Profile Eval request: 730 Indian/Male/Financial Analyst

Question

Hi,

I am an Indian aspirant for Fall 2016. Will be obliged if you could give me a fair assessment of whether I have a shot at some of the preferred programs of my choice.

My profile summary:

1) 4+ years in the Analytics arm (Financial Planning & Analysis) of Intel (awarded employee of the quarter). Currently managing a team and have served a couple of short stints abroad; 1 yr as sourcing specialist for a mining giant 
2) PG in Diploma Management and engineering graduate from top 15 institutes of the country (UG CGPA: 8.2/10 - top 15%); PG CGPA not great - just first class 
3) GMAT: 730 (QA: 50; VA:39; IR: 7; AWA: 5.5) 
4) Correspondent/Empanelled Writer at Asia's largest all sports website (awarded) 
5) Co-founded an E-Commerce store (1st lesson in how to do a start-up wrong); Co-founder/Featured columnist at a magazine - focusing on firms, markets & global dynamics 
6) Captain of the corporate cricket team; member of the corporate football team 
7) State merit list in HSC board exams (ranked 5th)
8) Successfully completed a 4 day Outbound Leadership Course under Bachendri Pal
9) Volunteer work for LEPRA society - Organized health camps and sensitization programs for Intravenous Drug Users

I want to transition to a career in management consulting and eventually start an analytics consultancy firm specializing in providing analytics based research and solutions to sports organizations.

List of schools I intend to target: 
INSEAD, Yale, Columbia, Booth, Kellogg, Fuqua, Tuck, Cornell, Darden. Will I be taken for a madman if I force the words 'Wharton or Stanford' out of my lips? 
All the above schools Round 1 or Round 2 , 2015, Full Time MBA

Please let me know where do I exactly stand among the competing group. Will be awesome if you can classify the colleges under the following categories:
1) Forget about it!
2) Can be given a shot
3) Decent chance

Thanks in advance for your help!

Admissionado · Answer

Hey dude,
So let's dig in!

The good stuff:
- Great employer
- Real leadership
- International Experience
- Excellent GMAT

The Challenges:
- The toughest applicant pool (I/M/Tech)
- Non IIT/NIT applicant for Top 10
- Missing a "WOW" Extra

Now your goal is very interesting, and your success may very well hinge on your ability to make something of it. Besides being the captain of the cricket team, and your sports correspondence work, what makes you think you would be qualified for such a position? (and what exactly would be that position?). I think overall your school list is not too bad, albeit a bit challenging. If I were you, I'd add 1-2 schools from the 10-20 ranking (with strengths in Sports management, or with great teams, or in the right locations) and add them so that you have some safe schools on your list. But otherwise, if you can make your unique goals clear and convincing, I think you can do quite well.

Best,
Jon

mad · Answer

Thanks Jon! That was very helpful indeed. Considering I already have a PGDM (equivalent to an MBA) from among India's top 15 colleges, do you think this could work against me in my applications? Just found out that applicants who already have an MBA arent welcome at Duke and Tuck so my list of target schools just became a little thinner

As for my career goals, in addition to captaining the cricket team & writing for a sports website, I'm also working in the analytics division of Intel where I provide consulting to the senior leadership and facilitate structured data driven decisions in areas of revenue, expenses, headcount & go-to-market strategies. I now want to leverage this background and analytics expertise to search for ways to use the unprecedented mountains of data sports orgs are stockpiling and design solutions that could give them a competitive edge. Also, I intend to help teams predict the needs and wants of fans (hearing the voice of their customers) and deliver their targeted content with laser precision by analyzing social media data to profile fans and enhance their experiences. For the challenges you mentioned, 1) While I do work for a Tech giant, I work on the financial and strategic part of the business which I'm going to emphasize in my essays. Will that be a differentiator from a very competitive pool? My previous work-ex was in the supply chain side which I intend to bring out as well. (Clutching onto straws here!) 2) I do have a UG degree from among the top NITs - with a decent GPA

(the unfulfilled IIT dream still cuts as a dagger through the heart though!) 3) Will need to work on a "wow" factor. Cant think of anything yet

Of late, I've been mulling over the idea of going for an MS in Business Analytics as opposed to a full-time MBA (still undecided) as this appears to align more with my current work-ex and long term goals (not to mention the prohibitive costs of a full-time MBA!). Can you please advise? Some of the top MSBA programs I have shortlisted are: North Carolina, Arizona, CMU and NYU. Can you please suggest some programs that would seem to be a good fit for my profile? Thanks a lot for your help

Admissionado · Answer

Hey there, So with an Indian "MBA", first of all, let's say it's not an MBA (I mean the degree even has a different name!), but you are also right, that it would be a good idea to "Explain" why you need an MBA (i.e. what will an MBA offer you that the Indian diploma never could?) 1) For sure. And no, it's not clutching at straws.. it's really important - how you select to present yourself. And yes, it helps. 2) Whoopee!

3) If you don't have it in a single story, two other options might be a) an assemblage of stories b) just really good writing. A lot of times these can be as effective as a "wow". I think your list is off to a good start. You maaaay want to check if Duke really considers a PDGM to be an MBA (Write them a letter asking them, and telling them how different the degrees are

You might add UCLA. Aaaaand don't entirely neglect the Top 10. You should have 2 "Challenge" schools on your list. I dont have any specific recommendations (just cause they are all great), but choose whichever appeal to you. Best, Jon

mad · Answer

Hi Jon,

Just got pile driven into oblivion by INSEAD (R3) and Yale (R2) this year. Wasn't good enough to merit even an interview call.
Guess that knocks Columbia and other Ivy league schools off my list too...for R1 2017. I'm still retaining Kellogg & Booth from my original list...albeit in the stretch category. I am also more keen on Kellogg's 1 year program rather than the flagship 2 year program. Is that more difficult to get into? Given that I already have a PGDM from India, Kellogg's 1 year MBA program appears a better fit.

From outside of the top 20, I have Cornell, Darden & Ross in mind to finish off my roll of target schools for 2017. How do you think I am aligned at all of the aforementioned programs? I'm also considering a job change that has been due for a while but was put on the back burner considering application season was upon us. Will a job switch at this point of time hamper my applications for R1/R2 2017?

Can you please suggest some other programs you think I may have a fair shot at? Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated!

As always, thanks for all your help!

Admissionado · Answer

Hey hey, "Pile driven into oblivion" eh??

That's a bit dramatic.... like pro wrestling... Anyhow, as you have realized already there's always next year! A job change can help if: a) it's a better job b) there's more leadership c) you're paid more d) you are moving closer to your goals. If you can swing that - go for it. If you can advance its great - because it shows that with or without an MBA you are determined!!! Other than that, instead of speculating on which schools etc, if you want serious advice, drop us a line and send your failed apps to us and do a "Ding Review". You will glean so much useful strategy coming out of it...

If you are interested just write Claudia: claudia@admissionado.com... and just tell her Jon sent ya from GMATclub, cheers!!! JF

Profile Eval request: 730 Indian/Male/Financial Analyst

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