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Hello dutsyas,

Your profile seems quite competitive for the ISB MBA program. Speaking about your academics, a GRE score of 324 is decent and falls within the range of scores that ISB typically accepts. Your quantitative score is particularly strong, which is often valued for MBA programs. Your dual degree from BITS Pilani is impressive, showcasing a strong technical background. Your consistent performance in both high school and secondary school is also a positive indicator.

Coming to your work experience, your 32 months of experience as a Software Engineer at PayPal is a solid foundation. It's important to demonstrate how this experience has contributed to your professional growth, leadership skills, and your understanding of business concepts.

Your research paper publication is a notable accomplishment, showcasing your academic abilities. Your musical talents and interests indicate a well-rounded personality, even if you lack formal certifications. Highlight how these skills have contributed to your personal development and teamwork abilities.

In regards to retaking the GRE, a GRE score of 324 is a solid score and falls within the range of scores that ISB typically accepts. Retaking the GRE requires time and effort for preparation. If you believe you can significantly improve your score with additional preparation, it might be worth considering. Remember that your application is holistic. If your work experience, essays, letters of recommendation, and other components are strong, a slightly lower GRE score might not be a major drawback.

Ultimately, the decision to retake the GRE depends on your assessment of these factors. If you're confident that you can improve your score significantly and that this improvement will substantially enhance your overall application, it might be worth considering. Otherwise, your current profile seems competitive and well-rounded for the ISB MBA program. Remember, admissions decisions are based on the entire package you present, not just the GRE score.

We offer a limited number of complimentary profile evaluations each week . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools. In this call, the experts will try to dig out your USP for top B-schools and provide you with honest feedback on your profile and chances to your target schools.

Book a free profile evaluation call now!

Neha Hadke
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dutsyas
Hi,

I know I'm mentioning GRE score but will highly appreciate your help. Here's my profile:
Age: 25 yr

GRE Score: 324 [Quant:168, Verbal:156 , AWA:4]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: M.Sc. Phy + B.E. Electronics from BITS Pilani, 7.7 CGPA
H.S.C: 93.2, CBSE
S.S.C: 10CGPA, CBSE

Work Experience:
Working as a Software Engineer in PayPal (~32 months by March 2024).

Extra Curricular:
Have published 1 research paper during graduation.
Have knowledge of music production, can play multiple instruments (Guitar, Piano, Drums) but I don't have any valuable certification/participation to show for apart from college/office shows.

My primary doubt is whether I should attempt GRE again for a better score, given my profile?

Appreciate your time, thanks.
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Hello Pragati13,

I hope you are doing well. Your profile looks good on the surface.

Age and Work Experience: Being 33 years old with over eight years of work experience is quite suitable for an MBA program. Your extensive work experience, including leadership and managerial roles, will be valuable in your application. While your 12th score might be on the lower side, your subsequent achievements and work experience can help compensate for it. 76% is a decent performance in your undergraduate degree.

Since you're considering the ISB MBA program, you'll be taking the GMAT. ISB's average GMAT scores for admitted candidates usually fall around the mid-600s to low-700s. Given your strong work experience and leadership roles, aiming for a GMAT score above the average can strengthen your application. Aiming for a GMAT score in the range of 680 to 720 would be a reasonable target. However, it's essential to remember that your GMAT score is just one component of your application. Your work experience, leadership, recommendations, and essays also play vital roles in the selection process. Strong recommendations from your superiors or colleagues who can speak to your leadership and managerial capabilities will be crucial.

Application Strategy:
1. Highlight your career progression, leadership roles, and the impact you've made in your current position.
2. Emphasize your managerial skills, team leadership, and any initiatives you've led within your organization.
3. Address your academic history in your essays if required, focusing on how your work experience has contributed to your growth and learning.

Remember that ISB values a diverse class profile, and your unique experiences and background can contribute to their cohort. While your academic history has some variations, your extensive work experience and leadership roles can effectively balance that out. Your target GMAT score should reflect your determination to excel in the academic aspects of the program.

Good luck with your application process!

We offer a limited number of complimentary profile evaluations each week . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools. In this call, the experts will try to dig out your USP for top B-schools and provide you with honest feedback on your profile and chances to your target schools.

Book a free profile evaluation call now!

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Pragati13
Hello,
Please evaluate my profile for ISB.Female, 33 years, work exp- 8+ years
10th- 83%
12th- 68%
Grad- BTech IT- 76%
I am working as a Senior Manager in a PSU bank. 2 promotions done and next year due for thir Peld promotion.
Leading a team of employees and heading as Branch Manager.
I am yet to take GMAT. Want to have an idea of target score.

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Pragati13
Hello,
Please evaluate my profile for ISB.Female, 33 years, work exp- 8+ years
10th- 83%
12th- 68%
Grad- BTech IT- 76%
I am working as a Senior Manager in a PSU bank. 2 promotions done and next year due for thir Peld promotion.
Leading a team of employees and heading as Branch Manager.
I am yet to take GMAT. Want to have an idea of target score.

Posted from my mobile device

Hello Pragati13,

1. Your professional arc is interesting, given the promotions and the leadership role. Would be good to understand more details about key achievements in your roles, challenges you faced, key learnings, and how your skills translate to your post MBA goals (i.e. target sector, function & geography)

2. Academics are broadly fine: 12th score is a bit on the lower side, but your professional experience along with a good GMAT score (next point) can alleviate concerns here

3. Given that ISB's GMAT average is around 710, targeting a score around this number would be ideal. While the strength of your professional experience and fitment of ISB with your post-MBA goals (which we can assess with more details) can potentially compensate for a lower-than-average GMAT, I would suggest aiming for atleast 690-700 to be on the safer side.

Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat.

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: [email protected]
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dutsyas
Hi,

I know I'm mentioning GRE score but will highly appreciate your help. Here's my profile:
Age: 25 yr

GRE Score: 324 [Quant:168, Verbal:156 , AWA:4]

Educational Qualifications:

Graduation: M.Sc. Phy + B.E. Electronics from BITS Pilani, 7.7 CGPA
H.S.C: 93.2, CBSE
S.S.C: 10CGPA, CBSE

Work Experience:
Working as a Software Engineer in PayPal (~32 months by March 2024).

Extra Curricular:
Have published 1 research paper during graduation.
Have knowledge of music production, can play multiple instruments (Guitar, Piano, Drums) but I don't have any valuable certification/participation to show for apart from college/office shows.

My primary doubt is whether I should attempt GRE again for a better score, given my profile?

Appreciate your time, thanks.


Hi dutsyas Hope this finds you well

Your profile has several positive aspects, including a solid academic pedigree and a strong employer brand. Business schools place a high value on your resume containing feeder employer brands, as it conveys a high level of confidence in your future potential and employability. This, in turn, is a critical criterion for admitting applicants.

Your quantitative score is good, even if the verbal portion has room for improvement. It's important to realize that schools evaluate more than academic performance, GRE/GMAT, undergraduate pedigree, and employer brand to assess your potential. Whether your profile specifics can make up for your lower score on the verbal portion cannot be conclusively assessed at this initial stage of your profile evaluation.

In your application, you should show how you have progressed year over year by taking on greater responsibility through promotions, functional leadership roles, or cross-functional stakeholder management. Showing your perspective on the relevance of your work also adds depth. Even if your role has primarily consisted of individual contributions, highlight the increasing challenges on various projects, promising results, and skillful stakeholder management over the past years.

It will be beneficial to present a special "hook" in your profile that sets you apart from other applicants.

Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation.. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process.

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]
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Pragati13
Hello,
Please evaluate my profile for ISB.Female, 33 years, work exp- 8+ years
10th- 83%
12th- 68%
Grad- BTech IT- 76%
I am working as a Senior Manager in a PSU bank. 2 promotions done and next year due for thir Peld promotion.
Leading a team of employees and heading as Branch Manager.
I am yet to take GMAT. Want to have an idea of target score.

