2 years xp, 70% undergrad, advice needed

[hamxa]

Hi Everyone,

I want to work and settle in Australia, hence am focusing on AGSM and MBS only for Spring 2010 intake. (are they the only right choice)

Please evaluate and suggest if i should have any hope:

BS Engineering-70% (Top engr school of my country: Pakistan)
2.5 yrs technical/management exp. (by Spring 2010) in Telecom Company.(global market leader)
Recently completed 3 months international assignment.
targeting 750+ GMAT ( to cover for low undergrad, taking test in mid july)
strong extra curricular


Should i also apply to other Asia-Pacific (Insead, HKUST, CEIBS, NUS) B-schools and later get a job in Aus ?

[Applying for second round 2010 spring intake in both unis]

Regards,

[AppReview]

Hi,

Please find below a detailed analysis in response to your questions.

1. Your percentage is good. However, please confirm the divison (or division equivalency) you have. For example, in India above 60% is considered first class and that is looked at very favourably. So if a similar scheme is followed, 70% would be good.

2. Your work experience is good as well. The fact that you went on an international assignment should be highlighted and will make you stand out. Your 2.5 years of work experience would be enough for the schools you are targetting to see you as a competitive applicant.

3. Targeting and achieving the score you are eyeing is a completely different matter. Not discouraging you, please don't look at it that way. But you would also agree that you yourself cannot be too sure of the scores you will get until you have taken both the PowerPreps or the actual GMAT. A score in excess of 700 should make things quite comfortable for you. Above 750 should definitely make you extremely competitive for a substantial scholarship (considering the first class criteria above).

About applying to other schools, our advice would be not to do so. This is in accordance with your future plans.

Generally, students who study in X country, get jobs in the same country. This holds true for 90% students atleast in all the major business schools. If you take an average and include ALL b-schools, this would rise substantially. Also, Australia is a great country but the hiring by Australian companies at an international B-School (outside Australia) is not very high. Hence, your chances in terms of getting a job in Australia after passing out from a university abroad, would decrease (not completely dissapear though; we cannot predict the future )

If you are very clear about settling in Australia instantly, you should target a great MBA school there, and MBS fits that very well. If you want to consider studying at an international B-School, then take a case where you work for 4-5 years in your university's country and then shift. By then, your work ex would hold good in transferring from anywhere to Australia.

Hope this helps. All the best.

Regards,
AppReview