Thanks david - I will keep you posted and what sort of services I need once I have started full swing with my app process. But thanks a ton for the free advice. Like I said, it sounds like you guys really know what you are talking about (not vapourware and sales pitch).
Thanks Thankful!Originally posted by thankful
Thanks david - I will keep you posted and what sort of services I need once I have started full swing with my app process. But thanks a ton for the free advice. Like I said, it sounds like you guys really know what you are talking about (not vapourware and sales pitch).
We'd like to think we know what we're doing.We've been around for 8 years and, collectively, we have made accept/reject/waitlist decisions on over 100,000 applications at the top b-schools! It's also one more reason that we only require a minimum one hour payment to retain our services; we're that confident our clients will voluntarily return to us for additional help if they are happy with the brutally-honest assessment of their chances.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
Hello David,
I know this may be a bit long but I have 4 short questions, 1&3 being more important to me right now. I haven't identified any specific schools, but I am aiming for one of the top 10.
I am male, 27, from Michigan.
GMAT:
4/04: 560 43Q 23V (big time nerves)
5/04: 640 45Q 33V (rushed through the last 5, no time left)
6/04: 640 44Q 34V (didn't spend enough time in the beginning and finished early)
I purposely did not choose any schools to report my scores to. I think I read on one of your earlier posts that ALL of my previous scores would be reported, not just my last three scores. This is what ETS says on their website if I recall correctly. I have never been a good standardized test taker, I think I can get another 30 points. I don't have a problem taking it again and I have spent a lot of time studying for it. I figure if took it one more time my 560 would never be sent to any school when I choose to send my report.
1) Given that GMAT and GPA account for 35-40% max and I the fact that I have a 4.0 should I take the test again? Will my GPA and transcripts mitigate any of their concerns about a lower GMAT score and my academic ability?
Obviously, I don't want to have my GMAT score be a questionable factor in my overall portfolio. My thinking is that my 150 credit hours speak more to my academic ability that any GMAT score could, but I've heard that some of the top schools simply won't consider anyone with non competitive GMAT scores. I think this is a common notion among us aspiring MBA’s since there seems to be such focus on that particular number.
Education/GPA:
4.0/4.0 Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University (formerly GMI) in Flint, MI. As you may already know, it is a 5 year program with a thesis at one's co-op employer.
2) What is the reputation of this school in the MBA admissions world?
Co-op work experience:
I worked for a small Japanese auto supplier for a year, and then went on to work at GM for the last 4 years. At GM, I rotated in 3 month assignments, which included production line supervision, skilled trades supervision, manufacturing process engineering, assembly error proofing, one overseas assignment in Germany, material handling, and internal plant operations where I wrote my thesis. My work experience at GM while a student was 2.75 years total.
Full time work experience:
I have been working for another Big 3 automaker since graduation as a Manufacturing Launch Engineer for new vehicle programs. Although my title is an "engineer", my job function isn't the typical "technical" engineering job. My true responsibilities are to execute and manage the launch. Up to now, I have done 5 different launches with varying levels of responsibility. For the last two launches, I have been the lead launch engineer for the vehicle program. I have had one promotion and good reviews, but promotions/raises have been hard to come by since the industry has been in "layoff" mode for the past 2 years.
3) I believe my work experience and nature of my current job are strong points. How do you view my overall work experience?
Other:
I am an avid skier, I have done some competitive mogul skiing in the past. I also run, but not competitively anymore. I also golf, well I like to think of myself as a golfer. I am very mechanically inclined, a self professed gearhead, I have restored a car before, doing the body work, paint, and engine repair myself. I worked to secure the donation of some cars at work to the local high school vocational education program. I am also looking at become more involved with my local chapter SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) I also work extensively on my house, doing major renovations myself.
4) I don’t know any other MBAs who do stuff like this would any of this stuff work as relevant as differentiating factors?
Hi and thanks for your inquiry.Originally posted by gmtegear
Hello David,
I know this may be a bit long but I have 4 short questions, 1&3 being more important to me right now. I haven't identified any specific schools, but I am aiming for one of the top 10.
I am male, 27, from Michigan.
GMAT:
4/04: 560 43Q 23V (big time nerves)
5/04: 640 45Q 33V (rushed through the last 5, no time left)
6/04: 640 44Q 34V (didn't spend enough time in the beginning and finished early)
I purposely did not choose any schools to report my scores to. I think I read on one of your earlier posts that ALL of my previous scores would be reported, not just my last three scores. This is what ETS says on their website if I recall correctly. I have never been a good standardized test taker, I think I can get another 30 points. I don't have a problem taking it again and I have spent a lot of time studying for it. I figure if took it one more time my 560 would never be sent to any school when I choose to send my report.
1) Given that GMAT and GPA account for 35-40% max and I the fact that I have a 4.0 should I take the test again? Will my GPA and transcripts mitigate any of their concerns about a lower GMAT score and my academic ability?
Obviously, I don't want to have my GMAT score be a questionable factor in my overall portfolio. My thinking is that my 150 credit hours speak more to my academic ability that any GMAT score could, but I've heard that some of the top schools simply won't consider anyone with non competitive GMAT scores. I think this is a common notion among us aspiring MBA’s since there seems to be such focus on that particular number.
Education/GPA:
4.0/4.0 Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University (formerly GMI) in Flint, MI. As you may already know, it is a 5 year program with a thesis at one's co-op employer.
2) What is the reputation of this school in the MBA admissions world?
Co-op work experience:
I worked for a small Japanese auto supplier for a year, and then went on to work at GM for the last 4 years. At GM, I rotated in 3 month assignments, which included production line supervision, skilled trades supervision, manufacturing process engineering, assembly error proofing, one overseas assignment in Germany, material handling, and internal plant operations where I wrote my thesis. My work experience at GM while a student was 2.75 years total.
Full time work experience:
I have been working for another Big 3 automaker since graduation as a Manufacturing Launch Engineer for new vehicle programs. Although my title is an "engineer", my job function isn't the typical "technical" engineering job. My true responsibilities are to execute and manage the launch. Up to now, I have done 5 different launches with varying levels of responsibility. For the last two launches, I have been the lead launch engineer for the vehicle program. I have had one promotion and good reviews, but promotions/raises have been hard to come by since the industry has been in "layoff" mode for the past 2 years.
3) I believe my work experience and nature of my current job are strong points. How do you view my overall work experience?
Other:
I am an avid skier, I have done some competitive mogul skiing in the past. I also run, but not competitively anymore. I also golf, well I like to think of myself as a golfer. I am very mechanically inclined, a self professed gearhead, I have restored a car before, doing the body work, paint, and engine repair myself. I worked to secure the donation of some cars at work to the local high school vocational education program. I am also looking at become more involved with my local chapter SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) I also work extensively on my house, doing major renovations myself.
4) I don’t know any other MBAs who do stuff like this would any of this stuff work as relevant as differentiating factors?
With a 4.0 and 640 GMAT, you can be competitive at the top schools with well-prepared applications. Even HBS and Stanford accept many applicants with GMAT scores south of 600 each year. GMI has placed several alumni into top b-schools, so I wouldn't worry about the school's reputation. From a quick skimming of your post, it appears your work experience and outside interests can be spun to make you competitive at the top schools.
If you would like to discuss your issues in far greater detail than I can provide here, don't hesitate to contact me directly to set up an initial consultation with one of our consultants. Our consultants can cover a lot of material in one hour and many of them are full time, meaning they literally spend their full time helping applicants while yours truly spends his full time running the administrative end of the company.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
David,
I took my GMAT just a couple days ago, and wanted to start the application prep process. I'm planning for top 10 US schools, but want to make sure I'm not out of my mind. would you mind taking a look and telling me if I've got a legit shot, and/or if there's anything I can do to make myself a better candidate for Fall 2005.
As I mentioned, I will be applying to top 10 US schools (harvard, upenn, n'western, etc) in this fall for admission Fall 2005.
I see myself as having 2 hurdles. First off, I am of Indian descent, so I think that's one of the aspects that will hurt my application (even though I was born in the US). Secondly, I will be sending my applications in with barely over a year of experience, and, assuming I get in, would enter with 2 years of experience. I know the minimum for all these places is 2, but I wanted to see what you all think in terms of how much its going to hurt me.
with respect to everything else, I am a 21 yr old male, graduated high school ranked 1/466 at age of 17, graduated from Arizona State University honors college in 3 years ranked 1/15278 in Business-Information Systems (basically lifetime 4.00).
