Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Dec 1408:00 AM PST
-11:30 AM PST
Join us for an exclusive Admit Weekend designed to help you navigate the exciting yet challenging process of choosing between multiple MBA offers and provide valuable guidance on financial aid, scholarship negotiation, visa processes, and more.
Dec 1308:30 AM EST
-09:15 AM EST
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
Dec 1511:00 AM EST
-11:30 AM EST
Meet Tuck at an informal student or staff-hosted coffee chat in a city near you!- Dec 16
08:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
GMAT Club 12 Days of Christmas is a 4th Annual GMAT Club Winter Competition based on solving questions. This is the Winter GMAT competition on GMAT Club with an amazing opportunity to win over $40,000 worth of prizes! - Dec 18
10:00 AM PST
-11:00 AM PST
Here is the essential guide to securing scholarships as an MBA student! In this video, we explore the various types of scholarships available, including need-based and merit-based options. 
Dec 2007:00 PM PST
-08:00 PM PST
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
Dec 2111:00 AM EST
-12:00 PM EST
Save 20% on your subscription to onTrack by mbaMission, a first-of-its-kind on-demand MBA application experience. Use code 20OFFDEC until Dec 31!
Dec 2109:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
Dreaming of a successful post-MBA career? Explore the 2026 career pathways in consulting, tech, finance, and dive into the exciting opportunities and the potential ROI these industries offer, helping you make informed decisions and more.
18 Aug 2009, 23:12
Kudos
Bookmarks
Ok guys, this post is not to scare the hell out of you. Let’s face the truth. I'm also from the same pool and keeping my fingers crossed for my applications.
Anyway, here we go:
1. So you are working in a giant IT company in India? How does that impress the AdCom, who probably have the largest pool of applicants from this section. Some progressed to become manager in just 5yrs....impressive... but how are you bringing the diversity
2. You did your engineering from a reputed engineering college? So is everyone else. Where is the diversity?
3. Oh! You also have good communication skills, leadership qualities, analytical skills, blah, blah, blah. Now that is something even non-IT people also have. I think these are basic qualities looked for in an MBA aspirants.
4. You scored 720 in GMAT. wow! But then what AdCom is supposed to do with so many other 750+ scorers. Bad try. And even worst when you know someone, with similar profile, got into top b-school with 680. how?
I know, it was the trend few years back, that each and everyone started opting IT as career, irrespective of being from whatever background, be it civil engineer, chemical engineer, science graduate, commerce graduate etc. IT companies were hiring all and giving them training as per the requirement. The end result, anywhere you go in cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad, be it a road side tea stall, restaurant, shopping-malls etc, you'll find people talking about java, mainframes, oracle, .net etc. Same is the case with the applications to b-schools.
There is good news as well. All the B-school would like to have few IT Indian males, again for the sake of adding diversity in the class.
So, how to bring diversity?? Had we been from a country like Vatican City, it would have added to diversity, or for that matter, even IT females have a plus point. Yes, being a female itself adds diversity to the class. Oh God!
Probably one can try going deep into what all he has done so far, in both professional life and personal life. Everyone is different from others and so am I. Everyone has his own set of interests, extra-curricular activities, achievements, etc. I think this is what one can bring on the table. You learned Chinese, wow, that adds to diversity. You are a car enthusiast and participated in raid the Himalaya, plus plus to diversity.
But, the biggest problem is I don't even have such big achievements. Here is the bit of try from my side:
Still an open question for me, and probably for many others. Thoughts / comments / suggestions are welcome.
Anyway, here we go:
1. So you are working in a giant IT company in India? How does that impress the AdCom, who probably have the largest pool of applicants from this section. Some progressed to become manager in just 5yrs....impressive... but how are you bringing the diversity
2. You did your engineering from a reputed engineering college? So is everyone else. Where is the diversity?
3. Oh! You also have good communication skills, leadership qualities, analytical skills, blah, blah, blah. Now that is something even non-IT people also have. I think these are basic qualities looked for in an MBA aspirants.
4. You scored 720 in GMAT. wow! But then what AdCom is supposed to do with so many other 750+ scorers. Bad try. And even worst when you know someone, with similar profile, got into top b-school with 680. how?
I know, it was the trend few years back, that each and everyone started opting IT as career, irrespective of being from whatever background, be it civil engineer, chemical engineer, science graduate, commerce graduate etc. IT companies were hiring all and giving them training as per the requirement. The end result, anywhere you go in cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad, be it a road side tea stall, restaurant, shopping-malls etc, you'll find people talking about java, mainframes, oracle, .net etc. Same is the case with the applications to b-schools.
There is good news as well. All the B-school would like to have few IT Indian males, again for the sake of adding diversity in the class.
So, how to bring diversity?? Had we been from a country like Vatican City, it would have added to diversity, or for that matter, even IT females have a plus point. Yes, being a female itself adds diversity to the class. Oh God!
Probably one can try going deep into what all he has done so far, in both professional life and personal life. Everyone is different from others and so am I. Everyone has his own set of interests, extra-curricular activities, achievements, etc. I think this is what one can bring on the table. You learned Chinese, wow, that adds to diversity. You are a car enthusiast and participated in raid the Himalaya, plus plus to diversity.
But, the biggest problem is I don't even have such big achievements. Here is the bit of try from my side:
- I have my own set of interests - drawing, playing computer games, long drives, share market. Ok, little sigh of relief for me. Probably a combination of these could make me different.
- I have worked and studied in many different cities in India, ranging from south to east to north. Oh yes! probably this can add some diversity. But then people have worked in different countries.
- I have unique approach for work; this is certainly going to add diversity, but very difficult to convince and prove.
Still an open question for me, and probably for many others. Thoughts / comments / suggestions are welcome.
19 Aug 2009, 00:26
Kudos
Bookmarks
Forgive me, but I think this whole schpiel of "Indian IT male" is overdone. I am "Indian IT female" if it helps, and diversity (or lack thereof) is the least of my concerns in this process.
That said, if you still feel the need to diffrentiate, I think your approach is off. Stop thinking about it as "what is different about me" and start thinking along the lines of "what is different about my experiences"
Drawing, long drives, share market - these are your hobbies and interests. IMHO it has very little to do with your application unless it is tied to your goals. By calling these out for the sake of diversity all you're doing is calling attention to lack of accomplishment in the same areas. It's like saying "See I'm not the same as everyone else. I AM DIFFERENT. Because I draw and like long drives and the share market and Indian IT males don't have other interests so...."
Anyone can enjoy drawing - what is different about how YOU approached it and what you did with it?
No combination of interests, unless truly extraordinary (think swimming with the sharks) will be enough to get you in.
Of course I am just another applicant so what do I know.
My approach and my advice is to focus on what attributes the schools are looking for - leadership, problem solving, creativity, analytical thinking skills, engagement, etc - and think about how you demonstrated these in your professional and academic experiences.
And yes. It IS a fallacy that Indian IT professionals don't possess these skills!
Remember that time at work when someone said something couldn't be done and you did it? That is determination and hard work.
Remember that time when two co workers kept arguing and you helped them reconcile by figuring out that they had different priorities? That is teamwork and leadership.
So instead of spending your limited essay real estate on minor interests like drawing and long drives, you would be better off including stories that really showcase your history and YOU.
If you don't have any, then yeah I guess you're SOL
I'm not saying that every Indian IT professional can get into a top school. But this whole focus on diffrentiate yourself probably dooms more applications per year than it helps.
That said, if you still feel the need to diffrentiate, I think your approach is off. Stop thinking about it as "what is different about me" and start thinking along the lines of "what is different about my experiences"
Drawing, long drives, share market - these are your hobbies and interests. IMHO it has very little to do with your application unless it is tied to your goals. By calling these out for the sake of diversity all you're doing is calling attention to lack of accomplishment in the same areas. It's like saying "See I'm not the same as everyone else. I AM DIFFERENT. Because I draw and like long drives and the share market and Indian IT males don't have other interests so...."
Anyone can enjoy drawing - what is different about how YOU approached it and what you did with it?
No combination of interests, unless truly extraordinary (think swimming with the sharks) will be enough to get you in.
Of course I am just another applicant so what do I know.
My approach and my advice is to focus on what attributes the schools are looking for - leadership, problem solving, creativity, analytical thinking skills, engagement, etc - and think about how you demonstrated these in your professional and academic experiences.
And yes. It IS a fallacy that Indian IT professionals don't possess these skills!
Remember that time at work when someone said something couldn't be done and you did it? That is determination and hard work.
Remember that time when two co workers kept arguing and you helped them reconcile by figuring out that they had different priorities? That is teamwork and leadership.
So instead of spending your limited essay real estate on minor interests like drawing and long drives, you would be better off including stories that really showcase your history and YOU.
