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amrmba
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Joined: 05 Aug 2014
Last visit: 23 Sep 2014
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Successful entrepreneur, 740GMAT 09 Aug 2014, 15:24
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Hi,

Hope you're doing well. I would really appreciate a feedback on my profile here. Thanks in advance for your time.

Target School: INSEAD, IE, lbs, HEC Paris (in that order of preference)

1) 28 year old male from Pakistan

2) Graduated from a well reputed institute in Pakistan. I earned a BS (economics).

3) Extra carriculars during undergrad:
i) I was the President of the Entrepreneur's Club.
ii) Organized, conducted and arranged several seminars during the course of my degree.
iii) Arranged and conducted a conference on the emergence of outsourcing industry in Pakistan.
iv) Arranged and conducted a conference on Entrepreneurship in Europe. Invited top ranked diplomats from European countries as speakers.
v) Raised funds for organizing such events.
GPA: 2.9

4) Work experience: Totals to about 4.5 years.
i) Interned (for six months) for the commercial wing of the French Embassy in Pakistan. I was commissioned an exercise to evaluate future French Presence in Pakistan.
ii) Interned for a Multinational Energy Corporation. I was commissioned a research assignment on the potential of the energy market in Pakistan.
iii) Moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Founded a business with my father in the growing construction sector in Saudi Arabia. Started the company with almost zero capital.
iv) In three years time, the company has been through it's share of ups and downs and now, expected revenue of the company for the year 2014-2015 is a little over SR 20 Million (I think that's decent for a 3.5 year old company).
v) In our company, I had taken various roles in different functions, including project management, conducting presentation for clients, dispute management, business development, preparation of business plans to raise funds from potential investors/partners.
vi) Currently on an initial phase of founding a contract management software cater made for construction professionals in Saudi Arabia/GCC region.
vii) Started working as business development consultant for an oil and gas company in Saudi Arabia to understand the sector better, develop a network and hopefully diversify into the energy market (which has far more potential than construction). This is an activity I've taken up in parallel with an executive role in my own company.

5) GMAT Score is 740

6) Languages: Urdu (fluent), English (fluent), French (higher intermediate), Spanish (Intermediate), Arabic (intermediate).

Based on the above, how do you think my chances are to get into an institute such as INSEAD. What confuses me are my academics. I've a very low GPA, but I have strong extra carriculars, good GMAT, solid entrepreneurial experience and languages to make up for that. I don't know how far that would help though.

I appreciate you taking time out for this.

Thanks and Regards,
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Successful entrepreneur, 740GMAT 12 Aug 2014, 23:14
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amrmba
Hi,

Hope you're doing well. I would really appreciate a feedback on my profile here. Thanks in advance for your time.

Target School: INSEAD, IE, lbs, HEC Paris (in that order of preference)

1) 28 year old male from Pakistan

2) Graduated from a well reputed institute in Pakistan. I earned a BS (economics).

3) Extra carriculars during undergrad:
i) I was the President of the Entrepreneur's Club.
ii) Organized, conducted and arranged several seminars during the course of my degree.
iii) Arranged and conducted a conference on the emergence of outsourcing industry in Pakistan.
iv) Arranged and conducted a conference on Entrepreneurship in Europe. Invited top ranked diplomats from European countries as speakers.
v) Raised funds for organizing such events.
GPA: 2.9

4) Work experience: Totals to about 4.5 years.
i) Interned (for six months) for the commercial wing of the French Embassy in Pakistan. I was commissioned an exercise to evaluate future French Presence in Pakistan.
ii) Interned for a Multinational Energy Corporation. I was commissioned a research assignment on the potential of the energy market in Pakistan.
iii) Moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Founded a business with my father in the growing construction sector in Saudi Arabia. Started the company with almost zero capital.
iv) In three years time, the company has been through it's share of ups and downs and now, expected revenue of the company for the year 2014-2015 is a little over SR 20 Million (I think that's decent for a 3.5 year old company).
v) In our company, I had taken various roles in different functions, including project management, conducting presentation for clients, dispute management, business development, preparation of business plans to raise funds from potential investors/partners.
vi) Currently on an initial phase of founding a contract management software cater made for construction professionals in Saudi Arabia/GCC region.
vii) Started working as business development consultant for an oil and gas company in Saudi Arabia to understand the sector better, develop a network and hopefully diversify into the energy market (which has far more potential than construction). This is an activity I've taken up in parallel with an executive role in my own company.

5) GMAT Score is 740

6) Languages: Urdu (fluent), English (fluent), French (higher intermediate), Spanish (Intermediate), Arabic (intermediate).

Based on the above, how do you think my chances are to get into an institute such as INSEAD. What confuses me are my academics. I've a very low GPA, but I have strong extra carriculars, good GMAT, solid entrepreneurial experience and languages to make up for that. I don't know how far that would help though.

I appreciate you taking time out for this.

Thanks and Regards,
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Hey there,
Well you are right that with a low GPA plus High GMAT it is a bit tough to predict what might happen. But let's put it this way - it's better than a low GPA and low GMAT! What I mean, is that you have already done the best thing you possibly could to make up for that low GPA by getting your GMAT score. Is it enough for INSEAD? You'll just have to apply and see.

I should also say that probably the size/success of your family business will play a huge role. If you are running a relatively large company, managing dozens of workers, and can prove that the firm has a lot of growth potential, then of course it will be a lot more interesting than the opposite! :) And that is basically maybe your main job in your application - to convince about the potential of your firm. If they believe it has the potential to become something big, your candidacy will be all the more attractive to them.

LBS is the toughest school on your list, and either IE or HEC the easier (not easiest, but easier :) )

Hope this helps,
JF