Profile Evaluation please

Question

Applying for fall 2011

Age: 26 at matriculation
Ethnicity: Indian
Sex: Male
Nationality: Indian (Will be getting my Green Card soon)
Undergrad school: Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (Top 5 school in India)
Undergrad major: Architecture
Undergrad GPA:  8.4/10 ~ 3.7/4.0  (Rank 1 and President's Silver Medal recepient)
GMAT: 710 (49Q 37V) - took once

Schools:
Stan GSB
Harvard
Wharton
Chicago Booth
Haas

Work Experience: 5 years at matriculation; mid-size Architecture/ Construction Firm
1 year in the US
1+ year in India in a unique role
~3 years back at the same company in US in managerial capacity

Worked for a Joint Venture company (between the company the US company and a local firm) in India for more than a year in an interesting role. Was sent to India after 1 year of training in the US, had to study the small organization which had many managerial and organizational issues. Gained the trust of the employees and made some recommendations for organizational change which were implemented. The company now operates smoothly internally and has developed a much better corporate image in terms of HR.
I have been working with the office in India in a collaborative and managerial role. I have played major roles on a $1 Billion project in India, technical, client oriented and corporate communications.

Extracurriculars: 
Undergrad:
Head of Sponsorship Team in a college cultural festival (~1,000+ attendees)
Held the position of Department Representative and was responsible for communications with the Placement/ Career Counseling Cell.

Postgrad:
Highly Involved with School Alumni Network and played various roles including producer of panel discussions, etc in PAN IIT (Annual IIT Conference)
Currently hold the position of General Secretary (Member of the board) for the local Alumni chapter.

Recommendations
I can get two recommendations from work (as prescribed) and one from the president of my local Alumni chapter whom I have been working with for the past 2 years (Peer?)

Goals
I have two really important goals – one is to be a management consultant developing strategies for corporate restructuring and managerial dynamics (focus in Leadership and General Management). With my experience in doing so at a basic level, I think I have gained some perspective and know that I would really enjoy doing it. Apart from that, I am also interested in Real Estate and Corporate Finance which I admittedly have had little exposure to in my career, but would like to learn more at least based on my knowledge of the construction industry.

Your comments are highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Vamsi

AlexMBAApply · Answer

Based on what you wrote, it's not clear what you do -- I assume you're an architect, based on your education and employer, right?

vamsim · Answer

Yes! I am sorry to have skipped the fact.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

Well, there are no safeties on your list - but I figured you knew that.

You have enough of an outside shot at H/S/W that it's worth giving all three a shot. It really helps that you're NOT in finance/consulting/engineering. If you're able to do a good job on the applications, you never know. These three are stretches, but not long shots to the point where it's not worth applying.

As for schools outside H/S/W you have a reasonable shot - they're sweet spots -- schools like Booth, Kellogg, Sloan, Columbia, etc.

vamsim · Answer

Could you please clarify on what you mean by safeties? Does that mean that i do not have anything extra ordinary? I have been preparing to write my H/S essays and have visited Stanford for the "Many Voices" event. Could you please elaborate on what my potential weaknesses could be?

Thanks

Thanks

AlexMBAApply · Answer

There are no safety schools on your list - schools where you are virtually guaranteed of getting into (which are schools outside the top 16).

You're looking at it from the wrong perspective anyhow. Focus on playing offense, not defense. If you're too focused on weaknesses, your application will come across as defensive, cautious and reserved - which a reader will then infer to be your personality (i.e. someone who is worried about being imperfect rather than focusing on being compelling).

In other words, don't be dull and boring. Attack instead of defend.

vamsim · Answer

Also, Harvard and Stanford are my main aim. I am trying to do my best on the applications but i would like to know if there is something i can do at this point to increase my chances. I know that there is no formula to get into these schools as they are looking for extraordinary individuals or the so-called "Super Heroes". I also realized reading my profile once again that I had totally ignored the fact that i was doing a full-time job as an Architect while i was involved with a number of these activities at work and outside. Some of the other facets that didn't quite come across are my ability to combine left brain skills with right brain (creative) ones. Although i had been doing the job of an architect, I was really interested on the business side, which got me involved with corporate restructuring, etc. Another thing i would like to highlight is that I had been involved with all of this almost right out of school. It took a lot of initiative and leadership from my part to achieve what i had done for our JV office in India.

Thanks for all the comments. I am starting to think about all the weaknesses in my 'story' and realized i have a lot to do.

vamsim · Answer

Understood! You are right about safety schools, I was considering UCLA Anderson as one, but upon further research decided that I should not be applying to a school that i would not go to. I think you have a great suggestion about being offensive rather than defensive. Will keep that in my mind as i move forward.

Thanks once again!

Thanks once again!

Profile Evaluation please

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