Hi there, thanks for the detailed profile.

Strong international exposure, good story arc, and solid experience scaling AUM: but 685 GMAT Focus is little low for Wharton, Columbia, Booth, and Sloan if you're aiming IB.

You’re targeting a quant-heavy, hyper-competitive post-MBA role and applying to schools where 695-700+ is often the score.

You’ll need to lean hard on essays, networking, and perhaps consider a retake if waitlists happen.

Stern, Johnson, and Anderson could still work, but it’s high-risk for the top 5 unless the rest of the app is bulletproof.

Let’s map your best shots and prep Plan B if admits fall short.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule 1-on-1 call with me for detailed profile review
https://calendly.com/ameer-khatri/profi ... th=2025-07

Hi Lucas. I'm also from Brazil, planning to apply in R2. Can we talk more about your application process? Thanks.

Open to sharing your interview experience?

Congrats on your GMAT score @jw0214, and all the best for the results too! We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately.

If you’d like an expert review of your NYU Stern essay drafts and want an evaluation of your profile, please feel free to book a session with us.

Register for our Upcoming ESSAY WORKSHOP on Tuck, Yale & NYU. Craft essays that shine: pick powerful stories, match your goals with each school, and showcase authentic leadership. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Open to sharing your interview experience?

Hello, your academic record is exceptional and your professional trajectory is strong, with rapid promotions and early leadership.

However, your GMAT Focus 695 is just fine for Harvard and LBS, though workable for Columbia and Stern if your essays and recommendations are exceptional. The bigger challenge is the pivot into media/entertainment. Without direct exposure to this industry, you will need to show transferable skills, networks, and ideally side projects or volunteer work in this space.

Your story should also address the early athletic scholarship and health setback, as this shows resilience. Strengthen your extracurricular profile beyond martial arts and volunteering with something that connects directly to your post-MBA vision.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule 1-on-1 call with me for detailed profile review
https://admitportal.ameerkhatri.com/pro ... n-calendar

Hi @ssinha8,

Your profile is strong and well-rounded, especially with a 695 GMAT Focus, a perfect 4.0 GPA in analytics, and clear leadership managing analysts and cross-functional projects. Your work at a Fortune 300 company with exposure to senior executives and international collaboration adds significant credibility. The athletic scholarship background and ongoing martial arts practice demonstrate discipline and resilience, while volunteering and leadership programs show commitment to personal growth. To improve, focus on clearly articulating your pivot story to Media/Entertainment or Sports in your essays — why now, how your analytics skills transfer, relevant experiences/projects and your passion for the industry. Strengthen your narrative around leadership impact and influence beyond direct reports. If possible, seek opportunities for high-visibility projects or cross-industry exposure before applying. Your recommendation from your supervisor will add strong credibility. Overall, your profile is competitive for R1 applications at top programs.

To maximize your chances, consider applying to a balanced mix of reach, target, and safety schools.
Feel free to book a free call with our MBA experts for a more detailed discussion. You can also contact us directly at team.mba@theredpen.com or +91-7780769732.

Thanks for sharing your profile @ssinha8! You’re a high-achieving early-career candidate with a 4.0 GPA + dual degree in Analytics + top of the class in Master’s. Promotion in under 2 years, managing analysts, and work visible to senior leadership. Leadership outside work is good, including Martial arts discipline, volunteering, the city leadership program, and the Dale Carnegie course. Former Division 1 athlete whose pivot due to health adversity shows resilience and adaptability.

Columbia, Stern, and Anderson can see a good fit given your quantitative + creative aspirations. Harvard can like the upward trajectory and resilience, but it’s a very competitive pool, so narrative strength is key. LBS will value the international perspective and analytics expertise.

You’ll have ~3 years by matriculation, which is on the lighter side for some programs. Early-career candidates must clearly show leadership impact and maturity. A 695 GMAT Focus is good, but might not be a knockout score for HBS.

Even though you already manage analysts, make it metrics-driven: “Managed X analysts delivering Y projects, cost savings/ efficiency gain.”
“Led cross-functional initiative with product + international teams > reduced reporting transition time by X%.”

Clarify the Media/Entertainment pivot/, adcoms need to see- Why are you making this change? How do your current skills (analytics + stakeholder management) transfer to that space? Why now (industry trends, personal readiness)? How the MBA fills the gap (network + creative industry immersion). (e.g., sports business analytics).

Can you show commitment to the pivot? by online courses or a side project: Data visualization/reporting on sports/media trends, even self-initiated, can be portfolio material, or any media/entertainment analytics conference experience, panels, or online courses. Networking & school research are important. By the time you apply, have 2-3 specific touchpoints per school. Conversations with current students/alumni in your target industry. Participation in online events, club events, or school webinars.

We would love to learn more about your professional experience and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. If you'd like, feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

Join our Coffee Session: “MASTER YOUR MBA APPLICATION ESSAYS FOR INSEAD, HEC, LBS AND IESE!” on August 22, 2025 | 9:00 PM IST | 11:30 AM ET. Register for the session

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hey @SSinha08,
Looking at your profile rather surgically, some important points come up:
Your Work Experience of 3 years is on the lower end; Harvard, LBS, Columbia, Stern, Anderson, Tepper all value experiences around ~5 years). To combat that shortfall, your application should focus on framing your career till date as high-impact, high-velocity growth in a short time.

While your ethnicity of Asian/ Indian is overrepresented, but your growing-up in the U.S. will help you be counted in the domestic pool for U.S. schools i.e. competition is less intense than that for international Asian applicants.

Gender: Female — Advantage for diversity at all schools.
GMAT Focus: 695 is below average for M7 schools, though closer to average for Tepper; UCLA typically awards scholarships for higher scores. If you can therefore, get a higher score.
Your GPA of 4.0 is Excellent and provides strong academic credibility. It is however, important to note that your explanation of your quitting college 1, and your GPAs of the other years will matter.
Pre-MBA Industry: "Other" — Will need clarity; unusual industry can be a plus if framed as unique AND if the lessons learn there can be shown as transferable to your post MBA goal
Post-MBA Industry: Media/Entertainment — Will become critical for you to show why MBA + why now, and to show if an MBA will really benefit you in your targeted role

Hope that helps. Please submit your profile for a Free Assessment over a 1:1 call. https://theivyleagueedge.com/index.php/contactus/
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Open to share insights on your interview experience?

Thanks for sharing your profile @Euphenium1 . You have a good early-career consulting profile (work experience + ServiceNow work for a provincial ministry) with language skills, volunteer consistency, and a clear pivot to FP&A, all attractive to the target schools. Your immediate priority is to tighten the transition story into finance, quantify any financial/FP&A-adjacent work, and ensure your recommenders can speak concretely about analytical and stakeholder-facing finance skills.

Strengths to highlight: Consulting pedigree (Deloitte + current gov tech/ServiceNow role): good signal for client-facing analytical work and process transformation. International profile / multilingual (French, English, Arabic): excellent for global cohorts and international recruiting. Volunteer consistency (hospital volunteering > 1 year) and first-generation student status, humanizing, diversity, and resilience signals. Quantitative & technical foundation (computer engineering; ServiceNow / automation), conveys comfort with numbers and systems used in FP&A.

What adcoms might want you to prove: Concrete finance / FP&A readiness. Admissions want to see modeling, budgeting, forecasting, pricing, P&L exposure, or direct commercial-finance projects. If you have already done a financial analysis, quantify it. If not, show current steps to get this capability. Short-term post-MBA role clarity. Which FP&A roles/employers do you target (corporate FP&A at BigTech, FP&A at a bank, or FP&A in government / public sector)? Be specific. You mentioned you have a “decent” GRE. Can you please share the exact score? Schools use scores as one quick filter; if your GRE is below the median, you should compensate via work and course evidence. Your recommenders must quantify financial/analytical impact and leadership.

About the school selection:
McCombs values consulting, technology, and corporate finance placements. Your consulting + technical background can be a good match. Apply Round 1 to maximize scholarship chances.

Marshall (USC) is a target or competitive. Marshall places many grads into consulting, tech, and financial services; a West Coast network, and competitive salaries. Your Deloitte/ServiceNow experience and multilingual sign-on are positives.

Cornell Johnson can be a target or a slight reach. Your 4-year experience is acceptable but slightly below their average; a crisp finance pivot story and strong LORs will be essential. Johnson places a decent no. of grads into FP&A and investment roles.

Duke Fuqua can be a target or competitive. Fuqua values team leadership and consulting backgrounds (average experience ≈5.8 years, strong class diversity, and first-generation representation). With strong essays and quantified impact, you can be a good contender.

Collect 3-4 metric bullets showing any finance-related work (even internal): budgeting, forecast variance analysis, cost-savings you influenced, pricing analysis, cashflow modelling, financial dashboards you built, or anything showing P&L exposure. If you lack finance examples, you can create a short project: build a forecast model for your current org (even if hypothetical) and present it to a manager; it can be good evidence of initiative.

To position the consulting > FP&A pivot in essays, show transferable skills: stakeholder management, forecasting instincts, modeling, scenario analysis, and communicating to executives.

Just an example for short career plan: “In the 0-2 years post-MBA I will transition into a Corporate FP&A role at a global bank or in the finance function of a technology firm (like JPMorgan Chase FP&A / Google Finance), using the MBA’s accounting, corporate finance and internship pathways to gain domain credibility; by year 3-5 I will lead commercial finance for a regional business unit.”

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can take a look at this YouTube ESSAY WORKSHOP on Fuqua, Ross & Darden it might be insightful.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Thank you so much, for the GRE score, I have 320 (162Q, 158Verbal). i dont know where i stand with my score for GRE

You’re already in a strong position for the schools on your list. Four years of tech consulting experience across Deloitte and your current cybersecurity role provide solid brand recognition and impact, and your multicultural background, multilingual ability, first-generation story, and consistent volunteering give you several angles to stand out beyond academics. Your post-MBA goal of moving from consulting into FP&A makes sense, but the biggest boost to your candidacy between now and Round 1 would be gaining even a small amount of finance-adjacent exposure. anything related to budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis, or business case modeling will make your pivot more direct and convincing. In parallel, focus on leadership stories rather than only technical execution; admissions committees will want evidence of situations where you owned outcomes, influenced stakeholders, or mentored others. Quantifying impact on your resume (costs reduced, hours saved, revenue generated, clients onboarded, etc.) will also strengthen your narrative significantly. Your recommenders are fine as long as they can speak to growth, ownership, and leadership rather than just technical skills. Overall, your target programs McCombs, Johnson, Fuqua, and Marshall align well with your profile and career goals, and with the right execution in essays and a stronger finance connection, you should be a competitive candidate at all of them. Good luck, you’re moving in the right direction.

Hi @Euphenium1
From an academic and work ex point of view, you're in a strong position as a candidate. There's good brand credibility and you have exposure to high-stakes workflows. That said, when your're planning to switch into FP&A, the schools will want to see a clear inclination and some level of pathway-adjacent exposure. This could be through any projects you've worked on etc. You need to be clear about why you want to work in FP&A in your application citing relevant experiences that have brought you this decision.

As for the score, 320 is good as an entry point but as you know in top-notch schools, the competition is intense. While your profile does its part, what would really cement your competitiveness is a little boost in your score, somewhere in the 325+ range. This will help a lot with Cornell and Fuqua. Your current score could work for McCombs and Marshall. I would suggest you also expand your list to include those schools that you can apply to with a 320 score and then a few competitive schools which will require a 325+ score, because your profile is strong enough for these.

The recommenders you're planning to reach out to are fine. If you've worked with any international manager, then that also would be great. Also, if you have any experience working on cross-border projects then do emphasize that. And since you're a first generation student, this will make a good narrative for the personal essays (questions on how personal background has shaped you, challenges faced etc.)

So, right now you have two priorities: map out the FP&A transition and career plan and increase your GRE score by another 5-10 points for a stronger shot at more competitive and selective schools.

If you want more detailed insights into the market realities of FP&A hiring, schools that have a good feeder for this and strategies to develop your application, we'd be happy to discuss the same via a free 1-on-1 profile evaluation.

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!

Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Hi @GaurangAsopa
Thanks for sharing your profile

Your academic record is solid across the board. A 3.75/4.0 GPA is very competitive. Moreover, passing all three levels of the CFA Program and acing the US CMA exams adds further weight to your profile. However, you still will be a part of the overrepresented Indian male+finance background applicant pool. That’s where your GMAT score, essays, goals, etc. step in.

A 695 GMAT Focus score is just below the median for the schools you’re targeting. A 20-point bump can make all the difference. So yes, do consider giving the GMAT another shot so that your profile will have a solid footing among other applications.

You work ex at Goldman Sachs (another profile booster by the way) shows a good career progression as seen in your transition from Risk Management to Real Estate Asset Management, a high-responsibility vertical. Five years is a sweet spot for top MBAs, and your move into a more front-facing, asset-heavy function in 2023 is well-timed. However, since both roles are within GS, you’ll want to emphasize the scope, leadership, and impact of your work. For example:
- Were you managing specific assets or portfolios?
- What kind of risk were you analyzing (market risk, credit risk, or operational risk)?
- Were you supporting any investment desks or product teams (e.g., derivatives, equities)?
- Are you involved in deal analysis, lease structuring, or asset disposition?
- Any quantifiable results (returns, cost savings, risk reduction)?
- Any client exposure or international collaboration?

You’ll also need to connect the dots from real estate asset management to your post-MBA finance goals (e.g., IB, buy-side, PE, corp dev, etc.). Just ensure that you have a very good pivot story in place and highlight experiences that relate to your future goals.

Stating that you want to stay in finance post-MBA is not sufficient as this can ‘make or break’ your application. Be more specific,
- Are you aiming for investment banking, private equity, real estate PE, impact investing, or corporate finance?
- Are you planning to stay in the US, return to India, or keen to explore global market opportunities?

This specificity is also very important as each school has different recruiting paths. Wharton, Kellogg, and Columbia are strong for IB and PE, whereas, LBS opens doors to London PE/IB roles, especially in real estate or infra.

Your extracurriculars are incredible assets in your profile. Your IMA board roles show leadership beyond work and domain expertise. Cricket captaincy and other athletics demonstrate that you have interests outside the classroom. Volunteering experience will illustrate how you are eager to contribute to the society. Also, it’s good that you have a published research work, just ensure that you mention what the research was on and where its was published (journal). Emphasize on all these points very strategically in your essays.

