Profile Evaluation Request - Indian, M, Engineer, 29 (by admissions)

Question

Hi,

I am looking to start my MBA in the spring of 2023. Would appreciate your help in evaluating my profile!
My main concern is regarding my undergraduate GPA.
Details of my profile are as follows -

Demographics 
Nationality - Indian
Gender - Male
Age - 29 (by admission time)

Education 
Xth - 91.2%
XIIth - 87.4%
Undergraduation (Engineering) - 56%

GMAT 
Current Score - 720 (Q45/V44/IR6/AWA6)
Official Mock Score Range - 740 to 770
I'm planning to give the GMAT again, and I'm quite sure I can manage to hit the mock score range. The current score aligns well with the general split I've had, barring Quant.

Work Experience 
Total - 5 years & a ~2 year career break

40 months - Business Development and Project Management Role in a family firm, operating in the field of Telecommunication Infrastructure.

28 months - Career break to pursue the Civil Services recruitment examination in India, one of the most rigorous exams in the world; placed in the Top 0.2 percentile, and a Top 5 score in the optional subject of choice Sociology (bachelor's level syllabus); exposure to public policy, economics, international relations, among many other areas.

14 months - As a Senior Business Analyst at an IT Services/Software Product Development startup - additional exposure to investor relations, product and project management.

2 months and counting - at a multinational corporation's offshore division aligned with its Canadian concern, as a Cybersecurity Analyst (Technology Consulting); also covering Presales in the Canadian public sector.

Extracurriculars 
Member of Organising Committee in College Clubs.
Nothing significant as of now.

Leadership Experience  (limited)
Product Owner in my previous firm, led a team of 4.

International Experience 
Grew up abroad in the Middle East for four years in childhood. 
Working with Canadian teams in an offshore model in my current role, in both the public and private sector.

Post-MBA Goals 
Aiming to pursue opportunities in Consulting, particularly in Public Sector and Policy Consulting. 
Plan to start my own business back home in the longer-term, focused on agro-waste and food processing, and/or in MSME enablement.

Target Schools 
Indian School of Business (ISB)
INSEAD
HEC, Paris
Booth
Kellogg (1 year)
Darden

I would also love to see your suggestions on which schools would you recommend apart from the above, assuming a 750 or greater GMAT score.
Also, what else could I do to alleviate the undergrad position apart from a high enough GMAT score?

FALSEnine9 · Answer

Others might disagree on this, but to be honest a profile review doesn’t do anything good. You cannot change most of those things. Ultimately it will all come down to how you present your story as a tight package, and how that narrative connects the dots of your past experience and career goals, all while being unique, inspiring and likeable. I suggest you read up on attributes that your target schools look for and map-out/highlight your story based on those parameters. Your chances will depend on how well you pull this off. Period. It will take a lot of work. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Your credentials are fine. Your high school results will not be asked, but you might have to explain weak undergraduate performance in the optional essays. Otherwise, GMAT is the best way to counter it. Aim for a 48-49 in Quant.

The one glaring issue is the long career break. I think you can tie that effort into a narrative around your motivations to enter Public Administration and to have far-reaching impact. But your previous experience and extra-curriculars also need to reflect that motivation, and your long-term goals also need to strongly reflect that. Have you tried researching about Civic tech? Basically, you will have to provide with a solid reasoning of how you feel the MBA, and not an MPP or MPA, is better suited your goals to enter policy consulting.
I'm a bit confused about your target schools, since I believe you need to lock down on 1-2 geographies you want to work in post-MBA. Those locations will depend on the amount of research you put in to see where Public Policy consulting is having greatest impact. Find people on Linkedin who are living the life you're dreaming of and talk to them at length. You will have to describe your goals in granular details to communicate that research to the Adcoms. Also research schools and see which ones have electives around your objectives. 
You could also take up Public policy courses on the side to make your case stronger by the time you apply - Takshashila Institution has some good ones.

