Help me choose my Target Schools :)

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Help me choose my Target Schools :)

by dudemeister » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:00 pm
Hi Stacy/Amy,

Great job you guys are doing !

Please help me in evaluating my profile and deciding target schools. Really appreciate the help coz its damn hard to judge oneself :oops:

Am trying to make it easy for you guys to judge my profile... picked up a hint or two from the sticky thread :D Brief Snapshot : Indian, Male, 26, Investment Banker, Work ex 5 Years, 2 promotions, GMAT - 790.


***********Masters*************
Post Graduate Diploma in Management ( Concentration in Finance) 2000-2002
School - Indian Institute of Management

( About 1000 participants are selected from a competing pool of 2,00,000. Admission thorugh a competitive exam called "Common Aptitude test" popularly known in India as "CAT". My score(%ile) - 99.8 )


GPA : 7.2/10 ( This is approx. top 10% of class. The highest among the batch is around 8.3/10)

*********Undergraduate*********
Bachelor of Enineering ( Electronics and Communication ) 1996-2000
School : Delhi Institute of Technology ( Delhi University)
GPA : 3.3/4.0


******GMAT with breakdown ******
GMAT - 790
AWA 6/6

***********resume*********

I have stayed in the same organization that i joined in 2002, i.e. Ernst & Young. I work in the Corporate Finance Division, focusing on M&A and private Equity Transactions. I have been part of closed transactions exceeding a total of $10 Billion.

2006 - Present, Associate Vice President , Transaction Advisory Services, Ernst & Young , Delhi

2004-2006 , Senior Associate , Transaction Advisory Services, Ernst & Young , Delhi

2002-2004 , Associate , Transaction Advisory Services, Ernst & Young , Delhi

Currently Lead a team of 3 associates and 2 analysts as part of the infrastructure and Metals & Mining group. I have been involved in highly publicized an visible transactions such as the biggest Acquisition in Indian Aviation Sector. I single handedly managed the whole process of the largest disinvestment yet in Indian sugar industry ( Involving more than 1,00,000 employees). Was part of a 3 member team handling financing arrargement of the largest ever power plant to be set up in india ($ 4 Billion). I have been part of various transactions which have been very visible in india, and have also worked with the state/central government.

Marquee Transactions

$500 Million disinvestment of Sugar Mills in North India
$4 Billion power project financing in India ( Largest Ever)
$400 Million Acquisition in Aviation space ( Larget Ever in India - at least then it was :) )
$100 Million PE funding for a major Indian construction player.

Since the indian financial sector has really boomed, I've had a great chance to work with all the large PE funds ( Blackstone, Warburg, TPG etc.) . I've been consistently been recognized as a high performer in the company. Exposure has been phenomenal partly because Ernst & Young is the leading M&A/PE advisor in India, unlike in the US/UK where the like of GS or UBS or MS or ML dominate.

I've travelled extensively as part of business in US, EU and the middle East. But till now, I have not had a permanent stint outside india.

- extracurricular involvements
Won both the two largest stock trading competition to be ever held in india. Editor of school/college magazines and actively pursued dramatics throughout academic career. Invoved in mentoring and helping poor kids get proper healthcare. Me and my brother ( MD from Temple Univ.) have teamed up and we help hold medical awareness camps in poor neighbourhoods.

- awards, patents, publications, etc...
"Star Values Award" - E&Y - Given to high performers
No major awards...

- interesting personal facts - countries lived in, challenges faced, unusual interests

Studied management in France for three months as part of an exchange program.
Travel a lot - Been to 22 countries till now. In Asia, Europe and Africa...

******Long term Goals**************
Want to create significant change through a proprietary investment arm, such as IFC/ADB etc... I'm starting to tilt more and more towards infrastructural/developmental private equity/venture capital investments.

That was loooooooooong :!: Just wanted a fair evaluation :P

Where do I stand a chance? And where can i assume I'm safe. Also, I was really interested in IMD after going through their website, can you please give me a one liner on my chances there. Ans also, where do you feel Can I improve my profile.

Thanks a lot again, you guys deserve a nice big round a applause :D

Cheers,
Dude M. :twisted:
I know Karate, Kungfu and 47 other dangerous words.
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by blueboy » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:29 pm
I think you have a great profile except you will need to justify "Why Another MBA?" at this point in your career.

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by Amy » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:01 am
Hi dudemeister,

Your profile is impressive - great academics and lots of interesting work and extracurriculars. I think you have a good chance at the top schools, although there are never guarantees, and I would think that if you choose a few lower ranked schools (but probably still within the top 30) you should feel confident you will be admitted this year. Assuming that you are able to communicate well.

I'm not particularly worried about your other diploma (it's not uncommon) but you should talk about why you need an MBA on top of it.

Good luck!

Amy
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Stacy Blackman Consulting

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by dudemeister » Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:06 am
Thanks a lot for the inputs Amy and blueboy, really appreciate the help :)

Any specific inputs for IMD ? I gathered from some other threads that IMD focusses a lot on international experience. Since I've been based out of Delhi throughout my work experience, would that significantly impact my chances?

As far as applying to "safety" schools goes, I'd really not do that since I'd anyways be taking a major hit for an MBA ( Financially, in term of opportunity cost etc. ) so might as well go for the best else not do it at all.

The schools I am thinking of apping to are

Harvard
Wharton
Stanford
GSB Chicago
IMD - Primarily because it will significantly benefit me in case i decide to go for European market

Basically what I am looking from an MBA is a significant Alumni base in PE/VC funds. Am i going for the right schools or are there other better than the ones mentioned above? ( Excluding IMD)

Thanks again for the help !
I know Karate, Kungfu and 47 other dangerous words.

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by Amy » Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:46 pm
Hi dudemeister,

For PE and VC the trinity of reputation is usually HBS, Wharton and Stanford. I'm sure Chicago GSB is also great, although it hasn't been specifically mentioned to me by people in PE. Columbia is also quite strong in finance.

I have not heard that IMD would discriminate against local applicants. IMD does not have an incredibly strong reputation in the US, but that may change.

Good luck!

Amy
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Stacy Blackman Consulting