You're targeting a 100+ point improvement on your score, which is feasible but requires a structured preparation approach. I'm happy to share learnings on what worked for me (had scored 780 on GMAT Classic). Please feel free to DM.

AFA HBS goes, please review the class profile to understand what successful admits bring. It is amongst the toughest to get in. A lot will depend on how you position your experience, skills, motivations for MBA, and ST/LT career path. And try upping your target in GMAT because you'll be competing with fellow Indians, most of whom will have high scores.
- Dee
MBA admissions consultant and management consultant | E: [email protected] | https://www.linkedin.com/company/success-catalysts/

Hi
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, non-engineer econ background + consulting exposure with recognizable clients + grassroots NGO leadership is a combo AdComs like because it shows both analytical ability and real-world initiative. Your academics are solid, so no concern there. A major concern is your GMAT score, if you land in the 645–695 range, your profile becomes meaningfully more competitive.

The NGO leadership is a real differentiator if you clearly quantify impact and ownership. Over the next few months, your priorities should be, GMAT retake, tightening your post-MBA consulting story and showing measurable leadership impact at work and in the NGO.

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!

Hi N123n,
It would be helpful to understand more about your work experience and then suggest how you can enhance it over the next months with your eyes set on the top 20 MBA programs - that's a very wide range though, so you will have to realistically shorten this list. One key factor in doing so would be your GMAT score. The top 15 MBA programs will require that you have a 695+, so put in your most sincere and best efforts into preparation. The time is on your side at the moment, and I see someone has kindly offered to help you - take that help! Ideally, you should have a new (and shining) score latest by July.
Coming to your work experience, there's a big jump due to the nature of your two jobs. Perhaps you should address why you moved from social impact to private sector and what transferable skills did you build in your first role. There's no doubt, the experience is very worthy, but you would want to connect some dots between your work experiences or explain your mindset while transitioning. Your current role sounds somewhat support (correct me if i am wrong), but you will have to create a resume that shows $$ impact of your projects. If you don't have the numbers already, sit with your manager and get them. If your manager does not share or doesn't know, its ok to come up with ballpark figures. But, your resume will look strong only when you quantify it. Also, going forward for this year, perhaps you could build more skills, like say in analytics, which will be relevant for your b-school admission (by strengthening your profile) and for post-MBA jobs. Also, if there's a possibility, get involved in some biz development initiatives at work; it will help to prove your business acumen.
Your college level ECAs are impressive, but you must also have something more recent. Pick up an interest or hobby and pursue it diligently. Given your past social impact experience, volunteering will fit in well with your narrative. It will show that even though you are not pursuing it as a career, you are still deeply committed to making a difference through social projects.
I'd be happy to discuss further on your profile. Shoot me an email at [email protected], should you be interested.

Namita Garg, MBA Decoder
Email: [email protected]
Testimonials: https://mbadecoder.com/testimonials/
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation : https://mbadecoder.com/services/free-pr ... valuation/
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

Hi Tanya, your work experience sounds very interesting. however, your write up is kinda' lost in Chat GPT language. Don't use it when you get down to writing essays as it takes away your original voice and fills up space with unnecessary filler words.
What do you plan to do post-MBA? are you looking at a change of industry/ function? Also do you have extra curricular activities from college and since the time you graduated?
Your GMAT is very low at the moment and you should reattempt the exam targeting a higher score (675+). In your b-school list, you could also add INSEAD depending upon what your career goal is.

Namita Garg, MBA Decoder
Email: [email protected]
Testimonials: https://mbadecoder.com/testimonials/
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation : https://mbadecoder.com/services/free-pr ... valuation/
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

Hello Tanya!!

Your profile comes across as well-rounded and promising, with a solid foundation in design and marketing and clear career progression — moving from graphic design to leading marketing initiatives within just four years. Your trajectory and promotions in a niche, creative-meets-business field are definite positives, and being a female candidate in this area adds further strength to your profile.

That said, HEC Paris and LBS may currently be stretch options, especially with your present GMAT Focus score. You could, however, consider Imperial College and Rotterdam School of Management, where your background and career narrative align well with program strengths.

We would also like to understand more about your extracurricular involvement or major achievements — these details could help us assess whether top-tier schools like HEC or LBS remain within reach, or if we should focus on other strong European options such as ESADE, IE, or EDHEC, which could be excellent fits for your profile.

If you’re looking for a detailed profile evaluation, we’d be happy to discuss your goals, strengths, and areas to strengthen further. You can reach us at [email protected]
or connect via LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal.

Regards,
Hemal

@TanyaTathgir - your profile is interesting, given the design/ marketing experiences, cross-functional exposure and career progression.

However, your GMAT score is on the lower side particularly for programs like LBS and HEC Paris. A retake, aiming for ideally a 665-675+ would be recommended to strengthen your chances at these 'Ambitious' schools.

Have you had any international exposure and/ or lead teams? Schools such as LBS value these angles.

It'd also be crucial to have a strong narrative covering your experiences, post-MBA career goals, and how the MBA fits in at this juncture.

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
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/arvindkvenkat

Hi @TanyaTathgir ! We are pleased to inform you that we are hosting an essay workshop for HEC, LBS, and IESE on Thursday, 13th November at 8 PM IST. The session will cover all key essay questions and provide clear guidance on how to structure and present your answers effectively.

The workshop will be led by Shantanu, an INSEAD alumnus who has supported many applicants in securing admission from top global schools. Feel free to register for the session by filling out this GOOGLE FORM.

Also, 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.

Hey
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, you bring a genuinely interesting design to marketing to CPG leadership story, which is a nice differentiator. Moving from design into marketing leadership in just 4 years is impressive and shows strong growth, adaptability, and leadership. AdComs like candidates who show clear progress and real impact, and your experience in branding and cross-functional work helps you stand out from the usual engineering/consulting crowd.

Your GPA is fine, but the GMAT looks like a weakness. Improving your score would make a big difference rather than trying to add more activities. Your post-MBA goal to stay in CPG also makes sense and feels realistic if you frame it around scaling brands and strategy.

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!

Hi, did you receive your Foster invite this week or last week?

Looks like you have already applied. Not sure how your overall application went, how specific were you in your career goals, how your LORs etc came.
That said, if it helps, happy to help you with Mock interviews

Hope that helps. Please submit your profile for a Free Assessment over a 1:1 call. https://theivyleagueedge.com/index.php/contactus/
_________________
Bala

1. WORLD'S MOST recommended Admissions Consultant on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/balkrishna/
2. 100% 5-Star Reviews on PoetsandQuants
Poetsandquants(dot)com/consultant/bala-bal-krishna-shukla/

What GMAT score do you have?

Hey AlexSgmat, Can we connect? Had few questions regarding the applications?

What is your total work experience (pre mba)

Hi
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your profile looks solid for top MBA programs, especially given your finance background and international exposure. A degree from Purdue University with minors in Economics and Computer Science shows strong analytical ability, and 2 years in IB in New York is a strong brand signal. Moving back to Mexico to work as a Financial Manager at a well-known family office adds depth and maturity to your story and clearly supports your goal of moving into investment management post-MBA.

That said, your GPA is on the lower side, so you will need to offset this with a strong GMAT/GRE score, clear career goals, and strong recommendations. What will really matter is how well you explain why you moved from IB to a family office, what impact you’ve had, and how an MBA fits into your long-term investment career.

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, @rlealdor. You bring a strong, globally credible finance profile: Purdue (Industrial Eng + Econ + CS), NYC Investment Banking, and now a prestigious family office role in Mexico. That combination works well for Investment Management–oriented MBAs and differentiates you from pure IB candidates.

Your main constraint is the 3.0 GPA, which puts pressure on execution, test scores, and storytelling. Use optional essays to explain context briefly (not excuses). Highlight Purdue rigour + quantitative coursework + work performance.

Cornell, Tuck, Fuqua, Yale, Stern, and Haas- These schools value finance depth, international exposure, and leadership trajectory. Your FO role helps a lot. Need a good GMAT score.

Stretch (but not impossible)- Columbia, LBS, and Harvard. You’ll need a high GMAT (730+ / GMAT Focus ~695+), clear leadership impact, and a compelling IM narrative.

What’s working well: NYC IB + Family Office = strong IM credibility, cross-border exposure (US → Mexico), quant background + CS minor helps with markets/analytics and clear post-MBA goal (Investment Management, not vague “finance”).

Leadership signal: In essays, show decision-making authority, capital allocation input, and stakeholder trust at the family office, not just execution.

You can also explore other schools like Darden, Fuqua, Oxford, and IESE (if Europe is flexible; great for long-term IM careers).

Questions to sharpen your application:
1) What investment decisions have you influenced at the family office (asset class, size, outcome)?
2) Any portfolio-level impact (returns, risk reduction, strategy shift)?
3) GMAT status, have you tested recently, and what’s your realistic target?

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

Hi @ThNgH. 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

have you heard back from the IIMS yet?

You may have a strong chance in Europe, but you would have to show up with a compelling applicaiton

Hope that helps. Please submit your profile for a Free Assessment over a 1:1 call. https://theivyleagueedge.com/index.php/contactus/
_________________
Bala

1. WORLD'S MOST recommended Admissions Consultant on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/balkrishna/
2. 100% 5-Star Reviews on PoetsandQuants
Poetsandquants(dot)com/consultant/bala-bal-krishna-shukla/

Guess you have already applied. Yours looks like a competitive profile. All the best for receiving interview invites.

Hi @Kami0607,
With your diversity factor, and strong stats, you have no reason to get a ding, that too from a program such as Cambridge.
Since this year you have already applied, happy to help you with Interview Preparation in case you should need that

Hope that helps. Please submit your profile for a Free Assessment over a 1:1 call. https://theivyleagueedge.com/index.php/contactus/
_________________
Bala

1. WORLD'S MOST recommended Admissions Consultant on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/balkrishna/
2. 100% 5-Star Reviews on PoetsandQuants
Poetsandquants(dot)com/consultant/bala-bal-krishna-shukla/

Nice, well-rounded profile, Kashish. Your work experience—especially if you’ve been in a client-facing role—looks very relevant for an MBA. That said, your career goals should clearly communicate the kind of impact you want to create through the MBA. It shouldn’t come across as if you’re pursuing the degree just as a credential or simply to move up one or two levels.

Anyways, you would have applied by now already- so this is something to keep in mind for your interviews.

Namita Garg, MBA Decoder
Email: [email protected]
Testimonials: https://mbadecoder.com/testimonials/
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation : https://mbadecoder.com/services/free-pr ... valuation/
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

Hi @Omkar kavitkar. 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

Hi
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your profile looks good for MiM programs, and you’re thinking in the right direction by focusing on Europe and not rushing into an MBA yet. With about 2 years of experience, MiM is a much better fit than an MBA at this stage. Your background checks a lot of boxes: strong academics, clear leadership, consistent school-level excellence, and brand-name work experience.

The Bharatanatyam journey is a real differentiator and adds depth and discipline to your profile if presented well. Skipping R3 this year and planning properly for R1 next cycle is a smart move.

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!

Any reasons for rushing into an MiM and not waiting for an MBA? Please don't say you're late in life (compared to peers). In my view, an MBA will give your career a much better trajectory.
- Dee
MBA admissions consultant and management consultant | https://www.linkedin.com/company/success-catalysts/ | E: [email protected]

Hi @magnolia23. Happy to discuss your profile in detail. Feel free to book an evaluation session.

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

Hi @Sidway. 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

Hi @Tanush Saini. 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