Profile Evaluation for ISB

Question

Academics:
B.Des. Textile Design - 7.5 CGPA, NIFT Delhi (Foremost Fashion School in India)
12th - 85%
10th - 9.6 CGPA

Work Ex: 3 years 10 months

Currently working with Boston Consulting Group, as a designer in the BCG Design Studios.
(barely been 2 months, so yet to gain more quantum of work to write about)
Pivoted from Core Textiles towards Graphics and Marketing/Strategic Design oriented work.

Before this, I was working with Welspun (a Fortune 500 Conglomerate) designated as an Assistant Manager in the Home Textiles Design Team. (3 years 7 months)
1. Catered to the Exports business, managed key retail accounts for Europe, Middle East and Australia.
2. Successfully fostered signicant business growth, for varied retailers. (Have quantifiable data to back the same) 
3. No leadership experience, but mentored the summer and winter batch of interns for the graduation projects.
Side note : Welspun was a pre-placement offer.
I got picked up for a summer internship, which further extended to a Graduation Project - the collection was purchased by a European retailor for the AW Season.

GMAT: 630. Retaking the GMAT in 2 weeks, hoping for score improvement.
(Shall push to apply for R1, otherwise R2)

Extra-curriculars (in college):
1. Held a leadership position in the College Student Council. Executed multiple fests and events, also managed a crew of over 40 student body members.
2. Parallely, co-founded 2 startups. One in the fin-tech space - failed after 3 years of ideation and MVP deployment due to a lack of resources and relevance.
Other was an online blogging platform for closed communities, the amalgamation of Medium & Facebook Groups. (Both of them were incubated in IIT Delhi) 
3. Worked on a social project, which aimed at spreading awareness about sanitational hygiene for women in urban slums of India. Designed board games which were circulated in schools as a part of their learning module.

Post MBA goals:
Short term : work in a strategic marketing role, merging my creative skillset and putting my retail industry experience to use.
Long term : turn entrepreneurial

Looking forward to hearing an honest feedback on my current profile.

CrackAdmission · Answer

Dear  harora98 ,

Your profile is unique and compelling, particularly with your creative and entrepreneurial background. However, improving your GMAT score and emphasizing your leadership experiences will be crucial to enhancing your competitiveness for ISB. Additionally, ensure that your career narrative is cohesive and clearly connects your past experiences with your future goals.

Below are some of the highs and lows of your profile as per our evaluation.

Uniqueness in profile:
 
  Creative and Strategic Pivot: =11.0pt Your transition from a core textile design role to a strategic design position at BCG is unique. It showcases your ability to adapt and align your creative skills with strategic business objectives, a valuable trait in the consulting and marketing fields. 
  Diverse Experience: =11.0pt Your experience spans across design, marketing, and entrepreneurship, with a solid foundation in the textiles industry. This diversity adds a unique dimension to your profile, differentiating you from typical MBA applicants. 
  Entrepreneurial Ventures: =11.0pt Co-founding two startups, even though one failed, demonstrates strong entrepreneurial spirit and resilience. The experience gained, especially in ideation, MVP deployment, and handling failures, is valuable for your long-term entrepreneurial goals. 
  Social Impact: =11.0pt Your involvement in a social project focusing on sanitation hygiene reflects a commitment to societal issues, adding depth to your profile and highlighting your ability to combine creativity with social responsibility.

Areas of Improvement & Recommendations:
 
  GMAT Score: 
 
  Current Situation:  A GMAT score of 630 is below the average for ISB, which typically sees scores in the 700+ range for competitive applicants. 
  Recommendation:  It is crucial to improve your GMAT score, aiming for 700 or higher, to strengthen your academic credentials. Focus on areas where you can gain the most points, and consider taking additional practice tests to simulate the exam environment   
  Limited Leadership Experience: 
 
  Current Situation:  While you have mentored interns and held a leadership position in college, there is limited formal leadership experience in your professional roles. 
  Recommendation:  Highlight any informal leadership or project management experiences in your current and previous roles. Emphasize your ability to influence and lead initiatives even without formal authority.   
  Short Tenure in Current Role: 
 
  Current Situation:  You’ve only been in your role at BCG for 2 months, which might raise concerns about the depth of your experience in this new pivot. 
  Recommendation:  If applying in R2, you’ll have more time in your current role. Use this time to gain substantial experience and highlight specific projects or achievements that showcase your strategic impact at BCG    
I am an ISB alum, CO15, and have been guiding applicants succesfully get into ISB and other global schools. Feel free to reach out in case you seek professional assistance.

Cheers and all the best !

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey, harora98

Your profile combines good academics, relevant work experience, and extracurricular activities. With a B.Des. in Textile Design and nearly four years as an Assistant Manager, you've demonstrated the ability to drive business growth and manage key accounts. This is valuable for an MBA because it shows that you are capable of transitioning smoothly from textiles to strategic design.

Your post-MBA goals in strategic marketing and entrepreneurship align well with your background. While a score of 630 on the GMAT is a decent starting point, retaking it can improve your chances of getting into top schools. Your extracurricular leadership and entrepreneurial activities further strengthen your profile. To enhance your application, improve your GMAT score, emphasize quantifiable achievements, clarify your narrative, and network with alumni from your target programs,. These steps will position you well for a successful MBA application.

If you have any further questions related to your profile or want to have a 1:1 discussion with our top profile experts,  . Feel free to schedule a complimentary profile evaluation session with our experts  . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools.

TheRedPen · Answer

Hi  harora98 ,

Your diverse experience in textiles, consulting, and your long-term entrepreneurial goal showcases your versatility and potential.

What works in your favor:

Academic Background: Your degree from NIFT Delhi and strong academic record highlight your creative and analytical abilities.
Work Experience: Your roles in textiles and consulting demonstrate a blend of technical and strategic skills.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: Your experience founding startups showcases your initiative and leadership potential.
Extracurricular Involvement: Your leadership roles and social projects demonstrate your commitment to community and teamwork.

What you need to work on:

GMAT Score: While your current score is respectable, aiming for improvement can strengthen your application.
Career Goals: Clearly articulate your long-term vision of becoming an industry leader in digital marketing or entrepreneurship.
Application Components: Develop compelling essays, secure strong recommendations, and practice for interviews

Given your profile and career goals, consider schools with strong marketing and entrepreneurship programs. Would you like to  schedule a free consultation with one of our MBA experts  to delve deeper into your profile and develop a tailored application strategy? We can help you maximize your chances of admission to your target schools. Our contact number is +91 7780769732.

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