should I still take the GMAT to show that I am serious about MBA even if I got 330 on GRE? (Math has always been my weaker area compared to English which was why I chose GRE since I knew I could do better)

Both GRE and GMAT would be considered equally by the b-schools you mentioned. Take the test you are likely to score higher on.
Your work experience, especially the entrepreneurial element is exciting. I am unclear on the 7 year part time experience - was this while you were working full time in the healthcare company? If you accumulated 2 different work experiences in the same time period, that would be really commendable and worth highlighting. You could add other b-schools like CBS and UCLA to the mix for a real-estate career goal

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: [email protected]
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011 with offices in India and the UK

@quaemaiores - to clarify, is your full-time experience (i.e. post undergrad) 2 years as of date? When was the part-time experience (7 years) and what did it entail? Also, what are your directional career goals post MBA?

B-schools are open to both GMAT and GRE scores, so go for the exam where your score would be higher/ stronger - taking mock tests can help assess this.

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 Pooh,

Your profile is very well-rounded and stands out with both strong academic consistency and impressive extracurricular achievements. A 7.91 GPA from Delhi University, coupled with 4 years of experience in FX and Commodities Hedging at Larsen & Toubro, highlights solid quantitative and analytical exposure — a strong foundation for your post-MBA goals in global markets or hedge funds. Your leadership as President of the Dramatics Society and involvement in cultural and volunteering initiatives add great depth to your profile and speak to your overall personality and impact.

For your target schools including ESADE, SDA Bocconi, NUS, IESE, and HEC Paris, your experience aligns well with their finance and global business tracks. However, given the highly competitive nature of these programs, especially for Indian applicants, a higher GMAT Focus score would significantly boost your chances. If possible, you might consider a retake to cross the 90th percentile mark, which would make your academic profile more balanced relative to your professional and extracurricular strengths.

Overall, you have a compelling story with strong professional growth and personal engagement. We’d be happy to work with you to further strengthen your positioning, identify key themes for your essays, and refine your school strategy based on your goals in hedge funds and global finance. If you’d like to explore this further, please reach out to us at [email protected] or connect via LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal/

Regards,
Hemal (Rep, Involve Consulting)

Hi @Pooh_17,
You have a strong and well-rounded profile with 5 years of experience in FX and Commodities Hedging at Larsen & Toubro, earning multiple awards - Top Performer and the Young Achievers Award in Risk Management. Your academic record and strong extracurriculars—President of Dramatics Society, trained classical dancer with 100+ performances, and active volunteer work—reflect leadership and depth. Your post-MBA goal of moving into hedge funds or global markets aligns well with your professional background. The main area for improvement is your GMAT Focus score (595), which is below average for top-tier global programs; retaking it and targeting 655+ would significantly strengthen your competitiveness.
Highlighting your leadership, professional achievements/tangible impact, relevant skills, career goals, unique experiences, and fit with the program effectively will be crucial in crafting a compelling application. 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 [email protected] or +91-7780769732.

@Pooh_17 - interesting profile overall, given the undergrad pedigree, FX/ Trading exposure, employer brand and well-rounded extracurriculars.

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

It'd also be crucial to have a strong narrative covering your experiences, 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

you've got a great balance of professional and ECA achievements which will help in writing compelling essays.

Hey Hardik
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Your profile looks good on the surface, an 8.89 GPA with engineering rigor, plus strong extracurriculars shows both academics and well-rounded involvement. Your GMAT Focus score is also competitive. Your internships, especially the EdTech startup experience with leadership responsibilities and user-impact results, are strong differentiators compared to generic technical internships.

The key for your apps will be leveraging your leadership/initiative in societies and startup work to show maturity and readiness for global MiM programs. Given the budget constraint, I’d suggest picking a balanced mix — maybe 2 stretches (HEC/LBS), 2 strong targets (ESSEC/IE), and 1 safer option (Bocconi or RSM).

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 Hardik,

Your profile is strong and well-rounded — excellent academics (8.89 GPA from GGSIPU), solid technical foundation, and early leadership experience through internships and co-curricular initiatives. Your work at Shaurya demonstrates tangible impact in product development and team leadership, while your involvement in technical and art societies highlights versatility and initiative.

For your target MiM programs in Europe — HEC Paris, ESSEC, IE, LBS, and Bocconi — your background aligns well. Your GMAT Focus score of 655 (Q86, V82, DI79) is competitive for these schools; however, if feasible, a slight improvement in DI could strengthen your reach schools. Given your budget and 5-school submission limit, prioritizing 2 reach and 3 strong target schools is a sensible strategy.

Overall, you present a compelling profile of academic rigor, leadership, and impact. We’d be happy to help you refine your narrative, highlight differentiators for essays, and finalize your school strategy.

Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
or connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal/
.

Best,
Hemal
Rep, Involve Consulting
(HEC Paris)

Hi @ametillo ! 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.

Check out this blog on HEC MBA Application Tips. 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 ametillo,
could we know more about your profile so we can help you

Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
or connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal/


Best,
Hemal
Rep, Involve Consulting
(HEC Paris)

Hi @Bubun123 ! 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.

Check out this YouTube video on Guide to Perfecting MBA Applications: INSEAD & HEC. 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 bubun 123,
could we know more about your profile so we can help you

Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
or connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal/


Best,
Hemal
Rep, Involve Consulting
(HEC Paris)

Thanks for sharing your profile @anna0830 ! Let's start with your strengths that you should highlight. Direct social-impact experience at scale, building a WhatsApp learning solution in partnership with state governments and employers, is rare and very compelling. Blended skillset (tech, impact, funding), product/tech delivery + portfolio management for USAID-supported enterprises = ability to translate strategy into operational scaling. Your stated pre- and post-MBA industry alignment (social impact / nonprofit / impact investing) is coherent, schools like to see that continuity. International / cross-sector collaboration, working with the government, donors (USAID), and startups, demonstrates stakeholder management and systems thinking. Use STAR stories that show measurable outcomes (users reached, % improvement in learning metrics, revenue or livelihoods created, jobs enabled, funding mobilized, cost per beneficiary improvements).

Main weaknesses/risks: Your GRE score of 320 can be in the lower range for many of your target schools. If possible, try to retake the GRE, aiming for 325+(330+ would make you comfortably within many schools’ ranges). Your GPA is fine, but top schools will still look for quant readiness. If you’re rusty on quantitative coursework, take a short, verifiable course (micro-credential) and list grades/score. Also include quant-heavy accomplishments (data/AI model work) in your resume.

Differentiation vs. other impact applicants: many candidates say “social impact.” You must show unique leadership, scale, and entrepreneurial ownership (example: “I led X product to reach Y users and increased Z outcome by N% in 12 months”). Use metrics! Also, career clarity within impact: “Non-profit” is broad. Schools prefer a crisp 3-5 year post-MBA plan (example, “Head of Programs at global social enterprise”, “impact investing associate → partner at an impact fund”, or “build/scale an edtech social enterprise”). Show how the MBA closes skill gaps (finance, strategy, operations, fundraising).

Keep a balanced list of schools. Scholarships/financing: ISB and HEC/INSEAD offer some merit/need scholarships. Higher test scores and leadership awards increase scholarship probability. Apply early and prepare a funding plan (savings, loans, scholarships). Craft a tight career plan (3-5 years and 10-15 years) and how each school’s resources close skill gaps. Use school-specific hooks (faculty, labs, projects). For each major project, show (a) the problem, (b) your role and constraints, (c) what you executed, and (d) the measurable outcome. Example: “Led WhatsApp program- reached X gig workers in Y months; completion rate up Z%; reduced cost per learner by $A; scaled to B cities.”

Why MBA & why now: specific skills you need (finance for impact funds, strategy/operations to scale an enterprise, data & AI governance for inclusive AI), and how each school’s offerings will help. Post-MBA path, be concrete, title/organization type, and geography. European schools (INSEAD/HEC, etc.) remain highly competitive and are emphasizing international experience, entrepreneurship, and social mission.

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.

Check out this blog on How to Get Into INSEAD. 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
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your blend of tech and social impact experience gives you a mission-driven edge that’s highly appealing to your target schools, which value global and purpose-oriented leadership. The GRE is decent. What really stands out is your career narrative, starting with edtech, moving into impact investing, and now leading initiatives at a tech startup focused on rural livelihoods and AI inclusion, that’s a rare mix of execution and empathy. Your academic record is decent, especially given the analytical foundation it offers.

For your essays, you’ll need to tie your professional journey into a cohesive story of scaling social impact through technology and leadership, something all your target schools love.

