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figuringout · 2009 May 15th, 09:47 AM

Hello,

Firstly I've found this to be the perfect (and one of the rare) places to discuss this topic. So thanks to all!

Ok so here goes.

I'm a student from India. My profile is
Age : 23
Undergrad: BS Computer Science (not from the IITs, but decently high ranked program. Top 20% of class)
Postgrad: MBA (one of the top 3 IIMs in the country. Top 10 in graduating class and excellent grades. Courses in economics, statistics and finance with good grades)
Work Experience : None. But 2/3 internships at top level firms IT firms (think Oracle, Microsoft ...) and at an investment bank
Research: None (Aim to write a term paper with a professor in the coming few weeks)
GMAT:760
GRE: 1490 (Quant 800 + VA: 690)
LORs: I dont have any research. I can however convince three professors at IIM to write me strong LORs. But I'm not sure if they are "connected".

My Plan:
I'm interested in applying to PhD programs at the really top schools in areas like entrepreneurship, strategy, innovation and ventuer capital. Basically something to do with strategy and computer science. My ideal program would be Sloan's Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship program or a similar program at Stanford GSB. I'm also thinking of applying to the top 2/3 european programmes like INSEAD and LSB because I see some professors working in this area. I'm also looking at CMU's Heinz school since they have a technology + public policy course.

So the schools I'm looking at, to summarize, include Sloan, HBS, GSB Stanford, CMU Heinz, INSEAD, LSB - maybe even NYU and Booth! I need to work on this list

What I need to know:
1. Am I dreaming? Do I really have any chance?
2. Should I report both my GRE and my GMAT?
3. What is the consensus on the programs at INSEAD and LSB? Do they match up to the top US schools?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

NewBoston · 2009 May 15th, 03:13 PM

Technology and entrepreneurship is a rather new addition to pretty much all business schools, so the traditional metrics may not be of the same value when determining how well you stack up against other applicants. Since you already know the schools where they have such programs, you may want to check the CVs of current students. One school not on your list but also good is the University of Washington Foster School of Business. They have exactly that program here and strong industry connections to the biggest names in technology.

My experience is that successful MIT and Stanford GSB Business PhD applicants have perhaps the top profiles in the world AND the top faculty writing LORs. However, I only looked at the Finance PhDs, so things may be radically different for non-Finance programs.

Bloomsbury · 2009 May 15th, 05:03 PM

You have a great GMAT. However I would advise you not to target only top 10 schools, it can be risky.
LBS and INSEAD are at least as selective as top US business schools, because most of the best European candidates apply there.

figuringout · 2009 May 19th, 12:42 PM

And is it possible to report both the GRE and GMAT?
I'd also like opinions on these programs
- Haas / Berkley IS
- Ross

Another thing I wanted to ask was whether contacting profs via email is any good? Do they respond? Are you expected to mention prof names in your letter of motivation?

Ancalagon The Black · 2009 May 21st, 03:42 PM

Which university did you graduate from? Which IIM? A,B or C? IIM professors don't really do top level research as compared to faculty in the US b-schools. But, IIM is a strong brand. I have seen that successful applicants to business schools in the USA from Indian MBAs have almost always attended the IIMs. So, that is fine.

Your GRE and GMAT is excellent and will stand you past the cutoffs anywhere. Your program choices are also very good. I'd say you have a good chance at Heinz. Booth doesn't really have a similar program such as your are searching for and the Stern IS program may not be quite what you are looking for. Can I point you towards the Georgia State IS program. Its a top program in IS and maybe a good safety for you. I second NewBoston's idea of applying to Foster. They are very good. Maybe you can take a look at Tepper as well. Sloan, Stanford and the other top 10 are always iffy for almost anyone without a publication in Science. :P

How about doing some good quantitative research with an IIM professor and then quickly sending it in to an IEEE/ACM conference this year just in time for admission. I assume that you are applying for the Fall 2010 cycle.

moomber123 · 2009 June 21st, 01:06 PM

Your profile is excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend top programs to you. But you should know that PhD admissions is not a number game. Even perfect score can not make any guarantee. It's the overall package, the assessed chance of academic success, and most importantly, match with faculty research interests that play the crucial factors for students with decent profiles. Top schools routinely admit lower score (like a GMAT 730 over a GMAT 780) if the applicant has background, experience, or demonstrated expertise in area that matches with faculty research interests. It is hard to artificially "create" that kind of a match. They've seen pretty much all the tricks in the book, but if you have a particular area of strength, make sure you leverage it fully.

Given your CS background, I would recommend these top schools:
MIT, CMU, (Heinz is good too, but I am not sure if you can apply to both at the same time. And Heinz is more known for IS type of research, so be aware of the difference in research focus), Stanford (not business school, apply for the strategy program in the "management science" department in engineering school. There is no practical difference in your future placement in business school. The reason why their strategy group is in engineering school is mostly historical. They have super stars on board.),

Top departments you should try, but not necessarily for a CS/Technoloyg management focus: Wharton, Harvard, Michigan, Duke, Toronto, NYU

Great/Decent departments you should definitely include (in case you are unlucky to be overlooked by all the top departments): Illinois, Penn State, UT Austin, Minnestoa, etc.

best of luck!

