Profile Evaluation

Question

Hi peeps in GMATClub! My name is Cheran.

I’m planning to apply for the Fall 2024 applications and would like to hear your take on my profile. I’m also looking at which schools would be more suitable for me.
Here’s a brief about my profile-

Age--27
Gender--Female
Years of exp-- 4 years
Industry-- Education Tech & B2B Education (International space)
Career progression --Jump in 1.5 year since starting as a fresher to Team Lead position, then in another 1 year to Managerial Level at a Start-Up, but now in Mid-level job due to personal reasons. Had startup experience for the 3 years of out 4. Worked in a lot of cross-functional roles ranging from product, marketing, operations, HR & Recruitment, etc. and helped set up some operational procedures for few.

Undergrad – graduated in 2017 with 60% in Microbiology Honors
PostGrad – Graduated in 2019 with 3.34 GPA/ 4.0 Scale in Biotechnology (Did an internship at a Local Research Lab and completed my masters Dissertation)

Extracurriculars & Initiatives:
• Volunteer with a local NGO as their student career & education counsellor
• Started a Small Business but it’s on hiatus
• Used to write Blog, which I plan to pick up again

Awards:
• Best Employee of the month in 2 of the start-ups I worked in.
• Have few Organizing committee work in college-level

Test Scores:
• IELTS – 8
• GMAT – Pending (planning to write in 2 months)

Post MBA Plans:
• Consulting since I do want to change field, or Education based Entrepreneurship if that would be a safer bet.

Also, to ask here -- I represent as a member of a matrilineal and matrilocal community in India – one of the only few communities in the world and I thought of using this as a diversity factor in applications. Would this come under the underrepresented category?
Unsure how it may pan out.
I do plan to look at top 50 Universities but not sure where I stand right now.
Insights would be of great help!

Businessconquerer · Answer

Amazing IELTS score. Few questions to make you any suggestions-

What is your geographical preference for the TOP 50 schools? Are you agnostic to the location coz most of our clients do apply globally, you can see their profiles here-  Testimonials

Also, top 50 may be too large a band, so if you want to narrow it down further it might help. GMAT score is definitely required but your GMAT score could be 760 (Top 10 level) to 640 (top 50 level). Does it matter when the profile is strong enough? Think of it this way- Admissions teams claim to be holistic on their approach to admissions process- true. But every year the GMAT average seems to be nearly the same or more than previous year (COVID years excluded)

Also, I'd make a bold claim here that underrepresentation has historically been claimed based on demographics- the US supreme court decision may have this as one of the factors for their recent decision- this doesn't mean your profile is not different or unique. The uniqueness of your profile will be reflected in your essays and LORs which will be different from the traditional LORs.

Definitely a good profile to lead with overall. The work experience, including post-grad goes slightly above average but definitely unique.

A'chiknigam · Answer

@mbaconqueror

I'm not too choosy about the location though I have US and Europe in mind. Within US itself it's too large a number to narrow down from 50. I figured that since I don't even have mh GMAT it would be tough to consider choosing schools right now... holding in the reigns for that one.

And I do plan to talk about the representation part in my essays because honestly where else can I? My demographic would still not reflect that when I submit the application form. But the representation of the community is a huge part of me an as individual and I hope that would account for something at least.

But my question comes down to - is this enough to land me somewhere in the top 50 provided I'm unable to land a 740+ gmat?

Profile wise, I definitely know that I'll need to work on more demonstration.

But my question comes down to - is this enough to land me somewhere in the top 50 provided I'm unable to land a 740+ gmat?

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi A'chiknigam Hope this finds you well Academics Your academic arc is not clear. Did you attend a top university that could help balance your GPA? Some schools have built substantial brand equity with B Schools. Irrespective of whether you are from a target or non-target school, you should highlight accomplishments or participations during your undergraduate years that identify you as an academically focused individual. Mention scholarships, exceptional GPAs, awards in hackathons or case competitions, and leadership positions you held during your time. Career Progression Your career arc seems to be promising. Demonstrating clear career progression is key. Schools view your promotions and increasing job responsibilities with your current or former employer as a sign of your potential. You want to show your development over the years. Therefore, list your accomplishments and job responsibilities giving appropriate bandwidth to learnings, responsibilities, and achievements under each role. Point out what additional responsibilities, larger teams, larger regions, P&Ls, or budgets you have taken on over the years. You need to unpack your experiences and reconstruct your stories in a way that shows that working on high-impact projects has given you much more hands-on experience and opportunity to engage with leaders from the industry, more experiential maturity, and more capability to contextualize business problems. Goals For goals narrative, it helps to iterate smaller steps that will help you transition to the industry/role of your choice. Deliberate on your post-MBA goals keeping in mind what possible career tracks in the short/mid-term could help you attain your long-term vision as an entrepreneur or into consulting. Keep laying down your thought process on your career goals in the essays and present alternatives to your most preferred immediate career objective that will yet lead to long-term fulfillment. Your post-MBA goals require more deliberation. Consulting although a very generic and common goal for MBA applicants, requires a good deal of introspection to understand what focus within consulting really makes sense for your profile. Regarding the diversity factor - it is not possible to comment without knowing where you stand without your GMAT and without knowing more about your work achievements. There are ways to bolster your application, such as reflecting on challenges you've faced in your formative years or career and showcasing how you've overcome them. Belonging to a matrilineal community alone will not make you unique. You are evaluated based on your actions and story. Business schools evaluate candidates objectively and fairly, recognizing that not everyone starts from the same level. If you've overcome unique challenges in your background to reach your current career, be sure to highlight that in your application. Feel free to connect for more guidance and candid conversation regarding suitable MBA programs. Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

Businessconquerer · Answer

A'chiknigam

That is certainly a good to wait on the GMAT score to see what schools you want to narrow it down to. I had some clients come to me after having the GMAT score to choose schools. Some people do make a mistake of not checking out the average class profile stats. But I personally think it pays off to have a score set in mind if you've got a specific business school in mind. As being open about Business schools is certainly a good choice that wouldn't require a target score to aim on just pushing hard to get the highest possible score.

Those are two different questions so, I would answer them one by one-

1. Identity -
Definitely important to leverage your life experience in Business school essays. But most people make the mistake of not being strategic about it and writing purely from an emotional perspective. Emotions are important but only comprise of 20% of your essay. Other components do revolve around MBA level qualities hidden in the essay. Even emotion has to be strategically shown in your essays. The point is, your unique identity- brilliant as it is- has to elicit a reaction of wonder in another person. We definitely help people with that- we don't just run your essay through grammarly (believe me I have heard things) and I do suggest having someone who doesn't know you at all read it, if you're not hiring a consulting firm.

2. GMAT range  - 
US top 50 : Our company only helps clients apply to top 40 (with a few exceptions) only because that is where the applicant has to produce a compelling profile. The ideal range for Indian candidates varies from 660-760. We have had clients with lower GMAT than 660 get into these schools too.

EU Schools: They are low on GMAT stat overall, definitely competitive still. Require higher work experience, usually around 5+. GMAT range is way more varied so a more diligent analysis may be necessary for that so we can talk about it if you want to -   Book a free call .

We have a SWAP model that you can see on our website -   Where our clients go   - to see how we analyze the profiles.

Personally, given your personal story and attributes, I am personally more curious to see how the application will turn out. Definitely suggest staying consistent on your GMAT prep. Even a 10 point jump makes a significant difference at times.

Good luck, feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi A'chiknigam , Your profile looks good on the surface. Your career progression from a fresher to a managerial level within a short period of time demonstrates your potential and ability to take on responsibilities. Also, your experience in various roles such as product, marketing, operations, HR, and recruitment showcases your versatility and adaptability. Working in start-ups indicates your entrepreneurial spirit, ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, and your comfort with taking risks. Your undergraduate GPA of 60% in Microbiology Honors might be considered relatively low for some competitive MBA programs. However, your higher GPA in your postgraduate degree can offset this to some extent. Speaking about your ECs, your involvement with a local NGO, starting a small business, and your blog writing demonstrates your initiative, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact. While you have experience in the education tech and B2B education industry in the international space, it would be beneficial to highlight any specific international projects or collaborations you were involved in to showcase your global exposure. Speaking about your post-MBA goals, your career goal of transitioning into consulting or pursuing education-based entrepreneurship aligns well with the MBA degree. It's important to articulate how an MBA will help you achieve your goals, emphasizing the skills and knowledge you aim to acquire through the program. Belonging to a matrilineal and matrilocal community in India can be considered a unique aspect of your background. It could be a valuable diversity factor to include in your application, particularly if you can demonstrate the perspectives and experiences you bring from this community. While it may not fall under the traditionally underrepresented category, it can still contribute to the diversity of perspectives within an MBA program. School selection: Considering your profile and goals, here are a few factors to consider when selecting schools: Reputation: Look for schools with strong MBA programs that are known for consulting or entrepreneurship. Location: Determine if you have any preferences regarding the location of the school. Specialization: Some schools may have specific strengths in education-related fields or offer programs that align with your interests. Class profile: Research the diversity statistics of the schools you are interested in to assess how they value diversity and if they have a history of accepting candidates with profiles similar to yours. Overall, while your profile showcases several strengths, it's essential to work on addressing any potential weaknesses and highlighting your unique experiences and perspectives in your applications. Make sure to thoroughly research and target schools that align with your goals and values. We offer a limited number of complimentary profile evaluations each week . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools. In this call, the experts will try to dig out your USP for top B-schools and provide you with honest feedback on your profile and chances to your target schools. Book a free profile evaluation call now! Good luck with your application process! Neha Hadke Strategy Manager Testimonials Meet our Panel of Consultants. Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com MBA and Beyond

TheIvyLeagueEdge · Answer

A'chiknigam  / Cheran 
As of now, you haven't said or presented anything in your profile which may make you a strong contender for the Top-10. Don't get me wrong; you seem to have some strong elements in your profile, but nothing has come out strongly
1. UG in Microbiology, Experience in EdTech, and Career Plans in Consulting may not align well. Not saying it is not feasible, but your story would have to be airtight.
2. Will your unique lineage show your diversity? Depends, largely based on your involvement/ association with that community; Merely being born in such a community may not be strong enough.
3. Your UG score may be strong or not so strong, but the context is important to understand
4. With a GMAT above 700, and a strong compelling application, you may have a strong chance at 10-25 ranks worldwide.

That said, you are already late for your applications. Less than 2 months remain for R1 deadlines of most top schools. You should consider working on parts of the application which will remain the same (such as Resume) regardless of school. You hardly have a choice in terms of further delay, but also because GMAT prep and Application prep are different types of preps, and many successful candidates work on them parallelly, even if the Application prep has a lower hierarchy until the GMAT is done.

mylajuun · Answer

Thank you

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