Hello, Your academic arc is pretty strong, so no concern there.
Coming to work experience, I will need some more info about your career growth, achievements, overall impact on organization, leadership and team skills - all of which will go into creating a strong application. As a trader do you work in teams? Do you have leadership experiences? Also, how will you justify moving from trading into venture capital? You have chosen some very selective b-schools ( LBS and INSEAD) and you will have to submit absolutely top notch applications to these in order to have a chance. Getting your goals story right and articulating why these programs are the best for you will be absolutely crucial.

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: [email protected]
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

Thanks for sharing your profile, @__hmm__ . You have a profile looks stronger at first glance, especially for Europe, but your biggest challenge is not academics or test scores. It’s the story from commodity trading to MBA to Venture Capital.

Academically, you are comfortably competitive for most schools on your list. For Indian male applicants, 695 is good and keeps top programs in play.

Your work experience is where things get interesting. Commodity trading in the US F&O markets is differentiated compared with the typical consulting/tech/finance applicant pool. Adcoms tend to like candidates who operate in high-pressure, decision-heavy environments because trading demonstrates risk management, analytical thinking, speed of decision making, market understanding, and accountability.

But the detail that matters is what type of trader you are. If your role is taking positions, managing capital, building strategies, and influencing P&L, that becomes significantly stronger than execution-only trading.

Your freelance video editing is more valuable than applicants realize. 2 years of building creative work outside a demanding finance role show initiative, creativity, a commercial mindset, and the ability to build independently.

Especially if you monetized it, worked with large creators, scaled clients, and built systems. That can become a memorable differentiator in essays and interviews.

Now the biggest question. VC goal- currently, this is your weakest section

The jump from Commodity Trading to MBA to VC, right now, may sound disconnected.

Adcoms will ask Why VC? Why not hedge funds? Why not growth equity? What exposure do you already have? The strongest VC candidates usually already have startup operating exposure, founder work, investing exposure, angel investing, startup scouting, AND sector expertise.

You will need evidence. Before applications, I would strongly recommend adding at least one:
startup scouting platform,
angel syndicate,
startup advisory,
venture fellowship,
startup investing community,
founder network.

Even small involvement helps.

Questions that will help you build your strategy:
Are you a discretionary trader or systematic?
Do you manage firm capital?
What asset size/ P&L responsibility?
Why VC and not hedge funds/private equity?
Any startup investing or angel activity?
Any promotions?
Any leadership or mentoring at work?
What sectors do you want to invest in?

You can check out this BLOG on "Private Equity post MBA/Venture Capital MBA opportunities" and a
success story of Mr. Finance Advisor, GMAT- 670 (IESE, ESADE & SDA BOCCONI)

Happy to learn more details about your profile. Feel free to book an evaluation session.

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

Firstly, Thanks a lot !! I really appreciated your inputs.
Secondly, i am a discretionary trader who world on manage whole portfolio and i manage the P&L of this portfolio.
Thirdly , i am open to other position like Hedge fund and asset management thing.I have stated VC as my long term long.

The main concern of mine is to choose between MS finance /MfE gateway in USA or MBA gateway in UK /Europe/Singapore.
( Ps: Budget is an issue for me hence not considering USA as an MBA option)

Hey!

BITS + strong academics + a 695 GMAT already puts you in a great place academically. The more interesting part is the trading background. Commodity trading is intense. You’re making decisions quickly, operating with imperfect information, managing risk constantly, and staying calm under pressure. There’s a lot of good material there if you reflect on it properly and articulate it well.

I also really like the video editing/influencer side because it makes the profile feel more human and less one-dimensional. A lot of finance applicants struggle with that.

The biggest thing for you now is probably figuring out the overall story. Schools are not just evaluating whether you are smart enough. They’re trying to understand who you are, what drives you, and where you’re actually headed long term. That’s where a lot of otherwise strong applicants fall short.

I also think your goals will matter a lot. Like everyone else mentioned, VC as the goal is difficult for admissions to admit given the job market and overall limited VC spots. Overall though, I think there’s definitely strong potential here with the right positioning and execution.

I went through the process myself recently and got into INSEAD plus multiple M7/T15 programs with a 595 GMAT, so I know first-hand how much essays, narrative, and positioning matter beyond pure numbers. Happy to chat if useful!

Saif Kanchwala
Founder, Business School Lab
Website: https://bsl-mba.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/saif-kanchwala-298311149
LBS Grad & Alumni Interviewer | Ex-Amazon | M7 & T15 & INSEAD MBA ADMIT | 595 GMAT

Hi
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, you have a strong and unique profile for your target schools.

Your academics are solid, and your work as a commodity trader stands out compared to the usual applicant pool. Managing P&L and making trading decisions gives you good finance exposure. The freelance video editing work also adds a creative side to your profile.

The main thing you need is a clearer career story. VC can still work as a long-term goal, but schools may ask:

1. Why VC?
2. How does trading connect to startup investing?

On MBA vs MS Finance/MFE:

If your goal is purely trading or quant finance, MS Finance/MFE is a good route. But if you want broader finance opportunities, leadership roles, or eventually VC, an MBA makes more sense.

Focus on:
1. Highlighting leadership stories
2. Bigger ownership at work
3. Strong networking
4. Sharper career goals

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 at: [email protected]
Good Luck!

@__hmm__: strong profile overall, given the BITS pedigree/ GPA, GMAT score, and trading experience.

I'd like to understand your work-ex to assess better e.g. which company, key projects (or achievements), any progressions (or promotions), etc. Also, what are your directional career goals post MBA? The 3 years of work-ex is a bit on the lower side for some programs, but a lot would depend on the quality of the experience and how it's presented.

It'd also be crucial to have a strong narrative comprising 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
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindkvenkat