Need Profile review for ISB and B school recommendations

Question

Hey everyone,
Here's a quick overview of my profile :

GMAT FE: 675
Undergrad : Tier 1 private engg college (BITS)
Undergrad CGPA : 6.14
Class 10th : 95%
Class 12th : 93%

PORs in college : Core member of an NGO, and Department of Photography

1year of job experience
1+year in family business

4 District gold medals in skating
Won a photography competition in college

A few olympiad medals in school

I request suggestions for good consultants as well

dee1pug1 · Answer

An MBA education, whether in India or abroad, is too early for you based on your current work experience of 2+ years. My recommendation would be to defer your plans and apply in 2026. Not sure of the scale of your GPA (7, 8, 10?) but unless it is 7, you need to consider improving your score to 695+, at least for good international schools. Hence, the next 18 months become even more important for you to improve the score and build your profile.
Recommendations of schools cannot come without knowing what path you wish to take post-MBA and why. MBA is just a milestone, not a destination.

I feel frustrated with some who will offer flowery language feedback and put you on a pedestal because of BITS name. Caveat Emptor.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi ayushthisside , Let’s start! Your GMAT Focus score of 675 is good, the CGPA from your undergraduate program is on the lower side. It would be a good idea to proactively address your CGPA in the application by showing growth in other areas and highlighting the rigor of your Tier 1 engineering program. However your 1 year of work experience is on the lower side. If possible, you might consider adding coursework in subjects like finance or business analytics to further demonstrate your academic ability. Although your blend of corporate work and family business experience provides unique perspectives and can add depth to your profile. You can highlight specific contributions and any entrepreneurial insights gained from working in the family business, as this shows versatility and hands-on learning. If you’re planning to continue working in the family business post-MBA, discussing a long-term vision and how an MBA fits into that will strengthen your case. Your district medals in skating and your photography achievements adds a good plus to your profile. Be sure to show how these experiences have shaped your values, work ethic, or discipline. Additionally, your involvement in an NGO demonstrates your commitment to social causes, which can resonate well with MBA programs that value community engagement. What’s going to matter most in your application is how you connect the experiential dots and build a great story to stand out from other applicants in the pool. If you’d like, we are happy to discuss more details about your academics, work experience, leadership roles, challenges faced, achievements, impact, post- MBA goals and extracurriculars to assess your chances better and strengthen your application with impactful stories. Cheers! Shantanu Sharma Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond Email: valuecreation@mbaandbeyond.com

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  ayushthisside ,

Hope this finds you well.

Adding additional work experience and applying in an earlier round next year would be the ideal way for you to proceed. Use the next few months to build you profile (by enrolling early with a consultant), and deliberate on your story and career goals will prove to be beneficial.

The above holds true for ISB as well as any global schools you intend to target.

All the best!

TheRedPen · Answer

Hi  ayushthisside ,

Your strong academic background, especially your performance in high school and college, is a significant strength. Additionally, Your involvement in an NGO and photography demonstrates your commitment to community service and creativity. While your work experience is relatively short, it can be a valuable asset, especially if you can highlight specific achievements and leadership roles.

A GMAT score of 675 is a good start, but aiming for a higher score, ideally in the 700s, can significantly improve your chances of admission to top-tier programs. Clearly articulate your post-MBA career goals and how an MBA will help you achieve them. Strong post-MBA goals can make your application more compelling.

To maximize your chances of admission, we recommend connecting and discussing your profile in depth which will help us gain clarity on your overall goals.

Our proven track record of successfully guiding clients into top-tier MBA programs strongly indicates our expertise.
Our consultants offer a personalized approach where understanding your individual goals is crucial for us to help tailor our guidance accordingly.
Our Deep Industry Knowledge and a strong understanding of the MBA admissions landscape can provide you with valuable insights and advice.

Feel free to check our website for more details. Our MBA consultants would be happy to connect with you over a free profile evaluation discussion. You can  schedule a free consultation  with our experts or connect directly with our experts via call at +91 7780769732

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi ayushthisside

Your post is incomplete without your MBA goals and details of your industry/function etc. It comes across as somewhat lacking in understanding (maturity?), to be honest. What do you really want from an MBA? If I may give you a frank picture, it's harder for people on the lower end of the experience spectrum to get a job with the crème de la crème after a one-year MBA program. A couple of years down, you may still be dissatisfied with your MBA outcome. Maybe two-year MBA programs would be better if you are so keen, as you will have the opportunity to do an internship and more time to gain firm standing in a particular subject knowledge wise.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting (former MBA admissions consultant at top global firm)
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

ayushthisside

Hey everyone,
Here's a quick overview of my profile :

GMAT FE: 675
Undergrad : Tier 1 private engg college (BITS)
Undergrad CGPA : 6.14
Class 10th : 95%
Class 12th : 93%

PORs in college : Core member of an NGO, and Department of Photography

1year of job experience
1+year in family business

4 District gold medals in skating
Won a photography competition in college

A few olympiad medals in school

I request suggestions for good consultants as well

admitStreet · Answer

ayushthisside - Given that your work-ex is a bit on the lower side for global MBA programs (check out average work-ex at top B-schools here ), ISB and potentially MiM programs remain viable options at this point. If you don't mind applying later, strengthening your profile for the next 1-2 years and applying for MBA programs is another option. I'd like to understand your work-ex better (e.g. key achievements, growth) and career goals to advise better. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free chat W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

Pradyut · Answer

Your experience is on the lower side. But experience in the family business is a plus, as most of the applicants don't have that. That's your differentiator. 4 Gold medals in skating are also a differentiator.

I worked with Sandip from MBAEssayconsultant for my app. Some of my friends used Accepted consultants. Rajdeep is also good. All the best.

ARINGO · Answer

Hi ayushthisside
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your work experience looks on the lower end. Your GMAT score is ideal for the schools you are aiming. I would recommend applying next year. Meanwhile, you can start working on your application and simultaneously building your profile. Think about things that will add value and help you build a strong narrative.

I'd be happy to connect for a detailed discussion. FEEL FREE TO CONNECT.
Click here to connect.
You can also email me your CV at: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!

Goalisb · Answer

Hi,

1. GMAT FE 675 - is reasonably strong
 2. CGPA - 6.14 - is a weak link, the GMAT can help to some extent, a higher GMAT would definitely support better.
 3. PORs - Seem fine, the gold medals in skating are a standout achievement.
 4. Work Experience - just at the threshold, a deeper insight into any one field would be a more valuable contribution to the prospective class.

I would recommend you to retake the GMAT, work on adding some academic achievements like upskilling etc, you will be able to put up a stronger application with atleast 1 year more of work experience, so maybe you can consider applying when you have around 3 - 3..5 years of work experience. It would also open up doors to more schools.

If you plan to apply this year itself, you can try applying to ISB, SPJIMR (2 year program, if the sectional cut offs are clear), XLRI ( provided you complete three years of work ex till 31 March 2025, BITSOM. For International programs the list is unlimited, it can be worked out depending on the locations you prefer.

All the best!

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hello,

Assuming your undergraduate GPA of 6.14 is out of 10 it could be a concern for some top schools. If possible, consider taking additional courses or certifications to boost your GPA. However, your strong GMAT (695+) score and extracurricular involvement can help mitigate this weakness. Your job experience seems low but experience in the family business provides valuable practical insights, suggest you add additional work experience of 1-2 years. 
At last, focus on developing a strong personal narrative that highlights your unique experiences and addresses any potential weaknesses. Based on your profile, you should aim for top-tier MBA programs, both in India and abroad like IIM A, B, C, ISB, Kellog, Wharton, and MIT.

You can also try our  B school selector  tool to evaluate your chance for best-fit programs

Need Profile review for ISB and B school recommendations

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards