Hi Duncan,

Well, i just took the GMAT and got a decent 680.
I will be applying for a MBA in Information Systems (Sept 2014 intake) and would like to know whether my profile is strong enough to apply to good schools this year or whether i should hold back and build a stronger profile.(As there is a lot of money at stake). Given below are details about my profile;

Academics:
- GMAT 680 (Q44, V39, AWA 6.0)
- Undergrad: Don Bosco Inst of Tech (Mumbai),
Bachelor's In Electronics and Telecommunication Engg
Agg Percentage : 65.13 %
GPA : 2.5 (Although, the University Of Mumbai doesn't follow the GPA system),

Work Ex
-Senior Systems Engineer (SAP) - Infosys - 3 yrs
(Worked on the implementation and roll out of critical clusters, and part of the design and implementation process for solutions to business related issues)
-Won awards for appreciation of my work

-Working as a marketing intern at "Tutive innovate E-solutions"

-Start-up :Started and running a Kindergarten along with my
mother for 10 years.

Extracurricular's :
-Worked at an NGO (Aforest)for two years
-Currently working with Teen Challenge, teaching math and English to underprivileged kids.
-Musician - I've participated and won many talent competitions over the years

Applying for a MBA in Information Systems to
-Kellogg
-Tepper (CMU)
-McCombs
-USC
-Vanderbit

Are there any other colleges that i should be applying to ?
How good are the colleges i've mentioned above for the field i want to specialize in ?
As there is a lot of money at stake, should i hold back and take the GMAT again (which would mean waiting another year) ?


Thanks for the help
Snehin

I'm not sure what your goals are, but I think you should take another year. 680 is not a great score for the schools uou mention.

Read:-
GMAT Tiers - strong schools for your GMAT www.find-mba.com/board/27082

How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

Shortcut to find the best US MBA www.find-mba.com/board/36065

Hello Duncan, I am Raquibul Hassan.

undergrad: Electrical Eng(cgpa-2.6)
MBA- From Dhaka University major marketing (cgpa-3.81)
now working in a private Bank for 1 year.
and doing marketing consultancies in a Engineering firm for 1 year.

I also have a photography diploma(1 yr) and won one national and an international award for photography.

now i am 30. i want to do another MBA from a top 20 B school in USA. With that target I am preparing for my GMAT.
what kind of GMAT score would improve my chances for admission in a top B school.

I'd start from a different place: why a top 20 MBA in the US? What are your career goals?

Generally you should aim for over 700 for a top 20 school. Read the three articles linked in my comment above.

My future goal is to go in to investment banking. I heard this top 20 B school are in the "target school" for many employers. so my thought was if I can get into these school later it will be easier for me to get the job offer i want.

Take a look at http://www.find-mba.com/specializations/12/finance Toronto, Rochester, Iowa, Tulane and SMU are also worth considering.

Well, i just took the GMAT and got a decent 680.
I will be applying for a MBA in Information Systems (Sept 2014 intake) and would like to know whether my profile is strong enough to apply to good schools this year or whether i should hold back and build a stronger profile.

Hi Duncan'

I' am Vishwas.
qualification:
B.E(Information Science Eng,65%,VTU,Karnataka, India),
Junior and Certified Associate, Indian Inst Of Banking and Finance(www.iibf.org.in),
Certificate in International Banking and finance(www.iibf.org.in).

GMAT:not appeared but confident of scoring 680+

Work ex:
worked for Tata Consultancy services,6 months as Trainee s/w engineer,
Self employed in horticulture for 1.5 years
Officer(Info tech) in reputed PSU bank of India from past 26 months.

State level volleyball player.

Kindly give your views on the profile...

My main concern is budget of $40000,working visa after study and good placement.

I want take banking leadership roles.As my entire family is from same background.

Have you considered a CFA partner programme, like a masters in finance? Your budget will go much further, to a school like Cass, EDHEC, Skema, Lancaster, Nottingham, Bath or the LSE.

Otherwise, for MBAs, how about:
http://www.alba.edu.gr/Academic/banking/Pages/Overview.aspx
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/londonbusiness/mba.php.en

Dear Duncan
Iam Andrew, from Egypt, graduated from Faculty of Commerce 1999, Assiut university, I have 3 years of experience as Accountant + 9 years banking experience (Customer Service, Sales, Service, and Management)
Iam preparing now to take CMA "Certified Management Accountant" at Egypt
Iam planning to move my life to USA with my wife and my 2 kids "for some circumstances" and I want to apply for MBA (Part time or Full time) (Finance and Management) ,
But I did not took GMAT yet
Please appreciate your leads to what steps to take to make this big move and what would be the available partial or even full scholarship in my case

Take a look at http://www.find-mba.com/specializations/1/accounting and aim for a GMAT score over 700. Think about what you can do to show leadership experience, especially in alumni and non-profit organisations.

Appreciate your reply ,, but i actually do not know your mean by "alumni" ,, and why did you specify non profit org. To be my next step,,, my dream actually is to be CFO in a big firm,,, do not you think that taking CAM and finance specialization in MBA "rather than accounting "....for taking better financial decisions experience

I suggest that schools will be interested to see if you are active in alumni organisations (organisations for the former students of institutions you have studied with) and non-profit organisations because those are ways of showing leadership skills, loyalty, tenacity and a sense of duty and service: schools like that.

I think the schools which are strong on accounting will be good because they will all be strong on corporate finance broadly; some 'finance' schools (especially those in New York) are really focussed on investment banking. I also think that the single most credible potential employer type for you is the Big Four accounting firms. I'm not suggesting you take a specialisation in any particular topic, but that you focus on the schools where people with your profile are able to make the sort of step you are looking for.

So, do you think that getting some certificates of appreciations from some non profit organizations , related to street childs care will be good to show such leadership skills you demonstrated above ?? And
Do you think that getting CMA as credential certificate will help me beside GMAT 700 score to obtain scholarship ??
And what is the school , and type of scholarship you advise me in my case ??

I think it depends on whether the appreciation mentions leadership.

The CMA is certainly helpful.

Take a look at The sad facts about scholarships http://www.find-mba.com/board/37055 - I am not sure scholarships make up for the lower earnings that result from attending a weaker programme.

For schools, see http://www.find-mba.com/board/27082

Ok, and what about partial scholarship, as i could afford paying10k and take a financial aid with also 10k, and the rest will be scholarship...what do you think about this scenario, is it applicable for tier 2 schools, and what would be the suited school in my case if i want to take it part time,,to be able to afford even some cost of living ???

Do you know info About mba schools at Montreal/Canada as my friend is living there and ask about it,, in tiers if possible

Read the post on GMAT Tiers to compare the Canadian schools.

I don't think your scenario is probable because you're not, as far as I can see, a *highly* desirable candidate for schools in the top 50, desirable enough for them to cover most of the most of your MBA.

Thanks so much for being helpful with me, your knowledge and experience saved so much time to me
But 1 last thing i need to know specfiscally what makes my file such week , is it my field of experience, my age, or what ???? This is the last thing i need to know

I didn't say that your profile is weak. I think you're not the sort of person that a top 25 school would target for a scholarship: those go to really exceptional people from the sort of educational, professional and extra-curricular background that the school's top employers will actively seek.

Dear Mr.Duncan
Long time since we last contacted. Sorry, but I would like to tell you my last status to help me
I Have university commerce Bachelor degree from Egypt, with 78% grade Good, 1999 with almost 10 Y. banking experience and 5 Years Accounting exp. , and recently obtained American CMA
I will move to Canada this year “immigration to Quebec or Toronto” and would like to pursue my career there by taking MBA from accredited university with 1 to 1.5 year full-time in ENGLISH language, as it is sounds like necessary for living in Canada
1. Which university/business school do you suggest ? Do you suggest to make it in specialized field (like aerospace, health care) or it is better to take it in finance or management in general
2. I also have a problem with getting overall band of 7 or above in IELTS, and GMAT with over 600 …. And do you suggest me taking GRE or GMAT (in “Difficulty level ” and “mostly required” aspect)
3. And Is there any available and suitable scholarships to such my case ? even with half fund
So, what do you advise me ??
Appreciate your utmost efforts to tailor something suitable to my case
Thanks in advance
Andew