Thank you for your inquiry. HR is an uncommon specialty and Im not aware of any top EMBA programs that specialize in it. You should be able to find some solid HR courses in any program that has a general management emphasis. Overall you seem to have a strong and interesting profile, with solid grades, depth in a somewhat uncommon field, and a good balance of individual and team activities. Receiving a strong GMAT score will be very beneficial for you, as it confirms for the schools that you can perform well academically in a quantitative environment. If you did not take any quantitative classes as a Psychology student (e.g. accounting or statistics) you could consider taking one or two at night and doing well, again to demonstrate to the schools your analytical aptitude. I also encourage you to find leadership opportunities within the activities you describe; you seem involved as an individual and as a team member, but more leadership experiences like arranging the National Seminar meets will strengthen your profile. Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
I had Maths + Bio combination in Intermediate, and I have also studied Management Accounting and Cost Accounting while doing PGDM. Meanwhile Statistics was a subject both in Psychology Hons and HR testing tools. I think it will suffice the purpose.
But apart from this I wanted to know if there are lesser number of colleges providing EMBA in HR, shall I go for MBA again, or look for an option in EMBA with limited sources available? I know its an individual call but a suggestion will really help me to decide. I had tried to find out but there are very few courses available in HR which can help me to grow further in my area.
Hi Sumit - I'm answering your last two posts together here, for ease.
It seems to me that what youre struggling with is the subjective nature of the MBA application process. It would certainly be far more clear cut if schools just accepted or rejected applicants based on quantitative measures like GPA or GMAT, but schools are looking to develop leaders, and characteristics of successful leaders cant be gleaned purely from numbers. I can tell you that it is important to be honest in your application. Schools do verify information both in the interview and afterwards, calling companies and fact-checking information about titles, salaries, activities, etc. They also frequently contact recommenders directly to verify that those letters are not fabricated. More importantly even, admissions officers quickly develop very highly attuned radar to be able to detect inconsistencies or false claims. Im not saying that some candidates dont slip through with fabrications, but the vast majority of candidates who fabricate information get detected. As for your second post, it is really hard to answer when you just look at two candidates since the schools are comparing thousands of applicants. There are certainly applicants who go to top IT schools and work in IT who are accepted. Such candidates may have that wow factor or they may not, just as your hypothetical applicant who attended a lower ranked school and worked in a non-IT field also may or may not have that wow factor. The demographic of Indian applicants who work in IT is extremely competitive; some absolutely do get in but because the schools are trying to build a diverse student body overall, being part of that demographic makes the odds harder. A school wants a student body that has a few stellar IT professionals, but also Investment Banking professionals, Marketing professionals, Non profit professionals, etc. Many more qualified candidates apply from every specialty than can possibly be accepted given the schools' goal of building a diverse class. I know this can be a frustrating process and that many applicants would prefer to be evaluated only on objective measures, but thats simply not the reality of how management schools evaluate candidates. I can only urge you to be accurate and truthful in your application. Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
One more addition to my previous post, people always talk about MBA schools looking for diversity something different in your application. Tell me one thing suppose you have 2 applicants first one did his graduation from top IIT in india and then he worked in IT and second candidate did BSC or Bcom or BCA or MCA or BBA and then worked in some non-IT company.Now out of these 2 applicants on what basis will you tell who is better. Its clearly evident that guy with IIT degree even if he worked in IT is much better then any BSC or Bcom guy. I am sure you know about fierce competion to get into IIT and even tougher competition to get that 4 years IIT degree. Just by saying that he worked in IT so he doesnt have that wow factor is not correct. You can ask any company a graduate from a college like IIT or other top 10 colleges in india, always stand out of other IT people but unfortunately he keeps working in IT because money is good and there are not so many options after doing an engineering degree which pay so high. In any IT company in india there is a clear demarkation based on the college you graduated from if you look at the salary and if you see how fast they grow from junior to senior level. But still its said someone working in non-IT field has a WOW factor. I dont agree with this. I dont think any Bcom or BSC or MCA or BBA guy can compete with any IIT guy in any field (exceptions can be there but here we are discussing in general not exceptional cases). I would like to mention I am not targeting any one individual. I am just trying to understand what this WOW factor actually is. Thanks, Sumit
Thank you for your inquiry. It sounds like someone from the organization you volunteer with would be a strong choice for a recommendation, for the two reasons you highlight (differs from a work supervisor and fits with your career goals). But I understand your concern since the head of the organization is not really a peer. If the organization is that small though, do you work closely with him in more of a peer capacity, where youre working together towards a common goal? Or is your interaction primarily with other volunteers and he only occasionally sees the results of your work? If the former, he may be a reasonable choice but if its the latter I dont think it works. Is there another volunteer at the organization or a staff member there that you work with closely who could write the reference for you? My best recommendation is to call the school and ask; theyll be fine with this kind of question. Be sure to describe the size of the organization and who your primary interaction is with when you ask. If they say that the head of the organization is fine, then you should ask him to add a sentence in at the beginning of the reference explaining why hes an appropriate choice to be a peer reference. I hope that helps. Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
One of the schools that I am applying requires two recommendations, one from supervisor and one from peer. I can get a recommendation from my current supervisor in the company. For the peer reco, I want to get the reco from an organization that I have been volunteering for. Two reasons being, 1) it doesnt repeat what my current supervisor says and gives credit to the other side of me. 2) Also my career goals are related to the work I do there. would add some credibility to my claim of "goal".
But the problem I am having is, the organization I volunteer for is very small and I can get only from the head of the organization. Though he is not my supervisor per se, because I only volunteer there, I don't think he can be considered my "peer" as well.
What should I do ? Can I still get it from him for the peer recommendation. This is one of my top schools and I want to give my best shot.. Please let me know.
Dear Absak Thank you for the follow up. To answer your questions: 1. There are many applicants who are not part of an NGO. Being part of an NGO isnt important; whats important is showing demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills in community activities that you are passionate about. You have demonstrated accomplishments in a number of activities; my feedback was that they are primarily individual ones and within those you should look for opportunities to show leadership and initiative. Getting involved with an NGO a few months before the application deadline simply for the purpose of applying may not enhance your application as much as taking on more responsibility within an activity you have been involved with for some time would.
2. I think youre a strong candidate and many schools look favorably on candidates with 2-3 years of experience. Harvard tends to trend slightly younger than Wharton but there is a range of ages at all schools.
3. If you score 730 or above I would say that youll be a very competitive candidate. The very top schools may be a stretch simply because of the high number of Indian applicants and the schools desire to build a diverse class, but I would encourage you to apply. Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
Dear Jeremy, Thank you for your elaborate response. The link provided by you is very helpful esp for someone like me who has time to plan his GMAT jaunt. I wish to provide you with a more detailed profile background of mine and seek your advice on it as well as to a few other queries. 10th : 83.2% 12th : 87.2% BA Economics (Honors) :63.12% Masters in Business Economics(MBE) : 60 % GMAT : Yet to be taken Leadership roles: 1. Co-ordinator of the Placement cell of Department of Business Economics, University of Delhi. 2.Aligned and managed a team of people across 4 states of India(which in themselves indicate different cultures) during the course of my internship and collectively contributed to the development of the program I was interning on. 3. Head boy of my school. 4. Captain of Zonal school cricket team . My queries : 1. Even though I do get involved in community service on and off,is it really important to be a part of an NGO to formalize your otherwise not-so-frequent involvement? 2.Would B schools in the US like Harvard, Wharton and the like (who look for exceptional spikes in the student profile) view favorably on candidates having a work experience of 2-3 years and a profile similar to mine. 3. With a score upwards of 730,would you advice me to try for the top B-schools in the US? I also hope to have more leadership and team oriented achievements as I continue driving my Sales team to achieve targets in the next year 2 years. Thank you again for providing the much needed direction.