Posted from my mobile device

Pragati13 Hope you are doing well

I find your work experience interesting and see good opportunities to describe your motivation and industry focus. Steady growth is a plus. Unpack your experience and construct your stories in a way that makes it clear that working on your projects has given you much more hands-on experience, more experiential maturity, and more ability to contextualize business problems (specific to your area of work). Craft well-researched goals. Be sure to use your unique positioning to create a strong leadership narrative.

I think you would be a great fit for IIM A and IIM B's one year PGP Programs, as they are specifically focused on a more experienced cohort of students on average. Definitely consider applying.

Thoughts on GMAT
​I advise applicants to look at GMAT scores in the quantitative and verbal sections individually. Admissions committees evaluate your performance along with that of your peers (from your population group) on a normalized curve. For example, a Q49 score (~75th percentile) is considered borderline elite for overrepresented populations at top business schools like ISB. If your quantitative score meets or exceeds this threshold, the admissions committee is confident that you can handle the academically demanding curriculum. Your verbal score is more likely to reflect your ability to participate in discussions in a truly diverse group at a school like ISB that places a high value on discussion-based pedagogy. On Verbal, aim for a score of 40+ if possible.
Overall a 710+ score would be safe.

Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process.

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]
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Hi Experts,

I was wondering what are the typical essay topics that ISB throws at you during the application process. It would be helpful to have a brief idea about that.


Thanks
~Abhinav
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AbhinavKumar
Hi Experts,

I was wondering what are the typical essay topics that ISB throws at you during the application process. It would be helpful to have a brief idea about that.


Thanks
~Abhinav

All of that is available on their website in the application components
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AmeyPatil9696
Can anyone suggest a profile consisting of a GMAT score and other things for aiming for a sure-shot interview call from ISB and a possible convert too for someone with a 4-year experience in Tech Consulting
Just trying to figure out what all does ISB consider for Indian profiles apart from the usual. Please share your experience!


AmeyPatil9696

Getting a call from ISB should not be too difficult unless you screw up your essays or have a very low GMAT score, like 650. Passing the interview is, because the final decision process is complex and well vetted, taking into account your weighted score in all areas of the admissions process.

I advise applicants to consider GMAT scores in the quantitative and verbal sections individually. Admissions committees evaluate your performance along with that of your peers (from your population group) on a normalized curve. For example, a Q49 score (~75th percentile) is considered borderline elite for overrepresented populations at top business schools like ISB. If your quantitative score meets or exceeds this threshold, the admissions committee is confident that you can handle the academically demanding curriculum. Your verbal score is more likely to reflect your ability to participate in discussions in a truly diverse group at a school like ISB that places a high value on discussion-based pedagogy. Aim for a score of 40+ if possible.

Here are some of the ISB specific links that can give you more clarity on how to become a competitive applicant

1.How to think about the new ISB Essays

2.Fail-proof strategy for acing that ISB Interview

3.What ISB looks for really? A fresh perspective


4.The Secret Sauce For Outstanding Letters of Recommendations

5.How To Select Your Recommenders


6.Avoid these pitfalls in goals essays

7.Things to keep in mind as a reapplicant

Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process.

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]
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HI, please evaluate my profile for ISB. Should I apply for ISB or not?
Background: GMAT-680(Q48,V35)
10th-82.6%
12th-82.2%
B.tech-75.6%,Mechanical and automation, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, GGSIPU Delhi.
Work ex: I work as a Senior Section Engineer ( Workshop) at Indian railways. My workshop undertakes the activity of Periodic Overhauling of Coaches. My job profile comprises of following activities:
• Supervising and managing the work of junior staff (around a team of 100 staffs is working under me which comprises of Technicians and Junior engineers)
• Planning man-power
• Planning and organizing production schedules
• Assessing resource requirements
• Selecting, ordering and purchasing material
• Ensuring health and safety regulation are met
• Determining quality control standards.
• Working on ERP of railways to control inventory.
My total work ex is of 5 years.
Extra curricular:
I have been awarded three times for extra ordinary work.
Hobbies:Guitar, read.
Kindly tell me whether there is a chance to make into ISB with that score or not? Or advice me with some other plan. I will be very grateful to you

