Profile Evaluation request - for INSEAD/LBS

Question

Hi,

Kindly review my profile and advise if I stand a realistic chance at either INSEAD or LBS.

Education: Masters in Economics with 2nd rank in India's best commerce college. Bachelors with Honors in Economics

Work Experience: 6 years. Currently working for credit card giant as a risk manager. Handle a team of 3 talented employees. Responsible for Europian and Asian markets. Interact with market partners in UK, Australia and Japan on a daily basis. Have only worked 3 months outside my home country (India).

GMAT: 740 (don't exactly remember scaled scores but are pretty balanced - 85% Quant and I think 95% Verbal). Yet to get AWA scores but should be at least 5.5.

Other details: 30 years of age, married with a kid.

Why MBA? Think I can do better with my career. Want to get into asset management.

I am thinking of applying to INSEAD and LBS. Evaluating ESADE but looks it is more for marketing folks. Do you think my choice of schools aligns with my career goals and do I stand a decent chance with these schools?

Thanks!

StacyBlackman · Answer

Hi vansh,

I believe you do stand a chance at these programs. One thing I want to mention is that your numbers are very strong, however admissions teams are going to look beyond these and will look at your essays and recommendations. Make sure not to ignore these parts of your application- leadership experience in particular will be important.

Here is some school specific advice for the programs you are interested in:

INSEAD: https://www.stacyblackman.com/category/insead-advice/
LBS: https://www.stacyblackman.com/category/l ... ol-advice/

Best,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

vansh · Answer

Hi Stacy,

Thanks so much for your response. I am getting recommendations from my current supervisor and my previous supervisor (who is an American located in NY with whom I had worked for 3 years). I am banking on my previous supervisor to highlight my international outlook. I had excellent reputation with the team in NY and great relations with my previous supervisor. Also I really accomplished a lot in my previous job as well.

Also my career shows very clear signs of progression - both in terms of responsibilities and designations. I too believe that my essays and recos will be the deciding points which is why I have every intention of doing the best job that I am capable of on my essays.

Thanks again for you input. Much appreciated. I have gone through a lot of your previous responses also and feel that you give very relevant advices and are one of the best - if not the best - advisors out here.

StacyBlackman · Answer

Hi vansh,

Thank you for the kind words. I want to make one additional point regarding your recommenders. Many applicants don’t concern themselves with the recommendations, incorrectly assuming that it is the responsibility of their selected recommender. Applicants often feel that if a recommendation is not terribly well written or is submitted a few days late, they will be excused, because it is their recommender’s fault, not theirs.

Make sure to discuss with your recommenders the points that you would like them to address in their recommendations. Do not expect these people to be able to read your mind.

Hope this was of help.

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

Profile Evaluation request - for INSEAD/LBS

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