Hello Sir,
I am planning to give GMAT this year.My profile :
10->84
12->80
Graduation->72(B.Tech(Electronics)Not so good college:splat:)
Work ex->IT (39 months)
Currently working for a company dealing with checkpost related work.
Certification:MCSE
No great extra curriculars 
I want to move to finance .What i should do to improve my profile and what score do i need to get into top b-schools.
Thanks
Hello Sir,
I am planning to give GMAT this year.My profile :
10->84
12->80
Graduation->72(B.Tech(Electronics)Not so good college:splat:)
Work ex->IT (39 months)Currently working for a company dealing with checkpost related work.
Certification:MCSE
No great extra curriculars
I want to move to finance .What i should do to improve my profile and what score do i need to get into top b-schools.
Thanks
Not sure what 'checkpost related work' means. Can you pls elaborate?
For starters, just focus on doing well in whatever field you've chosen. Don't get too obsessed about how it'll appear on your MBA application. If you are having fun in your current role, over time you'll have enough success stories to talk about in your apps.
If you are targetting Round 1 deadlines for the coming season, this is a good time to start preparing for the GMAT. Your selection of schools will depend on the GMAT score. But if you are aiming for the top ones, a 700+ would be nice to have.
Also try to get a little more specific about your post-MBA goals. Finance is a very broad field and you could do anything from Finance IT to mainstream Mergers & Acquisitions and everything in between.
Read up on the web about various opportunities that exist in the field and see which ones excite you. Evaluate what kind of skills are needed to enter that field and how an MBA will help you get there. Most strong candidates stuggle with this aspect, and it can be a key factor that'll show Adcoms that you've done your homework well and have practical plans to reach there.
All this will add clarity to your thought process as you plunge into the essays.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Hi, I am a software engg with 10 yrs experience, actually decided late on doing an MBA.
Took GMAT a few days back and scored a 730(Q49, V40).
Undergrad (engineering)- 60%
M.Tech - IIT- 7 CGPA
Working as a team lead for the past 3-4 years ... have been in the US for 3 years on Job assignments. Extra curriculars are nothing special.
I am planning to go for 1 year MBA programs - India or abroad.
What are my chances?
Also, I have been in Healthcare insurance domain for many years .. are there any specific colleges to build on that? What are the prospects?
Thanks very much,
Sat sri akal vadde veerji,
......
Different expectations, different strategies.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Sat Sri Akaal :D
Thnku Sir for your "to the poiint " reply, will try my essays o be this wayonly for my apps.
Please tell me the schools which I should target for MBA based :
- my profile as stated earlier (my acads, my work-ex)
- I knw nobody can predict, but will work hard to get 700+ in GMAT
- let my total exp be 4 yrs when I appl
I want to know the list of schools so that I can start following the threads for them which will give me an idea that how the apps work for them respectively and prepare myself as per them.
And I will be patient this time.
Hi, I am a software engg with 10 yrs experience, actually decided late on doing an MBA.
Took GMAT a few days back and scored a 730(Q49, V40).
Undergrad (engineering)- 60%
M.Tech - IIT- 7 CGPA
Working as a team lead for the past 3-4 years ... have been in the US for 3 years on Job assignments. Extra curriculars are nothing special.
I am planning to go for 1 year MBA programs - India or abroad.
What are my chances?
Also, I have been in Healthcare insurance domain for many years .. are there any specific colleges to build on that? What are the prospects?
Thanks very much,
Yo cruise-bhai,
Nice to see that you have inaugurated your PG ID with a first post on this thread.
Mature applicants (I fell in that category too) have an unusual set of opportunities and challenges while tackling Bschool apps. A lot of solid real world experience which can be a great thing as it's given you a whole lot of time to build up those leadership stories that bschools go ga-ga over. That also puts us under pressure to demonstrate that you've already scaled a lot of milestones (in managerial and business functions) that younger candidates will probably aspire for AFTER getting their MBA degrees.
Let's take the second question first:
>> I have been in Healthcare insurance domain for many years .. are there any specific colleges to build on that? What are the prospects?
Healthcare Insurance will be a niche area. So rather than looking for schools that have a special focus on this, I'd recommend choosing a school that fits your profile overall (considering the experience level) and then taking up electives that help you specialise in your chosen field. Who knows you might develop a taste in other disciplines as you start your MBA program. So why do you want to tie yourself to just 1 niche area? Sounds logical?
>> I am planning to go for 1 year MBA programs - India or abroad. What are my chances?
With your GMAT (nice work, btw) you've laid to rest Acdoms concerns about you getting back into the academic world after a long gap.
Ensure you have a clear vision about what you want to do after your MBA. Most guys with lesser experience will aim for a different set of post-MBA roles. So a little more groundwork required for you.
You have a good chance at the top programs if you can get 3 things right:
- School selection
Select schools that are a good match for your profile. 1 year programs are a good starting point, but there are too many of those. So get selective as you'd be putting in a whole lot of effort researching them.
- Clarity about the post-MBA career.
With more years of work-ex under your ('Gucci'?) belt, Adcoms will expect this to be an area where they don't need to grill you about your choice.
- A strong application:
Create an application that flows well across all components - Essays, recos, CV. You've been to the US and you've worked in India. Think about who you want to nominate for recommendations and what you'd like them to focus on.
Individually each component should be a 'Wow' and together the entire application should be a 'Wow++' (IT folks might appreciate that part better).
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
A quick but Firm reminder to aspirants on this thread-- if you have posted, please have some patience. A consultant will reply. I've mentioned this in the opening thread but it's worth repeating again!
Pursuin b.tech from govt. College way to go for gmat i want to ask are there any good b schools which give admission to fresher my acads are not good.
Please tell me the schools which I should target for MBA based
:
:
I want to know the list of schools so that I can start following the threads for them which will give me an idea that how the apps work for them respectively and prepare myself as per them.
Veerji,
I don't know your profile and motivations well enough to get into that level of detail.
Would suggest taking it one step at a time. Just to keep it all simple, how about taking a decision on the domestic schools first, taking the GMAT next (or at least getting a fair idea of the range that you can realistically target), then coming back here to continue the discussion?
When you've done a little more research on international bschools, we'd be able to add a little more structure to the discussion. Otherwise we'll be going all over the place and yet not getting anywhere. Does that sound fair?
That shouldn't stop you from checking out the school specific threads for multiple schools. The choice of schools doesn't matter at this stage. What's more important is that you start building your knowledgebase about international schools in general.
For this thread, let's reduce the number of assumptions (and specially the numerous 'what-if' scenarios) so we can keep the advice less hypothetical and more practical.
What say?
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Hi,
My profile :
Class 10: 89%
Class 12: 82%
Graduation: 8.65 (DGPA) in computer science from an average private college.
Work Ex: 2 year in IT(This I think is a very common profile for most of the candidate)
Achievement: Not great.
Extracurricular: Avg.
I want to pursue career in Management Consulting. I believe the way forward is an MBA and that from a very good college is needed if I really have to make a mark there.
In Indian MBA college context, with low score in XII means IIM-B,IIM-K,IIM-S are out of the questions. Is it possible to get into colleges like IIM-A,IIM-C,IIM-L,XLRI, FMS with such scores?
What are the foreign MBA options do I have with these profile?
Also, how can I improve on my profile?
Hi LSEGuy,
McCombs is a good school. Congrats on the offer. If you really like the school and it fits in directly with your career aspirations, go for it.
On the topic of scholarships, I realise (from personal experience) that it makes life a whole lot easier when you have a few zeroes knocked out of that post-MBA debt. But in the long run, if you've graduated from a good school and hopefully get a good paying job that allows you to earn in the same currency, you'd be able to manage the debt.
So focus more on what you want to use that degree for (career change, geography change or something else). You aren't over the top as far as age is concerned. So stop worrying about it. I got into school when I was 32!
You already have a strong brand (LSE) on your CV. So I wouldn't hold it against you if you skip this offer and aim for the higher ranked schools that you've listed. But be aware that your chances of scholarship at these top schools is even less. Factor that before you take a decision.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Thank you for your detailed reply. I applied to McCombs keeping in mind my energy background. Though ideally I would like to enter a top energy consulting firm (M/B/B), I am aware that recruitment depends heavily on the economic climate and the general morale of the 'market'. London was (and still is) in a deep recession when I graduated from LSE. Recruitment at all the top consulting/IBs has slowed down (at some places completely stalled). Keeping the worst case scenario in mind, if I have to immediately return to India with a McCombs MBA, will this brand carry me forward in the Indian job market (consulting/banking)? I did speak to an alum who is working in Delhi, and he was of the opinion that UT-Austin is known as a top engineering school in India, and the McCombs brand is relatively new here.
Any thoughts on this? Thank you.
If you want to stay in Energy, then McCombs is the best. You will end up working in Houston.
You have the stats and profile for a Top 5 B-school admit. If you are interested in IB / PE / VC, I would suggest waiting one more year and systematically (with top-class essays and other BS) applying to the Top 5 B-schools. You don't have to worry about funding. They provide no-cosigner, no-collateral loans even for the international students including the living expenses. But if you want to stay in Energy, you will end up in Houston or Dallas, and in these places, McComb is the king.
Thank you very much for your reply. I did not apply to any top 5 schools because of my low LSE GPA (3.2/4.0). I took some additional courses (online- UCB extension and Stanford EPGY) to mitigate the impact of the low GPA at LSE. I am also considering a PhD in Management after my MBA. If I do join McCombs and graduate in 2013, is it advisable to apply immediately upon graduation or can I work in the industry for sometime (will need to repay my education loans). I have covered abstract mathematics, econometrics, linear algebra, real analysis and calculus at LSE. Will getting a job in the industry (like a consulting firm) harm my chances of entering a good (top) PhD program? I know its a lot more challenging to enter a top 10 PhD program compared to a top 10 MBA program. What steps should I take (any specific courses? ) in order to be best prepared to apply by 2013/2014?
Thank you.
mohit_1598 SaysPursuin b.tech from govt. College way to go for gmat i want to ask are there any good b schools which give admission to fresher my acads are not good.
Hi Mohit,
I've shared my thoughts on this topic here. So with your permission I'll skip this one.
The floor is still open for others to share their thoughts.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
I want to pursue career in Management Consulting. I believe the way forward is an MBA and that from a very good college is needed if I really have to make a mark there.
:
:
Also, how can I improve on my profile?
Hi Rana,
I've been a Management consultant in my pre-MBA days and I managed the transition (from pure unadulterated IT technical work to consulting) without an MBA. But if you have the top tier firms on your radar (McKinsey, Bain, BCG), then a strong MBA brand will help.
Let me see if I can get MG from the MBA Crystal Ball team to answer your query. He's worked in McKinsey and might have some tips for you on profiles that consulting firms will like.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Respected Consultant ,
I am preparing to give GMAT on may 2011.
My details are :-
1. 10th - 88%
2. 12th - 76%
3. Grads - NIT - Durgapur (Mechanical - 7.0/10)
Currently working as engineer in Power Utility in Kolkata , by june 2011 will have work ex of 36 months .
Few differentiating factors apart from power plant engineering : -
1. handled trade unions CITU ,INTTUC , INTUC etc .
2.Worked in the domian of Green Buildings .
3. Worked in the domain of fire engineering too.
I want to shift my career toward Finance , mostly capital market (investment banking / trading/ analyst ) in big banks or firms .
My questions are specific :-
1.Which are the few colleges having good placements in this fields ??
2. I an skeptical about my chances to shift my career as i have heard that these finance firms only take experience candidates . Can you put some light on this .
3. What are my chances towards few top B - Schools ??
4. Will any diploma in capital market /CFA prior to MBA be of any help??
regards
Dinesh Saboo
Exe_MBA sirji pranaam,
How is your 730 broken up (verbal/quant)? Schools generally look for a 'balanced' score and that funda extends to the AWA as well.
On the verbal part they want to see that you can absorb, analyse and communicate ideas in the language of business. And if you ask me, the AWA is not exactly a dipstick for your communication abilities. But it's a score that is clubbed together with the GMAT and we've got to live with it.
Having said that this by itself will not just raise red flags and force the Admissions committee to reject the application. However an unusually low score will raise eyebrows, specially when everyone else from the same applicant pool will have higher scores.
But don't think too much about it. Go ahead and apply. Ensure your essays are clear, concise AND impactful. Ensure they get you an interview invite, where you can floor them with your communication skills. That'll demonstrate that your AWA was more of an aberration than a reflection of your true communication capabilities.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Thanks Sameer for the insight.
Here is the break up & a bit about my profile
Verbal:37
Quant:51
Work Ex: 5.5 years (IT)
B.Tech CGPA: 8.25/10
12/10: 86%/91%
Some extra curricular to boast 😃
Keeping the worst case scenario in mind, if I have to immediately return to India with a McCombs MBA, will this brand carry me forward in the Indian job market (consulting/banking)?
:
Any thoughts on this? Thank you.
Firms like McKinsey, Bain, BCG recruit for global positions. So it's possible for you to graduate from INSEAD and still join the mumbai (or london or Singapore or NY) office of any of these. In fact, one of the guys I helped during the application process managed to do exactly that with BCG.
So your best bet is to target them immediately post-MBA as their MBA recruitment process works best when you start the process during Bschool. After that it'll be more on a case-to-case basis as opposed to institutionalised recruiting.
Austin's brand has little to do in that scenario as you'd then be trying alternative routes ('warm introductions') to get noticed. Plus keep in mind that you'd still be competing with the other top school grads AND the super-competitive IIM/ISB folks (like apna MG-bhai who moved from ISB to McK) for the same positions in India.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Hi Rana,
I've been a Management consultant in my pre-MBA days and I managed the transition (from pure unadulterated IT technical work to consulting) without an MBA. But if you have the top tier firms on your radar (McKinsey, Bain, BCG), then a strong MBA brand will help.
Let me see if I can get MG from the MBA Crystal Ball team to answer your query. He's worked in McKinsey and might have some tips for you on profiles that consulting firms will like.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Rana,
There is no time tested way of getting into MC. Though exemplary academics brightens your chances like anything, but there are numerous examples of people with diverse skills who are successful in consulting world over.
Having said this, you do need to develop atleast a single "spike", a skill/strenght that is up there with the very best. The point is just to prove that you can excel at atleast 1 thing you set your heart to.
Regarding the profile, after 2-3 years of work-ex, XII grades have very low value in the overall application. In this regard, to get a good shot at MBA schools, take a good crack on GMAT (CAT?). In addition, start thinking of your accomplishments at work and see how you can acceuntuate them.
Hope this helps,
Cheers!
-MG
MBA Crystal Ball
Hi,
I am currently looking to do MBA from Abroad.I have got an offer from Rouen Business school,France.
My Profile,
12-85.25%
B.E: 70%
32months of work experience with a big IT company.
IELTS score: 7.5 overall band score.
GMAT: Not taken
kindly let me know if this is a good school and what prospects are there here??
Also,If I can try for any other business schools?? (I am not country specific)
Kindly looking forward for a reply to decide as early as possible.
Thanks!
I am currently looking to do MBA from Abroad.I have got an offer from Rouen Business school,France.
kindly let me know if this is a good school and what prospects are there here??
Firstly I have a question for you - do you speak French? I can guarantee you that unless you are conversant in their language, culture, food, and general French mode de vie its going to be tough for you to really survive your MBA.
Think about it? The last thing you want to feel like is like a fish out of water - an Indian who tries hard to gel in a system which doesn't accept English. No matter how much they sweet talk about the program being conducted in English - I can speak from my experience having traveled extensively across continental Europe.
Apart from this I have no doubts that the "quality of education" itself won't be bad.
Also,If I can try for any other business schools?? (I am not country specific)
The world is your oyster! Given your profile you can pretty much apply to top 20 schools (ranging from "stretch" to "safe"). However the way you articulate your story is a different story all together
Arun
CrackVerbal - Ask a Consultant
mohit_1598 SaysPursuin b.tech from govt. College way to go for gmat i want to ask are there any good b schools which give admission to fresher my acads are not good.
Though I might be over-simplifying this but try Review Application Process - MBA - Harvard Business School
But more importantly why not try CAT? I think that would be the best option for you - Day Zero placements, no substantial financial obligation, no worry about work permits
Arun
CrackVerbal - Ask a Consultant