Posted from my mobile device
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NIKHIL00712
HI, please evaluate my profile for ISB. Should I apply for ISB or not?
Background: GMAT-680(Q48,V35)
10th-82.6%
12th-82.2%
B.tech-75.6%,Mechanical and automation, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, GGSIPU Delhi.
Work ex: I work as a Senior Section Engineer ( Workshop) at Indian railways. My workshop undertakes the activity of Periodic Overhauling of Coaches. My job profile comprises of following activities:
• Supervising and managing the work of junior staff (around a team of 100 staffs is working under me which comprises of Technicians and Junior engineers)
• Planning man-power
• Planning and organizing production schedules
• Assessing resource requirements
• Selecting, ordering and purchasing material
• Ensuring health and safety regulation are met
• Determining quality control standards.
• Working on ERP of railways to control inventory.
My total work ex is of 5 years.
Extra curricular:
I have been awarded three times for extra ordinary work.
Hobbies:Guitar, read.
Kindly tell me whether there is a chance to make into ISB with that score or not? Or advice me with some other plan. I will be very grateful to you

Posted from my mobile device

NIKHIL00712 - quick q before providing some feedback: what are your post-MBA goals i.e. target sector, function, geo?

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: [email protected]
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NIKHIL00712
HI, please evaluate my profile for ISB. Should I apply for ISB or not?
Background: GMAT-680(Q48,V35)
10th-82.6%
12th-82.2%
B.tech-75.6%,Mechanical and automation, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, GGSIPU Delhi.
Work ex: I work as a Senior Section Engineer ( Workshop) at Indian railways. My workshop undertakes the activity of Periodic Overhauling of Coaches. My job profile comprises of following activities:
• Supervising and managing the work of junior staff (around a team of 100 staffs is working under me which comprises of Technicians and Junior engineers)
• Planning man-power
• Planning and organizing production schedules
• Assessing resource requirements
• Selecting, ordering and purchasing material
• Ensuring health and safety regulation are met
• Determining quality control standards.
• Working on ERP of railways to control inventory.
My total work ex is of 5 years.
Extra curricular:
I have been awarded three times for extra ordinary work.
Hobbies:Guitar, read.
Kindly tell me whether there is a chance to make into ISB with that score or not? Or advice me with some other plan. I will be very grateful to you

Posted from my mobile device

NIKHIL00712 - quick q before providing some feedback: what are your post-MBA goals i.e. target sector, function, geo?

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: [email protected]


I would like to go into consulting or operations.
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Hello! I'd be very grateful if someone could share their thoughts on my profile for ISB executive MBA.

> GMAT 650 (Q47, V34, IR3 🙁)
> Male, 35 years. Journalist. Have worked at The New Indian Express and Daily News & Analysis newspapers and a media-tech start-up. Served as the co-founder of this start-up and headed a department in a newspaper. Of late, been working as an independent, investigative journalist, exposing corruption in government banks.
> Needle mover: One of my stories compelled the government to stop imposing a technology illegally on people. A recent story about a bank fraud has triggered an RBI investigation into the bank's affairs.
> Recognition: Award for business journalism in my journalism college's alumni award function. Got selected for one fellowship and got shortlisted for another prestigious fellowship.
> Uncredited work: Have ghost-written a course on media literacy for college students. Ghost-edited a book on financial frauds. Designed and helped teach investigative journalism at my journalism college.
> Career as a musician: Quit my full-time job in mid-2014 to start a band. Served as the band's manager, lyricist and guitarist. One song shortlisted for inaugural Radio City Freedom Awards. Another track voted as track of the week in a poll of a top, foreign record label. Songs released worldwide with digital music-making software FL Studio as demo project files, making us the Hindi artist to have our tracks released as demo projects. Some tracks included by the world's top DJs in their setlist. Quit the band in 2017.
> Graduation: BBA (59.9%)
Class 12: 59.8% (Science - CBSE). Class 10: 77.6%
> Extra-curricular: Extensively participated in and won debate, elocution, poetry recitation, storytelling competitions throughout school years. Represented school thrice in regional meets.
Leadership: In every organisation I have worked at, have quickly risen to prominence, getting the most important projects. I work well with people and hence was given the charge of a department within three years of starting my career. At the start-up I worked at, I handled a host of managerial and editorial duties. From hiring to policymaking to establishing partnership and even crisis management, I have donned a lot of hats. At the startup, I used to liason and work with freelance reporters from across India and media houses in and outside India.
> Key skills: Deep-dive, investigative stories. Research. Fact-finding. Team work. Problem-solving. I am excellent at establishing rapport with people, which is how I succeed in securing highly sensitive information for my investigative stories.
> Social duties: In my locality, I am the one who engages with the city corporation, councillor and the administration for maintenance and repairs (such as fixing street lights, ensuring cleaning, fogging). Been engaged in small-time volunteering activities on and off.
> Asset for college: When I worked as the head of a department in a newspaper, I'd get my journalism college's students' stories (good ones only) published in my newspaper. I'd get these students invited for tests and job interviews. I'd visit college every year (until I moved out of that city) and speak with students to guide them.
> Reason for MBA: Given my inclinication for problem-solving, people skills, resourcefulness and go-getter attitude, I believe I will excel in the field of consultancy, especially since consultancy is largely about problem-solving and getting to the bottom of an issue. It's exactly the same for investigative stories. Hence, I bring with me precious, proven transferable skills. I have extensively worked on data stories and complicated, government documents, which shows I have the tenacity, patience and the smarts to make sense of statistics, identify patterns and make useful inferences.

I'll turn 36 this year-end and have to get into a B-school this time. Some unfortunate family situation kept me from applying till now. Should I apply at ISB with GMAT 650 or do I need a better score? (Thanks in advance!)
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NIKHIL00712
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NIKHIL00712
HI, please evaluate my profile for ISB. Should I apply for ISB or not?
Background: GMAT-680(Q48,V35)
10th-82.6%
12th-82.2%
B.tech-75.6%,Mechanical and automation, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, GGSIPU Delhi.
Work ex: I work as a Senior Section Engineer ( Workshop) at Indian railways. My workshop undertakes the activity of Periodic Overhauling of Coaches. My job profile comprises of following activities:
• Supervising and managing the work of junior staff (around a team of 100 staffs is working under me which comprises of Technicians and Junior engineers)
• Planning man-power
• Planning and organizing production schedules
• Assessing resource requirements
• Selecting, ordering and purchasing material
• Ensuring health and safety regulation are met
• Determining quality control standards.
• Working on ERP of railways to control inventory.
My total work ex is of 5 years.
Extra curricular:
I have been awarded three times for extra ordinary work.
Hobbies:Guitar, read.
Kindly tell me whether there is a chance to make into ISB with that score or not? Or advice me with some other plan. I will be very grateful to you

Posted from my mobile device

NIKHIL00712 - quick q before providing some feedback: what are your post-MBA goals i.e. target sector, function, geo?

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: [email protected]


I would like to go into consulting or operations.

NIKHIL00712

Acads (school/ GPA) are fine but GMAT score is a bit on the lower side (ISB's average is ~710). While applications are evaluated holistically and your work experience (next point) can potentially add some weight, it is better to apply with a higher score (i.e. retake) if possible.

The professional arc is interesting. Several candidates from public sector enter ISB and transition to private sector roles. The key is to have compelling answers to why MBA, why ISB, why now, and what your post MBA goals are (which you have briefly indicated). It's good to have target companies/ roles, and highlight what your transferable skills are (e.g. team management, planning, data analysis, etc.), in order to be clear about what value the MBA and particularly ISB would add.


Hope this helps some. Feel free to reach out, I could put you in touch with our ISB consultant for his views as well.

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: [email protected]
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MBAandBeyond
Hey 197369,

Your profile looks good on the surface. Your academic performance is strong, with a 10 CGPA in 10th grade, 93% in 12th grade, and an 8.5 CGPA in your B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. These scores demonstrate your consistent academic excellence. Regarding the tentative GMAT score for ISB, it's difficult to provide an exact target score as it depends on various factors, including the average GMAT scores of admitted students at ISB and the competitiveness of the applicant pool during the specific application cycle. However, to increase your chances of admission, it's generally advisable to aim for a GMAT score above the average score of the target school. For ISB, the average GMAT score is typically around 700. Considering your profile and the competitiveness of the applicant pool, aiming for a GMAT score in the range of 700-720 or higher would be beneficial.

Coming to you Work experience, six years of work experience in the maintenance and supply chain domain at a leading steel industry is a significant strength. The fact that you have had a career progression and have been involved in the establishment of newer plants during the expansion phase showcases your expertise and ability to handle challenging responsibilities. Being the first female officer in the maintenance domain is an impressive achievement.

Speaking about Ice cream.Your involvement in organizing cultural events for a large number of employees and serving as an EMCEE demonstrates your leadership and organizational skills. Additionally, your engagement in teaching painting and sketching through live shows on Instagram shows your creativity and passion for the arts. Your training as a classically trained singer and Kathak dancer adds to the diversity and richness of your profile. Business schools appreciate candidates with diverse interests and talents.

Overall, you have a strong foundation with notable achievements in academics, work experience, and extracurricular activities. Remember, the GMAT is just one component of your application. You should also focus on crafting compelling essays, securing strong letters of recommendation, and preparing for the interview to present a holistic and compelling case for your admission to ISB.

We offer a limited number of complimentary profile evaluations each week . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools. In this call, the experts will try to dig out your USP for top B-schools and provide you with honest feedback on your profile and chances to your target schools.

Book a free profile evaluation call now!

Good luck with your application process!

Neha Hadke
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197369
Please evaluate my profile and suggest tentative GMAT score :
10th : 10 CGPA
12th : 93 %
Btech : mechanical engg in 2017 , 8.5CGPA
Gmat : Yet to take ( currently ranging in 650-660)
work exp :
6 yrs in maintenance domain n supply chain domain at leading steel industry with 01 career progression
First female officer in the maintenance domain of the plant
First hand experience in establishment of newer plants during the expansion phase

Extra curricular : organised an one-day cultural official event of 500+ employees in the office
EMCEE for many official events
Conducted several live shows for teaching painting and sketching at Instagram in collaboration with Faber Castle

Hobbies :
Classically trained singer and Kathak dancer

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RiyaJain69

> GMAT 650 (Q47, V34, IR3 🙁)
Are you sure RiyaJain69? Q47, V34 should translate into a score of around 670.

In any case, a score of 650 isn't going to take you places. See if you can get a 700+.

Considering that you scored Q47, V34, you are not really far off from 700. A couple of points more in Quant and Verbal should take you there.
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dutsyas

GRE Score: 324 [Quant:168, Verbal:156 , AWA:4]

My primary doubt is whether I should attempt GRE again for a better score, given my profile?
324 is not a show-stopper dutsyas, but re-attempting will not be a bad idea, especially if you were getting higher scores on your mocks.
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Hello RiyaJain69

ISB will evaluate your candidature on 4 factors-

1) Academic potential- this seems to be your biggest weakness with the current GMAT score. While you have some positives that can potentially help compensate for the lower score, I would still recommend a 680+ in your specific case to be confident of getting an interview invite.
2) Work Ex- this is your stand out strength. There is enough potential for story telling in your long and illustrious career. Moreover, you are a writer yourself, so your presentation should be great in the essays anyway.
3) Diversity- due to the nature of your work and other experiences, you are pretty high on diversity. There would be very few applicants with a profile similar to yours and that will help you stand out. Your narrative in the essays must prove that you will be a great addition to the class and you will add value to the experience of your batch mates inside and outside the classroom.
4) Career goals- While you have clear career goals with a rationale behind having these goals too, I would say go further in your research as consulting is not for everyone and also see what recruiters look for when hiring consultants (for example, the top consulting firms usually do not hire people with higher work ex and some even look for a high GMAT score while shortlisting). You may need to rework the career goals narrative and more than the low GMAT that can become a roadblock if you are not clear what you want to do post MBA as with a very diverse profile that becomes a challenge (where will ISB fit in).

All the best
Varun
MBAkarma.com
+918452954888 (WApp for a quick response)

RiyaJain69
Hello! I'd be very grateful if someone could share their thoughts on my profile for ISB executive MBA.

> GMAT 650 (Q47, V34, IR3 🙁)
> Male, 35 years. Journalist. Have worked at The New Indian Express and Daily News & Analysis newspapers and a media-tech start-up. Served as the co-founder of this start-up and headed a department in a newspaper. Of late, been working as an independent, investigative journalist, exposing corruption in government banks.
> Needle mover: One of my stories compelled the government to stop imposing a technology illegally on people. A recent story about a bank fraud has triggered an RBI investigation into the bank's affairs.
> Recognition: Award for business journalism in my journalism college's alumni award function. Got selected for one fellowship and got shortlisted for another prestigious fellowship.
> Uncredited work: Have ghost-written a course on media literacy for college students. Ghost-edited a book on financial frauds. Designed and helped teach investigative journalism at my journalism college.
> Career as a musician: Quit my full-time job in mid-2014 to start a band. Served as the band's manager, lyricist and guitarist. One song shortlisted for inaugural Radio City Freedom Awards. Another track voted as track of the week in a poll of a top, foreign record label. Songs released worldwide with digital music-making software FL Studio as demo project files, making us the Hindi artist to have our tracks released as demo projects. Some tracks included by the world's top DJs in their setlist. Quit the band in 2017.
> Graduation: BBA (59.9%)
Class 12: 59.8% (Science - CBSE). Class 10: 77.6%
> Extra-curricular: Extensively participated in and won debate, elocution, poetry recitation, storytelling competitions throughout school years. Represented school thrice in regional meets.
Leadership: In every organisation I have worked at, have quickly risen to prominence, getting the most important projects. I work well with people and hence was given the charge of a department within three years of starting my career. At the start-up I worked at, I handled a host of managerial and editorial duties. From hiring to policymaking to establishing partnership and even crisis management, I have donned a lot of hats. At the startup, I used to liason and work with freelance reporters from across India and media houses in and outside India.
> Key skills: Deep-dive, investigative stories. Research. Fact-finding. Team work. Problem-solving. I am excellent at establishing rapport with people, which is how I succeed in securing highly sensitive information for my investigative stories.
> Social duties: In my locality, I am the one who engages with the city corporation, councillor and the administration for maintenance and repairs (such as fixing street lights, ensuring cleaning, fogging). Been engaged in small-time volunteering activities on and off.
> Asset for college: When I worked as the head of a department in a newspaper, I'd get my journalism college's students' stories (good ones only) published in my newspaper. I'd get these students invited for tests and job interviews. I'd visit college every year (until I moved out of that city) and speak with students to guide them.
> Reason for MBA: Given my inclinication for problem-solving, people skills, resourcefulness and go-getter attitude, I believe I will excel in the field of consultancy, especially since consultancy is largely about problem-solving and getting to the bottom of an issue. It's exactly the same for investigative stories. Hence, I bring with me precious, proven transferable skills. I have extensively worked on data stories and complicated, government documents, which shows I have the tenacity, patience and the smarts to make sense of statistics, identify patterns and make useful inferences.

I'll turn 36 this year-end and have to get into a B-school this time. Some unfortunate family situation kept me from applying till now. Should I apply at ISB with GMAT 650 or do I need a better score? (Thanks in advance!)
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