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MBA
1658

PG Members,

We are fast approaching application deadlines so keep the questions pouring in.

Namita, MBA Decoder

1659
@megs11 said: @MartianOnEarth:
1.Fee structure of these top schools(Havard,Stanford,Wharton etc...) is about 100,000$ or even more which close to a crore rupees !...Do they they really have good ROI Sameer????....Is it worth the risk??considering one is applying for loan on this heavy amount of money!...perhaps only you can answer this..
2.I also heard. Even in the best of B schools abroad there is no GUARANTEE on placements as one has to search for jobs after the course(correct me if I am wrong),as when compared to a top Indian B school like an IIM where every Tom **** Harry in the class gets well placed via campus recruitment ..
If points 1,2 have a positive feedback from you then I will seriously give it a shot at these schools else I would rather go for the ones here in India..
Thank you Sameer
Regards
-Mehran
Mehran,

1. RoI
For those who have the calibre to get in, the maturity to plan their career goals and the foresight to have a back-up plan in place, yes the RoI from the top schools can be phenomenal. For others who are going in without completely understanding how the overseas MBA system works, it can backfire.

2. Placements
What you've heard is right. The concept of 'placements' as we know it in India works very differently in international MBA programs. Each student is responsible for getting himself/herself placed. The careers team only acts as a facilitator, with varying (limited) degrees of influence.

I guess both these inputs are not exactly what you wanted to hear. But better to get the tough news here and now, rather than when you are halfway into the program.

- Sameer Kamat
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball
Crystal what? --> http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/international-indian-mba-schools-accepting/62774-ask-a-consultant.html#post2537289
1660
@subhayu2005 said:
@ Sameer, Please share your opinion, I'm eagerly waiting for your feedback.
Yes, Subhayu. You'll have to explain the gap. Most guys have a gap of 1 year, in your case it's 2. So all the more reason to talk about it. Think about a few other questions and keep the answers ready.

- How did you utilise those two years?
- Was it only test prep?
- Or did you also pick up other skills during the time?
- When others manage the prep without taking a drop, why did you feel the need to do so?
- Did you underestimate/overestimate your skills?

The other question you'll have to tackle is the lesser experience vis-a-vis other candidates who'd come in with more work-ex.

On the brighter side, your choice of schools is conservative. So if you can address the two key points convincingly (with a capital C...er, just to be clear, the first 'c' not the second) , you might have a decent shot.

Before you start working on the essays, get someone who's knowledgeable about how MBA apps work (alum, current student, consultant, Ramu kaka) to hear your complete storyline and ask them whether it is sounding convincing or more like a forced justification.

- Sameer Kamat
Founder | MBA Crystal Ball
Which ball? --> http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/international-indian-mba-schools-accepting/62774-ask-a-consultant.html#post2537289
1661

@[81205:MartianOnEarth]: tell me if you were me what would you do? Go for an Indian MBA or have a crack at the those top schools abroad??cause after I heard the tough news from you it is scary!..Sameer I am just out of college,I am really interested in my dad's bizz but he says "jao jaakar duniya daari seekho", dont be under this pinchra(nest),even I agree with him,I wanna VALUE ADD to his business,and that will come I believe if I do an MBA+work atleast for 3 years in a big organisation,so if I come back then I may be well equipped to value add to him rather me just being a under grad and joining his business and listening to orders!:-p...correct me if I am wrong and advice me the way to go! :-(....again the key thing is if you were me what would you pick Indian MBA or abroad?
Regards
-Mehran

1662
hi, my CGPA IS 7.11 out of 10.what can be my possible score in the scale of 4??
1663

Hi Sir,


I am Ashok and my profile is as below.
X: 86%
XII: 87%
BTech 2008 : 6.96 CGPA (VIT- Vellore)
Experience: 1)22 Months with Infosys

2)Co founder of an Electronics Startup PVT Ltd Company (2011) and the Managing Director
Patents: Sole owner of Two patents in the field of electronics.

GMAT: 640(Q50 V25) AWA:4,AR:2

I am planning to do a 1 yr MBA in India in a premier institute that accepts the GMAT score.
If you could evaluate my profile and my options of universities, you would be very helpful.

ThankYou.

1664

Hi,

I want some info regarding extra curr. and social responsibilities.

I have been playing sports and actively involved in extra curriculars throughout my life but I dont have many certificates or proofs as such.
Also for social responsibility I am doing a bit but again dont have any documented proof. What to do?
One more advice which I need is, I am doing a certification course in Management Consulting.. Frankly speaking I am doing it just for the sake of making my profile stronger, although I have a long term goal of being management consultant but again with the years of experience I have right now appx. 4(very less to be a mgt. conslt) , this certification can backfire. So will this certification help me in my applications?

Please help in this.

Thanks
Saurabh



1665

Hi,

This is my first post, so bear with me if i found the wrong place to post or did some big mistake that people cannot forgive
I am 21 years old. Bachelor in Electrical engineering. Starting work at ABB India as a Management Trainee October, this year. Recently gave the GMAT (Score - 710 Q-47 V-41 AWA 5.0 IR 7) and it will be valid till July 2017.
I don't know why I want to do MBA As in, I cannot tell a story convincingly to a 10 year old kid about myself and how MBA is the one thing that will take me from A to B.
But, I chanced upon to see the discussion of a HBS case and fell in love with the concept of the business school So, I will be applying to ISB, NUS come 2015 and HBS, Sloan, Haas, Kellogg, Stanford come 2016.
No extra curricular activities None. All i did in college was play Counter Strike

So, for people wondering where's the god**** question : What to do to strengthen my profile besides sitting for long hours and wondering how to make up a life story for myself to sell to the adcoms? Also, what kind of extra curricular activities help? I know French and german. Is that any good?

Please do reply.


1666
hi puys,

Can switching from a top MNC to a small product company(300 employees and deals in pioneering payment solutions) hamper future prospects of an MBA..
1667
Topic: Is Masters in Management the right path to a future in CONSULTING or any business field ?
Hi,
I'm currently pursuing B.Tech in Coimbatore (2009-2013)...I have planned to join MiM in one of the top European B-Schools for the September 2013 intake.....so will probably take GMAT in Oct 2012!

TO BE HONEST i am not clear about i what i want to do after graduating. I am sure about not enetering into IT field! Coming to the other stream - business, management, account, finance....i am so confused about which one to choose, how to specialize and will this Masters in Management course give me that break into the managament field....? I am not worried about the recession....i am confident that i ll work my way through to the paradise! THE PASSION IS IN THE RISK

Also, on the other hand....i have a passion for MANAGEMENT CONSULTING...but not sure if my kinda profile will fit into this stream !?!? Is there any speacialized course for getting into ANALYTICS....CONSULTING...? that will boost my chance...since im an engineering student! PLEASE.....let me know about the various options for plunging into consulting and if this MiM course is a right choice!!

Profile:
X - 95%
XII - 95%
B.Tech IT (uptill VI SEM) - 80%
GMAT (aiming at) - 720

School Pupil Leader.
Member of the IT association in college.
and a few more decent etra - curricular activities emphasizing leadership qualities.
Intern as ONLINE MARKETING ANALYST in a Market Rsearch Company in Mumbai.


Thanks for spending your valuable time in reading my post! Please guide me!

Regards,
Arun
1668
@estel123 said:
Thank you very much.I really appreciate your concern, but I am not considering an MBA because I am in the soup per se. I always had the plan to do it in the back of my head... Initially I wanted to gain some work experience before proceeding with it. But since I couldn't get the job I desired, I am looking at the possibility of signing up for an early career MBA.Could you please suggest some of the well-known EC MBA courses across the world?

Look at this for a start:

http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-management-2011

Namita, MBA Decoder

1669
@testpradeep said: hi, my CGPA IS 7.11 out of 10.what can be my possible score in the scale of 4??

It's best to ask the schools to which you are applying. They also take into account the difficulty levels of your course, for example, a 7 out of 10 at your college may be comparable to a 9 out of 10 at another college which marks liberally.

Many times b-schools ask you not to convert, while some of them will give you clear guidelines about how to convert your scores.

Namita, MBA Decoder

1670
@saurabh1938 said:

Hi,I want some info regarding extra curr. and social responsibilities. I have been playing sports and actively involved in extra curriculars throughout my life but I dont have many certificates or proofs as such. Also for social responsibility I am doing a bit but again dont have any documented proof. What to do?One more advice which I need is, I am doing a certification course in Management Consulting.. Frankly speaking I am doing it just for the sake of making my profile stronger, although I have a long term goal of being management consultant but again with the years of experience I have right now appx. 4(very less to be a mgt. conslt) , this certification can backfire. So will this certification help me in my applications?Please help in this.ThanksSaurabh

Hi Saurabh,
You are not required to submit your extra curricular activities related certificates. If you have really been involved in certain activities, make sure that you let the passion reflect in your essays and in other parts of the online form. We have seen many applications where a person's significant extra curricular involvement sounds very average because of the light way in which it is presented.
I don't get your motivation in doing a management consulting certificate just to put it on the resume. If you are not learning anything from it, neither applying it at work, I can not see how it will make your profile stronger.
I also did not get your point: "although I have a long term goal of being management consultant but again with the years of experience I have right now appx. 4(very less to be a mgt. conslt) ". The top consulting names have an early career program, where they recruit undergraduates also - though this is very select group of individuals. So there is really no age requirement to become a consultant - infact at companies like McKinsey, roles are very well defined and follow a set pattern - either you fit into it or you don't. Not getting a lateral position after considerable years of work experience is reason for not fitting in.
At this stage I would ask you to do your research properly. Some specifics are: which company(ies), what roles, what industry/ function/, how will your career advance in that role, how will this be relevant to your past four years' career, and finally much as you like 'management consulting', are you upto the hectic lifestyle it offers?
The course you are doing currently can be a testing ground to gauge your interest in the field, especially if it involves any fieldwork.
Namita, MBA Decoder
1671

@[384681:mba-help] thanks Namita, I got your point.. actually you cleared those doubts which had me in dilemma ever since I decided to go for an MBA.
Now with some time left for me to file those applications and essays I'll be digging more about this field and also will actively participate in certification course which I am pursuing right now.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my queries.

1672

Hi,


I'm currently working with Infosys with 2 yrs of exp( it will be 3 by the time I join a grad school). My academics have not been so great. It has been 70% approx throughout. I just want to know if 3 yrs of experience with an IT firm would be good enough to apply for MBA program from 1 of the best B-Schools in US. Could you please throw some light on this? My extra curr's have been good. I have national level awards for skating. Nothing major apart from all these. Could you please let me know if applying for MBA could be a safe option? And also, if you could let me know about job prospects of some MS programs in US.Are these good?Its gonna be tough switching to finance since I'm from IT background.
I still have another question. What would be the approx cost for pursuing a MBA from a good US univ? I'm juts weighing my options between MS and MBA and this would also make me clear about what to go for:GMAT or GRE.

Thanks.
1673

Hi @[599837:Parul1987]


I will answer your question one by one.
1. 3 years of Experience + Female ( as name suggest ) is very good enough to apply for MBA, infact you get points for experience, and for 3 years its MAX point.

2. About B school in US- you have to do a homework and search which college suits you, also do not limit yourself to US because ther are a lot of good b schools in europe as well.

3. It all depends on you when you switch from IT to finance.. sooner or later you will be going to a management profile, even in IT.. you wil lbecome a TL or manager something..

4. Cost os MBA is nearly 80000$ in foreign b schools. Plus or Minus 20000$. If you are planning an MBA degree - choose GMAT. If you are looking for technical (MS ) choose GRE. Its as simple as that.

Only change is - in MS you will learn Technical - thats it.......
1674

Hi

i want to know what is the best time to write gmat and apply in round 1 itself for us universities...

Also can any one tell me the approx cost of mba (2 years)..

Also cost fooding and loadging for 2 years.....Please help

1675

Hello people..... my name's AK and I will be appin' to couple of International MBA programs. I'm thinking Cornell, McCombs, Anderson, Scheller at GeorgiaTech and NUS.


I've a problem.... got a bit of a "mixed" record you see.... and would like to know if I make the cut. Current students, appin' veterans and fellow aspirants, please take a dekho.

And sorry.... long post ahead!


GMAT-TOEFL:

I haven't written my GMAT and TOEFL yet, scheduled for September 1st week and August end respectively. I dont expect any problems in TOEFL.... aced it once a long time ago. But still slugging on it.... you never know! GMAT is an entirely different beast though..... I'm *most* wary, despite a month of preps.


ACADEMICS:

1. X/XII: 89.5%, 78%

2. BTech in EEE from a reputed (A+) engineering program: 70% aggregate (my univ is notorious when it comes to giving grades)

3. M.S. from a A++ level (like, top 10) US university in Aerospace Engineering (Controls): GPA 2.9/4.0. Course requirements not complete!

Now the MS part is *the* blemish; got into a Kill-or-be-Killed department (with grading on a curve that is!) that was never my core discipline...... and populated by hardcore rocket scientists with MIT/Shanghai TJiao ong/ASU/Berkeley/General Dynamics/Teledyne/Boeing/ityadi pedigrees. I got into this different discipline in the first place due to the Controls stream I took in BTech and the odd mechanical courses I had opted for..... and my rather impressive 1 year BTech project on missile guidance algorithms with a major government agency.
First Sem was a disaster (didn't fail in any though!) and though I could pick up to B+ levels in the following 2 semesters I had to leave the course before I could attend a core course AND pull my GPA over 3.0. This was due to a crisis back home which I HAD to tend to. In and out of the US in like 16 months.



PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS:

None. Yeah yeah.... I know......





WORK EXPERIENCE

:Total experience of 6 years right now (with 4 yrs in Middle East and East Asia).


I'm in the power & utilities industry and specialize in control & automation. electrical switchgear (MV/LV) and a little bit of fiber optic/radio communications.

Two years in India..... feasibility studies, risk analysis and design & engineering for power sector E.P.C AND engineering review and inspection & testing tours (BHEL/BEL units and some private manufacturers) for EPCM/power sector consultancy.

After all this I did about another couple of yrs in Dubai with a electrical and Control-Automation subcontractor (subsidiary of an engineering MNC) for the water, waste water & pipelines sector. Here my job was design & engineering AND estimation for projects in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.

I'm currently in East Asia as a Senior Engineer in a 2.0 Billion (for 1st phase only) USD project . I wear two hats now - one is design & engineering/engineering risk analysis and the other is estimation & procurement.


CERTIFICATIONS:

Certified in multiple PLC/DCS/SCADA systems (Rockwell, Siemens, Emerson and Schneider-Electric) Attended training seminars for Wonderware HMI/SCADA, Schnedier-Electric Drives and Power Systems SCADA.


EXTRA CURRICULAR:

Successful quiz career of 12 years.Regional/National University level prizes.

Top slots (2nd or 3rd... never the 1st! Highly jinxed team!) in quizzes at IIT-Chennai & IIT-Mumbai.

Topped quite a few other major quizzes.

[There's a problem though..... lost a couple of the heavy hitter certificates somewhere in the US! Guess it's as good as not listing them, right?! I mean, they will need proof right?]


I was quite active in student politics through college.... and I am a veteran of 2 election campaigns with the student's wing. Honest! In fact before my assignment in East Asia I devoted about 4 months for the party youth wing's social services activities.... in advance of the looming elections. I can give references but does this get the same "weightage" an NGO reference gets?


FINANCES:

My pedigree's quite..... patrician and got pretty good finances. I have saved up a bit too.... after that sunken expenses for M.S.


Thank you for your patience! So, what do you puys think?

Any chance?-AK

1676

@[496178:ananyboss]

@ananyboss said:

Hi @Parul1987

I will answer your question one by one.
1. 3 years of Experience + Female ( as name suggest ) is very good enough to apply for MBA, infact you get points for experience, and for 3 years its MAX point.
2. About B school in US- you have to do a homework and search which college suits you, also do not limit yourself to US because ther are a lot of good b schools in europe as well.
3. It all depends on you when you switch from IT to finance.. sooner or later you will be going to a management profile, even in IT.. you wil lbecome a TL or manager something..
4. Cost os MBA is nearly 80000$ in foreign b schools. Plus or Minus 20000$. If you are planning an MBA degree - choose GMAT. If you are looking for technical (MS ) choose GRE. Its as simple as that.
Only change is - in MS you will learn Technical - thats it.......
Thanks a lot for this info:) And I assume MS in finance would'nt be technical so I was in doubt if choosing MS in Finance over MBA would be safe if job prospects r taken into account. I was inclined towards choosing MS in Finance because of two reasons -
1) MBA is much more expensive( although it definitely pays back later but making a huge investment is also tough)
2) I was a little skeptical about my job experience( but this doubt has been clarified as you said 3 yrs of exp is not less)

Is MS in Finance good too??

Thanks once again as I have been posting to other forums as well but have not heard back yet. I was actually happy to see somebody replying so fast.

1677
@Ktulucalling said: Hi,
This is my first post, so bear with me if i found the wrong place to post or did some big mistake that people cannot forgive
I am 21 years old. Bachelor in Electrical engineering. Starting work at ABB India as a Management Trainee October, this year. Recently gave the GMAT (Score - 710 Q-47 V-41 AWA 5.0 IR 7) and it will be valid till July 2017.
I don't know why I want to do MBA As in, I cannot tell a story convincingly to a 10 year old kid about myself and how MBA is the one thing that will take me from A to B.
But, I chanced upon to see the discussion of a HBS case and fell in love with the concept of the business school So, I will be applying to ISB, NUS come 2015 and HBS, Sloan, Haas, Kellogg, Stanford come 2016.
No extra curricular activities None. All i did in college was play Counter Strike
So, for people wondering where's the god**** question : What to do to strengthen my profile besides sitting for long hours and wondering how to make up a life story for myself to sell to the adcoms? Also, what kind of extra curricular activities help? I know French and german. Is that any good?
Please do reply.

The good thing is that by the time you actually apply in 2015 (if all goes as per your current plans), you will have 3 more years to build your profile. By then you should also have a fair idea about point B and what is requires to get there.

I suggest you to continue doing good work at your organizations. Career progression and career achievements really matter in the MBA application. Try taking opportnities where you can make an impact on the company/ your team.

Though extra curricular activities are not a must, yet they give you a chance to say that you are an interesting, multi-faceted person, who has interests other than work as well. Sometimes, these activities can also become the differentiating factor between similar candidates.

So, its not about cooking up a story, but living and recounting your story.

German and French are good to know but not enough to get you in.

Namita, MBA Decoder