ronron wrote:
Hi Pbodine,
after reading some of the profiles I decided to share my profile as well.
Here it is:
Age: 28 when applying, male, Belgium, Brussels
Degrees:
Master Engineering Micro-electronics
Complementary degree Computer science (Master level)
Partial program Complementary studies in Corporate finance(Master Level - not graduated since I was working for my ecommrce and solely took the classes I really wanted))
I don't know how this GPA works exactly, we don't use this system, but did not get grades (except for my masterthesis, distinction)
Work experience in chronological order:
-Launched an ecommerce business (vinyl records), my role was the overall project management, finance, process improvement, increase usability etc.. (3 years )
-Got the chance to work for eBay (internship): launched the portal for professional users on eBay. I had prior experience as an SME selling on internet and used the best practices from other European eBay sites to implement the portal. Led several projects all concerning SME's and startups. (6 months)
- IT consulting, coordination of digital telephony in B2B sector (6 months), program manager for mobile telecom operator, production environmnet(1.5 years)
International exposure: I did not live outside my home country. I carried out a project for 2 months In the Netherlands where I was the project/teamleader and that's that.
I did work with clients from all over the world (we built up a customer network with customer from more than 35 different countries) and working at eBay was also a global environment
Extracurricular:
- Launched a weekly radioshow on student radio with every two weeks an international guest
- Organised/contributed to several music events
- Actively playing squash competition
- Photography
Honours:
- The eBay selling portal was voted website of the week by the leading Belgian Economic magazine)
Strong point: entrepreneurship, personality, open-minded, generalist
weak points: academic results (compensated by multiple degrees? GMAT?)
international experience (back-up by international exposure?eBay, worldwire ecommerce, international contacts)
I would like to apply to London business and Insead. If not getting in there I won't consider an MBA at all.
Currently scoring 630 on my KAPLAN simulation test, when compared to the "real deal" this would translate to 710.
How would you think my chance are at getting in? Pitfalls, strong points, weak points, strategy, recommedations for essays
Many thanks in advance!!
ronron
ronron,
Well, if it's LBS and INSEAD or nothing at all then hitting 700 or higher on the GMAT is strongly advised. I like the entrepreneurship early in your career and am assuming there's some leadership, formal or otherwise, in your work of the past 1.5 years. Your extracurricular is a bit weak, as is your international exposure. So nothing really powerful that I can see, just solidity, but with a couple of interesting twists. So I think LBS and INSEAD will be longshots for you, but not impossible if you wow them with your essays (lots of personality and leadership/impact stories), your reco letters, and your interviews. Also, chances are there's more to your profile than meets the eye (there usually is). Given that INSEAD and LBS are your only choices and it's not impossible for you to get in, I would not discourage you from applying.
Good luck,