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Narenn
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I’d say your business exposure and experience are solid, and your CGPA is quite good—especially considering you're from BITS Pilani. Your extracurriculars also stand out as a strong point. Right now, I think the GMAT is definitely the main hurdle, particularly for schools like HEC, INSEAD, and LBS. Even Duke might feel a bit low with the current score. However, you could consider adding a few more options to your list. For example, ESSEC is already there, but you might want to include schools like LSE, Chicago Booth, or Georgetown. Colleges like Georgetown and Chicago Booth don’t necessarily require the GMAT, which could work in your favor.
At this stage, your focus should really shift to your essays. A compelling story will make all the difference. You need to show why you’ve made the choices you have so far, how they connect to your goals, and what makes your experiences unique. Dive deep into your story—explain not just what you’ve done, but why it matters and why only you could have done it. A strong narrative could even make schools like LBS and HEC take notice.
In summary, the key right now is fine-tuning your essays and potentially adding a few strategic options to your list. Of course, for schools like HEC, LBS, INSEAD, and Duke, there’s always an element of luck involved, but with a strong application, you’ll be giving yourself the best shot.

All the best!

Founder, Al-Connect

Chocoos
Hi,

Would love some feedback on my profile as I look to apply for MiM programs:


Background: Graduated from BITS Pilani (Tier-1 college)
Major - Mechanical Engg; Minor degree in Finance
Overall GPA: 7.95/10 (Average GPA of 9/10 in Finance subjects)

GMAT : 625 GFE (Q85, V79, DI78)

Work Ex: 1.3 year experience as an Analyst at a globally recognised treasury solution provider.
Internship: 6 months at an investment bank in a risk intern role

Extra-curriculars:
  • President of Art society of college for a year
  • Vice-president at the Art society the previous year
  • Core-member - Cultural committee in college (organised cultural festivals)
  • Member: Finance society
Volunteering:
  • volunteering at a child rights organisation - taught kids in government schools, conducted awareness programs
Recommendations:
  • Have one each from CTO and Director of company

Schools I want to apply to: INSEAD, HEC, LBS, ESSEC, Aalto. (Might also apply to Duke, Bocconi)
Am working on my essays and am confident of crafting a decent story.

Would love to get an insight on my chances on the profile and chances at above universities!

Thank you!
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I see what you’re saying about the GMAT , but I think the fact that you’re coming from an Asian country, like Hong Kong, and now studying at Warwick really gives you a strong edge. You already have exposure to the UK, which is something colleges look for. They want students who can represent their brand well, and the fact that you already know the market gives you that extra advantage.
That said, yes, the GMAT is on the lower side, so LBS might be a stretch. But if you can craft a compelling story—something that ties your career trajectory to consulting or asset management, depending on what you choose to focus on in your essays—I think it could work out. Highlight the diversity you bring and the unique aspects of your profile, like your extracurriculars, to really stand out.
The key is to weave a strong narrative. Talk about why you made the decisions you did, how those experiences shaped your career, and how they’ve prepared you for your goals. Show them that you’re confident and capable of achieving your short- and long-term ambitions.
I think you’ve got a solid shot at LSE and Imperial. LBS might need a bit of luck, but with the right story, it’s not impossible. Good luck, and thank you!

Founder, Al-Connect
https://al-connect.in/

Evan618
I would like to request an evaluation of my profile for the MiM program. Below are the key highlights of my background:

Country: Hong Kong
Age: 21
Academic Background: final year in Bachelor’s degree in politics from University of Warwick on track for 2:1
GMAT: 635 FE Q81 V81 D82
Work Experience:
Three internship, 2 months each: accounting and finance intern at a local company, intern at a payment startup, HR intern
Extracurriculars: Vice president of the Hong Kong society, I am responsible to organize different social events and a chairity ball
Founded an association dedicated to sports management.
Languages: Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, intermediate in Japanese
Career Goals: I aim to work in management consulting or asset management

I am applying for MiM in Imperial and LSE, potentially LBS. I am only considering b schools within the UK. I would like to know if my choice are too ambitious
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Your profile is truly impressive—it reflects the hard work you’ve put in to build it over the years. Honestly, the strengths in your profile are so solid that we don’t even need to go over them again. What really matters now is how you present your story in your essays and SOP. It’s not about trying to mention everything but rather picking a few key experiences, diving deep into them, and explaining why they mattered to you.
With the limited space you’ll have in your essays, it’s crucial to focus on quality over quantity. Everything else can go in your resume. This approach is so important because even strong profiles have faced challenges with top colleges due to not choosing the right focus in their essays.
Now, about the GMAT—yes, it’s not ideal, and it could be a barrier for some of the top programs. I would suggest retaking it, even if it means applying in a later round. It’s worth it to target programs like SIM at St. Gallen or the strategy management programs at Imperial, LSE, UCL, or HEC. These are excellent options, and with your profile, you’ll have a strong chance as long as the GMAT doesn’t hold you back.
Missing a round isn’t the end of the world. Take the time to prepare for a better GMAT or GRE score. And even in the worst-case scenario, if the next round doesn’t work out, there are still programs that don’t require a GMAT for strategy-focused fields.
In short, your profile is amazing—there’s no doubt about that. The key now is selecting the experiences that best showcase your story and tackling the GMAT hurdle. You’ve got this!

Founder, Al-Connect

PierreManificat
Strong academic/extracurricular section, wack GMAT & GPA

My main question here - Not aiming for a CEMS, not even a MIM in particular, could be SIM etc similar (but aiming at a decent school) - Should i retake the GMAT and focus on last round admissions or do I have something to work with here? And any advice for schools to target with my profile?

Country: Sweden
Age: 24M
Academic Background: Final year in Bcs B&E (Majoring Financial Accounting) - Uppsala University, Exchange at UC Berkeley (cgpa 3.3/4)
GMAT: 485 FE Q70 V79 D73


Work Experience:
- Started my first company at 16, excited it at 18 - continued to work with the company that bought it (turned into a €10m+ turnover, still running). (Recycling and buying unused clothes from retailers and selling online with a bidding mechanism)
- Joined the technical team for a collaboration between ACER and Starbeeze Studios to launch a new VR Headset. (last year of high school)
- After high school I partnered with a M45 that had developed a motor that turns normal bikes into e-bikes. Set up the e-commerce process with everything that involves sales and successfully launched the company.
Built decks and pitched at various VC comps, successfully raised capital from the IKEA family, European Institute of Technology etc. Still a co-owner of the business, spent some time on the board, good success in Sweden/Germany.
- Joined Memmo/ (EU version of Cameo) and helped launch their B2B product, set up and managed an international team (EU/UK/NA/AZ) MoM growth. Continued to work here when I started my bachelors.
- Developed and launched a snus tracking app to help addicts understand their nicotine addiction, based on psychological triggers, primarily for use in addiction programs but also available for private use. Going OK.
- Currently at a very profound fintech as a data specialist working their geographical expansions.

Extracurriculars: 5x UNO-SM Participant, Nova Talent (Management Consulting Fellowship), I-House UC Berkeley (helped students with academic writing), advicing/negotiating for Sweden's 3rd largest youtuber on partnerships deals, Advisory board for IHM Business Schools new b2b program.

Languages: Fluent in English, Swedish, intermediate in german
Career Goals: I aim to work in management consulting, or in larger international corporations with management/biz dev.
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Hi,

I would love to get some feedback on my profile as I look to apply for MSc in Business Analytics / Marketing programs:


Background: Graduated from ICFAI Business School, IFHE - BBA
Major - Business Administration; Took electives in digital marketing and supply chain management
Overall CGPA: 8.5/10

Have not given the GMAT / GRE - Honestly, at this point I am not sure if I have the time to, hence, I have dropped my plans of applying to ESCP's MiM program and other MiM programs which have a pre-requisite of giving the GMAT / GRE.
I gave the IELTS over 2 years back, and received an 8.0 overall. I am planning to give the IELTS again since obviously, my previous scores aren't valid as per the 2 year rule.

Work Ex: 2+ years experience at a global MNC as an Associate in the Marketing team
Internship: 6 months at 2 start-ups, one in the FinTech industry and another an online platform

Extra-curriculars:
Co-hosted an engaging panel for 200+ new joinees at my company, with the idea of fostering a more inclusive workplace culture

Volunteering:
Volunteered as a mentor for youth empowerment - providing career guidance, teaching essential transferable skills to students in government schools
Volunteered at an eye-screening camp for the staff at my office

Recommendations:
I can get one from my direct manager or the director of my org.

Schools I want to apply to: Imperial, Warwick, NYU SPS, LSE.
I will start working on my essays this week.

I'd love to get an insight on my chances on the profile and chances at the above universities or I am open to any suggestions / recommendations for courses / universities that you think would be a best fit for my profile.

Thanks in advance!
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I have to say, you've done an impressive amount of work so far, and I really admire your determination and the effort you've put in to reach this stage of applying to top colleges abroad. That said, I feel your thoughts might be a bit all over the place right now—juggling both a Business Analytics program and a Marketing program in your plans.
If you've done a BBA from ICFAI Business School in India, it’s important to understand that you might not have the foundational elements required for a Business Analytics degree. That could make it quite challenging to target those programs successfully.
Now, about the MiM—if you have more than two years of work experience, it wouldn’t have been the right choice either, as you'd likely be overqualified. But an MSc in Marketing? That makes a lot of sense. Among the colleges you’ve mentioned, I think Imperial College is a great fit. Warwick is also a strong option, but let me suggest something you might not have considered: UCL has recently launched an MSc in Marketing program. It's an excellent choice and, honestly, better than Warwick in many ways.
NYU SPS is another good option, but there’s a catch—it’s not a STEM program. I’m not sure if you were aware of this, but it could be a significant issue if you’re planning to head to the U.S., especially as an Indian student. We've worked with students who went to NYU SPS for similar programs and later faced challenges because of this. So, it’s worth thinking twice about that option.
As for LSE, their marketing program does require a GMAT, which is something to keep in mind. For marketing overall, the best colleges to target would be Imperial, Warwick, UCL, and even King’s as a decent option. ESCP is another great choice—no GMAT required there. You can also look at NUS Marketing, which is excellent, or NTU Marketing, which is a solid program. ESSEC is another top-tier option worth considering.
At this stage, your focus needs to shift toward building a strong, compelling story for marketing. Without a GMAT, your application will need to stand out through your narrative. This means explaining the "why" behind your choices—why marketing, why this program, why now—and connecting it all to your personal and professional goals. A well-crafted story is crucial to make your profile memorable.
The key right now is to declutter your thoughts. If it helps, I’d be happy to have a quick session with you through Alconnect to help you figure things out. Once your goals and options are clear, the essays will be the most important step. Use them to clearly showcase your short- and long-term business goals, and tie them to your passion for marketing.
You’re on the right track—just stay focused and work on getting that clarity first. Everything else will fall into place.

Founder, Al-Connect

kn1
Hi,

I would love to get some feedback on my profile as I look to apply for MSc in Business Analytics / Marketing programs:


Background: Graduated from ICFAI Business School, IFHE - BBA
Major - Business Administration; Took electives in digital marketing and supply chain management
Overall CGPA: 8.5/10

Have not given the GMAT / GRE - Honestly, at this point I am not sure if I have the time to, hence, I have dropped my plans of applying to ESCP's MiM program and other MiM programs which have a pre-requisite of giving the GMAT / GRE.
I gave the IELTS over 2 years back, and received an 8.0 overall. I am planning to give the IELTS again since obviously, my previous scores aren't valid as per the 2 year rule.

Work Ex: 2+ years experience at a global MNC as an Associate in the Marketing team
Internship: 6 months at 2 start-ups, one in the FinTech industry and another an online platform

Extra-curriculars:
Co-hosted an engaging panel for 200+ new joinees at my company, with the idea of fostering a more inclusive workplace culture

Volunteering:
Volunteered as a mentor for youth empowerment - providing career guidance, teaching essential transferable skills to students in government schools
Volunteered at an eye-screening camp for the staff at my office

Recommendations:
I can get one from my direct manager or the director of my org.

Schools I want to apply to: Imperial, Warwick, NYU SPS, LSE.
I will start working on my essays this week.

