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jzdchou · Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:10 am

Hello

Can you evaluate my chances for the following PART TIME programs

Entry: Fall 2010 (I will be 33/34)

GMAT: 640 (V35/74%, Q43/68%) AWA 5.0. Please evaluate me with 700, I know with this score, I am not going to be competitive. I WILL get 700

UG GPA: 3.3/3.4 from Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science (Dean honor list for the last 2 years)

Master of mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University (Full fellowship)

WE: 10 years (Mechanical Engineer in telecomm, defense, and consumer electronics)

First generation immigrant (moved here when I was 14) from Taiwan, fluent in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects

My post MBA goal is to stay in the engineering/technology sector. My short-term goal is to get into product management with the long term goal being in a leadership position responsible for new product development with emphasis on innovation.

I believe my background in design and manufacturing with electronics (either be military or consumer) will be important components with my goal

Part-Time program

NYU

Carnegie Mellon (The specialty track of innovation and product development)

Michigan

UCLA (decision, operation, technology management and/or high-technology management)

Berkeley (similar as above)

Kellog (technology industry management)

NYU because I am local and attending part time means I don't have to relocate. But I am willing to relocate and find a job where I get accepted (I believe my diverse engineering background should land me a job thru the part-time duration). I have already taken Booth off the list.

International experience wise, my lastest company has manufacturing facilities in China and I work closely with them and have traveled there on multiple occasions to support production. And this is the main reason I am considering an MBA at this point. I believe my knowledge in manufacturing with my cultural/language advantage will supplement the whole innovation/development process very well.

I see several weaknesses

1. GMAT is horrible. It is funny for someone like me to get better grades on V than Q.

2. EC: weak/non-exist EC in college. Post-UG, I served a year on the board for my CO-OP building and to me it was actually a very good business experience

3. Flat career progress. The companies I have worked for all have very flat structures so I have not had many fancy title changes.

4. I am wondering if I should take Michigan off the list. It seems like it is a great school for operation and I don't want other school adcom to see this as a lack of focus? I believe I will be able to defend my decision of having NYU as an option.

Thanks....

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stacey · Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:01 pm

Hi Jzdchou and thanks for your post. Please see my comments below:

Entry: Fall 2010 (I will be 33/34)

GMAT: 640 (V35/74%, Q43/68%) AWA 5.0. Please evaluate me with 700, I know with this score, I am not going to be competitive. I WILL get 700

Keep on studying, a GMAT score of at least 700 will be necessary to be competitive at the schools you list below. It's important that you score well in both quant and verbal and that both scores are ideally above 80%.

UG GPA: 3.3/3.4 from Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science (Dean honor list for the last 2 years)

Master of mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University (Full fellowship)

It's nice to see that you made the Dean's list the last two years of undergrad and appear to have had an updward trajectory. A GPA of 3.3 will put you just below average at your chosen schools. You don't mention your Master's GPA, so I can't fully evaluate your academics.

WE: 10 years (Mechanical Engineer in telecomm, defense, and consumer electronics)

First generation immigrant (moved here when I was 14) from Taiwan, fluent in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects

This is a great story, I am sure it might provide some great essay topics!

My post MBA goal is to stay in the engineering/technology sector. My short-term goal is to get into product management with the long term goal being in a leadership position responsible for new product development with emphasis on innovation.
I believe my background in design and manufacturing with electronics (either be military or consumer) will be important components with my goal

Part-Time program

NYU

Carnegie Mellon (The specialty track of innovation and product development)

Michigan

UCLA (decision, operation, technology management and/or high-technology management)

Berkeley (similar as above)

Kellog (technology industry management)

NYU because I am local and attending part time means I don't have to relocate. But I am willing to relocate and find a job where I get accepted (I believe my diverse engineering background should land me a job thru the part-time duration). I have already taken Booth off the list.

International experience wise, my lastest company has manufacturing facilities in China and I work closely with them and have traveled there on multiple occasions to support production. And this is the main reason I am considering an MBA at this point. I believe my knowledge in manufacturing with my cultural/language advantage will supplement the whole innovation/development process very well.

This sounds like great experience. Hopefully you will be able to use some of this in your essays.

I see several weaknesses

1. GMAT is horrible. It is funny for someone like me to get better grades on V than Q.

As I stated above, keep studying. A 700 is needed to be competitive at the programs you've listed.

2. EC: weak/non-exist EC in college. Post-UG, I served a year on the board for my CO-OP building and to me it was actually a very good business experience

Do you have any personal interest or hobbies that you pursue on a regular basis? While this isn't as critical for part time programs, it is nice to have other personal interest, especially when formulating essay topics.

3. Flat career progress. The companies I have worked for all have very flat structures so I have not had many fancy title changes.
Not every company gives out a lot of promotions. As long as you can prove that you've had a steady increase in responsibilities (even if your title didn't change) you should be in good shape.

4. I am wondering if I should take Michigan off the list. It seems like it is a great school for operation and I don't want other school adcom to see this as a lack of focus? I believe I will be able to defend my decision of having NYU as an option.

It sounds like you have compiled a good list of schools and that perhaps you need to do a bit more research to convince yourself which programs make sense for you and your future goals. You'll want to select programs that not only offer the courses you seek, but also fit with your overall profile. It's important to remember that many part time programs (EMBA or WEMBA) require you to be employed and often even require sponsorship. Keep that in mind should you decide to apply to programs that will require you to relocate.

I'm not sure what you mean about Michigan? Can you clarify?

Thanks,

Stacey

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jzdchou · Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:18 pm

Thanks Stacy, for your very valuable inputs.

My focus/theme is on technology/innovation/product development and Michigan is known as a very good school for operation. I just don't want the other adcom to think I am indecisive between operation and technology.

I checked Michigan student profile and it said just under 50% MBA students have an engineering background and I thought I could be a good fit there....

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stacey · Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:06 pm

Thanks for the clarification. There is no reason the adcoms need to know which schools you are applying. Unless that ask you in an interview, you need not share this information.

Best,

Stacey

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