08-29-2003, 01:58 AM
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#11 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
 Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 532
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Hi Happy and thanks for your follow-up inquiry.
1. Yes. While the schools will still look at the highest GMAT score, this will hurt you a bit for the reasons I elaborated on in the earlier post. 2. You will certainly need to highlight your career progression. 3. Be sure to tie in the healthcare experience to your long-term career goals to alleviate the cynicism, but be aware that a lot of other applicants will (genuinely and otherwise) will be attempting to play the same non profit angle. Additionally, you will need to explain that you have considered options such as an MPA and MPP and why you still chose to go for an MBA. 4. Indiana will be a bit of a stretch for you. Sincerely, David Petersam DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/ Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools |
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08-29-2003, 02:08 AM
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#12 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 532
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Hi Sri and thanks for your inquiry.
We’re certainly glad we were invited to participate on this great board, give you guys a bit of free advice, and demonstrate a little bit of our expertise. There certainly are many things you can do now to position yourself for your future applications. Additionally, you don’t necessarily have to have work experience to be a successful MBA applicant, although you will have to be truly extraordinary to get into a top school right out of college. You are correct that you will want to continue to remain involved in community activities. The one big exception to this rule are those professionals (read: investment bankers) who work truly long hours. Sincerely, David Petersam DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/ Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools |
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08-29-2003, 02:12 AM
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#13 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 532
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Hi Robert and thanks for your inquiry.
The fact you graduated in 4 years won’t help much unless you graduated with significantly more than the standard 120 credit hours. Your GMAT score is probably fine for your demographic group and I assure you that even where the average GMAT scores have crept above 700, the admissions committees are still willing to give full consideration to someone as close to the mean score as you. It is not necessary that you take business classes and your GPA is fine, especially since your major was engineering. Any courses you would take should probably be at the graduate level and if you were to take too many business classes, it will diminish your need for an MBA. I would be careful on if and how you present your world travels. If they were not work related and do not contribute to your story, you will risk coming across as privileged. Finally, the ‘quality’ of the undergraduate school does not count for much -- so long as it is an accredited U.S. school. (There are a few overseas programs that the admissions committees’ country specialists are trained to look out for.) If you have a good ‘wow’ factor to discuss in your applications and you can demonstrate some good career progression at Lockheed Martin, then yes you will certainly be competitive at a top 10 school with a well-prepared application. Sincerely, David Petersam DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/ Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools |
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08-29-2003, 03:15 AM
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#15 (permalink) |
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Trying to make mom and pop proud
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 13
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Hi David,
Could you please assess my background and stats and give me some idea about my chances in top 10/20/30 Schools. (Especially - MIT, Michigan-Ann Arbor, Carnegie Mellon, Kenan-Flagler, McCombs, Kelly, Purdue, Eli Broad, Texas A&M). Undergrad Record: Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering. Decent undergrad record from Indian Standard (Can not convert percentage into GPA, I was in Top 10 in top rated branch in best engineering college in my state, one of the few students who passed each semester exam with distinction(75%+)) Experience: 9 yrs of experience in India and USA as Sr. software consultant/technical lead ( 2yrs in India + 7 Yrs in USA ). Work experience is decent, became project leader within 1.5 yrs in India. After coming to US started as Analyst/programmer and became Tech Lead within 2 Yrs, but for last quite some time I've been stuck at the same position. GMAT : 710[95th %ile] ( Q49[91st %ile], V37 (83rd %ile]). - Only one attempt Assume that I can get decent recommendations from project leaders/managers with ordinary backgrounds and I can write OK essays. But, I don't have anything exceptional to show in the field of extra-curricular activity or community service. The main concern that I have is that there are a number of Indian Software Professionals applying, all of them having a similar or better profile than mine. I know that I'll be actually competing against only those people for very few spots in each college as no college would like to have too many people with same origin and professional background. This makes it very difficult to gauge which Schools will be best fit for my profile. Another concern I have is lack of community service. Please let me know your opinion. Thanks a lot !! |
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08-29-2003, 12:08 PM
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#16 (permalink) |
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Trying to make mom and pop proud
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2
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Hi David,
first of all let me thank you for taking the time and effort to assess us. I would want to know your opinion about my chances of entering a top b-school (for various reasons I am targeting Columbia and INSEAD). I'm 27 years old, took my 5-years degree in Industrial Enginering in Barcelona (took part on a exchange program with Canadian University of Manitoba in my 4th year) and have been working for 4 years. Regarding my education, I have a strong GPA, won the 1999 thesis prize at my university (competing ca. 500 students) and have taken part in several international seminars on Operational Research since I took my degree. I fluently speak English, have a good level of German and can speak a little French. Regarding my work experience, I entered Endesa (Spanish utility, leader in Spain and in Latam region, 20+ million clients) in 1999, where I took part in a 2-years training program: I had to take 4-months stays in different departments (such as Production, Distribution, Commercial, Trading, Investor Relations and Corporate Development). After that, I spent one year as a consultant in Corporate Development. In sep-02 I entered Endesa International as a consultant in Development, and have been working in Chile and Spain (M&A operations). Besides, I coached basketball for 7 years, have spent 4 summers working for charity programs and founded 4 years ago an NGO that currently has projects in Cuba and Mexico. I am seating the GMAT in september and crossing fingers to get 700+. I can get pretty decent letters of recommendation. Now... if I have not yet managed to get you into a profound sleep [|)]... what are my chances? how do you find my profile? what would you stress about it? :o Thanks in advance, Javier |
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08-29-2003, 12:44 PM
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#17 (permalink) | |
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Within my grasp!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 489
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Quote:
 ) and may be use your service when I am apping, atleast 4 years later!! |
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08-30-2003, 11:37 AM
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#18 (permalink) | |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 532
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Hi Happy. You're certainly welcome. Feel free to email me directly or visit our website if you would like to retain our services.
Best of luck with your applications! Sincerely, David Petersam DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/ Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools Quote:
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08-30-2003, 11:54 AM
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#19 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 532
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Hi Jeet and thanks for your inquiry.
I’m not worried about your grades, but your GMAT is actually a bit low for your demographic at the very top schools. This would not be insurmountable if you had a great career progression, strong extracurricular activities, and a lot of ‘wow’ factor in your application story. However, given the highly competitive nature of your demographic and your lack of recent career progression and extracurricular involvement, your chances at a top 10 school, even with a well-prepared application and adequate admissions interview preparation, are still going to be quite low. You will be much more competitive at schools like Purdue and Michigan State. Regarding school selection, all of the top schools are going to receive a lot of applications from your demographic. You need to think carefully about your post-MBA career goals and personal preferences for items including campus culture, geography, etc when determining which schools to target. Most admissions officers honestly believe that applicants put less thought and consideration into selecting b-schools than they do selecting stock for their portfolios. This is actually quite sad when one considers the MBA investment will far exceed the investment made in 100 shares of XYZ stock. One final thought on school selection: your chances will be highest at the schools where you present the best ‘fit’ and all selective admissions committees (MBA, law, undergrad, etc.) routinely reject applicants solely on the basis that they believe there are other programs out there that would be of greater benefit to the particular applicant in question. We can certainly offer professional assistance with this first and extremely critical application step. Best of luck with your applications! Sincerely, David Petersam DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/ Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools |
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08-30-2003, 12:10 PM
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#20 (permalink) |
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TestMagic Guru-in-Training
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 532
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Hi Javier and thanks for your inquiry.
Thanks for the chuckle about lulling me to sleep. I think I needed that to help keep me going this Saturday morning! First of all, with a 700+ GMAT, you will clear the academic qualifications hurdle. You also have some good international experience for the 2 schools you have focused and this can certainly be spun to your advantage. I like the career progression and I can tell you from first-hand experience that admissions committees really **love** the rotational type work you did at Endesa. Your extracurriculars also look impressive, particularly if you have been able to maintain a decent level of involvement over the past few years. With well-prepared applications that contain outstanding reasons for why an MBA, diversity, etc as well as some good ‘wow’ factor, you would be an extremely competitive applicant at Columbia and INSEAD. I don't believe in putting pressure on individuals, but since you specifically asked, I'd focus hard on the GMAT. CBS shows rather low leniency towards applicants more than 30-40 points below the average accepted GMAT score. Other than your GMAT, you just need a good differentiating story that contains a good 'wow' factor. Your other prerequisites are pretty strong. Best of luck with your applications! Sincerely, David Petersam DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/ Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools |
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