Jump to content
Urch Forums

AdmissionsConsultants

2nd Level
  • Posts

    694
  • Joined

  • Days Won

    3

AdmissionsConsultants last won the day on January 17 2005

AdmissionsConsultants had the most liked content!

Converted

  • My Tests
    No

AdmissionsConsultants's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/14)

24

Reputation

  1. Profile Evaluation, please! Hi David, Hi Rahul and thanks for your inquiry. Please cast your eye over my profile. GPA - approx 3.0 in Business Mgmt from a top UK university. Poor-ish grade, but I spent a lot of time on non-academic activities (sports, committees, clubs) and had to work part-time to earn money for living expenses as I wasn't eligible for govt. aid. GMAT - 720 Work Exp - 3.5 years in Corporate Banking at Barclays in London, working with SMEs - 2 decent promotions in that time. Last role was made obsolete in May 2009 so I took redundancy and went to travel and gain new experiences. This has included a 3 month stint at an NGO in India, 3 month internship with a start up for-profit social enterprise in Singapore. I have also spent approx 3 months doing research on a couple of ideas for a new business. I have returned to the UK and just completed a certificate in Investment to 'tie up' my financial knowledge - so I can focus on other aspects that I know little about during the MBA. Other info: Speak 3 languages and basic grasp of 3 more. Indian born UK citizen. Grew up in India, Singapore and UK. Objective from MBA - I want to pursue entrepreneurship. I want an MBA to give me a broad commercial understanding because an entrepreneur needs to be something of a jack-of-all-trades. I am also looking for credibility with potential future sources of funding. I am particularly interested in Tuck - I feel I would fit in well with the remote location and close-knit community feel they are promoting. Do you feel that my story is coherent, given the above facts? Will my time unemployed hurt me? Many thanks for any guidance you can provide! Your welcome! It appears you will have some interesting topics for your personal statement. Being unemployed for a period of time does not need to be a hurdle. The admissions committees will be interested in seeing if you did anything to enhance you profile during that time so make sure you address those aspects in your personal statement. Your GMAT score is strong so it should help mitigate the lower GPA. Regards, Rahul Best of luck with your applications! David Petersam President feedback/advice Hi David, Hi Shravan and thanks for the inquiry, Please guide me on how i can make it to the top universities. I have just graduated 6 months back. I have taken the Gmat and obtained a score of 700. However i plan to work for atleast another 18 months before i apply to any university. I am interested in taking up an MBA in finance. I will anything possible in the remaining time to add to my profile to boost my chances for acceptance into the world's best. I have completed my Engineering in Mechanical and am presently working in a world leading farm equipment company from the past 6 months. In graduation i obtained a percentage of 82 (They dont have GPA in our University in India). My undergrad score was 92% and school was 94%. Extra curriculars: I am a singer in a band, was part of a non profit organization into keeping a clean environment, won lots of awards in drawing/painting. What would be my best course of action henceforth to improve my profile and hence better my chances? Top MBA programs are generally looking for applicants with 3-5 years of work experience with some leadership responsibilities. But exceptions are made when there is something in the profile that is unique. You may want to consider spending more time in your career before applying and expanding your involvement in outside organizations. While your GMAT score is good, an increase would make you more competitive at the top institutions so you may want to consider re-taking it. Thanks in advance! You are welcome! Regards shravan Best of luck with your applications! David Petersam President Profile Eval (thanks in advance) Hi David, Hi Matt and thank you for your inquiry, Please review my profile. GPA - 3.84 from a state school, BS in forestry. I am unsure whether the uniqueness of my degree going into a MBA program helps or hinders. GMAT - I have been getting between 690 and 730 on practice tests, taking it in April. Work Exp - 2 years working as a wildland firefighter for the us forest service. the organization is basicallly structured like the military, so i gained a great deal of leadership experience under very stressful situations. In that position, I also became accustomed to working 16 hour days, 21 days in a row. For the past 1.5 years, I have been working for an environmental consulting firm overseeing numerous logging projects and developing environmental management plans. The position has entailed working with many different government and private entities, and lots of oversight. Other info: I am very active outdoors, and have traveled a lot, but not for work. I am not a part of any volunteer organizations. Should I join one soon? I was in many different programs back in college, but that was four years ago now. Objective from MBA - I want to get into clean tech, and thus would be pursuing McCombs, Haas and Stanford, the latter two being very difficult to get into. I feel the uniqueness of my career path and degree could help me come admissions time, especially if i am able to come up with some interesting personal essays. However, given my past, is it possible that I might not be of the necessary caliber, given my program choices? Your length of work experience at the environmental consulting firm may be a hurdle but a well thought out personal statement and a strong GMAT may give you the competitive edge you will need for these programs. Spend some time thinking about how the degree is going to help you achieve your career goals and whether working a few more years would be helpful in defining your plan. Thanks, Matt Best of luck with your applications! David Petersam President Hi David, Hi and thank you for your inquiry, Need a frank and blunt opinion. A little quick too. I am based in US(original from India) since last 4 years and working full time in IT. Total work exp is around 5 ½ yrs with gpa of 3.6. Scored too bad in gmat just 470. I have gone through the forum and majority opinion is too take the gmat again. Now the scenario is m approaching all the deadlines(dont want to push the mba to next yr) and i don’t think i would be able to make much difference in score within month’s time. M based on east coast and was planning rutgers,smeal n so on. Which i think due to the score may be out of the question now. But keeping in mind the score n gpa,will appreciate if you can tell me some decent programs on the east coast or any were with a chance of acceptance. Will still apply for Rutgers anyway what are the chances? Some of the programs i came across are: 1) One year :- LeBow College of Business 2) Zicklin School Of business 3) Fordham Graduate School of Business Please be frank enough, i know with this score i might not get in at all any were. But please provide some info say if i want to go ahead with these score how good are the chances and which programs. Business school admissions committees review all components of an application when making an admissions decision. Your GMAT score is a hurdle but depending on the other