Ask MBA Crystal Ball

Hi... Thans in advance for evaluating my profile

1) Male , Indian , 30 , Non IT background
2) ( 10th - 73%, 12th - 80% , was nominated for National Scholarship scheme being a student of top 500 slot out from a pool of 60k students )
4) Undergrads - Bachelors in Business Admin -65% ( among top 50 students of the university )
5) Executive programme in Business Management ( a part time certificate programme of one year ) from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta ( IIM C) , honestly speaking didn't get any value addition from this programme.
6)I was awarded scholarship of 50% waiver in tuition fees by one of the top 10 business schools on the basis of my scores for their entrance exams ( quiet similar on the lines of GMAT ) in the year 2000, because i was among top 50 students of the country.

7) Experience - nine years of experience in Financial Services ( Functionally - Business Development , Retail ) , excellent exposure in terms of leadership , have been leading and managing people for the last seven years now ( jr level manpower in first 4 yrs and mid level manpower for the last 3 yrs ). Have worked with very well known companies of India (Banks and Insurance) . Have managed sales teams at state/regional level in the most competitive markets.

Career progression == trainee == officer == sr.officer == asst manager == deputy manager == manager == sr. manager

Now ,here comes the weakness too

1) No international work exposure because my job doesn't demand it all , in IT companies you get to work across globe because the industry demands it wherein my job profile doesn't demand it.. so how would adcom view it ?
2) Nothing to speak as far as EC are concerned... can i develop somehting by the time i apply ? vague question but one of my ex tutors told me if you dont have one... develop one..

Now comes the question Why MBA ?

Wanna get into consulting , so my focus would be sales consulting, marketing and stratagy.

I have been preparing for GMAT and have been consistently scoring 600-640 , but am afraid that this score won't help me in reaching anywhere so am still giving some more time to reach upto 680-700 atleast or 700+.

Now my questions

1) which b-schools do you think are good as per my profile..US as well as non US..
2) I heard US b-schools dont give much importance to international work experience the way europian and other b-schools do , so my chances are better in US b-schools ? how true is this.. because i am more interested in one year MBA rather then going for regular two years MBA
3) Can you give name of bschools having great focus on marketing.
4) I am sure that i appear for gmat right now i would score around 650 , so should i appear for gmat or should i make it sure that i reach to a level of 700 , what should be an ideal score for such profile with higher work experience.
5) How would a business school view my plan to shift from industry to consulting after giving such a long time to industry.

I understand a few aspects of my questions are very relative , but would be obliged it you can just give your individual comments on the basis of your experience till date

Thanks very much

Hiren

Thanks a lot for the response! It has certainly helped me getting over the apprehensions I've had about the whole (fairing in GMAT) plan.

Thanks again,
Chetna

Thanks for replying. moogamboo khush hua...:D

Hello MBA Crystal Ball team,

On the basis of the advice you provided in another topic that I'd created, I'm posting my profile here. I'd appreciate if you could give me feedback.

My Profile:

Nationality: Indian
Degree: B. Tech (Production Engineering) from VJTI, Mumbai
10th standard: 88.27% (22nd in the Merit List)
12th standard: 85% overall (93% in PCM)
GPA: 6.9/10.0 (First Class)
GMAT1: 650 (Q46, V34, AWA5.0)
GMAT2: Scheduled on November 11, 2011 (Hope to do better!)
TOEFL: 111/120 (Reading 30, Speaking 23, Listening 29, Writing 29)
Work experience: Working in the manufacturing sector since June 2009. Will complete 2 years of work experience by the time the program starts. Was promoted in the first six months.

Another important criterion is that my current employer i.e. Usha Martin Ltd which is one of the leading manufacturing firms in India, wants to sponsor my MBA, provided I sign an undertaking that I'll come back to work with them (I'm willing to do it)
Will this sponsorship help in my application?

Extracurriculars: Organized a few social events and even managed a couple of technical and sports events. Organized an international conference regarding development of education. I've also been involved with the Corporate Social Responsibility division of my current company.

I'm particularly looking at Business schools in Britain, America, Canada, Singapore and New Zealand (basically any country where English is the main language used).

What kind of a chance will I stand in the following schools:
1. York Schulich (Canada)
2. Queens (Canada)
3. MIT-LGO (Long shot I know, but what's the harm in asking!)
4. Thunderbird School of Global Management
5. Purdue University
6. Nanyang (Singapore)
7. NUS (Singapore)

Other than these schools, if you could recommend any other good schools which are likely to admit candidates with my profile, that'll be great!

