This is what personality tests tell about me

Today I took the Jung Typology Test and this is what it says about me.

Your Type is ENFJ

Extraverted	Intuitive	Feeling	Judging
22	50	38	11

So what does that mean ? I am a

• slightly expressed extravert
  
• moderately expressed intuitive personality
  
• moderately expressed feeling personality
  
• slightly expressed judging personality

This kind of helped me reassert my career and life choices.

Furthermore, typelogic gave its breakdown about ENFJ personality type.

ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.

ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.

ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.

ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.

TRADEMARK: "The first shall be last"

This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a 'quick question.' I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!

Functional Analysis:

Extraverted Feeling

Extraverted Feeling rules the ENFJ's psyche. In the sway of this rational function, these folks are predisposed to closure in matters pertaining to people, and especially on behalf of their beloved. As extraverts, their contacts are wide ranging. Face-to-face relationships are intense, personable and warm, though they may be so infrequently achieved that intimate friendships are rare.

Introverted iNtuition

Like their INFJ cousins, ENFJs are blessed through introverted intuition with clarity of perception in the inner, unconscious world. Dominant Feeling prefers to find the silver lining in even the most beggarly perceptions of those in their expanding circle of friends and, of course, in themselves. In less balanced individuals, such mitigation of the unseemly eventually undermines the ENFJ's integrity and frequently their good name. In healthier individuals, deft use of this awareness of the inner needs and desires of others enables this astute type to win friends, influence people, and avoid compromising entanglements.

The dynamic nature of their intuition moves ENFJs from one project to another with the assurance that the next one will be perfect, or much more nearly so than the last. ENFJs are continually looking for newer and better solutions to benefit their extensive family, staff, or organization.

Extraverted Sensing

Sensing is extraverted. ENFJs can manage details, particularly those necessary to implement the prevailing vision. These data have, however, a magical flexible quality. Something to be bought can be had for a song; the same something is invaluable when it's time to sell. (We are not certain, but we suspect that such is the influence of the primary function.) This wavering of sensory perception is made possible by the weaker and less mature status with which the tertiary is endowed.

Introverted Thinking

Introverted Thinking is least apparent and most enigmatic in this type. In fact, it often appears only when summoned by Feeling. At times only in jest, but in earnest if need be, Thinking entertains as logical only those conclusions which support Feeling's values. Other scenarios can be shown invalid or at best significantly inferior. Such "Thinking in the service of Feeling" has the appearance of logic, but somehow it never quite adds up.

Introverted Thinking is frequently the focus of the spiritual quest of ENFJs. David's lengthiest psalm, 119, pays it homage. "Law," "precept," "commandment," "statute:" these essences of inner thinking are the mysteries of Deity for which this great Feeler's soul searched.

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B Schools of USA & some humor

Seems like today's post are gonna give some really different kind of reading experience. I am coming across some really cool stuff which I can't help but to share it on my blog.

This super long post about various B schools in USA. While it tells the obvious pros and cons of each school, it adds the zing factor by relating each school to a office space character. 

So here it goes. (Disclaimer : None of these opinions reflects my opinion about any of these schools.Be sure to take it with a pinch of salt.)

1.) Harvard 
Pros: The best academic brand in the world, people from East Timor will know where you went to school. Graduates are extremely polished and dynamic leaders. its no coincidence that so many politicians these days are HBS grads.
Cons: Students are about as pompous and pretentious as possible. Polish is a fancy way of saying full of s**t. its no coincidence that so many politicians these days are HBS grads.
Office Space Character: Lumbergh (Peter’s hated boss). He’s a quintessential Harvard grad; in charge and full of platitudes that sound great but on further inspection don’t make any sense. He also drives a nice car and makes a lot of money while being universally loathed. Kind of sums up every HBS grad you’ve ever met, right?
2.) Stanford
Pros: Small class size and focus on do-gooders leads to an incredible array of backgrounds and accomplishments of students, who thrive in tight knit community. Haven for the really interesting superstars out there. Tremendous brand. Beautiful weather.
Cons: It may be interesting to be classmates with a Buddhist monk-fighter pilot, but its also hard to relate to anyone (”So, did that vow of peace make it hard to take out bogeys?”). For super accomplished business students with the world at their fingertips, it sure doesn’t seem like any of them actually like business.
Office Space Character: Peter (main character). He seems like the most level headed, likable and down to earth of any of the characters, but for all his talents, he ends up as a damn construction worker. He’s also a major league flake, showing up to work only when he feels like it. Can you say entitled?
3.) Wharton
Pros: Arguably the best technical business education in the world. Great brand name, and the job placements are second only to H/S.
Cons: Not sure if it’s the ultra rigorous curriculum, the competitive culture, or the fact that they have to live in Philly for two years, but Whartonites are paranoid bordering on psychotic. The odds of having a nervous breakdown in your life triple after going here. Double that if you actually ask anyone at Wharton to calculate those odds.
Office Space Character: Tom Smykowski (Co-worker that invents “jumping to conclusions mat”). I’m assuming that Tom was actually an excellent technical employee, but that his constant fear of losing his job made him batsh*t crazy. Most fitting quote “I’m a People Person!!!!!!” when yelling at the consultants.
4.) Northwestern
Pros: Strong team culture and arguably the best marketing program in the country. Incredibly collaborative for such a large school. Great location next to major financial center (Chicago).
Cons: Very soft curriculum, these guys are poets. I’m pretty sure that Kellogg finance classes are prerecorded cartoons taught by Disney characters. Is it really worth it to pay $10000+ to drink every night? I mean, couldn’t you just do that without the degree?
Office Space Character: Joanna (Peter’s girlfriend). Like Peter, she’s very likable, level headed and likes to get around. Unfortunately she’s also vastly less skilled than many of her fellow characters. Thank God she’s hot.
5.) Chicago 
Pros: Finance education is second only to Wharton globally (and even that’s debatable). Probably the best facilities of all the top business schools. Fantastic job placements and close proximity to Chicago. Academic horsepower of profs is untouchable.
Cons: Socially awkward is an understatement. Unlike Whartonites who are just high strung, Chicago GSBers either never learned or quickly forgot how to communicate with peers. Make sure to wear a face mask if they’re talking to you ’cause spits going to fly.
Office Space Character: Milton (Co-worker that loves red swingline stapler). Milton seems like a nice enough guy, and he might be the smartest guy in the office (he pulls off the grand caper in the end). It’s just that he’s about as charismatic as a toilet bowl. Hire ‘em, just make sure to get GSBers an office in the basement.
6.) Columbia
Pros: Great location in the middle of global financial center (New York). Most diverse student body in terms of minorities and women. Very strong finance program. New York allows great social and job placement opportunities, and draws worldly, cosmopolitan students.
Cons: Cliquish and commuterish. Columbia is like a high school with super rich kids. High ***hole factor. This isn’t the kind of school where you’ll be going to house parties, its more like the kind of school where you’re expected to order bottle service for twenty guys on a student budget or else be ostracized.
Office Space Character: Bobs (consultants that lay off workers). They seem smart, they have great jobs, but c’mon, these guys are douchebags.
7.) MIT 
Pros: World class entrepreneurship program, and probably the best supply management program in America. Attached to world class research center, and location in Boston is strong. Great job placement, especially in consulting.
Cons: For all their unique academic offerings, the overall school is like 90/10 men/women including undergrads. Takes the term sausage fest to a whole new level. Nerdy culture.
Office Space Character: Michael Bolton (Peter’s co-worker and friend). Michael Bolton desperately wants to be cool, listening to rap music, talking in slang, but lets face it, he’s a dork. He’s also hampered by his dorky namesake, which seems to attract a lot of nerdy people (to his obvious dismay).
8.) Tuck
Pros: Small class size and tight culture leads to maybe the most enthusiastic students in any school. Great respect from recruiters. Alumni network is arguably the most responsive and helpful of any top school. Strong rigorous program.
Cons: Very conformist culture, and really limited social options. These guys seem so enthusiastic about their school that I’m almost certain that all students are given ecstasy at orientation. Listen, if two years in the middle of Nowhere, New Hampshire were to constitute the best two years of my life, I would kill myself.
Office Space Character: Brian (Works with Joannas at Chotchkies, wears 37 pieces of flair). Brian is well meaning and LOVES his job. Never mind that he’s a waiter at a glorified TGIF, he still loves it with all his heart. They say ignorance is bliss, in which case, maybe Tuckies have the secret after all. That or, like Brian, they’re borderline retarded.
9.) Michigan
Pros: Maybe the most hands-on practical curriculum of all the top schools. New facilities coming up in 2009. Largest alumni network of any business school. State school, so the 2nd year is cheaper.
Cons: Location proximity leaves something to be desired (Detroit? Why not put it next to Beirut). The overall atmosphere here is very fratty and college like. Every single UMich student and alumni I’ve spoken to say the highlight of their experience was tailgating and watching football. EVERYONE. Not that football isn’t awesome, but no one else had any other experience that was noteworthy? They probably forgot the rest after beerbonging Jagermeister.
Office Space Character: Lawrence (Peter’s next door neighbor and friend). Lawrence is a good guy. He’s loyal, and salt of the earth. He also has a few rough edges, and would use 1 million dollars to be intimate with two other women. Have a great time with old Lawrence. Just don’t be surprised if all you end up with is a job he hooked you up with at the local quarry.
10.) Haas
Pros: Great location in the bay, and strong ties to Silicon Valley. Great weather. Small class size and tight culture. Berkeley has very strong international brand name.
Cons: Weak ties to financial sector, and east coast in general. The culture here is definitely about as PC as it gets. This seems like the type of school where you’d need to get a permission slip before you held a woman’s hand on campus.
Office Space Character: Stan (Joanna’s manager at Chotchkies). Stan wants Joanna to do more than the bare minimum. After all, people can get an MBA anywhere, but they come to Chotckies/Haas for the atmosphere! Don’t you want to do more than the bare minimum? Then put on your flair, burn some bras and save a whale you selfish jerk.
11.) Duke
Pros: Maybe the best health care management program in the country. Great brand name, especially in the south. Strong team culture.
Cons: Relatively young MBA program, so alumni network is small. As such, the brand cache just isn’t there yet. People that come here seem very cookie cutter to me, not in a bad way, just very comfortable and relatively unambitious.
Office Space Character: Samir (Peter’s co-worker and friend). Samir is a nice guy, very practical and unassuming. You get the feeling that he’s happy as long as he has a job in hand. Won’t make waves, won’t screw up, and won’t take any risks. But he’s a happy guy, and will have a house with 2.2 kids and a dog in a suburb somewhere (probably Durham).
12.) Darden
Pros: Strong Case method program and rigorous curriculum is universally respected. Alumni network is very strong and active with current students.
Cons: Middle of nowhere.Highly rigorous schedules.
13.) NYU
Pros: Great location within spitting distance of Wall Street. Strong finance curriculum, and media program.
Cons: Location in downtown Manhattan make this the ultimate commuter school. Weird inferiority complex with Columbia. If you don’t go into finance or media, good luck.
Office Space Character: Other Lumbergh (ex-co-worker of Peter, Joanna’s ex-boyfriend). From all accounts, the other Lumbergh was a likable guy who was good at his job and got a great job offer to move on somewhere else. We just never actually saw him. Kind of like your NYU classmates.
14.) UCLA
Pros: LA! Sun, beach, beautiful glamorous people everywhere! Strong ties to Southern California business and great real estate program.
Cons: LA. UV rays, crowded beaches and shallow, materialistic people everywhere. You get the feeling that UCLA students are there just to spend two years in SoCal rather than to get jobs. As such, this place draws vapid, materialistic people. But damn they’re hot!
Office Space Character: Drew (Peter’s co-worker, describes the famous “O-face”). Drew’s a fun-loving guy that people like. He’s also the kind of guy that would tell anyone who was willing to listen graphic descriptions of all his sexual exploits. I liked Drew when I was 19. When I’m 26..?
15.) Cornell 
Pros: Maybe the best Hospitality management program in the country. Ivy league brand name, and strong ties to some top consumer management companies. Small tight knit culture.
Cons: In the middle of nowhere, and it’s definitely a cut below a lot of the top tier programs. I mean, hospitality management? Seriously?
Office Space Character: Peggy (Lumbergh’s secretary). She’s kind of in hospitality: “Initech, can I put you on hold? Thank you! Initech, can I put you on hold? Thank you! Initech, can I put you on hold? Thank you! .”
16.) Yale
Pros: World class brand name. Arguably the best social enterprise program in the country. Relatively strong job placement for the rank.
Cons: Newer program means little real rep with employers or alumni to lean on.
Office Space character: Dr. Swanson (Peter’s psychologist/hypnotist). The Dr. has a very strong reputation, and he makes Peter go from depressed to happy (what a do-gooder!). But when it comes to the rankings, he just falls over dead.