2009 May 15th, 09:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
figuringout I JUST got here. Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 16	New Member from India : Profile evaluation and school choices Hello, Firstly I've found this to be the perfect (and one of the rare) places to discuss this topic. So thanks to all! Ok so here goes. I'm a student from India. My profile is Age : 23 Undergrad: BS Computer Science (not from the IITs, but decently high ranked program. Top 20% of class) Postgrad: MBA (one of the top 3 IIMs in the country. Top 10 in graduating class and excellent grades. Courses in economics, statistics and finance with good grades) Work Experience : None. But 2/3 internships at top level firms IT firms (think Oracle, Microsoft ...) and at an investment bank Research: None (Aim to write a term paper with a professor in the coming few weeks) GMAT:760 GRE: 1490 (Quant 800 + VA: 690) LORs: I dont have any research. I can however convince three professors at IIM to write me strong LORs. But I'm not sure if they are "connected". My Plan: I'm interested in applying to PhD programs at the really top schools in areas like entrepreneurship, strategy, innovation and ventuer capital. Basically something to do with strategy and computer science. My ideal program would be Sloan's Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship program or a similar program at Stanford GSB. I'm also thinking of applying to the top 2/3 european programmes like INSEAD and LSB because I see some professors working in this area. I'm also looking at CMU's Heinz school since they have a technology + public policy course. So the schools I'm looking at, to summarize, include Sloan, HBS, GSB Stanford, CMU Heinz, INSEAD, LSB - maybe even NYU and Booth! I need to work on this list What I need to know: 1. Am I dreaming? Do I really have any chance? 2. Should I report both my GRE and my GMAT? 3. What is the consensus on the programs at INSEAD and LSB? Do they match up to the top US schools? Thanks in advance! Cheers,

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2009 May 15th, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
NewBoston Dynamic Optimizer Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 104	Technology and entrepreneurship is a rather new addition to pretty much all business schools, so the traditional metrics may not be of the same value when determining how well you stack up against other applicants. Since you already know the schools where they have such programs, you may want to check the CVs of current students. One school not on your list but also good is the University of Washington Foster School of Business. They have exactly that program here and strong industry connections to the biggest names in technology. My experience is that successful MIT and Stanford GSB Business PhD applicants have perhaps the top profiles in the world AND the top faculty writing LORs. However, I only looked at the Finance PhDs, so things may be radically different for non-Finance programs.

2009 May 15th, 05:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bloomsbury Within my grasp! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 130	You have a great GMAT. However I would advise you not to target only top 10 schools, it can be risky. LBS and INSEAD are at least as selective as top US business schools, because most of the best European candidates apply there.

2009 May 19th, 12:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
figuringout I JUST got here. Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 16	And is it possible to report both the GRE and GMAT? I'd also like opinions on these programs - Haas / Berkley IS - Ross Another thing I wanted to ask was whether contacting profs via email is any good? Do they respond? Are you expected to mention prof names in your letter of motivation?

2009 May 21st, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ancalagon The Black TestMagic Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 1,156	Which university did you graduate from? Which IIM? A,B or C? IIM professors don't really do top level research as compared to faculty in the US b-schools. But, IIM is a strong brand. I have seen that successful applicants to business schools in the USA from Indian MBAs have almost always attended the IIMs. So, that is fine. Your GRE and GMAT is excellent and will stand you past the cutoffs anywhere. Your program choices are also very good. I'd say you have a good chance at Heinz. Booth doesn't really have a similar program such as your are searching for and the Stern IS program may not be quite what you are looking for. Can I point you towards the Georgia State IS program. Its a top program in IS and maybe a good safety for you. I second NewBoston's idea of applying to Foster. They are very good. Maybe you can take a look at Tepper as well. Sloan, Stanford and the other top 10 are always iffy for almost anyone without a publication in Science. :P How about doing some good quantitative research with an IIM professor and then quickly sending it in to an IEEE/ACM conference this year just in time for admission. I assume that you are applying for the Fall 2010 cycle.

2009 June 21st, 01:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
moomber123 Eager! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 58	Your profile is excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend top programs to you. But you should know that PhD admissions is not a number game. Even perfect score can not make any guarantee. It's the overall package, the assessed chance of academic success, and most importantly, match with faculty research interests that play the crucial factors for students with decent profiles. Top schools routinely admit lower score (like a GMAT 730 over a GMAT 780) if the applicant has background, experience, or demonstrated expertise in area that matches with faculty research interests. It is hard to artificially "create" that kind of a match. They've seen pretty much all the tricks in the book, but if you have a particular area of strength, make sure you leverage it fully. Given your CS background, I would recommend these top schools: MIT, CMU, (Heinz is good too, but I am not sure if you can apply to both at the same time. And Heinz is more known for IS type of research, so be aware of the difference in research focus), Stanford (not business school, apply for the strategy program in the "management science" department in engineering school. There is no practical difference in your future placement in business school. The reason why their strategy group is in engineering school is mostly historical. They have super stars on board.), Top departments you should try, but not necessarily for a CS/Technoloyg management focus: Wharton, Harvard, Michigan, Duke, Toronto, NYU Great/Decent departments you should definitely include (in case you are unlucky to be overlooked by all the top departments): Illinois, Penn State, UT Austin, Minnestoa, etc. best of luck!

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