Ask Sameer Kamat | Author of 'Beyond The MBA Hype'

MBA
225
Agneya Says
I am Agneya, 35 yrs old, working as a physicist(senior researcher) in the UK for the last 5 years. I also did my masters and PhD both from UK. I am planning a career shift from academia, by going for a full time MBA degree next year.


Your profile and aspirations remind me of a classmate from Cambridge. He had a similar research background. A few years younger though.

...I am doing less science and more and more management work (people, work, logistics), collaborating internationally as well as spending a significant amount of my time writing proposals to secure funding from industry as well as govt resources by selling my research.
Excellent!

However I do feel a bit skeptical as regards my age and academic background being deterrents in the path I am planning to choose.
Academic background may not be such a big hurdle as you've been doing much more than pure research. Age could be a factor.

I am thinking of trying for ISB Hyderabad, India after writing the GMAT.
IIMA PGPX might be a better option for you than ISB, mainly from a 'fit' perspective. But if you feel strongly about ISB, leave that in. Why no international bschools?

Being away from this sector for a long time leaves me a bit clueless. However I am trying to do some proper groundwork before I get started. Any suggestions would be very much welcome.
Start off with the GMAT. But don't wait till the test day to start the rest of the application research work.

You've got many more aspects to manage - basic storyline (explaining why you are special, the MBA rationale, post-MBA goals), essays, recos, interview. Learn more about what the Admission Committee really tries to guage from the application.

If you need help along the way, reach out offline.

Warning: I am less entertaining (but hopefully more useful) in real life than I appear in forums.

- Freesearch
226

Hi Friends,

Is there any body who has got admission in university of dallas. I got confirmation from this college . It would be really great and helpful if i get some friends from same college. Please help me in choosing specialization as i am bit confused between finance and SCM. Actually I am from finance background but thinking that there would be more numerical and calculations. So pls suggest something.....

Also if any body got into golden gate university...

227

Hello,
I am Indian/F/28 working in Bangalore for Networking MNC and have 7+ years of work experience. I want to pursue MBA for Career Boost.
Considering age and number of years of work experience, is it wise to choose Full Time or Executive MBA? I am more interested to pursue MBA in tier 15 US college - Stern, Sloan, McCombs etc.
For EMBA, is it required to have job in USA to get admission ?
Thanks in advance for the clarifications.

228

hieee sir ..
i have just completed my engg. from NIT KURUKSHETRA , got 64 %..
now i have been placed in a mnc as a business analyst . my interest is in finance . my acads are not tht gud .. got 87 % in 10th , 84% in 12th ..

im confident i can do well in gmat .. ie 720+ ( coz i scored 98% in cat without prep.).... my joining is in 3 months , so wht can i do in this time to make my profile better.. im aiming ie business school , hec paris and imd switzrland...

also i have herd abt cfa , will it help me ??? any other certification tht can help me , coz i know my profile is weak....
the thing is i did nthng in past 4 yrs ... now im hating myself for tht .. n every minute in india is killing me (dont ask me why ).. n i can do hard work and im intelligent ....
plzzz rply soon .. thnksss

229

@ samir : have u stopped replying here? Havent seen you answers for last 15 days( i posted my query on the 15th )

230
Aakhri Jang Says
1. If someone plans to do an MBA from US after 2-3 years, how should he/she use these 2 or 3 years?
Do what you would normally do, but better than your peers. And try to do a little more outside work as well. A sharp career growth, good accomplishments, leadership initiatives...they are all good.

But don't keep thinking about an MBA when you are doing this. Keep the bigger personal and career goals in mind. So if you don't get into your dream school, you are still better off than most others in achieving your goals.

2. I always wonder.. how can a person from a middle-class family afford the cost of more than 4 million INR to do an MBA from US?
Btw, a top US bschool can cost twice as much as your assumption. So, forget middle class families, if the ones who are slightly better off find it difficult to fund it.

Here's an article I wrote for PG a while ago about MBA financing.


- Wondering what I do when I'm not on these forums?
231
shreyasm1 Says
Its great work that you are doing here, I really appreciate that :)

I appreciate your appreciation, bro :D

I am not planning to do MBA or something, so not exactly relevant here.
It is relevant as you are planning to do something after 'trying all the MBA exams' (as you've confessed).

I have worked in IT industry for 3 years now and after trying all the MBA exams, I realised that I really want to do something of entreprenurial kind or be in IT technical field. Now I have secured admission for MS in a reputed US university (Virginia Tech).
Most guys who want an international degree aim for MS options first and then if they don't get into the univ they wanted, they work for a few years and then try for an international MBA.

That makes your story is unusual.

Still, I am quite confused whether I really want to invest time, money into that, being from middle class family, its a huge risk.
Yes it is a risk, so choose wisely. Let me share some perspectives that might help.

- A top school degree (MBA or MS or anything else) is primarily a tool that you'll use to impress others. In the long run, more than the knowledge, you'll use the brand.

- Folks you'll try to impress with the brand (in the order of career relevance): Employers, venture capitalists (VCs), colleagues, friends, family.

After 3 years of work-ex, ask yourself which set of folks you are aiming to impress. E.g. If entrepreneurship is what you have on your mind, VCs would be your primary target group.

Now hold on to that thought.

Given choice, I would rather try to do something of my own, it would save my years of education, money that I can invest into some small business that I really want to work on..
Aah...there's the answer.

But I'm not sure why you start off with 'Give the choice..'.

Unless someone has forced the MS option on you, you always have the choice. Right?

But as we all know, having MS degree is always beautiful and startups don't always work, so it would be a backup for a nice life :)
We don't all know that, we all assume that an MS degree is always beautiful.

I can tell you stories of many folks who went for an MS degree only to realise later that this isn't what they really wanted. Then they go on to do an MBA, assuming that an MBA degree is always beautiful.

But yes, I agree with the second part. Backups are good to have.

When you are planning to try out something as risky as entrepreneurship, the best backup is work-experience and a tidy pile of money to take you through the rough phase.

So, here is my confusion, should I really invest into MS in virginia tech or should I absolutely dont care about degree and take a leap of faith into startup world?
After all those perspectives, let me know what your plans are.

- Late bloomer?
232
psga_23 Says
First of all I have started reading your "Beyond MBA Hype" but Unfortunatelt I couldn't complete due to my commitments to work .
Dhish! Dhish!! Dhish!!!
Kya keh rahe ho, bete!!!

I assure you I will surely complete the Book. :clap:
Assurance accepted.

I want MBA in Advertising or Media Management " Which Universities would you suggest the Best of the lot and how should I start as I have little experience on Researching for the Universities
Most of the top schools have electives in these areas. But if you are targetting the reputed ones, you could broaden the scope a little more and focus on schools with a strong reputation in Marketing.

Also check out the recruiters who come to campus. It's unlikely that advertising companies will come in droves to recruit from these campuses. So networking is another tool you'd have to learn to use effectively.

Who says - "Oh jeejus! where eez media?"
233
Hi Sameer,
need some help on my profile evaluation..

Want to get in touch offline, Sudhir-bhai?

Some of what I'd like to share may not be appropriate for a public forum.

- Pub, Lick, 4 Rum?
234

Pm'ed you
Thanks
sudhir

235
anu012012 Says
Is there any body who has got admission in university of dallas. I got confirmation from this college .

Someone I know got into UTD with scholarship. But his visa got rejected, twice. So he's not going.

Please help me in choosing specialization as i am bit confused between finance and SCM. Actually I am from finance background but thinking that there would be more numerical and calculations. So pls suggest something.....
If you are already from a finance background, the calculations are pretty basic. So you shouldn't be too worried about it.

However, the selection between finance and SCM shouldn't hinge on that aspect. You'd need to go deeper and think about what you see yourself doing 2-3-5 years after graduation.

- Tired of your calculating boss?
236
I am Indian/F/28 working in Bangalore for Networking MNC and have 7+ years of work experience. I want to pursue MBA for Career Boost.
Considering age and number of years of work experience, is it wise to choose Full Time or Executive MBA?

Given the option, Full-time wins the battle hands-down. Exec MBA programs are generally more expensive than FT programs, but they can't match the bang for the buck you'd get from a FT MBA.

I am more interested to pursue MBA in tier 15 US college - Stern, Sloan, McCombs etc.
Why US? Do you want to settle down in the US or come back?

For EMBA, is it required to have job in USA to get admission ?
Most schools would expect you to be employed. Or it would be difficult for you to justify why Exec MBA when you'd not have much to do in foreign land when you aren't having classes. Don't just look at them because they are easier to get into (comparatively).

- Horlicks better or Career Boost?
237

Dear sameer

I am pursuing bachelors of business economics from Delhi university. My graduation will end in April 2013. I am confused between doing MBA from India or msc from abroad

My profile:

Tenth- 83 percent
12th- 68 percent(PCM)
Expected in graduation- above 60 percent

Extracurricular activities-
Founded a startup last year, a marketing platform for companies Targetting students. The operations shut down this year due to dispute between cofounders
Associate member of aiesec- participation in social ventures, hosting international interns

Got 550 rank in bbs entrance examination( approximate applicants- 15000 above)

I had been a bright and creative student but screwed up since tenth. I had been diagnosed with ADHD. Till now, I wanted to startup after my graduation but now I plan to do a post graduation which gives me a job security with a minimum salary of 1 lakh per month at least. So that I can freely startup without my parents worrying up.

