Profile Evaluation Request

Question

Hi, requesting your expert opinion on my profile and the target schools:

Basic Info: 28, Male

Nationality: Indian

Education: B.Tech Metallurgy (2017 graduate), NIT, 8.05/10

Internships: 2 international internships - 1 in Asia (summer internship as a scientific researcher) and 1 in Europe (semester exchange as a scientific researcher; a paper was published based on my findings but my name is not in the paper although I have an old LOR from the prof who had mentioned about it in the LOR)

Work Experience: Domain: Data & Analytics Industry: Luxury Travel - 6 years as of July 2023 - 3.5 years in India, 1 year in Nordics, and 1.5 years (present) in West Europe

GMAT: 710 (Q49 V37 IR7 AWA6) - planning to retake

Leadership experience: 
1. Was involved in Undergrad since year 1 
Year 1 - department representative for the all-year activities for the celebration of 50 years of the department: Helped seniors organize, promote and execute all the events
Year 2 - Volunteer of the student body - Helped seniors organize, promote and execute all cultural and technical events
Year 3 - Logistics Secretary - Planned, executed, and promoted all cultural and technical events throughout the year
Year 4 - Advisor - Advised the juniors on planning, promoting, and executing all cultural and technical events throughout the year
Also, we as a team organized multiple social events like blood donation drives, teaching in slums, cleanliness drives etc

2. Led a team of 3 members with an experience of just 1 year

3. Lead a team of 12 members with an experience of 3 years

Value add at work: Helped the team to win client's confidence and win additional business for the company.
PS - The client created a position for me in their firm to absorb me from my company. However, I had to deny it because of certain reasons

Community Work & Diversity and Inclusion: 
1. I have been associated with community work during my undergrad through university affiliations
2. Helped raise money, clothes, and groceries for our cook and maid who were badly impacted by covid
3. Helped maid with the education of her daughter
4. Actively participated in previous company's corporate social initiatives
5. Actively participating in current company's corporate social initiatives

Rewards and Recognition at work: Won 2 awards that are given to just the top 5% performers throughout the company (total employee pool = 150k), won an award from the client

Diversity factor: Belong to the LGBT community

Post MBA Goal: Still researching, but here is my current status
1. Short-Term - Switch domain from Data & Analytics to Finance/Consulting. Tech is the second option
2. Long-Term - Corporate Leadership/Entrepreneurship

Why MBA now?: Wanted to enrol with just 3-4 years of experience, but I had some family responsibilities and financial liabilities (sick parents to take care of and help brother recover from his loss during Covid). I prioritized family and earnings and at the same time, utilized these extra few years to gain international work experience

Target schools: Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Tuck, Darden, Yale, Duke, Ross (please add any other that would be relevant for me)

Intake: Fall 2024

Geography: USA

Target schools: Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Tuck, Darden, Yale, Duke, Ross (please add any other that would be relevant for me)

Intake: Fall 2024

Geography: USA

Requests/questions:
1. general profile evaluation
2. Any other MBA program you'd like to recommend
3. How about LBS and INSEAD?

PS - I have been networking with the Adcom, current students and clubs of a lot of schools mentioned above

TargetKellogg2024 · Answer

jeffreyadcom 
 mbaMissionKate 
 MBAandBeyond 
 MiMEssay

jeffreyadcom · Answer

Remove all undergrad school experiences from your CV. Highlight only the full time work experiences, in short formats. These aren't evident in the above description. Single biggest criteria in ADCOMs' evaluation is how recruiters look at you Post MBA. There isn't a single feature in your profile that'll entice MBB or iBanks. NO Work-ex, no Certs or Masters degrees..zilch. MBA is only an icing on the cake that you have already baked. I don't see any consulting or finance base cake here.

Yours is a typical Indian IT profile with no trace of general management experience, critical for MBB roles. At best, you can make it to any of MBAs with tech focus. Since you are enamoured of Kellogg, I suggest their MBAi program. You'd have to turn in stellar essays/recos/CV which can articulate what you have done so far (work-ex), why are you passionate about what you want to do in future (career vision) and why Kellogg MBAi is the perfect match to get you there.

Also, look at 
1) Tepper MBA - Technology Strategy and Product Management
2) Haas - What's your differentiation?
3) Fuqua - What uniqueness would you bring to Duke that'll stick out from a pool of 1000s of Indian-IT applicants?

