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25yatin
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Joined: 01 Aug 2020
Last visit: 30 Apr 2023
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Profile Evaluation Request 09 May 2021, 21:35
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Hello!

I'm a fresh graduate from IIT Bombay (one of the most prestigious undergraduate institutions in India), and I'm looking forward to building my profile for an MBA from top B-schools like Wharton and HBS, both are my dream colleges.
I have 3-4 years before I start applying, and while currently my profile seems to be very non-competitive for both these schools, I'd like an honest review about it, and some possible tips to make it more attractive for the schools I mentioned.
Here is my info:

1) Demographics: 22 year old Indian Male

2) Education: Did my Undergrad from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, majored in Civil Engineering, GPA: 7.3/10

3) I am planning on giving my Level 1 CFA exam in November '21

4) GMAT: Not yet given but planning to give in the next year; shouldn't be a problem scoring above average given the recent trend of scores given by peer group.

5) Work Experience: Gotten a job offer through campus placements at ANZ Bank; profile is somewhat in the operations & data analysis domain. Not yet started, job begins one month later in June.
Pursued a couple of internships during my undergrad, one was with an Asset Management Firm focused on equity research in the Pharma industry, the other was with a political consulting startup in a data analysis role responsible for the execution of an entire project with end-to-end visibility.

6) Extra curriculars: Actively involved in sports, represented my institute in the squash team; Not many leadership roles, was a part of a couple of three tiered councils in college

7) Post MBA goals: To break into a PE/VC and work their for a while, post which I definitely want to venture into entrepreneurship

8) Target Schools: Wharton, HBS (ideal), GSB, MIT Sloan

9) Specific questions: My main concern is my low CGPA (it is around average in my institution) and my current lack of leadership roles. Would like some insights into ways of offsetting that and possibly making myself an ideal candidate for my target schools.


Thanks!
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PersonalMBACoach
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Affiliations: Wharton, MIT
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Profile Evaluation Request 10 May 2021, 13:46
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25yatin
Hello!

I'm a fresh graduate from IIT Bombay (one of the most prestigious undergraduate institutions in India), and I'm looking forward to building my profile for an MBA from top B-schools like Wharton and HBS, both are my dream colleges.
I have 3-4 years before I start applying, and while currently my profile seems to be very non-competitive for both these schools, I'd like an honest review about it, and some possible tips to make it more attractive for the schools I mentioned.
Here is my info:

1) Demographics: 22 year old Indian Male

2) Education: Did my Undergrad from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, majored in Civil Engineering, GPA: 7.3/10

3) I am planning on giving my Level 1 CFA exam in November '21

4) GMAT: Not yet given but planning to give in the next year; shouldn't be a problem scoring above average given the recent trend of scores given by peer group.

5) Work Experience: Gotten a job offer through campus placements at ANZ Bank; profile is somewhat in the operations & data analysis domain. Not yet started, job begins one month later in June.
Pursued a couple of internships during my undergrad, one was with an Asset Management Firm focused on equity research in the Pharma industry, the other was with a political consulting startup in a data analysis role responsible for the execution of an entire project with end-to-end visibility.

6) Extra curriculars: Actively involved in sports, represented my institute in the squash team; Not many leadership roles, was a part of a couple of three tiered councils in college

7) Post MBA goals: To break into a PE/VC and work their for a while, post which I definitely want to venture into entrepreneurship

8) Target Schools: Wharton, HBS (ideal), GSB, MIT Sloan

9) Specific questions: My main concern is my low CGPA (it is around average in my institution) and my current lack of leadership roles. Would like some insights into ways of offsetting that and possibly making myself an ideal candidate for my target schools.


Thanks!
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Hello 25yatin,

Thank you for your post and kudos for beginning the MBA planning process now.

Truthfully, the best thing you can do to improve your candidacy is to plan ahead with the help of a trusted advisor to help you make all of the right decisions in the time leading up to your applications. At Personal MBA Coach, our early planning clients have stellar acceptance and scholarship success rates.

With your low CGPA, securing a strong GMAT will be incredibly important. As for leadership roles, we can help you improve your extracurricular profile to help you demonstrate leadership and differentiate yourself when it comes time to apply. We can also assist you with ad-hoc career advice to help you demonstrate leadership within the workplace.

Feel free to send a note to scott@personalmbacoach.com if you are looking for guidance in getting into your target programs! We work with a lot of Indian applicants and would be happy to discuss your profile in more detail one-on-one.

Best,
Personal MBA Coach
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GyanOne
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Profile Evaluation Request 10 May 2021, 17:52
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25yatin
Hello!

I'm a fresh graduate from IIT Bombay (one of the most prestigious undergraduate institutions in India), and I'm looking forward to building my profile for an MBA from top B-schools like Wharton and HBS, both are my dream colleges.
I have 3-4 years before I start applying, and while currently my profile seems to be very non-competitive for both these schools, I'd like an honest review about it, and some possible tips to make it more attractive for the schools I mentioned.
Here is my info:

1) Demographics: 22 year old Indian Male

2) Education: Did my Undergrad from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, majored in Civil Engineering, GPA: 7.3/10

3) I am planning on giving my Level 1 CFA exam in November '21

4) GMAT: Not yet given but planning to give in the next year; shouldn't be a problem scoring above average given the recent trend of scores given by peer group.

5) Work Experience: Gotten a job offer through campus placements at ANZ Bank; profile is somewhat in the operations & data analysis domain. Not yet started, job begins one month later in June.
Pursued a couple of internships during my undergrad, one was with an Asset Management Firm focused on equity research in the Pharma industry, the other was with a political consulting startup in a data analysis role responsible for the execution of an entire project with end-to-end visibility.

6) Extra curriculars: Actively involved in sports, represented my institute in the squash team; Not many leadership roles, was a part of a couple of three tiered councils in college

7) Post MBA goals: To break into a PE/VC and work their for a while, post which I definitely want to venture into entrepreneurship

8) Target Schools: Wharton, HBS (ideal), GSB, MIT Sloan

9) Specific questions: My main concern is my low CGPA (it is around average in my institution) and my current lack of leadership roles. Would like some insights into ways of offsetting that and possibly making myself an ideal candidate for my target schools.


Thanks!
Show more

Hi Yatin

Thanks for posting. Here is our assessment:
- Your CGPA, though not very high, is not outside the zone of consideration. There are plenty of things you could do to offset/further support this GPA, including a high test score, and supplemental courses to demonstrate strong academic ability.
- Your goals and the planning needed to achieve them will require more thought. Your current role in analytics in ops at ANZ isn't necessarily the best platform to move you closer to a future (post-MBA) role in PE/VC. Given the state of the economy, while we understand that the options available aren't as plentiful as earlier, but you need to give this more thought. Similarly, entrepreneurship post VC isn't really very logical. Granted, you are just starting to think on these planks, so may not get everything perfect in one go.
- A lot of your leadership profile is yet to be built. When you apply to business school, activities from college will count for a lot less than they do now. Your leadership and ECA profile at IITB seems a bit average.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to come back with more questions as needed or to contact us directly at our email in our signature below for a 1-1 discussion. We can help you chart out a path to follow over the next few years through a custom offering.