Profile evaluation for 2026 Intake.

Question

Hi,
I am planning on applying to B-schools for the 2026 intake, and I'm confused as to where I currently stand with my application profile and how I can improve the same. I would request the experts on this forum to take a look and suggest how I can improve my profile for the same.

GMAT Focus Edition:  755 (100 percentile)

Education: 
10th- 96%
12th- 96.5%
Undergraduate: IIT Kharagpur (B-Tech)
Major in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Minor in Computer Science and Engineering
CGPA- 8.98 (Top of my class at graduation and the recipient of multiple merit-based scholarships for academic achievements)

Work Experience: 
Working as a software engineer in an industry-leading company, Siemens EDA, for 19 months. I will have 2 years of work experience by the time I apply and 3 years of work experience at the time of matriculation. I have received one promotion in the given period and have worked with a very diverse team, including some foreign exposure in certain projects.I have not worked in a strictly leadership role but have worked on projects where I was the only engineer in my team working on said project and have also helped with the onboarding and training of new hires.
I have also done a 2-month internship with a company based out of Wyoming. It was remote work for me, but I was wondering if I could include this as foreign exposure in my application.

Extracurriculars: 
1. Electric Vehicle Head for TeamKART, IIT Kharagpur
Headed the electronics and corporate and public relations subsystems and led a team of over 20+ participants in 2 national-level competitions, securing overall 6th and overall 1st positions in the respective competitions with several category-based awards in each. Raised funding and secured sponsorships to fund the activities of the research group, including building a formula student car and participating in multiple national-level competitions
2. Cadet Corporal in NCC
I joined the National Cadet Corps, the youth wing of the Indian Armed Forces. Secured a B certificate for participating in activities over the course of 2 years and was promoted to Cadet Corporal for the same.

Social Work: 
Working with a nationally recognised NGO for the last 3 years, participating in multiple activities and campaigns to improve the education and health of people in rural areas.

Target Programs: 
M7 Business Schools, Yale SOM, Cornell Johnson, Indian School of Business, NYU Stern

Please have a look and let me know where my profile lacks and where there's room for improvement. I would like to work on improving my profile as soon as possible so that I have significant progress by the time I apply for admissions.
Thanks

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi  aasish3061  ! Your profile looks good, but there are a few areas you can improve to boost your chances at top MBA programs. Academically, you’re in a great position, an IIT Kharagpur degree, a strong 8.98 CGPA, and multiple merit-based scholarships all make you a competitive candidate. Plus, your GMAT Focus score of 755 (100th percentile) is outstanding. Congratulations on the score!

However, your work experience is on the lower side for M7 schools, where most applicants have around 4-5 years. By the time you start your MBA, you’ll have 3 years of experience, which means you’ll need to show strong leadership and impact early in your career. While you’ve worked on projects with global exposure and even led training for new hires, formal leadership experience (such as managing a team) would strengthen your application.

Your extracurricular activities really stand out, leading an electric vehicle team in national competitions, your NCC experience, and years of social work are all impressive. You will have to make sure to highlight the impactful aspects of these experiences in your applications, in a great way. Your remote internship with a Wyoming-based company can count as international exposure, but focus on how it helped you grow professionally. To enhance your application you will have to clarify your post-MBA goals, schools want to see a clear and well-thought-out career plan. Leverage your extracurriculars effectively, focus on the leadership, strategy, and fundraising skills you gained. Overall, you profile can be good fit for Yale, Cornell, NYU Stern, and ISB, while M7 schools will be more competitive due to your lower work experience. If you decide to apply to M7 now, you’ll need to make a very strong case for your leadership and potential. If possible, consider waiting a year to build more leadership experience, this could significantly improve your chances at the very top schools.

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MBAGuide · Answer

aasish3061 I think a little bit of improvement on the score will help you (just kidding 😄). Congrats on hitting the ball out of the park on the GMAT! Let's discuss the other areas now—Top undergrad pedigree? Check. Solid GPA? Check. Extracurricular- Good potential. Work experience —This is my main concern, especially if M7s are on your radar. You have relatively less experience for this class of schools. If you research the stats, Indian candidates from your demographic tend to have a strong professional track record, often with exposure to multiple companies, multiple industries, and slightly longer work experience on average. This is driven by recruiters' preference for hiring international candidates who have a clearly defined industry/function focus, with longer experience as proof of it. You’d agree this justifies why a recruiter would choose to hire an international student. Whether you apply now or wait a couple of years, your entire application must be built around a professional focus area —What are you passionate about? What problems have you encountered while working with global teams in your industry? Admissions officers have a weakness for applicants who are, in the well-traveled term, "passionate" about pursuing their dreams. It is only human to respond to enthusiasm. The schools will use the essays to make an indirect read on the quality of your mind and thought process. Do you think critically about the problems in your company or industry? Can you craft a compelling case that links your past, your goals, and respective target schools? What is your unique story? You'll need to be strategic with your professional storytelling to justify your candidacy beyond the GMAT score. It’s not uncommon for top IIT GMAT scorers to get rejected from M7s. You must show that you have gained years of experience with every incremental year at work. You need to unpack your experiences and reconstruct your stories to demonstrate that working on business-oriented projects in your current organization has equipped you with direct engagement with leadership, hands-on experience, experiential maturity, and the ability to contextualize business problems specific to your area of work better than many profiles who apply with similar age and experience. Feel free to speak Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) Founder, MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

kingbucky · Answer

Your profile is exceptionally strong, with a stellar GMAT score, top-tier academics, and leadership in both professional and extracurricular settings. Your background as an IIT Kharagpur graduate with a minor in Computer Science, combined with your experience at Siemens EDA and a promotion within two years, makes you a competitive applicant. Your leadership in TeamKART, fundraising, and international exposure further enhance your candidacy.

