jeremey wrote:
Hi Linda,
I am looking at only part-time or Exec Mba at Wharton/Kellog/ChicagoGSB/Columbia in that order. I am not interested in other schools. I am giving below my profile and I request you to help me assess my chances and also to advise me on either my app process or my choice of b-schools.
Nationality: Indian
Age: 34
Industry: IT Services
Current role: Head of NA and European IT operations in a $750MN company
Total IT experience: 13 years; Various Leadership and Managerial roles globally; More specifically - Account Management, Business Development, Program Management; Currently heading IT operations in NA and Europe
(a new role i recently assumed; its difficult to quantify yet).
US Experience: 7 years; Others - India and UK
Other Leadership experience: Initiated from concept, lead and established Account-wide (over multiple regions) Mentoring, Training and Team Building programs; Also lead a few region-wide initiatives on program management.
Other Certifications: PMP from PMI.
Social work: Lead one charity event and volunteered in two other events
Undergrad GPA: 2.73/4 ; Graduation in Mechanical Engineering from India
GMAT: 710 (Q49, V38; 90 and 85 percentiles respectively)
Recommendations: From CIO and CFO
Sponsorship: Partly company/Partly self
Reason for MBA: In the long-term, I aspire to become a CIO en-route to becoming a successful CEO in the IT service industry. Currently my focus is mostly IT and i need to develop business focus.
As I see, my strengths are - work experience, strong recs and good essays. My weaknesses are - definitely my Undergrad GPA and perhaps my GMAT.
My questions:
1) What are my chances at Wharton, Kellog, ChicagoGSB and Columbia. Iam keen on Wharton in particular because of its close proximity to my home.
2) Should i opt for part-time or exec mba?
3) Does my reason-for-mba look odd ie CIO to CEO in a service industry? But thats the truth.
4) Should i explain my low GPA in my essays? The reason was simple - around the time i was in my undergrad i fancied taking up a sport as a profession but i changed my mind later as the sport didnt look attractive financially. IF i wish to explain or if iam questioned, should i answer as the truth is. Does low GPA matter considering that i graduated 13 years ago.
5)Could you give some tips for my essays; for e.g, what to highlight and what not to highlight?
6)Also, could you please comment on my choice of schools?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Thanks for your inquiry. I apologize for my delayed response. To answer your questions:
1) You certainly have a chance at all the schools on your list because of your GMAT and impressive work experience. Obviously, your GPA is a red flag, but I don't think it will automatically ding you given the other factors.
2) I can't answer that one. The part-time MBA is slightly better regarded overall, although Wharton's program is quite rigorous. It is longer usually than the EMBA. If you want to use your degree to enter a new field or job, you need to research what kind of access you will have to career resources, if any, after your graduate.
3) Sounds reasonable to me, but you should go into a little bit more depth as to the skills and knowledge you need to acquire to achieve your goals and how each program will help you develop those skills.
4) Yes. You should provide the explanation you provided above. Again, I don't think it will keep you out, but they will wonder why you did so poorly. This explains it.
5)
The MBA category of my blog has many tips on how to respond to MBA essays. You can find other tips at
https://www.accepted.com/mba
6) Your choice of schools is excellent. I am a little surprised Haas isn't on the list, but otherwise it is an excellent list.
Good luck!
close
09 Dec 2005, 13:31