I'd love to get an insight on my chances on the profile and chances at the above universities or I am open to any suggestions / recommendations for courses / universities that you think would be a best fit for my profile.

Thanks in advance!
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Just want to understand if I have any shot at INSEAD's MiM program for fall '26. Also want to understand how much weight my workex carries. Here's my profile -

Undergrad / BG - Indian Male (8/7/8)
Tier 3 Undergrad (VIT / Manipal / SRM) with 8.22 CGPA (BTech in CSE, class of '24). Will have 2yoe when I start the MiM in 2026.
GRE - 335

Work experience and leadership -
Working full-time at an American IB (JPM/MS/GS) as a SWE in India. Have Interned here Twice (summer + winter). - Highly International Teams (Have worked with 3 different teams), have loads to talk about.
3 Research Internships at an Indian research lab (IIT) and one at a US lab (top 10). Research resulted in international conferences (2) and a patent.

This makes it a total of 2 + 3 + 1 = 6 internships and 2 Undergrad research assistantships.

Community and others -
Alumni Relations Head of my department's student body (hosted multiple events).
Research Lead at a big tech club (hostel multiple events).
Exchange co-ordinator at in'l exchange society. Helped with multiple students' applications.
Core member of an NGO club. (helped with organizing multiple events)
Won 2 college-level hackathons, and a top corporate hackathon.

LORs - Can get 1 Professional (Berkeley grad) and 1 Academic (CMU Grad)

Post Master goals - Management Consulting

Anything else? - Please let me know how much weightage my Full-time work carries, and if it can compensate for my less-than-stellar undergrad.

Open to suggestions/other programs.

Thanks.
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Hello Everyone,

I am a recent graduate from The University of Mumbai, with a bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance. Apart from that I have also completed the US CMA Certification from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), with a scholarship from IMA.
Scores:
GPA - 9.86 out of 10,
GMAT FE - 565 (Q79, V80, DI75)
IELTS Academic - 7.5
US CMA - 880/1000

I have about 1 year work experience in Real Estate Valuation. I aspire to get into Investment Banking and Corporate Finance roles involving Valuations and Financial Modelling.

I have Completed two projects on Discounted Cash Flow and Investment Banking. Extracurricular include community service.

Below are my target schools and programs
1. ESSEC - MSc Finance
2. EDHEC - MIM Finance
3. USC Marshall - MSc Finance
4. Mcgill - MMF
5. Northeastern University - Msc Finance
6. UTD - Msc Finance
7. HEC Montreal - Msc Finance

I haven't applied yet planning to apply by year end. After my second GMAT attempt.

Thank You

MSFHQ,
MiMEssay
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Hi I am a 23 yr old recent Bachelor's Grad from India.

I have done my bachelor's with a major in Computer Science and minor in Business Studies from a mediocre university (Tier 3).

To break up my profile I have done the following things:

GPA: 8.97 / 10
Research : published and presented a research paper in an prestigious IEEE conference. I am now working on my 2nd paper for a journal which will be over by feb 25. (Both in the field of ML and Analytics)
TOEFL iBT : 108/120
GMAT Focus Edition: Scheduled for April 2025. For now my score from mocks is around the 640-655 mark (The recent one being 655 Q86, V80, D82)
EC's : was a core member in my departmental student chapter and organised 2 major events. I have also led a team of 25+ as the Lead of my department's photography club for 2 years.
Work Experience : 3 months (Tata Consultancy Services as a Systems Engineer)
post master goals: a managerial role leading an AI or Analytics team at the top tech companies in Europe.

I am aiming for the top MiM programs of France like HEC, ESSEC, ESCP, EDHEC, INSEAD and their respective MSc in Analytics or Data Science programs if available. Any suggestions regarding GMAT FE score or alternative good b-schools for MiM is appreciated.

Thank you,
Ratul
Narenn

!
Hi Guys, This is a Master thread for all profile evaluation requests for MiM applications. We do not want random profile evaluation threads everywhere on the forum. This will help people get some consolidated (and free :P ) advice from consultants and help others learn as well.

Post your profile here if you want!

Suggested Template
Background and nationality
Undergrad Information
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Anything else?
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Hi, I'm in the year of my studies at a Balkan university.