Apart from the schools you have mentioned, also consider adding INSEAD if you want to target finance roles in Europe, MENA, and Asia. Columbia is also a good school if you’re targeting the New York finance market.

To understand which other colleges are competitive/feasible for you, we need to drill deeper into your profile.

Hence, we’d love to offer a 1-on-1 profile evaluation to dive deeper into your strengths, discuss more about your portfolio, talk through your fit across schools, and co-create a tailored application game plan!

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!
Email: gwyneth@thembaedge.com
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Hi GaurangAsopa
So the reason we've mentioned improving your score by another 20 points is so that you can be even more competitive to the schools you are applying. As you might be aware, the applicant pool in most of the schools in your list is extremely competitive and hosts high-calibre candidates, some with similar profiles. Hence the suggestion.

Regarding how you are positioned as a candidate at certain schools, I would suggest that you get on a profile evaluation call with us. This is because we have to holistically analyze your profile to assess school fit and what better way to do that than a 1-on-1 conversation.

You can reach out to us through either of our coordinates.

Email: gwyneth@thembaedge.com
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Hey GaurangAsopa
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your profile looks strong and well-balanced with excellent experience and strong academics, and a deep track record of extracurricular involvement and leadership. The 695 GMAT Focus is competitive but not ideal for M7 schools—retaking could be worthwhile, especially if you feel a 715+ is realistically within reach.

Your target schools are a bit of stretch but feasible, especially with strong essays and recommendations that highlight impact, leadership, and global potential. You may also want to consider Tepper, Yale SOM, Cornell, and Fuqua as strong fits.

Would you consider applying to a few schools in Europe as well like INSEAD, IESE, Oxford?

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for top MBA programs to see where you stand and how to boost your chances— happy to help!
No pressure, no strings—just helpful insights on where you stand and how you can strengthen your chances.

Feel free to connect- Click here

📄 ARINGO is offering a free resume review to 5 lucky applicants.
Get expert feedback on how to highlight your impact, leadership, and global potential.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR A FREE RESUME REVIEW

You can also email me at: priyankak@aringo.com

Hi Gaurang,

Thanks for the detailed profile. You've built a solid foundation: Goldman Sachs brand, dual finance roles, top-tier academic credentials, and CFA + CMA trifecta make you stand out.

However, your GMAT Score of 695 is concerning, especially as an Indian male in finance, a highly competitive field. Even with your depth in credentials and leadership (youngest board member, published researcher, etc.), top programs like Wharton, Columbia, and Kellogg typically expect a 720+ to take you seriously, unless you're bringing in a unique diversity angle.

That said, your candidacy is strong for LBS and possibly Columbia with a well-crafted story.

Wharton and Kellogg are reaches unless you can push closer to 715+. Given your profile's upward momentum, I’d recommend a retake, especially since you believe 715 is within reach. It could significantly improve both admission and scholarship outcomes.

Also, look at schools like Duke, Tuck, and Ross as strong targets. Let's talk through school strategy and positioning in detail.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule a free 1-on-1 call with me for a detailed profile review
https://calendly.com/ameer-khatri/profi ... th=2025-04

Hi @eshaana18
So, to better understand how your GMAT score is placed against the schools you're targeting, I'd need some insights into your undergrad focus, work background (company, roles, responsibilities), and career goals in consulting. 4 yrs of work ex is the sweet spot for an MBA but without proper context of your profile, it's difficult to ascertain your candidature.

In case you prefer to connect 1-on-1, please feel free to reach out via the coordinates below

Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Hey Tosha,
Vashi from LilacBuds. We would love to assist you with a free profile evaluation.
Please connect with our Expert at https://lilacbuds.com/services/mba-cour ... consultant or leave a message on +918448335484.
Hoping to hear from you.

Hi @deadeyes01
Thanks for sharing your profile.

To put it quite honestly, you’re at the lower end of the typical work ex requirement, even though you have a good GPA and work background. At this point, only ISB will be a viable option but any other B-School will require more work ex. Would suggest you wait another year to apply. Till then, scale up the work you’re doing and continue working on global projects (helps a lot at INSEAD).

As for you’re score, you’re on a good track scoring in the 700s. A higher score helps a lot with scholarships as well.

We’d love to offer a free 1-on-1 profile evaluation to discuss how you can build your profile and any other queries you may have.

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

You have a strong early-career profile. The challenge is timing rather than profile strength: with only ~2 years of work experience by the time you apply, INSEAD and LBS will see you on the younger side for the MBA, where the average is closer to 5–6 years, and they prefer applicants who already have significant leadership and ownership experience. ISB is the most realistic among your three targets because it is more open to younger candidates, especially from consulting and FS backgrounds, and a GMAT in the 700 range will put you in a competitive position there. If your long-term goal is venture capital, then you have two strategic paths:

(1) continue with the MBA and strengthen your story by getting deal exposure, startup evaluation, investment thesis work, or fundraising strategy experience over the next 12–18 months,

or (2) consider programmes that are better suited for earlier-career and VC-focused candidates such as the MiM / Masters in Finance / Masters in Financial Analysis at LBS, HEC, ESSEC, ESADE, or INSEAD MIM, where your profile would be very strong and placement into VC/startups is more structured. You don’t have to switch away from the MBA, but if you’re flexible, exploring specialised programs could make the path to VC smoother and reduce the pressure of competing with applicants who have 4–7 years of experience.

If the MBA remains your first choice, the best way to increase your odds over the next year is to build concrete, quantifiable leadership stories at the fintech startup and gain even small exposure to investment / startup evaluation, as these will help you present a clear and credible pivot story to admissions and to VC recruiters post-MBA. Overall, you’re off to a very strong start, you just need to be intentional about either positioning or program choice based on how soon you want to move into VC.

Thanks for sharing your profile @UdiPan ! Starting with your strengths: Good academic signal (9.1 GPA; Gold medalist). 5 years in integration, API, MuleSoft, Salesforce, and great credibility for tech recruiting. Measurable operational impact, 40% reduction in case resolution time is a good outcome. Leadership & cross-functional influence, mentoring, EMEA Leadership Board representation, and awards. CI/CD, cloud deployments, and process automation are increasingly important for product/operations roles.

Top M7s still use GMAT/GRE medians as a quick filter. Your score is a bit on the lower side. If possible, retake or double-down on compensating signals: a short for-credit analytics course (graded), a public project showing product metrics, or an employer-sponsored case with measurable KPIs.

Narrative tilt to Product/Tech post-MBA. Why: Adcoms want to believe the pivot (or continuation) is plausible. You must show concrete steps toward product (projects, PM exposure). You can lead a short product/feature rollout or track a case KPI end-to-end (from ticket to product fix to metric improvement). Show collaboration with PM/Engineering.

School-specific fit & voice is important. Why: Top schools expect tailored “Why X” reasons: courses, labs, clubs, recruiters. Generic essays lose. For each target, list 3 concrete resources (course, professor, student club/employer partners) and cite in essays.

Decide whether to retake GMAT Focus. If you can push toward 675+, do it. It might boost chances for Booth/Sloan substantially. Create 2 STAR stories that show: (1) product/feature outcome (ticket → resolution → metric change), (2) leadership of the 40% case reduction initiative (scope, actions, result). Quantify everything (before/after metrics, team size, months). Connect with alumni/students at each program, join webinars, attend local events/city treks, and reference meaningful takeaways in your “Why X” lines. Consider adding 1-2 additional schools to balance risk, like Haas, McCombs, Imperial, and LBS, if you want more target/safety options.

You can take a look at our ESSAY WORKSHOP YouTube video on BOOTH, KELLOGG, and Columbia.

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can also register for our Upcoming ESSAY WORKSHOP on MIT, Haas & Cornell. Craft essays that shine: pick powerful stories, match your goals with each school, and showcase authentic leadership. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

@UdiPan - interesting profile overall!

The GMAT is a bit on the lower side - what's the sectional split of your score, and was it in line with your mocks/ expectations? The current score unfortunately makes M7's (e.g. Booth) quite 'Ambitious', but applying to a mix of schools makes sense.

Work-ex presents some strong angles, given the diverse tech experiences, cross-functional exposure and leadership stints. Were these spread across companies (i.e. how long), and what was the rationale behind your job switches?

Any extracurricular activities you've been involved in post undergrad e.g. arts, sports, volunteering, etc.?

Make sure to have a strong narrative covering your experiences, career ambitions, and how/ why the MBA will help you address specific gaps.

Feel free to reach out for a discussion.

Regards,
Arvind (Founder, admitStreet)
Testimonials: https://admitstreet.com/testimonials/
Request a Free Profile Evaluation: https://admitstreet.com/#contact

Hi @UdiPan
Thanks for reaching out.

Your work ex is great, it has everything AdComs typically look for among international candidates. Also, the gold medallist aspect and GPA add weight to your candidacy.
You must have realized by now that your GMAT score is quite low for the programs you have in mind. If you can bring it to 690+ for M7s and 675+ for others, it will balance your profile and make you more competitive.

You haven’t shed light on your post MBA goals, so would be best if you can elaborate on this since you plan to work in the same domain.

We’d love to offer a free 1-on-1 profile evaluation to dive deeper into your profile, discuss more about your queries and concerns, talk through your fit across schools, and co-create a tailored application game plan!

