe is better for my industry but present eurozone
crisis is scaring me and I dont know if I might switch my career
during the MBA.

Can you tell us ur profile and work ex. I too want to apply. CAn't narrow out on my choice. WIll give GMAT in the near future. Also what was ur score.

Hello,

I got my offer package from Queen's university in Canada few
days back with a 5000 canadian dollar scholarship. However, within 2 days i got
an invite from IESE to attend their assessment day, which is the final
step before an offer. I have heard that 90-95% of the students who attend this event get an offer. So, I'm optimistic that I can get into IESE.

Now, the tough choice is to pick between these two universities. Ranking wise, i
feel IESE is better but economically canada is better for placements.
I need a professional's opinion on this issue. I need to make my choice before
jan 12 for Queen's and by feb 15 for IESE. I'm from insurance
background. So, europe is better for my industry but present eurozone
crisis is scaring me and I dont know if I might switch my career
during the MBA.

Quick reminder to folks - please wait atleast a week(preferably 2) before reposting your query. Consultants are volunteering their time here so please respect the fact that they may have prior obligations. They do a fantastic job of answering almost everybody so a little patience is much appreciated by all.

Puys need ur help!!!

10th marks-80%
12th Marks-81%
I have done my engineering frm RV College of Engg-70%(E&C;)
I have certificates(nothing extra-ordinary)
Few games winner and runners up(Winner basket ball festos, winner of mad ads, winner swimming(school), winner dance comp(fest) and few here and there )
Sport and Gaming Head Of college and departmental fest.
almost 1&1/2 yrs of work exp as System Engineer in Infosys.

I want to do an MBA frm abroad.
Can u suggest me an institute to which i should i apply?
I will get above 95% in CAT also this time..
Didn't get throught IIFT, no snap 2012 also.


It will be really helpful if could give me any other options.
Criticism welcomed!!!
If i give GMAT i'm sure i'll get above 650..

I guess now my first step should be getting GMAT thing cleared!!!

Get this thing cleared well, because the average GMAT at HBS is close to 730 and it never hurts to get 20 points more than the class average. You have the time to prepare on your side.

Other than this, HBS values achievers - people who have achieved substantially at work or in the community and those who have showed leadership potential.

To make your profile stronger for applying next year, you can continue to look out for opportunities at work where you get a chance to make a positive impact and where you stretch yourself to learn and do new things.

If you are already not active with extra curricular activities, get going on that front as well - you can pursue your passions outside work or get involved in community....and let this not be the type that you do just to create an impression...do it passionately.

MBA Decoder

Hi i am in a big problem regarding admission for my MBA in USA
My resume is weaK as i have just 15 year education and no wor experience but i want to go in September 2012..Also i am pretty late with my GMAT as i have my exam on 20th January...i think i'll geet above 650...What should i do? i Know i am not gonna get a very very good uni but i can compromise with that..Can you tell me the universities which accept 15year education+no wor ex+ my applications in February.

Also i'd like to now if there is anything else related to business which i can do in USA other than the MBA where i have a good chance of a better uni and it has a good value too..Please list the universities and courses for these too...
Thanks

I am a 2010 passout. Got 8 months of expereince. Left the company in order to prepare for CAT, but CAT performance was not as expected. I just need to know should i pursue MBA this year or find a job and try for next year.

Hi Consultants,

I had posted following on 13.12.11 but havent received any reply.
Pl hep me:

Foll are my credentials:

Xth/2004 - 94%, XII/2006 - 84%,
BE in Marine Engg (BITS Pilani)/2010 - CGPA 9.76/10,
GMAT/Dec'11 - 750 (6.0 AWA).
Workex:
01. Full time internship since March'10 in the same company where campus placed. Sailing with one of the largest MNC with exposure to different nationalities.
02. Working as Technical Consultant during sea breaks. Handling power projects at various levels in the industry.
Extracurriculars - Above average - Cadet Captain, Taught at College etc.

I would like to know:
Which B schools I should apply to considering low workex?
How do you rate MSc in Management courses from LBS, MIT Sloan, HEC Paris etc?

Thanks in advance/Axon 321

We have a lot of thrreads for the harvards , the wHartons , the warwicks and the INSEADS of the world where the high flyers can drop in for an MBA !



So which is the b - school tht i shd target [ say , the tier 2 ones ] with a fee structure in the band of say , 1 0l akhs to 15 lakhs and entry requirements not very stringent .

Profile :
========
Working as operations manager for the last 6 yrs with a manufacturing company .
education ;
10 - 75 %
12 th - 71 %

B . tech - mechanical - 59.8 % .

Need to decide between INSEAD and ISB admits. Any suggestions puys?

Thank you.

I had posted a query here ... now its missing !

deleted by mods ? !!

can i post again ?

Hi,

I am looking towards pursuing MBA from US in 2013 batch. Based on my profile can you suggest what level of Schools I can hope for.

Education: IIT Kanpur Dual Degree in Chemical Engg (GPA - B.tech 7/10, M.tech - 8.4/10). 3 Research papers in Chemical with high impact journals, 1 project each in Economic planning and Financial Economics. 2 industrial internships.

Work-Ex: Currently working as Associate in MarketRx (6 months now); A pharmaceutical consulting firm on client facing end.