Regards, Absak
Dear Absak, Thank you for your inquiry. You have a solid background that, because of your sales and marketing experience, differentiates you from many applicants with similar demographics. Your extracurriculars are also interesting, especially being a voice-impersonation artist. I dont see a lot in your profile about activities that involve other people either in a leadership or teamwork dimension; you seem to focus more on individual activities. Of course thats fine if thats where your interests lie, but in terms of strengthening your application you may want to consider taking on a leadership or team-oriented role in one of your current activities. In terms of score, I cant give you a specific number to aim for, but certainly given your demographic and the competitiveness of the application process you should aim for the highest you can. While I encourage you to aim for at least a 700, I also want to urge you not to give up if you score slightly below that. You have an interesting background and shouldnt give up on your MBA dreams over a score of, for example, 680. I'm not sure if you're looking in the U.S., but if you are, in terms of schools that focus on marketing, Northwestern (Kellogg) is consistently the top-ranked marketing-oriented school in the U.S. Other schools known for being strong in marketing are Wharton, Duke (Fuqua), Stanford, Harvard, University of Michigan (Ross) and the University of Chicago (Booth). Here is a link to a section of our blog focusing on Long-term Planning that you may find helpful: mbaMission - Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting | Blog Long Term MBA Planning Best of luck, Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
Sam thank you for your inquiry. You seem to have a strong work history with some exciting roles and international experience, good grades and presumably excellent references from work. A GMAT of 730+ will certainly strengthen your overall strong academic profile. However, as an academically talented Indian engineer, youre part of a very competitive demographic and not having any extracurricular activities of note will be a hole in an otherwise solid profile. I would encourage you to apply to the top 20 schools, but unless you can find some extracurriculars that you are passionate about and can show initiative and leadership at them, your profile may not stand out to the admissions committees. If you can get involved in some activities that excite and interest you and will let you demonstrate some leadership, that will only help your application. Best of luck Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
1)Class X th - 89% Class XII th - 80% Bachelors in Technology(B.Tech.) - 66%
2)Work ex - 4 yrs in IT by the time I apply. - Started my career as a Software Engineer with Infosys Technologies Limited - worked for a year but quit since I was not happy with the profile offered.Built on my skill sets while there - gained certifications pertaining to the technology I was interested to work in such as Sun Certified Java Programmer/ Sun Certfied Web Component Developer and joined a startup after that. - Worked with the startup for 15 months.Highly exciting work on a diverse range of technologies.Was involved in the complete development and deployment of an IT system for a British firm.Included short term international work ex in UK for 3 months. - Currently working with one of the biggest software firms in the telecom domain for the past 1 year as a Senior Software Engineer.Consistently ranked as a best performer at work place.Handling modules independently alongwith guiding a small team of 4.Involved in technical proposals floated to new clients for new projects as part of the technical team.
3)Was a topper throughout the school life - consistently from class 2 to class 12.Not much of extra curricular activities though.
4)I am planning to go in for GMAT now for the fall 2010 intake.I would like to know my chances for the top 20 B schools as per my profile if Im targetting a GMAT score of 730+.Also, Im more inclined to stay in the technology sector post MBA - may be in the sales/marketing for the IT firms.I would like to know some of the top schools in the technology management domain.
From your description of your courses, I agree you have a strong enough quantitative background to offset any concerns an admissions committee may initially have about someone with an HR background.
Unfortunately beyond that, I really can't help you. As I mentioned, I don't know of any MBA programs that specialize in HR, although you should be able to find strong courses in any good program. I believe you said you had 3 years work experience; that may not be sufficient to get you in to an EMBA program. But you could certainly apply to both MBA and EMBA programs and see which feels like the better fit as you learn more.
Best of luck,
Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
I had Maths + Bio combination in Intermediate, and I have also studied Management Accounting and Cost Accounting while doing PGDM. Meanwhile Statistics was a subject both in Psychology Hons and HR testing tools. I think it will suffice the purpose.
But apart from this I wanted to know if there are lesser number of colleges providing EMBA in HR, shall I go for MBA again, or look for an option in EMBA with limited sources available? I know its an individual call but a suggestion will really help me to decide. I had tried to find out but there are very few courses available in HR which can help me to grow further in my area.
I'm not familiar with that school. If it is only currently getting widespread accreditation, however, it may not have enough of a reputation to serve you well outside of a limited area. It really depends on your goals (professional and geographic) as to how helpful it could be for you.
I'm sorry I can't be of further help.
Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
From your description of your courses, I agree you have a strong enough quantitative background to offset any concerns an admissions committee may initially have about someone with an HR background.
Unfortunately beyond that, I really can't help you. As I mentioned, I don't know of any MBA programs that specialize in HR, although you should be able to find strong courses in any good program. I believe you said you had 3 years work experience; that may not be sufficient to get you in to an EMBA program. But you could certainly apply to both MBA and EMBA programs and see which feels like the better fit as you learn more.
Best of luck,
Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
What is the difference between Spring and Fall sessions? Is Fall better than Spring or the quality of students is better?
I heard from many ppl that Spring is not as good as Fall. The quality of students and placemnts and many other things are inferior to Fall. Is this correct or just a myth?
Suppose if I am not concerned with internship then whether Spring is as good as Fall in all terms.
Please give your inputs. Also, if u find other relevant information then please do share with us.
Applying as early as possible is recommended by everyone. Here, what do we mean by early? Is it only first round or in first round also earliest?
Case1: If I apply in R1 and I submit my application 2 months before the deadline.
Case2: If I apply in R1 and I submit my application 2 days before the deadline.
Now, does this delay of almost 2 months in case 2 also make some difference? I mean whether case 1 applicants have brighter chance or all the applications will be evaluated after the deadline only ???
I think I need a bit of clarification before I can answer. Are you asking about applying to start classes in the Fall vs. in the Spring, or are you asking about earlier application deadlines (e.g. October, or Round 1) vs. later deadlines (e.g. March or Round 3), all for the same start date?
Hi Jeremy/Jessica,
I want to know abt the two sessions of MBA.
What is the difference between Spring and Fall sessions? Is Fall better than Spring or the quality of students is better?
I heard from many ppl that Spring is not as good as Fall. The quality of students and placemnts and many other things are inferior to Fall. Is this correct or just a myth?
Suppose if I am not concerned with internship then whether Spring is as good as Fall in all terms.
Please give your inputs. Also, if u find other relevant information then please do share with us.
These are two separate questions. First one about the start classes. There are two sessions for MBA in a year in many Universities. One starts in Spring and another one in Fall. So, I want to know abt the difference between the two, thei academic quality, placements and students competency.
Second question is about applications say Fall. Suppose, I apply for Fall in the first round. So, if I submit my application 2 months before deadline or if I submit it 2 days before the deadline then does that make any difference ??? Will the guy who apply 2 months before the deadline have better chances for an admit?
Please let me know if u need more clarification and thanks for the reply :)
MBA Mission(JS) Says
I think I need a bit of clarification before I can answer. Are you asking about applying to start classes in the Fall vs. in the Spring, or are you asking about earlier application deadlines (e.g. October, or Round 1) vs. later deadlines (e.g. March or Round 3), all for the same start date?
In terms of start date, the vast majority of programs start in the fall and continue into the spring, then (for two year programs) into the next fall and spring. There are many fewer MBAs that start in the spring. But if you have identified one that has that as an option, and that's the school that appeals to you, there is essentially no difference from the school's perspective as to the quality of the students starting in each.
As for the application deadline, the answer is slightly more complex. Typically for U.S. MBAs there are 3 application deadlines: Round 1 approximately in October, R2 in January and R3 in March. (These are very approximate; some schools have 4 rounds and there's no standardization of dates so they vary a lot). There is statistically no difference between applying in R1 and R2, and admissions directors we have spoken to say there's no advantage to one over the other. R3 is different - the schools have fewer seats left and it is generally considered harder to get accepted in R3.
Some schools offer Early Decision (where, if accepted you will have to commit to attending that school), and in those cases applying in R1 demonstrates your enthusiasm for that school. If you know that program is your first choice and can complete a strong application in time, then apply in Round 1.
As for applying 2 months or 2 days before the deadline, that also depends on the school. Some schools offer "rolling admission", meaning they review applications continuously. In those schools, the earlier you apply the better. Most schools however have a deadline, and it does not matter if you apply 2 months or 2 minutes before the deadline; they do not start reviewing applications until that deadline has passed.
The best advice though is to apply when you can put together the strongest application. Don't rush to get one done in R1 when you could have taken more time to do a stronger one for R2.
I hope that helps.
Jessica
These are two separate questions. First one about the start classes. There are two sessions for MBA in a year in many Universities. One starts in Spring and another one in Fall. So, I want to know abt the difference between the two, thei academic quality, placements and students competency.
Second question is about applications say Fall. Suppose, I apply for Fall in the first round. So, if I submit my application 2 months before deadline or if I submit it 2 days before the deadline then does that make any difference ??? Will the guy who apply 2 months before the deadline have better chances for an admit?
Please let me know if u need more clarification and thanks for the reply :)
This question is abt early decision and action. 1. Suppose, If I apply in Early Decision round and I get an admit but I dont want to wait till a few more results from other universities then what can I do? Do I have an option for the same?
2. What consequences I may have to face if I decline(break the commitment) an offer in early decision round? I mean other than I have lost a seat in that particular institute, are there any other issues related with the decline of the offer? Could this not acceptance of the offer harm/affect my other applications?
3. As per the information mentioned by you, If i have few more things(say awards, certificates, accomplishments) to add in my application but after R1 only so it is prudent to apply in R2 rather than R1? Does this mean that R1 and R2 are just for name sake except that they select a very few applicants in R1 so the number of seats available till R2 are almost as many as in R1???
4. Could you please mention the school names who offer Rolling admission???
Thanks
Thanks for the clarification.
In terms of start date, the vast majority of programs start in the fall and continue into the spring, then (for two year programs) into the next fall and spring. There are many fewer MBAs that start in the spring. But if you have identified one that has that as an option, and that's the school that appeals to you, there is essentially no difference from the school's perspective as to the quality of the students starting in each.
As for the application deadline, the answer is slightly more complex. Typically for U.S. MBAs there are 3 application deadlines: Round 1 approximately in October, R2 in January and R3 in March. (These are very approximate; some schools have 4 rounds and there's no standardization of dates so they vary a lot). There is statistically no difference between applying in R1 and R2, and admissions directors we have spoken to say there's no advantage to one over the other. R3 is different - the schools have fewer seats left and it is generally considered harder to get accepted in R3.
Some schools offer Early Decision (where, if accepted you will have to commit to attending that school), and in those cases applying in R1 demonstrates your enthusiasm for that school. If you know that program is your first choice and can complete a strong application in time, then apply in Round 1.
As for applying 2 months or 2 days before the deadline, that also depends on the school. Some schools offer "rolling admission", meaning they review applications continuously. In those schools, the earlier you apply the better. Most schools however have a deadline, and it does not matter if you apply 2 months or 2 minutes before the deadline; they do not start reviewing applications until that deadline has passed.
The best advice though is to apply when you can put together the strongest application. Don't rush to get one done in R1 when you could have taken more time to do a stronger one for R2.
Thank you for your efforts on this forum! I'm applying for schools in their 2011 Intake, and hoping for some advice as to strengthen my application! Post MBA, I'd like to work in the asia-pac region (india, singapore, malaysia etc) in the strategy management consulting field.
I am 21, a female Australian citizen, and have completed all my schooling/university studies here. However, I was born in India.
Academic: X - 90+ XII - 90+ Undergrad (Commerce) - Distinction Will be a CA by 2011
- Went through high school on academic scholarship - Got into university with full scholarship
Work Exp (By 2011) - 2 years in management consulting (finance/performance management) - 1 year paid internship in corporate restructuring during uni - 6 month paid internship in IB during uni
EC - classical dance - competitive debating/public speaking - AIESEC - worked with the emergency first aid + other NGO work - part of faculty teaching struggling students - ran a manufacturing business for a year at uni, got several awards - school student council positions - editor of school magazine - social sport/yoga/reading
Yet to take GMAT (scheduled for later this year)
Q's: 1) How can I compensate my low work exp? Are internships through uni counted as work exp? 2) What kind of a GMAT score should I be aiming for (other than the 800 stuck on my bedroom wall, haha) 3) Any other areas where I can improve 4) I'm aiming for the following schools (1 year programs as I'm not changing the line of my work? - do you agree?)
I want to apply for an MBA program in U.S for 2010 batch. I am not really sure what problems I might face due to my acads so I need your help.
My acads:-
Xth - 76% XIIth - 60.2 UG - 71.6(overall) Extra Curriculars - decent and done quite a bit of community service.
Currently I have 2 years of work exp and will be 3 by next year. If I get a hight GMAT score(say around or above 750) will it be of any help or cause a problem while applying to B-schools in U.S.
1. If a school asks for Early Decision then you are obligated to accept their offer; that's the commitment you make by applying in that round and the deadline for your deposit is generally earlier than you'll hear from other schools. There are also schools that offer Early Action, where they will let you know their decision early but you are not obligated to accept them early.
2. I don't see logistically how breaking your commitment will hurt you at other schools; it's not like Columbia for example is going to call 10 other schools and ask about particular applicants. But you do risk losing your deposit, and depending on dates and timing you might turn down the ED application before you hear from other schools, and risk losing your chance to go to business school if you do not get acceptances anywhere else. And if that happens, I think that you have hurt your chances at being a re-applicant at the ED school the following year.
3. Schools generally accept about an equal percentage of applicants in R1 and R2, although of course it varies depending on application volume. Another rule of thumb is that they accept roughly 40% of their class in each of the first 2 rounds and 20% in the last round (but that is very approximate because of wait lists, application volume, etc.) Whether you apply in R1 or wait for R2 depends on the quality and importance of the activities you are waiting for. For example, if you have a strong quantitative background/GPA/GMAT, waiting to apply to R2 until a grade comes through in a quantitative course you are taking on the side may not make a lot of sense since that one grade will not add anything new to your application. On the other hand, if you are not currently a manager with direct reports but will be receiving a promotion to a leadership role after the R1 deadline, that may be a significant enough development that you would choose to wait. (In some cases however you can send an update to your application to inform the schools of something like a promotion or a new GMAT score, but not all schools accept updates and they should be used with caution.)
4. Off the top of my head I know that Columbia Business School and University of Texas-Austin offer rolling admissions but you should research the specific schools you are interested in. (As an aside, Columbia has noted that it receives the vast majority - I think something around 80% -of its applications on the day of the deadline and applying even a few days before can accelerate your application through the process significantly.)
I hope that helps!
Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
This question is abt early decision and action. 1. Suppose, If I apply in Early Decision round and I get an admit but I dont want to wait till a few more results from other universities then what can I do? Do I have an option for the same?
2. What consequences I may have to face if I decline(break the commitment) an offer in early decision round? I mean other than I have lost a seat in that particular institute, are there any other issues related with the decline of the offer? Could this not acceptance of the offer harm/affect my other applications?
3. As per the information mentioned by you, If i have few more things(say awards, certificates, accomplishments) to add in my application but after R1 only so it is prudent to apply in R2 rather than R1? Does this mean that R1 and R2 are just for name sake except that they select a very few applicants in R1 so the number of seats available till R2 are almost as many as in R1???
4. Could you please mention the school names who offer Rolling admission???
V - thanks for your kind words and your questions. You have an interesting background and it sounds like you will have a number of experiences to draw on for your application. In addition, as a female applicant from Australia, you have some demographic advantages in your profile. (The two schools you mention have under 30% female applicants and a very small percentage from Australia). Let me address your specific questions:
1) Two years is on the low end, but at least for most U.S. schools it is fairly typical and those schools tend to lean towards slightly younger candidates. Paid internships are generally considered work experience and I would encourage you to emphasize that experience on your resume and maybe even in an essay. When you fill out the data section of the application, however, you should call the school to ask if they want you to put "24" or "42" to answer the "months of employment" question.
However...ISB and INSEAD both look for more work experience than the equivalent U.S. schools. The average months of work experience for INSEAD applicants is 68 and at ISB it is 60. The range of work experience for ISB's middle 80% of students is 36 - 96 months and for INSEAD is 36-108 months. So to be candid, while I think you have a strong and interesting profile, you face an uphill battle to get accepted at those two schools for 2011.
2) I love the image of an 800 on your wall! You want to get the best score you can. Your academic record is strong so you don't need a stellar GMAT to offset a poor GPA, just a solid one to reinforce your already evident academic abilities. INSEAD's average is 700 and ISB's is 714 so aim in that range, but recognize that the schools do accept applicants with scores both above and below that range.
3) You have an interesting list of extracurricular activities which shows a diversity of interests. You will have to narrow your focus somewhat as your work hours fill up your time, but make sure that you continue to participate in and lead some activities. I would recommend picking one or two areas from your current list and continuing to deepen your experience with those, rather than adding new activities. For example, if you continue to volunteer with first aid or start to teach first aid classes, you have demonstrated ongoing commitment to an activity rather than just having a lot of interests that you do casually. I would also encourage you to seek out leadership opportunities at work.
4) You're an interesting candidate and I think will do well in your business school quest, but you may find that at those two schools you are applying too early. Even adding in your internship experience, your work experience is at the low end of their middle 80% range. If you have stellar references and your work experience gives you opportunities to demonstrate leadership and initiative, you may still have a good chance, but realistically I think you will have a better chance either at a school that encourages applicants with somewhat less work experience or if you wait another year or two.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
Thank you for your efforts on this forum! I'm applying for schools in their 2011 Intake, and hoping for some advice as to strengthen my application! Post MBA, I'd like to work in the asia-pac region (india, singapore, malaysia etc) in the strategy management consulting field.
I am 21, a female Australian citizen, and have completed all my schooling/university studies here. However, I was born in India.
Academic: X - 90+ XII - 90+ Undergrad (Commerce) - Distinction Will be a CA by 2011
- Went through high school on academic scholarship - Got into university with full scholarship
Work Exp (By 2011) - 2 years in management consulting (finance/performance management) - 1 year paid internship in corporate restructuring during uni - 6 month paid internship in IB during uni
EC - classical dance - competitive debating/public speaking - AIESEC - worked with the emergency first aid + other NGO work - part of faculty teaching struggling students - ran a manufacturing business for a year at uni, got several awards - school student council positions - editor of school magazine - social sport/yoga/reading
Yet to take GMAT (scheduled for later this year)
Q's: 1) How can I compensate my low work exp? Are internships through uni counted as work exp? 2) What kind of a GMAT score should I be aiming for (other than the 800 stuck on my bedroom wall, haha) 3) Any other areas where I can improve 4) I'm aiming for the following schools (1 year programs as I'm not changing the line of my work? - do you agree?)
Thank you for your question. Yes, a high GMAT score, especially one as high as 750, will help ease an admissions committee's concern about your ability to handle an academically rigorous curriculum. I would also encourage you to build an alternative transcript - take two or three classes at night and do well in them. Your application then has another data point showing your academic maturity. You should also address your academic performance in your Optional Essay, not making excuses for it but explaining it and then emphasizing academic strengths - the GMAT and recent classes, or higher grades in certain difficult classes in school, etc. You still may face some challenges in the application process in a competitive year, but there are actions you can take to help reduce the school's concerns about your grades.
Sincerely, Jessica Shklar Senior Consultant MBA Mission
I want to apply for an MBA program in U.S for 2010 batch. I am not really sure what problems I might face due to my acads so I need your help.
My acads:-
Xth - 76% XIIth - 60.2 UG - 71.6(overall) Extra Curriculars - decent and done quite a bit of community service.
Currently I have 2 years of work exp and will be 3 by next year. If I get a hight GMAT score(say around or above 750) will it be of any help or cause a problem while applying to B-schools in U.S.
.