Ask MBA and Beyond Admissions Consulting : Ask Admissions Consultants - Page 3

Nikhil wrote:Another from the signup form: How should I start choosing a school? Any articles/videos you would recommend?

Choosing the schools to which the applicant will be applying depends on a lot of factors (costs, values of the school, focus areas and opportunities, and many more) - these vary from school to school. These are the key areas where consultant would be able to assist and help the applicant identify the right set of schools.

Applicants can find more details on our blog here: https://www.mbaandbeyond.com/blog/how-t ... ba-program

Further, as shared earlier, applicants can check the details for the various deferred MBA programs here: https://www.mbaandbeyond.com/blog/top-d ... ge-seniors

PiyushBhagat02 wrote:ISB application deadline is round the corner and as a pre final year undergrad, what suggestions do you have for us?

Hi Piyush, since you plan to apply next year, you should focus on building your profile in order to put in stellar ISB YLP applications. A good GMAT score goes a long way, along with solid ECAs and a sound recommendation.
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What does the admission committee look for in general in a deferred applicant?

Nikhil wrote:What does the admission committee look for in general in a deferred applicant?

The requirements vary across different schools - however, typically, a solid academic record, ECAs demonstrating various skills and activities having a social impact are key drivers. Having a full-time job position secured also helps.

To know more, you can access our blog on the same here: https://www.mbaandbeyond.com/blog/what- ... applicants

Deferred MBA programs are growing rapidly, and intake at some of the best universities is increasing by the year. Some of the best programs have been established in the previous four years. Hence, candidates who are in their final year of undergraduate studies and looking for secured spots at the top MBA programs should consider applying.

Even candidates looking at applying for MiM programs can consider these programs.
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Those are all the questions I have from the sign up form.

If you have any other queries regarding deferred MBA programs after the chat session, please feel free to reach out to me at nishkarshMBAandBeyond and nehaMBAandBeyond.com, and we will be more than happy to answer any queries you may have.
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Thank you MBAandBeyond, for joining us today.

Below is a brief about my profile, request you to kindly evaluate and suggest if there is a mismatch between the schools and the scores that I am targeting:

Gmat (First attempt) - 660, Q47, V34, IR6
Planning to take the second attend by end of May.

Target score: 710-720
Target Schools: Insead, Said, Judge, LBS, HEC

Indian / Male / 29 years

Graduation: Chemical Engineering (CGPA: 7.28 / 10, Harcourt Butler Technological Institute; mid-rank engineering college)
Post Graduation Diploma In Management: (CGPA: 7.05 /10, Indian Institute of Management Raipur; one of the top 15 business schools in India)

Work Experience: (Total 54 months till date)

30 months: Worked with a national Oil Marketing Company (a Fortune 500 company) in the Corporate Strategy and Planning team.

13 months: Worked in the CEO's office as a Program Manager at a cloud kitchen Start-up (this company is part of a group that owns two mobility based unicorn start-ups in India)

7 months: Program Manager to the CMO at the largest chain of Departmental stores in India.

Currently working as a Senior Manager in the CEO's Office at 7-Eleven India.

Target Schools: INSEAD, LBS, Said, Judge, HEC

Awards and Recognitions:

Implemented a project to optimize cash flows at 'Ola Foods' (part of a unicorn start-up group) during COVID-19 that not only led to ~42% optimization of excess space in kitchens but also resulted in monthly revenue stream of ~INR 8 lacs - Received recognition from Head of Projects and Head of Business Finance.

Guest Columnist for under 30 writers, a series of a daily column focusing on current affairs started by all 65 Dainik Bhaskar (leading national news daily) editions across 14 states.
Winner - Consulting case event at Advaita’15, the International Management fest of ISB Hyderabad.
Finalist - B-plan competition at Intaglio’16, the International Management fest of IIM Calcutta.
Finalist - Markician, the national marketing case study challenge organized by IIFT Delhi.
Winner - Case-Write-up competition in DIGITAL INDIA WEEK held at IIM Raipur, 2015

Post MBA - I want to pursue a career in consulting (with a focus on Energy sector).

Posted from my mobile device

Hi Abhi3492,

Thank you for sharing your profile with us. Let's take a look at your profile and assess your chances.

Academics: Your undergrad GPA is quite good; however, you can support your GPA and maximize your chances with a strong GMAT score. Aim for a GMAT score of 730+.

Work experience: Your work experience will be essential in your candidacy, and I believe you will be able to provide many strong leadership stories as a result of it. Working in a strategy and planning team must bring examples of your ideas and approach's impact. When writing your apps, you will need to demonstrate your career progression (promotions and successes) and your leadership qualities. When listing your roles or responsibilities, prioritize the most impacting ones. Elaborate on your prior experiences, explaining how working on diverse projects has helped you strengthen your leadership abilities and how you have handled situations when things have gone wrong. Do you have any international experience? INSEAD and LBS do stress this part. Finally, given your work experience revolves around CMOs/CEOs, you must emphasize one thing: spectacularly showcasing all of them.

Awards & Recognitions: Amazing! It is worthwhile to take a distinct spot in your application and demonstrate your expertise. You must strive to demonstrate the skill-set you have gained and how this additional knowledge and competence will help you achieve your MBA and post-MBA goals. Other than your academic achievements, all of this information will assist the adcom in getting to know you better!

Your passion for writing will help you add diversity to your application. A piece of advice on your post-MBA goals: divide them into short-term and long-term goals. Even if you are not directly asked to do so, it is good to consider how you may connect your goals to your previous experience and successes. So, think about your short-term and long-term goals carefully. You may want to read an article on how to frame practical post-MBA goals essays, you will get some insights. Also, explain how a specific school will assist you in achieving your goals. Since you are interested in the energy industry, here are some schools to consider:

1.University of California, Berkeley – Haas School of Business
2.Duke University Fuqua School of Business
3.University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business
4.The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
5.Rice University – Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business
6.Texas A&M University – Mays Business School
7.University of Houston – C. T. Bauer College of Business
8.University of Oklahoma – Michael F. Price College of Business
9.Imperial College Business School
10.University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS)

Overall a good profile and have a shot at Said, Judge, and HEC. For INSEAD and LBS, would like to get deeper insights into your profile. So, get a competitive GMAT score and focus on writing outstanding essays that align with the ideals of the schools. What is going to matter in your profile is how you connect the dots and create an amazing narrative. If you’d like, we are happy to hop on a call with you sometime this week to discuss your profile in length and further chances to the schools. Feel free to book a free session with us as per your convenience.

Check out our upcoming events and sign up for the session that interests you.

Cheers!
Neha Hadke
Profile Analyst & Channel Manager, MBA and Beyond
Testimonials
Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

Abhi3492 wrote:Below is a brief about my profile, request you to kindly evaluate and suggest if there is a mismatch between the schools and the scores that I am targeting:

Gmat (First attempt) - 660, Q47, V34, IR6
Planning to take the second attend by end of May.

Target score: 710-720
Target Schools: Insead, Said, Judge, LBS, HEC

Indian / Male / 29 years

Graduation: Chemical Engineering (CGPA: 7.28 / 10, Harcourt Butler Technological Institute; mid-rank engineering college)
Post Graduation Diploma In Management: (CGPA: 7.05 /10, Indian Institute of Management Raipur; one of the top 15 business schools in India)

Work Experience: (Total 54 months till date)

30 months: Worked with a national Oil Marketing Company (a Fortune 500 company) in the Corporate Strategy and Planning team.

13 months: Worked in the CEO's office as a Program Manager at a cloud kitchen Start-up (this company is part of a group that owns two mobility based unicorn start-ups in India)

7 months: Program Manager to the CMO at the largest chain of Departmental stores in India.

Currently working as a Senior Manager in the CEO's Office at 7-Eleven India.

Target Schools: INSEAD, LBS, Said, Judge, HEC

Awards and Recognitions:

Implemented a project to optimize cash flows at 'Ola Foods' (part of a unicorn start-up group) during COVID-19 that not only led to ~42% optimization of excess space in kitchens but also resulted in monthly revenue stream of ~INR 8 lacs - Received recognition from Head of Projects and Head of Business Finance.

Guest Columnist for under 30 writers, a series of a daily column focusing on current affairs started by all 65 Dainik Bhaskar (leading national news daily) editions across 14 states.
Winner - Consulting case event at Advaita’15, the International Management fest of ISB Hyderabad.
Finalist - B-plan competition at Intaglio’16, the International Management fest of IIM Calcutta.
Finalist - Markician, the national marketing case study challenge organized by IIFT Delhi.
Winner - Case-Write-up competition in DIGITAL INDIA WEEK held at IIM Raipur, 2015

Post MBA - I want to pursue a career in consulting (with a focus on Energy sector).

Posted from my mobile device

_________________

Consider the ‘Four C’s’ while choosing a Business School

With just a few months away from the 1st round of September intake 2023, many candidates may be anxious about deciding B-school that aligns with their profile requirements and career goals. However, with the pace at which the MBA deadlines are approaching, it's time that you take some important considerations when making the big decision about your target B-school.

The concept of the four C's.'

Apart from satisfying the basic benchmarks for GMAT/GRE, work experience, and GPA for an MBA program, one must consider the following factors - cost, Curriculum, Career, Culture & Community, namely the four C's'.

CONSIDERING COST/FINANCES

One must realize that an MBA certainly isn't cheap. For example, a full-time two-year MBA costs $200,000 at every B-school ranked in the top 25 in the US. Moreover, with time the cost of an MBA is likely to increase and isn't gonna be cheaper any time soon; hence, an aspiring candidate needs to consider the finances when making the decision. Moreover, it's critical to compare B-schools' financial aid offers, especially those that aren't ranked in the top 20. Also, having an offer in hand from one business school could be used as leverage for an aid package, and could definitely ask another B-school to match it or even get a better financial aid package!

CAREER

Everyone has their own unique post-MBA goals with consulting, product management, investment banking, etc. moreover, everyone applying belongs to a different industry and has a diverse academic background. Hence, it's crucial for you to choose a B-school that has a high acceptance rate for your current background and, at the same time, would help you succeed in your post-MBA goals. Therefore, choosing a business school to attend must be uniquely aligned to your career goals and, likewise, should be aspects such as culture and community to decide whether or not a B-school is a good fit.

CURRICULUM

It's deemed necessary for an applicant to go through the entire MBA curriculum to understand how an MBA fits your work-life balance. This step is crucial for people opting for a one-year program, online MBA, Evening program, and even the common two-year program, as many people are reluctant to leave their job and pursue an MBA. Hence, time and location often play an important role in this regard.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY

Apart from cost, rank, package, and curriculum, students are also more likely to look at the overall package presented to them, including the academics, location, class profile, student life, and other important factors. For example, programs in urban centers, such as Wharton, Chicago Booth, and Harvard, may feel much more competitive and intense. At the same time, smaller B-schools, especially those located in rural settings, usually foster a close-knit community feeling. Here, many students live on campus and interact with fellow students and faculty on a regular basis, thus developing a collaborative culture for the MBA programs.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT MBA PROGRAM?

There could be numerous factors to be considered; however, at the end of the day, the School decision is a personal choice that would ultimately affect your life the most. Therefore, while you can consider numerous factors, it's important to look at the big picture. Rank, package, community, and network all are worth considering, but the most important thing to consider is that no matter what B-school you decide on, make sure it's one that feels right to you. As it may feel logical, choosing the right fit for yourself is more of a personal, self-reflective process!

If you need opinions from experts and alums of different business schools on your profile, feel free to hop on a call with us. We are here with a vision to help candidates get clarity around their life, vision, and goals.

Best,
MBA and Beyond
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Hi MBAandBeyond,

I'm a 28-year-old Indian female who is looking to apply to MBA programs such as INSEAD, Said Business School, Judge Business School, HEC Paris, Imperial College Business School and others in R1 this year. I'm primarily looking at one-year programs. My current GMAT score is 680 (Q48, V35). I'm retaking to achieve a score in the range of 700-720.

Work experience:

I have over 7.5 years of work experience during which I have helped several top corporate law firms build their brands. To name a few, I have worked with two of India's largest law firms as a brand, marketing, and communications (BCM) professional. I'm now working with a magic circle law firm (the five most prestigious London-headquartered multinational law firms) as BCM professional. In my current role, I'm heading all brand related initiatives for India region.

I also work with teams across the globe to contribute to the overall brand related initiatives of the Firm.

In my opinion, what is also unique about my work experience is that two of the law firms I worked with had never experimented with marketing and communications. So, I not only set up those functions at the Firms, but also scaled them up.

Apart from this, I was also journalist with India largest newspaper by circulation (back in 2016). After that I moved to world's top 2 marketing and communications agency (Headquartered in the US) to advise brands in auto, telecom, and legal industry on reputation and crisis management, PR, marketing, and social media. At this agency, I was promoted thrice in three years after which I decided I wanted to explore in-house roles at law firms.

I have received a few awards for some campaigns I ran for my clients and for Innovation at one of the law Firms I worked with. For now, I'm not going in the details of impact I was able to contribute to at the companies I worked with.

Apart from work:

I'm a first-generation graduate. I have been involved in various extracurricular activities. I created a fitness related community and have trained over 15 women to achieve their fitness goals. I have also been awarded as one of the most fit people in the communications industry.

Back in college, I created a group that helped college students find part-time employment such as participating in various kinds of events. I directly contacted the event organizers, which helped me in avoiding middlemen and eventually increasing the monetary benefit that was passed on to the recipients.

Education:

I graduated with an Honours degree in English Literature from Delhi University. The grades aren't great (not sure, as I have not converted them to a certain scale), as I was working part-time to fund my education and living expenses. After that, I pursued a Post Graduate Certificate Program at MICA.

Why MBA?

I want to change both the industry and function. I want to move out of law firms and to different function such as B2C marketing, product marketing, product management, and business development. Over the years, my profile has got very restricted to B2B marketing, PR, social media management, advertising, CSR, crisis communications, and etc. But before I transition, I realise it will be great to take a step back and learn a few things that could add a defining dimension to my career.

If it's worth anything, after some research, I found that a lot of folks with my background make it to INSEAD, especially from the US-headquartered agency I worked with.

Happy to discuss any more details you'll need. I'm looking forward to your views, especially on the choice of schools. Please feel free to add schools that you think I can look at (not in the US though).

Hi CrushTHYGMAT,

Thanks for sharing your profile. Your profile looks amazing on the surface. Let’s evaluate your profile set by step-

Academics- You haven't shared your GPA here, but as you mentioned, it might be low because you were working part-time to fund your education. You'll need to make up for it with a good GMAT score. I recommend aiming for 720+ to maximize your chances and demonstrate your academic abilities with excellent balance in the Quants and Verbal sections.

Work experience- Sounds good! You did a great job setting up marketing and communications for the two law firms. You are scaling things up, but you are also demonstrating your innovation, creativity, willingness to take risks, and ability to excel. Good career trajectory, you will need to show impact and demonstrate your leadership abilities in the application. Explain how working on numerous projects has helped you develop your leadership skills and how you handled situations where things went wrong. Your profile also has some international experience; presenting it adequately will give our profile a global perspective. Overall, your work experience is impactful.

Ecs- Your ECs are good. They not only showcase your exceptional leadership and various interests, but they also make a strong statement about your enthusiasm for learning new things and giving back to society in every way possible. Speaking about all of these with the right passion will undoubtedly bring diversity to your apps.

Your reason for "Why MBA" makes sense, and believe me, most people lack here. A good 'Why MBA' Essay involves many strong aspects to tie your story together, and I am confident that we can construct a great essay for this. Moving further, you will need to discuss your post-MBA goals. I would like to know more about them. Which industry, position, etc., do you want to work in? You may want to read an article on how to frame practical post-MBA goals essays, you will get some insights on how to communicate the convincing case to the adcoms.

Overall, you have a good profile and do have a shot at top European schools (with an increase in GMAT). INSEAD, HEC, ESADE, SDA, Judge will be fit for your profile. If you’d like, we are happy to hop on a call with you sometime this week to discuss your profile in length and further chances to the EU schools. Feel free to book a free session with us as per your convenience.

How to craft an Admit winning M7 profile

Cheers!
Neha Hadke
Profile Analyst & Channel Manager, MBA and Beyond
Testimonials
Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

CrushTHYGMAT wrote:Hi MBAandBeyond,

I'm a 28-year-old Indian female who is looking to apply to MBA programs such as INSEAD, Said Business School, Judge Business School, HEC Paris, Imperial College Business School and others in R1 this year. I'm primarily looking at one-year programs. My current GMAT score is 680 (Q48, V35). I'm retaking to achieve a score in the range of 700-720.

Work experience:

I have over 7.5 years of work experience during which I have helped several top corporate law firms build their brands. To name a few, I have worked with two of India's largest law firms as a brand, marketing, and communications (BCM) professional. I'm now working with a magic circle law firm (the five most prestigious London-headquartered multinational law firms) as BCM professional. In my current role, I'm heading all brand related initiatives for India region.

I also work with teams across the globe to contribute to the overall brand related initiatives of the Firm.

In my opinion, what is also unique about my work experience is that two of the law firms I worked with had never experimented with marketing and communications. So, I not only set up those functions at the Firms, but also scaled them up.

Apart from this, I was also journalist with India largest newspaper by circulation (back in 2016). After that I moved to world's top 2 marketing and communications agency (Headquartered in the US) to advise brands in auto, telecom, and legal industry on reputation and crisis management, PR, marketing, and social media. At this agency, I was promoted thrice in three years after which I decided I wanted to explore in-house roles at law firms.

I have received a few awards for some campaigns I ran for my clients and for Innovation at one of the law Firms I worked with. For now, I'm not going in the details of impact I was able to contribute to at the companies I worked with.

Apart from work:

I'm a first-generation graduate. I have been involved in various extracurricular activities. I created a fitness related community and have trained over 15 women to achieve their fitness goals. I have also been awarded as one of the most fit people in the communications industry.

Back in college, I created a group that helped college students find part-time employment such as participating in various kinds of events. I directly contacted the event organizers, which helped me in avoiding middlemen and eventually increasing the monetary benefit that was passed on to the recipients.

Education:

I graduated with an Honours degree in English Literature from Delhi University. The grades aren't great (not sure, as I have not converted them to a certain scale), as I was working part-time to fund my education and living expenses. After that, I pursued a Post Graduate Certificate Program at MICA.

Why MBA?

I want to change both the industry and function. I want to move out of law firms and to different function such as B2C marketing, product marketing, product management, and business development. Over the years, my profile has got very restricted to B2B marketing, PR, social media management, advertising, CSR, crisis communications, and etc. But before I transition, I realise it will be great to take a step back and learn a few things that could add a defining dimension to my career.

If it's worth anything, after some research, I found that a lot of folks with my background make it to INSEAD, especially from the US-headquartered agency I worked with.

Happy to discuss any more details you'll need. I'm looking forward to your views, especially on the choice of schools. Please feel free to add schools that you think I can look at (not in the US though).

_________________

As the time draws near for round one MBA applications, many top B-schools have already started releasing their application deadlines along with their essay questions. There is a new entry in the list of top B-schools releasing their deadlines! Columbia Business School (CBS) has released its deadlines and essay questions for this year's admissions cycle. Details about each round are given below.

August 2023 Entry:
Early Decision: September 28, 2022
Regular Decision: April 5, 2023

January 2023 Entry:
Regular Decision: September 28, 2022

Along with their round deadlines for both August 2022 and January 2023 entry, CBS has also released their required application essays questions, which are as follows:

Short Answer Question:
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Essay 1: What are your career goals over the next three to five years, and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essay 2: Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you academically, culturally, and professionally? (300 words)

Essay 3: Tell us about your favorite book, movie, or song and why it resonates with you. (250 words)

There you go! These are the essay questions released by CBS for MBA applicants applying in this year's admission cycle. As you can see, it's a clear mix of post-MBA goals; how would an MBA from CBS enhance your skill-set and a personal question to gauge your character apart from your professionalism.

To get started, we would advise you spend about two weeks doing adequate research on CBS itself, familiarizing yourself with the curriculum, culture, clubs, and campus activities. Next, it's crucial to understand how to interlink your experiences, ECAs, and professional accolades in a well-structured manner and with an approach that would provide a clear sense of your professionalism and define a strong character that matches the school values.

It seems a bit confusing, isn't it? But, fear not; MBA and Beyond are determined to help you develop a unique structure for each essay question providing step-by-step procedures to build a specific answer that would help you stand above the crowd! We have helped applicants to get into EA & ED rounds in Fuqua, Darden, Tuck, and Columbia.

At MBAandBeyond, we follow a step-by-step method to achieve maximum efficiency, quality, and interaction, ensuring that every minute is well spent! Furthermore, we at MBA and beyond are committed to guiding you through the entire application process and ensuring that you receive the best offers from top Business schools. As a result, if you want an in-depth evaluation of your profile, please feel free to book a free session with us at your convenience. As "at certain points in life, we require guidance and assistance from others in order to grow."

Good luck!
MBAandBeyond
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Hey,
Future MBA grads
Your dream B-school, Stanford, has published its class profile, do check out the following link to glimpse various parameters, including average GMAT/GRE scores and work experience.

We wish you all the best!😇

CLICK HERE — https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/m ... ss-profile
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Hi MBAandBeyond ,

I am looking to start my MBA in the spring of 2023. Would appreciate your help in evaluating my profile!
My main concern is regarding my undergraduate GPA.
Details of my profile are as follows -

Demographics
Nationality - Indian
Gender - Male
Age - 29 (by admission time)

Education
XIIth - 87.4%
Undergrad (Engineering) - 56%

GMAT
Current Score - 720 (Q45/V44/IR6/AWA6)
Official Mock Score Range - 740 to 770
I'm planning to give the GMAT again, and I'm quite sure I can manage to hit the mock score range, the current Quant score was an aberration due to test-centre related issues. The current score aligns well with the general split I've had, barring Quant.

Work Experience
Total - 5 years & a ~2 year career break

40 months - Business Development and Project Management Role in a family firm, operating in the field of Telecommunication Infrastructure.

28 months - Career break to pursue the Civil Services recruitment examination in India, one of the most rigorous exams in the world; placed in the Top 0.2 percentile, and a Top 5 score in the optional subject of choice Sociology (bachelor's level syllabus); exposure to public policy, economics, international relations, among many other areas.

14 months - As a Senior Business Analyst at an IT Services/Software Product Development startup - additional exposure to investor relations, product and project management. Setup the product development framework here; led a team on developing an in-house software solution.

2 months and counting - at a multinational corporation's offshore division aligned with its Canadian concern, as a Cybersecurity Analyst (Technology Consulting); also covering Presales facing the Canadian public sector.

Extracurriculars
Member of Organising Committee in College Clubs.
Working on an edu-impact venture with family members in the entrepreneurial space that will be on-ground within the next 6 months - developed timeline, business plans and the investor pitch for this.



Leadership Experience (relatively limited)
Product Owner in my previous firm, led a team of 4.

International Experience
Grew up abroad in the Middle East for four years in childhood.
Working with Canadian teams in an offshore model in my current role, in both the public and private sector - regular interactions.
French Language & Culture course from Alliance Francaise (no certification yet), also a subject in high school.


Post-MBA Goals
Aiming to pursue opportunities in Consulting, particularly in Public Sector and Policy Consulting.
Plan to start my own business back home in the longer-term, focused on agro-waste and food processing, and/or in MSME enablement through technology and policy improvement.


Target Schools (tentative - open to applying in the next cycle if current cycle isn't feasible)
Indian School of Business (ISB) <applied>
INSEAD
HEC, Paris
Columbia
Kellogg (1 year MBA)
Darden

I would also love to see your suggestions on which schools would you recommend apart from the above, assuming a 750 or greater GMAT score.
Also, what else could I do to alleviate the undergrad position apart from a high enough GMAT score?

Hi passingthru,

Thanks for sharing your profile in detail. Your profile looks good on the surface. Let’s evaluate your profile one by one-

Academics- You have a good GMAT score, but if you're scoring 740-770 in mocks, I'd think it's worth a go. Improve your quantitative and verbal scores. Speaking about your GPA, it is on the lower side, but I feel that if you are able to achieve a 740 GMAT, your low GPA will not be a huge problem, and it anyway, can not be a deal-breaker. People with GMAT scores around 650 are still getting into top business schools. So, focus on what you can accomplish now, i.e. your GMAT, and bring out the best from other aspects of your application. You can also add any academic certifications or course work to highlight your academic achievements.

Work experience- Your entire work experience of 5 years appears to be extremely intriguing. I'm sure your family business provided you with valuable lessons. These must be shown in your apps. Your work demonstrates a wide range of expertise and knowledge in a range of functions. You should also emphasize your efforts at work, the initiatives you took, and the impact they had on the organization. Now, as for your career break, I don't think it's a red flag because you have a solid reason for it. Of course, we all want to put our capabilities to the test and see what works for us. We have, however, assisted applicants with career gaps in their profiles; you can read one of our success stories here. Despite having a low GMAT of 690 and a two-year gap in her profile, she got admitted to LBS with a full scholarship.

ECs- I can identify some wonderful aspects; for example, your venture demonstrates a leader with a creative side. Talking about it appropriately will spark an engaging conversation between you and AdComs. You may also discuss any of your interests or hobbies, which will add diversity to your profile.

You must align your post-MBA goals to your prior work experience. Highlight which skills are currently lacking in your profile and why you believe an MBA from a specific school would help you obtain those skills and, ultimately, your goals. You must highlight your learnings from your global experience to date and apply them to give a global perspective on your post-MBA goals. Schools on your list appear to be good; you may also include Ross, Columbia, and Duke. I would recommend applying to INSEAD and a few other schools in the January 24 intake and the rest in the September 24 Early Action intake.

Overall you have a good profile and do have a chance at top business schools. However, I would like to know more about your work experience in detail to find major USPs. If you’d like, we are happy to get on a call with you sometime this week to discuss your profile in length and shortlist schools for you. Feel free to schedule a call with us here for in-depth profile evaluation (and some networking on the side with Alums of Top business schools)

Hear from the AdComs: Tips to break into MBB Consulting & Finance

Cheers!
Neha Hadke
Strategy Manager
Testimonials
Meet our Panel of Consultants.
Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

Visit our website www.mbaandbeyond.com for more MBA resources.

passingthru wrote:Hi MBAandBeyond ,

I am looking to start my MBA in the spring of 2023. Would appreciate your help in evaluating my profile!
My main concern is regarding my undergraduate GPA.
Details of my profile are as follows -

Demographics
Nationality - Indian
Gender - Male
Age - 29 (by admission time)

Education
XIIth - 87.4%
Undergrad (Engineering) - 56%

GMAT
Current Score - 720 (Q45/V44/IR6/AWA6)
Official Mock Score Range - 740 to 770
I'm planning to give the GMAT again, and I'm quite sure I can manage to hit the mock score range, the current Quant score was an aberration due to test-centre related issues. The current score aligns well with the general split I've had, barring Quant.

Work Experience
Total - 5 years & a ~2 year career break

40 months - Business Development and Project Management Role in a family firm, operating in the field of Telecommunication Infrastructure.

28 months - Career break to pursue the Civil Services recruitment examination in India, one of the most rigorous exams in the world; placed in the Top 0.2 percentile, and a Top 5 score in the optional subject of choice Sociology (bachelor's level syllabus); exposure to public policy, economics, international relations, among many other areas.

14 months - As a Senior Business Analyst at an IT Services/Software Product Development startup - additional exposure to investor relations, product and project management. Setup the product development framework here; led a team on developing an in-house software solution.

2 months and counting - at a multinational corporation's offshore division aligned with its Canadian concern, as a Cybersecurity Analyst (Technology Consulting); also covering Presales facing the Canadian public sector.

Extracurriculars
Member of Organising Committee in College Clubs.
Working on an edu-impact venture with family members in the entrepreneurial space that will be on-ground within the next 6 months - developed timeline, business plans and the investor pitch for this.



Leadership Experience (relatively limited)
Product Owner in my previous firm, led a team of 4.

International Experience
Grew up abroad in the Middle East for four years in childhood.
Working with Canadian teams in an offshore model in my current role, in both the public and private sector - regular interactions.
French Language & Culture course from Alliance Francaise (no certification yet), also a subject in high school.


Post-MBA Goals
Aiming to pursue opportunities in Consulting, particularly in Public Sector and Policy Consulting.
Plan to start my own business back home in the longer-term, focused on agro-waste and food processing, and/or in MSME enablement through technology and policy improvement.


Target Schools (tentative - open to applying in the next cycle if current cycle isn't feasible)
Indian School of Business (ISB) <applied>
INSEAD
HEC, Paris
Columbia
Kellogg (1 year MBA)
Darden

I would also love to see your suggestions on which schools would you recommend apart from the above, assuming a 750 or greater GMAT score.
Also, what else could I do to alleviate the undergrad position apart from a high enough GMAT score?

_________________

I would like to apply for MBA in 2024, and would appreciate any advice

Chinese born and raised in Hong Kong
Male
28 years old
3+ years studying /working overseas
Certified FRM
Passed CFA level 2
GMAT 750 (Can retake for higher since I'm going for 2024 admission)
Language Spoken: Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and some Japanese

Work Experience:
-close to 6 years of working experience in total
-Spent 4 years in a well-known French investment bank working as Equity Derivatives Structurer and Equity Derivative Sales, and was publicly recognized for achievements at APAC level.
-Currently working as a Structured Products Specialist at one of the largest Private Bank in the world
-The team is very well-regarded both in terms of media coverage and internal evaluation, spent almost 2 years here and not planning to leave for now

Education:
- Bachelor of Economics at a top local university in Hong Kong (QS ranking no 34 in 2022)
- a low 2:1 (roughly translates to 3.0-3.1/4.0)
-1 semester academic exchange at LSE with GPA 3.85 (not sure if that helps at all)

Extracurricular:
-Some mentorship to aspiring university students
-Badminton player at a semi-competitive level
-Joined student club as a committee but didn’t take up leadership roles

Target Schools:
-UK: Imperial, LSE, LBS (Oxbridge maybe a stretch?)
To be honest I'm slightly tilted towards UK schools as I have relatives living in Central London who I can rely on ( ie much lower financial pressure vs being elsewhere)

-US: Columbia, Chicago, MIT, Wharton, Yale, Stern (Harvard, Stanford probably no chance)
I have just started researching US schools and the targets may be completely unrealistic here. Your insight is highly appreciated!

-EU: Really no idea except being able to name a few, feel free to suggest any as you see fit

Career goal post MBA:
-To further my career and work as an investment strategist or structured products sales at top private banks in US / UK

Please provide your insights on my target schools and any other suggestions!
Do you think my low GPA is a deal breaker? (esp. when I have no excuse for it, I took too many part-time jobs and internships, purely time management issues)
Do you envision any particular strategy to maximize my chances?
How important is GMAT really? Does a mediocre GMAT (somewhere close to 700) really kill an application even if the candidate has a stellar CV?

Thank you so much for taking the time!

Hi amitheone2022,

Thank you for sharing your profile. It’s a long post, but you will get lots of clarity, so please stay with me

Starting with the stats, your undergrad GPA is quite low, but your strong GMAT score and CFA certification can compensate for this. However, you have a genuine reason for your low GPA, you should explain it in your optional essay, and AdComs will understand. You can also include any other academic achievements to demonstrate your academic excellence.

