Thanks for sharing your profile @CATSDOGS!

Starting with the Goal: Consulting (ops/supply chain with ESG focus) > later return to industry to lead sustainable supply-chain transformation. This is a coherent, employer-friendly story. Your semiconductor fire-fighting + Nike ESG/supply-chain transparency is the type of operational rigor + purpose that consulting firms market to clients.

Market reality (2024-25 employment trend you must plan around): Consulting hiring has been choppy across top programs, with several schools reporting slower placement and tighter timelines vs. prior years. You need crisp positioning, strong interview-readiness, and early networking to convert.

Competitiveness by target school:
Duke Fuqua (R1), realistic target: Consulting remains the top industry; Fuqua’s Class of 2024 still placed heavily into consulting despite a dip YoY. Your ops+ESG angle is right in its wheelhouse. Odds: Competitive if execution is strong. Your GRE is within range; lean on your MS GPA (3.9) and quant-heavy work to offset the UG 3.3.

NYU Stern (R2), possible, but more selective for your stats. 2024: Consulting ~37%, finance ~36%; tight market in NYC. You’ll need standout stories and evidence of client leadership. Odds: Reach/competitive. Strengthen with clear NYC project ties and senior recommenders.

Berkeley Haas (R2), mission match, stats stretch. Haas places meaningfully into consulting and is good on sustainability/ESG, but it’s stats-sensitive. You must spotlight MS 3.9 + rigorous quant projects; show impact at Nike beyond reporting (like cost, risk, carbon, or traceability wins). Odds: Reach (doable with excellent execution + values/mission fit).

What can move the needle: Turn “ESG + supply chain” into 2-3 punchy, quantified achievements (like “Launched supplier-traceability pilot across tiers; improved PO-level visibility, cutting expedites and projected scope variance.”). Consulting resume screeners love clear before/after. Show leadership under pressure: From semiconductor “urgent ops” days, did you own a war room, coordinate cross-functional fixes, or protect a key product launch? Those narratives scream “consulting-ready.”

Use the optional essay to (briefly) contextualize UG 3.3 and point to MS 3.9, quant coursework, and data-heavy impact. If you can add any relevant certificate with an A, even better. Ask recommenders to evidence client influence, executive-facing communication, problem-solving, and team leadership, not just reliability. Join school consulting clubs’ public events; connect with ops/sustainability practice folks at MBB.

Questions to reflect on:
1) At Nike, what measurable outcomes can you share (like % improvement in supplier visibility, lead-time variance, compliance rate, etc)?
2) In semiconductors, what was your highest-stakes “save” (scope, dollars at risk, cross-functional leadership)?
3) Any client-facing or senior-stakeholder presentations you led?
4) Geographic target post-MBA (US only or open to EU/Asia)?

We would love to learn more about your extracurricular activities, professional experience, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. If you'd like, feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

Feel free to register for our Coffee Session: “MASTER YOUR MBA APPLICATION ESSAYS FOR INSEAD, HEC, LBS, AND IESE!” which is on August 22, 2025 | 9:00 PM IST | 11:30 AM ET. KNOW MORE DETAILS

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

Hello,

Your GRE 327 is strong, and your mix of semiconductor and Nike supply chain experience positions you well for operations-focused consulting.

The sustainability and ESG angle adds good differentiation. Academically, your GPA is slightly below average (3.4 undergrad), but the 3.9 master’s GPA helps balance that.

Schools like Kellogg, Ross, and Duke are strong fits given your career goals. INSEAD and Yale are possible but not certain, since they see many strong Asian male candidates.

McCombs is a good safety. You’re competitive overall, but make sure your essays highlight international exposure and sustainability impact clearly.

Ameer Khatri, Admissions Consultant
Schedule 1-on-1 call
https://admitportal.ameerkhatri.com/pro ... n-calendar