Ask ARINGO MBA Admissions Consulting

Hi Brian,

I really appreciate your detailed response. Thanks a lot for your advice. Can you please elaborate few points mentioned in your post -

1. Diverse set of MBA programs - Can you please tell "diversification" in what sense? In terms of rankings, fields etc. ?

2. I have started to have concerns with my GMAT score. I don't want to get back to preparation mode again as it was really very difficult to manage with my work schedule. Can a higher GMAT score increase my chances of getting scholarship?

3. I am not able to understand this excerpt - "I just think this will be a bit of a bias in the ad com to know about." Can you please explain? I will make sure I am clear on "why" in my goals essay.

Thanks again!
av2012

Hi sir, this is aninda mukherjee from kolkata, india. sir, i am in my third year of my engineering in one of the reputed college in kolkata in APPLIED ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION.Sir, i want to apply for master in management programme(MIM) next year for the fall 2014 just after my btech. pls evaluate my profile
ACADEMICS
CLASS 10-85%
CLASS12-71%
GPA TILL NOW-7.53/10
GMAT-750(GAVE JUST 2 DAYS BACK)
IELTS/TOEFL- havent given yet

ACTIVITIES AND EXTRACURRICULARS

had done 2 internships in china and phillipines through AIESEC for 1 month each.
plays sarod(indian classical instrument) and won awards for the best performer in one of the reality show of india.
was a team member of aiesec comittee for 6 months.
worked as a volunteer for child health care in MOTHER TERESA CHARITY in kolkata, HOPE FOUNDATION(accredited by UNICEF), worked in east india charity as volunteers to look after the old age people.
arrange seminars and feast in my college.
did two internships in TATA MOTORS and BHARAT PETROLEOUM(ONE OF THE TOP 9 COMPANY IN INDIA)

SKILLS

knows french, bengali, hindi, english now learning mandarin
TARGET SCHOOLS
LBS MIM, HEC PARIS MIB, HARVARD 2+2 PROGRAM, LSE MIM, GRENOBLE BUSINES SCHOOL MIM, CASS BUSINES SCHOOL MIM,ESSEC BUSINESS SCHOOL MIM, EMLYON MIM, DUKE MMS
pls sir evaluate my profile and suggest me what should i do from now on in order to maximize my chances in the above mentioned schols. i have another 1 year left before my application, so pls suggest me.

Hi Gil! I’d like to ask your help to evaluate my profile
Nationality : Indonesia
Age : 24
Gender : Female

Educational Background :
Bachelor of Economics with major in Accounting from Faculty of Business and Economics University of Indonesia (graduated with First Honors Distinction). I finished my study in 3.5 years.

Professional Experience :
1. Part time job
- Teaching assistant for accounting subjects from Sept 2009 – May 2010 in Accounting Department of Faculty of Business and Economics University of Indonesia.
- Junior consultant at The Center for Accounting Development Faculty of Business and Economics University of Indonesia
2. Full time job
I have worked for 2 years as auditor in one of the “Big Four” firms in Indonesia. I am working in assurance division which gives financial statement audit services for local and multinational companies. I work with matrix style with several teams including expatriate managers in several client engagements. My job consists of performing audit procedures such as substantive analytical procedures and test of controls. I was also had a chance to be an In – Charge for one of my clients. As an In-Charge, I was responsible for planning the audit approach, performing audit of my accounts, reviewing the junior staff’s working paper, discussing audit progress with manager and drafting the audit report. This was a valuable experience, not only I have learned to work with various type of team members but I also learned how to handle difficult clients. I was recently got promoted to Senior Staff position which enable me to be In-Charge or team leader in every engagement. I am a top performer with performance rating of above average.

Extracurricular activities :
- Voluntary teacher at Non Formal School FEUI (a non profit organization that aiming to help the education of elementary students and teachers from schools which lack of financial support in West Java area) during my undergrad years.
- Sunday school teacher (present)

Languages known : English, Indonesia and Chinese

GMAT first attempt on Dec 2011 :
Quant : 47
Verbal : 29
Total : 620
AWA : 5.0

Interested in Finance and International Business.
Reasons for taking an MBA : career switch to Consulting. My next option is investment banking.