I've gone through some of the posts on the forum, but I've not come across such information for any person with two years of work experience.

I'll really appreciate any help that you could provide me, as I aim to finalize the list of 6-7 schools that I intend to apply to. Thanks in advance

Hi Arjun,

Glad to come across guys who've done their homework before asking questions.


This is where I'd focus more. The rest of your application content seems pretty good. You've got not 1 but 2 business focussed degrees. So you'd better have a solid reason for embarking on the same road for the third time.


Bandhu, US ka haal bhi kuch khaas nahi. So bear that in mind when you start working on your apps.


Danger wala rang kaahe istemaal kiye ho, bhaiyya. Iss rang se toh bail aur anya jaanwar bhi bhadak jaate hai.

Don't give the reputation of these schools more importance than they deserve. If you put them on a pedestal, chances are you'll develop a psychological barrier. It tends to undervalue your own worth when you are applying. They want good candidates as well. So if you think you are good, by all means go ahead and put in a strong application.


I like that mix.



I think you've already done most of the work in shortlisting those 3 categories. You can't go horribly wrong if you mix and match within that list.


It's a good option, but I'd prefer the main 2 yr flagship program. But that's just me. Ek saal ka hi karna hai toh I'll give you better options.

Good luck, man. If you need to get in touch with us, kisi bhi paanwale ko pooch lena. They wouldn't give you the right answer, but no harm in trying.
_________________

MBA, Career or Marriage? Welcome to the ugly desi dilemma!

Each of these options fall in the ‘tremendously important’ category for us. And unfortunately for a whole lot of Indian candidates, all 3 seem to collide at the most inappropriate time. Read more...
_________________

Hmmm...that's a new one. Reminds me of the cartoon series 'He-man and the Masters of the Universe'. Does anyone remember Skeletor, Orko, Man-at-arms, Teela? Or are we just from another generation?
_________________

one of my fav series ... a huge fan ... had quite a few toys , still kept somewhere in the closet ...and am not from another generation , only 24 ...

Now my question is also on the same lines ... I will only have 3 years exp ( soft Eng with IBM ) by Aug 2011 ... will I be at some disadvantage with low work ex.


regards
sason

Hi,
This is Amit (Male,29 ) from India. I am an MBA(Marketing) and working for an IT MNC (top 3 in the world).I want to do a second MBA from a top US B school only..It will be great if you can evaluate my profile and point out some areas where I can work on to better my chances. I am planning to apply next year.
My profile details:

Work Exp: 5.5 years

1.5 year in an NGO (focused on education)
3.5 year in IT sales/Business Development (focused on SMB and Higher Education segment and Govt customers )
Recently moved into WW Product Marketing team , managing a product globally (6 months)
Movement has been sales specialist>account manager (more responsibilities in terms of co-ordination betn various stakeholders )>ww prod manager
Overall, high performance in almost every quarter, 3/4 large strategic deals(helping create new accounts /new territory), one very large deal which helped company foray into a foreign country.

Have won awards ,certificates in all the roles (one from country CEO,MD )...will manage to get good reco.

Acads:
10th: Topped School (1st/1000)
12th: Topped School and District level (1st/25000)
Graduation (Physics):1st Class,Hons with Distinction, top 10%
MBA(Marketing):1st Class,Hons and Distinction, top 10%

GMAT: Not taken yet...expected 700+

CS:
Started volunteering in school (7th standard)..Help Age India
Grad : Memeber of Rotaract Club, organized blood donation camp, tutored street children education
Post Grad: was with an NGO, worked with slum dwellers in creating health awareness through behavioral change communication technique

Currently, involved with an NGO focusing on higher education for meritorious ,needy students...mainly handling marketing activities with an objective to making it more credible, transparent .

Thinking of establishing a scholaship program(first of its kind ) in my school, talks are on, not finalized though

ECs: Counselling, mentoring of students, yoga, cooking

Short term goal: To be in prod management
Long term goal : Social entrepreneurship (probably Education)

Please help me with your feedback.

Thanks and Regds,
Amit

Kem chho, Hiren bhai.


That's a common trap many applicants fall into. Going purely by the brand without doing an indepth research on whether the degree or diploma or certificate is going to add any value to their professional life. We aren't just talking about Indian institutions. This also applies to international business schools that offer easier alternatives for those who can't get into their flagship programs. It's targetted at people who don't mind paying a small fortune to get the established brands on the CV. But recruiters in the corporate world are aware of the difference.

So for everyone else reading this post, please do talk to people who've taken up the course before you do. See what they have to say and then sign up only when you are convinced.


I'm curious now, sirji. Which program was this? Send me a PM if you don't want to reveal it here. If it was a heavyweight, then you'd be able to use this to your advantage in your essays.


I don't think that's a weakness. And you've cited the right reason for it.


Developing one isn't a bad idea as it'll be a good way to add a new dimension to your daily or weekly routine. Select something that you are genuinely interested in. But don't do it just for the sake of your business school application. Don't think you can outwit the Adcoms. Woh log Alibaug se nahi aaye hain (as you are from Mumbai I assume you know what that phrase means).

Just a few months before submitting your MBA apps, it will look strange if you suddenly cultivated an immense interest in saving the world by joining an NGO or learning a new language or playing the Veena...we are talking about the stringed variety, not the Big Boss artist who goes 'Jee Salman-ji' with a seductive pout every Friday.


As a very broad answer, I'd say non-US. But the GMAT range we are talking about right now starts at 640 and goes all the way beyond 700. So let's continue with this once you have a concrete score in hand. Then maybe the MCB report will be a good option to think about.


Don't make generalised assumptions about schools. The results will catch you unawares. Whether you are aiming for European or American schools, you will be competing with apni public from India (with dhansoo experience anyway). So see how you can build an application that is strong enough to tackle competition from apne deshvaasi as well as pardesi junta.

If you want to go for 1-year program, do so. Decide on the end objective first and then take a call.

Here's a dhinchak analogy to highlight the futility of the logic you are currently proposing. If you are interested in going from Mumbai to Delhi, you won't buy a ticket to Thiruvananthapuram just because the air-tickets on that sector are easier to obtain, right?


Most of the good schools that are strong in marketing would require a competitive GMAT score. So, can we please club this one along with query 1?


Based on the level of preparation and the mock-test scores, you should get an idea of where your true score lies. After enough prep if you think you can crack the 700 barrier, I'd suggest waiting rather than rushing in an application with a considerably lower score.


Some industries and companies are particular about age. And business schools might be concerned if they view your transition strategy as being impractical. So use your essays to convince them that your plan is well-thought out and you are fully aware of what you are getting into.

I've known people who've shattered these general conceptions to move into very competitive industries when they were on the wrong side of 30. So it's all in the execution sirji. The non-IT background gives you a head-start, but what will you do after triggering the initial interest from Adcom is more important.
_________________

This is one of the best threads on this site so far
Great work by the MCB team. Kudos.

I was even more enocouraged to post after i saw a evaluation by Sameer for Anil( sept'10) who happens to have the same profile as mine. Merchat Marine background and what not

Am tempted to ask for a lil evaluation for myself too and so i shall.

ME:
Male/Indian (proud)/26
BE Marine Engineering, BITS-Pilani ( graduated with an 8.2/10 )

Serving on large ocean going tankers since Feb'07
>> Directly responsible for cargo operations and running of ships valued in excess of $150 million. Transporting cargo worth even more!
>> Reporting on performance & running of the machineries & coordination with head office for logistic management.
>> Achieved a higher vessel operating efficiency level by improving the performance of the main propulsion machinery. (reducing costs to owner)
>> Have lead teams of Indian/multinational crew members, communicating and motivating them, and showing good judgement in allocation of tasks and responsibilities.
>> Execute budgetary responsibilities including forecasts, target worker-hours, cost control, inventory and just-in-time purchasing.
>> Successfully completed port state inspections and oil-major's inspections such as Chevron-Texaco, BP, Exxon-Mobil, Shell, and Statoil thus enhancing hire value of the ship.

International exposure : Yes.
Managerial exp : none

Excellent acads. recently did a dry-run@Gmat after a 3 week prep and did 630 so no issues
thr will def push it up.(target 700+)

Extras are okayish.
>> Earned 2 merit based scholarships in college.
>> Team lead for paper presentations at various tech-fests.
>> Active participation in sports. Active member of basketball and football teams.
>> Was the editor of collg. publication as well.
>> Part of the English dramatics team also.
>> Was batch captain for a term (is this a valid point to flaunt "leadership" skills )
>> I always like to emphasise that am trained in a lotta extras like fire-fighting, First-aid and survival techniques......but thats because its part of my job to be trained in all these (they're pretty good actually and fun too) BUT should these qualities be emphasised on in apps?