If you’re looking to improve, you could focus on deepening your leadership experience at work—taking on more direct team responsibilities or mentoring roles could strengthen your case. Your NGO involvement is valuable, but if possible, take on a more strategic role to further showcase impact. You are already in a strong position for M7 and top programs. Best of luck!

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello aasish3061 , Congratulations on acing the GMAT!

You, practically, tick all the check boxes; the work experience, though, is the concern area. Your best chances at your target schools lie if you add an additional year of experience or two; generally, this will help showcase some career progression and add to the richness of your stories. This is not to say that you should not apply for the 2026 intake; it is just about what appears to be better at the moment. The following videos will prove to be helpful as your navigate the next few months. Do watch them when you get a chance. https://www.expertsglobal.com/mba-appli ... ree-videos All the best!

admitStreet · Answer

aasish3061 - The academic performance (undergrad pedigree/ grades and GMAT score) is solid. The social impact work and extracurriculars are a great addition to the profile. Your work-ex is a bit on the lower side, particularly for M7's and some USTop-10 (stats here FYI), given the competitive Indian applicant pool. If you're open, it would be ideal to apply for the 2027 intake and/ or apply to some schools in 2026 intake (to test the waters) and to others in 2027 intake (based on the outcome). Either way, you could work on improving your profile along several dimensions such as: - taking on more impactful projects at work, ideally with teams abroad - pursuing projects (at work or outside) related to your post-MBA career goals - researching your target schools in-depth (some insights here FYI) and connecting with adcom/ alums etc. - strengthening the extracurricular aspects by doing more and consistent work wrt the activities you're involved in Hope this helps. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat. Also check out our Profile Building Program aimed at candidates such as yourself. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

ARINGO · Answer

Hi aasish3061
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, you have an AMAZING GMAT SCORE, plus when coupled with your academic achievements at IIT Kharagpur, you demonstrate a solid academic background.

Your work experience at Siemens EDA including your promotion and diverse team exposure is valuable. Plus leading the Electric Vehicle team is amazing and it demonstrates your leadership skills. The NCC involvement and social work also demonstrates well-roundedness. While your profile is already impressive, you will have to ensure that you position your experiences appropriately in order to highlight your unique strengths and craft a compelling narrative.

Have you thought about how to quantify the impact of your work at Siemens EDA beyond the promotion? Also, how do you plan to connect your technical background with your post-MBA aspirations?

FEEL FREE TO CONNECT FOR A 1:1 DETAILED DISCUSSION
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You can also email me at: priyankak@aringo.com

bhargavhhhhhhhh · Answer

Good profile, all the best

BelronMajes · Answer

Great Profile

TheRedPen · Answer

Hi  aasish3061 ,

Your profile presents a strong foundation with a combination of academic excellence, strong work experience, and impactful extracurricular activities. Here's a breakdown:

Excellent Academics: Your strong academic record, including a high CGPA from IIT Kharagpur and numerous merit-based scholarships, is a significant asset.
Strong Work Experience: Two years of work experience at a reputable company like Siemens EDA and your recent promotion demonstrate your professional growth and potential.
Leadership Experience: Your role as Electric Vehicle Head for TeamKART, including leading a large team and securing funding, showcases your leadership and organizational skills.
Extracurriculars: Your involvement in NCC and your volunteer work with the NGO demonstrate your commitment to community service and personal growth.
GMAT Score: A 750 is an excellent score and will significantly enhance your competitiveness.

Areas to Consider:

Career Goals: Clearly define your post-MBA career goals. What specific industries or roles are you interested in? How will an MBA help you achieve these goals?
International Exposure: While your work at Siemens may involve some international collaboration, actively seeking international experiences (e.g., short-term projects, travel, volunteering abroad) can further enhance your profile.
Leadership Development: Explore opportunities to further develop your leadership skills. This could include taking on additional responsibilities at work, mentoring junior colleagues, or joining a leadership development program.
Quantify Achievements: In your essays and interviews, quantify your achievements whenever possible. Use data and specific examples to illustrate your impact in your previous roles and extracurricular activities.
Target Schools:

Your target schools are highly competitive. Given your strong academic background, work experience, and GMAT score, you have a good chance of gaining admission to top programs. In addition to your current list, also consider schools in India and Europe which are known for their global focus and strong alumni networks.

By focusing on these areas and leveraging your strengths, you can increase your chances of admission to top-tier MBA programs. Feel free to  schedule a complimentary call with our MBA consultants. You can also connect with them via call or WhatsApp at +91 7780769732

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