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Please evaluate my profile

by Maturedriver » Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:53 pm
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

I am interested in Chicago Booth and Kellogg MBA programs though I do not have 4 years US Undergraduate degree, so wanted to establish realistic expectations. I have yet to take GMAT. (what score to target?)


I am a British Citizen currently living in UK. My educational back ground is

1) Fully qualified Chartered Certified Accountant from Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK. Completed after 2.5 years of full time study. (Qualified by Exams Jun 2004, Qualified with Experience June 2006). I am also currently member of IMA (US) to complete my Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification in May 2011 exam sitting.

2) I went through one year Full Time MSc Information System Program from Leeds Metropolitan University from Oct 2001 to Sep 2002, though did not completed the Dissertation (Project Work) due to financial difficulty at that time, though had enough credit hours and had passed enough modules to be eligible of Post Graduate Diploma with "Pass" rating.

3) I also studied two years with College of Business Professional in Pakistan full time for Bachelor of Commerce Degree from University of Karachi Pakistan from Jan 1996 and graduated in June 1998. Alongside this I also passed first year exam (Foundation 1) of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan.

4) I have 12 years of work experience in Accounting, Finance, project management and Business Intelligence consultancy. I have worked for large US and UK Corporation in both managerial and consultancy roles. These organisations include Oracle Corporation, Virgin Media, Cummins Inc and Enpro Industries. In these roles I have gained number of Professional and technical Certifications through in house and external certified class room training. These certifications includes passing PRINCE 2 project Management qualification from APMG in 2007, Oracle Hyperion Essbase expert course/exams from Oracle Corporation with 92% marks, Oracle Hyperion Planning expert course/exam from Oracle Corporation with 92% marks. Oracle Hyperion Financial Management expert course/exam from Oracle Corporation with 96% marks. Oracle Hyperion Financial Reporting course from Oracle Corporation and Six Sigma Green Belt training from Cummins Inc.

Thank you for valuable time and feedback.
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by Tani » Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:01 pm
Hello,

Your interesting profile would certainly make you a "non-traditional" applicant. Although most schools say they will not accept someone without an undergraduate degree, you may be able to make a case based on your extensive work experience. You would need to show an exceptional GMAT score to prove that you could handle the academic demands.

Given your unusual situation, I would recommend contacting your target schools directly. Explain your background and ask their advice. They may want you to look at an EMBA program rather than a standard MBA. Only the schools can tell you whether they would be inclined to make an exception in your case.

Your strengths are that you have very specific business skills developed on the job and that you can bring a combined UK/Pakistan perspective. If you have had direct supervisory responsibility, that would add to your appeal.

Spend some time on their websites understanding the different degrees offered so that you can intelligently ask which would be best suited to your background and goals.

Good luck,
Tani Wolff
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by Maturedriver » Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:23 pm
Thank you for your feedback.

I do have combined 8 years of managerial experience both in Pakistan and in UK.

Also I contacted the Assistant Director of Admissions at Kellogg with the same profile and his response was that they accept undergraduate degree from other countries and since I have completed 2 years degree from Pakistan I am eligible to apply plus my ACCA is equilivant to Masters degree.

Having satisfied the above requirement ,i have couple of more questions:

1) Your point about EMBA is very valid, though not sure that I can enroll in EMBA (Less than 16 hours of study per wk) in an US insitution as an International Student from UK?

2) my target electives includes Equity investment and Portfolio management. does this going to raise any questions about change in career interest? if yes how to best tackle it?

Your help and feedback is much appreciated!

Cheers
Syed
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by Tani » Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:28 pm
Congratulations on working with Kellogg's admissions department. Their response sounds very promising.

Changing careers can be tricky. You need to explain why you are walking away from your current training and experience. You will have to show them how your new career will build on skills you have gained to date. You will also need to convince them that you understand the field you are targeting and that there are strong reasons why you will both enjoy and be successful in that field. The pitfall is that schools do not want to see themselves as a way for someone to escape a field in which he is unhappy. You need to be very careful to avoid giving that impression.

If you have any way to show that you have thoroughly explored your targeted field (course work, associations, professional contact), that can help.

Good luck,
Tani Wolff
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by Maturedriver » Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:34 pm
great advice!

I will address these points when compiling my essay!

thanks again

cheers
syed
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by Tani » Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:51 pm
Good luck! You have a lot to offer!
Tani Wolff
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