B-Schooling Queries

 

Target schools, huh?

 

Hi Sowmya (Simba), I have been a regular visitor to PG for the past year…I needed some tips/advice regarding MBA from US/Europe. Let me tell u my profile, Btech from NIT calicut and working in Bangalore firm in banking products division. Have a decent background in finance as well…due to the nature of my work. Now I had taken CAT the last two times and ended up in pretty much the same place with 97- 98 percentiles. Have had calls from FMS and iitb this time…now although im half sure that I wanna take CAT again.(god knows why)…but have all along been interested in a phoren MBA. I have had no leadership experience in my company…and haven’t been involved much in college…in clubs association but took part in sports ..etc…..not great acads also…

I have been surfing thru various schools …and found that some essays can only be written if a person has some leadership experience…although ..I found the FUQUA essays easier to write than others… now you have been there done that…:-) so I wanted to ask u how to go abt it…I am pretty confident of a good GMAT..720+ I guess (had taken GRE-2210) in college…

Please do advise me which schools I can particularly target considering all aspects.. loans etc…and how to decide on them…b4 I take GMAT. Thanks for ur time.

Dear Amit, I know I am sending a belated reply. Sorry about that. A BTech degree is def more valued than a BE while apping to TOP Schools. Leadership exp is almost a must when u are apply. You might start looking at how to boost ur essays right away. If u value an MBA abroad, I would suggest you start building an awesome profile for about 2 years & then apply. Because an Indian IT guy is way too common in the applicant profile.

Pl do not decide on the schools by looking at the essays. that is not the way it is to be done. All the best!

hi simba.. I went thru ur blog and its really a very helpful one..the insights that u wrote regarding the appli process will be a treasure for everybody...I have PMed u a question of mine at pagalguy...I am really confused and will highly appreciate ur advice. pls drop in ur words of wisdom. thank u.

Hey Nakul, I wrote to u yesterday... & I maintain, u can make it to IIMs next year but if NW univ is as good as Kellogg (I presume, K is the name only for the MBA program!) then it is worth all the IIMs & more... Strictly my opinion!! :-)

Hey Simbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!

Wonderin y suddenly i hv mailed u? ye......bit confused in life maaaaan.....ummm ... make dat alot.....ye...alot confused! Now Simba...my confusion! I want to do my MBA....n cant wait more.....i am looking at 2 options... JCU , Singapore and MDIS, Singapore...now now now.....plz dont go ahead n type...FORGET IT GIRL >>> DONT GO HERE FOR YOUR MBA!! I know they arent the best of colleges...cmon am part of PG 4 d past 1 yr now...n i kno wt sortta B schools 2 aim 4.

I am lookin at these 2 coz of few personal advantages 2 me --->
1.] its juz 1- 1 1/2 yr course
2.] wanna finish d course early coz ghar pe zara pressure hai
3.] …
4.] …
5.] budget is wel within reach...
6.] I want the degree for a decent job and i am sure I’ll gain a lot from the learning even if the College is not at all among the top.
7.] dont have great wrk ex as such...these 2 colleges dunt hv wrk ex as a compulsory criteria.
8.] No Gmat n al needed...coz givin entrances n al wil again take 1 more yr from me.

So Simba....juz lemme kno...which is better amongst the 2....or is der ne othr college in Singapore... wher i can apply 2...but wil provide me wid d above advantages MDIS intake is in august 2005...so i have to apply in another week or so...again i have to make a quick decision. And JCU is going on...

I juz hope u dunt say...chuck both n get on wid life. Maaaaaan...il b bk 2 ground zero!!! but then if dats d fact go ahead n lemme know. Guess but if i dunt hv ne other option il hv 2 go ahead wid one of these. Waitin 4 ur reply.....

Hey girl, Firstly chill!!! U sound almost like nothing is out there!! Dont be desperate.. you wont like the things u did now after 5 years from now and then it will be late to undo!!

See as u are aware of all the reasons as to why u need to get an MBA, I really cant say much. Personally, I would ask u to work hard & crack into the IIMs this year... something like kill urself to make it there!!! But for that U need to be real strong & if u have graduated in 2003, then it is a mistake to have waited all along!!

Now, assuming that u might be stuck with the limited choices u have... Have u done enough research.. how sure are u about these places!! I dont have any probs if u have spent some time talking to people & finding new things about the place u wanna study in!! JCU - havent heard! And MDIS, I have but only from the MDIS ppl... actually they offer the same program in Mumbai... so, thats even more cheaper than the one in S.pore... are u ok with that!!?? Have u selected colleges like NUS & Nanyang, they are pretty well-known...
 
So, coming back to the point, dont try to run away & settle for something lesser. U are a smart girl.. would u be happy after 5 yrs or so thinking of the place u graduated from? If yes, then go ahead man.. at the end of the day, ur darkest fear & devil would only be YOU!! :-)

Ping me if u wanna talk more... or come to NASEOH.. we all can discuss this... we do have such discussions about career & colleges & its great to see smart people giving their opinions & new options!! See ya.

Congratulations on your MBA acceptances! I am applying to SBS, and wondering if you could give tips on the essay and the interview? I know you are quite busy but would be very grateful if you could reply.

Hello Mariel, Nice to hear from you. Tips for the essay & interview, I guess it helps if u are being yourself. Also, essays are a lil difficult because there are only 2 & u need to fit in so much. Interview part is very simple & the Admissions Director Mr. Stephan who spoke to me was very smart & attentive, it was good interviewing with him.

Pl ask me any specific questions u have.. I will see if I can help u!! :-) Take care, Simba

Thank you for replying. I guess most of my anxiety at the moment revolves around the essay. Question 2 of the essay on a recent book that has influenced my thinking; I originally picked a new book, Blue Ocean Strategy, which has definitely changed the way I view market opportunities.  I am concerned that the book is TOO new and that I would not be able to clearly show how it has affected my action (i.e. principles applied to my work in the last five years, or even my daily life.) only how it will affect my future decisions.

Prior to that, the only book that has affected the way I view my work was published in 1995!  And that seems TOO old.... *sigh* and the concept may seem passé... I would be most grateful for your feedback, when convenient. Mariel

I too had almost the same problem.. because these days, no books influence me but I picked up a book that I could relate too... 'The Monk who sold his Ferrari'.. its a philosophical kinda book... & made it look like how it has influenced my thoughts & the way I look at life perse.

See, i don’t think that they want to see much of the book but rather how it has been influential in ur life...So, I think.. 'Blue Ocean Strategy' can be used as a worthwhile book if u have been into marketing & can talk about some strategies u have used in ur work or something like that!! :-) Dont be worried about book being too new...it’s their problem if they aren’t up-to-date :-) Else... better u pick something u have read over a couple of years & something u could relate too!! :-) Write back if I didnt make sense in the above paragraphs... LOL! Simba.

Thanks for the prompt reply. That was what I had in mind, that it isn’t the book, but how it reflects on you (or me).  I was afraid the old book would make it seem that I am too.. well, behind on the times, LOL! Thanks, you helped me make a decision!  Hopefully, I can have the same blue words on my blog (admitted!) Thanks and best of luck on the MBA!

I think U should.. U will!! :-) Let me know what your blog id is...And ping me if u need something!! Cheers.. & thanks for the wishes!! :-)

yes , i have been following u .. but i cant help it .. I am just getting into reading and researching all mba blogs etc and wherever i go - viola - i see ur name / post.. Keep up the good work and thanks a ton for all the info u have already shared ..

And before u get busy with Duke, i am hoping you could help me with a few things ..
I plan to take my gmat in a month's time and hope to apply to isb in Jan. I have been working in an ad firm for the last 3 years (servicing side) and by the time i get to isb, ill have 4 years under my belt.

But i am most interested to know why u refused isb ...  it will help me clear some things. I  have 2 options in front of me - i either try for isb or apply next year to the US b-schools .. though i sometimes doubt ill even get thru isb  !!

No doubt  US b-schools have a better ROI but IMO, ISB isn't that bad either.. plus i somehow seem to think that my media background  will not get me through top b-schools in the US. Plus  the action is in asia-pacific .. and then why should i let go of an oppurtunity to study in india and make use of the exisiting contacts etc (considering i will have to be in the US for atleast 6-7 years to repay my loan and then some more years to make some money !) Any suggestions/ comments etc will be more than welcome ..

Hey Anuj, ISB is a great school. Give it ur best & u will make it! I wanted to work in the US post-mba.. hence I chose US B-school over ISB. As simple as that!

Dear Simba, Not sure if you know me, but I write a blog. I have known you through your blog/ blogging group. I am an Indian male, working on the East Coast as consultant for a European banking major.

I am seeking some inputs wrt Fuqua as I am leaning towards it because of its location and curriculum. What is the pitch that I should emphasize in my applications for the same, the qualities as a student that you enjoy and perspectives? For recommenders: What qualities do they need to emphasize? Regards.

Hmmm... I would say about the same thing you would normally do on an application. But Fuqua specific, try to work more on ur team working skills becos TEAM is the word here! Even ur Recommenders, good if they can talk about u as a wholesome person.. & a great team worker. Go Fuqua!

Hi Sowmya, Hope you are doing fine  and school is keeping you busy. This is Narmada and I happen to see your comments in Accepted.com about Manchester business school.

I have also read your posts and I believe u write under the pseudo name - Simba. So I guess you must be enjoying in Fuqua now..Sowmya, I need a help from you and I am also sure you are a very busy person. But will it be possible for you to help me know more about Manchester in between your busy schedule. Well I have got my MBS admit for Aug 2006 and hence would like to know about the school. Honestly I have to decide between Manchester and Queens. I am also in the process of knowing more abt MBS and their students and alumni ...I am in US right now and am going back to India this sunday....

Will hang in India till I join school and am also planning to meet MBS school reps when they are visiting India in Jan.  Meanwhile, any inputs/suggestions from your end abt the school would be really helpful. Also, I am not sure if I can call you about this in case if its okay with you. In any case, let me know your inputs whenever you have time. Thanks a lot !!!

Thanks for the email. I dont write under a pseudo name, rather thats my nickname!! Yes, MBS is a great school but I had post - MBA aspirations in US and wanted to go to TOP B-schools mostly in the US. Hence I opted out of MBS, Oxford & ISB. I dont really have any info which might help you. My only suggestion is to speak to alums & seniors as they are the best people to give you info about the school & Post mba scenario! Good Luck!

Hi Simba, Hope your internship search ends soon! I'd like your thoughts on my situation, whenever you have some time to spare. In all probability, I will start an MBA in the US this year, received an admit from Carnegie Mellon - Tepper, waitlisted by Darden, waiting for Chicago/Yale, dinged by Stern/Columbia. The desi surge this year really did me in.

OK, so here is the question: Its pretty certain that I'm not going to my top choices this yr. Do you think it makes more sense going to Tepper or presenting a stronger application for Fall 2007. There are a lot of parameters in making this decision but I was provoked by this on your blog: I am studying at an awesome business school but keep wondering whether all this is a put-on and there is nothing much I am really learning!

Now this is the third time I have heard this first-hand from students at top schools, which makes me wonder - if I forgo my admit to Tepper this year, would it be worthwhile. For Chicago or Columbia, perhaps but for the lesser ranked schools how wide is the gap? Also, do you have any insights on Tepper, friends attending the school? I know I've rambled a bit, thanks for your time... DD 

Hey. nice to hear from you. I think all of us come to schools with different expectations. But if you really want to make it a big deal, maybe u shld stay back & try for a better school.. but then, how would you decide better school.. in terms of ranking etc? you might need to spend some time with urself & see what matters to you most!

Immaterial of where you land up, it is only yourself who can further you career! maybe the opportunities in the different places may differ but if that doesnt bother you, then it is really some time for introspection!! Go where ever you feel you will be loving every min! :-) I know I have not directly answered ur question. didnt want to be opinionated. these things are those that only an individual who is at cross roads can decide!! Hope it helps!

hey, thanks for your reply hmmm...somehow I could see that 'introspection' bit coming... i have more or less decided to go with whatever I end up with... Wats the best way to tame the beast (i mean prepare for b-school) I thought of studying some accounting and finance. Any recommendations? books etc on a different note, winter is on its way out and so i hope you have plans for the best months in the US... thanks again..

Just get enough sleep & be prepared mentally! Thats all it needs! :-)

Hi, I have been a member of pagalguy for over 2 yrs. Been thru some of your posts. I wud very much like to be a member of pagalGirl too. My profile Age:32 yrs. Married with a son. Been doing technical job for 10 yrs (b-tech electronics). R&D organisation. Thought about doing MBA for 2 yrs. Appeared for CAT-05. Bombed badly. However managed a place in IIT Bombay and Kanpur.

Appearing for GMAT in JULY. A specific query - if you can help me with that.Which are the colleges in USA offerring 12 months full time MBA prg.I know of queens-Canada. great work. thanx and bye.

Dear Shonal, Thanks for writing in :) Its always a pleasure to see women aiming higher in life... I have sent you the pagalgirl invite too! I am not sure about any 1 year programs in US! Even if they are, they may not be highly successful! Have u thought about ISB, Hyderabad? Thats a good program & u would be a great student for them.. as they love women! Think about it.. let me know if I can be of help!

Hi Simba, Hope you are doing great. I have been spending a lot of time researching schools and most of them look geat :) Thought based on my primary interest in pursuing a career in Consulting post MBA and keeping my profile in mind I have kind of figured out that I would definitely apply to Darden and Michigan.

Apart from that I want to apply to one or two schools in top7. May be Wharton and Stanford. Apart from these I am still looking at Duke/Tuck/Cornell/UCLA. Please do let me know if you have any inputs on my choice so far. I am also inclined towards joining an Indian IT compnay in the Business Development/ Strategy role and helping them expand and manage their Business overseas. Are there any schools which might be good for such prospects. Thanks and Regards.

They all look good! :-) Give your best on the application! Good Luck.

Hello Sowmya, I am from Bangalore and need your inputs regarding Lally MBA. No prizes for guessing where I got your email ID from. I have an admit along with 1yr aid for the fall'06 batch and have to convey my decision by this week. I have a couple of queries and if you can please answer them, I would be very grateful to you.

About my background, I have around 3.5 yrs of industry experience currently working for an Indian firm in the wireless domain. More specifically, product validation of the GPRS protocol stack.

1. What is take on Lally MBA? I am looking at this MBA for career advancement in the area of Technology and management and not necessarily to start something on my own. I like the curriculum since I feel its a good connect between my experience and my goals. here is the link : *

To tell you why I want to do an MBA now, is primarily because a) I want to work abroad. more specifically US b) Whatever I am doing now on the job front wont take far and I dont want to be doing protocol validation for more. Even if I continue to do this, the growth options I have is to either become a Tech Lead or a Systems Architect and I am not looking forward to any of these roles. So with an MBA I would be able to upgrade myself with more knowledge and skills, and hence look for a better role. Although, I am exactly not sure what role would that be, I think I'll be able to figure that out during the course of 2yrs. But is this the right approach towards MBA?

2. How do you see the US market performing over the next few years? I'll be graduating in 2008 and I am apprehensive about a likely slump at that time. Thank you for your time and patience. All the best for your studies too ! Regards.

Sorry for the late reply Manoj. Have been too busy with very less time on hand. Hope I am not too late. About Lally MBA.. I ahve no idea of Lally.. never heard of it... dont think its anywhere in MBA ranking either.. just do enough research b4 u accept it!! Your approach to mba seems ok to me.. :) I have no idea about markets but the right place to be in is India & China.. things are just looking way too good there... but before that get an MBA from the best school u can get into.. the name will take u a long way! Good Luck!

Hey...Thank you for ur inputs. Ya..it doesn't figure in the MBA rankings coz the batch strength is less than 50. But I did find out about the institute from my acquaintances and the mother institute Renssalaer is identified well when it comes to Technology. Besides I would be studying in NY which I suppose would be benificial wrt to studies and jobs. But this new curriculum is only 3yrs old otherwise the MBA program has been there since 1990. The undergrad course ranks 24th though. Since I would want to be in this area and I think that the curriculum makes a good value add, I have decided to join the program.

Also post this program I think I would have created good market value for myself...esp in India and China. I know its a risk but hope its a calculated one! I understand you are having a tough time with time! But I am sure its a fun challenge...am yearnin to get back to that tough "student life". One more thing, I am working on my loans right now and am also to book a visa appointment yet. I want to know if I can book a visa date only after I get my I-20 ? Thanks again, Manoj.

Oh.. dont remember the visa technicalities.. u might want to look it up! :) Good Luck!

Let me introduce myself first. I am Shahed , ur average joe. I must say ur articles, esp the series "Surviving an ......." is i guess a sort of must read for all MBA aspirants. Allright reason why i mailed u is I am in the whole process of"preparing for my MBA". I would really appreciate if u answer my queries. I am planning to take up CAT n GMAT this year end. I am current working in an MNC here in Chennai and have close to 3 years of IT experience. I did my B.E and straight away took up the job which I was offered So I couldnt give CAT a proper shot.

My question is it really worth it to get ur MBA in school like Queens, London or any other top US Bschool (in case I miss out on good Indian schools.) Just want to know if u will be employed after u finish ur program. I just dont want to go blow up my dad's money and end up without even a job. I know tat u r having a hard time there getting interns n stuff, but if I guess individuals like u seem to b having problems, doesnt look good for me ...

Also since I plan to quit my job as a regular software programmer and go abt applying for these schools and prearing for CAT,GMAT. is this a good idea or something which will land me in trouble? I have heard of some very decent schools in Asia as well as Canada. Could u give me ur view on Queens,Western Ontario, Insead (singapore), Asian school in Manila. Any input will be really great. Thanks for ur time.

Sorry for the delay. The questions u have asked are very personal and I dont think anyone can give you correct answers. We all have to take our risks & live with it! :) Good Luck!

Thanks Simba, appreciate the honest reply. You really are a nice person.

I have been reading your blog for a while. Hope your internship is going great. I must say, you have been doing a great job with your blog. I wrote a comment though only once (when you were looking for a internship). Since you are a student at duke and I remember, had given up the admission at ISB twice , I could not think of a better person to present this question.

Before I ask my question, it might be better if I give you my background in very brief. I graduated with a Bachelor in Pharmaceutical sciences, Masters in Medicinal chemistry. Joined a univ after that in USA to get my PhD in same subject and go down the path many scientists before me did - carrerwise. Midway through the PhD program, i realized that its not for me or may be I am not for it. anyway, I have been working as a scientist in Amgen for last 6 yrs. Needless to say I am satisfied with my job provided I forget that I have hit the ceiling in my field owing to a lack of PhD. But then, I have never wanted to be in this field for ever and thats the reason i did not work though my PhD in the first place. The plan after I bailed out of PhD has always been that I will get the requisite work ex and then apply for an MBA and get into pharmaceutical marketing or corporate finance or such. I think this year is the year I will pull the trigger.

My following question might be moot if I screw up my GMAT (which I write next week). assuming I get a 700+ score, I am wondering, if its wise to apply to ISB and move back to India for good or should I apply to schools here and reluctantly stay and keep struggling with the green card/immigartion and therefore employment related issues.

The main point of the question is - given your experience as a student at Duke and also your extensive work ex in India, if you were in my shoes, what would you have done? Is ISB that good a school in your honest opinion - at par with UCLA , darden, fuqua or such in USA, based on what u know from your friends, colleagues or blogs etc??? My wife and I are totally at peace with the idea of moving back to India for good, so that issue is out. The issue remains - which choice will bring me better education quality and opoortunities to work in India - ISB or US schools (UCLA, duke, fuqua and such). will it be wiser to get admission in, say, UCLA or Duke and then go back to India (again assuming that I get admission in such schools). If I go to duke, for eg, won't it be tough to find a job in India without the advantage of the network that you get by going to ISB and the help of career-office of the school standing by ur side?

also, in your opinion, is the placement data put forth by ISB as far as salary and placement numbers go, are they spiced up or are they really REAL??? the data is amazingly good. sorry for the long email. eagerly waiting for your answer.

Phew, now thats one helluva long email :) I dont know how people even write such lengthy posts. ;) Now, before i even start battling out my ideas, just wanted to know how your GMAT went and where all you sent your scores, obv ISB would be one of them. Let me know, if you are still looking for opinions :-) Its been crazy for a while here and I will get back ASAP!

Hi Simba, Thanks for replying. sorry for that long email I sent. I just wanted you to have data to base ur suggestion on. as for GMAT, I scored a not-so-great 88 percentile with a even split. I think, I should score better and hence I am retaking in few weeks. yes, I am still looking for opinion. do u think, first of all, do I stand any chance with such a score, given my background to get into ISB or ur own school duke? how do u compare the education of ISB and Fuqua their respective values in the eyes of employers in the Indian market. I am pretty sure, I want to return back to India after these 10 yrs in USA. Tired of being a minority ;) and yada , yada, yada..... waiting to hear back from you.

Sorry about the low score. ISB typically prefers 700 plus and I think so does Duke. You might want to re-write & get a spanking score! :) You dont have anything to lose by applying to these schools with this score, at most you will lose your $$. But that being said, I presume that you know how much it goes into putting in a strong application. Now, choosing between Duke or ISB, all I can say is, you need to tread with care. ISB will definitely be viewed higher immediately after your MBA by indian employers due to obv reasons. Duke, they may not be able to even recognize it. But with a Duke MBA and a few years here in the US, I am sure you will have greater opportunities in India. If you can give yourself 10 years time, maybe you should stay back, make it to a top bschool here & work for a while.. then back ur bags to go home!! Just my thoughts. Let me know if I maketh sense!

Thanks for a very practical advice. Yes, I am retaking GMAT in a few weeks. Yes, you are right about Indian employers’ preference for ISB over Duke and such. They may only know about the ivy leagues in US. ISB is my top priority – so, here’s a question…..if I remember correctly, you got accepted not once but twice by ISB with a score similar to mine. Am I right? Twice can’t be just by chance. What do you think were the mitigating factors in your application which made ISB and also Duke look beyond your low GMAT score. I know, individual circumstances are unique to the person in question. What I am looking for, are leads from you and your words of wisdom from your experience while applying to ISB and Duke with a 700 minus score.

Hey Simba, I've read many many of ur posts on PG as well as ur blog. Jst need a bit of advice thing from you for a few of my queries... I'm actually gonna put my apps for ISB 2007 - recently took GMAT. Have a few queries, so any help from your side would be gr8. I've also put in a bit about me so that you can share gyan in context.

So, here's a bit about me: GMAT Score: 720; MS from Melbourne (Over-all Avg 86%). Software Eng at Top-10 Indian outsourcing Co. - Work ex - 2 years by Dec 2006. Good Achievements at work! Other Activities: Was actively associated with ISKCON Melbourne during stay in Aus. Taught 5-6 poor kids living nearby (when doing undergrad) - but did this informally. BSchools I am looking at: Primarily ISB. Then AIM. And may be, NUS. Queries as below: Tx.

Punit, Sorry for the delay in replying. I will try my best in answering your questions. I am planning to put up many emails I have received on my website as Q&A. Let me know if I can put up urs?

>>- Should I retake GMAT? I know the score is good, but given my profile, do you think a score of 720 can have even slightest of negative effect on my app evaluation? I was targetting 750 and I beleive I can score 750, so if it has any negative effect, I would prefer retaking.

A. I am not sure if 750 is considered any better than 720 but if you think that you deserve more & can def do better, go ahead & take the GMAT again. Higher score ain't hurt anyone!

>>- Would you suggest any sites/ discussion forums/ groups/ communities - so that I can align my essays/apps correctly to what school is looking for?

A. Well, you can do a search.. there are some sites for admissions essays but I am not sure they will talk about apps to ISB. Your best bet is to catch hold of current ISB guys or alums of ISB to get some advice on your essays. But for more generic info, google should suffice!

>>- Would you be having any sample essays/ SOPs or know the source where I can just get an idea as to how to go about them?

A. Again google :) I dont have any... but if you have the time & inclination, I would suggest the book by Richard Montauk. Order it from Amazon, will take about a month to get delivered but it is worth it! Look it up!

>>- Would you recommend me to wait for one more year before I apply or should I go for 2007? I know more work-ex helps, but on personal fronts, sooner the better. So, will "just 2-years" sound very negative?

A. Well, I am not really sure about this one - Hmmm... the average age of students is on a decrease. Maybe you should try ur luck & if you aint get accepted, then make sure that it is becos of your age. You can always apply later as a more mature candidate.

>>- What if I apply this year and dont get in - would it have any effect on my app next year?

A. No. Your reapplication might be considered favorable showing that you are so interested as to pursue them 2 years in a row!

>>- Wut do you think would be my chances of getting in? (I know its a silly Q and very subjective one but...!)

A. Hmmm.. you have  a decent chance but with a no. of older candidates as your competition, play your cards well... you might want to show your aptitude, maturity & fast learning abilitites to show that you can stand the ride of an MBA!

Good Luck! And let me know if I ca reference your email...(with or without ur name!)

Hey, Thanks a lot for your reply. Am already trying to get hold of Richard Montauk and Paul Bodine - highly recommended ones! And yes - you certainly can put my mail with or without my name - not a problem. Anyways, I would be keen to read your response to many other queries that others might have asked. A very good idea I must say. Thanks a lot again, Have a few more queries. Hopefully you wont mind if i bug ya wit them sm time soon. Cheers!

Dear Sowmya! I hope you are doing well. I am a r2 Admit for Fuqua and I also hv the ISB admit. I am really confused as to what to do. I have been talking to many ISB students and I have come to know that for people with my profile(2.5 years of IT work ex) hv nt been able to get consulting profiles and hence I am tilting towards duke.

But I wanted to know how things are at Duke. My friend Amit Sahai suggested me to talk to you and take your insight. I have heard there are troubles for International Students to find good internships. Also, I am particulary intersted in coming back to India after some time, and according to your exp...how much time wud it ideally take if i join duke. I guess I have asked a lot of questions, but I think my mail appears as confused as I am. Looking forward for your guidance.

Hi Akanksha, Nice to hear from you. First of all, Congrats on all your admits. Dilemma with regards to what to choose is always a nice position to be in, rather than a lack of options! :) From my personal experience, lot of people have very limited knowledge about consulting and what it entitles. I would ask you to do enough research before you base your school decision on just your career preference. You are narrowing down a lot of options right away! I am not sure whether it is right or wrong! But I will restrict to the questions you have asked me.

In my opinion & looking at career profiles at Duke, I would look at Consulting a 3 edged fork:
- Top tier Strategy Consulting: Firms like McKinsey, Bain & BCG. (Booz) etc
- Not so top tier Strategy Consulting: Firms like Deloitte, (Booz), Accenture, AT Kearney, Cap Gemini etc
- Tech consulting - Accenture, Diamond Cluster, PRTM, etc.

Now, the question comes, which are your aiming for? Very few highly intellectual & smart people make it to the top ones. It is by no means easy & when I say that, take my words! You have to be really really smart... As far as I have seen - there is just 1 Indian at Fuqua who got into this list & he is brilliant! :) For you to even have a chance to interview with these, you should have a GMAT real high (say, 740+) & good GPA.