Your work experience appears to be qualitative. I can see aspects of leadership and initiative. You will need to go into further detail about your experiences and illustrate how working on different projects has enhanced your leadership abilities and how you have handled problems (if any) when things go wrong. And, your current work experience at one of the Largest Private banks will boost your work profile if exhibited in a compelling manner.

You should emphasize your interest in badminton in your ECs. I suggest taking on various leadership responsibilities in the club to assist you in showcasing your leadership abilities. Your post-MBA goals appear generic, you should read this article. It will assist you in crafting a realistic post-MBA goals essay and communicating your post-MBA goals to the AdComs.

In terms of your desired school, you have a chance at LSE, Imperial, and LBS in the UK, as well as Columbia, Fuqua (in EA rounds), Yale, and NYU in the US. In addition, you can apply to IESE in the EU. However, the list of schools is improvised once you have completed your 'Branding for MBA'- Branding is how you present yourself to business schools. It is critical to determine which schools have the most conversion potential. It is the preliminary work that we perform with all of our applicants.

Your GPA is on the lower end, but if you have a 750 GMAT, your low GPA will not be a major issue, and it cannot be a deal-breaker. People with GMAT scores in the 650s are still admitted to top business schools. So, concentrate on what you can do now, namely your GMAT, and bring out the best in the rest of your application. You can also include any academic certifications or courses to showcase your academic achievements as I suggested above.

Overall, you have a strong profile and a decent chance of admission to top business schools if you prepare outstanding applications. What’s going to matter most in your profile is how you connect the dots and create a compelling narrative. As you already have a high GMAT score, you should begin working on your applications. Starting early will benefit you since you will be able to recognize your shortcomings and gaps and improve on them. Most successful candidates improve their profile significantly because they began much earlier. This will make your chances very strong for the intake you are eyeing. If you’d like, we are happy to get on a call with you sometime this week to discuss your profile in length and further chances for the schools. Feel free to schedule a call with us at your convenience.

Cheers!
Neha Hadke
Strategy Manager
Testimonials
Meet our Panel of Consultants.
Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

amitheone2022 wrote:I would like to apply for MBA in 2024, and would appreciate any advice

Chinese born and raised in Hong Kong
Male
28 years old
3+ years studying /working overseas
Certified FRM
Passed CFA level 2
GMAT 750 (Can retake for higher since I'm going for 2024 admission)
Language Spoken: Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and some Japanese

Work Experience:
-close to 6 years of working experience in total
-Spent 4 years in a well-known French investment bank working as Equity Derivatives Structurer and Equity Derivative Sales, and was publicly recognized for achievements at APAC level.
-Currently working as a Structured Products Specialist at one of the largest Private Bank in the world
-The team is very well-regarded both in terms of media coverage and internal evaluation, spent almost 2 years here and not planning to leave for now

Education:
- Bachelor of Economics at a top local university in Hong Kong (QS ranking no 34 in 2022)
- a low 2:1 (roughly translates to 3.0-3.1/4.0)
-1 semester academic exchange at LSE with GPA 3.85 (not sure if that helps at all)

Extracurricular:
-Some mentorship to aspiring university students
-Badminton player at a semi-competitive level
-Joined student club as a committee but didn’t take up leadership roles

Target Schools:
-UK: Imperial, LSE, LBS (Oxbridge maybe a stretch?)
To be honest I'm slightly tilted towards UK schools as I have relatives living in Central London who I can rely on ( ie much lower financial pressure vs being elsewhere)

-US: Columbia, Chicago, MIT, Wharton, Yale, Stern (Harvard, Stanford probably no chance)
I have just started researching US schools and the targets may be completely unrealistic here. Your insight is highly appreciated!

-EU: Really no idea except being able to name a few, feel free to suggest any as you see fit

Career goal post MBA:
-To further my career and work as an investment strategist or structured products sales at top private banks in US / UK

Please provide your insights on my target schools and any other suggestions!
Do you think my low GPA is a deal breaker? (esp. when I have no excuse for it, I took too many part-time jobs and internships, purely time management issues)
Do you envision any particular strategy to maximize my chances?
How important is GMAT really? Does a mediocre GMAT (somewhere close to 700) really kill an application even if the candidate has a stellar CV?

Thank you so much for taking the time!

_________________

Dear all,
Please help me gauge my chances of selection at ISB 2023 round of admissions.

Personal profile: Dr. Nishant Joshi, 22 years, male, Indian

Academic background:

10th from CBSE, India: 10 CGPA
12th from Rajasthan State board in PCB: 94.6%Selected through National Level entrance test NEET-UG SCORE- 595/720
MBBS from RNT Medical college, Udaipur: from 2017 to 2022
MBBS average Percentage 65%
GMAT: scheduled in August 2023

Professional background:
Internship : 12 months Mar. 2022 to Mar. 2023 in MB Government hospital ,Udaipur
Total Work experience: 0 months (Planning to join it post GMAT exam, currently looking for early entry options)

Extra- Curricular
*Participated in intercollege debate competition twice and won certificate of appreciation.
*Won medals at college level essay writing, debate competition.
*Participated at college level sports event with 4 gold and 3 silver and 3 bronze medals.
*Founding members of the college literary club, leading a team of junior doctors every year since 2017 to participate in reading and writing activities in the club.
*Founding member and organizer of the annual doctor’s meet of our district.
*Volunteer for annual blood donation event at college since 2018
*Helped manage funds for the student welfare committee.

MBA Plan - MBA in general management with add on concentration in healthcare management

Future plan post MBA: Want to work in healthcare firm at consulting/strategy role to utilize my already available experience in the field and gain valuable insights to build a start-up to provide easy access to healthcare services for patients who belong to poor backgrounds.

TARGET SCHOOL – ISB also open to suggestions about other schools that might fit my profile.

What should be my target score?
What further can be done to be a better fit to the school?

Hey swaftnishant

Thanks for sharing your profile.

Your profile looks good on the surface. On the academic front, Your scores seem consistent and on the upper end. The average GMAT score for ISB is around 720. Achieving a score of 720+ will land you in a comfortable position for application.

Talking about your internship, being a doctor is in itself a respectable profession. Coming to your ECs, I can see a variety of events you have led and participated in. ECs play an important role in an application and help add value to the profile. Your association with social activities and community services helps to display your social responsibilities. For a better understanding, you could refer to our article on Significance of Extracurriculars for MBA Application to get a better understanding.

ISB looks for the following qualities in an applicant
1. ability to handle pressure
2. Innovative nature
3. personal and moral integrity
4. communication skills
5. Learnability.

I would also like you to go through our article on How to demonstrate your fit to your target business school? to get a better understanding.

Regarding your Post-MBA goals, it is good to be clear with them. I can see structured and well aligned post MBA goals of consulting in the healthcare domain. In the long run, your goal of building a healthcare startup to work for the betterment of the underprivileged section of the society is also remarkable.

All in all you stand a good chance at ISB if you create a great narrative around the values of the business school. If you’d like, we are happy to get on a call with you sometime this week to discuss your profile in length and strengthen your chances further. Feel free to schedule a call with us at your convenience.

Cheers!
Neha Hadke
Strategy Manager
Testimonials
Meet our Panel of Consultants.
Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

swaftnishant wrote:Dear all,
Please help me gauge my chances of selection at ISB 2023 round of admissions.

Personal profile: Dr. Nishant Joshi, 22 years, male, Indian

Academic background:

10th from CBSE, India: 10 CGPA
12th from Rajasthan State board in PCB: 94.6%Selected through National Level entrance test NEET-UG SCORE- 595/720
MBBS from RNT Medical college, Udaipur: from 2017 to 2022
MBBS average Percentage 65%
GMAT: scheduled in August 2023

Professional background:
Internship : 12 months Mar. 2022 to Mar. 2023 in MB Government hospital ,Udaipur
Total Work experience: 0 months (Planning to join it post GMAT exam, currently looking for early entry options)

Extra- Curricular
*Participated in intercollege debate competition twice and won certificate of appreciation.
*Won medals at college level essay writing, debate competition.
*Participated at college level sports event with 4 gold and 3 silver and 3 bronze medals.
*Founding members of the college literary club, leading a team of junior doctors every year since 2017 to participate in reading and writing activities in the club.
*Founding member and organizer of the annual doctor’s meet of our district.
*Volunteer for annual blood donation event at college since 2018
*Helped manage funds for the student welfare committee.

MBA Plan - MBA in general management with add on concentration in healthcare management

Future plan post MBA: Want to work in healthcare firm at consulting/strategy role to utilize my already available experience in the field and gain valuable insights to build a start-up to provide easy access to healthcare services for patients who belong to poor backgrounds.

TARGET SCHOOL – ISB also open to suggestions about other schools that might fit my profile.

What should be my target score?
What further can be done to be a better fit to the school?

_________________

Recession vs MBA : An applicant's perspective!

The economy has been in a slump for a while. The Indian corporate climate would constantly have negative growth effects in this globally integrated world, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue an MBA. Instead of being terrified of debt, think of it as an investment in your future and self. You might as well invest in something that will pay off in the long run and open up additional employment and career progression prospects. Recessions are often transient events. If you're considering getting an MBA, you should long-term plan your future.

The fact is that some industries, like finance will continue to hire despite the recession because they require qualified employees who can assist them expand their businesses despite difficult circumstances. Imagine you work in a highly cutthroat sector of business, like technology or advertising. In such an instance, there might not be many positions open at the moment, but if you have a strong education, you will stand out from the competition when business picks back up and employers start recruiting again. It is wise to enhance your profile and pick up a few new talents rather than searching for a new position during these uncertain times and remaining at a corporation that is stagnant. The best thing to do is ride out the storm and improve your chances of finding a better job in the future.

An MBA is, in essence, the real deal. You might have second thoughts about going for it because of the economy or the news. But you must conduct a more comprehensive analysis with a wider time frame. The certainty of the immediate term should not influence your decisions. You might want to consider viewing your job through the lens of a long-term trajectory, though. In addition, if you had good reasons for starting your MBA preparations in the first place, it makes sense not to stop them now, at least not in light of the current situation. Make the best decision.

However, MBA admissions become more difficult during recessions as more people apply to business schools when the economy is down because many of them think that getting an MBA will help them find work more quickly. Consider your career, not your employment. Economic cycles will pass us by. You should continue to invest in your career. Thus to ensure success and enhance your chances of getting into the top B-Schools, feel free to Schedule a free Profile Evaluation session with us at your convenience!

Cheers!
MBA and Beyond
_________________