Need help in selecting schools to apply

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Need help in selecting schools to apply

by cipher17 » Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:06 am
Hi

How many schools should be ideally applied in one round ? I am giving a brief description of my profile. Could you help me in categorizing schools that would fall into the following criteria and also any other tips for the admission process:

- Stretch or dream schools
- Reach schools
- Safe bet schools

Nationality: Indian

Gender: Male

GMAT Score: 760 (v 44/q 49)

Work Ex:
1. 5 years in IBM as an IT consultant, providing technology solutions to my client at&t.
2. Currently a team lead of 7 members.
3. Have almost 2 years of international experience i.e in US.
4. Have won 4 awards in 5 years.

Career Goals: Want to pursue a career in Consulting.

Undergraduate Degree: Mechanical Engineering in NIT Silchar, class of 2006

CPA : 8.5/10 i.e 8.5 in a scale of 10.

Leadership and Extra Curricular Activities:

1. Co founder of organization HOPES to educate underprivileged children during my college days. Unfortunately could not keep the organization alive after college days.

2. Currently a member of a similar organization .viz HELP.

3. Was the prefect in college hostel. Have organized events and provided internet facility in my hostel.

4. Was an NCC cadet.

I understand that I belong to an overrepresented pool of applicants and as such I am trying hard to find key points about my life and future goals which can help me in differentiating from rest of the pool. Any pointers in that regard would be highly appreciated :)
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by Tani » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:55 pm
Hello,

You are right that you are in a very competitive pool. Nevertheless, you have strong metrics and good work experience. Your challenge will be to distinguish yourself from all the other high scoring applicants from India with technical backgrounds.

Take a good look at your work experience to identify tasks that are different from those of the usual technical position. Have you led significant projects? Can you show true management and leadership achievements?

Your college activities, while interesting are far enough in the background to not be of particular help. What have you done recently outside of your job? Can you show initiative in leading activities or setting up projects?

To choose schools, first start with those that will feed your career goals. Which achools have the curriculum you need? Which schools place graduates with the companies you want to work for? In what countries do the schools graduates work? Where are their networks likely to be the strongest? Once you have those issues answered, stretch schools will be those in the top ten. Safety schools will be those for which your stats are significantly higher than the average.

Good luck,
Tani Wolff

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by cipher17 » Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:27 pm
Tani

Thanks for the excellent reply. I was wondering about the criteria that I should be setting while selecting schools and your points just hit the bull's eye one after the other. Distinguishing myself is the toughest job at hand though.

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by Tani » Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:40 pm
You're right - distinguishing yourself is tough, but it will be invaluable at all points in your career.

Good luck,
Tani Wolff