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abhay.tyagi
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Joined: 18 Jun 2023
Last visit: 12 Nov 2025
Posts: 7
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Profile Evaluation 04 Oct 2025, 00:51
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Hey everyone,
Would really appreciate some honest takes on my profile and what I should be doing next.
Quick background:
  • Indian male (ORM), 27 right now
  • Lawyer from a Tier 1 law school in India, GPA 3.3
  • Tried building a startup during uni but had to shut it down during COVID
  • Been involved with a couple of non-profits for ~3–4 years
  • 2.5 YOE right now (will be ~3.5 by the time I apply). Mainly in Founder's Office and now Chief of Staff roles at early-stage startups (pre-Series A). Been deeply involved in both companies’ growth stories, so have a lot of tangible stuff to show.
Scores:
  • GMAT Focus Edition: 635 (Q82, V86, DI76) > did worse on DI than in mocks, ran out of time and left the last question blank
  • GRE: 321 (Q160, V161) from Sept 2023 > took a cold mock recently and got 319
Questions:
  1. Should I retake the GMAT or GRE? Which one seems like a better bet given my situation?
  2. How does my profile look overall for top programs (US, Europe, or elsewhere)?
  3. Any advice on what I can work on before targeting 2026 intake?
Thanks in advance!
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stressedkiddo
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Joined: 16 Apr 2025
Last visit: 05 Oct 2025
Posts: 16
Own Kudos:
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Given Kudos: 118
Concentration: Economics, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 540 Q39 V30
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GMAT 1: 540 Q39 V30
Posts: 16
Kudos: 13
Profile Evaluation 06 Oct 2025, 00:13
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Hey, I think most things look good in my opinion. Do work on your GMAT score given how competitive the applicant pool is - since you mustve been heavily penalised for leaving the last question empty - you must've done good in the rest of it for you to still score a 635. I would suggest retake your GMAT after prep, start working on your essays post that and you should be good. You can craft a lot of it around FO roles as well - good for essays. All the best!

abhay.tyagi
Hey everyone,
Would really appreciate some honest takes on my profile and what I should be doing next.
Quick background:
  • Indian male (ORM), 27 right now
  • Lawyer from a Tier 1 law school in India, GPA 3.3
  • Tried building a startup during uni but had to shut it down during COVID
  • Been involved with a couple of non-profits for ~3–4 years
  • 2.5 YOE right now (will be ~3.5 by the time I apply). Mainly in Founder's Office and now Chief of Staff roles at early-stage startups (pre-Series A). Been deeply involved in both companies’ growth stories, so have a lot of tangible stuff to show.
Scores:
  • GMAT Focus Edition: 635 (Q82, V86, DI76) > did worse on DI than in mocks, ran out of time and left the last question blank
  • GRE: 321 (Q160, V161) from Sept 2023 > took a cold mock recently and got 319
Questions:
  1. Should I retake the GMAT or GRE? Which one seems like a better bet given my situation?
  2. How does my profile look overall for top programs (US, Europe, or elsewhere)?
  3. Any advice on what I can work on before targeting 2026 intake?
Thanks in advance!
Show more
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dee1pug1
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Joined: 30 Dec 2022
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
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Profile Evaluation 08 Oct 2025, 10:07
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Your scores do not lend strength to your candidacy for top MBA programs. You are fast running out of time for 2026 intake. 100 days countdown to R2 deadlines is already on. You will need stamina to improve your GMAT score by at least another 50-60 points to create a fighting chance.
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MBAandBeyond
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Joined: 13 Jul 2020
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
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Status:MBA Admissions Consulting from INSEAD, Wharton and Columbia graduates
Affiliations: INSEAD and Harvard
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Profile Evaluation 09 Oct 2025, 04:27
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abhay.tyagi
Hey everyone,
Would really appreciate some honest takes on my profile and what I should be doing next.
Quick background:
  • Indian male (ORM), 27 right now
  • Lawyer from a Tier 1 law school in India, GPA 3.3
  • Tried building a startup during uni but had to shut it down during COVID
  • Been involved with a couple of non-profits for ~3–4 years
  • 2.5 YOE right now (will be ~3.5 by the time I apply). Mainly in Founder's Office and now Chief of Staff roles at early-stage startups (pre-Series A). Been deeply involved in both companies’ growth stories, so have a lot of tangible stuff to show.
Scores:
  • GMAT Focus Edition: 635 (Q82, V86, DI76) > did worse on DI than in mocks, ran out of time and left the last question blank
  • GRE: 321 (Q160, V161) from Sept 2023 > took a cold mock recently and got 319
Questions:
  1. Should I retake the GMAT or GRE? Which one seems like a better bet given my situation?
  2. How does my profile look overall for top programs (US, Europe, or elsewhere)?
  3. Any advice on what I can work on before targeting 2026 intake?
Thanks in advance!
Show more
Thanks for sharing your profile abhay.tyagi ! Good founder + operator experience, but you should retake the GMAT (or GRE) and aim significantly higher. With a stronger test + 3.5 years’ story that proves leadership/impact + excellent recommenders, you’ll be competitive for a healthy list of top US and European programs for 2026.

Starting with your strengths: Founder + startup operator background, entrepreneurial risk, product/market thinking, resilience. Chief of Staff / Founder's Office roles indicate strategic exposure, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to influence at a company level (valuable). Nonprofit involvement, good for leadership, community impact, and differentiation. Age + trajectory, you’ll still be in the “early career” cohort that many schools like for leadership potential (3-5 years).
Try to use crisp metrics: for example, “led X growth initiative that increased MAU by Y% / reduced churn by Z% / saved $A / signed B strategic partnerships”, adcoms love measurable impact.

Weaknesses: The test score signal shall be fixed, 635 is below the median for most M7 / top European programs. It weakens scholarship and interview probability. Academic signal, GPA 3.3 isn’t fatal but weaker than many peers; compensate with test + strong recommendations + quant evidence. Limited full-time experience, at ~3.5 years, you’re on the lower end for some programs (Stanford/Harvard prefer slightly older), so your story must be unusually compelling. ORM demographic, Indian male applicants are statistically larger in the pool; differentiate via storytelling and uncommon impact.

INSEAD, LBS, IESE, HEC Paris, these European schools value international experience & entrepreneurship; with 3-5 years and strong test, you can be competitive.

Why MBA & why now: show what skills you need (strategy, finance, consulting case skills, network), why you need the full-time MBA at a given school, and your 3-5 year goal (example, product strategy at a Tier-1 consulting firm or PM/strategy role at high-growth company). Diversity & contribution, nonprofit work + founder story + cross-functional experience are things that you’ll bring to class.

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. Feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can also register for our Upcoming ESSAY WORKSHOPS. Craft essays that shine: pick powerful stories, match your goals with each school, and showcase authentic leadership. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
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TheIvyLeagueEdge
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Joined: 13 Jul 2016
Last visit: 08 Nov 2025
Posts: 668
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Given Kudos: 163
Status:Application Consultant
Affiliations: TheIvyLeagueEdge
Location: India
TheIvyLeagueEdge: Bala
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: Yale (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q47 V44
GPA: 3.7
WE:Operations (Other)
Schools: Yale (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q47 V44
Posts: 668
Kudos: 158
Profile Evaluation 29 Oct 2025, 03:37
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Hey abhay.tyagi,
The comments from the others have already described how an improvement in your low standardised scores will make a strong case for your selection. GMAT/GRE averages for top schools (assuming you are targeting them) are no secrets, but I would also add that your academic and professional backgrounds can give you strengths in unique areas. As such it may be VERY IMPORTANT to work your career goals well, AND get high scores (also to address concerns over your less than stellar GPA)

Feel free to get in touch for a Profile Evaluation to provide better context, and get customized answers


abhay.tyagi
Hey everyone,
Would really appreciate some honest takes on my profile and what I should be doing next.
Quick background:
  • Indian male (ORM), 27 right now
  • Lawyer from a Tier 1 law school in India, GPA 3.3
  • Tried building a startup during uni but had to shut it down during COVID
  • Been involved with a couple of non-profits for ~3–4 years
  • 2.5 YOE right now (will be ~3.5 by the time I apply). Mainly in Founder's Office and now Chief of Staff roles at early-stage startups (pre-Series A). Been deeply involved in both companies’ growth stories, so have a lot of tangible stuff to show.
Scores:
  • GMAT Focus Edition: 635 (Q82, V86, DI76) > did worse on DI than in mocks, ran out of time and left the last question blank
  • GRE: 321 (Q160, V161) from Sept 2023 > took a cold mock recently and got 319
Questions:
  1. Should I retake the GMAT or GRE? Which one seems like a better bet given my situation?
  2. How does my profile look overall for top programs (US, Europe, or elsewhere)?
  3. Any advice on what I can work on before targeting 2026 intake?
Thanks in advance!
Show more