Intern
Joined: 16 Jul 2012
Posts: 2
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WE:Engineering (Energy and Utilities)
MBA Game Plan Feedback
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16 Jul 2012, 07:25
Hello all, I am an engineer who graduated 6 months ago, and am planning to apply for a top MBA program in around 3.5 years. This being a knowledgeable board, I would appreciate any feedback or advice as to how I should develop my strategy, and what I should concentrate on. Any help you can give me will be appreciated!
Personal Background: Puerto Rican, born and raised on the island.
Academic Background: Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, 3.5 GPA, Magna Cum Laude
Caveat: C in every math class taken in college
Extracurriculars: None in college, currently in the process of starting an organization for stateside Puerto Rican engineers to share ideas and promote changes to the electricity industry in Puerto Rico.
Ultimate Goal: Become director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, or obtain a high position in the company to conduct initiatives to lower electricity prices and run the company more efficiently, ultimately resulting in making Puerto Rico a more attractive place for investors.
Languages: Fully fluent in Spanish and English, intermediate level of German and Italian. I could reach full fluency in German by the time I apply to B-school, but am not sure if it would be worth the time and effort it would require of me.
Work Experience: 6 months as an engineer at a Nuclear Plant with Southern Company.
Internship at Continental Tire in Germany (Not sure if that would be relevant by the time I apply)
GMAT: Not taken yet, currently studying for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, and will start studying for the GMAT shortly afterwards.
Main thing I need advice on is on where to target my career. I have a feeling that the job I have now is not very impressive, and am not sure how the nuclear industry is viewed in B-School world. Here are the possible career paths I am considering now:
1)Stay at current plant, and achieve at least supervisory level, along with work on meaningful projects during my time here.
2) Being with Southern Company, I can transfer to Vogtle 3 & 4, which are the first nuclear reactors to be licensed in the United States in 30 years.
3)Apply for Areva in France, as they have a leadership development program. This position requires a working knowledge of French, but with heavy studying I can get to that level in less than a year. I did this with German, and French should in theory be easier for me as it is a romance language.
4)Try to get a job in the power industry in a developing country like Brazil, this would give me valuable experience for my ultimate goal.
Sorry for the long post! I would also appreciate your opinion on if you think it would be a good idea to take the GMAT now, or to wait a couple of years.