Thank you for sharing your profile @Y*****. You bring 8 years of high-value experience in Venture Capital, which is a good foundation for top global MBA programs. Schools like Booth, Columbia, Wharton, Stanford, and Harvard actively seek applicants from the VC ecosystem, particularly those who have been involved in deal sourcing, portfolio management, or strategic advisory roles to startups. Your professional background positions you well, especially if your role has included leadership, cross-border exposure, or collaboration with investors and founders.

That said, your current GMAT Focus score of 685 may be slightly low for M7 schools, particularly for competitive applicant pools like finance or VC. Generally, successful applicants to programs like Wharton, Harvard, and Stanford have average score range around 730. Your profile shows a clear post-MBA goal of staying within the Venture Capital industry. This can be seen positively by admissions committees, as they value applicants with a defined, realistic path that leverages both their pre-MBA experience and the program's offerings. You should focus your essays on how you plan to elevate your strategic decision-making skills and build an international network to enhance your VC capabilities, rather than using the MBA as a pivot tool.

Leadership is another key factor. Top schools like HBS and Stanford GSB emphasize leadership potential beyond technical expertise. Make sure to highlight situations where you've driven meaningful change, whether through investment decisions, supporting founders, managing teams, or influencing your firm's strategy. If your VC role has been more execution-focused, finding leadership angles within your professional or extracurricular activities is critical.

Before finalizing your school list, we'd encourage you to reflect on the following:
1. Have you had meaningful international exposure through your VC work, such as cross-border investments or partnerships?
2. Are you strictly focused on U.S. programs, or open to top-tier European MBAs like INSEAD or LBS?
3. How do you envision the MBA transforming your leadership or global strategic perspective?

We would be happy to learn more about your profile. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

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

I think you were referring to to classic score?
My classic score is 740
Focus score 685

While 685 GMAT FE (730-740 classic equivalent) is a decent score, it's essential to have a strong overall application profile that aligns well with the school's values to enhance your chances in the applicant pool. Highly selective programs, like HSW, Booth, and MIT Sloan, often report average GMAT scores in the 720-740 range on the classic GMAT. Please feel free to book a session, and we can discuss more details about your journey, academics, extracurriculars, and professional experiences. Happy to help...

Hi
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, a 685 FE falls on the lower end for your target schools. Are you up for a retake? A score close to 715-725 would be crucial. I would also like you to share more details about your profile in order for a better evaluation of your chances at your target programs.

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for top MBA 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: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!