MBA，从现在开始准备，您的宝贵意见？

Your endeavor and generous advisory would be mostly appreciated.

Having been hanging around this place for a while, jet to make a splash but now is the time.

Yup I wanna join the current of NA MBA programs in about 2010-2012, and would like to consult you guys which direction I should head for and what is the optimized approach to achieve my goal of entering a top-MBA program;

Current status: Male, 24, Graduated from Shanghai, econometrics majored, working in a leading FMCG company, mainland China, non-kernel department, currently working on market measurement;

Goal: would like to enter a top MBA program from 2010 to 2012, focus on General Management or Industry Consulting;

Strength:

1. Proficient English(in my point of view), able to be immersed in full English enviornment on daily basis;
2. Multipal background, in terms of industries and functions, used to do retailing(buyer of private label) in a HK based chain (watsons), has strong business sense and solid category management experience, has been holding a tenure as a business analyst from the retail to current manufacturer;
3. Timing is still abundant (3-5 years long term plan);
4. Family fully supportive to this idea;

Weakness:

1. Spoken English yet to be propelled to an eloquent level, written English yet to be more decent and vocabulary is quite limited;
2. Poor GPA performance in school; 
3. Not dealing with core business in the company (marketing);
4. Funding, personally mere deposit, parents have some fund but would like to buy a house for dwelling purpose in short term; Would need an additional loan plan if such purchase is made;
5. Father has retired, mother is retiring in 5-7 years;

Plans:

1. Spend 1-2 years' time to work deliberately on the improvement of English, try to stretch to the ceiling of eloquency as well as professional writting;
2. Spend half a year to work on GMAT course;
3. Devote time to manage the current market measure job, try to lead a team to deliver the best of possible;
4. Transfer to another department if possible (internal rotation, 2 year's frequency), personally prefer consumer understanding department (a whole new perspective);
5. Start saving from now on;

Current Actions Taken:

1. Have initiated a personal plan named "decent English", focus most on vocabulary, involving some speaking and is writting an article on weekly basis despite of daily writing e-mails;
2. Have started to save money;

Questions for CDers:

1. Will I be too old to join a program at an age of 27-29?
2. Will my experience be abundant for a program at an age of 27-29?
3. A dilemma: I can decide whether to devote more on the job or on English, which is more important? Which one is more worthy to devote time and effort into? (Current job is not very stressful, involving management of several personnels as well as some analytical thinkings and understandings, helping the company to settle down it's long term strategies).
4. Another dilemma: What kind of career mode will be more favored by top-MBA schools in general, a higher level manager or a more diversified background?
5. Do I need to change a company for an improved remuneration package or not when chances come, in order to pace up the piling up of the funding for MBA?
6. How did you guys solve your financial hurdles? By loan? How much loan can one possibly get?
7. How much time do you plan to repay your debts?
8. Which schools are to be recommended: Not notoriously persnickety on GPA, good in General Management or Consulting and is content of applicants with diversified background?

Again, thanks so much if you've read this through and pop up with some suggestions!

Cheers!

1. You need to be more patient.

2. You need to spend some time and go through the resources available on this forum.  Try starting from here: http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardID=13&ID=239846&page=1

Good luck!

1. Will I be too old to join a program at an age of 27-29?   No.
2. Will my experience be abundant for a program at an age of 27-29?  It's the quality not the quantity that really matters.
3. A dilemma: I can decide whether to devote more on the job or on English, which is more important? Which one is more worthy to devote time and effort into? (Current job is not very stressful, involving management of several personnels as well as some analytical thinkings and understandings, helping the company to settle down it's long term strategies). Focus more on your job, as you get paid and get respected for your job. You will never be able to use English as natives.
4. Another dilemma: What kind of career mode will be more favored by top-MBA schools in general, a higher level manager or a more diversified background? Both are OK.
5. Do I need to change a company for an improved remuneration package or not when chances come, in order to pace up the piling up of the funding for MBA? No comments.
6. How did you guys solve your financial hurdles? By loan? How much loan can one possibly get? You can borrow all your tuition and 2 years living expenses, if admitted by top10 schools.
7. How much time do you plan to repay your debts? It depends on what's your post MBA career.
8. Which schools are to be recommended: Not notoriously persnickety on GPA, good in General Management or Consulting and is content of applicants with diversified background? It depends on what you want to do post MBA.

Dont over plan your self, be flexible.

Thanks so much for your advice!

Will keep in mind......