May 21: Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with ARINGO

Please keep your profiles ready to post

Thank you ARINGO for joining, Let’s start the session

Hi Aringo,
Hope you’re having a great day! I’d be grateful if you could help review my profile and guide me on my MBA application strategy.
Personal Info:
• 24-year-old Indian female
• 2.5 years of work experience
• Currently working at a 90-year-old non-profit industrial association (Chamber of Commerce)
Academics:
• 10th (ICSE): 89.4%
• 12th (CBSE): 70%
• B.Tech in Electronics – CGPA: 9.1/10 (First Class with Distinction)
• GMAT to be given in July,aiming for 755+
College Achievements:
• Published a research paper in IRJET Journal
• Editor of the college magazine
Extracurriculars:
• Trained classical dancer with 12 years of experience
• Trained in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Turkish dance
Professional Experience:
• Selected as a Youth Fellow at the Chamber of Commerce (2% acceptance rate; 5 selected)
• Rotated across multiple departments from operations, sales, marketing, business development—gaining exposure to all 18 sectors represented by the Chamber
• My work experience has been a true sandbox, allowing me to explore everything from ideation to execution
• Took initiatives end-to-end: from planning financial models and designing data frameworks to marketing and stakeholder engagement
• Led an IoT cluster project that surveyed 25+ SMEs and matched them to appropriate tech providers
• Created a blue-collar workforce upskilling program, training 350+ shop-floor employees
• Spearheaded an AI literacy campaign for 1000+ SMEs across 12 districts in Maharashtra
o Personally visited companies, conducted needs assessments, and delivered workshops to over 1200 individuals
o Published a book featuring 100 case studies of businesses successfully adopting AI through our training
• Represented the Chamber at an international expo in Dubai, showcasing our initiatives on a global stage
• Currently leading a team of 4 junior associates, mentoring them and driving new tech-led initiatives
• Active in the startup funding vertical: conducted due diligence, evaluated business plans, and helped allocate $70K in seed funding
• Frequently present to senior government officials and industry leaders, many of whom have endorsed or supported our projects
Why MBA, and Why Now:
Though early in my career, I’ve had unusually deep and broad exposure, working across 18 sectors and taking ownership of complex, multi-stakeholder projects. This early "sandbox" has allowed me to test my interests hands-on: from selling and marketing initiatives, to analysing data outcomes, to building scalable financial and operational models.
Talking to 1000 organizations about their pain points and helping solve them through technology has not only shaped my problem-solving skills but also matured my thinking significantly. I now feel ready to consolidate this learning, sharpen my business toolkit, and scale my impact globally through an MBA.
Post-MBA Goals:
In the short term, I aim to work in technology consulting, helping organizations specially SMEs—harness AI, IoT, and digital tools for growth. Long term, I aspire to move into venture capital and startup funding, supporting early-stage tech ventures that deliver tangible impact in emerging markets.
Other Notes:
• I also pursued a BA in English, but due to family emergencies, the degree took longer than planned. Would this additional degree be a value add or distraction on my profile?
Questions:
• Based on my profile, how competitive am I for M7 and Ivy League MBA programs? Is INSEAD,HEC Paris within reach?
• Which programs would align best with my goals in tech consulting and VC?
• Targeting Round 1 (possibly Round 2 as a backup) any advice would be appreciated!

Welcome Everyone! To the live chat

Hi all! I’m Jen T ARINGO - excited to review your profiles!

Profile #1

Hi Jen,
Could you help review my MBA profile?
• Indian, female, 24 years old, 2 years of experience
• B.Tech in Computer Science from a Tier 2 college, CGPA 9.5
• Published ML research paper in AIP
• Was the Lead of ACM-W (Women in Computing) chapter in college, organized events to promote tech among women
• Worked as a Data Analyst at ZS Associates (1 year)
• Co-founder of a SaaS platform in the CSR and skilling space (1+ year)
• Platform connects companies, NGOs, and youth to run employment-focused CSR programs
• Strong interest in tech for social impact, especially in sustainability and education
• GMAT Focus Mock score: 675
• Post-MBA goal: Return to the startup world, scaling tech solutions for social impact at a global level
• Interested in schools with strengths in social impact and sustainability, with good scholarship options.
A bit concerned about lower work experience compared to typical admits, but hoping my startup and impact story will help.
Thanks so much in advance!

Background
Age: 28 & work exp 5 yrs
Gender: Male
Location: India
Nationality: Indian

GMAT Score: 655 Q86 V83 DI78

Work Experience:
- [ ] 1.5 years with a start up experience in health tech - Analytics
- [ ] 1 years with a Fortune 500 company - Analytics
- [ ] 2.5 years with an investment bank (Citi bank) - Reporting and Analytics - took an IJP after 2 years to a senior role

Academic:
BSc biotechnology tier 3 college - 7.7 CGPA
MBA tier 3 college - 8.7 CGPA

International Experience:
1. Collaborative work with international colleagues from USA and Europe

Extra-Curricular Activities:
Free water scuba diving level 1&2
Ran half marathons
Water sports certification
Mountaineering certification
Done various medium to hard treks in Himachal


Post MBA Goals:
Project Management

Hi Jen, How should I explain my career break in case I left my current job as I was admitted to a program but wouldn’t be able to pursue the same program due to personal issues? Also how should I approach and explain this gap if I want to apply other higher ranked programs (like us t15/M7 programs) ?

Please wait for your turn and stay here with us, ARINGO will answer all of you (hopefully)

WOW! STUDYBUD, You’ve accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. Your goals line up well with your background - you can clearly evaluate a situation and with the MBA experience be able to provide deep insights for impact and change.
M7/T10/T15 all seem possible if you can get above 705... certainly with 755. All MBA programs will lead to tech consulting and VC... beyond GSB, Haas, CBS, NYU, Kellogg, Tuck... really all of them could be great options. The next consideration is college town vs big city.

Hi Sirjan - 645-675 for Indian B-schools, school will depend on short-term goals for best fit.
Improvements - either take some leadership roles or showcase them in your resume - projects, initiatives, direct reports/interns

Hello Everyone

It would be great if someone could rate my profile and provide some recommendations

10th - 93.3% (ICSE)
12th - 88% (CBSE)
BE Electrical Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology- 7.78 GPA
- Vice President Student Alumni Interaction Cell
- Core Member in Punjab Heritage Society

Since Jan 2022
- ZS Associates India (Management Consulting)

Got promoted to Associate Consultant in 2 years (quicker than ZS’s average promotion period

Received multiple awards for innovative projects which saved Multi-million dollars
Regular in taking sessions on AI and Innovation

Additional: I have been a professional player for last 10 years now (shotgun Shooting)
I was part of Indian Team reserves and have won multiple medals in National and state championships

I have my GMAT scheduled in 2nd week of July

List of my target schools:
1. ISB
2. LBS
3. INSEAD
4. HEC Paris

HansikaSachdeva, Solid experience so far... you know exactly what your weak spot is - work ex - so def apply, but be cautiously optimistic - make sure to show case your leadership, exposure to different parts of the business and readiness to contribute to a team with 3+ years more experience than you
-schools that have a bit more of a social impact lean - GSB, Haas, Tuck, Yale, Oxford, Stern, Sloan, Fuqua and Kellogg

This one is skipped i think.

Hi mm92325, - I would look at schools like Tepper, Cornell, McCombs, NYU - all will lead to project/product managment

advaith2687, 14 years is a little harder for full-time MBA programs - in UK/EU - LBS Sloan Fellows or Rotterdam is best of mid-career candidates, NTU Professional MBA in Singapore and in US Stanford MSx, MIT Sloan Fellows, Foster Global EMBA, USC IBEAR

hi arcgmat03, Any break over 3 months needs to be explained in the optional essay - without specifics, you may want to weigh if you say the break was b/c you were supposed to do an MBA or if you had a personal issue. If it is a lower MBA, then go with personal issue for break. If it is high ranked, then mention you have to reapply as they didn’t let you defer and you are applying to multiple schools... or something like this... I honestly think I’d need to know more details to determine how to share.

Hey Raj - good start to your career, you have the minimum years of work experience, so this is good, but you want to highlight your leadership - either projects, implementation, client facing... direct reports/mentoring... this will help with competing with others with a bit more experience. Shooting is very interesting - maybe find a way to link this with precision and being able to calculate for variances - like wind, distance and how this has helped you fast track your career... and how it leads to your next steps in your career.
List is good - but what do you want to do post-grad? Also, LBS and INSEAD are going to want to hear about international experience - make sure to highlight in resume and essays.

I think I’ve answered all? Sajjad1994, keep me honest here - did I miss any?

HI Aringo,Thank you so much,can you just let me know if I should hide my BA in English as it has taken me 5 years to finish that additional degree or show it?

No reason to hide it! It should boost your profile as long as GPA is decent?