Calling all CMU (Tepper) Fall 2009 applicants!

I am in. But honestly, I am still to do a lot of research on Tepper. I am right now focusing on writing essays for my Top 2 schools, where applying in Round 1. Have you scheduled you interview at Tepper. They have a self initiative interview.

Yes I know. You seem to be an Indian.. Mind sharing your profile?

Yes, unfortunately (but just for MBA apps) I am Indian. Here is my profile, copying from 2009 applicant thread

Program: MBA FT

Area of interest in MBA : Management Consulting (general/strategy) in Retail/Consumer Goods industry.

GMAT: 720 (95%), Q49 (89%) /V38 (89%), AWA 5.0.

GPA: First Class in Electronics Engineering (BE) from an 'A' rated college in Univ of Mumbai, India

Work experience(WE): Worked with an Indian Software conglomerate for more than 4 yrs. Out of these 4 years, spent 20 months at client locations in US. Later joined a mid size Retail Solutions firm in US and have been working in US for last 16 months. Total 6.5 yrs exp at matriculation.

Nationality: Indian
Age: 27 | 28 at matriculation
Gender: M

Extra-curriculars/community: Organized Cultural festivals/events in local community , in college part of networker group, which was responsible for building and maintaining Internet lab in college, only CCNA certified student while in college

Schools applied to:

School 1: Tuck ED
Status: Writing essays.

School 2: Ross R1
Status: Haven't Started

School 3: Duke R1
Status: Haven't started.

School 4: Tepper R1
Status: Haven't started.

School 5: UNC R2
Status: Haven't started.

School 6: Georgetown R2
Status: Haven't started.

School 7: ISB R2
Status : Haven't started

Pretty good... Seems like just you and me here so far..

I expect a large number of Indian IT crowd to apply to CMU. An observation of the CMU class of 160-180 shows that there normally take around 15 indians..

A very tough competition for people from our category..

Have you talked to any students at CMU? I have a phone call scheduled with a student this weekend. If you have any questions, let me know.

Honestly. you put me on the backfoot my giving those numbers..But when you see them in black and white you realize, how tough it actually is since we come from one of the most populous nations.

Thanks for the offer. I haven't yet spoken to anyone from Tepper as I was so busy writing essays for Tuck for the last 3 weeks. But in the next couple of weeks, I want to speak to as many students as I can. How did you get the link with the student, from Tepper website ? Well, a few things I was curious about Tepper :
1) assimilation of international students there ?
2) any swimming or water sports clubs ?
3) are international internship programs available ? In India ?
4) Any Retail/Consumer Goods clubs that they have ?

I hope more people join this thread...I wonder why no one has till now..Are there so few applying to Tepper this year ?? ..I mean look at Tuck and Ross threads..They have gone more than 5 pages already...

Let us know details of you talk..Will wait eagerly ...Thanks !

I'm a current 1st year student at Tepper, and I would have to say that the Indian population here at Tepper is definately much more than 15 people, it seems more like double that number if not more. Of course that may just be the current 1st years.

I'm applying for R1 this Fall. I'm interested in the Entrepreneurship concentration. Worried about my quant numbers, though... I've heard Tepper is very big on quantitative coursework.

Thanks Christian. As an Indian, more than the number of Indian students, I will be looking at diversity. I mean its definitely good to be around people of your nationality and nothing against that, but in a MBA class, a diverse class will be a better learning experience for me. Thats one aspect which doesn't attract me to Indian schools, where 95% or more will be Indians. ISB, in my opinion, is an exception as they are making great efforts in internationalizing their course by having exchange programs with Duke, Wharton, Kelloggs. I was more interested in knowing how Indians and international students in general mix in the school culture ? I have observed sometimes, at least Indians, move around in flocks or just socialize with fellow Indians. And that does not appeal to me at all.

I was also interested to know whether Tepper have anything for Retail and Consumer Goods industry ? I mean any clubs, initiatives, programs, electives in this field ?

Hey Aakash, Can you update us on how was your talk with CMU student ?

Yes I talked to the Tepper student and I stand corrected about the number of Indians in the class. However, he mentioned that last year was an anomaly.

Here are the answers to your questions
:
1) assimilation of international students there ? - Very well assimilated. Once in school, there is no difference whether you are indian or american..
2) any swimming or water sports clubs ? No. However, you can start one if you find enough like minded people. The person I talked to himself started a volleyball club.
3) are international internship programs available ? In India ? - Yes. Many people got a chance to take international internships.
4) Any Retail/Consumer Goods clubs that they have ? No. There exists an operations club that takes care of retail related stuff. He asked us to go thru the club list on the website and contact the club coordinators.

The person I talked to was very calm and he answered all my questions very patiently and in detail. I am very impressed.

Thanks a lot Aakash...I really appreciate that you could ask my questions during you talk. I will certainly take a look at the list of clubs on their website.

Are you scheduling Tepper interview ? I haven't yet scheduled myself. Right now, I have only scheduled for the schools which mandate a self initiated one. Out of the schools that I am applying, its Tuck..And since Tuck is my best school and since I don't want to interview with my best school the very first time, I scheduled Georgetown before Tuck, although Georgetown did not have a mandatory interview.

No. I haven't scheduled any interviews yet. Most of the schools I am applying to have invite only interviews.

Its nice to see that you are interested in Retail as well. I currently work in retail IT and want to move to retail business side in the long term.

Wow..Co incident or what ? I work in a Retail Solutions firm and want to move to Retail business after my MBA . Tepper, Tuck and Ross (your schools, too right ? ) are going to have two almost similar profiles. How are you planning to your transition ? Entrepreneurship ? GM ? Consultancy ? I plan on taking Consultancy route.

Wow..Co incidence or what ? I work in a Retail Solutions firm and want to move to Retail business after my MBA . Tepper, Tuck and Ross (your schools, too right ? ) are going to have two almost similar profiles How are you planning on your transition from IT to business ? Entrepreneurship ? GM ? Consultancy ? I plan on entering in Strategy Consultancy.

operations consulting..

Just an FYI there is a chat with the Tepper Admissions folks online tonight at 9:00 EST. Also I am in for round one. Haven't scheduled an interview yet or anything but am planning on doing so in Chicago when they come through.

GPA: 3.25 Decent State School BSBA with a specialization in Supply Chain Management
GMAT: 710 49 Q 38V
Nationality: Caucasian, Good Ole USA
After MBA: Consulting for a while to gain some experience and then to my passion... Operations

Obviously this is a limited view of me but I am hoping to compete for some scholarship money at Tepper. Best of luck to all!!!!

Does it look bad if interview is scheduled after submitting app? I am not getting dates in between October 13th - October 28th(OCt 27th is the app deadline).
Only Interview is available these days but not campus visit. Otherwise i need to go 2 times one for visit and one for interview. With other schools pending, i have to rush into interviews without full preparation if i have to do before October 13th. Any suggestions? Did anyone already scheduled the interview?