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Profile Evaluation Request...and some more

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shahibipul
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Joined: 13 May 2012
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Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '17 (S) Kellogg '17 (D) Tuck '17 (M) Ross '17 (D) Darden '17 (WD) Sloan '17 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.43
WE:Business Development (Manufacturing)
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Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 06 Jul 2014, 22:21
Hello Experts,

Let me begin by saying thanks as I find the responses here quite quick and elaborate, and the forum overall really interactive.

I am a relatively new MBA aspirant and have been largely getting all my knowledge through internet. I have few questions/ requests:

1) Profile Evaluation request:

Education:
Completed Integrated BTech and MTech in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT in 2009.
CGPA - 8.58/10
Academic Achievements - Nothing much really, other than GATE scholarship (which almost everyone has in IITs), and scoring a 9+ GPA in last 4 sems.

Work Experience:
Started working with a top manufacturing company as a Researcher post-college till Nov 2012 (3.33 yrs) and then moved to Market Development role in a new JV of my original company. Continuing in the same (Mkt Dev) profile for more 1 yr and 1 mth now.
Achievement - Have some good achievements to show as a researcher, such as, won most innovative project award withing the group, filed 2 patents, had a paper accepted in an International Conference, have successfully led and implemented 2-3 projects etc. As a market development professional, nothing extraordinary to show yet other than the fact that have been achieving the targets consistently. Of course the learning about the overall business has been immense.

International Experience:
Did a summer internship during college in Europe for 2.5 months.
Worked in Europe for a month while in R&D for a global project. Actually, led that project which was adjudged the Best Project of the year award internally.
Currently handle the market development activity for a neighboring country too, which is an emerging exports market. Visited and learnt the dynamics of the market, and helped the management make some important strategic decisions regarding investing there.

GMAT and Application:
Not taken the test. Expect a score of 720+
Will apply in R1 of 2014.

Extracurriculars:
Have always been an active sports enthusiast. Represented (and captained) school and college teams in cricket, football, volleyball in inter-school and university level. Have also represented company and won in Inter Corporate tournaments.
Besides, have served as Editor of the Global R&D quarterly magazine while in my company.
Held some positions of responsibility while in college, such as General Secretary Sports and Games, Technology Representative in the students gymkhana etc.

Post-MBA goal:
Want to get into a General Management/ Leadership role in Manufacturing sector.

Target schools:
Have not been able to decide on this yet other than the fact that it has to be in US plus INSEAD (Singapore); seek advice on match, safe and stretch schools.

2) Other than the profile evaluation part, want to understand which schools may be good fit for an applicant with my background and work exp? What are the top ranked schools I can consider within reach?

3) Given my background and work experience, what should be easier to justify: a marketing role post-MBA or a General Management role, considering I am interested in both.

4) Any advice on which industry should I target post-MBA, since I have not decided yet? I like my present industry but understand that a) it may be too niche and b) in developed countries it may not be on an upward growth curve.

Pretty exhaustive list of questions I know, but would really appreciate a response and a discussion.

Thanks and wish you a happy new year!!

Originally posted by shahibipul on 31 Dec 2013, 01:02.
Last edited by shahibipul on 06 Jul 2014, 22:21, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   31 Dec 2013, 03:26
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shahibipul wrote:
H
2) Other than the profile evaluation part, want to understand which schools may be good fit for an applicant with my background and work exp? What are the top ranked schools I can consider within reach?

3) Given my background and work experience, what should be easier to justify: a marketing role post-MBA or a General Management role, considering I am interested in both.

4) Any advice on which industry should I target post-MBA, since I have not decided yet? I like my present industry but understand that a) it may be too niche and b) in developed countries it may not be on an upward growth curve.

Pretty exhaustive list of questions I know, but would really appreciate a response and a discussion.

Thanks and wish you a happy new year!!


Hello there good sir,

So first of all, you really have a lovely profile. There may be something a bit "plain vanilla" about what I read here, but that vanilla is high quality vanilla, and plenty of people like vanilla ice cream (Did my metaphor just get out of hand? methinks so)…

Aaaaaanyhow to get back to the matter at hand. You have fantastic grades from a fantastic school (from which Top MBAs draw the large majority of their Indian applicants), with excellent work experience, and some international work to boot. PLUS you have the bonus of being an "inventor" with not one but TWO patents under your belt! Amazing. Besides that your ECs are fine, and your goals make sense. The only thing I didn't see in your post was volunteer work, and if you don't have any, you may want to quickly start something up now.