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

You have a very strong professional foundation that puts you in a strong position for MBA programs, especially those that value tech leadership. However the main challenge in your profile is not the work experience but the GMAT Focus score, which is below the median for Booth and MIT Sloan, and somewhat borderline for Tepper; for ISB and Foster, however, your GPA and professional trajectory should help offset it. If re-taking the test is realistic, even a modest improvement can materially change competitiveness for the ultra-selective schools on your list. If not, the best way to control risk is through execution: your essays should strongly highlight leadership impact, stakeholder influence, crisis management ability, and business-level outcomes rather than only technical achievements. With the right storytelling, you are very well positioned for ISB, Foster, and Tepper, and Sloan/Booth remain possible but will require an exceptional narrative around your leadership progression, career vision, and why an MBA now. Overall, your profile has real strengths, you just need to make sure the story is framed around leadership and business impact rather than purely engineering. that’s what will move the needle most for R2.

Though your GRE may fall short for the US schools, your atypical career background and gender advantage may still get you into the consideration set. However, if you have the stamina, do consider upping your score (but you are fast running out of time for R1). You just might want to spread out your applications over R1 and R2 to assess how your applications fare with that score.
Consulting is amongst the topmost goals quoted by candidates. The onus is on you to convince the Adcom how you arrived at this goal. Your LT goal would be better placed if you bring some level of exactness. If this LT goal is aimed at the US market, do keep in mind that most CPG firms do not sponsor H1B.
- Dee
MBA admissions consultant and management consultant
W: https://www.linkedin.com/company/success-catalysts/ | E: catalysts.success@gmail.com

Hi Drishti
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, I see a really interesting and well-aligned profile. With 6 years at a boutique agency helping early stage founders shape their communication and brand strategy, you are bringing in some solid client facing, strategic, and creative experience. Your plan to pivot post-MBA and solve business problems at a larger scale makes total sense, and your long-term goal of working with a consumer brand ties in nicely with your current background in storytelling and market positioning.

Academically, you have a solid GPA. The GRE is also decent for your target schools. That said, with a sharp narrative and well-framed goals, you have a good shot if the rest of your application reflects impact and clarity.

Have you had any measurable impact? That could help strengthen your application further. Also, any leadership roles or mentoring responsibilities in your firm or outside of work? Those stories will help reinforce your readiness for consulting.

Overall, you’ve got a strong, differentiated profile with clear goals. ARINGO is currently offering free school shortlisting support to 5 applicants, which could be helpful as you fine-tune your R1 strategy.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR FREE SCHOOL SHORTLISTING.

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for top MBA programs to see where you stand and how to boost your chances— happy to help!
No pressure, no strings—just helpful insights on where you stand and how you can strengthen your chances.

Feel free to connect- Click here
You can also email me at: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!

Thank you for sharing your profile @Drishtisg. Your GPA of 9.3 is excellent and will be well regarded across all the schools on your list. It reflects strong intellectual ability and academic discipline. This will help mitigate the relatively modest GRE score (319), especially if your quant scores are reasonably balanced. 6 years of experience in a boutique communications agency working with early-stage founders across diverse industries is unique and can serve as a differentiator. Your ability to craft narratives, build brand strategy, and influence stakeholders in ambiguous startup environments is highly transferable to consulting, a field that values problem-solving, structured thinking, and communication skills. Your short-term goal of pivoting to consulting is realistic, especially if you can position your work with founders as consulting-adjacent (strategy, market entry, brand development). Your long-term aspiration to work at a consumer-facing brand also makes sense given your communications and brand strategy background. Admissions committees will appreciate the clarity and alignment of your goals. You can take a look at this blog and the success story1, story2.

You’ve included a mix of U.S. and European schools, which is smart given your industry background and post-MBA interests. European schools like INSEAD, HEC, and IESE particularly value candidates with international exposure and diverse sectoral experience, and your startup work could resonate well.

While GRE 319 is within range for some schools, it's slightly below average for M7 or even strong U.S. schools like Kellogg, Booth, Tuck, or Ross, which tend to see median scores around 325+. If you're able to, retaking the GRE and pushing the score above 325 (or at least to ~323+) would significantly boost your competitiveness, especially for scholarships. Adcoms will want to know how your current work translates into consulting, especially since you don’t come from a traditional feeder background. Your application should clearly draw a bridge between the skills you've honed (problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, business storytelling, strategic thinking) and the consulting toolkit. In a boutique setting, it can be hard to scale leadership. Make sure you emphasize any instances where you've led teams, mentored juniors, built processes, or taken initiative beyond your immediate responsibilities. These stories are crucial to proving your leadership potential to adcoms and later to consulting recruiters.

Begin working on your resume and leadership stories soon, it takes time to tailor your narrative to a consulting-friendly framework. Select recommenders who can speak to your strategic thinking, initiative, and ability to influence founders/clients, not just executional skills.

Questions to reflect on:
1. What is one project you’ve led that had a measurable impact across multiple stakeholders or departments?
2. Have you collaborated cross-functionally or with international clients? if yes, can this be framed to show global readiness?
3. How will you convince consulting firms during MBA recruiting that your transition is credible? Do you have quant exposure, structured problem-solving experience, or case practice?

