NYU Langone Fall 2008

Well, I hope we are both pretty good writers . I guess time will show if these results are enough. I was never good at standardized tests. I thought about taking the GMAT again, but then I realized I neither have the energy nor the time to do it the right way.

Hi all,

Adding my profile to the list:

Profile: MIT (Male Indian Techie)
GMAT: 710 (Q50, V35, Awaiting AWA)
GPA: 3.5, MS in Computer Science
Undergrad GPA: 82% (Not sure what the GPA equivalent of that is)
Exp: 12 years in IT (8 years in Financial Services IT)
Current Role: IT Project Manager for Wall Street firm. Currently managing a mid sized (10 people) global team
Age: 34
Preference: Washington Square, Weeknights

I am still very skeptical about my application as I seem to be a bit higher side on the work experience side and feel that it might be a little negative on the application. Typical questions of "Why now?" arise. Does anyone know or have any insights of how this will be looked at my the admissions folks ?

34 is not terribly old (I'm only a few years away haha). I might phrase something like, "I feel now is the right time for me to make a vertical move and a Stern MBA will help me with the process blah blah blah . . ." Have you considered the executive MBA? Same stuff I think, but you need extensive managerial exp.

Thanks kidderek for the advice and support....

I am sure I will have many more questions for this forum as I progress along in my application/essays....

Hi all,

Great advice on this board. Thanks for sharing. I noticed only some put what actual college they went to. Doesn't that make a large difference? A GPA from one place doesnt seem to equate to another. Just wanted to see if I was off here...

I'm sure people don't put their undergrad b/c they don't want to release personal info, or they went to a crappy undergrad like mine.

I'm not a 100% certain, but from what I can see from the FT apps, I think it makes a difference if you attended the ivys/tycoon Universities -- one of those real brand names. Also, a top lib college would be helpful too. Beyond that, it probably doesn't make a difference.

The fact that you attended SUNY Binghamton as opposed to SUNY Buffalo (Bing clearly being the better school) won't make a difference in adcoms' views since the difference is too minute and they're both not top schools in the country.

Once you're admitted to the PT program and your enrollment deposit is processed, you will gain access to an online database with various details about your fellow PT students, including their undergraduate alma maters. The selectivity and prestige of the undergraduate institutions attended by the spring '08 admits runs the gamut from Ivy League to state schools. In my unscientific findings, the vast majority did not graduate from top schools at the undergrad level - you needn't worry about that detail in your application.

I was going through my application for langone and I think the weakest part of my application is my extracurriculars. I have some intramural sports, a social club and a few professional societies on this list. I consider my section of extracurriculars very average. I don't really have any volunteer work. Does anyone know how adversly this may affect my application. Thanks for your input.

Damn, you're already way ahead of me in that department. haha. I think volunteer work is overrated. Serving soup to the homeless weekly is not quite what they're looking for (though it doesn't hurt). They want to see significant stuff, and most people don't have it. Again, coming for the business app forum, adcoms just want to see that you're not a robot who just goes to work and does nothing else.

Thanks kidderek for the reply. All those activities are spread out over college to current....I'm just happy it wasn't blank.

Recommendation from Current Supervisor

I don't think I can provide one because I joined my current company 4.5 months ago and really don't think they can write a meaningful essay for me. At the same time, I don't want to ruffle too many feathers being a new employee with these demands.

Would it be ok to not provide a recommendation from my current supervisor? I have two strong reccos from my previous employer and can also include a third one to substantiate it. I also plan on explaining in the optional essay why I cannot provide a recommendation from my current supervisor.

Does this sound reasonable? Any thoughts? Would the ad-com look at this negatively?

I'm not sure if it's viewed negatively as a PTer, but it's def NOT as a FTer. Also, they explicitly state that if your current supervisor is not providing a recommendation, you must explain why in the optional essay.

"If you are unable to submit a recommendation from your current supervisor, you must explain your reason in this essay."

That's my concern...being viewed negatively since I am applying for a PT MBA. So much to think through and I haven't even started the essays.

I think that is a perfectly valid reason and it should not negatively affect your application. 4.5 months is not enough time to produce a meaningful recommendation.

I think that it would count against you in your situation if you do not have your current supervisor write a letter of recommendation. In the least, if your supervisor submits a recommendation, adcom will know that your supervisor supports your decision to earn your MBA part-time. If you really are capable of putting your MBA to good use, your supervisor should recognize that and support your decision to earn your MBA. If you don't have a recommendation from your current supervisor, adcom will have a bunch of questions like "Why did this person take this job if his/her supervisor doesn't support him/her?". You are in a good position since you already have two meaningful recommendations, a third from you current supervisor won't hurt.

It sounds like the first thing you need to do is have the "I want to earn my MBA" conversation with your supervisor. If you want to earn your MBA and your supervisor doesn't know, how do you expect to move up into the position that you want to be in? If your current supervisor doesn't support your decision then it would be better to find a new job soon. And you shouldn't worry about being a bother to anyone. You should have a professional relationship with your supervisor and your supervisor will most likely write a favorable recommendation for you since having your MBA will be beneficial to the company.

Thanks so much. That is a relief. I definitely hope the other two write good reccos.

You bring up good points..and yes, I definitely need to have the conversation about "I want to earn my MBA", something I mentioned during the interview process but have not followed up since. I was hoping to get the admit and then bring it up.

While an MBA will benefit the company, the goal is finally to benefit me I don't think his reco will demonstrate that this will be helpful to the company. I need to give this some thought as you definitely bring up good questions that the adcom might have. No feeling very relieved again...