B-Schooling Queries

 

Where to start?

 

HI Simba, First of all Congrats on admits from Oxford, Duke and ISB. Now, a bit abt myself, mez Nivedita if you remember I had posted something regarding your decision to skip ISB last yr...(hopefully a bell should ring!!!)... Yea, so I got to know you thru PG.

Y this mail?..coz...i have given CAT twice and have manged to bomb it successfully both the times but this yr arnd managed to get a couple of calls..but am not too happy with wht i have...so focus has been shifted to GMAT. Was very seriously considering Nanyang and NUS for a while, but then a frend had hazar problems getting placed n stuff (hez from nanyang) so let go of it. Finally, decided on US and in all honesty i could not think of a single other person whom i should contact before i proceed. And what probably got me to write this mail to you is the post from you  abt Edu loans and stuff.

Okie..i agree this is a very badly structured mail..its taking me a lotta time to assemble my thoughts and put it in words....so pls pls pls bear with me. I am starting from scratch, i have zilch info...i spend hrs reading posts from exp guys like you, dave etc etc...so wht should be my thought process?...is it really important to figure the schools n stuff even before i give GMAT... I am way too lost..i dont even know wht i shud probably be asking you..all i can say is when you find time pls pass on any info that you have..ur whole exp, of deciding on schools, deciding on MBA itself, anything :) i am really looking forward to hearing from you. Cheers

Hey Nivedita, Sorry for the late reply. Too many queries. Thanks for all the wishes. U have already taken the first few steps, of checking blogs & scheduling the GMAT. Thats great. Coming to schools, Nive, pls do not look at schools like Nanyang etc etc. Somehow its a lot better to do MBA in India because you will always be clouded with doubts about Post MBA prospects. Pl post me ur profile. Let me see if u can make it to the TOP B schools. :-) Cheers! Simba

Hi Simba, This is a cool surprise :)...thanks for the mail...u just managed to pep me up a bit :). As if there wasnt enough confusion in my life...now i have got a final admit from MICA (folks think i should take it up...but i feel that maybe i could do a lil better considering that am not a ardent communications fan)...whtdya think?

My profile...i am BCom grad...have worked with HP for 2 yrs..have taken up a couple of  PG dilploma courses (in Investment Banking and International Business) which should hopefully make up for the 16th yr of education.. thats about me academics. I have always been fascinated by diff cultures, ppl from diff cultures etc...which made me learn a bit of french and german...besides this I have represented a couple of clubs for scrabble etc...(i feel like a loser when i think of the kinda extra-currics i have)

Nother important aspect of my life which probably would be a part of my MBA application as well is that..i have been associated with a blind school right from my school days..where previously i used volunteer to write their answer  papers and stuff...now i just drop in whenever i find time and generally bum arnd with the kids. I have been meaning to join Samarthanam for a while now....hopefully i should be able to do it sometime soon. Thats me :)...so do i stand a chance? Thanks again.

Dear Nivedita, Some things in life can never be explained like your MICA admit. I know of atleast 2 people who would have been ecstatic had they got their admits at MICA. See. life is sooo weird.. :-) But I am still wondering why u applied there if u weren't that interested ... LOL!!!

2 years of full time job is not treated exceptionally well dear. If u can wait up for another 2 years & gain some more work ex with HP, it will be awesome. See, the schools abroad ask for blue-chip experience & with HP u have it!!! Next about 4+ years of work ex so that u will have enough material to write elaborate essays. That 16 yr thingie, I am not really sure but u can always check out the web-sites of the schools u would love to attend & see what they have to say. U can also write to the Adcom guys & ask them how they feel!!

A bit of something is never too good... So, get back & get some kinda diploma for French & German languages. Atleast for one. It will def add some spark into ur application! They love ppl who learn foreign languages!!! And extra-curricular is something u can sit down & think & build up over the next 2-3 yrs. Helping out in the blind school is really awesome. And u have done it for a long time & so that can be an added advantage. See if u can bump up with PGites & take them all to the blind school. That way u can even talk about leadership things u have done. And join ur hands for Samarthan too.. the more of NGO work u show, the more favorably ur app will be considered!!! And if I am correct, HP have their community service group or something. MY good friend has been a part of it for almost 4 yrs now i think. Find out about that & get involved. See as a person I love helping others & enjoy it.. so I keep looking at diff ways I can... so, I can come up with some ideas.. once u too start enjoying, u will love it. I am so used to NASEOH that if one sunday I cant go, I feel sick!!!

