Profile evaluation for ISB - Chartered Accountant

 

@BumblingBee ­- To break into consulting, MBB's, and as a result, B-schools in their admissions process, expect solid acads, clear motivation (for why consulting) and ideally some transferable skills (e.g. analytical, client-exposure, sector-related etc.). To that end, scoring well on the GMAT, and picking up such opportunities in your workplace are crucial.

The Extracurricular angle seems week. CFA isn't an Extracurricular - it's more an academic pursuit. Would suggest getting involved in activites that can help present a holistic profile. The key here is quality (not quantity) i.e. how consistently involved you are and what impact you can have.

Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat.

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Schedule a free chat
W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com­

Hey there BumblingBee

I hope you are doing well. Your profile looks good on the surface. 

First things first, your Chartered Accountant qualification is a golden ticket for ISB. They love strong academic backgrounds, and having your CA under your belt definitely checks that box. Your work experience across boutique firms and EY in audit and tax is super impressive. 

You've worked with big government companies, international teams, and high-profile clients – that speaks volumes about your well-rounded skillset. The fact that you were recognized for your work at EY is a fantastic accomplishment, and your current role in M&A tax with VC/PE exposure perfectly aligns with your post-MBA goals in MBB Consulting. Plus, clearing CFA Level 1 shows your continued drive to learn and grow in finance – that's a definite plus!

Now, there's always room for improvement, right?  While your 10th and 12th grades are solid, the lower grades in your ongoing BCom might raise an eyebrow at ISB.  The good news is, you can be prepared to explain the situation (the university derecognition) in your application and highlight your exceptional performance in the CA finals. Since you haven't taken the GMAT yet, focus on getting a strong score – that will significantly boost your application.  Lastly, your extracurricular profile could use a little something extra. Consider volunteering, joining professional organizations, or picking up activities that showcase your leadership potential and well-roundedness.

Overall, with your CA qualification, relevant work experience, and clear goals in MBB consulting, you've got a strong foundation for ISB. By addressing the potential weaknesses in academics, building a stronger extracurricular profile, and absolutely crushing the GMAT, you can present an application that's truly outstanding.

Want to get a more detailed analysis of your chances and a personalized strategy to tackle these areas?  Feel free to schedule a free 1:1 profile analysis session with us!  We can deep dive into your profile and craft a winning application for ISB.

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A FREE PROFILE ANALYSIS SESSION WITH US.

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­Hello BumblingBee,

Hope this finds you well.

With a large number of Chartered Accountants applying to ISB, you will need to aim for a high GMAT score that helps you have an edge over many others; hence, you primary focus should be on the test; once the test is out of the way, please focus on deliberating how you will link your existing experience with your proposed goals in consulting; putting these ideas down in a compelling narrative is going to be very crucial as well.

In short, considering you belong to an over-represented pool (of course, with your own strengths), the test score and essays will be extremely crucial. The following video will give you greater insight on what the essays expect of you:



Should you feel the need to discuss your prospects in greater detail, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Hope this helps.

All the best!
 

Thanks for the detailed profile share. Let's evaluate it systematically to help you prepare better for your MBA application to ISB:

Academic Credentials

Your record in academics has been strong early on, with 10 CGPA in 10th grade and 91% in 12th grade. The challenges you faced during your bachelors due to the derecognition of the university and subsequent re-enrollment might have resulted in low graduation grades; nevertheless, your story about them can actually turn this into a strength of the application by showing resilience and adaptability.

Being a Chartered Accountant qualification holder shows determination even after failing multiple times.

Work Experience

Your work experience which is relevant especially as it involves specialization such as audit, corporate tax and M&A tax advisory. International exposure alongside handling high-profile clients independently while holding leadership positions will be valuable for MBA application.

Extracurricular Activities

This part seems a bit thin on your profile. What they need here are some more diverse activities indicating leadership qualities, teamwork or community involvement.

Post-MBA Goals

It is clear that what you want after graduating from ISB is transitioning into management consulting. However, showing clear understanding on how ISB will help facilitate your move from tax advisory to strategy consulting would be important.

To-Do List

GMAT Preparation: You should aim for a score of 675+ to be competitive given the intensity of competition that is expected at ISB. Plus write the in-centre test only.

Strengthen Extracurriculars: Involve yourself with leadership or volunteer positions which will demonstrate ability to manage teams, initiatives or contribute towards community development.

Professional Development: Keep excelling in current role while seeking for those that expose you more into strategic decision-making processes at work.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

Strong foundational education and professional qualification attained.

Significant professional achievements made so far coupled with specialized experience gained over time.

Weaknesses:

Possible low grades obtained during undergraduate studies.

Limited engagement in extracurricular activities outside academics realm.

Opportunities:

Use unique professional experiences to stand out among other applicants.

Participate in targeted extracurricular activities.

Threats:

Many traditional higher profile academic achievers may apply thus increasing competition levels even further than usual expectation.

There are many potential strengths in your profile such as CA qualification plus professional achievements. However, it is equally important that you work on weaknesses especially narrative around undergraduates coupled with lack of involvement in co-curricular activities.

Feel free to connect with our ISB admission consultant for any further clarification.

All the best!

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