Profile Evaluation

Question

Hi mbaMission-thanks so much for evaluating my profile

Here is my background

Demographics:
- 25 year old Indian Male (US Born), 26 at time of matriculation
 - I know the Indian cohort is a tough applicant pool to apply from, but is any type of preference given to US born Indians or non-traditional Indian applicants?

Work Experience:
- 3.5 years in a Rotational Leadership Program at a top 5 Global Pharmaceutical Company (think J&J, Pfizer). 
 - Rotation 1 (Sales) 
 - Rotation 2 (Marketing Analytics)
 - Rotation 3 (R&D Portfolio Management)
 - My Post-program full-time position (July 2018) will be in Supply Strategy managing our entire product supply strategy across the entire US, the role is embedded 
 within finance so a lot of demand forecasting, strategy etc..
 - I expect to have pretty stellar recommendations from managers from all Rotations, including a Duke MBA alum.

Education:
-4 year private US university (not the most elite, but still ranked and well-known)
-Healthcare Administration w/minor in Business Administration
-Cumulative GPA 3.36 
 - I know this is a low GPA but I also completed pre-med and in freshman year and half of sophomore year I got some of C's in Organic Chem, Physics, Bio). I 
 also received 1 D in Organic Chemistry but I retook and got a B+
 - Huge upward trend once I switched into Business (3.8 GPA average over Junior and Senior year). I got A's in almost all my business courses including Statistics, Econ, 
 Finance, MIS, so pretty much all A's junior/senior year.

Scores:
- 318 GRE 160Q 158V 4.5 AWA

Extra-Curriculars:
- Founded a Healthcare Leaders Club in College and have continued to mentor students post college
- 1.5 years as an Emergency Room Volunteer at UPENN (During college, is it ok to list a college EC?)
- I currently Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity (Approx. 7 months by the time I apply)
- Intramural tennis player, and continue to play 
- Toastmasters

Post-MBA Goals:
- I actually want to stay in the Pharma/Biotech sector and use the MBA to enhance my Leadership capabilities so I can be best equipped to lead a team after school. My
 long term goal is to work in some type of Global healthcare role and lead a global team in an emerging market because my true passion is improving access to
 medicine for patients all over the globe

My Schools:
 -Emory
 -UNC Kenan-Flagler
 -Georgetown
 -Cornell
 -Wharton
 -Duke
 -Vanderbilt (Owen) 
 -Boston University

Any advice would really be appreciated!

mbaMissionKrista · Answer

Hey nsubhedar
If you are US born and US educated, you fall squarely in the US pool! That being said, the "American male" pool is pretty competitive too. BUT...b-schools tend to like candidates that come out of big brand leadership development programs, so your work experience will be attractive and different!
Your GPA is on the lower end for Top 15 programs but I like that there's an upwards trend. Write that optional essay! Explain what happened and point out the upward trend.
For your ECs, YES! Please list all of your meaningful college and post-college ECs on your CV. B-schools like "joiners" so you want to show that you are the type of person who gets involved in a community.
Your GRE is a little on the lower end for Top 15 programs so if that's your dream, please try to add some points. I like to see 162/162. Combine your current GRE with your GPA and you will have more options outside the Top 15. BUT...I still want you to apply to schools in the Top 15!! You are the type of candidate that needs a good diverse strategy. (2 reach/dream schools, 2 target, 2 safety, for example.)
Goal-wise...it sorta makes sense but I almost want you to switch things up a bit. B-schools can sometimes have a dim view of people who just want to go back to where they came from UNLESS they are sponsored candidates. If you are not sponsored, my suggestion would be that you shoot for Management Consulting in the short-term (if it is appealing) to get more exposure to different industries and skillsets...almost like making a mini-leadership development program for yourself -- and then say you want to return to Pharma long-term to combine your pre-MBA experience with the MBA and consulting experience to take a leadership role. Note the emerging market angle is interesting, but if you don't have that sort of experience already, it could be a hard sell.
That's A LOT to think about I know! You should set up a free consultation with us to talk more! https://www.mbamission.com/consult/?dis ... admissions
My best,
Krista

woody93 · Answer

Thanks Krista for the prompt reply. I just had 2 follow up questions .

1. If I was to apply round 1 this fall, what’s the absolute latest time I should consider purchasing packages from MBA Mission assuming I wanted to try to retake my GRE end of July? How much time is realistically needed to work with MBA Admission to ensure I get apps in on time?

2. Is the GRE a hindrance for consulting positions? I was under the impression that many ask for gmat scores which I don’t have.

Thanks again for the insight!

mbaMissionKrista · Answer

Good question...We've honestly seen this work in so many different ways. It really depends on you and how much work you're willing to put in. Obviously, we love when people sign up early and make the most of June, July, August because we can get so much done. But I've also seen people sign up in August and commit to working hard and returning docs as quickly as they can and get four schools done by mid-September. (And of course, we've seen the opposite too!! People who sign up in May and don't get to their apps until December...)

Today is May 10th so end of July for another attempt feels like a lot of time for more studying. Work expands to fill the space...Maybe bump that up to the end of June and really commit to a studying program?

So you're right -- a lot of consulting firms will ask for GMAT. However, I think you have to think about what you want RIGHT NOW. Do you want to get into b-school right now? Your current GRE converts to a 630 GMAT. But if you switch to the GMAT and score at that level, you will most likely not be successful at a top MBA program. However, by submitting with the GRE, you will not bring down a school's GMAT average...and b-schools may be more willing to look at you because of that. So personally, I like to keep people focused on the first goal -- let's get you in!! Which might mean sticking with the GRE. So if you feel the GRE is the better test for you, stick with it. Good article from P&Q on GRE averages...see the table: https://poetsandquants.com/2018/04/12/a ... rograms/3/

Happy to talk more offline if you'd like. I am doing free consultations this Sunday! https://www.mbamission.com/consult/?dis ... admissions

Krista

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