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Register for the GMAT Club Virtual MBA Spotlight Fair – the world’s premier event for serious MBA candidates. This is your chance to hear directly from Admissions Directors at nearly every Top 30 MBA program..
02 Feb 2026, 13:42
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Hi everyone,
My profile - 31F, 10th - 78%, 12th - 79%, BBA undergrad 60% from Calcutta University
I have done CS (ICSI - 57%) and LLb (Calcutta University - 70%)
Have 6+ years of M&A tax and legal experience and have worked in 15+ M&A assignments at Big6s organisations in India.
I am looking to transition from M&A tax to M&A consulting and eventually into Corporate Development or corporate strategy roles and hence looking at MBA.
I understand my acads are average and hence not sure if I should even put in efforts to prepare for GMATs.
Do I even stand chance of getting into a decent college.
Can I realistically target MBA programs at ISB, PGPX at IIM A,B,C,L,I,K or XLRI PGDM (GM), SPJIMR PGPM or MDI (PGDM BM).
While I only intent to target Indian bschools, but if that is completely impossible are there any international bschools that I can target?
Also, what gmat score should I target? I sat for mock gmat with 7 days of prep and could only score 550 (gmat classic), so don't think I can realistically score anything more than 700, if at all.
Need help!
My profile - 31F, 10th - 78%, 12th - 79%, BBA undergrad 60% from Calcutta University
I have done CS (ICSI - 57%) and LLb (Calcutta University - 70%)
Have 6+ years of M&A tax and legal experience and have worked in 15+ M&A assignments at Big6s organisations in India.
I am looking to transition from M&A tax to M&A consulting and eventually into Corporate Development or corporate strategy roles and hence looking at MBA.
I understand my acads are average and hence not sure if I should even put in efforts to prepare for GMATs.
Do I even stand chance of getting into a decent college.
Can I realistically target MBA programs at ISB, PGPX at IIM A,B,C,L,I,K or XLRI PGDM (GM), SPJIMR PGPM or MDI (PGDM BM).
While I only intent to target Indian bschools, but if that is completely impossible are there any international bschools that I can target?
Also, what gmat score should I target? I sat for mock gmat with 7 days of prep and could only score 550 (gmat classic), so don't think I can realistically score anything more than 700, if at all.
Need help!
23 Feb 2026, 20:37
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You definitely shouldn’t count yourself out. Your academics may be average, but 6+ years of solid M&A tax and legal experience at Big 6 firms — especially across 15+ deals — is a strong differentiator. That profile is far from weak.
For schools like ISB and PGPX programs, work experience and career progression matter a lot, sometimes more than undergrad scores. A strong GMAT can offset average acads, so I wouldn’t give up based on a 550 mock after just 7 days of prep. With 2–3 months of focused prep, 680+ (or equivalent in the new GMAT format) is realistic for many candidates.
ISB, SPJIMR PGPM, MDI (BM), and even some IIM PGPX programs are reasonable targets if you can push your test score higher and craft a strong story around your transition to consulting/strategy.
I’d suggest taking the GMAT seriously for a few months before deciding. Your work profile gives you a fighting chance — now it’s about execution.
For schools like ISB and PGPX programs, work experience and career progression matter a lot, sometimes more than undergrad scores. A strong GMAT can offset average acads, so I wouldn’t give up based on a 550 mock after just 7 days of prep. With 2–3 months of focused prep, 680+ (or equivalent in the new GMAT format) is realistic for many candidates.
ISB, SPJIMR PGPM, MDI (BM), and even some IIM PGPX programs are reasonable targets if you can push your test score higher and craft a strong story around your transition to consulting/strategy.
I’d suggest taking the GMAT seriously for a few months before deciding. Your work profile gives you a fighting chance — now it’s about execution.
01 Mar 2026, 23:17
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@officialum,
At this stage, I’d recommend focusing fully on your GMAT Focus preparation and aiming for the highest score you can realistically achieve. A stronger test score not only improves competitiveness but also gives you more optionality across schools.
For ISB, a GMAT Focus 670+ would be a solid target to stay comfortably competitive. For many other reputable B-schools, competitive ranges typically fall between 600–650, depending on the applicant pool and profile strength.
That said, test scores are only one component of the evaluation. Your professional trajectory, demonstrated leadership, clarity of career progression, and how effectively you align your pre-MBA experience with your post-MBA goals will ultimately carry significant weight.
A strong score opens the door — but positioning and narrative coherence determine the final outcome.
All the best with your prep.
Feel free to reach out should you want a one to one discussion
All the Best!
Shrey Bahadur
Founder, GradOcean Admission Consultants
At this stage, I’d recommend focusing fully on your GMAT Focus preparation and aiming for the highest score you can realistically achieve. A stronger test score not only improves competitiveness but also gives you more optionality across schools.
For ISB, a GMAT Focus 670+ would be a solid target to stay comfortably competitive. For many other reputable B-schools, competitive ranges typically fall between 600–650, depending on the applicant pool and profile strength.
That said, test scores are only one component of the evaluation. Your professional trajectory, demonstrated leadership, clarity of career progression, and how effectively you align your pre-MBA experience with your post-MBA goals will ultimately carry significant weight.
A strong score opens the door — but positioning and narrative coherence determine the final outcome.
All the best with your prep.
Feel free to reach out should you want a one to one discussion
All the Best!
Shrey Bahadur
Founder, GradOcean Admission Consultants
officiaullam
