Ask mbaMission

Hi All,

I have recently given GMAT a second time and I need some advice from the experts on the forum regarding applications and programs.

1st attempt : 680 (Q-44, V-40, AWA 3.5)
2nd attempt : 720 (Q-51, V-36, AWA 4.5)

Education:
- Bachelors in Information Technology from Indian Institute of Information Technology - Allahabad. [Institute ranks 9th in India ]
- GPA 7.5/10
- "A" in Business and Management Courses.


Leadership:
- Was Class representative at School.
- Career Expo (Placement) representative at Undergrad.
- Member and Secretary of the IIIT-A Program Management and Publicity Club.
- Member of the Innovation Accelerators group at Cisco.(To promote innovation, we successfully got a few ideas implemented.)
- Part of a team that was set up to suggest a new Rewards and Recognition framework at Cisco (in our Business Unit).

Work experience:
- 6 months with Motorola as an Intern at Applied Research and Technology Centre, Motorola India Research Labs.
- Have a patent application with US PTO for the research done at Motorola (Listed as the first inventor)
- 34 months working for Cisco. (Continuing now)
- Won 2 Cisco Star Awards (Best employee of the quarter)
- Got promoted in the 1st year of work at Cisco.


Others:
- Involved in various Social Initiatives at Cisco.
- Active participant in the School Adoption Program at Cisco. [ We developed the school with the help of funds received from colleagues and educate the kids]
- Was a member of Prayaas at college. [ Prayaas is a program we started to educate the uneducated kids in the slum near our college]

I am looking at programs with a smaller size and am interested in the following:
Haas, Tuck, Yale, Johnson, Stern, Ross, Tepper, Marshall, Kelley and McDonough.

Please let me know if there are any other good/better programs, I should be considering.

Also, please suggest some good programs being offered in Switzerland, Germany and Asia.

I have few questions as well:

1. Is giving GMAT twice going to hinder my prospects?
2. How much is my low GPA going to be a hindrance?
2. How is an international MBA different?
3. How good are the loan repayability prospects for European programs?

Thanks very much for all your guidance and help.

Sincerest Regards,