I have worked for Honeywell Inc. for about a year now, but its not a company where you shoot up the career ladder. I am working currently as a business analyst/project manager for the IT/Finance functions. I've so far worked on 3 large projects of note: reducing IT variable infrastructure spend by $4.1 Million, releasing a global application by leading a global team of resources before schedule and under budget, and being a member of a group designated to determine Honeywell IT's strategic focus for the next 5 years as it relates to customer engagement and value creation. I also have my Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.
As far as community involvement, I have volunteered in the past at my local library, at the ER in my local hospital (I live in Phoenix, AZ by the way), and led a club called PUD (Phoenix Union Devils), which speaks to inner-city youths about the benefits of going to college and why it pays off. In the next few weeks I will begin volunteer work at a local elementary school.
In terms of extracurriculars, I was the #1 rated under 18 table tennis player in Arizona back in the day, if that matters at all.
That's pretty much it. Like I said, I think its the race and experience that I think will hurt me, but how much??? What do you all think would happen if a switched jobs to a consulting firm and waited a year? would that help my cause?
Of course, if you see any other holes, please let me know. I figure, I'm in the business of risk management, I need to take as much risk out of the application as possible! Thanks for reading this by the way, have a nice day!
Hi and thanks for your inquiry.Originally posted by playstation2
David,
I took my GMAT just a couple days ago, and wanted to start the application prep process. I'm planning for top 10 US schools, but want to make sure I'm not out of my mind. would you mind taking a look and telling me if I've got a legit shot, and/or if there's anything I can do to make myself a better candidate for Fall 2005.
As I mentioned, I will be applying to top 10 US schools (harvard, upenn, n'western, etc) in this fall for admission Fall 2005.
I see myself as having 2 hurdles. First off, I am of Indian descent, so I think that's one of the aspects that will hurt my application (even though I was born in the US). Secondly, I will be sending my applications in with barely over a year of experience, and, assuming I get in, would enter with 2 years of experience. I know the minimum for all these places is 2, but I wanted to see what you all think in terms of how much its going to hurt me.
with respect to everything else, I am a 21 yr old male, graduated high school ranked 1/466 at age of 17, graduated from Arizona State University honors college in 3 years ranked 1/15278 in Business-Information Systems (basically lifetime 4.00).
I have worked for Honeywell Inc. for about a year now, but its not a company where you shoot up the career ladder. I am working currently as a business analyst/project manager for the IT/Finance functions. I've so far worked on 3 large projects of note: reducing IT variable infrastructure spend by $4.1 Million, releasing a global application by leading a global team of resources before schedule and under budget, and being a member of a group designated to determine Honeywell IT's strategic focus for the next 5 years as it relates to customer engagement and value creation. I also have my Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.
As far as community involvement, I have volunteered in the past at my local library, at the ER in my local hospital (I live in Phoenix, AZ by the way), and led a club called PUD (Phoenix Union Devils), which speaks to inner-city youths about the benefits of going to college and why it pays off. In the next few weeks I will begin volunteer work at a local elementary school.
In terms of extracurriculars, I was the #1 rated under 18 table tennis player in Arizona back in the day, if that matters at all.
That's pretty much it. Like I said, I think its the race and experience that I think will hurt me, but how much??? What do you all think would happen if a switched jobs to a consulting firm and waited a year? would that help my cause?
Of course, if you see any other holes, please let me know. I figure, I'm in the business of risk management, I need to take as much risk out of the application as possible! Thanks for reading this by the way, have a nice day!
Allow me to share my thoughts:
You are a domestic applicant, so your applicant pool is not as competitive as you seem to believe.
Your grades are super. With a GMAT that’s even close to the mean of an admitted applicant, no one will dare doubt your academic abilities.
There is no minimum 2 year work experience requirement. I’m hearing this a lot recently and I’ve love to find the source of this ‘urban legend’. Last summer, we interviewed an admissions officer from HBS. We learned that 5% of their incoming class came directly from undergraduate. It's just not *that* unusual to see applicants with less than 2 years of work experience gain admission to top 10 b-schools.
Yes, most applicants will need at least 2 years of work experience to demonstrate adequate career progression and leadership and teamwork skills, but it is not accurate to say 2 years is a minimum at the top business schools.
Your actual level of job responsibilities is far more important than any job title promotions you may receive. If you are being challenged at Honeywell and the experience is helping you get closer to your post-MBA career goals, then stay put. Don’t worry about not being able to “shoot up the career ladder”. Again, there seems to be an urban legend that most successful applicants to the top schools made EVP by the age of 26. This is wrong. If you are doing that well at work, you wouldn't need an MBA.
Your extracurriculars look OK. I’m not sure how much you will get out of the table tennis accomplishment though.
See my earlier comments about Honeywell. You don’t want job discontinuity to become an admissions concern, but if you want to go into consulting after b-school, gaining a year or two of good consulting experience now can certainly be an attractive option.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
David,
My apologies for not including the GMAT score. I took it for the first time this past saturday and received the following:
Q:49 (90 percentile)
V:42 (96 percentile)
T:740 (98 percentile)
thanks very much for your response, I am happy to know that there is at least a chance (although maybe not a strong chance) that I can get in for Fall 2005. I will try my best to be successful, do you have any other words of advice for me?
Hi and thanks for your follow-up inquiry.Originally posted by playstation2
David,
My apologies for not including the GMAT score. I took it for the first time this past saturday and received the following:
Q:49 (90 percentile)
V:42 (96 percentile)
T:740 (98 percentile)
thanks very much for your response, I am happy to know that there is at least a chance (although maybe not a strong chance) that I can get in for Fall 2005. I will try my best to be successful, do you have any other words of advice for me?
No one will question your academic abilities with that GPA and GMAT combination. Your GMAT and GPA will account for about 35% to 40% of the admissions decision at the top schools.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
hi david,
below is my case. would really appreciate if you can help me.
Background: I am from 27 year old male from India and have completed my bachelors in Civil Engineering (1st class) and masters in Computer Engineering (GPA 3.33) in USA.
GMAT: I have taken GMAT twice -- 1st time: 650 [85%] Q50[95%] V27[42%] ; 2nd time: 670 [89%] Q49[90%] V31[62%].
Work Experience: I have been working with Cisco Systems in San Jose, California for 3.5 years as a software engineer. I have few times with customers and some other important. I have helped my father in the past in his business for 4 years while I was doing my engineering.
Extra: I have been teaching in a school for couple of years now voluntarily. Also, I am on the board of directors of a Mid-Sized Non-Profit (more than 25 years old) for almost two years. Played Table-tennis at state level in India and won the company tournament this year and have been runner’s up in previous tournaments.
Questions:
a) What are my chances at top 10 and top 20 B-schools? I am more interested in pursuing a full-time MBA rather than a part-time, and am open to relocating.
b) Should I give GMAT again?
c) In which colleges do I stand a better chance than others?
d) Does the fact that my undergraduate and graduate degrees are in different fields affect my application negatively?
thanks,
-want_todo_mba
Hi David, Thanks for the great service you are providing on this forum
I am yet to sit for my GMAT, however wanted your assessment based on my profile as to what GMAT score would I really need for a realistic chance to a Tier-1 B-school in the US.
Academic: 29 yr old, Indian Chartered Accountant with Merit Rank(27/50000) however my CA it is not recognised in the US. My College acads were weak (60%). However, National Honors in GE's FMP Finance program
Work Experience: 7year workexp with GE in Finance. Global rotations across US, India and currently in China. Graduated with top-honors from GE's FMP and EFLP leadership programs. Rose to Vice President Finance 2 years ago and currently Controller for Asia Pacific of $1.5Bn division of GE. Have recieved several top Management Awards for excellence. Handle a team of 15 people.
Extra Curriculars: I started a Export unit in my college days along with studies that has a turnover of $1.5MM. I was actively involved with it till I was in India. However over the last 4 yrs have been moving globally and handed over to my family. I actively worked as the reader & writer to Blind students, who have not learnt Braille.
Sponsorship: GE would probably agree to take me back after Graduation, I could work on that if it helps my case. please advice.
Considering my weak Graduation scores, and average Extra curriculars how can I make up in GMAT if at all.
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