I think with your profile you can reasonably apply to Top 20 schools. Apply to MORE rather than less schools (just to beat the odds of your massive and massively difficult applicant pool), and hopefully with a fantastic application and amazing essays you will do well.

On to your specific questions:

2) It doesn't matter all that much since you are aiming for Top schools. Honestly, any school in the Top10 Top20 will be good, since anyhow you are looking in manufacturing, which is scattered all over the place and not necessarily concentrated in one area. In Europe INSEAD and IMD are very strong with industry.

3) General Management seems to make more sense from what I read here. Your knowledge + your inventiveness seems to fit more this role better than marketing in which you don't necessarily need to have the technical expertise that you have.

4) If you like your industry stick to it for your goals. There will always be a need for Metallurgical Engineers, so although the industry may not be in a massive growth phase, I would believe that you are quite employable (especially given the two patents you already worked on)

And there you go!
I hope I have answered all your question. If you got more just drop a line,

Happy New Years!
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shahibipul
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Joined: 13 May 2012
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Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '17 (S) Kellogg '17 (D) Tuck '17 (M) Ross '17 (D) Darden '17 (WD) Sloan '17 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.43
WE:Business Development (Manufacturing)
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   03 Jan 2014, 04:26
Thanks a lot Jon for your valuable inputs. Will work on the voluntary work part and should have something to show by the time I apply.

However, I would like to pick your brains a bit more on the schools selection (point 2). Am encouraged by the fact that Top 20 is realistic for me, but 20 is a pretty big list. I am able to shortlist schools based on factors like mode of teaching, class size, incoming class profile etc. but I want your suggestion on two counts (only US schools): a) of these top 20, which should be match schools based on my profile b) should I prefer any particular Geography (within USA), if I want to stick to my industry. Also, forgot to mention an important point - I'd be 30 at the time of application, should that influence my decision on schools?
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   05 Jan 2014, 00:47
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shahibipul wrote:
Thanks a lot Jon for your valuable inputs. Will work on the voluntary work part and should have something to show by the time I apply.

However, I would like to pick your brains a bit more on the schools selection (point 2). Am encouraged by the fact that Top 20 is realistic for me, but 20 is a pretty big list. I am able to shortlist schools based on factors like mode of teaching, class size, incoming class profile etc. but I want your suggestion on two counts (only US schools): a) of these top 20, which should be match schools based on my profile b) should I prefer any particular Geography (within USA), if I want to stick to my industry. Also, forgot to mention an important point - I'd be 30 at the time of application, should that influence my decision on schools?


Well, some things to think about are:
- Connections to your industry (who recruits at said schools)
- Location preference (if you have one)
- Personal fit (this is the hardest one to understand without actually attending the school, but by reading everything you can get your hands on, speaking to people and visiting, you can figure this out)
- School size and teaching methodology


And so on. If you send me your short list + reasoning behind all your choices, I can critique it for you and perhaps make some suggestions for changes/additions,

Best,
JF
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shahibipul
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Manager
Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 57
Own Kudos [?]: 14 [0]
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '17 (S) Kellogg '17 (D) Tuck '17 (M) Ross '17 (D) Darden '17 (WD) Sloan '17 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.43
WE:Business Development (Manufacturing)
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   06 Jan 2014, 00:08
Great, will get back to you for suggestions once I have arrived ar my list. No comments on the age factor?
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   06 Jan 2014, 06:42
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shahibipul wrote:
Great, will get back to you for suggestions once I have arrived ar my list. No comments on the age factor?


Oh.. I forgot to answer that. 30 is totally fine. On the older side, but still pretty "normal".
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shahibipul
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Manager
Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 57
Own Kudos [?]: 14 [0]
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '17 (S) Kellogg '17 (D) Tuck '17 (M) Ross '17 (D) Darden '17 (WD) Sloan '17 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.43
WE:Business Development (Manufacturing)
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   10 Jun 2014, 23:47
Hi Jon,

Long time! But have made some progress with the application and schools. Have a decent GMAT score now (740, V41, Q49, AWA 4.5 :( and IR 7). Want to discuss with you my choice of schools and chances of getting through those. My selection has been guided primarily by my post MBA goal, which is to take up a Gen Mgmt role in manufacturing sector (have a somewhat clearer idea on the exact companies to target, but that discussion is for another day!). Geography is not a big factor, but have stuck to schools in East Coast and Midwest. So, here goes my list:

