Few facts that really hinder me from thinking of big programs in US are:
1. My abysmal B.E. Marks - 56% aggregate over 4 years, though 1st class in degree. (I have 64.1% in final yr and my univ awards class based on final yr marks only) I am not sure of the GPA equivalant of 56%. How can i get it?
2. Not enough ECAs and awards/recognitions under belt.
3. My budjet is 35-40 L, without collatral. My parents won't like to put collatral on stake.
With the above facts and limitations if you still suggest that I can make to those top notch programs, given I hit 700+ GMAT, then I would definately go by "Dil" and try my luck. Otherwise, please suggest few equally good masters programs through GRE route. I assume masters would be cheaper than MBA.
If I put all the variables in place i.e. Acads, ECAs/Awards, Score, Budget in place, "Dimaag" drives me to Frankfurt school. But following uncertainities put me again on backfoot:
1. I am not sure with 4.5 yrs exp + M.Sc. in Mgmt I will get MBA equivalent roles for the understanding among recruiters in europe that M.Sc. is less practice oriented and doesn't inculcate enough managerial/administrative skills.
2. I am not sure whether this degree will be accepted in equivalance to MBA/PGDM in India. I spoke to one of my mentor friend from IIM A. He said NO. Its only the experience that I'll have there will count. Not the degree. I am not sure how true this fact is. If it is then joing FS is a big risk, for in worst case I don't get a job and if I've to return.
3. Though the school is highly reputed in banking and financial sector, the MiM program is new. I'm not sure wht resources they've put in for career services for placements in Operations Mgmt/Consulting. However their course content for operations mgmt. is at par with a global b-schools.
Looking forward to ur valuable insights and suggestions.
Let's deconstruct my "dil se" advice (
that you can be more ambitious) to help you understand why I gave it:
*You have hard core engineering / manufacturing / industrial & quality management experience in one of the world's largest and most global precision engineering & manufacturing, technology and industrial companies. Many Indians (specially your friends who went to IT) would love to have a profile like yours, both in the context of profile for admission to a top b-school & for career opportunities after - core functional experience in a critical business area for an industrial company (manufacturing, operations and supply). With 5.5-6.0 years in 2013, you'll have "a lot" of experience transferable to many other companies in the industrials business! Unless you're fundamentally dumb (you're probably quite smart), or have learnt nothing in these 6 years, you will NOT be short of opportunities in various companies or the consultants that serve them!
*ECAs - ok! But the base profile is great. The companies that will want to recruit you AFTER your MBA wouldn't really bother. They'll care more about what experience & competence you bring to the table, and what potential you have for a reasonably long career with them. Awards / Recognitions, if you are recruited from a top b-school, a competitive place to enter in the first place, and worked pre-MBA in a company like Siemens (also NOT easy to enter), clearly you did something right with your professional life!
*Grades / GPA / GMAT - 64% is a reasonable achievement in Engineering; and BVU Pune is NOT a bad university / college. Secondly - you "can" address that with a great GMAT score.
Your GMAT can be improved with professional help, and you can (with the right guidance & coaching) write the good essays. Coming from a non-IT & Industrial background, you will NOT be the most common profile from the Indian pool, and can use your Siemens experience as a great differentiator from other applicants. What will help you is a 700+ GMAT, which alongside many other elements of your profile should be enough to get you an interview with a top school.
With a 700+ and well rationalized essays, I think you have a shot to MIT-Sloan's LGO program, Ross-Michigan's MBA with SCM/Ops and programs offered by business schools affiliated to universities with a strong school of engineering.
*Out of your 35-40L budget, can you take out 2L (invest this over the next 12-15 months to improve your GMAT, your essays and your skills (e.g learning German). While the risks seem greater (than going to Frankfurt), your exposure is lower because you have the professional skills + GMAT + languages to be attractive to the recruiters after your MBA; and
that's what top schools look for - can they help you get recruited on-campus or support you to conduct a proper search off-campus, will you be successful? A top business school will be more inclined to admit you if you bring tangible skills to the table that recruiters will value. With your experience in Siemens, if you go to a top school - you're likely to be noticed by companies in
many industries with a core / engineering / manufacturing base - think GE, UTC, Siemens, Philips, J&J;, Airbus, Rolls-Royce; think of all the consulting companies that serve them - McK, Bain, ATK, Accenture!!!!
In short, your possibilities are a lot greater, and more globally mobile! *You're still only 27, you could potentially enter a top notch program at 28-29 and graduate at 30-31 - absolutely the perfect age to graduate an MBA with your skills & competencies. Then you have 30 years ahead of you. With all you have got, wouldn't you want to get the best of those 30 years?
Acting on all of the above, will take patience, and discipline - which you of all people should be familiar with having worked in manufacturing & QC :-). Meaning - your work involves getting things right, the first time! Why not try applying the same principles to your career & life?
To address your concerns / uncertainties, and deconstruct my "dimaag se" advice:
1. Your Siemens experience will matter to recruiters more than your MBA/MSc; your MBA/M.Sc (if a top one) will help you get face time & interviews (on-campus or off-campus through networks or alumni). A bigger school will mean wider networks, more credible and strong career services that will bring companies to present on campus, and train you to conduct a strong & effective job-search off-campus (meaning - self driven job search). Studying with strong peers with experience like yourself will help you build confidence.
2. Valid concern if you go to Frankfurt - because you will be less mobile. More details in the point below! Even if you want to come back to India, would you want your Siemens pre-MBA experience, whatever post-MBA experience
and a Frankfurt degree under your belt
OR an MIT-Sloan/Michigan/Berkeley/Cornell degree??? What education's is more recognizable?
3. Correct! A consequence is that the career services department may not be well geared to help you with the right contacts & networks to train you and enable you to get a job. You're pretty might on your own - learning German + having worked in Siemens would likely help; but you'll really have to hustle. Overall - Frankfurt might work for you, but then again it might not. You are unlikely to go there completely confident in what your education will help you get (importantly,
alongside your professional experience) after graduation. Your job search outside the Frankfurt program is likely to be within Germany, and that's a restriction you might have to live with. A globally top program will bring global opportunities. As an Indian, you are more globally mobile than you think.
OverallYou're in a way better position than you think (compared to many Indians of your age and experience seeking to boost their careers); and can be a lot more ambitious than Frankfurt. I believe you have a strong chance at leveraging your Siemens experience, going to a top-notch glolbal school and building a great career after that. If you agree - then get help with your GMAT, later on in your essays. Invest in learning a language to intermediate level (if you're in Mumbai, this should be easier).
Hope this helps you.
All the best
Baccardisprite
...It is really driving me nuts...