HBS 2+2 and similar programs (Indian candidate, age-19 years)

Question

My name is Nivaan Gupta, I live in Mumbai, India. I am currently pursuing my B. Tech. in Electronics and Telecommunication from Mumbai university. I have currently completed 3 semesters (second year, age:19 years) and my average is around 6.5/10 GPA (I know which can be a problem). My academics in college are not up to the mark but my percentage in my 12th grade board exams (Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Math, English, Computers & Physical education) is 91.5%

Apart from my academics I have done one internship (for about 1 year 3 months) in which I was sent to countries like Nepal and Brazil from India to conduct MUN Conferences (Model United Nations) being responsible for organizing the conference in Brazil in Sao Paulo (from the venue till the students) and chairing committee in Nepal.

I am currently part of two ventures:

1. Maid Over Protocol: We support local housewives in Mumbai suffering from poverty by employing them for residential cleaning work in more prominent households of Mumbai.
2. RNB Media and solutions: We provide complete digital marketing solutions to various clients.

Both of my ventures are sustaining themselves but I need more expertise in business field to be able to push and grow them into a cause and I think an MBA for me is essential for that to happen.

Now, as I also study in college I do not have any work experience which I thought was a problem until I found about HBS 2+2.

Following are my questions:-

1. I want to know if I even have a shot at a college like Harvard with the above profile
2. What more can I do to help my application as I have 2 years to work on it
3. What GMAT score am I looking at
4. What Toefl score am I looking at
5. Any additional advice for an Indian Student
6. What all programs are like the HBS 2+2 which give a chance to study about business without work experience. (I know about one program in Yale for the same. if I could get more information about the same or any other program).

Lastly, I would like to thank you all for giving my query a read and look forward for receiving more help on the same.

Businessconquerer · Answer

I can answer question 3 and 4
3. I have heard it many times from a wise man that HBS doesn't care for a GMAT score as long as it starts with 7. Personally I would say 720+ is good enough but doesn't assure you the admission, even 800 scorer can fail to get in
4. IELTS, a much easier exam, can get you in with an overall band score of 7.

HBS wants leaders, so do all other Business Schools. What makes HBS different? What drives an HBS alumni? Well, I think I have said enough; you have two years, think on that. Can Harvard really be the school that will help you achieve your goal in career? or Is there some other? Best to do some self evaluation. HBS is not the only B-school in the world, there are many more. Keep your options open.

Businessconquerer · Answer

p.s. 60% and above is considered as 4.0 gpa in conversion so chill

nivaangupta · Answer

Thank you so much for the valuable feedback. I will certainly do my research on other b schools and work on my application.

Also, are you siggesting me to give ielts rather than toefl?

Also, will other b schools allow candidates without a work experience like hbs 2+2 as I am planning to apply right after my graduation...
If yes, would you have an idea about the colleges?

Thanks again for the feed back

Posted from my mobile device

Businessconquerer · Answer

I was implying it. IELTS and TOEFL are just formalities. So why not give the easy one.
Almost all top b schools have such procedure as harvard's 2+2
And you must stick to older and more reliant bschools
Besides, an internship of one year and three months is quite weird to ear of an experienced person.
If they are made up, I'd suggest go for an original one. Interview decides it all.

nivaangupta · Answer

The internship is not made up..
I did the internship for a long span..
At start I was struggling to conduct a conference where I eventually picked up pace and was able to conduct a few...
Will it look bad on the application?
I will research on more bschools and would be in touch if that is okay?

Posted from my mobile device

Businessconquerer · Answer

An internship during vacation and officially from college always looks good in a resume. But if I did, they might smell a rat there, as in 3 years you did internship for 1 year three months, so its only obvious. If your university voluntarily led you into internship, which given the image of Indian universities is very rare, unless you are from IIT. But you must find flaws in your own resume if you want to make it look better. If you want to be a leader, you must learn to know your flaws, rectify the ones you can and embrace the ones that you cannot rectify. Even the most reputed college Indian person might fail to a small town college graduate if he lacks the skills Harvard needs.

bb · Answer

HBS 2+2 and similar programs (Indian candidate, age-19 years)

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