My profile:
GPA: will probably finish with 8.5+/10 (merit)
GMAT FE: 655
IELTS: TBD
Work epxerience: 4 months at a non-Big 4 Transaction Advisory Services Department, 3 months at a maritime and shipping company and I will probably do one more at Big 4 M&A.
EC's: President of the university's finance club, harvard case study competition
Passed CFA Level 1
Ex-pro Basketball player
Post master's goal: probably MBB or T2 management consulting in London, Switzerland or Middle East

Target programs:
HEC MiM
LBS MiM
Imperial MiM
Essec MiM

I'd like to know what how can I strengthen my profile and what other B'school alternatives are there (will apply in September '25)
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Hi, I'm a Italian student, at the last year of Bachelor at my Austrian University of Applied Sciences.

My profile
University: small and not known outside of Austria, moreover it's of Applied Sciences, + 1 semester exchange in South Korea. 1 summer school at LSE for Business Analysis and Valutation (grade: A)
GPA: 1.4/1 (Austrian), around 3.7 - 3.8 US, in Business Management (#1 in my cohort)

Work experience: 4 months as Economic Analyst writing reports about economic situations in the EU in my first year; then a semester as Finance Intern in a small tech company during my second year and again another month in the same company during my 3rd year. Now i'm going to do the last semester as a Strategy Consultant for Banking for a well known consulting company.
Plus, when I was between High School and Uni, i had an entrepreneurial project that generated some in revenue.

GMAT: 645
IELTS: 8.0

Extracurricular activities: much volunteering, plus i am member of the grants commission of my town and of the international relations youth club of my nation.

Target Programs:
St. Gallen SIM
LSE MiM
ESCP MiM
Bocconi MiM/MiF
SSE MiM/MiF

Goals: Strategy Consulting or Investment Banking, with final goal of being an entrepreneur.

I would be eager to know your feedback and what to do to strengthen my profile, plus if there is any other business school out there I should consider.
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Hey,

Law student from India's best Law University. When I joined the program their intake was just 80 students and approx 70k people write clat.
CGPA - 3.7/7.0 ( my uni scores between 40-70% with 40 being passing percentage and 70% being the highest grade, not sure how weak my academic will look but my university is extremely rigorous and I have around 57%)
Major reason for bad acad was chronic illness because of which i also had to take sabbatical for 2 years and completed my degree in 7 years. (does the sabbatical effect me)
Internship experience (no job ex)- though not relevant but have worked with supreme court judges and advocate generals (most prestigious internships) Worked with M&A teams of top Indian law firms (3 internships) Worked with A fast food chain and a cosmetic company and have handled their communications, strategy and relations. Worked with a legal recruitment firm as well. Worked with couple of professors from top university as their research assistant.

Volunteer experience - Have worked with around 3-4 Ngos in different capacities.

Co curriculur and extra co curriculur -
Extensive experience of International Negotiations competition where I played the role of client in the team, these competitions are organised by organization like International Chambers of Commerce and schools like Warsaw School of Economics and are also attended by top bschool students.

ADR mentor for the university, conducted various workshops for training students in college and also coached various teams for international competitions.

Convenor the event management committee, conducted india's biggest student run rock fest where we secured fundings of 5 million inr.

Part of Student coordination committee of student bar association.

Extensive organisational and Leadership experience in other events in college as well.

8 Research paper publication in reputed journals and blogs.

State level sports player and medalist in school at table tennis, chess and fencing.

Gmat - hopeful of getting 715 - 735 FE based on mocks performance.

Thinking of attaining alt transcripts for showing math readiness like Mba maths.

Also additionally ran a small start up in college selling merch, had profits of nearly 1-2 million Inr though don't know how to prove this, website and all do exists.

Where do i stand in terms of chances at top 10 mim programmes.
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Hello everyone,

My name is Alessandro, and I am 21 yo Italian student who has just completed a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Management at a public Italian university with a GPA of approximately 3.3 (final grade of 99/110). I am currently doing an internship at a local banking institution specializing in finance.

I hold several certifications, including the IELTS with a score of 7.0, Bloomberg BMC, and the Private Equity and Venture Capital course completed through Bocconi University. I am also studying for the GMAT Focus, and in my latest official mock test, I scored 650.

