Ask Veritas Prep Admissions Consulting

Hello everyone

Finally I got my GMAT report today.This journey,though just started, is so full of surprises.I was expecting more in verbal(after seeing lectures from Shaun) as I was able to consistently score around 38-39 in that section.I was getting really good scores in practice tests(initial two tests - 690 later four tests 710-740) but finally got 680.The biggest surprise came from AWA where I was expecting that if I work hard I will get a 5.My final score spread is something like this:

GMAT - 680
Quant - 50
Verbal - 33
IR - 7
AWA - 6 (biggest surprise)

I have a full time work-ex of more than 8 years in automobile and aviation sector in India.Presently acting as GM(operations) in a chartered helicopter company where I handle all outbound operations and manage a team of 8 engineers,6 managers and 20 other staff.I did my undergrad from one of the best college in my state in Mechanical Engineering(GPA 3.4).I am also a certified professional aeroplane pilot(USA and INDIA) but interested in strategic management in aviation sector .I was keen on applying to UCLA, HAAS and WHARTON but my destiny is not allowing me to go there.I have lived in California(near LA) for more than a year and I still feel it was the best time of my life.

I know that a score increment of 30-40 points can put me in a race for scholarship but I don't have much time to take GMAT again.I have finalized certain colleges,please suggest me whether I should go ahead with these colleges or think of applying to other colleges.

SMEAL(Penn state university)
MAYS(Texas A&M)
FISHER(Ohio State University)
OLIN(St. Louis)
CAREY(ASU)
ISB

Is there still a possibility of schol./GA in above mentioned colleges.What are the other colleges where I should apply to?

Please comment and suggest

Yes, I would agree your GMAT is holding you back from some of your target programs, if you love LA as much as you seem to maybe consider USC as well. Also, since your goals are in aviation some of the Seattle based MBA programs may give you a line into a company like Boeing so review their job reports to confirm this. Emory in ATL might also be an option given the Delta/AirTran HQ locations of these companies.

Hi there!

Thanks for providing a feedback.

My long term career goal is to join challenging field of aviation consultancy. Being a critical resource in a country like ours(India), aviation expert is a rare commodity and presently we depend on West for its various requirements. During the last decade there has been exponential growth in aviation sector in India, however, due to lack of proper strategic planning and implementation, inadequate resource allocation, the fruits of have not reached the masses. The aviation sector by virtue of its unique nature has a capability of making visible impact to economy by its effects. I plan to achieve that position after acquiring necessary tools and experience required to manage large-scale global business by completing my MBA, starting as an aviation specialist consultant and working my way up.

My short term goal post-MBA is to work as Management Consultant in one of the consultancy majors of the world (KPMG, DELOITTE, REGENTS, BCG).With an earlier background of heading individual projects, sales and marketing and operational success in aviation sector, I will be able to add value by bringing in pragmatic and as yet, creative solutions to complex and highly dynamic aviation business challenge. Working with a Management Consulting firm will bring in the opportunity to assist clients in succeeding and maintaining their growth with changing times. This will also facilitate my long term goal of advising governments of developing nations on establishment, procedural development and growth, and training of personnel through a process-driven approach for sustained development of their aviation operations.I believe that it would be appropriate time for me to take up any strategic position in this region and contribute towards its growth in a significant way.


These are excerpts from my essay of long term and short term goal.By saying that I would like to work in aviation sector,I mean to work as a strategy development official for airliners and later on for a state.

Thanks and regards
Gaurav

Aviation consulting sounds very interesting and also a relatively niche industry I imagine. If you really want to make a splash with that kind of goal, I would recommend looking at MBA programs that are near major aviation businesses. Think about SMU Cox or UT Austin near American Airlines headquarters. Or even University of Washington in Seattle near Boeing's headquarters.