Ask GyanOne MBA Admission Consultants - Top Bschool Applications

Hi Subodhi12394,

Thanks for your detailed post. Always good to see applicants having some clear questions to ask than just an overview (though we are happy to help there too!).

We will get straight away into the questions you have listed. In case there are any other aspects that you want us to help answer, we will be glad to do so.

1) School selection is generally a comprehensive exercise, so these recommendations are not final. On your school list, just based on the information that you have provided, Columbia and Stern seem like stretch schools for you. UCLA and Tepper might be possibilities, but we will need more details around your work with TCS to really offer more details around school selection. Jones, Kelley, Emory look ok on first glance.
2) For most schools, you will not even need to do this. They will ask you to enter your score as in the Indian system (percentage / 10.0 GPA). Some schools like Rice Jones will ask for grades conversion, and you can get that done through services like WES online.
3) Most of these schools will not require TOEFL scores if your medium of instruction at the college level has been English. One exception to this is Kelley, which requires Indian applicants to take the TOEFL even if they had English as the medium of instruction at the college level. If possible, take the TOEFL now as TOEFL dates can be hard to find later in the year and you might need to travel to get your TOEFL scores in time to send to schools if you take it later. On whether TOEFL can make you more competitive at MBA admissions, the answer is usually no.
4) Switching from Mechanical Engg to Computer Science should not be a problem in terms of admissions, but you will need to make a case for why you made the move. A good offer from TCS is understandable, but the reasons must go beyond the compensation offered. Why did you move to a completely unrelated area? What did you find interesting? How have you justified this move through your achievements? You will need to answer these questions and more. If your post-MBA goals are also in IT, that should help.
5) Please note that NGO work / social work is not a requirement for any MBA application. In case you do have significant social contributions to highlight, by all means do so, but outside that context NGO work has only limited value for MBA admissions. A small number of schools focus on this aspect in their applications, but it can also be answered through various other ways outside NGO work. Your work with TCS CSR is relevant.
6) Yes, going onsite (assuming to a European country or the US) can be an advantage. Go for it.
7) Your scores and overall profile parameters, as mentioned here, seem to indicate that you should be fine applying to ISB, just on the basis of your profile. See other caveats in point 1 above about school selection. The application pool you belong to (Indian IT Male) is going to make things competitive for you there (as it will at other programs too, but ISB gets more applications from this pool than other schools), so you will need to differentiate yourself and show how you are not just another Indian IT engineer applying to ISB. Having broad numbers conforming to the general student parameters in a school is one thing, and creating a strong application that wins you admission to that school is quite another. Therefore, don't judge your chances at different schools based only on numbers or averages.

Go through the following article meant for Indian IT applicants: Indian IT Male applicants - applying to MBA programs

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with further queries.
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A Top MBA can land you your Dream Consulting Job

Consulting after MBA seems to be the preferred career choice for the vast majority of MBA applicants today. For some, it is an escape from the comparatively monotonous corporate life they have had so far. For others, it is a dream that involves getting the chance to work on new projects frequently, travelling, and helping clients fix their companies. Whatever the allure, the fact is that consulting after MBA forms the predominant career choice for B-school applicants when they apply. Yet, many are still unaware of the particular career choices they have. Consulting today is a function, and MBA graduates have opportunities to work in many different sectors within this area. Here is a brief list:

Strategy consulting: Firms within this classification typically carry out the most ‘interesting’ work – helping large firms and CEOs chart out strategy, align their vision with their offerings, enter new market segments, or create new growth plans. Most strategy consulting firms work with the top management of their clients. The biggest names in this space are the ‘Big 3′ (McKinsey, BCG, and Bain), but there are also others like AT Kearney, Roland Berger, and to a more limited extent Accenture, while some others like Booz and Monitor have now been acquired (more on this below).

Consulting post MBA: What are the opportunities?
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Thank you for your very detailed reply gyanone. I sincerely appreciate your hard work. I have few other questions-
1. How do I decide which are stretch schools for me? Columbia and Stern GMAT scores are both below my GMAT score. I am not challenging your opinion but I want to know how this is done so I can better do it also. Besides these I want to also look at Cornell. Am I good for that?
2. I have decided to apply to ISB but I have some questions on that - can I hope to move to a management consulting firm like Bain or Mckinsey from ISB? Would it be better to go to a US school if I want to do that? I will be glad if you can shed some insight on it, although I will still apply to ISB anyway.

