hello sir..i have just joined this forum and hope for some good and helpful advice..as i am very confused at this stage :{..i am currently pursuing my B.E. in computer engineering from mumbai university..i have also secured a job in an IT MNC and plan to work der for 2 years.(as most univ in da US need job exp)
I want to pursue my M.B.A in the U.S. after having worked for about two years.
My first question is(and i think this doubt crops up in evry persons mind who's pursuing an Mba abroad).Is it really worth doin an mba in the US rather den in India.
Secondly,i was confused between da field to choose. mba in international buisness or mba in operations.

cOULD U guide me wid the right choice of field and clear my oder doubts.and plz don say dat concentrate on ur B.E. for now as i have already started preparing for GMAT.

Hi, my question is specifically around age. Iam 37 yrs old with 13 yrs experience in IT Consulting. Currently working as a support manager with my Indian Technology Consulting firm (niche area capital markets) of 10 yrs. I have also worked several years on-site.

I have below average credentials in Graduation. Apart from that I have done GNIIT IN Systems Management (pursued alongside my graduation)

Plan to give GMAT soon (Plan to target good score). Want to apply for fall 2012. And trying to improve my profile with some certifications this year.

My question is, are doors closed for me to do an MBA from a good instituion due to age? How much does age play a role if you want to do an MBA now? I prefer an MBA Abroad. Interested in NYU Stern particularly. Other options are Columbia and ISB.

Could you also suggest some universities where age may not be a factor. I want to go around some colleges close to New York.

Hii consultant.
Thanks for ur generosity for helping us ahead.

Hiiii applicant. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to demonstrate our generosity.

Hmmm... Maamla jama nahi, Rahul-bhai. Too formal, naa?

Always feels nice when applicants check out the former posts and build up a perception about the person answering the questions. Same funda applies to your business and career related interactions. Try to break the ice by doing a little research about who you'd be interacting with. Otherwise a general formal query will get a general formal answer.

Ok. Funda over. Moving on.

Please guide me for admission to courses like MS(Finance) , MS(Quantitative finance) in US universities.

Is it worth pursuing such programme?

What are the credentials required in good universities & benefits after returning back to homeland India.

This thread is for international MBA programs that accept the GMAT (GRE is also becoming popular now). If you are looking at non-MBA options, you could try posting your query here. Our friend Baccardisprite will take good care of you.

But to quickly address the higher level queries. Yes it is worthwhile to pursue these options, but AFTER you have done your homework about what these courses will do to your career (and your bank balance) in the short/medium/long term.

These are in a very specific area and that means it's tough (not impossible) to use it to transition into non-finance areas. So if you are convinced that finance is THE line for you to grow old in, then go for it. Of course, you'd still need to find out about specific schools that you can apply to. A whole lot of universities offer these courses. So keep an eye on the brand, quality and track record of the program.

- Sameer
Prefers being addressed by first name rather than his designation

Hii consultant.
Thanks for ur generosity for helping us ahead.

My profile.
Xth - 83 % ; state board
XIIth - 79 % ; state board
B.E.(Electronics) - 56% aggregate of 8 sems ; From University of mumbai.
Work experience - 1.5 years in marketing & sales ;
Emerson network Power India Pvt Ltd (Electrical company)
- 0.5 yrs in marketing & sales
Geodesic Ltd. (A software Company)


Appeared for GRE last year - 1070
VA - 450
Quant - 620

Please guide me for admission to courses like MS(Finance) , MS(Quantitative finance) in US universities.

Is it worth pursuing such programme?

What are the credentials required in good universities & benefits after returning back to homeland India.

Thanks.

extremely sorry bob! blame it on my ifone!!!! din see the mistake! its 680-43q,40v!!!!i just took it couple of days ago!

Hello Puys,


My queries are as follows
1)Have i done the right thing by quitting the job ,where i did not forsee growth?
2)What is your opinion ,if i take up CGDA job?
3)Is there any glitch in my clarity of thought when i said ,"Well it might add flexibility to me in choosing the subjects while i do MBA ,because if i join this Job , i get knowledge on the accounts as well.If it interests me a lot , then i might take up finance as my career."
4)Or do you suggest to lookout for other private companies , as you want to see students with relevent experience?

.

This is more of a career-related query than an MBA query ;)

I have already said this on PM but want to say this again. Customer Support Engineer is a very operational role and no matter what you say (regarding quality) people are not going to be overly impressed. Secondly you don't have a good chance of doing anything spectacular in a large company so the safer bet is to take your talent to a smaller company. Thirdly Avaya to large government organization for a guy with chutzpah like you would mean jumping from the frying pan to the fire so be careful.

Finally, (and perhaps the most important of all), don't treat jobs only as a stepping stone to doing an MBA. Remember that you have to choose a career not a job so choose one which gives you the opportunity that will fully utilize your talent - without or without an MBA.

Read: http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/career-discussions/4837-jobs-myths-facts-everything-about.html for more Psychod gyaan


Arun - CrackVerbal

hello,

I am very late, I know... but are there any good MBA options still open for me considering a fall admit ??

It is too late for fall admit. You will need to look at 2012.

Arun - CrackVerbal

1) am i doing the right thing by opting to work for 2-3 yrs and then join b school?
2) will my score be valid for that period?
3)As bbm is a 3 yrs course, i am damn sure that i am not eligible for u.s.a univ..so i need some info abt it
4) i don wanna join any univ in uk or oz! pl do let me know abt some other good universities i am eligible for afta 2-3 yrs!
5) im sure if i take up gmat again, my score will be more than 760 plus! will i be able to be eligible for top b schools in the world?

Firstly there is no "682" possible on GMAT. Secondly apne "groan" kyon kiya on earlier post on this page?

Coming to your queries:

1. Work experience is not mandatory but useful in explaining your profile (answers to questions such as leadership/teamwork etc can be difficult without any experience). If you have been stellar at school in terms of extra curriculars or starting your own company etc then you might give it a shot. Read something I wrote about it here:
"Is it in any way possible to get into a top MBA college abroad without any work ex?" | Facebook

2. GMAT score is valid for 5 years

3. Most places understand 3-year courses so don't worry too much on this. Best is to check with the individual schools before you apply. 99% of them accept it though.

4. You don't want to go to UK or OZ but where do you want to go?

5. 760 on re-take? I like your confidence However GMAT scores are no guarantees of an admission.

Arun - CrackVerbal

Sir,

I want to know, whether experience certificate is also required for applying in ISB. I have not switched my job and have a work ex of 3 years. I do not want to inform my company regarding applying for ISB.



Thanx in advance

Work experience certificate is not required upfront. You need to get recommendation letters from work - if you are able to do that then well & good. No need to inform (officially) no one does that. But hopefully you can get some supervisor to write the reco letters

Now to answer your queries:


1. Switching roles is a normal aspiration from an MBA. If you are not able to articulate you might want professional help from a consultant.

2. Different profiles that too in a PSU is pretty good - adds diversity and certainly won't hinder your chances.

3. EC is desirable but not a factor that by itself can keep you out.

4. Don't worry about 4.5 - the 720 is more important.


Arun - CrackVerbal

Hi,


Question:
1) where do you see me fitting in terms of school choice as per my career interests & my overall profile.
2) 1st MBA- what is the impact of my 1st MBA? positive or negative?

Hope to hear back soon. Thanks.

Firstly don't worry about the second MBA part. Schools in the US are aware of how Indians end up doing an MBA without experience. The message in your application has to be about "re-tooling" - about how you now know more to want an MBA to better equip yourself. However this story/message has to be pretty cogent since mostly MBAs don't teach "new" stuff.

Secondly your post-MBA goals of consulting - since you are in marketing (brand management), wouldn't it make sense for you to stick to your core competence? Just a thought.


Arun - CrackVerbal

passed out 2009.. working for Huawei Telecommunications,

Hello Puys,

Presently aged about24 years ,completed my BE with good academic qualifications in Electronics and communications Engineering.
I have passed out from GOOD COLLEGE in 2009 and then right away joined ,a premier telecommunications industry.
To be honest , i had performed exceedingly well in the organisations ,solving critical business communication problems apart from playing an Incident Management role ,where i deal with end customer management and pacify the escalations whenever their business is impacting due to our products.I have also played role in expanding my team with new talent and setting up labs and so on.All this is done in 2 years.
But the main worrying factor is there is no growth in this industry .My designation is "Customer support engineer".When i think of 5 years down the line i would become "Customer support engineer 2".I dont want to see myself on that role in 5 years ,as i do not think it would not fetch any value to my profile .This is the reason why i have quit my Job last week.

Fortunately , i have a job in hand from Central government in the defence sector.The organisation is CGDA(Controller general of defence accounts) ,The job relates with Pay and accounts of the defence sector apart from providing financial advices to the project deals of the military.Sounds interesting.Well it might add flexibility to me in choosing the subjects while i do MBA ,because if i join this Job , i get knowledge on the accounts as well.If it interests me a lot , then i might take up finance as my career.

Also iam on the lookout for jobs in private organisations which has value in what i do.

My queries are as follows
1)Have i done the right thing by quitting the job ,where i did not forsee growth?
2)What is your opinion ,if i take up CGDA job?
3)Is there any glitch in my clarity of thought when i said ,"Well it might add flexibility to me in choosing the subjects while i do MBA ,because if i join this Job , i get knowledge on the accounts as well.If it interests me a lot , then i might take up finance as my career."
4)Or do you suggest to lookout for other private companies , as you want to see students with relevent experience?

.

So i would like your judgement to see and assess me in terms of experience/decision that i have taken


My academic qualifications:
Xth---75
12th-96
BE -83

Experience -2 years of QUALITY experience in AVAYA (Telecom industry).2009-2011
I have got calls from XLRI and FMS last year but cud not convert them.
I am sure of bagging good score in GMAT this yr ,but this decision is still haunting me.
Kindly advice

Hi,

Sharing with you my profile, just wanted to take your perspective on what are the right schools I should target and overall chances of getting through them.

GMAT: 740

UG: BE from University of Delhi; 67% (don't have GPA but for perspective this is about top 30% of the batch)

PG: MBA(majors Marketing) from an IIM, GPA 6.5/9, again can't convert to a standard GPA.

Work Exp: Working in a large FMCG as an Assistant Brand Manager for 2 years, handling 5 countries and an overall business of about $50 Million. Based outside india.

Extra Currics: Very Strong leadership through out 6 years of college. At IIM was the was the elected head of the entire students body representing 600 students.
Have headed teams of varying sizes from 2-100 for different student led activities such as National level Cultural Festivals in both colleges involving more than 2000-3000 participants from across the country. Headed the IEEE students chapter during Engineering.

Motivation for 2nd MBA:
1) 1st MBA without Workex hence while I able to learn new concepts was not able to appreciate it due to lack of work ex
2) Need a much more global & diverse group to learn with vs. what I got at IIM.
3) Career wise I see myself in a top Management consulting firm to broaden my experience in terms of both industry & problem; also finally heading big organisations in the long term.

Question:
1) where do you see me fitting in terms of school choice as per my career interests & my overall profile.
2) 1st MBA- what is the impact of my 1st MBA? positive or negative?

Hope to hear back soon. Thanks.

Hey Remember,

Have a very similar profile to yours: UG from DU, PGDBM from IIM, FMCG for 3 yrs and now handling imports in africa. OK, so the last part is not very similar, but still.

From what i learned in the discussions here, it is not too uncommon to do a second MBA, and it is better to do it earlier rather than later. someone recommended doing it before the barrier of 30 is breached.

When do you plan to give gmat? and in case it is not too personal, what campus and what company??

Hello everyone! this is sudhir ! im in the final yr bbm!was always a gmat aspirant frm past 3 yrs! some guy decieved me as i din know even a skeleton of info abt universities abroad! he told me to take gmat now itslef as the application process start 2 yrs ahead ! lol! so i took it ! he even told me they dont need work exp! so i gave a shot to gmat! got a score of 682 and an ielts score of 8.5 ! now everyones tellin me to work for 2 yrs and then join a b school! have so many questions to shoot at !
1) am i doing the right thing by opting to work for 2-3 yrs and then join b school?
2) will my score be valid for that period?
3)As bbm is a 3 yrs course, i am damn sure that i am not eligible for u.s.a univ..so i need some info abt it
4) i don wanna join any univ in uk or oz! pl do let me know abt some other good universities i am eligible for afta 2-3 yrs!
5) im sure if i take up gmat again, my score will be more than 760 plus! will i be able to be eligible for top b schools in the world?

Sir,

I want to know, whether experience certificate is also required for applying in ISB. I have not switched my job and have a work ex of 3 years. I do not want to inform my company regarding applying for ISB.

After MBA, I want to switch my field, I am finding a bit difficult to explain this in the 2nd essay of ISB (Where u find urself after 3 years of doing MBA from ISB?).

I belong to oil sector that to a PSU company, however in my company, I have worked in two very different profiles. Will it minimize my chances of getting a call from ISB?

I do not have a strong EC apart from some participations in my college. How much important is this factor?

My score in GMAT is 720, but AWA is 4.5 only (Is it a big problem?)

Thanx in advance

Hi,

Sharing with you my profile, just wanted to take your perspective on what are the right schools I should target and overall chances of getting through them.

GMAT: 740

UG: BE from University of Delhi; 67% (don't have GPA but for perspective this is about top 30% of the batch)

PG: MBA(majors Marketing) from an IIM, GPA 6.5/9, again can't convert to a standard GPA.

Work Exp: Working in a large FMCG as an Assistant Brand Manager for 2 years, handling 5 countries and an overall business of about $50 Million. Based outside india.

Extra Currics: Very Strong leadership through out 6 years of college. At IIM was the was the elected head of the entire students body representing 600 students.
Have headed teams of varying sizes from 2-100 for different student led activities such as National level Cultural Festivals in both colleges involving more than 2000-3000 participants from across the country. Headed the IEEE students chapter during Engineering.

Motivation for 2nd MBA:
1) 1st MBA without Workex hence while I able to learn new concepts was not able to appreciate it due to lack of work ex
2) Need a much more global & diverse group to learn with vs. what I got at IIM.
3) Career wise I see myself in a top Management consulting firm to broaden my experience in terms of both industry & problem; also finally heading big organisations in the long term.

Question:
1) where do you see me fitting in terms of school choice as per my career interests & my overall profile.
2) 1st MBA- what is the impact of my 1st MBA? positive or negative?

Hope to hear back soon. Thanks.

Yogi_007 Says

I understand that the avg age in MBA program is 28 but is 32 too old to be in a top MBA program? Thanks.

For many top schools, you'd be above the average. But if you have the right reasons for attending a top MBA program, can choose the right programs and can put in a strong application, you will have a chance.

- Sameer
Late bloomer

hello,

I am very late, I know... but are there any good MBA options still open for me considering a fall admit ??

My profile

650 GMAT
6.0 AWA
4 year work ex (entrepreneurial 3 years out of this)
10th & 12th 83% & 86% respectively...

please guide

thanks in advance

i hav got 2200 AIR ...can i expect any decent college in mumbai.........plz help

Hi,

I understand that the avg age in MBA program is 28 but is 32 too old to be in a top MBA program? Thanks.

I secured State rank as 3009 in mah mba cet and my university rank is 2083. Which colleges should i try for?

Ritesh-bhai,

Don't assume we're going to hold back our punches just because you ordered the MBA MAP

Having said that I have to admit...pretty strong profile you've got there.
.....

If the schools say Yes, then there should be absolutely NO discrimination between your 760 and another 760 that is more recent.

If they say no, then you have 2 choices:
- drop the school from your list
- rush through the GMAT process again at the last minute

Neither of the last 2 is a pleasant situation to be in. So I'd suggest shooting off those emails right now.

Btw, Kauffman Foundation is a fantastic place to do an internship for someone with your aspirations. I'm not sure about the 10 week program though. It may give you brownie points, but won't be the same as getting into their highly competitive internship program.

I've got some stuff to share with you about your other details. But as you've already placed your MAP order on the PG shop, no point in going overboard here. We'll tackle the details in a structured manner once we initiate the process and we've had a chance to test out your essay writing and interviewing skills. You should have received the MBA MAP Starter Kit in your inbox.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

Sameer Sir

Agar punches se bachna hota, to I wouldn't have ordered MAP.. I guess its better to get bruised right now than later..

Most of the schools do have a question in their Admissions FAQ section about "How long is the GMAT score valid?" and all the schools I am targeting have the answer as 5 years.. I think IIMs have the 3 year criterion for their 1 year program. Worst case, I'll have to drop IIMs from the list. I'll still go ahead and drop rest of the schools emails to cross verfiy.

And thanks for your kind words, about my profile. As for the Kauffman thing, it was more of a workshop for Idea to Business Plan, not the internship.. anyways, brownies are always good. I am still working on the MAP essays.. Hope to finish them soon, and get more feedback from your side..

Best regards,
Ritesh

Hi Arun/Sameer ,

Could you please let me know what is the minimum GMAT score I should be targeting for getting into ISB 2012 batch? here is my profile

Short Answer: 750+

Long Answer:
The "minimum" GMAT score theory has the following assumptions (GMAT CR):

1. You can score more than that but want to limit your score as long as it meets the "sufficiency" criterion.

2. With enough time, and effort GMAT scores increase linearly to investment (again of time and effort).

3. ISB has a specific GMAT score above which you will be selected, and below which you will be rejected.

I wish to break the "bad" news that all of the above assumptions are WRONG

Hope this helps,

Arun - CrackVerbal

Hello

I am Siddharth. I am currently pursuing Masters in Telecommunications at George Mason University, US. I have a GPA of 3.4 and will be graduating in May 2012. Would be working for 2-3 years before I apply for MBA. I would like to know which Universities should I target for and how should I be preparing to get into top 10 Universities.

Bhai - though I appreciate your proactive interest you are way too early. Since the main reason to do an MBA is job-related my advice is to first start working. Once you have a few years of experience below your belt you can further understand WHY an MBA will help you. Then you can decide, WHERE, WHEN, and HOW.

The schools you have mentioned are certainly good but competitive. So a lot will depend on the work experience factors. Frankly EC is fluff compared to what you do at work so ensure you do that well. Some things to note:

1. Build good relationship with superiors - this can help you in your recommendation letters.

2. Try to get out of job promotion - schools are a sucker for fast career progression.

3. Get diverse roles & responsibility - try to show cross-functional exposure.

4. See if you can travel to other countries - cross-cultural exposure is also great.

Once you have done this AND taken the GMAT - revisit us in 2015 we can take it from there

Arun - CrackVerbal

1)ISB
2)SP jain(PGCIM or global MBA)
3)AIM manila
4)some good B-schools in US like wharton
5)INSEAD
6)queen's college canada and other B-schools in canada
7)some good B-schools in UK
some good B-schools in geramny

1. You have pretty much put the entire world here - India, APAC, US, Canada, UK, France, Germany. Bhai toh baaki kya bachaa?

2. Please don't bank on a "scholarship" while planning to finance your MBA.
However with your budget look at Indian schools + maybe APAC.

3. Try to score as high as possible on the GMAT - it will always help your cause in the case of scholarships.

Arun - CrackVerbal

Hi All,


My question is how will the adcoms react to my last one year of experience and What all proof do I need for adcoms ?

Also, I want to go into IT consulting, could you please suggest some good colleges?

If you are into mobile app development then would you able to answer the following questions in the affirmative?

1. If someone googles for your name then would they find you active on the relevant forums? Would they find blogs written by you?

2. Do you maintain a corporate website which talks about how you do business?

3. Do you have a linkedin profile?

4. Do you have customers who would give feedback on how you handled things professionally?

Get the drift?

"IT Consulting" is too generic a post-MBA goal. Any decent school should provide you that career path.

Arun - CrackVerbal

Please suggest me as i am in a big fix right now....
Which one is better----2 yr MBA from average bschool like ubs,nirma,tapmi,fore etc etc or executive mba from gud bschools like sp,great lakes etc etc...

I am asking this because i have got calls from nirma,fore but now confused whhether to take it or go for executive MBA......

My suggestion:

1. A bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush. I think Nirma is a great school. No reason why you should chuck it up.

2. 1 year MBA is NOT executive MBA.

3. You have said nothing about your profile so it is hard to comment.

Note for all - if you require us to provide you with a nice answer then please take some pains to post the questions. Try to walk us through your profile (numbers such as workexp, education, GMAT etc) as well as your specific questions (not "how do I study for the gmat", "how to apply" etc)

Arun - Crackverbal

GMAT - 760 (Q51 V41) - gave in May 2008

1. Work Ex - 66 months till date (more than 78 by next fall) - IBM - SAP Consulting
   
2. Close to 3 years of international experience - US and Germany.
   

:
Can you suggest how my profile looks for these schools. Also, does a 3 year old GMAT score have any disadvantages vs a recent one?

Edit -
After some extensive research, I have decided to take the MBA Crystal Ball MAP dropped an email to mbacrystalball for that.

Thanks
Ritesh

Ritesh-bhai,

Don't assume we're going to hold back our punches just because you ordered the MBA MAP

Having said that I have to admit...pretty strong profile you've got there.

Let's tackle the GMAT query. Technically though the score is valid for 5 years, there are some schools that insist on having a recent score (within 3 years). As you are just on the edge right now, by the time you submit your applications (around end-Sept/early Oct), it'll be well over the 3 yr mark.

Immediately after you read this response (best case) or at least before you start working on your apps for any school (worst case), send across a note to each of them to check if they are ok with the 2008 score. Ideally you should have done this much earlier.

If the schools say Yes, then there should be absolutely NO discrimination between your 760 and another 760 that is more recent.

If they say no, then you have 2 choices:
- drop the school from your list
- rush through the GMAT process again at the last minute

Neither of the last 2 is a pleasant situation to be in. So I'd suggest shooting off those emails right now.

Btw, Kauffman Foundation is a fantastic place to do an internship for someone with your aspirations. I'm not sure about the 10 week program though. It may give you brownie points, but won't be the same as getting into their highly competitive internship program.

I've got some stuff to share with you about your other details. But as you've already placed your MAP order on the PG shop, no point in going overboard here. We'll tackle the details in a structured manner once we initiate the process and we've had a chance to test out your essay writing and interviewing skills. You should have received the MBA MAP Starter Kit in your inbox.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

Hi Arun/Sameer ,

Could you please let me know what is the minimum GMAT score I should be targeting for getting into ISB 2012 batch? here is my profile

Xth: 89%
XIIth : 83%
B.Tech : 7.8/10 ( CGPA )

Work Ex: ( till April 2012 ) 4 years 3 months in Business Intelligence ( IT industry )

Currently working in IT captive unit of a fortune 50 Retail Company

Others: Member of Toastmasters Club for last 2 years

Hello

I am Siddharth. I am currently pursuing Masters in Telecommunications at George Mason University, US. I have a GPA of 3.4 and will be graduating in May 2012. Would be working for 2-3 years before I apply for MBA. I would like to know which Universities should I target for and how should I be preparing to get into top 10 Universities.

I am interested in International Business , entrepreneurship and to some extent in Finance. I did prepare and give my Mock GMAT in which I got 690 (I can definitely make it above 700). So would be glad if people could suggest me which Universities should I keep in mind and what other requirements should I fulfill to get into those Schools. I am interested in Sloan, Cornell-Johnson, Tepper, Haas , Booth , Fuqua-Duke

EC- I am volunteer for AID (Association of India's development)
President, Indian Graduate Students Association, GMU
Administrator, Edulix- A website similar to PG but it deals with Masters

Jumping right in sir.

Sure. That same logic has propelled a whole lot of Indians with considerable work-ex to flock to these programs.

Disadvantages: Everything happens at break-neck speed. Too many things to juggle all at once, internships may or may not be possible at some of these schools.

True. US bschools have a few 1 yr options, but it's mostly a European model. If you go to a good school and have practical goals in mind, the rough patches in the economy can be tackled. Always go in with a worst case plan in mind, but keep hoping for the best.

Language can be an issue in some countries, specially when you start interacting with folks from outside the bschool environment. So a basic working knowledge of the country can be helpful.

MBA MAP rings a bell? :-)

True. Go with the assumption that the top schools will not give you a scholarship. But you could have a good mix of schools that have a decent brand and give generous scholarships.

80L is on the higher side. If you aren't aiming for the top schools, it's probably going to be lower than that. With a nice schol, it becomes much more manageable.

Yes sir. So if you don't have a nice big house to spare, start hunting down chachas, chachis, mamas and mamis in the US.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

thanx a lot... another issue...

with a 700 score... i feel i may not get schol even at avg schools (as what seems from pg posts is that GMAT score plays a major role in schols). So then should i apply to the top 10 b-schools where anyway it's difficult to get schol ???

hi sameer,

work ex:26 months in space reserach sdector as RF engineer in india catering to indian organisations
10+months working presently as co-oridnator in NGO(under ministry of govt)

by the time i take GMAtwhich is buy feb 1st week 2012 i would be having 41 month of work ex(hardcore +NGO)

now the counbtries where i would like to pusrue MBA and colleges in india are
1)ISB
2)SP jain(PGCIM or global MBA)
3)AIM manila
4)some good B-schools in US like wharton
5)INSEAD
6)queen's college canada and other B-schools in canada
7)some good B-schools in UK
some good B-schools in geramny
i will be taking GMAt in m,ocks in scoring 700 so optimistic to get atleast 700 in actual GMAT

now based on my profile where is more likely chances in west to avail scholarships.my maximum busdget is 20-25lakhs INR.would like to know ur suggestions
thanks in advance!
kshitij!

Hi Arun\Sameer

I am currently a senior software engineer in Amdocs, interested to pursue MBA in Finance in 2013\2014. I would like some tips on how to make it to the top Ones.


Extra Currics: Not much to boast about. Was involved in an NGO during engg

Work-ex - 3 years, got promoted 1 year back. 2 certificates
GMAT- Yet to appear. would appear in 2-3 months time. Got 760 in one Mock test. So expecting atleast 730-740

My main concern is I want to switch to Finance but dont have any prior experience. I have written CFA L1 this june
Other than certifications, what else can I do to enhance my chances for a switch?
I can only get a decent job after CFA L2(so need to wait for atleast an year)

Interested mainly in 1.5\2yr MBA
Do I have a realistic chance from any of the top 10 US bschools?

Hey Sameer !!!

An MBA aspirant with 700/ 4.5 on GMAT. Working with Oil PSU for the last 54 months as a Mechanical Engineer.

Jumping right in sir.

I would prefer a 1 year or 16 month MBA to save time & cost... is it logical ??? or any disadvantages ???

Sure. That same logic has propelled a whole lot of Indians with considerable work-ex to flock to these programs.

Disadvantages: Everything happens at break-neck speed. Too many things to juggle all at once, internships may or may not be possible at some of these schools.

But 1 year courses are mostly offered by European Universities... and EU economy is a concern at this point of time. Your thoughts ???

True. US bschools have a few 1 yr options, but it's mostly a European model. If you go to a good school and have practical goals in mind, the rough patches in the economy can be tackled. Always go in with a worst case plan in mind, but keep hoping for the best.

Apart from economy, in a country like netherlands, language is also a concern... as a friend of mine pursuing MBA from erasmus told... and he recommended US or UK as the best places to pursue MBA...

Language can be an issue in some countries, specially when you start interacting with folks from outside the bschool environment. So a basic working knowledge of the country can be helpful.

How to go about school selection... i don't get much time after work... so can't check the specifics of the programs on each individual school's website... plz suggest some alternative...

MBA MAP rings a bell? :-)

Also I am pretty skeptical to apply to the global top 10 like kellogs, LBS etc. as I feel that the probab of getting a scholarship in such schools is much lower and I desperately want one.

True. Go with the assumption that the top schools will not give you a scholarship. But you could have a good mix of schools that have a decent brand and give generous scholarships.

Also please gimme some idea about the total expenditure in a 2 year US program without a scholarship. Is it somwhere around 80 lakh ??? If so, with a personal savings of approx 15 Lakh, how would I manage the finances ???

80L is on the higher side. If you aren't aiming for the top schools, it's probably going to be lower than that. With a nice schol, it becomes much more manageable.

I believe banks require co-signor, collaterals etc.

Yes sir. So if you don't have a nice big house to spare, start hunting down chachas, chachis, mamas and mamis in the US.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

Hello all,

This is my first post on any MBA abroad thread. I wish to apply for the fall 2012 batch of MBA abroad and also ISB hyderabad. I've started my GMAT prep and am planning to give it in sept. (latest by 20th). I'd prepared for CAT seriosly so i guess that should help me in getting a good gmat score. Presently i've been waitlisted in xlri(bm) at 55 but see little hope. My profile is as below.

10th: 82%
12th: 65%
b.e.: 56%
workex: 2yrs, Hindalco industries (will complete 3yrs in aug, 2012).
extracurrics: can be considered good. actively into NGO since past 10yrs(was also part of its inception).
belong to middle class background (dad works in bank).

Badly need some guidance as to how shud i start the whole procedure n wat all i need to do now. Have started the GMAT prep. n aiming at 700+ score.

Cheers!

Hi All,
This is my first post on Pagalguy and I am excited to be part of the community. I feel you guys are doing a great job and I hope I can be of any help here.

So here goes my story.

Gmat -700
Acadamic - X- 72%, XII - 77%
Btech - 65%
Worked 2 years for an IT major.
After that I started my own venture, with an old friend of mine, in IT and has been an year. The problem is that I dont have much documentation(registration and all) with regards to my venture and fear that I would not be able to justify myself in front of adcoms. A small brief of what we do, we are mainly into developing Iphone n Android Apps and web applications. We have a team 3-4 people working for us.

My question is how will the adcoms react to my last one year of experience and What all proof do I need for adcoms ?

Also, I want to go into IT consulting, could you please suggest some good colleges?

Thanks

Please suggest me as i am in a big fix right now....
Which one is better----2 yr MBA from average bschool like ubs,nirma,tapmi,fore etc etc or executive mba from gud bschools like sp,great lakes etc etc...

I am asking this because i have got calls from nirma,fore but now confused whhether to take it or go for executive MBA......

Hey please guide me aspiring for MBA abroad i did not give any cat,mat,xat
coz i wanted to go out rather joined a company called AON Hewitt as team member Bcoz getting into a good b school require 2 tp 3 years Work experience.
Please suggest what should be my plan of action from here onward and also tell how much problem my gap years may create.

Chillwar sir,

Welcome to the PG forums, bro. As you are just getting started, a good idea would be to start browsing through the various threads and read up all the gyaan that this forum has to offer. If you dig, you shall find some nice hidden treasures on the site.

Once you've got the basics sorted out, you'll get most of the answers on your own. Plus you'll be able to come up with a more specific set of questions that we'd be able to help out with.

Good luck, buddy. Hope to hear back from you soon.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

M planning to appear for GMAT during the last week of july.
My main worry is low acads and 15 yrs edu .
I want to aim for top 20 -50 ranked b-schools(cost is a factor) in US or a good college in INDIA which accepts GMAT.

1. Your profile is the typical Indian-IT-Male however I see you don't aim lofty so your credentials are stellar for the mid-tier schools. No worry there! An obscenely high GMAT is necessary for scholarships.

2. 71% in graduation is "low acads"? You are kidding me Don't worry here. Also no one looks at 10th and 12th marks.

3. Information for the schools you have mentioned can be found online by googling. I think you have a good chance in these schools.

Which colleges shall i apply for and any colleges that i should look out for beyond US and India in Australia or Europe.

Australia has a few programs such as MBS, AGSM. Europe also has a few programs in UK (Cranfield, Manchester etc) and non-UK (IESE, HEC, ESADE etc). Do consider them as well.

HTH,

Arun - CrackVerbal

Hi guys,



Problem:
How much would you recommend my going in for a second MBA? I am targeting US based b schools. By the time i would be applying to these schools, i would have nearly 5 - 6 yrs of management experience.

would you also be able to guide me in terms of which schools would be more suited? i was looking at H/S/W + kellogs/ Tuck, but i understand these are the best of ivy league colleges.

Firstly it is okay to do a second MBA especially if your first one was right out of school. The typical message most applicants use is "re-tooling". That is, you need to equip yourself with stuff that will help you move from middle to senior management.

Secondly if you are on the wrong side of 30 it gets tough to get into some schools such as Harvard and Stanford. Some of them such as Wharton are older applicant friendly. So my advice is to apply early and not late.

HTH,

Arun - CrackVerbal

Hello Puys..

First of all thanks a lot for this thread and the awesome work that you guys are doing here . I have been a regular reader for long, bt havent posted much.. Was wondering if you can evaluate my profile and give your feedback.

1. 10th - 85.2%
   
2. 12th - 83.77 % (Punjab Board)
   
3. CGPA - 8.71 (on scale of 10) Thapar, Patiala - Comp. Engg.
   
4. GMAT - 760 (Q51 V41) - gave in May 2008
   
5. Work Ex - 66 months till date (more than 78 by next fall) - IBM - SAP Consulting
   
6. Close to 3 years of international experience - US and Germany.
   

Achievements

1. Active in extracurriculars till college.
   
2. Convener of Dramatics Committee, Senior Secretary for Hostel Management Committee.
   
3. More recently at IBM, involved in event management, team outings/parties, fun@work etc.
   
4. Handled teams from size 3-6 over last 3 years now.
   
5. Built an in-house tool which saves IBM around $80k-100k a year.
   
6. Completed a 10-week FastTrac Entrepreneurship course from Kauffman Foundation
   
7. Recently built a website and currently working on another one.
   

I applied to Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, Ross, Chicago and ISB back in 2008, and got interview calls from Ross and ISB, but dinged in both. I will be applying this year again. I have a keen interest in Entrepreneurship and would like to venture into Social and/or Tech Entrepreneurship in India in long term. I know that Stanford is mecca for Entrepreneurs, and it is my dream school. Other than Stanford. I am more inclined to 1-year MBA and considering ISB/IIM PGPX primarily for ROI reasons.. For the aforementioned reasons, I am also considering MIT Sloan, Haas, Insead and IE Spain.. Can you suggest how my profile looks for these schools. Also, does a 3 year old GMAT score have any disadvantages vs a recent one?

Edit -
After some extensive research, I have decided to take the MBA Crystal Ball MAP dropped an email to mbacrystalball for that.

Thanks
Ritesh

1. The website business thing is a lonely affair. Mostly it is me and my elder bro (who is also an IT engineer) working from home. So does this affect me negatively from the point of view of recos?

2. Which B schools should I target given my background strong interest in IT consulting? I do not have any location constraints. I have been researching B Schools left right and center and I just can't make up my mind on whether a> Is it a good fit for me and b>Will they take me!

3. FINANCE!!! I have a family and a daughter who would be two yrs old by May 2012. On my own I would be able to have 10 Lacs. But most US/European B schools cost upwards of $100K and Asian ones around $80K. Also I have no property or home to serve as collateral so Indian loans look unlikely. So again, given my background and financial situation which B schools should I target?

Thanks for all expert advice... Looking forward to some good tips and suggestions.

1. Get recos from people at PwC. For your entrepreneurial thing try to see if you can get it from vendors, clients. If nothing works then use the additional essay to explain. You should do well. Don't worry.

2. If "I do not have any location constraints" then the world is your oyster Fact is you need to put some constraints somewhere around geography since that is where your contacts will be, and that is where you will hope to work for the near foreseeable future. Once you do that the rule of thumb is you apply to school spread over dream, stretch, reach, safe etc. This is the tough part I agree!

3. You have answered the 2nd question partly by the 3rd question. Then pretty much most of the top schools which do not have a guaranteed loan program is out for you. May I suggest Indian schools such as ISB, XLRI GMP, and Great Lakes? Also NUS Singapore, some schools in Europe and APAC would be within your reach.

HTH,

Arun - CrackVerbal

I have 710 score in GMAT, in 4 years of IT experience I have around 6 months of Int'l experience. I'm looking for IT Consulting as the specialization.
:
what are my chances of getting into all those schools as well as likes of ISB, nanyang, NUS.

What you've shared puts you close to the median for the schools on your list.
So, yes, you are in the running for all these schools.

But unfortunately with such limited info, it is tough to say what your chances are. And from the previous posts, you might already have an idea of what can make a difference when you are competing in an over-represented applicant pool.

The big 'D' word...differentiation.

- Sameer
IT/Male/Engineer

----deleted by pagalguy---

Hey Sameer !!!

An MBA aspirant with 700/ 4.5 on GMAT. Working with Oil PSU for the last 54 months as a Mechanical Engineer. Had been handling plant maintenance earlier but got shifted to Projects last year. Decent EC and community service.

Primary objective to pursue MBA:
1. Change in geography. Want to shift to US, Canada or Europe.
2. Change my area of work from hardcore project management/ maintenance to consulting/ energy/ sustainibility.
3. Want to settle abroad post MBA.

I would prefer a 1 year or 16 month MBA to save time & cost... is it logical ??? or any disadvantages ???

But 1 year courses are mostly offered by European Universities... and EU economy is a concern at this point of time. Your thoughts ???

Apart from economy, in a country like netherlands, language is also a concern... as a friend of mine pursuing MBA from erasmus told... and he recommended US or UK as the best places to pursue MBA...

How to go about school selection... i don't get much time after work... so can't check the specifics of the programs on each individual school's website... plz suggest some alternative...

I'm planning for:

CA - Rotman and Richard Ivey
US - Smeal, Mc combs, Columbia, Darden, Fuqua, Tuck (confused amongst the US schools, list is too big)
EU - Oxford/ Cambridge (any one)

Also I am pretty skeptical to apply to the global top 10 like kellogs, LBS etc. as I feel that the probab of getting a scholarship in such schools is much lower and I desperately want one.

Also please gimme some idea about the total expenditure in a 2 year US program without a scholarship. Is it somwhere around 80 lakh ??? If so, with a personal savings of approx 15 Lakh, how would I manage the finances ???

I believe banks require co-signor, collaterals etc.

rep ASAP...

~ thanx in advance ~

hi

10th (2003) : 55
12th (2006) : 72
BBA (PTU 2010) : 63


Hey please guide me aspiring for MBA abroad i did not give any cat,mat,xat
coz i wanted to go out rather joined a company called AON Hewitt as team member Bcoz getting into a good b school require 2 tp 3 years Work experience.
Please suggest what should be my plan of action from here onward and also tell how much problem my gap years may create.

I understand that my zero work experience is a big deterrent for admissions to top MBA schools. However, I would be really obliged if you could evaluate my profile for London Business School Masters In Management Program, which is for recent graduates. Also, please let me know if there are any MBA programs that accept recent graduates.
:

I'm sure you'll get a fantastic education when you join an institution like London Business School. But I'm guessing if you are spending so much money to go there, you are looking for more than just a good education, which you can get in India as well.

Whether its an MiM or an MSc program or a host of MBA programs that take in freshers, when you are graduating with zero experience in a foreign country, you need to be confident that you are in a position to convince your future employers why they should spend money on getting you a work permit when they can find local talent without the administrative and legal overheads.

If an MBA is what you have in mind, then I'd recommend not jumping into a program just because it is easier to get in.

For MBA programs that take in people with experience, students have the benefit of being able to leverage their pre-MBA experience in job interviews.

So if you have the patience, work towards becoming independent so you are ready to take on and handle the financial and career risk that comes from an education abroad.

Food for thought?

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

thanks for this thread. gr8 stuff with loads of info.
My profile :
10th :69%
12th: 68%
Bsc(i.t): 71%
Age: 24 yrs
Total experience: till date 4 yrs (if everything goes fine by the time i join college it should be 5 yrs)
3.5 yrs with IBM as Developer in Telecom domain
from last 6 months in TCS
- 4 months of Internation experience in Czech republic( will try to get 1 reco from my collegue there)
- Consistent top rated employee for last 3 yrs (will this help in my profile)
- Started developing Apps for Androids on my own and willl soon launch a suite of Apps for Androids.(As soon as i finish my GMAt)
- Helped in implementation of LEAN in my previous project.

M planning to appear for GMAT during the last week of july.
My main worry is low acads and 15 yrs edu .
I want to aim for top 20 -50 ranked b-schools(cost is a factor) in US or a good college in INDIA which accepts GMAT.

My strong points have been a fast learner and love for technology.
I have not thought about what kind of job i want after MBA but for now i know i want to learn how to run a business in technology sector and learn the economics part which i m interested in but dint get enough exposure to learn.

Which colleges shall i apply for and any colleges that i should look out for beyond US and India in Australia or Europe.

I want to try for two options 1.) Warwick 2.) Bath.
:
GMAT : 550 (47 Maths and 21 English)
5 yrs if IT experience in outsourcing IT company, product company and service company.

Ajatshatru ji,

I'm not too familiar with these schools, but I will ask the obvious question. Can't you try to improve the GMAT score and try for higher ranked schools?

Your quant is good, the verbal can do with some work. You might want to reach out to Arun (Psychodementia) for some verbal weight-lifting sessions.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

Hi guys,

You guys are doing a great job in answering all the queries that are being posted in the thread ... well done :D

I am another guy with a question ...

Profile:
Science grad (chemistry hons) --> PGDBM (IIM L) 2007
worked in S&D; for a Indian FMCG co (3 yrs) --> changed to handling import business for an agricultural trading company in West Africa, currently posted in Ivory Coast for last 1 year.

Problem:
How much would you recommend my going in for a second MBA? I am targeting US based b schools. By the time i would be applying to these schools, i would have nearly 5 - 6 yrs of management experience.

would you also be able to guide me in terms of which schools would be more suited? i was looking at H/S/W + kellogs/ Tuck, but i understand these are the best of ivy league colleges.

hi sameer,if you are acuqainted with any organzations in which memebers voluntarily particpate in social activities then please do let me know.

Hello Guys. Great thread here. I just read the last 20 pages and just reading the responses helped get a lot of perspective. So Kudos to you guys! :D

Okie dokie, now obviously u guys know I am not posting just to praise u all, I am sure u didn't fall for that... So jokes apart, here's the point.

My Profile:

27 years old
X - 90%
XII - 88%

Engineering in Comp. Sc, 3.5 yrs exp with PwC in ERP implementation with some seriously good work. Have rubbed shoulders with CEOs and CTOs of client companies and a regular in steering committee/board meetings of clients. Have pretty good ECs both in college and Toastmaster member in office.

Now a few years into office, the Entrepreneurship bug hit me and launched a website related to my consulting line of work and grew it very well with decend Advertising income. Also partnered with my brother on his website which is now one of the top technology communities online. Left office 6 months ago to pursue the website-Ad revenue business with my bro and have done decently so far. SO total work ex now is 4 yrs. By June next year it would be 5 years work ex. 3.5 in corporate and 1.5 in private entrepreneurship.

Haven't given GMAT yet but planning on giving GMAT end July/starting of August and expect 720 at least. (Mind target is 780! but keeping my realistic experience down to 720). Now I want to remain in IT consulting post MBA. Basically I would love to be in a position of forming IT strategies for organizations to help increase their business efficiencies. Also don't mind strategy consulting for IT market as that's where my experience lies.

Now Problems and Questions... :)

1. The website business thing is a lonely affair. Mostly it is me and my elder bro (who is also an IT engineer) working from home. So does this affect me negatively from the point of view of recos?

2. Which B schools should I target given my background strong interest in IT consulting? I do not have any location constraints. I have been researching B Schools left right and center and I just can't make up my mind on whether a> Is it a good fit for me and b>Will they take me!

3. FINANCE!!! I have a family and a daughter who would be two yrs old by May 2012. On my own I would be able to have 10 Lacs. But most US/European B schools cost upwards of $100K and Asian ones around $80K. Also I have no property or home to serve as collateral so Indian loans look unlikely. So again, given my background and financial situation which B schools should I target?

Thanks for all expert advice... Looking forward to some good tips and suggestions.

ratinarace Says

The real dilemma is zeroing down on top five institutes, that are like go go for marketing and strategy i mean excluding kellog or tuck cozz i m seriously not looking upto US b schools..I am rather prefering asian schools..please suggest on this

For narrowing down schools, many folks prefer going through the Mock App. You think it might be helpful? Goes way beyond just school shortlisting and would address your other queries about profile shortcomings, application strategy to address them etc

...ur comments were quite eyeopening... inspiring indeed ...thx a lot

Most others are as scared as you are, they are just not showing it. So keep that chin up as you head into the race, sir.

- Sameer
Eye-opener + inspiration pack

Ratinarace ji,

You've tried very hard to underplay your strengths...and you've succeeded. And that's the sad truth about MBA applications as well. If you go out of your way to dig a hole for yourself, you are giving Adcoms no option but to push you in.

So MBA doctor's recommendations:

1. Turn that attitude around. You are worrying unncessarily, buddy. You are a regular candidate with the potential to take your projected profile in any direction you want.

2. Focus on your GMAT. You tell us how much you can score. If anyone tells you 710 or 750 is ok, you should still secretly go ahead and aim for an 800. Then we figure out what to do with the actual score you get.

But you'll have to hurry. If you are just getting started, there's a big checklist to go through - after the GMAT test and before you can submit your application - for INSEAD or IMD or any other top school by Round 1 deadlines.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

thx!! sameer u just kicked the despondency out. i was trying to be factual..my gmat is due in august...I ve been preparing for a while now so I expect a 700+ score..The real dilemma is zeroing down on top five institutes, that are like go go for marketing and strategy i mean excluding kellog or tuck cozz i m seriously not looking upto US b schools..I am rather prefering asian schools..please suggest on this.......ur comments were quite eyeopening :splat::D... inspiring indeed ...thx a lot

Which are the schools to which I have a realistic chance of getting in? Please help!

Hi,

My profile is as follows -

GMAT - 720 (AWA 5)
TOEFL - 111

Educational Background:
1) B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering from West Bengal University of Technology - GPA 8.43/10
2) Class X - 87% (ICSE)
3) Class XII - 82.5% (ISC)
4) Completed a PG Course in Software Engineering from DOEACC Kolkata

Work Experience:
3 years till date as an Assistant Manager (Technology) in India's largest e-commerce company in the B2B space.
Was awarded the best new joiner. Numerous other awards for client management, innovation etc
Interned for 1 year at a Software Development firm as a Trainee Systems Engineer.

Extra curriculars
1) Coordinator of my company's CSR program
2) Member of the Rotary Club and its social initiatives
3) Was one of the elected secretaries of my college
4) Chief editor of the college magazine
5) Numerous awards for quizzing at school, college and corporate level
6) Trekking - Been on numerous treks in the Shivaliks and the Himalayas

Career Goals:
Strategic Consulting in emerging markets in the short term. My long term dream is to start my own consulting firm.

Which are the B-Schools/Programs would u recommend for me? Do I need to retake the GMAT considering a better score would probably stand out more?

Hi,

I am planning to pursue mba in top 20-30 schools in the US, Europe, Asia, but i'm looking at jan 2012 (2 yr courses in US) admissions because of few personal commitments. I will complete 4 yrs in IT industry coming sep'11.
X - 83%(CBSE)
XII - 84%
Engg - 71%

No extra curriculars in college, involved in volunteering for few social services.

I have 710 score in GMAT, in 4 years of IT experience I have around 6 months of Int'l experience. I'm looking for IT Consulting as the specialization.

I want to know which all colleges i stand a good chance in that are in top 20 and have admissions for jan'12 and also will i be able to make the cut for ISB, Nanyang, NUS, considering all these offer 1 yr mba program. One more concern i had was with respect to financing the program, all the US univ offer 2 yr program and hence seem very expensive, I'm banking on financial aid, loans to fund my program, can you please suggest which schools i should target at considering all the factors iv mentioned and what are my chances of getting into all those schools as well as likes of ISB, nanyang, NUS.

with lot of sad parts of my profile above the only positive thing i see in my profile is textiles (diversity factor..if that counts) n hv been passionate abt my field but now i m upto my neck with it ...

....hw much shud i aim for gmat?? which institutes shud i target?? shall i skip the bluechip schools like insead and IMD, though my preference wud be an asian schools..plzzz comment on my profile

Ratinarace ji,

You've tried very hard to underplay your strengths...and you've succeeded. And that's the sad truth about MBA applications as well. If you go out of your way to dig a hole for yourself, you are giving Adcoms no option but to push you in.

So MBA doctor's recommendations:

1. Turn that attitude around. You are worrying unncessarily, buddy. You are a regular candidate with the potential to take your projected profile in any direction you want.

2. Focus on your GMAT. You tell us how much you can score. If anyone tells you 710 or 750 is ok, you should still secretly go ahead and aim for an 800. Then we figure out what to do with the actual score you get.

But you'll have to hurry. If you are just getting started, there's a big checklist to go through - after the GMAT test and before you can submit your application - for INSEAD or IMD or any other top school by Round 1 deadlines.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball

hey i done wid BE with 59%agg -mumbai university.I have got a job in IT firm.I am planning to give gmat.what score is good in getting top universites?
how many yrs work ex is needed?
what is the value of abroad mba in india???? want to knw much info abt abroad MBA??

Hi Neo,

I am newbie in pagalguy currently facing problem in accessing, please send me links in order to get used to pagalguy..
I am planning for gmat next year here i made the list of prep material after doing some research please help me out from where to start also from where i can buy prep material in good price for gmat in Mumbai?
here are the list:-
OG 11th and 12th edition
Kaplan's 800
kaplan 2006
princeton 2006 for quant
barron's book
powerscore CR bible
EZ solutions for maths
veritas quant

are kaplan's workbook and guidance books different?
it will be great help if you can provide me link so that i can have access for free downloads.?
hey i want to start my preparation please reply to my query....
any other suggestions welcome?

Firstly - you asked in the wrong thread - the correct thread is http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/gmat-and-related-discussions/55904-gmat-query-center-2010-11-a.html

Secondly - always good to have a bit of patience. People are busy and will have other things to take care of first. you need to wait a few days before re-posting.

Thirdly - a little more reading please. Barron's is useless and a lot of the material might become too much for you to handle. The OG is a must, everything else depends on your targetted score.

Finally - get involved in the Mumbai thread: http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/gmat-and-related-discussions/51086-gmat-study-group-in-mumbai.html they would be better partners for you.

Now, I've really set my mind on doing an international MBA from among the top tier colleges - HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, Kelloggs, etc.
:
What I want to know is what all can I do to increase my chances of getting into the likes of HBS and Stanford 4-6 years from now? :

Sashas,

Congrats on getting onto the entrepreneurial path so early.

There's no ideal profile for the schools you are targetting. You can take up whatever you are passionate about and try to excel in it.

Whether it's a regular corporate job or your own venture is not relevant. What you've been able to do in that role vis-a-vis others in your peer group is more important.

Keep having fun with whatever you get into and allow your profile to develop naturally. Keep posting on PG to share your experiences as you go along.

- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball