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Profile evaulation request - Chance at the top 10 bschools

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Profile evaulation request - Chance at the top 10 bschools

by ankurbhageria » Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:47 pm
Hi,

I'm a prospective applicant for a 2-year MBA starting Fall 2011. I was hoping to get your inputs on what my chances are at the top 10 bschools (specifically Stanford, Berkeley haas, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, ), and what do you make of my candidacy to these top programs. Details of my profile are mentioned below.

24/M Indian, with 3 years work-ex at matriculation at a top tier Investment Banking firm

I'm looking at a career in Strategy Consulting in the Technology domain post my MBA, and in time move into Private Equity/Venture Capital in the Cleantech and Emerging technologies domain.

Education:

Bachelor in Engineering (Electronics), graduated from a Top tier University in India in 2008 with highest honours (First Class with Distinction, 70.2%) (equivalent GPA of about 3.5)
GMAT - 760 (Q51, V41, AWA 5.5)
Additional courses - CFA Level 1 cleared with highest grades in all subjects

In terms of my co-curricular and extra-curricular activities,

- I have a 4-year association with National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), a nonprofit organization that helps budding entrepreneurs launch their businesses and mentors the youth on entrepreneurship. Currently, I'm a part of the Leadership council of NEN E-club Mumbai Chapter.

- Additionally, I'm associated with a local NGO supporting underprivileged children and have taken initiative in mentoring the children
- Am also a part of the local chapter of Lions Club International. (Although both these activities have been recent in 2010)

- Was very active in college co-curricular activities and held several leaderhip positions in different student bodies (not sure how relevant that will be though)

I would greatly appreciate your inputs on this and your assessment would go a long way in helping me which schools to target with my profile.

Thanks and Regards,
Ankur
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by Stacey Oyler » Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:20 pm
Hi,

Thanks for your post. You seem to have a nice, balanced profile - meaning solid academics, extracurricular activities and work experience. In regard to your work experience you didn't specifically state your role or career progression. I'm guessing given your undergraduate degree that your role is technical of some sort. Is this correct?

Regards,

Stacey
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by ankurbhageria » Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:34 pm
Thank you Stacey. So just to give you more color on my work experience -

I currently have 2 years work-ex (3 years at matriculation) as an analyst in the IB arm of a top tier Investment Bank, and have basically handled projects dealing with financial advisory on M&A and capital raising opportunities for clients in the financial institutions sector. It's not a tech role. I was one of the 5 engineers from a batch of 400 to have been selected in the IB division... and part of the 1st batch of engineering recruits in the firm - post which the dept has actively gone ahead and recruited more engineers from my college (volunteered in the recruitment drive as well)

Given the structure of investment banks, there isn't much room for career progression for the initial 3 years as an analyst, although I have the unique distinction of possessing diverse experience as a part of 2 different teams working with colleagues in NY as well as in HK/Singapore (handling M&A and equity raising projects for the US banking sector (1.5 years) and working on projects pertaining to the Asian debt capital markets (6 months)

-- Further have actively taken part in various department-wide initiatives (Speaker sessions, Sports, Quiz, etc), and also unofficially led a team of 4 members (all senior to me) when pitching a multi-million dollar revenue generating idea to senior management at the Investment bank as a part of another dept initiative, youngest employee in the dept to do so

Would love to hear your thoughts.
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by Stacey Oyler » Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:17 pm
Hi,

Thanks for the additional information. It sounds to me like you've had a nice career trajectory (are on the right track for banking) to date. This along with your additional involvement in company initiatives will certainly be a strength in your profile. Given your other stats you've shared I would say that you can certainly be competitive for admission at the MBA programs on your list.

Regards,

Stacey
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by ankurbhageria » Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:34 pm
Thanks again Stacey.

My only concern is that my career goals are not entirely in sync with my previous work-experience, since I'm looking at strategy consulting in the technology domain (being an electronics engineer, still have that interest going), and in the long run I'll probably want to move into a PE/VC focussed on technology (in cleantech and emerging technologies). My work experience, however has been in the financial institution sector -- Banks, Insurance. Will the admission committees consider this as a disconnect between what I've done and what my aspirations are..?

The other theme in terms of longterm career aspirations for me is tech entrepreneurship, but I feel it may be difficult to convince them of that unless i have done something substantial (started a company already perhaps) to prove my commitment to entrepreneurship.

What could be a more compelling theme in this case for me?

Regards,
Ankur
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by Stacey Oyler » Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:58 pm
Hi,

There is just one thing I wish for you to keep in mind and that is the reasons people go to business school. There are just two... 1. To enhance or grow in their current career or industry and 2. To change careers. Since you are a career switcher, just be sure you explain the skills you have now and have they can be applied/relevant to your future career as well as why the MBA is critical to bridge the gap in your skill set.

Best,

Stacey
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by ankurbhageria » Sat Aug 07, 2010 7:56 am
Thanks. I understand what you're trying to say.

Also, wanted to run another question by you... I'm currently in the process of founding a web-based educational startup, but its still in the nascent stages... I was wondering how, if at all, I can leverage it? Can I talk about it in my essays etc? Because I really cannot show them results as of now... possibly 4-5 months down... but it is something I am really passionate about and want to pursue it further. I know Stanford is big on Entrepreneurship, and tech-based startups, probably even Berkeley. Any thoughts from your end?

2. Can you also weave a story around a tech-idea that you may have and want to go to bschool to develop it, especially if it relies heavily on technology- (bschools like stanford and berkeley can provide a resourceful network of investors, engineers etc. in that regard)

Regards,
Ankur
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by Stacey Oyler » Mon Aug 09, 2010 1:42 pm
Hi Ankur,

Please see my comments below:

I'm currently in the process of founding a web-based educational startup, but its still in the nascent stages... I was wondering how, if at all, I can leverage it? Can I talk about it in my essays etc? Because I really cannot show them results as of now... possibly 4-5 months down... but it is something I am really passionate about and want to pursue it further. I know Stanford is big on Entrepreneurship, and tech-based startups, probably even Berkeley. Any thoughts from your end?

Yes, you can certainly mention this start up in your applications, however, it may raise some concerns about your intent of going to bschool. How can you continue to run a company while attending school? Why start it now if you plan to leave it next year? These types of questions will certainly come up in regard to your start up, so be prepared to address them.

2. Can you also weave a story around a tech-idea that you may have and want to go to bschool to develop it, especially if it relies heavily on technology- (bschools like stanford and berkeley can provide a resourceful network of investors, engineers etc. in that regard)

It sounds to me like you are asking if "entrepreneurship" is a valid post MBA goal. It most certainly is a solid goal. Just be sure you can explain your goal along with the skills you have and the skills you need from an MBA to obtain it.

Regards,

Stacey
Sign up for my MBA admissions course, featuring me and other Clear Admit experts, by visiting: https://www.udemy.com/business-school

Stacey Oyler
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215.568.2590

Stay Informed with Clear Admit!
Read our Blog for daily MBA admissions tips and updates.
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