Am just curious about what the actual B school students/alumni got to say about these opinions. Guys if you are reading this be sure to leave your comments
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A unusual way to look at life

MBA Application process and the MBA decision is a highly goal driven process. But paradoxically, I really liked this alternative view point on life.

I came across this interesting article which puts forth a interesting alternative of looking at life and happiness.I have quoted the Full article below for my readers.
Source  : http://mnmlist.com/minimalisms-logical-extension-break-free-from-goals/

"By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning." - Lao Tzu

One of the unshakable tenets of success and productivity literature is that you need to have goals in order to be successful (see Seth Godin on this - he's someone I respect, btw).

And from this tenet comes all sorts of other beliefs:

• You need to set goals the right way (such as the SMART method).
• You need to break goals down into actionable tasks.
• You need to have deadlines and timeframes.
• You need to make goals the focus of your day.

I know this, because I've believed it and lived it and written about it, for a long time.

Until recently.

Until recently, I'd always set goals for myself -- short-term and long-term ones, with action lists. I've made progress on each one, and accomplished a lot of goals (read My Story for more). And from this traditional viewpoint, I've been successful. So no argument there: goals work, and you can be successful using goals.

But are they the only way?

More recently I've moved away from goals, broken free of the shackles of goals. I've liberated myself because goals are not ideal, in my way of thinking:

• They are artificial -- you aren't working because you love it, you're working because you've set goals.
• They're constraining -- what if you want to work on something not in line with your goals? Shouldn't we have that freedom?
• They put pressure on us to achieve, to get certain things done. Pressure is stressful, and not always in a good way.
• When we fail (and we always do), it's discouraging.
• We're always thinking about the future (goals) instead of the present. I prefer to live in the present.

But most of all, here's the thing with goals: you're never satisfied. Goals are a way of saying, "When I've accomplished this goal (or all these goals), I will be happy then. I'm not happy now, because I haven't achieved my goals." This is never said out loud, but it's what goals really mean. The problem is, when we achieve the goals, we don't achieve happiness. We set new goals, strive for something new.

And while many people will say that striving for something new is a good thing, that we should always be striving, unfortunately it means we're never satisfied. We never find contentment. I think that's sad -- we should learn how to be content now, with what we have. It's what minimalism is all about, really.

And if minimalism is being happy now, with enough, with the present, then how are goals consistent with this? It's something I've tried to reconcile over the last few years, with limited success.

So what would a true minimalist do instead? If we are content now, and we abandon goals, does that mean we do nothing? Sit around or sleep all day?

Not at all. I certainly don't do that. We should do what makes us happy, follow our passions, do things that make us excited. For me and many people, that's creating, building new things, expressing ourselves, making something useful or new or beautiful or inspiring.

So here's what I do, instead of setting and achieving goals:

I do what excites me. Each day. I wake up, and work on things that I'm passionate about, create things that I love creating.

I don't worry about where I'll be (professionally) in a year or even six months, but where I am right now.

I don't make plans, because they're an illusion -- you never know what will happen in a year or even six months. You can try to control what happens, but you'll lose. Things always come up, sometimes good and sometimes bad, that will disrupt plans. Instead, I've learned to go with the flow, to not worry about things that disrupt plans but worry about what to do right now. This allows me to take advantage of opportunities to come up that I could never have planned for, to work on things I couldn't have known about, to make decisions about what's best right now, not what I planned a few months ago.

I don't force things, but do what comes naturally.

And I focus on the present, on being happy now.

This has taken me time -- letting go of goals is a scary and uncomfortable thing, but if you let them go gradually, it's not that hard. I've slowly adapted the way I work, and learned to work in the moment, and go with the flow of the world that surrounds me (online and off).

It's a beautiful way of working. And not incidentally, I've accomplished even more this way, without making that a goal. It's a natural byproduct of doing what you love.

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving." - Lao Tzu

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Ask the Experts: Applying to Business School

• FT.com has come up with a useful concept of B School clinic. Applicants like us can ask any questions regarding MBA Admissions and they will be answered by a panel of experts. Here is what FT.com website tells about this initiative

In the first Financial Times Ask the Experts: Applying to Business School Clinic, three industry experts answer your questions on the topic. Are you thinking of applying for an MBA? Is now the right time? What kind of programme should you choose? How do you apply? Is it all worth the time, the pain and the money? On Wednesday September 30, between 2pm and 3pm BST, a panel of experts will answer your questions on this page at http://www.ft.com/businesseducaton/applications-clinic.

On the panel are:
Chioma Isiadinso, chief executive of Expartus, the admissions consultancy and personal branding organisation. Ms Isiadinso, who formerly worked in the admissions departments at both Harvard Business School and Carnegie Mellon University, set up Expartus in 2002. She is author of The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secret.
Dave Wilson, president and chief executive of the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), which administers the GMAT test for business students.
Anika Davis Pratt, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern school of business.

• Ask an Business week MBA Admissions Consultant

  Get questions about the MBA admissions process answered by an admissions consultant at the Business School Forum on Business Week website.
  
   

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Am the 1st Global Blogger of "MBA in the USA"

As I mentioned in the previous post, there are some exciting new developments happening in my life as a blogger. Here comes one update.


MBA in the USA ™ is a consulting service dedicated to international students coming to the US to study.Started by Kenan-Flager Alumni Grayson Leverenz, the site gives cultural insights about US to the international students. Now they are starting a global blog which will feature blogs by international MBA students  or applicants about their experiences. 


I have been selected as their 1st global blogger and am excited about this opportunity. I will be writing one blog post each month and I hope to use this opportunity to share my mba experiences and perspectives with a wider international audience. 


Confirmed about this after having a conversation with Grayson yesterday and we are starting the global blog series from October. 


If any of my readers reading this post are interested in becoming the global blogger, please visit this link. 


Update : Check out my 1st post as global blogger on MBAinTheUSA here



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The Princeton Review - Dream School Tour Giveaway

The Princeton Review recently announced a special sweepstakes for potential grad students. Known as the Dream School Tour Giveaway, the sweepstakes will award prizes to three lucky winners. The first place winner will receive a trip to their top-choice medical, law, business or graduate school. Two other winners will receive a free MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, or GRE prep course. The sweepstakes is open now and will remain open until October 16, 2009.

If you are a potential Grad student from US, Canada or Puerto Rico, be sure to check it out.

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Exciting new developments

Blogging my journey on madologue has been immensely rewarding for me.
To name a few

• Increased self awareness of me as a person
• Clear cut perception about why I need an MBA and what do I expect from it
• Better flow in writing and ease in expressing my thoughts
  
• Lot of new friends and well wishers
• Exciting new opportunities (will write a new post once I confirm few developments)

One important update I want to share is starting from next month, I will be featuring a post which contains a Q&A session I had with a current MBA student at various B schools. This is my effort to provide the MBA applicants with diverse perspectives about MBA, B school and life as a student.

Watch out for this space for more details.

If any of my blog visitors want to contribute to this section or know of any student who can contribute, please contact me or leave a reply to this post. 

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Google Map of all top B schools

Continuing my effort to share some cool and useful resources with fellow B school applicants, I am sharing information about  a useful google map. This contains the locations of top 20 B schools. Thanks to GMAT Club member TL for this resource.