Given my profile, what are my chances of being admitted to top Business Schools for a Master in Management, such as HEC, ESSEC, St. Gallen, EDHEC, or ESCP? Alternatively, would it be better to apply for a Master in Finance at institutions like St. Gallen or the other universities mentioned?

Thank you in advance for your insights
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Hi guys,

I am planning to apply to MiM at Chicago Booth, MFin at Emory, MFin at Bonston College, and Master in Real Estate at NYU.

Nationality: Chinese with greencard, 24 years old

Undergrad: University of California Riveriside, majored in Business Economics with a GPA of 3.46/4.00 (Minimum exposure to programming; decent amount of finance/statistics courses)

GMAT Focus: 695 with a quant percentile of 97%

Work experience: Only did 4 internships, of which 2 were consulting and the other 2 were real estate development

Others: Passed CFA Level 1

I would like to know if I have a decent chance at my listed programs.

Very much appreciated!
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Pookssy
Hi guys,

I am planning to apply to MiM at Chicago Booth, MFin at Emory, MFin at Bonston College, and Master in Real Estate at NYU.

Nationality: Chinese with greencard, 24 years old

Undergrad: University of California Riveriside, majored in Business Economics with a GPA of 3.46/4.00 (Minimum exposure to programming; decent amount of finance/statistics courses)

GMAT Focus: 695 with a quant percentile of 97%

Work experience: Only did 4 internships, of which 2 were consulting and the other 2 were real estate development

Others: Passed CFA Level 1

I would like to know if I have a decent chance at my listed programs.

Very much appreciated!
Hi Pookssy , hope all is well! Your profile shows good potential for your target programs, with a great academic foundation, a 97th percentile GMAT Quant score, and relevant internships in consulting and real estate development. Passing CFA Level 1 further underscores your commitment to finance. Your limited work experience may require strategic positioning. Tailor your essays to emphasize your quantitative expertise and clear career goals to maximize your chances at Emory, Boston, and NYU.

If you’d like , we are happy to hop on a 1:1 call with you to discuss your profile in detail and gauge your chances for the best-fit schools. Please feel free to schedule a profile evaluation call according to your convenience.

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Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond
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25 years old from Turkey. Finished one of the best business schools in the country, however my bane of existence is my GPA. I graduated with 2.2/4 due to a couple of reasons: I worked remotely as an analyst for an American DE&I company during almost the entirety of my studies and gave my all to it, which meant I could barely focus on school. I was also struggling with mental health due to my sexual orientation & what it meant in a business world in Turkey (wish I was exaggerating but it really did take its toll on me).

Did an internship at one of the largest private banks in Turkey during my first year, and then another one at a cloud kitchen start-up.

Was an assistant producer at a documentary focused on amplifying the voices of ethnic minority young people across the world.

Would be willing to take GMAT with 2 month of full time prep but I feel like my GPA will result in instant rejection anyway. Not fully confident in my ability to score EXTRA high either in the short amount of time I have with the application & visa process.

I would LOVE Frankfurt School of Business MiM (my dream) or other reputable European business schools but is there any chance for me? Feeling quite desperate. At this point I'm simply aiming for immigration so will probably enroll to CBS International Business School in Germany (not asking for GMAT nor GPA)
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Academic Background:
  • Undergraduate Degree: First Class with Distinction in Computer Science from a top 150-ranked Indian university.
  • Graduation Year: 2023
  • GPA: Top 10% of the graduating class 8.93/10
  • Professional Specializations :


    • Machine Learning for Trading (New York Institute of Finance)
    • Data Science for Investment Professionals (CFA Institute)
    • Entrepreneurship Specialization (UVA Darden)
    • Currently pursuing Business Strategy (UVA Darden) and Think Like a CFO (IESE)
  • Certifications: 15+ courses from Columbia, Bocconi, Duke, UVA, and Google
Academic Achievements:
  • Selected for the university's Ready-Set-Go Program, affiliated with Northeastern University.
  • Y-Combinator's Summer Startup School S22 batch.
  • Achieved a top percentile in national aptitude assessments, including CoCubes (99% National Percentile, 100% Regional in Quant, Coding, English and Analytics).
  • Got an offer letter from London Business School Launchpad 2025 cohort for my concept that I have been working on.

