Hi ,

Here is my Profile :
GMAT - 610/4 ; IELTS - 8
3.5 yrs Work experience with Infosys,
B.E.(Hons.) EEE from BITS-Pilani - 6.23/10 CGPA
12 Std - 97.7 %
10 Std - 91 %
Have decent extra curriculars.
I am planning to apply for the following B-Schools:
NUS(SING), , NTU(SING), Rotman (CAN), Desautels(CAN), Schulich (CAN)
Please evaluate my chances for these schools.
Also, please suggest any other schols in US/CAN where I have better chances.
Thanks a lot.

Your GMAT is well below the average at the schools in question. Can you improve it substantially ?

Hi Duncan,
Thanks a lot for your reply.
As most of the international deadlines are falling between Jan end and Feb-mid, I do not have much time to prepare for GMAT again.
Hence I want to apply with this score.
If not the above mentioned colleges, which colleges can I apply in CAN/US ?

How about:
Hult
Thunderbird School of Global Management
College of William and Mary: Mason
Babson College: Olin
University of South Carolina: Moore
University of Southern California: Marshall

Hi Duncan,
Thanks again for your reply. I appreciate it.
Do I not have any chances for the 5 colleges mentioned in the first post?
Would you want me to re-write the GMAT again or consider applying to US Colleges?
I'm not interested in Hult/Thunderbird...
How about the colleges in Canada? Do I have any chances in Sauder?
Sorry for asking too many questions... As the deadlines are approaching and as I don't have lot of time for writing my essays, I feel very frustated....Hence want to apply to the best colleges where I have better chances of getting an admit....

I don't think so. The average GMAT at the schools you first mentioned is 650+ so you are a long way out. Your undergraduate degree is weak, so schools will think the GMAT is an accurate predictor of your ability. Your work experience is similar, or less than, that of a very large number of other applicants.

William and Mary is a good school, and Babson is strong for entrepreneurship: I suggest you look at them and, if it doesn't work, then take an extra half year to improve the GMAT, and apply in August or September rather than January. Perhaps take a part time course somewhere to get a much higher grade and show your academic potential.

A few schools outside North America have January starts and take students with 650 GMATs: perhaps look at those: a few months to retake could allow you to get into a world class MBA, perhaps with a North American exchange semester:
University of Cape Town GSB
Australian School of Business: AGSM
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

Duncan,
I did a little bit research on W&M's Mason B School and I consider applying for this college. Are there any other good Public Universities in US that I can look at?
Also, please suggest any colleges in Canada..
I badly want to join MBA this August and hence cannot wait till January.2013 (I have so many personal commitments)
Thanks a lot...

My focus is on the top 100 business schools. Perhaps other readers can suggest other schools less well ranked?

Hi Duncan,
Even I am looking for those top 100 schools, So, do I not stand a chance at other colleges (top 60-100) other than W&M in US? Thank you..

Hi Sudheer,

If you apply very early then there's always a chance. But the reality is that, other than the schools we've mentioned, there are no US or Canadian schools in the top 100 with average GMATS under 640. Of course these are averages: 50% are on or below the average, but those candidates have something else rare and special to compensate. Sadly, there is a large pool of Indian IT professionals competing for spaces in the US.

At Thunderbird, or perhaps at Hofstra, you would be a competitive candidate. You have a fighting chance at Case Western Reserve University (Weatherhead) or Louisiana State University--Baton Rouge (Ourso). I think some other schools to consider would be Temple University (Fox), Rollins College (Crummer) and the University of Connecticut.

There are a few schools on a slightly lower level as well:
Fordham University (NY) I think would take you. University of Arkansas--Fayetteville (Walton), American University (Kogod) are worth trying, as is University of Pittsburgh (Katz).

Personally, I think there's a big gap in the Canadian market: as if there's a first tier and a third tier but nothing in between.

Duncan,
Thanks for the detailed insight.
For reasons unknown, I am not very much inclined towards doing MBA from an US Private University.
Are there any disadvantages/advantages of studying in a Private University over studying in a Public University? Please elucidate.
Again, thanks a lot for answering all my questions patiently..
Cheers,
Sudheer

With the exception of for-profit private universities, which have an unreliable reputation, the private universities are (on average) better respected than state universities. There's a hierarchy in the public sector, with each state having one or more 'flagship' campuses which are more highly respected (Like UT-Austin, or UNC-Chapel Hill).

Most of the top US business schools are part of well-established private universities. Because fees tend to be higher at private schools, they tend to have better facilities, higher scholarship funds and better outcomes. Financial aid is more forthcoming for foreigners.

State schools subsidise the education of in-state students through lower tuition fees. Financial aid is often not available for foreigners. However, fees are generally lower at state schools. Looking at Kiplinger's ranking of universities with great value for money, the state schools do much better.

Ducan,

I have read ur various posts on this forum and have learnt a lot, thnks for ur efforts. I am going to join SP Jain Center of Management in Apr, 12 (Marketing). I have 2.5 yrs of work-ex as a Presales Consultant in a middleware integration product firm. I have national/international travelling experience.
I did my undergrad from BITS - Pilani in Computer Science (BITS is among the top 5 engineering schools in India). I could not get a great GMAT, got 660 only. hence considering my less work-ex, i think SPJCM should turn out to be a good choice (less fees and 1 yr course), i did not apply to any US schools and my undergrad GPA is 7.76/10, 10th and 12th scores are also good and have some great extra-curriculars, entrepreneur activities. I also wish to create a career in Academic Counselling post my MBA. I will be turning 24 next month :)

@Sudheer: Your 10th, 12th marks are okay. GPA is on the lower side. BITS brand will help you. i suggest you can take SPJAT (SPJCM conducts this test and accepts either GMAT/CAT/SPJAT scores) and try for SPJCM also for the Apr intake.

Regards
Ankit

Hi Ankit,

As a little exercise for your future as an academic counsellor: where else (other than the school you're going to) would you suggest this person consider?

Bear in mind they are asking about the US and Canada.

Duncan.

Hi Duncan,

I am very new to the Canadian B-school space, have a little idea on the US B-school scenario. I have more experience on the India and Singapore B - schools, the likes of ISB, NUS, Insead, NTU, SMU, SPJCM, SPJIMR, IIM's, XLRI etc.

Sudheer, firstly you should figure out the exact need for an MBA for you. An MBA admit is usually divided into 3 parts; 1st is your profile/scores, 2nd is you application and thirdly and most importantly the interview part. The weight-age is different for different schools. But if you are able to logically map your work-ex/profile to an MBA (to your desired specialization) then it increases your chances. Please refer to these posts:
http://ankitmarketing.blogspot.com/2011/11/do-you-really-need-mba.html
http://ankitmarketing.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-crack-mba-interview.html

Now the next part is to divide your target B-schools in 3 categories: Aspiring, safe and back-up.
You can now apply to 2 aspiring schools, 4-5 safe schools and a couple of back-up schools.

Aspiring schools for you can be, Briham Young Marriott, Boston University.
Safe schools (as in if you apply to 3-4, u shud an admit atleast) will be: Sauder and Queen from Canada; from US it can be Babson college (Olin), Hult, Thunderbird, Wake forest, Pittsburg.
Back-up schools can be: Simon Fraser University from Canada; from US it can be SUNY Buffalo and Miami.

Duncan, please correct me for anything.

Regards
Ankit

Hi Ankit,

The average GMAT of those US and Canadian programmes is much higher than this candidate's GMAT, and the rest of their profile doesn't really make up for it. Wake Forrest is certainly not a safe choice, since its average GMAT is over 650.

I've listed them, from high to low, below:
*High*
Boston University
Brigham Young Marriott
Wake Forest
Queen's
UBC Sauder

*Medium*
Miami
Babson College
SUNY Buffalo

*Low*
Thunderbird
Hult
Pittsburgh
Simon Fraser University

This candidate needs to either focus on the schools with lower GMAT averages or take extra time to improve their application.

Duncan,

Thanks for your feedback.
I hope Sudheer is on right track now :)

Regards
Ankit

Duncan and Ankit,

Thanks a lot for evaluating my profile, suggesting colleges and providing valuable information.
I look forward to apply to these colleges.
Will keep in touch with you guys and let you know when I get an admit.

Thanks,
Sudheer