Hi Duncan,

Its an amazing post. Thanks.

However, I would like to know in which tier would Singapore Management University Full Time MBA come.
Also, since I have the common profile of Indian, Male, IT background (though I was an SAP consultant for business managers) I am less priveleged. However, I have a total of 5 and a half years experience with a one year experience in Paris, France as a team lead while working for a client.

My GMAT score is 660 and I wanted to know if I stand a chance for Singapore Management University for Jan 2014. The deadline for round 3 is Oct 15th.

Thanks & Regards,
Sridhar

I suggest people reply at http://www.find-mba.com/board/36332 where you have asked the same question. The SMU average was 660 in 2011 so I think it will be higher next year - 680 might be the median score.

Take a look at http://www.singaporembaconsulting.com/singapore-mba-straight-talk-the-gmat/

Hi ,

Thanks a lot for your valuable information. I am very much confused in choosing a b-shool.I am Indian female engineer. I have 1.7 IT experience from a a reputed IT company(TCS). Before getting into IT i worked as an assistant professor for 8 months in engineering field. Now i want to get into a b-school by 2014 August. To be frank i dont have any idea about the specialization. I have taken GMAT and my score is 640. I am planning to retake teh exam within 15 days. Please guide me with your suggestion at this moment.

Prepare well for the exam. Use the tiers above. You don't have to specialise. Don't worry about that.

Hello Duncan,

First of all thanks for an amazing list.Has been really helpful to me and my friends.

i have a GMAT score of 700.
According to your split up I do fall in Tier 1.

PROFILE
2 years of work experience as a business analyst in a reputed Pure play analytic company.
4 interns while pursuing undergrad
strong organisation/leadership roles in UG
community service post bachelors,including 4 months international intern

But My doubt is I have had an average UG academic score - 7.05/10.But my school acads are both above 90%

So based on this I have a few questions
1)Do i have to aim for a lower tier?
2)Do i have to work for 1 year more?
3)What other activities should i do to strengthen my profile.

Thanks in advance,truly appreciate your help

Regards
Sasank

No, I think my post has not been very clear to you. My point is not that if you have a score of 700 that you should apply to Tier One. My point is that if you have the background of a competitive candidate, then you should apply at that tier, but if your profile is less competitive then you need to apply with a higher GMAT to compensate. Your work experience is well below the average at all those schools, and is below the minimum requirement at many of these schools.

Right now, you would need to apply to a US school on a much lower tier. One year more would give you the option of the AMBA-accredited schools, which require three years. To improve your profile, get leadership experience inside or outside work; do something fun; do a part-time course to get a higher grade, and improve your GMAT.

Hi Duncan,

I have retaken the GMAT and my score is 680 (Math 49,Verbal:34)
How competetitive i am at tier 1 or tier 2 bschools . I am aiming at NYU stren.

Did you read the original post on the first page of this thread? http://www.find-mba.com/board/27082/1

Stern has an average GMAT of 720, so you are certainly not a competitive candidate, other things being equal.

Hi Duncan,
Im an Indian, male 33yrs with a BS Comp Engg from Uni of Michigan Ann Arbor that I completed in 2002 after which I moved back to India.

My GMAT is 730 49Q 39V

Ive worked the last 11 yrs in the semi conductor industry first 8 yrs in India, then 3 years in sfo bay area in the US.

I have worked in different roles, individual contributor, team, team leader, manager and after moving back to the US in 2010 I now work as an individual contributor again.

I now want to pursue an MBA to take up product marketing and product management roles in similar tech companies.

I have a low undergraduate GPA (2.8) [ progressing downwards] - i was a transfer student from a lesser college and while my credits transferred my 3.9 gpa (for my first 2.5yrs did not transfer). my gpa in the last 1.5 yrs was not good for various reasons [including failure to take a final exam -> F (due to a late night of weed)]

recently i enrolled in both comp sci and business courses at a sjsu to evaluate my readiness for grad school for credit. my gpa in those 2 courses is 4.0.

Please suggest what would be some good programs for me.

Your prifile is very good. you apply to Horward or Standford.

Dont do MBA from US do it from London. London is much better place to do MBA than US. Even Mr. Duncan will agree because he himself is an MBA for London.

This student should study in the US because that is where product management roles in IT firms are most concentrated. Read How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571



The mis-spelled suggestions above, to consider Harvard or Stanford, are not bad places to start.

[Edited by Duncan on May 04, 2021]

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This students should study in the US because that is where product management roles in IT firms are most concentrated. Read How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

The mis-spelled suggestions above, to consider Harvard or Stanford, are not bad places to start.

Thanks for your suggestions.
I was under the impression that my profile is poor being an Indian male, a low downward gpa in my bachelor days.

Also I have been told top MBA schools these days do not "normally" entertain full-time students with >7 years experience (with the exception of military experience), the younger you are the better.

Do you think I have offset my low GPA with grad courses that I've now taken, my career progression over the last 11 yrs, and my GMAT enough to be considered to the top schools you have recommended?

In light of the above, I had actually ruled out applying to full-time programs and was considering the Berkeley evening and weekends program, Cornell Tech MBA, and Davis programs. Do you think I should apply to some of the full time programs too?

akumar if your visa status allows a part-time program, then that's a great idea. I think you sound rather different from the average Indian applicant, and I would not rule out full-time programs. Cornell Tech is perhaps a great fit.

Liang, focus on the best schools.

Dear Duncan,
I've modified my list according to your feedback,

Rottdam School of Management, Erasmus University
WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management
ESMT
MBS
St. Gallen
Vlerick Business School

What is your suggestions? Does any of those has a slight edge over the others?

Thanks!
Liang

I have made some general comments about scholarships at http://www.find-mba.com/board/37055

Use the FT rankings to rank these schools, then then compare with the salaries. You'll find that most useful, I think.

Also think about language: will it easier for you to speak Dutch/Flemish or German?

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