Profile evaluation FT Fall 2012

[aarmo]

I have been frequenting the website for the last few months and have greatly benefited from some of the member comments and expert opinions.

I need some help shortlisting schools for Fall'12

Here's a summary of my profile:

GMAT - 730 (Q48/V42)
GPA - 3.8 MS, 3.6 Undergad (best guess since my undergraduate degree is from India)
Work experience (all US) - 2 years in analytics consulting for pharma companies, 1 year in marketing analytics at a pharma company
Extracurriculars:
- Played soccer at school and college level, sports captain of the high school, numerous awards in athletics
- Have been working for an NGO that provides adut education, worked with another NGO when in India

My goal after MBA is to work for a top management consulting for a few years and eventualy have my own consulting firm.

I've shortlisted a few schools:

- Kellog
- Booth
- Columbia
- Haas
- Ross
- Tuck
- Fuqua
- Darden

I would like to bring down the list of final schools to 5. Based on the information I have provided, do I seem to be aiming too high? Any suggestions on which of these (or other) schools I should apply to?

[Color Me One]

You seem to have a good base (and that could mean a decent shot at some of these schools) but there is really too little information that you have provided. The achievements at your firm, your work scope, responsibilities, age, leadership examples, brand name of your firm, previous schools etc. - all of these and more make up your profile.

Just a couple of points more: All the schools in your list are more or less at the same level of difficulty, so this is not a diversified application strategy. Also you would have a problem with a general goal like working for a management consulting firm; make it more specific & then shortlist the schools.

Good Luck!

[Stacy Blackman]

Hi aarmo,

You have a strong GMAT score and academic record. Your work experience is going to play a large role in your acceptance, and there isn't a lot of information written. Do you have a history of progression in your career and experience managing others?

If you are interested in narrowing the list down to 5 schools, I recommend considering the location of the programs. Your experience in New York (for Columbia), will be very different than if you attended Ross. If there is a particularly location you would like to work in post-graduation, it will be to your advantage to attend school near that location because of the network you will build at school.


Hope this was of help.

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

[Jon@Admissionado]

I'm totally with Stacy on this one. A lot of your thought should also be about Where you want to go, and more than just the ranking.

That having been said, on your list Columbia and Booth are a bit on the tougher end, whereas Ross, Darden and Haas would be a bit on the easier end.