<profile eval>IndianMale - Semicondcutors(HighTech) -

[av.rakeshkumar]

Hello All,

Could anyone of you please evaluate my profile.I am targeting for 2014-2016 MBA program.

A brief abstract of my profile.
31 Yrs - Male - Semiconductor Engineering Background

Academics :
Bachelor of Engineering - Electrical Engineering , Osmania University, India

Grade :
8.1/10 - Top 5% University (University ranker) Year 2004

Haven't written GMAT yet, has been scoring consistently 740-760 in Mock tests.

Professional Experience:
7 Years - Semiconductor Industry.Currently working for a Top Semiconductor Industry in Bangalore,India
Responsibilities include a part of HDD and SSD Project Development and interaction with Customers based out of US,Japan or Korea.

1.5 Years - Computer Assembler & co-owner for a Computer Assembly Firm

Voluntary work :
- Worked for AkshayaPatra an NGO in India which serves mid-day Meal.

- Freelance Instructor at few Engineering colleges. Specialize in teaching Digital Electronics,Semiconductors and handle Engineering Projects.Coached around 5 teams with 4 members in each team till now.

- Was instrumental in setting up Semiconductor Lab in my Graduation College with funds from Alumni.

Why MBA ?
Working with my company's Customers on different products gave me a thorough knowledge about the product we manufacture.Being a development Engineer doesn't give me ample opportunities in learning the business,So I chose to do MBA.
I took many of my Company's directors (MBAs from Sloan,Haas etc) as my role models in building the motivation.

Target Schools :
HBS
MIT Sloan
Wharton
Kellogg

I have been discouraged by many for the risk involved in taking up MBA at this point of career (I'm 31!!) and targeting Top schools.Is it 'impossible' to get into Top schools at age 31 ?

Rakesh

[Bryant@VeritasPrep]

Rakesh-

Nothing is impossible with a 760 GMAT so long as your story is thoughtfully positioned in a compelling way. Granted some schools are known for a bias against older applicants, but even HBS, who has historically shunned the over 30 set has been letting in more older applicants lately. STill, the older you are, the more important it will be to convince them your journey has been necessary and not just randomly bumping along until you finally decide to go to b-school when things stall out. Speak to your leadership experience and your heightened perspective on the industry having an extra couple of years under your belt. This is how you can differentiate yourself from the next guy with similar credentials but is younger. Your UG institution was top notch and sounds like you were a real campus leader. You can speak to your excellent UG performance as having set you on a fast rising trajectory which simply kept you busy excelling for a bit longer than other colleagues who were not having as much success and perhaps pulled out earlier to return to school. No need to apologize for being successful and valuable in the workplace. Let us know if we can help you pull your story together.