Ask Ivy Groupe MBA Admissions Consulting : Ask Admissions Consultants - Page 2

Hi there,

Thanks for sharing your background and for your question. The lower GPA will make it tougher, so there are a few things that I would suggest doing:

- Aim for a GMAT score that is above the schools’ median/average scores - the higher that you can score, the better, since it will show that you can handle the rigor of the curriculum

- Take quant classes (such as statistics or calculus) online or at a local college and do well in those courses (again, to show that you can handle the rigor of the MBA curriculum)

- You’ll want to make sure that your story and applications are as strong as they can be – if I can help on that front, feel free to let me know

I hope this helps!

Best,
Shaifali

Hello IvyGroupeCEO ,

Can you please review my profile?

https://gmatclub.com/forum/profile-eval ... l#p2020997

Hi Piyush,

Thanks for sharing your background – my thoughts on your questions are below:

1. This is a tough question to answer without really knowing what you have achieved in your role professionally (or would have achieved by the time you apply). If you have worked on assignments where you have demonstrated leadership/impact (even though you may be more junior) then applying for the 2019 intake would be fine. But if you think that the extra year will give you more of the leadership/impact exposure, then it would be better to wait.

2. I would not recommend changing your industry just so that you are doing something different – any career transition should fit in with respect to your career objectives/goals. To differentiate yourself, think about your story – who are you beyond being an IT professional? Helping clients craft their story for business school is what Ivy Groupe excels in – if you would like to explore further, feel free to let me know.

3. School choice is a very personal decision – a lot has to do with your goals and what you see as a good fit. Since you come from a tough demographic, the top 4-5 schools will be a stretch, but beyond that, given that your grades and GPA score are strong, the schools should be targets for you.

I hope that helps!

Best,
Shaifali

IvyGroupeCEO wrote:Hi Piyush,

Thanks for sharing your background – my thoughts on your questions are below:

1. This is a tough question to answer without really knowing what you have achieved in your role professionally (or would have achieved by the time you apply). If you have worked on assignments where you have demonstrated leadership/impact (even though you may be more junior) then applying for the 2019 intake would be fine. But if you think that the extra year will give you more of the leadership/impact exposure, then it would be better to wait.

2. I would not recommend changing your industry just so that you are doing something different – any career transition should fit in with respect to your career objectives/goals. To differentiate yourself, think about your story – who are you beyond being an IT professional? Helping clients craft their story for business school is what Ivy Groupe excels in – if you would like to explore further, feel free to let me know.

3. School choice is a very personal decision – a lot has to do with your goals and what you see as a good fit. Since you come from a tough demographic, the top 4-5 schools will be a stretch, but beyond that, given that your grades and GPA score are strong, the schools should be targets for you.

I hope that helps!

Best,
Shaifali

IvyGroupeCEO
Thank you for your feedback, I can't help but notice that your charges are approx 10,000 USD for 4 schools. The price is quite steep for me, are there chances of any reductions that you might be able to provide. Also, is there an office in India ?.

Also, can you provide me some colleges that I could apply to with 2 years of work ex. I'm thinking of choosing Kellog, Tuck and McCombs.

Hi Piyush,

Yes! We are offering discounts for signing up early. I'd love to hop on the phone with you to talk about the different options, if that works? Let me know - if you can send an email to info@ivygroupe.com with your resume (so I have a better sense of your background) and some days/times that would work for you to speak, that would be great.

We don't have an office in India, but every year, I work with clients who are based there and there has never been any issues with the logistics/time difference.

In terms of school choice, as I mentioned, a lot comes down to what your goals are and the fit. However, of the schools you have mentioned, Tuck tends to skew a little more on the older side with respect to age - other schools that you may want to consider given your age are Darden, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, and Kenan-Flagler.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best,
Shaifali

Featured in US News Article: “How to Get Into Multiple Top Business Schools”

At Ivy Groupe, we believe very strongly that each candidate's unique experiences are what set him/her apart. Our philosophy focuses on authenticity and storytelling to help clients craft compelling and differentiated applications that stand out. With this approach, our clients have gained admission to top-tier MBA programs such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT, Columbia, Booth, Tuck, Haas, and Yale, among others.

As a result, I am excited to share that I was recently quoted in a US News Article where I emphasize the importance of authenticity and conveying one’s unique experiences in MBA applications. The article, “How to Get Into Multiple Top Business Schools,” can be accessed here.

Ivy Groupe is a boutique MBA admissions consulting company founded by Shaifali Aggarwal, who received her MBA from Harvard Business School and undergraduate degree from Princeton University. Shaifali’s philosophy focuses on authenticity and storytelling to help clients craft compelling and differentiated applications that stand out. With this approach, Shaifali’s clients have gained admission to top-tier MBA programs such as Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT, Columbia, Booth, Tuck, and Yale, among others.

We are excited to introduce our Bundled Packages, designed to accommodate any budget and still give you direct access to Shaifali, a Harvard MBA and MBA admissions expert.

With our Bundled Packages, you would take the Crafting Compelling Business School Applications course (authored by Shaifali) and then purchase add-ons to get additional guidance/feedback from Shaifali.

​Through this foundational course (priced at $399), you will learn how to put together the strongest applications possible to maximize your chances of getting into the MBA programs of your choice. The course is broken into 6 modules with sub-sections, digging into topics such as what to think about before applying to business school, how to approach the application (story/strategy, goals, resume, essays, etc.), and how to prepare for interviews:

​Module 1: What Admissions Committees Look For
Module 2: How Many Schools To Apply To And When To Apply
Module 3: Developing Your Application Story/Strategy
Module 4: Crafting Your Application
Module 5: Post-submission
Module 6: Parting Thoughts

When you purchase this course, you are eligible for add-ons if you are seeking additional help on your applications. Please note that Shaifali will be your primary Consultant for ALL of the add-ons.

You can learn more about the course and the add-ons by clicking here.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

Hello Shaifali,

I am little confused to decide between EMBA and Full Time MBA. Here is my profile.

Indian Male/33 age
Bachelors -ECE - 3.7 From Andhra University
Master - EE - 3.67 from SIUE (US) graduated in Dec 2009.

I have a work experience of 9 years in analytics in financial and retail companies, of which 50% in consulting and 50% full time.

I am preparing to give GMAT in this May and planning to start MBA in either Finance or Consulting by fall 2019.

Please advice.

Thank you,
Neelakant

Hi Neelakant / iamfirestar,

Thanks for sharing your background! There are a few things that you should take into account as you decide between an EMBA and the full-time MBA:

- What are your post-MBA goals? The full-time MBA program is typically better for those who are looking to make a career transition and where having an internship would be helpful. If you are already in a senior role, EMBA programs may be better – note, though, that most people who pursue an EMBA are typically looking to take on more senior roles within their current companies. As a result, EMBA programs usually ask for a letter of sponsorship from your company given the time commitment that it will require

- What are you looking to get out of the MBA program that you attend? Full-time programs usually foster closer relationships and networking opportunities since students are spending a lot of time together. But there is also a large opportunity cost since you are giving up income for 2 years. On the other hand, the opportunity cost for EMBA programs is lower since students are simultaneously working and studying

- Your demographic and age – you are on the older side of MBA applicants and come from a tough demographic (Indian male). While not impossible, applying to the full-time MBA programs will be tougher and you will have to be very clear as to how the MBA will help you at this point in your career

I hope these questions will help to guide your thought process as you consider the EMBA and full-time programs. There is no one right answer – but the first step towards deciding what is right for YOU is to do some introspection and soul searching!

Best,
Shaifali

4 Common Mistakes of International Applicants

International applicants can contribute a lot to business schools given their perspective and experience in certain regions of the world; however, through my work with international applicants, I have noticed four areas in which international applicants tend to falter the most when applying to business school. These four areas are outlined below.

Lack of extracurricular activities

Many international applicants, having grown up in environments where academics and strong professional experience are emphasized, lack engagement in extracurricular activities where they have had meaningful impact. Many international applicants are under the impression that with strong undergraduate grades, a high GMAT/GRE score, and strong recommendation letters, they have a great shot at being accepted to top-tier MBA programs. Unfortunately, that is not enough. It is extremely important for all applicants (including international ones) to become involved in extracurricular activities in leadership roles and demonstrate impact. By doing so, international applicants will be ahead of their international competitors.

Not drawing upon unique personal experiences and perspectives

Through my experiences, I have seen that international applicants tend to focus more heavily on their professional experiences in the essays (and often it's just a rehash of their resume); this is likely due to cultural norms where sharing personal stories is frowned upon. While professional achievements should be highlighted, it is just as important to highlight personal experiences as well. Admissions Committees want to understand your values, motivations, and what has shaped you; these elements can often help an international applicant stand out from the crowd. For example, did you overcome or learn how to manage a health issue? Did you face resistance in areas of your life because of your gender? Did you go against cultural norms to achieve your goals?

Generic recommendation letters

Often because of cultural norms, recommendation letters from international applicants tend to be more generic and muted. However, the reality is that MBA programs are accustomed to hearing more glowing language that is supported by specific examples. International applicants can guide their recommenders so that the recommendation letters are more in line with what top-tier business schools are expecting and looking for.

Narrow school selection

International applicants tend to choose schools solely based on brand. While this is understandable, it's important to broaden the schools to which you are applying given how competitive the MBA admissions process is. Think about your post-MBA goals and research multiple MBA programs. Outside of the M7 (the top seven schools), there are fantastic schools that will help you attain your goals and will be great fits.

By being aware of these four common mistakes, you will be in a better position to navigate the application process as an international applicant.

Applying in the near future? Contact us at https://www.ivygroupe.com/contact or info@ivygroupe.com to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with our Founder, an HBS grad and MBA admissions expert!

Featured in US News Article: “What It Takes to Get Accepted at a Top MBA Program”

This question is often top of mind for many MBA candidates. I am excited to share that I was recently quoted in a US News Article where I stress how demonstrating problem skills is one way to stand out in the MBA application pool. The article can be accessed here.

Note: This post first appeared on Ivy Groupe's blog

Should You Work With An MBA Admissions Consultant?

With admission to top-tier business schools getting increasingly competitive, how can you stand out from a very competitive pool of applicants? Many applicants hire an MBA admissions consultant to help position themselves in the best light possible, but should you?

This is a very personal decision and depends on your comfort level with the MBA application process as well as your writing skills. If you're confident with how you plan to position yourself and how well you write, then you probably don’t need to. However, if you’re uncertain about your story and writing is not a strength of yours, then hiring a consultant can be very helpful. Ultimately, whether or not to hire a consultant is up to you, but if you’re unsure, reach out to some consultants and schedule some time to speak to them to understand how they can add value to you. If you do decide to hire a consultant, note that he/she can help you in a variety of ways as stated below.

An MBA admissions consultant can help you develop your application strategy/story and convey it in a compelling way

An expert can collaboratively work with you to help you discover your unique attributes, craft a story that highlights your achievements, and formulate post-MBA goals that are ambitious yet credible and achievable so that you can distinguish yourself in a very competitive pool. They can also work with you to ensure that key examples in the essays reflect your story/who you are/your strengths in line with the qualities that the top business schools are looking for. Furthermore, they can provide guidance on how to approach different pieces of the application (each of which is important), such as the resume, recommendation letters, and interviews, so that the applications provide a holistic picture of you.

An MBA admissions consultant can help you address weaknesses

If there are parts of your profile that need bolstering, an MBA admissions consultant can provide concrete suggestions on how to go about doing that, so you can put together the strongest applications possible. The recommendations to strengthen your profile can be related to your academic, professional, or extracurricular profile. Many times, these are suggestions that an applicant would not have thought about on his/her own.

An MBA admissions consultant can recommend business schools for you to consider

Which schools should you apply to? An MBA admissions consultant can suggest schools for you to apply to based on your profile and post-MBA goals. Moreover, they can help you to determine which schools are "stretch" schools and which ones are more realistic given your background. Many times, candidates are fixated on certain schools and have not given much consideration to other top-tier MBA programs that may be a good fit. Given how competitive the business school application process is, an MBA consultant can work with you to select a range of schools to apply to that you would be happy to attend.

Note that an MBA admissions consultant will not write any aspect of your application or guarantee acceptance to any school. Their role is to give suggestions to strengthen your work. Applying to business school is more of an art than a science; there are many factors that go into the equation. A great MBA admissions consultant will leverage his/her experience, expertise, and knowledge to help you position yourself in the most compelling way possible in order to maximize your chances of admission.

Applying in the near future? Contact us at https://www.ivygroupe.com/contact or info@ivygroupe.com to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with our Founder, an HBS grad and MBA admissions expert!

Hi Ivy! Hoping to get your thoughts on my profile.

Background:
- Male
- Dual Citizen: Filipino and US
- Born in the US but lived my whole life in the Philippines
- Turning 26 this December

Work Experience - total around 5 years at matriculation
- Did 1 year in a boutique alternative investment manager
- Now in my 3rd year in Corp. Dev for one of the largest corporations in the Philippines
- Promoted twice - once in my first job and once in my second job

GMAT: 740

Education
- Math in Top 3 university in the country
- GPA: 2.5/4. 2.5 is around average in my class. No excuse for the low GPA other than being unfocused and immature.
- CFA Charterholder.

