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

MBA
82
CheckEETS Says
LOL...:) Let me bask in the glory for some time at least, Martian man!


Zaroor basko-fy bandhu-shri. Continue sharing your perspectives (I think your responses last time were spot on) and more glory shall come your way.

Hopefully woh din door nahi when people start thanking you directly for your valuable tips rather than re-directing it to me by default .

And I also hope your contributions prompt other shy ones to join in with their thoughts and opinions, and not just questions.

- Looking for glory?
83

Hello Sameer,

I am once more not sure if this is the right thread or not, but the quickest way to get to you perhaps :)

I just want your thoughts about Copenhagen Business Schools, a SWOT analysis perhaps ? (if possible, hope I ain't sounding pushy)

BR// Ayon
(I couldn't get educational loan this year, as our property is not "freehold" so unfortunately, I will have to let go of Schulich India 😞 .... Only other college I applied was Copenhagen Business School, have talked with current / alumni, got mixed response)

84
murty001 Says
Hi Sameer, Interesting thread .

Murty bhai, an honour to have a PG veteran (since 2003!) on this thread. Aap ke shaan mein ek sher arz karta hoon (apologies in advance to those who don't understand Hindi or appreciate the international quality of the sher).

Aap aaye hamare thread par, khuda ki kudrat hai...
Kabhi hum apne thread ko, kabhi apne haath mein sookhe bread ko dekhte hain!
Waah waah!
To tell you frankly, I find that the leadership leaves a lot to be desired...the people management part of it...majorly is the lack of intuition and courage while taking a decision.
Here's my little theory, let me know if you agree with it.

For starters, I'd give a little credit to the managers and say that the finger may not always point at them. In all probability, they were thinking exactly like you and me when they joined the organisation. But the whole incentive system is geared towards risk reduction and predictability.

As companies grow bigger, the number of rules and policies needed to ensure sanity internally, grows. Which is why there's so much focus on standardisation of processes and hierarchies. The entrepreneurial spirit that launched the company and took it to where it is, often gets lost during the journey.

Managers 'adapt' to the company culture and do what will give them maximum returns. So regular intelligent and high-potential guys turn into corporate zombies and do what the powers that be expect them to do.

But if I go for an MBA today, will I come out on the other side a far better person than what I am today?
It certainly won't make you kind, considerate and more humane than you already are. So curious to know your definition of 'better person'.

Will an MBA teach me how to take decisions intuitively...
No. If you've already got your hands on the book, you'll know my my take on a whole lot of things that an MBA can and cannot teach.

I read a book once, Managers NOT MBAs by Henry Mintzberg....he said "The MBA trains the wrong people in the wrong ways with the wrong consequences".
You'll find a reference to Mintzberg's work as well as many other stalwarts who've done serious work in this arena.
I come nowhere close to these real gurus of the academic world. So my style, tone and content is very different from the way Mintzberg & Co have approached it. I've written the book in a more tongue-in-cheek manner.

Although I have taken the GMAT, I am not able to decide if it is worth the effort and the money to go for an MBA, especially given the kind of "Managers" I have seen in my experience. Just wanted to know your perspective on it.
Re-wording Mintzberg sahab's tagline, if you think you are the 'right person' going in with the 'right expectations', then there are better chances that you'll end up with the 'right consequences'. In your post-MBA manager's role, you'll also be in a better position to alter the prevalent management practices that you don't like and set an example to future managers within the organisation.

Have decided to place an order for your book as soon as I finish the current one I am reading .
Please do come back and share your thoughts on the book, Murty saar. Plus I'm sure you'll have many more questions after reading it.

- Need shayari lessons?
85
Hi Sameer,
I have read your book, and must commend you for a nice compilation of the ground realities regarding the MBA...setting the right expectations is absolutely vital to avoid future disappointments.

Thanks catfighter. Your statement sums up the essence of the book very nicely.

Would have liked to have a chapter on "selecting the right b-school", but the probably that is what we have MBA-CB and this thread for..keep the gyan flowing :)
Will keep that in mind if/when the new edition for the book comes out. Thanks for the feedback.

Trivia: The book in its original avatar would've been 30% fatter. But a lot of content got chopped out during the editing phase. The publisher felt it would flow better this way.

Pretty much what we do in the essay editing phase at MBA Crystal Ball. With no (bschool essay style) word-limits to hold me back while writing the book, I guess I got carried away with the initial draft. So I was at the receiving end this time 😃 But I guess the publishers look at it from different perspectives and with their experience, I think they've done a good in trimming away the fat.

- Fighting flab?
86

Yep, I can relate to that..trimming the drafts to fit the word limits, keeping the end customer in mind :).
And I think both you and the publishers have done a good job!


Trivia: The book in its original avatar would've been 30% fatter. But a lot of content got chopped out during the editing phase. The publisher felt it would flow better this way.

Pretty much what we do in the essay editing phase at MBA Crystal Ball. With no (bschool essay style) word-limits to hold me back while writing the book, I guess I got carried away with the initial draft. So I was at the receiving end this time 😃 But I guess the publishers look at it from different perspectives and with their experience, I think they've done a good in trimming away the fat.

- Fighting flab?
87

Hi Sameer,

I too belong to the Indian-IT-Male category and my story is no different to most GMAT applicants.

Target Year: 2013-2014 batch
Target Institutes: IIM-A (PGPEX), ISB, NUS, NTU
Education: BTech (NIT Dgp-CS)
Work Ex: 5 years 10 months by 2013 March. So far 4.5 years exp in reputed s/w product MNC as Senior Engineer, recently joined a mid-size start-up in Team-Lead role.
Acads: 92% in std 10, 93% in std 12, CGPA 9.14/10 in graduation
GMAT: Planning to take in March 2012
Extracurrics: decent

My choice of institutes are primarily based on Max Education Loan = Rs 20 L; preferable placement in India/Singapore/HongKong but not extended foreign stay;Regionally best ranked school with international exposure. For achieving this goal what range of GMAT score and profiling I need to focus? Specially since my experience is at lower side for IIM-A PGPEX, do you think I stand a chance?

88
Dido Says
You know I have been thinking of posting my queries here, but Sameer kinda scares me (I have spoken to him before)! Man! He is like d big daddy who has an eye on you like! You better do this in time!!! (grr..)
Ouch! Dido-ji, after you confirmed on the recent call that we've never spoken before, I'm still wondering what it was that you are referring to.

If it's because of the vampire-like canine teeth that jut out of my jaw, let me assure you, they are usually non-functional (except on full-moon nights).

I was wondering if I should mail him separately or use this forum. I will be mailing Sameer anyway.
And now that we have actually interacted on the phone, I'm keen to see if I stay at the Big Daddy position for a while more or does my post-appraisal status change to something better...Big Dadaji, perhaps?
In the interim, for the people on this thread is there anyone who is applying to INSEAD and does not have an international work-ex or an int stint at all?
Will leave this one open for others to answer.

- Boo!
89
I'm currently earning around 45-50k per month.
Also,since its a govt company, work related stress is negligible & I have weekends off ;

I'm tempted to apply to your company now. Good pay, no stress, fantastic work-life balance, free weekends. You are living a European lifestyle in India, sirji.

Most good b-schools students are placed at an average in-hand salary of 65-70k pm.( mere observation , pls correct me if i'm wrong ).
Probably ,only the top 5 b-schools in india offer more.
If you are talking about 2-yr Indian programs, then yes many of them will not give you post-MBA salaries that'll go through the roof. If you get into the top industries - consulting, banking - then the story would be different. But again it would be difficult to crack into these roles unless you graduate from a top bschool.

These are the options available for me :
:
If you are absolutely sure about moving out of the current role right now, do try for the CAT. If you get good options on the basis of CAT, go for it.

An Executive MBA (option 2 in your list) is meant for a completely different audience with different objectives. So I'd keep that out of the discussion for now.

You can look at GMAT-based options (points 3 & 4 in your list) after you have around 3 yrs work-experience. Financing doesn't need to come entirely from your pocket or only from bank loans. You can aim for schools where you get a substantial amount of scholarships. Not everyone needs a Top-5 MBA to meet their career goals.

Work-experience is appreciated but not always mandatory. Schools realise that not every industry provides opportunities for their employees to go abroad.

Right, now that we've addressed the open queries you had, here's an additional perspective. If you look at your current situation as a dead-end (which I don't think it is), then an MBA seems like the best way out. However, most strong applicants who come to us are those who've done unconventional work in under-represented industries. And you are exactly in that position.

Despite the stake sale initiatives at many sarkari companies, our Govt still has it's fingers in many delicious pies where there's ample work to be done. I don't know how much flexibility and encouragement is there in your company to do so, but if you could take on additional responsibilities and make an impact in your current role, you will appear far more attractive to international bschools in 3-4 yrs time.

Trying to change the company culture is a BIG challenge. So even if you can show some leadership (not in designation, but in thought and execution) in the next few years, you'd stand head and shoulders above your competition.

If you are patient, money will follow.

Do you think that option is worth pursuing?

- SK
90
I'm sure the manager was as confident as you are about his decisions when he took them.

In hindsight, we can all look back and say 'See? I told you so. You should have listened to me.'
Yes.I do agree .But if we try to give out our suggestions,he simply calls it as a bull****.From his point of view,western management,other religion,countries are jt a bull****(actually tells it minimum 10tms a day).I believe that there is no harm in lending his ears to his employees for the mutual benefit.Sorry,i'm gng off topic though.

Is that the order? If given the option, I'd have re-ordered it slightly. But different fol ks have different priorities :-)
:) Nah..i didn't meant to say,it's written in an order.If i put it in order,then i would be 1.job satisfaction,2.designation.Most of the time,reasonable amt of money comes along wid the designation.correct me if i'm wrong.

Aap toh hamein sharminda kar rahi ho. But I hope you are finding the interaction useful.
ll
Sorry i don't understand hindi :-(.

I got couple of recruitment jobs,bt din go 4 it.because it seemd to be a typical bpo job.calling candidates and sending them to the interview,everythng is via the phone(headset :-() and updating database.

Could you advise me,what exactly i should be looking for?
This is a single line question for which i need an answer to make ma heart feel lite.I could get only kpo jobs.hardware jobs r nt available (reason-female candidate).
(jt a reminder: i'm gonna complete UG degree ,only by nxt yr may).

can i get ur book at landmark?i live in chennai.
91
skctee Says
Just finished reading your book "Beyond the MBA hype"..it's a very good book and was highly informative
Coming from someone who's got 4,294,967,295 thanks on PG (counter problem not fixed yet?), this is indeed a compliment.

...specially about the skills that one needs to survive and be successful in the businessworld,..
Most of that awareness comes intuitively after years of experience. So I was hoping that if the reader is aware of it early on in the career, it'll help to stay focussed rather than chase superficial, feel-good things like designation.

how to make successful career transition even without the coveted MBA degree ,proper introspection as to whether one needs an MBA or not
Those two might be the paisa vasool chapters for many folks.

..and the main USP of the book...set of questions/doubts that a candidate is likely to encounter...If one successfully gets answer to all the questions in the query list before he/she starts the MBA journey i guess that person is already halfway through to his desired goal whichever it might be.
Yup, stop worrying about what questions to ask and focus on getting the answers. Great way to cut the learning curve!

Thanks for summarising the useful aspects so succintly, buddy.

- Think compliments are getting rare?
92
skctee Says
1...how do thease certifications or programmes help a candidate in terms of flexibility that an MBA degree offers...a ceo is someone who is responsible for running the company and should have a generalist idea of everything rather than having a specialised idea in a particular field which is the aim of most of the certification programmes.
Good point, skctee. I'm convinced now that you have read the book to come up with questions like this :-)

The CEO perspective
You are right in saying that a CEO needs to have a generalist view about his business. Many get to that position from within the organisation after getting exposed to various functions. Others get hired from the market.

