Been lurking on WSO for some time and reading through the forums. Looking for your expert opinion.
Based on my situation I have narrowed down my choices to the following 2 options:
1) Look for a job in Finance right now. (I know this is a long shot, switching from Mechanical engineering to IB, is most likely to yield no result.)
2) Apply for MBA. (Is a Top 10 admit possible?)
My Profile:
-
Age 30 -
Working as a “Contract (consultant) Mechanical Engineer” at a Fortune Fifty company in the Mid-West for 5 years now. No career progression or anything to show for a great career. Only significant achievement I would say is a pending patent application as a co-inventor and may be another one in the pipe line, in say the next year or two.
I have no significant extra-curriculars outside of work like say for example working for a NGO or starting a side business.
Also, this job is quite unstable. Always in fear of being laid off.
- MS Mechanical Engineering (non-thesis), Purdue University, GPA 3.41/4.0
(Finance) Relevant courses: All of these are Grad 500 level courses
· Risk Management
· Engineering Economic Analysis
· Statistical Methods
· Advanced Mathematics for Engineers & Physicists – Parts 1 & 2
- Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, India, GPA approximately 3.5/4.0 (this university does not use the grade point system and hence the GPA is in the ball park)
As mentioned, I am planning to either
1) Look for a job in finance now
OR
2) Go to school for MBA
So, what say guys and gals?
PS: Experienced immigrants may have an opinion on this
- To complicate this all, I am right now on H1B work Visa in the US and will be eligible to apply for a green card in 2 more years (2018). If I decide to go to school now I may risk my status if there are no job prospects after MBA.
Thank you.
I don't think you are going to be able to switch on a whim from engineering to IB without a MBA. That leaves Option #2, but why do you want to change to IB from engineering? That's a big change so what's your story? Have you talked to any alumns from Top 10 schools in IB? You don't have to necessarily spell it out here...but it has to make sense to Adcoms.
From just the information available, maybe a school in the lower top 10 with a lot of networking and killer GMAT. The numbers are lower than average and having no promotions and extracurriculars will definitely hurt.
mba2019 Thanks for confirming my doubts.
Sorry for this dumb question but how would one network with the right people for a spot in b-school?
Before you do anything, take the GMAT. That will narrow down the list of schools you can apply to. I had a hard time studying for a 4 hour exam having been out of school for so long.
It's not a dumb question. Sorry I should have been more clear. When I say network, it's not so much that knowing the right person is going to guarantee you a spot in b-school. But by talking to current students and alumni, you will have a much better understanding of the culture of the school. And when you can talk specifics, not something you just got off the school website, it will show you are serious and have done your homework.
Same applies to school events and visits. I had a much better idea of which schools I wanted to go to after the visit because at the end of the day, any Top 10 school will get you into IB.
There is a reason why schools ask you to write on the application who you talked to and whether or not you visited the school.
If you had to pick between two guys with similar stats and career goals, who are you going to interview? The guy that shows he is serious about coming to that school? Or the guy who skimmed the school website?
That's my 2 cents.
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