Ask ApplicantLab

I appreciate your nod to gender fluidity! That having been said, my pronouns are "she / hers" ....or "Mam", as it were


Ok, so Reliance, being a huge name, is certainly well-known in admissions circles. That's the good news. The less-rosy news is that, thanks to its size, there are A LOT OF PEOPLE from Reliance who apply to business schools each year.

This is why your selection to what appears to be an elite internal group is a good thing! This will help re-assure adcoms that you're a strong career performer.

For your applications, please focus primarily on your leadership role in the "first ever project" for Ethane -- the part about "Writing a report" is a lot less compelling (unless a report that you wrote ended up having a massive impact / change on something big that the company did).


Alas, this isn't great. The Q is decent, but the V and especially the AWA is quite low. I strongly, STRONGLY suggest a re-take. Since Verbal is your weakest point, I've heard good things about the e-gmat course and its ability to help with the verbal aspects of the test.


This is "fine" but a recreational sport played in college won't really grant a lot of "points". That having been said, it's better than nothing, and I am of the opinion that extra-currics matter a lot less than most people think they do... so don't worry here.


Oooh... "moderate"... is there any way you can find TWO people who will enthusiastically support you? What about your current boss? Or does that risk your position?


As people who have seen me (on videos / webinars) or who have tried out the ApplicantLab trial know, I'm not a huge fan of applying with a Big Career Change. You may want to do some research on what it takes to get a job in equity research (which, let's be honest, feels like a dwindling field?) or risk management. Maybe I'm too bearish here, but I feel like BOTH equity research AND risk management are jobs that will be increasingly taken over by AI in the coming years, so, e.g. if you were my brother, I'm not sure I'd advise you pursuing those fields.

Your best bet IMHO will be to say that you want to stay in the oil / gas industry but pivot your existing expertise to a corporate finance role internally.


Hmmm... well, Canada is probably your best bet re: oil and gas industry. Off the top of my head, U of Alberta has a strong offering in that field, and I'm sure that since oil/gas is an important part of Canada's economy, the other schools there are more likely to have offerings along those lines than unis in the UK or Asia.

One VERY RANDOM thing to note: Rotman MBA program in Canada did a study of its graduates, and found that the biggest determinant of career success for MBA alumni was how well the person scored on the *A.W.A.*. For that reason, I suspect that Rotman probably puts more weight on the AWA than the typical school does.

Also. Oh man. I PROMISE I am NOT saying these things just to be a DEBBIE DOWNER... but I also have a non-awesome prediction. I think the recent drop in oil prices is going to = layoffs in your industry, which is going to = a LOT of folks for your industry applying to b-schools... at least until prices go back up again. For that reason, I'm afraid that the pool will only get more competitive.

Therefore, this only strengthens my opinion that you should re-take the GMAT in the coming months, in order to maximize your chances.


Best regards,
Maria

Hi there!

Thanks for submitting your profile -- I do have to say that it's a bit vague, so I don't have a SUPER clear sense yet -- by any chance, have you gotten to take the GMAT yet? While the GMAT isn't the "ALL IMPORTANT" piece, it DOES help tremendously with trying to figure out which programs are within reach, academically.

Also, when you said that you are "pursuing" a leadership program -- does that mean that you were in the process of applying for it, or that you DID apply and were accepted, and thus by "pursuing" you mean you're currently working in it? Either way, let's assume that this is what you're currently working in

Since you are current doing community-service type of work, then I do think it's OK for you to write about wanting to do social enterprise consulting in your application... since you have some "real" experience with it and are not merely speculating that it sounds like it would be a nice field to work in.

I can't give a TON of advice re the M7 schools, except to say that the top schools that are famous for social enterprise are Kellogg, Yale, Ross... and maybe Tuck?

Honestly though? I know this wasn't the question you were asking, but if you've been in Canada for a couple of years already, wouldn't you already be well on your way to gaining legal residence (or whatever their term for it is?)...

...If I were in your shoes, I'd pursue an MBA in CANADA... maybe even a part-time one (Rotman has this cool program: https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/Degrees/MastersPrograms/MBAPrograms/MEMBA

Not only will a school like Rotman cost less, but spending that time staying in Canada will set you up well for continued residency.