Very few are hired as CEOs directly from bschools. There are exceptions though. So an MBA is a great way to get a theoretical perspective on mutliple disciplines in a short span of time. But a classroom cannot provide practical expertise that comes with real world experience.

MBA vs Specialised Courses
Specialised courses are meant to fill in specific gaps in a manager's skills. So they can't be directly compared to an MBA. But you have greater flexibility with specialised courses.

The MBA is a buffet, while specialised courses take an la carte approach.

With one you get everything whether you want it or not. With the other you pick only what you want.

also an with an mba a person can have the flexibility to move from various roles to roles in different orgnzn..so is not an MBA deree helpful from that perspective.
Yes, an MBA can be a great way to achieve a career change. In many top schools roughly half the class aims for some form of a transition - across industries, roles and geographies.

Usually this is a one time transition, immediately after graduation. Beyond that the track you choose will pretty much continue the way it did before the MBA. Though you are qualified in the other areas, your employer wouldn't want to encourage too many transition after that as it means losing out on whatever they've invested in you, in building your post-MBA skills.

2.How rewarding can it be if a person opts for a b-school that is reputed in his fied of interest other than blindly going for any institute of high repute.
Extremely important to do exactly that i.e. choose a school that 'Fits'. Unfortunately, most people continue to give too much importance to rankings.
also whats the difference between a 2 year mba and a 1year mba other than the fact that 2 year mba allows a career switch which is otherwise not possible with 1 year mba.
That's not true. I managed a career change with a 1 year MBA and I know many more who did. And I also know many who could not manage a career change from a 2-yr program. The difference between the two goes beyond careers. The speed, the flexibility, the cost, the batch mix...in fact the overall experience.
is it beneficial to go for 2 year mba with 5-6 year of w.ex even if there's no inclination towards changing field and would only like to change the domain..or for that purpose is 1 year mba helpful.
Where do you want to work post MBA? US, Europe, Asia? Makes the choice easier as each region has its conventional formats.
3.can every bschool leverage the more or less high w.ex of candidate in their 2 year programme or for that purpose is a 1 year mba helpful...
Not sure what you mean by 'leverage'. You mean from a class learning angle? Can you please explain?

- SK
93
Good point, skctee. I'm convinced now that you have read the book to come up with questions like this :-)

The CEO perspective
You are right in saying that a CEO needs to have a generalist view about his business. Many get to that position from within the organisation after getting exposed to various functions. Others get hired from the market.

Very few are hired as CEOs directly from bschools. There are exceptions though. So an MBA is a great way to get a theoretical perspective on mutliple disciplines in a short span of time. But a classroom cannot provide practical expertise that comes with real world experience.

MBA vs Specialised Courses
Specialised courses are meant to fill in specific gaps in a manager's skills. So they can't be directly compared to an MBA. But you have greater flexibility with specialised courses.

The MBA is a buffet, while specialised courses take an la carte approach.

With one you get everything whether you want it or not. With the other you pick only what you want.

Yes, an MBA can be a great way to achieve a career change. In many top schools roughly half the class aims for some form of a transition - across industries, roles and geographies.

Usually this is a one time transition, immediately after graduation. Beyond that the track you choose will pretty much continue the way it did before the MBA. Though you are qualified in the other areas, your employer wouldn't want to encourage too many transition after that as it means losing out on whatever they've invested in you, in building your post-MBA skills.

Extremely important to do exactly that i.e. choose a school that 'Fits'. Unfortunately, most people continue to give too much importance to rankings. That's not true. I managed a career change with a 1 year MBA and I know many more who did. And I also know many who could not manage a career change from a 2-yr program. The difference between the two goes beyond careers. The speed, the flexibility, the cost, the batch mix...in fact the overall experience.
Where do you want to work post MBA? US, Europe, Asia? Makes the choice easier as each region has its conventional formats.
Not sure what you mean by 'leverage'. You mean from a class learning angle? Can you please explain?