You bring a distinctive background that, when crafted strategically, can stand out powerfully in a sea of traditional applicants. Your domain expertise in communications, startup versatility, and clear goals for consulting and brand management give you a strong narrative arc. With a slightly higher GRE score and focused storytelling, you can be highly competitive at many of your target programs.

We would love to learn more about your journey to provide a more tailored assessment of your profile and your chances at your target schools. If you'd like, feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

We are hosting a Coffee Session: “GMAT Strategy & B-School Application Tips from Experts” on 25th July, 2025 | ​9.00 PM IST | 11.00 AM ET. Know more details.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hello Drishtisg,

Six years at an agency crafting communications for founders gives you great creative and client engagement experience. However, a 319 GRE is low for consulting-target schools, particularly Booth, INSEAD, Kellogg, and HEC.

Aim for 325+ to show readiness for core MBA quantitative coursework. Beyond the test, you’ll need to define why consulting (which problem? what scale?) isn’t just bigger work, but a strategic leap grounded in your creative background.

Raise your score, tighten your goal, and apply to programs where you can demonstrate both creative and analytical impact.

Let’s sharpen your consulting pitch and test plan.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule a call: https://admitportal.ameerkhatri.com/pro ... n-calendar

Hi Drishtisg,

I'd love to know more about your work - helping Founders with their communication strategy sounds super interesting and is some what differentiated work exp. So I'd assume that you are a communications expert which is a key selection criterion and you could lean into this capability (show high empathy, interpersonal, critical thinking, influencing skills) in your applications.

That said, b-schools would also want to know that you are equally good with grasping the quant aspects, which I guess, your work would not involve. A higher GRE score can help there. Your GPA is excellent and if you studied quant heavy courses like a Bsc or engineering, that would help to establish your quant capability. You will also have to think how you can quantify your resume. If the GRE score does not change, still go ahead and apply just yesterday, one of my applicants got accepted into INSEAD with a 319 GRE score (and a low GPA) and she has a US admit already. So, I'd say, you will still have a chance, so long as you can put up strong applications that show impact and leadership.

The goals sound alright, but you will have to give a coherent reasoning for consulting >>> consumer brands.

Also, pare down your b-school list. Applying to 5-8 MBA programs in the year usually works for most MBA aspirants. Submitting solid applications to fewer b-schools will reap sweeter rewards.

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: contact@mbadecoder.com
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

Hello @Drishtisg - interesting profile overall.

The GPA is solid, which undergrad university did you attend? The GRE score would unfortunately be a concern particularly for M7's. Any scope to improve, or potentially switch to GMAT? You could accordingly then look at a mix of schools across R1 and R2.

The work-ex looks quite interesting, but I'd like to understand more e.g. nature of your roles, career progression, any leadership/ international exposure, etc.

The goals would need some streamlining, but overall, it'd be important to craft a robust narrative covering your experiences, transferable skills, post-MBA goals, and how/ why the MBA and your target schools would help bridge gaps.

Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat.

Regards,
Arvind (Founder & Principal Consultant, admitStreet)
Testimonials: https://admitstreet.com/testimonials/ | Free Profile Evaluation: https://admitstreet.com/#contact

To make a successful transition, you should target MBA programs with strong placements in consulting and a focus on strategy and leadership development. Top choices include INSEAD, HEC Paris, Kellogg, Duke Fuqua, and London Business School, all of which offer strong consulting pipelines and global exposure.

Strengthen your application with a well-defined career goal, clearly articulate how your experience in brand and communication strategy translates to solving broader business challenges, and how your long-term ambition to work with a leading consumer brand aligns with the skills and network offered by the MBA.

For more insights, take a Free Profile Analysis Session with us. : https://2ly.link/291au

All the best for your Fisher and Simon applications @Mo-hit ! We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately.

If you’d like a second pair of expert eyes on your ISB and Mendoza essays and want an evaluation, please feel free to book a session.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hi @Mo-hit
Firstly, wishing you the best with Rice and Simon. Now, can you elaborate on your profile like where you've worked, what were your roles and responsibilities, what's your post-MBA plans etc. We can then provide a better picture of where you stand with R2 applications.

We'd be happy to connect with you 1-on-1 to discuss your profile in depth.

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

All the best for the Round 1 results @Coolsnail. Also, sorry for the LBS, Harvard, and Wharton dings. It's a difficult moment, but you can take learnings from it. We've put together an article on the " Major reasons why your MBA Application got dinged. " It provides some understanding of mistakes made. Take a moment to review it, reflect on what you can adjust, and get ready to put your best foot forward next time. You’ve got this!

If you’d like a second pair of expert eyes on your previous essays, the new essay drafts, or want an in-depth evaluation, you’re welcome to book a session. We would love to discuss more about your profile so that we can offer a more tailored assessment.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hi @Coolsnail
Understandably the Harvard, Wharton, and LBS dings must have been a punch in the gut. I see that you've been interviewed by other schools so hopefully they pan out well. As for your profile. the GPA and GRE are on mark, work ex and goals are fine. So now it comes down to your application and how you've fleshed out the essays as well as the schools you have shortlisted.

Speaking about your odds based on the interview you gave, it will be difficult to pin point since it comes down to how you performed in the interview.

We'd be very happy to connect with you, perhaps discuss your strategy when you applied to these schools and what should be your next course of action if you don't get a good response . I think it's very important you have that clarity at this point, especially with R2 coming up.

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Thanks for sharing your profile @OLMA ! Let's start with what adcoms will notice first: Work depth & scope, digitalisation consultant building live dashboards and reducing fleet downtime; international exposure; promoted to Project Package Lead. This is nice, it reads as operator + strategist. 6+ years is in the sweet spot for M7 programs (they typically admit 4-7 year candidates). Wharton and Booth report average work experience ≈5 years; you’ll be above average in experience and can pitch maturity/leadership. A 3.87 GPA from AUC is a nice academic signal.

Your 320 GRE is respectable but below the typical quantitative/verbal medians used by top programs; Wharton/Booth medians map to higher scores and use tests as a quick filter. Raising your test signal will remove the biggest numeric uncertainty.

Quantify your project outcomes: Admissions love crisp metrics. For each major project (dashboards, downtime reduction, package lead projects), give: timeframe, your role, team size, before > after metrics, business value (hours saved, $ saved, % downtime reduction), and stakeholder level (C-suite? ministry?). Example: “Reduced fleet downtime by 18% over 6 months, increasing uptime from X% to Y% and saving $Z/month.”

Clarify & sharpen your post-MBA plan: Short-term: precise consulting target (strategy/operations at MBB, Big4 strategy, or boutique energy/infra practice). Name 2-3 target employers/roles. Long-term: explain why consulting (like a platform to scale industry impact across energy infrastructure / move into energy-focused PE or corporate strategy). Schools want believable, sequenced plans. LOR, pick 2 recommenders who can speak to (A) your technical & quantitative ownership (project sponsor or manager) and (B) your leadership & stakeholder influence (senior client, ministry exec, or direct supervisor). Provide each with a one-page brief with metrics and suggested anecdotes.

You have good extracurriculars (football, volunteering). Pick 3 well-crafted STAR stories: (1) high-stakes dashboard deployment, (2) leadership as Project Package Lead, (3) a failure + learning where you improved the process. These will anchor essays and interviews.

Regarding the schools:
For Wharton, you can emphasize quantitative rigor + ability to scale digital transformation across energy systems; mention Wharton’s analytics electives, major in Business Analytics & energy/operations clubs; highlight leadership in cross-border projects.

For Booth, you can emphasize analytical, data-driven decision-making and your building of live dashboards; connect to Booth’s empirical, evidence-based curriculum and labs.

For Fuqua, you can emphasize teamwork, leadership in operations, and how Fuqua’s collaborative culture and consulting pathways will help you transition into strategy/operations consulting.

You can also explore INSEAD, LBS, Kellogg, or Columbia.

You can take a look at this MBA Essay workshop: Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton video on YouTube.

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hi @Olma
Thanks for reaching out.

Yours is quite a well-rounded profile: Stellar GPA and quality work experience. You’re also applying in an optimal time in your career. The UK offshore energy experience will make quite the highlight in your applications. So will the roles you have taken up. The extracurriculars are very well shaping you as a leader and community-spirited person and make a good differentiation angle.

Now, the energy to consulting transition is a fine path but you will have to be more specific about what you intend to do here.
About the GRE score. See, you’re targeting some of the most competitive B-Schools. So, 320 is a good entry point for them but to have a solid footing in the applicant pool, I would suggest you boost it by another 5 to 10 points. This will help a lot with Booth and Wharton. Fuqua should be fine with 320. Also are you only targeting US schools or are you open to European schools?

We’d love to offer a free 1-on-1 profile evaluation to dive deeper into your strengths, discuss more about your queries and concerns, talk through your fit across schools, and co-create a tailored application game plan!

Feel free to reach out to us at the coordinates below!
Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Hi @MyYear2025 ! We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma, INSEAD Alumnus
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hi @MyYear2025

Good job with the GPA, that’s solid but do clarify your undergrad specialization for a better understanding. Also do give some context into your work experience like where you’ve worked, what was your role and responsibilities (briefly), and what exactly are your post Masters plans. Only then can we ascertain which schools best fit your profile and ambitions.

If your prefer a 1-on-1 discussion on your profile and application strategy, please feel free to reach out to us at the below mentioned coordinates

Phone/WhatsApp No: +91 88502 49409
Website: https://thembaedge.com/

Warm regards,
The MBA Edge Team

Hi @quosnemo ! We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma, INSEAD Alumnus
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond