I intend on applying starting R1 this year, for a full time MBA program starting in 2016.
Reasons for pursuing an MBA would be: develop my personality and skills for higher managerial roles; explore my capability on the Strategy Consulting front; equip myself with the knowledge and skill to start a business venture.
My details are as follows:
- - GMAT: 740 (Q50, V40, IR 8, AWA 4.5)
- TOEFL: 112 (R30 L30 S24 W28)
- Work Ex:
-- 4yrs working in Business Analytics in the Finance domain (Financial Services). Clients/employers have been banking/financial services majors from the US and the UK.
-- Multiple awards across projects.
-- Instrumental in realization of a significant cost save opportunity for one of the employers. Currently working as a strategy expert for one of my current employer's clients.
-- Roles have ranged from business development to business analysis, project management, operational strategy consulting, marketable intelligence creation and data modeling, stretching further into mentoring of juniors throughout the tenure post 1st year.
-- Consistently rated among the top employees. Good rapport with managers.
-- Been involved with workplace event organizing committees.
-- Involvement in workplace cricket events.
- Education:
-- M.Sc. (5yr Integrated) in Mathematics and Scientific Computing from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (Admitted through JEE-06).
-- CGPA 7.7/10 (Translates to 3.58, as per WES).
-- Department rank 3.
-- Course involved pure and applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Modeling, basics of Algorithms and computer languages.
-- Internships in the IT sector. Academic projects done related to finance.
-- Taught underprivileged school children from a nearby village, over an year.
-- Experience in leading event management and hopitality responsibilities through institute festival organizing committees
- Other significant interests:
-- Photography: Attended a certificate workshop. Maintaining a facebook page on the same.
-- Online gaming, music, gadgets.
-- Occasionally like to help out the less privileged through food/clothing distribution.
- Target school list R1:
-- Cornell: Johnson: 1 yr accelerated MBA (I am eligible, confirmed by institute)
-- Chicago Booth
-- Kellogg
-- Indian School of Business
-- INSEAD
- Target post-MBA role: Financial Services Consulting/Business Strategy Development/Management Consulting
My Queries:
- I am aware of my profile's weakness on the non-academic/non-professional front. I still wish to target a course starting next year. Am I over reaching with my target schools? If yes, suggestions on the targets are welcome.
- I would want my application to be considered for available scholarships, as far as possible. Would stretching my applications further into R2 (Yale, Tuck, Emory), with a few more target schools, still give me enough of a chance to achieve this?
- I would love to have opinions towards 1 year programs in Europe (I have INSEAD/HEC-Paris/IE/SDA in mind here), given the slowdown (Expected job scenario bleak?). What about Asian schools (Recent rising stars in rankings- NUS/CEIBS)?