smoothnavigator wrote:
Good day,
Kindly advise how strong is my profile for top B schools.
MALE , AGE 34 .
1) Brief description of your full-time work experience. What do you do?
Iam a Master Mariner, I work on merchant ship as Master ( Captain).
Total work experience : 11 years + (4 years training)
2) Your GMAT.
700
3) College info: The name of the college, your GPA or grade average, your major, year of graduation. For any graduate degrees, please provide the same info. If you grades are low, please indicate if there were extenuating circumstances.
College : BITS PILANI ,
GPA : 3.5
Major : B.S. Nautical science( distance learning)
Year of graduation : 2006.
Mode of learning : Distance learning
As stated above I completed B.S. Nautical science distance learning to attain a formal university B.S. degree. Although the course is a 4 year ( 8 semester course), I got a wavier of 2 semester on basis of my professional experience. I could complete the course in 3 years.
Apart from above I hold Masters ( FG) licence to work on merchant ships as Master. Obtaining a Master's licence requires lot of studies, although these studies are not graded but the studies follow a standard IMO model ( United nations approved model), which requires a process of 7 to 8 years minimum and which includes lots of studies,( studies which include class attendance and some very strict exams.)
4) Significant college and post-college extra-curricular activities or community service, especially leadership experience.
Iam working as Captain of merchant ships, a job which requires lot of leadership skills.
Right from being a cadet and finally to become a Captain of a ship requires a keen focus on leadership skills.
5) Important certifications like CFA, CPA, FSA, or CA.
Master Mariner license.
6) Your target programs.
HBS AND WHARTON FULL TIME MBA.
7) When you plan to apply? Please specify round and application cycle, for example R1 2013-14 or R3 2012-13.
R1 ( SEPT 2013)
8) Your post-MBA goal.
Consultancy .
I have following questions
1) Will my age be a big hindrance ?
However I can counter, you simply cannot get a Captain of a ship with age of 27 or 28. The earliest is 30~32 and to immerse in the job requires another few years.
2) Is GMAT 700 is sufficient for me. I might add another 20 or so points, provided its worth the effort and risks.
3) Will my educational and professional qualifications are sufficient to get enrollment in a top B school.
Many thanks in advance.
Thanks and best regards
Capt. Digvijay Masiwal
You have an interesting background, Captain. To answer your questions:
1) I think it and your high level of work experience will be an issue. However, you should look at the blog
mbaover30.com. This guy is 35 and starting at Wharton in the fall. He also got into MIT and Booth. It along won't stop you.
2) 700 is on the low side for both HBS and Wharton, but they both certainly admit applicants with a 700. They probably don't admit many Indians with 700, but most Indians applying are coming from IT or finance, not the merchant marines. There is little downside to a retake other than the time and expense. 20 additional points would be nice, but it's hard to say if it will be a dealbreaker or not.
3) Into a good bschool, yes. Into HBS or Wharton, I'm not sure.
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