oh nooooo! or oh yes?

[sudsa]

Hi,

I am not from IT- I'm from manufacturing. I'm an Indian male working in an automobile company for a little over 2 years in India. I intend to start my MBA in 2014 Fall

Stats:

I got a bland GMAT score of 640 on my first try. I dont have a TOEFL/IELTS score yet. Will be taking IELTS in October.
A 7.92/10 (first class) GPA from a high ranking engineering college in India. GPA was progressive each semester.
XII: 80.7% X: 81.4%

Professional Experience:
Exposed to a variety of corporate functions as a trainee. Was in production for 4 months but was transferred to Production Planning and remained there since.
Involved in TQM activities- Setting up of a model line, dept daily mgmt co-ordinator.

Academics and co-curriculars:

RC car enthusiast- participated in competitions during college at various locations. Organised RC car competition as part of college Tech Symposium.
Organised another event 'contraptions' in the following year.
MOC in national level tech symposium of department.

President of High School Literary Club. Best out-going student of the year in high school. Top 2% at center in National Chemistry Olympiad.

School topper in mathematics (X - 99%). Grade 'B' in state mathematics Olympiad. Distinction in olympiad conducted by Univerv=sity of New South Wales, Australia

Extra-curriculars:
Play football, table tennis, volley ball and basket ball.
Vice captain of batch Volley ball team at company.
Yoga and Karate Enthusiast- won state and national level competitions (though nearly 10 years ago. Haven't participated in competitions since then)
Learnt Indian Classical Vocals and percussion
Avid reader- both fiction and non fiction (quite influenced by freakonomics and its sequel)
an amateur writer and poet
Like to travel- gone trekking, skiing, snorkelling, cliff jumping
Organised cultural event themed 'folklores of india' at locality


Why an MBA:
1. As I said earlier, highly influenced by freakonomics.
2. Change of field- preferably marketing

Queries:
1. I intended to apply to INSEAD, NTU, ISB, NUS but my GMAT score and acads seem pretty lackluster. Do I still have a chance of getting an admit in one of these schools? Should I go ahead?
2. Should I retake the GMAT?
3. In the US, I'm looking at haas (UCB), smeal (PennState), kenan flagler(UNC) and mays(TAMU) schools. Do I stand a chance with my current profile?
4. Could you suggest some schools that I might try for with my current score?

[Jon@Admissionado]

I think you get the "Best title for a profile request" award

Let me make it simple.... oh no! but soon ohhh yesss!!!
What do I mean?

Don't apply this year. No sireeee. That would be a bad idea. With your so-so GMAT and your not-enough work experience, PLUS Indian Male Tech... oh man things would be tough...
So take your time my friend.. change this to an oh yes, but waiting one year or two, retaking the GMAT, getting the best score you can...

It's too early yet to think of which schools. One thing at a time, my friend, one thing at a time...

[sudsa]

Thank you

I will be re-taking the GMAT shortly.
But, I'm a bit curious, what would be the ideal work exp duration for my 'oh nooo' to be an 'oh yess?'

Do B-schools consider work exp at the time of matriculation or at the time of admission? Because if I intend to join in fall 2014, my work exp would be 3+

Also, do I have a slight advantage over my peers? Because the majority of applicants from India are from IT and I'm not not.

[Jon@Admissionado]

Good luck then!

Well it depends which school. For US schools 3+, for most European schools (where average work experience and student age is a few years more) 5+ is more ideal, unless you have done something stellar (for example people who work for McKinsey get in with 2 years experience, but not IT folks, because you usually spend your first 2-3 years coding, with no leadership and few business relevant stories).

Hope this helps,

[sudsa]

I guess so, which was why the first point I'd made in my profile is I'm from manufacturing and not IT. An automobile manufacturing company to be a bit more specific.

I worked in the production line before being transferred to production planning and control department. Most of the business related stories that i can tell are short notice decisions rather than any meticulously planned and executed ones

[/b]

[Jon@Admissionado]

Hmmmm,
You're right. But still it depends on what you could have done in your first years. You may have been one of the lucky few who had leadership or project management opportunities right off the bat, but if not, it may be harder. Basically the best way to know, is to look at yourself in comparison to your peers. I mean if you have moved up twice as fast as them, then yeah, maybe two three years will be enough, but otherwise, it may be a wee bit tougher.

[sudsa]

hi,

I took the GMAT for the second time yesterday and I got 730 {Q50, V40, IR6}. But the rest of my profile remains the same
Manufacturing male from India with 2+ yrs exp,
MBA because I'm a freakonomics fan, I would love to change to marketing and I have ideas for a startup.

does that make my position any better?

[Jon@Admissionado]

Does a 730 help you?!?!?!
I mean does the sun rise in the morning???


Awesome!! It totally helps you. And a lot! I still think you should not apply till R1 next year (only 9 months away!!!) not only because it will solve your experience problem, but also because it's R1 and now that you have that totally fantastic GMAT in the bag, you can calmly and strategically approach your essays in July, and get a LOT of apps done by R1.

Think you can wait out these 9 months? (actually there's plenty you can DO to prepare your candidacy - esp. research, networking and visits)