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Profile evaluation: Indian: GRE-331, Work ex-3yrs & counting

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Shalabh7
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Profile evaluation: Indian: GRE-331, Work ex-3yrs & counting [#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2013, 09:57
Hi I am not able to select b-schools to which I should apply,

GRE-331 (Yes, I do not have GMAT).

Education : BCom from Delhi university,India (first class degree), Cleared two levels of CFA, USA.

Work ex : 4months in the Tax department of KMPG + 2 years in a startup handling a gamut of things but main focus on finance 7+months in a boutique capital advisory firm.

Preferred industry on graduation : consultancy, or working with a dynamic startup.

Please help me shortlist b-schools in US.
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Re: Profile evaluation: Indian: GRE-331, Work ex-3yrs & counting [#permalink] New post   10 Sep 2013, 23:41
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Hey there dude,
I'd love to help you out, but I need more info!!! Have a look at other profile requests here to see just how detailed you can get, but minimally, I need
- Your GRE breakdown
- Your GPA
- Some note about volunteer work and extra curricular activities
- Your main work achievements

So get back to me with that, and we can get started!
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Shalabh7
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Re: Profile evaluation: Indian: GRE-331, Work ex-3yrs & counting [#permalink] New post   11 Sep 2013, 01:36
JonAdmissionado wrote:
Hey there dude,
I'd love to help you out, but I need more info!!! Have a look at other profile requests here to see just how detailed you can get, but minimally, I need
- Your GRE breakdown
- Your GPA
- Some note about volunteer work and extra curricular activities
- Your main work achievements

So get back to me with that, and we can get started!


Hey sorry for not being thorough.

WORK EX.

I started my career in a big four as a Tax accountant (5months)
Accomplishment: Independently handled risk management for our team.

then went to manage finance for a start-up (2 years)
Accomplishment:
• Streamlined financial procedures by structuring accounting and book-keeping procedures and by establishing a petty cash system for day to day expenditures
• Responsible for expenditure forecasting and budgeting for over 30 projects and events
• Helped in reporting financials and performance forecast while pitching to VCs and angel investors
• Took initiative, conceptualised the next version of the web portal and built an in-house technology team and thus directly enhancing the productivity of the client servicing department by 300%
• Supervised and led multiple teams across different functionalities such as business development, content management etc.

Presently, working for a boutique Investment bank(7months+)
Duties:
• Currently assisting few companies in PE/VC funding
• Worked on strategic advisory and handholding assignments

EXTRA CURRICULAR
Started a web designing company at age 13.
Founded an entrepreneur club in school.. President of economics club of the school for 2 years.. Lead my house as the House captain and Vice-hpuse captain for two years.
In college, worked for 1 year in AIESEC in which I was instrumental in organizing a corporate forum.
Also, did an internship at the International supply and trade department's risk management desk of one of the big oil companies in India..
Post college not much, but I do take part in endurance sports (aquathlon, triathlon, 10K, registered for a 21K, a marathon and a hurdle run) and tried to form an association for the young professional but it didnt pick up really.

Volunteer Work - almost none except that I have been regularly teaching maths to my maid's two children for the last 9 years.

GRE/GMAT
GRE -331 (Q-169, V-162, AW-4).. yeah! no GMAT, is this a deal breaker...

ACADEMICS
Late bloomer. Average joey till school and then overachieved while at college.
Undergrad in commerce from Delhi University (first class degree and a college topper).. Percentage - 71.1%. The university does not calculate GPA.. but if done it would be closer to 4.
CFA level 3 candidate. Level 3 due in June'14.

Want to apply to B-Schools in US.

CONCERNS
not a great undergrad degree/college, no great brand names when it comes to work ex.

Let me know if you may require more information. Thanks :)
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Re: Profile evaluation: Indian: GRE-331, Work ex-3yrs & counting [#permalink] New post   11 Sep 2013, 23:18
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Okay!!!!! Now we are talking!

Now that I have an actual idea of who you are and what you have done... :)

So first things first: things look pretty good! You have a fantastic GRE and very good work experience, with obvious upwards progress. Your main "challenges" will be 1. Your UG school + grades 2. Your tough applicant pool.

No GMAT is fine. I mean your equivalent GMAT score would be about 750.. so even if they consider it a bit "less" than the GMAT, anyway you crack it, it's still a fantastic score.

Basically, I'd say that your range for schools, your sweet spot, should be around schools ranked 10-30, and you could maybe apply to some relevant schools in the Top 10 as long shots (depends how much time and energy you have and how many apps you can do). Given your industry it makes sense to start with the strong Finance schools: Columbia, NYU, Johnson, Tepper too. As a long-shot school, you can think about Sloan or Booth And then add two or three more that are from the lower side of this 10-30 ranking to make sure you have a balanced profile.

How does that sound, my friend?
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Shalabh7
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Re: Profile evaluation: Indian: GRE-331, Work ex-3yrs & counting [#permalink] New post   12 Sep 2013, 11:55
JonAdmissionado wrote:
Okay!!!!! Now we are talking!

Now that I have an actual idea of who you are and what you have done... :)

So first things first: things look pretty good! You have a fantastic GRE and very good work experience, with obvious upwards progress. Your main "challenges" will be 1. Your UG school + grades 2. Your tough applicant pool.

No GMAT is fine. I mean your equivalent GMAT score would be about 750.. so even if they consider it a bit "less" than the GMAT, anyway you crack it, it's still a fantastic score.

Basically, I'd say that your range for schools, your sweet spot, should be around schools ranked 10-30, and you could maybe apply to some relevant schools in the Top 10 as long shots (depends how much time and energy you have and how many apps you can do). Given your industry it makes sense to start with the strong Finance schools: Columbia, NYU, Johnson, Tepper too. As a long-shot school, you can think about Sloan or Booth And then add two or three more that are from the lower side of this 10-30 ranking to make sure you have a balanced profile.

How does that sound, my friend?


Thanks a lot Jon for such a detailed and insightful reply.

You really made my day by telling me a what my GRE translates into. I was thinking it would be closer to 700. But woah! 750. So even if they take it on the lower side, it would still be 730/730+. :)

Your reply also does help to allay my concerns regarding my work ex. and a very important point that you have pointed out is that it has a clear upside. I say this from the point of view that I should cover it in the essays. Thanks.

Now coming to the challenges that you have pointed out. I agree about the tough talent pool. I mean there are 1.3 billion more like me ;)..
I also agree with that UG school could be a challenge.

But I am somewhat not in total agreement with the fact that my UG grade could be a challenge, I was of the opposite opinion. So I want to reconfirm this. You may already be aware of this but just to make sure:
Delhi university, my UG school, does not give GPA but a percentage and the marking is such that 71% is in fact a very good grade. My friend who got 57% in the same degree, had got his percentage converted to GPA by World Education Sources (WES). As it turns out 57% = 3.12 GPA. So I am thinking my percentage should at least be 3.7, could also be 3.8 or more.

Also, though I have been in the financial services/financial functions, I am more interested in getting into strategic consultancy and strategic functions post MBA.

So with this all this new info. Does my range of schools that I should apply to, get altered?

And thanks for taking out the time. :)

Cheers!
Shalabh

Ps. It might be a stupid question. Should I look at also applying to something like Kellogg, which is not so strong in finance, so it would have less 'finance' people applying. So I would somewhat belong to a less competitive pool. I don't know if this makes sense.
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Re: Profile evaluation: Indian: GRE-331, Work ex-3yrs & counting [#permalink] New post   13 Sep 2013, 02:26
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Shalabh7 wrote:
Thanks a lot Jon for such a detailed and insightful reply.

You really made my day by telling me a what my GRE translates into. I was thinking it would be closer to 700. But woah! 750. So even if they take it on the lower side, it would still be 730/730+. :)

Your reply also does help to allay my concerns regarding my work ex. and a very important point that you have pointed out is that it has a clear upside. I say this from the point of view that I should cover it in the essays. Thanks.

Now coming to the challenges that you have pointed out. I agree about the tough talent pool. I mean there are 1.3 billion more like me ;)..
I also agree with that UG school could be a challenge.

But I am somewhat not in total agreement with the fact that my UG grade could be a challenge, I was of the opposite opinion. So I want to reconfirm this. You may already be aware of this but just to make sure:
Delhi university, my UG school, does not give GPA but a percentage and the marking is such that 71% is in fact a very good grade. My friend who got 57% in the same degree, had got his percentage converted to GPA by World Education Sources (WES). As it turns out 57% = 3.12 GPA. So I am thinking my percentage should at least be 3.7, could also be 3.8 or more.

Also, though I have been in the financial services/financial functions, I am more interested in getting into strategic consultancy and strategic functions post MBA.

So with this all this new info. Does my range of schools that I should apply to, get altered?

And thanks for taking out the time. :)

Cheers!
Shalabh

Ps. It might be a stupid question. Should I look at also applying to something like Kellogg, which is not so strong in finance, so it would have less 'finance' people applying. So I would somewhat belong to a less competitive pool. I don't know if this makes sense.


You got it dude,
I am happy to help!

So first about your GPA... I know that your GPA is much higher than it would be in equivalent of the US, but I have seen a lot of Indian candidates go through this process, and although your GPA is good it's not 8+. Plus even though the schools KNOW your 70 is not the same as an American 70, sometimes the psychological effect of the number is the psychological effect of the number. But yes, your grades aren't bad, but still Indian candidates will apply with 75, 80, 85 also (I saw a few people with 9s, but rare...). If your grades are exceptional for your school, then you need to find ways to let the AdComs know (like "Although I have xx% I am actually in the Top 2% of my school). But it's that + it not being a grade from IIT :).

Now, going to the right finance school only matters if you want to get a job in finance (although if you get into a top 10 school, I guess you can get whatever job you want), but if you are more interested in strategy anyhow, then any school is good as the Consulting firms hire from all the good schools.
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