dogbert wrote:
Hi Linda,
To give a brief background about myself:
I did my undergrad in Mechanical Engineering (First Class with Honors) in India. During my undergrad, I started a company along with my friend, offering web designing services which did very well. Later, I moved on to do my M.S. (in Mechanical Engineering). During my 2 years of M.S., I did my internship from a very reputed company and also worked while I was a student. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA. After graduation, I was hired by a Fortune 100 company.
My plan is to return to India after a few years and expand and diversify my family business (which is somewhat related to mechanical engineering). My academic and professional training so far has been purely technical. A business training is imperative for me to succeed in my goals of establishing a leading company in the field of manufacturing.
By the time I start my MBA, I would have had 2 years full time experience. I expect to get a GMAT score of 700+ (based on the practice tests I have taken). I am involved in volunteering work here in the United States. I am fluent in 5 languages. Moreover, there are many avenues that I have explored outside my academic training such as in economics and history (I have created a website featuring my notes on econ and hist).
I intend to specialize in operations management/production for my MBA as that will best identify with my long term goals.
Based on this profile, I intend to apply to:
UCLA, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon.
Other schools that I am considering are:
Berkeley, Stern, Wharton (?), Stanford (?)
I know this is a long email. Thanks a lot in advance for your help. Please do let me know any advice you have regarding the schools and your opinion on candidates with less work experience.
Thanks!
Some schools like Stanford,
Wharton, and
UCLAwelcome "early career applicants" such as yourself. So you don't need to worry at these schools about lack of full-time experience. In addition, your business during college does "count" -- just not as full-time experience. You have chosen well, also consider
MIT, Purdue, and
Michigan.
Also please see
MBA Admissions for Younger Applicants.
Good luck!