profile evaluation

[librian383]

hi
My name is sravan kumar, am from India, working in Govt. service, Rural Development Department, State Govt.of Andhra Pradesh(India). I have 8 years of exp. in rural development . I have seen many Govt. schemes at the rural level. Now i want to pursue my MBA from INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. I gave my GMAT got 510(44,17) only. Now am trying to give another time.
Education
Doing Master in Computer Application from IGNOU, New Delhi.
Completed Bachelore of computer Application from IGNOU, New Delhi, got 62%
X+2 from Govt. board, got 83%.

Working exp.
I have 8 years exp. in rural level, my functionality is rural administration, seeing the rural amenities to the people, conducting local meetings and implementing resolutions.
Aim
I want to be a Social Entrepreneur and mainly in Renewable Energy sector, which is the most promising sector in the future, no carbon tax nothing and to supply the solar systems or lamps at minimum cost to rural people there by reducing the financial burden in the rural areas as well as to the Govt. also.

My hobbies
1. i love painting
2. i am now learning violin
3.Gardening

Queries:
1.Please rate my profile, suggest me how to make further more attractive to B-schools to get admit without competition.
2. Suggest me the best specialization in MBA(according to my profile), and the best B-schools to me to target.
3.What is the minimum score i need to get in GMAT.
Please am waiting for your reply.
Thanking you,

with regards
sravan kumar
[email protected]

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Sravan,

While your work experience is interesting and different from most Indian applicants, your GMAT score is significantly lower than most. It is critical that you increase your score in order to be competitive for ISB or other internationally recognized MBA programs. Depending on which schools you want to target, you need to get your GMAT up to at least a 650--the closer to a 700 the better. As for what schools and what specialization, that is something you have to determine based on your career goals and rationale for going to business school. Before you can figure out what schools are the best match for you, you need to figure out why you need an MBA and where you see your career going. Once you know your rationale for business school, then you can do some research to determine the best schools for you.

Good luck,
Lisa

[librian383]

hi
Thank you very much for your reply. Why I want to do my MBA, because i found myself that there must be some private partnership is needed in Public welfare schemes in rural level to create more transparent and more funding. I have enough knowledge about the schemes that give food and butter to the poor people. So, using that exp. and if i have an additional management knowledge also i can create social models to revenue business models. Then there is both business and social service we can do. I always want to keep in touch with you.

thank you once again.

sravan kumar

[varun.bullseye]

Hi Lisa,

It must be a cliché for you by now, but I must say that you're doing a commendable job!

Would request you to have a look at my profile and opine on my self-designed plan

GMAT - 710(Q47 V40) - 4th attempt

Work Experience: 4 years at matriculation

I spent the entire term working for one of Asia's largest software exporters. I worked for clients based out of India, UK and USA. I worked as an assistant systems engineer, systems engineer and a business architect for each of the past 3 years.

Achievements at work:

"¢ Awarded 100% Customer Satisfaction by the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax.
"¢ Conferred with the Best Propeller award for training associates in the Proactive Program for Learning (PROPEL).
"¢ Accredited by the Human Resources for presenting a paper on Information Security that helped associates to minimize security incidents.
"¢ Adjudged the Best Defect Prevention & Causal Analysis Prime, an award granted for efficient defect tracking.
"¢ Felicitated by the Head of Northern Region, for leading a team of 14 associates in the annual cultural confluence of one of the biggest Indian Conglomerates.

Academic Qualifications

"¢ Bachelor of Engineering (Information & Communication Technology) 2002 - 2006 with a CGPA of 3.3/4.0

"¢ Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (Central Board of Secondary Education) 2001 - 2002
with an overall score of 75.4 %

"¢ Higher Secondary Certificate Examination (Central Board of Secondary Education) 1999 - 2000
with an overall score of 82.6 %

Community Service

"¢ DCWA (Delhi Commonwealth Women's Association) - Have been teaching computer basics and English conversation classes for kids of all age groups, housewives and senior citizens, for the past one year.
"¢ PROPEL (Pro-active Program for Employee Learning) - Organized 5 sessions aimed at team coherence .These sessions enable associates to hone their team building skills.
"¢ As part of MAITREE - The corporate sustainability arm of my company, successfully organized outbound trips to slums and old age homes. Provided health awareness and consultation sessions to the underprivileged.
Co-Curricular Activities

"¢ Received professional training in rappelling, archery and shooting from the National Adventure Foundation, New Delhi.
"¢ Adjudged 2nd runner up, in university level Mr. Personality Competition, 2005.
"¢ Led the rock band-Solstice, as lead singer, in 2 inter-college competitions.
"¢ Led a team of 57 students in initiating the Club for IT interaction for Information Technology department.
"¢ Won 6 awards in inter/intra college fests. Worked with the student council for organizing technical events for IEEE.
"¢ Have won 12 awards for music, debating and calligraphy in school.
"¢ As member of the student editorial board, led the HINDI Editorial section of the school magazine, 2001.
"¢ Worked with the student council for organizing inter-school competitions and symposiums.
"¢ Represented the North Zone in Earth Day Declamation Competition conducted by the DELHI MIDTOWN TABLE in 1996.


************************************************** ***

Career Objective

To work as a consultant in an IT consulting firm and strive for innovative ways to sell technology services and products to offset the dynamic consumer demands.

The Story thus far:

Since I want to move over IT Consulting/Strategy and consider Return on investment to be a pivotal factor in deciding my B school, I selected a major chunk of Scholarship friendly MBA Programs:

Katz, University of Pittsburgh - Admit with $10,000 scholarship
Smeal, PennState Univeristy - Admit

Duke - WL
Krannert, Purdue University - WL
Fisher, Ohio State University- WL

Georgia Tech - Reject
Boston University School of management -Reject
Eller, university of Arizona- Reject


Keeping the above profile in mind, an average gmat score as well as having the label of the Indian IT Male written all over me, do you think I'm on the right track ? Or would you like to see waiting for another year ? In case you do want me to wait , please mention the relevant reasons.

Also, I have admits from Smeal and Katz . Which one would you like me to go to ? Do mention your reasons as well


I request you to please guide me appropriately.

Many thanks in anticipation
Varun

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Varun,

Since your career goals are quite focused and ROI is of significance, then what is holding you back from choosing between Smeal and Katz? I don't see a reason you should wait a year unless there is some professional opportunity at work that you can't pass up. Do you feel these two programs cannot provide what you seek? I would hope not since you applied to them and now hold an offer of admission in your hand. I think you need to go back and consider what made you apply to each of these programs and what it is you want from your business school experience. Compare the two programs against your personal list of expectations and see if one appears to be the better choice. After that, look at what your investment will be for each--not just tuition and fees, but also the living expenses as there are differences between Pittsburgh and State College in the cost of living (although it might not be significant). Once you have all of your data, then you can make a decision on which is the best fit for you, making compromises if necessary on program attributes or cost. Either way, you will be at a solid program with great resources.

Good luck,
Lisa

[varun.bullseye]

Dear Varun,

Since your career goals are quite focused and ROI is of significance, then what is holding you back from choosing between Smeal and Katz? I don't see a reason you should wait a year unless there is some professional opportunity at work that you can't pass up. Do you feel these two programs cannot provide what you seek? I would hope not since you applied to them and now hold an offer of admission in your hand. I think you need to go back and consider what made you apply to each of these programs and what it is you want from your business school experience. Compare the two programs against your personal list of expectations and see if one appears to be the better choice. After that, look at what your investment will be for each--not just tuition and fees, but also the living expenses as there are differences between Pittsburgh and State College in the cost of living (although it might not be significant). Once you have all of your data, then you can make a decision on which is the best fit for you, making compromises if necessary on program attributes or cost. Either way, you will be at a solid program with great resources.

Good luck,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the information. This was really helpful.

Also, i will appreciate a feedback on my wait listed schools please.

Regards
Varun

[varun.bullseye]

Dear Varun,

Since your career goals are quite focused and ROI is of significance, then what is holding you back from choosing between Smeal and Katz? I don't see a reason you should wait a year unless there is some professional opportunity at work that you can't pass up. Do you feel these two programs cannot provide what you seek? I would hope not since you applied to them and now hold an offer of admission in your hand. I think you need to go back and consider what made you apply to each of these programs and what it is you want from your business school experience. Compare the two programs against your personal list of expectations and see if one appears to be the better choice. After that, look at what your investment will be for each--not just tuition and fees, but also the living expenses as there are differences between Pittsburgh and State College in the cost of living (although it might not be significant). Once you have all of your data, then you can make a decision on which is the best fit for you, making compromises if necessary on program attributes or cost. Either way, you will be at a solid program with great resources.

Good luck,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Further to my reply,I have already spoken to current students from both the colleges and this is the information I could gather:-

Katz :
Its a strong consulting school and has witnessed the BIG 4 consulting firms recruiting in the past. However, since 2007 only Deloitte has been the firm that has consistently recruited international students. Also, last year one Indian could make it to Deloitte.Then there are other firms such as GigaForce and Terametal that recruit internationals from Katz but those are not the kind of industries I'm targeting. The overall cost of study + living is 75k. I have a scholarship of 10k so my total expenses would be 65k. The average salary is around 75-80k(Deloitte offered a 85k package and a 10k bonus though)

Smeal:
Its a strong supply chain school and attracts a lot of tech companies on campus for supply chain related roles,primarily. Also, the placement statistics show that a major chunk of placements are in the technology sector-where I want to go post-MBA. Also, consulting is not as prevalent as it is in katz , but the school boasts of a great curriculum and great resources.
Also, the average salary is higher than that of Katz , its around 85k-90k for international students. The factor that worries me most is the finances as Smeal has not offered me a scholarship. But then i have a chance of getting a GA in the second year (last year all Indians got GAs in the second year) which would cover my entire tuition and give me a stipend of $6000 per semester.

Please advise.

Looking forward to your assistance.

[Lisa Anderson]

Tough decision...I can't make this one for you though. You have to decide which option is the best choice for you. I would caution you though on putting so much significance on the success of other international students from these programs. While that is a data point to consider, you have to remember that you are the biggest determining factor on what job you get out of business school. With some effort, you can make your luck--I have watched international students do this for over 10 years, so I know it can be done.

Regardless of your choice, you will be at a good school and you can maximize the resources and opportunities available to you. Pick the one that offers the most resources and opportunities to make your goals happen.

Regards,
Lisa

[varun.bullseye]

Tough decision...I can't make this one for you though. You have to decide which option is the best choice for you. I would caution you though on putting so much significance on the success of other international students from these programs. While that is a data point to consider, you have to remember that you are the biggest determining factor on what job you get out of business school. With some effort, you can make your luck--I have watched international students do this for over 10 years, so I know it can be done.

Regardless of your choice, you will be at a good school and you can maximize the resources and opportunities available to you. Pick the one that offers the most resources and opportunities to make your goals happen.

Regards,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the insight.

Hope to share some good news with you soon !

Regards,
Varun