International educational options beyond the MBA

MBA
648
hey baccardisprite

This thread is really great. good work. I've been having lot of doubts about mba and masters programs and how they differ and what would help me and this is the perfect place.

I am currently in final year of engineering (mechanical) from one of karnataka's top colleges. I am interested in pursuing a career in talent management for entertainment and sports sectors(particularly entertainment) and i have read up about it and i have got the understanding that a degree or course in marketing is required for the same.

my query is, would it be better to do a MS in Marketing, rather than an MBA, if i wish to pursue a career in this field? Also, are there any recommendations for universities in the US/ in singapore, where i can pursue the same?

EDIT: i have no problems in restricting myself to USA or singapore. even doing such a course in the UK or rest of europe is feasible.

thanks in advance, looking forward to your response.

Oromis


Very good, you seem to be set on a career at a young age, which is always a good thing. You need to therefore try and get into the media & entertainment (M&E;) industry and from there branch out into sports media. M&E; is a highly experiential industry and the educational avenues to get in are rather limited; and the industry is highly networked so you need to know people in order to make a first foray. A Masters in Marketing may not necessarily help. So you need to use the next few months to work a few strategic options:

- Professional entry: try & get a job in Media & Entertainment right out of college. Do you know people in industry, uncles, aunts, cousins, dad's friends? no harm in using personal networks. See if anyone in your immediate network (or a degree removed) can help you gain a foothold into the media industry (electronic or print).... The other option is to see if you can get into mobile media content or on-line media content companies and begin your career from there.... Bottom-line - you'll need to make an effort to reach out because your campus placements isn't going to get you anywhere in this industry.

- education: surely you have friends who have entered some of the top Indian B-Schools - IIMs, FMS, XLRI, SPJ etc... Find out which Media companies recruit on these campuses - TV / Electronic (Sony ET, GE NBC Universal, NDTV, Times TV..), Print (TOI, ABP etc..), Cable / Mobile / On-line (many companies like Bharti, Airtel, Tata Sky)? If there's any critical mass of recruitments ( I doubt if these companies recruit in numbers similar to say Banking / consulting / IT / Services etc..), then it is worth preparoing for the CAT and making a play for a career outside these schools.

- education (abroad) - in my opinion, not advisable at your age. M&E; roles abroad are highly connected to local / regional cultures, you'll need to bring on-ground experience or highly applicable / transferable experience from a different market (say 5-7 years in Media in India) to convince employers to even look at you.....Unless you have a network that can immediately help you with internships and early career job opportunities.

I'd suggest taking the first 2 routes above, try and get into the industry as early as you can, working there for 5-6 years to gain a bag of skills that future employers will find attractive, then going for an MBA or a more specialist mass comms masters degree.

Hope that helps
All the best
649
Hey all.

I am currently beginning my Third year of Economic Honors from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Delhi University.My profile would be as follows.

10th--96.6
12th--91.6
Eco hons Grad--Expecting 65%.

I have not given the GMAT yet but am expecting a score of about 720-730 very easily. I am also preparing for the CAT and other major MBA entrances if India.

Now here's the question.
After I complete my undergrad(I am expecting around 65% maybe more,not less) I am looking at two options.If I get into a Top 10 Indian MBA college,then well and good,I'd prefer that and my education would be over and I can start earning.By top 10 I mean all the IIM's,FMS,XLRI etc.

However on the other hand,I have an alternate career path.I am looking at a one year Masters in Finance o the Masters in Management from the UK after which I'll work a few years in UK and then get an American Top 10 MBA.I wanted to know with a dismal 65% from DU,Do I stand a chance in the Top MSc Finance courses in the Uk like LSE,Imperial,Cass,Oxford etc??? or Maybe the Masters in Management from LBS.What sort of a % in DU would be required for a good Masters in the UK.

As for Extra-Curriculars I have a nice record.
I am the President of the Eco society,hold a post in the Debating Society and have many certificates from many societies here and there.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.!


You might stand a chance in the UK, but do consider that the UK job market hasn't recovered (or is recovering very very slowly) from 2 straight recessionary years, and the people (mostly with experience) who lost their jobs at the low of the recession will have first crack at jobs at whatever level. Secondly, the UK is policy-wise becoming more and more unwelcoming for non-EU professionals (it seems to be targeted at Asians in Indians in particular). Why do you want to go there and expose yourself to a struggling economy when you will have wider opportunities in India / Asia to look at?

I would recommend giving the CAT (or similar exam) and get into a top Indian college - IIMs, FMS, XLRI, SPJ, MDI or similar and start building a career in India. ....You can always go abroad (to the west later)...

Hope that helps
All the best
650
Hi all,

Actually I am already an MBA and pursued Mcom too....

Now planning to do some course inorder to fullfill my thirst on Phoren 😁 certification

Can you all please help me out if there are good online/distance learning short term program which can be done from prestigious university abroad?

A brief about my education/work background is as below.

SSC - 75%
HSC (commerce) - 76%
BMS (Marketing) - 76%
Mcom (Management) - 50% 😁 Mumbai university & that too Correspondence...
Diploma in Export Import Management
MBA (General) - 76%
MDP in Knowledge Management - IIM Ahmedabad.

Work Profile:
Started career with BD Profile with 3 months Exp.
Then worked for 1 year in VSNL in Tech support after Graduation.
After MBA working in Oil and Gas firm but deputed into IT Arm looking after HR Profile. (2.5 Years)
Total Work Ex - 3.9 Years.

Now planning to make a career in Strategy, Policy Formulation in long term.

Can you all please help me out in identifying some course.??


Since you already have an MBA, you'll have to present convincing arguments as to why you want another one! Do you have those? Strategy & policy are both vague words? Strategy in what, consulting / corporate? Policy formulation in what area / industry, public sector or private? Where do you want to work? Any idea what sort of industry or company you want to work for?

Take some time, think about these things and come back.

All the best
651
Hi Baccardisprite,

Thanks a lot for taking out your time to help us in making career decisions. I have the following question which i could not have asked anybody better:

I have 7 years of experience in core Consumer Credit Card processing industry (motstly in IT and Business analyst). I would like to open an NGO (education) of my own. Though along with few of my friends we have started the work unofficially ( i.e. did not register it yet) but in a very small scale (offering money to help few poor students for carry forward their study) and we pay from our own pocket.

My future goal is to take up this NGO in a bigger scale. But I must gather the knowledge to run an NGO first. And as I have family responsibilities so i can not quit my current work and join an NGO to get ground experience at this moment. So its important for me to join somewhere who will also give me above avg salary(may not be very good).
So I thought of getting an MBA degree from a good institution (appearing for the exam in feb 11) which will help me to get more contacts and understanding of operations, business knowledge etc... However I am still not sure what course I should look for in my MBA program which will help me in this regard..More over are there any B schools which are specialized in this area...
Basically .. I want an MBA degree with which i can get a good package and in the field of NGO ...

Thanks a lot...


Firstly you do have a good profile and have made a career choice, somewhat unconventional but you have taken small steps to build a profile towards that career going forward.

Have you thought of IIMA's Public Management and Policy Program (I think this is one year) or IIMB's PPM Program (2 years)? Have a look at the program and the placements, and see if this for you.

The other option is to go for either a top US MBA with elective options in Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility or a Public Policy Masters with International Development.

Getting into a relevant and credible International NGO is a very network driven thing, the job search is 99% off-campus and you will need a credible career services offices to offer you both the training & the competence to coach you to put your best foot forward and strong alumni networks that have penetrated the NGO world deeply. That means a US Top 5-10.

Hope that helps you
All the best
652


RELEVANT TO THIS POST:

I have been communicating with the TPP admissions coordiantor and alumni consistently. Here's the gist of what's transpired since we (you and me) last communicated.

1. I did not join a CI professional body. Firstly, its very unlikely that I would draw tangible benefits from it as far as my job goes. Secondly, an alumni informed than MIT cares two hoots about paid memberships.

As an aside, I've extracted a commitment for a one-to-one conversation from the guru of CI! (Once I am in US that is).

2. I am into drafting project proposals. I am assuming that not too many applicants would show this experience, and that it should indicate some degree of preparedness for policy analysis to ad comm. Please correct me if I am wrong.

3. Fate has contrived to hand me complete ownership of a legacy project at my firm for a top biotech company. I love the domain that I work on. Can doing every bit of the project be attractive to the ad comm?

