Second MBA Evaluation

Question

Hello,

29 M - Considering a 2nd MBA Option. Please find my educational & professional background :

1. Undergraduation 2013-2017 : NIT Surathkal Karnataka (Tier 1, Top 10 Engineering Colleges) ; Civil Engineering (CGPA: 9.2/10 - Top 1%)

2. Worked 2 years with GCC of a global MNC as Business Analyst

3. 2019 : Admit to HEC Paris(720 GMAT) for MIM Course (Have admit letter; didnt join the course because of family comittment). Instead joined IIMCalcutta (CAT 99.72ile) for 2019-2021. CGPA 7.2/9 at IIM Calcutta

4. Interned with BCG over COVID summer 2020

5. 2021- 2023 : Worked with a Gaming startup 2.3Bn$ in the role of Strategy & CEO office

6. 2023- Present : Founder's office for a 900Mn $ Insuretech Startu

Q1 : Chances for 2nd MBA at INSEAD/ LBS (1 Year) / HEC Paris / SDA?

Q2: What are the missing parts which I should focus on?

MBADecoder · Answer

Most b-schools save for a few allow second MBAs. However, you should give your reasoning for why you want to do another MBA and what you expect to gain out of it (which you did not get from the first MBA). Kellogg gets a fare chunk of 2nd MBA applicants for their 1-year MBA program- so in case you haven't explored this option, you should give it a thought. You can also look into Columbia Business school's J-terms, admissions for which start early summer. LBS Focus is a new course but its introduced for applicants like you who have already studied management - just confirm your eligibility ( does IIMC's accreditation match their requirements?). For the European b-schools mentioned- i'd have to understand more about your work experience and career goals. INSEAD, LBS and HEC Paris desire international experience and a well rounded personality. So, a related question is- what do you do outside of work for your personal development and for community growth? These programs have lengthy applications, with dedicated questions on your extra curricular activities. if you don't have anything here, think seriously about developing this aspect by taking up a few interests/ initiatives and putting in effort into them. The other missing part is the GRE/ GMAT. If you don't have a score yet, get started on the prep and get this out of the way as early as you can, so that you can dive onto the applications when they open in mid-summer. 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

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

Oxymarun , A few thoughts on your profile evaluation and plans. The academic arc looks solid given the NIT and IIMC pedigree. In some ways, the latter might arguably be even better than the MiM one and don't think the admit letter would be of help. A higher score will help - any plans for a retake? The professional profile is interesting. While startup work is usually enriching, it also makes adcoms skeptical due to the lack of brand/scale/credibility - areas to explicitly address through your applications. What kind of roles are you looking for after MBA? Startups don't typically hire fresh international MBA grads due to visa-related complications. Top schools value solid extracurricular/volunteer efforts . Anything here? For INSEAD/LBS, international experience matters a lot. Have you had any? In our experience, US schools tend to be a bit more open than European ones when it comes to second MBAs - any reason for taking those off? In Europe, also worth considering IMD/IESE. Hope this helps. Do feel free to reach out on mcb@mbacrystalball.com for a deeper discussion. Cheers,

MBAGuide · Answer

Oxymarun It has been only about three years, I think, since you started working after your two-year MBA in India. Many top schools will not find this duration convincing enough to justify the feeling of stagnation that typically drives candidates to pursue another MBA. You will need to craft a really compelling narrative about why, after working with two startups, you feel you have hit a ceiling in terms of opportunities. You don’t want to come across as someone who couldn’t hack growth or get along with colleagues and is merely using another MBA as an exit strategy. Also, why would you consider SDA after a Tier 1 undergrad and a Tier 1 Indian MBA? I’m struggling to understand the rationale. INSEAD and LBS have been sending invites to candidates without international exposure, and those who have worked in multiple startups or Office of the CEO-type roles make up a significant portion of that group. So, definitely feel free to give it a shot, but at the same time, ensure you have a super compelling storyline and justification in place. Happy to speak Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

Oxymarun · Answer

- I took the official GMAT Focus practice test by GMAC, scoring a 645 - Will brush up my CR & intend to take it in March second week. Although, INSEAD deadline is Mar 4 (Can I apply here without a GMAT in this deadline to join in Sep'25 class?)
- I would want to work in Consulting or VCs after MBA in the European/Middle East
- Few things out of work/professional circle - Serial Trekker (Mt Everest Base camp & Kilimanjaro); leading upskilling effort to 100+ executives (AI tools & professional etiquettes)
- Professionally- A 3 3-month internship in Montreal, Canada during my engineering as well as a 2-month cross-cultural project - led a team of 6 from different countries during my MBA. Not considering US MBAs because of focus on working in European/Middle east geography.

