Score: 645 GMAT Focus
GPA: 3.1
Pre-MBA industry: Accounting
Post-MBA industry: Finance
1 year ago
7 Dec 2024 11:12
I’m reaching out for your guidance regarding my MBA applications for Round 2. While I’m currently revising my CV to make it more professional, I wanted to provide you with an overview of my profile and aspirations.
Until earlier this year, I lacked direction and was complacent about my personal and professional growth. However, I’ve since transformed my mindset, becoming determined to pursue an MBA and elevate my career. Despite extensive preparation for the GMAT—including thousands of practice questions and numerous mocks—I scored a 645, which doesn’t reflect my capabilities. Unfortunately, exam conditions significantly impact my performance, often causing me to forget even basic concepts. Having already exhausted all study resources, I’ve decided against retaking the exam, as I don’t believe it will yield better results. That said, I’m confident in my foundational knowledge and feel capable of helping others achieve a 700+ score.
Here’s a summary of my profile:
Work Experience (4 Years):
Cognizant: Worked in the R2R department, managing major European clients, including one of Europe’s largest insurance companies.
ANM: Identified and implemented efficiency improvements, training American peers to streamline processes.
Seahawk Travels: Currently in a leadership role, actively contributing to policy decisions and strategic initiatives.
Academic Background:
BBA in Finance: NMIMS Mumbai (3.1 GPA).
GMAT: 645 (though lower than I’d hoped, I’ve built a strong foundation in finance through advanced study).
Career Aspirations:
I aim to transition into core finance, specifically valuations. To support this transition:
I am completing the Advanced Financial Modeling and Valuation cohort and the Equity Research cohort from Valuation School (run by NYU Stern alumni).
By December end, I will have two professional-grade valuation reports and a recommendation from the course leader.
Unique Story:
I come from a small town in the Himalayas and bring a background in political strategy and social work:
I’ve managed election strategies for BJP in Uttarakhand and contributed to social initiatives through my family’s NGO.
These experiences have honed my leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to create impact.
Beyond finance, I am passionate about philosophy and psychology, aiming to inspire a shift in how individuals and organizations think and operate.
Key Traits:
A natural innovator driven by a desire to optimize processes for efficiency.
Strong analytical skills, coupled with a passion for understanding and improving organizational dynamics.
While my GMAT and GPA are not as strong as I’d like, I believe my profile tells a compelling story of growth, adaptability, and a commitment to making a difference. My immediate target is to apply by January 1st to schools such as NYU Stern, INSEAD, HEC Paris, Melbourne Business School, and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. However, I remain flexible in selecting a program that aligns with my goals and allows me to begin my MBA journey next year.
Could you advise on how best to position my profile for these schools? Are these realistic targets given my background? I’m determined to pursue an MBA next year and would greatly value your guidance to make it happen.
Thank you for your time and expertise.
Your profile looks good but your GMAT score (645) and GPA (3.1) are below the averages for schools like NYU Stern, INSEAD an other top schools. However, your diverse experiences ranging from R2R processes and leadership roles in accounting to political strategy and social impact offer a compelling narrative that highlights unique skills and perspectives. Your work on advanced financial modeling and valuation, coupled with forthcoming professional-grade valuation reports, adds credibility to your finance pivot and offsets some academic concerns. HEC shall be more realistic given your current profile. To maximize your chances you shall focus on crafting an impactful story emphasizing your professional growth, leadership in diverse fields, and clear career goals. Work on strong recommendations that validate your potential in finance and highlight leadership qualities. You can consider schools with lower GMAT averages and strong finance tracks, such as SMU Cox, ESSEC, or Warwick, to expand your options. Showcase your unique background and how it aligns with the school’s values in the essays. What's going to matter most in your application is how you connect the experiential dots and build a great story to stand out from other applicants in the pool.
If you’d like, we are happy to discuss more about your work experience, leadership skills, impact created, challenges faced, awards and achievements and extracurriculars to assess your chances to top B-schools and strengthen your application with impactful stories. Please feel free to book a profile evaluation call.
Join our exclusive webinar on "MBA Career Pathways in 2026: Post-MBA goals in Consulting, Tech, Finance, and ROI"
Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond
Email: [email protected]