Hi,

I am looking to get admitted into an MBA course in 2014, and my GMAT score is 720 (V-39, Q-49, AWA 6.0, IR 2). I have a poor score in IR. My educational qualification is B.Tech in Biotechnology from an Indian university with a CGPA of 8.54 (out of 10). I have work experience in the IT sector (India) in development for 3.2 years, with extracurriculars as a teacher in Solo Piano, Keyboard, and Communication Skills/Drama for a reputed examination board from UK. Besides this I have been involved in social work, and various outdoor activities. I would be grateful if someone can suggest which schools I can apply to where I would have a realistic chance of securing a scholarship, since it would be very difficult for me to pursue an MBA without financial assistance.

Thanks in advance.
Cheers!

Read: The sad facts about scholarships http://www.find-mba.com/board/37055

Hello Duncan!

Thank you for your reply.

While I realize it is difficult to secure scholarship for MBA education, I am not looking for a complete tuition waiver. I believe even for international students like me, loans would be available and universities help you in securing them. I am saying universities since I would not have any co-signees from the US (I do not have any family/friends who are a resident/citizen of the country) or any country for that matter. Any program that costs USD 40,000 overall is something I can still hope to fund through loans. I am also open to Graduate Assistantship if it is possible to secure one.

Can you please suggest some schools where I would have the chance to secure a good ROI (I realize that "good" depends on perspective, and most people would not want to be riddled with loans for too long)? Which schools can I apply to where I can be called a "strong" applicant? I know being an Indian applicant from the IT industry with 3.2 years of experience weakens my application, but I'd be really grateful if you could suggest some schools, I'm open to all geographies. I have read your article on the school tiers (http://www.find-mba.com/board/27082), but I want to know if I should really apply to the tier one schools since I do have the financial side of things to consider.

Thanks again for the help,
Cheers!
M

I think my article explains the paradox: if you're not the sort of candidate that the employers that a school will actively seek to recruit, but of you are then the scholarship will lead you to a sub-optimal choice of school.

Bigger scholarship means worse NPV unless you're a high value candidate (you don't seem to be, sorry, for top schools). Top schools don't have to offer scholarships to get candidates like you, so you need to look at (much) weaker schools for serious financial aid.

Schools like Bauer, Rollins, NUCB, Nyenrode, Smeal come to mind when I think of schools that might meet your needs, but really it would take some laborious work to get to get all the options and compare them.

Thank you Duncan.

If I were to leave scholarship out of equation, which schools do you think would be interested in my profile? Would tier two schools be interested?

Please forgive my ignorance, but could you please direct me to some article which would help me assess how I could obtain loans/graduate assistantship should I not receive any scholarship? Is it possible for people like us to get funding solely from loans (and schools would be assisting in the same)?

Generally, I think you'll find that candidates from India and China at tier 1 and 2 schools have on average 50 GMAT points more than others. You have little work experience, and it's not in short supply; neither is your nationality. To realistically I think a safe school for you will have an average under 650.

To find graduate assistantships, look on the admissions pages of websites. They will probably mention it as a kind of financial aid. Google is your friend: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site%3A.edu+MBA+%22graduate+assistantship%22&oq=site%3A.edu+MBA+%22graduate+assistantship%22&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.19794j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8

These are generally very large state universities.

Again for loans with no co-signers, use google: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site%3A.edu+MBA+%22graduate+assistantship%22&oq=site%3A.edu+MBA+%22graduate+assistantship%22&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.19794j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8#es_sm=91&espv=210&q=site%3A.edu+MBA+%22no+co-signer%22

Hello Duncan,

Thanks a lot for the help.

I have searched out a few schools, and here are the ones I have zeroed in. I'd like to know your thoughts on them.

1. University of North Carolina: Kenan-Flagler (super stretch)
2. Texas McCombs
3. Indiana Kelley
4. Foster School Of Business, Washington
5. Carey Arizona
6. Texas A&M
7. Wisconsin Madison
8. Smeal Penn State
9. Isenberg UMass Amherst

I have placed the schools in the order of preference.
My profile:

GMAT-720 (V-39, Q-49, AWA 6.0, IR 2)
Female
CGPA - 8.54 out of 10
Work Exp.: 38 months (IT service provider in India)
Extra Curriculars: Piano/keyboard/theory of music/Communications Skills/Drama from Trinity College London (Grade 8)
Teacher for the last 7 years under the Trinity banner on my weekends
Besides this, I have been an active participant in social services and various outdoor activities like marathons.

It'd be wonderful if you can let me know if the list looks realistic.

Thanks for all the help,
Mukulika

I don't think I can have my point clearly. To be a competitive candidate, the typical Indian needs 50 GMAT points over the average at an Indian school. Then more to make up for less work experience, less work experience and an extra slice for a scholarship.

Many of these schools have GMAT averages at or over 670. These are stretch schools for you if self-funded: Wisconsin, Carey, McCoombs, Kelley, Kenan-Flager, Foster

Schools between 650 and 640 are competitive [PS by this I mean you are generally a candidate with a more competitive chance at those schools]: Smeal, Mays (but this is highly selective), and Isenberg. These are state universities without major business schools endowments and without substantial financial aid.

You need to consider much worse schools if you want a scholarship.

Thanks a lot Duncan. I shall try and revise the list.

Can you please suggest some one year programs which I could apply to with my profile? Geography is not a constraint.

Really appreciate the help,
Mukulika

One year programmes have older students... you're less attractive for those, especially if you want a scholarship. With your results you could be a reasonable application to the bottom half of the top 50. See my post on GMAT Tiers.