Hi Tyler,
Please evaluate my profile and provide you valuable feedback/suggestions.
Personal:
Vibha/ 29 Y/ Female/ Indian
GMAT:
This score is a big risk factor for any school that has higher than 650 as a median. Also, because of the competitive pool you are in as an Indian applicant the median score for your competition will be higher than a school's published median. I recommend retaking to raise your verbal about 80 percentile to eliminate this risk factor.1st attempt - 650; V- 30(66%), Q – 49 (83%)
Academics:
Where you earned your degree will matter and your class rank; however, the grades are in line with the top 20 business school competition; probably firmly in the second quartile. A school that is unknown to the MBA admissions committee is a risk factor.Under grads – B.Tech (Information Technology) Overall percentage – 76%, GPA – 3.5
Work Experience:
Infosys is a well-respected company and your work experience appears competitive with applicants to the top 20 US schools, but a lack of international experience will count against you. I like the team leadership and the promotions. Your work experience is higher than average for most top 20 full-time MBA programs. The programs in Europe tend to be more interested in more seasoned candidates. Age is a minor risk factor. Your references letters will need to be exemplary and support the idea that you have high potential for a business/management career. - 7.5 years of full time work experience with Infosys Technologies
- Current designation is Technology Lead and role and responsibility involve managing projects.
- Got three promotions till date
- Managing a team of 16 associates
- Always worked with International Banking clients and thus have a very strong knowledge of international banking.
- Received a number of awards from Infosys such as Insta Award ’12, Spot Award ’12, MVP Award ’11 etc.
Extracurricular:
I think the schools will value the impact you've made; however, the fact that you shut down your firm is a drawback. Your artistic talent and awards are an interesting differentiator of your candidacy, which always helps.- Started my own training and placement firm in 2010 (with my husband), created a number of state level and few national level clients. Got a very good exposure but shut it down in 2012.
- I am a self motivated artist and organized a number of my art work exhibitions, a few were curated by me. Aggressively participates in any group exhibition work. I am a well known name in my city.
- I am an active social worker mainly contributing towards the education of underprivileged children. Some of my works – Established a non-profitable sub-unit in my training and placement firm in the name of ‘Free Mondays’ wherein I use to teach computer basics to underprivileged kids and I am currently an active part of a named NGO of my state.
- College and school level: Started an art and cultural club in college (being the first B.Tech batch of college got the privilege to do a fresh start of the club). This experienced helped a lot in creating a vision to open my own firm. Vice-president of house (grouping of school children in 4 houses) during my school.
- Won a number of awards in school and college, major of those are Best painter (State level), Miss School ’00, list is endless.
Few of my queries –
1. I am targeting top-20 US schools. Is my profile competitive for the same? If not, what should be my target (I am not planning to take GMAT again)?
Given the risk factors I highlighted, I would say your sweet spot is for schools with a 30%+ acceptance rate. 20 to 29% acceptance rate is reaching but possible with a higher GMAT and flawless execution on your application. You'd probably receive some interest from the higher (though not highest) ranked Canadian and Europeans schools.2. What do you think are my major strengths and weaknesses?
See notes above3. I am planning for 2014 batch and I still have some time for opening of 1st round, so what areas I should focus to make a strong competitive profile.
Raise your GMAT, cultivate great reference letters, aim for a work project with a multi-cultural team and client, and add a high impact achievement in one of your existing activities outside of work.4. Whether my work in field of art will be given a due consideration, and how may I provide the best impact with this expertise of mine?
I think it is a differentiator; you need to convince them of the benefit of this experience once you an MBA student and in your future as a leader.Thanks in advance.
Vibha