Advice needed

[Obelixous]

Hi Everyone

I am looking at getting inputs from all of you based on my profile and the schools I want to apply to.

Following is my profile

Degree - B Tech Comp Science - passed out in 1997
% age - Close to 80 % (don't know how to calculate CGPA)
University - Rohilakhand University (not a well known one)
Rank - 1st out of 120
Nationality - Indian
Plan to specialize in - Not finalized
GMAT - 750, (official scroes are not in yet, so don't know about AWA)

I am currently working as a Project Manager in an Indian Software concern. I have moved thru the ranks in my co. very quickly (one of the quickest ever thus far) - from Software Engineer -> Sr. Software Engineer -> Group Leader -> Project Leader -> Project Manager in the last 8 years.

My work experience is primarily towards doing projects for a Japanese MNC, this is the only client that I have worked with, although I have worked on and led a number of projects for the client. I have been to Japan to have discussions with the clients quite a few times.
I have learnt (and am continuing to learn) to speak, read and write Japanese language.

Some of the activities that I have been involved in at work range from Project Management, Leading team ranging from 4 persons (in initial part of my career) to the current 50 persons, Recruitment, ISO and CMM implementation.

I hope to get good recommendations from my supervisor. I shall be speaking to the client to get a good recommendation from him also.

Another factor worth mentioning is that I am 34 years old, there is a 4 year period between my passing out of high school and taking admission to the bachelors degree course. During this period my family shifted from India to UK, I completed GCE 'A' Levels in this time and also spent 1 year doing a BE course from UK, but I could not complete the course as my family came back to India and I did not have the financial resources to continue the BE course.

I want to make a career in consulting / project management / product management, and shall be choosing my specialization based on my career choice.

I am certain that I only want to go to the top schools. I am considering the following:

Wharton, Stanford, GSB, INSEAD and maybe a few other also

1. What are my chances at the schools mentioned above based on my profile
2. What parts of my profile should I empasize on?

Thanks in advance for all your help / inputs.

[GMATbong]

1. What are my chances at the schools mentioned above based on my profile
2. What parts of my profile should I empasize on?

Again... Please don't ask for chances since you alway will have chances even if its 1%. The key question is what schools you stand to be competitive <- meaning higher probability than the acceptance rate.

Your profile as it stands looks grim. There is no mention of excurr. anywhere as all top B-schools are looking for well-roundedness.

Short term goal as MC is ok. But proj. management? why? you are already there now. Age is a big issue, of course since they will reason why don't you try EMBA if proj. management is your goal?

For regular MBA
Wharton - need some more well roundedness in your app. age is a factor
Stanford - age is more a factor. Mean age at S is 25-26 this year. Again, S needs the "wow" factor in essay A. Were you being discriminated at when moved to London. Sufferer of a hate crime, etc...etc? Why can't we just get along type eassy .... And for essay B - S is not looking for someone who just want project management since you already doing it. Also need to spell out long term goal.
GSB - what's GSB? Chicago or Col?
INSEAD - More competitive here as European school's age mean is older.

[Obelixous]

Hi GMATBong

Thank you for responding. Your suggestion are to the point and I hope to improve on my apps based on them. If possible please continue giving your inputs based on the additional information that I am adding:

Your profile as it stands looks grim. There is no mention of excurr. anywhere as all top B-schools are looking for well-roundedness.

I agree that there is no mention of extra-curriculars. My primary interest outside work relate to sports, primarily soccer. My forays outside work environment have been limited to activities related to work. E.g. learning Japanese language which would facilitate relationship building with clients. I have spent only a small time for community work, it has primarily been with an organization CRY (Child Relief and You). I have acted as a volunteer at CRY, that too only on and off. Some more work related to helping out at a school for physically disabled, again on and off.

Short term goal as MC is ok. But proj. management? why? you are already there now. Age is a big issue, of course since they will reason why don't you try EMBA if proj. management is your goal?

I am sorry, project mgt. is not one of my goals, neither short-term nor long-term. I wanted to write product mgt, and mistakenly wrote project mgt. I have considered doing an EMBA, but doing it from India does not seem feasible.

For regular MBA
Wharton - need some more well roundedness in your app. age is a factor

Could you clarify regarding the above, what do you mean as being well rounded?

Stanford - age is more a factor. Mean age at S is 25-26 this year. Again, S needs the "wow" factor in essay A. Were you being discriminated at when moved to London. Sufferer of a hate crime, etc...etc? Why can't we just get along type eassy .... And for essay B - S is not looking for someone who just want project management since you already doing it. Also need to spell out long term goal.

I do not understand the reference to discrimination and hate crime; please elaborate regarding this.

GSB - what's GSB? Chicago or Col?

I meant Chicago

Thanks in advance.

[GMATbong]

> learning Japanese language which would facilitate relationship building with >clients. I have spent only a small time for community work, it has primarily been >with an organization CRY (Child Relief and You). I have acted as a volunteer at >CRY, that too only on and off. Some more work related to helping out at a >school for physically disabled, again on and off.

OK. Alright, start doing more. What is your outside interest? Japanese as a language might not consider a relevant excurr. You really need to stand out from other indian apps. Take a more active and leading role in one of the community work will help. Having said that, off and on is better than not doing anything.

>I am sorry, project mgt. is not one of my goals, neither short-term nor long->term. I wanted to write product mgt, and mistakenly wrote project mgt. I >have considered doing an EMBA, but doing it from India does not seem >feasible.

I think Bschool will still think why product mgt when you might be able to jump with after your proj. mgt. exp. As for the long term goal, you might want to be a little bit more ambitious for top-5. For top-10, it's probably less so. Althought you cannot consider EMBA in India, the US MBA program might not see the "fits" with 27-28 kids in the program.

>Could you clarify regarding the above, what do you mean as being well rounded

Being well rounded means besides academic and work. What makes you unique? Do you fly and teach flight lessons. An artist? A singer? teach mentally challenge kids at school? Organize your own politically movement? Once you break the GMAT 700 and pass the min. standard for UGPA, they are looking for these things.

>I do not understand the reference to discrimination and hate crime; please elaborate regarding this.

This is an example. Like if you are being discriminated at while you were in London and they don't like you and you are now trying to change the world etc... This is the type of essay S is looking for.

Chicago is the less competitive than S/W and you would fare better there as they do take older people like W.

Again, at your age you really need to focus on your short and long term goal to make it happen. As for other top-15 schools, you have a competitive profile there.

[Obelixous]

Hi GMATbong

As usual your comments are useful and incisive. It is better to get to know about areas of concern in my app, rather than hear it from AdCom after being dinged. I shall work on my apps to highlight my strengths and address areas of concern of respective schools.

I do not want to look beyond the top 15 or so schools, as I feel that doing an MBA from a lower ranked school may not generate the impetus that I want to generate for my career progression.

Thanks again for you comments. Any other comment / suggestions shall be most welcome.

[GMATbong]

O.. yes.. One more suggestion. When you are writing your app, drink a cup or two of wine and think you are gay and let your emotion flows... It's easier to get in if you think like a women or gay then a tech guy.

As someone have posted this before, B-school profs are from Mars, B-school adcoms are from Venus.

[Obelixous]

Originally Posted by GMATbong

O.. yes.. One more suggestion. When you are writing your app, drink a cup or two of wine and think you are gay and let your emotion flows... It's easier to get in if you think like a women or gay then a tech guy.

As someone have posted this before, B-school profs are from Mars, B-school adcoms are from Venus.

that's really funny... i'll try it.

thanks...

when do you start school?