Posted by - abhyank - on 6 November 2013 - 11:59am

• Posted by - shreyashkashyap2 - on 30 April 2014 - 12:42pm

  Hi,

  I have come across this website and would like to say that it is very informative. I am interested in an MIM and would like to know what would be my chances if i apply to the top 25 colleges as per FT rankings . I had 91% in my 10th and 61% in my 12th.In graduation I have a distinction in all my subjects but 1. I have a backlog paper which is still pending after one and a half years (because of some personal reasons i could not appear for it). I would clear that paper before i apply through GMAT. I am taking GMAT mocks and have been scoring 750 on an average. What would be my chances if I score a 720-730 in GMAT? Would the backlog issue hinder the process?My extra curriculars are good such as Cultural committee head of the college, Head of the music society, Festival head co-ordinator, National festival contingent leader, district music awards, have started my own NGO for women empoewerment and some more. I just wanted to have an idea how difficult it would be for me to get into a top college like St Gallen's with the backlog issue and could you please guide me further in ways I could improve so that the backlog becomes redundant.

  Thank you,
  Regards,
  Shreyash.

  Reply

  • Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 6 May 2014 - 12:36pm

    Hi Shreyash,

    I recommend you to carefully read my ebook 'Roadmap to your Master in Business Degree'. It does tackle the question of profile evaluation and chances to get committed as well as the GMAT. Most importantly, it provides a methodology about how you match your profile with a program so that you become satisfied with your Master in Management investment.

    Best wishes
    Thomas

    By Thomas Graf

    Reply

• Posted by - abhyank - on 6 March 2014 - 5:18pm

  Got into ESCP, EMLYON and SKEMA, thomas :)
  Waiting for ESSEC result.
  Thanks a ton for all the help, wouldnt have been possible without it.

  UPDATE: Got a 25% scholarship from ESCP :D

  Reply

  • Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 9 March 2014 - 2:52pm

    Congrats! Tell the schools about this platform if you like!

    All the best
    Thomas

    Reply

    • Posted by - abhyank - on 13 March 2014 - 12:07pm

      Surely Thomas, your site is amazing, was of a great help in securing my admits.
      Well i got into ESSEC too but with no scholarship, so will be opting for ESCP :)

      Reply

• Posted by - abhyank - on 10 February 2014 - 6:46pm

  Hi thomas,
  I hope you can help me out with a query of mine.
  I was debating the merits of the French MIM with that provided by UK colleges such as LBS and LSE, and would like a little clarification on some topics.
  I would be really grateful if you can help me out with this..

  1. The course length: French Mim's are usually 2 years long while that of UK are a year long...any specific reason for that?
     What i can reason is that 2 year course would be more beneficial to me as it would be more in depth with more emphasis on specialization topics as there would be more time available.

  2. Are apprenticeship programs also available in the UK?

  3. Are the immigration laws more strict in UK than in france? Would it be more tough to land a job in the UK?

  Thank You,
  Abhyank

  Reply

  • Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 11 February 2014 - 12:43pm

    Hi there,

    thank you for your questions. Not all French MIM programs take 2 years - HEC takes just 18 months. I would carefully compare the curricula and particularly have a look whether these programs include practical periods such as internships or in-company projects (and if they are paid). Such periods can extend a program but also provide you with a valuable contact to your potential future employer.

    With apprenticeship programs you mean more than just an internship in a program, right? I guess you mean a "dual"program including academic and practical periods throughout the program and paid by an employer?

    I never heard of that regarding MIM programs. I do know the Collège des Ingenieur (CDI) MBA, however, that is for engineering graduates. It is paid by the CDI partner firms and taught by practitioners and combines practical with study phases. CDI has campuses in France, Italy, and Germany.

    I heard that the UK immigration laws became stricter in the last years. To get more sound information, however, I recommend you (1) to talk to your local embassy in the UK or France, (2) to ask the admission managers at your favorite schools, and (3) to ask alumni or current students at your favorite schools who have your nationality (the admissions managers should provide you with the contacts).

    Best wishes
    Thomas

    By Thomas Graf

    Reply

• Posted by - abhyank - on 29 January 2014 - 2:34pm

  Hi thomas,
  I had gone through the link you sent me while researching for interview questions, nevertheless it is a very informative post. I just got the interview calls from the SAI colleges, and now have to start preparing with gusto. I will keep you posted. Are there any other resources you know of to help me prepare.?
  Also i would like to know if you have a list of colleges whose mim program starts in feb 2015.

  Regards,
  Abhyank Srinet

  Reply

  • Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 30 January 2014 - 12:25pm

    Hi there,

    another way to prepare for interviews is to buy one of these books that prepare graduates for an application at a consulting firm. These books include case studies and typical consulting problems like solving a logical problem in a short period of time. I don't think that working through such a book is actually needed to pass a MIM interview - but if you have energy and time and ambition, this is what you could do.

    As for your other question, we don't have a search filter for intakes unfortunately.

    Best wishes
    Thomas

    By Thomas Graf

    Reply

• Posted by - abhyank - on 19 January 2014 - 3:37pm

  Hi thomas,
  Sorry i am replying after a very long time.
  I took your advice and gave a shot at writing my application essays myself, needless to say after a number of sleepless nights i am happy with the results.
  Currently i have applied to HEC,ESCP, ESSEC and Emlyon, and am waiting for their interview calls.
  Do you have any idea by when SAI gives out the shortlisted candidates results?
  Also any pointers on how to prepare for the interview.

  Regards,
  Abhyank Srinet

  Reply

  • Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 20 January 2014 - 12:38pm

    Hi there,

    thank you for your question. I don't know about the SAI procedure but I have a fantastic experience report on interviews (in that case ESCP) for you. This one should help you a lot.

    Best wishes
    Thomas

    By Thomas Graf

    Reply

• Posted by - abhyank - on 14 November 2013 - 3:49am

  Hi thomas,
  I think you misunderstood me a little, i have no inhibitions about my English and even being a non native i am pretty confident of drafting a decent essay myself, the consultants i was talking about claim that they can help improve the quality of my essay, give me a better flow of the essay as well as proof read it. As i want my application to look the best i am giving it a serious thought as to whether approaching them to polish my application would be a good choice or not. I was going through some popular consultation agencies listed in GMAT Club.com and came across some such as MBAdream.com , mbacrystalball, IMS etc which have many students vouching for their services in giving their application that extra edge, I am attaching a mail one of these agencies sent me further describing what they would help me do. I would love to hear your opinion as to will approaching them be a good option.

  Admission Consulting Program Features

  School Shortlisting – involves selecting a set of the programs most suited to your profile and aspirations.
  Application Essay and CV Review – involves providing content, language and grammar edits for your CV, Application Essays, SOP’s and Scholarship Essays.
  Recommendation Review – involves assisting you in picking out the right recommenders and providing you with draft outlines and pointers for persuasive letters of recommendation.
  Interview preparation – involves conducting simulated business school interviews (in person or telephonic) and providing you with school specific interview research
  Finance and Visa Preparation – involves assistance on all aspects of securing financial aid, educational loans, visa preparation (including visa interviews).
  The admissions advisory service is offered over a series of sessions (telephonic/ face to face) over the entire year. These sessions have been described below for your reference:

  Strategy Sessions
  The strategy sessions are aimed at providing you with a program list that best matched your profile and aspirations, creating a personalized application planner for you, understanding your strengths and weaknesses and creating an application essay/SOP roadmap for you based on your professional, academic, and personal history.To begin these strategy sessions, you will be sent a welcome note along with a general information form (GIF) from our admission consulting team. These will be sent to you on the email id you have provided at the time of enrollment. The information you provide in the GIF is absolutely essential for these strategy sessions. Hence it is important that you provide us with an email id that you regularly use. You also need to revert with the filled in GIF to consulting@imsindia.com as soon as possible.

  Implementation Sessions
  You will work on your application CV, application essay and recommendation letter themes during these sessions. Your admission consultant will edit these for content, structure, language and grammar.

  Application Polishing Sessions
  You will work on school specific essay questions in these sessions. By combining the background themes you have created in the Strategy and Application Polishing sessions with school specific information – you will be able to create a winning application packet! Your consultant will also help you to provide your recommenders with school specific recommendation tips.

  Business School Interview Sessions
  Once you have been shortlisted for interviews, your admission consultant will help you prepare for the same by providing you with interview questions specific to each school and conducting stimulated interviews for you (telephonic or personal)

  Finance and Visa Sessions
  On receiving admit decisions from schools, your admission consultant will help you select the one school you should finally choose. Once you have made the decision, our finance and visa team will assist you in procuring educational loans and help you with visa processing. Our pre-departure module will enable you to get acquainted with the nitty-gritty’s of student life in over 16 countries.

  Reply

  • Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 14 November 2013 - 12:24pm

    Hi there,

    thank you for your question. In my previous respond, I was trying to give you an overview of how I generally think about taking the support of such agencies. On one side of the continuum, I gave you examples of situations where I would not use them (serious language problems or wish that someone else writes the essays). On the other side, I gave you a clarification of when using such agencies may be helpful (e.g., when you want to have a final quality check). All of this was NOT related to you but a general assessment so that you understand my logic.

    In your case, it looks as if an agency could make sense. As you said, you want someone to have a look at your application and "polish" it. I think that this motivation is fine. I cannot assess, however, if the agency service, in fact, helps you and if that makes a difference in the eyes of the schools' admissions officers because I don't know how your complete application looks like with and without the agency service. Whether you go for an agency, hence, is a rather subjective decision.

    Here are some more general thoughts that you may consider
    As for the text below, it looks as if they offer much more than "just" a polishing of your application. For instance, it includes interview training and consultancy over many months (if I am correct). Unless you can pick out a single service (e.g. checking your application), this may become very costly.

    I would also be careful when they offer that they suggest you colleges that fit to your profile. It could be, for instance, that the agency has contracts with specific schools and that they suggest you only schools who pay them. I am not saying that they do so - I am just trying to highlight the potential pitfalls for you.

    In general, I can imagine that such a holistic advisory can be helpful for some people who really need that help. I doubt, however, that students at very selective schools (e.g. those in top ranking positions) have taken much use of such a service as these people should have the capability and self-esteem to go through the application process primarily on their own. Again: I am not speaking about you - I am trying to give you some thoughts for your inspiration.

    Coming back to you
    I see two ways for you.
    (1) If you feel very uncertain as for your application, I would take use of an external service.
    (2) If you feel more or less certain about your texts and your application in general ("certain" does not mean that you expect acceptance at a school; "certain" just means that you think you write a good application), I would save the money for an agency and just apply.

    • Assuming that you apply at more than one college, you will see the response of some colleges - and if AFTER THAT you think that you need to change your application (in other words, if not getting admissions has to do with your application and not with your academic records or GMAT score), then you can still go for an agency.

    Here is a final recommendation
    If you decide for an agency, I would try to set clear boundaries on the service they provide you with. For example, I would identify where I need most support and then ask them to just work on that area. By this, you can also test their work a bit. If they do a good job (e.g. on one essay) and you think you could need them also for other parts of your application (e.g. for other essays, reference letters etc,.).

    Best wishes
    Thomas

    By Thomas Graf

    Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 11 November 2013 - 12:51pm

  Hi Abhyank,

  than you for your question. The idea behind the essays is that the school wants to learn more about you, particularly the way you argue in favor or against specific topics. Therefore, the essay should always be written by yourself, whether you ask someone else (e.g., a friend or an agency) to help you or not. Anything else would be cheating.

  Now, of course it is possible to ask for external support. Non-native speakers, for example, could ask a native speaker to cross-read the essay just to avoid any serious mistake. But if a person does not speak and understand English very well, and if the native speaker would basically write the text for the applicant - then again it would be cheating (and the school would find it out sooner or later).

  In a similar way, I think it is fair and may even make sense to use other parties' advice when it comes to the style of your essay. If you read GMAT preparation books, for instance, you see tips on how to write the essays there. For example, an introduction sentence, followed by the pro-arguments and the contra-arguments, and the final sentence. If you learn from a friend, a book, or an agency about such style tips, it is fine and - depending on your prior competence to write essays - may even be useful.

  By personal advice is, however: Never try to write a text from someone else. Be self-esteemed enough to write your text and provide your arguments, even if others help you to refine it.

  Also, be careful which agency you use. Here is an organization, whose head Mary Petersen I personally know for example. Feel free to contact them and ask for an offer.
  But if you don't know the agency, make sure you find a serious agency that follows the guideline recommendations that I gave you above.

  Best wishes
  Thomas

  By Thomas Graf

  Reply

• Posted by - abhyank - on 11 November 2013 - 12:19pm

  Thank you for your prompt reply Thomas,i had one more thing i needed your opinion on, now that i am starting my application procedure and beginning work on my essay, there are a lot of consultation agencies which offer services so as to help write essays and facilitate the application process such as preparing one for the interview, do you think its a good idea to approach them for help or to fly solo and prepare it by myself.

  Regards,
  Abhyank Srinet

  Reply

• Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 6 November 2013 - 3:40pm

  Hi Abhyank,

  thank you for your question. In general, I think you have good chances to get admission at most of the schools in your list. Your GPA looks like top 5% - and the GPA a very important criterion for the selection of MIM students. The GMAT of 690 is a bit lower than the average at HEC - but even it is lower you can apply (that's why 710 is an average and not a minimum score) and at most other schools you are higher than average. The rest of your experience looks interesting. Carefully write your application, however, including the essays so that they invite you for an interview.

  I understand your doubts on certain countries and you should carefully reflect on this. Let me add some thoughts here, however: Some UK schools have "kind of agreements" with employers so that the employer makes sure that the graduates gets a job, at least for 2 years. Schools such as HEC or LBS have a reputation beyond the boundaries of their countries and may help you find a job somewhere else as well. Next, you can always ask the schools (via email, phone, or personally at info sessions or career fairs) how many of their graduates from India found a job within the school's country. Finally, you can also check if the schools have several campuses (e.g. Hult has 6 campuses worldwide) - so that you can study in the UK and abroad.

  If the TOEFL is necessary is something that you can easily find put via the schools' websites... My tip: Visit the respective program section and then check the FAQ part. Here is the LBS example:

  ---

  *"If English is not your native language, or if you have not been studying fully in English or living in an English speaking country for at least two years, you will need to provide us with a valid score (including a component breakdown) from any of the following recognised English language tests (scores are valid for two years and must be valid at the time of submitting your application):

  TOEFL iBT (score of 110 - institution code 0898)
  IELTS (score of 7.5)
  CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
  PTE Academic (score of 76)
  CAE"*

  http://www.london.edu/programmes/msc/applying.html

  ---

  Best wishes
  Thomas

  by Thomas Graf

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