July 03 | Chat session with ARINGO MBA Admissions consulting

Welcome Everyone! To the live chat

You can start asking your questions

Indian female 31 ,
Bachelor’s - computer science engineering
Worked 1 year as programmer
Masters one year program in marketing from top college
Worked 6 years post that
Currently serving as assistant marketing manager in an FMCG personal care products
GMAT score 710
Would want to pursue mba from M7 - what are my chances
Is GMAT score sufficient should I retake
What should be the target score and schools
National level debater volleyball player , done some probono in education and other cocurricular during school and college

Hi heenalaswani
your profile seems good. I still need to know more (for example, if you have had any promotions in your 6 years in marketing, have you worked with international clients and teams, and do you have direct management experience), but overall sounds good and the National level volleyball player + volunteering help a lot!

Nevertheless, coming from a competitive background + having a 710 is the biggest issue I currently see, and it will be very hard for you to get an offer from an M7 school with current GMAT. What are you targeting? well the higher the better of course, lets say 750+ for the sake of this discussion... sorry. I know that is high. another option is to widen your school wish list and look at top 20 schools in the US or top 5 in EU...

GMAT is just one factor of course, but it is a big one when one comes from an over represented background

hope it is ok I am so blunt with you!

I started out with deep interest in marketing now working for 6 years - i think I would want to go into strategy side of things what colleges would be most suitable

as consulting is the biggest industry for post-MBAs, any top 20 US MBA program or top 7 EU program can lead you to consulting

Thankyou for being that blunt . I appreciate your honesty. So tht means 750 plus should be first objective. I m explicitly targetting m7 . Anything else you think I should be working on. In my current role i directly report to ceo. Can u explain direct management

No haven’t worked with any international clients

Question ............. What score should I aim for in GMAT if I want to get in LBS or INSEAD?

yes, GMAT is the key thing you can change now. good luck!

6 years - broken into 3 different firms . First 3 years in advertising agency handled hindustan Unilever. Next 3 in real estate based group and currently joined in FMCG personal care - since January this year

Answer... GMAT is just one factor. we have had clients get into LBS and INSEAD with 640+.
Keep in mind their average GMATs are around 710-715. so if your profile is "above average" (diversity, good career progress, international experience, fast-track promotions, tier 1 brands, etc.) you can get accepted with a lower than average GMAT, but if your profile is "regular" or "below average" (let’s say you come from an over-represented background and have worked for 3 years in one, common job, then you will need a higher than average GMAT. hope this makes sense?
As I said, I got into LBS with 660

Pls suggest if anything else needs to be worked on . And the term direct management

direct management = managing people
Other things -> you cant change the past... so for now, GMAT... and then, writing stellar apps (we can help with that if interesting) send me your CV, and new GMAT to shimriw@ARINGO.com and we can take it from there...

GOOD LUCK!

I had a query regarding work experience. I have been working even before I completed my bachelor degree. And after bachelor’s I have done 2 years of masters. So because of that my full time work experience counts from masters completion that is 2 years. And all other work prior to that counts as internship or part time. So what should I do now. How should I convey to the adcom that I have lot of work experience but because of my masters degree it is getting reduced to only 2 years?

Hi RV12345
you explain to the Adcoms in the same way you explained here. you start your CV with your professional experience, and show your 4-5 years of experience, and then describe your masters (you can even say it was "part-time". and you express this in your essays too

Thankyou

We have no question in the queue. Now is the best time to get your questions answered.

Thanks!!
And also, what other aspects of my profile can I improve now to gain an MBA admit from USA B schools?