Okay so I am writing this post out of desperation more than anything else. This is not for the first time I am requesting a profile evaluation.
My background:
GMAT:
710 - Q49 (81%le) and V37 (82%le) IR 7 (82%le) and AWA 4.5 (43%le)
Undergrad:
- Tier B Indian Engineering College - Chemical Engineer - First Class Grades
- I Have some shady grades in Math in my first and second year; Passing grades are 40 and I have one math score as 31+09; As such the grading system was demanding.
- I was a Training and Placement Coordinator
- I was not a good test writer but I was good at practical applications of study - Although there isn't any attestation on my transcripts, I scored highest grades in laboratory and project work in all subjects in final two years.
Work Experience:
I have been working for a Fortune 100 MNC as a Technical Advisor for past 64 months in the oil and gas sector
Job Description/Work Type:
Lead multicultural teams of 6-8 individuals in EMEA on refinery and petrochemical industries change implementation and transformation projects (technical description would mean precommissioning, commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and multiple units optimization and integration projects)
-Provide onsite engineering consultation; assist clients in project planning, feed and product blending and scheduling
-Assist client to monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and guide performance analysis of refinery operations
-Resolve unit performance related conflicts to ensure smooth acceptance of guarantees from clients; negotiate guarantee waivers
-Conduct client training to familiarize them with our proprietary technology; mentor new technical advisors
Details:
1) I worked in India office in Engineering Design for 1 year
2) Posted in my organization's R&D division in Chicago for 1 year; Worked in renewable energy sector during this time
3) Then I started traveling more frequently; I have worked at client refinery sites
Multiple locations in India - June 2011 to January 2012
Taiwan - February 2012 to May 2012
Italy and Switzerland - June 2012 to October 2012
China - November 2012 to December 2012
Norway - February 2013 to March 2013
India - April 2013 to May 2013
Iraq (Volunteered to take up this project) - May 2013 to October 2013
India - December 2013
Oman - January 2014 to February 2014
Saudi Arabia - March 2014 to June 2014
India - July 2014
Singapore - July 2014 to September 2014
China - October 2014 - Present
I have a couple of awards and recognition at the organization where I work:
- I have two promotions from Career Development Program to now Technical Advisor-II
-Generated more than ~$1.5M in revenue from billable consulting time spent on client sites
-Created patent pending engineering design of refinery equipment; received my organization's global recognition for innovative design
Certifications: I am Six Sigma Green Belt Certified Professional and have led a couple of Six Sigma projects that have been helpful in reducing overhead expenses and downtime
Extra Curricular Activities:
-Part time volunteer since 2009 at a remote location at a NGO for physically challenged kids
-ÂHelped improve living conditions by preparing project proposals to receive state government funding of over USD 180,000 in last three years
-ÂSupported quarterly and biannual audits conducted by the District Backward Class Welfare Officers of the Disabled Welfare Dept.
-ÂNow that I travel a lot. I am only involved remotely; currently building NGO website to expand reach and monetary support
Guitar Teacher: While I was in undergrad engineering school - Taught playing guitar to kids and friends; Trained ~40 students in five years. I have a youtube music channel where I upload recordings and videos.
Photography:
-Traveled across 3 continents and 21 countries (22 if you consider Vatican City as separate country
), pursuing landscape and monument photography; photographs have been published on my organization's annual calendar
- Have been winning prizes in office competitions for last two years
- I run a flickr photography channel
Post-MBA career goals
Short Term - Consulting with a MBB firm (preferably) in their energy practice arms/divisons;
Why?
-Because
a) I have met and seen what they (consultants) do and I feel with my current knowledge I cannot make the same level of contribution so I need to pursue a formal education
b) Fast Track my career: It's not that I don't get exposure to business side of work. However, there is no structured learning and the time taken this way, to get to where I want to be, will be longer
Mid Term -
a) Take up a role with a MNC such as Shell/Exxon and head a strategy/operations department of the organization
b) Quit traveling and Perhaps get married (provided I can find a girl)
Long Term -
Have a C-level job at an innovation and technology driven firm in the energy sector.
MBA Application Experience
Now comes the (not so) fun part...
I applied to four schools last year and one this year:
CBS - EA, Sloan, kellogg, and Ross - Got Dinged without an interview
Duke - EA - No interview invite (possibly sitting on a ding)
I had taken some big brand admission consultants help last year - so we worked on almost most parts of my application including recommendations. However they couldn't change my fate. I can admit that each of my application have only got better with time. However, I am still not making the cut. I have spent a lot of time, energy and all that money that I made in Iraq!
Since my goals are getting into a consulting form I believe most top schools are worth applying to. You may wonder whether I put in enough efforts to research the school and answer the "Why ABC School?" question - The short answer is - I did.
Questions to admission consultants:
-Any suggestions on how I should proceed now? I mean I can take the GMAT and perhaps go for an overkill; It will take time but with 64 months of experience currently is it really worth?
-I am in a hurry to get into a "GOOD" school. When I say I good, I mean two things - recognition and reasonable MBB hiring record.
-I intend to settle in India and so US- Bschools aren't really a necessity. I am open to geographical locations of a school as long as the school I get into has a good placement record with the MBB firms.
-I am considering to apply to INSEAD now. Is it something I should proceed with current credentials or should I look at switching jobs/profiles? or GMAT retake?
-As I mentioned, I have shady marks but I don't really lament anything. Its past - done and dusted and I can't undo it. But is it something affecting my apps?
- Any suggestions on which schools should I consider now or what I can do to become a better applicant? Yes, time is a big factor but then if there is something that I can do to have a better outcome I am ready to invest it.
I can't thank you guys enough not just because you've been providing suggestions to my requests but also to others. I read other posts and pick up few things that are relevant to me here and there.
Regards,
Vishwa
My background:
GMAT:
710 - Q49 (81%le) and V37 (82%le) IR 7 (82%le) and AWA 4.5 (43%le)
Undergrad:
- Tier B Indian Engineering College - Chemical Engineer - First Class Grades
- I Have some shady grades in Math in my first and second year; Passing grades are 40 and I have one math score as 31+09; As such the grading system was demanding.
- I was a Training and Placement Coordinator
- I was not a good test writer but I was good at practical applications of study - Although there isn't any attestation on my transcripts, I scored highest grades in laboratory and project work in all subjects in final two years.
Work Experience:
I have been working for a Fortune 100 MNC as a Technical Advisor for past 64 months in the oil and gas sector
Job Description/Work Type:
Lead multicultural teams of 6-8 individuals in EMEA on refinery and petrochemical industries change implementation and transformation projects (technical description would mean precommissioning, commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and multiple units optimization and integration projects)
-Provide onsite engineering consultation; assist clients in project planning, feed and product blending and scheduling
-Assist client to monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and guide performance analysis of refinery operations
-Resolve unit performance related conflicts to ensure smooth acceptance of guarantees from clients; negotiate guarantee waivers
-Conduct client training to familiarize them with our proprietary technology; mentor new technical advisors
Details:
1) I worked in India office in Engineering Design for 1 year
2) Posted in my organization's R&D division in Chicago for 1 year; Worked in renewable energy sector during this time
3) Then I started traveling more frequently; I have worked at client refinery sites
Multiple locations in India - June 2011 to January 2012
Taiwan - February 2012 to May 2012
Italy and Switzerland - June 2012 to October 2012
China - November 2012 to December 2012
Norway - February 2013 to March 2013
India - April 2013 to May 2013
Iraq (Volunteered to take up this project) - May 2013 to October 2013
India - December 2013
Oman - January 2014 to February 2014
Saudi Arabia - March 2014 to June 2014
India - July 2014
Singapore - July 2014 to September 2014
China - October 2014 - Present
I have a couple of awards and recognition at the organization where I work:
- I have two promotions from Career Development Program to now Technical Advisor-II
-Generated more than ~$1.5M in revenue from billable consulting time spent on client sites
-Created patent pending engineering design of refinery equipment; received my organization's global recognition for innovative design
Certifications: I am Six Sigma Green Belt Certified Professional and have led a couple of Six Sigma projects that have been helpful in reducing overhead expenses and downtime
Extra Curricular Activities:
-Part time volunteer since 2009 at a remote location at a NGO for physically challenged kids
-ÂHelped improve living conditions by preparing project proposals to receive state government funding of over USD 180,000 in last three years
-ÂSupported quarterly and biannual audits conducted by the District Backward Class Welfare Officers of the Disabled Welfare Dept.
-ÂNow that I travel a lot. I am only involved remotely; currently building NGO website to expand reach and monetary support
Guitar Teacher: While I was in undergrad engineering school - Taught playing guitar to kids and friends; Trained ~40 students in five years. I have a youtube music channel where I upload recordings and videos.
Photography:
-Traveled across 3 continents and 21 countries (22 if you consider Vatican City as separate country
), pursuing landscape and monument photography; photographs have been published on my organization's annual calendar- Have been winning prizes in office competitions for last two years
- I run a flickr photography channel
Post-MBA career goals
Short Term - Consulting with a MBB firm (preferably) in their energy practice arms/divisons;
Why?
-Because
a) I have met and seen what they (consultants) do and I feel with my current knowledge I cannot make the same level of contribution so I need to pursue a formal education
b) Fast Track my career: It's not that I don't get exposure to business side of work. However, there is no structured learning and the time taken this way, to get to where I want to be, will be longer
Mid Term -
a) Take up a role with a MNC such as Shell/Exxon and head a strategy/operations department of the organization
b) Quit traveling and Perhaps get married (provided I can find a girl)
Long Term -
Have a C-level job at an innovation and technology driven firm in the energy sector.
MBA Application Experience
Now comes the (not so) fun part...
I applied to four schools last year and one this year:
CBS - EA, Sloan, kellogg, and Ross - Got Dinged without an interview
Duke - EA - No interview invite (possibly sitting on a ding)
I had taken some big brand admission consultants help last year - so we worked on almost most parts of my application including recommendations. However they couldn't change my fate. I can admit that each of my application have only got better with time. However, I am still not making the cut. I have spent a lot of time, energy and all that money that I made in Iraq!
Since my goals are getting into a consulting form I believe most top schools are worth applying to. You may wonder whether I put in enough efforts to research the school and answer the "Why ABC School?" question - The short answer is - I did.
Questions to admission consultants:
-Any suggestions on how I should proceed now? I mean I can take the GMAT and perhaps go for an overkill; It will take time but with 64 months of experience currently is it really worth?
-I am in a hurry to get into a "GOOD" school. When I say I good, I mean two things - recognition and reasonable MBB hiring record.
-I intend to settle in India and so US- Bschools aren't really a necessity. I am open to geographical locations of a school as long as the school I get into has a good placement record with the MBB firms.
-I am considering to apply to INSEAD now. Is it something I should proceed with current credentials or should I look at switching jobs/profiles? or GMAT retake?
-As I mentioned, I have shady marks but I don't really lament anything. Its past - done and dusted and I can't undo it. But is it something affecting my apps?
- Any suggestions on which schools should I consider now or what I can do to become a better applicant? Yes, time is a big factor but then if there is something that I can do to have a better outcome I am ready to invest it.
I can't thank you guys enough not just because you've been providing suggestions to my requests but also to others. I read other posts and pick up few things that are relevant to me here and there.
Regards,
Vishwa
. Of course it is subjective, but that's the general advice I would give.
