Profile evaluation request

Question

Greetings fellow GMATClub members,
I've been going through this forum in a great deal of detail for the past couple of weeks and its been really helpful in my bschool search. I would really appreciate a review of my profile given below:

Program: MBA(FT)
Area of interest in MBA : Strategy
Post MBA: Management Consulting (concentrating on technology firms)
GMAT: 770 V:50, Q:45
GPA: 3.7 GPA in MS in Computer Science from Top 40 state school. BEng (Comp. Engg) from Mumbai University (roughly translated to 3.4 GPA).
Work experience(WE): 3 years (by the time I start bschool) in tech division of top i-bank doing business analysis and and project management. My work experience includes leading technology teams in cross-division projects and working closely with business to solicit requirements, manage expectations and communicate progress. 4 years part-time experience working with management/tech/accounts of family manufacturing business during undergrad.
Nationality: Indian
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Extra-curriculars/community: minor (photography, film, south asian n/w at work, mensa).

I plan to apply to the following schools:
HBS
Wharton
Kellogg
Booth
Tuck
Columbia
Ross

Additional questions:
1. Are there any other schools you recommend that I check with strengths in managment consulting placements in the big 3 firms?
2. Should I consider replacing one of the above schools with Sloan?
Agreed that there do not seem to be any real safety schools on this list. I'm targeting schools with strong placements in the big 3 firms.

Thanks,
Ezekiel2517

ACNguy · Answer

Obviously your numbers are incredibly strong, both with a your GPA in demanding fields as well as your GMAT score. You also seem to have a good track record with WE although you didn't really specify how you've done in comparison to others at your firm (what set you apart).

My only concern is obviously that with your background and nationality you'll be competing with a group that is somewhat overrepresented and many of them will have similar numbers to you. If I were you I'd really focus on your project management work and try to differentiate yourself there. As you know, many people from your background have worked in tech in a variety of industries and thus that really isn't a differentiating factor for you. Focusing on the Project Management, and delving into the work you did for your family business could help set you apart.

Obviously, with your numbers, you'd be competitive to all of the top programs so I think your list is accurate. If you want to work in strategy after your MBA I might consider throwing in Darden as your "safety."

Like everyone says, your essays are your opportunity to separate yourself. Focus on the management and family business, and if you have any hobbies outside of work that could differentiate you really bring that angle as well. Your only concern is obviously the Indian decent, which puts you into a competitive group.

Good luck!

ezekiel2517 · Answer

Thanks mate, I appreciate the feedback. I do know it is really optimistic to target all these great schools with few backups, but my plan all along was the incorporate exactly the kind of career arc you're talking about, and maybe I'll become a lucky mistake at one of these schools. :-D

Below is a slightly more detailed career arc: 1. I started off with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and simultaneously started working designing the technology systems of the family manufacturing business. As time went on, my interest in technology remained strong, though my desire to remain in a purely technical field (get my PhD. in CS) waned, and I began to take on more business oriented roles in the business, launching a few productive($$) initiatives and leading people which got me interested in people and project management. 2. During my master's degree I specialized in project management thus moving more towards the management of technology. 3. Although I work in the tech dept at the ibank, my role is that of a business analyst and project manager. As a BA, I work as a conduit between business and technology (frankly I don't know all that much about either. The tech platform used by the system is way outdated), but I am able to gather requirements and communicate effectively between them. I act as the spokesperson for the project. As a project manager, I am responsible for the project start to finish through the software lifecycle and lead cross-division teams to achieve that end. I do the same level of work as the other people in my team (who are 20-30 years older than me) and have titles like VP, and have been very successful with all the projects I've led. The two people I will be getting recommendations from are my enthusiastic mentors, give me excellent performance reviews, and should be giving me great recommendations. 4. My career path of getting into MC in the short term, specializing in the tech industry flows with my past experiences. My experience as a business analyst (interviewing clients/eliciting requirements/presenting to the clients) and a project manager (strategic thinking, people leadership) strongly echo the required skills in the field. The reason I'm not ultra-enthusiastic about Sloan is that it has a reputation for being a lot more techy and quant-driven and I'm really looking for a school that focuses a lot more on management and core principles of business. Is my discrimination unwarranted?

isa · Answer

So a few thoughts:
- I think the schools you've identified are in a good range. I'm guessing you know H/W are both 'reach' schools, with the rest being in-range. As you mentioned, you don't really have any "safety" schools on this list. If you don't get in this year, are you thinking you'll reapply next year? If not, I'd consider adding a couple of schools as safeties. 
- For MC placement, when I looked at employment reports, it seems that nearly all of the top-15 schools place into the top MC firms so I wouldn't restrict yourself to the top 20 schools. 
- As you put together your app, I'd focus on distinguishing yourself from the 'male-Indian-IT' applicant pack. If possible, have someone who's less familiar with your background read your essays and ask them to describe what they think your job is and what your strengths/weaknesses are.

Hope this helps!

ezekiel2517 · Answer

Thanks mate.

I know I don't have any safety schools on my list, and I am quite prepared to re-apply next year if requried. I guess I asked myself the question while picking potential safety schools: Would I go there if that's the only school I got into?

Any recommendations on how I should break up my R1/R2 split for the 7 schools? I am just starting out with the process of storyboarding my essays and have about 3.5-4 months for the R1 deadline of all the schools. Is it feasible to make the R1 deadlines of all of them, or do you advocate a say 4/3 split?

isa · Answer

Can you do all the schools for R1? Yes. Can you do all the apps without harming their quality? That really depends on how much time you have with work/life.

If you want to split them between two rounds, I'd suggest:
R1: Ross, Columbia, H or W, K or B
R2: Tuck, H or W, K or B

A few things to keep in mind:
- if you get into schools during R1, you'll likely have to pay a deposit before you hear back from your R2 schools
- after the ED round, Columbia has a 'rolling' app, so applying earlier means you also hear back earlier

Ykisoa · Answer

you should be competitive at the schools

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