Hi
LiveLarkThanks for posting. We have evaluated your profile. Here is our conclusion.
At 685 on the GMAT Focus Edition, this file sits comfortably inside the working range for most strong US programs and solidly above the minimum for ISB and other Indian targets, so the score is unlikely to be what separates this file from the admit pile. Scholarship consideration is where it starts to matter more: most programs reserve merit aid for candidates above the 90th percentile range, and 685 on the Focus corresponds roughly to the high-600s range on the Classic scale, which generally falls below that threshold at schools where scholarships are selective and competitive.
- Running a profitable AI and analytics venture with four to five full-time employees at this career stage is genuinely uncommon in the Indian applicant pool, and that ownership story carries more weight than two additional years at Infosys would; the risk is that admissions readers see "founder" and immediately look for revenue figures, client names, and growth trajectory, so if the essays stay vague on those specifics, the entrepreneurial experience reads as a line item rather than a differentiator.
- Round 1 makes sense here precisely because the entrepreneurial angle benefits from early reader bandwidth; R2 pools run larger, and founder profiles without a recognizable brand name can get compressed alongside conventional consulting applications when readers are moving quickly.
A retake worth the time only if scholarship money is a real priority and there's confidence a meaningful score jump is achievable; if the goal is simply admission, the essays are where this file gets decided.
Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed.
Contact us directly - submit a query here.
LiveLark
Profile Summary- UG GPA: 7.28/10 (India)
- Work Experience: 4–5 years (Including Entrepreneurship exp.)
- Professional Experience: KPMG (Intern), Infosys (Daimler AG & Cummins Inc. Clients), Infineon Technologies - All roles in Analytics Consulting across manufacturing, semiconductor, and automotive industries
- Current Role: Founder of a profitable AI & Analytics consulting venture (2 years), leading a team of 4–5 full-time employees
- GMAT Focus Edition: 685
Questions:- Based on this profile, would you recommend applying in Round 1 or Round 2?
- What is the probability of selection in R1 vs R2 vs R3 for International Students ?
- Should I consider retaking the GMAT to improve my scholarship prospects, or is a 685 competitive enough?