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Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ?

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kaptain
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Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   04 Jan 2010, 11:38
About me: 8+ years of software experience in SAP (ABAP Programming & Business Warehousing) which includes 2 years in UK.

Education: Graduate in Electronics from Delhi University (65%),
Post graduation(MCA) through correspondence (58%) [While working]

[People outside India can read the above as average grades from average Universities]

Ambition: MBA from a reputed International University. Looking for career change.

Problem: Assuming that I get a GMAT score in the 700-750 range, with my background what schools can I expect to get into? I believe the top 10 is out of the question because I wasn't academically brilliant, did not pass out from a very reputed school/college and have zero extra curriculars as well. An outstanding application and stellar reco's wouldn't help getting into the top 10 right?? So which schools should I even dream of getting into.

Until a few months back, an MBA was the last thing on my mind. But all of a sudden(yes, it all happened in about 2 weeks), I had this urge to pursue a management degree.. and a good one at that. However, my background/academics and lack of extra- curricular's are haunting me at the moment. Am still studying for the gmat, so don't want even an iota of doubt in my mind. What good would a 700+ do for me in terms of the schools I could apply into (and stand a chance to get into)?

After 5 years with IBM, the technical cum leadership nature of my work doesn't excite me at all. Neither inspiring is the work of my boss, or my boss's boss. So there's something wrong with the nature of work/industry itself and hence the urge to do an MBA to do something different. I prefer a career change rather than continue in the same line. Has anyone actually changed careers after such a long time? Most would do a 1 Year part-time MBA and continue in the same line because prior experience will work to their advantage. However I wouldn't mind the longer and expensive route of a full 2 year MBA if it works out for me(If only I could know!)

Any response/suggestions/feedback to the above will be greatly appreciated.

PS:- I will start doing some NGO work shortly but am wary that the schools may question the absence of extra curricular activities in the last 8 years :?

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kaptain
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   06 Jan 2010, 07:02
60 Views and still no comments:(( I guess someone must have some advice for me..

PS: I hope I've posted this at the right place. I see the text 'moved' although I posted it here itself.
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   15 Jan 2010, 08:56
Hi kaptain!

I'm not an expert but I was able to think of a few tips here for you. The biggest problem I see for you is not having a clear reason for why you want an MBA. Not liking your current career isn't going to be enough to get the AdComs jazzed about your application. I would really dig deep, do a lot of self-reflection, and think about where you want to go in your career. If you're able to identify something you're interested in and start volunteering or doing some work towards learning more about that career, then you have a story to tell. Right now based on what you wrote above, I didn't hear a story that differentiated you from anyone else. A 700+ GMAT score can't hide the lack of that story. Just my 2 cents and I hope it helps!
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   15 Jan 2010, 10:42
Thanks for the response... Really appreciate your reply.

You are correct. I haven't mentioned any reason as to why I want to follow an MBA. 'I don't want to do anything else' is definitely not what I will be mentioning in the essays. That would be suicidal... I like marketing and strategy. Although I have no background in these, I can get up to speed and do some basic groundwork once I am through with the gmat. I plan to spend some time thinking 'which MBA' after my gmat... although this is not the best situation, it is better than doing an mba just because a) all your freinds are doing it or b) it sounds cool or pays a lot.. I say this because one of my friends, who is in HEC at the moment did not give me an impressive answer as to why he was doing it when I asked him the question before he joined the school. I got the feeling that it was either peer pressure or the moolah which made him pursue a degree. At least I am following my heart!

PS: I am moving ahead full throttle with the preparation:)
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jimmyfunk
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   21 Jan 2010, 08:40
Hey!!

I guess you should at least start some community service now and build upon that. Saying that you have been doing stuff in tits and bits but XYZ gave you a platform to serve a larger group and that was more satisfying and stuff.

and am sure you got plenty of work exp and sth interesting must have happened all these years to bedazzle the adcom.
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bigoyal
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   21 Jan 2010, 09:21
kaptain wrote:
After 5 years with IBM, the technical cum leadership nature of my work doesn't excite me at all. Neither inspiring is the work of my boss, or my boss's boss. So there's something wrong with the nature of work/industry itself and hence the urge to do an MBA to do something different. I prefer a career change rather than continue in the same line. Has anyone actually changed careers after such a long time? Most would do a 1 Year part-time MBA and continue in the same line because prior experience will work to their advantage. However I wouldn't mind the longer and expensive route of a full 2 year MBA if it works out for me(If only I could know!)


