MBA Profile Review R1 2025

Question

Hi Everyone, can you please review my profile for R1 of 2025 intake. Be as brutal as you can in your evaluation. Thank you.

These are my 5 preferred universities, in no particular order - ISB Hyderabad, NUS, Wharton (Penn State), Kellogg (NW), Columbia NY.

Indian, Male, 27

Academics: 
10th - 9.2 CGPA (CBSE)
12th - 96.8% (CBSE)
UG - B Com - 7.5 CGPA from Loyola College (Ranked 3rd among commerce colleges in India)
I've also completed CPA (US) in 2020 (CA equivalent in US)
Further, I've done my PGD in Public Accounting and PGC in Finance (only because they were required for my CPA eligibility)

Work experience  (7 years):
- First three years in Deloitte  Audit  US practice. Promoted to Audit Senior.
- Next 1.5 years in JPMorgan & Chase in  Financial Reporting-Investment Banking.  Joined as Associate/Manager.
 -  In the last 2.5 years, I've co-founded an E-commerce clothing startup and scaled it to 8 figures.

GMAT Focus  - 695 (Q 90, V 81, DI 82)

Extracurriculars: 
- I am a rapper and lyricist and I've worked in a handful of movies with well renowned artists
- I was a professional U-16 cricket player and I now play intermediate level club cricket
- I was cultural secretary during my college days and have won multiple championships for my college (individual as well as team)

Volunteering: 
- I have volunteered with few NGOs (including Blue Cross) which aim to provide shelter, food and healthcare for stray and abandoned dogs. I've been a part of vaccination drives, adoption drives and multiple awareness campaigns.
- I've done multiple outreach activities like teaching young underprivileged children, providing sanitation and health education to people in slum areas during my college and early work days.

Career Goal: 
Entrepreneurship has always been my muse and will always be my end goal. Having said that, Investment Banking and Finance are 2 things I really love and in which I have decent experience. I want to learn more about business in general before getting into entrepreneurship again. So my short/medium term goal is to continue my career in finance or IB (or strategy/consulting) and my long term vision is to create a business that can impact the world.

I understand that essays with compelling stories can take an MBA profile a long way. But I want help in deciding few things:

- Is my profile worthy enough to apply to M7 business schools? How can I improve my profile further?
- Should I retake GMAT? I think I may get a 10-20 point boost (705-715) as I've consistently scored higher in DI and Verbal sections in Mocks. Although I understand that higher is better, is it absolutely required?
- Is ISB or NUS comparable to M7 schools? If I want my major to be in Finance and maybe Strategy, which school should I aim for? Points to consider - Course duration, ROI, Opportunities, Value. I am fine with relocating to any country. I have no financial backing and I will be taking a loan to fund my education regardless of the university.
- Is scholarship a possibility? Scholarship can be a big game changer for me considering the financial burden these courses can put one under.

Your feedback is extremely valuable to me. Thank you.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey, rj2025 Your profile is compelling and demonstrates a strong potential for success in M7 business schools. Your diverse professional background, combined with your entrepreneurial venture, showcases not only your technical expertise but also your ability to innovate and lead. Your score places you in a high percentile. While your quantitative score (Q 90) is excellent, your verbal score (V 81) is relatively lower, which could be a concern for some programs that emphasize communication skills. To improve your profile, consider retaking the GMAT to aim for a score of 710–715, which would enhance your competitiveness in academics. This improvement would not only strengthen your application but also demonstrate your commitment to excelling in a rigorous academic environment. Your extracurricular activities highlight your creativity and ability to engage with diverse groups. These experiences reflect strong interpersonal skills and a capacity for collaboration, both of which are essential in a business setting. By emphasizing these attributes, you can illustrate how you will enrich the MBA community. In terms of career goals, your clarity about pursuing a role in investment banking or finance, followed by entrepreneurship, signals a strategic approach to your professional development. This trajectory aligns well with the skills and knowledge you aim to gain from an MBA program, making your application more compelling. Clearly articulating how specific programs will help you achieve these goals will further strengthen your case. Scholarship opportunities at M7 schools could significantly alleviate the financial burden of your MBA. By showcasing your unique strengths, achievements, and career aspirations, you can enhance your chances of receiving financial aid. Schools often look for candidates who not only excel academically but also bring diverse experiences and perspectives to their cohorts. Your profile has the potential to stand out, especially if you can convey the impact you intend to make both during your studies and in your future career. Notably, schools like Kellogg, UCLA Anderson, and NYU Stern have been generous with scholarship offerings, making them worth considering. While your profile is strong, focusing on improving your GMAT score and clearly articulating your work experience and contributions will enhance your candidacy. Scholarships are a real possibility, and emphasizing your unique strengths in your application can further improve your chances of receiving financial aid from these top programs. I hope that helped you