- SK

1.Sir i'm not saying that one has to be hired from college as CEO.what i'm trying to say is that dont you think that in India still a degree matters a lot for getting shortlisted for certain positions..work ex is definitely the most important factor but degree factor cannot be ignored also.like for example a car mechanic knows a lot more than automobile engineer ,but when it'll come to the CEO position then it's the engineer who'll get the preference and no one will bother about the mechanic.so from that perspective isn't getting that paper degree matters...
2.
You said you managed a career change with 1 year mba,but sirjee you did an European MBA, and i'm trying to say about Indian MBA i.e do an Indian MBA offer that kind of flexibility (ISB an exception and also not comparable to PGPEX of IIM's as both offer something different),..do pgpex from IIM's offer a candidate the flexibility of a 360 degree career shift.because most of the time i saw that in PGPEX programmes it's the IT guys who are the major applicants and post MBA also they return to IT with a role change probably but not an Industry change.

3.
Asia or to be more specific India.by leverage i meant both learning and placement..i mean say a guy with 7 years w.ex didn't find admission in 1 year programme but managed to secure an admission in a 2 year programme and goes for it.He does not want a career change but a career progression..then will a 2 year MBA do a proper justice to his pre MBA w.ex ,because what i've read or learnt through various discussions is that the main aim of 2 year programmes are giving a strong foothold in slightly higher than entry level position in an industry of your choice whereas 1 year MBA is for senior level position in the industry you are already in .so will the B-school be able to do justice to his good number of w.ex years if he does not want a career change and a quantm leap in his career ..i mean it might be possible top 3 schools like A,B,C (i'm not sure though),but what about if it's in a college like XLRI, JBIMS,SP Jain,FMS (in no order)..
94
I dont get IT Says
Since the discussion is on the difference between perception and reality, I am someone who has had my share of disappointments.

Before you plunge into the story, let me thank you for creating an account on PG just for this thread.

I work for an IT company now and my work now has nothing to do with what I learnt during 4 years of specialized education(or even the 3 months that the company spent on my training).
Hmmm...I hear you, buddy. There's generally a big disconnect among many of our professional courses and what actually happens in the industry.

The top MBA programs try to update their curriculum to reflect the needs of the industry. But there are still limitations, as it is essentially a broad-based education they can provide to cater to folks with diverse interests. So it can never be as focussed and personalised as you want it to be.

The people who grow our food barely make Rs.20000 a year. I cannot believe someone is willing to pay me 20 times that amount for preparing Excel sheets:shocked:
Though it's not an exact comparison, you'd find similarities between the corporate world and the agri sector. A few savvy ones make a lot of money and buy imported cars and huge properties, whereas a huge majority get taken for a ride. Pretty much the same in the corporate world. But we are digressing. So back to the main topic.

So here's the question. If I pursue MBA, will i LEARN anything in those 2 years that I could actually put to use after I complete it?
Yes, you will learn. But more than becoming an expert at each discipline, you will get an initial exposure. Several of those skills, specially the quantative ones, will have practical value as well. But is there a guarantee that you'll use any? No one can tell, as it would depend on the career you choose.

Or should I do it because a guy with MBA is paid more to prepare excel sheets than a guy with B.E?
You have a choice not to send a job application for such roles. Many want money and are more than happy to create excel models.

I personally know brilliant guys who've chosen high-paying excel modelling jobs at Investment Banks where they will not use anything they learnt in the class. I also know guys who used the MBA and their natural flair for connecting with people to do wonders for their career.

My boss once told me if I stick around long enough in the IT industry i could become a Business Analyst. He also suggested some exam that i could take(I forgot the name).
Sure, there are tons of certifications that you'll have access to. PMP is quite popular for those who want to grow as Project Managers. But ask yourself what you want to do in the long run.

Btw, as there were frequent Excel references, you might want to check out the magical empire called Chandoo.org that former PG member managed to create based on this one tool. Here's the PG interview. In a recent article on a different blog, Chandoo also explains how he earned $100,000 in a month. Brilliant!

