Dear Clear Admit,

Thank you for proposing this forum. I think it is a great start for potential MBA applicants who wish to have a first impression of your services.

About myself: I am finishing a 18 months IT graduate program at an american Fortune 100 Company in the FMCG industry in Europe. This is my first real job after university.

I hold a MSc-equivalent Telecom Engineering joint degree from renowned Swiss and French Univerities. I supplemented my studies working for several large and small technology firms during my summer holidays. I also participated to campus life and held senior positions at the university student board.

I have an international background as I have lived and worked in several countries (France, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the USA). I can speak 4 languages fluently (English, French, Spanish and Itlalian)

My interests on top of the usual sports, photo and music consist in developing effective interpersonal, and coaching skills. I also paricipated in a couple of busines plan and marketing competitions.

Although I enjoy what I do today (Project Management, Requirements Gathering, Support), I am at the bottom of the food chain and my ideas are not heard. I feel that I am underutilized and that the learning pace is too slow. In addition most of my colleagues are in their late 30s and I would prefer a more collegial athmosphere.

I envision a career in Management Consulting as I hope to find what I am looking for: Challenging international assignements, exceptional people to work with. Teamspirit. Thinking creatively, finding solutions, selling them.

I need a TOP MBA to achieve this. I plan to apply this year and start in Sept. 2004 or Jan. 2005. My grades at university were not exceptional and weaken my application. I am studying hard to get a over-700 GMAT score and definitely need help for the essays.

Concerning my carreer, I have the following 4 internal oportunities in my company:
- Technical Analyst in an IT application support group in our Data Center. No prestige, no visibility but I know the field.
- IS (Information Systems) Analyst in the International IS Strategy and Planning group. The job consists in defining functional training scheme for IS employees. I will report to a Director who reports to the CIO. High Visibility in the IS department. Prestige.
- IS Auditor. Travelling around the world ensuring all systems and processes are ok. operational and strategic, visible and prestigous too. + international experience. but very IT.
- IS Team Leader of the IS Help Desk (11 people). Oportunity to hold a leadership role but in a less prestigious department. Very operational, non-strategic and low prestige IT, dealing with customers.

- ... or leave the company. There are oportunities at good IT Consulting Firms and London Banks as a programmer. It would be a carrer change and an oportunity to learn new things, but also a new start.

Which one, if any, do you think the MBA admission officers would value most?

I would appreciate it if you could give me:
- a general impression on my profile and my chances to be admitted at a TOP 10 MBA, strenghths, weaknesses , ...
- your impression on which of the carreer oportunities listed above a TOP 10 MBA admission comittee would value most,
- a description of the kind of position I should be looking for now that would maximize my pre-MBA carreer experience.

I am worried TOP BS wont admit me because of my IT infrastructure background. Am I right to worry? What should I do today to fix the situation.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am looking forward to receiving your answer.

Manuel.