Hi Subodhi12394,

1. School selection is not a formula-based process based just on GMAT score averages. While schools that have average GMAT scores significantly higher than yours are likely to be stretch schools, those at or slightly below your own GMAT scores are not necessarily safe. School selection is a comprehensive process based on a number of factors, including but not limited to your own profile, industry, and school parameters.
2. On the consulting firms that you mention, please note that Bain does not recruit from ISB at all, and McKinsey recruits around 5-10 people from the ISB batch of around 770 (819 this year). That number is going to be much higher at Kellogg, for example. It will be pretty similar or even lower at an Emory. So depends on which school you are applying to, not just the geography.

Happy to answer further questions. Hope this helps.
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Hi Subodhi12394,

1. School selection is not a formula-based process based just on GMAT score averages. While schools that have average GMAT scores significantly higher than yours are likely to be stretch schools, those at or slightly below your own GMAT scores are not necessarily safe. School selection is a comprehensive process based on a number of factors, including but not limited to your own profile, industry, and school parameters.
2. On the consulting firms that you mention, please note that Bain does not recruit from ISB at all, and McKinsey recruits around 5-10 people from the ISB batch of around 770 (819 this year). That number is going to be much higher at Kellogg, for example. It will be pretty similar or even lower at an Emory. So depends on which school you are applying to, not just the geography.

Happy to answer further questions. Hope this helps.
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Why did Harsh Reject an Offer from Yale?

Although Harsh’s final interview at Kellogg went well, he reported that he stumbled at a couple of places because he put too much pressure on himself and was spending too much energy judging on how his interview was going. Nevertheless, his solid preparation meant that Harsh was able to deliver a good account of himself, and his hopes, aims, and challenges. The final admit came in recently. Needless to say, Harsh was over the moon with the results. While Harsh was elated at having made it to Kellogg, more good news was to follow later. Just a couple of weeks later, he came to know that he had been offered admits at Yale and McCombs as well!

Why did Harsh reject the Yale MBA Admit Offer?
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India Dominates as the Destination for One Year MBA in Asia

One year MBA programs in Asia have had a strange history. At the turn of the century, such programs were virtually non-existent. Then the Indian School of Business (ISB) opened its doors in 2001, pioneering the concept of the one year program for experienced professionals in India. Till then, the flagship programs of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), each of a two year duration, ruled the roost completely. Initially, the one year concept was met with skepticism, but ISB’s wild success in a short period forced even the IIMs to go for a rethink. At different points in the following years, the IIMs launched executive programs of their own, different from their flagship programs. Some other top Indian B-schools have followed. Today, in another twist to the tale, the IIM Ahmedabad executive program (PGPX) is ranked above the ISB PGP by the FT MBA ranking 2014 .

Are all Asian one year MBA programs similar in character?
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Johnson Cornell MBA: A Resourceful MBA for Applicants from Real Estate Industry

The Johnson Cornell MBA, with strong employment statistics and support, boasts of a rich student life too. GyanOne interviewed Saniya Gandhi, a current student at the Johnson Cornell MBA program, to get her first-hand perspectives on Cornell MBA student life. Saniya also shares her perspectives on the Cornell community, studying in Ithaca, and academic specializations such as Real Estate that can be taken up as part of the Cornell MBA.

What are the resources available at Johnson for people with a consulting background to pursue opportunities in other areas? How can one leverage the resources of other schools to pursue niche specializations such as Real Estate?

As I mentioned in earlier questions, Cornell has a huge variety in the academic fields it offers. Real estate is no different. The customized immersion that I mentioned allows for students to tailor their curriculum to suit these niche specializations. Not only do students get to take classes at other schools, but they also can take part in clubs, organizations and events. As a student interested in real estate, I participated in the annual Cornell Real Estate Conference, which I think it is the largest university-led real estate conference in the US. These conferences and other events provide excellent networking opportunities for students that are pursuing an industry that is mostly off-campus. The career management center also has advisors that specialize in niche fields such as real estate, and they are also a great resource.

Johnson Cornell MBA: A Resourceful MBA for Applicants from Real Estate Industry
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4 Steps to Select the Right MBA for Yourself

Ready to finally take the plunge and apply to B school? Deciding that you would like to seek business education at the master’s level is a key step in determining firmly the direction of your future career. At GyanOne, we believe that the next most critical step is determining the right B-school(s) to apply to.

Decide what is best for you: Unfortunately, a lot of people still pick schools as if they were dishes in a restaurant (“I’ll have what everyone’s having”). It is important to realize that B school selection does not subscribe to a ‘one size fits all’ formula. What is appropriate for your friend from college may not be appropriate for you. The two of you may have different achievements, grades, GMAT scores, and just plain preferences. Deciding to apply to schools based on others’ opinions is criminal. The only other people who you should perhaps bank on are admissions consultants (yes, I know we say this tongue in cheek, but it is also true). This is because they are professionals, and can help you identify the right schools based on your profile and preferences. Choosing the right admissions consultant is another matter, altogether, and in our blog we have noted some strategies that you can adopt in this regard.

Don’t look at just one parameter
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5 Mistakes to Avoid to Get a Stellar GMAT Score

The GMAT club of 700+ scorers has a lot of accomplished individuals. They work hard to develop their skills and understand the concepts that the GMAT tests. However, success on the GMAT depends not only on working hard, but also on working smart. Based on our own experience of talking to various people who have taken it (and we have a substantially large database of 500+ people who we are talking about here), here is the list of the most common mistakes made by GMAT test takers. We have found that people who make these mistakes on the test do significantly below their ability, and that people who do not consistently score according to their potential and very often above it. Getting into the 700+ GMAT club depends to a great extent on avoiding these mistakes.

5 Mistakes to Avoid to Get a Stellar GMAT Score
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How have the ISB Placements 2015 been? Which Top Companies visited? Which Industry Dominated?
Get all your answers here

Achche din have certainly arrived at the ISB campus in 2015. For the Co2015, ISB reported interim placements figures that indicate a whopping jump of 77 percent over corresponding figures last year. This should bring glad tidings to those who are considering the school in the near future. While the number of offers per se is not a guarantee of substantially better placements, it does certainly indicate rising demand for ISB graduates. This will no doubt help the school in the rankings (ranked 33 this year in the FT ranking after being ranked 34 last year. ISB’s best rank in the same ranking has been 12 in 2010), besides of course giving its graduates a wider spectrum of more post-MBA options.

ISB Placements 2015 : Consulting and Tech dominate
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Life at Emory Goizueta Business School
by a Business Analytics Professional

Siddharth is a thorough professional, a technology enthusiast, and passionate about the potential of analytics to deliver value to business. He is also a part of the Emory Goizueta community and a current student at Emory Goizueta (Class of 2016). Siddharth is one of the most smart, hard-working, and generous individuals we know. In this article, part of our ongoing initiative to bring to potential applicants insights on top MBA programs, Siddharth provides an insider’s perspective on life and learning at the Goizueta MBA. Over to Siddharth.

Life at Emory University - Goizueta Business School
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What Has Been Your Biggest Failure Till Date?

Questions about failure are common set of questions seen in many B-School Applications. Apart from the obvious takeaway of “learning from the mistake/failure”, what are some of the other aspects that the MBA Admissions team is trying to learn about the candidate? There are two other important aspects that the Admissions team is trying to judge through this particular question.

How to Approach MBA Admissions Failure Essays
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Which Top US Bschools Accept Applicants for Second MBA

There are many legitimate reasons why one would want to consider a second MBA in USA. Career progression, the need to learn advanced management skills in a specific topic area not explored in your first MBA, and the exposure and opportunity offered by top programs are often the frequently quoted reasons. While Asian and European schools are quite open to considering the candidature of applicants who already have a first MBA, not all schools in the US are as open. This article is meant to clear some of the confusion around this.

Second MBA in USA: Schools that will accept, and those that won’t
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Is an MBA from Singapore Worth It? Which Are the Best MBA Programs?

Which is the Best MBA in Singapore? Is it the prestigious INSEAD, the much-vaulted NUS, its perceived lesser cousin Nanyang (or NTU, as some refer to it), or the fast emerging SMU? For MBA applicants who would like to explore the potential of Asia, there are few programs that have the pan-Asian appeal of MBA programs in Singapore. The city itself is known as Asia’s hub for business, and almost every multi-national business organization that operates in Asia has an office (and in most cases, its regional HQ) in Singapore. Whether it is financial services, energy, FMCG, or consulting, you will find top employers from each sector based in Singapore. No wonder, then, that MBA aspirants look to the city, and its MBA programs, with much interest.

Is an MBA from Singapore Worth It
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Working in the IT Industry? Check out Similar Profiles of Applicants who got Accepted by Top US MBA

Is the Indian male engineer MBA story condemned to eternal disappointment? The truth could not be further from this. In an earlier post on the Indian IT Male’s MBA prospects, and another on the importance of school selection, we have highlighted that IT professionals need not approach the MBA application process defensively. This post is all about the fantastic results achieved by a person who did exactly this, ending up with admits to three of America’s best MBA programs – Tuck, Tepper, and McCombs!

From happiness to ecstasy to bliss. The best part about Rajeevaksha’s (Rajeev’s) story is that it just kept getting better and better. The McCombs decision came first. Now, McCombs is one of the best schools in the US, possibly in the world. Getting this first admit made Rajeev very happy, and he told us that he would be happy to go here if he go through no other school. By the time the Tepper decision came, this statement was already redundant, and Rajeev was ecstatic.

Accepted by Tuck, Tepper and McCombs
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Hi,

Will really appreciate if you can review my profile.

Gender- Female
Age- 26
Work ex -36 Months (Currently working with Worlds largest Fortune 500 Real Estate Company in India,I handle personal real estate portfolios of top leaders of the country)
Nationality - India and Based out of India.

Education - Graduation in First Class in Advertising from one of the best colleges of India.(3.5 when converted CGPA)
MBA in Marketing from India (2.6 CGPA)

Extra Curricular -
Several good Internships and also started my own online retail business on FB (it has 18,000 likes now and FB shopping cart) and now expanding to a web site.
Part of Student council During MBA.
A whole lot of other activities in college.

Target GMAT score - 680 to 710.

Target Schools-
1. Ivey School of Business Canada
2. Rotman

and can I aim for top 20 -30 Schools?

Hi Gmad2015,

You are well-placed to apply to both Ivey and Rotman if you can achieve your target GMAT scores. Your acads seem fine at the bachelor's level (a bachelor's in advertising seems really interesting and differentiated - a plus for you). The MBA CGPA seems low, but that is not a huge issue. Assuming you got your MBA right after graduation and worked after that. The need to explain the rationale for a second MBA will certainly be there, but that can be done.

The online retail business sounds really good. Ivey and Rotman both like entrepreneurs so if your future plans relate to expanding this post the MBA it will be a plus. Membership of the student council sounds good as well. As you state you are based abroad at the moment, the international experience will help you further.

Top 20-30 is doable as well. Focus on getting to that target score, and possibly push your score beyond the 700 level, and you should be well set.
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Aiming to Pursue a Masters in Computer Science in USA? Read Mitul Srivastava's Story

I found the University of Southern California and Viterbi School Engineering to be very welcoming. Right from the orientation day each department is very helping and concerned in nature. The University of Southern California claims that it has the maximum number of international students in US and students are from around 120 different countries and I am amazed to find that it is so true!

The university campus is right in the middle of city. As University of Southern California was founded in 1880, it has a mixture of old and new buildings. The best part about the campus is its huge and comprehensive library. Even though it has different buildings for its various academic ranging from social, technical to music & arts, you can find students from all majors and you may interact with them and learn about their curriculum at Leavy library. Also, the University of Southern California takes its students’ safety and security as a prime concern. The best example will be the free cab facility popularly known as the “Campus Cruiser” which will help you to commute to the campus during late night hours.

Masters in Computer Science Experience at The University of Southern California
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MBA in Canada - What To Look Out For

An MBA in Canada is not something that has always been on the radar of top applicants looking for excellent MBA programs. Most applicants invariably consider excellent programs in Europe and the US, but not always in Canada. This is now starting to change. With the climbing reputation of schools such as Richard Ivey and Rotman (among others), a lot many more students are evaluating opportunities in Canada. The friendly immigration environment, the stable economy, and the excellence of Canadian MBA programs are all contributing to the allure of the MBA in Canada.

Top Canadian MBA programs to look at
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