An older Indian woman with an IT background and a three-year undergraduate degree applying for MBA. Chances at top US business schools?
MBA candidates from India frequently face having to get around the US business schools requirements of 16 years of academic experience. As the volume of MBA candidates from India has increased (at most schools they form the largest proportion of international candidates), some business schools have been accepting three-year undergraduate degrees from India. Of course, some still don't, and it's always prudent to check.
The example below is of an older female MBA candidate with an IT background and a three-year undergraduate degree from India. She undertook another undergraduate degree from the US to fulfill the 16 years academic experience requirement from business school.
How does being older, female, Indian, having an IT background and a three-year undergraduate degree from India affect an applicant's chances for an MBA at top US business schools?
Applicant:
Age: 34
W/E: 10 years [currently]
GMAT:Yet to take
Sex: Female
Academic profile:
Idid my bachelors degree (3 years degree program) from India. After getting rejected from few b-schools, realized that my 3 years degree is going to be hindrance in pursuing masters degree. So I decided to get a bachelors degree from US. Finally, attended school, where I got credit for my first bachelors degree and finished the bachelors degree from US. I graduated in Dec. 2009 with honors and earned a GPA of 3.97.Also, got the Distinguished Achievement Award from my university.
Professional profile:
I belong to the huge IT pool and worked in one of the top 5 software companies in India for 4 years and working in US from last 6 years. Currently, I am working as Senior Business Analyst on a project and also got appointed as Project Manager in my company two years ago. As PM, I lead a group of four team members. I have got few appreciation letters from my clients and also got the best employee award from my company three years ago.
My plan is to take GMAT in next few months and apply to some of the best business schools for the class starting in 2011. What are my chances of getting into any of the best business schools in US?
My MBA Admit:
You are a little older than the average full-time MBA candidate. The average age at most top programs is around 27. Besides affecting your chances for admission, what this means from a more practical perspective, is that much of the curriculum and many of the employment opportunities are targeted to candidates with fewer years of work experience. This is not so at executive programs, for both the academic and professional opportunities, and hence it is possible that you might be a better fit there.
However, that is not to say that you cannot get into a full-time MBA program at one of the top 10 schools.As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the age range of my own MBA class was 21-42! When you are a bit of an outlier as an applicant, it becomes more necessary to have strong reasons on why it makes sense for you to seek an MBA at this point, when you are possibly more senior at the workplace than your classmates.
There are many schools that do accept 3-year undergraduate degree programs, just as there are thoset hat don't. If you have gotten rejections, I would refrain from quickly ascribing it to having a three-year degree. I like that you took the initiative to get another Bachelor's degree and attained academic honors. Although it will certainly help your case to have an undergraduate degree that can be quickly categorized at a US business school, I might have advised you to complete a one-year Master's degree instead. It would have resolved the issue of 16 years of academic experience, and garnered you an additional Master's degree.
Your work experience in IT will not set you apart by itself, since Indians with an IT background are a common demographic. Rather, the personality, achievements and unique experiences that you bring out through your application will be much more useful.
In summary,your application chances at one of the top full-time programs are slightly hampered by your age and IT background. However, being a woman with a potentially high GMAT score, strong essays and recommendations, and connecting with your interviewer can do much to raise your chances. For now, focus on the GMAT. When the time comes, apply to a mix of schools to be on the safe side.
If you would like to learn more on how we can help, drop us an email at mbaconsult@mymbaadmit.com or find about our Application Packages and Volume Discounts that will help position you in the best way for your target business schools.
The example below is of an older female MBA candidate with an IT background and a three-year undergraduate degree from India. She undertook another undergraduate degree from the US to fulfill the 16 years academic experience requirement from business school.
How does being older, female, Indian, having an IT background and a three-year undergraduate degree from India affect an applicant's chances for an MBA at top US business schools?
Applicant:
Age: 34
W/E: 10 years [currently]
GMAT:Yet to take
Sex: Female
Academic profile:
Idid my bachelors degree (3 years degree program) from India. After getting rejected from few b-schools, realized that my 3 years degree is going to be hindrance in pursuing masters degree. So I decided to get a bachelors degree from US. Finally, attended school, where I got credit for my first bachelors degree and finished the bachelors degree from US. I graduated in Dec. 2009 with honors and earned a GPA of 3.97.Also, got the Distinguished Achievement Award from my university.
Professional profile:
I belong to the huge IT pool and worked in one of the top 5 software companies in India for 4 years and working in US from last 6 years. Currently, I am working as Senior Business Analyst on a project and also got appointed as Project Manager in my company two years ago. As PM, I lead a group of four team members. I have got few appreciation letters from my clients and also got the best employee award from my company three years ago.
My plan is to take GMAT in next few months and apply to some of the best business schools for the class starting in 2011. What are my chances of getting into any of the best business schools in US?
My MBA Admit:
You are a little older than the average full-time MBA candidate. The average age at most top programs is around 27. Besides affecting your chances for admission, what this means from a more practical perspective, is that much of the curriculum and many of the employment opportunities are targeted to candidates with fewer years of work experience. This is not so at executive programs, for both the academic and professional opportunities, and hence it is possible that you might be a better fit there.
However, that is not to say that you cannot get into a full-time MBA program at one of the top 10 schools.As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the age range of my own MBA class was 21-42! When you are a bit of an outlier as an applicant, it becomes more necessary to have strong reasons on why it makes sense for you to seek an MBA at this point, when you are possibly more senior at the workplace than your classmates.
There are many schools that do accept 3-year undergraduate degree programs, just as there are thoset hat don't. If you have gotten rejections, I would refrain from quickly ascribing it to having a three-year degree. I like that you took the initiative to get another Bachelor's degree and attained academic honors. Although it will certainly help your case to have an undergraduate degree that can be quickly categorized at a US business school, I might have advised you to complete a one-year Master's degree instead. It would have resolved the issue of 16 years of academic experience, and garnered you an additional Master's degree.
Your work experience in IT will not set you apart by itself, since Indians with an IT background are a common demographic. Rather, the personality, achievements and unique experiences that you bring out through your application will be much more useful.
In summary,your application chances at one of the top full-time programs are slightly hampered by your age and IT background. However, being a woman with a potentially high GMAT score, strong essays and recommendations, and connecting with your interviewer can do much to raise your chances. For now, focus on the GMAT. When the time comes, apply to a mix of schools to be on the safe side.
If you would like to learn more on how we can help, drop us an email at mbaconsult@mymbaadmit.com or find about our Application Packages and Volume Discounts that will help position you in the best way for your target business schools.
Posted by My MBA Admit at March 8, 2010 
Categories: Business Schools,MBA Admissions,MBA Admissions Consulting
Tags: Business Schools MBA Admissions General
Categories: Business Schools,MBA Admissions,MBA Admissions Consulting
Tags: Business Schools MBA Admissions General
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