Please help

Question

Please evaluate my profile

Let me know if i am a fit for

Oxford
cambridge
rotman
schullich
indiana
queens
ivey
one year mba at kellog

GMAT -- 620 ( V - 30 , Q - 45 )

Personal Details

Nationality : India

Age - 31 yrs

Degree of Graduation - Bachelors of Business Administration ( First Class - 2000 )
Strong academics

Work Experience

Total Experience - 10 years +
Domain - Financial Services ( Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Services )
Team Handling and Leadership profile for the last Nine Years, have very qualitative leadership experience.

thanks in advance

and please suggest me the US top 20 schools in my reach

StacyBlackman · Answer

Hi wayahead123,

I recommend you do not apply to the final round. Final rounds for a given school (be it round 3 or round 4) are often a bad strategy. For many schools, this is the time they are focused on completing their class and picking very specific profiles. In addition, if you submit an application in March and are not admitted, you do not have much time to regroup and improve your profile before reapplying in October for the next season.

You should not focus on your age, as there are ways you can address this in your application. Remember that older candidates will have to prove that it makes sense to return to school at this late stage of their career, and that they are not merely encountering a mid-career crisis. You will also have to demonstrate that all of their time in the work world has been well spent, and you should demonstrate progression, tangible contributions, and a high level of self-awareness, confidence, and maturity.

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

StacyBlackman · Answer

Hi wayahead123,

Have you considered taking the GMAT test again, as your score is a fair amount below the averages of some of the schools listed (Oxford Said, Kellogg, etc.). Remember that your GMAT score is self-reported on your application, so admissions teams will focus on your highest score.

Here are some GMAT tips if you decide to take the test again: https://www.stacyblackman.com/tag/gmat/

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

wayahead123 · Answer

Thanks very much for your reply. Three points where i request your insight 1) I will retake gmat if i am rejected by all of the mentioned schools i.e. if i get through any one of these programs , i might not hesitate to join the program rather than retake gmat.

Given the circumstances, do you think i stand any chance with other schools than oxford, cambridege and kellog. i noticed the average score of canadian schools and kelly are lesser than the other programs, so do you think i could be competitive for these programs specially when round 3 is going on with almost all of these programs, the other main reason for not to wait for the next year is my age

, i am 31 right now, and next year i will be 32 by the time i enter into the mba program, i personally do not have any problem with this, but i have heard that US b-schools do not prefer older candidates. 2) I am from india, and we have ( 10+2+3 ) 15 years education system for the undergrad ( other than engineering programs ), now B-schools in US require 16 years of education, do you think this can also be one of the hindrances for US b-schools ? 3) I have done one year part time program - certificate program ( weekend classes ) from the most reputed management institute of India, but this was not one year full time program and this institue ( IIM ) is not a university itself in spite of being the best b-school not only in India, but also in Asia.

Please help

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