Hi simg,
Thanks for reaching out. Sounds like your work experience and recommendations are really strong and you have clear evidence of your impact, that's great! The GPA will be a challenge, and possibly too much of a challenge for those very top schools you mentioned. A high GMAT is extremely important for you, and I agree with a 740+ target score.
Yes, most schools will consider the PGDM as a "first MBA" and so you need to make a strong case why you need another one. Some schools won't even let you apply (Tuck, Anderson, Duke come to mind).
With those two challenges working against you, I really think you need to expand your list of target schools. I would look at ones like Darden, Ross, UNC, McCombs, NYU maybe some schools in Europe too.
But first, focus on the GMAT, and hope that goes well!
Best,
Kate
simg wrote:
Hi,
I am 31-year-old Indian male with 6+ years of work-ex and am looking to pursue and MBA from one of the top US b-schools.
ACADEMICS
The major problem with my profile as I see it is a low undergrad engineering GPA (Below 3), although it is from an US IVY league school. The reasons were lack of interest, force from the family and pursuing 3 major extracurricular activities – Student association, dance group, and cricket team. I haven’t taken the GMAT yet but am scoring between 700-720 on the practice tests and am furthere targeting the 740-760 range once I have prepared for a month. In 2010 I also appeared for CAT (Indian MBA admission test) and scored a 99 percentile.
I also have a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from one of the top 10 B-schools in India, which one particular admission consultant mentioned might be a problem as my application will be considered as a second MBA. Please guide me on this.
WORK EXPERIENCE
On the work experience front I have a 3 years of business strategy experience in a Fortune 100 insurance company in India, plus another 3 years doing an entrepreneurial role wherein I increased the embedded value of a pre-established insurance company from zero to USD 2 million.
Recommendations will be good and plenty. Couple of them will be from directors of the Fortune 100 company I mentioned above.
I was hoping to be able to apply to Kelloggs and Wharton particularly because I want to move into the finance side.
Would be grateful for some guidance and evaluation of my chances.
Thank you.
_________________
Kate Richardson
mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant
Chicago Booth Alum, over 80 5-star reviews on GMAT Club
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