Profile Evaluation For Top B-schools

[shekhar2010us]

Hello,

I wanted to do an MBA from top b-schools in USA but do not know where my profile stand in the application pool. That's why I am putting forward my credentials in this forum and seeking expert advice that can help me getting aligned and filling the voids to achieve my long term goals. I will apply in 2014 for Fall 2015 session.

My Profile (in ascending chronological order):

Education:
a) B.Tech in Electrical Engineering - Birla Institute of technology, India. GPA: 3.9/4.0
b) Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering - University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. GPA - 3.78/4.0

Work Experience:
a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, India: 2.2 years as a technology consultant
b) <top US IT company>, Washington DC: 1.2 years as a Research Engineer (already earning 100k + salary)
c) Internships: 6 months during my Masters
d) Research Assistant: 1.2 years in University of Cincinnati

Full time experience length: 3.4 years.
Including RA and internship: 5.1 years.
By the time, I take admission, I will have Full time experience of 5.9 years (3.7 years in USA).

GMAT/GRE score: I have not taken GMAT yet, but the GMAT equivalent to my previous GRE score is Q49, V40: (comes around 730). I will try to get 730+ in GMAT when I will appear for it.

Extra:
a) Started Robotics Society in Undergrad school, first president.
b) President of another student clubs in undergrad school.
c) Founder and president of Toastmasters club in PricwaterhouseCoopers (PwC), India.
d) Founder of another club in PwC, aiming at adopting best practices to save environment
e) One of the founders of a social club in Kolkata to help the needy, now we have schools running for poor children.
f) President of a social club in University of Cincinnati, and earned best student organization award in the campus (first time for an international club).
g) Have organized many fund raising camps to contribute to bigger NGO's.
... there are few more.....

I am aiming at top 10 b-schools only, because I want to justify my current job and salary. By the time I take admission to a b-school, I will have 120k+ types salary... So, it's not only the salary I am aiming at, but the long term growth which is capturing my attention.

Please help me selecting schools.
By the way, I wish to do MBA in Product, Program Management and/or General Management.

Wishlist: Sloan, Stanford, Hass, Booth, Wharton, Tuck, Stern and Darden

Many Thanks.....

[mili]

Hi Shekhar,

Thanks for submitting your profile. Technically, you'd fall into the "Indian male engineer" profile; however, I think the fact that you studied and now work in the U.S. might help steer you towards the top of that pool. Also, it sounds like you are not a programmer, but more on the research and emerging technology side of things, so that can be an interesting differentiation. Your academic background is very impressive, your extracurriculars are fairly strong relative to other applicants in that pool (though not necessarily as strong compared to the wider US-based pool at those schools), and it sounds like you have a strong professional record (albeit on the technical side of things).

I would say that Stern and Darden are good target (possibly safe) schools, but that the others are all in the reach category (meaning it's definitely possible, but definitely not certain!). There are other schools in between like Michigan, Duke, etc. that you might wish to consider to spread your risk.

I think the biggest thing in your application will be to make sure you explain why you need an MBA. You have a great career as it is, are already in the tech industry... what will an MBA give you that you don't already have? How will you use it? The answers, I believe, could make or break your application at the top schools.

Hope this helps -- good luck on the GMAT!
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com
 
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[shekhar2010us]

Thanks mili,

I really appreciate your reply. I know I have to explain this quite strongly and convincingly that why I need an MBA. According to me, I want to see myself as an upper management candidate in the product team and ability to make decisions. That's all why I need an MBA.

Well, recently I got a final offer from Apple, California as a research engineer (only if it matters in my application). I don't want to develop new softwares or solutions or gadgets for them in long run, I want to make decisions product wise.

I also received motivation from one of my friends who is in Sloan, the difference between his and my profile is a master degree in this country and working in research. Rather he worked for PwC for 5 years and then cracked Sloan. Rest everything is same.. That gave me a boost that I may also go for a top 5 b-school.

Anyways, Thanks a lot for your constructive reply. First I will work on my GMAT score and try to get as much as possible.

Thanks a lot.

[mili]

No problem - happy to help! It sounds like you are a very capable person and will succeed on whichever path you choose :)

Best of luck,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com
 
Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)
 
Download [url=http:// http://info.mbamission.com/MBA-Personal-Statement-Guide/]mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide[/url]
 
Visit the mbaMission Blog
 
Follow mbaMission on Twitter