Can I still get into TOP European/Indian B schools - Please advise.

Hello Everyone,

I am an Indian and I work in IT industry. I wrote GMAT 6 years back (got 680) and now I am planning to write again. I had multiple personal setback and couldn't even apply to any collages, though I don't have any regret because I was standing with my family. Now I will turn up 35 in coming November and will have a change in my profile. I need to understand, do I still have a chance and if yes then what else should I do to enhance my chances other than scoring a good GMAT score.

Before I would've started my application process, my father got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Fought cancer with him for 3 years but lost him. Fought my divorce in between and then I lost my cousin, who was my very close friend as well, to liver cirrhosis. All this happened and now I want to stop the suffering process and look forward for positiveness around.

I am an engineer with 2.5 CGPA from one of India's top private collage. Last month, I completed 13 years of work experience. I am into mid management role and currently take care of transition of projects from customer to vendor (my current organization) worth millions of dollars. I have been into people management and have experience in customer relations, customer satisfaction, global delivery, vendor management etc... I have worked with people across different continents. For all these 13 years, I have worked in 4 different companies (1 Indian, 1 French and 2 US) in different domains of IT industry and now I have put down my papers because what I am doing currently doesn't excites me at all and that was the primary reason why I wrote GMAT 6 years back, to shift my industry/domain. I did got opportunities to work in different countries, but I couldn't avail those as my family needed me for more important work and therefore I have ZERO year of experience of working in a different country.

I do have lots of extracurricular in collage and continue to follow some of those even till date.

Now, I am serving my notice period, post which I will go back to my native and start my stint with NGOs. I am planning to stick around for 2 years. I had a rough patch in last 6 years. I feel that I will come out of my suffering if I start doing something good for the society and be a part of change in my country. I am just not sure if this will add value or act as a hindrance in my application process. Irrespective, I have made up my mind and looking forward for my NGO stint.

Having given some of the background information, I would need advise on some of the below points:

1. Is it okay to apply in European B schools (IMD, HEC & INSEAD) & Indian B schools (IIM A & IIM C) with 15 years of experience, 13 years in IT industry and 2 years in NGO. I am confident that with all the time to myself, I can prepare well and cross 700 mark, however my aim is nothing less than 750.

2. I will have to speak with the consultants when time comes to understand the best way in which I can justify my shift from IT industry to NGO, however is this shift justifiable and will it be a value add or hindrance in my application process?

3. Any suggestions on what can I do in my next 2 years to solidify my chances in these 5 collages I mentioned above? My plan is to apply from Aug 2021 onward.

Looking forward for some frank opinions, suggestions & feedback. Would be more than happy to answer if anyone has any question..