Profile evaluation for ESADE, NUS, IE, HEC, ESSEC, GMAT Focus 575, Other background, from India

gmatclub

Comments 5 comments

6 months ago

@tanisha2000 - Some thoughts and clarifications:

1. The undergrad GPA seems good, which university did you attend (Tier-1, Tier-2, etc.)?

2. The GMAT score is on the lower side for most top MBA programs. Any scope to improve it e.g. did you score higher in mocks? Schools such as IE and ESADE offer the option to take their proprietary exam (e.g. IEGAT in the case of IE), but submitting a strong GMAT/ GRE score will strengthen chances, both for admissions and scholarships.

3. Would like to know more about your work experience - which company/ companies have you worked in, what functions/ domains, any progressions (promotions?) etc.

4. Anything on the extracurriculars front?

Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out for a detailed discussion.

Regards,
Arvind (Founder, admitStreet)
Testimonials: https://admitstreet.com/testimonials/ | Request a Free Profile Evaluation: https://admitstreet.com/#contact

tanisha2000

3 months ago

Hi Arvind, below are my updates. Look forward to your insights

1. BA in Media and Communications from Manipal Institute of Communication (2018-21)

2. My gre score is 316 (v157 q159 awaTBC) I’ve got interviews to IE and ESADE using their tests. Want to understand if this score is ok for HEC / essec / nanyang / NUS

3. 5 years at a global pr agency Burson, two years of exp as manager, 3 promotions in 5 years. Worked with global clients like Uber, Amazon, Logitech, and Indian startups. Client servicing for retail and tech clients.

Accredited in Indian public relations and have won few awards for campaigns that I worked on

Post mba looking to grow in marketing and retail

Have thorough, extremely positive recommendations from my boss (business head of south office) and ex manager

4. Lots of extracurriculars and community building during college. Currently co founded a run club with 300+ active members in Bangalore

ARINGO

Hey
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your GPA looks decent, and with 5 years of work experience, you are in a strong position to apply for an MBA. In order to evaluate your chances better, I would like to know more details about your profile, like, are you planning to reappear for GMAT or switch to GRE?, your ECs, your LORs, etc

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for your target 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 your CV at: [email protected]
Good Luck!

Hi Priyanka below are my updates. Look forward to your insights

1. BA in Media and Communications from Manipal Institute of Communication (2018-21)

2. My gre score is 316 (v157 q159 awaTBC) I’ve got interviews to IE and ESADE using their tests. Want to understand if this score is ok for HEC / essec / nanyang / NUS

3. 5 years at a global pr agency Burson, two years of exp as manager, 3 promotions in 5 years. Worked with global clients like Uber, Amazon, Logitech, and Indian startups. Client servicing for retail and tech clients.

Accredited in Indian public relations and have won few awards for campaigns that I worked on

Post mba looking to grow in marketing and retail

Have thorough, extremely positive recommendations from my boss (business head of south office) and ex manager

4. Lots of extracurriculars and community building during college. Currently co founded a run club with 300+ active members in Bangalore

MBAandBeyond

Thanks for sharing your profile @tanisha2000! Your profile looks good, as a marketing/communications candidate with leadership, brand exposure, and a coherent post-MBA goal. Your main variable can be the GRE, not the profile.

Is GRE 316 “enough” for your target schools? Let’s be very honest and school-specific.
1) HEC is test-sensitive, especially for Indian applicants. Typical competitive range: 320–325+ GRE. 316 is borderline. It can be possible, but GMAT/GRE improvement is strongly recommended.

2) ESSEC can be more holistic than HEC. Strong professional progression and leadership matter a lot. It can be considered as a Target–Reach hybrid at 316. Competitive with strong essays + interviews (better odds than HEC).

3) NUS, quant-leaning, test scores matter. Median GRE closer to 320+. It can be a stretch at 316; retake recommended for confidence.

4) Nanyang can be slightly more forgiving than NUS. Marketing/consumer profiles do well. It can be possible but competitive. Better with 320+, but not impossible.

Biggest strengths to lean into: Fast progression (3 promotions in 5 years)> This is a huge positive signal. Brand-name global clients > Uber, Amazon, and Logitech, carry weight internationally. Clear post-MBA story > Marketing / retail growth is consistent with your past. Community leadership (run club, food, culture) > Good for interviews and leadership essays.

A jump to 322+ shall have a meaningful change in outcomes. If you can retake and realistically hit a good score, do it. If not, double down on ESSEC / ESADE / IE / Bocconi—these are not compromises for marketing careers.

Your core narrative can be, “I’ve grown brands and communities from the outside. Now I want to own growth, strategy, and consumer impact from within.” Emphasise: Transition from agency > brand leadership, Scale: campaigns > markets > categories and leadership with clients and teams. Why Europe/Singapore? (retail, luxury, global brands)

Questions to sharpen your application further:
1) Are you aiming for brand-side roles or marketing strategy/consulting post-MBA?
2) Any quantified campaign impact (reach, revenue, growth)?
3) Open to luxury/retail roles in France/Italy?
4) How important is scholarship to you?

We’d love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, work experience, and personal journey so that we can provide a tailored profile evaluation and an honest school assessment. Feel free to book an evaluation session.

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