Here in the US, unless you pursue a "STEM MBA", you'll only be allowed to work for one year post-MBA (and then gamble on getting the H1 visa after that)...


....also, not to gaze into my political crystal ball but I feel that I need to here: if Trump gets re-elected (which seems highly probable) then the anti-immigrant sentiment in the US is bound to stay the same, or perhaps even get worse. So, it's not like I can say: "Take a chance on a US school, and HOPE that the visa situation improves dramatically before you graduate!" since I am not sure that this will happen?


Anyway -- these are my thoughts. I hope it's helpful! Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!


-Maria

Hey there -- I *LOVE* your screen-name!!!!!



Ok, so... onwards!


Since you've been in your current role for less than a year, if you think the older boss will give a stronger recc, then choose that person. You can simply say that you're not comfortable asking the current boss since it might jeopardize your job. However, if in the next few months, you develop a stronger relationship with the newer boss, then "current boss" is always preferred (but prioritize who will say the most enthusiastic things about you!!!)

Re: things to think about doing now, there's a whole "To Do List" module in the Lab to help you keep track of everything you need to do (some of it is also visible via the trial) and also here's a blog post with some of the same advice: https://www.applicantlab.com/blog/preparing-apply-mba-program-focus/

Re: the list above. If you're just not "feeling" Tuck, then maybe don't bother applying, OR don't prioritize it for R1. Tuck is an awesome program for the right person, and its small size and isolated location can be amazing for some people... or horrid for others. I don't advocate applying to any program that you're not actually enthused about attending.

I think a challenge for your profile is one that plagues most people from your field: there are an awful lot of people from banking (though admittedly, fewer from the "Strategy" side of things)(which is all the more reason IMHO I'd play up that experience as part of your career story, to really highlight it to them).

I think my advice would be to give it everything you've got in R1 for your top choices... and, in case it doesn't pan out, create a solid list of R2 offerings of schools that have similar benefits -- e.g. if you love Booth for its analytics, check out Tepper. If you love CBS for its finance offerings, also check out NYU and Cornell.

The reason I'm telling you (AND EVERYONE) to be ready to apply to MANY schools this year is that I think the upcoming recession (not that it's guaranteed but it's not looking great as of today's date), is gonna push a LOT OF PEOPLE to apply next year, figuring that they'll ride out the bad economy and then re-enter the workforce in a few years. IF that DOES end up happening, then it MIGHT get more competitive than it has been in the past, so this year more than most, I think folks are going to need to be open minded about casting a wide net for schools that can help them reach their goals.


Thank you!,
Maria

Hi Maria
1) I am 35. Assuming I am able to answer my purpose, the why, the gmat, essay, profile, gpa etc., are my chances of getting into a good college (1 year program) due to my age, nil? Will my age be a definitive no or is that something I can justify and get through? Some high level perspective would help.
2) My target is for class of 2021 summer. I am working on my gmat and aiming for first week of August'20 if all goes well. Does this allow me sufficient time to leverage all of applicant lab? Time at my end is available. But I am trying to gauge if this is usually the time someone will be able to leverage the best out of applicant lab.
Thanks!

Hello prasannaplm!

So, let me tackle your second question first, since it's the easier one.

YES, you can use ApplicantLab to write your essays within a month -- here is a recent GMATClub-certified testimonial of someone who did just that: https://gmatclub.com/reviews/comments/applicantlab-on-demand-admissions-guidance-tool-345358370

That having been said, there are a FEW things you need to start doing NOW to set in motion -- namely, figuring out your recommenders, since -- while you could always pull an all-nighter if needed, you can't ask your boss to do the same. This blog post covers that: https://gmatclub.com/reviews/comments/applicantlab-on-demand-admissions-guidance-tool-345358370

Now, on to your first question -- your chances of getting into a good 1-year MBA program at age 35 are definitely lower, but they are not nil. Assuming that the rest of your candidacy is strong, then age alone won't keep you out... but your "why MBA, and why now?" does need to be solid. The fact is, that "post-MBA level" of job title is usually something that most people have attained by age 35. So one of many challenges for the older candidates is: "On the one hand, am I TOO qualified for the MBA [that is, will I gain from it or will I instead only be offered jobs several steps backwards?" OR "On the other hand, if someone has not yet reached middle-management by their mid-30s, should we [as an admissions committee] be worried about their professional acumen?"

So yes -- it is doable. Especially if you already have some sort of other graduate degree (which would qualify you for the Cornell 1-year MBA, for example). IF you are, as I hope, already beyond middle-management by this age, the one-year programs known as "Sloan Fellows" at MIT Sloan, LBS, and Stanford (where it's since been re-named to the "MSx" program) could be good -- especially if your company is sponsoring you or if you are self-sponsored (e.g. able to pay your own way, since the 1-year programs have even fewer scholarships than the 2-year programs).

You may also want to look into programs in Europe or Canada; Europe in particular has shorter programs that do then to be more open to the more mature applicant.

Of course, I'm saying all this with absolutely no idea what your work accomplishments, GMAT, etc. are!

In sum -- 35 is USUALLY too "old" to apply to full-time MBA programs, but it is certainly possible -- for a truly competitive candidate, age is just a number and while it will be more difficult, it is certainly feasible.


Thank you!,
Maria

Thanks a lot Maria! That was a detailed and clear answer. I really appreciate you taking time out for this! I do understand the challenges that I face. I have a graduate degree as well in sciences, a decent gpa and my title is product manager at a popular Mnc. But I can see a mountain I've to climb now, the essay, the profile, the gmat, the big why. Rolling up socks. And I am definitely jumping on to applicant lab.
One last question: The applications usually ask for the undergrad gpa. I do have a decent one, 3.5. But in my graduate, I managed a get a perfect 4.0. So, when I am asked for the gpa should I quote only the undergrad one or can I quote the graduate one instead, it being the latest in time?

Hi there!

For the GPA, you'll end up reporting BOTH your undergrad and grad school grades; they'll ask you to upload scans of your transcripts from both.

When you see in rankings, etc. the "GPA" , they are usually referring to the undergrad GPA, since graduate school is often considered to have "Grade inflation" (ie the stereotype is that it's easier to get a good grade in grad school than in undergrad) .

With your existing graduate degree, you should quality to apply for both the Cornell and the Kellogg 1-year MBA. Other US programs that are 1-year are USC iBear and I believe Emory.

Apart from the European programs I mentioned, you may also want to look into NUS in Singapore; which I think is one year. IF you have international experience (ie, if you regularly work with global counterparts at your MNC or if you have done projects in other markets), then check out INSEAD as well (Again, all of this is assuming strong test-scores, etc.)


Thanks!,
Maria

Noted. Thanks a lot for taking time to reply. That was really helpful! Kudos.

Hi Maria,

I love your youtube videos and the Applicantlab product! I am getting ready to work on apps for R1 this upcoming fall and am currently solidifying my goals/visions for my future.

Age: 25
Demographics: US citizen, white male
GMAT: 750
Undergrad: 3.78 GPA at a top 20 US college (double major Econ + Sport Management)
Division 1 varsity athletics
Work (yrs): 3.5 years at time of application, A little over 4 years at matriculation
Work (description): Spent 1 year at a large-cap energy company as a financial analyst on the business development team. Current role is ~2 years working in corporate finance at a mid-cap energy company. Job responsibilities spill over into investor relations as well (due to working at a smaller company (more hats) and getting more responsibility over time).

Extracurriculars: Board member for the athletic department of my undergrad university; volunteer at SPCA (specializing in cats) and assisting with fundraising for special events (raised over 2,000 dollars from local community donors for the most recent event (coronavirus has halted much of these fundraiser efforts); Alumni interviewer for undergrad school; and sports is still a big part of my life.

Goals: Still trying to figure this out, but I am very interested in using my analytical skills to transition into a role that deals with consumer analytics. I don't know if targeting a CPG type role (would be a great base and provide wonderful training for my interests) is too far from my finance/energy background, but that is a big interest of mine. Also interested in the sports industry. I enjoyed a sports marketing internship I did while completing my undergrad, but that was a few years back. I do not want to stay in the energy sector, and desire to work in a sector that I am more passionate about (such as consumer products, sports, or retail) I know top schools are not feeders to pro sports teams and leagues, but this fits with my athletics background and overall passions. Long term goal would be to head up a business unit of a major product or product-line.

Schools: Booth, Sloan, Kellogg, Columbia, Ross, Fuqua

Recs: One will be from my current supervisor and one will be from a coworker from my previous job. Potentially will have CFO of my current company be the second recommender, but while we have done some work together and I know him decently well, he cannot speak to my personality as well as my other coworker. I was hoping that the second recommendation would be more personal and show the reader what I am actually like to be around (as well as speaking to some on the job stuff). CFO is also a Booth alum, so I will target him for that school.

Thank you very much in advance for your thoughts on my candidacy. I would love to hear what you think about my experience, goals, and strategy for recommendations (and any additional musings you might have)!

Best,
Zack1317

Hey there Zack1317 !

Let's dig in:

So, I think you're just a *smidge* on the younger side for applying, but the good news is, you MIGHT AS WELL give it a shot this year and can always re-apply later on.

Working at the smaller company is good; you can use the resume (for sure) and the essays (depending on the school) to highlight how working at a smaller company has given you more responsibility than you would have had otherwise.

The Academic side is strong -- kudos on the 750!


As you'll see when you dig into the Lab, one key thing to note in the resume will be telling the reader why that $2k is a big deal -- e.g. "Raised $2,000 (45% more than the previous year)" or "the highest amount raised at an event" -- just because "$2k" is relative... at some non-profits, it would be their fundraising for the entire year, at other non-profits, that would be "a regular Tuesday"


Yeah, as you'll see in the Career Vision module, I don't advocate applying with a BIG career switch like this -- since you'd be doing a double-change: both industry, and function (from finance to analytics).

Is there any chance -- and I'm just spit-balling here -- that you could try to get a CPG job now (esp. given how energy -- well, oil at least -- is in a bad place these days?) -- that would not only help with "the story" for applications but frankly will also help you get an internship / job post-MBA as well. CPG can sometimes be a tricky one to get in to without previous experience, or tangential experience (e.g. retail, fashion, etc.).



For the "analytics" piece, Booth and Sloan make sense, but I wonder if you'd be better off using a "Renewable energy" career vision -- e.g. since Fuqua has the EDGE (I think that's what it's called?) energy track, Sloan is all about technology (and your current career vision as stated above doesn't seem to be super-techy, etc.)

If you actually are really committed to CPG, some non-fancy schools that are not on the radar for most people, but that have jaw-dropping recruitment numbers into CPG are Indiana and Wisconsin.


If the CFO does not know you that well, he will not write as strong of a recommendation as someone else. Resist the temptation to choose him only because he's a Booth alum.


Hope this is helpful!,
Maria

Hi Maria

This is Prayush Gupta from India and I am a big fan of your product ApplicantLab! I am looking to apply for MBA for Fall 2021 intake to Top 10 US and 1-year in France and UK. My profile snapshot:

Education Background:

• Manufacturing Processes and Automation Engineer from NSIT (DU) - First Division - 2011-15
• CFA Level 1 Cleared - Dec 2015

GMAT: yet to appear (~Aug'20)

Professional Experience:

• Aug'15-Oct'16 | Senior Business Analyst | EXL Services: Worked with Barclays team in their Noida office; Awarded Promising New-Comer; Quit the job to move to Investment Banking related role
• Oct'16-Jan'17 | Associate Business Analyst | Archer Tech: Startup developing SaaS platform for Real Estate sector; Founded by ex-Wall Street veteran; Managed the Pre-Series A round of financing; Responsible for Recruitment, Pre-sales marketing & Post-sales account management; Realized was fitter for analytics so left after the fund-raise deal closure to a FinTech
• Jan'17-Feb'18 | Data Scientist | Seynse Tech: FinTech which used Telecom usage & billing, bureau and financial data of borrowers for day 0/instant credit decisioning and disbursal; Was managing the data science unit towards the end of the stint; Had to leave as the startup shut down as it failed to secure funding
• Feb'18-Present | Manager - Data Science | TransUnion CIBIL: Working currently with the Modeling team of India's largest credit bureau; Managing New-To-Credit and multiple custom scorecard development projects; Awarded WOW Award recently for reducing modeling turnaround time by ~33% using standardization and automation