Extracurriculars
- Opened my own neighborhood sundry store. Operated for a few months and made some money but had to close down because there wasn't enough foot traffic
- Been doing volunteer work the past 5 months - teaching financial literacy classes to less fortunate

Goal
- Corp Dev/Strat for a F500 in the US
- Eventually go back to the Philippines to do Corp Dev or start my own fund

Targets
- Booth, Kellog, Tuck, Ross, Stern, Darden, McCombs

Questions
1. How likely are my chances with each school (particularly my M7 choices)?
2. Would the CFA charter lessen adcoms’ fears of my academic capabilities? The exams are relatively quant-heavy and were taken more recently than my college classes. Additional classes to offset my GPA aren’t really an option in the Philippines.
3. I'm also planning to address my GPA through optional essays. Is it okay if I just become straightforward and tell them I was lazy but I'm better now?

Hi throw123,

Thanks for sharing your background – with respect to your questions:

1. Given your low GPA (despite having a strong GMAT score – the quant breakout will be important), I would view Booth, Kellogg, and Tuck as stretch schools, and the others as target schools

2. The CFA charter is an incremental positive, but unfortunately it won’t mitigate your academic performance – your GMAT score will hold much more weight; your story will also be extremely important as you work on your applications (your goals and “connecting the dots,” what has shaped you, your values, etc). With respect to additional classes, I would suggest taking online quantitative classes (since they are online, I don’t imagine it should be a problem if you are in the Philippines)

3. Definitely a good idea to address your GPA through your optional essays and then point to the factors that are mitigating that (GMAT score, etc.) – I wouldn’t use the word “lazy” though

I hope that helps – please feel free to sign up for our emails at www.ivygroupe.com to get more tips/updates! Also, if it would be helpful, you can sign up for a free 30 minute consultation here: https://www.ivygroupe.com/contact.

Best,
Shaifali

Contributor to Forbes: “Authenticity Might Be The Key Ingredient For Career Success”

At Ivy Groupe, our philosophy focuses on authenticity to help clients craft compelling and differentiated applications that stand out; this stems from a very strong belief that every single person has a unique and compelling story to tell. Being authentic has also served me well in my professional journey. As a result, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to contribute to Forbes by writing this article, “Authenticity Might Be the Key Ingredient for Career Success,” which can be accessed here.

Hello,

I would appreciate it if you could evaluate my profile and provide feedback. Thank you!

Currently, 26yr old Asian American Male. 27 at Matriculation.

College- 2 yrs at community college (3.8 GPA), then 2 years at UC Riverside (3.15 GPA). Combined GPA ~3.5. GPA fell at UCR due to familial obligations of taking care of a sick relative. Will use optional essay to discuss this.

GMAT: GMAT Prep Test Score of 740 (49Q 41V) Let's assume I will score between 720-740 on the real test.

Work Exp
1.5 yrs- Wealth Advisor at Guardian Life. My team and I specialized in working with business clients on insurance and investment programs, corporate tax planning, and business succession planning. I took this role out of college to really strengthen my soft skills (boardroom presentations, relationship building, communication, etc..). I am a huge believer in working on my professional skills and at the time, my soft skills were lacking in my opinion.

What will be ~3.5 yrs (at matriculation) as a analyst in Product Management at a Top 15 P&C Insurance Company (~$4B in revenue). I love the work I do. This role marries two interests of mine- data analytics and leading cross functional executive level projects within the company. I have plenty of quantitatively-backed examples of the impact I have had. The P&C insurance industry is going through a transformation and it will be heavily disrupted within the next 10-15 years by autonomous vehicles. I aspire to be a leader of a top 5 insurer in the long run and guide the industry through the changing landscape.

Extracurriculars: Vice Chair of a Young Entrepreneurs non-profit organization for 4 years. I was brought in to grow the membership base, and I was able to grow it from ~300 to now over 2,400 members. We provide entrepreneur education and community to grow and collaborate. I also started a volunteer program within this organization and we have volunteered over 3,000 hours at local food banks, beach clean ups, Easter egg hunts, soup kitchens, local libraries, etc..

Organized a basketball team through work. We play in a local men's league. I will somehow incorporate the importance sports (and basketball, specifically) has had in my personal and professional development over the past 18 years.

United Way Rep for 2017. Organized fundraisers and food drives at work. Launched our first Annual Silent Auction which raised more money than any other event.

Short-Term Goal: To work in strategy consulting (MBB, Deloitte, ATK, etc..)

Target Schools: Columbia, MIT, Kellogg, Ross, Fuqua, Darden, Cornell, NYU, UCLA. I will shorten this list but those are the schools I have an interest in.

Hi LakersFanCali,

Thanks for sharing your background! Overall, you have an interesting trajectory, but since you are an Asian American male and your GPA is weaker, it will be extremely important for you to do well on the GMAT, and especially on the quant section. Professionally, make sure to focus on the impact that you've had in your roles. On the extracurricular side, it definitely sounds like you are doing impactful things.

I would view Columbia, MIT, and Kellogg as stretch schools and the others as target schools. A lot will come down to how you convey your story and why you are seeking an MBA (your goals right now feel broad).

If you would like to explore further, feel free to reach out to schedule a free 30-minute consultation: https://www.ivygroupe.com/contact. I hope this is helpful!

Best,
Shaifali

Featured in US News Article: “4 Reasons to Delay Applying to Business School”

If you are unsure as to when to apply to business school, this US News Article, in which I share my thoughts, will help to shed some light. The article can be accessed here.

Hi Ivy Groupe,

I'm considering applying in round 1 this year for full-time MBA programs enrolling fall 2019 and would love to get a profile evaluation and general thoughts on my potential career path. Any evaluation or advice you could give me would be much appreciated. Also curious if I'd gain anything from waiting another year, getting some more experience in my current role and getting some more community involvement.

White male, 26 years old

Education:
"Southern Ivy" (Duke, Emory, Vandy, etc.), graduated in 2014, Mathematics and Economics BA, GPA: 3.25 (started out pre-med which did not go well. Started to do better when I switched to math and econ, but suffered family tragedy fall of senior year which hurt my grades and recruiting as well)

GMAT:
770 (50Q/46V/8IR/5AWA)

Work (all at private, family-owned diversified holding company with $20B+ revenue):
-1 year as a business analyst in the Operational Excellence department in the automotive division. Acted as a liaison between business operations and IT development for the development of enterprise mobile applications, completed heavily statistical analysis to complete the business cases for these applications as well as justify a multi-million dollar acquisition, created operational tools for field use and trained several GMs on their use.
-2 years as a manager in the Financial Planning and Analysis department in the same division. Promoted to manager 3 years ahead of schedule for being recognized as a top performer. Managed a contractor and intern. Currently in charge of budgets and forecasts for several smaller portfolio businesses and on the leadership team of these businesses to provide insights that drive strategic decision-making.
-2 years (at matriculation) as a senior analyst in an elite corporate strategy & development group at the holding company level responsible for portfolio management, M&A, diversification strategy. So far led primary due diligence for several minority investments as well as played an integral role developing a strategy for the Company's extension into the clean technology industry (renewable energy, food and agriculture, water conservation, etc.). Interface regularly with C-level leaders, board members and external parties (banks, PE firms, Consultants, VCs)

Extracurriculars:
-Pro Bono consultant at an eCommerce retail store, creating the business plan, social media marketing strategy, and pricing methodology
-Half marathon participant in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program. Raised $2000 for cancer research
-Finalist in my company's internal StartUp business plan event
-Mentor at Big Brothers/Big Sisters Atlanta

Post-MBA Goals:
Ultimately I want to become the CFO of a well-funded start-up in my current industries of expertise (Cleantech, Auto). To get there, I want to work in Finance at one of the external parties I regularly interface with (PE or VC if possible) unless the opportunity presents itself to be a finance leader at a start-up right out of my MBA. I think working in M&A at a particularly flexible, family-owned Strategic provides a different, interesting perspective.

Schools under consideration:
I have two routes I'm considering, since I actually really like my current job:
-Shoot for the stars (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Chicago) where I think the the value would justify leaving my current role and paying the tuition
-Go to the one year MBA at my local university (Emory, where I think I can get close to a full scholarship), continue working part-time or take 1 year off and come back to my current role.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi MBAthrowaway2101,

Thanks for sharing your background. In my view, you are ready to apply this year - you have a strong GMAT score (which will certainly help given your weaker GPA, although it would also be beneficial for you to take some online quant classes to show that you can thrive in a classroom setting), it certainly sounds like you are doing impactful things professionally and taking on more responsibility, and your extracurricular activities look solid.

Harvard and Stanford would be stretch schools, but Wharton and Booth should be targets (especially if you take some online quant classes and get As in those courses). You should be very competitive at Emory. Why not explore both routes at the same time and then evaluate your options?

I hope that helps!

Best,
Shaifali