Dear fellow Gmatclubbers, following is my profile. i also posted a similar version of it for review by Paul Bodine. I will also post his views later(do not want to bias your opinion)
Please throw your opinions, views, stares, punches and kicks at it. The more the merrier.
Ethnicity: Indian
GMAT: 740(Q49, V 41), AWA 5.5, first attempt(710,Q49, V39, AWA 6)
Acads: Electrical Engg Top 10 college, but not an IIT), with 66%(first division)
Workex: 7.5 years, first 3 years as an entrepreneur in test prep industry (for Indian MBA test prep). The venture is a successful one (I now perform a consultant’s role) and in year 2007- 08 did a topline of over $1 million. I built the business starting from scratch and without any VC support. In 2007/08 we trained over 2000 students. Currently we operate in 3 major cities of India. Organization size is 30. However have been stagnating now. I am Seriously contemplating selling and merging it with the company where I have been working for the past 4 years Getting a decent offer as well.
Last 4.5 years: In one of the largest test prep player in India in various roles from national academic head to, master trainer, to franchisee development and business development role. Plenty of leadership experience in product development and marketing
Current designation: General Manager (Franchisee operations) handling a team of over 30 people and operations in 70 cities. I have been rated the best employee for 4 years in succession and have had 3 promotions in 4 successive years (from Senior Manager to General Manager)
Extracurricular: Established 2 clubs and 1 society while in college (am the Emeritus president of two of them and both have over 300 members), founded an NGO to promote female education (over 100 members, raised $ 5000 last year), captain of college cricket team, active volunteer for SOS villages (a nobel prize winning NGO), on an average I spend 200 hours annually in conducting leadership and motivation training for the orphans in SOS villages. I am considered a leading expert on MBA test prep industry in India and have appeared over 15 times on national television channels as an expert. I also have written over 50 articles on education in all major national dailies in India. A brown belt in taekwando.
Gap in employment history for two years, immediately after graduation (1999 to 2001). This gap was to prepare and appear for an exam called CSE (Civil Services Examination). CSE is an exam unique to India where successful candidates directly enter middle level bureaucracy. Out of 500000 people who sit for the exam only 500 are selected. There are 3 levels for elimination (a preliminary, a mains and an interview). I managed to reach the interview twice (only 1500 out of 500000 reach the interview), though I couldn`t make it to the final elite list. Exam tests the aspirants on general awareness and on two subjects (graduate level). My subjects were Sociology and Psychology (although i am engineer by academic qualification). I also taught both Sociology and Psychology part time to other aspirants for CSE, for an year.
Target B schools: Wharton, Yale, Duke, Ross, Kellog, Haas, Tuck,
Why MBA?
Get exposure to launch and scale up smaller ventures to the next level, gain credibility and ability to get substantial funds for my entrepreneurial ideas from VC and angel funds. I do have few big entrepreneurial notions in the domain of education but all are capital intensive. My own savings have been consumed in carrying market surveys etc. Further MBA for me will be an avenue to get a 360-degree feedback on the ideas, filter them and develop adequate network to finance them. I belive an MBA from an elite B school bolsters my credibility for a VC. Ross/Yale/Wharton have got special advantages, as they are well known brands in India as well.
Queries:
1. General comments on profile: strengths/ weaknesses/concerns
2. comments on school selection? is it too ambitious? esp wharton. what coule be my sage schools?(I hope there are few
)
3. How to tackle the vexed age issue? Will Post MBA aim of not seeking employment in US and returning back to India for entrepreneurial pursuits in the domain of formal education help in this regard? this is what bugs me the most
Will appreciate any feedback (the more harsher the more better) on general profile and specific issues.
regards
Devil
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Updated on: 03 Sep 2008, 04:13
), kindly evaluate the profile. I shall be obliged 
I will be 32 in Dec 08. Now how much does that mar the chances at Wharton and Haas? 