Please help me to evaluate my profile. I’d like to apply for the Fall 2013 class, could you suggest me which business schools that I have good chances at? Is it necessary to retake my GMAT and increase the score to >700? I have a tight schedules with my job and often work overtime to meet the deadlines. This is my major consideration in retaking my GMAT.

Thanks in advance,

stronghold11

Hi Brian,
Please evaluate my profile and let me know my chances:
GMAT: 710
Toelf: 705
Age: 30 at matriculation
Gender: Male
Nationality: Brazilian
Undergraduate/Master: Bachelor in Law – 7.7 / 10 (approved as lawyer in the first attempt); Bachelor in Business and Administration 8.8 / 10; Master in International Law 7.5/10 (Top 3 Law School in Brazil); Master in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking 8.3/10 (Top 3 Business School in Brazil).
Work Experience: 1 year of experience as lawyer/consultant in tax and civil fields. 1.5 years as Latin America contract/financial analyst in a Top 200 Fortune company. 2 years as associate in one of the Big Four companies.
Languages: Portuguese, Spanish , English and France (intermediate).
International Experience: 6 months in Argentina and 9 months in New Zealand.
Extra-Curricular/Hobbies: voluntary in a cancer hospital in São Paulo / Surf, Poker and Running.
Schools: Wharton, Haas, Anderson, Tuck, Duke, Cornell, Ross, Booth, Darden, Kellog.
Post MBA goal: Investment Bank; work as consultant in general management/strategy.

Tks!

Hello,

May you please evaluate my profile.

Name: Lamees
Age: 21 (22 at start of program)
Gender: Female
Nationality: Saudi
Education:
American University of Sharjah, Major Finance, Minor Accounting, GPA 3.46 (graduated June 2012)

GMAT:
Total 640 (38V, 39Q, 5.5 AWA)

TOEFL iBT: 113

Work Experience: I have just graduated, so my work experience is limited to the three summer internships I completed in the summer of 2009,2010, 2011. All of them were in local banks in saudi arabia.

Other:
I am registered for the CFA level 1 exam this December. Does passing the level 1 of the CFA increase my chances of getting accepted?

My goal is to become a portfolio manager of a social impact fund, and I hope that a masters degree will give me the required credentials and knowledge.
The reason I am pursuing a graduate degree right after college is that I was awarded a full-scholarship for my undergraduate degree, and it will cover a masters degree if I enroll directly after earning my bachelors degree. (must receive admission offer by January latest or I lose the scholarship).

I am considering the following schools for an MBA program:
University of Pennsylvania
NYU
Georgetown
UNC
University of Texas at Austin
Cornell
Stanford

I am also considering a specialized Masters in Finance program from:
Washington University in St Louis
Boston College
Ohio State
University of Texas at Dallas

Thank you very much in advance,
Lamees

Dear Brian,

Could you please evaluate my profile? Thanks in advance.

Nationality: Indian Female
Age: 28
GMAT: 670 (Quantitative: 49, Verbal: 33)

As I already took GMAT four times, I have decided not to take GMAT again.

Educational Background:
Bachelor of Engineering in Information Science from Visveswaraiah Technological University, Karnataka, India. – First Class with Distinction

Professional Background: Experience: 6.5 years (as of August-2012)

1) 2006 To 2010: Associate Consultant at Oracle, India

I worked on Supply Chain Management to solve the purchasing problems of Oracle customer, Alcoa. I had extensive contacts with customers located in Asia, Australia and US.

2) 2011 To Current: IT Consultant at Shell Asset Management Company (a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company), The Netherlands

I provide software solutions and services to customers located in Asia and Europe.
I don’t have any budget responsibility and don’t have any direct reports.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

From 2011 To Current: Coordinator of Amnesty International Group in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

I coordinated fund raising in 2011 and 2012. I led many actions for women’s right in Saudi Arabia, Gays right in Turkey and Arms Trade Treaty. I coordinated Amnesty benefit concert in 2012.

Languages known: Tamil, English, Hindi, Kannada

International Exposure: Since 2011, I have been working in the Netherlands (20 months)

Reason for doing an MBA: Career Progress
After MBA, I like to work as Senior Consultant for an IT company such as Oracle or IBM located in Europe/Asia.

Area of interest: Technology/IT Consultancy

Target Schools: INSEAD, IMD, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge, HEC
I like to do my MBA in Europe. I already visited HEC, IE and RSM and am going to visit INSEAD, LBS and Oxford in September 2012.

My partner got into INSEAD and will be beginning his MBA in January-2013.

I request you to evaluate my profile and let me know the schools I have good chances at.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Amnesty

Hi ,
Appreciate if you can comment on my profile. I plan to apply to HKUST.

Current Age - 29 yrs old Nationality : Indian
Educational Background: Chartered Accountant( ACA/CPA)- First attempt , ICWAI ( CIMA) - First attempt, Chartered Valuation Analyst (NACVA) and Chartered Management Accountant( IMA,USA). GPA of 3.5-3.7. 10th -76%, 12th 73% B.com 78% GMAT dec 2008 -610 and sept 2011 - 600

Work ExperienceI have 8 years of experience( plus 3 years Articleship with big 4 - PWC)) in Investment banking, Valuations and M&A. Have around 3 years of international experience and have worked in 28 countries in last 8 years across 4 continents.

Currently working with a Big 4 firm in India as Assistant Director- M&A and Valuations. Leading a team of 200 . Have led End -to-end valuations/business plans and market study for companies > $ 200 Million USD.

Achievements:
-Was selected amongst 50 Employees out of 100,000 to undergo the prestigious GE Finance Leadership Program.
- Undergone the leadership program of Shell Oil& Gas Company.
- I am also a certified assesor by CII ( confederation of indian industries).- Wall Street training in Financial Modeling & Valuations.

Extra curricular: .
-Part of ‘Citizen Journalist’ program of BBC during the General Elections in '09.
-Founded and operated a small coffee shop/canteen (with around 10 employees) during the college days and subsequently sold it to a larger chain of canteen.Started with an Initial Investment of Rs 8000( USD 200) and sold it at Rs 1,60,000( USD 4000) and used my share of money to fund my further education.
- Founded an Indian Community in Oman - Muscat oasis Indian community . Current membership stands at 350.

Community service

-worked with an NGO in India during the Tsunami in India in 2004. Visited Nagapatanam and was there for a month and helped rebuild the houses and village.
-Stated a group in our locality to help people understand the effective and efficient usage of water and helped in putting thru a rain water harvesting plant in the locality.
- Worked with an NGO- for the education and rehablitation of poor Arab children in Sur, Oman.

Post MBA - Investment banking/PE

Profile evaluation:
Background: 30 year-old male Asian American, married, has a 4 and a 5 year-old (does that matter?). Multicultural - Born in China and immigrated to US at age 18. Proficient in both English and Chinese.

GMAT score: 740 (50Q / 39V)

Undergrad School and GPA: SUNY Binghamton, Computer science major, 2.95 GPA (no special reason for the low gpa, it is just due to immaturity)

Post-MBA goal:
Short term: Career change - like to change from working in small business to working in big corporation. Interested in general management and/or entrepreneurship (can i put both as my areas of interest??), like to get into a good management trainee program after MBA.

Long term: Becoming a operational leader, in Asia-Pacific region, of a US or international company (utilize my multicultural background).

Work experience (6 years total):

I started working in a small computer networking company. The company implements internet networks for hotels. I was a team leader in the tech-support department. My work duties include overseeing tech-support staffs, monitoring the client’s networks, and maintaining a good relationship with the clients.

After the networking company, I worked in a small retail business (a chain of two local cellular phone stores). I started as a IT Consultant. In one year, I was promoted as an assistant GM and became a business partner. In two more years, I became the General Manager (my current title). Under my supervision, the company structure was enhanced, new positions and departments were created, the total revenue was significantly increased, and four more new stores were opened in the upstate New York region.