But make sure that your interests for pursuing your goals are genuine and that you've thought about all this at length, backed up with solid research. It really helps in the essays and interviews.

If your aim is consulting, you should also add IESE & LBS in your list of schools., but the choice will ultimately be governed by target geography. Some schools like Oxford, Harvard, Wharton & Tuck offer a 1+1 MBA + MPP/MPA degree. See if those suit you.

passingthru · Answer

FALSEnine9

Thank you for the insights!
Agreed on the profile review, this was mostly to whittle down my target schools' list, and get suggestions from professionals on others that may be a good fit.
As for the GMAT, I have consistently scored Q49-50/V42-44 on the mocks, and test-day performance suffered because of something unexpected that happened at the centre in the break between V & Q sections. So I know I can pull it off.

Yes, civic tech is indeed something I know of and am currently working upon (in edu-impact) with family members in the entrepreneurial space. The idea is going to be on the ground over the next 6 months. My long-term post-MBA goal too is centered around similar areas, specifically the second venture that I would like to work on - MSME-enablement, focusing on tier-1 suburban areas and tier-2/3 cities in India.

Tech Consulting is something I am already engaged in, so I know I can build transferable skills from here. 
I'm targeting Policy/Public Sector Consulting because I have some trajectory through the Civil Services prep (policy case studies & analysis), and it is something I consider would be fulfilling to me at this stage in my career. However, on checking out profiles of people who are in it, I realise that industry experience is going to be valuable too, so that is a story/time-line that I need to set straight.

The choice of schools is due to two factors really - schools that have a quantifiably significant pipeline into consulting, and have some association with the P/PS-C sector. Kellogg for example, has a significant association with P/PS-C, same goes for INSEAD. I've found out Columbia offers a dual degree in the two (M/PP) and Oxford-Said has a great network with people in the field. I am checking out the options you have listed too, but Wharton and HBS would be way too much of a reach, by most people's opinions.

I haven't had the time to build out my profile/story too well and connect with the schools, having to get my career back up after the break.
So if you could answer a couple questions, that would really help - 
(1) Is it inadvisable to apply in the '23 cycle? Especially if I'm looking at scholarships?
(2) If I am to apply for next year, how much of a factor would my age at graduation be if I'm looking to get into consulting?

Suraj0184 · Answer

&20 score on GMAT provides considerable 'weight' to ypur applications. All the Best

FALSEnine9 · Answer

I would say geography of post MBA job would be a more important factor in the choice of schools. You will have to do some research as to which offices have a decent Public Sector arm. For example, if you're going to end up working for BCG in Dubai, it will make a better sense to go for INSEAD or IESE rather than Booth, which is a longer program and more expensive. You will choose ISB if you want to remain in India- Most consulting firms are taking up a lot of work in Smart cities and economic development. Story would be different if you choose to target in the US. But bear in mind that not all offices in the states do the same kind of work - Some offices will be more engaged in policy consulting than others.

1. It depends on the school. I don't have a lot of knowledge about the US schools but I know for a fact that scholarships for R3 at INSEAD are limited as compared to the earlier rounds, but you can try for the January intake.
2. Geography is a big factor when it comes to age. Say you graduate at 31. In that case you won't have much trouble looking for a consulting role in Europe or Middle East. Whereas it will be more difficult in the US. Generally speaking, you should aim for the school whose class average age is closest to yours.

PadmaiSC · Answer

Hi
I suggest you to apply for Fall2024 intake. Applying by Round-1 increase your chance of admission. Also, since your CGPA is low in Bachelor's, you need to come up with strong reasons for low CGPA and career break. Age is not an issue for university admission but might be for visa. But higher the ranking of the university, the better are the chances. Visa risk w.r.t years of work exp/age are always there for applicants exceeding 2-3 years of work experience. So, applying in 2023 or 2024 will not make much difference.

Thank you
Please feel free to contact for further clarification!
Padma
Senior Counsellor
iSchoolConnect

Profile Evaluation Request - Indian, M, Engineer, 29 (by admissions)

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards