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shana22
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 03 Apr 2010, 08:51
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Moss

Just leave off something like passing 3 levels of the CFA just because it might detract from focus?! I literally just threw up in my mouth a bit. Passing 3 levels of the CFA (and having your de-facto charter) is a massive accomplishment -- absolutely keep it in.
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I understand that passing all three levels of the CFA is a significant accomplishment, but it really isn't going to make a huge impact on your MBA application if it doesn't fit into the puzzle. Getting your story right is more important, in my opinion. Perhaps the best approach, rather than exclude it or leave it in without speaking to it, would be to explain how it fits into your long-term career goals. luangm did that very well in his most recent response to me and I think he should build it into his future applications.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 07 Apr 2010, 23:29
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luangm, if you can get into Rotman, I'd say go for it.

Both of the big guys in T.O. are very selective for Canadian admissions and if you can get into either one, it's an incredible feat. Both have great international reputations and I think Rotman would be a good fit for you to figure out if you want to be in Marketing or Finance since their Marketing component is heavily finance based. I got into Rotman and chose Schulich instead just because Rotman's brand management courses were too finance-heavy, which I think would be right up your alley, and they have a ton of international opportunities (study tours, exchanges etc.). I wouldn't consider it "settling" at all.

I'm not sure if I'll be put on the burner for this comment, but I think us Canucks are really suffering this year as applicants because of what's going on in the economy. I think there is a huge bias to accepting Americans at USA schools over Canadians to try and rebuild - almost a buy American stance for applicants.

I think this age crap is BS. If you can sell yourself as a brand, you're in. Look at some of the best business leaders in the world today - age isn't a factor for them.

If you're desperate for an MBA, go for Rotman. It's a world-renowned school. And it doesn't hurt anything to apply.

If you're more interested in getting into a USA school (and I don't know why if you're looking to go to China), wait. One year is no skin off your ass.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 08 Apr 2010, 11:05
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I worked with an admissions consultant, and frankly, they're going to help you maybe 10%. I think of them like a coach. If you get a good one, they'll help develop your story. A coach won't ever make me a 6'6 basketball player. But they might help me define myself as the short but tenacious player. Or help me highlight other strengths.

For me, I needed that 10% boost. A few of the consultants offer a post-mortem -- so I'd highly recommend considering it if you're serious about putting together the best app you possibly can for next year. Good luck everybody.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 08 Apr 2010, 21:55
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All the best for your future applications.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 Updated on: 22 Oct 2016, 13:14
Originally posted by username123 on 09 Apr 2010, 09:11.
Last edited by username123 on 22 Oct 2016, 13:14, edited 1 time in total.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 09 Apr 2010, 09:24
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bwizzle
I worked with an admissions consultant, and frankly, they're going to help you maybe 10%. I think of them like a coach. If you get a good one, they'll help develop your story. A coach won't ever make me a 6'6 basketball player. But they might help me define myself as the short but tenacious player. Or help me highlight other strengths.

For me, I needed that 10% boost. A few of the consultants offer a post-mortem -- so I'd highly recommend considering it if you're serious about putting together the best app you possibly can for next year. Good luck everybody.

what is a post-mortem?
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Probably a "ding" review, i.e. telling you why you got rejected.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 09 Apr 2010, 10:09
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PBateman
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bwizzle
I worked with an admissions consultant, and frankly, they're going to help you maybe 10%. I think of them like a coach. If you get a good one, they'll help develop your story. A coach won't ever make me a 6'6 basketball player. But they might help me define myself as the short but tenacious player. Or help me highlight other strengths.

For me, I needed that 10% boost. A few of the consultants offer a post-mortem -- so I'd highly recommend considering it if you're serious about putting together the best app you possibly can for next year. Good luck everybody.

what is a post-mortem?

Probably a "ding" review, i.e. telling you why you got rejected.
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Right, they'll go over your application and tell you areas in which you could have improved. I tended to fall in love, even with the first version of the essays that I wrote. Well, my consultant would review, and then metaphorically punch me in the face and tell me that it was boring/lame/hackneyed/stupid and I'd rework over and over again.

If you have the right circle of friends, they can also do what a consultant does. For me, I needed both my friends and my consultant to really fine tune my story and my application. I thought of another crappy analogy -- like the difference between a self portrait and a professional photographer. They'll help you highlight the good parts of your body, while taking the focus away from the bad.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 12 Apr 2010, 17:14
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I shifted to US last year and took GMAT in January. It was a big big mistake to take it so late and expect to get in Fall 2010. I applied to McCombs and the whole application was hurriedly done in two days. My profile is 28/F/Indian/740 GMAT/3.8 GPA/Semi-conductor engineer. I didnt join any forums and was completely ignorant of the way the whole application process works. I just trusted my scores would help me get into a good institute. It shocks me now after reading about my fellow applicants how I could even dare to apply without any decent research work on any institute. So I wasted my money and got dinged from McCombs, Duke and Berkeley. It was the last round for the institutes and now I am not at all surprised that I got dinged.

I am working on getting my application together for Fall 2011. And this time I need all the help that I can get.
My weak point is EC. I am trying to make up for it and will need a lot of advice on everything.

I am aware now of the vast applicant pool from the background similar to mine and need advice on the institutes I should focus on. I am interested in Finance and have already started courses on Statistics and SAS programming.

Any advice will help a lot as right now I seem to be completely clueless and needless to say, depressed.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 02:01
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Nothing to be depressed about at all with your stats.

Just make sure to get in R1 and create a cohesive "story" about why you want your MBA and what you are going to do with it.

There are quite a few Indian applicants on these forums and I'm sure some would be more than willing to help you more!




indtous
I shifted to US last year and took GMAT in January. It was a big big mistake to take it so late and expect to get in Fall 2010. I applied to McCombs and the whole application was hurriedly done in two days. My profile is 28/F/Indian/740 GMAT/3.8 GPA/Semi-conductor engineer. I didnt join any forums and was completely ignorant of the way the whole application process works. I just trusted my scores would help me get into a good institute. It shocks me now after reading about my fellow applicants how I could even dare to apply without any decent research work on any institute. So I wasted my money and got dinged from McCombs, Duke and Berkeley. It was the last round for the institutes and now I am not at all surprised that I got dinged.

I am working on getting my application together for Fall 2011. And this time I need all the help that I can get.
My weak point is EC. I am trying to make up for it and will need a lot of advice on everything.

I am aware now of the vast applicant pool from the background similar to mine and need advice on the institutes I should focus on. I am interested in Finance and have already started courses on Statistics and SAS programming.

Any advice will help a lot as right now I seem to be completely clueless and needless to say, depressed.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 08:56
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Thanks cyrez8. Theres one major drawback. My AWA score is 5. Should I take GMAT again?
Will it really matter when I apply to top 10 schools?
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 09:44
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indtous
I shifted to US last year and took GMAT in January. It was a big big mistake to take it so late and expect to get in Fall 2010. I applied to McCombs and the whole application was hurriedly done in two days. My profile is 28/F/Indian/740 GMAT/3.8 GPA/Semi-conductor engineer. I didnt join any forums and was completely ignorant of the way the whole application process works. I just trusted my scores would help me get into a good institute. It shocks me now after reading about my fellow applicants how I could even dare to apply without any decent research work on any institute. So I wasted my money and got dinged from McCombs, Duke and Berkeley. It was the last round for the institutes and now I am not at all surprised that I got dinged.

I am working on getting my application together for Fall 2011. And this time I need all the help that I can get.
My weak point is EC. I am trying to make up for it and will need a lot of advice on everything.

I am aware now of the vast applicant pool from the background similar to mine and need advice on the institutes I should focus on. I am interested in Finance and have already started courses on Statistics and SAS programming.

