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Hi All,

I have spent days reading all the comments on this club and i want to say i so happy joined. Its brings to perspective my targets to get into a top business school. But i have a snag about my background. Almost all the post specifies an ideal need to have had a business background and i find that bit disheartening. I am in my final phase of a 2yrs Msc in Telecommunications Systems Engineering in a top engineering school in Sweden.Will be through with very good grades by june 2009 and would love to join the 2009 class in an MBA. I have just 3yrs experience under my belt 1 as a teacher in a secondary school and the remaining 2 as a network engineer in an ISP. Though with my 2yrs of experience i have had to lead a lot of project deployments. I know i have a weakness when it comes to a business background. One of the basic reasons i need an MBA. Will be taking my GMAT in august and obviously i know from the various postings here that i have to score very high. My key strengths are leading, motivating and communicating effectively with people. My dream is to work with a top engineering firm as a CTO since i need to balance my technical knowledge with a sound business background such that churning out successful products will be exceptional.

Please can someone give me some tips of schools i could apply to that will be a sure bet for me. I have just one school yet. Cornell because they encourage people with my background. My background sort of limits me. I trust i would get some good advice from all of your impressive analysis.

Rubashov1 · Answer

I think you are mistaken. Having a business background is far from essential for gaining admissions to top business schools. In fact, it might be an asset in the sense that you will offer diversity from the traditional mold of applicants. That said, engineering is the only field that compares with strict business backgrounds when it comes to number of applicants at schools.

I wouldn't worry about a lack of specific experience, but focus on what makes you unique and a good leader. I would not limit your targets to schools that seem to have more students with your type of background. I would argue that that is self-selection, rather than any bias on the school's part.

kennedynwup78 · Answer

Hi RCA215 thanks so much for this reply. Its appeasing to my confidence in approaching this life changing process. I iwll definately learn to look at it as an advantage. I am still awaiting the schools tip anyone please. Thanks

Rubashov1 · Answer

I think we'll need more info about your GMAT scores, grades in school, leadership experience and extracurricular/community involvement to recommend any "sure bet" schools.

kennedynwup78 · Answer

I will be taking GMAT in august, like i said earlier. I had a GPA of 3.25.But my Msc grades are very good. I was involved in the Student Union government in my undergraduate years as i held different positions at various points one of them being a Public relation officer and a Parliamentarian. I was heavily involved in the organisation of Student elections, execution of student social projects and in the student parliaments. Also i used to lead project deployment teams during my years asa network engineer fo rmy company. I was the technical face of my company in some regard as i represented them meeting with their core customers. Which i received various recommendations from our clients. I hope that i have shed more light on my personality. Would be glad to give any further answers if required. Thanks

riverripper · Answer

I think the hardest thing is going to be saying why you want to go directly from a MS to an MBA program. Once you take your GMAT you will probably be able to have a better idea of where you stack up.

kennedynwup78 · Answer

Thank you much for the various advice. I will surely focus on my GMAT then at least for now. Thanks a lot

togafoot · Answer

One thing to look at if you're objective is to be CTO, is to consider an MSc. A lot of CTO's come through via the engineering path, rather than the business path, and add business skills later. The key requirements is the understanding of technology.
https://www.cio.com/article/122509/Six_R ... t_an_MBA/1

MBA can be beneficial, all depends on which path you want to go to get to that CTO positon. Furthermore, if you intend to work in Europe or Asia, then the MBA is even less of a necessity to get that CTO position

mlchang616 · Answer

If your interest is to stay in technology and act as a CTO, a business degree is not as important as a PhD in your technical field of interest and/or deep technical knowledge specific to your industry. A majority of the executives at my engineering firm have PhDs and Msc in Eng. Very few have MBAs.

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