B School help - which 5 to apply to?

Question

Hi all,

I'm working on a 5 school package and am struggling with which schools to shoot for. Industrial Engineering undergrad, 3.68 GPA - joined a huge international tech firm's marketing leadership dev. program (4 six month rotations), got promoted twice, good international experiences and deep community service for homeless, started up a diversity employee resource group at my firm and developed the battery market from scratch, currently reproducing for other emerging markets. Want to switch from industrial controls business - potentially GM/entrepreneurial for a global consumer tech firm in their battery division and has a presence in Asia...

Pedigree is important to me, but I want to line up with schools that are into the whole engineering -> marketing -> business track. Do y'all have any suggestions on what schools I should select? I have a potential 3 year international delegation in Europe starting next summer, but it's too late in the game for my goal to get my MBA earlier in my career. (I'm 26)

Schools I was chewing on:
HBS
Stanford
Wharton
Kellogg
Chicago
MIT
Duke

Can anyone recommend 5 that might fit my very concise profile? (I can give more info if it helps!) Are there any schools I'm missing?

rango · Answer

Hi ;
I guess you should put the following in your preference;
1. Wharton
2. MIT
3. Kellog
4. IMD
Its my personal research; have find this list to be better suited for engineering and marketing group.

CriticalSquare · Answer

Hi Saevo,

Thanks for the information about your trajectory and goals - that's really helpful. One question that needs to be asked is what's your GMAT score?

The list in this thread, at the moment, merely encompasses the top 10 - 12 programs. Each of these programs is different from one another and will establish you in different regions, industries, and working styles. Additionally, we would have to consider the strategy and diversification of the portfolio of schools you're targeting.

If you could - let me know your GMAT score and we'll take the discussion from there. Sound good?

Cheers,

Bhavik

Saevo · Answer

Hi there Bhavik - no problem. I scored a 670 first time, and retook for a 710.

aerien · Answer

Have you considered UCLA? They'd help you a lot getting to Asia in the area you're interested in

CriticalSquare · Answer

Actually - I'm sorry I even asked. Sometimes posts can get jumbled and I forgot we discussed this on a separate thread  here . I assume you aren't planning on retaking it given there was some dissent on that thread. I mentioned it on that thread but congrats on the 710!

Ok, with your background, GMAT, and where you're trying to go, here's what I would suggest.

Stretch: MIT and Kellogg - both of these programs have international brand recognition and the GM/Marketing focuses to help you be successful. Rango is correct in saying Kellogg is engineering friendly and, of course, so is MIT!

Aligned: Columbia and Ross - once again, both have great GM programs. Columbia has the brand name to get you global along with the experiences to make you successful. Ross pulls upon the entire U of M network and, with the right experiential experiences on your resume, could really help you move towards the career path you're targeting. Additionally, both are ranked top 10 within the Marketing specialization.

Safety: UCLA and Tepper - both have strong technology programs which means they have strong networks in these areas. UCLA especially, as aerien mentioned, is respected globally. Additionally, UCLA gives you access to a region that I think might be very interesting to you.

I know you're targeting 5 so I would drop Tepper but I wanted to give you that option as well. I think if you leave this thread with these 5 schools you'll be pushing yourself while giving yourself safer options that wouldn't sacrifice pedigree and would still help you get where you're headed.

Let me know what you're thinking - happy to talk it through.

Bhavik

Saevo · Answer

All, thank you for your thoughtful responses. It seems like Kellogg, MIT, Columbia are good schools to select from. Is Harvard/Wharton/Stanford too much of a stretch, or do they not align well with my goals post B school?

Thanks!
Saevo

Thanks!
Saevo

CriticalSquare · Answer

A little bit of both. If you did want to throw in an application to any of those, I would suggest Wharton given their proclivity towards technology in both backgrounds and focuses. However, MIT & Kellogg are both right there with Wharton and are just better all around fits for you.

Cheers,

Bhavik

Cheers,

Bhavik

B School help - which 5 to apply to?

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