Requesting a profile review/evaluation for R2 apps.

Question

Background: 27F Indian with a top-20 engineering undergrad degree in computer science. GRE 325(V162 Q163) and GPA 3.3. Notable involvement in student leadership and volunteering.

Work-ex: 4+ years as a Software Engineer at a Bulge Bracket Investment Bank with rapid career growth, earning 3 promotions in 4 years. Consistently a top-performer (top 5% in my grade) with extensive involvement in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

ECs: One year of volunteer work as a student mentor for underprivileged youth, and six months of experience as a Social Media manager at a different NGO.

Post-MBA Goals: Seeking PM roles at high-tech companies or Tech Consulting positions at a T1 consulting firm.

Target Schools: Booth, Berkeley, Tuck, Darden, UCLA, Cornell, Ross, Duke, Foster, USC Marshall, HEC.

Q1. What can I improve in my profile in terms of ECs, scores before R2?
Q2. What are my chances of getting into one of these schools with some scholarship? 
Q3. Should I retake GRE and try to score a 330+ to have a better chance at landing an offer with scholarship?

Businessconquerer · Answer

Booth, Berkeley, Tuck, Ross, Duke (only because of R2), Darden, Cornell - Stretch schools Others competitive. The profile is definitely good, especially given the number of promotions. A.1 I'd suggest a GRE retake, because some of the schools you're looking at (esp. from overrepresented candidates- our specialty at MBA Conquerors - www.mbaconquerors.com) require a higher than average score. And the profile is definitely above average but the work ex only compensates for academics in terms of special cases like business ownership etc. Also the 3.3 GPA can be compensated with the high GRE. A.2 Foster and Marshall should, I think. A.3 Yes. Absolutely. You really should check out our testimonials here, if you want to see how it works- www.mbaconquerors.com/testimonials

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi Ipshita, Your profile looks great. To elaborate, the highlights are: WExp with a BB + steep career trajectory+ volunteering initiatives(if they allow you to show leadership). At this moment, I would be most concerned about working on the actual application, which means getting started with the resume and essays. GMAT/ GRE is the other big component in the application and IMO, you can make another effort on this front. A 325 GRE is unfortunately just about average at most MBA programs, and given the competitive nature of the admission process, you will be best served if you can increase this score. That said, try to get this down by the end of the month, so that you have enough time to work on the essays. You haven't really explained about the DEI and CSR initiatives, but if they allow you to have sizeable impact, then I would recommend you don't stress about these at all. Just keep up the good work you are doing on this front, and that should be enough. You don't have to spend the next 2-3 months strengthening this element on your profile, and I can say that with a lot more assertiveness if i can have a look at your resume / hear about these experiences. So, feel free to schedule a call via this link: https://mbadecoder.com/services/free-pr ... valuation/ Your list of b-schools looks very competitive but also has a mix of some safety b-schools. A higher GRE score would definitely help. Namita Garg. Founder, MBA Decoder Email: contact@mbadecoder.com

admitStreet · Answer

iipshitaaaaaa . Some thoughts on your profile and queries: 1. GPA and undergrad pedigree are fine. GRE is a bit on the lower side, given the Indian applicant pool. Would suggest a retake, especially if you are keen on scholarships. 2. Professional experience seems interesting, given the promotions and association with an IB brand. Transitioning to Tech consulting or PM seems natural, given your potential transferable skills (can comment better once I understand the details of your work-ex). Would suggest researching more on the target roles (even companies) to gain a better understanding of the landscape you are targeting. This eventually trickles down to stronger essays and interviews. 3. ECs seem alright, can comment better with more details. The goal with ECs though is to position your overall profile aligned to the values/ ethos of your target school, highlighting your key learnings from these activities and how this would help the school (i.e. what would you bring to them). Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions Interviewer W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com

MBAGuide · Answer

iipshitaaaaaa Your experience has substantial potential for narrative shaping. But you belong to an overrepresented demographic, making it important to stand out. Your B-School essays pose a similar interpersonal challenge: how to present your best self when your personal distinctiveness, rather than your resume, is what will set you apart from other high-achievers competing for a spot in B-School. If B schools categorize applicants into three groups- the doables, the accomplished, and the dazzling, what steps can you take to transition seamlessly from the doable category to the dazzling one. First, I would highly recommend giving your GRE another attempt, especially if you are serious about the first 8 schools on your list. A rightly mentioned, a 325 is likely the average for your demographic at top B schools. Second, your goals are expressed way too broadly. Probably every 3rd application to these schools from Indian applicants has similarly stated and repurposed goals. Think how you would connect your goals in tech consulting to your prior experience in BB and with the kind of person you seem to be through the activities you have engaged in parallel to your professional pursuits. Demonstrating the "fit" with the school is equally important. If you haven't already, start preparing a repository of reasons why each of the listed schools should consider you over any other applicant who applies. Speak with alumni, adcoms, industry specialists, and potential recruiters to understand how you can add value. Differentiate yourself by including themes that these schools don't automatically associate with your profession, such as creativity or your seriousness about social impact causes. Consider including unique experiences and look for unusual childhood or family experiences, hobbies, or international experiences that offset the predictability of your professional profile and incorporate these into your MBA pitch. Get candid personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. We do not cap discussion hours for our applicants Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

Requesting a profile review/evaluation for R2 apps.

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