aspects of your application, you may have something the committee is looking for. It is important to look for schools that are a good fit so you will get the most out of the program. If you can raise the GMAT score, you will increase your chances of acceptance. Best of luck with your applications! David Petersam President How important is prestige of other graduate degree in top mba admissions? Dear AdminConsultant Hi and thanks for your inquiry, Several years from now I hope to attend a top 10 MBA program. In the meantime I'm planning to get a master's degree in my discipline (engineering) while working full time. Here's the situation a) pursue masters at the local university which is tier 2/3, ranked #33 for my discipline. (Please note that my undergrad is from a leading public school and ranked #5/6 for my discipline) b) pursue masters via distance learning at more prestigious school. I'm concerned about the impact of getting a masters from lower ranked school would have on my chance of admission at top MBAs (Northwestern, Dartmouth, Harvard). I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks. MBA admissions committees are looking at an applicant’s career progression and leadership qualities. So the question would be which program is going to provide you with more opportunity for advancement in your current career. The committees will be looking more at why you pursued the graduate degree and how it enhanced your career rather than the school you attended. Of course, performing well in a rigorous curriculum will be a reflection on your academic potential at a top b-school. The other aspects of your application, UGPA, GMAT score etc. are also important components of the admissions review. Best of luck with your applications! David Petersam President Hey David, Hi Parani and thanks for your inquiry: I am Parani from India. My UG : B.Tech CSE Work Experience: 2.5 yrs in a Top IT firm Accomplishment : Became a Team lead within short span and leading a team of 4 . Mentored many Trainees on Technology we use in our project. Completed implementation of automated tool. GMAT score : 720 GPA : 2.8 ExtraCurricular Activities : Managing accounts for my Family business . Active member of my college NSS(NAtional Service Scheme) and involved in many NSS activities . Alumni coordinator of my college for the city I am residing. Can you please suggest me on the following queries: 1) Will my low GPA restrict me from applying for top colleges? This will be a hurdle for admissions to the top universities however your GMAT is competitive. 2) Is my work experience sufficient for Admission into Top colleges? Most top b-schools are looking for 3-5 years of work experience in their applicants unless there is something unique in the applicant’s profile that would bring diversity to the class. The more work experience you have will help mitigate the low GPA. 3) Do you think Incase I apply for IIMs, NUS,Nanyang,INSEAD(Singapore) ,I have a competitive profile? These are competitive programs so it will be important for you to present a well thought out reason for pursing an MBA at this point in your career and what aspect of your profile makes you different from the rest of the applicants. Thanks, Parani Best of luck with your applications! David Petersam President
  2. Hello and thanks for your inquiry! Where should I be aiming? School selection is the first and one of the most important steps in maximizing your chances of MBA admissions success. You are more likely to be admitted to those schools which are good matches for your background, interests, learning style and personal and career goals. You should begin by gathering information on various schools and identify those that are a fit. I've only just begun thinking about applying for an MBA program and I could use some suggestions of where I should (realistically) be looking: GMAT: Scoring between 710 and 750 on practice tests. I think I can get it higher if I study a bit longer. An actual score within this range will strengthen your application. Job Experience: 2.5 years a Tech VC and 1 before that at a commercial bank. Additional time at your job with increasing responsibilities would be beneficial. Undergrad GPA: 3.0 from Smith College. Degree in Pol Sci. (Bad grades are from my first two years as a pre-med in Physics/Chem/Calc) It will be important to explain the reason for the performance during those two years. Racial Stats: Korean American Female 26 I've taken a couple of classes at Harvard Extension in an attempt to offset my undergrad GPA (Financial accounting, Economics) and am averaging a 3.8 or so (semester's not over so I'm not sure.) I'd like to stay on the east coast but am willing to travel if I'd have a chance at better schools away from NY/New England. Help? Best of luck with your applications. David Petersam President
  3. Need help !! Hello David, Hi and thanks for your inquiry. I have been following this thread for the past 4 years and i just cant believe that your still giving valuable advice for free .Finally,its my turn to ask ,now that i am in a position to apply.Kindly do evaluate my profile. Gmat first attempt : 620 AWA 4.5 Gmat 2nd attempt : 760 AWA 4.5 ( awa was a shock since i wrote long and structured, i believe this might be a pull down) Undergraduate CPI : 7.82/10 in Comp Sc and Engg from an NIT . My demographic is India(From the Indian IT Industry:I understand that it is very competitive). I have been 3 years in the IT Development in a PSU(Fortune 500 PSU - Oil Sector) ,though the promotions are fixed so i dont have that to show but i have multiple certifications and many projects with increasing responsibility to show.By the time i enter i will have 4 years of experience and a project management certification. You need to highlight in your personal statement your strengths and what you would bring to the classroom. A well thought out career strategy will also be helpful. In the profile info which is sent to universities i have sent 2.9 GPA since i did not know any way to convert the CPI to GPA. In extracurricular activities, i have represented my collg in chess tournaments.I have community service but without any certificates to stand as a proof. If Consulting be the specialization that i need to get into, which collgs would u suggest ? MIT Sloan Chicago Columbia INSEAD Kelloggs Duke Darden how do these sound ? Can the last two bolded options be considered a safe bet or they too are on the higher league of B schools ? These are all competitive programs and it will be important all components of your applications reflect your strengths and mitigate any weaknesses. Considering the low awa score and a repeated attempt at gmat would we be eliminating the top 10 B Schools ?? Also will they penalize on the point that in the profile info sent in the gmat score the GPA was mentioned as 2.9 ?? How do i convert from 7.82 /10 to GPA system ? There are several organizations listed on the web that provide services to convert the CPI to a comparable GPA. Your current 2.9 may make it difficult for the schools you have listed so it is important that the conversion is accurate. I need a rock solid application in other areas and a good plea of scholarship ,which is needed badly in my case.How much can your services count in securing me a good collg with a good scholarship? How can i access your services? Thank you so much in advance Your welcome! Regards Dragonx Best of luck with your applications. David Petersam President
