In a big dilema Help needed

Question

I completed my B.Tech Computer Science from CEG, (Ranked 8th in India ) with 79%. Am aspiring to get into LBS or ESCP, Paris Masters in Management and planning to apply for the 2012 intake. I have done a corporate governance internship. I co-founded a company. I have been the president of my college technical management fest.

I am preparing for my GMAT exam right now.

I have dilema in chosing my career paths to facilitate my admit into LBS or ESCP.
* I am currently working as a Software Engineer in an IT company in India. The work is kind of taxing me and i cannot put in my all effort in preparing my GMAT ( i get hardly 2 hours to 3 hours a day for preparation- not continuosuly). Am planning to resign my job and get preparing for my GMAT in full stretch.
* I planned to join my family run financial and investment company after December.

Is it wise to take a break and concentrate full time on my GMAT exams and the application process and then switch over to my family business or should i plan my time wisely and push my GMAT exams with my IT job still on.

Please advise me. I have been struck over this dilema for weeks and am not able to concentrate also.

GyanOne · Answer

ksp,

If you are sure about joining your family business in December, then the best move for you is to quit your job now, focus full time on the GMAT, and then join your family business.

The additional 3-4 months of work experience you get now will not count for much later. However, if you are able to do well on the GMAT, it will count for a lot.

All the best.

ksp · Answer

Thank you for your advice. Guess i will mostly quitting my job this month. Could you please clarify on this issue alone.

Will joining my family business in Financial Sector will be more advantageous for my admissions or will my experience in IT in MNC will count more eh.. If i join my Family business i will be taking care of investment management and also be leading the Technical Department. THe difference is my family business is confined to one state of India whereas i am working in IT sector for a MNC. 
Which will count more ?
 Which one will count more for my admissions of MiM in LBS or ESCP and similar schools.

Thanks in advance for ur reply.

GyanOne · Answer

I think working in your family business will add more diversity to your profile and so will be a better move. The geographical scope of the business/company you work for does not really matter - what matters is the work you do in the role you are assigned. I would therefore put to rest any worries on joining the family business on account of it being restricted to just one state.

ksp · Answer

Okay

At last i decided......

On Independence i became independent... Lol.... after giving a lot of thought mailed my resignation.....

full concentration GMAT...

Gonna book it on Oct 12th.....

KarishmaB · Answer

A word of advice here: Join your family business right now. Study a few hrs in the morning and then go to work. Reasons:

1. GMAT prep needs at most 2-3 hrs per day if you are an Engineering grad with decent English background. You just cannot study the whole day, day after day for months for GMAT. 
2. A blank 4-5 months period is not very endearing on your application until and unless you have a solid reason. Preparing for GMAT is not a solid reason.
3. You depict focus and direction. You want to get into finance. You have your family business to run. You are already working there, trying to learn the rules of the game.

cano · Answer

I'm with VeritasPrepKarishma on that one. I don't know why you couldn't join your family business before December. Since it's family business, you can ask them to have some flexibility in order to study, and could work only part time until December, but you will show in your resume that you have been working all the time.
Besides that, I think you have a nice profile and providing you score well on the GMAT you shouldn't have big problems getting into the schools of your dreams.

ksp · Answer

Hi VeritasPrep,

That is a great piece of advise. Thanks a ton.
And yea am joining my family business in a couple of days. 
I have planed such that i get 3 hours in the morning as well 3 hours in the evening for my preparation.

Thanks a lot.

ksp · Answer

Hi cano,

I thought i will completely finish my gmat and then join my family business. Anywys i guess u people put in some sense into me. SO i have planned such that 3 hours of study in the morning as well as in the evening and the rest of the time am gonna work in my family business.

Thanks a ton cano.

ksp · Answer

COuld you suggest me some online courses or some stuff to improve my Sentence correction.

krishp84 · Answer

Online Courses - gmatpill, e-gmat, master gmat...See the ones that work best for you.... Text - MGMAT-SC for detailed explanations. Aristrotle for condensed explanations. These are the best in the market..... Questions - "GMATPrep" are the best ones...No one comes close to the real thing

ksp · Answer

I thought i will take a GMATPrep test for diagnosis.....

Should i have the 2 tests for later practise or shall i go ahead with one of them.

Else suggest me a test for diagnosis..

THanks in advance.

GyanOne · Answer

ksp,

(i) Do you plan to take the test on Oct 4 (your signature seems to indicate that)? There is too little time to prepare if you are starting now
(ii) Don't take a GMATPrep test for diagnosis. GMATPrep is the real thing - save it for later. Instead try out the GMAT club diagnostic test:
gmat-diagnostic-test-quest-for-best-gmat-diagnostic-test-79502.html

ksp · Answer

Yeah my deadlines are fast approaching. So i thought if i write it on OCt 4, i ll be having a good time to get my applications done. And btw i ll get around solid 6hours of time for preparation. I did take GMAT Prep Test 1 for diagnosis (sorry for disregarding your view. Was waiting for any until befor few hours but then certain ppl askd me to go ahead with it ). I did my quants part alone. i got a scaled score of q40. My target is around 720 to 740. I srsly dont understand how to go about aftr the diagnostic test. I dont see any solid material anywhere. Everywhere questions questions questions.... Tired searching for solid materials.

Any piece of information is highly welcome. Just temme how to go about it. Am ready to even dedicate more hours for study also. As of nw 3 hrs in the morning. 3 hours in the night. IN the day time i used to go thru forums.. Well this is what i have planned for rest of the days to go. Am not sure if am taking the right path or should i change.

lil bit confused about the strategies and stuff.

openbox1 · Answer

Interesting. So you took a Gmatprep test and then just did the Quant section?

At the end of the day, its obviously not a big deal, but just thought it was odd that you asked for advice and then completely ignored it. Or maybe you took the prep test first then saw the post by Gyanone?

Anyway good luck on your prep!

ksp · Answer

Actually i saw it late aftr i completed my test....

yea got all tired after the quants. Not used to it. I ll get used to it as the test approaches.

GyanOne · Answer

ksp,

Just dedicating a greater amount of time for studying will not help you ace the test. Also, just going through the questions on the forums will not help. What you need to do first is make sure that your basic concepts are in place, and then move to practicing questions.

A quant score of 40 will be insufficient to get you to your target score of 740+. Not sure about your ability on the verbal section yet but assuming that it will be around the same. I would advise shifting out your target GMAT date. Having a greater amount of time for applications carries less meaning when your GMAT score is below what you would need to bolster your chances at your target schools.

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