Evaluation required

[pravsr]

Hi GMATBong,

Please evaluate my profile.

Male, 24 yrs
Indian Citizen
Undergrad – Electronics Engineering, India
Diplôme de langue Française, A proficient level French course (have
pursued it for 4 years)
GPA – 3.0/4.0 with 83% in the last semester.

GMAT 2nd Attempt:
650 (82%)
48Q
31V

Experience – 3 years (till Fall '08) by the time I start MBA
Working as a "Quality Negotiator" in the semiconductors industry. Though I am called "Engineer" by title, my role is to talk to people and negotiate for the right quality of semiconductor chips that our company sources. I have to carry out detailed analyses of these chips using technical tools and I have to email/call people from the vendor company and talk/negotiate about the quality of the chip. If they fail to provide the desired quality, I should initiate necessary action.

Extra Curricular:
I have a "proficient" level degree in French from the Alliance Française de Paris.
I have working knowledge of German.
I can speak both these languages fluently.

I have been working in an NGO as the Human Resources person since the past 2 years. This role is about talking to new volunteers, staffing them to volunteering projects and managing them. I am called "Volunteer Relationship Manager". I manage around 100 volunteers on a regular basis.

Other:
I am basically leveraging on my communication skills and want to project my talking and negotiating skills as my pluses.

Target Schools:
University of Southern California, Marshall.
University of Texas at Austin.
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Texas A&M.

Career Goal:
To get into semiconductor marketing. I have seen and known people from marketing in the semiconductor industry and I know what a challenging task it is to convince people like me who buy their chips. I love this job and this is what I want to do after my MBA.

GMATBong, can you please comment on how foreign languages and my volunteering experience can help me? Please evaluate my chances of getting into schools I have mentioned.

Thanks a ton!!

[Ancalagon The Black]

How did you covert your Indian percentage to a US GPA?

83% should be 4.0. In fact, scores above first class are taken as 3.0 - 4.0 by US schools...

[pravsr]

It is 83% in the last semester. The overall is around 75% which translated to 3 on 4.

[Ancalagon The Black]

You are wrong. 75% in Indian grades are not 3.0 on 4.0. Never attempt to convert your percentage into GPA at all.

You must be having first class division no? At what percentage does your institute give first class. The cut off for first class is generally taken highly. However, for engineering the marks are always higher than arts or science. Hence, UC Berkeley says that they like to see around 60%+ from non engineering students and 70%+ from engineering students...

WES says that first class is 4.0.

[GMATbong]

Don't convert your GPA. at 75%, most schools will consider it to be in the 3.5 range but again, DO NOT CONVERT and just state your % is good enough for them.

As for your WE and your target school, you probably still is a little low on your verbal side.

My overall feeling is you should retake GMAT and NOT applying this year.

You are in a no mans land since at those lower rank schools, ExtraCurr is less important than your GPA/Scores and Diversity. In the higher rank schools where everyone got 3.5+ and 700+ GMAT and excellent WE, your ExtraCurr will be very unique compare to other Indian IT folks.

[pravsr]

Hi GMATBong,

Thanks for your reply. This is my second attempt at the GMAT. I don't think I can spend another year in my job before applying. I am not interested in getting into top programs. I am looking at something like 25-50 ranked schools.

Can you suggest me some schools which can accept me at 650/3 yeas of exp? An MS in marketing is fine too with me since I am very particular about getting into marketing.

After working for 3 years in the semicon industry, all I want is to land in a marketing job in a semicon/high tech/innovative products industry where I can put to use my multilingual and people oriented skills. I tried my hands at it, but everybody seems to be asking for an MBA or a relevant course in marketing.

Thanks,
Prav

[GMATbong]

If you are looking at 25-50 ranked school then you should be looking for local schools that target your specific industry or semicon.

Be advised that due to your non US citizen or PR status, you are unlikely to get a marketing tech job in US coming out of a top 25-50 or local schools.

Your best bet with 5-20% certainty of getting a marketing job will be heading to silicon valley schools. It could be San Jose State U or Santa Clara U where semicon. and start ups do their hiring. Also be advised even if you do get a job in marketing, you will make much less than the top 5 schools - probably in the range of 50K-70K.

My view is that once you came out in 2 years, you will probably regret your decision so pick your path carefully.

[direstraits]

i agrree with gmatong that marketing is tough for int students from schools beyond top schools. think you have to research on business week etc which schools have good plavcement in mkt especially in tech areas. people do land jobs but its getting tougher for students without work authorization. however, if u have a skill the company needs they will sponser. if just marketing is what you are keen on then USC that you have shortlisted is good. also look at Kelly indiana Univ. its mkt reputation is excellent. with 650 think u have an outside chance in these two schools though certainly not certain.

[pravsr]

Hi GMATBong/Direstraits,

Thanks for your advice. I applied to good programs in California (close to the Silicon Valley) and got admissions from UCSD (Rady School) and GSM UC Davis ($12K schol).

Thanks again!
Pravsr