Booth Profile Evaluation - Tools for B-School Profile Evaluation

It seems as if you have overcome some serious obstacles to achieve your current level of career success, and you have a strong profile in many ways. Many top-tier MBA hopefuls will not have your people leadership experience in their application so you should definitely make a point of including that differentiator in your essays. Still, you are right that your low undergrad GPA is a detractor. You are correct about not using #2 or #3 in any sort of "extenuating circumstances" essay. #1, if written in the right sort of accountable and sell-aware way, could be included in an "is there anything else you'd like us to know" type of essay. The best way that you can prove that you can succeed in a high-stakes, rigorously academic testing involvement (i.e., a top-tier MBA) is to prove yourself on the GMAT. Many people find that taking an in-person class at Princeton Review, Manhattan Prep, Kaplan, etc. corresponds to higher scores than self-study. You need to answer LOTS of questions. Also, if you had a nearly perfect non-engineering GPA, you might do really well on the GRE. As long as you make a very high score on the GRE, it won't matter that you took it instead of the GMAT. Most top-tier schools accept both. Given your focus on sustainability, you might look to Duke and Yale as reach schools, assuming you can break into the mid-700s on your GMAT, given the sustainability-focused dual-degree MBA programs at these schools. Lots of top-tier General Management in heavy industry have sustainability-specific roles and recruit from the top schools. Find out more about these programs and which ones recruit at the schools to which you will be applying. Then write about that specific interest in your essays to show that you've really done your homework and know yourself.

Without a firm GMAT score and knowing more about the leadership and impact of your extracurriculars, it's hard to know your chances for sure. It may be helpful for you to discuss your admissions strategy and how to handle your GPA & discussion of your future plans with a consultant. If you feel like a free consultation with a consultant might help you hone in on your application strategy, free free to reach out via the link below. https://admissionado.com and we’ll get into it. Oh and take your time and really sink into the request form, the more stuff you say about your profile, the meatier the chat.

Get ready for a long post (cause i dont know how to go about these things)


Background and nationality-
26 years , Indian, male, brought up in Canada (only upto grade 7-i dont know if it really matters)

Undergrad Information- Aerospace Engineer -
7.32/10 GPA- top 25% of the class- (university level- TOP 40 in India)

GMAT: 730 ( on 3 gmat prep mocks -- test on Nov 7th with target of 770)

Work experience and leadership - largest public sector bank of the country... State Bank of India (TOP 50 global bank) .. selected as one of the 2000 probationers out of 2 million applicants.

1. Credit analyst- 6 motnhs
Ensuring risk quality and credit quality aspects of proposals appraised keeping in view the credit policy of the bank. Performing industry analysis, due diligence processes, etc. Obtaining and analysing relevant financial information, including operating statements and balance sheets for carrying out CRA exercise/preparation of proposals for underwriting new loans, increasing loan commitments, periodical review or substantive changes in terms.Preparation of reports of Special Mention Accounts (NPA) for submission to the appropriate authorities.
Carrying out inspection of units as and when required and mandated in the loan agreement.Ensuring compliance with the bank’s credit policy, local regulatory requirements and compliance with the central bank. Coordinate with officers handling opreations to ensure timely updating and modification of data/terms and conditions/ date of review/approval etc are in the system as and when such change takes place for ensuring correctness of data and information. Achieved more than 35% growth over existing loan book of the asset management team that I worked in a span of 4 months. Appraised credit facilities to the tune of $99 million (Rs 705 cr). Handled 17 corporates accounts with a total exposure of $244.36 million.