I'll suggest you to first decide upon which career you want to shift to. Whichever school you apply to, the 1st quetion would be "why you want to MBA". I understand that in India the major reasons are hefty pay packages and attractive job profile. But still you need to work upon a better reason.

Regarding improving your profile, you can do lot of things like volunteer activities, taking some leadership initiatives, getting certifications in things like six sigma/PMP/etc
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   21 Jan 2010, 12:17
bigoyal wrote:
I'll suggest you to first decide upon which career you want to shift to. Whichever school you apply to, the 1st quetion would be "why you want to MBA". I understand that in India the major reasons are hefty pay packages and attractive job profile. But still you need to work upon a better reason.

Regarding improving your profile, you can do lot of things like volunteer activities, taking some leadership initiatives, getting certifications in things like six sigma/PMP/etc


You've raised some very interesting questions... which I would like to counter question:))

As for "why mba", in short (and highly ambitious) words, I would like to help organizations develop go-to market strategies, capture new markets, be innovative, develop the competitive edge and help them be recession proof(possible ???) etc etc to the best extent possible... This would be a highly unpolished answer and I have no background or prior experience in these so don't know where all this ends up..
Salary is not the point (if at all I get a substantial increase post mba i.e.)... Tech companies are paying really good these days.... I can go to US or UK on work permit and search for a job and get a really good package..Whats the point in being unhappy earning a good salary ? I am altogether bored with IT (Development and PM) both .... I have 8 years of tech experience, I think it will be some time before I break even the MBA tuition fees /expenses etc. So this is not about the money definitely. I am supposing that with my rather large experience, the colleges might not give any financial aid as well thinking that I could afford it:(

The one thing I wanted to question on was the PMP. I was seriously thinking of doing it till some days back. However, wouldn't the adcoms ask why i want to do an mba when I am already a PMP i.e already in a managerial line??? Is that really going to help?

I gave the gmat last year and messed up big time.. Have to attempt around April-May this year again. There's no way I am gonna leave this fight!
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   21 Jan 2010, 22:57
It may not be PMP only, I was just trying to give some examples. PMP would help if you want to work as Project Manager post MBA. The b-school loves to see how the candidate has been working towards his/her goal. For example, if someone wants to work in finance sector post MBA, adding a CFA or a related certification would surely help to convince b-school.

In your case, you need to decide upon post MBA goals, both long-term and short-term. Now based on these goals you may have to convince adcoms that you already have been doing something to achieve that goal. This could be either through some certification / your job profile / extracurricular etc.

Here are some of my posts you might be interested in:
why-mba-84855.html
indian-b-schools-accepting-gmat-scores-82525.html
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kaptain
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink] New post   22 Jan 2010, 00:25
Looking at yur post, I think you are interested in IT project management side(not sure though)... Conventional PM't is not what I am after.. I would like to be part of the Marketing/Sales Team etc.. So I think PMP will be not be of much use to me. Do you have any suggestion for someone interested in marketing ?

The gmat is my biggest hurdle.. I am not one of those guys who prepare 1 month before the exam and come whistling out the centre with a 750+ score and 10 minutes remaining in both sections.. So I want to give all the attention to the gmat first and do the rest of the introspection later... am gonna lose time with this approach since ideally I should work on all aspects of the application in parallel, but would like to take one thing at a time..

Had I felt like doing the MBA some years back, I would have had plenty of time at hands. I have seen colleagues sitting next to me filling essays around two years back but at that time thought they were wasting time doing an mba :shock: Last year I felt like I should go for one as well, not because of the pay or 'everyone is doing it' psychology... but I feel that I am ready for it and will benefit from it.[Again, this is not what I am gonna tell the adcoms]..
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Re: Which schools do I stand a chance to get into ? [#permalink]
22 Jan 2010, 00:25

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