And so arrives the end of the one week for this thread. A big thank you to Sara Neher for being so thorough in answering everyone's questions!

This thread might be back in December, before the January deadline. Until then, we close!

Cheers,
Apurv

Hi Sara,
I am planning to apply to Darden in R1 this year.

I want to know if Darden is a good place to be in for people who are looking for a career switch. I have a 770 GMAT score and I will have 3 yrs of exp in software development by the time I join next year and I want to get into investment Banking or some other Finance job after my MBA. Do people with my kind of profile regularly manage good career switch from Darden? (Any statistics would be even more helpful)

Thanks,
ST

As I said in an earlier post, Darden is an excellent place for career switchers - in fact, most of our students are changing functions, industries, or both. It is especially common to switch from IT/software to something else. You will have many options and much support to make it happen.

Sara Neher

hi Sara,
I have a simple Qn for you.
I have a GMAT Score of 720 .
As my verbal score does not reflect my true verbal abilities, do u recommend me to take the test again to demonstrate the same?

Sara,

I had few queries:

1. I am intersted in having my own business,but before i start that i would like to work for atleast 3-4 years post MBA to get the global business exposure which will help me to deal and understand my business in a better way.
How does Darden help candidates like me who want to get into the Entrepreneurshippath after a period of time?
Do we have a specific Entrepreneurship course or do we have to take up courses amongst finance/marketing/operation etc which would help us out in those initial 3-4 yrs ?.

2. Currently i have 2.5 yrs work experience in one of the biggest IT companies in India.My acads arent too good but have a healthy work profile.i am planning to apply for 2010 batch and by then ill have 4 years of work exp with 1.5 yrs onsite experience too.
Do you think an onsite assignment leverages your profile in any way?
Do you think i would need more work experience to fit in a class which has average 5 years of work exp.I completely agree that one should apply and do MBA when he feels the need to but in case of a person like me who wants to be an entrepreneur I feel,the earlier the better.What do you suggest?

Thanks

Thanks for your post. There is no magic years of work experience, you should apply when you've progressed enough to have something to say - both in the application and in the classroom. In terms of Entrepreneurship, we have many opportunities and they can be found here - Entrepreneurship at Darden. Entrepreneur magazine ranked our faculty very highly in this area and we have our own incubator. I think you'll find that we have a lot to offer.

Sara Neher

Hi Sara,
I am planning to apply to Darden in R1 this year.

I want to know if Darden is a good place to be in for people who are looking for a career switch. I have a 770 GMAT score and I will have 3 yrs of exp in software development by the time I join next year and I want to get into investment Banking or some other Finance job after my MBA. Do people with my kind of profile regularly manage good career switch from Darden? (Any statistics would be even more helpful)

Thanks,
ST

Hello Sara,

I hope you are doing good.
I have a question regarding the applicants pool. I have been hearing that Management Schools get a lot of applicants from the software industry(myself being from this pool) - My question is:
"What are the factors that distinguish IT applicants?"

Considering that most applicants have experience in coding only and at the most some international exposure and maybe leading a few people, what matters most? That is, considering most of the applicants have similar GMAT scores, Acads and so on.

Thanks
Arv

This is a very common question. You could substitute banker or consultant for "IT" and ask the same question. However, I would prefer that instead of "How do I distinguish myself" you should ask "Who am I?" We want to know who you are, not how you are different from someone else. I know that is hard to differentiate, but it is important. Also, how are you the best you could be? What are your strengths - please highlight those for us. All of the things you mention matter, but what matters most is how well you communicate it - both in the essays and in the interview.

Sara Neher

Hi Sara,

This is regarding the recommendations.
It says something about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Can you please elaborate on it?
Is it applicable to international candidates as well? If yes, then Does that mean we can opt to see/not to see the letter of recommendations?

Thanks

SG

The Act you mention (we call it FERPA) is an American law, but yes, it does mean that you can either waive or not waive the right to see your recommendations. If you waive the right, it means that your recommendations are kept confidential between the recommender and the school. If not, it means you can access them.

Sara Neher

Dear Sara,

Thank you so much for taking time to answer our queries. I absolutely love the resources that Darden has to offer to its students.

I am applying to Darden in Round1 this year for the Fall 2009 intake. My questions are:

1. I will have 3+ years of work full-time experience in developing trading software for one of the top hedge funds in the world. In addition to this, I have 18 months of internship experience from four different companies. Will my internship experience add weight to my application to Darden?

2. I understand that you will be visiting India in December. Will the admission committee schedule an interview with me during that time, if I am shortlisted? If it is not possible for me to interview with you at that time then what are the alternatives?

Looking forward to your response.

Warm regards,
Ashwanth

Dear Ashwanth,

Thank you for your post. I believe I have already answered question one in another post - internship experience does not count as full-time, but does enhance your application and certainly adds to who you are.

We do hope to conduct interviews when we are in India. In addition, our alumni living in or traveling to India as well as current second-year students there on vacation or exchange will be conducting interviews for all three rounds. As a last resort, we will conduct interviews by phone if you live in a remote area or if the timing is short. We'll be in touch with those selected this winter or later (depending on the application round).

Sara Neher

Hi Sara ,
I believe that you are doing great .....

I am planning to go for MBA after 4+ yrs of working .I have done production enngineering from University of Mumbai, India & then joined Godrej as production planning and control engineer . Currently I am working with an organization leader in consulting .. as SAP Production planning and control consultant .
I have planned to give GMAT in Jan -2009.

Can you please update me the time line for the 1st round of application & total estimated expense for the full time course ... I will appreciate if you can advice me about my prospect of getting grant/aid for the curriculum...and I am bit tensed about the living the food expense .

Please suggest me your views , it will help me plan out the financial resources.


Thanks
Kaushik

Dear Kaushik,

The first round application deadline is October 28, 2008. I look forward to seeing many applications then. For cost of attending information, click this link Tuition & Expenses. It has the information we have now about cost. You can also click to the financial aid pages from that link. We have many merit scholarships and almost all are available to international students. They vary in size from full tuition to half tuition to third tuition. The most prestigious scholarship actually includes tuition and living expenses and is the Jefferson Fellowship. You can find more information on it at www.jeffersonscholars.org.

Sara Neher

hi mam,
i am an undergraduate student of tourism management studying in gwalior whinch is in india i belong to a lower middle class family i want to mab in international business from foriegn institute or university but my family can not afford that much money so please tell me all the procedures regarding addmission in foreign universities which is not much costly and about scholarships.:D

Sara,

I had few queries:

1. I am intersted in having my own business,but before i start that i would like to work for atleast 3-4 years post MBA to get the global business exposure which will help me to deal and understand my business in a better way.
How does Darden help candidates like me who want to get into the Entrepreneurshippath after a period of time?
Do we have a specific Entrepreneurship course or do we have to take up courses amongst finance/marketing/operation etc which would help us out in those initial 3-4 yrs ?.

2. Currently i have 2.5 yrs work experience in one of the biggest IT companies in India.My acads arent too good but have a healthy work profile.i am planning to apply for 2010 batch and by then ill have 4 years of work exp with 1.5 yrs onsite experience too.
Do you think an onsite assignment leverages your profile in any way?
Do you think i would need more work experience to fit in a class which has average 5 years of work exp.I completely agree that one should apply and do MBA when he feels the need to but in case of a person like me who wants to be an entrepreneur I feel,the earlier the better.What do you suggest?

Thanks

Hi Sara,

Thanks for reply.

My school in India does not follow a GPA system, so how do I enter the International GPA in the application form.

thanks a lot

Two options:

1. You can put in any number grade that you have - it does not need to be on the US 4.0 scale.
2. If you do not have a numerical grading scale at your undergrad, you can leave it blank. Just make sure that your overall performance is somehow indicated on your transcript (ie, first division).

Sara Neher

Hi,

I am applying to Darden in R1.

I would appreciate it if you can answer the following queries.

1. I will be in US in October.
I really wanted to visit Darden and attend a class.
However, due to my work responsibilities, it would not be possible for me to attend a class on a weekday.
From the online schedule system I could not find a slot on the weekend.
Could you confirm whether it's possible to visit Darden on a Saturday in late October/November?

2. I also wanted to know your thoughts about career prospects of international students in view of the current market crisis and the H1-B visa cap.

3. Does Darden have a tie up with any bank to provide collateral free loan to international students to cover their tuition costs and living expenses?

Regards,
Priyom

Dear Priyom,

I'm glad you'll be in the US - that's a good sign for your work experience progression! No, we do not have any class visits on the weekend (trust me - when you are a student, you will be glad). However, you can reach out to one of our student ambassadors, International Student Ambassador List. Unless they have a big exam around when you are coming, I'm sure someone would be happy to show you around.

In terms of the financial crisis and visa issues, the good news for you is that there is plenty of time for it to sort out before you would be in the job search. For our current students, it might be more challenging than a couple of years ago. However, our placement numbers for the Class of 2008 are up from the previous year despite the credit crisis. MBAs are still in demand. With the extension of some of the visa training periods, the H1-B situation has improved over last year. I do think though that all international students should be prepared for international job options to be back up no matter the economic situation. Our career consultants will support you as you engage in the job search.

All loan programs (at pretty much all US schools) are in transition right now. Check back soon for details on next year's program. We will certainly have options for you.

Sara Neher

Hi Sara,

This is regarding the recommendations.
It says something about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Can you please elaborate on it?
Is it applicable to international candidates as well? If yes, then Does that mean we can opt to see/not to see the letter of recommendations?

Thanks

SG

Dear Sara,

I am planning to apply to Darden in Round1 this year for the Fall 2009 intake. My questions is:
I have worked in a major petrochemical company for 19 months. Though I loved the job I had to quit it because I was diagnosed with allergy to some chemicals. I'm really apprehensive about writing this reason in my application. Would a health problem considered as a negative in an application?

Thanks for your post. Sorry I have been out of touch - my computer got a virus while I was traveling and it has taken some time to get it fixed! First, I am glad you are applying. It definitely sounds like you have a challenge here, but often, those make the best essay questions. I'm guessing that you were forced to be very introspective as you were deciding to quit your job. It also sounds to me like an allergy to chemicals in your work setting would have no bearing on your ability to attend business school. You should definitely explain why you left your job - otherwise we'll be wondering if it is something else.

Sara Neher

Hello Sara,

I hope you are doing good.
I have a question regarding the applicants pool. I have been hearing that Management Schools get a lot of applicants from the software industry(myself being from this pool) - My question is:
"What are the factors that distinguish IT applicants?"

Considering that most applicants have experience in coding only and at the most some international exposure and maybe leading a few people, what matters most? That is, considering most of the applicants have similar GMAT scores, Acads and so on.

Thanks
Arv

Hi,

I am applying to Darden in R1.

I would appreciate it if you can answer the following queries.

1. I will be in US in October.
I really wanted to visit Darden and attend a class.
However, due to my work responsibilities, it would not be possible for me to attend a class on a weekday.
From the online schedule system I could not find a slot on the weekend.
Could you confirm whether it's possible to visit Darden on a Saturday in late October/November?

2. I also wanted to know your thoughts about career prospects of international students in view of the current market crisis and the H1-B visa cap.

3. Does Darden have a tie up with any bank to provide collateral free loan to international students to cover their tuition costs and living expenses?

Regards,
Priyom

Sara,

Lest this post appear as a profile check, I will not post my comprehensive profile here..

My question, though is related:

I have average grades in my undergraduate studies (approx median of the class, though from a tier-II engineering school in India). Can this be compensated by other areas of the application? (My GMAT score is 740/6.0 and I also have a steep career graph)

In other words, will an application with average grades not get a look at all, or will it at least be considered for an evaluation if the rest of the package is appealing?

I would appreciate if you would be able to throw light on this.

Thanks!

Dear Sara,

Thanks for taking time out for we all.
I have some queries ,i am asking u step by step

1)I am mechanical Engineer ,having 2 plus exp. in designing so can i shift my career from automobile designing to Finance ,Stratgy RO Business Developement which is totaly different from Automobile Designing.

2)If possible ,then can i develope myself excellent in that field.

3) One more important thing ,i have completed my graduation in 5 & 1/2 years with Second class,still am i elligible to get admission in Darden's school of Businss.

Thanks & Regards,
Sachin

Dear Sara,

I am planning to apply to Darden in Round1 this year for the Fall 2009 intake. My questions is:
I have worked in a major petrochemical company for 19 months. Though I loved the job I had to quit it because I was diagnosed with allergy to some chemicals. I'm really apprehensive about writing this reason in my application. Would a health problem considered as a negative in an application?

Dear Sara,

Thank you so much for taking time to answer our queries. I absolutely love the resources that Darden has to offer to its students.

I am applying to Darden in Round1 this year for the Fall 2009 intake. My questions are:

1. I will have 3+ years of work full-time experience in developing trading software for one of the top hedge funds in the world. In addition to this, I have 18 months of internship experience from four different companies. Will my internship experience add weight to my application to Darden?

2. I understand that you will be visiting India in December. Will the admission committee schedule an interview with me during that time, if I am shortlisted? If it is not possible for me to interview with you at that time then what are the alternatives?

Looking forward to your response.

Warm regards,
Ashwanth

Hi Sara,

Thanks for reply.

My school in India does not follow a GPA system, so how do I enter the International GPA in the application form.

thanks a lot

Dear Sara,

Thanks for taking time out to guide we all MBA aspirants.

1)I hav complete my graduation in 5 & 1/2 years in second class ,so my academics are not so good .
2) So will Darden School of Business allow such candidate to get admissin with such academics?

Thanks & Regards,
Sachin

Hi Sara ,
I believe that you are doing great .....

I am planning to go for MBA after 4+ yrs of working .I have done production enngineering from University of Mumbai, India & then joined Godrej as production planning and control engineer . Currently I am working with an organization leader in consulting .. as SAP Production planning and control consultant .
I have planned to give GMAT in Jan -2009.

Can you please update me the time line for the 1st round of application & total estimated expense for the full time course ... I will appreciate if you can advice me about my prospect of getting grant/aid for the curriculum...and I am bit tensed about the living the food expense .

Please suggest me your views , it will help me plan out the financial resources.


Thanks
Kaushik

Sara,

I had few queries:

1. I am intersted in having my own business,but before i start that i would like to work for atleast 3-4 years post MBA to get the global business exposure which will help me to deal and understand my business in a better way.
How does Darden help candidates like me who want to get into the Entrepreneurshippath after a period of time?
Do we have a specific Entrepreneurship course or do we have to take up courses amongst finance/marketing/operation etc which would help us out in those initial 3-4 yrs ?.

2. Currently i have 2.5 yrs work experience in one of the biggest IT companies in India.My acads arent too good but have a healthy work profile.i am planning to apply for 2010 batch and by then ill have 4 years of work exp with 1.5 yrs onsite experience too.
Do you think an onsite assignment leverages your profile in any way?
Do you think i would need more work experience to fit in a class which has average 5 years of work exp.I completely agree that one should apply and do MBA when he feels the need to but in case of a person like me who wants to be an entrepreneur I feel,the earlier the better.What do you suggest?

Thanks

Dear Amit,

Here you go:
1. Yes, family business experience, if full-time work experience, counts as work experience. (see above answer for if it was during school)

2. Please do not have a family member write your second recommendation. Instead look to someone else you worked with on projects at Infosys or a client/vendor of your family business.

3. I would definitely recommend that you apply now. The worst that can happen is that we tell you to reapply when you have more work experience and at least you'll have learned if you have any other weaknesses in your application (we'll tell you if you ask for feedback next summer). The best that can happen is that you'll get in and be able to come now!

Sara Neher

Yes my experience is full time. I will try to get reco from some of my client.

Thanks for your reply Sara. I will definitely apply this year Hopefully I do get through, otherwise I'd at least get pointed from you guys on areas where I can improve myself.

One more question. What does Darden expect from its prospective students ? I know this is a very broad question but would love to know what does Darden look for in general ..

Reg,
Amit

HI Sara,

I am from India, studied in an English medium primary and high school and graduated from Indian university where the medium of instruction was English.
My verbal score in GMAT was 44 and AWA 5.5.
90% of US schools including Stanford and other top schools do not require me to give TOEFL.
However, it seems that Darden requires TOEFL.
I would not like to spend additional money on TOEFL.
Can TOEFL be waived off??
thanks
saket

Darden does not require a TOEFL if you received an undergraduate degree where the medium of communication was in English. Also, you do not need a TOEFL waiver. You can just submit your application with only the GMAT. I look forward to seeing it.

Sara Neher

HI Sara,

I am from India, studied in an English medium primary and high school and graduated from Indian university where the medium of instruction was English.
My verbal score in GMAT was 44 and AWA 5.5.
90% of US schools including Stanford and other top schools do not require me to give TOEFL.
However, it seems that Darden requires TOEFL.
I would not like to spend additional money on TOEFL.
Can TOEFL be waived off??
thanks
saket

Sara,

I am 23 yrs old. I have a degree in Electrical Engg. with an overall aggregate of 78%(not sure how to convert this to GPA) from a top 15 Indian Univ. I am yet to take up the GMAT.

Work Ex: I worked as a software engineer in one of the largest Indian IT companies, Infosys tech. Ltd. for 15 months. I quit Infosys to work in my family business(Industrial Suppliers) . I have been working in it since then (11 months now).

My questions :

1) Does Darden count family business as experience?
2) I can get one letter of recommendation from my Infosys Manager. I am not sure who I should approach for my second letter. Please guide.
3) Do you suggest me to apply with the work ex I have got or should I wait for a couple more years ? Though I would like to join in the 2009 intake.

Thanks,
Amit

Dear Amit,

Here you go:
1. Yes, family business experience, if full-time work experience, counts as work experience. (see above answer for if it was during school)
2. Please do not have a family member write your second recommendation. Instead look to someone else you worked with on projects at Infosys or a client/vendor of your family business.
3. I would definitely recommend that you apply now. The worst that can happen is that we tell you to reapply when you have more work experience and at least you'll have learned if you have any other weaknesses in your application (we'll tell you if you ask for feedback next summer). The best that can happen is that you'll get in and be able to come now!

Sara Neher

Hi Sara,

I wanted to know about the tie ups that Draden has with Technology companies in the Auto and Internet/Networking space. Also, I am specifically targetting program managment roles within such companies, in your opinion do you think Draden's program would be a good support to achieve this (I am currently working in technical roles). More specifically if you have any cases where people have made shifts from technical roles to more business operational roles within the technology space and what kind of shifts have they been, and where has the Draden MBA helped them.

Thanks

As a general management school, Darden has strong relationships across the board, including companies like Google, Microsoft, and Ford. In addition, almost 90% of our students change their industry or function or both from their pre-business school work experience. You would be very well-supported for a job transition from technical work to operational work. Support begins before school even starts with pre-matriculation programs specifically designed for incoming students who are planning to make just such a transition.

Sara Neher

Hi Sara,

I am looking forward to applying for Darden for next batch. I have few questions:

1) Regarding experience: I have 82 months diversified experience in five sectors (around 22 months experience in two slots (16+6) in my family business apart from additional 60 months in different professional organizations (for which I have proof like salary, experience letter etc.). For 22 month family business, I have experience certificate from my father who is the owner of the business). For the family business exp, Will experience certificate from my father suffice for the purpose of experience proof?

2) Secondly, does having very diversified & long experience pose any hindrance post MBA specifically during Job hunt in US.

3) How has been the placement scenario for MBA students from India in the last passing out class?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks in advance.

I'm so glad you'll be applying! Working for a family business can certainly be very valuable experience. I do not need any proof of employment for your application. If admitted, we will do a background check and it sounds like your father will be able to show proof of employment for you at that time.

The most challenging thing for you (and other posters with this situation) is that you should not have a family member submit a recommendation. We must have two recommendations from non-family members. For you, that might mean someone from earlier work experience, or it could be a client of your family business. Just don't ask your father to write your recommendation.

The age range of Darden students in the first-year class is 22-34. In the past, age has not made it easier or harder to get a job. As we go into the next few years of an uncertain economy, I don't know what it will be like in the future. In the past several years, international students have gotten jobs at the same rate as domestic students (with some of each group working internationally).

