Requesting Profile Evaluation

Question

Hello,
Please help me evaluate my profile and any necessary action items that might be needed to fill the gaps.

Background and nationality:
30 years, Female Indian.

Academic background:

10th from ICSE, India: 88%
12th from ICSE, India: 78%
BTech in EE, India: 8.15 CGPA

Gmat score - 615 (1st attempt)

Professional background:
Internship : 3 Internships at different major government organizations during Under Graduation.
Total Work experience: 8 years with IT Services MNC (Currently working as a Custom Engineering Specialist/Team Lead)

Extra- Curricular
- Completed Professional Certificate Programme in Advanced Strategic Management Certification from Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode
- Awarded Multi Skilled Champion in my company 2025
- Awarded North Star Pinnacle Award 2025
-Participated in International Model United Nations Conference, 2015.
-Awarded certificate, by Enactus India, in recognition of commitment to use
entrepreneurial action.
-Awarded certificate for participating in “Rail Shubhrat” by East Coast Indian Railways.
-Certificate of Appreciation, by KISS, in recognition of the efforts in the program
“Project Learn Out Loud”.

MBA Plan - Currently thinking of MBA in general management with a specialization in Product Management or Strategic Management.

Plan post-MBA: To move into Product management Roles utilizing my technical background and skills to be obtained during my MBA.

TARGET SCHOOL –
1) London Business School
2) INSEAD
3) University of Warwick
4) HEC Paris
5) NUS
6) NTU
7) Imperial

What next steps should I take to improve my profile and be a better fit and what other colleges can I target ?

admitStreet · Answer

Sneha_Bose - interesting profile overall. Some thoughts and clarifications: The acads/ GPA are good, which undergrad university was it from (Tier-1, Tier-2)? The GMAT score is alright, but could be a bit on the lower side. What's the sectional split, and was the score in line with your mocks/ expectations? A retake could be worth it if you scored higher in mocks, assuming you're looking at Jan deadlines. Which company/ companies have you worked in, and which role(s)/ functions? Have there been any promotions? And have you had any international exposure or leadership stints? Schools such as INSEAD, LBS and HEC value these angles Extracurriculars seem good - I'd like to understand more context on your involvement/ duration etc. It'd be crucial to have a robust narrative covering your experiences, career goals, and how the MBA would help fill gaps. Deciding the right mix of schools would require further discussions, but overall, your mix looks fine - perhaps also consider IESE and Cambridge? Hope this helps. Feel free to reach out for a discussion. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Testimonials W: https://admitstreet.com/ | LinkedIn | Request a Free Profile Evaluation

ApplicantX · Answer

Good professional experience and academics; main gap is GMAT.

GMAT: 615 is below average for your target schools. Retaking and aiming for 665+ (FE) / 700+ (Classic) will strengthen your chances and scholarship potential. 
 International Exposure: Try to gain short-term or cross-border project experience; European schools value global outlook. 
 Career Goals: Be specific, focus clearly on product management as your post-MBA target. 
 Essays: Emphasize leadership, measurable impact, and your transition from tech to product management.

School Categorization
 
 Ambitious: LBS, INSEAD, HEC Paris, NUS 
 Competitive: Imperial, NTU

sb05 · Answer

Hi Arvind,
Thank you for your questions/inputs.

1. My UnderGrad was from Tier 2 private University
2. My score is at par with mocks (Q78 V84 DI 81)
3. I am currently working with one of the top IT MNC. I have gotten 3 promotions in 5 years, currently working working as an Engineering/Team Lead for the last 2+ years. I don't have any specific international exposure (apart from personal travels) as such but currently working with leading US client so my team is spread globally. 
4. I have been associated with multiple social groups throughout my UnderGrad - 
 - Teaching under privileged children (“Project Learn Out Loud”)
 - Was a part of the a social program to encourage railway cleanliness.
 - Was also part of an initiative,  “Dhwani,”  aimed at helping children with hearing impairments learn computers.

Please let me know if any other details might be useful.

admitStreet · Answer

sb05 - thanks for the updates. The current score with a strong application could work for Warwick, Imperial and potentially IESE and Cambridge. However, for 'Ambitious' schools such as INSEAD, LBS and NUS, a higher score (ideally 655 - 665+) will increase your chances, both for admissions and scholarships. If you decide to retake, focus on the quant section. Either way, make sure to have a strong overall application and be prepared to handle interviews well. All the best! Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Testimonials W: https://admitstreet.com/ | LinkedIn | Request a Free Profile Evaluation

admitStreet · Answer

sb05 - thanks for the updates. The current score with a strong application could work for Warwick, Imperial and potentially IESE and Cambridge. However, for 'Ambitious' schools such as INSEAD, LBS and NUS, a higher score (ideally 655 - 665+) will increase your chances, both for admissions and scholarships. If you decide to retake, focus on the quant section. Either way, make sure to have a strong overall application and be prepared to handle interviews well. All the best! Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Testimonials W: https://admitstreet.com/ | LinkedIn | Request a Free Profile Evaluation

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hi  sb05 ,

The GMAT is the weak link in your profile for most schools on your list barring Warwick and Imperial. So, the top thing for you would be to retake the test and apply with an improved score.

Rest, the need for MBA post 8 years of work experience will need to be addressed as well.

We encourage you to inquire with us so we can schedule a  free strategy session  for guiding you.

Thanks and all the best!

Experts' Global

TheRedPen · Answer

Hi, You already have a solid foundation for top international MBA programs. With eight years of professional experience in technology, strong academic performance, and several leadership and recognition awards, your profile demonstrates consistency, credibility, and impact. Your interest in general management and product strategy aligns well with the offerings at schools such as London Business School, INSEAD, and HEC Paris. To become more competitive, focus on strengthening your overall positioning. A higher GMAT score would significantly improve your chances at the top European and Asian programs, but even beyond that, your application should clearly highlight leadership impact, cross-functional collaboration, and how your technical expertise translates into product or strategic management potential. Emphasizing international exposure or cross-border work will also help you stand out in global cohorts. You are in a strong place to build from with a clear, goal-driven narrative and focused execution; your profile can resonate well with your target schools. Let’s schedule a free appointment to review your profile in depth and craft a refined application strategy that brings out your strengths and readiness for a global MBA . You can also contact us directly at team.mba@theredpen.com or +91-7780769732.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Thanks for sharing your profile  sb05  ! You have good professional seniority and leadership signals for European/UK MBAs: ~8 years, multiple promotions, awards, and credible upskilling. Your main numeric/marketability gap is the GMAT FE 615. Many of your target schools’ incoming cohorts sit several dozen points higher on average and often show 5-6 years of average experience (so your experience is an asset). With a focused GMAT FE uplift (675+), sharpened product/strategy stories, and targeted LORs, you convert from “interesting” to “competitive” at LBS, INSEAD, HEC, and Imperial. If you do not retake, you might still have a shot at a subset of your targets (Warwick, NTU, NUS) by leaning heavily on leadership, promotions, and a tight MBA narrative.

What AdComs might like about your profile: Seniority & promotions, Technical + marketing blend, BTech + PGDM + engineering/product exposure make you credible for Product Management and strategy transitions. National/company recognitions and the IIM Kozhikode program show high performance and seriousness about upskilling. Global client exposure, working with leading US clients, and managing distributed teams give you international collaborative experience, useful for global campuses.

Primary weaknesses/risks (and why they matter): 615 GMAT below the typical mid-range for many target schools; raises a red flag for quantitative readiness at top programs. Schools weigh test scores heavily as a quick filter. Tightness of product story, you want product/strategy, but admissions & recruiters will want explicit examples of product ownership, roadmaps, user metrics, or prior strategy projects. Converting engineering leadership stories into product/strategy impact is essential.

For highly selective programs (INSEAD, LBS, HEC), you must show concrete school-specific fit (exact courses, faculty, clubs, recruiting pathways) and network evidence.

Try to get a small product/strategy deliverable, volunteer or negotiate a stretch project: own a product feature, lead a client solution roadmap, or run a few-month pilot that yields measurable metrics. Even small PM ownership matters. Why: Adcoms want concrete product/strategy aptitude; you must translate engineering leadership into product outcomes.

LORs: Primary: your current manager (promotions, leadership). Secondary: senior cross-functional partner (product head, client stakeholder) who can vouch for strategic thinking. Give them a 1-page brief with metrics and suggested anecdotes.

Network with students/alumni at each school and attend an info session/campus visit; capture 1-2 concrete insights per school to cite in essays and add to demonstrated interest.

Craft a crisp ‘Why MBA / Why Now / Why this school’ for each target: name courses, professors, clubs, career paths (like, LBS Private Equity & VC, INSEAD’s entrepreneurship resources, Imperial’s Product modules) and link them to a 2-year post-MBA role (like, Senior Product Manager at X company or Strategy Consultant in tech).

You can also explore other schools like Judge, Manchester, ESCP / ESADE / IE.

About your post-MBA story(focus on):
Trajectory: engineering > team-lead > product/strategy owner. Use numbers: team size, revenue/ARR impacted, adoption %, time saved, promotions timeline.

Present realistic next step: You can read this blog on  How to bring collinearity in your post-MBA goals?

Recently, most of the applicants who worked with  Shantanu(Founder, MBA and Beyond | INSEAD Alumnus)  received LBS Interview Invites.

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. If you'd like, you can book a  profile evaluation session  with Shantanu.

ARINGO · Answer

Hi sb05
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your profile looks good on the surface. 8 years of experience at a top IT MNC, solid academics, and clear post-MBA goals make for a competitive starting point for you. You’ve built a good mix of technical and leadership experience, especially with your current role as a Team Lead. The professional certificate also adds weight to your profile and shows continued learning. The extracurriculars, especially the MUN and Enactus involvement, give you a well-rounded edge and highlight communication and initiative.

Your GMAT score could be a concern. These schools are academically rigorous and look for competitive scores, especially for Indian applicants. You’ve got a clear and logical goal in Product Management, just make sure your essays link your engineering and leadership background to your future PM aspirations, showing how an MBA bridges that gap.

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for your target programs to see where you stand and how to boost your chances, happy to help!
No pressure, no strings - just helpful insights on where you stand and how you can strengthen your chances.

Feel free to connect- Click here
You can also email me your CV at: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!

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