Please Evaluate my profile

Question

Hi, I see that you are very responsive to profile evaluation requests! I hope you spare some time for evaluating mine as well.

Nationality: Indian
Age: 27
Male
GMAT: 650 (Q-48, V-31, IR-7, AWA-6.0)

Undergraduation: Electronics Engineering from MDU, GPA: 2.90/5
Interned at MTNL(Indian Government Telecommunication company), submitting research projects
Also interned at a Indian Airways to submit an project work about Radars.

Postgraduation: PGDM from IMT(Top 25 college in India) CGPA: 6.7/10
Interned at IDBI Life Insurance worked on a original project about stock market analysis.

Professional Work Experience: Consultant at Dell International service (21 months)
Worked as ERP Consultant on Oracle Fusion Software
Worked on Finance and HR side with different clients.
During 6 months managed a team of 4 people and delivered targets to our client.
Certifications include Scrum Certified Product Owner, Oracle Fusion Implementation consultant.

Startup Experience : Co-Founder at Agri-Tech Business(12+ months)
Dealing in B2B and B2C delivery of fresh fruits and vegetable directly from farms.
Lead a team of 15 people.
Handled most of the things Supply chain, Customer satisfaction, Marketing, Dealing and convincing the customer.
Worked intensively on operations and marketing side applied the knowledge learned from my post graduation.
Maintained an intensive ERP for inventory storage and supply chain, applied knowledge of ERP from Dell services.
Planning to shut down the company in next few months as we are not able to raise funding.

Leadership experience: Leading a small team at Dell services and achieving more than the target.
Leading and guiding a team of 15 people running and handling day to day operation at Agri-Tech business.

Extra Curriculars :
Member of NCC(National Cadet Corps) done some small social work. Nothing in detail.

MBA Target Schools: Personally I haven't searched much but I am looking for colleges which can offer me scholarships and are good in ranking and placements I want to major in Management Consulting as I have experience about running and managing a business and I want to use my knowledge and build a career in management consulting.

Post MBA Plans: To work with M/B/B as a Strategy and Leadership consultant.

Please let me know my chances of getting scholarships at some good schools.

Thank You!

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Hi shivamkumar07,

Happy to help! You have an interesting mix of more traditional tech consulting experience and startup experience. I think one challenge you have is showing what you learned from the startup experience and how an MBA would have helped you. Also showing how your past experience connects to and prepares you for your future goals. In fact, I wonder if a post-MBA role in supply chain/operations, or at a tech/e-commerce company might make more sense? Worth considering!

I think your academic background and GMAT is going to make top schools a challenge, especially if you want to try to land a scholarship. Though I'm not sure if your GMAT is 650 (as posted below) or 720 (in your profile) -- that makes a big difference! GMAT is also a factor for Consulting recruiting, so if you're not above that 700 mark, I would mention other target firms beyond MBB.

As for schools, I think schools in Canada (Rotman, Schulich, etc.) would be great options to consider. In the US, check out schools like Duke, Emory, Foster, Georgetown, USC Marshall.

Best of luck! 
Kate

sunniegoldie · Answer

With your profile, here's a breakdown of your chances and strategies to improve them for top MBA programs, particularly with a focus on scholarships:
Strengths:
 
  Diverse Work Experience :
 
 Your work as an  ERP Consultant at Dell  is valuable, especially your exposure to Oracle Fusion and leadership in managing teams. 
 The entrepreneurial experience of co-founding an  Agri-Tech Startup  adds a strong dimension, demonstrating leadership, operations management, and problem-solving skills. 
 Industry exposure in  B2B/B2C ,  supply chain , and  ERP  systems could resonate with MBA programs that emphasize leadership and tech-driven solutions.  
 
  Certifications :
 
 Your certifications, particularly as a  Scrum Certified Product Owner  and  Oracle Fusion Consultant , will demonstrate a commitment to enhancing your skill set, which is particularly relevant for consulting and leadership roles.  
 
  MBA Focus and Post-MBA Plans :
 
 Targeting  Management Consulting  and firms like  M/B/B  aligns well with your background. Your experience in ERP and tech consulting could be leveraged in niche consulting areas, making you a strong candidate for consulting programs.  
 
  GMAT AWA & IR Scores :
 
 AWA (6.0) and IR (7) are strong scores, indicating good communication and analytical reasoning.  
  
Areas to Improve/Consider:
 
  GMAT Score :
 
 A 650 GMAT score, while respectable, is below the average for top MBA programs (especially for M/B/B-target schools). For higher-ranked programs, you might consider retaking the GMAT to aim for a score closer to 700+. 
  Q-48  shows strong quantitative skills, but  V-31  indicates potential room for improvement in the verbal section. Boosting your verbal score could make a noticeable difference in your overall score.  
 
  Undergraduate GPA :
 
 A GPA of  2.90/5  (which translates roughly to  2.3/4 ) is on the lower side for top MBA programs. Schools might overlook this if the rest of your profile is strong, but make sure to address this in your application by emphasizing your professional growth and leadership experiences post-graduation.  
 
  Postgraduate GPA :
 
 Your PGDM GPA of  6.7/10  is closer to average but can be framed positively by highlighting how you applied the knowledge in your Agri-Tech startup and consulting roles.  
 
  Leadership and Extra-Curriculars :
 
 Your  leadership experience  in both the consulting world and your startup is a major plus. However, your  extracurriculars  (NCC and some social work) appear limited. Schools value well-rounded applicants, so emphasizing any community service, volunteering, or leadership roles outside of work could help strengthen this part of your application.  
 
  Startup Closure :
 
 While you're planning to shut down your startup due to funding challenges, frame this positively. Highlight the lessons learned, your hands-on experience in supply chain and ERP, and how these have prepared you for a career in  management consulting .  
  
Scholarship Chances and Target Schools:
 
 Scholarships tend to favor candidates with exceptional profiles (high GMAT, strong leadership, diverse experience). Improving your GMAT could increase your chances of receiving merit-based aid. 
 Given your profile and desire for scholarships, you might want to target MBA programs ranked between  30-60 . Schools like  Indiana University (Kelley) ,  University of Texas at Austin (McCombs) , or  University of Wisconsin-Madison  are highly regarded for consulting and might offer better chances for scholarships.  
Recommendations:
 
  Retake the GMAT : Aim for a 680-700+ score. It will significantly enhance your chances for scholarships, especially for M/B/B feeder schools. 
  Highlight Consulting and Leadership : Your ERP consulting background and startup leadership experience should be emphasized. Frame your achievements in terms of measurable impact. 
  Address GPA in Essays : Acknowledge your academic weaknesses but focus on how your professional experiences and leadership have made up for them. 
  Research MBA Programs : Look at schools with strong  consulting  placements and those offering scholarships to candidates with diverse work experiences. Schools like  Emory (Goizueta) ,  Michigan State (Broad) , and  Boston University (Questrom)  could be good fits.  
In conclusion, you have a well-rounded profile with strong professional experience, leadership, and a clear focus on consulting. Boosting your GMAT score and refining your narrative to emphasize your strengths will improve your chances of securing scholarships at solid MBA programs.

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