Profile Evaluation : 710(48,38)-Project Manager + Family Biz

Question

GMAT : 710 (48, 38) , Project Manager, Family Business

Start of course : September 2013

GMAT : 710 (48, 38)

Graduate : BE in Information Science From PESIT, Visveswaraya Technology University.
Graduate Score : 76%

Work Experience : 4 years

* Working as a Project Manager in an IT major mentoring 8 direct-reports and handling Recruitment, Performance Appraisals and Budget proposals. (Grew team from 2 members (including me) to 12 members in less than 2 years)

* Simultaneously gained Business work experience & knowledge in Export/Import; E-Scrap; Mining; Taxation matters; Corporate law

Community Service

* Co-founder of the school alumni fund which caters to financially-weak and meritorious students

Extra Curricular

* Traveled and set foot in 16 different countries ranging in 3 continents for both business and pleasure

Post MBA Goal :

* Long-term : Want to start an international business of Electronic Scrap recycling
 * Short-term : Be an Operations consultant and gain knowledge/experience which will help me in my long-term goal

My Questions :

* I want to apply to only US schools. What should be my target schools? What are Realistic, Safe and Sure schools for me?
 * What are my chances of getting into these start up schools? 
 * How are the prospects of Scholarships?
 * Should I retake my GMAT (target >740) to get into the Top 10 schools?
 * What is the scope / future prospects of Operations consulting?

Admissionado · Answer

Looking good to start off.
Two questions for you which will help me evaluate you better:
1. Are you saying you MANAGE 12 leads? Or is this only project based?
2. Write me more about your family business, including its industry, size, number of workers, etc. could be interesting!!!

ritzoo · Answer

Hi,

Here are more details :

1. As a Project manager : I did manage both projects and some aspects of people management including Performance appraisals, Recruitment etc.
2. In Business :
• Knowledge in Taxation matters and company matters.
• Started business of Exporting goods, from research till execution
• Number of Workers = 15 - 20
• Experienced in Precious metal scrap business
• Researched and studied various metal business including recycling of E-Scrap, mining waste etc.
• Trading of other material including Copper Sulphate (Chemical), Scrap
• Researched and studied manufacture of Nickel Sulphate (Chemical)
• Other start-up ideas including Trading of Plywood, Cotton, palm oil etc

(Range of industries, but have most experience with Recycling of E-Scrap and its export)

Admissionado · Answer

Thanks for the extra info!
Sooo, first of all, I don't think you need to retake your GMAT. Especially if you are applying this year. Right now you will need to concentrate all of your efforts on the Bschool applications. If you are applying next year, sure why not? Then you would have the time and luxury, and why not go for the "extra edge" But a 710 is good enough to get you in anywhere.

I do like your family business. It's not so large, but it's also not so small, and if you can make a convincing argument as to how you will transform this business into an industry leader, you would have some very strong goals!

What schools for you? That's up to you and there are lots out there... Let's say that the Top 5 or so will be a reach (H/S/W/Booth/Sloan). At the rest of the school in the Top 20 you would be more or less competitive. And for a safe school choose one or two out of the top 20 that fits your goals (for safe schools FIT is VITAL!!!). For your goals (family business, or general management) any program is good for you so you have to see which ones you like.

For scholarships, essentially the way it works is that if you apply to more schools that you would be a stronger candidate at (so we are talking about more schools out of the Top 20), then you will increase your chances of getting a scholarship.

Hope this helps!

ritzoo · Answer

Thanks for the wonderful reply Jon!

Some follow up questions :
1. How should I showcase my business along with the Project management experience that I have? Should it be on resume? or just on the essays? 
2. Since I had managed to do both IT Project management and Family business, would this backfire? (on ethical grounds)
3. I am planning to target 2 of the top 10 schools, 2 in top 10-20..

Admissionado · Answer

1. In BOTH of course!!!!

2. I'm not sure what you mean here... why would anyone have a problem with the idea that you were moonlighting at the family business? This seems normal to me. 3. Okay. That's a good start. I would also add one or two out of the top 20 as safe schools.

ritzoo · Answer

Hi Jon,

One dilemma I am in is regarding the Letter of Recommendation :
Apart from the LOR from my immediate manager in the company that I work for (full time), I can get a Letter of Recommendation from a senior manager (2nd to CEO) of the only Copper mining company in India. I have interacted a lot with him over past 4 years for my family business and he will surely have a word or two of praise for me.

Would it be okay to take a LOR from him ?
(One from my manager and one from him)

Would it be okay to take a LOR from him ? (One from my manager and one from him)

Admissionado · Answer

It sounds like it could be a good idea. It's a bit hard for me to be sure without knowing ALL the possible recommenders, and also knowing your profile deeper, but if both of these people would write you strong (read: excited!!) recommendations, sure, why not??

Profile Evaluation : 710(48,38)-Project Manager + Family Biz

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