Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

GMAT preparation: Why you should not over-focus on it

Three applicants with different profiles decide to apply to bschools:

Rishi (Chhupaa) Rustom:
IT professional | 2 years work experience | GMAT score 740 (confident of cracking 770+)

Gautam Gulgulaa:
Marketing professional | 6 years experience | GMAT score 640 (got 630 in the first attempt)

Arundhati Champavati:
HR professional | 4 years experience | GMAT score 710 (pleasantly surprised as she was getting 650-680 in practice tests)

They are all willing to take the GMAT again. What advice will you give them? Hold on to your answer and read on.

debjeet wrote:I have a B.E. degree in Information Technology from Mumbai University.

Kemon achhen, Debjeet-da?

1. Approximately 70% in the final year of engineering which is relatively lower as compared to other universities, say West Bengal where 85% above is the average score. Does it affect some aspect of my application?

The scoring pattern in Indian engineering colleges can vary dramatically depending on the university. Adcoms are aware of it. If you can put this in the right context (e.g. you got 70% while the topper got 75%) that could help.

2. Will have 4 years of work experience in a single IB company by June 2012. I have been into more of technical, system admin and audit regulatory kind of work. I want to shift my career to finance or equity derivatives field. Does my current work experience act as hurdle to my post-MBA ambition?

Won't go against you. In fact, if you could talk about the domain or product knowledge that you've picked up about your target role, then it could give you a slight advantage vis-a-vis others who have no background in it.
But there are a whole lot of guys you'd have to compete with who could come in with direct and relevant pre-MBA experience.

3. GMAT Score ... Does three attempts without a score improvement impede my chances?

Nope. They'll take your highest score - 700.

4. Not much extra curricular activities, nor any social work

Read this post on not having NGO or social work experience for MBA applications

Although, my profile is not impressive enough, how do you rate my chances of applying to the top 20-25 US Schools based on my profile?

Top-25 mein kaafi schools hai. So mix and match your choices well, add some salt/sugar/mint and go for it, buddy.

MBA vs Masters in Management: Which is better for you?

The big MBA versus Masters in Management fight always gets its fair share of viewers. It is one of the common topics you'd see on MBA discussion forums where fresh graduates preparing for CAT (and GMAT simultaneously) hang out. After reading 20-30 responses you end up more confused than ever. So here's a simple way to look at the two. ... Read entire article »

Heyaa Sameer,
Let me start by saying this -- I just love the way you approach any posts/profiles in this thread. Right from the post number 1 of trips 123 to the curious case of debajeeet-da every post of yours (at least it seems like ) has some learning in it. In your language - Kudos Sir jee for this �

Coming to the threads main agenda i.e. I want to get myself evaluated (rather busted) by your honest opinion feedback.

First of all, I am an Indian IT Male not a "Typical" IT Male (I hate this term - Typical Indian IT Male) because I strongly believe I am fortunate enough to have one place in to this category. In the chronological order this are the few details about my profile. Let me know if you would want me to subjective (I am just trying to save your precious time by keeping it Short and Simple).

1. An Engineering Graduate in IT with an overall degree of 83% and the topper of university for IT branch for 2007(Not sure if this last part matters though).
2. Working in the MNC (CSC India) since 2007 (equivalent to 52 months of experience)

a. 2007-2009(fall) India
b. October 2009 - Ongoing. My firm deported me to States. (International Exposure)

3. My Role @ Work
a. Started off as a s/w developer and for the last one and half year (Thanks to attrition-rate) I was regularly promoted both in terms of grade and responsibility and as of now I am working as an Onshore Team Lead for a team of relatively fewer people(6-7).I don't have the exact details of revenue generated off-hand.

4. GMAT Score - 710(2nd Attempt) AWA 4.0

Work Related Achievements -
1. Decent Number of appreciations at offshore work place. My team was nominated for an internal award - "Pinnacle".
2. Was awarded with "Best Trainer" for the new joiners training.(But to be honest this is related to technical training not exactly work though)
3. Various Client Appreciations one being "Outstanding Performer" award directly from the client which I believe is the prominent one.
4. Decent Client Relationships and some of them are sweet enough to even take the pains to write my LORs

Extra-Curricular Activities -
1. From Engineering Days -

a. I always tried to be involved in Organizing and participating in various events. As a result I was able to secure in an awesome team of event organizers.
b. My contribution to those events was related to a State Level Dance Competition called "NAACH" (PS - Dance is one of my passions) that my college is renowned for.
c. Participated in the National Level Paper Presentation held at Sangrur(Punjab) with a friend of mine. No success here though.
d. Involved in anchoring events for the cultural fests.

2. From Corporate World -
a. Developed a CSC customized version of online tool called "Super selector" for CSC Premier League (CPL).
b. Was amongst the main event organizers for Annual Fest called as "Samskruthi".
c. Finally I have been part of CSC Social Service Committee for almost 3 years now.
CSC has acquired an entire village and is helping them out with all their needs right from the housing to the daily living expenses.
d. For the first year I was a normal volunteer helping with all these activities.
e. In Order to contribute significantly as they call it to create IMPACT I and one of my friend decided to raise the education front and we prepared the proposal of providing basic IT education to the kids (Kids in school are small only till 5th standard).I have been working and presenting this proposal to various stakeholders for last 1 year from US now we have managed to make a decent progress.
f. This may not be a community service/ social service thing but this project is something which is close to my heart.
g. Member of Toastmasters International US and 10 days ago I have represented my club on to the area level Humorous Speech Contest in which I was adjudged Runner up. I did not qualify to the second level though.
h. FLMI LEVEL I Cleared (LOMA 280 and LOMA 290 exams)

Hobbies -
Dance, Public Speaking, Tennis.

Target Schools -
MIT, HBS, Wharton, Booth, Kellogs, NYU: Tepper or McCombs.

Target Area --
Pref 1 - Information Systems
Pref 2 - General Management/Marketing

Why MBA?
As you can see my entire work ex and non work ex has something to with IT.I was always interested in IT from day 0 that is why decided to pursue Engineering.5 years in the profession and through my experiences in corporate arenas (specially through my IT education project for my kids) I have realized that - It's easy to create IT related solutions but it takes a different set of skills to convey and sell these ideas. With MBA I seek to acquire those business related skills so that I know the BIG and the complete picture. Post MBA goals -- IT Strategy Consulting.
Also one question you might have I did not apply for Round one. I didn't apply because of two reasons. I don't want to apply for the sake of applying and get in to that rat race. I wanted to be sure about my post MBA goals and secondly I was not sure about my Overall Profile because I don't have much Community Service to show. I wanted to take some time to analyze the events of my life and my future track as well precisely what is explained in the book - "Beyond the MBA Hype". I don't have all the answers with me but the learning curve about me is still on.
Sorry for the long email but I wanted to give you a complete picture and that is why I have been working on this email for last 3 days.

Hope you don't find it annoying.

Waiting to hear from you!

P.S. - Please carry on giving your extra punches in hindi

Aakash

Darden MBA - MBA Crystal Ball Interviews Associate Director of Admissions Wendy Huber



Mention the Darden MBA program at the University of Virginia to any MBA applicant, and what is it that first pops into their mind? Top ranked MBA program, case studies, management consulting industry, competitive admissions process, will I land an internship, what about MBA jobs?

Recently when I had the opportunity to interview Wendy Huber, Associate Director of Admissions at Darden, those are exactly the topics we talked about. And Wendy was kind enough to share her thoughts.

If you have been confused with all the information on discussion forums and blogs, here's your chance to hear directly from someone who'll read your MBA application soon and decide whether you'll be eligible to attend the Darden alumni events in a few years. MBA Crystal Ball: Wendy, thanks for agreeing to share ... Read entire article »

caakash1430 wrote:Heyaa Sameer,
I just love the way you approach any posts/profiles in this thread. Right from the post number 1 of trips 123 to the curious case of debajeeet-da every post of yours (at least it seems like Wink ) has some learning in it. In your language - Kudos Sir jee for this

[Takes a bow] Thanks Aakash. Kudos to you too for having mastered the art of creating personalised and attention grabbing intros

I am an Indian IT Male not a "Typical" IT Male (I hate this term - Typical Indian IT Male) because I strongly believe I am fortunate enough to have one place in to this category.

From the responsibilities and the non-work related stuff you've shared, you definitely don't sound like the 'typical' IT guy.
In Taare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan's message was 'Every child is special'. At MBA Crystal Ball, we share similar sentiments for IT professionals (I was one too). Yeah, you can wipe that tear now.

(I am just trying to save your precious time by keeping it Short and Simple).

Bhratashri, if your definition of 'short & sweet' means 1000+ words, I shudder to think what would happen if I ask you to elaborate on any point. From your recent extra-curricular activity (you know what I'm talking about), I know you can give Shakespeare Mamu a run for his money. Parantu when it comes to bschool apps, the approach will have to different. Less is more!

1. An Engineering Graduate in IT with an overall degree of 83% and the topper of university for IT branch for 2007(Not sure if this last part matters though).

Yes, it does matter. Percentages across Indian universities aren't normalised. So help the Adcoms interpret your scores in the right light. If you were the topper, definitely mention it and also share how many other batchmates you were competing with.

I was regularly promoted both in terms of grade and responsibility and as of now I am working as an Onshore Team Lead for a team of relatively fewer people(6-7).

The number of people you lead is less important. The impact you've had in your current role is more important. In management consulting, for instance, the team sizes are generally very small, but the quality and calibre of people you lead is amazing. To become an engagement manager in that environment means much more than leading a 100 member team in other industies.

I don't want to apply for the sake of applying and get in to that rat race.

Warning: Philosophical discourse around the curve -
There's no escaping the rat race, sirji. You are already in it and as long as you are competing for jobs, promotions and better opportunities, the analogy would still apply. What you can do is alter the rules of the game (ethically of course) to reduce the perception that you are competing with the other rodents (I hate the term 'rat', coz every rat is special too). That's where the whole differentiation (oft-beaten concept) funda comes into picture.

I wanted to be sure about my post MBA goals

I don't see a disconnect there. Your career goal sounds logical.

Hope you don't find it annoying.

I did not. But Adcoms might, if you follow a similar approach in your application. So for a first draft, something like this is fine. But take out the pair of scissors and go snip snip. Take out all the fat and just send across a muscular, fit application.

I wanted to take some time to analyze the events of my life and my future track as well precisely what is explained in the book - "Beyond the MBA Hype".

Always keen to know if the book has struck a chord. What was the part that resonated most with your profile and aspirations?

Thanks a lot Sameer for taking your precious time and providing your feedback in spite of my extra short email .I didn't realize that my extra short email will turn in to mammoth of words and sentences. My apologies for that and definitely that's my first learning from the application perspective.

And that EC was a no-brainer...trust me on this and I could have done a better job.

Having said this I have two small questions -

1. Do you think there is a match between the profile (GMAT score, ECs etc) and type of schools I am targeting) or am I going way too off and too optimistic. Again I completely understand that this is subjective to each case and can't be evaluated so easily I just want to have your thoughts of this.

2. What would be your suggestion to improve my profile (I know its too late for that for Round 2 perspective) but still to make it look more appealing to the adcoms

Now to your question regarding the "Beyond the MBA Hype", if I were to describe the effectiveness of the book in one word I would say it's "REACH". No matter what stage of MBA life you are in - Planning, Researching, Applying, Targeting, Pursuing, Networking and Post-MBA this book has that universal appeal and something for all.

To me this is a differentiating factor of this book provided the phase of my MBA life I am in
Hope I answered your question.

Thanks for refining all your experiences in the form of this book.

Hola Back!
Aakash

caakash1430 wrote:Now to your question regarding the "Beyond the MBA Hype", if I were to describe the effectiveness of the book in one word I would say it's "REACH". No matter what stage of MBA life you are in - Planning, Researching, Applying, Targeting, Pursuing, Networking and Post-MBA this book has that universal appeal and something for all.

Thanks for sharing, Bandhu-shri!

caakash1430 wrote:1. Do you think there is a match between the profile (GMAT score, ECs etc) and type of schools I am targeting) or am I going way too off and too optimistic. Again I completely understand that this is subjective to each case and can't be evaluated so easily I just want to have your thoughts of this.

Apologies if I'm rocking the boat here, but GMAT and ECs shouldn't drive your choice of schools. These are (important) factors that Adcoms would take into account, but I consider them to be the supporting characters in the play, not the protagonists. I'd give more weightage to your professional background and post-MBA goals in choosing the right school.

From your list of schools, though HBS and Booth are not exactly known for their Info Systems specialisation, their brands are strong enough to open doors for you. The other names are strong for Systems.

caakash1430 wrote:2. What would be your suggestion to improve my profile (I know its too late for that for Round 2 perspective) but still to make it look more appealing to the adcoms Wink

At this stage, there's just one key suggestion I'd like to propose...and it's not going to be too difficult for you to implement it.

Don't let your extra-curriculars overshadow your professional achievements.

When I go back to the original post, point 3 (hero of our movie) should be your focal point. Everything else (including supporting actors, item girls, villainous circumstances and breath-taking locales) would need to make our central character look good and powerful. Wihout that, apna SRK bhai would've never managed the transition from TV serials to movies.

Aah, Bollywood analogies...never fail to connect!

Freely downloaded GMAT prep material: Best avoided


'I've got 50 MB of the best GMAT test preparation material with me, good GMAT verbal and quant questions, full-length exam software...downloaded for free from the internet. Plus my friends gave me another 25 MB of practice questions. I think that is more than enough for anyone to crack the GMAT, hai na sir?' The 24-year-old candidate from Delhi on the phone who spoke at 60 words-a-minute asked me.


And he was definitely not the first one to come up with that question. Apart from copyright and IPR infringement issues which he was completely ignorant (?) about, he was also missing another bigger point. Several inter-related ones actually... Read entire article »

5 signs that you are not a serious MBA applicant

The MBA applicant from one of the elite engineering institutions in India had posted some very basic questions on a discussion forum about his application to the toughest bschool in the world. And the query ended with - 'Deadline is very close. Please answer urgently!!!'

This is not an isolated case. If you spend enough time on the MBA forums you come across many such queries that make you wonder if the people posting it are really serious about their MBA plans. No doubt, these are smart, intelligent people who can do wonders if they get the right opportunities (which is what a top MBA is all about), but their attitude towards the MBA application process ... Read entire article »

NUS Singapore MBA - MBA Crystal Ball interviews Alan Chua (Marketing & Admissions)



NUS Singapore's MBA program has been quite popular with Indian applicants, for reasons that we covered in an earlier article on NUS way back in March. Many months later when we shared the article with Alan Chua, responsible for marketing and admissions at NUS, he felt it was a 'very interesting and independent take on the program'.

We asked him if he'd be interested in an interview with MBA Crystal Ball. Over the last few months, Alan has been travelling extensively, attending MBA fairs, meeting prospective candidates. Despite his super-hectic schedule, he agreed to answer our questions and we really appreciate the gesture. In this tête-à-tête, Alan shares with us key aspects of the MBA program at NUS, what applicants need to keep in mind. ...Read more

Our friends from The Economist team have approached us again with a request to spread the word about their online MBA fairs. The response from apne desi bhai-bandhu to their last event was very positive. So if you are planning to target full-time or executive MBA programs, do check it out.



The Economist's Online Fairs

Meet admissions officers from full-time and executive MBA programs around the world at these FREE online fairs. Gain insight into the MBA experience by chatting with alumni, watching webinars and videos, and downloading resources.

The Economist's Full-time MBA Fair - online November 9th and 10th 2011 - FREE
** Sign up now for your chance to win a free iPad 2 when you visit 5+ business school booths on November 9th-10th. **
Sign up free or learn more.

The Economist's Executive MBA Fair - online November 11th 2011 - FREE
** Sign up now for your chance to win a free iPad 2 when you visit 3+ business school booths on November 11th 2011. **

Sign up free or learn more.

Low GMAT score success stories: Never give up



Got a low GMAT score and wondering what to do about it? This post is for you. Read, digest and act!

You remember Shipra, right? She's the spunky gal who came up with her 5-C Model in an earlier post that almost rocked Michael Porter's dominance in the MBA framework market. If her last post got you wondering if she is only good with words & theoretical MBA marketing frameworks or if she can actually deliver the goods, she's back with the answer. ... Read entire article

Hi
I am an Indian working in IT industry. My profile details are enlisted below. Requesting you to please advise if the below mentioned schools are far of my reach or I have a shot.
Age - 26 years
Nationality - Indian
GMAT - 730 (QUANT - 49 , ENGLISH - 40 , AWA 4/6)
Undergraduate GPA - 7.75/10
Education -
Work Experience - 42 months at Tata Consultancy Services. Worked on Payments module of a Core banking software and payment systems of 3 different countries spread across two continents. Handled significant responsibilities within 2 years which include co-ordination among teams of different applications spread across various geographies , supervision of off-shore software testing related activities , knowledge impartment and guidance in payment systems to a team of six associates.
Certifications -
Certified Financial Planner conducted by FPSB , India
Certification in Basics of Financial Markets conducted by National Stock Exchange India
Certification in Basics of Commercial Banking conducted by National Stock Exchange India
Extracurriculars - Not much to write about apart from successfully completing the 14 km Bangalore Marathon , 2011
My target B-Schools are
US - UCLA: Anderson , University of Virginia: Darden , Vanderbilt University:Owen , Emory University: Goizueta
Canada - York University:Schulich , Queen School of Business , University of British Columbia:Sauder
Singapore - Nanyang Business School , National University of Singapore School of Business
Please advise if I stand a chance in these schools. Also will my lower AWA score impact negatively in my application and if yes what corrective action should I take to counter it.

MBA Essays: 9 pitfalls to avoid while writing business school application essays

It's a relief to be done with the GMAT preparation and move on to the main MBA application. The most ominous part now is to write the MBA essays. The best written MBA essays can open up the doors to the final round - MBA interviews. But for many, an interview may never happen as the Admission Committee has already made up its mind (based on your essays) that you aren't good enough for their program for that year.


You may have done your research on what you should do when it comes to MBA essays. However it's also a good idea to have the knowledge of what to avoid in your MBA essays so that you don't inadvertently shoot yourself in the foot. So here's a list of 8 things to watch out for while working on your MBA application..read more.