ISB Profile Evaluation - Tools for B-School Profile Evaluation

Hello raks85

While you have a decent profile, definitely retake the GMAT and target at least 680+.
With 11 years of work ex, showcase the need for an MBA at this stage of your career. Since you have not mentioned your career goals, touch to give a meaningful feedback. You can add to your research by reading here.
To stand a fighting chance you will need to do 3 things- take up your GMAT, showcase realistic career goals (with 11 years work ex) and tie in all the admission factors mentioned here in your essays.
Should you have further queries, feel free to reach out.

Best
Varun Sharma
+919137133507
MBAkarma.com
GMAT Score Predictor
info@mbakarma.com

Hello Arijit,
What is your opinion about my profile? Also I have heard that ISBs and other B Schools accepts highest GMAT score among multiple scores. So, if I retake GMAT after applying, would they considered it during interview/ later?
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Rakesh

Hi Experts,

This was my first attempt at GMAT. Score - 690. I want to understand what are my admission options?


Profile
Nationality - India
Age - 27
Gender - M
Work Experience
- 5+ years in Big 4 (all work experience entirely in big 4). The work experience includes 1 year as a management consultant in New York Area, US. Currently, a Senior Consultant (equivalent to Assistant Manager) since early 2017 (Next position - Manager). Exceptional performance history and multiple awards within firm.
- Strong client portfolio and diverse experiences/fields within the firm.
- SAP Certified Consultant (if it means anything to MBA assessments)
Volunteer Experience: Organisation team within First International Yoga Day

Other work experience
1) Working on my own online business venture - health based website

College
Bachelor's degree - B.Tech (ECE)
GPA: 75%
Extra Curricular - Founded my own internet marketing venture hiring 7+ Philippine freelancers. The business was up and running for 2 years. Paid off my college last 2 years with this.
Volunteer - First Indian Grand Prix

School
Scores 10 & 12th : 75-80%
Other Notables:
- Played under 16 level cricket for 3 years. Captain at the state level competition (one year) and represented at state/district level in previous 2.
- Played under 16 Table Tennis & Badminton at district level for 1 year.

Apart from this - Exposure in 8-9 countries in last 2 years which include experiences such as Sky Diving, the Great Alaskan adventure etc.

I am looking for guidance in the following areas:

1) My current possible options given my profile and score?
2) How much impact on my possible options with let's say a 720+ score.

Please let me know if you need any further information.

Thank you.

Regards
Shiva Agrawal

Hi raks85

11 years of work experience places you at the higher end of the applicant age spectrum. For a school such as ISB, things can get extremely competitive. We think you definitely have a strong profile, with a variety of extracurriculars, but your GMAT of 640 can pull you down.

Try to aim for anything north of 680+ to stay competitive, and of course, even then a lot will depend on the right answers to why you and why MBA. Also given our experience with students with your background, you should also to apply to the IIM A/B/C one year MBA programs, as you may have a better chance.

Please reach out for a detailed discussion on your goals and application.

Hi shiva2906

There are a lot of positives in your profile. Work experience with a Big4 definitely helps. Extracurriculars definitely help too.

While you do have a strong profile, we would recommend that you pick and choose your battles, which are the ones that you would like to showcase? You never want to overwhelm the ad-com with too much information. For instance, if the health-based website, is not a full time venture, how do you showcase it in your application? What are your goals and can you link them to any of your work experience/achievements?

690 with a great application can be enough. 720 with a great application would be even better. Therefore, by all means, give GMAT another try. If you are constantly hitting 700+ in your mock tests, then go ahead and give it another shot. Else, put your heart and soul into carving out the best application possible.

Hi All,

About Me:
- 10 th: 90% - Andhra Pradesh Board
- 12 th: 96% - Andhra Pradehs Board
- BITS Pilani - 2014 - Electrical Engineering Pass-Out. CG: 6.9/10
- 21 Months in Latent View Analytics - Served Major clients like Microsoft, Paypal, eBay using Analytical Tools like SQL, R, Tableau etc.
- 27 Months with OlaCabs India as a Category manager(Started as Analyst, Grew to Senior Analyst and Now Category Manager) - Used further tools like HIVE, Qubole, R, Python. Right now looking at the strategy of my category - Involves Financial Planning, Growth Hacks, User retention etc.

- Had Extra Curriculars like: Working for an NGO, Organizing Blood Donation Camps, Organised 10+ Campus Fest Events during Engineering

I am planning to Give GMAT by August 15 - 2018 and apply for Cycle -1

Is there enough time left for Cycle-1? Should I wait for Cycle -2? I have limited prep in verbal. So far CR is covered. Started SC and yet to start RC. I have the confidence that I can crack Quant with Minimum prep as I have given CAT 3 times and score 99+ Percentile on all 3 occasions (Need a 1/2 Day Prep). I have taken Work Off for the next 1 Week. Will I be able to accomplish a 700 +? Please help

Hello ruhrresident

Take a deep breath
Have you taken a mock GMAT test yet? If yes, what scores are you getting in your mock tests? If you are getting 700+ already, then great, go and take the test on 15th August.
Understand that GMAT is not just a test of you knowledge (which you have due to you past CAT experience) but also of stamina and temperament (3-4 hours of test in front of a screen).
So, while it is good to be confident, do not let that stop you from further practice.
Also, building a good application takes 4-8 weeks from ground zero. So even if you get a good score on 15th Aug, you will have time, but not the luxury of time, especially if you are applying to multiple schools and starting from scratch.
For a more detailed discussion, feel free to reach out.

Best
Varun Sharma
+919137133507
MBAkarma.com
GMAT Score Predictor
info@mbakarma.com

Hi Daaku05,

Your professional background appears to be impressive and will surely help your case. However, ISB evaluates applications in a holistic manner. Thus, we request you to share certain other elements of your profile such as extra-curricular achievements, your need for an MBA, and what your career goals are.

In any case, you must look at targetting upwards of 720 on the GMAT!

Thanks.
_________________

Hi Piyush,
Your international work experience of 4.5 years in oil and gas domain definitely differentiates you from the rest of the applicant pool. However to have a decent chance at ISB and the top three IIMs you need to score a minimum of 680. Anything north of 700+ will boost your chances. with the current scores that you have it will be very difficult to get a call from any of these schools. We highly recommend you to retake your GMAT

Hi Hardik,

You definitely have an interesting profile and your experience as a "edupreneur" if properly presented will resonate with the Adcoms of the target schools. Your target GMAT score is also extremely good. You definitely can also add a few international B-schools to your target school list. Please connect with us at beyondthegmat@gmail.com for a detailed profile evaluation and to get more insights into potential target schools for your profile.
We would be happy to help.

Best of luck!

Hi,
Based on the limited information that you have shared,what comes out is that you do have leadership experience in your job role which you need to highlight in your application. Your GMAT score is decent.
Since ISB is putting lot of emphasis on diversity, what you need to concentrate on is to identify how you can make your profile score in the diversity quotient. As your profile belongs to the most common applicant pool, a lot will depend on how you structure your essays to bring out the value that you will add to the incoming class.

Are there any other B-schools you are planning to apply to?
You can definitely look at the IIMs.

You can get in touch with us at beyondthegmat@gmail.com for a detailed profile evaluation and to find out potential b-schools for our profile.

Best of luck!

Hi Shiva,
You have excellent work experience which will definitely resonate with the ISB Adcom. In addition, your extra-curricular activities speak volumes about your leadership potential and organizational capabilities. Though a GMAT score of 690 is slightly lower than ISB's class average, we feel, for your profile it would definitely not impact your chances.
We would recommend you to start working on your application to highlight your achievements and establish how an MBA will help you achieve your future goals.
We would also encourage you to look at international B-schools.
You can connect with us at beyondthegmat@gmail.com for a more detailed profile evaluation and to get insights on potential b-schools for your profile.

Best of luck!

Hello,

I am currently employed in a government bank as Assistant Manager. I did my engineering from Manipal Instt of Tech in 2011. Then I took sometime off to volunteer at an NGO. Then I worked with a coaching institute for about 2 years as content developer and expert. In 2015, I joined the bank. So my total work ex is about 6+years.

cGPA: 7.84
10th: 83.8
12th: 79

I am aiming for 720+ in GMAT.
Please evaluate my profile for ISB. Do you think such a bumpy career profile is OK? Any suggestions will help.

Hello Sweety1203

A career journey is bumpy only if you portray it that way in your story. Instead, if you choose to showcase how and why you made certain choices, it can work in your favor.
However, more important will be your reason to pursue an MBA. What are your future career goals, how does your past and an MBA tie in with it. You could add to your research by reading here.
Coming to your profile,your past acads look decent and a 720+ GMAT will surely help.
Apart from this not much qualitative information around your achievements at work, extracurricular activities or career goals. You can read here to know what makes a complete profile.
In absence of this information, giving a detailed feedback is not possible.
For a detailed personalized advice, fell free to get in touch.

Best
Varun Sharma
+919137133507
Free Profile Review
MBAkarma.com
GMAT Score Predictor
info@mbakarma.com

Background and nationality : Indian, 28 , Male

Undergrad Information : Civil Engineering, Manipal University ( GPA 6.6/10)

GMAT: 740 ( Q50/V40/IR 6/AWA 5)

Work experience and leadership:

Total Experience of 5 years in e-commerce startups in various roles: sales, operations, digital marketing, data analysis & product management. Most of the experience is in Product Management. Have led a team of engineers and delivered various software products & features. Have shown a good upward career progression in work.

Post MBA goals: Drive business and product strategies at Tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, etc.

Hi blackfish

Good profile. The GMAT adds to your academics. E-commerce/startup experience is valued at B-schools. You definitely seem to have an edge over other peers from a tech background.

The real test would be to articulate clearly why you need an MBA, when you are already in the PM line of work. Work hard on your essays showcasing what you have achieved as a person and why an MBA is centric to your goals. This should take you over the finishing line.

Feel free to reach out for a discussion.

Hi Gaara2018

The diaspora of experience in the past may not matter if you can link some of your achievements to your career goals. All B-schools look for a certain amount of continuity in a candidate's experience and career progression. It is okay to have tried out multiple things, as long as you have figured out what you are good at and where you want to go.

Therefore, as long as your goals are linked to your most recent experience or something that you have achieved in the past 6 years, you will be able to build an MBA story and are good to go.

A 720+ will definitely help on the GMAT side. We also hope you continue to be part of the NGO or are into some other extra-curricular activity to showcase a well-rounded profile.

Do reach out for a detailed discussion on how to connect the dots.

Varun,

Thank you very much for the advice. I will follow your advice and focus on GMAT for now.