Quantitative Background (During Bachelor's Program):
  • Engineering Mathematics I: Calculus and Algebra (Grade: A)
  • Engineering Mathematics II: Probability and Statistics (Grade: O)
  • Engineering Mathematics III: Discrete Mathematical Structures (Grade: O)
  • Engineering Mathematics IV: Numerical Methods (Grade: O)
  • Operations Research: Linear Programming, Game Theory (Grade: O)
  • Optimization Techniques: Classical and Dynamic Programming (Grade: A+)

Work Experience:
  • Shipping & Logistics: Industry experience in shipbroking, analyzing crude oil prices, and monitoring voyage routes and handling crude imports into India. Extensive exposure to international markets.
  • Startup & Innovation: Developed an IoT-driven systems for sensitive environments (airline cargo, hospitals, and shipping). Collaborated with German and Austrian industry players, including a Lufthansa affiliate, to explore market solutions.
  • Entrepreneurial Recognition: Concept recognized by F6S as a Top 11 Sustainable Strategy Startup and Top 8 Urban Mobility Startup in India and Mumbai respectively.
Key Projects:
  • Algorithmic Trading: Developed strategies based on Ichimoku Cloud and Moving Average Crossovers. Gained hands-on experience in data visualization using Python (Pandas, Matplotlib, NumPy). Recognized as one of the most innovative projects in the undergraduate cohort.
  • IoT & Embedded Systems: Designed and implemented tracking systems for cargo monitoring in restricted environments using sensors, ML, and encrypted communication systems.
Extracurriculars:
  • Won Bronze in the Formula 1 Club for the fastest lap time and quiz competition at university.
  • Active in global entrepreneurship networks and passionate about strategic innovation.
  • Exchange program at Northeastern University and Summer startups school at Y Combinator S22 Batch.
Leadership & Initiatives:
  • Team lead for undergraduate projects, facilitating collaboration and technical problem-solving.
  • Collaborated with international stakeholders for innovation and industry development in aviation and shipping.
GMAT Score: 600
IELTS : 8.0

Languages & Programming Skills:
  • Proficient in Python, Java, C, R, and SQL.
  • Database Management and algorithm design experience from undergraduate studies.
Career Goals:
  • Short-term: Strategy consulting (preferably MBB or boutique firms). Open to venture capital roles with a focus on tech investments.
  • Medium-term: Transition into venture capital to connect entrepreneurs with investors and foster innovation.
Reason for Reapplying:
  • My recent rejection from LBS MiM has motivated me to seek feedback from this community. Despite a lower-than-average GMAT, I believe my unique international work experience, strong entrepreneurial achievements, and academic background present a compelling case for top-tier MSc/MiM programs. Should I apply for LBS's MAM program after this setback?
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I am at a crucial crossroads in my academic and professional journey and would appreciate your insights on the best path forward.
I have a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance (CGPA - 9.8/10) from the University of Mumbai and have completed the US CMA certification (score: 880/1000). Additionally, I have about a year of work experience in Real Estate Valuation. My GMAT Focus score is 565, and my IELTS score is 7.5.
My long-term goal is to build a career in Investment Banking, Private Equity, or Valuation. Initially, I would like to work in the USA or Canada (without a strong preference between the two), gain about five years of experience, and then transition to the UAE or Saudi Arabia, where I can earn a high paycheck.
Currently, I have an offer from UT Dallas for the MS Finance program, and I am awaiting decisions from Boston College (MS Finance), HEC Montreal (MS Finance), and ESSEC (Masters in Finance). I also received an offer from EDHEC for their MIM Finance program but declined it due to budget constraints, as I prefer to avoid significant debt and would only consider a manageable loan (around 15 Lakhs INR max) and my parents are ready to provide about 20 Lakhs for my education.
Given my situation, I was considering applying to Babson College's MS Finance program and, since Smith School of Business's Master in Management Finance program is closed this year, waiting until the next intake to apply.
However, I am unsure of the best course of action.
1. Should I move forward with additional applications, wait for the decisions I am expecting, or explore other options?
2. Based on my background and goals, what would you suggest as the best path forward and the best University?
3. I am open to any insights or recommendations you may have.

Thank You

MSFHQ
MiMEssay
MBAGuide
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Hi! Thanks so much for your detailed and insightful response. Yes, after much consideration and back and forth, I have decided on pursuing MSc in Marketing. I am strongly leaning towards Imperial and Warwick. How can I connect with you to chat further?

al-connect
I have to say, you've done an impressive amount of work so far, and I really admire your determination and the effort you've put in to reach this stage of applying to top colleges abroad. That said, I feel your thoughts might be a bit all over the place right now—juggling both a Business Analytics program and a Marketing program in your plans.
If you've done a BBA from ICFAI Business School in India, it’s important to understand that you might not have the foundational elements required for a Business Analytics degree. That could make it quite challenging to target those programs successfully.
Now, about the MiM—if you have more than two years of work experience, it wouldn’t have been the right choice either, as you'd likely be overqualified. But an MSc in Marketing? That makes a lot of sense. Among the colleges you’ve mentioned, I think Imperial College is a great fit. Warwick is also a strong option, but let me suggest something you might not have considered: UCL has recently launched an MSc in Marketing program. It's an excellent choice and, honestly, better than Warwick in many ways.
NYU SPS is another good option, but there’s a catch—it’s not a STEM program. I’m not sure if you were aware of this, but it could be a significant issue if you’re planning to head to the U.S., especially as an Indian student. We've worked with students who went to NYU SPS for similar programs and later faced challenges because of this. So, it’s worth thinking twice about that option.
As for LSE, their marketing program does require a GMAT, which is something to keep in mind. For marketing overall, the best colleges to target would be Imperial, Warwick, UCL, and even King’s as a decent option. ESCP is another great choice—no GMAT required there. You can also look at NUS Marketing, which is excellent, or NTU Marketing, which is a solid program. ESSEC is another top-tier option worth considering.
At this stage, your focus needs to shift toward building a strong, compelling story for marketing. Without a GMAT, your application will need to stand out through your narrative. This means explaining the "why" behind your choices—why marketing, why this program, why now—and connecting it all to your personal and professional goals. A well-crafted story is crucial to make your profile memorable.
The key right now is to declutter your thoughts. If it helps, I’d be happy to have a quick session with you through Alconnect to help you figure things out. Once your goals and options are clear, the essays will be the most important step. Use them to clearly showcase your short- and long-term business goals, and tie them to your passion for marketing.
You’re on the right track—just stay focused and work on getting that clarity first. Everything else will fall into place.

Founder, Al-Connect

kn1
Hi,

I would love to get some feedback on my profile as I look to apply for MSc in Business Analytics / Marketing programs:


Background: Graduated from ICFAI Business School, IFHE - BBA
Major - Business Administration; Took electives in digital marketing and supply chain management
Overall CGPA: 8.5/10

Have not given the GMAT / GRE - Honestly, at this point I am not sure if I have the time to, hence, I have dropped my plans of applying to ESCP's MiM program and other MiM programs which have a pre-requisite of giving the GMAT / GRE.
I gave the IELTS over 2 years back, and received an 8.0 overall. I am planning to give the IELTS again since obviously, my previous scores aren't valid as per the 2 year rule.

Work Ex: 2+ years experience at a global MNC as an Associate in the Marketing team
Internship: 6 months at 2 start-ups, one in the FinTech industry and another an online platform

Extra-curriculars:
Co-hosted an engaging panel for 200+ new joinees at my company, with the idea of fostering a more inclusive workplace culture

Volunteering:
Volunteered as a mentor for youth empowerment - providing career guidance, teaching essential transferable skills to students in government schools
Volunteered at an eye-screening camp for the staff at my office

Recommendations:
I can get one from my direct manager or the director of my org.

Schools I want to apply to: Imperial, Warwick, NYU SPS, LSE.
I will start working on my essays this week.

I'd love to get an insight on my chances on the profile and chances at the above universities or I am open to any suggestions / recommendations for courses / universities that you think would be a best fit for my profile.

Thanks in advance!
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