thembaracoon wrote:
Hi Jon,
Can you please evaluate my profile. Thanks in advance.
Background: Male, 24, Indian
Undergrad: BE, Computer Science and Engineering from one of the top 10 Universities in India.
Graduated with first class honors in 2011.
GPA: 8.92/10.
GMAT 710, Q49, V39 IR 5 AWA 4.5
Work experience:
Total Work Ex: 3 years(till date)
Company: Deloitte Consulting(Technology Consulting Division)
- Started right after the under graduate program.
- Working in the ERP design and implementation division.
- Have worked on a wide range of projects from technology upgrade projects to complete end to end ERP design and implementation projects.
- Clients include fortune 500 companies.
- Excellent track record. Promoted once in fast track.
- Responsibilities include requirement gathering, solution design and solution implementation.
- Multiple aspects of my work includes interacting and coordinating with clients across the globe.
- Have taken leadership roles and have coordinated with teams across multiple geographies(US/Europe/Asia).
- Have published internal peer reviewed white paper on best practices in client service.
Notable Extracurriculars:
In Undergrad:
1) General Secretary of our university news letter.
2) Elected student director for the college tech forum. My team was totally responsible for planning and executing our university tech fest. One of the biggest tech fests in India.(5 Million INR budget).
3) Authored 2 research papers in my field of expertise.
Post Undergrad:
1) President of the Toast Masters club in our office.
2) Involved with an NGO which provides lively hood for downtrodden sections of society(Since 2011).
3) Conceptualized and conducted training programs for colleagues to improve their soft skills and consulting skills.
4) Have lead multiple notable CSR initiatives of Deloitte.
ST goals: To gain insights and the tools to move to a managerial role in my current technology industry.
LT goals: To become an entrepreneur and start my own technology firm focusing on non traditional spaces such as Agriculture/Sustainable Energy.
Target schools:
"Stretch": HBS, Kellogg, MIT: Sloan, Tuck
"Match" : Duke,Ross, Anderson
Questions:
1) Want a reality check on my list of schools.
2) Can you please suggest some "Safe" options for my profile.
3) I feel that the absence of actual real time International Exposure is a dent in my profile. Is there a way i can overcome this ?
Thanks very much in advance. Let me know if you need any other specific info.
cheers.
Hey there good sir,
So let's have a look:
The Good Stuff:
- Amazing GPA!
- Very good GMAT
- Deloitte
The Tough Stuff:
- Indian/Male/Tech
- Non IIT
The Neutral Stuff:
- ECs are decent, but sort of standard for an Indian applicant: CSR at work, Toastmasters, Tech club… Don't get me wrong, all this stuff is great! But many folks with similar profiles have the same.
I think your school list is a wee bit on the tough side. I mean you have, by your own admission four schools on the stretch side of things. Actually a more balanced strategy would leave you with 2 here. So my first suggestion would be to drop two schools: HBS, and one of the others. You do have an excellent profile, but your GMAT lower than average plus Indian/Male/Tech plus non-IIT makes them stretches. Your match schools are about right, but you are missing one or two schools to balance you out (the so-called "Safe schools", as you mentioned… maybe McCombs, Tepper, Foster?)
Overall, really I think your profile is excellent. Other than the "Weaknesses of circumstance" you don't have any weaknesses, which is great! The ONE thing I would wish for you to dig deeper for is some stardust! Your profile, is like I wrote, solid all around, but have you got (or can you make) something to make it SHINE?? That will make more difference than anything else!
All the best,
JF