Social Ventures:

• Jan'17-Present | Co-Founder | ZARIYA: Online aggregator platform to provide one-stop solution for domestic violence and abuse victims in India; Co-founded with 2 Stanford alumni; Responsible for entire operations; 820+ cases from 25+ states; Leading a team of ~15 Volunteers
• Sep'17-Present | Data Science Consultant | ZIDISHA: YCombinator funded Microfinance P2P lending platform operational in multiple developing countries; Was leading Indonesia operations but we had to quit the market due to legal constraints; Now supporting scorecard development and monitoring

Other Important Information:

• Led a team of 40 people developing a solar racecar to compete in the American Solar challenge while in college; developing two prototypes during the 2.5 years of engagement
• I have a patent application pending for a Rear Suspension design prototype that we developed and used in this race car
• Dance Enthusiast - Advanced level Salsa and Bachata dancer; Regularly training, dancing and occasionally teaching since Feb'18

Why MBA: Want to improve management and business skillsets; Global exposure and networking opportunities

Dream Job after MBA: Working with a FinTech focused improving credit for the underserved communities globally
Plan B: Consulting role with Financial Services division of leading consulting firms

I would really appreciate it if you could share your feedback on my profile and also your perspective on how to structure my story for maximum impact!
Thanks!

Hi @prayushgupta -- let's jump in:

Ok, so -- without the GMAT score, it can be challenging to know if you've got the "evidence" of being able to handle the top MBA programs' academics... but let's assume that you end up getting a strong score.

Your age is within the right range for the FT MBA programs...so that's good!

Ok, so the good news here is that you've been in your current job for 2+ years now -- after the sort stint at Archer Tech, it's good to see some job stability! You may want to explain the ending of the job at Archer and also Seynse shutting down in the "optional essay", so that way you can combat any potential risk of being seen as a "job hopper". Or, if you can get one of your recommendations from Seynse, that will also help establish that you're a valued performer in multiple jobs.

I like the fact that the last two jobs are in the "Credit" space. That also helps build a strong narrative -- I'd therefore assume that the future career vision revolves around... some sort of tech that will expand credit to previously-under served markets?


First of all, I once interned at a domestic violence non-profit, so it's a cause that means a lot to me, so a sincere thank you for your efforts there.

I really like the P2P lending platform work -- it ties in very nicely with the "credit" story -- it provides strength to the narrative that this is a passion for you, both in and out of work. Therefore, I'd emphasize the ZIDISHA work more (ie giving it more prominence on the resume; perhaps talking about it in an essay)...it's one more thing you can mention as "evidence" re: your commitment to the credit space.


These things are nice (bachata can be tricky!) --Re: the solar racecar project, while interesting, it is part of your "old" life and doesn't really tie in closely to the current story around analytics / credit. Therefore, maybe spend one line (total) on that project (both the project + the patent pending) in the resume, in order to free up space to talk more about your more recent accomplishments.
Why MBA: Want to improve management and business skillsets; Global exposure and networking opportunities

Dream Job after MBA: Working with a FinTech focused improving credit for the underserved communities globally
Plan B: Consulting role with Financial Services division of leading consulting firms

I would really appreciate it if you could share your feedback on my profile and also your perspective on how to structure my story for maximum impact!
Thanks![/quote]

The career goal makes a lot of sense given your past two jobs -- finding alternate ways to assess credit-worthiness has been something that companies have been trying to crack for a while, and I'm sure that AI / ML are going to open up some cool opportunities there going forward.

Assuming that you've been a "people leader" vs. simply a "solo contributor" on the analytics side, then I like the overall story. In the essays /resume, be sure to focus on the concrete results of your efforts, as well as your "EQ" / people skills (Vs. the "number crunching" ) skills for maximum impact.


Hope this is helpful!


-Maria

The career goal makes a lot of sense given your past two jobs -- finding alternate ways to assess credit-worthiness has been something that companies have been trying to crack for a while, and I'm sure that AI / ML are going to open up some cool opportunities there going forward.

Assuming that you've been a "people leader" vs. simply a "solo contributor" on the analytics side, then I like the overall story. In the essays /resume, be sure to focus on the concrete results of your efforts, as well as your "EQ" / people skills (Vs. the "number crunching" ) skills for maximum impact.


Hope this is helpful!


-Maria[/quote]

Thank you so much Maria for such a detailed analysis and insightful feedback on my profile. I look forward to many more such discussions in the coming weeks as I have decided to use ApplicantLab as my MBA application planner. I am confident that your product coupled with your valuable knowledge will be an excellent partner for me during this process.

I am currently awaiting Tepper and Kellogg's results for Fall 2020 R3 while simultaneously preparing for GMAT for next year's admission cycle. Hope to speak to you soon!

Thanks
Prayush!

Hello everyone.
I am from India. I have done my Bachelor's in Pharmacy with low CGPA of 6.75/10.I have scored 750 on the GMAT and I have participated at various platforms. I have done my Master's in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Economics From German University with CGPA of 3.5/5. I was the Sports Secretary of the college and lead the team of 20+ Volunteers. I have done 2 Internships. And I have work experience of 3 years into Pricing and HEOR at ISPOR. What are the possibilities of getting it into Harvard MBA?

Posted from my mobile device

Okie dokie! Let's jump in...

Well the good news is, your GRE score is around average for some of the programs you're targeting (e.g. UT Austin) -- yes, I do think a re-take will be beneficial, but if this is what you got on the first attempt, then hopefully that bodes well for the next take.
Some of this experience is stronger than the others -- be sure to prioritize the bigger leadership stories in the resume (and also leave out tech terms like "Hadoop") -- the work in Thailand seems esepcailly promising... if you made good impact on the business, which it seems like you may have. Stuff like moving to the codebase to open source may not matter as much, unless you can quantify / express just what were the "bottom line" impact / result ("reducing run time by a third" -- I'm not sure what that means in terms of manhours saved.etc.)
So -- this is a good thing -- you landed at yet another "brand name" company -- and hopefully the results of that marketing attribution study will be available by the time you submit the application! Again, not to repeat myself but the bottom-line impact (e.g. "Helped make $200m / year in advertising spend 15% more efficient by...." ) is better to highlight than things with more "fuzzy" contributions like "migrating to the cloud".

I also like that GroupOn is an online / ecommerce company, and Tesco was retail. This makes for an easier story than if you had worked in two totally different industries!
Choice of industry makes perfect sense -- OTHER PEOPLE READING THIS: NOTE HOW HE PICKED THREE COMPANIES THAT ARE ALL IN SIMILAR FIELDS: retail / e-commerce. One of my pet peeves is people who say "I want to be a product manager at a tech company, like eBay or Netflix." HUH? Those are two utterly different companies!!! By choosing businesses that 1) are similar and 2) build upon your previous experience, you are showing admissions that you're being thoughtful about your career path.

The fact that you majored in comp sci in undergrad bodes well for your ability to get a product manager job.

Note, however -- if you make the career vision TOO "supply chain-y", be careful that it doesn't overlap too much with your previous experience, OR could ALSO be reached by doing a masters in analytics or a masters in AI. The "Story" needs to focus on the well-rounded business skills -- the AI stuff / supply chain stuff can also be learned via other (cheaper) masters degrees.
I like the college activity about launching an online system to help make payment, etc. easier. The other current extra-currics are a little on the weak side, but I'm sure the golden retriever comment on the resume will make an admissions officer or two smile

This is why part of your "job" in your application will be to "translate" your technical work into the bottom-line impact, and also your leadership skills (eg, working with / motivating others)
This is fine; interpersonal leadership / "EQ" can be proven in a variety of circumstances.
Ugh, that stupid GRE-to-GMAT converter DEFINITELY feels "off". I am a big fan of taking the GRE -- and to answer your question, for *ME* the percentiles are what matters (or what should matter?) more than the made-up score conversion --- if a school says that they are OK with the GRE, then you can take them at their word. But yeah -- that online converter always feels a bit "off" in terms of saying that the GMAT score would be pretty low. I wouldn't worry about it. If you prefer the GRE test, then take the test you feel more comfortable taking.
I think the online whiteboard is an abomination whose codebase should be deleted and we should all pretend it simply never happened. So yeah -- stick with the GRE if you'll have to take the test at home. My thoughts on this are in my blog post here: https://www.applicantlab.com/blog/should-i-take-the-new-gmat-online-or-the-gre-at-home/


I hope this has been helpful! I like your choice of schools -- Foster, since it's in Seattle, could be good for Amazon... also look into the Cornell / Cornell Tech MBA programs, since I believe they are also big feeders to Amazon too.

Thanks!

Hi there neetabhanushali --

You asking me, an admissions expert, "What are the possibilities of getting into Harvard's MBA?" would be akin to me asking you, as a pharmacist: "Should I take this pill that I found?" In a nutshell, I'd need A LOT MORE INFORMATION first!

Let's start with the easy stuff: the 750 is a good way to balance out the (as you called it) "low" GPA.

With three years of experience, you're at / maybe a year or two below a great age, experience-wise, to apply to HBS.

Before we go any further, you may want to watch my video on the "AdComs' Hierarchy of Needs" here: https://www.applicantlab.com/blog/mba-admissions-committees-needs-meet-needs/

As you'll see, the devil is in the details -- specifically, the LEADERSHIP details.

I had to look up what ISPOR was, since it's not exactly a recognizable name brand. It appears to be some sort of health research think-tank, that also puts on conferences, etc.

USUALLY, "research" jobs are toughies, since usually "research" is:

1) Solitary (that is, no opportunity to lead others, at least not in a massive way)

2) Theoretical (that is, it often deals with data that is so high-level that it's difficult to concretely say: "Yes. 3,285 patients' lives were saved thanks to this.")

3) Past-looking, not forward-looking (that is, instead of, say, driving innovation at a fast-paced biotech firm, oftentimes economics research looks at past datasets...the value of which can be difficult to prove (see "theoretical" point above)

For those reasons, it can be difficult for me, if I put on an admissions hat, to tell if someone doing healthcare pricing research has strong leadership skills or not. Not because you DON'T have these skills, but rather, because it's possible that your job has not allowed you to demonstrate or to develop these skills.

So -- without knowing what sort of impact you've made on 1) your organization 2) the healthcare industry more broadly, and without knowing 3) how many people you've had to lead / manage / inspire / persuade / etc. along the way, I can't possibly give any idea about your chances of HBS, any more than you could tell me if I should take a pill that I found on the sidewalk.

Hopefully though, some of what I wrote above, as well as my blog post, can help you start to figure out which facets of your experience to date would indeed be interesting to highlight to an admissions committee.


Thanks,
Maria

Thanks a ton for your detailed review Maria/ ApplicantLab ! I shall look into Cornell too! I am not too keen on a Tech MBA though as I feel that the traditional MBA would provide me with more rounded opportunities (primarily as a good Plan B pertaining to careers both in tech and outside tech ).

An add on to my earlier questions,

1. Is my list of Indian School Of Business, Ross(Probably the toughest of the list, but I seem to have developed a fondness for the school), Stern, Foster, UT Austin, Tepper, Fuqua, USC/UCLA/Haas and NUS/NTU pragmatic and achievable considering my profile? I intend to apply to them along with maybe Sloan as my longshot low probability dream school.

2. Also it would be extremely helpful if you could share your thoughts on a favorable ballpark GRE score for profiles like mine for these universities?

3. I have just gone through https://gmatclub.com/blog/2020/05/mba-application-updates-of-50-b-schools-amid-covid-19/
Considering this to be the case, would it be even prudent to apply in R1 next year? (For eg, it says that Ross is offering a deferral to all the international students. So assuming a lot of them would roll over to the next class, realistically, how many international students would they admit to the class of 2023?). How does one gauge the number of deferrals being provided by universities and deciding on when to apply(For eg, a potential delay might lead to job cuts which could then debase an individual's profile and potentially further delay when they'd be ready to apply)

I deeply regret the inconvenience I'm causing by flooding you with so many queries. I'm going coo-coo running all these scenarios in my head and would love your thoughts on them.

Thanks again!