Profile evaluation for LBS, Cambridge Judge, IESE, Said, GMAT Focus 655, Finance: Investment Banking background, from India

gmatclub

Comments 3 comments

9 months ago

Hello JD17,

Your IB + Big 4 M&A background is well-aligned with the finance-heavy European MBA programs you’re targeting.

However, the 655 GMAT Focus is a red flag, especially for LBS, IESE, and Judge programs where finance applicants from India face stiff competition and typically post 695+ scores.

Your GPA is solid, and your deal experience adds weight, but without a higher GMAT or a compelling quant-alternative (CFA L2+, high rigor coursework), you’re at risk of getting filtered early.

If you’re serious about staying in IB and maximizing ROI, retaking the GMAT should be non-negotiable. The rest of your profile shows direction and strength, need the test to back it up.

Let’s talk strategy for a retake and optimize your application timing.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule a call: https://admitportal.ameerkhatri.com/pro ... n-calendar

MBAandBeyond

Thank you for sharing your profile @JD17. You come with 6 years of experience, split between investment banking at India’s largest private sector bank and 3 years in Deal Advisory at a Big 4 firm. This is highly relevant and directly aligned with your post-MBA goal of continuing in investment banking, which lends clarity and strength to your overall narrative. Your GPA of 8.16 is competitive for most European business schools, assuming it is from a reputable institution. However, your GMAT Focus score of 655 is low. If you have the time to retake the test and can push the score above 685, it could strengthen your application. From a demographic standpoint, being an Indian male applicant with a finance background does place you in a highly competitive pool. To stand out, you’ll need to highlight what differentiates you from similar profiles. Examples could include unique deal exposure, cross-border transaction experience, or leadership in internal initiatives. If you've led efforts around digital transformation, created efficiencies in deal processes, or mentored team members, those could be valuable leadership stories to bring into your application. International exposure is an important component for European schools. If you’ve worked on cross-border deals, collaborated with international teams, or served clients across regions, be sure to highlight this in your essays and interviews. If you haven’t had this exposure yet, even small experiences, like presenting to global stakeholders or being on multinational teams, can help build that narrative. Be sure to connect your post-MBA goals with the specific recruiting strengths and networks of each school.

A few key questions to reflect on: Have you taken ownership of deals or primarily supported them? Can you showcase leadership beyond your job description?

With a higher GMAT and a strategically crafted application, you’ll be well-positioned at your target schools. If you'd like, feel free to Book a profile evaluation session.

We are hosting a Coffee Session: “GMAT Strategy & B-School Application Tips from Experts” on 25th July, 2025 | 9.00 PM IST | 11.00 AM ET. Know more details.

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

JD17

Hey Shantanu, have updated my profile with a bit more context about my achievements. Can you have a look again please?