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Hi,

I am an Indian working and residing in Oman, hoping to gain admission into a top-notch university and would appreciate your advise for getting there.

Work ex
I am an entrepreneur who has over 2 years of solid work ex in a family business of Oil & Gas, construction supplies.
I don't care too much for modesty, so ill be honest, I have done quite well since I joined the business, boosting sales to new heights, increased product range, increased branches and other business ventures.(Got a Bundle to fill essays with)

Under-graduation
I am a Btech graduate with an average CGPA of 6.3/10 from a reputed University in India (Manipal University)
I was heavily involved in activities during my college life, such as
- University Drama Club President and founder of a highly successful Amateur Theater society in South India
- University Swimming captain, National level swimmer and a handful of Medal's under my belt.
- University Council member


Schooling

I did my school in Oman wherein I scored 79% in my 10th & 12th grade. I did do a lot of general co-curricular activities etc at school level inclusive of swimming, round square, drama.


GMAT

I am in the process of preparing for it but I am very confident of hitting minimum of 700. (hopefully more)


Current activities

- Founded a charity organization wherein I am a major financial contributor and developer.
We have founded and constructed two orphanages in India and are currently establishing a school in a remote village in India.

I hope I given you the right amount of information. Await your reply.

Thanks in advance

More info needed:

1) When are you giving your GMAT? B-school deadlines are nearing
2) What are your career-goals?
3) Have you thought of any B-schools as yet?

1) I will be giving my GMAT in mid-December. I am preparing right now. I did get a 670 on the first prep test I gave (w/o any prep) and with a little more practice and preparation, I do hope and assume I will get a min. of 700

2) I am an entrepreneur and would continue the same. Business is in the blood. XD

3) I am researching and narrowing the schools I would like to be part of but my aim is surely those among the top 15.

4) It is my own family business started by my father. It is a firm providing Industrial supplies and services to the Oil & Gas and Construction industry. Our range includes tools, equipments, consumables, PPE, specialized equipment etc.

It is a small sized company where I had the opportunity to learn a lot.
When I joined 2 years back we had an employee strength of 10. We now have over 35 employees. Also had a jump from a ~5 million USD turnover to over 10 million turnover.

Thanks for the prompt reply, Jon & Ivy.

I hope I have provided the required information.

Your valuable advise is much appreciated.

Profile inputs:

1) You have a very good profile and B-schools will appreciate your leadership and professional achievements garnered during your work with you family business, but your reasons for doing an MBA should come out very clearly in your essays. If you already have a stellar profile and have pushed up your business by say 350% in 2 years then why do you need an MBA, you are doing great already, are you not? Articulate very well the reasons for your MBA, is it the network u wish to establish? Do you wish to understand principles of marketing or strategy to handle your business well? etc.

2) School selection will be of primary importance. Look at B-schools which have incubators, entrepreneurship cells, entrepreneurship centres of excellence. These B-schools will have a great network of like minded people for you to prosper and align your thinking in the right direction and glean the maximum our of an MBA program.

Ivy,

Thank you so much for your input.

My main reason for pursuing my MBA is solely because I want to learn more. Knowledge is power and I strongly feel that an MBA would definitely reinforce the way I handle my business. I have had a fair look at MBA coursework (through friends) and all of it seems very interesting and applicable to my daily work life. My studies have been purely engineering and I feel studying about business would be beneficial.

Additionally, I would hope this would be a very strong and powerful experience which would help me throughout my life.

I am very interested in the strategic side of things. I think it would be very prime knowledge to have. Which universities would you recommend?

Thanks in advance,

Sincerely appreciate your valuable advise.

Prima Facie:

Duke: Awesome brand, a dedicated Centre for Entrepreneurship
ISB: Wadhwani centre for Entrepreneurship and a very active Entrepreneurship and Venture Cap Club
Rice-Jones: 40% batch placed in Energy/Oil, near to the oil hubs
Bond University Australia: Good courses on family busines

A deeper analysis backed with numbers can help get better schools selection set.

Thanks a ton guys. Your opinion's are greatly valued.

Quick question : Regarding LOR's, m not sure who would be the apt person to write them. As an entrepreneur, its quite confusing.
Currently my option pool consists of Client's, employee's, father, University professor's, an individual of considerable importance (a Minister or Renowned businessman).

Do give your views.

Jon & Ivy,

I await your valued comments.

Thanks

Clients would be a good choice, but on following conditions:

1) Client should have a good name
2) You should have had a long engagement (preferably 12 months or more) with the client.

eaakbari wrote:Thanks a ton guys. Your opinion's are greatly valued.

Quick question : Regarding LOR's, m not sure who would be the apt person to write them. As an entrepreneur, its quite confusing.
Currently my option pool consists of Client's, employee's, father, University professor's, an individual of considerable importance (a Minister or Renowned businessman).

Do give your views.

Hi eaakbari,

Employees will not work because they would be reporting to you. Recommendation from father as well will not work as he is related to you. That leaves you with professor and clients. A recommendation from client will be more useful as he/ she has seen you in professional setting which will form the core part of your essays. Go with someone who knows you well and can back the assertions with examples.

Ivy, Jon, 99,

I seek your valued advice at the earliest.

My application process had been delayed by some personal issues and I just completed by GMAT.
Unfortunately I bombed it: 670 (Q48, V34)

Since I am already at the eleventh hour, I cannot take the re-take the GMAT in time. What are my chances of getting in my target schools? Or do you recommend I defer applying this year. (I would, of course, strongly prefer applying this year.)

Target schools: ( in order of preference)

Stanford
Haas
Booth
NYU
Oxford

I request your valued opinions.

Thank you

Ebrahim Akbari

Since, I am a little pressed for time,

I request your valued opinions at the earliest.

Sorry for the trouble.

Regards

Hi,

By the time you read my reply, I am sure you must be through with your GMAT. Based on your profile, I would suggest you to target b-schools like: Ross, Kellogg, Kenan-Flagler, Indiana-Kelly and Wisconsin-Madison. As the GMAT range for these b-schools fall between 640-740 and good placement rate in operations post-MBA, you have fair chances of being accepted. As you want to continue with your family business post-MBA, you can mention about your leadership qualities & achievements in your application essays & demonstrate the same in interviews. You can view your chances in b-schools by clicking to the link https://www.general-ed.com/chances-of-bschool

Regarding the LORs, your clients could be your recommenders with whom you have worked closely.

Let me know in case of further queries or PM me your number to discuss over your profile & selection of b-schools.

Good Luck!!
Yash

eaakbari wrote:1) I will be giving my GMAT in mid-December. I am preparing right now. I did get a 670 on the first prep test I gave (w/o any prep) and with a little more practice and preparation, I do hope and assume I will get a min. of 700

2) I am an entrepreneur and would continue the same. Business is in the blood. XD

3) I am researching and narrowing the schools I would like to be part of but my aim is surely those among the top 15.

4) It is my own family business started by my father. It is a firm providing Industrial supplies and services to the Oil & Gas and Construction industry. Our range includes tools, equipments, consumables, PPE, specialized equipment etc.

It is a small sized company where I had the opportunity to learn a lot.
When I joined 2 years back we had an employee strength of 10. We now have over 35 employees. Also had a jump from a ~5 million USD turnover to over 10 million turnover.

Thanks for the prompt reply, Jon & Ivy.

I hope I have provided the required information.

Your valuable advise is much appreciated.