2. Deputy Branch Manager of large branch- 1 year 2 months
Incharge of Branch Operations, the head of staff, and head of personal banking division at the branch level.Was directly responsible for the functioning, training, and working of 8 full time staff members. Was incharge of business development in the areas of customer acquisition, agriculture, bullion backed credit, personal segment advances, deposit mobilisation, and cross selling.
Achievements
MANAGING DIRECTOR’S CLUB- MUTUAL FUNDS- OUSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN Bank's MUTUAL FUNDS- 3RD IN THE STATE AMONG 19853 EMPLOYEES.
GOLD QUALIFIER IN YEAR END CAMPAIGN- MUTUAL FUND- FELICITATED BY CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER.. 7th among 19853 employees.
CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER’S CLUB- SBI GENERAL INSURANCE- TOP 3 IN THE STATE
Adjudged the best Deputy Branch Manager in the Network of 850 branches by the General Manager of the network
Adjudged the best Deputy Branch Manager in the Region of 48 branches by the Assistant General Manager/ Regional Manager

The following are the achievements of the team that I lead as the DBM
Gold loan campaign- Was among the 35 branches that qualified in the national level twice in 2 back to back months
QUALIFIED xyz CAMPAIGN- TOPPER AT THE NETWORK LEVEL AMONG 830 BRANCHES.
Achieved an Audit score of ‘AA’ a rare feat given the current banking scenario in india.
DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER’S CLUB – NOMINATED BY ALL THE DGMS IN THE STATE TO BE BEST BRANCH AMONG 1300 BRANCHES.


3. Branch Manager – 8 months
As branch manager lead a team of 4 staff members with Rs35 millions of business. Primarily responsible for business development of the branch, functioning of the staff, marketing, appraising MSME credit proposals, ensuring due-diligence of all liability and asset products, and overall security measures of the branch premises.As Branch Manager and team lead, I had along with my team successfully tripled the number of deposit holders in a span of 6 months, increased the agri-gold loan business by 150% over the previous fiscal, sourced and apprised MSME loans to the value of 300% the asset portfolio of the branch, made the branch a 100% digitally banked rural branch from 15% previously by conducting digital awareness programs in the nearby villages, with the help of Sarpanchs ( head of the village level government) and also insured 85% of salaried factory workers from a previous level of 3% a feat appreciated by the GM of the network.

4. Probationary officer - 2 years.
Mandatory time of 2 years of learning of the bank policies and assisting the branch functionaries in business development.
Handled crowds of about 20,000 everyday for 3 months during the demonetization exercise that took place in 2016 (the greatest challenge).
Increased business of a branch by 50%.

Leadership
Leadership (extra-curricular):

1. Organiser and Head of Planning Committee – DEPARTMENT FEST – 2013
Organized and planned the UN international Space week in Aerospace Department. Planned, Created, and set-up events for participation. Coordinated and Managed 50+ volunteers for the success of the technical fest.

2. Joint Secretary and English teacher- a student based NGO- 2012-2013
Was a part of the management team of a student based NGO. As Joint Secretary, I developed syllabus and teaching functions, guidelines for environment awareness focus campaigns , put together the online campaigning strategy, formulated HR policies including setting up of different verticals , conducting interviews for on-boarding of volunteers, conducting induction programs for new volunteers of the newly formed NGO. I had also introduced Volunteer incentive program for extraordinary recognition. I was also given additional responsibility of being in charge of the book wings program where I planned, organized, scheduled classes on a weekly basis for teaching English to under-privileged children.

3. Director & President – student based ngo -2013-2015
As the director of Go Green, I was directly responsible for 200 volunteers. Organized Beach clean-up programs, environmental cleanliness awareness campaigns, water conversation campaigns, animal habitat restoration programs, sanitation awareness programs etc., . As the director, I was in charge of proper policy implementation of the NGO to ensure effective outreach of the awareness campaigns, build relationships with the external agencies for planning events of a larger scale, ensuring that every volunteer is well versed on climate change & sustainable development goals relating to environment and helping the junior volunteers in the on-boarding by conducting induction programs and team building exercises. As the first Director, I had an additional responsibility of formulating polices on succession of the directors and voting of green-captains .

Community and others- (dont know what to write here) - Have a deep connection with nature and environment. Always been an active activist for environmental causes. Have been volunteering for the past 7 years of my life biweekly to raise awareness and continue to do so

Post MBA goals- Want to move to consulting with a specialization in public sector and climate policy and hope to make it to MBB after mba.

Anything else?
Maybe my greatest difficulty was the cultural shock that i faced after moving back from canada. After grade 10 i was put into a boarding school which was literally a jail found it extremely difficult to unleash myself and felt strangled with the rote method learning (probably this doesnt make sense) and was confined to a system where i was suffocated. Despite my achievements at my work place, the same scenario continues.
Reason for moving to usa for a degree in business administration would be learn the ethical values, the ethos of the businesses , and bring those to the indian sub continent and other parts of south east asia.

This is for the Booth Scholars Program

I am an Indian male.

Background: Civil Engineering
Undergrad Information: 8.9/10 CGPA, Department Topper for Civil Engineering, Continuous 100% scholarship for all 4 years based on previous years performance.
The college is ranked 37 according to the government of India but it is one of the Top 5 private colleges in India. I chose it because of the scholarship and distance from my home.
GMAT: 710 (Q49 V38 AWA5 IR8) first attempt(was sick that day) and 770 (Q50 V45 AWA5 IR8) on the second attempt
WE: no full-time work experience as I am applying for the deferred programme
Leadership: Have been actively involved in numerous activities on campus. Most notably I have worked for three years organising the annual Model United Nations Conference where I worked my way up to the position of Director-General with over 100 people working under me. I am also the president of the Entrepreneurship Club of the University and have organised multiple one of a kind events and interactions on campus. Also involved in the Student Chapters of multiple organizations in various capacities. I am one of two the elected class representatives for my batch.

Outside of campus, I have also been involved in social work. I have worked for two years with an NGO working for the rights of women and children in mainly an editorial role but contributing on the ground as and when required.
I have completed my certifications in Lean Management and Lean Six Sigma from the British Standards Institute as well as many certifications in Data Presentation and Project Management from Coursera.

Post MBA Goals: Finance has always been of great interest to me. I want to get into Venture Capital (maybe Impact Investing in particular) as I have always been interested in entrepreneurship and I like meeting new people and listening to new ideas. India is a great growth market for VC and I want to come back to India and contribute to the growth story here.

I am flexible in terms of Post MBA goals since I know VC is tough to break into and might take time. For the short term, I'd be interested in the Capital projects and Infrastructure or Private Equity Practices at MBB firms or a role at an early stage startup after seeing my fit

I plan to work in an early stage startup or a VC fund in the two year after graduating and start my CFA.

Literally just finished my GMAT. Would appreciate a review of my chances of getting in. Contemplating applying in round 2.

Background

Work experience:

Past - 3 years in a Malaysian investment bank (2nd biggest in the country), working in Corporate Finance (similar to work done in bulge bracket IB's but focusing on local companies and with a bit more emphasis towards regulatory submissions - eg: drafting the Prospectus and application to the SEC). Came in via the bank's management trainee programme.

Current - 1.5 years in a life science VC fund (Main LP is my country's sovereign wealth fund. Invests across the life science spectrum (medtech, pharma, clean tech, agri etc) focusing on companies in the US and EU.

Extracurriculars: Managed the student lounge at my university then stood for campus elections and became the Head of the welfare department in Monash. Ran the volunteer programme for my investment banks management trainees for about 1.5 years (part of the requirement for the management trainees is to fulfil certain CSR requirements. I headed the team that gave them their postings, found organisations/events to send our trainees to and ensured their timely and proper completion of their requirements).

Undergrad school/major: Monash University (Malaysian campus) / Accounting and Finance

side note - flunked out of an earlier attempt at university (TLDR; pushed into the sciences my whole life by parents, wasn't passionate about it, showed when I entered university to do engineering, hence flunking out. Ironic considering I currently work in a life science VC haha). Took a break and worked for a while (8 months) while contemplating my goals in life and what was important to me before deciding to study Accounting and Finance in Monash.

Other education/coursework: CFA Charterholder

Race/nationality: Indian / Malaysian (Would I be compared against other Indian students, or be compared against South East Asians?)

Sex: Male

Stats

GMAT Score (include breakdown!): 750 (49Q / 42V / 6IR)

Undergrad GPA: 3.75

MBA Info

Goal of MBA: My intention with an MBA is to (i) learn - specifically, building data/analytics skills (being away from work for 2 years would surely make this easier); and (ii) move into consulting. My end goal (10-15 years time) is to be at a decision making/strategy level in my countries public investment institutions (think sovereign wealth funds, public retirement funds and the like). In order to do that, I would need to equip myself with the relevant knowledge and work experiences that would enable me to contribute effectively and drive progress within these institutions. These institutions have a national level impact and would be my way of contributing to the country, as small as it might be. Consultancy seems the obvious next step seeing as its an environment of non-stop learning, ensuring that I would be equipped with the necessary knowledge to contribute effectively on a national level. Tried applying, but only had an interview with one (failed at the final interview). I reckon an MBA would significantly boost my chances. Aiming to work in consulting (MBB being the target) in SEA (Singapore, if not, Malaysia or Indonesia) post-MBA.

Thank you!!

Just on your stats alone, I would encourage you to apply but you also have a terrific fit factor with Booth very interesting goals interesting ECs.

There seems to be some leadership here which is positive of course. Booth is kind of an academically minded School, but I do think that you could write a bit about your first attempt at college and it would be fine. Your GPA, CFA and GMAT will erase that pretty much or any concerns they might have I believe.

Are you going to try to get other interviews, or was the final outcome enough to convince you that you needed more prep with case interviews? Or that you're just going to go to the MBA route? I see your need for an MBA more for the long-term goal than the short-term. But you'd have a better read on on than I would.

Do some research on which Consulting firms will allow you to recruit into a specific practice area, ie Oliver Wyman, and speak to that informing your long term goal.




Posted from my mobile device

Thanks for the review. Definitely allayed some of my concerns. Regarding your comment, I did consider re-applying to MBB, but the reality is that the chance of me getting through is slim. I believe I would be better served by doing an MBA and joining at an associate position through the MBA programmes of the various consulting firms. The OCR offered by MBA programmes is a huge reason i'm considering doing an MBA of course. As for the MBA itself, it would serve both short and long-term goals.

Okay well what I'm communicating is that you will need to articulate how the MBA is needed for your short-term goal quite clearly, and that you couldn't get there on your own now because it might seem like you gave up after your first try. If you have solid reasoning for why you would not get through, make sure to fully articulate that in your goals essays. Good luck to you I'm glad that this allayed some of your concerns. You're a very strong candidate, get in touch with me if you're interested in working with someone.

Ahh, I see.Noted on that, will work on communicating my intentions woth the MBA. Sure thing, will contact you should I need mire asistande with the application.

Posted from my mobile device

Just to be more clear, not just your intentions but how this is a requirement and not taking time off work. Because your work background is so strong I would be asking myself cant this guy get interviews? I think on campus recruitment is something you'll want to mention but I think that might seem a bit superficial you will also want to speak to why you need connections, why you dont have them now, or maybe more poignant, if you feel as though you need an MBA/case prep to create the right frameworks to help you pass case interviews. Capiche?

Ahhh noted. Hear you loud and clear. Makes a lot of sense. xD

whats up with xD ? you mockin me? excerpt from My Cousin Vinny

<deleted>

Hi
Undergraduate degree: Mathematics Hons, Kirori Mal College
GMAT Score: 730
Academic: CFA level 2 cleared
Work experience: ZS (1 year) and Grail Research (2 and half years) Strategic research and consulting

Posted from my mobile device

Hi Hemangini,

Thank you for your post.

You have interesting data points competitive for Booth. That said, the application process is holistic, and admission and fit are dependent on more than data points. That means that the narrative and what propels you forward will be very important in setting you apart from the crowd of the highly ambitious and talented candidate pool in your demographic.

I welcome you to take advantage of our 30-minute free profile evaluation so we can discuss your ambitions and help you take the appropriate next steps. If you are interested and would find it helpful, please reach out.

Good luck!

Susan

Hi - I am applying to Booth Weekend MBA program and would love to know my chances. Am I too late in applying for the Spring quarter considering the deadline is Jan 6th and admissions are rolling?

Background: 28 year old Indian American Male

Education: Ivy League University (Cornell/Brown/Penn), 3.1GPA (weakest part of app, low freshman year GPA due to acclimation to college but general upward trend)

Chartered Financial analyst (passed all 3 levels on first attempt)

Work Experience: Equity trader for 6 years at a large asset management firm managing roughly $75B in assets (one promotion)

Post-MBA goals: Transition to equity analyst role from equity trading at same firm

GMAT: 720 (Q49/V39/IR7/AWA6)

Let me know if further info is needed.

This is for the Booth Scholars Program

I am an Indian male.

Background: Civil Engineering
Undergrad Information: 8.9/10 CGPA, Department Topper for Civil Engineering, Continuous 100% scholarship for all 4 years based on previous years performance.
The college is ranked 37 according to the government of India but it is one of the Top 5 private colleges in India. I chose it because of the scholarship and distance from my home.
GMAT: 710 (Q49 V38 AWA5 IR8) first attempt(was sick that day) and 770 (Q50 V45 AWA5 IR8) on the second attempt
WE: no full-time work experience as I am applying for the deferred programme
Leadership: Have been actively involved in numerous activities on campus. Most notably I have worked for three years organising the annual Model United Nations Conference where I worked my way up to the position of Director-General with over 100 people working under me. I am also the president of the Entrepreneurship Club of the University and have organised multiple one of a kind events and interactions on campus. Also involved in the Student Chapters of multiple organizations in various capacities. I am one of two the elected class representatives for my batch.

Outside of campus, I have also been involved in social work. I have worked for two years with an NGO working for the rights of women and children in mainly an editorial role but contributing on the ground as and when required.
I have completed my certifications in Lean Management and Lean Six Sigma from the British Standards Institute as well as many certifications in Data Presentation and Project Management from Coursera.

Post MBA Goals: Finance has always been of great interest to me. I want to get into Venture Capital (maybe Impact Investing in particular) as I have always been interested in entrepreneurship and I like meeting new people and listening to new ideas. India is a great growth market for VC and I want to come back to India and contribute to the growth story here.

I am flexible in terms of Post MBA goals since I know VC is tough to break into and might take time. For the short term, I'd be interested in the Capital projects and Infrastructure or Private Equity Practices at MBB firms or a role at an early stage startup after seeing my fit

I plan to work in an early stage startup or consulting in the two years after graduating and start my CFA.

Posted from my mobile device

Hi Experts,

Request you to please review my profile.

Background:
Indian Male
Age 27
GMAT 720 (Q50, V38)
Industry: Strategy Manager in a SoftBank funded multi-billion dollar startup

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from IIT Delhi (CGPA – 7.0)

Work Experience:
Total 5 years (4 years in India, 1 year in SE Asia)

Worked for over 2 years in a social sector consulting startup and 1 year in an election campaign strategy firm (a SuperPAC). Worked for 1 year as a management consultant with top tier organisation consulting firm. Working in a strategy role for a high growth internationally well known startup based out of SE Asia.

Extra curriculars – Won international competitions and worked on two international projects in Europe. Worked as Coordinator in various campus festivals and a student association club.

Post MBA Goal – Strategy Consulting or Strategy role in industry

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