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agavaqif
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Question about low GPA and some recomendation request 05 May 2014, 00:00
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Hi. I am planning to apply top MBA universities within 2 years. So I have got some time to increase my chances. First of all I think I should introduce myself.
--I gradueated from Middle East Technical University (Best technical university in Turkey, and in top100 in the world) Electrical and Electronics Engineering faculty. My gpa is low 2.22 (got A + from physics, modern physics, and B+ from probabilty ) but I have got explanation for this. I was BP( British Petroleum ) funded during university.
-- I began to work as Operational plant engineer in Turkey . Directly managed 32 people. Organised maintenance programs and etc.
-- After2.5 year of hard work I got promotion. Right now I am assistant turnaround manager. I am managing turnaround of 12 chemical factoires. I can not say that I directly manage people in this position, but I organize meetings and decide our next steps with 12 plant managers , maintenece planners andt etc.
-- I have got Distance Learning MSC going on in UK. And my gpa is 75. I looked in web and I think it means more than 3.5 gpa. I am not sure.
-- Durign high school I was in physics olympiads got gold medal in North Azerbaijan Physics Olympiad.
-- Also During high school for 5 year I organised special Theatre night, during university I got band and organised concerts and etc.
-- During university organised some charity works for poorer students.
-- During high school I was professional chess player.
-- I did not get GMAT yet. But I have tired my self with Manhattan CAT and without any prep I got 680. So I am sure that from real GMAT I will get more thnan 730 or 720.
-- Aiming For: HBS , Stanford , Insead (those are dream schools), Judge Business School, Said Business School, IE.
My questions:
1) I know that my BS gpa is low and MSC gpa is not that useful. I have got two options fort his
• First get some math courses from coursera type online services
• I can get some courses from Aegean Univsersity ( It is a univesity which is located in the city which I live) and create alternative transcript .
Second choice seems best to me but it will be hard to work and study in the university. Coursera will be much easier. So what you think, what should I do?
2) As I mentioned,I organised events during university and high school. But none of it is officcial. Does it still counts or I have to send some papers to prove that I have organised charity, theatre and etc?
3) When I was operational engineer I worked with our Project team . Our company had this Project manager and I worked with him within 2 projects from 2012 to 2013 for 1 year. He left our firm and doing great in the other country. I want to get recomendation from him. But I will apply to mba in 2016 so is it ok to get recomendation from someone who managed you 4 years ago?
4) Is there any other suggestions that can help me to improve my chances

Thank you very much..
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Question about low GPA and some recomendation request 15 May 2014, 07:46
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Well may be I should add some details to be evaluated)
Post MBA goal: Career in Consulting, and then start my own company
Start ups: Right now I have got 2 start ups going on . I am not sure if it will be succesfull or not but I have got big hopes. First one is about online financial service. Second one is related to 3d printing.
When do I apply: In 2016-2017 R1

It would be appricated if you can evalute my profile and give suggestions for problems and questions in first post.
Thank you very much
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Question about low GPA and some recomendation request 19 May 2014, 21:40
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agavaqif
Well may be I should add some details to be evaluated)
Post MBA goal: Career in Consulting, and then start my own company
Start ups: Right now I have got 2 start ups going on . I am not sure if it will be succesfull or not but I have got big hopes. First one is about online financial service. Second one is related to 3d printing.
When do I apply: In 2016-2017 R1

It would be appricated if you can evalute my profile and give suggestions for problems and questions in first post.
Thank you very much
Show more

Thanks for the additional information.

To answer your initial set of questions:

1) If you want to take the courses to show that you know how to perform in a traditional academic environment, then earning the As in that environment will be more effective. You've already gotten decent grades in an online environment. Now you need to show you can do so in the classroom. I don't see the Coursera courses being as effective. Obviously, I'm assuming you will get excellent grades in both environments. Mediocre or so-so grades won't help you.
2) It still counts. Schools will do background checks to verify the information.
3) Most schools will want one rec from a current supervisor. As long as you can ask your current supervisor and you still feel in 2016 that this former suprevisor is the best one and the school doesn't require more recent supervision, then yes, it's OK.
4) I've written a succinct book, MBA Admission for Smarties, on MBA admissions that has suggestions that can help you get accepted. It is available on Amazon around the world and is also available in Kindle format.

Best,
Linda
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agavaqif
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Question about low GPA and some recomendation request 19 May 2014, 22:28
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agavaqif
Well may be I should add some details to be evaluated)
Post MBA goal: Career in Consulting, and then start my own company
Start ups: Right now I have got 2 start ups going on . I am not sure if it will be succesfull or not but I have got big hopes. First one is about online financial service. Second one is related to 3d printing.
When do I apply: In 2016-2017 R1

It would be appricated if you can evalute my profile and give suggestions for problems and questions in first post.
Thank you very much

Thanks for the additional information.

To answer your initial set of questions:

1) If you want to take the courses to show that you know how to perform in a traditional academic environment, then earning the As in that environment will be more effective. You've already gotten decent grades in an online environment. Now you need to show you can do so in the classroom. I don't see the Coursera courses being as effective. Obviously, I'm assuming you will get excellent grades in both environments. Mediocre or so-so grades won't help you.
2) It still counts. Schools will do background checks to verify the information.
3) Most schools will want one rec from a current supervisor. As long as you can ask your current supervisor and you still feel in 2016 that this former suprevisor is the best one and the school doesn't require more recent supervision, then yes, it's OK.
4) I've written a succinct book, MBA Admission for Smarties, on MBA admissions that has suggestions that can help you get accepted. It is available on Amazon around the world and is also available in Kindle format.

Best,
Linda
Show more
What type of background checck do schools do?
Also as recomendation I will get one from current superviser. But the guy who left firm knows me very well and we are still sometimes talinkg in the phone. Also what do you think what are my chances for Insead, HBS or LBS ?
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Question about low GPA and some recomendation request 21 May 2014, 23:13
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agavaqif
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agavaqif
Well may be I should add some details to be evaluated)
Post MBA goal: Career in Consulting, and then start my own company
Start ups: Right now I have got 2 start ups going on . I am not sure if it will be succesfull or not but I have got big hopes. First one is about online financial service. Second one is related to 3d printing.
When do I apply: In 2016-2017 R1

It would be appricated if you can evalute my profile and give suggestions for problems and questions in first post.
Thank you very much

Thanks for the additional information.

To answer your initial set of questions:

1) If you want to take the courses to show that you know how to perform in a traditional academic environment, then earning the As in that environment will be more effective. You've already gotten decent grades in an online environment. Now you need to show you can do so in the classroom. I don't see the Coursera courses being as effective. Obviously, I'm assuming you will get excellent grades in both environments. Mediocre or so-so grades won't help you.
2) It still counts. Schools will do background checks to verify the information.
3) Most schools will want one rec from a current supervisor. As long as you can ask your current supervisor and you still feel in 2016 that this former suprevisor is the best one and the school doesn't require more recent supervision, then yes, it's OK.
4) I've written a succinct book, MBA Admission for Smarties, on MBA admissions that has suggestions that can help you get accepted. It is available on Amazon around the world and is also available in Kindle format.

Best,
Linda
What type of background checck do schools do?
Also as recomendation I will get one from current superviser. But the guy who left firm knows me very well and we are still sometimes talinkg in the phone. Also what do you think what are my chances for Insead, HBS or LBS ?
Show more

Here are a few of articles about the background checks:
https://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/01/15/ ... plication/
https://poetsandquants.com/2013/01/09/sc ... on-admits/
https://www.businessweek.com/articles/20 ... ound-check

Bottom line: be factual.


Regarding your profile, for INSEAD, LBS, and HBS, I think that if you get a 720-730 on the GMAT, these programs would be stretch programs given your grades. Your work experience and leadership is impressive. INSEAD also want to see international or at least multi-cultural fluency. You may have it, but I don't see it. Your chances are better at Judge and Said, but your grades could be an issue even at these programs.

Best,
Linda
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agavaqif
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Question about low GPA and some recomendation request 22 May 2014, 04:12
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Thanks for the additional information.

To answer your initial set of questions:

1) If you want to take the courses to show that you know how to perform in a traditional academic environment, then earning the As in that environment will be more effective. You've already gotten decent grades in an online environment. Now you need to show you can do so in the classroom. I don't see the Coursera courses being as effective. Obviously, I'm assuming you will get excellent grades in both environments. Mediocre or so-so grades won't help you.
2) It still counts. Schools will do background checks to verify the information.
3) Most schools will want one rec from a current supervisor. As long as you can ask your current supervisor and you still feel in 2016 that this former suprevisor is the best one and the school doesn't require more recent supervision, then yes, it's OK.
4) I've written a succinct book, MBA Admission for Smarties, on MBA admissions that has suggestions that can help you get accepted. It is available on Amazon around the world and is also available in Kindle format.

Best,
Linda[/quote]
What type of background checck do schools do?
Also as recomendation I will get one from current superviser. But the guy who left firm knows me very well and we are still sometimes talinkg in the phone. Also what do you think what are my chances for Insead, HBS or LBS ?[/quote]

Here are a few of articles about the background checks:
https://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/01/15/ ... plication/
https://poetsandquants.com/2013/01/09/sc ... on-admits/
https://www.businessweek.com/articles/20 ... ound-check

Bottom line: be factual.


Regarding your profile, for INSEAD, LBS, and HBS, I think that if you get a 720-730 on the GMAT, these programs would be stretch programs given your grades. Your work experience and leadership is impressive. INSEAD also want to see international or at least multi-cultural fluency. You may have it, but I don't see it. Your chances are better at Judge and Said, but your grades could be an issue even at these programs.

Best,
Linda[/quote]
I am originally from post sovet union country Azerbaijan. But I live and work in Turkey. I lived in Russia ,too. My wife is citizen of Russia. So my family itsel is multinational )/. I fluently speak and use 4 different languages. And I am gholder of Project managament certifiacate PRince 2, Next year I will get PMP certificate. SO it seems that pluses for me are
= From region that does not have much applicant to MBA
2) Good Work experience and leadership experience
3) Good GMAT( I am hoping )
4) International experience
And only minus in my application seems to be low grades. Well I have got explanation for low grades actually. May be next year I will contact to accepted .com to get your help more professionally thanks again
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Question about low GPA and some recomendation request 25 May 2014, 14:29
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agavaqif
Thanks for the additional information.

To answer your initial set of questions:

1) If you want to take the courses to show that you know how to perform in a traditional academic environment, then earning the As in that environment will be more effective. You've already gotten decent grades in an online environment. Now you need to show you can do so in the classroom. I don't see the Coursera courses being as effective. Obviously, I'm assuming you will get excellent grades in both environments. Mediocre or so-so grades won't help you.
2) It still counts. Schools will do background checks to verify the information.
3) Most schools will want one rec from a current supervisor. As long as you can ask your current supervisor and you still feel in 2016 that this former suprevisor is the best one and the school doesn't require more recent supervision, then yes, it's OK.
4) I've written a succinct book, MBA Admission for Smarties, on MBA admissions that has suggestions that can help you get accepted. It is available on Amazon around the world and is also available in Kindle format.

Best,
Linda
Show more
What type of background checck do schools do?
Also as recomendation I will get one from current superviser. But the guy who left firm knows me very well and we are still sometimes talinkg in the phone. Also what do you think what are my chances for Insead, HBS or LBS ?[/quote]

Here are a few of articles about the background checks:
https://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/01/15/ ... plication/
https://poetsandquants.com/2013/01/09/sc ... on-admits/
https://www.businessweek.com/articles/20 ... ound-check

Bottom line: be factual.


Regarding your profile, for INSEAD, LBS, and HBS, I think that if you get a 720-730 on the GMAT, these programs would be stretch programs given your grades. Your work experience and leadership is impressive. INSEAD also want to see international or at least multi-cultural fluency. You may have it, but I don't see it. Your chances are better at Judge and Said, but your grades could be an issue even at these programs.

Best,
Linda[/quote]
I am originally from post sovet union country Azerbaijan. But I live and work in Turkey. I lived in Russia ,too. My wife is citizen of Russia. So my family itsel is multinational )/. I fluently speak and use 4 different languages. And I am gholder of Project managament certifiacate PRince 2, Next year I will get PMP certificate. SO it seems that pluses for me are
= From region that does not have much applicant to MBA
2) Good Work experience and leadership experience
3) Good GMAT( I am hoping )
4) International experience
And only minus in my application seems to be low grades. Well I have got explanation for low grades actually. May be next year I will contact to accepted .com to get your help more professionally thanks again[/quote]

I think you have assessed your strengths and weaknesses well. Your PMP certificate will also help you. And a high GMAT would help a lot.

We look forward to working with you're whenever you're ready.

Best,
Linda