Profile evaluation - GMAT 645

Hi MG4MBACrystalBall

Thanks for the inputs.

- Retake is something I haven't yet given a strong thought on. Will surely consider.
- So, I was thinking of modelling my entire profile around entrepreneurship. As in the long run I intend to be associated with startups in some shape or form. Frequent job changes should be manageable I believe. One of my colleagues from Tata 1mg went to Wharton, a couple of my college friends went to Ross and Kellogg if that helps, though nothing much in common with the latter apart from the degree. For the 1mg colleague, we have a complete overlap of work ex and had some projects where we worked together, recommendation won't be a problem if required.
- One thing forgot to mention is that we were the founders of the go kart team of the college. So did all the setups from scratch. There are ongoing efforts in the startup that should fatten the chicken by the time applications are sent.
- No international experience as such.­

 

Nimishgoyal1302 - some thoughts:

1. What are your plans immediately post-MBA i.e. target sector/ function/ geographies? Prioritizing B-schools becomes more structured starting with this. 

2. Given the job switches, it'd be crucial to highlight the growth arc, presenting these as thoughtful moves whereby you picked up certain increased skillsets e.g. exposure to sectors, domains, tech/ business nuances etc. Linking these "transferable skills" to your career goals would then help present a strong narrative. The entrepreneurship angle can help too, but I'm assuming that's the long-term plan?

3. EC's present good talking points for essays. Aim to highlight through these activities your overall personality traits, and how you'd add value to the MBA class e.g. clubs (academic and social), career treks, etc.

4. Given the GPA and the competitive (Indian Engineer Male) cohort, a GMAT retake would help increase chances at these top B-schools.

Hope this helps a bit.

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Schedule a free chat
W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com­

Hi Nimish,

You've got a great profile - the professional journey is something that definitely seems interesting.  YOu have an interesting array of EC's as well - I would be interested to know more.

Your GMAT is below global average for HSW (and definitely below Indian average) - not saying you shouldn't apply. There're always occasions where adcom decisions surprise us on our initial expectations - it really depends on what stories you have (compared to what folks with similar qualifications don't have).

I would encourage you to apply to 2 or 3 of these programs, but definitely consider schools in the T15 calibre as well.  Reach out if you want to chat more.

Oh, and about INSEAD - INSEAD will need international experience, though your score should be ok.

Best,
Karthik

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­Hello Nimishgoyal1302,

Hope this finds you well.

First things first, improving your GMAT score is going to be crucial; you belong to an overrepresented pool of Indian male applicants and your current GMAT score will not help you stand out. The good news is that you have time in hand; so, this is possible.

Once you have an improved score, a lot will depend on how you bring together all your experiences into a coherent narrative (you must explain the frequent job shifts in your Optional Essay as well) and link it up with your career goals; remember, the goals should be in sync with all that you have done so far; besides the short term goals should also sync with your long term goals; if you are looking to pursue entrepreneurship, having a very clear idea of what you intend to do (in the short-term and long-term) is important; if you do not have the clarity, it is best to avoid this route.

All in all, INSEAD will value your entrepreneurial bent of mind; however, improving your GMAT score before applying will be crucial; with regard to the other schools, you need to put forth a compelling story and back it up with a solid test score; our suggestion would be that you balance your risk out a bit and include a few US top ~20 schools as well (alongside the top ~5 European schools).

Should you wish to discuss your prsopects in greater detail, please feel free to get in touch with us for a profile evaluation session.

Hope this helps.

All the best!