nmehta3 wrote:
Hi all,
I intend to apply to R1 to the following schools and I would like to know my plan of attack for the applications.
My profile
GMAT - 730 (Q48, V41)
Age - 25 (26 at matriculation)
GPA - 3.7 (Bach. in Engg @ Arizona State, all A's in Math)
Work ex - Work for a top insurance firm in US on the IT side
Extras
- Presented an idea for a mobile app to IT leaders via a company wide challenge. Will bring in 650K in revenue.
- Participated in a lot of things - Created and chartered the first Toastmasters club and currently the President of the club leading all the officers and working on various initiatives such as marketing, PR etc. Part of various other organizations and employee groups.
- Volunteered at a few places such as Care and Share Food Bank and Food Bank of the Rockies.
- Made 6 figures on the stock market while managing my own portfolio
Weaknesses
- Profile - Second tier education, second tier employment
- Education - Got a B in my undergrad econ class (but an A in entrepreneurship)
My target schools are - MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley Haas, UT Austin, Columbia
At this point I have two options open to me. I can either market myself as a tech guy and back it up with my entire background and work history or diversify and market myself as an agribusiness guy (an industry I am interested in but haven't researched throurougly yet). If I pursue the former approach then my career goal would be to take a job at a top IT company as a product manager. If I take the latter option then I would want to go the consulting route and join one of the big fours in the appropriate industry. I personally would like to diversify and switch industries but I am really strong in Tech.
The problem is that a lot of applicants to such schools will have a profile similar to mine. If I apply as a tech guy I will be competing with Indians who have an IIT undergrad with a work ex at a prestigious company in India and I am not sure how well that stacks up with my background.
In summary, should I apply to aforementioned schools with my tech background or try to avoid that plot completely?
Hi,
You have a good profile and that is accentuated by the high GMAT score.
I would not worry too much about the middle tier undergrad and the job company - just focus on the positives (Math A's and work achievements like the mobile app). You have not mentioned other aspects of work, like how long you have been employed and what your other achievements have been.
From what you have mentioned, you have a more solid career goals story for tech consulting, because you have worked in that space already. If you wish to work on the technology management side of an agribusiness, that may still sound ok. Just plain simple "interest" into a field does not justify making a career shift there - what if it does not turn out to be your cup of tea a few months later. On the other hand, if you can demonstrate a deep agri business- that may be worth a sell to the admissions teams.
I believe you have selected a good list of b-schools, considering your strength in quants and IT focus. They are highly competitive so make sure to submit stellar applications. Essentially these b-schools will want to see that you are able to carve your own path out (challenge the status quo) and make an impact around you.
That you are competing with Indian applicants - are you an Indian yourself? In any case, that should not affect your career goals. Submit your best application.
Namita Garg
www.mbadecoder.com