If you don't have any, then yeah I guess you're SOL
I'm not saying that every Indian IT professional can get into a top school. But this whole focus on diffrentiate yourself probably dooms more applications per year than it helps.
19 Aug 2009, 04:19
Kudos
Bookmarks
gmatbschool
Forgive me, but I think this whole schpiel of "Indian IT male" is overdone. I am "Indian IT female" if it helps, and diversity (or lack thereof) is the least of my concerns in this process.
That said, if you still feel the need to diffrentiate, I think your approach is off. Stop thinking about it as "what is different about me" and start thinking along the lines of "what is different about my experiences"
Drawing, long drives, share market - these are your hobbies and interests. IMHO it has very little to do with your application unless it is tied to your goals. By calling these out for the sake of diversity all you're doing is calling attention to lack of accomplishment in the same areas. It's like saying "See I'm not the same as everyone else. I AM DIFFERENT. Because I draw and like long drives and the share market and Indian IT males don't have other interests so...."
Anyone can enjoy drawing - what is different about how YOU approached it and what you did with it?
No combination of interests, unless truly extraordinary (think swimming with the sharks) will be enough to get you in.
Of course I am just another applicant so what do I know.
My approach and my advice is to focus on what attributes the schools are looking for - leadership, problem solving, creativity, analytical thinking skills, engagement, etc - and think about how you demonstrated these in your professional and academic experiences.
And yes. It IS a fallacy that Indian IT professionals don't possess these skills!
Remember that time at work when someone said something couldn't be done and you did it? That is determination and hard work.
Remember that time when two co workers kept arguing and you helped them reconcile by figuring out that they had different priorities? That is teamwork and leadership.
So instead of spending your limited essay real estate on minor interests like drawing and long drives, you would be better off including stories that really showcase your history and YOU.
If you don't have any, then yeah I guess you're SOL
I'm not saying that every Indian IT professional can get into a top school. But this whole focus on diffrentiate yourself probably dooms more applications per year than it helps.
That said, if you still feel the need to diffrentiate, I think your approach is off. Stop thinking about it as "what is different about me" and start thinking along the lines of "what is different about my experiences"
Drawing, long drives, share market - these are your hobbies and interests. IMHO it has very little to do with your application unless it is tied to your goals. By calling these out for the sake of diversity all you're doing is calling attention to lack of accomplishment in the same areas. It's like saying "See I'm not the same as everyone else. I AM DIFFERENT. Because I draw and like long drives and the share market and Indian IT males don't have other interests so...."
Anyone can enjoy drawing - what is different about how YOU approached it and what you did with it?
No combination of interests, unless truly extraordinary (think swimming with the sharks) will be enough to get you in.
Of course I am just another applicant so what do I know.
My approach and my advice is to focus on what attributes the schools are looking for - leadership, problem solving, creativity, analytical thinking skills, engagement, etc - and think about how you demonstrated these in your professional and academic experiences.
And yes. It IS a fallacy that Indian IT professionals don't possess these skills!
Remember that time at work when someone said something couldn't be done and you did it? That is determination and hard work.
Remember that time when two co workers kept arguing and you helped them reconcile by figuring out that they had different priorities? That is teamwork and leadership.
So instead of spending your limited essay real estate on minor interests like drawing and long drives, you would be better off including stories that really showcase your history and YOU.
If you don't have any, then yeah I guess you're SOL
I'm not saying that every Indian IT professional can get into a top school. But this whole focus on diffrentiate yourself probably dooms more applications per year than it helps.
great! thats really inspiring. I think I do have such incidents in which I displayed my teamwork and leadership qualities. I'll surely be mentioning those in one of the essays. I agree that drawing, driving, computer games etc probably won't do much for me unless I have achieved something serious out of it.
But the problem is that I can't leave the diversity stuff. The 1st essay topic of ISB itself is evident of the fact how much they are concerned of "diversity":
Essay 1: Give 3 reasons as to why you should be selected to the class of 2011. These reasons should ideally differentiate you from the applicant pool and should be backed with some data. (300 words max)
Yeah, certainly there would be many many instances when I have worked differently from others. I have been trying to list down all those. AdCom is asking 3 reasons... probably I can give 5 (or may be more after few days), but how does that differentiate me from other applicant pool.
. This kindda work - e.g. involvement in project management, pre-sales, etc - are really cherished by adcom. I think adcom doesn't want to hear how a hard-core Java programmer created 1 million line code; rather they want to hear big stories of wooing customers, leadership skills etc and how the whole project was successful due to you. 