Not so top tier are less pickier than the ones above, so relatively easier to make he cut but highly competitive. I know of at least 4-5 Indians who made it into these, but yes, they are the smart ones. :) For tech consulting, you just need to have a tech background & you need to convince these companies that you will stick around a long time. And you need to be smart enough to crack the consulting interview.. which is a completely different ball game!

Given these divisions, you need to spend time & really understand if you fall into any of these divisions.. then, similarly work out your options! And I have seen very small nos. of people actually landing great consulting jobs... thats something you need to think about! And I dont think, Duke is for consultants! I believe we are known for Marketing :) Also remember, when you go to top schools, your competition comes from people much more experienced!

Finding internships & jobs for MBAs is very hard. Don't believe even for a minute that it will be a cakewalk. It takes patience & perseverance. And I am not sure when you can get back to India... I dont think anyone can give you a realistic answer. A couple of very senior people who are in my batch are starting work in India - reasons best known to them.. maybe family, pay, risks etc.

But after all these I maintain - Coming to a new country is a big risk & a lot at stake! The question is, can you put up with it & enjoy your experience? :-) I struggled to find a internship but at the nth minute had a smashing one... am still struggling to find a job! But, if given a chance to do it all.. I would have done my Duke MBA over & over again. It has been worth it :) I guess that says a lot... Good Luck!! And God Bless...

hey simba, Thanks for redirecting me to this email id ...i have been a gr8 fan of ur posts and articles till date....i have talked to u several times thru PM..you've always helped me and advised me on a lot of things...i need your advice again on sth very imp for me... I finally decided to giv my gmat and try my luck at MBA abroad...i will hav only 2 yr of work ex when i join MBA in fall 2007.

i have already got an admit in Boston University School of Mgmt with 50% schol and Carlson School of Business, Univ of Minnesota...my gmat was 680.... I am contemplating these days btw choosing to go to a 40th ranked univ i.e. boston or Carlson School of Business ranked 25th (US News)...if you have any idea abt the above two univ do share me ur inputs... you yourself studying in one the best univ of US might know better abt the ROI of doing an MBA from US and job placement scenario...

Can you guide me again this time whether Boston wud be a good place to be at bcoz of the boston city since it'll giv me ample opp to network with companies or Carlson in MN can also be a good option ...i am already inclined towards Carlson coz i like the program more and also my relatives are there and i've heard knowing ppl makes networking a hell lot easier in US.... if you dont know abt the coll then it's ok just felt like asking ur opinion...reply only if u find time..thanks a ton for reading...looking forward to ur reply..

Shruti, Sorry, I am writing back late. Thanks for all your kind words. Boston Univ & Carlson - Frankly, I have no idea about either of these two places. Before I go into anything, let me ask you something very specific. How badly do you want to do your MBA this year? Are your personal circumstances strong enough that you are ready to jump on one of these two or can you wait for another year and apply for some real Top schools, say Top 10 or 15. As I say, it is a personal preference. When I wanted to do my MBA, I was kinda specific about the school I wanted to attend, not because I was an over achiever or highly ambitious. Plainly because, I was not happy in going to a lower tier school. Period.

But if you dont want to complicate things & just want to fly this year, then I would suggest you talk to people from either of these schools. A fit is a damn big thing. I used to think that Wharton was my dream school but never knew what it meant, till I enrolled into Fuqua. A community & people around is what distinguishes most schools. And we back home pay less attention to such things but from my personal experience, I can say, that is the only most important thing to consider. If you dont enjoy the 2 years then all of it is a waste.

If you are looking at plain vanilla ranking, go for the higher one since there might be just some sense into these rankings. ROI is important but currently, I graduated from top ten & yet to find a job, not because I fail to find one but because I am damn picky & currently the visa situation sucks for international students. But that said, rewind button, I would still have picked Fuqua! :) But deep within, I believe, you should go with your gut. Lot of people kinda think it is cliche' but go where your gut takes you. If it doesn't like either, hold on, you might just get into bigger schools. Hope it helps.

Hi Simba, I have recently received a admit at Simon Bschool. Even before that I want to give a intro abt myself. I am a IT guy ( a common applicant) having 3 yrs of experience as a Quality analyst.I want to do my MBA in finance ( Investment banking) but I fall into the batch who are still undecided. Simon ranks well for finance, but i know If i can apply again I may land up in a  better ranked and better branded school. Now i am in a very confused state. I have talked to a couple of guys and they say go for it now. I wont add any more value by burning my oil at Oracle, I may at the most become a senior QA.

I want your advise on this. How do the industry perceive a candidate, does it evaluate a candidate on the ranking of the school. I know that the avg salary of the top10 and top 20 schools vary. I have a gmat of 690 ( I got that when i wrote just for testing the waters, may get better if i prepare seriously). Should I go with the saying " a bird in hand is worth 2 in a bush " or wait for the 2 in the bush to come into hand ?? a billion dollar question.

PS: i dont have any indepth exposure to finance field but I have a 15% fin aid from rochester.( simon bschool) Please help me out.

Hi Kamesh, Nice to hear from you. First things first, I haven't heard much about Simon School but that doesn't mean you should not take it! :-) I am sure you have looked up the school enough if you are contemplating on taking up the admission. As you say, if the Finance program is good, it might assist in your IB dreams. Also, being in NY would give you a lot of advantage. But be wary, a very small percentage of international students who want to make it into IB & consulting actually end up in it as you might know, it is highly competitive! Try playing with worst case scenarios!

Obviously you will have better Banks coming into top schools than lesser tier ones but that said, the salary does not differ drastically if you get into say, Morgan Stanley along with a Stanford or Wharton grad. Bonuses may vary slightly and once in, both of you would have to struggle it out the hard way... do you get the picture? More than the salary, I think you should be worried about the networking & alum part of it. Obv more alums out there, more the nets you have to drop onto. That really helps in IB!

And coming to your bird & bush question! I don't want to be opinionated but you need to compare the right kind of birds! If you had say, Chicago or NYU,... and then ask me, I would go ahead & say take it.. but i think at this point, I wouldn't compare it with 2 birds in a bush. Do you get what I am saying? If you have a chance to bump up your score & apply to Top 15 schools & actually get admits from one of these, I am sure you would be happier! So, instead of confusing you, I plainly ask - how badly do you want to go this year or do you have it to wait out a year and better it up! But at the end of the day, I think a fit is the most important thing in the whole process... if you have spoken to some seniors, current students etc and like them enough.... don't ask anyone, go with your gut! Hope it helps!

Hi Sowmya, This is Prashant from India and I am an MBA aspirant hoping to start class ASAP :). My profile is : Age : 27 Work Exp : 6 years GMAT : 730 TOEFL : 118 I had applied to top rung colleges including INSEAD and Carnegie, however I could not convert the interview into an admit :( Melbourne business school was also one of my applications and I got an admit from there. I need your opinion on how the school is and is it worth going there given my profile?? Is there a paucity of jobs after my MBA in Singapre or Australia?? I need to reply back to them with an affirmative by 23rd July. Can you please help me out here?? Thanks and Regards.

Hey Prashant, Sorry for the delay. I am nobody & u should not be listening to me at all. However, if I were you, I would rather not go to MBS. Stick up & try for better schools. Again, don't listen to me. :)

Hi, I am Anu and I am applying to the Duke B school for the Fall 2008. I read your blogs over the net and found them very useful. I am writing my essays for Duke and want to know what is Duke particularly proud of? What angle should I give to my essays when writing them for Duke? Your feedback would really help.

Hi Anu, Nice to hear from you. If you have done your research about Duke, you should know what our school stands for, team work! So make sure you encapsulate this in your essays, but apart from that, you need to ensure that you answer all the essays clearly & concisely. If it helps, take a look at MBA Queries on my websites for specific questions I have answered.

Hola Sowmya, Nagging time again, I dunno but I'll make it quick in terms on what you need to write back. Well I shortlisted a few U's  Most of these programs are good in NP with a decent program in Strategy and/or Finance  - three things I am considering while shortlisting. Just want to know if there are any potential gotcha's in these that the rankings and the websites don't talk about and you may have heard from the grapevine.

Harvard, Kellogg (an option instead of one of these two could be Stanford but it's on the west coast and has a very low admit rate) Columbia, Tuck, Duke, Yale (again I was looking at Haas but dropped it, prefer the East Coast)

If you can think of any other top 20 which I overlooked, feel free to mention. As you may notice that all these schools are quite good and there is not much of a safe school thing here (maybe Yale in recent years but their new dean seems to be somewhat of a visionary). But considering where I am in my present career and past education, a full time makes sense to me financially/etc only if it's a top school and if I don't get in anywhere it's not a biggie. In that case I'll just get a part time one which my company here pays for.

Hey there, I think your list looks good to me. I never researched for non-profit, so I wont be the right person to comment on individual school's merit. Yeah, if you are sure you don't want to go for anything lower, I don't think you should. Yale seems like a safe school for now. And Duke & Tuck aren't that bad either. You have good chances of getting in to at least 4 or all with a damn strong application. Good Luck!

 

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