Thanks for sharing your profile, @Aditya Gawhale ! Starting with some info, tech hiring in 2025 is uneven; big tech has slowed some MBA hiring, while demand is strong for AI/data/product roles at startups, mid-sized SaaS and enterprise software, and in AI/data verticals. This means MBAs with AI/data credibility + product skills remain attractive, but competition is uneven.

Top targets (MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Stern, etc.) have median GMAT FE around ~675-685 and average work experience ~4-6 years; many admit profiles cluster above a 655 GMAT FE. This makes a 665 a below-median score for those programs (not impossible, but it requires compensating strengths).

Things to raise admission probability:
1) Show sustained leadership & ownership (most critical).
2) Move from “IC doing tasks” to “owner of an initiative.” Leading a project end-to-end, driving a client’s product requirement decisions, shipping feature(s) with measurable impact (revenue, cost savings, retention), or leading a cross-functional team for 6+ months is huge. If you can achieve promotion to a people/tech lead role before application, that’s ideal.
3) Build product credentials now. (tie your analytics to product outcomes). Pick a 3-6 month product or analytics project (internal or side project) where you own problem framing, metric definitions, A/B test, or deployment, and present measurable results. If possible, work with a PM at your company to co-deliver a feature and get a client/PM to write a note about your role.
4) Get two strong recommenders, one manager + one client (if possible). A recommender who can describe leadership, impact, and potential for product leadership is vital. Client LORs that comment on your influence and stakeholder management are particularly persuasive for career pivots.
5) For the test score, consider re-attempting the GMAT. (Given your progress from 555 to 665, you’ve shown improvement; another targeted cycle could be successful.)
6) Add meaningful extracurricular/impact work. 6-12 months of leadership in a nonprofit, startup, hackathon organizer, or building a community around AI/ML (workshops, mentoring) will show culture fit and leadership.
7) Resume: Each bullet should show situation → your action → measurable impact → leadership/scale. For essays, craft a clear post-MBA plan showing how MBA courses, clubs, and internships will bridge to Product Manager roles (use school-specific hooks).
8) Network for informational interviews & campus engagement. Talk to recent alums in product roles from each school to refine essays and build school-specific hooks.

Questions for you to reflect upon:
1) Which of your projects at Fractal had measurable business impact (revenue uplift, cost savings, retention lift)? Note 2-3 examples with numbers if possible.
2) Who would be your recommenders, direct manager? a client contact? Have they seen you lead or influence decisions?
3) Are you open to retaking the GMAT to target 700+? If not, what is your preferred strategy to strengthen your candidacy?
4) Any side projects, freelance, volunteering, startup attempts, or hackathons you can quickly document as leadership?
5) Post-MBA geography preference? (US West/NYC/UK/Europe/India). This affects school fit and which schools to push hardest.
6) Are you able to take a short internal secondment / lead an initiative at work for a few months before applications? (This is one of the highest-leverage moves.)

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can also watch some good MBA Application-related videos on our YouTube channel. Register for our Upcoming ESSAY WORKSHOPS. Craft essays that shine: pick powerful stories, match your goals with each school, and showcase authentic leadership. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

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

Hi Aditya
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your profile looks pretty interesting. Your mix of analytics consulting and technical versatility across multiple domains gives you a strong foundation for a pivot into product management.

Six years at Fractal Analytics with experience in CPG, healthcare, finance, and automation shows adaptability, even if most of it’s been individual contributor work. Your GMAT score is also decent. What’s missing right now is clear leadership impact and structured extracurricular involvement, adding something tangible on that front (mentorship, community initiative, or internal project leadership) would round you out well.

Schools like Foster, ISB, Marshall, and Tepper seem realistic targets given your goals and score, while Haas, LBS, and Kellogg could be stretches but still worth trying with strong essays connecting your tech expertise to your product management ambitions.

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: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!