Profile Evaluation for ISB : ISB

Hey,

Please evaluate my profile for ISB:

Age: 24 yr

GRE Score: 324 [V - 159 , Q - 165 , AWA - 3.5]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: Completed B.Tech. in Electronics and Communiaction from a Tier 3 University in 2020 with 73.1%.
S.S.C: secured 79.80% from Science stream from CBSE in 2016.


Work Experience:
Working as a Senior Software Analyst in Caogemini since 2 years.

Extra Curricular:
Published a research paper in a journal which was related to my internship.
Published an article in a National Level Writing Competition.
3 Volunteering Experiences with Leadership Positions.
State Level Badminton Player

Please advise me the areas where I could work to improve my profile as well.

Regards

Hey Meet. Hope all is well at your end. The GRE score is a little on the lower end when we compare it with the historical ISB average (~327). The academic scores from your bachelors and Class XII are neither good nor bad. So in terms of academic rigour, it's average when we factor in GRE too. Capgemini is a good brand and if you can showcase impact at work ex (maybe the projects you were a part of/ any rewards and recognition/ fast-tracked career track), then it will be value additive. For me, your extracurricular is a definite spike, especially authoring a research paper which was published + badminton, and you should weave these into a compelling narrative in your essays and the application. If you can, try to give the GRE again and push your score a little higher. In addition to that, if your essays are well-drafted (including work + extracurrics), then you will be in a good shape. Thanks, hope this helps!

Meetsaluja14 wrote:Hey,

Please evaluate my profile for ISB:

Age: 24 yr

GRE Score: 324 [V - 159 , Q - 165 , AWA - 3.5]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: Completed B.Tech. in Electronics and Communiaction from a Tier 3 University in 2020 with 73.1%.
S.S.C: secured 79.80% from Science stream from CBSE in 2016.


Work Experience:
Working as a Senior Software Analyst in Caogemini since 2 years.

Extra Curricular:
Published a research paper in a journal which was related to my internship.
Published an article in a National Level Writing Competition.
3 Volunteering Experiences with Leadership Positions.
State Level Badminton Player

Please advise me the areas where I could work to improve my profile as well.

Regards

Hello Meetsaluja14


Looking at your software background and experience (~2 years), the current GRE score does not inspire a lot of confidence.
I say that because you belong to the largest and the most competitive pool of applicants and will need a strong score and stellar achievements to stand out in the tough competition which on an average has higher scores and might have stronger achievements to talk about (even if it is because of having spent more time in the industry).
At the same time, some of this can be offset by your extracurricular activities that seem to add diversity. Can you elaborate more around any other activities, skills or qualities that make you unique and might help you add value to the experience of your batch mates inside and outside the classroom.
Lastly, career goals seem to be missing here and your future aspirations are as much a part of your profile as your past work experience, score etc. Please work on articulating a strong narrative that is clear, organic and realistic.

You may want to read here on what factors work in a profile and here to add to your research on career goals.

Best
Varun Sharma
+918452954888 (WA message for a quicker response)
MBAkarma.com
info@mbakarma.com

Meetsaluja14 wrote:Hey,

Please evaluate my profile for ISB:

Age: 24 yr

GRE Score: 324 [V - 159 , Q - 165 , AWA - 3.5]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: Completed B.Tech. in Electronics and Communiaction from a Tier 3 University in 2020 with 73.1%.
S.S.C: secured 79.80% from Science stream from CBSE in 2016.


Work Experience:
Working as a Senior Software Analyst in Caogemini since 2 years.

Extra Curricular:
Published a research paper in a journal which was related to my internship.
Published an article in a National Level Writing Competition.
3 Volunteering Experiences with Leadership Positions.
State Level Badminton Player

Please advise me the areas where I could work to improve my profile as well.

Regards

Posted from my mobile device

Meetsaluja14 wrote:GRE Score: 324 [V - 159 , Q - 165 , AWA - 3.5]

Graduation: Completed B.Tech. in Electronics and Communiaction from a Tier 3 University in 2020 with 73.1%.

Working as a Senior Software Analyst in Caogemini since 2 years.

A below average GRE score, coupled with your undergrad college (Tier 3) and lower experience do not make a great combination Meet!

While you cannot do anything about the latter two, you can definitely do a lot about your GRE score.

Good luck!
--
Ashish.

Meetsaluja14 wrote:Hey,

Please evaluate my profile for ISB:

Age: 24 yr

GRE Score: 324 [V - 159 , Q - 165 , AWA - 3.5]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: Completed B.Tech. in Electronics and Communiaction from a Tier 3 University in 2020 with 73.1%.
S.S.C: secured 79.80% from Science stream from CBSE in 2016.


Work Experience:
Working as a Senior Software Analyst in Caogemini since 2 years.

Extra Curricular:
Published a research paper in a journal which was related to my internship.
Published an article in a National Level Writing Competition.
3 Volunteering Experiences with Leadership Positions.
State Level Badminton Player

Please advise me the areas where I could work to improve my profile as well.