Any advice will help a lot as right now I seem to be completely clueless and needless to say, depressed.
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If finance is your thing, you might want to take a look at CFA too.
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indtous
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 09:46
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But doesnt CFA require 3yrs experience in Finance field?
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nikheel
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 10:14
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But doesnt CFA require 3yrs experience in Finance field?
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Thats needed for becoming a charter-holder, which comes after passing all the 3 levels.
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adude
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 10:18
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indtous
Thanks cyrez8. Theres one major drawback. My AWA score is 5. Should I take GMAT again?
Will it really matter when I apply to top 10 schools?
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Your AWA/GMAT is fine. I think the best thing you can do for next year is get your story straight. You need to have a cohesive reason for attending a full-time MBA program that fits into your overall life story. I would adivse against adding something seemingly irrelevant to your current career path (like passing a CFA test) or your could come across as scattered and confused. I don't think a top 10 should be out of reach for you, but I'd apply to a good sampling of schools throughout the top 20 and let the cards fall where they may.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 10:28
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I'd like to add that I know nothing about finance, and if you want to push the finance angle, and passing the CFA does that, go for it. But I would personally not apply to a business school as an engineer saying that I finally found my true calling in life and it happens to be finance. That sounds like instant ding material.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 11:04
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Heres my story and I need advice on the right approach.
I am in US on depedent visa and so cant work. Had to resign from job last year after getting married and suddenly found myself jobless. Realized its not easy to get a job here n get h1b sponsored. Going for MBA was always the goal. So I enrolled for some courses in the institute and worked on GMAT preparation. Now I need to utilise this time to get into a good college or this break from work is not justified at all. I have a lot of free time but I need to channelise it. I dont wish to come out as a confused candidate. My weak point is my EC. I have learnt one language in this break and in the process of learning another. I am also making a website on books (fiction nad non-fiction). I have never been gr8 on community service so now evn if I do get involved, will it hold much importance at this point of time?
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 11:20
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indtous
Heres my story and I need advice on the right approach.
I am in US on depedent visa and so cant work. Had to resign from job last year after getting married and suddenly found myself jobless. Realized its not easy to get a job here n get h1b sponsored. Going for MBA was always the goal. So I enrolled for some courses in the institute and worked on GMAT preparation. Now I need to utilise this time to get into a good college or this break from work is not justified at all. I have a lot of free time but I need to channelise it. I dont wish to come out as a confused candidate. My weak point is my EC. I have learnt one language in this break and in the process of learning another. I am also making a website on books (fiction nad non-fiction). I have never been gr8 on community service so now evn if I do get involved, will it hold much importance at this point of time?
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Never too late to get into community service or start working on more ECs. There are a lot of people out there who lost jobs and are looking to go to grad school. b schools appreciate it if you spent this intermediate time meaningfully (its also an optional essay in some schools)

Given your visa status, you might want to look at non-profit/university kind of jobs too. There is no quota/timelimit for H1's sponsored by non-profits. You can find job portals online that deal with jobs in non-profits exclusively
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 11:32
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I am enrolling for statistics and accounting classes as I am sure it will help me later. I will get involved with community service here. I guess I can get something here in the university. So I need to work on my EC and a clear mindset on my goals. I have a good WE with lots of teamwork. But I am worried about this one yr break. I guess I will get going on building up my EC.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 12:18
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I agree with Nikheel, a one year break doesn't need to be that big of a deal if you can show that you spent your time constructively. I wouldn't recommend an admissions consultant for many people, but your situation is a little tricky and you might want to think about using one to help craft your story and essays if you're dead set on a top 10. But without one, and given your GMAT score, you should be able to snag an admit to a top 10-20 if you apply to enough schools next year with a coherant plan for the future.
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The "Going nowhere" Thread 2010 13 Apr 2010, 12:33
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I guess I will have to start work on my application to have a story worth telling. I will think about an admission consultant. Thanks a lot for this advice as it didnt cross my mind to get help from a consultant.
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