Profile Evaluation

Question

Academic Background  
 
    10th:  8.8 CGPA   
    12th:  76%   
    Undergrad:  B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

MAIT, IP University, New Delhi   
   CGPA: 7.27    
  
  GMAT:  700 (Q50, V35) – March 2022

Work Experience: 4.5 Years  
   EY GDS – Consultant, Risk Advisory (3.5 Years)   
  Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), Integrated Risk Management, Risk Automation  
 
   Worked with global teams across 5+ sectors   
   Direct collaboration with CCOs and CDPOs   
   Delivered internal training on ESG, Risk Management, and Life Sciences projects   
   Recognitions:

GDS User Recognition Award (Top 1%)   
   Spot Award   
   Highest Performing Team Award (twice)   
   EY Appreciate for introducing new tools and for contributions to the Covid Relief Drive    
  
   KPMG India – Consultant, Digital Trust (1 Year)   
 
   Led and delivered a TPRM project for a leading Indian telecom client   
   Implemented BCM framework for a Canadian bank
    
    On-site Experience in Qatar (8 Months)   
 
    Managed operations and solution delivery  for a national-level cybersecurity assessment initiative   
   Oversaw execution of cybersecurity assessment processes across public sector entities   
   Reviewed and documented the effectiveness of the implemented assessment processes for national-level Audit solution.    
   Led the review of the  national-level cybersecurity solution , identifying key process gaps and recommending improvements

Extracurriculars & Leadership  
 
   Core Member – Dramatics Society (Performed in 200+ events)   
   Lead Coordinator – Placement Cell (Organized 50+ placement drives)   
   Assistant Director – Hult Prize   
   Organized “Lead the Day” initiative
    
  Social Impact  
 
   Initiated Covid Relief Drive with DRDO   
   Provided free testing, transport, and support to 50+ families   
   Led awareness sessions on Covid protocols
    
  Entrepreneurial Experience  
   Co-founder – Dari-Gal (2021)   
 
   Zero-waste, slow fashion brand on Instagram   
   12K followers and 200+ fulfilled orders

Given the above, I would appreciate your guidance on:  
 
   How competitive is my profile for top programs like  INSEAD  or  LBS ?   
   What other global MBA programs would you recommend I consider given my profile and GMAT score?

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Thank you for sharing your profile  Eksha22  , your profile brings together a rich blend of professional depth, extracurricular energy, and entrepreneurial spirit that, when positioned well, we feel, can stand out in a competitive global MBA pool. With 4.5 years of experience across EY and KPMG in Risk Advisory and Cybersecurity, including on-ground international exposure in Qatar and delivery to C-suite stakeholders, you’ve built a good foundation that top MBA programs value, especially those that emphasize global leadership, digital risk, and cross-functional problem-solving. This kind of niche expertise, particularly in a field that’s becoming increasingly relevant (cyber, ESG, risk), can differentiate you from other Indian applicants, many of whom come from more traditional tech or analytics backgrounds.

Academically, your undergraduate GPA of 7.27 from MAIT (IP University) is decent but sits on the lower-to-median side for top programs like INSEAD and LBS. These schools, especially given the high bar for Indian candidates, typically see applicants from top-tier institutions with stronger academic records. Your GMAT score of 700 (Q50, V35) shows strong quantitative ability and will help balance the GPA to some extent. We have worked with applicants who got admit offers, even with such challenges (Checkout this BLOG) . However, it’s just around the average or slightly below for the most competitive programs. If you’re aiming for scholarships or want to improve your overall odds, pushing that GMAT to 730+ could significantly change your trajectory. As a practical alternative, completing HBS CORe or MBA Math could be a helpful signal of your academic readiness, particularly for quant-heavy curricula.

Where your application really shines is your leadership outside of work. You’ve demonstrated initiative and community impact in multiple spheres, your role in the dramatics society with over 200 performances shows communication and confidence, your leadership in the placement cell and participation in the Hult Prize reflect a strong orientation toward organizing and leading under pressure, your work in Covid relief highlights empathy and public service. On top of that, founding Dari-Gal, a zero-waste fashion brand with a 12K following and over 200 orders, adds a standout layer of entrepreneurship and sustainability, two highly attractive qualities in MBA applicants today.

Your post-MBA goal of transitioning into consulting (especially in strategy or ESG-linked domains) is a logical and achievable next step. It builds naturally on your existing work in digital trust, GRC, and cybersecurity advisory. Schools will want to see clarity in how the MBA acts as a bridge, what skills you seek, why now, and how you plan to use the program’s resources to reach those goals. Be prepared to demonstrate not only your readiness for consulting but also your commitment to leadership and impact beyond just career progression.

In terms of school fit, INSEAD and LBS are both good targets given your global exposure and desire for international career mobility. They are stretch schools, especially INSEAD, which tends to be unforgiving with low GPAs unless offset by elite schools, top GMATs, or extraordinary accomplishments with strategy. You shall be still within range, but success here will depend on a superbly crafted application- Essays, recommendations, and interviews will need to be authentic and memorable. LBS may be slightly more forgiving if you build a compelling case and demonstrate a strong fit with its collaborative, global learning environment.

Beyond these 2, I’d strongly recommend looking at IESE in Spain (which highly values leadership and impact), Oxford Said or Cambridge Judge (where your sustainability + innovation + entrepreneurial work could thrive), Rotman in Canada, and NUS in Singapore. These schools are can be competitive, but your profile can be more comfortably aligned with their median stats and values. You might also consider applying to Schulich or McGill in Canada as safeties if ROI and work visa flexibility matter to you.

In summary, you have a distinctive, human-centered, and multifaceted profile. You’ve accomplished things, and with the right framing and strategic storytelling, you absolutely have a shot at top international programs. If you'd like help building that narrative or need tailored support through your essays and school selection, I'm happy to take a closer look at your profile, learn more about your journey.  Let’s chat. Feel free to Book a Session.

Meanwhile, we'd like to invite you to take a look at these articles:  "Strategies from Successful MBA Applicants"  and  ”How to Get Into INSEAD”

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Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
 Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

ARINGO · Answer

Hi Eksha22
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, it looks good on the surface. Your 4+ years of diverse consulting experience, impactful ECs and entrepreneurial initiatives also add value to your profile. Plus, a 700 on the GMAT places you competitively for programs like INSEAD and LBS.

Talking about INSEAD, your global experience aligns well with their international focus and leadership emphasis. Plus, your diverse background and entrepreneurial venture will also be valued by the adcoms. Similarly, adcoms at LBS will value your international experience in Qatar, project leadership, and understanding of global business.

You can also consider schools like HEC, IESE, and some US schools, such as Columbia, NYU, and Fuqua. Can you talk more about what specifically attracts you to INSEAD and LBS?

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You can also email me at: priyankak@aringo.com

admitStreet · Answer

Eksha22 - interesting profile. Some thoughts and clarifications: 1. The academic arc looks good. The GMAT score is fine, but do you foresee an improvement if you were to retake? A higher score would help improve odds, particularly at LBS. 2. Your professional experience is your biggest strength, given the consulting exposure, big-4 brands, international stints and awards/ progressions. The extracurriculars and entrepreneurship experiences present strong angles as well. It'd be crucial to have a strong narrative linking these, your career goals, and how / why an MBA (and the particular B-school) fits in. 3. Though the exact school mix would depend on your goals and overall profile/ fitment, I would also suggest adding IESE, HEC Paris and Oxbridge to the mix, assuming you're focusing on EU/ UK programs. If you're open to other geographies too, a broader mix could be considered, to then prioritize and shortlist. Check out some success story debriefs of our candidates here , here and here for insights on how to navigate a lower-than-average GMAT score and/ or GPA. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

Businessconquerer · Answer

Decent stats for US T20s/25s.  If possible, you should work on improving the GMAT Score (can also help with scholarships later) 
 
  Work experience is pretty good for B4 consultant AND seems standard for aspiring Consultants. The international experience is a plus! No issues.  
 
  This is decent, probably will need to work on it a little. The entrepreneurial experience can also add some value but won't call is as impactful but I am sure there is something missing.

GyanOne · Answer

Eksha22 ,

-Your blend of risk advisory, cybersecurity, and ESG experience, with recognitions at EY and KPMG, shows a strong track record in high-stakes, global consulting environments. In a competitive Indian applicant pool often dominated by tech profiles, positioning your risk automation and compliance expertise as a unique “value add” can help differentiate you at top schools like INSEAD or LBS, which appreciate candidates who demonstrate both analytical depth and cross-cultural exposure. They will also look specifically for international experience and strong global exposure, so highlight your work with global clients and any international stints. 
- A 700 GMAT is within striking distance for these programs, though it’s on the lower end of the typical range for highly selective international MBAs. If you feel you can push it higher (especially quant is already strong at Q50), it may be worth another attempt. Otherwise, show the intellectual rigor from your engineering background and the leadership dimension of your work and extracurriculars to show you can thrive academically and contribute holistically.
- Highlight the breadth of your experiences like on-site work in Qatar, leadership in the Dramatics Society, co-founding a zero-waste fashion brand, as evidence of agility, innovation, and commitment to impact.
- Beyond INSEAD and LBS, consider schools known for consulting and international exposure, such as HEC Paris, Oxford Saïd, or Cambridge Judge. In the US, you might look at Ross (Michigan), Fuqua (Duke), or Darden (Virginia) for their strong consulting pipelines and collaborative cultures, but those will need higher GMAT scores (675+).

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with questions.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  Eksha22 ,

The international experience will prove to be value adding; however, your GMAT score is under the average and we would recommend you work on improving it for better chances at both LBS and INSEAD.

Good luck!

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