Dear All,
I have been a long time lurker of GMAT Club. I owe my GMAT Score to this wonderful online community. I thought after a 750 and with healthcare experience, I would make it to a top 10 + LBS + INSEAD. After being rejected by all my R1 choices, I stand humbled.
I humbly request my fellow GMAT Club members to have a look at my profile and suggest anything to better my chances in my future applications. Thank you very much in advance !
Work Ex
1. total 7.5 years of work experience in August 2016
2. Last 3.2 years with the reinsurance unit of a Fortune 10 company (haha.. most of you will guess it
). Total 6 employees in India and apprx 100 in APAC. Primary responsibility is designing and marketing health insurance products to direct insurance companies. No reportees as everyone has different responsibilities and reports directly to Country Manager. Got one of the fastest promotions to Senior manager level (started managing own client accounts) across APAC . Traveled to many Asian countries for business seminars/training.
3. Prior to this 6 months as an Fixed Income Associate with an Asian investment bank. Nothing to do with core investment banking activities. Founding member of a new team(a proposed subsidiary) set up to provide insurance based solutions to pension schemes. Made redundant as the bank changed its strategy.
4. Prior to this 4 months in an actuarial role with one of the biggest reinsurance companies. Before this 3 years in an actuarial role in a UK based insurance company offering insurance based solutions to pension schemes. Got one promotion and best performer award by the India CEO. Later, it was acquired by Goldman Sachs and the whole India team was made redundant.
Post MBA Goals
Looking to transition into a marketing and distribution role of a primary insurer (preferably health) from my current reinsurance side. Considering my age (31 years) and goals , I prefer the 1 year MBA programs.
Personal background
1. Started my education in a tribal school in eastern India where I was among 8 students. Studied there till 5 grade. Spent my whole school life in various regional-language -medium rural schools
2. the first one in my family ( father- a primary school teacher and mother - a very junior state govt employee). The first one in my family to venture out of my state for education or anything !!!
3. Met with a life threatening accident just after my undergraduation. Took almost 2 years to recover. Started actuarial studies in the recovery period.
4. Lost my job twice in a single year ( Do not how many will count that as a struggle these days
)
Education & Scores
1. I am also an Indian Engineer
. Went to an okay university. Got 64% with multiple backlogs and many grade Cs. But cleared all the backlogs within 4 years. I have always got the 1st rank in Math papers.
2. Got a Diploma in Actuarial techniques by clearing 9 out of 14 papers from Institute of Actuaries of India/ Institute of Actuaries of UK. Currently pursuing full fellowship.
3. GMAT - 750 (Q50, V41) in 2nd attempt. 710 in 1st attempt.
Extracurricular
1. Decent extracurricular during college and after college including a 3 full time (utilized the time when I was redundant)voluntary Govt of India Project for education in rural India.
Dings
1. Got my GMAT in Jan 2015. Applied to LBS in R3 (2015 entry). Got dinged w/o interview.
2. Applied in R1 to INSEAD and Kellogg 1y (2016 entry). Got dinged w/o interview. Re-applied to LBS in R1 as an ad-com encouraged me to do so during on online chat as I had significant change in profile since my first application. Again got dinged w/o interview.
Awaiting Interview Invites
1. Cornell Johnson 1y (R2)
2. HKUST (R2)
3. Cambridge Judge (R3)
If I do not make into these 3, I will apply to IMD , HEC Paris and Columbia J term (seems a long stretch for me). I would appreciate if you guys could also share tips to follow up with the schools which I have applied in R2 in order to better my chances for an interview invite.
Many thanks in advance.