4. I've commenced client communication. I am expected to scale-up to be the in-house expert of the domain as well.

5. I am working on developing white papers. Does this kind of activity add value to one's application?

All said and done, here are my concerns:

1. The ad coord says that every TPP student is unique, and hence its not wise to seek records of what past students with similar backgrounds have done. Is there something unnatural about not revealing what their previous students with similar backgrounds have been upto?

2. They have no idea if one can get into the UN after the program. Although the website shows that UN has previously recruited TPP students, life sciences doesn't appear to be domain. How do I figure out that I will at least have a shot at performing my envisaged responsibilities after graduating with a TPP degree?

While I do have alternative career plans, it is my ardent desire to work for the UN.

What else could you suggest I can do in about 1 more year before I apply for the program to maximize my chances of getting an admit.

Regards,


If the proposals you draft match technology and policy in line what MIT teaches on the program, I think it should help. Be sure to connect this skill to what you'd like to do after the program....If your white papers are published, yes it would help....

1. The TPP is actually a small program, and from what little I know, it is indeed rare to find 2 participants with closely similar backgrounds in programs like this. If the adcomm as a matter of policy doesn't want to share the backgrounds, then they won't do so until you are admitted to the program.... I feed you needn't worry about this. Concentrate on writing the best application possible and leave the rest to them.... Also remember that the TPP is an academically self-driven & research intensive program... where the students are encouraged to conduct minimally supervised independent research to come up with project ideas to support their own curriculum (which is less than 33% classroom / theory). By denying you access / information you seek, the adcomm is actually testing your ability to research well, and articulate your interests clearly and cogently - connecting your statement of purpose, your pre-program career, the program curriculum, your research interests and your future career.... It is an interesting challenge for you....

2. Have you taken a look into UN careers, what jobs they get into etc? Alternatively, have you also seen the YPP (Young Professionals Program) of the World Bank? The World Bank will almost certainly have programs for investment in healthcare / life sciences in countries that need it most. If the MIT is unwilling to reveal too much detail, go directly to the websites and find out.

As the TPP Program is 2 years, you will have adequate opportunities to register for the university's language departmental courses and courses in corporate finance & investment management, which could make you eligible and qualified also for the IFC's Investment Officer Program. The IFC or International Finance Corporation is the World Bank's Investment arm, and the Officer program is just as prestigious and profile-wise equivalent to the World Bank's YPP.

In the next one year, learn a language (spanish, french, german, chinese) up to at least intermediate conversational levels, which you can further enhance through language courses when in MIT.

Anyway - go and explore the websites, download some of the World Bank & IFC's publications and see what they do.....Sometimes these are better storehouses of information than the adcomm itself.

Hope that helps
All the best

P.S - Do your best in the GRE, these programs tend to have some very high scores in the GRE & TOEFL, you'll need to be at the very top for them to feel comfortable with your academic ability.
653
casanova27 Says
hi i m planning to do my masters degree abroad.but i kinda of having second thoughts as my acads are avg and no work ex. i m an engg grad. Can suggest me few job oriented courses abroad.(Both tech & nonTech)


I could, but the list would be too long!

Can you narrow down your choices and be more specific about what kind of "job" you want?
654
leisuresoul Says
Actually I am planning to do masters just after my bachelors and then take a job exp of 3 yrs and go in for International MBA. The thing is I have to choose between weather i will be doing MS in my civil engineering fields and MS in management fields. I will prefer later because of my profile and goals. Please tell me which programs will you suggest for me in MASTERS in specific fields of management/ master in management with job that I will get later. Thanks a lot for such a great thread. !!


"Management" is a vague and pretty broad field. At your age, it's more relevant to be functionally / technically sound, acquire knowledge, skill, competence and experience in an industry / 1-2 functions over a 5-6 year period then go for an an MBA.... So I would suggest to firstly look for and get a job first. I assume you're studying civil engineering? If yes, then don't go the way of the herd and join an IT company... please try and join a construction major or core engineering company and develop your skills. The country needs Civil engineers like yourself if we need to improve our infrastructure, so people like you will be in demand and reasonably well-paid (although the salary at 21 should normally be the last reason why you want a certain job).

Else - go for a masters in Civil engineering from a good school in India or abroad. If abroad - then the US Schools of Engineering are still the best.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but hopefully helps you think ahead and long term. Build a career first, not a bank of degrees.

Hope that helps you
All the best
655
Hello Puys.

I've been trying to find Finance masters programs in canada, preferably in Ontario. Apart from the offerings from Elite B-Schools Schluich, Rotman & Queen's, are there any good programs? with good job prospects?

Finance programs offered in these schools cost almost as much as the MBA programs :|. Am looking for a more affordable program.


British Columbia, Alberta!

The Canadian $ is about on parity with the US$, so Canadian programs are unfortunately quite expensive nowadays. But the schools & their finance programs of a high quality and if finance is what you want to do, this is a worthy destination.

Choose a University and Finance Masters program which is closely connected (or is a certified partner program of) the CFA Program and / or the Canadian CMA program. Gives you an opportunity to gain one or both professional qualifications after the Masters program (both CFA & CMA and highly respected in Canada). CMA = Certified Management Accountant.

Job prospects depend on 2 things, neither of which you have control over. One is the economy / jobmarket and the other is the policy of the Canadian Government to offer a grace period work permit after you graduate. Current evidence suggests Canada is doing alright in both. Check with the school what the current Canadian Government policies are around work permits for International Graduates of Canadian Masters Programs (Studying in Canada: Work permits for students - Working after graduation).

All the best
656
Hi Baccardisprite,

My profile:
B.E. in Computers from Mumbai University
Work ex: 26 months Infosys
GMAT: 570 (Quant 48, Verbal 21, AWA 6)

I am planning to retake my gmat. However I am confused as to whether I should go for an MBA or a masters in management program. Can you please throw some light on the difference between an MBA and a masters in management. One reason I am considering an MS in management is due to its reasonable tution fees compared to an MBA. I am considering b schools in US, Europe and Singapore. But some programs in Europe and Singapore are only for 1 year. What do you think is better : a 1 year course or a 2 year course.

Thanks


Career goals?

- What do you want to do after the program?
- What industry / type of company do you want to work for?
- Where (geography) would you like to work?

Think carefully about this (take your time), and post again.

All the best
657
Hi,
I am Ankita Nayyar, I am having 28 months of full time work experience as a business development executive in a mid size recruitment firm. I have completed my BE in 2008. I want to apply the logical process of thinking inculcated in during engineering to non technical aspects. My current job role requires regular interaction with high level clients. Therefore in a very short time i have learnt a lot from various interactions on how to deal with a variety of people and solve various issues by thinking on my feet. My GMAT score is 640. I am interested in pursuing management education in marketing.I have fair amount of knowledge about marketing, as i have read many books on sales, marketing and advertising. I have practical exposure of sales and business development and I am very much interested in pursuing formal education in the sam. I am targeting US universities. As i am a newbie, so please help in shorlisting universities. If any experts can suggest me some universities according to my profile, it will be of great help.

Regards,
Ankita Nayyar.


Knowledge of marketing comes with experience, not through books although the authors of those would sometimes like to make you believe otherwise.

While the focus on a marketing career at your age is admirable, you'll want to go to the best school there - Kellogg is pretty much the gold standard for marketing in the US, so you'll definitely want to apply there. With a few more years of experience, you'd be an attractive candidate for consulting & development roles in the field of HR, organizational strategy and talent development.

I'd like you to think of a few things though:

- While it helps somewhat that you're female (most Indian applicants are male) and from a somewhat different industry (recruitment, where most Indian applicants are trying to escape IT), your experience is a bit thin unless you have already achieved a few things at 24 that your peers haven't. I'd advise working for a couple of years longer, and build a bank of success you can take to future employers.

- Marketing is local-culture heavy function, and employers look first for previous on-ground, immediately applicable / transferable experience and skills in their MBA recruits. If you don't bring this to the table (for example a brand manager role in an FMCG company in the US/EU), you're going to find it pretty hard to convince to recruit you or even interview you. As an alternative, do you bring several years of sales / marketing experience (6-7 years)? If you go abroad now, you'll have neither. think this over.

- Your GMAT score is low. Prepare, reattempt and aim to score a 700+

- Learn a foreign language that gives you the ability to interact with clients in a foreign environment. French, German, Spanish, Chinese...

- The US Top 10 (with Kellogg the best known), INSEAD, IESE are the best schools for marketing anywhere.

All the best
658
hey,

This info is for my cousin.

Looking for information about the JURIS DOCTOR (JD) law degree offered by law schools in the usa for people who have complete their graduation in any non-law degree.

it seems writing the LSAT exam is required for admissions into law schools for the same. i have been trying to get more info about this exam, about formalities for the admissions etc but most foreign education firms i contact only seem to know about SAT/GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS etc .

is there any way i can get more info about such a course and the LSAT exam? for instance anyone here who has written the exam or is preparing for it? or anyone know any educational counselors who may be able to guide me in this regard?

thanks.


Google "LSAT" and you'll find pretty much everything you need. Start with the www.lsac.org website!
659
hi
I want to know about erasmus course in eroupe.it is also equivalent to MBA.But I dont have full information.Please let me know if I can get any guidance. Thank you.

Erasmus Mundus Programme 2009-2013 | EACEA

Hope that helps you. Please go through the website in full detail.
All the best
660
Hey i am pursuing my b'com..wil complete in june 2011. Can any1 help me regarding landscape designing course is it worth it and it is best in new zealand.Am i eligible for it.
I don't have gud extra curriculars.
10th-78
12th-71
grad til nw 68.i wil end up in 70-72.PLZ TEL ME Abt my options of dis course puys.


Are you passionate about design? Do you have an aptitude for it? Are you looking for a vocational course or a full on Master's degree?

Please be more specific in your requests.

All the best
661

Hi baccardisprite,
I have read your few of the initial posts in this thread and i must confess you have such tremendous knowledge spreading across so many different sectors/domains.

I would really like and appreciate your guidance on my career.
Age:22

10th-80%
12th-69%(Medical science with maths)
B.Tech Biotech(2009)-66%

Currently i am working in a Procurement Outsourcing company as an Associate supply chain management for past 8 months. My profile here was more based on communicating with suppliers and training them through e-meetings(My project has now ended and profile has changed which i don't like)
.
Last year i took CAT and scored 88 %tile. This year i am expecting a score between 90-95%tile(maybe more).
I am not interested in supply chain and want to make my career in either Market Research or Finance. Profile of an Investment Manager really excites me(I am usually good with numbers).
Because i do not have much knowledge in finance i was thinking to first get an MBA Finance degree and then go for CFA. Or do you think it is too late for me to begin my career in finance and i should go for Market Research only? What are the opportunities that i have and how should i proceed?

Thanks in advance.

662
Hi baccardisprite,
I have read your few of the initial posts in this thread and i must confess you have such tremendous knowledge spreading across so many different sectors/domains.

I would really like and appreciate your guidance on my career.
Age:22

10th-80%
12th-69%(Medical science with maths)
B.Tech Biotech(2009)-66%

Currently i am working in a Procurement Outsourcing company as an Associate supply chain management for past 8 months. My profile here was more based on communicating with suppliers and training them through e-meetings(My project has now ended and profile has changed which i don't like)
.
Last year i took CAT and scored 88 %tile. This year i am expecting a score between 90-95%tile(maybe more).
I am not interested in supply chain and want to make my career in either Market Research or Finance. Profile of an Investment Manager really excites me(I am usually good with numbers).
Because i do not have much knowledge in finance i was thinking to first get an MBA Finance degree and then go for CFA. Or do you think it is too late for me to begin my career in finance and i should go for Market Research only? What are the opportunities that i have and how should i proceed? Thanks in advance.


Procurement &/or Supply Chain outsourcing is one of the last big frontiers in the BPO/KPO space that will grow at over 25-30% year on year for the next few years. What is it about your new profile in this company that you don't like? Let me know and I'll see whether you can get some good advice regarding your current career, which if patiently followed for a few years can be quite rewarding in the medium to long term.

Finance & Market Research are functionally different. Market research "may" include research conducted for financial services companies (example - capital markets / equity market research)...

I can't tell you what's better, but if you want to enter finance or financial analytics (& associated research) now, then the path of least resistance (since you're young) is to first get an MBA Finance degree in India (IIMs, FMS, JB, SPJ, MDI, XLRI etc..), then find a job with a financial services or a finance focused KPO and start with the CFA (or equivalent qualification). Get 4-5 years of hard-core financial knowledge under your belt, then branch out into a more front end / commercial role with or without education....