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

March 4 is R4 - extremely low conversion for Indian candidates despite what the official stance may be. Look at the Jan'26 intake and beyond instead of rushing things in. The earlier 720 score not valid any more?

The Montreal internship can help a lot. Upskilling, if done beyond work responsibilities, can be leveraged.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi Oxymarun ! Your profile looks good, with nice academics from NIT Surathkal and IIM Calcutta, a 720 GMAT (previously), and diverse experience in business analysis, strategy, and startup leadership. Your consulting exposure through a BCG internship and strategic roles aligns well with your post-MBA goals in consulting or VC, particularly in Europe or the Middle East. However, the key challenge is justifying a second MBA, adcoms will scrutinize why you need one after IIMC. You must clearly articulate gaps in global exposure, network access, or industry transition needs. Additionally, your GMAT Focus mock score of 645 is low, aiming for a strong score (665+) would be good. Waiting for INSEAD Round 1 (Jan 2026 intake) may be a better strategy, as the application is lengthy, shall avoid applying in a rush and R4 can be a risky option. LBS, being more selective for second MBA candidates, will require a particularly compelling narrative. HEC Paris and SDA Bocconi may be more flexible, but you need a clear reason for not pursuing your previous HEC MiM admit. To strengthen your profile, focus on improving your GMAT, networking with INSEAD/LBS alumni in consulting and VC, and securing hands-on exposure in these fields, such as through consulting projects or VC fellowships. While your experience and extracurriculars look great, refining your application strategy will be crucial to maximizing your chances. Would you like guidance on structuring your essays for a stronger case? If you'd like, we would like to learn more about your profile like challenges faced, impact created, Why second MBA? and more, discussing these details, will help us identify if you can pull out good stories from your experience. Please feel free to book a profile evaluation call. All the best! Please feel free to take a look at this BLOG1 and BLOG2 . Register Now! “Join Our Exclusive Webinar!” “Bonus Offer: Get 4 schools for the price of 3 - Maximize your chances!” Limited slots available - Book your Profile Evaluation Now! Testimonial Cheers! Shantanu Sharma Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond Email: valuecreation@mbaandbeyond.com

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  Oxymarun ,

The gap between your last MBA and now is not a lot so it will not be straightforward for you to make it into any of the top schools.

Nonetheless, what is in your hands is to really have a compelling story in place covering why you need the second MBA and what you intend to different from there.

In so far as INSEAD is concerned, please do focus on bringing in international experience.

Hope this helps.

All the best!

admitStreet · Answer

Oxymarun - sharing some thoughts (in addition to the above): 1. Your undergrad pedigree/ GPA and IIM tag help show the academic strength. A higher score (720+ GFE equivalent) would help particularly for INSEAD, but a lot would depend on how well you position your profile. 2. The rationale for a second MBA needs to be strong. Is it primarily geographic relocation, and/ or covid making your IIM experience remote? Either way, showcasing your motivation and how your experiences tie to your post-MBA goals are key. 3. Having worked in consulting in the Middle East, I've noticed that leveraging your prior experience is key. Introspect into what 'transferable skills' you bring to the table, and how those can be applied to clients in the region. For example, I had a tech background pre-MBA which helped position me for digital strategy (and other broader business strategy cases) for clients. Bringing this out in the application essays/ interviews is also important. 4. I would suggest looking at the Jan intake for INSEAD/ HEC (details here ) and potentially Sep or Jan intake for other programs. Deep-diving on this list would need further discussions. Hope this helps. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

Second MBA Evaluation

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards