Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 02:39 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 02:39
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
grvsngh
avatar
Joined: 08 Aug 2010
Last visit: 12 May 2015
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
6
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 8
Kudos: 6
Indian Profile- Poor GPA, Gaps but Solid Work Ex, GMAT 30 Jun 2011, 05:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

I have a very unique profile. Basically, I come from a very poor farming background where I had to work my way up while feeding my family. As a result, I got to attend university 6 years after I finished high school. I worked for a year after graduation and then enrolled for a Masters degree in Economics. At the university (ies), I was working odd jobs to support my studies, tution and living while studying and as a result my grades were very low.
However, I am a fighter and persist in life and now here I am, 30 years old, with a Masters degree in Economics, a GMAT Score of 690, with around 4-5 years of solid work experince at the top level in development/ Multilateral development agencies (some of which overlaps with my Masters).

Please see my history and background chronologically at the end of this message.]

My questions are as follows:
1. What are my chances at the top schools?
2. I have worked for 6 years as a grassroot worker even before my Bachelors. When I write my essays, should I just focus on the time from graduation onwards OR should I talk about the time before graduation. As I see it, the pros are- Helps explain why I went to late to University, Adds work experience to my profile, co curricular activities, motivation and tenacity. The cons are- It just opens up a can of questions, shows inconsistency...
3. Should I talk about my economic situation in my application to Schools in order to explain my low grades and delays in higher education. Or will it sound undignified and opportunistic.
4. Any top schools that you recommend (Country does not matter) and would think would encourage such profiles and accept them
5. As I was a consultant in my last job for a Multilateral agency, I was able to work full time from home and took this opportunity to enroll and finish Masters in Economics. When I prepare my application, will the schools accept the fact that I was working full time and studying at the same time and would they count the work experience?
6. Any other suggestions/ comments/ feedbacks are most welcome

-------Profile------------
Basic demographic info
Age- 30, Gender- Male, Nationality- Indian

History
1998- Completed High School
1998-2004- Worked on my family farm and was a volunteer for a NGO working on rural development
2004-2007- Decided to study further. BA in Economics 2007 (GPA- 55/100) fron a well known University in India
2007-2008- Worked for 1 year in Delhi (Development and Policy making)
2008-2010- MA in Economics (GPA- 59/100) from a less known but recognised University in India
2008-Feb 2011- (Yes overlapping with Masters)- Worked in an International agency as a country level consultant on Development and Poverty Eradication. Solid work experience and references.
GMAT: 690

Aims
Short/Long term goals: Focus on a career in Social businesses and Social enterprises that have impact on poor and rural communities
Schools: Aiming for someof the following- Haas, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge
User avatar
bakfed
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jul 2009
Last visit: 12 Oct 2022
Posts: 1,768
Own Kudos:
1,245
Given Kudos: 37
Status:Darden Class of 2013
Schools:University of Virginia
GMAT 1: 660 Q44 V37
Posts: 1,768
Kudos: 1,245
Indian Profile- Poor GPA, Gaps but Solid Work Ex, GMAT 30 Jun 2011, 07:02
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
grvsngh

Please see my history and background chronologically at the end of this message.]

My questions are as follows:
1. What are my chances at the top schools? if worded well in the application, I can see how your application will be fun to read. It's going to be more about execution than anything else. But all in all, you have a shot at the schools you mentioned, but I can't emphasize the execution enough. (you're really a lottery ticket)
2. I have worked for 6 years as a grassroot worker even before my Bachelors. When I write my essays, should I just focus on the time from graduation onwards OR should I talk about the time before graduation. As I see it, the pros are- Helps explain why I went to late to University, Adds work experience to my profile, co curricular activities, motivation and tenacity. The cons are- It just opens up a can of questions, shows inconsistency...I don't think there's a way to tell whether you should write about before or after college...perhaps the easiest way to do this is to pour your heart out for both essays and see which one you like more. Again, you'll be the lottery type of applicant.
3. Should I talk about my economic situation in my application to Schools in order to explain my low grades and delays in higher education. Or will it sound undignified and opportunistic. a brief, yet concise explanation would work. You don't want to harp too much on it, so you look like your blaming something else; but you want to give it enough thought to show adcoms that there truly is an outside reasoning.
4. Any top schools that you recommend (Country does not matter) and would think would encourage such profiles and accept them Darden.
5. As I was a consultant in my last job for a Multilateral agency, I was able to work full time from home and took this opportunity to enroll and finish Masters in Economics. When I prepare my application, will the schools accept the fact that I was working full time and studying at the same time and would they count the work experience? I think that as long as it's truly full-time (40+ hours a week), you can count that as full-time. Again, your profile is a bit at odds with those traditional applicants'.
6. Any other suggestions/ comments/ feedbacks are most welcome Start working on your essays soon and fast. The essays take a long time to draft, craft, and redraft. Especially given your profile, you'd want to start on it sooner than later.

Short/Long term goals: Focus on a career in Social businesses and Social enterprises that have impact on poor and rural communities
Schools: Aiming for someof the following- Haas, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge
Show more
avatar
grvsngh
avatar
Joined: 08 Aug 2010
Last visit: 12 May 2015
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
6
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 8
Kudos: 6
Indian Profile- Poor GPA, Gaps but Solid Work Ex, GMAT 05 Jul 2011, 01:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks Bakfed!

That was really helpful. I must start working on the essays.