Research MBA Programs

I am almost through my November deadline apps for 3 schools, ISB Kelley and Smeal. I have researched these schools in the past 1 year and putting in a strong app.

Brief profile :
1>Engineer
2>2 eventful years IT consulting in big 4
3>2 years in startup manufacturing/handling all operations
4>710- good acads/EC's

I am weirdly looking for a tier 1 school so late in the season to target - just to give in a shot as I completed the other apps a little earlier than I thought. The best thing that comes in mind is McCombs for its location. But is it good for operations/SCM ? Which other school in the top 30 is good for operations/SCM ?

bblast wrote:I am weirdly looking for a tier 1 school so late in the season to target - just to give in a shot as I completed the other apps a little earlier than I thought. The best thing that comes in mind is McCombs for its location. But is it good for operations/SCM ? Which other school in the top 30 is good for operations/SCM ?

Hi bblast - it's great to hear that your confidence is up and you're aiming high! UT-Austin McCombs is obviously a great school, and it sounds like your profile would be a good fit (though they do like to see a bit more work experience than you currently have, just like ISB does - this may not be a showstopper for you, just keep it in mind so that you're sure to include high-impact stories from your career as a sign that now is the right time for an MBA for you).

McCombs does indeed have a good supply chain management program. So does Tepper (Carnegie Mellon) which is another appropriate target - Tepper and McCombs are often somewhat competitive with each other, in that the same pool of candidates frequently apply to both. Georgetown McDonough would also be in this category, though they don't have the same strength with supply chain.

Stanford and MIT are also known for strength in ops/logistics/SC - though obviously these are both VERY difficult schools to get into!!

Hope this helps - keep us posted on your progress! It's awesome that you're expanding your targets.

EssaySnark

Thanks essay snark,your responses are Gems on BTG, with all the hard work and research spanning over a year, I am now actually in touch with alumnus of several schools, I talked to a CMU alum{family connections} this eve for over an hour, he called me from Chicago and was happy to help in all ways,

In addition, I am already in touch with people at Kelley and Smeal consistenly. Pity though I do not have much connections on my home country school ISB.

Next Mc combs deadline is 5th Dec, I think this will be difficult to meet. Average work ex seem to be around 5 years ? I am pretty close- 4yrs. . Will prepare a strong app. The worst thing is the recommenders get pissed with too many reco mails reaching them.


Tepper's avg work ex -4.3-No offences I am aware of the profiles that hit this school :/; next date is 5th Jan so looks quite possible given I am all free after 11th Nov submission of Smeal.

Both school's average GMAT is 690 that means lots of Indians with 750 in there.

Will give it a shot to one of these maybe. All my activities is life have been different and here too instead of applying to a backup school at this stage I am applying to tier 1 !!! :mrgreen:

Doh! We read your profile too fast :roll: (either that or we just can't do math!) - we thought you only have 2 yrs work exp. Yes, after working so hard on bschool apps for so long, and participating so actively here on BTG, we should expect that you know how to evaluate a bschool's stats for appropriate fit!!

Glad to hear you're considering Tepper - we think that could be IDEAL for you! And McCombs too; we retract our ignorant concern expressed previously that you are not a good fit to these schools.

Average GMAT of 690 is actually on the LOW side compared to many US schools; yes there are plenty of high-scoring students there, but this average also means they have some flexibility in accepting a range. We think you should have a very realistic chance!

(Of course, we haven't seen any essays yet... hint hint

he he, I am on a vacation from 24th to 29th after a hectic 8 months with work/2 GMAT attempts and 3 bschool apps. Phew!!!. I need a few beers on the beach in the sunshine away from my prod. plant and laptop.

I shall PM you if I need help with the essays. In the meantime please drop me a PM with any offers u may have for the above discussion

Thanks for the encouraging words.

Hi

Tepper is very much in reach for you.

A very long shot would have been wharton Ross or Stanford. For a reachable top Bschool Krannert and Tepper are good to be vouched for.

Give it your best shot.

Keep us posted.

Hi Alex and essaysnark,
Just got the first admit of my life. :mrgreen:

Smeal with GA. Phew! Schol coming soon! The bschool journey has been very tough. 3 GMATS 2 years of applications and now finally an admit.

I primarily think I got this one as I found a right fit for my profile. As I told my other 2 schools are Kelley and ISB.

Query :
1>I had some schools in mind for Jan deadlines. Washington Olin, Babson Olin, Thunderbird, Carey.
Is it worth the time and effort to apply to these schools now ? These are good programs and perhaps equally or better ranked than Smeal but do not fit my SCM aspirations(except carey). So I was looking to these as secondary to Smeal.

2>As I mentioned I wanted to shoot big after an admit and the time has come. I am shooting for Tepper 5th Jan.

Comments on the idea of dropping off Tier 2 schools from agenda please. Would it be best if I concentrate on my business and Tepper apps now? Or keep application toil going and applying to all schools.

Regards

bblast, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! Of course we always love to hear of successes but when it's such a hard-fought battle then it's especially sweet!! Smeal is a good school, you should be very proud.

Love the observation:

I primarily think I got this one as I found a right fit for my profile.

Yes!! This is so key to the process - and yet it's so often overlooked or misunderstood.

On your questions:

1. Analyze it this way: If you're admitted to Thunderbird or one of the Olins - would you take that offer over Smeal? It sounds like you wouldn't. Why go through the time and effort and expense of applying if you don't really want to go there? *Maybe* you could go for Carey but Smeal is (in our opinion) at the same level/quality. It's up to you to decide which of these might be a better fit than what you've already identified with Smeal. Personally, EssaySnark doesn't see the value of trying for more - why extend the anguish??

2. Tepper, OTOH, is in a different category, and obv they are strong in SCM - so yes, we fully agree, go for that one. A month is the right amount of time to put together solid essays for one school (we know of many who try to do much more than one in December but it can get crazy!! and the quality often suffers with that sort of multitasking).

Congrats again on the admit to Smeal - it's only due to all your hard work and dedication that brought you this awesome success!! Woo-hoo to you!!

EssaySnark

I'll sum up the usefullness of esssaysnark's response to my queries :

""You should bill users like me for such valuable and rational comments on bschool queries". :twisted: