Profile Evaluation for MBA 2024

Question

Hi,

I want to apply for MBA fall 2024 and would like to get my profile evaluated. Please look at my profile and tell what are the top US & UK MBA b-bschools which I can target.

Name : Ishan Goyal
Age : 25 years old
Gender : Male
Nationality : Indian
Undergrad College : Punjab Engineering College (Tier -2 college)
CGPA: 9.0/10| College years: Aug 2016- May 2020
Major : Electrical Engineering

GMAT: 730 (Q50 , V39)

Class 12th score : 96.2%
(Awarded with letter of Appreciation from Ministry of Human Resources India for being among 0.01% successful candidates in 12th board exams)

Job Experience/Internships:

1) Oct 2021- Present : Gupta Industries (Family Business) - As Assistant Manager to my Father (Director of Gupta Industries)
Revenue : 60-70 cr
Business is of cattle feed manufacturing where we process cotton seeds to make cotton seed de-oiled cakes , which is a kind of cattle feed. Involved in selling
cattle feed and cotton seed oil.
Working with sales team, marketing and new business initiatives
- Optimized sales process (earlier happening through brokers) by hiring & managing a sales team for potential regions; witnessed a 30% increase in sales of
our leading product
- Established SOPs in the manufacturing unit for quality monitoring of raw materials & finished products, effectively decreasing operational time by ~14%
- Initiated a new B2B domain business of Rice Milling, planning and supervising the manufacturing unit with a profit projection of 1cr, which will be
operational by Sept 2023

2) Feb 2021 - Sept 2021 :ZS Associates as Decision Analytics Associate

- Was part of market research team assisting clients with quantitative market research projects for pharma clients through survey formation , data analysis
and then presenting analysis to answer key strategic objectives of the market research

3) Oct 2020 - Jan 2021 : O9 Solutions as Functional Consultant

-Configured the O9 platform based on change requests/enhancements to solve clients’ supply chain problems

4) Interned at Eka Software Solutions as Business Strategy Intern for 4 months during 6th semester of undergrad which is Internship semester
- Developed business use cases for Agribusiness and New verticals of Logistics & compliance through the inclusion of freight agreement and
negotiations system in the software
- Conducted product-fit analysis using secondary research for app usage for the cannabis industry and recommended modifications in existing
product functionality

Why MBA?

While working in family business I realised to transform a traditional family business, I need some skills which I can get from a b-school through MBA. One of the issues which I am currently facing is about how to go towards marketing to create a brand among rural customers of India. Plus an MBA can help me to gain a CEO's perspective to the things.

Short term goal :- Work in brand management and marketing for an FMCG brand

Long term goal : Use learnings from MBA and corporate work ex to scale family business and enter into other animal food and nutrition markets

Leadership/Volunteer work /Awards :
- Headed a team to organize festival events for 100+ families in society as a member of Eldeco welfare society
- Managed volunteers and collaborated with hospitals to organize around 5 blood donation camps in the college
- Was part of organizing team of college fests - marketing and publicity team , orientations
- Taught underprivileged children of grades 6-10 under the project of NSS and improved attendance in classes through a door-to-door campaign in slum areas
during college days
- Interest in Drawing and Painting : Was part of Art club during undergrad college ; won awards in inter college competitions in doodle making, painting etc. ; won national awards during high school in calligraphy and poster making

Things to Address : -

1. I got campus placement during covid in O9 solutions but during work I realised that I was not getting to work in business side of things. Due to this I decided to apply for consulting firms and got into ZS associates.

2. Due to some family issues , I had to leave ZS early on and join family business to support my father.

3. I applied to Ross, Tuck , Cornell and LBS during Round 3 of 2023 but got rejected in all these 4 bschools.

Currently I have an admission offer of Masters in Business Analytics from ESSEC , france. But I know that MBA can open more doors for me.

Please suggest whether it is a good option to wait for an year and apply for 2024 intake.

