Hi
naven,
Thanks for reaching out with your profile. Your professional background sounds strong, and I agree you should be very happy with your overall GMAT score! I share your concern about the IR (and presumably the AWA) and think that it is worth explaining to schools. Just write something brief in the optional essay. Make sure you're not blaming the test center but explain that the center faced tech issues during your exam. And you should also mention there that you previously scored higher on those sections (you can just mention those sub-section scores from your prior attempt even if you're not officially submitting that first score).
Yes, I think your strategy work and senior leader exposure will give you an edge.
In terms of schools that are good for consulting in that range, I would look at schools such as: Fuqua, Darden, Stern, Ross, Goizueta, Tepper, Georgetown, Marshall. There are of course some differences in location and selectivity with these schools but I think they are all in range for you and have strong records with consulting placements.
Hope that helps!
Kate
naven wrote:
Hello,
Nationality: Indian
Sex: Male
Age: 24
Intake: Fall'23
Education Background: Electronics and Communication Engineering with a CGPA of 8.1/10
Professional Background: Currently working as a Strategy Manager at a leading product based manufacturing company. Work involves Strategy development and Strategy Consulting to the CXO's. Two role based promotions in 2 years, considering my performance. Started out as a Supply Chain intern in my pre-final year of bachelor's, earned a full-time position of Project Management Specialist, then IT Product Manager followed by a promotion as Strategy Manager. (Massive reorganization helped me here)
Though my academic background was into engineering, I had been working in the fields of Supply Chain, Project/Product Management and Strategy.
GMAT: Attempt 1- 700 (Q51, V35, IR 3, AWA 4)
Attempt 2 - 760 (Q50, V44, IR 1) I blew up the AWA and IR which was the first part of my GMAT order. Due to technical jitters, lags and various issues such as the proctor not able to launch the exam for an hour etc, I lost focus and messed up with the initial sections.
EC's - Student Head at a technical student organization during my UG
UN Volunteer Assignments ( Preventing Human Trafficking in Cameroon, Raising education funds for underprivileged girls in Kenya)
Post-MBA goal - Continue in the same domain of (Strategy) Consulting at MBB or the Big 4.
B-Schools: T15-T25 with good scholarship
Questions: 1.) I am very satisfied with my online GMAT attempt 2 score. But I am very insecure if my extremely bad IR and AWA(yet to receive) will raise a big red flag at my admissions. Retake is not an option as I am not very confident that I can repeat this performance again. How do I tackle this? Expert advice please
2.) My academic background puts me in the vast ORM category. But with a little unique professional background of Strategy Consulting, Will I have an edge over the others?
Suggestions of schools are highly welcomed.