GMAT: Haven't taken up yet, but hopeful of > 730 based on aptitude papers and CAT scores.

Mam,

Thanks for the reply.

I guess now my first step should be getting GMAT thing cleared!!!

About the school I really want to study at, Its Harvard , any special suggestion for that? (Again, asking this as I have got year in my hand.)

Anyway thanks again for the time and reply.

Haresh

1. How fair are my chances in Ivy-8 school? if not what else I need to add in my profile? (as I have got around 1 year)

Haresh, To answer your questions:

1. Your chances are good as you have the right concoction of ingredients - strong academic foundation, solid work ex, demonstrable (important) community contribution and an aspiration to do more with life (your MBA attempt). A great application can be stitched together by strategically selecting and highlighting various stories from this raw material.

2. Except few financial obligation (Probably loan for this venture) and exposure to international work culture, I do not have any reason to stay in the foreign country (at least as of now!!!) and will prefer to work in India, so what all will be my options to work in India with the mentioned area of interest?

Two primary options: First, strategy consulting work with a top tier firm such as McKinsey, Bain, Booz or BCG. Two, Corporate job in strategic planning function in a company or a conglomerate, preferably connected to your industry expertise.

3. How big is the "financing your MBA" issue for Top 10 schools?

Many top-tier schools have a tie-up with local banks. For instance, my partner at MBA Decoder took a loan from HSBC London. Every LBS admit is eligible for a loan from HSBC London as part of the arrangement between the bank and the school. Indian banks also lend to students going to study abroad. And, the interest is tax deductible. Check :: Credila's Education Loan India Web Site ::

4. Any other suggestion about any other option I can look for.

Focus on the schools that you REALLY want to study at. Financing will follow. Target 5 schools at least, so that you are hedging your admission, financing and other risks.

namita at MBA Decoder

Sameer saaheb I don't know how should I thank you. Your replies and advice will be very very helpful! Infact now I am even more confident about applying all thanks to you. Keep up the good work. Thank you very much. I will keep you posted about any further queries I might have. Dhanyawaad

Hi..

MyProfile
MBA - IIM Indore
11 Year Work Experience (Ex Nestle & DLF)

Currently Working as Head - Corporate Marketing in a Real Estate Firm..

I am Keen to Apply for Executive Program in Stanford Graduate School of Business.. Fee Approx $30k for 2 month program..

I am intrested to know if the executive program offered at stanford will be valuable to my profile or do i consider other programs.. which one will you recommend? pls provide the details.. i have started making applications.. your advice will be too valuable..

Thanks & Regards

tusharnangnure Says

No I don't have an MBA already from India. Its just a 1 year part time PGD course in Finance.

Thanks for clarifying. My suggestion for having a strong rationale to go there doesn't change. Somewhere in there you mentioned that you want to continue with your startup. Ensure that the 2 year break will accelerate the process, not slow it down.

You've also mentioned that you 'won't mind' working abroad. Unless you have a strong plan to land a job there, it'll be more a question of 'won't mind coming back to India'. Probably I'm misinterpreting the semantics here.

I am reapplying to one of the schools so can i send the same LOR with the same content and same recommenders as i did for them last year?

The reason I said that's not a good idea is because it gives the impression that there hasn't been much change from the last application or you are just looking at it as a tick mark on the list to reduce work. Neither of those is good, specially when you are a reapplicant. Go with fresh recos.

About professional LOR i had asked the univ representatives @ the Qs mba tour, they had said...

Jab miyaan biwi raazi... But I'm still wondering how those schools are going to judge your business potential. Another reason that makes me a little unsure about the choice of schools.

Will doing an MBA from lower ranked colleges be beneficial for me?

The ranking of the school isn't as important as what you are expecting from it. There are many low or unranked schools that may be able to give you what you want. Just makes it a little tougher to find those gems as many are small and have little info about them available in the public domain. So independent review and analysis becomes very critical (like you have done I presume).

Also the two state universities...have credible standing in placements and internships during MBA. I have particularly chosen these universities on the basis of curriculum i will be studying there.

If you've done your research about these schools like placements, quality of teaching etc, then go for it.

More than fees or scholarships or rankings I think the content I will be studying is more important to me. Is my vision correct? Or do i need to consider any other factors as well?

As Dhanush would ask..Vision correct-u? Yes, that's a good start. Content of the program is one of the critical factors. The others are quality of your peers in class, the learning and career opportunities available to you on campus and outside, brand value of the school, your overall expectations from the program.

- SK

Hi,

I would like to have your opinion on my profile and chances to get a call from ISB.

Education - Masters in Computers
Percentage - 65 % (10th), 63 % (12th), 62 %(Grad), 70 % (Post Grad)
Experience - 2.5 yrs Marketing experience before Post Grad
7 yrs experience in IT after Post Grad
Age - 34
Work - Working in a Team Lead role

GMAT - 700

Associated with our company's cultural group and participate in some of their social events as and when it is feasible.

Your opinion would be a great help !

Hi
I am an IT professional with 6 years experience in MNCs and have got admission to Swedish business schools for executive management programme.
Could any one reply if they are worthy of pursuing..given the current economic scenario in Europe

Thanks a lot