Requesting profile evaluation for MBA abroad (Fall 2022)

Question

Hello,

I am interested to do a full-time MBA (mainly 1-year programs) and shortlisted a few universities for the fall 2022 admission cycle. Could anyone please review my profile and suggest me appropriate universities? Thanks.

1. Age, Nationality, and Sex: 28, Indian, Male
2. Education: 1. M.S (NTU Singapore) and B.E from Tier 2 university from India (GPA around 4.6/5 and 8.1/10 respectively)
3. Work experience: 4 years international work experience in academia (as a research engineer in NTU Singapore).
4. Accomplishments: Good publications record in top journals/conferences, represented NTU Singapore in various conferences. Good extracurricular activities in campus clubs. 
5. Strong letter of recommendations from NTU professors, well known in my field (Computer vision, robotics)
6. Essays - Somewhat strong. 
7. GRE score - 326 (Q -164 , V- 162, AWA - 3.5)

Shortlisted universities : 
1. NTU Singapore 
2. NUS Singapore
3. ISB Hyderabad 
4. INSEAD Singapore 
5. Kellog 1 year MBA 
6. NYU Tech MBA 
7. Duke 1 year MBA

My situation is a bit strange as I am working as a research engineer in academia for the past 4 years. I would like to switch to product/project management post-MBA. Do you think my profile and academic work experience is good enough to get into the top MBA programs? 
Thanks!

Admissionado · Answer

AspirantMBA2022 : I am not sure if the 1-year MBA is the best call. Did you study business at the undergraduate level? Usually the 1-year MBA is for applicants with tons of business already in their background. I am not seeing that here, but correct me if I'm wrong. That being said, I would think the first three/four schools on your list are definitely appropriate. The last three/four are tricky because they are highly desirable in the US, especially Kellogg and Fuqua. If you'd like to discuss further and help move those essays from somewhat strong to very strong, please reach out for a free consultation: https://admissionado.com/free-consultation/

AspirantMBA2022 · Answer

Admissionado

Thanks a lot for your reply!

No, I have bachelors (B.E) and masters (M.S) degrees both in Engineering and don't really have business background. I prefer accelerated 1-year MBA programs as I don't want to be out of the workforce for too long and would like to return to my field of Software development post-MBA as a project/product manager..

Admissionado · Answer

AspirantMBA2022 :

Understood, but it's very hard to get into these 1-year MBAs. Yes, while most would like to not be out of the workforce for more than a year, there's a reason why the 2-year MBA is valued. That includes the time needed to complete coursework, network, etc. It's just a different experience. Your call, of course!

-Admissionado

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi AspirantMBA2022 , Thank you for sharing your profile. You have a good undergrad GPA and GRE scores. On the work front, you've already had international work experiences, which is critical for demonstrating a global perspective to adcoms. In the application, you must demonstrate impact and leadership ability. I would like to know what roles and responsibilities you've had in your work so that I can advise you more. Regarding LORs, your recommendations should come from persons who know you well, are familiar with your work, and with whom you have interacted regularly. These people can write a letter on your talents, successes, potential, personal and professional attributes. So, make an informed choice. In terms of business schools, you have a chance at NTU, NUS, ISB, INSEAD, and NYU. I would also suggest doing a two-year MBA program since it allows students to explore other post-MBA career paths through internships and other campus activities such as case competitions, clubs, and so on. Getting an MBA is both a personal and a professional decision. As a result, before making a decision, you must carefully consider the comparative benefits offered, considering your individual condition and circumstances. And as you're a career switcher, you may want to read an article on how to justify your career switch to AdComs; this article will assist you in making a convincing case. If you’d like, we are happy to hop on a call with you sometime this week to discuss your profile in length and further chances to the b-schools. Feel free to book a free session with us as per your convenience. How to maximize your chances for top MBA programs in R2 Cheers! Neha Hadke Profile Analyst & Channel Manager, MBA and Beyond Testimonials Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

AspirantMBA2022 · Answer

MBAandBeyond  Thanks!

Thanks for your question. I'm working as a software developer in R&D for the last 4 years. My day to day responsibilities includes coding, developing novel algorithms and publishing the results. I have represented my research institute in numerous conferences/trade fairs (Hannover Messe, various Airshows) and demonstrated my works. Further, I have numerous publications in high impact engineering journals. My LORs will be from NTU professors and scientists who supervised me until now.

With regards to your advice on 2 year MBA programs, may I know which universities should I be considering and I have a decent chance? Thanks!

AspirantMBA2022 · Answer

Admissionado

Understood, thanks a lot for suggesting the two-year programs. Do you have any recommendations with regards to the 2-year programs where my application would be competitive? Thanks!

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi AspirantMBA2022 , Thank you for providing the information. You can create beautiful stories that will showcase your abilities. When it comes to shortlisting schools for you, your post-MBA goals are quite important. As you wish to switch to product/project management, consider the following schools: NYU Tepper HAAS UCLA McCombs Imperial Duke Note: The b-schools listed here are the best choices for product/project management as a post-MBA goal. However, the list of schools needs to be improvised after you are ready with your 'Branding for MBA' - Branding is how you portray your profile to business schools. It plays a key role in identifying which schools you have the maximum potential of converting. It is the pre-work that we do with all our applicants. I hope this helps! Cheers! Neha Hadke Profile Analyst & Channel Manager, MBA and Beyond Testimonials Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

TheRedPen · Answer

Hello, Thank you for sharing your profile details. As part of deciding to pursue an MBA and more importantly the program, it is essential that you identify what areas of growth you are interested in. What are the key skill sets that you believe are currently missing or need to be refined. I would suggest that you try to better your GRE score, given your educational background. A score of 330 or above would definitely put you in a more competitive position to apply to the programs listed above. The current list has schools across geographies. It would be meaningful to understand your motivations to work in particular regions to be able to provide a more robust analysis of your school list. Please feel free to reach out to the team at The Red Pen - team.mba@theredpen.in for a detailed conversation on your profile and a potential road map planning.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  AspirantMBA2022 ,

Hope this finds you well.

The 1-year programs in the US generally prefer those with prior management education. Therefore, it is recommended that you give those a skip and look at 2-year programs in the US.

The first four are a good fit, otherwise (in terms of your profile). However, it would definitely make sense for your to apply with an enhanced GRE score.

Needless to say, the choice of school will also depend on the career goals you are putting forth.

All the best!

Requesting profile evaluation for MBA abroad (Fall 2022)

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