For just market research (financial or general) - again you're better off building a career for a few years (with or without an MBA), gain a bag of skills and competencies then depending on your career aspirations 4-5 years down the line, pursue education options.

Going abroad now (at your age) for an MBA in whatever is quite pointless. You could go for an M.S in Finance abroad (say UK), but the job market there is highly repressed, immigration policy is unfriendly to non-EU entrants and you have very little (if at all) to offer prospective employers compared to equally qualified "locals".

Think carefully, then choose your path forward.
All the best
663
Procurement &/or Supply Chain outsourcing is one of the last big frontiers in the BPO/KPO space that will grow at over 25-30% year on year for the next few years. What is it about your new profile in this company that you don't like? Let me know and I'll see whether you can get some good advice regarding your current career, which if patiently followed for a few years can be quite rewarding in the medium to long term.

Finance & Market Research are functionally different. Market research "may" include research conducted for financial services companies (example - capital markets / equity market research)...

I can't tell you what's better, but if you want to enter finance or financial analytics (& associated research) now, then the path of least resistance (since you're young) is to first get an MBA Finance degree in India (IIMs, FMS, JB, SPJ, MDI, XLRI etc..), then find a job with a financial services or a finance focused KPO and start with the CFA (or equivalent qualification). Get 4-5 years of hard-core financial knowledge under your belt, then branch out into a more front end / commercial role with or without education....

For just market research (financial or general) - again you're better off building a career for a few years (with or without an MBA), gain a bag of skills and competencies then depending on your career aspirations 4-5 years down the line, pursue education options.

Going abroad now (at your age) for an MBA in whatever is quite pointless. You could go for an M.S in Finance abroad (say UK), but the job market there is highly repressed, immigration policy is unfriendly to non-EU entrants and you have very little (if at all) to offer prospective employers compared to equally qualified "locals".

Think carefully, then choose your path forward.
All the best



Thank you so much brother. See as far as my current profile is concerned i am not into core supply chain activities neither i am able to learn about supply chain through my job. Its like i am in a support group for any glitches that may arise from our client side while they place orders via SAP(just one example) etc. I do almost same things day after day(where is the learning part?)

The thing is i am not able to get a decent job with my current qualification where i can really learn. Be it Market Research or Finance, which is obvious considering my educational background. Now if i go for MBA Fin i can enter in finance sector and then may be CFA. My question here is if i do MBA Fin from colleges like LBSIM, FORE, MBE, MFC, NIBM Pune etc etc..will i be able to get the profile(like Fund Manager) that i want?
And yes going abroad is not on my mind currently, with my profile.

And if i want to go for Market Research profile then what do i need to do for that? MBA? Any other course?
664
Thank you so much brother. See as far as my current profile is concerned i am not into core supply chain activities neither i am able to learn about supply chain through my job. Its like i am in a support group for any glitches that may arise from our client side while they place orders via SAP(just one example) etc. I do almost same things day after day(where is the learning part?)

The thing is i am not able to get a decent job with my current qualification where i can really learn. Be it Market Research or Finance, which is obvious considering my educational background. Now if i go for MBA Fin i can enter in finance sector and then may be CFA. My question here is if i do MBA Fin from colleges like LBSIM, FORE, MBE, MFC, NIBM Pune etc etc..will i be able to get the profile(like Fund Manager) that i want?
And yes going abroad is not on my mind currently, with my profile.

And if i want to go for Market Research profile then what do i need to do for that? MBA? Any other course?


Regardless of how good, smart & qualified you are, you have to do the years in finance to become a fund manager. The path of low resistance to the career you want is to get into a well known bank with strong operations in commercial / investment banking, asset management and equities / FI brokerage / cap-market & trading desk or a specialist house in these fields... You want to get into a strong name (Indian or MNC), meaning you have to target the schools where the financial houses recruit in numbers (whether MBA or M.Sc Finance)....

