Profile Evaluation M7 + T15 with Scholarship Focus for 26 Admission

Question

Hey everyone, I’d love some advice on my MBA school list, especially regarding my chances at M7 and the best options for merit-based scholarships. Here’s my profile:

Background:
• Demographics: Indian, Male, IIT Graduate (overrepresented pool)
• Undergrad: IIT Kharagpur, Mechanical Engineering, Strong GPA
• GMAT Focus Score: 695 (98th percentile, ~750 GMAT equivalent)
• Quant: 85% (compared to 94% previously)
• DI: 99% (improved from 91%)
• Verbal: Similar performance across attempts
• Work Experience: Currently 2.5 years at American Express (Financial Strategy Role); by the time of my 2026 admission, I will have completed 4 years of work experience.
• Leadership & Impact:
• Multiple leadership roles in college (publicity/sponsorship teams)
• Active in mentoring & consulting (offering career advice via Topmate)
• Strong interest in social impact VC (focusing on climate, education, and social startups)

Post-MBA Goals:
• Short-term: Pursue roles in strategy/VC/consulting, focusing on high-impact startups
• Long-term: Build/lead a Social Impact Venture Capital firm

Target Schools:
• M7: Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia (open to suggestions)
• T15 for scholarships: Tuck, Ross, Fuqua

Key Questions:
1. Is my 695 GMAT Focus score (98th percentile) strong enough for M7 admissions? My Quant score dropped from 94% to 85%, but my DI improved from 91% to 99%. Would my strong IIT GPA help offset the lower Quant score?
2. Which M7 schools are best for scholarships? I understand Booth, Kellogg, and Columbia offer some merit-based aid—how realistic is it to secure scholarships at these schools?
3. Would adding Tuck, Ross, and Fuqua significantly increase my merit scholarship chances?
4. Are there any other schools I should consider for a balance of prestige and merit aid?

I’m planning to apply for 2026 admission, and by then, I’ll have a full 4 years of work experience. Any insights from current students, admits, or others in the process would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

Jaygmat007

Some thoughts on your profile evaluation and plans.

The academic arc looks good given the IIT pedigree. Do mention what you mean by strong GPA. The GMAT score is fine. A higher score can help but if you've already made multiple attempts, I'd suggest moving on.
The professional profile is promising owing to the association with Amex brand. But not all teams here are equal from our experience. Have peers/seniors from your specific team been admitted to your target schools in the recent past? While I understand you are chasing the 2026 intake, do bear in mind that you'll be about a year shy of the average, leading to some of these challenges. Have you factored these in your plans? Any evidence for adcoms to look past this?
The ECs/volunteer efforts are hard to judge basis the sketchy details. Do share the specifics. Post IIT seems light - topmate may just not cut it. But it'll eventually depend on the scale/impact.
For reasons mentioned here, we don't speculate on school selection or chances. Doing so for scholarships is harder. In general though, lower you go, better are the chances for it.

Hope this sparks the right questions. Please reach out on mcb@mbacrystalball.com with a resume for a deeper discussion.

Cheers,

admitStreet · Answer

Jaygmat007 - the IIT pedigree and GMAT score are good angles. What was your GPA in undergrad? And do you still see potential to improve the GMAT score (e.g. did you score higher in mocks)? Would like to understand your work-ex more to assess better. What projects/ topics have you worked on? Have you worked with teams/ clients abroad? Any promotions so far or expected? While your work-ex is a bit on the lower side, showcasing any notable achievements and career progression can help compensate this. The extracurriculars would need more elaboration e.g. what level of involvement and impact have you had, particularly on the social impact and mentorship angles? Broadly speaking, chances of scholarships are higher at UST10-20 compared to M7's, but that would of course depend on the strength of the overall profile and how well you position it through the applications. It always helps to apply to a mix of Ambitious, Reach and Safe programs aligned to your profile and goals. This also helps with negotiating scholarships, in the best-case scenario. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