U do have a chance in TOP schools if u wait for couple more years. And add some quality in ur applications. For ISB, u can try next year & I am confident that u should make it. Dunno if u can reject the MICA admit & go for 1 yr to try for ISB or reject ISB & go on to try for Wharton. Its all a game about setting ur eyes on bigger challenges!! I have taken sufficient risks & am happy that I am not settling for ISB. :-) To each his own.......... :-) Cheers!

Hi Simba, Lol..wht can i say about MICA?...it was just one of those things..which seemed right at that point of time..but as time goes by, u start feeling differently.

Thanks for all the gyan...definetly motivated me to a great extent...as of today i feel i would be ecstatic if ISB worked for me :) Will work on the extra currics n stuff :)...During the process i'd probably bug u lots :). Thinking of applying to a couple of places for Jan 2006. Havent made up my mind yet...MY folks are quiet okie for the time being, but once they start getting psyched i'll be pained...so lets see. I again..want to sincerely thank you for all the efforts you have taken...hopefully someday i'll be able to help some lost soul too :). Cheers.

hi, came across your blog in mbaleague....my name's vinay and am working in bangalore in KPMG as a consultant. have one year of work ex as of now and was planning to apply for a US mba for fall 2007. so, since i read that you got an admit into duke, thought i will mail you and ask you for your advice. can you please let me know what was your profile pre - mba. as in work ex, and gmatand other stuff would a three year work ex suffice for a mba admit into any of the top b schools in us. and does intl work ex matter ? i hope its not too much of a problem to answer these qs. thanks in advance.

Pl try to read the articles/Must read sections I have put up! There are never definite profiles!! :-) Thanks! Simba

Hey, I prefer to call you simba though i quite know ur real name.. anyways getting down to the purpose.. I m Ashok here, 21, bcom grad (15 yrs of formal education) and been working for a year now. I started off with Citibank selling transport finance and now have moved into what you can call advertising journalism. I report and write for 2 magazines and have been in this firm for the past 2 months.. Lots and lots of queries ..

1. How many good univ in the US would I be eligible for with 15 yrs of education.
2. Is TOEFL a better exam to take for the english eligiblility or the other one (sorry i forget the name)
3. When is the right time ( month) to take the GMAT?
4. Your views on NUS (singapore) and AIM(Manilla)
5. How are Scotland and Ireland for persueing an MBA or an MS
6. Should I work or get back to studies? I know this is a personal point of view but then your viewpoint may help.

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions, but in a desperate situation like this, this is my only option out.. :) Thank you for your time. Till next time.

Hi, I am not one stop for all ur answers ...looks like u havent even done some research!!!

>>1. How many good univ in the US would I be eligible for with 15 yrs of education.

Dont know!! U need to search for answers!!

>> 2. Is TOEFL a better exam to take for the english eligiblility or the other one (sorry i forget the name)

Again, go & get some research!!!

>> 3. When is the right time ( month) to take the GMAT?
Theres no month... when u are ready. Pl read myarticle on GMAT!

> >4. Your views on NUS (singapore) and AIM (Manilla)
NONE.

>> 5. How are Scotland and Ireland for persuing an MBA or an MS
No idea.

>> 6. Should I work or get back to studies? I know this is a personal point of view but then your viewpoint may help.
Hmmm.. U need to work atleast till u figure out where u are going!!

>>>> Sorry to bombard you with so many questions, but in a desperate situation like this, this is my only option out.. :)

Hmmm.. I would say, spend some time on GMATCLUB or Testmagic/ BW or S2S boards. U will find all these on Google. :-) I can help only those who have done atleast 50% of some kind of research!! Looks like U need to start from scratch.. cant help u there!! All the best!

Hi, I read your blog today abt the International MBA. Let me first congratulate you on getting thru to one of the best schools in US. I was thinking of getting some guidance from you regarding my MBA plans. I finished with my GMAT today with a score of 720. I plan to apply to few of the top 15 schools in US in R1 and if not successful, then target some backup schools in R2. I need to know the following:

1) How should I start my apps process?

2) I've already done some research on the schools of my choice. What next ? Would talking to some alum/current students help my cause?

3) I'll have a work-ex of 4 yrs next fall in one of the top 3 IT firms in India with approximately 6 months-1 yr of international stint (Am presently in US but don't know the exact duration of my assignment). Will this work-ex combined with my GMAT score give me a realistic shot at the top B-schools. I've been an honors student throughout school and undergrad.

4) I know I need to do some serious introspection to write the essays but are there any reference websites/forums/blogs which can guide me abt the process?

5) Without prying too much, may I know with how much and what work-ex did you apply ? How many schools did you apply to and in what round ? What was your GMAT score ? (This question is just to gauge my chances though I know that 2 applicants can never be the same. So if you don't wish to answer this, no problem)

6) Does getting a reco from a client manager(US guy) add more weight to the application or is it the same for my Indian manager too ? Thanks.

Sorry for a delayed reply. Just been damn busy!!! Congrats on the good score. Great that u have put aside the GMAT. 720 is well above the average of most of the schools & u dont have to worry at all!!

1) Pl see my article - one of them discusses the Application calender which will guide u thro first few steps!!

2) Yes, if u have someone in US, try to start talking to the guys in Bschools. Also start doing some extensive research on any particular fields u are interested post-mba. If u are in US, try visiting schools.

3) 4 yrs with ur kinda ex might be sufficient but remember, u are competing with people having an average work ex of 5-10 years!! As u urself said, balance ur apps between R1 & R2. Pick up some 2 great schools & one safe one during R1. & u can later on decide upon the R2 schools.

4) Try picking up Richard Montauk's book on How to get into TOP Business schools... something like that. It will give a great idea about essays. Forums like Testmagic & GMAT CLUB are good too. Ofcourse blogs give individualistic opinions.

5) I usually dont share my personal info as I do not want to misguide ppl into believing that getting accepted is too easy/ too difficult, as the case maybe. But on a general.. I have about 6 yrs in the telecom field as an optical & wireless engineer.. I have loads of extra-cur that kinda stuns too may people & as u know, I also have been in NGO stuff from almost school days!!! my apps went in R2 & my GMAT was well below the average of all the TOP schools.I am not a good test-taking person!!

6) Your immediate boss is a must if u can get it. You might use the client as ur second reco. Hope I have answered most of the queries!!

Hi Simba, thanks for the detailed mail. It really helped. I did go thru your articles on PG. They were really informative. I hope it's ok if I mail u in case I need any more info.

Hello maam, I was looking for such a blog for many such days. I'm working in a s/w firm for the past 1.5 years. I was aiming for a management degree. But due to tight schedule i could not allot time for any such kinda preparations.. CAT is my dream!!! but ...the amount of competition for that and the amount of blood i neeed to sweat is bit hindering. u may tell ..boss get some more experience and march further...but i feel that the challenge and satisfaction level is bit less in technical. Also by mastering on in the tech field make u to get held up to one field say it be the electical or the IT!!!!.

But management may be the same as for all the domains..thats y i made a do or die decision to take up the big task of this GMAT... i went thru all the parts of ur blog... as i was an illiterate in these kind of tests that a foreign institute conduct, i hve just started with the basics of the GMAT.

Bbut still i hve a lot of queries in them... i hve put them in order...i will be blessed if u answer them soon...becoz i hve many of my decisions pending based on ur response...

Looks like u have not done enough reserach on MBA from a US School. I suggest u do that first. My answers will be point blank & to the point.

>> #1.Is there any intake for the SPRING in the b-schools? if so when actually is the intake for the b-schools?i.e fall /spring? i grasped that AUG for the fall frm ur blog.. hopefully it must be JAN for the spring! Am i right???

There is no Spring Term. We have only one intake that too for Fall i.e. August!

>> #2. I am to start my prepartions with the GMAT.My rough estimate is that i will finish my prepartions in 3 months. So i m planning to take up the big B by FEB'06.Will this plan suffice for getting thru the admissions for the next fall???

No the latest any international will stand any chance in a Top Biz school would be Round 2. For Duke it is Jan something!

>> #3.What is the deadline for sending the applications for the fall & spring.?? I think it is March & oct resply? is that fine??

Go & see the website.

>> #4.Will there be any demerits of getting admitted in the spring?

No Spring admissions.

>> #5.While doing a MS pg people used to get scholarship and RA sort of thing. that will be so helpful for ppl like me... :-)))) Will the same kind of things will also be provided here too???

No. there is nothing like it. Pl read my blog where I talk about funding an MBA

>> #6.Which all country's institutions will accept GMAT score??

Dont know. I suggest u read my articles. That will give u the right push in the right direction.

Hello, I am Omkar currently living in Satara. I am doing CA final with artisanship, also side by side course of Master In Business Laws [National Law School India University]. I am suffering from disability [legs affected] and much Interested in doing MBA abroad will you please guide me in follows.

1. How & when should I prepare for the abroad education [my aim is get admitted in top 5] ?
2 Which school should I look for If I want to became a management consultant?
3 Where should I work?
4 What are the extra facilities/concessions/aids available to a physically challenged person like me?
5 Is IIM [A,B,C,L] will be better option than going abroad for me? In case of environment, work exp,salary etc
Thanking You, Sincerely yours

Dear Omakar, Sorry for the late reply. I have been terribly busy and hence the delay. I am not sure whether there are any specific reservations in B-Schools abroad. You might need to so some research on that. You can call up business schools abroad & find out if you have any specific query. I can help you with some of the questions you have asked :

1) While TOP 5 is extremely challenging, it is not impossible. you might need to get a great GMAT score of 750 + and atleast you will have a strong chance. For more information, you can read my articles posted here - http://simba.pagalguy.com/articles/ You might also follow my blog here. I have tried my level best to give out as much as I know. Hope all these is of help to you.

2) I am not sure which ones you need to look for. You might want to follow US News rankings of Bschools.. & see if they have a special listing for consulting specializations.

3) I dont know what u mean!

4) I really dont know Omakar. You might have to spend some time talking to people & reading up on b-schools websites & forums. Hope you are a member of pagalguy which will allow you to have conversations with many admitted students to top universities! :)

5) Yes, I would think IIM is a great option for you because an international MBA is very expensive and quite uncertain at times. But even schoold like IIMs & ISB are definitely something u can watch out for!!

Good Luck! Pl do let me know if u need more information!

Thanks for your instant reply. I am a regular reader of your articles at pagalguy. Days ago I was aiming for Mba @ IIM. But your articles on 'pg' change my decision from MBA India to abroad [I have bought study material for CAT also!!!]. After that I began to see you as a role model for MBA studies. I was asking about where should I get my work experience for getting in top school and become a management consultant in future [3rd question.]

I didn't understand your answer regarding Foreign MBA is expensive & uncertain. Is it not true that we can get back our expenses in one year of graduation? Also heard that if anyone is from top 5 schools with my background he can get the dream job. I am not asking for reservations. I was just asking for that extra help I will required for day to day schooling. Thanks once again for mailing me. Do let me know your opinion about this. Regards.

Thanks Omkar for the reply! It is nice to know that my articles have been helpful. And thanks for considering me as your role model :-) I dont know what kind of companies u shld work to become a management consultant... maybe blue chip companies,, but mostly, you should have a good GMAT score & a good GPA once u start your MBA here. Atleast that way, u will get interview calls from consulting firms. And to convert it, is simple if you put focussed effort into the interview preparation while in a b-school!

I said, it is uncertain because being an international, many recruiters ask for Green Card or citizenship here to recruit you. But note that Investment Banks & Consulting firms dont ask for citizen requirements! If you are following my blog, you can see that I myself am having a hard time getting an internship offer! I think you can get back your expense in a few years time just like in India if you graduate from ISB. But I feel that everyone gets a job one place or the other. And of course, it is some compromise on our part.

But that said, I am sure it is the same in any b-school in India too except the IIMs. Here, placements are different.. companies dont come & recruit you.. you need to go after them.. read my latest article! :-) Thats why I said, uncertain! Am sure, if you are really focussed & work real hard, a dream job cannot be far away! I am sorry if I read ur question wrong. What kind of day-to-day help would you need on a daily basis? All the facilities are user-friendly by all. But if you have any specific question, you might send them to me and I can forward it to our Admission Office who can clear your doubts.

 

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