- Got an entreprising idea?
95

Sameer jee,
Namaste !! :)

I would request you to please go through my post on PG some 5 months back...

Link:-http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/career-discussions/49509-frustrated-i-need-some-inspiration-81.html#post2791365

Updates/Changes from my earlier post
- Preparations are on from past 3 months...Joined some coaching institute n doing pretty Decent.
- Finished CAT, which was again pretty decent.. expecting no calls from any top 30 institutes.
- Trying hard for SNAP now, targetting SIBM-P /SCMHRD
- Also, XAT is my only hope...Targetting GIM, SPJain & TAPMI (thru XAT scores)

I had also posted another post on PG on the pros and cons of doing MBA in India & Abroad...

Link:- http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/career-discussions/9670-personal-career-cat-job-dilemma-452.html#post2855931

Please advise me Sameer jee..
Also, If I dint get thru the college of my liking this year and the next year, i.e 2013 .. I have to try and look out for MBA Opportunities
abroad..because, I want to undergo a full Time Management program only (2 Years) and in India, it is difficult and unsuitable for people with 4+ yrs of exp. doing MBA in Non-IIM's but top 30 colleges in India.
I also have a financial constraint about doing MBA abroad.
So, a bit skeptical about this.
I cannot spend 50 lakhs for a Mgmt course in UK for 2 years and return to India. 😞 and start working here !! No matter whatever my package would be...I would need a lot of money to overcome my Edu. Loan in India.:-(

So, whats your take on this scenario, Sameer jee ?
- Concentrate on MBA in India..
* SNAP 2011, XAT 2012 for 2012-14 batch
* CAT '12, SNAP '12, XAT '13 for 2013-15 batch ( I would have 32 months of IT Exp.)
and, if not able to get a decent Convert..
Switching onto GMAT, but by 2014, I should have to get in a decent college. But, as I mentioned..Money is a constraint here...:-(

Thanks !

96
Hello Sameer,

I just want your thoughts about Copenhagen Business Schools, a SWOT analysis perhaps ?

Ayon-da, Apart from the general info that's available on the net, I'm pretty ignorant about this school. It doesn't figure in the Mock Application Process that we do and none of the guys we've worked with have had it on their shortlist.

But don't let my ignorance influence your views about the school.

What you are doing (checking with current students/alumni) is the right approach. But keep in mind that their info will also be biased to an extent based on their expectations from the program. So don't take one student's perspective.

Is there any common fact that has consistently comes across from the discussions?

(I couldn't get educational loan this year, as our property is not "freehold" so unfortunately, I will have to let go of Schulich India :(
Can you get a deferral?

- SK
97

Hi There.
This is Aashish, age 21, just completed my graduation this year.
Currently in CA-Final, also a CISA.
I want to pursue MBA from an Internation School in the USA or the UK; immediately after passing CA.
I have no full time work-ex .
Can you help me with the requirements in context of a safe GMAT score.
Plus people are telling me that work-ex is a must to get into International B-Schools, is it true?
If yes, are there any good schools which entertain freshers like me?
I am interested in either MBA in SM, Finance or HR.

Or

can you suggest any alternative?
My Academics:
Xth - 85%
XIIth - 78%
B.Com - 75%
CISA - 73% .

RSVP.

TIA.
A.D.T.

98
catfighter Says
...And I think both you and the publishers have done a good job!

Will pass on your thoughts to the editor, sirji. Thanks.

Editors work equally hard on polishing the draft and converting it into a product worthy of being released into the market with the Publishers name.

Authors end up getting the bouquets (and often the brickbats) and the guys working behind the scenes often go unnoticed.

Publishing is an interesting business. Read up about it when you have the time and when you need a break from MBA apps. Who knows when you'll be planning to get your first book published :).

- SK
99
Will pass on your thoughts to the editor, sirji. Thanks.

Editors work equally hard on polishing the draft and converting it into a product worthy of being released into the market with the Publishers name.

