MBA Help

Question

Hello,

I need some advice with MBA admissions.
I am interested in doing an MBA at LBS next year. I am starting preparations this week, do i have enough time? - Just started to study for the GMAT...
-Application deadline is early march...
Do you think my profile stands a chance at this reknown business school?
- I am 28 years old female; I grew up in an english speaking african country and have been living in France for about 10 years. I studied a masters in telecommunications and have been working in telecoms for 3 years as an engineer (developper, support, core network, telecom architect). I am have two nationalities and perfectly bilingual (english/french), and currently learning chinese to have a third language.

I am interested in studying in london, apart from LBS, are there any other popular business school to increase my chances of being admitted in an MBA program?

What are my chances of getting a scolarship?
Thanks in advance. I appreciate

Kikkie

subhashghosh · Answer

LBS is mostly for finance. You've not mentioned why you want to pursue an MBA, and how will you leverage your work ex for the same. Surely, there are many B-Schools but you've to first find "Why MBA", and the find the suitable match.

kikkie · Answer

Yes sorry i forgot to add that part. I have had the chance to study in telecommunications for three years doing various positions and in different environnments. During the three years i have been able to evolve to being a telecom architect. I would like to take it to the next level and aim for studying business, to work probably in the same field (i'm still sorting out those specifics). I am thinking of creating a consultancy agency in telecoms or being CEO in a telecom company. I have been very technical for three years and i feel that an MBA will give me a bigger and more global vision. I vision myself working with various international companies/Teams and building businesses in Africa, Asia,. I have lots of ideas of what i would like to do but i feel ready for a bigger challenge in something that offers a bigger picture and i feel an MBA would do that for me. Am i on the right track?

subhashghosh · Answer

In my honest (and inexpert) opinion, I think right now you should work for 2-3 years more to glean more information and validate your career/business goals. The thing is, there is no "right time" for MBA as I'm gradually seeing now, because every college asks for "why now", and if there were a hard defined baseline to be found, this question would lose its significance. Besides, what matters is "readiness and suitability for MBA", and not the "timing". There is of course another side of this whole thing, i.e., age as a factor in admissions, but I believe the B-Schools always correlate the age (or number of years in resume) with achievements + growth (professional + personal).

So what is the best course of action ?

1) Take GMAT and score high, that is the important and safest thing to do ASAP

2) Continue to work and evolve your ideas and pick the brains of more knowledgeable people, that way you'll learn more on both MBA + Professional fronts

3) Start researching B-Schools, based on what you want to accomplish and where you want to work

4) You're in France, so why not begin with HEC and INSEAD visits ?

Experts, I've probably breached my limits

, so please opine and enlighten everyone here.

kikkie · Answer

Thanks for the advice.

Actually when i read the profiles of some of the admitted LBS students, some of them werent sure of what exactly they wanted to do after the MBA, they just had general clues/ideas.
Thanks, i will look go to INSEAD and HEC school for advice; I dont consider them for my MBA because i have already lived and studied and worked in France; I would like to do the MBA in the UK or US;) then probably work in Asia;)

I'll start studying the GMAT right away, merci!

subhashghosh · Answer

Just curious to know, if you want to work in Asia, why are you looking for an MBA in the UK/USA ? Also, INSEAD should be a very good choice for you because INSEAD has campuses in Asia, and you can study in those campuses in any of the P's (depending on availability).

FutureWorks · Answer

Hi,

Firstly we would say that stay positive and such anxieties are common during exam preparation time. Juggling between work and studies is tough so you need to define a significant time for your GMAT preparation. Sometimes taking few days off work for preparing for the GMAT can help a person tremendously. If you have time this may not be a bad idea. Take practise GMAT tests to see how you are doing. If you cannot do that don’t worry. What might work instead is to set aside 1-2 hours at night on weekdays and major part of your weekend to study and prepare for GMAT- in this case we will suggest a good 2-3 months preparation. However we recommend you to keep taking practise tests to gauge your performance. It will help you in identifying your weak areas and you can focus on them accordingly. You might be able to study more than the given hours and that would take you less than 2-3 months. It all depends on your potential really.
You have a year’s time which is more than enough for preparing yourself
There are various ways you can use to practise for your GMAT. You might need to change your practise style and try this combination to provide you flexibility and different styles to practise so it doesn’t get monotonous.
It could be combination of-
1-Books- Books like- The Official Guide for GMAT Review, The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review, The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review etc could be used.
2-Online Study Guide: Websites like Knewton, Grockit etc provide you with practise questions online.
3-Smart phone applications- Kaplan, Veritas etc offer applications to prepare for GMAT on your smart phones

kikkie · Answer

subhashghosh: I would like to use any opportunity to study/work in as many countries as possible. My choice for the MBA is UK/USA because i speak english and would like to be in an english speaking environment since i have been living in a french environment for coming to 10years now. I would prefer to be in a native english speaking country.

My choice for Asia would probably be for the MBA internship that validates the school year; If possible i'd like to spend a few months in asia to see how that environment is like.

This will help me make a final choice about which place i would like to do my MBA career => I know that INSEAD is in Asia, but having grown up in an english speaking country, i would like to get back to that familiar environment for my MBA studies.

kikkie · Answer

Kavita Singh:

Thanks for the GMAT advice. I will seriously start doing it now and prepare it in december and january.
I did lots of maths at university till my fourth year, i dont know if that will help me to catch up fast enough and have a higher score.

I bought the Kaplan GMAT book;hopefully i will have enough info to prepare; thanks for the advice!

subhashghosh · Answer

For you, INSEAD Singapore would perhaps be a good option then, because you'll get there *almost* everything you're seeking.

kikkie · Answer

subhashghosh:
I have just looked at their program and it actually allows students to study at the different compasses during the school year (I'm very interested in that), and concerning finances, i even saw that some french banks offer special loans to INSEAD french students, which is a very strong point compared to the other schools; i have the possibility of going to the school and seek further info on the Singapore campus, and in singapore i would have the possiblity to speak english and improve my mandarin;) I must say it provides most of what i am looking for;)

Thanks alot!!, i have INSEAD and LBS on my list;)

subhashghosh · Answer

Great, glad to know that I could be of help.

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