Since you are also applying to ISB, you can join our webinar by ISB Senior Associate Director Amit Tyagi for a highly exclusive admissions strategy session.
Click here to register for the event

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 @anna0830
Your profile is differentiated and strategically well-positioned for top-tier global MBAs. You bring 5 years of experience in technology, development, and impact investing, a background combination very few candidates possess.

You began at Khan Academy, building an ed-tech product distributed via WhatsApp for gig workers. That early exposure to government and corporate partnerships provides credible scale and shows early leadership instincts. Shifting to an impact investment fund was a great move as you went from from implementation to strategic capital allocation and ecosystem shaping. Managing a USAID-backed portfolio in women’s health and mental health adds strong international development credibility and positions you as someone with financial, and operational insight. Your current role at a tech startup building digital livelihoods for rural workers shows continuity of purpose in the sense of tech-enabled inclusion but with higher operational complexity and leadership scope.

From an adcom perspective, the story forms a cohesive “tech for impact” arc. This kind of through-line bodes well with schools like INSEAD, HEC, and Oxford Said, which value candidates connecting public good and private enterprise.

Only point of contention is the GRE. 320 is on the lower end of the spectrum with regards to your target schools. Anything north of 325+ would work well in your favor. INSEAD, HEC Paris, Said, and Judge should be your priority. ISB honestly won't be such a great fit for you because their main stream recruiting base is consulting, tech, and product management. You have a niche profile which could benefit well from the other schools in the list. SDA Bocconi is a safe target, can place it lower in the pecking order.

However, for an unconventional profile like yours, it's all in the essays. So introspect into your experiences so far.

Right now prioritize two things: retaking the GRE ideally with a month if you have given it recently and the other, getting your profile evaluated to see which schools will do wonders for your profile and career.

We'd be happy to evaluate your profile for free and assess how you should approach your application. The race is on for R2, so let us help you put your best foot forward.

Kind Regards,
The MBA Edge Team
Phone/WhatsApp: +91 8850249409
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://thembaedge.com/ | Testimonials: https://thembaedge.com/testimonials/

Hi Anna,

Your profile is impressive — a strong combination of academic grounding in Economics (BA & MA) and impactful professional experience across tech and social impact. Initiatives like your WhatsApp-based learning solution for gig workers, managing USAID-supported women’s health enterprises, and building AI-enabled digital livelihoods demonstrate both innovation and leadership in the social impact space.

Your target schools — HEC Paris, ISB, SDA Bocconi, INSEAD, and top UK programs — are aligned with your mission-driven goals. Given the competitive nature of these programs, a strong GRE score of 320 is solid, though a slight improvement could enhance your academic positioning further.

Overall, your profile tells a compelling story of social impact, innovation, and leadership. We’d be happy to help you refine your narrative, highlight key achievements for essays, and strategize school selection to maximize your chances.

Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
or connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal/
.

Best,
Hemal
Rep, Involve Consulting
(HEC Paris)

Thank you for sharing your profile @Mariana Barrero ! Let's start with your strengths. Direct, relevant PE experience (sourcing, underwriting, monitoring across geographies), fewer applicants have true end-to-end PE exposure at 5 years. Operational / value-creation exposure (incubation of scale platform, underwriting JV), shows you’re not only financial but also operational, which buy-and-build funds prize. Multilingual + regional coverage (LatAm + Europe + Asia), global perspective for cross-border PE deals. Good academics (4.4/5.0) and strong TOEFL.

Potential concerns, GMAT FE 665 is a good score but below the averages at many top target schools (Columbia/Wharton/Booth/Harvard averages are commonly in the ~720-732 classic range), which can make you look less competitive on paper vs. cohorts heavy in consulting/IB backgrounds. Backup plan clarity, adcoms like to know the exact short-term role you target (for example, join mid-market PE in NY/Lon/Miami/... vs. start in principal roles at growth equity shop). Be explicit. Brand & scale, family office experience is good, but some adcoms may see family offices as different from buy-side firms unless you highlight deal sizes, lead roles, governance interactions, exits, and specific value creation outcomes.

Quantify your deal impact (must), for every major investment show: deal size, your role (% of sourcing/lead drafting), value-creation levers you implemented, revenue or any other improvement, exit multiple or current valuation uplift, and governance interactions (board, CEO). Convert qualitative tasks into measurable outcomes.

Craft the PE operator narrative, build a 3-part arc: (a) technical/transaction skills, (b) operational impact in portfolio companies, and (c) regional strategy to scale platforms (which connects to your long-term goal). This differentiates you from pure sponsors/IB backgrounds.

At least one recommender who can speak to deal ownership and board/CEO influence (like lead investor partner, CEO of portfolio company, or senior family-office principal). For each school, link a specific PE/operating resource (PE Club, Practicum, Value Creation Center, industry faculty, geographic alumni base) to how that school enables your short-term plan (mid-market PE) and long-term plan (lead regional platforms). Start strengthening signals of PE interest early: PE club conversations, alumni outreach at target schools (esp. LBS/Columbia/Booth/Wharton), and cold outreach to mid-market LatAm funds and boutiques in your intended geography.

Female candidates for PE are actively sought by many funds and schools note gender diversity, make sure to highlight leadership & impact as a female investor (mentoring, diversity initiatives). LatAm regional expertise is a differentiator, flag cross-border deals and language skills (Spanish + French + English) as a good asset for Europe/US schools recruiting LatAm deals.

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 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 Mariana,

Your profile reflects an impressive blend of academic excellence and high-impact finance experience. A 4.4/5 GPA paired with your Private Equity background demonstrates both analytical strength and real-world leadership — an ideal foundation for your post-MBA goals in global PE.

Your target schools — Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, and MIT Sloan, among others — align perfectly with your trajectory. To maximize competitiveness, you might consider retaking the GMAT Focus to strengthen the quantitative signal and push into the 90th percentile range, especially given the elite applicant pool from finance.

Overall, you have a compelling, globally competitive profile that’s well-positioned for top-tier programs. We’d be glad to help refine your narrative, highlight leadership impact, and tailor your essays for each school’s culture and finance focus.

Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal/
.

Best,
Hemal
Rep, Involve Consulting
(HEC Paris)

Hi Etearum,

Your profile is impressive — strong academics from IIT Dhanbad, solid technical exposure, and clear post-MiM goals. Being invited to interview at HEC Paris is a great sign; as someone currently at HEC, I can confirm your background aligns well with what the school values.

A slightly higher GMAT Focus score could further strengthen your chances at INSEAD and ESSEC, but overall, you’re on the right track.

Feel free to reach out at [email protected]
or connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal/

Best,
Hemal
Rep, Involve Consulting

Also mention details about your work experience - which industry/ what are your achievements? / total no of work exp/ your growth and career trajectory

Hi, have you heard back from JBS?

Hey Daksh
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your profile looks solid. A Tier 1 background with a dual degree, strong GRE and solid experience at early-stage startups gives you a unique edge. Being a founding data science engineer and having a paper under review adds good academic and technical depth, which AdComs at schools like Booth and Stern appreciate.

The e-commerce pivot makes sense given your startup exposure, and you already show the kind of innovation mindset those programs value. Just make sure your essays clearly connect your technical experience to business leadership that will help you stand out in a competitive Indian applicant pool.

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!

I am going to suggest waiting another year and applying with more work experience. In the meantime, retake the GRE with an aim to bring is up to 330+. I suspect you have accounted for the work experience during dissertation as full time work experience- but I doubt if the b-schools will consider it as such.
Also I am not clear on your career goals, specifically what is your interest in ecommerce.

Hi @dakshdhull,
You bring a well-rounded and distinctive profile - a strong GRE (326, Q168), solid academics, a unique mix of data science, research, and startup exposure. Having served as a founding engineer at two early-stage, VC-backed startups and with published (or near-published) research experience, your technical and entrepreneurial depth stand out. The Manufacturing label in your pre-MBA industry may not fully capture your trajectory — your roles align more with data-driven product and analytics work, which strengthens your fit for post-MBA roles in e-commerce, product management, or strategy. The key will be clarifying your career narrative — showing how your analytical and entrepreneurial background translates into impact in the retail/e-commerce space.
Feel free to book a free call with our MBA experts for a more detailed discussion. You can also contact us directly at [email protected] or +91-7780769732.

all the best for Yale!

Hey @Rishabh Chowdhury,
You are at a sweet spot in terms of your WE; that said, given your low GPA, no information about your college, ECs, and other factors, and without your GMAT/GRE score, any assessment of your profile would be superficial.

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

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