I am confused between cat and GMAT as there is less time in cat. Also I am not sure if my profile suits a good b school abroad. Please suggest me something. Is there someway I can improve my profile or should I stick my guns to Indian schools only. I am aiming at global sp Jain? I am good in quants, verbal and gk as my Bbs ranking shows.

238
ankitsingh1991 Says
hieee sir ..

That could very well be the official greeting protocol for IEEE members.

i have been placed in a mnc as a business analyst . my interest is in finance .
Business analysis is a good way to learn about how the smaller functions within companies work and how they fit into the bigger picture. So, good break for you.

coz i scored 98% in cat without prep.
Wow!

my joining is in 3 months , so wht can i do in this time to make my profile better..
3 months will not transform your profile. So don't push yourself too hard. Start working on anything that you are interested in - not necessarily academic or work related.

also i have herd abt cfa , will it help me ??? any other certification tht can help me , coz i know my profile is weak....
With your interest in finance, the CFA can help. But don't give it up mid-way. Check the syllabus and be aware of the study commitment before you take it up.

the thing is i did nthng in past 4 yrs ... now im hating myself for tht .. n every minute in india is killing me (dont ask me why ).. n i can do hard work and im intelligent ....
Don't be so harsh on yourself. You did what any regular student would've done.

You'll spend the rest of your working life slogging it out and you may not have the flexibility of taking breaks at the drop of a hat. A little free time is always good.

When your analyst role starts, ensure that you do it with full dedication. And yes, when you are ready, take the GMAT and rip it apart like you did with the CAT. Do it with preparation this time.

- Has hard work killed anyone?
239
@Shirinbharat said: Dear sameerI am pursuing bachelors of business economics from Delhi university. My graduation will end in April 2013. I am confused between doing MBA from India or msc from abroad

Most folks on this thread have a third area to worry about - MBA from outside India. If you have an overseas Masters degree on the table, you could also think about whether an overseas MBA makes sense, not right now but after a few years.

Founded a startup last year, a marketing platform for companies Targetting students. The operations shut down this year due to dispute between cofounders

Did the venture do well before it folded up?

I had been diagnosed with ADHD.

With your performance in the BBA entrance and your entrepreneurial stint, seems like you have let ADHD be a deterrent.

Till now, I wanted to startup after my graduation but now I plan to do a post graduation which gives me a job security with a minimum salary of 1 lakh per month at least.

You'll get that kind of salary outside India, but only if you convert dollar salaries into Indian Rupees. And that wouldn't be a fair comparison. In India, it would be tough for a fresher with zero work-ex to get that kind of money.

So that I can freely startup without my parents worrying up.I am confused between cat and GMAT as there is less time in cat.

Your parents might be more worried if you spend their money going abroad with no exprience and no guarantee of a 1-lakh per month job. So think what you really want to do.

Also I am not sure if my profile suits a good b school abroad.
For good international bschools, you don't have a competitive profile yet - as you haven't completed graduation yet and you don't have full time experience.

Please suggest me something. Is there someway I can improve my profile or should I stick my guns to Indian schools only. I am aiming at global sp Jain? I am good in quants, verbal and gk as my Bbs ranking shows.
Since entrepreneurship ranks so high on your list of priorities, why not work for a while in the corporate world and start something on the side?

- Ayyo! Where's our favourite signature inserting option gone?

240

Ordered your book.

241

Hello Sameer Sir,
My academic Profile :
ICSE: 84%
ISC (commerce): 93.5%
BBA Finance (Under C.U 2010 ) : 72% (that got me the 2nd topper rank:P )
Now the questions:
1. I always had a fascination for RBI/NABARD/ World bank /IMF from my plus 2 Days because of the nature of work and also, the prestige that it brings with it. I have a keen interest In economics and Finance (to some extent). But I do not know whether MBA is the only way to get through the dream jobs That I have on mind. So the question is : Whether an MBA or Not?
2. I worked with ICICI Bank for 3 months (Governement recruitment process scared me away from PSBs but right now, back to square one) and left it out of utter frustration and exhaustion. I am kind of introvert so pushing customers to open account and yet another account for his 6 yr baby ! and his cousin etc was not my thing.I saw no improvement there. Hope to join a PSB soon but My question is : Will this 1.5 year gap be a real problem? In that case I have to show some work ex.I dont really want to show a fake work ex, but if it has any bearing on my future, then probably I have to.
I am focusless at this point doing nothing but wasting time as I DON'T want to join a retail bank but HAVE TO coz theres no better option for a graduate, I cannot afford an MBA / higher degree because of monetary constraint.But I dont want to continue leading a clueless life and end up frustrated.
Kindly reply.
Thanks and regards.



242
Hi Sameer
I am trying to compare an mba in India( IIMs(A,B,C,L,K,I), FMS, XLRI), with an Masters in Management/Finance in Europe (HEC Paris,ESCP and other top ten schools according to FT rankings).
My background is as follows:

GMAT: 750
Last year CAT: 99.43
GPA : 7.43(absolute grading), from IIT-BHU

work ex: 1 month as of now, working for a company serving financial giants for middle and back office work. (I have interest in Finance and not only for the money), work involves programming based but requires domain knowledge.

pros that suit me that are there with European MIM/MIF are:
1. short term course compared to 2 years in India
2. More opportunities of an international career
3. Better Work-Life balance post graduation(i'm not so sure of this, just some of my friends(credible ones), presently abroad told me this)

Cons that i think are there:
1. The European economy nowadays is fairly unstable, however i don't know if studying in Europe would also mean working there.

What i expect to know:
1.If you could expand my pro/con list so as to help me better evaluate my situation or something i might have stated in my pro/con list that may not actually be true.
2. If somebody could compare job opportunities post graduation in both scenarios, i would be really grateful.
3. Any other advice

Why i don't want to wait for a few years before going for higher education: Primarily because i don't think there are management oriented jobs(real stuff) that are really offered to fresh out of engineering college guys.

Thanks for being so patient as to read such a long post, eagerly waiting for a reply
243
Hi,

Please evaluate my profile:

1. 10th: 82%
2. 12th: 79%
3. B.Tech from GGSIPU(70%) in E&C;
4. MBE(Masters of business economics) Regular 2009-11 from GNDU, Amritsar
5. 3+ Work ex in Top MNC(Telecom)
6. SIx sigma green belt
7. ITIL V3 FOundation certified
8. CMMI Implementation in the company(Leading the charge from my function)

Please guide me as to how much GMAT Score i need to get in order to fetch a Call from Richard Ivey School of business and ISB Hyderabad. I have my GMAT Scheduled in september.
244

Hi Sameer

I'm a software engineer working in a Aviation product based company for the past 2.5 years. Following is my profile:

12th - 87%
B.E in Electronics and Communication - 68% with 3 backlogs (all recovered in the next semester)
Diploma in Advanced Computing from CDAC - 70%
Work achievements - Responsible for outsourcing a project from my parent company and currently I'm the focal with a small team size of 3.
Extra curricular - Good football player, Recently started learning guitar, Had a past of working in an NGO for about 3 months (about 5 years back)

I'm in need of your expert guidance since I'm not able to make up my mind about my ambition from an MBA degree. I've gone through various forum threads, profiles and posts in PG and I still have my questions unanswered.

I want to do my MBA abroad for sure since I want to experience the different teaching methods and the varied cultural experience different countries provide which will help me grow on a personal and professional level.

However I'm not sure as to which stream of MBA is suitable for me and I am not able to make up my mind despite listening to numerous suggestions from my seniors.

The reason I want to do an MBA is because I'm not much interested in carrying on with the technical field and the growth is very slow (along with the income) as compared to a management field which I know is the most common answer given by everyone out there. I'm not even sure about what I want to become post my MBA except that I want to be in a comfortable and a high earning managerial position in a good company.

I'm also being told that I should keep working and wait until I figure out what I want to do but I don't've that option. I feel working for almost 2.5 years is long enough time and as obvious it hasn't helped me take a decision yet and I'm sure I'll be in the same state even after 5 years. I could say that I'm a bit interested in finance though. I like reading news related to economic reforms and policies and how they affect our economy.

But however even if I'm able to take a decision about the field, I'm not sure if my profile will stand up good enough to get into a good university(top 50) despite scoring a 700+ in GMAT since I have such a contrasting profile (Education in Electronics and job in software industry). I'm holding out on giving my GMAT due to this confusion and wasting my time unnecessarily while admissions deadlines are about to be put out by most universities in the coming months. Please help me out with the options in an MBA or suggest me some fields that could go with my profile and help me get an admission within the top 50 universities. If not then please help me out in making a start as to what analysis I should do about myself to get my head straight and decide on my future.

Thanks and Regards!