Authors end up getting the bouquets (and often the brickbats) and the guys working behind the scenes often go unnoticed.


Yes I have heard that many ppl are involved from the time of the first draft until the final version of the book is published..an imp. reason to fight piracy to ensure that all the guys get their due (had read an article abt. this somewhere, don't remember where...)


Publishing is an interesting business. Read up about it when you have the time and when you need a break from MBA apps. Who knows when you'll be planning to get your first book published :).


I really hope to publish my book one day..being an avid reader, it will be a dream come true to see my own book being published!

PS: want to publish your own book? Ask SK ;). Like your witty signatures. keep them coming 😃
100
Sameer jee,
Namaste !! :)

I would request you to please go through my post on PG some 5 months back...

Link:-http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/career-discussions/49509-frustrated-i-need-some-inspiration-81.html#post2791365

Updates/Changes from my earlier post
- Preparations are on from past 3 months...Joined some coaching institute n doing pretty Decent.
- Finished CAT, which was again pretty decent.. expecting no calls from any top 30 institutes.
- Trying hard for SNAP now, targetting SIBM-P /SCMHRD
- Also, XAT is my only hope...Targetting GIM, SPJain & TAPMI (thru XAT scores)

I had also posted another post on PG on the pros and cons of doing MBA in India & Abroad...

Link:- http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/career-discussions/9670-personal-career-cat-job-dilemma-452.html#post2855931

Please advise me Sameer jee..
Also, If I dint get thru the college of my liking this year and the next year, i.e 2013 .. I have to try and look out for MBA Opportunities
abroad..because, I want to undergo a full Time Management program only (2 Years) and in India, it is difficult and unsuitable for people with 4+ yrs of exp. doing MBA in Non-IIM's but top 30 colleges in India.
I also have a financial constraint about doing MBA abroad.
So, a bit skeptical about this.
I cannot spend 50 lakhs for a Mgmt course in UK for 2 years and return to India. 😞 and start working here !! No matter whatever my package would be...I would need a lot of money to overcome my Edu. Loan in India.:-(

So, whats your take on this scenario, Sameer jee ?
- Concentrate on MBA in India..
* SNAP 2011, XAT 2012 for 2012-14 batch
* CAT '12, SNAP '12, XAT '13 for 2013-15 batch ( I would have 32 months of IT Exp.)
and, if not able to get a decent Convert..
Switching onto GMAT, but by 2014, I should have to get in a decent college. But, as I mentioned..Money is a constraint here...:-(

Thanks !


waiting for your Response ! Sirjee 😃
101
Hi Sameer,

I too belong to the Indian-IT-Male category and my story is no different to most GMAT applicants.

Yeh paaglaDaashu ka matlab kya hai, veerji?

My choice of institutes are primarily based on Max Education Loan = Rs 20 L;
I'm guessing you'd be pumping in some maal from your pocket as well? Otherwise the Indian programs would also be out of range.
depending on how much that out-of-pocket amount will be, all schools can on your list can be affordable.

Tangential thought: I miss the days of gurukuls. Free education, lots of shade (under the banyan tree where classes were held) and none of the shady stuff that generally pervades the modern education industry.

preferable placement in India/Singapore/HongKong but not extended foreign stay;
Not sure what you mean by 'extended foreign stay'. If you are in Singapore or HK, you would have an extended foreign stay, right? Or did you mean that you want to come back to India as some point in time?

Regionally best ranked school with international exposure.
IIMA and ISB may not fit into your criteria then.

Specially since my experience is at lower side for IIM-A PGPEX, do you think I stand a chance?
Apart from the fact that you have 6 yrs of work-ex, I don't know anything about you. So tough to comment on chances, buddy.

For achieving this goal what range of GMAT score and profiling I need to focus?
In general, for a general question like that, my general answer is to stay close to or above the median for the schools that you plan to apply to.

But don't be too caught up with GMAT prep. For Indians it is no longer a differentiator. Focus on the bigger storyline as that's what will help you get in.

- Shishya Hot or Guru Cool?