Mr. Indian Globetrotter

Hi there! It’s Stephanie Horn, Master Consultant with the MBA Exchange and recent Poets and Quants “Top 10 Admissions Consultants”. Mr. Globetrotter, there are several areas of strength in your profile. Your grades are excellent and your test scores are strong. Your combination of experience in both a well-established firm and a start-up will be respected by the admissions committee. Your goal is clear and a good match with your background — you will need to explain why, if you are currently a Product Manager, you feel you need an MBA to be a better Product Manager, but that is doable. Your biggest risk factor is that you are in an overrepresented group — there will be plenty of other engineers with similar backgrounds, who attended more name-brand institutions and who have higher GMAT scores. The answer is not necessarily to cram to improve your GMAT score (it always helps, but is not going to be the game-changer in your case). Instead, you need to make sure you stand out from the crowd through your work experience and extracurricular activities. Now is the time to volunteer at work to lead new initiatives and build a stronger culture. You should also pursue your passions outside of work — find a way to use your skills to have an impact on your community. Being a leader in grad school is not enough. You’ve got a good list of team-oriented schools, I would add Ross, UCLA, and McCombs (where you’ll have an edge as an alum).

Hi Mr. Indian Globetrotter! This is Kate Richardson, Senior Admissions Consultant weighing in on your profile. First off, you have a great academic profile, with strong GPAs in engineering degrees, an above average GMAT, and plenty of quantitative experience. You likely know how competitive the pool is for Indian engineer applicants, but your experiences in the US and Canada should help you stand out. I’d love to dig in more to why/how you’ve been a top performer at work and what impact you’ve had, especially in a startup environment where you can typically have more autonomy. I’d also like to know more about why you need an MBA to continue in product management (I’ve worked with other PMs so it’s a viable path, but you need solid reasons). If you don’t have any current extracurricular activities, that could be a gap, but overall I think you have a shot at Kellogg. I’m glad you have some other programs like Duke on your list, as they have a good reputation within Tech. Would you consider going back to UT to McCombs? I also find that’s a popular choice for applicants interested in Tech.

HI Mr. Indian Globetrotter, I’m Donna Bauman, Senior MBA Admissions Counselor for Stratus Admissions. First, congratulations on your strong academic record and GMAT score. When I think about your background in relation to Kellogg, the MMM program jumps to the top of my mind. This option provides you with an MBA from Kellogg and an M.S. in Design Innovation from the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. This is a powerful combination and one that would help you stand out in your goal to be a product manager in a technology firm as this program is a favorite with tech recruiters. I’m a Kellogg alum and have successfully coached students from over-represented backgrounds to get into the competitive MMM program as well as the 2Yr and 1Yr programs. If you were my client, I’d help you think through which program is the best Kellogg option for you. It is important that you take the time to research the MMM program so I encourage you to get started now in visiting the school and talking with students there. I also encourage you to think about what problems you currently face at work where an MBA will help you become even more effective so that you have specific reasons for seeking the MBA. In terms of other programs with some resources in design thinking, consider Rotman at the University of Toronto as they have some excellent resources around design thinking, and you might also look at Johnson Cornell’s Tech MBA or Stern’s Tech MBA as well. The good news for you is that all of these programs are STEM certified as well. I think you’ve got a bright future ahead of you! Because you have a real shot, I encourage you to put in the effort to give the essays and application your full attention. I believe in you and would be glad to coach you through this process if you are seeking further guidance!