ISB Profile Evaluation - Tools for B-School Profile Evaluation

Hi, I am a Chartered Accountant. I cleared my CA exam in May 2014 with All India Rank 48. I have played Cricket, Football and Table tennis at school, college and corporate level. My academic scores are: -
SSC (10th) - 86%
HSC (12th) - 78%
TY BCOM - 90%
I have been working with BMR & Associates LLP (tax consulting firm) for 3 years and have a good exposure in handling International clients.
I am also doing some volunteering work for a NGO which teaches football to underprivileged kids.

What are my chances to get into ISB if i am successful in getting a 700 on my GMAT?

Hi Sonia,

Your profile looks good and I'd say you have a great chance, even with an average GMAT score (which thankfully is never the deciding criteria at ISB)
Your work experience with the architecture firms seems to be quite scattered. You should address that by explaining how it has still led to your skill and career growth.

I have worked with someone who was an EA to an HOD/ Chairman at L&T, and know that its a great role, with good leadership opportunities. DO leverage this position to demonstrate that you are doing important stuff at L&T.

Clarity over career goals will be important in the application. Also there should be synergy between what you have done so far (across all your roles), what you will in the future and why you will need an MBA.

Reach out if you'd like to discuss more.

With competition from other CAs ( I just answered another one's PM, with similar profile as yours), it will all boil down to how well you can highlight your professional experiences, career goals and why now is the right time to do an MBA.

Edit: just saw your CA result: WoW! that great... that, along with excellence at work should give you some edge

Hi,

This is my first post on this forum. Although I am a regular reader and used a lot many materials from this forum to prepare for my GMAT. I need expert advice on which B-Schools i have a fair chance in with the following profile -

1. Work-ex & Curriculum details - Female, Age is 25. 4.6 years of experience in IT sales and consulting. B.Tech (CSE) graduate from UP Technical University with 65%. XII standard is 75% and X standard is 87%

2. GMAT score -
a. 28th July, 2017 - 550 (Q44, V22, AWA 5)
b. 7th September, 2017 - 640 (Q48, V28, AWA awaited). I prepared in parallel to my work and want to pursue my applications with this score.

3. Current city - Gurgaon

4. School shortlist - Please find list of my target schools (for full time 2 year MBA) as follows (major criteria of shortlisting is overall rank, % of foreign students and % of female students accepted)-
a. Columbia University
b. Cornell Johnson
c. UCB Haas
d. Northwestern University
e. NYU Stern

I am aware that R2 deadlines are also near and I am really panicstruck because I fear its difficult to meet them.
Thank you in advance for your inputs. I can share detailed profile if any of the consultants can help me, please. Also, suggestions for best suited school for me is much needed, if you can.

Hello Shweta,

Fellow applicant here.

At the risk of sounding blatant I do not think you have any chance in the schools you mentioned. You come from an over represented Indian IT Category. Moreover your UG percentage is on a lower end and so is your GMAT. For your profile it is imperative that your GMAT score is atleast 20-30 points above school average and you have rock solid application to give you a chance. So if you plan to apply with this score choose schools where avg GMAT is in range of 620-640. It is however not recommended to go beyond top 25-30 ranked schools and you wont find any schools ranked under 30 whose GMAT class avg is <680.

Also you haven't mentioned your post-mba goals. Have you considered MS in Information Systems or Business Analytics?

Hi,

Can you please review my profile.

Working in an MNC as Marketing Strategy Analyst(Work Involves Digital Marketing, Digital Strategy, Web Analytics, Marketing Analytics).

Exp: ~4 years

B.Tech Computer Science Engineering - 2013 Batch(Tier 2 College)

10%: 83.8
12%:80.2
CGPA: 7.00

Leading analytics team for a big automobile company.
Taught & Mentored two batches of 25 junior associates.
Worked single-handedly as an analytics resource on multiple projects.
Interview panel member to recruit Junior associates.
Employee of the Month Awards.
Youngest Associate to be promoted.

NGO Experience of 5 Months till date.
Volunteer in organizing team Tedx.
Worked with AIESEC.
Research Internship in IIM L.
Finalist Young India Fellowship 2017.

Certifications: Google Analytics & Adobe Analytics Business Practitioner.

Targeting ISB, NTU, NUS.

Please give suggestions as to where am I lacking,other college recommendations and anything to bolster my profile further.

Thanks.

Your GMAT is quite less than the average GMAT of all the colleges you have mentioned. You undergrad college is not known and you have a average GPA.

