hello everybody,

i wanted to discuss sm thng regarding d admission in top 5 b-schools in US. like lakhs of aspirants across d globe m also trying to dream about d top 5 b-schools of US. if sm body z interested, it ll b ma pleasure if they join d discussion in dis thread. v ll discuss abt d eligibility rqmt except d GMAT score, as itz a well kwn fact dat high GMAT score ( at least 750+ ) z a necessary bt nt sufficient condn 2 get d adm in top 5 univ. m telling it frm my point of view. if sm body has ne xperience in observing a candidate to get d adm wid lower GMAT score, z warmly invited to share his/her xperience wid rest of d aspirants. the GMAT score may b high or may b low. as v all knw GMAT score z nt d only criteria based on which sm body can dream of a MBA degree in US, i ll like 2 discuss those other factors only. persons who has already got d admission in either top 5 or ne other gud school r cordially rqstd 2 participate so dat ur fellow aspirants including me can get sm benefit out of it.

if v categorize d other factors apart frm GMAT/TOEFL score very specifically, that are being considered by adcom; i thnk it becomes like as itz mentioned below:

1. UG GPA
2. Job xperience duration and achievements
3. Recommendation from supervisors
4. SOP

v ll discuss abt these 4 factors only.

sm tm v hear dat sm body has got admitted in stanford bt he/she didnt have so high GPA in UG. v all knw d avg job ex of d candidates admitted in top cols z 5+. bt ppl having job ex 2+ or 3+ also get d admission. wat r d factors dat can b considered by top cols 4 d ppl who r having low job ex or low GPA? v also knw reco frm respective supervisors play a key roll in MBA application process. wat can supervisors write in
our reco? wat sud v describe to them when v ll rqst 4 recommending our MBA at US? last bt nt d least factor z of course SOP. wat sud v write in our SOP? rest of d ppl says our career goals sud b focussed and that sud get brightest reflection in SOP.

Sorry, mate. Can you please just spell out your words?

I only got as far as "at least 750+", and I'm not sure that really true.

i told in d post 750+ z my perception and itz for low job ex duration and low GPA holders. higher job ex holders may get admission wid just 700+ score.

hi,

i really wanted to read your text but was very discouraged by the way you..express yourself.in fact i was tired if you please make an effort,many will be able to finish reading and actually share their thoughts with you.

thanks!

Dear newbies, please read this thread started by kelly gilbert before you post: http://www.find-mba.com/board/6836
Many of us just can't read SMS style messages.

my only intention of dis post z to stress upon d factors other than d GMAT score for low GPA holders. i also cudnt do so gud in my UG std. i need to depend upon d SOP essay and reco apart frm GMAT score. GMAT score may b high or may b low. there z no point in gettting into a hot debate or ne sort of argumentative discussion. scoring high on GMAT z completely an individual potential. if generalised, itz maths and english expertise test. but i thnk d other factors may nt b an individual potential and i thnk lot of people r suffering frm hell lot of dilemma abt d 4 factors i have written earlier in d post. m going to take GMAT on dis August. i ll post my findings watever i can collect frm my other sources. if u ppl add sm thng on it, it ll b useful and beneficial to me, as well as lakhs of aspirants around d globe.

if i wrote ne thng wrong or if my expression was discouraging in my previous post, i apologise.

sorry for SMS style words. here it goes in full expressions.


hello everybody,

i wanted to discuss some thing regarding the admission in top 5 b-schools in US. like lakhs of aspirants across the globe i am also trying to dream about the top 5 b-schools of US. if some body is interested, it will be my pleasure if they join the discussion in this thread. We will discuss abt d eligibility requirement except GMAT score, as it is a well known fact that high GMAT score ( at least 750+ ) is a necessary but not sufficient condition to get the admission in top 5 univ. i am telling it from my point of view. if some body has any experience in observing a candidate to get the admission with lower GMAT score, is warmly invited to share his/her experience with rest of the aspirants. the GMAT score may be high or may be low. as we all know GMAT score is not the only criteria based on which some body can dream of a MBA degree in US, i will like to discuss those other factors only. persons who has already got the admission in either top 5 or any other good school are cordially requested to participate so dat ur fellow aspirants including me can get some benefit out of it.

if we categorize the other factors apart from GMAT/TOEFL score very specifically, that are being considered by adcom; i think it becomes like as itz mentioned below:

1. UG GPA
2. Job experience duration and achievements
3. Recommendation from supervisors
4. SOP

we will discuss about these 4 factors only.

some time we hear that some body has got admitted in stanford but he/she didnt have so high GPA in UG. we all know the avg job ex of the candidates admitted in top cols is 5+. but people having job ex 2+ or 3+ also get the admission. what are the factors that can be considered by top cols 4 the people who are having low job ex or low GPA? we also know reco from respective supervisors play a key roll in MBA application process. what can supervisors write in
our reco? what should we describe to them when we will request for recommending our MBA at US? last but not the least factor is of course SOP. what should we write in our SOP? rest of the people says our career goals should be focussed and that should get brightest reflection in SOP.

Dear Mimis, Alan, Malia or any body else who is viewing my post. If you still have any problem regarding my expression or any thing else, please let me know, I will amend as as far as I can conceive.

No problem, I appreciate your efforts. Anyway, I don't have anything useful to contribute to this discussion. Too many points raised for my limited capacities.
Anyone else?

Hello Samrat Babu,

If you are considering MBA in the U.S. you need to demonstrate excellent leadership skills. 700 GMAT is good enough for top 5 schools in the U.S as long as you and your referee can demonstrate your leadership abilities as well as what you are willing to get out of the MBA program you should be fine. Also GPA range should be around 3.2-3.7/4.0 which is 80% average. The top university in the U.S. welcomes international students a lot more than students are from U.S. If you can provide with solid 2+ of experience and extra curriculum activities such as volunteer jobs, they will offer you a place. Most importantly, the number one fact is that the top U.S. business schools want students to demonstrate excellent leadership skills. Hope this helps.

By the way, your posting style is hard to understand. Please avoid using slangs.

Regards,
Emran

Hi Emran,

Nice to hear from you.

I am not very much clear about the GPA calculations. Is it the conversion in 4 scale from just percentage calculation? I am not very sure. I know it is extremely difficult to get admission in top 5 schools with just 2 years of job experience, but still I will make the application if I can score 700+.

I apologize if any of my words sounded slang.

Regards,
Samrat

Grade Equivalent Status
A 4.000 Outstanding achievement
A? 3.667
B+ 3.333
B 3.000 Good achievement
B? 2.667
C+ 2.333
C 2.000 Satisfactory achievement
C? 1.667
D+ 1.333
D 1.000 Poor achievement
D? 0.667
F 0.000

I had 72% marks in UG. I did my engineering from Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur. According to our university norms, it was a first class. Could you help me to calculate my GPA?

Hi Samrat,

Usually, 70% is a C level grade. But for foreign students they should have different way of calculating grades. I am not sure what 72% first class degree would be in the U.S. In this case, it is best idea for you to contact them directly. Go to their websites and send them an e-mail with your grades. Harvard is pretty good at replying quickly.

By the way, what part of U.S. are you looking forward to study abroad.

These are the Top schools in the North

Columbia
NYU
Cornell
Yale


These are the Boston top schools I would rank them:
1. Harvard HBS
2. Dartmouth TUCK
3. MIT - Sloan
4. Boston College- Very well reputed by top employers if you are willing to get a job in U.S.
5. Boston University
6. Babson
7. Northeastern University (GSBA) - #1 in Boston for internship. 90% chance of getting jobs with top companies.

-Emran

My first priority is of course top 5 like many others. But considering my lower job experience and lower UG GPA, I am opting for some other places. I will prefer to get into New York. Boston is also in my close observation. Some of my close contacts went to Boston University and Boston College as well. If not top 5 I will definitely have to find a place where placement opportunities are good and the recent US job market scenario is making the task more difficult.

I heard that it is very difficult to get admission in NY based good universities like NYU, Cornell or Columbia with only an engineering degree from India, They prefer another MS or PhD to consider for the admission, especially for international students. Will you be able to shed some light in this issue? I think contacting the university directly with this issue will not help much because obviously they will encourage to apply. But I wanted to be sure. Otherwise it will be the wastage of application money.

What is the main reason you are considering MBA so early in your career? I have completed my Bachelor's last year in 2008 from Northeastern University. First, I am going to get my master's in finance in the UK for 2010 intake. So far, I have applied to Strathclyde business school in Glasgow and Cass in London. They haven't received my application yet, once they receive it, they will make decision in 4 weeks I believe. Hopefully, I will get in. I am not gonna do MBA right now, I am gonna do a masters then gain 2 more years of experience and then do the MBA. My plan is to have an international back ground and then come back to US and apply to the top schools. You have to understand what is MBA.

With two years of experience, you are not going to get a management position after you graduate. But if you already are in position of a management role, you have a better chance of becoming VP or CEO after you graduate from a top school.

Let me demonstrate what is an MBA: It is not three letters just in front of your name. It is a course that will give you the edge to become a better manager. If you are already in a management role, this program will give you the skills to experience leadership further beyond.

I understand your eagerness to pursue a MBA. I felt the same way too, but I got over it. Remember, it is not the destination, it is the journey. I do not want to discourage you, if your goal is to go to a top school go for it, it is not impossible, just take the right steps and work harder.

As for NYU,

Average undergraduate GPA 3.4
Undergraduate GPA: 80% range 3.0-3.8
Average GMAT score 708
GMAT score: 80% range 660-760
Average years of work experience 4.9
Average age 27

To clarify, for an MBA, it does not matter what your previous degree major was. Any discipline will suffice.

You can consider Boston college or Boston university. They both have dual degree program MBA/MS which do not require much experience.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Full-time MBA
Enrolled students 150
Applications Received 1420
Selectivity / Acceptance Rate 28%
Male / Female 56% / 44%
Students with Partners 18%
International 32%
AHANA* 22%
Mean Mid 80% Range
GMAT 680 610 - 730
Undergraduate GPA (4.0 scale) 3.4 2.9 - 3.9
Work Experience 4.6 years 2 - 8 years
Age 27 24 - 31


BOSTON COLLEGE

Full-Time MBA (Class of 2010)
Applications Received 956
Class Size 101
Academic
Average GMAT scores 661
Average GPA 3.3
Average full-time work experience (years) 4.3
Students pursuing dual-degree 14%
Diversity
AHANA* 15%
International Students 20%
Women 36%
Average Age 27
Age Range 22-33
Undergraduate Majors
Business and Commerce 26%
Computer Information Systems 7%
Economics 10%
Engineering 16%
Humanities/Social Science 27%
Mathematics/Physical Science 6%
Other 9%
Countries and Areas Represented
Colombia, Dominican Republic, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, United States of America.
Evening MBA (Entering Class of Fall 2008)
Total evening program enrollment 495
Class Size 90
Average GMAT scores 623
Average GPA 3.3
Average years work experience 5
Average Age 28
*African American, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any further questions at emchowdhury at yahoo dot com. I hope you got that, I don't think we are allowed to post e-mail address.

I've summarized my experience with having a Low GPA and applying to MBA Programs on this website:

http://lowgpamba.blogspot.com

hopefully it'll answer some of the issues raised here.

What would 65% First Class Bachelors in Engineering Degree's equivalent GPA be in the US grading system