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07 Jun 2017, 08:12
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Hello,
I hope you are well.
Would you be able to spend some time evaluating my profile and recommending some top schools that I should focus on?
GPA: 3.5 (from a business school in Hong Kong; majored in Finance; graduated in 2012)
Citizenship: India but have been living in Hong Kong for ~9 years now
Work: 6 Years (by the time I enroll) of institutional business development for a top investment bank (MS/GS/JP)
GMAT: 710 (Q48/V38/IR3/AW5); this is my biggest worry.
Other points to note:
- Have shown a 'habit of leadership' throughout life (high school, university, and work); see below.
- School Captain
- Overall Student Life Award at university for leadership and community integration
- Officially recognized as one of the most promising juniors in Asia (elected to sit on multiple leadership committees)
- Became responsible to cover the largest institutional clients in Asia just after 2 years at work (based on performance); our coverage even got recognized with a "best client service" award by the client directly.
- Specially selected by our international CEO of our business to lead a project based out of Asia
- Have gone through exceptional circumstances back home to reach where I am (none of my parents are educated, extremely poor background but went to one of the best high schools in Delhi, Dad passed away at an early age)
- Worked part time during university to support myself
- Don't have exceptional community service but actively mentor students at my secondary school back home and juniors at university)
- Trained for and ran a marathon
- LGBTQ
Would appreciate your thoughts on (apologies, in advance, for the long list of questions):
1) I have taken the GMAT multiple times but I am unable to do better under time constraints (and historically, this has been the case too). Is there a way I could address this? I am confident that I have the intellectual horsepower (at least for business school) when time is not a constraint.
2) What would be the ideal short-term goal for me to highlight? I am afraid that my real goal is too...different from what my current background would permit. Should I stick to a goal in the investment management industry alone? I understand that AdComs think carefully about whether a candidate will be able to achieve their immediate goal.
3) Given the Indian citizenship (Hong Kong resident for 9 years) and a relatively low GMAT, should I even target the top 10 schools? Ideally, I would really like to make it to a top 10 school - don't want to spend USD 250k(!!) anywhere else, really - but I am conscious of the competition from Indian male candidates.
4) Should I have one recommender from London and one from Hong Kong? Or do you think it would be better to have both from Hong Kong (since AdComs prefer to have people working close to you)?
5) Any 10-20 school that you would recommend for someone who wants to return to Asia? I don't want to work in the US.
Thank you your thoughts, in advance!
I hope you are well.
Would you be able to spend some time evaluating my profile and recommending some top schools that I should focus on?
GPA: 3.5 (from a business school in Hong Kong; majored in Finance; graduated in 2012)
Citizenship: India but have been living in Hong Kong for ~9 years now
Work: 6 Years (by the time I enroll) of institutional business development for a top investment bank (MS/GS/JP)
GMAT: 710 (Q48/V38/IR3/AW5); this is my biggest worry.
Other points to note:
- Have shown a 'habit of leadership' throughout life (high school, university, and work); see below.
- School Captain
- Overall Student Life Award at university for leadership and community integration
- Officially recognized as one of the most promising juniors in Asia (elected to sit on multiple leadership committees)
- Became responsible to cover the largest institutional clients in Asia just after 2 years at work (based on performance); our coverage even got recognized with a "best client service" award by the client directly.
- Specially selected by our international CEO of our business to lead a project based out of Asia
- Have gone through exceptional circumstances back home to reach where I am (none of my parents are educated, extremely poor background but went to one of the best high schools in Delhi, Dad passed away at an early age)
- Worked part time during university to support myself
- Don't have exceptional community service but actively mentor students at my secondary school back home and juniors at university)
- Trained for and ran a marathon
- LGBTQ
Would appreciate your thoughts on (apologies, in advance, for the long list of questions):
1) I have taken the GMAT multiple times but I am unable to do better under time constraints (and historically, this has been the case too). Is there a way I could address this? I am confident that I have the intellectual horsepower (at least for business school) when time is not a constraint.
2) What would be the ideal short-term goal for me to highlight? I am afraid that my real goal is too...different from what my current background would permit. Should I stick to a goal in the investment management industry alone? I understand that AdComs think carefully about whether a candidate will be able to achieve their immediate goal.
3) Given the Indian citizenship (Hong Kong resident for 9 years) and a relatively low GMAT, should I even target the top 10 schools? Ideally, I would really like to make it to a top 10 school - don't want to spend USD 250k(!!) anywhere else, really - but I am conscious of the competition from Indian male candidates.
4) Should I have one recommender from London and one from Hong Kong? Or do you think it would be better to have both from Hong Kong (since AdComs prefer to have people working close to you)?
5) Any 10-20 school that you would recommend for someone who wants to return to Asia? I don't want to work in the US.
Thank you your thoughts, in advance!
VantagePointMelody
Joined: 19 Apr 2016
Last visit: 26 Jun 2024
Posts: 203
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Given Kudos: 1
Schools: CBS '13 (A)
Expert reply
14 Jun 2017, 12:19
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Hi there,
Thanks for sharing the details of your profile! I’m happy to see that you’re already thinking about how you can inject aspects of your personal background into your applications – that’s something that doesn’t come naturally to a lot of applicants so you’re already a step ahead
I agree that your GMAT is not the strongest element in your profile but I don’t think you should lose hope – it’s only one data point in a holistic application and you have a lot going for you in terms of work/leadership experience, international experience, diverse personal background, etc. The key will be packaging that in a clear and cohesive narrative that showcases what you will contribute to your MBA community, both during your two years on campus and beyond. So let me dive into some of your specific questions:
1) Unfortunately, time management is one of the greatest challenges of the GMAT and one that all test-takers face. So I don’t think there’s really a story for you there. I would advise accepting your GMAT score for what it is and focusing on the other elements of your application that you can still impact – your essays, your resume, etc.
2) You’re right that your career goals should be realistic but just as importantly, they should be authentic! Trying to tell the adcom a story that you think they want to hear will only backfire – they read too many applications every day to not be able to detect BS! I didn't see exactly what your "real" goals are so it’s tough for me to provide more specific feedback but my advice is to do some more soul-searching and research in order to figure out how you can align your goals with both your dreams and reality.
3) I don’t think the top 10 schools should be out of reach for you but I wouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. Applying to 2 or 3 top 10 schools that are the best fit for you together with a few top 15-20 would be a good approach, in my opinion. Don’t get too hung up on the rankings – the reality is that the quality of your education, your career options, your network, won’t be that different (although I know that perception is tough to overcome). However, an MBA is a big investment, like you said, and you shouldn’t apply to programs that you wouldn’t be thrilled to attend. So it’s a balancing act in the end.
4) Recommender selection is more art than science, in my experience, and there’s no right or wrong mix. It’s all about selecting recommenders who know you best (this one is key!), who will write great letters on your behalf, and who will offer diverse perspectives on your performance, potential, etc.
5) In general, I would go with programs which have the strongest international brand name recognition. I’m sure you have a good sense of this living in Hong Kong. Otherwise, selecting schools that will align with your career goals in terms of industry and function is a good place to start. Another option for you could be European programs – INSEAD, LBS, Cambridge, etc. are all top-ranked programs with highly global networks. If you don’t plan on working in the US after graduation, you may find that these programs will open more doors for you post-graduation.
I hope that helps! I’m happy to chat further about any and all of this if you’d like. You can sign up for a free consultation with me here. Either way, best of luck!
Kindly,
Melody
Thanks for sharing the details of your profile! I’m happy to see that you’re already thinking about how you can inject aspects of your personal background into your applications – that’s something that doesn’t come naturally to a lot of applicants so you’re already a step ahead
I agree that your GMAT is not the strongest element in your profile but I don’t think you should lose hope – it’s only one data point in a holistic application and you have a lot going for you in terms of work/leadership experience, international experience, diverse personal background, etc. The key will be packaging that in a clear and cohesive narrative that showcases what you will contribute to your MBA community, both during your two years on campus and beyond. So let me dive into some of your specific questions:1) Unfortunately, time management is one of the greatest challenges of the GMAT and one that all test-takers face. So I don’t think there’s really a story for you there. I would advise accepting your GMAT score for what it is and focusing on the other elements of your application that you can still impact – your essays, your resume, etc.
2) You’re right that your career goals should be realistic but just as importantly, they should be authentic! Trying to tell the adcom a story that you think they want to hear will only backfire – they read too many applications every day to not be able to detect BS! I didn't see exactly what your "real" goals are so it’s tough for me to provide more specific feedback but my advice is to do some more soul-searching and research in order to figure out how you can align your goals with both your dreams and reality.
3) I don’t think the top 10 schools should be out of reach for you but I wouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. Applying to 2 or 3 top 10 schools that are the best fit for you together with a few top 15-20 would be a good approach, in my opinion. Don’t get too hung up on the rankings – the reality is that the quality of your education, your career options, your network, won’t be that different (although I know that perception is tough to overcome). However, an MBA is a big investment, like you said, and you shouldn’t apply to programs that you wouldn’t be thrilled to attend. So it’s a balancing act in the end.
4) Recommender selection is more art than science, in my experience, and there’s no right or wrong mix. It’s all about selecting recommenders who know you best (this one is key!), who will write great letters on your behalf, and who will offer diverse perspectives on your performance, potential, etc.
5) In general, I would go with programs which have the strongest international brand name recognition. I’m sure you have a good sense of this living in Hong Kong. Otherwise, selecting schools that will align with your career goals in terms of industry and function is a good place to start. Another option for you could be European programs – INSEAD, LBS, Cambridge, etc. are all top-ranked programs with highly global networks. If you don’t plan on working in the US after graduation, you may find that these programs will open more doors for you post-graduation.
I hope that helps! I’m happy to chat further about any and all of this if you’d like. You can sign up for a free consultation with me here. Either way, best of luck!
Kindly,
Melody
