seekmba wrote:
Hi,
I am looking for some advice from the experts out here.
Age:34
W/E: 10 years [currently]
GMAT:Yet to take
Sex : Female
I did my bachelors degree (3 years degree program) from India. After getting rejected from few b-schools, realized that my 3 years degree is going to be hindrance in pursuing masters degree. So I decided to get a bachelors degree from US. Finally, attended school, where I got credit for my first bachelors degree and finished the bachelors degree from US. I graduated in Dec. 2009 with honors and earned a GPA of 3.97. Also, got the Distinguished Achievement Award from my university. Dont know if this award can be of any added advantage in my profile.
Coming to my work experience, I belong to the huge IT pool, I worked in one of the top 5 software companies in India for 4 years and working in US from last 6 years. Currently, I am working as Senior Business Analyst on a project and also got appointed as Project Manager in my company two years ago. As PM, I lead a group of four team members. I have got few appreciation letters from my clients and also got the best employee award from my company three years ago.
My plan is to take GMAT in next few months and apply to some of the best schools for the class starting in 2011. Do you think I have any chance getting in any of the best schools in US.
Hi seek,
I noted a few things about your profile, and thought to weigh in. Both quantconcerns and superman make excellent points, and my advice is the middle path between both.
First, yes, you are a little older than the average full-time MBA candidate. The average age at most top programs, including Booth that has been cited as an example, is around 27. Besides affecting your chances for admission, what this means from a more practical perspective, is that much of the curriculum and many of the employment opportunities are targeted to candidates with fewer years of work experience. This is not so at executive programs, for both the academic and professional opportunities, and hence it is possible that you might be a better fit there.
However, that is not to say that you cannot get into a full-time MBA program at one of the top 10 schools. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the age range of my own MBA class was 21-42! When you are a bit of an outlier as an applicant, it becomes more necessary to have strong reasons on why it makes sense for you to seek an MBA at this point, when you are possibly more senior at the workplace than your classmates.
There are many schools that do accept 3-year undergraduate degree programs, just as there are those that don't. If you have gotten rejections, I would refrain from quickly ascribing it to having a three-year degree. I like that you took the initiative to get another Bachelor's degree and attained academic honors. Although it will certainly help your case to have an undergraduate degree that can be quickly categorized at a US business school, I might have advised you to complete a one-year Master's degree instead. It would have resolved the issue of 16 years of academic experience, and garnered you an additional Master's degree.
Your work experience in IT will not set you apart by itself, since Indians with an IT background are a common demographic. Rather, the personality, achievements and unique experiences that you bring out through your application will be much more useful.
In summary, your application chances at one of the top full-time programs are slightly hampered by your age and IT background. However, being a woman with a potentially high GMAT score, strong essays and recommendations, and connecting with your interviewer can do much to raise your chances. For now, focus on the GMAT. When the time comes, apply to a mix of schools to be on the safe side.
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