Last visit was: 29 Apr 2026, 05:59 It is currently 29 Apr 2026, 05:59
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
mba07
User avatar
Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Last visit: 19 Oct 2011
Posts: 219
Own Kudos:
11
Schools:Ross, Kellogg, Darden (i/v)
Posts: 219
Kudos: 11
Re-App Strategy 26 Mar 2009, 06:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello!

I'm writing this post a day after my MBA season came to an end - with rejects from all the schools I had applied to.
After mourning through it, I have decided that I want to reapply next year.

Here are some of my stats:

GMAT: 730 (AWA 4.5)
GPA: 8+ on a 10 scale (Indian school).
Work ex: Since July 2005 (In the US since July 2007)
Nationality: Indian
Industry: IT
Extra currics: Decent while in college. Not much afterwards.
Current location: US

Project Leadership at work. Some leadership experiences in college.
Schools applied to this year: Kellogg(applicant initiated interview), Darden (invited to interview), Ross-Michigan

Post-MBA career goal: Strategy Consulting.

Do you see an obvious problem with my profile? What can I do to better my chances next year?

Thanks for your time!!
User avatar
PaulBodine
User avatar
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Last visit: 11 Jul 2018
Posts: 1,794
Own Kudos:
192
Status:Trust Experience, Trust Success
Affiliations: U. Chicago, Johns Hopkins, AIGAC
Posts: 1,794
Kudos: 192
Re-App Strategy 27 Mar 2009, 12:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mba07,

Sorry you didn't have better luck this year. It has been a tough one for many applicants. Assuming you are a male, then your profile -- male, Indian, IT-- may be the most common of all applicant profiles for business school. Schools want diverse classes so they have to cap the percentage of people they admit from any one applicant pool, which for male Indian IT'ers means a lot of talented people get dinged. I also see that you have little community involvement since college; this also hurts you. You need to find yourself a leadership role with a community organization (think creatively here) and try to have a big impact. You also made the mistake of applying to only three schools -- all highly competitive. You need to spread your risk and add some schools where your odds are better. You need to apply in the first round at the top schools and even consider stating some goals that are less common. See Accepted.com's advice for Indian applicants.

I could give you a more detailed ding analysis if I reviewed your apps (this would be on a consultant-client basis, of course).

Hope this helps,
User avatar
mba07
User avatar
Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Last visit: 19 Oct 2011
Posts: 219
Own Kudos:
11
Schools:Ross, Kellogg, Darden (i/v)
Posts: 219
Kudos: 11
Re-App Strategy 27 Mar 2009, 13:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
pbodine
mba07,

Sorry you didn't have better luck this year. It has been a tough one for many applicants. Assuming you are a male, then your profile -- male, Indian, IT-- may be the most common of all applicant profiles for business school. Schools want diverse classes so they have to cap the percentage of people they admit from any one applicant pool, which for male Indian IT'ers means a lot of talented people get dinged. I also see that you have little community involvement since college; this also hurts you. You need to find yourself a leadership role with a community organization (think creatively here) and try to have a big impact. You also made the mistake of applying to only three schools -- all highly competitive. You need to spread your risk and add some schools where your odds are better. You need to apply in the first round at the top schools and even consider stating some goals that are less common. See Accepted.com's advice for Indian applicants.

I could give you a more detailed ding analysis if I reviewed your apps (this would be on a consultant-client basis, of course).

Hope this helps,
Show more

Paul,
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, I am male and all my applications were in Round2.
Guess that explains half the problem.

If I am reapplying to the same schools next year (along with some others), can I still have different goals? Won't that raise an alarm?

next year, I want to apply to one or two schools in the top 10; 3 schools in 10-20 range and 2 more in the 20-40 range.

I am thinking Kellogg and Booth; Darden, UNC and Ross; Emory and <insert school here>
Do you have any suggestions?

PS:Do you think my AWA score might be a problem?

Thanks!
User avatar
PaulBodine
User avatar
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Last visit: 11 Jul 2018
Posts: 1,794
Own Kudos:
192
Status:Trust Experience, Trust Success
Affiliations: U. Chicago, Johns Hopkins, AIGAC
Posts: 1,794
Kudos: 192
Re-App Strategy 04 Apr 2009, 12:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mba07,

I doubt if the AWA is an issue. Changing your goals won't be a problem as long as you can reasonably explain why you changed them. Even if they suspect that you changed them to improve your odds, I doubt that that would be a deal-breaker as long as you (a) give a decent story about where the new goals came from, (b) show real due diligence in exploring those new goals, and (c) present the goals in a savvy, knowledgeable, compelling way. Your odds should be better at UNC and Emory, no question. You could also consider Georgetown. To be successful at Chicago, Kellogg, Darden, and Michigan you will have to present them with a clearly stronger profile than you did this year.

Good luck,