MBA Crystal Ball

Hi Vikram,

// Academics: BTech (Mechanical) IIT Bombay; CPI 7.73 10th: 92%; 12th; 84.8%
GMAT Score: 720 Q:50 V:37 AWA:4.0
Work Experience/Achivements: Oil and Gas Consulting (Derrick Petroleum Services), Business Analyst, 2 yrs
I work on Production and Economics modelling of Oil and Gas fields, worked as an analyst for several consulting projects

That's a pretty unusual and niche role. When you say modelling, do you use any specific tool (Excel, MATLAB etc)?

// Currently playing lead role in establishing Corporate Social responsibility division of the company. I also plan to make a non profit website which will bring together Volunteers and NGOs in Bangalore by providing more information about different NGOs and their Volunteer requirements(I am in very initial stages on this)

Both are currently work-in-progress. Do you think you'd achieve a significant amount of progress before you submit your applications?

// reduced my weight from 110kgs to 80kgs (I know not so relevant from MBA point of view but I have spent a good amount of time on this)

Definitely relevant, bro. It can be a very impactful personal success story to share as it highlights many things about your resolve, planning and execution capabilities. Be careful about how you present it though.

// Career Goals: I would like to get into Energy divisions of major investment banks or specialized Ibanks which deal in Energy (example Tudor Pickering Holt, Scotia Waterous).

The reason I was asking about the specifics of what you currently do was to understand how those skills could be used as a foundation for the Investment banking roles.

//Could you please rate my chances at my target B schools?

I'm afraid I can't rate chances based on the limited info that get's shared on discussion forums. Which is why we have the MBA MAP option - for those who want to go beyond the high-level discussions and dig DEEP.
But what I can share is that it's a good, competitive mix of schools. Some of them would get people who'd have more experience than you do. Others (like Stanford) would have a HIGHLY competitive applicant pool. And your background will give your apps a fillip.

// Should I consider rewriting the GMAT?[/quote]

If you can get a GMAT score of 750+ then sure, go for it. For the schools you are targetting it could make a difference.

Hi,
I have a gmat score of 710 and i am from the mumbai university with a 69% average in engineering i have been working for 3 years in a pretty reputed firm as a consultant i also ran my own startup for a while and currently run my own ngo do i have a shot at colleges like wharton booth and so on .I would like to get into management consulting.I have had a good track record at my job decent promotions also i guess i will get a good reco frm my bosses.I have been playing the guitar as a hobby for the past 3 years now and still take lessons.I also have some extracurricular activities that i did durring college i dont know how relevant they are right now but

Hi Sameer,

Did i mention anything like "I'll be back" on my last post ...

Anyways, I took the time to read your book "Beyond the MBA hype" . It was really an eye opener.

A few realisations -
1)I am really not sure if i am ready(or want) to do an MBA right now.
2)Another jolt in the back was when i realised my utter lack of interest in the corporate work culture.

Now, a few questions if i may -
1)Did your MBA really help you in starting something on your own ? I meant, is it really required?
2)I may be digressing, but i came upon a course called MEM(Engineering Management). Could you give me some pointers regarding this ? This came up as a part of evaluating other options ..

Thanks for an insight into the so much hyped world of MBAs.

Regards,
Ajmal

Hi Gomzit,

// I have a gmat score of 710 and i am from the mumbai university with a 69% average in engineering.

Those are decent numbers. But when you are looking at schools like Wharton.

// I have been working for 3 years in a pretty reputed firm as a consultant i also ran my own startup for a while and currently run my own ngo do i have a shot at colleges like wharton booth and so on.

This year one of our clients got a call from Wharton. Apart from a strong GMAT score and strong undergrad acads (topper from a reputed Mumbai engineering college), if you really had to judge him purely on the basis of his resume and professional work, you'd probably rate Wharton as an 'Ambitious' school for him. But he did manage to convert it.

What worked for him? A simple yet strong storyline, good career progression and an excellent application execution strategy.

// I would like to get into management consulting.I have had a good track record at my job decent promotions also i guess i will get a good reco frm my bosses.

In your case, the career goals seem aligned (assuming the pre-MBA consulting experience you talk about is also in the strategy consulting space). I'd need to dig a little more into your startup experience to know how much you can build upon that aspect.

MBACrystalBall wrote:Hi Gomzit,

// I have a gmat score of 710 and i am from the mumbai university with a 69% average in engineering.

Those are decent numbers. But when you are looking at schools like Wharton.

// I have been working for 3 years in a pretty reputed firm as a consultant i also ran my own startup for a while and currently run my own ngo do i have a shot at colleges like wharton booth and so on.

This year one of our clients got a call from Wharton. Apart from a strong GMAT score and strong undergrad acads (topper from a reputed Mumbai engineering college), if you really had to judge him purely on the basis of his resume and professional work, you'd probably rate Wharton as an 'Ambitious' school for him. But he did manage to convert it.

What worked for him? A simple yet strong storyline, good career progression and an excellent application execution strategy.

// I would like to get into management consulting.I have had a good track record at my job decent promotions also i guess i will get a good reco frm my bosses.

In your case, the career goals seem aligned (assuming the pre-MBA consulting experience you talk about is also in the strategy consulting space). I'd need to dig a little more into your startup experience to know how much you can build upon that aspect.

No its in IT Consulting how much damage would that do ,does running the ngo count as leadership experience and the startup was a marketing consultant firm also i am preparing for the CFA level 1 would that ad any more punch to my application to schools like booth and wharton and also what are the other schools i should be possibly considering i plan to apply next year

Hi Sameer,

I really appreciate you valuable inputs.

//that's a pretty unusual and niche role. When you say modelling, do you use any specific tool (Excel, MATLAB etc)?

I have been mostly using excel and some other proprietary software (Ucube)

//Both are currently work-in-progress. Do you think you'd achieve a significant amount of progress before you submit your applications?

We started our CSR six months back so there is enough progress to show there but as far as the website goes I plan to make significant progress during the coming 3-4 months (I will be applying for fall 2013)

//The reason I was asking about the specifics of what you currently do was to understand how those skills could be used as a foundation for the Investment banking roles.
I have worked on a consulting projects where we helped a Norwegian company screen various Australian focused companies for Acquisition. I believe projects like these have given me some exposure to M&A.

Do you think an MBA makes sense for a switch to Energy focused investment banking??

Will this post MBA goal make sense from an admissions officer point of view??

Thanks,
Vikram

Hi Ajmal

// Did i mention anything like "I'll be back" on my last post ...

The door's always open for old friends.

// Anyways, I took the time to read your book "Beyond the MBA hype" . It was really an eye opener.

Glad you liked it. Any specific 'eye-opening' sections that you found interesting?

It'll be great if you got it online, can you post a testimonial on the site you got it from?

// Another jolt in the back was when i realised my utter lack of interest in the corporate work culture.

I'm guessing that realisation came from your personal experiences, and not from the book. Right?

// 1)Did your MBA really help you in starting something on your own ? I meant, is it really required?

In my specific case, yes the MBA played a BIG role in the career change immediately after graduation and also gave me the confidence to say adios to the comfortable corporate world to start off my own little venture.

Just like you, I was getting tired of the corporate 'rat race'. So the Cambridge brand helped in opening up new avenues.

// 2)I may be digressing, but i came upon a course called MEM(Engineering Management). Could you give me some pointers regarding this ? This came up as a part of evaluating other options ..

To be honest, not much help I can give you there as I don't know anyone who's taken this up. All, I can say is that the teaching methodology, your classmates and the career options after that course will be pretty different from a regular MBA.

// Thanks for an insight into the so much hyped world of MBAs.

Going against the current is challenging, but somebody's gotta do it. Happy that you find the interactions helpful.

Hi again, Vikram.

// I have been mostly using excel and some other proprietary software (Ucube)

The excel skills will help you more than Ucube for what you are planning to do post MBA.

// We started our CSR six months back so there is enough progress to show there but as far as the website goes I plan to make significant progress during the coming 3-4 months (I will be applying for fall 2013)

Great! Always helps if you have a long enough ramp up stage to get to where you are. So even if the spikes come up closer towards the application deadlines, Adcoms won't find it surprising.

// I have worked on a consulting projects where we helped a Norwegian company screen various Australian focused companies for Acquisition. I believe projects like these have given me some exposure to M&A. Do you think an MBA makes sense for a switch to Energy focused investment banking??