Sara Neher

Dear Sara,

I had one more question. I was looking forward to attending an information session for Darden in India. But when I checked the international events schedule at the school's website, India was conspicuously missing from the list. Is it simply because that the schedule of the visiting team was too tight and they could not find suitable dates or
is Darden indifferent towards applicants from India? I have often found the information sessions of different schools useful to get a more personal feel about them.


warm regards,
kevin

Kevin,

Thanks for allowing me to clarify. We will certainly be visiting India this year. In fact, I am coming and it is my first visit. I am very excited. We are not coming until December so that we can come at the same time as our current students. We will have alumni, current students and two admissions representatives (me and Sandy Woodriff who specializes in India for our office). We have not yet finalized the dates, but expect to do so any day. We will be traveling to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore in mid-December. Keep checking our website for more information. Also, if you sign up to receive our newsletter or start an application you will be invited to the events by email.

Sara Neher

Dear Sara,

I am an international applicant form India. Is the TOEFL test waived for candidates who have done their undergraduation from a university where medium of communication was English?

regards,
kevin

Excellent - an easy question. Yes, a TOEFL is NOT required if your undergraduate degree was conducted in English. Also, you do not need a waiver. Just submit your application with the GMAT only. I look forward to it!

Sara Neher

Hi Sara,

I am looking forward to applying for Darden for next batch. I have few questions:

1) Regarding experience: I have 82 months diversified experience in five sectors (around 22 months experience in two slots (16+6) in my family business apart from additional 60 months in different professional organizations (for which I have proof like salary, experience letter etc.). For 22 month family business, I have experience certificate from my father who is the owner of the business). For the family business exp, Will experience certificate from my father suffice for the purpose of experience proof?

2) Secondly, does having very diversified & long experience pose any hindrance post MBA specifically during Job hunt in US.

3) How has been the placement scenario for MBA students from India in the last passing out class?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Sara,

I wanted to know about the tie ups that Draden has with Technology companies in the Auto and Internet/Networking space. Also, I am specifically targetting program managment roles within such companies, in your opinion do you think Draden's program would be a good support to achieve this (I am currently working in technical roles). More specifically if you have any cases where people have made shifts from technical roles to more business operational roles within the technology space and what kind of shifts have they been, and where has the Draden MBA helped them.

Thanks

Dear Sara,

I had one more question. I was looking forward to attending an information session for Darden in India. But when I checked the international events schedule at the school's website, India was conspicuously missing from the list. Is it simply because that the schedule of the visiting team was too tight and they could not find suitable dates or
is Darden indifferent towards applicants from India? I have often found the information sessions of different schools useful to get a more personal feel about them.


warm regards,
kevin

Dear Sara,

I am an international applicant form India. Is the TOEFL test waived for candidates who have done their undergraduation from a university where medium of communication was English?

regards,
kevin

Thank you very much for the first post! You have asked great questions and I will answer them separately:

1. The most important thing to think about when choosing recommenders is how well they know you and can write about your strengths and your leadership potential. We definitely want to hear from your current supervisor, so you've got that covered. For the second recommendation, definitely go with someone you have worked closely with as long as they are at least one level higher than you are. We would rather not see a peer recommendation for either of the two required essays. Also, if you had more work experience, I would expect an additional person who was a past supervisor or team leader, but in your case I think the recommender you describe would have something to add.

2. Darden does not count pre-graduation work experience as full-time work experience, so you should not include it in your count of months/years worked. However, we definitely want to hear about it. Please include it on your resume and if it was significant, or is a reason why you are applying, you can include it in an essay.

Good luck!

Sara Neher

Thanks for the prompt and lucid reply Sara.

Sara,

I am 23 yrs old. I have a degree in Electrical Engg. with an overall aggregate of 78%(not sure how to convert this to GPA) from a top 15 Indian Univ. I am yet to take up the GMAT.

Work Ex: I worked as a software engineer in one of the largest Indian IT companies, Infosys tech. Ltd. for 15 months. I quit Infosys to work in my family business(Industrial Suppliers) . I have been working in it since then (11 months now).

My questions :

1) Does Darden count family business as experience?
2) I can get one letter of recommendation from my Infosys Manager. I am not sure who I should approach for my second letter. Please guide.
3) Do you suggest me to apply with the work ex I have got or should I wait for a couple more years ? Though I would like to join in the 2009 intake.

Thanks,
Amit