MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Moderator: MBACrystalBall
Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by ABCDXYZ » May 29th, 2012, 4:05 pm
I am pursuing B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering in NIT ( Ranked in the top 10 of India's best engineering colleges).
I will be applying for HBS 2+2 , YALE SSP , IESE YTP , MS in Management in HEC Paris,
London Business School this year.
PROFILE:
1) Btech GPA= 6.7/10
2) 12TH percentile : 95 % ( national topper in 2 subjects)
3) 10TH percentile : 95 % ( national topper in 1 subject)
4) Internships : IIT MADRAS
5) I am also attending IESE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMME from July 9-13, 2012.
I will be taking my GMAT this june and am expecting a score in 600s.
Is my profile competitive enough for the above colleges.
My internships were more on a technical background.
I have done 2 technical internships during my 2nd year engineering-one in IIT MADRAS (2nd Best engineering college in India) - it was based on graph theory( computer science) and another in Institute of Mathematical Sciences ( did a theoretical study on Algorithms).
I am also attending IESE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM during july 9-13, 2012.
Regarding Extra-curricular activities : I have performed around 13 concerts in Classical music and have been into Fashion Designing ( I am part of the college team for fashion designing).
And apart from the above myself and few of my friends were engaged in a couple of social service activities like creating awareness about child labour and hygiene in a nearby slum.
And apart from that I had organized a couple of events in college single handedly.
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by baccardisprite » June 5th, 2012, 1:47 pm
While great to see your plans are ambitious, it would be useful to understand where you believe your career's going. What do you expect to gain from the IESE Summer School Program?
The above viewed in isolation though, you probably know how competitive programs like 2+2 or YTP are to get into. Viewed through those lens:
- your GPA might be an issue. IF the 6.7 puts you in the Top 2-5% of your CSE Class in NIT, AND it's one of the better known / ranked NITs (Thiruchi, Warangal, Suratkal), even better. IF not the case now, you'll need to find a way to stay academically at or near the top of your class.
- You need to be more ambitious with your GMAT target... Without work experience, and considering you're an Indian applicant, you'll have to hit 750+. IF the GRE is acceptable, you'll need to hit 750+ in the Q, and 700+ in the verbal sections of the GMAT.
The above is the absolute base you'll need to hit without which adcomms are unlikely to get into other parts of your application.
- For your other activities i.e the social service, college events, internships at IIT-M etc; while what you did there is important; it's even more important for the adcomm to understnd what IMPACT your work had on people and the gain of knowledge. Would you be able to articulate those in your essays?
- Would your recommenders be able to authoritatively comment on your strengths, areas of improvement and the rationale for your educational goals; with specific examples? Because applicants to initiatives like 2+2 or YTP are admitted on their potential for leadership, would your recommenders be able to comment on that with examples on where & how "you" made an impact (anything less would be ineffective)?
As for HEC Masters / LBS - simply not a good idea, the economies & primary job markets these schools are serving are in VERY poor shape now, and these degrees are unlikely to add any value (professional or notional) to you right now. IF you don't make it to HBS 2+2 or IESE's YTP; get a job and gain experience, solidify your professional & leadership skills and apply for an MBA later.
If you're in a tearing rush - CAT - IIMs... you know the rest.
All the best
Baccardisprite
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by LeConfused » June 7th, 2012, 3:46 pm
I plan to opt for higher studies now. I opted for a master's in SCM and checked out various American Business schools. I consistently scored above 325 in various GRE mock exams, including the official one.
The course for example Michigan Ross is for 1year. The admissions for those require a relevent experience of around 5 years. The situation is same for most of the good business schools offering MS in this niche field. Then thought of going for MS in Industrial engineering and then specialize in SCM and maybe after couple of years of work ex, do a MBA.
The problem is I don't know how much useful will MS IE will be. Would a work experience in lieu of that MS is more desirable ? Cause seeing the scene of US economy even, its not long when more protectionist measures are applied a la EU, so the problem of finding a good job in US itself will be a big roadblock. Returning to India after that is not an option cause of the mismatch between high dollar expenditure and low rupee salary.
Then I thought of going for an Indian MBA in SCM, then gaining a workex in relevant field and after couple of years MBA/MS SCM from US. But I don't know how much relevant would that be, Indian SCM in US conditions? Or shall I directly go for a phoren MBA after 2-4 years of work ex more, here in India , in the field in which I am working currently?
I know these are a lot of queries and a lot of data, but my mind is in a quagmire right now. Would be very grateful if you could clear my confusion.
Thanks
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by baccardisprite » June 13th, 2012, 2:37 pm
Most western economies are suffering right now, and the relatively high level of unemployment amongst the young has driven protectionist measures to protect their access to their home job market. As a result, a job search for the non-citizen is particularly difficult, more so if this person doesn't bring tangible, applicable or transferable experience in that market. At your age, and with your profile having neither the experience nor impact (education doesn't count), this is in my opinion the wrong time for you.
I would recommend one of 2 paths:
- Find a way to get into the operations / SCM functions of a large Indian company or MNC with strong operations in India (industrial, consumer, retail) and build a bank of experience for a few years that you can take potentially outside India
- Apply for and get into NITIE, which is India's best school for specialiat PG's in Industrial Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain Management et al.
In both cases, you will have far more to offer to an international job market with 5-6 years under your belt. After acquiring the experience, skills and competencies, you can go for:
- a Masters in SCM (like that offered by MIT, Georgia Tech), or
- an MBA with specific electives in Operations (again offered by business schools attached to universities that also have strong Engineering schools)
- a mixed / dual program like MIT's LGO
You'll have to do the yards like everyone else.