Aah! Good ol' Mergers & Acquisitions. Yes, I think that's pretty good. You can target M&A / Corporate Finance roles in related or different industries after your MBA.

// Will this post MBA goal make sense from an admissions officer point of view??

Yessir, it does. Post MBA jobs in M&A are unique career because they tend to use a lot of what you'll pick up in class - Finance, Strategy, economy, marketing. All are important when you are getting into things like company valuations, business plans etc.

Good luck.

Hey Sameer,

compliments for the good job you are doing.

I am Abhishek and I would like you to evaluate my profile.

General
-------
Age: 27
Nationality/Location: Indian/Italy(Milan)
Languages: English, Hindi, Italian

Education
---------
GMAT: 760(Q50 V44 AWA awaited)
CFA: Passed first two levels in first attempt, should pass the 3rd level in June.
M.S. in Computer Networks and Mathematics from one of Italy's best technical universities: Grade 108/110, Recipient of full scholarship covering tuition and living expenses.
B. Tech. in ICT from DAIICT, Gandhinagar: Grade 76.8%
XIIth: 80%, CBSE
Xth: 88%, CBSE

Work Experience
---------------
3.5 years in an advanced R&D team of a leading semiconductor company. Activities related to computer networking and strategic innovation. Responsibilities include following the development of new standards and innovative applications such as 3D video streaming and home automation. My work (as part of a team) has been shown at some big consumer electronics shows.

Now moving to another division of the same company which will bring me closer to the business. Will be part of a unit that is responsible for selling and meeting customer requirements for the company's fastest growing division.

Extracurriculars
----------------
School: Headboy, some stories to tell; Member of the cricket and football teams; Quizzing.
University: Member of cricket and football teams; Participated in cultural activities.
Work: Play in a weekly football league here in Italy.

Community Involvement
---------------------
Actively attached to youth activities in my village. For example, sponsored the cricket team's kit. Plan to take it further during the year by organizing the activities of the local library and setting up facilities for football. This is an association I intend to keep alive.

Reasons for MBA and post-MBA goal
---------------------------------
Career goal is to shift to management consulting post MBA. The reason for that is that I am interested in multi-dimensional growth and challenging problem-solving. For that I need to gain solid business education to complement my knowledge of technology and finance.

Could you give me a feedback if my profile and ambitions are clear and competitive enough for a top B-School. I am more inclined towards a 1 year program but admission to a 2 year top US program will definitely make me think . Btw, I intend to start in 2013.

Thanks,
Abhishek

Hi Sameer,

Before I get started I would like to thank you for your altruistic gesture of providing a free profile evaluation!

Have a look at my profile:

- General: 23 yrs/Female/Non-engineer

- Qualifications:
10th - 85%
12th- 85% without extra optional
B.Com (Hons) - 77%

- GMAT score: quant/verbal break-up, AWA - I have not yet appeared for GMAT

- Work-experience: An HR professional with more than 2.5 years experience in Human Resource Management with an expertise in Training and Development and Employee Engagement.

- Major achievements at work:
• Initiated and successfully implemented the launch of a new Learning Management System with online courses and test.
• Improving the functionality of the existing Internal Training Portal System.

- Major achievements outside:
• Secured 1st Rank (State Topper) in 12th, Council of Higher Secondary Education, Orissa in 2006, attained 97.2% of marks including extra optional subjects.
• Secured 6th position in Ravenshaw University in B.Com (Hons).
• Participated and won prizes in college and school level debate competition, extempore and group discussions.

- Extra Curricular:
• Actively involved in social service activities, received accolade from Help Age India. Currently, I am associated with an NGO where I teach small slum area kids how to operate a computer.
• Have participated in Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts Summer Funk.
• Participated in various skits in our company events.

- Career goals
To tell you honestly, the best thing about my work is that I love what I do so my future goals are in alignment of the kind of work I would love doing.
To grow as an HR professional in the future. I want to work for organisations outside India to get a better understanding of global workplace culture and diversity. I am also interested in understanding organizational behaviour in times of mergers/acquisitions and how important will be HR's role from a cost incurring function to being a strategic partner in enterprises.

I would appreciate any kind of suggestion/advice from your side.