Profile Evaluation Request

Question

Hi,

Please let me know your thoughts. Looking for a second MBA or MPA (say at a school like SIPA Columbia). Motivations can be explained in app.

Male, 30 years, Indian with Significant International and domestic work experience

1) Brief description of your full-time work experience. What do you do?

Around 5 years in toto; led teams (size upto 30) across hierarchy, cultures and geographies given the nature of work

• 4+ years a Management Consultant with a large Indian IT firm (think TCS, Infosys; yes, such firms do have consulting business apart from IT)- I have worked in both Digital and Traditional Consulting- multi-vertical exposure (from Healthcare/ Life Sciences to Retail and Logistics) 
1. 2 promotions in 4 years, multiple awards, experience with leadership, etc.
2. Published a paper on 'Double dip recession' in a widely recognized finance journal published by a leading Indian university
3. Alum of the 2-year rotational program for Elite B-school graduates in India

• Close to a year of Pro-bono Consulting (for a mechanical engg. consulting firm)at one of the big 5 IITs (during my MBA from that IIT) in India (Advised on Business Development)- helped it grow 2-3x.

• Close to year of Project Management at a Social sector Organization in rural India-liaised with government as a part of my work

• 6-months Internship with Indian Army (successful beta stage acceptance of a critical project)

• 2-months Internship at a large US bank (think Citi, JP Morgan)- during first MBA at IIT

2) Your GMAT/GRE with breakdown, preferably in percentiles.

GMAT 740 (97 %ile; 50 Q, 40 V, 4 IR and hopefully 6 AWA) - Took GMAT 3 times- 660>690>740 in that order- My concern is IR (having scored 5IR in earlier attempt and now having 4IR), can you please share your thoughts?

3) College info: The name of the college, your GPA or grade average, your major, year of graduation. For any graduate degrees, please provide the same info. If you grades are low, please indicate if there were extenuating circumstances.

• BS (Electronics and Communication Engineering) 2009- 9.74/10 (Gold Medalist topper in a class of 250); a leading private university in India
• MBA (General Management) 2012- IIT (one of the big 5 in India) 8.52/10 (In top 10 out of 70; topper of Finance cohort of 30)

4) Significant college and post-college extra-curricular activities or community service, especially leadership experience.

Extra-curricular/ Sports

• Public Speaking (Multiple awards over the years all through school/ college- won nationally as well in all forms; captain of school/ college teams; office bearer of Toastmaster’s club at current firm)
• Dramatics (again same description as above)
• Volleyball and Swimming college champ
• Founder of Consulting/ Finance club at IIT
• Student Coordinator (committee member)of one of the largest college festivals in India (footfalls- 50000; budget 10m+ INR)
• Student rep- Convocation Committee 2011 (managing all aspects for 1500 graduands)

Community Service

• Founder of Social outreach group at my firm (providing vocation training to disadvantaged youth (200-300 since 2012)
• HelpAge India volunteer in school/ college (Fund Raising to the tune of 10000 INR) and some more like that (Don’t want to add a lot here for brevity)

5) Important certifications like CFA, CPA, FSA, or CA.
Six Sigma green belt and ISO proficiency (from IIT); multiple professional/ industry certifications at the current company

6) Your target programs. Please note that our experience is with the top MBA programs (FT, PT, EMBA, Sloan Fellows) around the world. If the programs you are targeting are not listed here, we may not respond due to lack of time.

I think I may be competitive at top 10-15. Please advise (given the cut-throat in the Indian IT male group)- open to Euro programs (one year also) as well. Sent my scores to Yale, Darden, INSEAD, LBS and UCLA.

7) When you plan to apply? Please specify round and application cycle, for example R2 2015-16 or R1 2016-17.
Applications for R1 and R2 this year

8) Your post-MBA goal.

• Short term goal- Tier 1 (big 3) Consulting. 
• Long Term goal- Use my experience in Healthcare, Social sector and strong background in technology to do well in the same business in India in long term (I know this needs some fine-tuning)- more specifically sector agnostic leading management consultant.

One last thing: Someone told me Indian IT may not have that much pull at top programs. I recently got an offer from IBM. Would it make much of a difference if I join them (assuming I do, I will be able to send my applications by R2)?

Thanks,
Monty

VantagePointMelody · Answer

Hi Monty,

Thanks for reaching out! So let’s get right to it…the loaded question is why are you seeking a second MBA? Couldn’t you arguably transition into an MBB consulting role through networking with your current experience and credentials? Answering that question loud and clear in your applications will be key. What do you think you lacked in your previous MBA that you hope to gain from a US or European MBA? And the answer shouldn’t be “access to top 3 consulting firms”!

With the answer to that question out of the way, you’ll want to focus on telling a tight and cohesive story around your work experience and why you made the shifts and decisions you made. From the summary you provided, it looks like you’ve hopped around quite a bit in your work experience so it will be important to shed some light on your reasons why and how these experiences have guided you towards your goals.

With that said, your assessment is correct, that you’re part of a competitive pool of over-represented applicants to top MBA programs. So you’ll want to think through and focus on what aspects of your profile will differentiate you. You can’t help your IT background, but what else makes you unique and may shed light on the unique perspective you will offer your class? Perhaps it’s a personal experience? In terms of your IBM offer, I wouldn’t take it only for the sake of your applications. You don’t mention the nature of the role but unless it helps you build a skillset or gain experience that will directly contribute to your career goals, the upside is likely minimal.

Your stats are good (don’t worry about the IR score in my opinion) and ECs are solid so no issues there. If you’re able to properly answer and address the questions above, I say it’s worth applying to the top 15 programs in the US and Europe.

Best of luck to you! If you’d like to chat further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly – [email protected]

-Melody

montys80 · Answer

Hi Melody,

Thank you for your response!

Some more information from my side to put things in context:

a. First business degree/ exposure was largely regional and technical in nature. With changing nature of my work (multi-industry/ function, emerging and emerged markets, etc.), my clients (Fortune 50 Global firms) and future goals, I believe a global mindset in necessitated and that is why the second MBA.

b. Most of the recruiting for such firms in India happens from campus and it is almost next to impossible to get a foot in the door otherwise. Besides, Big 3 firms may be just one of the outcomes of process and not my sole motivation

c. From a goal perspective, I am looking to broaden my horizon, gain international academic perspective from both peers and faculty, internships and eventually my target industry (read, job). I am looking to gain meaningful insights into qualitative aspects like leadership in a global setting.

d. There are distinct differences/ gaps in my current degree- which can explained in terms of specific courses at my target schools, professors, school niche (say, Duke is known for Healthcare wherein I have good consulting experience)- that I intend to plug.

e. Job switches: I have been in a single firm since graduating from IIT. I worked for a start up during my course at IIT and social sector firm for 1 year before IIT. Internships were done as a part of the program. Yes, the transitions can be explained but correct me if I am wrong- these were not random and do connect with my goals of becoming a leader with diverse experience across sectors- public, non-profit and private.

f. IBM offer is also in the Digital Consulting practice that I am a part of at my current firm. So there is continuity and connection with goals.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks again.

Monty

VantagePointMelody · Answer

Hi Monty,
Thanks for the clarifications. I’ve included a few more thoughts below. 
 a. Makes sense! In lieu of foregoing another 2 years in the work force for a traditional MBA, you could consider a 1-year MBA such as INSEAD’s or Kellogg’s. Programs like those would still enable you to get the international exposure you’re looking for with less time taken out of the workforce. 
 b. Good to keep an open mind! For the sake of your application story, it will be important to communicate a specific goal and vision for your post-MBA career but of course the reality is that you will consider various options once you’re in recruiting mode. 
 c. All valid reasons to seek an MBA! Of course your application story will be more focused on your career objectives and how an MBA is uniquely positioned to help you achieve them but all those things you listed will undoubtedly be part of that. 
 d. Perfect!
 e. I misunderstood your work experience from your description. It sounds like you have cohesive and valid story there so no issues. 
 f. Thanks for clarifying! I’m still doubtful of the upside in making a lateral move to the same team/function at a different company but if you feel confident that you can explain the switch and use it as a selling point of your profile, then go for it. It can’t hurt you unless you will be burning bridges at IBM by leaving less than 1 year later to start your MBA. Something to think about!

Best of luck!

-Melody

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