1) Harvard: Gen Mgmt and the 'halo' around Harvard! :)
2) Kellogg: Brand value; Marketing focus suits me given my current Mkt Dev role (plus more than decent for Gen Mgmt); strong community aspect
3) Tuck: Like everything about it: course structure, close knit group, idyllic location, small class size
4) Darden: Strong faculty; Gen Mgmt focus (some more research needed on my part). One thing I am a bit unsure about is the predominant case study approach, having studied all my life through a traditional lecture method.
5) Ross: MAP seems to be the deal clincher here, good manufacturing focus, like the sport culture part :)
6) Sloan: In two minds over this, given the apparent 'geekiness' and a strong tech focus. At the same time I feel my R&D background and filed patents might make me a good candidate (do they?). Plus MIT as a brand esp for an engineering student from India, is huge!!
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   12 Jun 2014, 15:07
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shahibipul wrote:
Hi Jon,

Long time! But have made some progress with the application and schools. Have a decent GMAT score now (740, V41, Q49, AWA 4.5 :( and IR 7). Want to discuss with you my choice of schools and chances of getting through those. My selection has been guided primarily by my post MBA goal, which is to take up a Gen Mgmt role in manufacturing sector (have a somewhat clearer idea on the exact companies to target, but that discussion is for another day!). Geography is not a big factor, but have stuck to schools in East Coast and Midwest. So, here goes my list:

1) Harvard: Gen Mgmt and the 'halo' around Harvard! :)
2) Kellogg: Brand value; Marketing focus suits me given my current Mkt Dev role (plus more than decent for Gen Mgmt); strong community aspect
3) Tuck: Like everything about it: course structure, close knit group, idyllic location, small class size
4) Darden: Strong faculty; Gen Mgmt focus (some more research needed on my part). One thing I am a bit unsure about is the predominant case study approach, having studied all my life through a traditional lecture method.
5) Ross: MAP seems to be the deal clincher here, good manufacturing focus, like the sport culture part :)
6) Sloan: In two minds over this, given the apparent 'geekiness' and a strong tech focus. At the same time I feel my R&D background and filed patents might make me a good candidate (do they?). Plus MIT as a brand esp for an engineering student from India, is huge!!


"Decent"?? Are you kidding me? That's a bit of an understatement there aint it? I'd call it a monster GMAT score :)
So first of all, I think a big hefty congratulations is in order, yeah? Well there you go, congrats.

Your school list is basically a good one, and makes sense. I think aiming for Top seems like the right way to go (You can add in one safe school in the 10-20 range to balance out your strategy). But that's that. Now it's basically just time for you to get started writing. :)

If there's any other way I can be of help, drop a line,
Best,
JF
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shahibipul
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Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 57
Own Kudos [?]: 14 [0]
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '17 (S) Kellogg '17 (D) Tuck '17 (M) Ross '17 (D) Darden '17 (WD) Sloan '17 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.43
WE:Business Development (Manufacturing)
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   06 Jul 2014, 22:23
Dear Jon,

I am a bit confused about who I should get my recommendations from. I worked with R&D for 3 years and 5 months (2009-12) and then with a JV company in Mkt Dev role for the remaining time i.e. 1 yr 8 months at the time of application. Though my current company is a JV of the former company, the role, the management and the people who supervise me are completely different. Now I have basically three options for recommendations:

1) My first boss from R&D who supervised me for 2 years (2009 - 11) and then retired - He is still associated with the company in a different role though and we are in touch ever since. I did some really good work under him, he knows me quite well and he will give me a good recommendation too.

2) My boss's boss from R&D - he is a foreign national, an employee of our Europe division and was the chief of India R&D from 2009-2012. I have worked closely with him, he sent me to a foreign assignment and used to review my projects regularly. As the editor of a quarterly magazine (among other things), I interacted quite frequently with him. I have discussed my career with him and he is supportive of my going for an MBA. He is himself and MBA and he has enthusiastically agreed to recommend me.

3) One of my seniors in the current job - I am unable and unwilling, too, to ask my current direct supervisor. Although I have done well in my current job and he has a good opinion of me, we really do not interact very much. He sits in the corporate office in a different city and I am in charge of a different region. We talk mostly when a problem arises or during monthly reviews. He does not know me well personally, in fact we have met only once right after I took up this position! Add to that, he will not encourage any idea of me going anywhere. There is another person, who is the Head of Sales in my region, quite senior to me and one of the oldest employees of the company. We have worked relatively closely - went together on a foreign assignment and meet customers together. He is not a great writer but will surely help.

So there are these three options. I had initially decided on the first two, but since the third one is from a current job which is more business oriented, I am reconsidering. Your advice will be really helpful.

Regards,
Bipul
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   07 Jul 2014, 13:50
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shahibipul wrote:
Dear Jon,

I am a bit confused about who I should get my recommendations from. I worked with R&D for 3 years and 5 months (2009-12) and then with a JV company in Mkt Dev role for the remaining time i.e. 1 yr 8 months at the time of application. Though my current company is a JV of the former company, the role, the management and the people who supervise me are completely different. Now I have basically three options for recommendations:

1) My first boss from R&D who supervised me for 2 years (2009 - 11) and then retired - He is still associated with the company in a different role though and we are in touch ever since. I did some really good work under him, he knows me quite well and he will give me a good recommendation too.

2) My boss's boss from R&D - he is a foreign national, an employee of our Europe division and was the chief of India R&D from 2009-2012. I have worked closely with him, he sent me to a foreign assignment and used to review my projects regularly. As the editor of a quarterly magazine (among other things), I interacted quite frequently with him. I have discussed my career with him and he is supportive of my going for an MBA. He is himself and MBA and he has enthusiastically agreed to recommend me.

3) One of my seniors in the current job - I am unable and unwilling, too, to ask my current direct supervisor. Although I have done well in my current job and he has a good opinion of me, we really do not interact very much. He sits in the corporate office in a different city and I am in charge of a different region. We talk mostly when a problem arises or during monthly reviews. He does not know me well personally, in fact we have met only once right after I took up this position! Add to that, he will not encourage any idea of me going anywhere. There is another person, who is the Head of Sales in my region, quite senior to me and one of the oldest employees of the company. We have worked relatively closely - went together on a foreign assignment and meet customers together. He is not a great writer but will surely help.

So there are these three options. I had initially decided on the first two, but since the third one is from a current job which is more business oriented, I am reconsidering. Your advice will be really helpful.

Regards,
Bipul


Bipul,
Basically your instincts are right. One and two are the better choices. Buuuuuuuuut there's a problem. Unless you have a good reason you pretty much HAVE TO have a rec from your current job (otherwise it looks weird, and the first thing I would ask myself is "what's wrong"). do you have any other options at your current job? Like a project manager? Or a manager's manager? Or someone else who supervises you who you could ask?

Jon
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shahibipul
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Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 57
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Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '17 (S) Kellogg '17 (D) Tuck '17 (M) Ross '17 (D) Darden '17 (WD) Sloan '17 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.43
WE:Business Development (Manufacturing)
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   08 Jul 2014, 05:16
There is another option. He was my manager's manager. But he WAS, and has now moved to another organization. He is willing to recommend me, and he is a terrific writer too, but then it is almost a year since he moved.So basically we worked together for some 7-8 months. Good option?
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   09 Jul 2014, 02:14
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shahibipul wrote:
There is another option. He was my manager's manager. But he WAS, and has now moved to another organization. He is willing to recommend me, and he is a terrific writer too, but then it is almost a year since he moved.So basically we worked together for some 7-8 months. Good option?


Seems good to me. You might have to explain why you chose him, but then again maybe not. but if he's a good writer and likes you, then he should probably be your recommender for your current job.
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shahibipul
Manager
Manager
Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 57
Own Kudos [?]: 14 [0]
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: HBS '17 (S) Kellogg '17 (D) Tuck '17 (M) Ross '17 (D) Darden '17 (WD) Sloan '17 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.43
WE:Business Development (Manufacturing)
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   01 Jan 2015, 23:27
Hi Jon,

Really happy to let you know I got accepted to Tuck and still have some hope with HBS, not that I am waiting for it :). You (and this forum) have been of really great help to me.
Sincere thanks.

Bipul
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Re: Profile Evaluation Request...and some more [#permalink] New post   02 Jan 2015, 02:25
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shahibipul wrote:
Hi Jon,

Really happy to let you know I got accepted to Tuck and still have some hope with HBS, not that I am waiting for it :). You (and this forum) have been of really great help to me.
Sincere thanks.

Bipul



Congratulations Bipul!
I'm veeeeery happy to hear that. You've been going at so long and hard. I'd say you deserve that nice admit!
:)

Best,
Jon
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