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi,

Data and Analytics skills are used in every industry including tech, finance and consulting. So, I don't quite agree with you when you say that you wish to move away from working with data and analytics. This could infact be your differentiator in the MBA applications - over recent years MBA programs have added data and analytics to their MBA curriculum to make their courses more relevant to today's businesses that increasingly use data to take business decisions. This is an important business skill to have and you could show it as a transferable skill in any of the 3 career paths you have mentioned. By the time you submit your application, you should know what among these 3 options would be your career path. So, you need to put some more thought in your career goals.
Other than this, your profile is good- do retake the GMAT. Reach out if you wish to discuss further.

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

TargetKellogg2024 , a few thoughts on your profile evaluation and plans.

The academic arc is good given the NITW pedigree and a decent GPA. The GMAT score is an obvious handicap - how much are you hoping to score on the retake? Anecdotally speaking, one can add 20-30 points to a given school's average to get a sense of the Indian GMAT average.  
  While your professional profile sounds promising, the exact nature of your work isn't quite clear. Is it sales? It is Analytics consulting? Something else? Also, is the employer a feeder? All these factors and more will determine how the profile is considered.  
  The   ECs and volunteer   efforts look good. Make sure to quantify and leverage those well. 'Actively participated' doesn't mean much/anything.  
  European programs value   international work experience  . Since you seem to have lots of it, this can definitely give you an edge and worth considering.

Overall, with the right packaging and score, things can be quite interesting for you.

Hope this helps some and feel free to reach out to us directly on the email below for more.

All the best.

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Hi  TargetKellogg2024 ,

A few thoughts to share on your profile...

1) Your academic background/GPA looks strong. But definitely agree with retaking GMAT, as 710 is challenging for Kellogg and other top schools
2) I'm intrigued by your professional background. Data/analytics is super important to many post-MBA careers, and luxury travel is not the most common pre-MBA industry. If your company is well known, that will help even more. The international experience is great too! Kellogg especially will like that. So would European schools like INSEAD and LBS, so I would check those out. 
3) A lot of your community involvement seems older -- it's still somewhat relevant, you can list college activities on your application, but this could be a weaker area for you if you don't have much post-college leadership. 
4) You'll want to pick one direction on your goals -- consulting, finance or tech are broad already, so pick one and then be prepared to explain what exactly you want to do within that field and which firms you'll target. Which one suits you best depends a lot on more specifics of your work experience, which is hard to go into here. 
5) As an LGBT applicant, definitely reach out to the Pride Clubs at each school. They will set up informational chats and even do CV reviews/mock interviews. Can be a great resource if you reach out early!

Hope that helps! 
Kate

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey TargetKellogg2024 , Thanks for sharing your profile. Your profile looks good on the surface. Your undergraduate degree from NIT with a solid GPA demonstrates your academic abilities. While your six years of work experience in the data and analytics industry, including international exposure, showcases your professional growth and adaptability. Your involvement in various leadership roles during your undergraduate years and your experience leading teams in your professional career highlight your leadership potential. Speaking about community work and diversity, Your engagement in community work, active participation in corporate social initiatives, and being part of the LGBT community contribute to your diverse background and involvement in social causes. Winning awards in a highly competitive environment demonstrates your exceptional performance and contributions. Your profile aligns with Kellogg's collaborative and team-oriented culture, and the program offers strong finance and consulting opportunities. While Booth School of Business, Columbia Business School, Tuck School of Business, Darden School of Business, Yale School of Management, Duke Fuqua School of Business, and Ross School of Business are renowned for their finance and consulting offerings and could be good fit for your career goals. Both London Business School (LBS) and INSEAD are highly regarded business schools, but they have a more international focus compared to your target geography of the USA. However, if you are open to pursuing opportunities outside the USA, both schools could be worth considering. LBS is known for its strong finance program, while INSEAD offers a diverse and global experience. Overall, with your diverse background, leadership experience, international exposure, and strong career progression, you have a competitive profile for top MBA programs. Ensure that your application highlights your unique experiences, contributions, and aspirations while demonstrating a clear alignment with the values and offerings of each school. Remember to leverage your network, connect with current students and alumni, and attend information sessions and events hosted by the schools to gain more insights and make informed decisions. We would like to have a 1:1 conversation with you in order to assess your profile better. We offer a limited number of complimentary profile evaluations each week . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools. In this call, the experts will try to dig out your USP for top B-schools and provide you with honest feedback on your profile and chances to your target schools. Book a free profile evaluation call now! Best of luck with your MBA applications and future endeavors! Neha Hadke Strategy Manager Testimonials Meet our Panel of Consultants. Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com MBA and Beyond