All the best
Baccardisprite
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by tonmoy00007 » June 14th, 2012, 11:42 pm
A little bit abt my profile.
10th - 75%
12th - 70%
B.Sc (Comp Sc.) - 53.3%
M.Sc (Comp Sc.) - 63.7%
Work Ex - 3 yrs 9 months in Godrej (SAP)
M.B.A (I.T.) - 2.71/4 CGPA
GMAT - 700
I want to do a Phd in Information Technology from a good foreign university. Plz suggest whether my profile is considerable given the fact that my academic scores are low.If yes then Plz guide me in selecting few institutes where i can get a scholarship so that the total cost is low.
Tonmoy
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by seekingMFEdetails » June 20th, 2012, 9:49 am
Would like to pursue MFE from top colleges, below are the details of my profile:
1) 10 class total 77%, Maths 95marks
2) 12 Class total 84%, Maths 97marks
3) Engineering in Textile Technology Total 70%, Maths marks 71,78,73 three semester maths.
4) MBA Finance ICFAI Business School (tier II college in India) 8/10
Work experience of more than 5 years in largest Hedge Fund in Financial Operation.No programming experience.
Would be great if you can evaluate my profile and advise if i would be eligible for MFE program, if yes please guide me which college I should target.
Thanks.
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by LeConfused » June 20th, 2012, 11:44 am
Thanks for your advice baccardisprite. You along with Sameer surely have helped me in deciding the future course of my career. I was more troubled cause I couldn't figure out which chores to pickup first. Now, that you have guided me, I can start the doing the yard, right away! :D
Can I ask you one more thing ?
I had pinged you through pagalguy as well...I had PMed my details to you over there. Looking at my profile, can you give me an idea where all I am lacking, if I think of NITIE? I mean in the matters of profile broadness, experience et al. I am thinking of gaining one more year of experience (i.e. CAT 2013) so within that time frame I can enrich my profile, if possible, wherever it is lacking currently.
Thanks for your time and patience.
LeNOTSOConfused :)
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by baccardisprite » June 22nd, 2012, 7:04 pm
My opinion - it's going to be hard for you to get into a good US Engineering/Business School (required for what you want to study). You might be better off trying the CAT (or equivalent exam) and get into the FPM/Ph.D Program at one of the Top Indian B-Schools or Engineering Schools.
Strong Ph.D applicants bring all of the below to the table:
- GMAT 750+, GRE 750+ in Quant, 700+ in Verbal! FPM Programs in India require very high % CAT/XAT scores.
- Very strong communication & writing skill
- Experience in research driven functions (R&D, Analytics, Product development & Design etc) + a verifiable record of publication in industry or professional journals.
- 1/2 broad areas of intended research that match with the research interests of the University's IT/Comp Sci. departments or the technology area of the business School. You'll need to find this out through about a year of research.
- Hopefully your Master's Degree was from a recognized Uni in India (IIT/NIT/IIIT/Strong state or City University, was toughly graded, you completed a thesis which involved a lot of research / analysis and insight generation
- Your recommenders testify to your academic ability (a Ph.D is a stressful experience) under pressure, and your competence to undertake research with minimal supervision.
The best Universities for Ph.D in IT would be the US Top 50 Engineering Schools, which also have strong business schools. With your profile and academic record, you will find it hard in a US Top 25-30 University's Engineering / Business School, so will need to look lower. Search for the publication called AMERICA's BEST GRADUATE SCHOOLS, published by US News & World Report; and look for the US Top 100 Engineering Universities granting Doctoral Degrees, then in the same publication, look at the rankings of business schools. The common schools in both rankings is a start. Then go down to the individual departments and conduct deeper research into what their faculty and Ph.D students are researching.... so on & so forth.
All the best
Baccardisprite
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by baccardisprite » June 22nd, 2012, 7:30 pm
Overall - seems a good profile you haven't provided more detail on what you specifically do for a Hedge Fund, but I assume its quite quantitative. Good academics, hopefully from a strong engineering school with a tough-graded program. If yes, I think you can get into an MFE or equivalent (MS in Computational Finance / Mathematical Finance / Financial Mathematics are some of the other names); and be an attractive hire for the career you seek after.
Careers in Quant Finance, which is what an MFE is primarily geared for - require outstanding competence in Advanced Probability & Statistics, Stochastic Calculus, multi-order diff equations and C++ programming! MFE is a quant finance degree (equivalent programs being MS in Computational / Mathematical finance / Financial Mathematics & Econometrics). You essay & CV will need to provide adequate evidence of these competencies. IF you don't have programming experience, you might need to spend a year acquiring it, because certain programs (e.g Berkeley Haas) will explicitly ask for it.
To position yourself for a career in quant finance / trading etc, you'll need to attend a top program. Immediately, the following come to mind, all one year except Princeton:
- UC Berkeley / Haas MFE
- Princeton Master of Finance (2 years)
- Columbia
- Cornell
- Carnegie Mellon
- Georgia-Tech
- Oxford / Said Business School MFE
- Warwick (department of Mathematics & business School)
- City University / Cass business school
All the best
Baccardisprite
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Re: MS, MFE, Mfin, MPhil, PhD, other degrees
Post by baccardisprite » June 22nd, 2012, 7:37 pm
Experience always helps! If you feel confident with the extra, go for it. I don't see any issues with your profile for NITIE.
All the best
Baccardisprite