Regards

Hi Meet

Good to hear from you. Here is our assessment:
- Your work experience in a reputable company like Capgemini is valuable, but consider highlighting any significant projects, leadership roles, or impact you've made during your tenure. This will help differentiate you from other applicants with similar work profiles.
- While you mention leadership positions in your volunteering experiences, be sure to provide details on the impact you've made and how these experiences have helped you develop leadership skills that will be valuable in an MBA program. Remember, simply being in a leadership role is not enough. You must be able to show the results you achieved and impact you created. Also keep in mind that publishing the papers/articles will not come under ECA strictly the way ISB sees them.
- Clearly articulate your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals and explain how an MBA from ISB will help you achieve them. This will demonstrate your motivation for pursuing an MBA and how the program aligns with your aspirations. As you can well understand, software engineering is a common background, and you need to be clear on your career vision and why your goals are worth pursuing. Steer clear of simply talking about common goals like product management without deeper context.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with further queries as needed.

Meetsaluja14 wrote:Hey,

Please evaluate my profile for ISB:

Age: 24 yr

GRE Score: 324 [V - 159 , Q - 165 , AWA - 3.5]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: Completed B.Tech. in Electronics and Communiaction from a Tier 3 University in 2020 with 73.1%.
S.S.C: secured 79.80% from Science stream from CBSE in 2016.


Work Experience:
Working as a Senior Software Analyst in Caogemini since 2 years.

Extra Curricular:
Published a research paper in a journal which was related to my internship.
Published an article in a National Level Writing Competition.
3 Volunteering Experiences with Leadership Positions.
State Level Badminton Player

Please advise me the areas where I could work to improve my profile as well.

Regards

Meetsaluja14 hope his finds you well

For an MBA aspirant with less experience, your profile doesn't seem to have any glaring weaknesses on the surface, but it also lacks standout aspects. To truly differentiate yourself, a strong GRE score of 330+ would give you the competitive edge you need.

There are ways to bolster your application, such as reflecting on challenges you've faced in your formative years or career and showcasing how you've overcome them. Business schools evaluate candidates objectively and fairly, recognizing that not everyone starts from the same level. If you've overcome unique challenges in your background to reach your current career, be sure to highlight that in your application.

In addition, put in the effort to clearly demonstrate your career progression in your essays, despite your limited experience or (perhaps) lack of promotions. Rather than focusing on job title changes, highlight incremental responsibilities, increased challenges in diverse projects, promising outcomes, and stakeholder management over the past 2 years.

You didn't mention your goals. Let's assume you're interested in product or tech-oriented consulting roles. Question yourself why you need an MBA/PGP with your level of expertise in software development/design. This will help you identify reasons that genuinely inspire you to apply to ISB. Think of goals that are not just aspirational, but also inspirational. How can you utilize your skills to solve future problems?

Application Strategy- Keep in mind that top business schools look beyond academics, GMAT scores, undergraduate pedigree, and employer brand to assess your potential. It would be helpful to showcase a "hook factor" in your profile, especially since you come from an over-represented pool.

You are a relatively young applicant for 1 year MBA; however if you give yourself some more time to enhance your profile you could grab projects and professional opportunities that add a new dimension to your portfolio. If you missed having that realization earlier, and in case you do not convert to your preferred school this year, you should surely re-apply with a solid strategy. This profile enhancement would need to show as a take-off point in your career graph depending on your goals. For example, you could negotiate an international assignment, get into beginner roles in an industry you want to break into post MBA, or in a strategic role in a startup or in consulting where you get hands-on experience in the building blocks of businesses. I feel there would be no dearth of opportunities for someone who is set on securing a top MBA

I would be happy to connect and provide honest feedback. Feel free to reach out to us at contact@mbaguideconsulting.com for further guidance.

Best wishes!

Meetsaluja14 wrote:Hey,

Please evaluate my profile for ISB:

Age: 24 yr

GRE Score: 324 [V - 159 , Q - 165 , AWA - 3.5]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: Completed B.Tech. in Electronics and Communiaction from a Tier 3 University in 2020 with 73.1%.
S.S.C: secured 79.80% from Science stream from CBSE in 2016.


Work Experience:
Working as a Senior Software Analyst in Caogemini since 2 years.

Extra Curricular:
Published a research paper in a journal which was related to my internship.
Published an article in a National Level Writing Competition.
3 Volunteering Experiences with Leadership Positions.
State Level Badminton Player

Please advise me the areas where I could work to improve my profile as well.

Regards

Hi Meetsaluja14,

Academics: While a 73.1% in your B.Tech. is decent, it might not be competitive enough for top business schools like ISB. Hence, it would be helpful if you could improve your GRE score to a 330+ and also highlight any academic achievements or awards that you might have received. You can also showcase academic readiness through extra courses and certifications in your niche. This would help evaluate your academic potential better.

Leadership experience: With 2 years of work experience, there is not much leadership you can showcase through your work. You have mentioned that you have volunteering experiences with leadership positions. It would be helpful if you could provide more details on your roles and responsibilities in those positions. This would help us assess your leadership potential better.

Goals and aspirations: The admissions committee would be interested in knowing your career goals and aspirations. Therefore, it would be helpful if you could share your future plans and how an MBA from ISB would help you achieve those goals. In the absence of other differentiating factors in your profile, showcasing a high level of clarity in your goals and aspirations and your need for an MBA from ISB can strengthen your profile. A good starting point for you is to first identify what your future goals are and start working in the direction of the goals to show that you are genuinely motivated to achieve them.

Overall, though a common profile, your profile is definitely eligible for the ISB MBA program. However, you should focus on highlighting your strengths and providing more details on your achievements, leadership experiences and future aspirations, and start working in the direction of your goals.

For a more detailed 1-1 strategy session, please write to contactus@admitexpert.com or fill the form at http://www.admitexpert.com

Good luck!
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