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ramalo
Joined: 30 Jul 2013
Last visit: 28 Apr 2022
Posts: 124
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 44
Concentration: Strategy, Sustainability
Schools: ISB '16 Insead Sept '16 Darden '17 Goizueta '17
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V39
08 Sep 2013, 07:40
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hey askmbamission I don't have too many people around me pursuing or looking to pursue and MBA so its a little difficult for me to figure out whether the colleges I'm targeting are realistic or not. Hoping you can help me out here.
Indian Male, Age- 26
Work Experience- 5+ Years in total.
1 year in the financial services industry as a Financial Analyst and 4+ years as a Senior Manager- Business Development & Strategy at a diversified firm with interests in Textiles, Power and Higher education (most recent job). Also Co-Founded an internet venture in 2006 which I later sold off to the other partners making a decent profit on investment.
GMAT- 720
College- Cardiff University, Business School. Degree- BSc in Accounting & Finance Result- Upper 2.1 Degree. Topped year 1 and scored a first class in both year 1 and 2 but because of my fathers untimely death during Year 3 I had issues with my final year grades and hence the upper 2:1. Graduated in 2008.
Treasurer of the Indian society at the B-school. Developed the Corporate social responsibility charter for my current firm with special focus on education and sanitation (topics close to my heart). Working with the biggest environmental NGO in India on part time basis.
Target Schools- LBS, INSEAD, Kellogg 1Y, Booth, ISB, Darden, NUS and Nanyang
Reason for pursuing and MBA is to change field of work. Post MBA goal is to move into Management Consulting. Plan to gain some experience in the consulting field through a job/internship before the start of my MBA.
I think my application might look a little weak seeing how I haven't worked with a REALLY big multinational firm. The firm I'm working for has revenues of over $100m though. Working at a smaller firm allowed me to take up more responsibility relatively early on. I think through my essays I will be able to convey why I'll be a good candidate at my target schools.
Application fee at each business school is close to $250, thats quite a bit. So I am trying to narrow down my target schools. My dream schools are definitely LBS, INSEAD, Kellogg and Booth. But I'm not sure about which out of these I have a fighting chance at. Please help and also if you think I should apply to some other college kindly advise
Thanks
Regards
Indian Male, Age- 26
Work Experience- 5+ Years in total.
1 year in the financial services industry as a Financial Analyst and 4+ years as a Senior Manager- Business Development & Strategy at a diversified firm with interests in Textiles, Power and Higher education (most recent job). Also Co-Founded an internet venture in 2006 which I later sold off to the other partners making a decent profit on investment.
GMAT- 720
College- Cardiff University, Business School. Degree- BSc in Accounting & Finance Result- Upper 2.1 Degree. Topped year 1 and scored a first class in both year 1 and 2 but because of my fathers untimely death during Year 3 I had issues with my final year grades and hence the upper 2:1. Graduated in 2008.
Treasurer of the Indian society at the B-school. Developed the Corporate social responsibility charter for my current firm with special focus on education and sanitation (topics close to my heart). Working with the biggest environmental NGO in India on part time basis.
Target Schools- LBS, INSEAD, Kellogg 1Y, Booth, ISB, Darden, NUS and Nanyang
Reason for pursuing and MBA is to change field of work. Post MBA goal is to move into Management Consulting. Plan to gain some experience in the consulting field through a job/internship before the start of my MBA.
I think my application might look a little weak seeing how I haven't worked with a REALLY big multinational firm. The firm I'm working for has revenues of over $100m though. Working at a smaller firm allowed me to take up more responsibility relatively early on. I think through my essays I will be able to convey why I'll be a good candidate at my target schools.
Application fee at each business school is close to $250, thats quite a bit. So I am trying to narrow down my target schools. My dream schools are definitely LBS, INSEAD, Kellogg and Booth. But I'm not sure about which out of these I have a fighting chance at. Please help and also if you think I should apply to some other college kindly advise
Thanks
Regards
10 Sep 2013, 19:07
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi there,
Thanks for your post. Overall I feel you have a fairly strong profile for business school. The strengths of your profile based on the info you posted include:
-720 GMAT (at or above average at the schools on your list)
-5 solid years of work experience, with financial services and analysis/strategy experiences
-start-up experience
-some community involvement/NGO work
Unknowns:
-your essays/recs/interview
-details of the experiences you've had during your work experience-- examples of leadership, teamwork, making an impact, going above and beyond, communication skills, results achieved, and so on-- if you can pull out some of these key experiences it will really help your application/profile
-more detail about your goals.... do you have shorter and longer term career goals? You'll definitely want to answer the question WHY you'd like to move into management consulting as well. While consulting is a popular post-MBA field and very valid, you'll do better in the application process if you can articulate the rationale behind your career change decision and what about consulting appeals to you, and how you'll use the experiences you have from the past in that future role!
Definitely don't underestimate the importance and power of those essays-- lots of opportunity there to show who you are, what you'll contribute, and what you'll do with the degree after b-school!!
As for schools, I would think you'd have a chance at all of the schools on your list, IF you put together a strong application with very compelling essays, good recommendations, etc. A lot depends on those factors, once you have some solid experience and a good GMAT score. I wouldn't worry about not having worked at a large firm btw; while a well-known firm can be a small plus, generally the quality of your experience is what's most important so be sure to showcase that. It is a long school list, certainly. It's hard to advise which to cut without knowing more about the WHY you are interested in each of the programs on your list, though. LBS and INSEAD are of course great for international diversity (and check this link out for a comparison write-up between the two, https://www.topmba.com/europe/london-bus ... -vs-insead). You might want to pick your top 3-4 to apply to initially and then possibly one more outside your top 4 choices for a bit more of a safety school. I'd continue to research the programs as much as you can, talk to students/alum, read blogs from actual students, ask to get put in touch with them (admissions offices will usually do so), etc.
Let us know if we can help more. Good luck to you!
In general
Thanks for your post. Overall I feel you have a fairly strong profile for business school. The strengths of your profile based on the info you posted include:
-720 GMAT (at or above average at the schools on your list)
-5 solid years of work experience, with financial services and analysis/strategy experiences
-start-up experience
-some community involvement/NGO work
Unknowns:
-your essays/recs/interview
-details of the experiences you've had during your work experience-- examples of leadership, teamwork, making an impact, going above and beyond, communication skills, results achieved, and so on-- if you can pull out some of these key experiences it will really help your application/profile
-more detail about your goals.... do you have shorter and longer term career goals? You'll definitely want to answer the question WHY you'd like to move into management consulting as well. While consulting is a popular post-MBA field and very valid, you'll do better in the application process if you can articulate the rationale behind your career change decision and what about consulting appeals to you, and how you'll use the experiences you have from the past in that future role!
Definitely don't underestimate the importance and power of those essays-- lots of opportunity there to show who you are, what you'll contribute, and what you'll do with the degree after b-school!!
As for schools, I would think you'd have a chance at all of the schools on your list, IF you put together a strong application with very compelling essays, good recommendations, etc. A lot depends on those factors, once you have some solid experience and a good GMAT score. I wouldn't worry about not having worked at a large firm btw; while a well-known firm can be a small plus, generally the quality of your experience is what's most important so be sure to showcase that. It is a long school list, certainly. It's hard to advise which to cut without knowing more about the WHY you are interested in each of the programs on your list, though. LBS and INSEAD are of course great for international diversity (and check this link out for a comparison write-up between the two, https://www.topmba.com/europe/london-bus ... -vs-insead). You might want to pick your top 3-4 to apply to initially and then possibly one more outside your top 4 choices for a bit more of a safety school. I'd continue to research the programs as much as you can, talk to students/alum, read blogs from actual students, ask to get put in touch with them (admissions offices will usually do so), etc.
Let us know if we can help more. Good luck to you!
In general
ramalo
Joined: 30 Jul 2013
Last visit: 28 Apr 2022
Posts: 124
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 44
Concentration: Strategy, Sustainability
Schools: ISB '16 Insead Sept '16 Darden '17 Goizueta '17
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V39
10 Sep 2013, 23:53
Kudos
Bookmarks
mbaMissionJenK
Hey askmbamission
Thanks for the really informative reply.
Problem solving is what I love doing. I think I have a fairly analytical mind. Its something I've been doing in my current position as well. But now I want to pursue it at a much wider scale. Want to work and learn at a proper management consulting firm (hopefully one of the big 4). I like to stay ahead of the market. I'd love to provide consulting advice to clients that would help them achieve desired results. Moreover through consulting I'm hoping to widen my understanding of new sectors (preferably Petroleum and Minerals, both fields fascinate me). So pursuing a career in consulting will be the immediate goal post my mba. Long term goal would be to start my own business utilizing the expertise gained through my work experiences. My motivation for setting up my own business (maybe in Oil and gas or Mining) is my upbringing. I come from a family where no ones willing to take the risk of starting something on their own. From a very young age kids are told that should study hard and strive to get into either the civil services or a good engineering college (eg. IIT). I want to change this perception. Also post my MBA I would love to continue working on certain social issues that I consider exceptionally important such as providing drinking water, proper sanitation and good quality education to the poor.
I definitely realize how important the essays are. I think through my essays I will be able to demonstrate my skill set, especially leadership qualities. I'm one of the youngest people working at my firm and definitely the youngest working in a managerial position. My career progression has been much quicker than it normally is for someone at the firm. I've constantly taken initiative at work and the management has clearly acknowledged and appreciated it.
Main reason for choosing the above mentioned schools was a good placement record, focus on consulting and the fact that most provide loans without a co-signor to international students. I plan on working outside my country post my MBA for a couple of years atleast so good international recruitment by consulting firms is definitely a priority in selection.
Most R1 application deadlines are in early-mid october and I'm not exactly sure if I'll be able to produce my best essay work in the short time till then, considering I haven't even started with my essays. So should I wait till R2 or send in my application in R1 with as good an application as possible in the short time?????
Thanks for the help
Regards
