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6 years
India
2026
Male
Score: 665 GMAT Focus
GPA: 3.46
Pre-MBA industry: Finance: Diversified Financial Services
Post-MBA industry: Consulting
HEC Paris
September Intake
September Intake
Round 1,
2026
5 months ago
17 Jun 2025 10:06
27 days ago
22 Oct 2025 03:10
Hello experts,
I am an Indian Male working as an analyst at one of US top banks. Below are the particulars of my profile:
Undergrad:
BTech from Tier3 college (8.7 CGPA - Though it is below 9, I was in top 5%. scoring was stringent there)
I was the placement coordinator and founding member of Startup and Innovation club. I did one industrial training at a major steel plant focused on production facilities. I did a paid summer internship at a startup. And I did a research internship at IIT Kgp.
I also completed a BTech research paper at my university.
Work Exp: 5 years
I had 1 promotion and expecting one by mid next year.
I have been active in engagement events and CSR. I am also leading and representing the larger team at site level for CSR activities.
Recently I participated in an AI event in which I owned a booth to showcase the suite of AI products recently developed in my organization.
International:
I have visited Singapore and Indonesia. Not directly for business but had the cultural exposure.
I have worked for the US market and alongside US clients and counterparts.
My target schools are HEC Paris, LBS and Insead and I have plans to apply for the Fall 2026 intake. I have affinity towards European schools because of lesser course time and expenses. Also they have a better acceptance rate.
I know I am from an overly represented pool. Should I consider retaking the GMAT? I got 685, 695, 675, 665, 675, 675 respectively in official mocks before the actual test. I was hoping at least a 685, but!
Please feel free to share your comments, thoughts, criticisms and suggestions. Any form of my profile evaluation and suggestions on next steps will be greatly helpful.
To simplify my questions:
1. For which top schools I have a good chance with my current score(European preferable, but across the globe)?
2. Any chances of scholarship? It is much needed for me to pursue an MBA.
3. Does the current score seem fine or is it highly suggested to have a retake?
4. If I send the score to a school now, will the same be available for next year applications and/or re-applications?
Regards!
I am an Indian Male working as an analyst at one of US top banks. Below are the particulars of my profile:
Undergrad:
BTech from Tier3 college (8.7 CGPA - Though it is below 9, I was in top 5%. scoring was stringent there)
I was the placement coordinator and founding member of Startup and Innovation club. I did one industrial training at a major steel plant focused on production facilities. I did a paid summer internship at a startup. And I did a research internship at IIT Kgp.
I also completed a BTech research paper at my university.
Work Exp: 5 years
I had 1 promotion and expecting one by mid next year.
I have been active in engagement events and CSR. I am also leading and representing the larger team at site level for CSR activities.
Recently I participated in an AI event in which I owned a booth to showcase the suite of AI products recently developed in my organization.
International:
I have visited Singapore and Indonesia. Not directly for business but had the cultural exposure.
I have worked for the US market and alongside US clients and counterparts.
My target schools are HEC Paris, LBS and Insead and I have plans to apply for the Fall 2026 intake. I have affinity towards European schools because of lesser course time and expenses. Also they have a better acceptance rate.
I know I am from an overly represented pool. Should I consider retaking the GMAT? I got 685, 695, 675, 665, 675, 675 respectively in official mocks before the actual test. I was hoping at least a 685, but!
Please feel free to share your comments, thoughts, criticisms and suggestions. Any form of my profile evaluation and suggestions on next steps will be greatly helpful.
To simplify my questions:
1. For which top schools I have a good chance with my current score(European preferable, but across the globe)?
2. Any chances of scholarship? It is much needed for me to pursue an MBA.
3. Does the current score seem fine or is it highly suggested to have a retake?
4. If I send the score to a school now, will the same be available for next year applications and/or re-applications?
Regards!
We would like to know more about your profile, discussing more details, will help us identify if you can pull out good stories from your experience.
If you’d like, we are happy to hop on a 1:1 call with you to discuss your profile in detail and shortlist schools for you. Feel free to schedule a profile evaluation call according to your convenience.
“Join Our Exclusive Webinar!"
Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond
I have a follow-up question-
Does it hurt if I send a lower score to a school and later improve the score and send again?
You have a solid and well-rounded profile — strong academics despite a Tier-3 college, meaningful leadership in CSR and innovation initiatives, and valuable exposure to global markets. Those will definitely help you stand out, especially for European schools that value professional maturity and international mindset.
Regarding your questions:
Target schools: With your current profile, you should be competitive for programs like HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESADE, Rotterdam School of Management, and possibly LBS MiM/MBA (though LBS and INSEAD are quite GMAT-sensitive). Your work experience and leadership roles align well with HEC and ESADE’s emphasis on well-rounded professionals.
Scholarships: Many European schools offer partial merit-based scholarships for strong candidates who demonstrate leadership and impact. A higher GMAT (typically 700+) can improve your scholarship odds, especially at HEC and LBS.
GMAT retake: Since your mock scores were consistently around 670–690, a retake could be worthwhile. With a bit more focused prep, you may comfortably cross the 700 mark, which will strengthen your chances for both admission and scholarships.
Score validity: GMAT scores remain valid for 5 years, so yes — you can use the same score for next year’s intake or future reapplications.
As someone who got into HEC Paris, I (Hemal) http://www.linkedin.com/in/naikhemal can say that your overall profile aligns well with what HEC looks for — maturity, leadership, and international exposure. I’d be happy to share a few insights from my experience about how to best position your story and strengthen your application strategy for European schools.
Would you like to connect so we can share a few tips on how I approached my HEC application?
Best Regards,
Hemal (Involve Consulting)