While, people do get in with scores as low as yours, Indian IT applicants almost never get in. There doesn't seem to be anything special about your profile that can offset your low numbers. There will be too many other applicants with better GMAT, better GPA and better work experience than you if you are applying to those colleges.

You can either aim for much lower ranked colleges (which not even end up getting you a job with a work visa) or you should think about pursuing a Master's course. There is enough time left, give the GMAT again, if you really want an MBA.

When you talk about leadership stories always make sure that you pick up stories within the last 2 or 3 year time frame. I am not sure if the leadership stories from your undergrad will be much useful. You have a quite diverse profile whereas your acads might be the weakness in your profile. 327 is a a good score and should help your cause.

Hi,

Here goes the profile:

Age : 26,
Experience : 5 years
Domain : Education Consultant

Academics:
Xth - CBSE - 75%
XIIth - CBSE - 80%
Grad - BBA - 65% (IP University)


How much of a GMAT score should I aim for?


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This thread is only for ISB profile evaluations. So we cannot provide other college recommendations.
Your age, post MBA goals, reputation of your firm, and GMAT score are missing.

Please mention more details such as the reputation of your firm, any leadership activities outside of work, post MBA goals, and performance at your workplace such as promotions, rewards,etc.

Firm reputation : biggest in India in Education consulting.
Work profile: Team Leader
Awards and recognitions: I sort of have been getting an average of 2 yearly performance awards and rewards.
Leadership experience outside of work : nothing major
NGO experience again not much

P.s. now that I'm writing it down, I'm not much hopeful about it myself. :D

In order to overcome the low undergrad GPA, you should aim for a 720. Since you have a bit diverse profile you can even apply with a 700.

I would suggest trying EMBA from Indian B-schools.

Can you please analyze the profile for ISB only?
Age:25 years
Post MBA Goals: Consulting, Tech Consulting, Digital Marketing, Analytics.
Firm: SapientRazorfish acquired by Publicis group(One of the biggest advertising and marketing firms in the world).
GMAT Score: Yet to give GMAT. Aiming 720+.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Can you please evaluate my profile for ISB?

Age: 28 ( Indian male)
• Education: Master of Science in Engineering (Electronics) from a German university
• Professional experience : 4+ years in a technical role at Intel
• Current Location: Germany
• International experience: 7+ years (Master’s in Germany + work exp. Post Master’s)
• Citizenship: Indian
• GMAT: scheduled on October 1st, current scores around 650, trying to increase it to ~700

Achievements:
• Received a promotion within 16 months of work experience with an 'Outstanding' performance review
• Received multiple recognition awards at work for problem solving, supporting colleagues, product development etc.
• Received scholarship during Master's from DAAD (German govt.) for academics and extra-curricular activities
• Experienced in working with teams across multiple sites in US, Asia and Europe on a daily basis
• Technical product development experience from concept to production on some of the most advanced technologies in the industry

Languages: B1 certified German speaker ( can and do speak German in a professional environment), English (fluent) and three Indian regional languages

Why MBA and why Indian schools?
• I wish to understand the bigger picture in product development and therefore, want to learn about product management and strategy
• I want to return to India and therefore, targeting ISB
• If I return to India with current skill set, I will continue to work for technical roles and will not be able to understand the bigger picture. Therefore, I would like to pursue an MBA
• Not quite keen on US business schools due to high tuition fees and the amount of time that needs to be spent abroad to recover the fees
• I don’t think there will be a big salary difference between working with current skill set for Indian semiconductor companies and post ISB, thus salary increase is not the reason behind an MBA.

Post MBA goals
• I would like to be closely involved with technology companies in product management roles
• Ideally, would like to go back to semiconductor industry since I already have my Master’s degree and experience but there are not many MBAs in this industry. I am open to expanding my horizons into other industries
• Would like to capitalize on my German professional experience and preferably want to work for German companies based in India

Questions:
• What are my chances at ISB and is ISB a good fit for my profile? Potentially looking to apply to IIMA and IIMB's executive MBA programs too
• What is a reasonable GMAT score for this profile? (considering I am around 650 as of now, with 20 days left for the test)

My recommendation would be to target min of 680. However with a score of 700+ you can fancy your chances for ISB.

Also IIM A and IIM B (1 yr) are highly recommended. But for both of the above programs you need atleast 700 to give yourself a shot. IIM B last year batch range was 680-780 and your overall exp is lower than class avg (6.5 yrs). IIM A is little relaxed on gmat if one has great leadership experience ( working as Sr. Manager) but with your profile a 700 is definitely must.


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