Thank you for your inquiry. I would definitely not send any information that the Admissions Committee is not asking for. At best, the AdCom will simply dispose of your plan. At worst, they will view it negatively and make a note of the fact that you were not paying attention to instructions. I am highly doubtful that it could help you. In terms of your competitiveness, I dont think that you will be competitive at the elite schools (LBS, IMD and INSEAD) but you should be at the remaining schools (Oxford, ESADE, IESE, Cambridge). If you are attempting to improve your chances, you might build your leadership profile outside of the office, through community work and personal endeavors. You want to standout your creativity enhancement is a great start, but what else? Where else do you shine? You can use the year to differentiate in other areas. Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844 Skype: MBA Mission
Hi!
Would sending a document detailing the plans for fulfilling my vision along with my application, enhance my chances of admission? Assuming that the quality of the plan is pretty good, of course! Inevitably, the document would contain details of a big hole where the mba program would fit in!
Also, the following is my profile:
GMAT: 700/4.5 U.G: B.E - 3.8 GPA - NIT Surathkal (Top 10 college in India) Indian/IT/Male 8 Months International Experience Extra Curriculars: In College: Multiple instances of managing about 7-10 people to organize certain events. Learning French. Work Experience: 2 years (now); Trying for 2009.
At Work: No Managerial experience. But I have conducted motivated and trained my team mates to improve their creativity, which is starting to show results. I expect the manager to vouch for the quality of this initiative.
What would be my chances at Europe's Top 10-15 if i am trying for programs starting in Fall '09? What are the kind of things I should consider to improve my chances?
Thank you for your inquiry. I have noted in the past that I am unaware of a time in which someone with an MBA from an Indian school has succeeded in gaining admission to a top-U.S. school. I have also noted that I have asked admissions officers about this and one from a top-school told me that in her 10+ years she could not recall a single instance of them accepting a candidate with an MBA. Maybe someone could start a thread on the PGG forums and see if we can find someone out there who has been accepted? I think that your work experience is strong and differentiable. I think your community work is great. I think your GMAT is adequate. I just think that your existing MBA will really hinder your chances. You will need to make an overwhelming case for why you need another MBA a pretty significant obstacle to overcome, during a year when applications are surging. I wish I had more optimistic thoughts. Start that thread and see where it takes us. Maybe I am wrong? Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for your help in this forum - i have read your earlier posts with great interest.. Could you pls give me advice based on my profile below.. thanks..
I am an indian applicant and am aiming for Harvard, Stanford, Tuck, Chicago, Cambridge, IMD and INSEAD. I plan to make a career switch - post my MBA i plan to start my second career as a consultant and later would like to come back to India to work in a general management role. I have done a MBA earlier and have 5 years of post MBA work-experience in an Indian blue-chip company and a global healthcare major.
I have been fortunate enough (due to my earlier MBA) to lead large teams from day one of my professional career and my work-ex has been in rural business (a very innovative business model followed by an indian company) and in sales of medical products. In both the above companies i have been a part of start-up divisions and hence have gathered varied functional exposure (recruitment, training, sales, marketing, business development) and had loads of fun
I have won several awards at work and have enough leadership experience and successes (no awards during school and undergrad, though I have secured an "A" grade throughout my academic career). I was recently promoted and made a few mistakes that would be worth writing about in some of the essays :smile:
Currently I am working in India for a healthcare major in a middle management sales position. I intend to apply this year. I have following extracurriculars: Community development - worked with NGOs to build check dams, adult literacy program and adopted 2 rural schools (raised money from my current company and ran the mumbai marathon to raise pledges in support of my initiative). I captain my company cricket team and am also one of the founder members of the sports club. Besides the above, I have found a youth forum in college and am an alumnus of AIESEC (an international youth forum)
Why a second MBA: a) to get an intl outlook - an opportunity to interact with people from different parts of the world and learn from diversity. b)For career switch to consulting. c) To convert my weakness - lack of international exposure - to strength
My GMAT score is 690 (AWA - 5.5). I have negligible international work ex, though my current company has given me adequate exposure to work in a very diverse and challenging environment
Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately, statistics alone do not tell the story. What are the stories behind your professional and community experiences? Where have you shown leadership? Where have you achieved? Offer me a bit more detail and I can do my best to help Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844
Hi Jemery,
I am aspiring for a MBA from a top notch international B School. I would appreciate your advice on where i stand in the crowd. My profile is briefed below: 1) GMAT - 710 (V:35,M:50,AWA:5) taken sept'07 2) TOEFL - 106 taken oct'07 3) UG GPA - 9/10 in B.Tech computer science & engg from top 25 institution in India. 4) PG GPA - Expecting in few month. Completed the part time MS Software Engg from Top 7 institution in India- Corporate sponsorship. 5) Extracurricular: Decent with few Philanthrpic activities. 6) International Ex: Since last 2 month. 7) Total Work Ex: 36 month as of June 2008 in IT industry - Cognizant
I am planning to apply in the coming season for Aug 09 intake.
Please criticise/comment my profile and advise what schools I should aim at. My interest are in Management Consulting.
Thank you for your inquiry. We help candidates with applications to the top U.S. and European schools. I apologize but I am not familiar with the requirements of Indian schools. Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844
Hi Jeremy, I am a graduate engineer,I want to seek an admission in good MBA college. But my academics are not that good as I have a drop in engineering for a year , so I want to know am I eligible to get an admission in good MBA college in India.
Hi Jeremy, I have posted this info on another thread also. However, I wanted to get your perspective on my profile and what else can I do to improve it. Here is my profile :- 1. B.Tech - IITD - Civil Engg. - 6.24/10.0 (2003 passout) 2. GMAT - 780 (Q=50,V=47) 3. Work Ex: -
Jun 2003 - Didn't get a job from campus. Searched on my own and joined a software company. Realised this is not what i want to do. Quit in Aug 2003
Sep 2003 - Went back to a professor and started working in an R&D; center of Transportation Engg. Slowly got into econometrics and stuff. Quit in March 2004 coz my contract ended.
Apr 2004 - Joined a small (30-35 ppl) Market Research company. Learned a lot there. Got promoted in 3 months. Had a leadership role as well. Quit in May 2005 coz reached saturation.
June 2005 - Joined one of the biggest Credit Card company. Working in same analytics field. Build models, do statistical analysis.
4. I take out time from my job to go to a school for underprivileged children to teach. 5. I am aiming for Fall 2007 and want to do MBA in Finance. I am planning to apply to Chicago, Stanford, Harvard and LBS. Could you give your opinion about what these institutes look for and whether my profile is in synch with that? Are there any other good schools for finance? What are the weak points in my profile? Would be really great if you could share your thoughts here. Vishal
I am planning to apply in top Indian and European 1 year MBA programs. I have around 9 years of experience in telecommunication product development and GMAT is 700 (V - 38, Q - 48 ), AWA 4.00. I know my GMAT is in ballpark and AWA is low. Most of the colleges I am planning to apply do not require TOEFL but do you suggest taking TOEFL to explain low AWA score? Someone suggested me taking TOEFL and using additional essay to explain low AWA score. Looking forward to your response. Thanks, Rajat
Hi Jeremy, I want to get into an MBA programme at a top international business school by 2011/12. My targets are Ivy League, Cambridge, Stanford etc. I don't have a stellar profile at the moment; my academics both at school and college level have been average. I have completed my engineering and will start working in a few days for a (relatively) small IT firm.
My query is, what steps should I take to shape my profile.
Some of the options I have considered are: 1) Part time/Short term courses/ Certifications : My knowledge of management/finance is almost nill. I would like to take up some short term courses over the next two-three years. Which kind of courses would you suggest that can improve my chances.
2) Change in career: Engineering being a strictly technical job, would I benefit more if I were to take up a consultancy or sales/marketing job. If I have a good career graph in engineering jobs, will it have the same impression as a non engineering job.
3) Voluntary Work: I intend to work as a volunteer for NGOs in my free time. Is this sort of involvement given any weightage by Admission Comittees.
Do you think these efforts would be sufficient? What other steps would you suggest?
Thank you for your inquiry. I have noted in the past that I am unaware of a time in which someone with an MBA from an Indian school has succeeded in gaining admission to a top-U.S. school. I have also noted that I have asked admissions officers about this and one from a top-school told me that in her 10+ years she could not recall a single instance of them accepting a candidate with an MBA. Maybe someone could start a thread on the PGG forums and see if we can find someone out there who has been accepted? I think that your work experience is strong and differentiable. I think your community work is great. I think your GMAT is adequate. I just think that your existing MBA will really hinder your chances. You will need to make an overwhelming case for why you need another MBA a pretty significant obstacle to overcome, during a year when applications are surging. I wish I had more optimistic thoughts. Start that thread and see where it takes us. Maybe I am wrong? Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844
Thanks Jeremy.. I have taken ur advice and started a thread on this forum..:-o.. Since the educational system in India is different (Most MBA applicants in India are freshers) would clarifying the Indian MBA context in the 'optional essay' help the adcom to get a perspective? Would you suggest that as an option?
International opportunities / experience post an INdian MBA are few and far in between, but without an MBA getting substantial career opportunities is quite difficult in India..:huh:
meanwhile, if anyone is reading this post and is planning for a 2nd mba do get in touch... Thanks..
I have completed my B.Tech in April'08 and am currently working in TCS.If you could please look into my profile and suggest me suitably:
I have just given the GMAT(14th Aug'08 and my score was 700(Q49, V36).
My academic background is: 10th : 89% 12th: 85% Ungergrad: 8.26/10 (among top 10 in my batch)
But the problem is that I do not have much of a prior work-experience.To be presise by sep'09 it would be 12 months as Software Engineer in TCS.
Because of my lack of work-experience i know i won't be able to get into a really good MBA program if I apply for fall'09.
But many top universities offer programs such as MS in Finance,Management e.t.c. wherein prior work-experience is not required.
Now I wanted to ask you weather I should work for abt 3 years and then apply directly to any MBA programme or apply now to some Masters programme.
I would want to consider the Masters programme if I get a good placement out of it , so that it will really improve my profile and then I could think of pursuing an MBA after Masters and then 2-3 yrs of work ex.
I am planning to apply for MBA for 2009. My profile is from a very competitive group Indian/male/IT.
GMAT - 700 AWA 5.0 Education: Metallurgical Engineer from IIT-JEE Experience - 9 yrs 3 months by Sep-2009 International Experience - 3 yrs 2 month in US, 1 yr in China, 1 yr 3 months in UK (till Sep 2009) Career progression Software engineer-->Programmer Analyst---->Project Manager -----> Senior Project Manager
Leadership assignments since June-2005.
A unique experience of leading a culturally diversify,multi lingual team of 26 Chinese, 12 Indians and 1 American in last assignment.
Won muliple awards in project execution and cutomer delight and Branding categories.
I have a huge FAILURE story. I failed in Physics, chemistry and mathematics in undergraduate examination and have to repeat my XII standard. After that I got selected in IITJEE the top engineering college in India.
I am also a founder member of a business venture in India which is doing very good.
Please let me know if this profile fits for any top US or UK school.
For an assignment, I would have to go to USA soon. But the timing is such that the trip will be after the R1 deadlines for some colleges. My question is, to bring in the US experience in my essays, etc, should I apply in R2? Or should I go ahead with the applications and submit them in R1 and maybe mention that I'd be going to US shortly and hope to gain such and such experience/exposure.... I wanted your advice on this issue
Thanks for your inquiry. Your details of your community work are quite vague so it is very hard to tell if you can differentiate yourself along these lines. I think that your work experience, peppered with leadership and international experience, should be a plus. If you are looking for one year programs, you might consider European schools, Oxford and Cambridge. If you can really sell that international experience, then INSEAD may be worth the shot. Still, challenging with the information provided Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844 Skype: MBAMission
Hi Jeremy, I am 27 years old male engineer from India. I am aiming for top business schools (Preferably 1 year) outside India. I would highly appreciate if you can review my profile and suggest which colleges I should target. My profile: 1) GMAT: 690 2) UG: Excellent acads - Silver Medalist (From one of the Top Engineering colleges in India) 3) Extracurricular: Average 4) International Work-ex: More than 2 years in UK 5) Total Work-Ex: Around 6.5 years by Sep, 2009 (Working in Infosys Technologies) - Working as a team leader from last 2.5 years - Rapid Promotion to Project Lead's position - Received couple of awards 6) Involved in community work. 7) Learning French I am working in projects related to Manufacturing services (Aerospace & Auto Domain) and want to work in Management Consulting post-MBA in same field. Could you please evaluate my profile and suggest me the right colleges? Thanks, Gaurav
Thanks for your inquiry. Age becomes a factor only when you have nothing to show for your time. You are a surgeon with a 770 GMAT! You clearly have the intellectual horsepower to excel and the unique experience to add to the classroom. You cant do anything about your age at this point, so dont worry about it! I dont think that there is a school that is off limits for you. I am not saying that you are going to get into HBS, but if you are applying to several other schools, I would give it a shot. They are not discriminatory against older candidates they are just open to younger candidates. Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844 Skype: MBAMission
Hi Jeremy, I have been reading these dozens of pages of your analyses with interest. You have shown enormous patience & depth of understanding, and I'm glad to be able ot ask your advice.