TheMBAEdge · Answer

Hey Ishan, Sorry to hear about the rejects last application cycle, they can take a mental and psychological toll. The competition for B schools has been increasing every year, so that coupled with applying late in the admission cycle (Round 3 is a strict no for any international student) and your frequent pivot in jobs could have set you back in the application pool. For the schools that you applied to, the median GMAT ranges between 720-730, so being from an overrepresented demographic the admissions committee typically expects you have to have a couple of points higher than the median GMAT score. So these multiple factors would have resulted in your rejection. Coming to your profile, a major cause of concern will be the frequent job changes which you will need to address and convince the adcom how these changes have helped you and positioned you better for your career aspirations. So you will need to think hard about these choices and make sure it flows into your story line. 730 is a pretty decent GMAT, however for most top tier programs given the intense competition in the Indian Male pool, you should evaluate if you can give it another attempt and maybe pump it up by a couple of points, if you have plateaued, would recommend having a different shortlist of schools. Again your experience if on the lower side so if you can wait a year would recommend building your profile over this year and giving the Fall 2024 intake a shot. Also, most schools tend to hold the application file for a year so by next year you will be a fresh applicant for the schools that rejected you. If you intend to apply this year itself, take a look at UNCKF, Emory Goizueta, USC Marshall, IU Kelley, Texas McCombs all of which will have robust recruitment in CPG marketing. Hopefully you will be able to convince the admission committee of these schools on your profile and turnaround last cycle's rejection. All the best! Do reach out to us at info@thembaedge.com for a detailed discussion on your situation. Thanks, TheMBAEdge

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi Ishan,

You have provided a lot of info, so let me start with the academics. Good grades, decent, well known university- so you are good here. The GMAT can definitely be increased to 740+ and it can make a big difference to your application outcomes (assuming your applications will be top quality).

Work experience- I am not so concerned about your two short stints. The first jump to ZS sounds like a no-brainer- better brand name and work. However, you cant really put it like this in front of the adcom. So you should explain via the optional essay on why job 2 allowed a better opportunity and why job 3 was necessary to support the family- just as you have mentioned above. Internships don't really matter in the MBA application. 
Working in an agribusinesses can help you differentiate in your pool. Add to that you have good achievements to your name and an agribusiness can help you tie in with b-schools' value of doing good / grooming leaders for business and society. At R3, the timing of your applications was wrong. You chose the top programs which are anyhow oversubscribed, so there was really no chance of hearing back from them. Moreover, your work experience (with quick moves and only a year at the family biz) would have been cause for concern. If you are to apply this year, this problem should be taken care of. However, IMO, you should wait another year, strengthen your experience and then apply next year- you'd be a stronger candidate then, with better understanding of how to grow the biz and more aware of your skill gaps.
 
ECAs- all of them are from college, so you should really be beefing this section up. Starting some welfare initiatives at your own company would be a great way to build up your ECAs. And it would also speak to your commitment about helping at the grassroot level of society. This is only a suggestion though, you can do whatever strikes with you, but do something.

If you think you will benefit more from the MBA as compared to MSBA, then wait it out. 1-2 years here or there will not matter in the larger scheme of things. An MBA will also give you access to analytics courses and the general management skills you gain will be more helpful in your career were you to finally take over as CEO (or even in a corporate career).

Hope that helps.

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi ishangoyal00 hope this finds you well. I think your profile is good. And I agree with the previous post that you certainly got the timing of your application wrong. I would also like to highlight a couple of other points that you may want to consider when you apply next time. 1. Few Indian applicants know that it is very difficult for Indians to get into pure brand marketing roles in US colleges, especially without prior FMCG brand experience. This makes sense, as why would the most coveted brand marketing roles go to non-natives? I worked with an applicant who had the same dream. I asked him to set up a call with the Kellogg admissions office, and they shared this concern as well. So, while this may be your true goal, you will need to show that you are flexible and open to more tech or analytics-related marketing or consulting roles as well. 2. If you are really passionate about brand marketing, you may want to seriously consider applying to one of the 2-year PGDM courses at IIMs, MDI, XLRI, SP Jain, etc. I know you are slightly older than the typical applicant for these programs, but these colleges are major feeders for brand marketing roles in India. And for this reason I have seen older folks giving CAT and getting into the IIMs. FMCG companies do not recruit at the top ISB or IIM A 1-year PGPX programs with the same rigor. This is simply how the current recruitment pipeline is structured. 3. If your long-term goal is to "Use the learnings from an MBA and corporate work experience to scale the family business and enter other animal food and nutrition markets" in India, why do you need a US MBA and work in US markets when the market you will eventually operate in will have very different characteristics? Your goals currently have a lot of gaps, Ishan. Alternatively, you may want to consider category management roles at unicorns in the e-commerce space, or at leading retail tech companies (Walmart, Amazon etc). These roles will give you equivalent experience in marketing and growth in an FMCG company (you will be working very closely with FMCG SPOCs in these roles). The one thing you need to have clear in your mind is whether you want to continue working in India or move to the US. The strategies for either case would be very different. I would advice against MS from ESSEC and suggest that you think your decision through. Feel free to reach out should you want professional guidance or hope to discuss your MBA concerns. Aanchal Sahni MBAGuideConsulting WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ |email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com | Message: +91 9971200927

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey  ishangoyal00 ,

Thanks for sharing your profile. Here is an evaluation of your profile.

Strengths:

1. Strong Academic Performance: Your high GMAT score and impressive academic record demonstrate your intellectual capabilities and commitment to excellence.
2. Family Business Experience: Working in your family business showcases your entrepreneurial spirit, leadership skills, and hands-on experience in managing operations and driving growth.
3. Internships and Work Experience: Your experience in consulting at ZS Associates and functional consulting at O9 Solutions highlight your exposure to diverse industries and problem-solving abilities.

Based on your profile, here are some MBA programs in the US and UK that you could consider targeting for the fall 2024 intake:

Top US Schools:

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
 Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
 Sloan School of Management, MIT
 Anderson School of Management, UCLA
 Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University

Top UK Schools:

London Business School
 Said Business School, University of Oxford
 Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

These schools are renowned for their strong MBA programs and offer excellent opportunities for your career goals in marketing and entrepreneurship.

Regarding your decision to wait and apply for the 2024 intake, it can be a good option if you believe you can strengthen your profile in terms of work experience, leadership roles, and community involvement during this additional year. Use this time to gain more exposure in marketing and brand management, take on additional responsibilities in your family business, and engage in impactful volunteer work or leadership initiatives. Strengthening these areas can enhance your chances of securing admission to your target MBA programs.

Remember to thoroughly research each school's curriculum, career services, and fit with your goals and values. Also, consider reaching out to current students and alumni from these programs to gain further insights and refine your application strategy.

If you have any additional questions about your profile or the program and would like to have a more thorough and personalized discussion with our top profile experts, please feel free to schedule a call with us. We would be more than happy to assist you.
 Book a free profile evaluation now!

Good luck!

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GyanOne · Answer

Greetings Ishan! We're delighted to help evaluate your profile and provide some guidance for your journey towards an MBA. Your intriguing background of transitioning from a functional consultant to a family business in the agriculture sector offers a unique perspective.

- Academic performance, GMAT score, and extracurriculars are all impressive. Having a GMAT score of 730 puts you in a good position for most top-tier MBA programs in the US and UK. Your CGPA of 9.0 is excellent, and your artistic interests alongside leadership and social work also add considerable value to your profile.

- Your short-term and long-term goals align with your current role in your family business and your past work experience. The aspiration to use an MBA to develop a strategic mindset and contribute to the growth of your family business resonates with many business schools that value entrepreneurial spirit. Yet, refining the details, specifically connecting brand management in FMCG with cattle feed manufacturing, could provide more clarity.

- You've had significant career transitions, moving from a functional consultant to an analytics associate role, then transitioning into your family's agribusiness. This trajectory demonstrates your versatility and adaptability, vital traits for future leaders. Applicants from your industry often face challenges articulating the transferable skills from their roles to their post-MBA goals. Given your experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments, you would benefit from crafting a compelling narrative demonstrating how these experiences prepare you for your future career goals.

- Next steps include researching and connecting with alumni or current students from your target schools. These relationships could provide valuable insights into the programs and assist in tailoring your application to the specific values and culture of each school. Also, thoroughly analyze the feedback (if any) from your previous applications to Ross, Tuck, Cornell, and LBS and address the shortcomings in your next applications. Feel free to contact us for a (free) ding analysis.

- Addressing your concerns, a shift in career due to personal reasons is understandable. An honest explanation in your application can help address the early departure from ZS Associates. Regarding your decision to wait another year, that largely depends on your readiness and the improvements you can make in your application within this time. Finally, your choice between an MBA and the Masters in Business Analytics from ESSEC should be guided by your career goals and the skills you aim to acquire. We would suggest considering the MBA over the MSBA.

We hope this assessment proves valuable as you navigate your MBA application journey. Feel free to post more queries or reach out to us directly. Best of luck, Ishan!

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