  4. Baje2007 Good night, Hi and thanks for your inquiry, I would like your assistance with my chances of getting into the Full time MBA program at my targeted schools. Profile: Female / Age: 25 / Afro Caribbean / Black GMAT 680 (Q:48, V:35, AWA: 5.5) Bsc Management Information Systems, Florida Institute of Technology GPA: 3.89 Work Experience: 3 years as a Analyst/Programmer Only social work I do is through a club in my organization. The group does charity work about 4 times a year as well as fundraisers to assist local schools and or charities. Your academic record is strong. You may want to spend some time strengthening your outside activities and developing a strong position as to what you could contribute to the school. Targeted Schools: Carnegie Mellon Northwestern University University of Southern California University of Texas at Austin Vanderbilt University Boston University Emory University Georgia Institute of Technology Rice University Southern Methodist University Texas A&M University University of Maryland University of Rochester Best of luck with your applications. David Petersam President raq Profile eval please Hi David, Hi and thanks for your inquiry, it's amazing that you answer all these questions for profile evaluation! I would like to ask you to evaluate mine... I am Polish citizen, 29 yrs old. I work in Poland. Experience - 5 yrs in management consulting (including recent 4 yrs in E&Y Business Advisory) Graduated from Warsaw School of Economics (two Master degrees obtained in 2005 and 2006) Not much international experience - only a few months project in Germany (mobility programme from E&Y) but I travel a lot (backpack travels to Asia, Cuba and so on) GMAT - 710, (V41, Q47) Some ngo experience (during studies and after graduation) My targeted Schools are: INSEAD, LBS, IMD and probably HBS Your GMAT is strong. I think the one factor admissions committees will be looking for is your reason to pursue and MBA degree after achieving two Master degrees and how you think it will assist you with your career goals. A well thought out career strategy will be helpful. Please, let me know what do you think and what could I do to improve my profile file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/kim/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/03/clip_image001.gif Thanks! Your welcome and best of luck with your applications. David Petersam President Larryp Ways to Market Myself Hi David, Hi and thanks for your inquiry, I know I'm not going to Harvard, but I would like to get into the best possible program I can. My undergraduate GPA (BS in Business Administration) was a 2.5, which is pretty embarrassing. I performed especially bad one year when I completely lost focus and probably should have failed out! I am about to take the GMAT which on practice tests I am scoring in the mid-600's. It will be very important that you have a strong GMAT score due to your GPA performance. Continue working on those areas where you are scoring low. You may want to consider getting additional help from a test prep company. My work experience is 3 years working as a Financial Advisor with a Wealth Management Firm. After three years I decided that I would like to get out of finance and work in Business Development with a Hospital or Medical Facility. I spent a year working for non-profits putting in over 1800 hours of community service. Spend time formulating your reasons for leaving your job and how doing the community service has impacted your decision to seek an MBA degree. I'm really prepared now to go back to school and I am willing to do anything to boost my marketability to programs. I'm going to take two classes at the state school where I live (accounting and calculus). Is there anything else that I could do to improve my chances? Make sure your personal statement highlights your strengths and what you would bring to the classroom that puts you above the competition. I'd really appreciate any input. The whole process is causing a great deal of anxiety! Thanks, Larry Your welcome, and best of luck with your applications David Petersam President crackgmatnow Hi David, Hi and Thanks for your inquiry, Thanks for all the valuable information given. I have a Q Do B-schools in US like MS universities also have admissions in Spring semister as in Fall semeister and if yes are there any differences in course or significance of the course for placements. Most MBA programs offer admission to the full time program only in the Fall. There are some with Spring admissions but mostly that is available through part-time programs. In most cases, part-time programs have the same curriculum as the full-time program so there is no difference in the degree but you will want to do some research to determine the best fit for you. Thanks Again file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/kim/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/05/clip_image001.gifBest of luck with your applications. David Petersam President samadaslam Thanks David, thankyou so much for sharing this all. I m preparing for GMAT to get admission in MBA Marketting. You helped me alot. Hope to contact you soon with more questions and hope that you will not be teased... Thanks and Regards Your welcome! Best of luck with your applications, David Petersam President Ppzgenome Hi David, Hi and thanks for your inquiry. I have read almost everyone one of your posts and want to say thank you. I have already learned a lot simply by observing your responses. I've also visited the AdmissionsConsultants Inc site, and plan on registering for its services. However, I'd be grateful to have your input on my chances top ten schools, especially for Kellogg. I greatly appreciate your expert opinion; here are my stats: Undergraduate Institution: Duke University (graduated 08) GPA: 3.8/4.0 Magna Cum Laude & Phi Beta Kappa Major(s): Political Science & Psychology GMAT: 720 Work Experience: 1 year at IBM in Corporate Finance (analyst: primarily to establish new assessment metrics and financial methodologies for various projects) 1 year at real estate development firm in China (senior analyst: primarily to conduct various ROA and ROI scenarios to directly support senior investment strategy) Starting at McMaster-Carr (Project Manager: specifics to be determined) Rec Letters: 1 from IBM and 1 from company in China Addition inquiry/comments: I plan on matriculating Fall of 2011. So if I apply now, I'd only have 2 years of work experience, but 3 by matriculation. Given that I'm about to start a new position at a new company, would it be wiser to work another year (or more) and apply so that I can have a letter from current employer? Or do you think that it doesn't matter because it is not expected that I have a letter from a company I've just begun working for? I guess I'm really just concerned that my work experience years are sort of weak (most applicants have avg of 4 if i'm not mistaken). Your academic record is strong, however, your work experience may be a hurdle. The values and insights you can gain from a few years of full-time employment really can enhance your competitiveness for admission to the very top b-schools, where admissions officers like to admit a diverse array of applicants. In addition, limited work experience could mean that you may not get everything you should out of your classes. Your LOR should be from individuals who can comment on your ability and your character. A letter from your current employer is always good but make sure they are able to comment on these two aspects. Thank you for objective feedback and your valuable contribution to the community of aspiring MBA candidates! Your welcome! Best of luck with your applications, David Petersam President SIDDHART Pl evaluate my profile - Army Officer Dear David, How are you? I am fine and thanks for your inquiry. My profile may seem unconventional and a bit lengthy but I would appreciate if you can evaluate my profile based on facts given below and give out my chances of getting to B Schools. 1. I am Siddharth(age - 32) from India working for past 14 years in the Indian Army as a Major. 2. Offlate, I have started dwelling on the idea of applying and getting through to a top 10 B school. 3. I finished my schooling with 81% marks in high school and 86% marks in 12th std with science subjects. 4. Thereafter, I was selected for the premier tri-service (Army, Navy and Airforce)Officers training establishment for the Indian Defence forces, i.e. National Defence Academy(NDA). During my stint at NDA, I was trained for 3 years in the subtle nuances of modern day warfare, tactics, combat leadership and expertise in handling arms and ammunition. Apart from these, I also excelled in debate competitions, sports, swimming and wildlife photography. Simulatneously, I also completed my graduation(Bachelor in Sciences) from Jawahar lal Nehru university, New Delhi. 5. After that, I went for advanced training of Army to the Indian Military Academy for 1 year, wherein I was trained to lead an Infantry Platoon(125 men) in war in all types of terrain viz. High altitude, desert, jungle and amphibious environment against a nuclear backdrop. I was also trained for counter insurgency operations. 6. On completion of my precommission training, I was deployed in North eastern sector of India in anti terrorists operations. Therein, I commanded 125 men carrying out surgical military operations resulting in elimination of large number of militants in my area of responsibility and recovery of large cache of arms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 7. My efforts were well recognised and I was honoured with three gallantry awards including one from the Honourable President of India and the other two from the top military hierarchy. 8. Thereafter, I was posted to Jammu and Kashmir(ladakh sector), the highest battlefield of the world, where I along with my team was responsible to provide optimum logistic support to the field Army. 9. I was then posted to an Aviation support echelon providing logistic backup to the complete Indian Army. 10. In my past 14 years in the Army, I attended various courses of instructions in a wide range of fields from Inventory Management , tactical deployment of Army and bomb disposal at premier training establishments of Army and have topped all of them with very high academic and practical performance. 11. I also served with the elite National Security Guards(NSG), the crack anti-terrorist unit of Government of India for 3 years. During my tenure in NSG, I was selected to be a part of OP black tornedo, which was launched in the wake of terrorist attack on Hotel Taj, Hotel Oberoi and Nariman house in Mumbai on 26 Nov 2008. My operation was a success and I was honoured with a gallantry award from the Chief of Indian Army. In NSG, I extensively carried out many detection and disposal of many bombs and carried out post blast investigations at various sites of incidence. 12. Presently, I am working with an ammunition unit providing ammunition support to the field Army. 13. I have also extensively participated in social causes especially in terrorist infested areas. This is an area that may set you apart from other candidates. 14. As of now, I am preparing to take GMAT in Sep and wish to do MBA(Finance). 15. I would request you to provide me realistic guidance on my chances of getting into top B Schools like Harvard, Wharton, Stanford etc and what in your opinion should be my ideal GMAT score for getting in there? Your military experience reflects a strong leadership quality which you will want to discuss in your essays as to how it gives you an edge over other applicants. In addition, admissions committees will be looking for your reasons to pursue an MBA at this point in your career. I can’t give you an “ideal” GMAT score. Admissions committees look at all components of the application. However, the schools you are targeting are competitive thereby requiring a strong GMAT score so continue preparing for the exam. hanks Siddharth Best of luck with your applications. David Petersam President
  5. Hi and thanks for your follow-up inquiry. Thanks David, Yaa... my GMAT score, specially verbal, is low and it's the main hurdle in my way. As I have only 2 years of experience so i am thinking to apply for admission next year i.e. for 2012 batch. By that time, hopefully I will also rewrite the GMAT to improve my score. Also, my experience in social world will increase. But in the meantime, I am planning to apply in 2-3 schools this year to get an idea of essays and admission process. Just be sure to put time and thought into this year’s applications. If you make a very negative opinion, it will negatively impact your chances as a re-applicant. Please give your opinion about: 1) Do you think the plan i mentioned above will be a good idea ? I agree that delaying your matriculation until 2012 will give you time to work on improving your GMAT performance and have an opportunity to gain experience in an area concentrating on a social issue. 2) As my Quant score is high (51) are there any schools which prefer high quant score over the verbal score ?The GMAT is geared to measure your aptitude. Even though the quant score has been proven to have more predictive value than the verbal score, generally the schools are looking at the total score. 3) This year, Shall I choose one school from each tier (one/two from top 10 and other from next set/set school) or choose only the safe schools ? You should always apply to schools that best fit your needs. I also wouldn’t encourage you – or anyone else for that matter – to apply to any schools which you would not want to attend if admitted. Doing so is simply a waste of your time and money. (It also hurts that school’s yield and hurts the other applicants as someone may end up getting pulled off a waitlist for the spot that was initially offered to you. 4) what are the 2-3 safe schools in social entrepreneurship, according to you, for my profile ? There are many schools offering social entrepreneurship programs. You should review each of these schools to determine which ones would best fit your needs. Our book, Top MBA Programs: Finding the Best Business School for You, covers the topic of fit in great detail. Thanks in advance.. Best of luck with your applications! David Petersam President
  6. Hi Arjun and thanks for your inquiry. David, Hello and thanks for taking time to evaluate my profile. Lets get down to business file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/kim/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif Name: Arjun Sarode, 24 years, Male. GMAT Score: 690 (Q47, V38) GMAT Attempt #: 1 Highest Qualification Attained: M. Tech. Specialization - Information Technology. Post Qualification full time experience so far: 2 years. (3 years before fall '11) Currently Serving as: Head of Marketing Division in a mid-sized IT company based in Indore, M.P., India. Targeting schools: Top 30. Professional Background I have been working with a mid sized web and software development company based in Indore for two years now. I am currently serving as the head of sales and marketing division within my company and report directly to the Managing Director. My current profile as the head of marketing includes generating and following new business leads on the web, creating new business opportunities for offshore web, software and mobile application development projects and tapping on various niche sectors to identify and convert customers for many of our in-house web products that we offer as Software as a service (SaaS). A little background information: I started working in the stated company as an intern about 6 years ago (in 2004), when I was in second year of undergrad college. During my first stint (when the company was relatively small), I worked as a software developer, trying my hands on various technologies like Java and Microsoft's .NET. I worked independently on a couple of web projects - many of them are still working and enjoy a decent share of visitors even today. I worked for a period of 20 months till late 2005. Though my designation remained that of an intern (because of our university policies), I was looking after a few important web projects independently by the time I left. I joined back after I finished M. Tech. as a Project Manager. I was recruited on Campus by a well-known IT company at the highest package among my batchmates. I renegotiated with the current company for a better profile and a relatively heavier pay. The campus recruiting company was great, but it was essentially a process based company and would have clearly ignored the skills that I had picked during my internship. The current company did give me an opportunity to capitalize on those skills and offered me a shot as a Project Manager (against Software Engineer in the previous company), which I took. I love the level of introspection shown above. Be sure this comes through in your story themes. 2. Here's a brief time-line of my professional experience so far: June 2008: Joined current company as a Project Manager and began managing web development project on developers' end. June 2009: Co-Founded an internet start-up on the SaaS model with the technical director of the company. The product is based on Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and is quite popular with various SEO consultants across the world. July 2009: Promoted to become the Internet Product Manager. Was now looking after three other products of the company. Revamped all of them and ran a very successful promotional campaign. November 2009: Started consulting company's clients on various web projects. My role as a Project Manager remained, but the scope shifted from handling matters within the company to dealing with clients, analyzing their requirements, conceptualizing their vision and ultimately delivering what they were looking for. April 2010: Was promoted to become the head of the Marketing Division of my company. I now head a team of Business Development Executives, while continuing my role as an IT consultant and Product Manager. If all goes well, I think there's a decent shot for me to land an executive position in the next one year. The progression here looks pretty good. It will be important to convey the size and structure of the company so the admissions committees understand how you had to earn each of these increases in responsibility. 3 Academic Background 1.Undergrad and grad school: International Institute of Professional Studies, DAVV, Indore, M.P. Batch of M. Tech, 2008. After class XII, I took the DAVV CET (which is a hugely popular test in Northern and central India) and secured admission in the coveted Integrated M. Tech (IT) program of 5 years. The said exam is taken by around 25,000 students every year for about 90 seats - 60 MCA, 30 MTech - in the offing. The M. Tech seats usually fill up within rank 100. The M. Tech program is an exhaustive 11 semester program covering about 60 courses throughout. Its hugely popular with students and IT companies - thoroughly enjoying ~100% placement record. My acads began at a low note for the first 3 semesters but I caught up in the later semesters, consistently performing better than I did in the past. For the entire 5 years, my GPA graph had been on the rise, while I kept myself involved with learning new technologies and working on projects at the company where I was interning. My final CGPA for the entire program was just above 8.00 over 10 - which meant I graduated with a distinction. Also, I scored GPAs of 10 twice, including for the best project in my batch. As noted above, I was selected on campus by one of top 5 providers of IT services in India at a package higher than any other company that came for campus recruitment offered. Like in school, I was actively involved in extra-curricular activities in college. I participated in the Annual Event - Xpress!ons twice and won a couple of prizes. I was the Class Representative of my class for four consecutive years from 2004 till the end of the program. I also represented my class in the placement committee. 2.High School: Campion School, Bhopal, M.P. Batch of 2003. My academic track record hasn't been very glorious. I would consistently find myself among the "Average to Above Average" band of students while I was in school. But I had a keen interest in extra-curricular activities and I showed distinct leadership initiative by serving on official boards for four of my five years in Campion. More specific details below: % Marks in class XII (CBSE) : 61 (with PCM and Comp) % Marks in class X (CBSE) : 75 was an NCC level 'C' cadet. had a keen interest in writing and extempore. Wrote many socially relevant articles which found place in prestigious newspapers and magazines like The Hindustan Times. was the editor of the School Magazine in 2001. was the runner up candidate in the School Captain election in 2002 Fortunately, your high school experience will no longer be considered timely or relevant. 4. Personal Background 1. Family: 2 persons - Self and Mother. 2. Mother is working as an officer in a Central Public Sector Unit. 3. Father was working as an officer in State Bank of India. He passed away in 2005. Targeted Schools: I haven't really shortlisted any specific schools so far, but generally, I'm interested in applying for schools that are considered in the top 25-30 band. Personally, I would like to see myself at MIT Sloan - but given my less than mean/median score, I am a bit skeptical about my chances there. Still, a few schools/programs that I am considering for applying are: MIT Sloan - MBA MIT Sloan - MS in Management Studies Cornell INSEAD (F & S) Indian School of Business Northwestern - Kellogg Stanford GSB UCB - Haas Columbia Business School NYU - Stern CMU Tepper Harvard HEC Paris A 690 GMAT from your demographic is going to make MIT, Stanford, HBS, CBS and Kellogg even more difficult than they are for applicants with higher GMAT scores. I noticed you listed the MBA and MS from Sloan. Be sure you know exactly what you want out of your MBA before embarking on such a large investment. Recommendations: As I wrote above, I report to the Managing Director of the company which work for. He's a very nice gentleman and I think he would oblige if I request him to recommend myself. I could also get a couple of my consulting clients based in USA, EU and Australia to recommend me. I have also worked directly under the director of my grad school during my stint in the placement committee. I think I can persuade him to give me a LOR as well. Nearly every applicant will find recommenders to write favorable things. They are self selected after all. The key is to understand how these recommendations tie holistically with an optimized application. We cover this in chapter 4 of our book Top MBA Programs. Questions: 1. How fair do you think my chances are for the schools mentioned above? As mentioned, the 690 will make admission to a top 10 school very difficult. 2. Should I take the GMAT again and aim for a 700+ score? My current GMAT score is actually just about what I was expecting. My scores in GMATPrep were 630, 690, 740 and 690 respectively. I also took Kaplan's tests but never scored above 600 in any of them. If you are confident you can boost your score by at least 30-40 points, then retake the exam. I would strongly encourage you to gauge your performance using official GMAC questions. 3. Do you think my qualification and profile would offset my below average GMAT score and quantity of work experience? If you can demonstrate that your current work experience, when combined with an MBA, is adequate to achieve your post-MBA career goals, then your quantity of work experience will no longer be an issue. 4. Any other thoughts/pointers you may have for me? You can call our office at +1 703.242.5885 to discuss your profile in more detail. Best of luck with your applications! Sincerely, David Petersam President
  7. Hi and thanks for your inquiry. QUOTE=villgro;799883]Hi David I would like to take your opinions in selecting the school in which I have good chance of getting admission. I am looking for good school in social entrepreneurship. All my past experience (academics and work ex) is in technology, design and innovation. Now, I would like to use that experience to enhance livelihood of rural India population and so, I have left my high earning job at GE. I would like to learn about rural life and social entrepreneurship and hence, I have joined as a fellow in a NGO working in the same field. After finishing my fellowship, I am planning to start a social enterprise of my own. "Since so many applicants choose this theme, I am happy you are able to substantiate your genuine interest by showing how you left GE and are already gaining experience in the NGO field." In the mean time, I feel that I need to learn about running an enterprise efficiently and effectively. Moreover, to improve my personality as a social entrepreneur and to grow my network at global level, I want to pursue a MBA from recognized university. I am aiming for 1-10 B-Schools of US. I know my GMAT score is lower than average score of most of the top 10 schools. But it falls within 80% score and also my academic and extra-curricular are impressive. I need to know: 1) Up to what extent my academics and extracurricular can compensate for below average GMAT score? Do I need to rewrite GMAT for sure? "There is some overlap between grades and GMAT, but not much. The grades are suppose to measure your academic work ethic and the GMAT is suppose to measure your aptitude." 2) If I write decent and impressive essays, what is my chance of getting admission in 1-10 schools? "Since most applicants clear the academic qualifications hurdle, it is the essays that are critical in deciding which applicants get interview invitations." 3) Suggest the schools (if not 1-10)(US and other) matching my requirement and profile (GMAT score, Academics etc). Please give your views/opinions. I am aiming for 2011 class but I can wait for 2012 also. Here is the brief detail of my profile. Career Objective To enhance career in social enterprise sector, particularly in using innovation and technology to improve livelihood of lower income population of rural India. GMAT – 660 (Q 51; V 28); AWA- 5/6 "Your GMAT, particularly given your demographic, is very low for a top 10 school. If you are confident you can boost your score by at least 30-40 points, I would strongly encourage you to retake it." Academics – M.Tech Thermal Engg, IIT-Delhi (2006-2008) (Exchange scholar EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland) CGPA 9.2/10 (2nd Rank in Batch) B.Tech Mechanical Engg, Aligarh Muslim University (2002-2006) CGPA- 9.6/10 (University Gold Medal) 12th C.B.S.E - 83% (1st Rank in School) (2002) 10th C.B.S.E - 81% (2nd Rank in School) (2000) Work Experience- Current: Fellow with Villgro Innovation Foundation, Non-Profit Organization. (Joined one month ago for 10 months fellowship program) Working on a MASUTA technology development project to improve annual income and livelihood of 2500 rural women in villages of Jharkhand and Bihar Developing a case study for MASUTA Producers Co. Ltd (Biggest producer of Tasar yarn in India) Past: Engineer with General Electric (GE) India Pvt. Ltd. at John F. Welch Technology Center, Bangalore. (22 Months) Expert in Aero-thermal Design- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Thermal Analysis of Gasification Components Achievements at GE: Green Belt certified, Filed one Docket, Founded sports club, Organized many trips and team activities, Volunteer for local school students development projects etc etc. Extra curricular- I have numerous International and National level participation and recognitions. The list is unending; some of them are as mentioned below. Awards & Recognitions Received 1) Awarded University Gold Medal for securing Rank-1 in B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering; Batch 2002-2006). 2) Exchange Scholar from IIT-Delhi to EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Lausanne, Switzerland, 2008, 3) Nominated for Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma President Award from Mechanical Engineering. Dept, IIT-Delhi, 2008. 4) Selected for INDIA-CHINA Cultural Exchange Program by Indian HRD Ministry to represent AMU, 2005. 5) Awarded with Bharat Seva Trust Merit Scholarship, consecutively four years, for excellent academic record in B.Tech, 2002-2006. 6) Attained AIR-325, GATE-2005 and AIR-346, GATE-2006 (Consistent performance). 7) Accomplished AIR-883, National Science Olympiad-1998 and AIR-4 Pioneer Science Competition-1999. Position of Responsibilities 1) Co-Founder & Mentor of Formula-SAE Club in IIT-Delhi and represented the club in FSAE competitions at USA and England in year 2007 and 2008 respectively. 2) Founder & Coordinator, Indian student society for “Global Village Event" at Lausaane, Switzerland, 2008. 3) Participated in KVS National Level Hockey Championship 4) Coordinator, Training and Placement Committee, Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT-Delhi, 2007-08. 5) First Runner-up “National Youth Parliament” Competition organized by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, India. 6) School Captain and School Sports Captain. 7) Number of other participation such as NCC, Scouts, Science Exhibitions and volunteering activities. Additional- 1) Presented 2 Science and Technology papers in different conferences at different platforms 2) Internships – Two 6 Months internships at NTPC and IIT-Madras. 3) Winner of Debates, Play competitions and Attended numerous technical + personality development training programs. Please give your suggestions and valuable views. "Overall, your profile looks good. I don't want to say it's impossible for you to get into a top 10 school (because it's not) but that GMAT is going to be very hard to overcome." Thanks bharat "Best of Luck...."
  8. Hi and thanks for your inquiry. Been crazy busy here so sorry for the delay. Will try to get to these more quickly. Promise! Hi David, You've been doing a great job guiding applicants to their dream schools. Thanks! I would really appreciate if you could evaluate my current profile and suggest me B-schools in the US. Unfortunately, I really can’t suggest b-schools for you. To competently advise applicants on school selection requires a depth of information that is well beyond the scope of a discussion board thread such as this one. It is something we do competently towards the end of an hour-long initial consultation which is preceded by an in-depth review of a multiple-page questionnaire loaded with background information. (Read: We get to know you very well and we understand exactly what it is you are seeking from your significant MBA educational investment.) In addition to a deep understanding of the differentiators between the various MBA programs, competent school selection advising also requires an understanding of the applicant's "fit" with the various schools. And there are many, many dimensions to fit. Please bear in mind your school selection will be the cornerstone of your candidacy. It demands careful consideration or your application effort will likely be for naught. This is why it would be grossly incompetent if I engaged in the following type of advice giving on a thread: Applicant: I'm interested in marketing. Me: You should apply to Kellogg. The reason this is grossly incompetent is because you can get a great marketing education at Chicago or a great finance education at Kellogg. If you have a tech background, perhaps you would benefit more from a general management education from a school like HBS or Darden than you would from a more tech-centric school like Sloan or Tepper. PROFILE • Age : 22 years • Country : India • Undergrad : BBA (3 years) + M.Com(Masters of Commerce) (2 years) • Undergrad GPA : N/A (61% aggregate in BBA) • GMAT Score : 640(q46,v31) • TOeFL : 96 (plan to retake and score a 100+) • Current Work Ex : 1 year in Family Business (Global Trading Firm) , Currently employed as an analyst in eClerx (plan to work until Fall 2011). • Total years of Work Ex by August,2011 : 2 years TARGET SCHOOLS (FALL 2011) • Mays Business School • Rutgers • Michigan State University (Broad) • Thunderbird School of Global Management • University of Massachussetts (Amherst) 1. Based on my current profile how are my chances of being admitted into any one of the above schools? I think with well-prepared applications, you can be competitive at these schools. 2. What should I try and improve in my profile so as to increase my chances of acceptance? Make sure you feel comfortable going for the MBA after just 2 years of work experience. This is a one-time shot and students often get more out of the MBA experience when they have more work experience. (We talk about this a bit in our book, Top MBA Programs.) 3. Based on my work experience, am I eligible to apply in the above mentioned schools considering that their minumum work-ex requirement is 2years? Yes. You will have the two years at matriculation. 4. Could you also mention the specifics that each of the above mentioned school looks for in a candidate? They want applicants that are a good fit and that are sincerely interested in their programs. Of course your fit is going to be unique and it's not really possible to go into more depth outside of one-on-one consultations. 5. Also, do you suggest that I retake the GMAT and aim for a score of 680+ or should my current score suffice for the above mentioned schools? If you can hit 680+ and it won't interfere with your ability to submit high-quality applications by the deadlines, then, yes, go for it. You might have a better shot at some scholarship money. (Please note that it is a possibility and I want to ensure you manage expectations.) Thanks for all your help here. Really appreciate it. My pleasure! Looking forward to your insight. Thank you. Rgds/ Prath. Best of luck on your applications! Sincerely, David Petersam President
  9. v\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } o\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } w\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } .shape { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } st1\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#ieooui) } @font-face { font-family: Verdana; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; } P.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; FONT-SIZE: 12pt } LI.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; FONT-SIZE: 12pt } DIV.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; FONT-SIZE: 12pt } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: navy; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-style-type: personal-compose } P.header { FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } LI.header { FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } DIV.header { FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } Hi and thanks... Hi, I have a generic query.Need some info please.I have often heard that your post-MBA salary figures depends also on the pre-MBA salary and pre-MBA relevant experience.In such cases, for people who want a career switch(industry/function),but has good number of years of experience,will such a experience not be a factor at all during post-MBA salary? No. It will most likely influence the your salary. The recruiter will be looking at aspects such as polish, the level of responsibility you will be able to very quickly assume, etc. e.g one has a exp of 5 yrs in IT(earns well) and wants to switch to finance.So will the finance job salary after MBA not value the experience of 5 yrs in IT at all?If it does,what will it consider as a factor?only the work exposure or the salary figure as well.If not,then it well may be that his finance job has a lesser salary than his IT job salary. Please explain. A big part of your post MBA salary will come down to how well you position your skill sets to meet your employer's needs. The IT experience needs to be spun to show how it will make you more valuable in your new field. (Perhaps ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, meet deadlines, work with little supervision and guidance, etc.) If you want to read more about the ROI dilemma, you can peruse chapter 4 of our book. We also have a web page and Youtube video that discusses some ROI research we completed last fall. These, too, may help you with your research. Finally, please don't hesitate to call us at 703.242.5885 if you would like to address any of these concerns directly. Regds, dart2gmat Best of luck...
  10. MBA or ? Hi and thanks for your inquiry. As has been said, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions on this forum. My pleasure! I was originally considering a Phd program in Economics but am now looking at MBA programs. I will graduate May 2011 with a Bachelors in Economics, minor in Mathematics, and 160 credit hours after 4 years at the school. The school is a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. I entered undergrad with 35 credits from AP tests and community college courses taken while a senior, I also have taken 19-20 credits most semester (18 being a full load here). My GPA at-present is a 3.4 (cumulative on a 4.0 scale) and has risen every semester (started at a 2.85 freshman year). I've worked in my school's development office since freshman year, and have been a manager for the past 1.5 years. I am also the business editor for the school's literary journal, and spent summer 2009 managing a shoe store. I'm also president of my fraternity and am involved in a few other areas on campus. My questions: 1. Should i take the GMAT or the GRE? Or both? Unless you’re set on which schools you are targeting and they all take both exams, I’d advise you to prep for the GMAT. If the schools accept both, do a self diagnostic practice test for both the GRE and GMAT. Compare scores and study for the one where you have the higher starting point. 2. Should i be shooting for top 10 programs or 11-25 programs? It depends on your future career goals. If you want private equity, mergers and acquisitions or something along those lines, where you go to school will be far more important than if you want to do treasury work in a Fortune 500. 3. What else can I do in the next year to improve my CV? The best thing to do is to ensure you have a very clear picture of your future career goals. Without a good career map, your career could end up drifting with the wind. Determine if you need work experience prior to applying, what types of schools will best suit you, etc. Again, thank you for your time and consideration, we can't thank you enough for answering our questions here on this forum. While the gratitude is never expected or demanded, it is certainly appreciated! :-) Best of luck
  11. What do committees want applicants` goals to be? Hi and thanks for your inquiry. Dear David, I would like to apply to a few top MBAs, but I am wondering if there are pitfalls in presenting my motivation for MBA and goals for post-MBA activity. What do they WANT and DONT WANT their applicants to aspire to and to ultimately become? Do they want people who stay in the business world? Do they want people who open their own businesses? How about non-flashy businesses, like owning an apartment buildings or restaurants? As for me, I would like to work at a high-paying job for several years to raise capital and credibility with creditors, and then start as an entrepeneur--invest money into something like raw land development or a restaurant as a start. But my sense is telling me that a top program would find it way too pedestrian or inappropriate for a top MBA. Should I rather say that I want to move up in the business world and eventually be a VP at a Fortune 500 company or President of my own company in a high-prestige industry, like financial services? Alternatively, what pitfalls should I avoid in presenting my interest in an MBA and my post-degree goals? Excellent question! Answer truthfully. “Non flashy” as you referred to it is OK. Heck, in your case, it is probably a good differentiation. Besides, would you want an MBA that wasn’t going to help you achieve your goal? Feel free to talk to alumni from the schools of interest. I personally know a ChicagoWashington, DC. It’s the Entrepreneurial Advisory Board. Booth alum who manages office space and I could swear I’ve heard of restaurateurs amongst the alumni ranks. Oh, I’m also co chair of a popular alumni group in Thanks! Best of luck
  12. Hi and thanks for your inquiry. hello, plz advice on which program should i opt for.. i have offers from shulich, mcmaster and mcgill. shall i apply to rotman or queen's. rotman fees are too high. i want to concentrate on finance and equity research. appearing for the cfa level 1 in june. I’m not quite sure what to tell you other than to state that it is very important to do the school selection process up front before submitting your applications. We have a 502 page book that covers all of this in great detail. thx and take care. Best of luck
  13. Hi and thanks for your inquiry. Hello David... I have gone through all your posts here. very informative. I completed my MCA recently. I am looking for a job now. I hope you will help me in choosing the right job for me. Now i am preparing for IELTS , because i have a thought of doing MS in UK. Can you please suggest me how can i got through this entrance exam? I’m sorry I can’t help you here. We’re an admissions consultancy and not an IELTS test prep service. Best of luck
  14. Hi and thanks for your inquiry. Hello David, Thank you for helping so many in this forum! I am currently in the process of deciding what kind of graduate education to pursue. Generally, I am interested in how individual cognitive and behavioral patterns aggregate in policy-relevant ways. I have found that many PhD programs with a decision sciences track are in Business Schools. I have three questions for you. First, for which tier of schools would I be competitive? Some considerations: 1) GPA from Boston University (philosophy and biochemistry) is low: 3.69 2) SAT score was 1510 (similar scores on GRE practice tests; 173 on practice LSATs) 3) It would be a stretch to say I have business experience. My title at an education consulting start-up is "learning strategist," but really, my work is R&D, grant-writing, and minimal market analysis. I'm also a research assistant for a behavioral economist at Harvard and a waitress. (An aside: should I *ever* even mention the latter of those experiences? It's the top restaurant in Boston and one of the top 40 in the nation, and I've learned a lot about sales, marketing, and food costs, but still...) 4) I have worked as a research assistant many times, but I have not yet been published. Ph.D. admissions is not my forte, but we do have consultants who specialize in it. It looks like you should be able to spin how your experience has helped prepared you for the Ph.D. Second, what experiences might I need to gain before applying? This is similar to work experience for an MBA. Apply when you feel ready. It appears that you can probably make a case for admission right now. Finally, in any non-obvious ways that you can find on an admissions website, how is the application process different for a business PhD vs. a social science/ policy PhD? (Are connections more important? Is it more or less competitive? etc.) Connections are probably a bit overrated. No school will admit you regardless of connections if you can’t clear the academic qualifications hurdle, bomb the admissions interview, etc. Thank you for your time. Best of luck
  15. Hi and thanks for your inquiry. You have a good variety of extracurricular activities to highlight, which will certainly play in your favor and your work experience is unique for your particular demographic pool, again another strong point. However, to really assess what type of schools you should target, your career objectives must be better defined. Many of the top programs have significantly vamped up their international exposure and exchanges, but depending on what type of career focus you would like to consider, the choices certainly vary. Sincerely, David Petersam President
×
×
  • Create New...