Senior Manager
Joined: 16 Jul 2016
Posts: 252
Given Kudos: 33
Location: India
GPA: 4
WE:Brand Management (Retail)
GUIDANCE ON APPLICATION
[#permalink]
02 Aug 2018, 09:39
Hi,
I am desperately looking for some help and guidance. I am glad I came across this thread. I will share a brief about my profile and then will mention the places where I am stuck.
GMAT - 700 (Q50, V34, AWA-5, IR-8). Work ex – 49 months as on date. Will have 57.5 months of work –ex as on 31st March, 2019.
Grad & Work Ex:
I have done my graduation in Fashion Technology from National Institute of Fashion Technology. My college is regarded as the best fashion college in the country and is among the top 3 colleges in Asia. Right now I am working with the biggest apparel organization in the country. I have reached middle management role in a very short duration. Currently I head pan India operations of my brand.
Profile:
Qualitatively I have a strong profile. I have worked hard to build my profile over the last few years. I am national level athlete and a national level quiz medalist. I have led teams during my college days and have also worked for couple of spiritual and non-for-profit organizations in the past.
Reasons for MBA:
Though I have got good success in the initial years of my career, a graduate degree won't be sufficient to take me to senior level roles in future. There are certain areas in the field of strategy and finance where I feel I am still not equipped enough to handle things completely on my own. An MBA at this stage will also help in making my profile much stronger. A master’s degree will make me financially more stable.
Post MBA plans:
Post MBA I want to work in roles of Brand Management with specialization in the fields of Strategy and Marketing. I am open to industries outside the fashion industry though I wouldn't mind coming back to this industry.
Dilemma:
Under the given geopolitical situation, will it be advisable for Indian candidates to apply to US schools?
I'm targeting colleges within top 30.
One option is to apply to top US schools. But the fees in most top schools is exorbitant. With my score it is quite tough for an Indian male fashion designer to get a scholarship from any top B school. The current political situation is quite scary for job perspective. Not getting a job in US after such a huge investment is a nightmare.
The other option is to try for Indian colleges. There are 3 Indian colleges in top 35. They're not that fancy but have a respectable reputation.
Inherently I am a very optimistic person and I always look for opportunities of growth and learning. But I am getting slightly skeptical at this stage because of the cost involved. There is absolutely no margin for error in this case.
The biggest question on my mind is - Which B Schools should I apply to?
Hope I have given all the required information to suggest the best course of action. Let me know if any other detail from my side is required. Will be obliged if you can suggest the way forward. Thanks.