Legend :
Green = Ultra Elite
Yellow = Elite
Red = Other Top
Blue= International Elite
Purple = Regional Elite


View B School in a larger map


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Admissions Tip: MBA Application Data Forms

MBA Application process can be very demanding ; specially so when you are applying to multiple schools. You need to fill each online application in a clear, error free way. This part should never be ignored.  Found this very useful compilation of tips given by ClearAdmit to fill out those application data forms in the correct way.

Admissions Tip: MBA Application Data Forms


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MBA Essays and Deadlines of top B schools - All in one place.

Hey all fella applicants, here are some cool MBA tools from Veritas Prep. Be sure check it out. I found it very useful

• A useful compilation of MBA essays and deadlines for most of Top B schools in US, Europe and Asia. 

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tc4U3LxI41c9UXBO-0rhwog

• A Google Calendar of MBA deadlines:
  http://blog.veritasprep.com/2009/07/google-calendar-top-mba-programs.html
  
  
• A list of online pre-MBA courses:
  http://blog.veritasprep.com/2009/07/cool-mba-tool-applying-to-mba-programs.html 
  

Be sure to post your comments
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My guide to MBA Informational interviews

If you have recently started considering MBA option, you must consider doing informational interviews. Here is my guide to do an effective informational interview.

• Step 1 : Finding whom to interview
  
  Following are some good sources to find out potential candidates for informational interview.
  
  • Colleagues in your company who are the alumna of your target B schools
  • Alumni Directory published in school websites
  • B-school faculty
    
    
• Step 2 : Requesting an informational interview
  
  Be professional when you request for an informational interview. Here are the things to keep in mind while making this request
  
  • Have a meaningful subject line clearly stating the purpose. This way your mail will have the better chance of being noticed. 
  • Use proper salutation and keep it semi formal. 
  • Don't tell a long story in the beginning of the mail. The 1st paragraph should include
    
    • introduction about yourself
    • how you got their contact 
    • what you intend to get from them
      
  • Its good to propose 2 time options for the meeting and let them choose the convenient one.
    
  • End the mail with a proper signature. 

• Step 3 : Preparing & conducting your interview
  
  Here is a great post about how to conduct an impressive informational interview. Follow the steps. If you want to know what questions you can ask in an informational interview, visit this list of questions.
  

All the best !! Mail me and let me know your experience.

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Why I want to come back to India post MBA ?

As I am mentioned in my previous post,  I am a big time patriot !! I just love my country. But that is not the only reason why am planning to come back to India. It seems like a right decision to me for some more reasons. Here are those.

• India - the new super power of Asia
  
  India is heading the new wave of global competitors originating in developing economies that are quickly becoming dominant in a variety of industries. No I don't mean only the IT sector where India leads but it also includes companies in steel, brewing, IT, aerospace, and other areas that are very quickly rising to a position of leadership globally.
  
  In this post, "Learn from the World-Beating Strategies of Emerging Market Competitors, says LBS' Sull", Don Sull talks about the emerging markets in Asia.
  
  So its safe to assume that there will be a lot of opportunities and some significant business challenges which gives me a great time to start my post MBA career.
  
  
• Home is where the heart is
  
  I am very much attached to my home, my parents and my friends. So its a welcome move for me to comeback home after 2 years at US of A.
  
  
• US Job Markets
  
  Though things are improving, it stills feels like it might be difficult to secure a good job in US of A being an international students. But this may not be true by the time I finish my MBA (2012) but nevertheless a thing to be aware of. 

This is what is my current thought process. I am flexible about my career path and doesn't strictly rule out any possible alternatives. It will be interesting to see what is in store for me 

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Information about 1 year or accelerated MBAs

Try to think about the following concerns you get when you think about an MBA.

• Do you think 2 years is too much of time to be spent on a MBA course ? 
• Do you think you have sufficient business experience which makes a accelerated MBA model ideal for you ? 
• Do you think 1 year MBA model is more cost effective in terms of investment and the opportunity cost ?
  

If you answer yes for the above questions, then this post can help you. 1 year MBA or accelerated MBA models  are always in vogue for experienced candidates. 

I would like to mention 2 great posts which break down this topic.

Wall Street Journal wrote a informative post  " The Top M.B.A. Programs if You're in a Hurry". Some important excerpts.

Accelerated M.B.A. programs, which take between 10 and 15 months to complete, have been around for decades and are the norm in Europe. Although these programs are much less common in the U.S., they're growing increasingly attractive especially among older students, who are becoming less willing to spend two years out of the work force.

These schools [which topped 1 year MBA rankings] stood out by delivering a strong curriculum and cramming in a healthy dose of international exposure. The best schools also cultivate relationships with local and global companies, giving students the chance to work on real-world projects.

Read the full article here

FT.com also published a detailed article about one-year MBA programs which are growing in prominence and quality across Europe and Asia. It says the following about the increasing popularity of these programs

In 2004, there were just six one-year programmes ranked in the top 50 of the Financial Times global rankings; in 2009, 15 of the top 50 programmes ran for 12 months or less; Insead still runs the shortest programme at 10½ months. Over the same period the number of two-year programmes in the top 50 dropped from two-thirds (33) to less than half (23).

The article also predicts that many U S schools will shortly follow this  model

Prof Sullivan believes some of the top US schools will soon offer one-year, full-time degrees. Indeed, he points out, Stanford and MIT Sloan already teach the one-year Sloan programme. He argues that such degrees would sit well alongside the two-year MBA, which has been targeted increasingly at younger students.

 Read the full article here

At the end its a personal choice whether to take up a 1 year or a 2 year MBA.


Update as on 24th September 2009: WSJ published the rankings for accelerated MBA. Check out the rankings and more at http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/st_mbamainchart_20090910.html
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My Dream B School

Are you considering your MBA option ? Want to know what all possibilities are there to think about ? Thinking about what really makes your ideal B school ? Then probably this post will help you unclutter the mess. Read on!!

In this post I will share my idea about the ideal MBA experience that I am looking forward to. Again this can be different for different individuals. Fit is a very important factor for me. I always believe on my gut instinct to choose what is right for me. I think I will know when a school is right for me :)

Sounds too filmy ? Ok here are some practical tips to choose the right B school for you !!
Though I have few schools in mind, I will take a route where I will put down my expectations from what I call an  "Ideal B school and the MBA experience"

I have some parameters which I will use to define my dream B School. Here it goes, in no particular order.

• Full time Vs Online Vs EMBA
  
  This is no difficult question for me. I am an early career applicant looking to have a transformational MBA experience. So Welcome Full time MBA and Adios EMBA  !!
  And online MBA was not even in consideration for me. I have added here for the sake of completeness. If you are reading this and considering an MBA, I have tried to cover various options available.
  
  So attribute no1 of my dream school : A full time, On campus MBA Program
  
  
• Duration of the MBA Course
  
  As I have mentioned many times before, what matters more for me is the journey rather than the destination itself.
  
  
  
  • I am looking forward to an intensive immersion experience during my MBA. This is the time for me to gain and hone those hard and soft skills, gain business knowledge and more importantly build relationship with my Alma Mater and students.
    
  
  
  
  
  • Also  being from Engineering and Non profits background, I have hardly any expertise in traditional business fields like economics. I would like to learn as much as possible about the essential elements which make up the so called Managament Science.
    
  
  
  
  
  • I am eagerly looking forward to gain some hands on experience in the industry by doing internships and hands on projects during my MBA.
  
  These reasons make me go for an 2 year full time MBA. I am sure it will be a experience of lifetime !! At this point I would like to quote Mr Paul Danos, dean of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He wonderfully captures the essence of a 2 year MBA. I loved it !!
  
  
  
  

  The "best" MBA model depends on a given student's circumstances. However, I believe that the full immersion and focus that comes with the two-year model, the personal connections, the opportunity to delve into topics with professors and the ability to gain business experience through internships and projects, all unite to give students the best realistic simulation of the life that they could face in business leadership.
  

  A full-time MBA stretches the individual, persuading him or her to reach new heights of aspiration. The shared spirit of preparing for responsibility creates a palpable increase in competence and confidence. There is clearly an arc of progress taking students to the launching point of significant careers. When delivered correctly, the programme's graduates are both ready and eager to take on the mantle of leadership.
  

   So attribute no 2 of my dream school : A 2 year program with internship/hands on project experience.
  
  
  
• Financial aid
  
  This makes or breaks my MBA plans.  Doing an MBA can be a financial burden if not planned correctly. Being a international student , I expect a international student loan program from my ideal B school. As I don't have any US citizen who can give guaranty for my loans, I must rely on no cosigner loans.
  
  So attribute no 3 of my dream school : A program offering a international student loan without a US Co-signor
   
• Location
  
  Not much idea about this aspect of Business schools because I have never visited any of the B schools in US. How much I wish I could have done the campus visits of atleast couple of schools. Anyways.
  
  I am kind of person who really enjoy the serene and quite locations than hip urban locations. After being in busy town of Bangalore and seeing all those traffic and sky scrappers I would love to go to a small town and live there for 2 years. This way I can rekindle my passion for cycling in the campus :) Oh I love cycling !!!
  
  So attribute no 4 of my dream school : Preferably a small university town with a vast plush campus.
  
  
• Class strength and Class culture
  
  I love the close knit feeling offered by a small sized classroom. I would love to know each of my classmates by his/her name than by mere numbers.
  Also I want to have a highly interactive classroom experience where each of us can put down our perspective which leaves us with a lot of viewpoints and content to mull about.
  My company is also small sized firm. It has led the way to a highly collaborative culture in the company. Its great to work in a company where the India Head knows the name of each of her colleagues and most of the time about their spouses too, isn't it !!
  
  So attribute no 5 of my dream school :  A small sized, close knit classroom experience & a collaborative culture
  
  
• Learning Approach & Study abroad option:
  
  Am looking for a well balanced approach of strong theoretical concepts with hands on learning. Coming from non business back ground, I really can't jump into real world projects. So initially I would like to get my fundamentals strong about various essentials of management. Here I think I am inclined towards case method. I feel it allows us to think about various aspects of real world case.
  
  After gaining this ground I can reinforce my skills by doing hands on projects and through experiential learning.
  
  I really want to broaden my knowledge by studying a semester abroad for one semester. This can be a great learning experience. Asia & Europe are my top choices.
  
  So attribute no 6 of my dream school :  A well balanced learning approach and preferably an option to study abroad for 1 semester
  
  
• Curriculum & Faculty
  
  My Post MBA goals are aligned with a short term goal in general management extending to a long term role of entrepreneur. I am definitely not looking at options like Investment banking or Private equity or other finance heavy careers. So my choice is a general management program which makes me ready to take up challenges in more than one business field.
  
  
  
  Am still trying to figure out what will be the best curriculum model (fixed vs flexible)for me. I would probably like to choose my own courses in the second year when I will have decent knowledge about the topics. In the 1st year, I don't know yet.. I need to figure this out.
  
  I have heard about the exceptional faculty present in top B schools. I just look forward to meet and interact and learn from them !!
  
  So attribute no 7 of my dream school :  A general management program with exceptional faculty
  
  
• Career Services
  I am still contemplating about my possible return to India post MBA and join the workforce
  here in India.
  
  Nevertheless I look forward to some challenging internship experience in my target industry. Being a career changer, I can expect a significant role by career services of B school in getting me ready for this career transition.
  
  So attribute no 8 of my dream school :  A helpful career center.

So at this point you must be thinking that I am thinking bit too much. But believe me self reflection is very  very important in the MBA path. Unless you are not sure about what do you want out of your MBA, you can never make justice to it. So make sure you contemplate on all these things before taking that important decision.

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Women & Minority students take a look at this

Its a well known fact that the US B schools have been dominated by white & male students. But its also well known that each B school craves to have a highly diverse student body.

Diversity enriches the class room experience by bringing in diverse perspectives to the table. So from past few years, B schools have been trying to increase the representation of Women and Minority students. If you fall to the category, read on !!

The representation is less because of the simple fact that the number of applicants is significantly less for this category. I am very sure if I fall to the minority category but being a young women, I would like to share my perspective about this particular category

• One biggest challenge for women candidates is the age factor. B schools traditionally ask for around 4 5 years of professional work experience. A women can really struggle to get this much of experience and then take up a 2 year MBA simply because of the fact that family commitments would be on her already. Many talented women leave out a possible MBA option because of these reasons which is very sad.
  
  I would suggest that, if you are really passionate about doing your MBA, start looking out early. B schools now a days welcome early career candidates. But don't mistake early career candidates with naive, inexperienced candidates. You need to really broaden your perspective about the world, show a fast track career progress and try to take up as many leadership tasks as possible. Remember
  "Leadership is not defined by the title of your position but by your attitude towards the world"
  
  
• In my country at least, one biggest drawback I see is the lack of women idols. We do have many great achievers in the field of politics, sports, industry, arts and etc. But we really don't see and interact with many women who have done their MBA from Top B schools. This means a lot of things
  
  • Many young gals would not even be aware of MBA options and the advantages it brings with it.
    
  • Even if someone decides to pursue this path, there is a clear lack of mentors who can guide them in the path. I agree, today with the help of internet, we can get all the information at our fingertips. But the guidance by an alumna can make a whole lot of difference.
    When I comeback to India post MBA, I would love to mentor other young gals who want take up this path. :) (one more dream !!) 
  
  But things are definitely not gloomy. If you are really passionate about pursuing your dreams, these blockers can be moved aside with your efforts
  
  PS : My parents definitely deserve a very special mention here. They have been the sweetest and most supportive guys all my life :) Never forced any decisions on me. They have given me the freedom to chase my dreams and believe me that has what made me possible to dream all these dreams :)
  Love ya amma appa :)
  (amma - Mother is Kannada language and appa - Father in Kannada Language)
  
  There are dedicated organizations working for this cause of increasing diversity. Be sure to check out the Forte Foundation, 85 Broads, MBA Diversity, gradview websites for some very useful resources.
  
  Here are some useful web resources regarding the topic. Be sure to check them out !!
  
  
  • http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/business-schools-students.aspx?mcid=50316
  • http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/WomenandMinoritiesMBA.asp?iEpisode=28
  
  Please share your thoughts.
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Tracking your career progress

People find it difficult to quantify their career progress in a useful way. Its very important that your resume reflects all your key accomplishments in a clear succinct way.This is important for job hunters as well as MBA applicants

I found this cool worksheet which helps you brainstorm your career progress till now. Take some time to do this worksheet honestly and you will be ready to draft a great resume.

Here is the link
http://www.quintcareers.com/accomplishments_worksheet.html

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MBA Admissions Advice | 10 Things That a Spell Checker Won't Catch

Here is a very useful post. Check out some errors you should be careful about even when using a spell checker.

MBA Admissions Advice | 10 Things That a Spell Checker Won't Catch

Shared via AddThis

Less than 2 years of worx ex ?

There is no doubt that a real world experience adds value to your mba experience. But its a personal choice to decide when one should turn to B school . I am a early career applicant and would like to share some useful pointers for similar applicants.

• Be sure if you really want to do an MBA. Is it money, career, networking ? Be sure about this aspect. Generalist answer to this question will mar your prospects.
  
• Be ready to answer the Why Now ? It becomes more important if you have less work ex. 
• Its very important to have a clear cut sense what you want to do immediately after an MBA. No matter how good an MBA can be, one can not fully utilize it unless they have thought about the process and what to expect from it. So research about career paths available and see if it fits your bill
• Its very important to select those schools which encourage younger applicants or which have the average age of students lesser than the usual numbers as stated in the class profile.
  You can find all these information on B school websites and viewbooks.
• Less work experience means less managerial experience at workplace. Be sure to exercise your leadership at workplace and outside workplace. Leadership is really not tied to the job title. You can show leadership in your personal life, community life.
  Also think about the undergrad experiences and internships and highlight the leadership aspects of the same.
  Sports can also be a good field where you can be a leader
  
• You can use optional essay to address the less work ex issue by showing what else you can bring to table.
• Try to have above average GMAT scores. 
• Work on a good resume. One page is what is welcomed most of the places. It must be the expected professional format.
  

Some useful podcasts and videos which address the issue here

• Video :How can business school applicants strengthen their applications with less than two years of work experience

• A podcast which discusses whats the best age to go for an MBA
  http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/MBABestAge.asp?iEpisode=13
  

• Some cool advice for younger applicants
  http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/AdviceYoungApplicants.asp?iEpisode=34

You can also write to me if you want more information or if you want to share some information.

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MBA Calendar : Keeping track of mba admission deadlines and event dates

I just  added mba admissions calendar to my blog. This calendar will have all the important dates like mba application deadlines of various b schools, mba events and many more.

US B-schools offering international student loans

This very useful article was posted in clear admit blog. This offers quick view of available no-cosigner loan options on a school-by-school basis

Link : http://blog.clearadmit.com/2009/05/school-by-school-international-student-loan-scorecard/ 

Make the best use of it..




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School-by-School International Student Loan Scorecard

School-by-School International Student Loan Scorecard

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To do or Not to do MBA

The MBA picture is not all rosy. Last year few Indians rejected their US B school admits for Indian B schools
Here is what they had to say

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/mar2009/bs20090319_113428.htm

Even today it doesn't take much effort to see that the people are divided over whether To or Not To MBA. This is specially true for international applicants aiming at US B schools. Here are some useful posts on current situation


http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/aug2009/bs2009083_042666.htm

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/aug2009/bs20090820_113258.htm
http://www.mbapodcaster.com/blog/2009/07/current-economy-can-mba-still-earn-well.html

Being one such applicant, let me narrow down the scope of this issue to the worth of doing MBA in USA . Here is my perspective. At the end Will I or Wont I do an MBA in US of A? Read on !!


Reasons that goes against a US MBA

• Recession has had lingering effects on US MBA.
  
• Job market in US is tightening specially for International students.
  
• Student loans are not so easy to avail.
  
• Asian B-schools are turning up to be very strong alternatives for US MBAs .
  

Reasons that vouch for an US MBA

• MBA is not Just about Money
  
  Come on I mean MBA is 1st about management. Its about all those hard and soft skills that get honed. Its about spending couple of years with some of the smartest people in the industry. Its about the transformational experience that a MBA ensures for every student. Not to forget the lifelong relationships that we make while being in B school. Be it the classmates, Profs, alumni, career counselors, room mates or any other person who crosses our path during the MBA Journey.
  
  For me MBA is not just about the 1st job and the stupendous money that will follow.  Even after spending a mini fortune on my MBA, I am sure it'll be worth the risk given the lifelong gifts like those mentioned above.
  
  
• International exposure
  
  I am a passionate patriot all the way. India has a very very special place in my heart. No country can even come closer to India. That doesn't make me chauvinist either.
  
  When it comes to exposure, diversity and opportunities on plate, US definitely can claim a top spot. The kind of international experience which a US MBA can offer will definitely leave me enriched. And I look forward to it eagerly !!!
  
  
• MBA outside India = 2 years out of my comfort zone
  
  I am a kind of person who loves new experiences. Being a localite (aka not being away from home and stayed in a hostel !! ) all my life , getting pampered by parents everyday (but that has not made me a weak gal by any way.. Nah !!) I think I have enjoyed being in my comfort zone for long enough time.
  
  Two years of MBA, therefore, would also mean a lot more to me. I would learn to be on my own, out of my comfort zone (not like I love to do that. Any day I will choose the warmth of being with my parents against whatever the alternate option is !! )
  
  But I feel its very important to come out your comfort zone often so that you expand your limits. And for me, I can be anything but static !!!

So by this time, it might be clear that my heart and mind clearly votes FOR mba and all the experience that comes with it.So for one last time I WANT TO DO AN MBA . PERIOD.

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Joining the blogwagon !!

Hey all, so here comes one more blogger !!

My friendship with blogs started when I started my MBA journey !! Man, I must admit, if you are skillful enough to end up in right blogs, you will get a whole lot of useful information. Very Very Useful. See the sidebar to see my favorites..

So Why do I blog ? To give my perspective about life in general, MBA in particular. This blog will be a window to my thoughts..

Hopefully my MBA journey can give some useful pointers to others looking at  the same path..
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