One -ve point: I had a drop year after 10+2. IIT preps and what not. I did clear the screening(yes we had screening that year) and get a 6000 rank in the mains though.

I think am too late to jump into the game this year so will be more focussed on 2012 admins.
That being said, my query was more in terms of what kind of a career shift can I think about.(yes I need more focus) Considering my managerial knowledge is low and things like statistics and financial accounting are alien to me. Also no corporate exposure.
Would prefer a shift to Consulting/GM. I have no issues with changing industry either.

Moreover am not keen on US B-schools. They are too expensive and more importantly are 2 year courses. My interest lies in the one year program (12-16 months). Plus I would rather do a more value-for-money MBA from an internationally recognised university with a good network and good placements ( rather than blindly enrolling into some US school paying close to a 100k). For me RoI is very important. ( 2 years in school is a bad loss of $$$ earning time )

So in short
>> Can some schools meeting the above criteria be suggested?
I have in mind NUS/ISB(dont we all) and am curios about Erasmus(RMS)
>> What more can be done with a profile like mine (in broad terms).

Hope for a response Though I imagine you would be busy coz its "that" time of the year
So will wait for it.

Regards and kudos.

Hi Sameer,
Firstly I must say, "What an idea sirji..."
Going through your website, I cannot help but get floored at the novelty of MBA crystal ball. Great work!!

Could you please be so kind as to review my profile and provide some tips on the schools I can realistically hope to get an admit. I'm looking at Sept'2011 intake.

Age:26
Academics:
10th - 93.72% (Karnataka State Board)
12th - 94.5% (Karnataka State Board)
(BTW, are 10th and 12th scores considered by colleges?)
Degree: B.E (Electronics and Communication) from a reputed college in Bangalore. (University - VTU, Karnataka)
GPA - 8.3/10

Work Experience:
Software developer (Embedded automotive systems) working for a German automotive company for the past 4.5 years.
International Exposure: Visited Germany thrice (overall period of 20 months) on project assignments and as a technical coordinator.
Best performer in the department for two years.
Instrumental in bringing about a major change in customer perception about competence and software quality through useful suggestions.


GMAT score: 700 (Quant - 82% and Verbal - 80%)
AWA: 5.0/6.0

Extra curricular:
4 years as a NCC Cadet. Was part of the Republic Day Camp'99 and represented the State as the "Best Cadet" in National Level competitions.
Avid quizzer
Active participation in debates, extempore competitions at school

Negatives:
No Social work (NGO's etc)
No managerial experience


Goals of an MBA:
Career shift from IT to Consulting/General Management
As a long term goal, I'd like to couple my global experience /management acumen gained at the B-School and the professionalism of the IT industry and apply it to a sectors such as agricultural services (for example) in emerging markets.

Schools I'm looking at:
Top 20 US Schools
HEC Paris
Warwick
ISB (I know its far fetched, but I'd like to give it a shot)
University of Oxford's Said Business School


As an aside, you are so very right in this post of yours where you describe the "Ugly desi Dilemma of MBA-career-or-marriage" That's super germane to my case.

Regards and Many Thanks
Pavan

Chaitanya, I am Sameer's partner and an ISB alum myself. Here's a quick take on your queries and profile:



This is one of the best threads on this site so far
Great work by the MCB team. Kudos.

Thank you sir, gives us motivation to keep it up

I was even more enocouraged to post after i saw a evaluation by Sameer for Anil( sept'10) who happens to have the same profile as mine. Merchat Marine background and what not

Am tempted to ask for a lil evaluation for myself too and so i shall.

always welcome buddy

ME:
Male/Indian (proud)/26
BE Marine Engineering, BITS-Pilani ( graduated with an 8.2/10 )

already interested. Pilani's a good name on the cv plus marine engineering is a bit of a niche

Serving on large ocean going tankers since Feb'07
>> Directly responsible for cargo operations and running of ships valued in excess of $150 million. Transporting cargo worth even more!
>> Reporting on performance & running of the machineries & coordination with head office for logistic management.
>> Achieved a higher vessel operating efficiency level by improving the performance of the main propulsion machinery. (reducing costs to owner)
>> Have lead teams of Indian/multinational crew members, communicating and motivating them, and showing good judgement in allocation of tasks and responsibilities.
>> Execute budgetary responsibilities including forecasts, target worker-hours, cost control, inventory and just-in-time purchasing.
>> Successfully completed port state inspections and oil-major's inspections such as Chevron-Texaco, BP, Exxon-Mobil, Shell, and Statoil thus enhancing hire value of the ship.

International exposure : Yes.
Managerial exp : none

err..dunno what you mean by none managerial experience. From what you've written, appears as if you've been managing the ship crew - perhaps a harder task than say managing workers on a shopfloor. So i wouldnt make that statement!

Excellent acads. recently did a dry-run@Gmat after a 3 week prep and did 630 so no issues
thr will def push it up.(target 700+)

icing on the cake

Extras are okayish.
>> Earned 2 merit based scholarships in college.
>> Team lead for paper presentations at various tech-fests.
>> Active participation in sports. Active member of basketball and football teams.
>> Was the editor of collg. publication as well.
>> Part of the English dramatics team also.
>> Was batch captain for a term (is this a valid point to flaunt "leadership" skills )
>> I always like to emphasise that am trained in a lotta extras like fire-fighting, First-aid and survival techniques......but thats because its part of my job to be trained in all these (they're pretty good actually and fun too) BUT should these qualities be emphasised on in apps?

we can live with this. anything during ur work-ex?

One -ve point: I had a drop year after 10+2. IIT preps and what not. I did clear the screening(yes we had screening that year) and get a 6000 rank in the mains though.

can be easily explained

I think am too late to jump into the game this year so will be more focussed on 2012 admins.
That being said, my query was more in terms of what kind of a career shift can I think about.(yes I need more focus) Considering my managerial knowledge is low and things like statistics and financial accounting are alien to me. Also no corporate exposure.
Would prefer a shift to Consulting/GM. I have no issues with changing industry either.

chaitnya, here's where as you've mentioned, you need to get a little more focus. Though your profile can fit both in consulting and GM but two things need be borne in mind. One, why do you want to switch and two, do you understand what either means. Once u've answered these questions, you'll be done already .

Moreover am not keen on US B-schools. They are too expensive and more importantly are 2 year courses. My interest lies in the one year program (12-16 months). Plus I would rather do a more value-for-money MBA from an internationally recognised university with a good network and good placements ( rather than blindly enrolling into some US school paying close to a 100k). For me RoI is very important. ( 2 years in school is a bad loss of $$$ earning time )

So in short
>> Can some schools meeting the above criteria be suggested?
I have in mind NUS/ISB(dont we all) and am curios about Erasmus(RMS)

prima facie, i'd put them in a realistic to stretch bucket for you. But again, depends on how well you can answer the above two questions
>> What more can be done with a profile like mine (in broad terms).

do you mean in terms of enhancing the profile or career options? if it's former, then the only thing i'd focus on is getting better clarity

Hope for a response Though I imagine you would be busy coz its "that" time of the year
So will wait for it.

we always have time for the curious souls

Regards and kudos.


Cheers!
_________________

wow.
Thnks. I love people who can be so clear and precise

already interested. Pilani's a good name on the cv plus marine engineering is a bit of a niche

yes that is true.

err..dunno what you mean by none managerial experience. From what you've written, appears as if you've been managing the ship crew - perhaps a harder task than say managing workers on a shopfloor. So i wouldnt make that statement!

Thts a great nway of lookind at things. Yes my primary job (apart from engineering jobs) was managing human-resources and things like tht.

Extras are okayish. >> Earned 2 merit based scholarships in college. >> Team lead for paper presentations at various tech-fests. >> Active participation in sports. Active member of basketball and football teams. >> Was the editor of collg. publication as well. >> Part of the English dramatics team also. >> Was batch captain for a term (is this a valid point to flaunt "leadership" skills ) >> I always like to emphasise that am trained in a lotta extras like fire-fighting, First-aid and survival techniques......but thats because its part of my job to be trained in all these (they're pretty good actually and fun too) BUT should these qualities be emphasised on in apps? we can live with this. anything during ur work-ex?

well dont know about nething during work-ex. we dont really get to be highly creative with our jobs. i do have 4 consecutive excellent appraisals and recomm. for next promotion (which now i've got .. )
But i personally dont consider that too much. However i guess one can always whip up something to enhance any lil achievement.

One -ve point: I had a drop year after 10+2. IIT preps and what not. I did clear the screening(yes we had screening that year) and get a 6000 rank in the mains though. can be easily explained

again here i look at it as a positive only. out of lakhs of applicant in a 2-step selection i managed to get into the top 6000 .. ...still seems pretty decent to me.

chaitnya, here's where as you've mentioned, you need to get a little more focus. Though your profile can fit both in consulting and GM but two things need be borne in mind. One, why do you want to switch and two, do you understand what either means. Once u've answered these questions, you'll be done already . prima facie, i'd put them in a realistic to stretch bucket for you. But again, depends on how well you can answer the above two questions

thanks. i like the sound of that. and i agree with you on the fact that i need to focus on wht i want. As for GM/Consulting. The fields are more or less alien to me. but i am in the process on learning more about them. and tht is one reason one now am not focussing on '11 admits. '12 will be better to explore/focus and go for it

well thanks again. i got a reply from sameer as well lying in my inbox ....
this is great.
really appreciate it. and what a wonderful analysis once again.
hope to see more/hear more on this when am good and ready. (now i know who to go to)
cheerios

Hi MCB team,

Please evaluate my profile:

Proud Indian Male (24 years)
BE Chemical with First Class Distinction (62.5%) from one of the premier engineering colleges for Chemical engineering
10th 72.2 % (CBSE)
12th 81.2% (84% PCM) (CBSE)

Work-Ex -- 2.5 years -- Oil & Gas, Base Refinery Operations for a private diversified Indian Conglomerate (Essar Group)

Job Profile:
Joined as a GET, got confirmed as an Assistant Manager within 6 months.
Got promoted within 2 years to Deputy Manager.

Worked in the role of a Shift Field Engineer for 1.5 years at Diesel Hydrotreater Plant (Operations).
> Managed manpower, contractors, and co-ordinated with Shift Supervisor for daily operation of the plant.

Working in the role of a Panel Engineer for the past 1 year at the same plant.
> Controlling process plant parameters from Panel for safe operation of the plant with product specifications in range.
> Co-ordination with other units for meeting refinery targets.

GMAT: planning to take in april-may 2011. Intend to apply for sep 2012 intake.

Target Schools (in International Business):

Tier 1:
MIT Sloan, NY Stern, Mccombs Texas, Yale

Tier 2:
USC Marshall, Rice, (more to be added)

Tier 3: to be decided

My questions:

1. I do not have any extra-curriculars
How will this effect my chances at Tier 1 schools (especially NY Stern - my dream school )
What can I do in next 1-1.5 years for getting some extra-curricular work, which I can show at the time of application.
2. How much GMAT score range do I need.

3. How would my average performance at under-graduation effect my application.

4. At the time of my application, my work-ex will be around 3.5 years. How this gonna contribute to my application.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Pavan,

Quick reflections on your profile.


Hi Sameer,
Firstly I must say, "What an idea sirji..."
Going through your website, I cannot help but get floored at the novelty of MBA crystal ball. Great work!!

I'll thank on behalf of Sameer

Could you please be so kind as to review my profile and provide some tips on the schools I can realistically hope to get an admit. I'm looking at Sept'2011 intake.

Age:26
Academics:
10th - 93.72% (Karnataka State Board)
12th - 94.5% (Karnataka State Board)
(BTW, are 10th and 12th scores considered by colleges?)
only to a limited extent. Offcourse if these led to you being in the merit list, it is worth mentioning

Degree: B.E (Electronics and Communication) from a reputed college in Bangalore. (University - VTU, Karnataka)
is this the vellore college?

GPA - 8.3/10

Work Experience:
Software developer (Embedded automotive systems) working for a German automotive company for the past 4.5 years.
International Exposure: Visited Germany thrice (overall period of 20 months) on project assignments and as a technical coordinator.
that's good, something to write and explain about

Best performer in the department for two years.
Instrumental in bringing about a major change in customer perception about competence and software quality through useful suggestions.