AdmitExpert · Answer

Hi TargetKellogg2024 , You haven't provided a lot of information on the details of your work such as growth trajectory, roles and responsibilities, your position in the heirarchy, the promotions you have had, the current role etc. It is difficult to evaluate your profile without such details. You have certain advantages for the different schools you've mentioned. For example, international exposure may work well for Insead, LBS and other European schools. However, to give you customized suggestions on what goals to go for, what schools to pick etc (this would depend on quality and scpe of work ex and the goals we pick), we need to have more detailed discussions with you. For a more detailed 1-1 strategy session, please write to contactus@admitexpert.com or fill the form at http://www.admitexpert.com Good luck!

MiMEssay · Answer

Hey TargetKellogg2024, Your impressive achievements so far are a testament to your determination to excel academically and professionally. Your strong academic background and international internships showcase your commitment to academic excellence. Furthermore, your contributions to the luxury travel industry and diverse work experience across different regions highlight your adaptability and valuable skills. Your GMAT score of 710 is amazing but could be less than the average of these schools but you can still manage because GMAT is just 1/4th of your application and the rest depends on your achievements, work experience, extracurriculars, etc. To enhance your application, you can provide more specific details and a well-defined plan for your post-MBA goals in finance/consulting and corporate leadership/entrepreneurship will make your application more compelling. Your involvement in community work and diversity initiatives is truly inspiring. Highlight and quantify specific impactful experiences and showcasing your commitment to inclusion as a member of the LGBT community will resonate with admissions committees. Your networking efforts with the Adcom, current students, and clubs demonstrate your genuine interest in the programs. While your target schools are highly regarded, and take the time to thoroughly research each program and find the ones that align best with your goals and values. Consider exploring other options such as NYU Stern, UC Berkeley Haas, HEC Paris, INSEAD, and ESSEC as they may provide an excellent fit. In your application, emphasize your leadership and impact at work by discussing your experience in leading a team, winning client confidence, and achieving exceptional results. Provide concrete examples of resolving conflicts, fostering collaboration, and quantifying the impact of your efforts on business growth. Highlight the awards you received as evidence of your dedication and ability to deliver exceptional results in a competitive environment. By showcasing your leadership, commitment to diversity, and tangible impact, you will present yourself as a strong candidate capable of excelling in an MBA program and making meaningful contributions to your chosen field and can target all the good schools in your list. If you need more help, we'd be happy to set up a call and give more pointers on how to improve your profile and the right schools you should target. You can setup a call via this link: https://bit.ly/3DSH5km

TheIvyLeagueEdge · Answer

Hi  TargetKellogg2024 
Given you have taken three GMATs to reach a 710, analysing your profile assuming the worst case scenario (that the score remains the same)

Great stories here; would really help being able to demonstrate them in your essays. As for the Leadership, I feel there's more to your profile than you have been able to bring out, but good Application prep advice should help you work on that.

Same as above. The initiatives will need to be highlighted better to form a more compelling story.
 
Both the above add to the strength of your app

Will need to be more ambitious, and spread your scope. Finance however, as a career goal, may not work very well, until of course it is supported by demonstrated interest in the recent past.

Given you already have 6 years, (7 by intake) you are already on the higher side of your age. Given your overrepresented pool, your chances of getting in this year are way higher than the next, even if you were to show similar growth, and profile strength next year as well.

Answers to your profile already given above pointwise. A client from a very similar profile (but with 7+ years) got into Foster & HEC with very high scholarships. I am also optimistic about your chances at INSEAD and at LBS.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  TargetKellogg2024 ,

Thanks for writing in.

You belong to an over-represented pool of applicants; hence, you must definitely work towards improving your GMAT. Besides, you must consider applying to some tech-focused US top ~20 schools. You could definitely consider INSEAD as the school respects international experience.

Frankly, it is difficult to provide you with a detailed profile evaluation as your post does not provide us with information pertaining to your responsibilities at work as well as your career progression.

Should you feel the need for a detailed discussion, please feel free to schedule a call with us. You may send us a message in this regard.

All the best!

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