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Expert's
post

Updated on: Aug 20, 2015

A proven way to apply for an MBA from a top business school and get in!


MBA Prep School is the only place you can learn the approach admissions experts have developed to create an outstanding MBA application!


About MBA Prep School Consulting



Video/Online How-To Course for MBA Applicants: Prepare to be Accepted!™ MBA Prep School is an online learning community offering a comprehensive suite of courses, resources, and interactive services designed to give aspiring MBAs a distinctive edge in applying to the world’s leading business schools.

Consulting: From Essay and Resume Editing Services to Mock Interview Sessions and Regular Admissions Consulting, MBA Prep School provides a full-service consulting experience. Click here to learn more.

How to Apply for an MBA eBook: MBA Prep School’s new book How to Apply for an MBA delivers a step-by-step guide for earning an acceptance letter to the world’s top-ranked business schools. How to Apply for an MBA teaches readers how to tackle the most challenging aspects of applying, including self-assessment, school selection, resume and essay writing, reference letters, and interviewing. The book’s pages are filled with secrets for optimizing every element of your MBA application. Order your copy now.



Why MBA Prep School



Creating an application that stands out from thousands of other applicants is incredibly challenging, and many applicants pay thousands of dollars to learn what the admission consultants know about how to stand out from the competition.

MBA Prep School is leveling the playing field. MBA Prep School assembled a team of experienced admissions consultants and we documented the techniques we use to help our clients create outstanding applications. The company’s Application Prep, on-demand, video course is taught by a team of admissions experts with Harvard MBAs, over 20 years of combined admissions consulting expertise, and a proven track record of getting their clients into top business schools.
At MBA Prep School, you’ll learn how to become one of the 1 in 5 applicants who get into a top business school.

When you complete the MBA Prep School program, you will feel confident about applying because you will have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. You will learn how to build an outstanding application so that you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for someone else’s help.

The videos cover every step in creating an outstanding MBA application — from selecting the right schools, to writing MBA essays, to creating an excellent MBA application resume, to choosing your references, to nailing your admissions interview.

MBA Prep School’s start-to-finish program has been field-tested and proven to be extremely effective by applicants to the top MBA programs.

Here’s what one GMAT Club Member had to say about MBA Prep School in a review on GMAT Club.
“From essays (choosing the right stories), resume (the right format…very helpful for international students), to the interview process, MBA Prep School walked me through all these important steps. If you are like me, not willing or able to invest a large sum of money on preparing your MBA applications, MBA Prep School will give you the tools to be competitive.”
-ftuzzo, GMAT Club Member

SPECIAL SAVINGS!





Please join me in welcoming both Chris and Tyler, co-founders of MBA Prep School and wish them Good Luck!

_________________

Last edited by kirstik on 20 Aug 2015, 15:01, edited 34 times in total.
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Expert's
post

Oct 20, 2010

Thanks for rolling out the welcome to GMAT Club, bb!

MBA Prep School is very excited to be a part of the GMAT Club community, and we hope to be a valued resource for GMAT Club members for many years to come.

The internet has changed every industry it touches and admission consulting isn't any different. In some ways, the "business" of advising MBA candidates couldn't exist without the web. In my four-and-a-half years as an admissions consultant, I've worked with clients from all points on the globe. We communicate via internet video and email and the process works well. Of course, I love meeting clients face-to-face whenever I have the opportunity. On the other hand, GMAT Club is a case-and-point about the limits of 1:1 communication. In forums like this one, a much larger audience can benefit from the advice GMAT tutors and admissions coaches provide. Our combined wisdom (or at least we hope it's wisdom) can be shared by many and a dialogue with many diverse perspectives leads to new and unexpected answers. It's really pretty amazing to see how information rich this website has become over the years. Hats off to bb and all of the moderators and contributors who have worked so hard for our mutual benefit!

One-to-one admissions consulting is a valuable service, and I do believe applicants derive tremendous benefits from working with a private coach. The clients who benefit the most are those who need additional help with the "accounting process": identifying which of their qualities and strengths to feature on their application; the "strategic planning process": positioning themselves and differentiating themselves from the competition; and with the "story-telling process": sharing their life experience in a unique, engaging, and memorable way. What an admissions consultant does -- in my opinion -- is to help his or her clients achieve greater self-awareness and then to communicate what they've learned in the application medium: application forms, essays, resume, and interviews.

Last year, I started thinking: what if we could use the internet to deliver a series of videos that would teach applicants the "accounting, strategic planning, and storytelling" techniques that top admissions coaches use to help their clients build outstanding applications, and instead of charging a few thousand dollars we’d charge a few hundred dollars? That what-if question was the genesis of MBA Prep School.

MBA Prep School teaches MBA candidates, our students, how to optimize the quality of every element of their MBA application: application forms, essays, resume, reference letters, and admissions interviews. (We leave GMAT prep to the excellent firms that you'll meet here at GMAT Club).

You might be a year or more from applying but it's never too soon to start building the foundation for a great application. I'll tell you about a conversation I had with a former admissions board member from Harvard Business School who really changed my perspective about applying to business school. He told me that a successful application to a highly competitive MBA school didn’t start a few weeks before the application deadline; it really started a few years before the deadline. His point was that by the time the application deadline was in sight, everything was pretty much a given: the candidate’s academic record, GMAT score, resume, and even the life experiences they’d eventually write about in their essays. His message and my message to you is that you need to start gathering the raw materials and building the foundation for your application long before it’s time to sit down and put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard to start crafting it.

I think it's great that you have a knowledge-base like GMAT Club to tap into when you embark on this quest. My intention, which is shared by our entire team at MBA Prep School, is to be a valued contributor to this community, and I look forward to answering your questions and helping you earn an acceptance letter to your dream school. At MBA Prep School we have a saying: Prepare to be accepted!
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Nov 10, 2010

One question that comes up again and again is some variation of "What are the best ways to do in-depth research about schools and their programs?" Most candidates will tackle this by visiting the school's website and/or reading the program's brochure. And they stop there.

Wow.

An MBA is one of the biggest investments of time and money you'll ever make. Not to mention the fact that the school you attend will be on your resume and part of your "personal brand" for the rest of your life. You need to know that you're going to feel "at home" at this school, "click" with the students, and fit into the culture of the school and alumni network. You can't determine that from a website or school brochure or book!

At MBA Prep School we believe that school selection is a two-way street. Not only are the schools trying to identify and attract the "best" students for their classes but you need to be trying to identify and select the "best" school given your individual career goals, learning needs, and other considerations. We believe that in-depth research on your target schools is critical.

Here are seven ways you can go beyond the norm to build your understanding of a particular school:

Visit the School: You have to "be there" to sense it and take it all in. School visits will give you impressions and observations that will help you separate your application. You will be able to reference specific people you met or things you observed while visiting the school in your essays and interviews. Visit your "top choice" schools -- it's really important!

Interview on Campus: Schools will say that it doesn't really make a difference but interviewing on campus is a good opportunity to visit the school and better understand the school in ways that remote interviews via video or with local alumni cannot deliver, particularly for schools that offer interviews to all applicants.

Sign-up for Email and Other Information Lists: Many schools Admissions Committees publish blogs, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, and participate in online web chat events. Sign-up for them! Read them! And keep notes for when you are making your final school selection decisions, writing your essays, and preparing for interviews.

Read the Student Blogs: An increasing number of schools now have current students publish "unvarnished" impressions of their school experiences. While published through "official" school channels, some of these are surprisingly candid and will help give you further insights into the culture of the school and what the "day in a life" is really like.

Meet with Alumni and Leaders of Alumni Clubs: Beyond the time you'll spend attending school, the network you'll be joining will be with you for the rest of your life. Contact the local chapter of the alumni association; try to meet with leaders. You'll pick up invaluable impressions and insights that, again, should be worked into your school selection decisions, your essays, and your interviews.

Complete "Informational" Interviews with Current Students and/or Recent Grads: The most "up-to-date" information on a particular school will come from current students and/or recent graduates. Many will be happy to give you the "inside scoop" on the school, the faculty, life on campus, and many other details that will help you choose the right school and then be able to coherently explain in your application why that school is the best school for you.

Contact Student Clubs: Similarly, student clubs are a major facet of your business school experience, so look in particular for clubs that fit well with your career goals and get to know the leaders of those clubs. One of our students, for example, differentiated himself by talking knowledgeably about how the "Retail & Luxury Goods Club" at Columbia was the perfect fit for his career goals of becoming a luxury retailer executive.
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Mar 2, 2011

Hello Goalsnr,

Thank you for reaching out to us. I am happy to respond to your questions.

1. Candidly, age is a factor in Full-time MBA admissions. Most schools report their median age and a handful report their age range. It appears to me that there are very few spots for folks with your level of seniority. As you say, there are reasons that you are applying at an age well above the average, and I am sure that those would be taken into account. Nevertheless, the numbers are against you on this count.
2. I am not all that familiar with rotational programs, but I would agree with your observation that they are designed with folks a few years earlier in their career in mind. In the US, at least, it's my understanding that prospective employers can't ask your age. I suppose they can always extrapolate from your graduation dates. With exceptional performance at a brand-name business school they might choose to overlook your age.
3. The field of consulting is quite large, and I would say there is always a spot for an exceptionally bright person; so this could indeed be an option for you.
4. EMBA programs, as a rule, are not designed for career changers. Typically, companies sponsor up and coming leaders in an effort to groom them for future senior management. Not all EMBA programs require sponsorship, however. Logically speaking, you'd be a more competitive candidate for consulting with an EMBA, but for the structural reasons we've talked about it is going to be difficult for you to land a job. I just don't want to suggest it would be easy.
5. You career goals are a good fit with the general management programs that are stalwarts with the Global 2000 recruiters. I would refer you to the WSJ rankings of business schools by corporate recruiters for some high-level guidance.

Finally, we have yet to complete a thorough study of the applicant-age statistics, but I encourage you to identify the full-time MBA programs that historically have accepted older applicants. I would also suggest investigating EMBA programs that accept applicants who are around your age. I did recently have a client who was about to turn 30 accepted to Columbia's EMBA program. That said, his professional leadership experience was exceptional, and he was accepted with the support (if not outright sponsorship) of his current employer.

Best of luck to you!
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Jul 31, 2011

MBA Prep School is committed to making MBA admission consulting expertise available to more applicants. Using the latest online learning technologies, we emulate the experience of working with a private admissions consultant for a fraction of the price. Subscribers have access to on-demand admissions consulting videos covering every aspect of creating an outstanding application and web-based tools and templates for building a winning application step-by-step.

As part of our mission to level the playing field for MBA applicants worldwide, we will award 10 MBA Prep School scholarships for the 2011/12 application season worth a total of $3,000. The scholarships provide free access to our complete suite of power tools for building a winning MBA application.

Five scholarships will be awarded on August 8th and five more on August 15th.

Applying for the scholarships is easy:

1. Go to https://mbaprepschool.com/free-trial and sign-up for a free 7 day trial of MBA Prep School
2. Once you've registered and selected a user name and password go to https://mbaprepschool.wufoo.com/forms/mba-prep-school-scholarship-program/ to apply for one of our scholarships.

Best of luck to all our scholarship applicants!

Prepare to be accepted!

Tyler Cormney and Christopher Aitken
MBA Prep School Co-Founders
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Mar 27, 2012

Hi Jeffau524,

Thanks for reaching out to MBA Prep School. Answers to your questions:

1. Should I re-take the GMAT anyways?

You should retake it when you are ready to break 700. This may very well help your results because a 640 is below median for most top 20 schools

2. Should I withdraw my rest of applications for this year? (seems like Johnson and Marshall are harder to get in compare to Kelley and KF)

No I don't think you should withdraw your applications; you can still reapply, and it is really too late to withdraw applications submitted for R2.

3. If I do re-apply next year for the same schools, would they favor in re-applicants?

They might favor re-applicants in the sense that applying again indicates commitment to the school. However, you would really need to improve the quality of your application both in terms of content and execution. Otherwise, the results will be the same.

4. Should I consider consulting advice for schools? (Those are very EXPENSIVE)

Your results could be related to an execution problem with your applications, and a consultant can certainly help correct those kinds of missteps. I wrote this blog post to explain some of the benefits of hiring a consultant:

Q&A: Should I hire an MBA admissions consultant or not? --https://mbaprepschool.com/qa-should-i-hire-an-mba-admissions-consultant-or-not/



5. If re-applying, what other programs should I consider?

You should consider schools with higher acceptance rates than the schools that you applied to this time around. This slide show summarizes acceptance rates for many business schools:

https://images.businessweek.com/slidesho ... s-schools/

Best of luck and please let us know if we can be of assistance. Here is a link to another article that discusses what to consider when reapplying to business school.

https://mbaprepschool.com/reapplying-to-business-school/

The article ends with a description of a diagnostic service MBA Prep School offers for re-applicants. You can learn more about it here:

https://mbaprepschool.com/services/ding-diagnostic-report/

Best regards,
Tyler
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Apr 27, 2013

[quote="ashriel"]Hi Tyler,

Can you please consider my profile and suggest the best fit for me? And also let me know whether I stand a chance applying to top 20?

