Profile Evaluation, GMAT 710, Female, Indian

Question

Hello all,

I’m planning to apply at Round 2 in schools like Booth Chicago, Berkeley HaaS, INSEAD. Need your help in evaluating my profile and would like to know what I can strengthen in my application and which schools I should target in US and Europe.

Profile:
Female, age 28, Indian
GMAT: 710 (Q49, V38)
Undergrad: Computer Science, Thapar University CGPA: 7.7
Masters: Advanced Management Program in Business Analytics, Indian School of Business, 3.3/4
PMI certified Project Manager
12 Boards: 87.8%
10 Boards: 95%

Work experience:
-5 yrs as Project Manager and Technical Consultant in Microsoft, Cloud and AI team, Hyderabad
-1 yr as ML Lead in a Voice AI Startup.
Leading cross-functional teams to solve critical bottle necks, Increasing customer satisfaction and expanding ML capability and product features

Additional/volunteering
- Represented Delhi in National Level Yoga Championship
- Won the trophy in inter-year Literary festival at my University by leading and managing entire hostel team of 600+ women 
- Led the Organisation wide, month long program of Volunteering at Microsoft
- Led the Women Sports team in all sports like Basketball, Cricket, Footbal as a part of setting up Diversity and Inclusion initative at Microsoft
- Volunteered for an organisation that empowers women by bringing them back to the workforce after a career break

Post MBA goals:
Technical PM at FAANG, or Management Consultant roles in Energy Management/ Climate Tech/Waste Management.

Thanks in advance.

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi Tanvi,

You have a good profile overall.

The academic accomplishments are good. The MS and the project management certifications add to them. The Gmat is on the lower end specifically for the programs you have mentioned as you would fall below their class average Gmat scores. So reevaluating your list of programs and applying to bschools where you have a larger chance of admit could help. For example, Haas is a very selective program because of its small class size, so may be you could apply to Tepper instead. Ross, Duke, Emory, Kelley could be other bschool to apply to. Also consider LBS, IESE,Oxford and Cambridge. INSEAD wants to see a lot of international exposure among candidates so you should apply there only if you meet this criterion.
Work - sounds like you have a number of leadership experiences which can serve in writing good essays and drafting an impressive resume.
I like your ECAs at work. They are impactful- remember to show how many people you were able to help through them.
The goals will need some rethinking. These are starkly different options, and when you write the goals essay, you should be clear about either of the paths you wish to take. 
You can reach out to me for a more detailed discussion

Posted from my mobile device

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey tanvi471 , Thanks for sharing your profile Your profile looks good on the surface. 710 is a good GMAT score, however with the schools in your list, you will need an overall robust profile to cater the AdComs. Your certification will give a boost to your profile. On the work front, big brands like Microsoft add value to your profile. You must demonstrate a strong impact in your application. You must bring out the instances and situations from your professional career where you were in leadership roles. Additionally, you can highlight your professional growth and achievements that have outperformed those of your colleagues. Your role in a startup would also be unique in itself, try highlighting major learning from it. Coming to your ECs, you can definitely talk about your representation of the National Capital in the Yoga championship to show your athletic side.Your involvement in an organization that empowers women by bringing them back to the workforce after a career break would help you showcase your social responsibilities. Your goals after MBA of Product Management and Consulting looks to be somewhat broad. Making a distinction between your short-term and long-term goals is essential. Think about how you could tie your objectives to your achievements and experiences in the past. As a result, carefully consider both your short-term and long-term goals. Take a look at a guide on how to frame practical post MBA goals essay , You will get some insights! Do you have any international exposure? INSEAD wants to see international exposure among its candidates.You should also add IE, IESE, Tepper and NYU to your list. Overall you have a robust profile, but we would like to know more to shortlist schools for you. Hence, If you'd like, we are happy to connect you with our Profile Experts (who are alums and students of top B-Schools) who will discuss your profile at length in a 30-45 minutes call and provide you with feedback based on your aspirations and goals. Feel free to schedule a call with us here for in-depth profile evaluation (and some networking on the side!) Cheers! Neha Hadke Strategy Manager Testimonials Meet our Panel of Consultants. Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com Visit our website www.mbaandbeyond.com for more MBA resources.

MBAGuide · Answer

Hello  tanvi471  hope this finds you well

Your profile is good; however, your GMAT could be higher, given how competitive the R2 usually is for the US schools on your list. It would be wise to cast a wide net and apply to a few more schools in the US. Tepper is undoubtedly a popular choice among tech-oriented applicants. However, I recommend researching schools yourself, as this will help you attain an unbiased take on school selection.

I recommend that you actively engage with the schools' admissions offices or alumni for the ones on your list. I cannot emphasize enough how much reading into the schools' responses can help you prepare a targeted list and set the right expectations. Let the schools know about your interest before applying and make a good impression.

The selection criteria for INSEAD below should help you to understand what the school looks for in the applicants. I have interviewed applicants for INSEAD admissions, so I hope to give you a clear picture of what to expect.

1. Ability to contribute to the school  - INSEAD is known for its interactive culture, and the strong applicants are generally inclined to network with peers and alums. In classroom discussions, each student will bring a unique perspective through events from their personal and professional lives. In the application, reflecting on your life and career decisions, accomplishments, and failures is essential to underline valuable learnings. Your engagement in charitable and diverse community activities will demonstrate your well-rounded skills.

2. International motivation 
At INSEAD, no two people in a study group are from the same nationality. A commitment to pursuing a global career should be rightly demonstrated in your profile. In addition, your interest in learning foreign languages can confirm that you are highly motivated to take up opportunities globally. Share examples to show adaptability toward other cultures and that you made an effort to understand others' perspectives. You may have yet to have significant international experience; however, that may be compensated by some other hook factor in your profile, such as entrepreneurship or exceptional community service.

3. Academic Inclination 
INSEAD has an intense and rigorous academic curriculum. A high GMAT score (720+) and decent academics will help you to stay competitive. Highlight any academic accolades and recognition you may have received in the past. You could talk about what "education" means to you or others in your family to show a deep-rooted value system.

4. Leadership Potential 
Candidates with strong leadership potential are sought after. Utilize examples to showcase your leadership abilities. Give instances demonstrating how you led teams to move projects along quickly and produce the necessary outcomes, handled disagreement with robust persuasion techniques, impacted senior management's choices with your astute observations and insights, and added value to your team and firm. Display a propensity for action and careful thought while making decisions. Be a go-getter at work and take up a variety of roles.

You can reach out to me for more personalized feedback.

Businessconquerer · Answer

tanvi471 
Amazing work experience and extra curriculars. I would still go out of a limb and say that INSEAD Singapore may be a fit based on the statistics. Also, INSEAD looks for international exposure in their application so you can evaluate the application.

I think a GMAT score bump of 30 points to a 740 will still bring you closer to your goals. I think casting a wider net in terms of goals (Number of Business schools under consideration) would serve better under the current stats.

The holistic application has a great weightage on statistics.

Profile Evaluation, GMAT 710, Female, Indian

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