Kindly help me figure the best b'schools i should target
Age: 28 now
No of times taken the GMAT: thrice (600-590-680)
Profile summary: I have over 4 years of strategy consulting experience, including about 6-8 months of international assignments, have been a radio host, hosting live radio shows in Mumbai for over 2.5 years, solid community service for over 4 years, and a moderator at this wonderful forum: BTG. I recently won an award for the best employee at my firm (top ten consulting firm), within 3 months of joining the firm. My GPA is 3.0 as per WES. (hope their evaluation is valid)
My GMAT breakup (Q 49 (86 percentile), V 34(68 percentile) for a 680).
My biggest achievement, though, came last year when i quit my consulting job bang in the middle of recession to pursue freelance consulting opportunities. During these 12 months, i single-handedly initiated and implemented a technology transformation project at All India radio (local government radio station) with results to show, Similarly, i executed several freelance engagements before deciding to re-join Consulting.
Also during my consulting experience, i have excellent cross-culture experience, working on projects dealing with 900 people from 30 nationalities, most of them fearing for their jobs
Target schools: My target schools are/ were Wharton, HBS, Chicago Booth, Kellogg, Insead, Said, Judge....basically university pedigree, followed by school brand
But now, it would be great to know the best schools i should apply to with a realistic chance of getting in.
Additional information
Best employee' award at my firm - At my firm, awards are given out every quarter. I led a 5 member team to recommend a business strategy for an Operations Research association aiming to increase membership. It was a "high stakes" project, executed to the satisfaction of the client.
Why I left my job to pursue my own consulting opportunities - I wasn't having adequate impact in my role at my last firm. Assignments were gravitating more towards research than consulting. At the same time, i saw an excellent opportunity to transform a radio station....through my contacts i had projects i could execute from home, basically opportunity cost viz-a-viz impact/ satisfaction of work tilted in favor of this decision
why did i then rejoined your consulting firm - going freelance was never a permanent career decision. Post the radio project...(the radio project went on for over 6 months), i took up other work i had committed to, but once that was over...i started looking for a job again...In India, it's very tough for a non-mba to break into a top consulting firm....i think my experience as a freelancer made my entry into a "branded" consulting firm possible.
short term goals - CONSULTING at one of the top 3 strategy consulting firms....(Mc, BC, etc.).....my job now doesn't involve facing clients directly, it's more remote work supporting my firm's consultants around the world... since i've a lot of experience in the power/ utilities/ energy sector, i would like to specialize in that domain...also be involved with radio, training aspirants, hosting weekend live shows as is the case now
Long term goal: I want to specialize in the energy sector and be an independent energy expert...
Weakness: 3.0 GPA, GMAT, career break in 2006-07 (7 months, it was then i that discovered the NGO i ended being an integral part of)
tx for helping
Vidyasagar
Age: 28 now
No of times taken the GMAT: thrice (600-590-680)
Profile summary: I have over 4 years of strategy consulting experience, including about 6-8 months of international assignments, have been a radio host, hosting live radio shows in Mumbai for over 2.5 years, solid community service for over 4 years, and a moderator at this wonderful forum: BTG. I recently won an award for the best employee at my firm (top ten consulting firm), within 3 months of joining the firm. My GPA is 3.0 as per WES. (hope their evaluation is valid)
My GMAT breakup (Q 49 (86 percentile), V 34(68 percentile) for a 680).
My biggest achievement, though, came last year when i quit my consulting job bang in the middle of recession to pursue freelance consulting opportunities. During these 12 months, i single-handedly initiated and implemented a technology transformation project at All India radio (local government radio station) with results to show, Similarly, i executed several freelance engagements before deciding to re-join Consulting.
Also during my consulting experience, i have excellent cross-culture experience, working on projects dealing with 900 people from 30 nationalities, most of them fearing for their jobs
Target schools: My target schools are/ were Wharton, HBS, Chicago Booth, Kellogg, Insead, Said, Judge....basically university pedigree, followed by school brand
But now, it would be great to know the best schools i should apply to with a realistic chance of getting in.
Additional information
Best employee' award at my firm - At my firm, awards are given out every quarter. I led a 5 member team to recommend a business strategy for an Operations Research association aiming to increase membership. It was a "high stakes" project, executed to the satisfaction of the client.
Why I left my job to pursue my own consulting opportunities - I wasn't having adequate impact in my role at my last firm. Assignments were gravitating more towards research than consulting. At the same time, i saw an excellent opportunity to transform a radio station....through my contacts i had projects i could execute from home, basically opportunity cost viz-a-viz impact/ satisfaction of work tilted in favor of this decision
why did i then rejoined your consulting firm - going freelance was never a permanent career decision. Post the radio project...(the radio project went on for over 6 months), i took up other work i had committed to, but once that was over...i started looking for a job again...In India, it's very tough for a non-mba to break into a top consulting firm....i think my experience as a freelancer made my entry into a "branded" consulting firm possible.
short term goals - CONSULTING at one of the top 3 strategy consulting firms....(Mc, BC, etc.).....my job now doesn't involve facing clients directly, it's more remote work supporting my firm's consultants around the world... since i've a lot of experience in the power/ utilities/ energy sector, i would like to specialize in that domain...also be involved with radio, training aspirants, hosting weekend live shows as is the case now
Long term goal: I want to specialize in the energy sector and be an independent energy expert...
Weakness: 3.0 GPA, GMAT, career break in 2006-07 (7 months, it was then i that discovered the NGO i ended being an integral part of)
tx for helping
Vidyasagar