Let's connect, have a detailed discussion and help you craft a stand-out application. Click here schedule a complimentary profile evaluation session with our experts . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools.

rj2025 · Answer

Appreciate your response. That was very helpful. I think I got a fair idea of what I should be doing. I'll be dropping you a personal message soon.

FLY.reachout · Answer

Dear rj2025 , You have got an interesting profile as you've struck the right balance with strong academics , an impressive GMAT score , and impressive work experience that shows clear progression. Plus, your extracurricular activities make your profile well-rounded and engaging! Addressing Your Questions M7 Business Schools : Your profile is definitely compelling from the perspective of M7 business schools. A successful foray into entrepreneurship even before joining business school, combined with your impressive extracurriculars and GMAT score, puts you in a great position. If you present your profile effectively, we believe you have strong chances of landing an interview invitation! Retaking the GMAT : Should you retake the GMAT to improve your score? Well, the straightforward answer is yes —the higher the score, the better! However, let’s be practical: consider the trade-off between spending more time on GMAT prep versus working on your admission essays and presenting your profile effectively. Given that Round 1 deadlines are fast approaching, focusing on your overall profile might be more beneficial since your current score is already impressive. ISB and NUS Compared to M7 : Are ISB and NUS comparable to M7 schools? Absolutely! The educational standards and post-graduation opportunities at ISB and NUS are on par with any M7 business school. Just a heads-up: the geography of the school can influence your job prospects. For instance, while there are international opportunities post-ISB PGP, most jobs tend to be in India. So, think about where you want to work after your MBA! Scholarship Opportunities : Can you get a scholarship? Yes, given your well-rounded profile! However, it's crucial to present your profile impactfully to boost your chances. Generally, applying in the first round also increases your chances of receiving a scholarship. ISB is particularly focused on providing scholarships to a larger percentage of incoming students, with about one-fifth or more expected to receive them going forward. We’re excited to brainstorm with you on how to present your profile in the most impactful way and how an MBA can help you achieve your goals.At Team FLY , we’re a group of ISB alumni dedicated to supporting prospective ISB candidates with profile positioning, essay critiques, and interview preparations.Feel free to book a 15-minute free session for a detailed discussion with us at - https://calendly.com/reachusfly/15min. With warm regards, Team FLY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reachusfly/

ARINGO · Answer

Hi rj2025
I am Priyanka, Client Manager at ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, it looks good on the surface. A 695 is decent when coupled with your CPA certification and impressive work experience. In your work experience the combination of audit, IB, and entrepreneurship will offer you a unique and well-rounded perspective.

Your entrepreneurial experience is a major strength in your application, but you will need to clearly articulate how an MBA fits into your long-term entrepreneurial goals. The reason for pursuing an MBA after a successful startup needs to be compelling and should be able to convince the adcoms, thus you need to highlight specific skills which you think an MBA will be able to help you achieve.
While ISB and NUS are top-tier programs, they differ from M7 schools in terms of network, international exposure, and curriculum depth. M7 stands ahead. Since finance and strategy are your main interests, M7 should be your primary target.

Scholarships are very competitive at these top programs, but looking at your profile, especially considering the entrepreneurial journey, makes you a strong candidate. You will have to clearly articulate your financial needs and how a scholarship would impact your ability to contribute to the program.

To truly stand out amidst the pool of applicants you need to focus on crafting compelling narratives around your work experience. What were the challenges in your startup and how did you overcome those? What specific skill set did you develop in audit and IB that you want to leverage in the future? How does your ECs align with your career goals? To delve deeper into your profile and craft a targeted school list that aligns with your goals, feel free to connect with us for a more detailed discussion.

Click here to connect for a detailed profile analysis.
You can also email me your CV at: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!

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