I'm a 34 year old surgeon from India, working in Dubai. I have a very diverse work experience, speak five languages (three learnt after becoming a doctor) and am interested in a general management MBA that will get me into Healthcare management, hoping to rise to strategy. I have 770 in GMAT, am working on my quants firther with MBAMath. My question is 1. Have I left it for too late in terms of age? 2. I am looking at Tuck, Duke, Chicago, ISB, Maybe Darden, (i want HBS, but i feel my age will be more of a problem there) Are there any other places i should be looking at? Wharton healthcare is supposed to be great, but is it beyond my reach? 3. I have earned very low wages by the standards of even Indian non-healthcare industry while i was i India. (Standard for my field, maybe a bit above normal) Will that be a problem?
Could you please provide insights on essay analysis for ISB (2009 class).
1.Please give three reasons why ISB should admit you into the class of 2010. These reasons should ideally differentiate you from your competition. (300 words max ) 2.You are contesting the election to be the President of the ISB Student Body. Write a speech you will deliver to the student body on why they should elect you as the President? (300 words max) 3.CASE : You have been appointed to head the team to build a dam across the River Zumba. Success in this project is critical for your company and would earn you a promotion. Failure would mean that your company would be bankrupt and will take along with it, its investors and its employees. Building a dam across the river would result in deforestation of a portion of the rainforests and would mean relocation of the tribals and destabilization of wild life at Zumba. There is resistance from environmental groups against your project. You are meeting the head of the resistance movement in one hour wherein you would have to explain your decision. Describe what you would do and why? (You will be evaluated on the creativity and practicality of your solution). (300 words max) 4.Optional Please provide additional information, if any, that will significantly affect the consideration of your application to the ISB. Please do not repeat information which has already been stated elsewhere in the application. You may use this to clarify any breaks in education/work, inform about any other item which you think has not been covered elsewhere etc. (300 words max)
Thank you for your inquiry. I am not sure that ITES is under-represented in the admissions pool. My understanding is that this is the strategy behind outsourcing, right? I think that you will struggle with the differentiation factor if you sell your industry instead of your management forty Associates under management is great! I am curious about your CSR activities, what did you win this award for? A little more information and I can lend a hand. Sincerely, Jeremy Shinewald MBA Mission www.mbamission.com 646-485-8844 Skype: MBAMission
Hello Jeremy, I'm right now working with a MNC in ITES sector, my profile is as below: Xth- 73% XIIth- 69% B.Tech- 72% Work Ex- 2.8 years GMAT-700 Designation- Sr. Quality Analyst Handling 3 different teams- total 40 associates under me. Apart from this I have lot of achievements and initiatives on my name along with many motivation drives run by me as part of my leadership skills in my organization. And for social participation I've been awarded by my VP for initiatives that I've taken for our society as part of CSR. Along with all these, I'm have good comand over basic management concepts and subjects. Being in ITES sector, I hope i fulfill the demand for diversity in terms of experience as required by most of the international colleges. My field of interest for MBA is Service Marketing/International Business. Though I never had a foreign trip, but am good in handling international client. Right now I'm dealing with one of the Giant telecom company in Canada. And I can have recommendation from them as well. I'm planning to apply for 2009 batches. It woud be great if you could comment on my profile and show me the real picture. Also can you suggest me some colleges and any other area where I should excel myself.
