Research MBA Programs

Hi.

Could the experts here please evaluate my profile and lemme know which schools should I target?

I am 29. Indian mechanical engineer working as a scientist for the Government of India for six years.

TOEFL, 2014 118
GMAT, September 2012, 700 (Q49, V35, IR5, AWA 4.5)
GMAT, October 2012, 700 (Q45, V40, IR7, AWA 4.0)
GMAT, August 2014, 710 (Q49, V38, IR6)

I am involved in high altitude biking as a hobby and am starting to get into amateur bodybuilding (I have lost over 50lbs over the last 8 months. This too as a hobby.

I applied to quite a few schools in 2012 but got dinged at all of them without interview. They were all top schools.

I have shortlisted the following schools and will be extremely grateful if the experts here could help me guage my chances at these schools:-

Booth (R2)
Kellogg (R2)
Fuqua (Early Decision)
Yale
Tuck
Ross (R1)
Anderson
Johnson (R1)
Darden (R1)
Tepper (R1)
McCombs (R1)

I know that's a lot of schools but I'm gonna spread the apps out over R1 & R2 Except fuqua. So I am kinda also looking for a strategy here. I am personally highly inclined towards Booth, Kellogg, Fuqua and McCombs. I know that my low GMAT score will pose a problem esp at Booth and Kellogg. That's why I am confused as to what should I do. Should I go ahead and apply to the higher ranked schools in R1 or should I first finish with the lower ranked schools, try to secure an admit, retake the GMAT (and hopefully score better) and then apply to Booth, Kellogg and Tuck? I have already taken the GMAT thrice (2 x 2012 and 1 x 2014) and I am afraid that any more misfires might weigh heavily against me, but then I might not have a realistic chance at the top schools with this GMAT score anyways.

Also, is it possible that my score on the TOEFL (118) might offset my low GMAT verbal score to some extent?

Please help with your valuable suggestions.

Thanks

Hi finmaster

Before I even venture out giving you suggestions for your profile or the schools the main part missing in the profile you provided are your goals after the program and the need for an MBA.

You mentioned you are a scientist for Govt India then where does an MBA fit in?

I will be in a better position to help once I know your goals/aspirations.

Thanks

Manya Abroad Team

I agree with the above poster, that without clearly understanding how you intend to use the MBA degree as a bridge between your past experience and your future goals, it is hard to speculate what your changes would be at any given school. Everyone reading this needs to remember that the MBA degree is a bridge --- it needs to make sense in terms of your pursuit of the degree now, at this time in your overall career plan.

[I'm a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard grad, and currently run the admissions consulting firm: MBA Ivy League in Manhattan]

Jillian, President & Founder
MBA Ivy League

www.MBAIvyLeague.com

Well, my career goal is to switch to a career in Operations Management.

I'm engaged to a US citizen and will be quitting my job and moving to the states soon. That's why I believe this is the best time for me to get an MBA in order to step into the business world.

You want your reason to be professional, not personal. You need to make a case in your essays that getting the MBA degree now is professionally The most logical step in your career progression at this time, in terms of BOTH your past experience and your goals. Saying you want an MBA degree, because you're getting married and moving to the U.S. will get you rejected.

Hope that helps -

Jillian, President & Founder
MBA Ivy League

www.MBAIvyLeague.com

Hi Finmaster,

I don't think a GMAT retake should be on the cards. Your past 3 scores have been consistent and I would not place my bet on a higher GMAT score when your next few months are anyways going to be split between work, applications and other commitments, and in all likelihood you will not have much bandwidth to overhaul your prep strategy.

Rather, focus upon the strengths- a scientist with the government sounds interesting- it can help you differentiate your profile from the Indian IT, operations and finance guys who mostly do an MBA from US. This differentiation can also help ease out the average GMAT score. But like others have pointed out, fitting in all pieces of the information will be important. Why do you need an MBA considering your background? What career gap does it help you overcome? What do you want to do after MBA? And which b-schools fit your plans?

Also suggest that you tailor down your list. As you would already be aware, writing b-school apps is a draining process. You will burn out before you can submit all these applications.

Most Indians score in the range of 35-38 on the verbal, although they have higher quant scores - 50 and above. So I would not say that your verbal scores will put you at any disadvantage.

We can help you analyse where you went wrong the previous time you applied- you can send us your application to one b-school and we will get back to you with our take on it. Send it at [email protected]