LilacBuds · Answer

Hey @ Jaygmat007 , Your profile is quite strong, especially given your background as an IIT graduate with a solid work experience at American Express. Here’s a breakdown addressing your queries and offering some strategic advice: 1. GMAT Score and M7 Admissions Your GMAT Focus score of 695, equating to approximately a 750 on the classic GMAT, along with a strong IIT GPA, sets a solid academic foundation. While your Quant score dropped slightly, your improvement in DI to the 99th percentile is appreciated. Admissions committees often take a holistic view, and your pedigreed undergrad and impressive DI score should help balance the Quant component. Additionally, your work experience and impact in your leadership roles will play a crucial role in your application. 2. Relevant M7 for Scholarships Among the M7, Booth, Kellogg, Wharton and Columbia are known for providing merit-based aid. Your IIT background and work in financial strategy could be appealing to these schools. Scholarships often hinge on comparative excellence within the applicant pool, so highlighting unique aspects of your leadership, especially your social impact work, can bolster your chances. Tailor your essays to highlight your unique career trajectory and impact. 3. Adding Tuck, Ross, and Fuqua These schools do enhance your scholarship opportunities. Tuck and Ross are known for being generous with financial aid, particularly for candidates with strong leadership and a commitment to impact. Fuqua's Team Fuqua culture might resonate well with your background in mentoring and consulting. These schools might offer you more substantial scholarship opportunities compared with some M7 schools, while still offering strong academic and networking benefits. 4. Other Schools to Consider Consider adding schools like Yale SOM, known for its focus on social impact, and possibly offering merit-based aid. Also, Berkeley Haas aligns well with interests in social impact and entrepreneurship. Both have strong reputations and might offer a good balance between prestige and financial aid opportunities. Overall Strategy 1. Highlight Leadership and Social Impact : Your leadership roles and commitment to social impact VC should be focal in your application narrative. These areas can set you apart, especially in student bodies looking for diversity of thought and experience. 2. Application Strategy : Apply early where possible, as this can sometimes enhance scholarship chances. 3. Network and Recommendations : Leverage your IIT and professional networks for strong recommendation letters that can speak to your impact and potential. 4. Backup and Safety Schools : While you have a strong profile, it's wise to have a balanced list with a couple of safety options that align well with your scholarship needs. Engage with current students or alumni to gain insights into specific programs and present a well-rounded application that not only highlights academic and professional excellence but also aligns with the values and strengths of each school. Good luck with your application process! You may reach-out to me for further deep dive. Best, Rajiv Ganjoo Founder, LilacBuds https://lilacbuds.com/ | rajiv@lilacbuds.com

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Jaygmat007  , IIT grad, good GPA(score?), finance strategy at AmEx, and a big vision for social impact VC, that’s a nice combo! Your 695 GMAT Focus (98th percentile) is good, but given how competitive M7 is, a slight boost (if possible) could really help both admissions and scholarships. That said, Kellogg and Columbia seem like fair fits given your goals, and adding Tuck, Ross, or Fuqua could be fair options. Also, don’t sleep on Darden, Yale SOM, or even Stern, they have great balance of prestige, VC access, and funding opportunities. Your profile seem like it is in a good position for 2026 intake, and with a bit of fine-tuning, you could land good schools with funding (let's find out your chances) . We'd love to learn more about your profile (challenges, impact, extracurriculars, achievements, international experience and more).  Feel free to  schedule a profile evaluation session  with our experts to gain insights into your strengths, identify areas for improvement, and assess your chances at the best-fit schools

Take a look at    BLOG1    ,    BLOG2    and    latest session on Scholarship

Cheers! 
 Shantanu Sharma 
  Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Jaygmat007 · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for your detailed response. My GPA was 8.68 (Which was a DR-3). And yes I have given 3 attempts now, and really wanted to move on with the GMAT. 
In terms of the Team at Amex, my profile is of a Strategy Analyst to which I was fast-track promoted to Assistant Manager and now I am again looking for a Manager promotion in 1-2 months. I have always been a top performer in the broader team to which I have my yearly ratings to quantify. I have worked on multiple big projects bringing $Mn dollar impact in multiple projects. Even have partnered with a team of McKinsey People to work on a project. Due to the impact I have shown in my 3 years, I feel that I could compensate for a year shy in terms of work-ex. 
Volunteer efforts I would say are not that great, It is just TOPmate and some courses that I have taken from Harvard through Amex and have completed those in people Leadership/ communication practices etc. 
But still could you please suggest what schools would you think could be appropriate?

Thanks

Jaygmat007 · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for your detailed response. My GPA was 8.68 (Which was a DR-3). And yes I have given 3 attempts now, and really wanted to move on with the GMAT. 
In terms of the Team at Amex, my profile is of a Strategy Analyst to which I was fast-track promoted to Assistant Manager and now I am again looking for a Manager promotion in 1-2 months. I have always been a top performer in the broader team to which I have my yearly ratings to quantify. I have worked on multiple big projects bringing $Mn dollar impact in multiple projects. Even have partnered with a team of McKinsey People to work on a project. Due to the impact I have shown in my 3 years, I feel that I could compensate for a year shy in terms of work-ex. 
Volunteer efforts I would say are not that great, It is just TOPmate and some courses that I have taken from Harvard through Amex and have completed those in people Leadership/ communication practices etc. 
But still could you please suggest what schools would you think could be appropriate?

Thanks

Profile Evaluation M7 + T15 with Scholarship Focus for 26 Admission

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