GMAT score: 700 (Quant - 82% and Verbal - 80%)
AWA: 5.0/6.0

Extra curricular:
4 years as a NCC Cadet. Was part of the Republic Day Camp'99 and represented the State as the "Best Cadet" in

assuming this was during school, not much relevance

National Level competitions.
Avid quizzer
Active participation in debates, extempore competitions at school

Negatives:
No Social work (NGO's etc) not necessarily a negative. just one aspect that you can overcome through some other aspect. There's no standard receipe here remember

No managerial experience
think a bit harder on this one. Have u lead teams - officially/unofficialy? Or managed clients? All these and more can be projected as managerial work

Goals of an MBA:
Career shift from IT to Consulting/General Management
what would help is also if you think about the why? why do you want to transition to these areas? And which of these two as they are completely different ball games. will help to understand and take ur pick

As a long term goal, I'd like to couple my global experience /management acumen gained at the B-School and the professionalism of the IT industry and apply it to a sectors such as agricultural services (for example) in emerging markets.
well, that's diverse but any reason why? If this is something that you fancy, then strictly advisable to avoid it. Unless you can back up such a long term goal with some strong reasoning, it can be pretty difficult to defend in essays and i/v
Schools I'm looking at:
Top 20 US Schools
HEC Paris
Warwick
ISB (I know its far fetched, but I'd like to give it a shot)
University of Oxford's Said Business School

bit tough to comment based on limited information, but usually advisable to have some realistic schools in your kitty. Basis the limited information, the above schools would be in the ambitious to stretech category so think hard before selecting the schools

As an aside, you are so very right in this post of yours where you describe the "Ugly desi Dilemma of MBA-career-or-marriage" That's super germane to my case.

Regards and Many Thanks
Pavan

Cheers!
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Hi Sameer,

Please evaluate my profile and provide guidance...

--> My profile:
--> Name : Shyamal Mandirwala
--> Age : 24
--> Nationality : Indian
--> Experience : 3+ (specifics below)
--> GMAT : 670 (Q-48,V-33,AWA-4.0)

--> Undergrad :
- Electrical Engineering with 76.13% in last year from a Government Engineering College from Gujarat.
- Secured 2nd rank in University in final year results
- Secured 1st rank in college in 2nd year result
- Final Year project on Energy Auditing & Management with Professional Energy Auditors

--> Areas of Interest:
- Energy Management, Energy Finance, Entrepreneurship

--> Experience details:
- More than 3 years with India’s Largest Private sector Organization.
- My Job profile of Manager – Maintenance includes Handling day to day activities involved in maintenance of all the Electrical equipments in a Petrochemical Plant. It also includes Plant Shutdown activities. I have exposure to preparing Annual Budget for my department. I have a Green Belt in Six Sigma for ‘Problem Solving Approach & QC Tools ’.
- I have successfully conducted Energy Auditing , both Industrial & Domestic , for my organization.
- I am currently working on developing application for using Renewable Sources of Energy in my organization.(This activity is done along with my routine jobs. )
- Awarded ‘The Best Trainee ’ recognition out of 40 trainees after completion of 1 year training period in my organization.
- I was member of the team that represented my organization at national level & won Regional of National Competition for Young Managers (Held by All India Management Association) 2008.The theme for competition was : MANAGING DIVERSITY-THE CHALLENGES FOR INDIAN INC.

--> Extracurricular :
- Participated in many national level technical events during college days & secured 1st rank for Paper Presentation in a national level competition .I did presentation on “FUSION…AN ENERGY OPTION FOR FUTURE”.
- Cleared the screening of SSB, Indian ARMY
- Active participation in many Environment Awareness camps & Outdoor trekking camps
- Competed in State level Chess Competition
- Excelled in many exams on General Knowledge during school days

--> Extra info:
- I have started a group called ‘YUVA’,which has young professional from my organization, all in their twenties. This group works on developing & helping each other. Its motto is "LEARNING & SHARING".I am currently heading this group which has a strength of 30 members.

--> My Preferences :
- MIT,SLOAN ( For Energy MBA )
- UT,Austin ( For Energy MBA )
- Rice University ( For Energy MBA )
- ISB, Hyderabad ( For Core MBA )
- Uni. Of Colorado, Denver ( For Energy MBA )

--> I am interested in applying for next year. Please let me know my chances of getting into above mentioned B-Schools & also suggestions to improve my chances of securing an admission with Scholarship.
Hoping for a positive reply !!!
And many thanks for spending your precious time...

Hi MCB Team,
Any feedback on my profile?
Thanks and Regds,
Amit

Now that the ISB results are out, gives me immense pleasure to share the fact that friends who have been part of the MCB family have been able to crack admits. These include people from very diverse background (Army, IT, Banking, Consulting) including those who had been un-successful in their first outings.

Here's wishing best of luck to all those guys and hoping we can help many more people fulfill their ambitions.

Cheers!
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