Hello Ashriel,

I would be happy to provide some general opinions. Based upon my experience and with all necessary disclaimers, I will rate you as Gold, Silver, Bronze, or No Medal in the MBA Olympics:
-Academics - Silver/Gold - top performance in EE degree will be admired; only reason I can't say pure Gold is that it will depend on the reputation of your UK uni. A GMAT score above median will help you reach for the Gold.
-Professional - Bronze - this is the area that I would be concerned about. You will only have two years and will be competing against candidates with 3-4 years experience. A second professional recommendation would be preferred to a university professor. I assume that will be difficult to obtain because of the length of your employment tenure. "Researcher" roles often don't give admissions boards insight into your management/leadership potential.
-Leadership - No medal? Appear you are involved in helping others (e.g. the elderly) but you didn't give me much to go on when it comes to leading others. You asked about ways to strengthen your candidacy -- seeking a leadership role and making an impact as a leader would be the best way to enhance your competitiveness.
-Diversity - Gold - this is obviously a broad category but I think you score well here as Poland is an under-represented country at the MBA Olympics.
-International Experience - Bronze/Silver - you studied in the UK and are working in Lithuania so I think you have some standing in this category.

Overall: Bronze/Sliver

I think that a US business school with acceptance rates in 30% plus range might give you a shot based on academic standing, professional potential, and diversity. You aren't completely out of the running for Kelloggs, Haas, Duke, Booth but these are going to be a reach. Consider waiting another year or two to increase your standing in the areas I pointed to. If you do, you should be a Gold Medal competitor. Having the right coach helps of course... :-D

Good luck!
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

May 16, 2013

bagdbmba wrote:Hi MBA Prep School Consultancy team,
Could you please provide any insights on what one should write/approach why one should get the scholarships in 2 year MBA program especially for US schools(top 15/20 )...?

Much appreciate your feedback on this.


Hello bagdbmba,

MBA scholarships are typically awarded on a merit basis and business schools utilize scholarship money and fellowships to persuade exceptional candidates to accept the school's offer of admission. For many schools, there might not be a formal process to apply for MBA scholarship money. Instead, admissions boards make scholarship offers based on the quality of the applicant and his or her application. Therefore, my first tip is to ensure that your application is exceptional and that you have sent strong signals to the school that you are extremely motivated to attend their program. Scholarship money is scarce and admissions committees are more likely to offer scholarship money to students who have communicated that they are serious about attending their program. In certain cases, scholarship money is supplied by donors who want to support a particular kind of MBA candidate. For example, a donor may designate that his or her scholarship be granted to an MBA student with an engineering undergraduate degree. If so, admissions boards will review their list of accepted students and offer the scholarship to applicants who match those qualifying criteria.

A few business schools do have specific scholarship (or fellowship) essay questions. What one should write on these essays would depend on what question has been asked. Our admissions consultants provide editorial guidance on MBA scholarship essays to clients who have engaged our help on a comprehensive/school package basis. Last year, many of our clients had the good fortune of earning scholarship money.

Finally, I encourage you to reach out to each business school you are applying to by email or by phone to find out if they offer any additional avenues for seeking scholarship money. It is often the case that MBA schools expect applicants to pursue scholarship money proactively; so It never hurts to ask. I wish you the best of luck in earning some scholarship money to pay for your MBA.

Kind regards,
Tyler Cormney
MBAPrepSchool.com Co-Founder
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Oct 21, 2010

Hi Everyone,

I hope that you'll join us for one of the two free webinar sessions that we are hosting 10/27/10 and 10/28/10 for GMAT Club members.

The title of the webinar is The Five Questions You Need to Ace to Get Into Business School

At the time of this posting, there's a link in the grey rectangle above the forums which will allow you to learn more and register for the webinar.

I'll give you a quick overview of what we'll be teaching in the webinar:

1st: I am going to teach you how to recognize the five fundamental questions that all MBA applications ask because their wording may differ from application to application This is the same skill that you’re developing in your GMAT classes – learning to quickly recognizing the type of question so you know the best way to approach it.

2nd: I’m going to explain the admissions committee’s criteria for assigning top marks to your answer
If you have a firm grasp on what the admissions committee is looking for in your answer those criteria can serve as a limit test for improving your own responses.

3rd: I am going to share a set of Content Building Blocks that you can use to craft a unique and powerful response to each question. You'll want to take careful notes on these content building blocks because you can use them after the webinar is over to guide you when it’s time to create the content for your own answers. I’ll even be showing you examples of how past MBA Prep School students have assembled their content building blocks to create great answers.

4th: The last step is one you’ll do on your own -- which is to fill in your content building blocks and outline your answers to each question. With the ground work done; you’ll be prepared to tackle the five questions and deliver great answers in your application and admissions interviews.

See you in class!
admissions-webinars-by-mba-prep-school-5-mba-questions-103223.html
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Oct 27, 2010

Hello,

I wanted to remind everyone that MBA Prep School will be hosting a free-webinar for GMAT Club members tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM Pacific (Los Angeles, CA). We'll be telling you about the five questions you need to ace to get into business school. If you'll be applying in the near future, you won't be disappointed. We will discuss each question and you'll walk away with an understanding of what admissions officers are looking for when they ask these five fundamental questions and we will provide you with content building blocks so you can build powerful responses.

We'd love for you to join us. Register by clicking the link below.

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM - 11: AM PDT (Los Angeles, CA)
Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/725272350
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Oct 28, 2010

Hi Everyone,

We had alot of fun delivering the two free webinars to the GMAT Club community on the 5 Five Questions You Must Ace to Get Into Business School.

There were lots of great questions in the Q&A session. If you have more admissions and application questions for us please post them on this thread. We look forward to interacting with you.

There were requests to provide to a recording of the webinar and we are glad to oblige. Feel free to share the link with your friends. Most of our video courses must be purchased but this course is free for you for the time being by registering at the following link:

https://mbaprepschool.com/go/first-lesson-free

Also, if you are interested in signing up as an MBA Prep School Core Curriculum Students and having access to our complete video series covering every element of the application, we are offering GMAT Club members a $100 discount. The offer expires on November 15th.

Go here for the discount: https://mbaprepschool.com/gmat-club
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Expert's
post

Nov 8, 2010

There is currently a $100 discount available for GMAT Club members through March 31, 2011: Save $100 with MBA Prep School on Admissions Consulting Video Courses
_________________

Feb 26, 2011

Hi Tyler,

My work experience, numbers, target schools, ECs and target schools for evaluation:

Work Experience: 5.5 years in the telecom industry in India in Pre-Sales Tech Consulting and Project Management. Leading a team of 10 consultants for a module for almost a year. Worked outside my home country for an assignment for two months to develop a netowrk infrastructure growth strategy for a consumer bank.

GMAT: 760 (99%tile)
(Q:49, 88%tile,V:44 97%tile)

Undergrad info: unknown engineering institute in India, Bachelor of Technology (Electrical Engineering), 2005
Aggregate score: 67/100 (no GPA/CGPA system followed)

ECs during college: President of a student body of 60; Co-founded basketball team to represent one branch of engineering students; co-founded English language study center

ECs after college: Squash player and coach, Co-Founded Squash club at my firm, Co-Chair of Organizing Committees of two tournaments held in my city to bring together amateurs and professionals; Finance Secretary of a non-profit centre which takes in HIV+ Children, Raised capital inflow by 18% by tapping new sources of funding (revenue brought in through ticket sales from stage shows and by raising funds from employees in corporate entities)

Target programs: I intend to apply to 5-6 schools in Round 1/ EA in 2011. I have come up with a preliminary list of schools I am targeting: Berkeley Haas, MIT Sloan, Tuck, Ross, Texas-Austin and IESE.

I applied in 2009 to a few schools and was interviewed by Tuck and Ross.So I will be a reapplicant at these schools. Since I applied, I have gained leadership experience at work and outside work.

Post MBA goals: I want to work in Strategy Consulting either as part of an internal consutling unit at a high-tech/telecom firm (Egs. Samsung Global Strategy Group, British Telecom, Siemens Management Consulting, etc..) or at an MC firm. I am interested in Oganizational Change Management, Process and Business Improvement practices and Market Entry/Diversification strategies since I have led and implemented small projects in these areas at work.

Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
fedexunledded
Expert's
post

Feb 26, 2011

Hello Fedex,

My thoughts on your profile relative to schools you are targeting.

Haas: Very small school, very selective -- Big Reach
Sloan: You are an over-represented applicant so your profile would need to be outstanding across the board -- Big Reach
Tuck: Profile is starting to be in line but will depend on how well you fit with the Tuck Culture, Previous deny raises questions about that -- Reach
Ross, Texas, IESE: I think your profile is competitive for these schools but it will depend on you excelling in the areas I note in my analysis below.

My Profile Analysis

Academic Profile: Average

EE is a major that is admired but as you point out the school is unknown and it appears your performance was good but not outstanding with a 67/100.

GMAT: Outstanding

This 99% will mitigate the average rating of your academic profile

Career History: Slightly Above Average (in an over-represented pool)

You experience leading mid-sized teams will be viewed favorably, but you will be grouped in an over-represented category as you know (i.e., Indian IT). This raises the bar considerably for you in terms of proving that you have truly distinguished yourself in a large pool. If your firm has a good track record of sending consultant to business school then the brand name might help. If your firm is unknown then deduct some points from your competitiveness.

Leadership Portfolio: Average to Above Average

This is difficult to gauge without reading essays about the substance of your achievements. Suffice to say that the degree of impact you have made as a leader, as communicated on your resume, and your essays will make a big difference in your rating here. Your leadership outside of work looks good at first glance.
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Feb 26, 2011

MBAPrepSchoolTyler wrote:Hello Fedex,

My thoughts on your profile relative to schools you are targeting.

Haas: Very small school, very selective -- Big Reach
Sloan: You are an over-represented applicant so your profile would need to be outstanding across the board -- Big Reach
Tuck: Profile is starting to be in line but will depend on how well you fit with the Tuck Culture, Previous deny raises questions about that -- Reach
Ross, Texas, IESE: I think your profile is competitive for these schools but it will depend on you excelling in the areas I note in my analysis below.

My Profile Analysis

Academic Profile: Average

EE is a major that is admired but as you point out the school is unknown and it appears your performance was good but not outstanding with a 67/100.

GMAT: Outstanding

This 99% will mitigate the average rating of your academic profile

Career History: Slightly Above Average (in an over-represented pool)

You experience leading mid-sized teams will be viewed favorably, but you will be grouped in an over-represented category as you know (i.e., Indian IT). This raises the bar considerably for you in terms of proving that you have truly distinguished yourself in a large pool. If your firm has a good track record of sending consultant to business school then the brand name might help. If your firm is unknown then deduct some points from your competitiveness.

Leadership Portfolio: Average to Above Average

This is difficult to gauge without reading essays about the substance of your achievements. Suffice to say that the degree of impact you have made as a leader, as communicated on your resume, and your essays will make a big difference in your rating here. Your leadership outside of work looks good at first glance.


Hello Tyler,

Thank you very much for your analysis.

Clarification and more information on some of the points you've highlighted in your analysis.

Academic profile: My performance was good but not outstanding. Your understanding is correct.

Career history: Is it ok to compare myself with my peers in my team? The average age of those around me is 31 but am 27. Does this comparision to peers look cheesy or can it actually help distinguishing me favorably without having an adverse impact on my application? My firm does have a good track of sending consultants to business school but this may be because of its sheer size and not necessarily because of the talent pool. However, the brand is pretty big.

Leadership Portfolio: As you stated, this is difficult to analyse in great detail without looking at essays which incorporate these elements.

Do you recommend I replace at least one of Tuck, Haas and MIT Sloan with a school I would be more competitive at? Do UNC Kenan-Flagner and UCLA Anderson fit the bill? Are there any other schools you can suggest off the top of your head?

Thank you again for your insight.

Cheers,
fedexunledded
Expert's
post

Feb 26, 2011

Hi Fedex,

Your First Question: Is it ok to compare myself with my peers in my team?

Mentioning accelerated promotions is okay. It's better to display the exceptional performance through examples. Share why you've excelled rather than simply benchmarking a faster rate of growth relative to your peers.

Your Second Question: Are there any other schools you can suggest off the top of your head?

In terms of school selection, UNC and UCLA are in line with your profile. You might also take a look at Duke and UVA.

Please visit us at MBA Prep School (https://www.mbaprepschool.com). There are a number of resources that will help you optimize the elements of your application that I pointed to in my analysis of your profile.

Best of luck to you!
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Mar 1, 2011

HelloMBAPrepTyler.
I posted my query in another forum and did not receive any helpful replies. I personally dont know lot of people who have attended/are attending top B-schools. So I have decided to use proffessional people for the Apps process. Before I choose a consultant, I would like him to let me know if Iam a potential candidate . I have few concerns which I have described in my post below. Please let me know if you can help me. Thanks.
-------------------------------------------

Hello Gmatclubbers,
I have been struggling with these questions for a lot of time and I have finally gathered the courage to ask them. Before I ask my questions I want you to know a little bit of my situation so you can help me better. I was suffering from a condition for about 17 years that remained undiagnosed until 3 years ago. It has been a journey to hell and back. But nevertheless it has been an amazing experience that has changed my perspective on life and has made me a stronger person. The only flipside to this has been that the MBA had to be kept on hold. I have once gain started preparing for GMAT and pursue my dream but few negative thoughts keep lingering at the back of my mind.
I call them negative because I believe if you put your heart and soul you can achieve anything. My health recovery is an example of that. I had a very unconventional story of diagnosis and treatment, which I will share some time. Also I had to face all of social and economic challenges to pursue my education and get a career. I come from a small town in India. I have worked hard and have always been in the top 5 during my Engineering days. I was admitted with Full scholarship for the Masters of Science program in the United States. I completed my MS in 2005 and have been working here since then.
1.Experience:
I have 12 years of experience: 2 yrs as a Research assistant+ 10 years in consumer electronics/automotive infotaintment industry
I have grown up the following ladder: Software engineer ->lead engineer->Project manager.
2. My career goal - To get into high level executive position
3. My plan :
Get into a Big name MBA school and get into leadership rotational program.
4. Dream schools:
INSEAD,Kellogg (1 year MBA).

Now what is bothering me:
1.My age: Too old for B-school?
The negative side of me thinks it could be a minus on my application. The positive side of me wants me to think of my age as a factor to indicate my passion for higher studies and passion to grow and excel in life. My MBA plans were delayed for health reasons. Maybe I can use this point in the essays to reflect my qualities: determination, perseverance and never give up attitude. What do you think - Are schools going to reject me because of the age factor?
2. My current company does not offer rotational programs. I want to get on fast track leadership programs and hence looking at rotational programs. Does anybody know anyone who is in a rotational program at Nissan/GE/GM? I need some feedback. Also age would be a factor. Generally, rotational programs require students with 6-8 years of exp.
3.If the rotational program does not work can I get into consulting?Iam willing to change careers.
4. INSEAD suggests executive global MBA for candidates with more than 10 years of experience. Can I get into rotational programs or change careers with EMBA? The Full time MBA seems to offer more benefits than the EMBA. When I say benefits I mean - career services for alumni/opportunities to switch career/plus dedicated time for studies (unlike in EMBA, you're working Full time). I attended a BOOTH admission event and there I was told that their EMBA requires a sponsorship letter from the company and hence they don’t offer career services for EMBA students. Can someone share their thoughts on EMBA?
5. What schools do you recommend for my career goals?
I will appreciate your insight/thoughts. Thanks.

Mar 2, 2011

MBAPrepSchoolTyler wrote:Hello Goalsnr,

Thank you for reaching out to us. I am happy to respond to your questions.

1. Candidly, age is a factor in Full-time MBA admissions. Most schools report their median age and a handful report their age range. It appears to me that there are very few spots for folks with your level of seniority. As you say, there are reasons that you are applying at an age well above the average, and I am sure that those would be taken into account. Nevertheless, the numbers are against you on this count.
2. I am not all that familiar with rotational programs, but I would agree with your observation that they are designed with folks a few years earlier in their career in mind. In the US, at least, it's my understanding that prospective employers can't ask your age. I suppose they can always extrapolate from your graduation dates. With exceptional performance at a brand-name business school they might choose to overlook your age.
3. The field of consulting is quite large, and I would say there is always a spot for an exceptionally bright person; so this could indeed be an option for you.
4. EMBA programs, as a rule, are not designed for career changers. Typically, companies sponsor up and coming leaders in an effort to groom them for future senior management. Not all EMBA programs require sponsorship, however. Logically speaking, you'd be a more competitive candidate for consulting with an EMBA, but for the structural reasons we've talked about it is going to be difficult for you to land a job. I just don't want to suggest it would be easy.
5. You career goals are a good fit with the general management programs that are stalwarts with the Global 2000 recruiters. I would refer you to the WSJ rankings of business schools by corporate recruiters for some high-level guidance.

Finally, we have yet to complete a thorough study of the applicant-age statistics, but I encourage you to identify the full-time MBA programs that historically have accepted older applicants. I would also suggest investigating EMBA programs that accept applicants who are around your age. I did recently have a client who was about to turn 30 accepted to Columbia's EMBA program. That said, his professional leadership experience was exceptional, and he was accepted with the support (if not outright sponsorship) of his current employer.

Best of luck to you!



Tyler,

Thank you so much. Here are some thoughts:

1. Age: I was going through blogs on Insead's website and I could find students in their early 30s. I understand European B-schools prefer students with higher experience. What are your thoughts on this?
2. I don't know if I want to stick with the same company after my MBA and since I donot find EMBA as an attractive option.
3. Thanks for the advice.I will study the admission stats of potential schools.

Once again I appreciate your help. Thanks and Kudos!!

-Goals.
Expert's
post

Mar 2, 2011

Hello again Goals,

Appreciate the Kudos!

You are on the right track with the European programs. That same older client I mentioned in my previous post was also accepted to INSEAD's full-time program. The second reason that that the European programs could be a good fit for you is that they are 1 year programs; therefore, you'll be out into the job market faster.

To argue with myself for a moment, the summer internship between first and second year could be benefit you by providing some experience in a new industry (or consulting) to position yourself for a career change.

Please report back to us on what you find out about schools that value older applicants. We will keep you posted if we come across news of this nature as well.

Kind regards,
Tyler
_________________
Tyler Cormney
MBA Prep School
Website: https://mbaprepschool.com

MBA Prep School provides you with power tools for building a winning MBA application. Our on-demand admissions consulting videos and application prep tools will increase your chances of being accepted by your dream school.

Take the first step toward your dream school -- for Free!: https://mbaprepschool.com
Read our eBook: https://mbaprepschool.com/ebook
For GMAT Club Discounts: https://gmatclub.com/blog/courses/mba-pr ... gmat-club/

Apr 5, 2011

Hello,

Could you please evaluate my profile based on the following information:

1.) Education

Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - 71% Aggregate - India
PG Diploma - Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Systems Management - Pass - University of Manchester - UK

2.) Work Experience

2.5 years by now - 4/5 years at the time of matriculation.
Family Business - Working as General Manager - started my stint in inventory management - took some good effective initiatives - implemented Inventory Management Techniques such as ABC Analysis, Economic Order Quantity estimation for about 5000 parts in the inventory - estimated the operation cost of the warehouse with these techniques - marginally reduced the operative costs to about 60% of before.
took charge as a plant manager to set up a building material (aggregate) manufacturing plant in a village with my team of 20 people and further hired contractors and labor on my own - successfully set up the plant which is now in a running condition already - formed a joint venture with a company from Malaysia to supply them the material on a consistent basis - liaison with the project manager of that company on a daily basis to resolve day to day issues (transportation, financial etc) - reported directly to the Chairman of my company.

Now, I am promoted as a General Manager of the company and into setting up of a sponge iron plant of 200 Tonnes per day capacity - the company has also proposed a 10 MW power plant in the future for which I will be the incharge again - I am right now looking after its civil construction and assisting the labor and the contractors hired by me few months ago - trying to handle the project professionally with the help of tools like Microsoft Project, ERP, Excel Spreadsheets.

Company's employee strength -- 400

Have formed a charity organization which funds the education of our employees' children - motivate them to perform good in their academics in order to avail these benefits - have provided 3 lacs INR till now - this helps our employees too - they feel quite secured and consequently they get motivated to work hard.

Can write good essays demonstrating my leadership and management potential.

GMAT - yet to take! will target 720+ !

Please evaluate my profile based on the information given above and also mention potential admits.

Thanks

Chaitanya Bhansali

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