Extracurricular:
1. one thing i really proud about myself is my photography skills. I consider my skill matches a "seasonal-pro", just that i don't charge people. i do photo shoot occasionally for some friends and families' special events. i do landscaping photography too, maybe i can include some of my works along with one of the essay that talks about myself?
2. I do magic tricks, but mostly for children at some private parties. I am not as good as profession who can make a living with such skills, but i would say i am experience enough to call myself an amateur magician.
3. I am a guitarist. Back in college time, I played in a band(one reason for the low GPA, lol), and actively involved with the music worship for the student christian fellowship group. I am also a worship team member currently in my church (i guess that kind of overlaps with the community work.
4. I like skiing and snowboarding, but i don't think those have anything to do with my MBA application, correct?

Community work: I used to be an interpreter in my church, but I became too busy and didn't continue that role. I am currently a guitarist in the music worship team in my church.

Target Schools: McCombs, Cornell, Darden, Stern, (or something better?)

Questions:
1. Am I getting a good chance get accepted by the above schools? I understand my weaknesses include low under-grad GPA and lack of corporate exposure. Are my working experience and the 740 GMAT going to offset the weakness in my application? I heard about taking courses in community college to offset low undergrad GPA, but I don’t have such time because of work.

2. About recommendations: As a general manager, the only person above me is the business owner. He is going to give me a good recommendation demonstrating my achievement at work. I am planning to have my counselor at Christian fellowship to write me the second recommendation. As my counselor, she knows me pretty well. Also, I worked with her closely as I coordinated a couple music events for the fellowship. She should be able to give me some good words about my leadership skills. Is that a good combination of recommendation letters?

3. About area of interest, i am not so sure about entrepreneurship or general management. can i put both? or if i have to pick entrepreneurship, will it go with my long term goal just fine? I want to put entrepreneurship because i feel like it is closer to what i am doing at my job, therefore increases the change of acceptance.

4. My salary is significantly lower than average. Is that something bad for my application? That is because as business partners, both I and the business owner agreed that it is the best now to reserve the money for the company growth. Should I use the optional essay to make that clear?

5. According to my profile, would it be a waste of money to try one of the top 10? like sloan?

Profile evaluation:
Background: 30 year-old male Asian American, married, has a 4 and a 5 year-old (does that matter?). Multicultural - Born in China and immigrated to US at age 18. Proficient in both English and Chinese.

GMAT score: 740 (50Q / 39V)

Undergrad School and GPA: SUNY Binghamton, Computer science major, 2.95 GPA (no special reason for the low gpa, it is just due to immaturity)

Post-MBA goal:
Short term: Career change - like to change from working in small business to working in big corporation. Interested in general management and/or entrepreneurship (can i put both as my areas of interest??), like to get into a good management trainee program after MBA.

Long term: Becoming a operational leader, in Asia-Pacific region, of a US or international company (utilize my multicultural background).

Work experience (6 years total):

I started working in a small computer networking company. The company implements internet networks for hotels. I was a team leader in the tech-support department. My work duties include overseeing tech-support staffs, monitoring the client’s networks, and maintaining a good relationship with the clients.

After the networking company, I worked in a small retail business (a chain of two local cellular phone stores). I started as a IT Consultant. In one year, I was promoted as an assistant GM and became a business partner. In two more years, I became the General Manager (my current title). Under my supervision, the company structure was enhanced, new positions and departments were created, the total revenue was significantly increased, and four more new stores were opened in the upstate New York region.

Extracurricular:
1. one thing i really proud about myself is my photography skills. I consider my skill matches a "seasonal-pro", just that i don't charge people. i do photo shoot occasionally for some friends and families' special events. i do landscaping photography too, maybe i can include some of my works along with one of the essay that talks about myself?
2. I do magic tricks, but mostly for children at some private parties. I am not as good as profession who can make a living with such skills, but i would say i am experience enough to call myself an amateur magician.
3. I am a guitarist. Back in college time, I played in a band(one reason for the low GPA, lol), and actively involved with the music worship for the student christian fellowship group. I am also a worship team member currently in my church (i guess that kind of overlaps with the community work.
4. I like skiing and snowboarding, but i don't think those have anything to do with my MBA application, correct?

Community work: I used to be an interpreter in my church, but I became too busy and didn't continue that role. I am currently a guitarist in the music worship team in my church.

Target Schools: McCombs, Cornell, Darden, Stern, (or something better?)

Questions:
1. Am I getting a good chance get accepted by the above schools? I understand my weaknesses include low under-grad GPA and lack of corporate exposure. Are my working experience and the 740 GMAT going to offset the weakness in my application? I heard about taking courses in community college to offset low undergrad GPA, but I don’t have such time because of work.

2. About recommendations: As a general manager, the only person above me is the business owner. He is going to give me a good recommendation demonstrating my achievement at work. I am planning to have my counselor at Christian fellowship to write me the second recommendation. As my counselor, she knows me pretty well. Also, I worked with her closely as I coordinated a couple music events for the fellowship. She should be able to give me some good words about my leadership skills. Is that a good combination of recommendation letters?

3. About area of interest, i am not so sure about entrepreneurship or general management. can i put both? or if i have to pick entrepreneurship, will it go with my long term goal just fine? I want to put entrepreneurship because i feel like it is closer to what i am doing at my job, therefore increases the change of acceptance.

4. My salary is significantly lower than average. Is that something bad for my application? That is because as business partners, both I and the business owner agreed that it is the best now to reserve the money for the company growth. Should I use the optional essay to make that clear?

5. According to my profile, would it be a waste of money to try one of the top 10? like sloan?

Hi Brian ,

Please evaluate my profile.

Here is a brief of my profile :

Educational Background:
Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communications - GPA 3.7
GMAT1 630(Q50 ,V25)
GMAT2 680 (Q49,V33)

Professional Background: Experience: 5 years (as of August-2012)
1) Senior Analyst 2010 - present: Credit Risk Analytic at a Boutique Consulting
Currently working with the largest retail bank in UK to develop strategies and insights to advise clients on the following :

Customer acquisition ,Customer retention,Loss Minimization on High Credit Limit accounts,Collection strategies to minimize loss on delinquent accounts etc.
Strategies to minimize Loss Given Default (LGD) and Probability of Default(PD) of high risk segments within a time period. The LGD has a direct impact on the Balance sheet of the Bank and as such the strategies mentioned above have saved the bank in millions


2) 2007-2010: Business Analyst at a Major IT MNC
Started as trainee for the learning Infrastructure development team , was promoted to the level of lead in 4 months , took
the responsibilites of handling the entire offshore delievery management, was awarded for the same by the client.

Continued to work in the same domain for another client and developed my skills further to get into the business side of the domain ,
I was specifically asked to handle the pre-sales activities, I trained around 4-5 associates at my workplace during the
same time as we tried aggressively to get a $1,000,000 project for our team , The project was in a open bid state and 2
other vendors were asked to send proposals etc.


Extra-Curricular Activities:

NGO experience - Worked for an NGO from within the organization to help the underprivileged children, of Denotified tribal area , in accessing a continuous stream of education. Involved in speaking to small fund donors and gathering volunteers.

Rock Band in Undergraduate Institute - Performed Live and backstage at various competitive events across State.

Head of Cultural Committee in Undergraduate Institute - Funds collections , marketing events for the various year round activities

Member of Core marketting committee in Undergraduate Institute - Marketing spotlight events across state, inviting high budget sponsors for event sponsorship

Languages known: English , Hindi , German(Speaking)

Reason for doing an MBA: Career Progress
I would want to leverage my Credit Risk Analytic experience and work post MBA for a Big 4 in their Risk Advisory domain, or leverage the same experience to work for a large lending Institution in their Credit risk vertical.

Area of interest: Consulting

Target Schools:

Ambitious - Ross , Duke, Cornell , Darden
Safe - UTMccombs , Tepper , HKUST , USC, NUS

Thanks in advance for your help.