MBA Crystal Ball

nikunjnike wrote:Hi MG,
Kindly evaluate my profile for ISB for applying this year (2012)

Profile
Name- Nikunj
B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from NIT, Jaipur, 2007- 8.62 CGPA
10th Std- CBSE- 80.8%
12th Std- CBSE- 81.4%
GMAT SCORE- 640 (V34/Q44) AWA 4.5

My question is-
1. Since I know that my GMAT score is on lower side, should I apply for ISB this year before 15 Sept, 2012 in 1st session?
2. Should I re-write the GMAT before 30the November to try to improve my score and apply for 2nd session and not in 1st session.
3. Should I drop applying this year to study hard and have GMAT score above 700 to apply for next year?

Regards
Nikunj

Dear Nikunj,

Here are a the responses to your specific queries (thanks for asking specific questions instead of generic ones):

1. If you are asking this question on the 5th Sept, I am assuming you do not have your essays ready. In that situation, I would not even dream let alone think of applying for R1!
2. YES! R1 and R2 have a marginal impact on your selection chances - the only benefit is competition tends to be lesser. If you feel that this is not your best application, do not ever, for any school, apply in R1
3. To be frank, if you cannot improve your GMAT score after a month of hard work, the incremental value of studying for another year is abysmally low! So my advice would be to go ahead and re-take your GMAT

As a parting thought, I think your profile has all the right ingredients except the GMAT. With this score, it will be very very tough to break in - so would suggest dedicate the next month on GMAT and then apply for R2!

Cheers,

Hi mcb_mg,

Thanks for evaluating my profile. Yes, the conselor did tell me to work on the gaps in order to re-apply with a stronger application. As per him, my extra-curricular are quite decent but the disadvantage is my work experience as it has been in diverse business lines, which signals I lack stability and focus.Lets see how I can put it across in a better light this time.

I am planning to retake GMAT by November end in order to apply by the second deadline.

Rest, will keep posting on any further updates in terms of my application.

Cheers,
Neha

Hi MG,

Thanks very much for your prompt and helpful reply. I am going by your suggestion.
Kindly suggest me top 20 b schools apart from indian b school schools to which my profile suits.
I want to pursue one year MBA only.

Regards
Nikunj

nikunjnike wrote:Hi MG,

Thanks very much for your prompt and helpful reply. I am going by your suggestion.
Kindly suggest me top 20 b schools apart from indian b school schools to which my profile suits.
I want to pursue one year MBA only.

Regards
Nikunj

Nikunj,

We do not make un-educated guesses as to the school-profile fitment. Exactly for this purpose, Sameer, MCB founder, runs the MBA MAP. This lets you arrive at the target school list in a process that is as close to science as possible in the otherwise art like process.

Cheers

Dear Sir,

Thank you for starting such a great thread. I'd be deeply obliged if you could evaluate my profile for ISB Hyderabad. I'm applying in R-2 of Fall'13 session.

My credentials are as follows:

XII: 95.3% (District topper)
Graduation: Electrical @NIT Allahabad, 9.05 CGPA (In top 3)
GMAT: 740 (Quant-50, Verbal-39) AWA-6.0

Work-ex: 1year 8 months (by March 2013)
I've been working in a leading automobile company, working in diverse roles ranging from brand promotion on social media for passenger cars to structuring quality in paint application for fully-built vehicles and structuring electrical design in an unorganized segment of custom vehicles. I am currently working with the Engineering Research Center on key policy decisions on lighting requirements for fully-built vehicles in India.

Prior to joining full-time work, I spent two years on a start-up in IT, working mostly on its branding, but occasionally doing all odd jobs as expected in a start-up. (coding, marketing, sales, support, etc.)

I was also responsible for setting up the stationery division of a hypermarket chain my family owns in Darjeeling.

Professional Achievements:
1. The digital marketing initiative has turned the brand around and the company has created a new vertical in this area.
2. Paint application for fully built vehicles was standardized in 3 months, an issue that had been a pain for around 10 years before that.
3. I am the youngest member of the policy framework council drafting lighting requirements for fully-built vehicles in India.

4. The start-up I had in college had capitalized to Rs. 10 lakhs PAT before we shut it down due to our full-time job responsibilities.

5. The stationery division still generates 33% volume of Q4 business every year, when market is typically low in tea-plucking areas.

Extra-curriculars:
1. Have taken part in various cultural and quiz competitions through school, college and at work. Was District Champions at Quiz in school and Runners up at Tata Crucible Regional round.
2. Instituted the Connections Club in college and organized the IET Chapter for undergraduate students.
3. Was the PR Head for Technical, Cultural as well as Quizzing festival of college and was assigned to write content for the Students' Activity Center.
4. Was Chief Editor of college magazine.

Career Goals:
Work in a global Engg. consultancy (McK, BCG, Deloitte)

My learning has been in a mix of brand building and managing engineering change. I was initially interested in branding, but my restlessness prompted my boss to staff me on projects that had been stuck for years. Working on my current role, I've grown to enjoy this work better and hence, wish to work in a consultancy in the future.

Why MBA?:
For managing a shift in my role, so that I can understand business decisions better. Also, MBA would be ideal platform to learn about reconciliation of diverse views when working on a global project, for which a lot of biased data is available.

I've two questions in particular:
1. How much would the lack of full-time work experience (<2 years) deter my chance for (deferred) admission? Should I wait?
2. Is it advisable to write about my profile justifying my work in branding as well as managing engineering change, or should I focus on one to show clarity? What is the caveat here?

Thanks for your patience!!

Hi Mg,

Here is my profile.

Class XII: 92.2 % (West Bengal Board)
Graduation: B.E (IT) 8.7 CGPA (out of 10)
GMAT: 710 (Q 49,V 37)
Experience: 4+ Yrs. in a TCS (2 years in USA).I have experience of working
With people from USA, Europe and China (Don't know whether this part counts).

Extra-Curricular Activities: I do not have much in this area.

I took part in state level cricket championship, representing my school.
I helped my uncle on and off with his software and hardware reselling business, solving some unique problem he was facing.
I was still managing my family properties (I know this does not count much but I really had quite a time working with people from utmost rural India) before coming to overseas.

I am planning to apply in the R2 season but little afraid about my GMAT score.

Do you think I can give it a shot or shall I try next year after improving my GMAT score?


I appreciate your help for suggesting people like us who are in quagmire.

miteshkarwa wrote:Dear Sir,

Thank you for starting such a great thread. I'd be deeply obliged if you could evaluate my profile for ISB Hyderabad. I'm applying in R-2 of Fall'13 session.

My credentials are as follows:

XII: 95.3% (District topper)
Graduation: Electrical @NIT Allahabad, 9.05 CGPA (In top 3)
GMAT: 740 (Quant-50, Verbal-39) AWA-6.0

Work-ex: 1year 8 months (by March 2013)
I've been working in a leading automobile company, working in diverse rol

Dear Mitesh,

Here are my reflections on your profile:

1. You have pretty impressive academic record, that will definitely help you. The challenge, as you already know is the work-ex. You would be almost on the lowest side of the intake - but it is not impossible!
2. The critical thing to get right is the "Why MBA" and the goals piece. And the two have to be linked. In your case, it is not clear at all why you'd like to "switch" from an operations/automotive job to consulting. Unless you can defend that well - it'll be the weakest part of your application. And this better not be because you are already struggling with the handicap of lower years of experience. So think very very deep on this aspect
3. Coming to your point on what to show and tell. Well the essays should tell your entire life story and project your strengths well. I think the entrepreneurship almost always justifies explanation as there is immense learning in that experience. What you have to ensure though is to talk about skills you picked up there that helped you in later life or for your future career ambition. Unless you justify the seemingly strange transitions, the story will not fly

In summary, if you can figure out your story well, I would suggest you give it a shot. Else, take a while to think and decide why you want to do what you want to do.

Cheers,

Hello Mg,

This discussion thread is a blessing for all us lesser mortals.
Below is my profile detail. Would request you for comments on my application strategy.

Class XII: 77 % (CBSE Board)
Graduation: B.Tech- IIT Bombay (Metallurgical Engineering) 6.5 CGPA (out of 10)
GMAT: 730 (Q 50,V 40). I think that me being married and having a daughter, this is the best score that I could get with the limited time available. Still will try once more later after seeing how I go through the process this year of ISB. Anyways I will be trying for Indian colleges only so ISB is the best bet currently.

Experience: 5.5 Yrs- 3 years in manufacturing sector in project management role, 2 years in Real Estate in operations role. Currently Associate General Manager in a real estate firm. No international experience but have dealt with global clients for brief time in project role (Not sure whether to highlight it or not in essays)
Acheievements include increasing profitability of the company by implementing process changes in real estate firm. This helped me get promoted within one year of joining the firm. Also overcame a technical challenge to complete a logistics facility upgradation project on time in a manufacturing firm.


Extra-Curricular Activities: Not much. Came 3rd as team in a Fashion show competition in Mumbai but that was 5 years back. Rest all are only of participation (without any position) like Marathon, 2-day adventure race etc.


Post MBA Goal: Want to work in an operations and strategic planning role in a Global FMCG company like P&G


Application Strategy:

Showed leadership skills through various projects that I have completed by leading a team of engineers. Also good in analytical skills in that I understood the functionings in the real estate firm quickly and implemented various changes to change loss incurring sites into profitable ones.
Due to defence background, I have lived in places like Assam, bangalore, Jammu, Lucknow, Delhi etc. This has instilled in me the ability to work in a diverse environment. So I can quickly build relations with people of various backgrounds which I have consistently showed in my brief career.

The experience of starting from bottom of pyramid by handling execution of various projects to operations optimization work ++MBA will help me in a strategic planning role..

Let me know if my story makes sense and do I have a good chance to be picked. I have already started writing down the essays and and an expert advice will be most helpful.

Hello Sir(s)

I Would appreciate if you can review my profile wrt. my chances of getting into ISB R2

GMAT 670 AWA 5.5
10th 92% 12th 87%
IIT BHU GPA 8.9... Batch topper with certificate of merit.. got schols for academics and Dept Gold Medal...

College squash team captain..2 time winner in inter college sports event.. BHU university squash team member

Guitarist and vocalist in college rock band.. organized college rock fest...formula 1 enthusiast

Work ex 4yrs and 5months in Tata Steel
First year as GT (graduate trainee)

Completed a cross functional project that resulted in 30crs savings to the company using TQM tools.. appreciated by MD
Lead author of a technical paper

Placed as Manager operations in a new plant(Blast Furnace)... involved in training of new recruits, Annual Business Planning, plant erection and commissioning...ramp up is world benchmark
Instrumental in implementing Process safety initiative in my dept... awarded best in company in this aspect...

Owner of two big contracts for jobs outsourced by Tata Steel

Institutionalized a new system of "Learnings from past projects" in my new plant to prevent repetition of failures and allowing fast ramp up
Promoted to Sr Mgr 5 months ago

Playing a key role is process stabilization by inititaing TQM in as TQM co-ordinator

Aim:
I believe my experience in Tata Steel has enabled me to handle challenges of large scale production. With my experience in setting up systems and processes that streamline and stabilise operations, I believe operations management is the way forward

jitendra Dwivedi wrote:Hello Mg,

This discussion thread is a blessing for all us lesser mortals.
Below is my profile detail. Would request you for comments on my application strategy.

Class XII: 77 % (CBSE Board)
Graduation: B.Tech- IIT Bombay (Metallurgical Engineering) 6.5 CGPA (out of 10)
GMAT: 730 (Q 50,V 40). I think that me being married and having a daughter, this is the best score that I could get with the limited time available. Still will try once more later after seeing how I go through the process this year of ISB. Anyways I will be trying for Indian colleges only so ISB is the best bet currently.

Dear Jitendra,

Here are my reflections Jitendra:

1. The overall score though not bad, but the polarization in verbal and quant makes it a bit of a challenge. So that's a bit of a handicap you've gotta overcome
2. Your story should clearly address at least 3 aspects: Why MBA, Why Now, and Why ISB. Last I checked, P&G does not visit ISB - so the why ISB part becomes a bit of a non-starter. Operations and Strategic Planning are two very very different things when it comes to industry. While a consultant with say BCG or McK may get to do both, but rarely in industry does one get a chance. The rationale for aiming for FMCG too seems to be missing and the choice is out of place!
3. From the skeleton of your story, it is not clear as to Why you need an MBA at this point of time. So you gotta focus on that aspect too

In summary, the challenge is not in your profile, but in your story. If you can make that sharp, you will have a good shot.