R2 scholarship chances - LBS, INSEAD, and SMU

Question

Seeking some advice in terms of my overall admission chances and the scope for bagging a scholarship if I apply in R2 in LBS, INSEAD, and SMU.

Broad details about my profile are mentioned below:

F (27) with 3.5 YoE in Government Advisory in the Central Indian Ministries of Health and Education.

Post MBA Goal - Social Impact Consulting.

GMAT (FE) - 715
UG CGPA - 7.25/10

ECs - Experience with an education NGO working with a mentee since last 6 months + Certification course in ESG

International Experience (relevant for INSEAD and also LBS) - Haven't worked abroad. I have worked with policymakers for various global summits such as the World Health Assembly, World Economic Forum, G-20 Health Working Group Meetings but there was no direct interaction with international delegates. I have travelled to 3 countries but never to Europe.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey, yashi3 Your profile looks pretty good for MBA applications, especially to programs that you mentioned LBS, INSEAD, and SMU, but there are areas to be addressed to strengthen your chances and increase your scope for scholarships. Your GMAT Focus score of 715 is strong and competitive, which will be an asset, particularly for LBS and INSEAD. Your UG CGPA is decent, though not exceptional, and will require you to highlight your academic resilience and relevant achievements in your application. Your work experience is impressive, especially as it relates to your post-MBA goal of Social Impact Consulting. This niche area aligns well with the missions of these schools, particularly INSEAD's strong focus on social impact. You can leverage your unique public sector background to differentiate yourself with private-sector candidates. While you haven't directly worked abroad or with international teams, your involvement with high-level global summits (World Health Assembly, G-20, etc.) can be framed to show exposure to international policymaking, which can be relevant for LBS and INSEAD. However, it will be important to emphasize any global insights gained and your adaptability to international environments. Your ECs in mentoring through an education NGO and your ESG certification are positive, showing leadership in areas tied to social impact. These contributions will be valuable to your narrative, but you may want to further strengthen your leadership roles or community involvement in this space before applying. Regarding scholarships, LBS and INSEAD are competitive but offer significant financial aid, especially for candidates with unique backgrounds like yours. Scholarships will depend on how well you articulate your contributions to the program and society, so focus on building a strong personal narrative and crafting an impressive answer. Research scholarships that focus on social impact, leadership, or emerging markets (such as the Forte Foundation, INSEAD’s social impact awards, or LBS’s regional scholarships). Show how an MBA will amplify your ability to contribute to both the school’s community and broader societal goals. One of our applicants got a scholarship from INSEAD in R3. Also, I would advise you to apply to some other great business schools in Europe or Canada, and yes, would like to know more about your post-MBA goals because that is one major factor in deciding the right fit. If you’d like, we are happy to hop on a call sometime this week to discuss your chances further. Cheers! Shantanu Sharma Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond Testimonials Email: valuecreation@mbaandbeyond.com

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hello  yashi3  ,

Congratulations on hitting a GMAT 715 FE = 99 percentile and your education arc looks good. Though your work experience is below the average for your target schools, your work accomplishments and responsibilities will set you apart. 
All three programs have good international intake around or above 40% of the class having women candidates and at least 5% of the class from non-traditional/Government/public sector backgrounds; this is a good sign for your admission and scholarship chances. As concerned with International experience for LBS And INSED, make use of essays to explain the adcom that your involvement in global platforms like G-20, and WHA.

As scholarships are limited in number and competitive, these programs offer need-based, merit-based, and diversity scholarships. Your GMAT and academics will surely gain good chances if you apply for merit-based and diversity-based like Bk Biral, Forté Foundation, and women's scholarships in R2.

Talk to our  Alumni team  to evaluate and proceed with R2 applications with your current profile.

TheRedPen · Answer

Hi  yashi3 ,

Your profile demonstrates a strong foundation for pursuing an MBA, particularly at your target schools. Your GMAT score is competitive and aligns well with your target schools. Your experience in government advisory demonstrates your exposure to policymaking and public sector initiatives. Your involvement with an education NGO showcases your commitment to social impact. While your experience with global summits is valuable, direct international work experience can be beneficial. All of this positions you well for competitive programs.

Your target schools of LBS, INSEAD, and SMU are ambitious but achievable. Given your interest in social impact consulting, these programs offer strong opportunities in that area.

Would you like to  schedule a free consultation  with one of our MBA experts to delve deeper into your profile and develop a tailored application strategy? We can help you identify the best-fit programs and optimize your chances of admission. Our contact number is +91 7780769732.

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi Yashi3, Your work experience in the Govt Advisory can be a differentiating factor for you. Working in the ministry can mean that you can boast of very large impact on your resume + narrate stories that show significant achievement and impact + write compelling and ambitious goals. while you should go ahead and apply to these 3 MBA programs, you could add Oxford to your list as well, because the program places so much emphasis on social impact, and you could also be the contender for a scholarship. Regarding the international exposure bit- you will have to show your cultural sensitivity and adaptability to people who have different backgrounds from you. You can do that even if your have not travelled abroad. feel free to reach out for a profile evaluation Namita Garg, Founder, MBA Decoder Email: contact@mbadecoder.com Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

R2 scholarship chances - LBS, INSEAD, and SMU

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