query on admission.. pls help

If you want to do MC after school, you could always argue the case that you're very aware of the inner workings of businesses in the financial services industry and make a case for financial consulting. I actually think that someone with biz devel experience is well-positioned for a career in consulting. What is going to be important in your case is also client interface. Have you had any? Consulting is a client-driven business, so Bain and McKinsey are going to feel a lot better about hiring you if they know that you are good with clients. That also means that the schools you decide to apply to will feel better about accepting you because they'll know you're marketable to potential employers.

I think I read in another thread that you're also considering INSEAD (great school for consulting!). International experience is likely to matter more for INSEAD than it would for US schools, so the angle you can take there is that you've interacted with a lot of foreign nationals. Are there any foreign nationals in your firm that you've worked with? What INSEAD is going to be assessing is cultural sensitivity and while desirable, it's not required to have traveled the world. You can successfully gain that perspective at home, you just have to convince them of it.

Regarding the one year program you did, I was asking what it was - a masters, a certificate program, etc and how does it relate to what you're currently doing and what you want to do later on.

Thanks very much ariel for your prompt reply and your interest in helping me.

The one year programme i did was a certificate programme , executive programme in business management ( one year ) , didn't have much in curriculum and apart from that peer group interaction was almost nil, the programme didn't help anyways.

About international exposure , my job profile is retail sales - driving my team for the sales , we dont have to deal with any foreign nationals at all. Its not only me but none above or below me in hiearchy interacts with any foreign national. Second, my job is to drive people and ensure achievement of results, since its retail sales , I don't have any client interaction except a few with our business partners.

Yes , i shortlisted INSEAD as one of the b-schools i would like to apply, i have been scoring in the range of 600-630 , so working hard on reaching to atleast 680-700 or 700+. What do you think should be an ideal score for INSEAD with a profile like mine.

I know its too early to think so much before GMAT scores but I know that with my prep i would be able to score 700 thats why i am asking you so much.

You said cultural sensitivity is important to INSEAD , can you elaborate what do they actually assess as a part of cultural sensitivity

Some additional info abt my profile :

A non IT guy
Undergrads - Business Admin ( 65% , we have % system in under grads )
Career progeression == excellent ( promoted at every organisation i worked for )
Recommendation == strong recommendations can be procured.
Academics - we have ( 10+2+3 ) so ( 10th -- 74% , 12th -- 80%) , Awarded national scholarship for being a part of top 500 students of the state out of a total pool of almost 60k students. Awarded Gold Medal once in First year of Under Grads.

Thanks again...

If you're not able to show work experience with internationals or at least some leasire travel to foreign countries, it's going to be very hard to make the case for INSEAD in particular. By cultural sensitivity, I mean they'll assess things like: are you able to function in different cultures and understand and respect the differences between those cultures?

If there was anything client-related in your job (even minor), I'd highlight that. Otherwise, again, you're not making a very strong case.

Since you're an Indian male, you should probably shoot for 700 and above on the GMAT. That's probably not what you want to hear, but I think being aware upfront is going to help you in the long run.

Good luck!

Thanks very much... i am very well aware that if i don't score 700.. i am nowhere thats the reason i am not compromising on the GMAT score.

May be i can highlight the cultural differences i have encountered while handling different territory within India , India itself carry so many cultures within that i had to apply different stratagies for same products at different places

Can you suggest me other business schools, which consider stratagy and consulting as their core competence ? am ok with US or Europian B-schools.

I'd emphasize international experience if possible, not sure that intra-India is going to cut it, even though I'm sure you have developed cultural sensitivity through those interactions. You might have better luck at US schools if your international experience is limited (by all means give INSEAD a shot if it's your dream school, but don't expect much if they don't see you as someone who is dedicated to an international career). Virtually any top 20 school in the US will help you get your foot in the door at decent consulting firms (especially if you'd like to stay in the US post-MBA).