I would advocate strongly for you to prepare again for the CAT/XAT or other relevant exams and get into a top notch Indian B-School to get the widest possible opportunities to meet with finance recruiters. You could go to one of the schools you mentioned, but might have to work that much harder to get noticed amongst equally qualified, smart & sharp peers who attended the higher ranked / reputed schools. So - IIMs (the top 6), FMS, J Bajaj, NMIMS (MBA in Fin), Sp Jain, MDI, IMT, IIFT.... these are top ranked and "top-of-mind" schools in India... Go there, and you will meet the kind of recruiters you want.

You still have time, so will be (25-26?) when you come of these programs, still young enough to build a career. As soon as you get that job in finance, start acquiring professionally endorsed qualifications (CFA) to complement the experience you gain on the job.

If fund manager is what you want, education is a "very" small part of what will get you there (mostly in your late 30's, earliest 15 years from now)..... The rest is about discipline, diligence, patience, hard-work, common sense, humility, goodwill (of your colleagues & business partners), team-work, ambition, hunger for success & learning.... and a little luck!

All the best
Baccardisprite
665

Please reply to my post also.

666
If the proposals you draft match technology and policy in line what MIT teaches on the program, I think it should help. Be sure to connect this skill to what you'd like to do after the program....If your white papers are published, yes it would help....

1. The TPP is actually a small program, and from what little I know, it is indeed rare to find 2 participants with closely similar backgrounds in programs like this. If the adcomm as a matter of policy doesn't want to share the backgrounds, then they won't do so until you are admitted to the program.... I feed you needn't worry about this. Concentrate on writing the best application possible and leave the rest to them.... Also remember that the TPP is an academically self-driven & research intensive program... where the students are encouraged to conduct minimally supervised independent research to come up with project ideas to support their own curriculum (which is less than 33% classroom / theory). By denying you access / information you seek, the adcomm is actually testing your ability to research well, and articulate your interests clearly and cogently - connecting your statement of purpose, your pre-program career, the program curriculum, your research interests and your future career.... It is an interesting challenge for you....

2. Have you taken a look into UN careers, what jobs they get into etc? Alternatively, have you also seen the YPP (Young Professionals Program) of the World Bank? The World Bank will almost certainly have programs for investment in healthcare / life sciences in countries that need it most. If the MIT is unwilling to reveal too much detail, go directly to the websites and find out.

As the TPP Program is 2 years, you will have adequate opportunities to register for the university's language departmental courses and courses in corporate finance & investment management, which could make you eligible and qualified also for the IFC's Investment Officer Program. The IFC or International Finance Corporation is the World Bank's Investment arm, and the Officer program is just as prestigious and profile-wise equivalent to the World Bank's YPP.

In the next one year, learn a language (spanish, french, german, chinese) up to at least intermediate conversational levels, which you can further enhance through language courses when in MIT.

Anyway - go and explore the websites, download some of the World Bank & IFC's publications and see what they do.....Sometimes these are better storehouses of information than the adcomm itself.

Hope that helps
All the best

P.S - Do your best in the GRE, these programs tend to have some very high scores in the GRE & TOEFL, you'll need to be at the very top for them to feel comfortable with your academic ability.


Hey!

You are a savior! I have a research proposal in mind which I described to program coordinator in an email. The response has been "The interests you describe would be an interesting area of research, thesis topic and future career aspirations."

I am not sure if this is a casual statement meant for all prospective students or a customized one. Assuming that my research proposal does make sense, I would really want to build on it. I am looking to constantly refine my idea by talking to people who can offer quality insights.

How much do you think this statement means? I know it takes a lot to make it to the program. All I am asking is if I should believe that my research proposal bears resonance with the theme of the program.

Regards,

p.s: What drives you?
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leisuresoul Says
Please reply to my post also.


Firstly get some kind of an idea about what you want to do and then select a course that will benefit you. A field related to management can be anything as all fields require people managing them.

But if you are looking into a conversion course that would teach you the basics of management then there would be nothing better than the LBS MiM and Duke MMS. These courses look for people with minimal work ex (>1 year) with a non business undergrad degree. The Grande Ecole programs in management in France are also very good as they couple your education with 6-18 months internships.

If you would want to study Finance then there are a myriad of options available in US and UK. In US you can try for Princeton, MIT, WUSTL, Vanderbilt, etc. In UK you can look into Oxbridge, ICL, LSE. In Europe you have St Gallen, Bocconi, SSE, RSM, HEC and many more.

But please do think about what you want to do and then proceed.