thanks for reply/...i am perplexed by vast data on internet. i request you to let me know good 4-5 institutes for M.S in Financial Eng. and supposedly good gre score for them.If u can enlighten me on various source (on internet) to know about good university for particular course..then it will help in researching...
regard and many thanks for quick reply.
p.s : if i do gmat does scope in financial field is more compared to gre(which one is better )
Many universities offer MFE programs. But just to avoid the avalanche of information, you could start off with the official websites of Haas and UCLA. Check out what the course covers, the fees, pre-requisites, opportunities. They accept GMAT scores, not sure about GRE.
These are very competitive programs but the last few years have been brutal for finance professionals in the US.
MBA grads ki bhi band baji hui thi. but they had the advantage of having a broader scope that wasn't limited only to finance roles.
There are some folks from the PG forum who've approached me AFTER getting into these programs to ask whether they should accept the offer or defer it. It's a tough call. Hopefully the economy (and more specifically fianancial engineering opportunities) will improve in a few years when it's time for you to graduate.
At present, I'm doing a M.A. in English from DU (St. Stephen's).
I appeared for CAT in 2010 and scored 99.27 percentile. Got calls from IIM-L, FMS and MDI. Couldn't convert either IIM-L or FMS. Converted MDI but didn't join.
Now, I've really set my mind on doing an international MBA from among the top tier colleges - HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, Kelloggs, etc.
I realize I have low marks in graduation. I will hopefully rectify this in M.A.
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? I'm not even 22 right now, so I have a lot of time to build up a solid profile. I don't have any regular work-ex till now as such, but I recently started my own internet marketing company. Since I'm still in college, I can't take this work full time, but currently earn a healthy income and even employ Philippines based virtual assistants as per my needs.
After M.A. (which will be in 2013), I plan to take my internet business full time. Would this be a better option than going for a regular job, keeping in mind my long term goal of getting into a top tier American MBA program?
I'm quite sure in the next two years I will be able to take my business full time and even have a few full time employees. I have a very strong interest in tech entrepreneurship (despite my education in humanities) and have my eyes set on Stanford GSB (since its in the heart of Silicon Valley).
What all can I do in the next 5 years to strengthen my profile for a top tier MBA program?
Thanks for the reply Sameer. : a. Why do you ask me to defer ISB application? I heard from an admissions counselor that I would get atleast a call based on my current job profile and GMAT score. Please let me know your thoughts on this as I was banking on this option.
b. How do you rate my chances in the top 10 B-schools in US?
Thanks and regards, Vishwas
Vishwas,
In terms of selectivity, ISB is one of the toughest programs to get into. From your previous post, we know you've got a good GMAT score, 2 yrs of good work-ex and some more basic info.
Based only on this level of information, I'd be cautious of anyone who assures you that you will get an interview call.
A whole lot of guys who apply to ISB have similar scores, but more experience. So GMAT alone cannot be a differentiator for ISB, or for that matter any of the other top schools. Your biggest challenge (as I mentioned in the previous response) is to demonstrate why your 2 yrs work-ex is richer than the 4-5 yrs work-ex that the average ISB applicant brings with him.
In fact, we discourage several candidates who want to work with us (even if they are willing to pay us), not because we are arrogant or because we think the candidate lacks the potential...but because we feel we won't be able to add too much value to their profiles by just focusing on the profile packaging front.
Bschool applications are about being able to convincingly and emphatically project the strength of you profile and your professional maturity. And that'll come with your essays, your recos and your interview.
If you are confident of being able to do a good job with all of these components, by all means go ahead and apply.
1. I would suggest applying to top bschools anywhere in the world - US, UK, or even India (such as ISB). Do not aim for a mid-tier school since strategy consulting might not be easy to get in from any other school.
2. Your profile is really good but the IIM factor does seem to be the only blot in an otherwise stellar background. However remember this - EVERY YEAR THERE ARE INDIAN IT MALES WHO GET THROUGH TOP PROGRAMS. We are saying difficult - don't read it as impossible
3. No need to take GMAT again unless you think you did a major goof-up and that you can crack a 770 or so.
However articulating your story well and picking the right set of schools is the key.
SSC - 72% Diploma in Textiles - 73% Bachelor of Textiles - 62% (among top 5 stdnts though..bt nothing to certify this:-()
close to nil co- curricular 5.5 yrs of experience in operations, sales and BD with top textile companies..no international experience...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 ...and want to switch industry..my career intrests are business strategy amd marketing....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
I want to try for two options 1.) Warwick 2.) Bath.
My profile is 12th : 90% BE : 67% avg GMAT : 550 (47 Maths and 21 English) 5 yrs if IT experience in outsourcing IT company, product company and service company.
Can you please tell me, which option to go for, For the both , I have two postives and negatives in mind. 1.) Bath have 8 yrs avg exp, while warwick have 7 2.) Bath have old history of reputation while warwick is relatively new. 3.) Warwick have better FT ranking, while bath have economist.
I know both are good universities, but selecting one of it, is getting difficult.
Am basically interested in consulting branch.
All parameters are soo confusing, that I cant decide which one to opt for.
Can anyone, atleast suggest me, which parameter to look for and which option to give more weightage to or which college to go for.
how is the work profile in IBM Strategy and Change division ( Is it same as IBM BCS ?? ), Accenture Management Consulting and Deloitte Strategy and Operations ?
I understand its tough to break into mckinseys for non IIT's non toppers even at ISB. Hence want to target the next best jobs and this is where I am trying to understand if what I have mentioned above is indeed the next best.
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?
Can you please let me know which other schools in the region are good/better feeder's to these strat consulting firms?
As far as I know the big consulting firms ( bain's, bcg, mckinsey, At kearney) recruit from only the top 20 in the US and IIM ABC/ISB( here also only the top 5% achievers ) in asia. Am I right there ?
As far as other consulting firms/roles are considered is there a difference in brand value/feeder value of other schools?
Want to understand which other schools in the region are better if I am targeting strat consulting. If such is the case I am considering the worthiness of deferring my current admit to join them next year?
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.
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?
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.
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??
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.
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.
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?
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 😁
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.
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.
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.
5.5 yrs of experience in operations, sales and BD with top textile companies..no international experience...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 ...and want to switch industry..my career intrests are business strategy amd marketing....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 
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 
