@tanisha2000 - Some thoughts and clarifications:

1. The undergrad GPA seems good, which university did you attend (Tier-1, Tier-2, etc.)?

2. The GMAT score is on the lower side for most top MBA programs. Any scope to improve it e.g. did you score higher in mocks? Schools such as IE and ESADE offer the option to take their proprietary exam (e.g. IEGAT in the case of IE), but submitting a strong GMAT/ GRE score will strengthen chances, both for admissions and scholarships.

3. Would like to know more about your work experience - which company/ companies have you worked in, what functions/ domains, any progressions (promotions?) etc.

4. Anything on the extracurriculars front?

Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out for a detailed discussion.

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

Hey
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your GPA looks decent, and with 5 years of work experience, you are in a strong position to apply for an MBA. In order to evaluate your chances better, I would like to know more details about your profile, like, are you planning to reappear for GMAT or switch to GRE?, your ECs, your LORs, etc

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for your target 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 your CV at: [email protected]
Good Luck!

Thanks for sharing your profile @tanisha2000! Your profile looks good, as a marketing/communications candidate with leadership, brand exposure, and a coherent post-MBA goal. Your main variable can be the GRE, not the profile.

Is GRE 316 “enough” for your target schools? Let’s be very honest and school-specific.
1) HEC is test-sensitive, especially for Indian applicants. Typical competitive range: 320–325+ GRE. 316 is borderline. It can be possible, but GMAT/GRE improvement is strongly recommended.

2) ESSEC can be more holistic than HEC. Strong professional progression and leadership matter a lot. It can be considered as a Target–Reach hybrid at 316. Competitive with strong essays + interviews (better odds than HEC).

3) NUS, quant-leaning, test scores matter. Median GRE closer to 320+. It can be a stretch at 316; retake recommended for confidence.

4) Nanyang can be slightly more forgiving than NUS. Marketing/consumer profiles do well. It can be possible but competitive. Better with 320+, but not impossible.

Biggest strengths to lean into: Fast progression (3 promotions in 5 years)> This is a huge positive signal. Brand-name global clients > Uber, Amazon, and Logitech, carry weight internationally. Clear post-MBA story > Marketing / retail growth is consistent with your past. Community leadership (run club, food, culture) > Good for interviews and leadership essays.

A jump to 322+ shall have a meaningful change in outcomes. If you can retake and realistically hit a good score, do it. If not, double down on ESSEC / ESADE / IE / Bocconi—these are not compromises for marketing careers.

Your core narrative can be, “I’ve grown brands and communities from the outside. Now I want to own growth, strategy, and consumer impact from within.” Emphasise: Transition from agency > brand leadership, Scale: campaigns > markets > categories and leadership with clients and teams. Why Europe/Singapore? (retail, luxury, global brands)

Questions to sharpen your application further:
1) Are you aiming for brand-side roles or marketing strategy/consulting post-MBA?
2) Any quantified campaign impact (reach, revenue, growth)?
3) Open to luxury/retail roles in France/Italy?
4) How important is scholarship to you?

We’d love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, work experience, and personal journey so that we can provide a tailored profile evaluation and an honest school assessment. Feel free to book an evaluation session.

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

Hey Tanisha,
How did you know that you had been kept on the waitlist?

Congratulations on Cornell and the scholarship. How was the interview?

Hi @shivangidhiman ! 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 school more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can also register for our Upcoming ESSAY WORKSHOPS. 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

Hi Shivangi, would you mind connecting? I would really appreciate your guidance for the GMAT.

Congratulations on Cornell and the scholarship. How was the interview?

Congratulations on Tepper, it is a great school. Are you waiting for anything more or proceeding with it?

where do you think youll go?

Hey
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, you’re being a bit too harsh on yourself — you actually have a decent profile, not a weak one. Your GRE 330 is strong, and coming from a top school in Japan with leadership roles + international exposure gives you a solid global story. The GPA is okay, not standout, but acceptable in the deferred pool.

For your target schools, the game is less about perfect stats and more about clarity of vision + leadership potential. Your story around emerging markets, FMCG/cosmetics, and long-term social entrepreneurship is actually quite compelling, especially given your background outside Manila and your exposure to local enterprises.

The main gap is depth of impact, so your essays need to really show:

1. Why this path?
2. Leadership stories with real impact
3. What unique perspective you bring

If you’d like, feel free to schedule a quick call, happy to help you refine your essays and positioning.

Feel free to connect- Click here
You can also email me at: [email protected]
Good Luck!

Hey @coolboots,
Congratulations on your interview invite.
Your profile is quite decent, though for H/W, how compelling your "HOW" & "WHY" in your application have come out, will matter significantly.
For the moment however, it is VERY IMPORTANT for you to understand your diversity (Phillipine nationality, Exposure to college abroad etc) have helped you get your interview call.
Prepare therefore for your interview, as if your life depended on it (even if you finally want to go elsewhere).

Since your essays (and the rest of your application) are already submitted, you should focus on COMPLEMENTING your application, than on leveraging your essays.
Feel free to contact for your interview prep (and to discuss gaps if any in your application).

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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where do you think youll go?

where do you think youll go?

Thank you for your service. I hope your country appreciates it! The US business schools should appreciate your experience. The more you can highlight how you stood out or perform better than your peers, the better your chances.

I’m not sure if you have connected with the veterans clubs of those programs, it would help to do that. On one hand, it would give you better chances because you would learn more and hear some insider stories and on the other it will signal to the admissions that you have done your research and connected with folks. It will also help you with recruiting.

Though I just saw that you applied to all of these so fingers crossed and now we wait 🤞🙏👍

Thank you for providing me the valuable tips about reaching out the veterans club of those programs, I apreciate and I certainly will do it.

Yes, fingers crossed, I'm excited to get the results soon.

Once more, thank you for the informations.

Hi filipelima
We wish you all the very best for your application.