Indian Male - 8 Applications - 0 Admits

Question

Hello Guys, Need your advice on my next steps:

Applied to 8 schools this year, Dinged by all. (Booth, MIT, Kelloggs, Yale, LBS, Insead, HEC & IESE). Interviewed with IESE & Kelloggs only, rest rejected without interview. Needless to say very disappointed, thought I put my best foot forward.

Anyways, here's my profile:

WE: 4 years, Strategy consulting (Top boutique in Asia), worked on high impact projects with all major tech companies to Governments of India & Singapore. Will also get a promotion this year.  Will the promotion help in anyway?

GMAT: 730 (Q48, V 42)  Should I take it again??

UG: top Engg univ in India, 5.5/10; PG: PGDM (MIM) from top Bschool in India 6.7/10 ( I know this is quite low, I don't have a good reason for it, In optional essays, I tried showcasing how I achieved so much In spite of my low cgpa & why it isn't a limitation for my ability, clearly it isn't enough.) Anything to offset my low CGPA?

extracurriculars: Probono consulting for small businesses, Helping run an animal shelter, leadership experiences in both UG & PG.

Recommenders: Both from my current organization (THis time planning to get one from Partner at the firm & another from the animal shelter I help run)  is this a good Idea?

Requesting suggestions from the forum on what should be my reapplicant strategy?

Admissionado · Answer

Prudhviraju : We are all sorry to hear about your results. Fortunately, reapplying is a valid option. Responding to your questions: Q: Will also get a promotion this year. Will the promotion help in anyway? A: Yes, that will be a valuable update. In your re-applications, you will need to show what (if anything) has changed since you last applied. A promotion (along with a demonstration of new responsibilities, achievements, etc.) is a great example. Q: GMAT: 730 (Q48, V 42) Should I take it again?? A: I don't suspect this was a reason for your dings, but if you have the time and energy, give it another go. Adding 20+ points could really help. Q: Anything to offset my low CGPA? A: A higher GMAT score can help. Otherwise, there's nothing you can do to offset a low CGPA. Also, I'm not sure if how you communicated this to your AdCom was necessarily the proper way. The optional essays are very delicate. We would need to see the language as it could have worked against you if it ended up sounding like if it was too excuse-field. Q: Recommenders: Both from my current organization (THis time planning to get one from Partner at the firm & another from the animal shelter I help run) is this a good Idea? A: Yes, it could be a nice addition. It would depend if the school is requiring a recommender for a reapplicant be from a formal workplace or an extracurricular activity. Q: Requesting suggestions from the forum on what should be my reapplicant strategy? A: It's best to review the written applications with one of our consultants. We can better see how you told your story and what brand you put forth. Please reach out to us for a free consultation using the link below: https://admissionado.com/free-consultation/

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  Prudhviraju ,

Sorry to know of the results.

While you have a good GMAT score, there isn't any harm in re-taking the GMAT. An improvement will not only help offset the low CGPA (further) but also help your overall application.

The promotion is definitely going to help (we need to be sure to put forth the same in an appropriate manner) but we would need to see your essays as well as your proposed career goals to really provide you with feedback on what could have possibly gone wrong.

All the best!

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi Prudhviraju , Thanks for your post! We are sorry to hear about your results but don’t lose hope; we will help you to our best knowledge in order to revamp your application strategy! Now coming to your questions, adding details about your upcoming promotions would definitely prove helpful; all you need to do is add information about any new responsibilities and new projects assigned. About your GMAT, normally, I won’t suggest retaking, but if you feel you can dedicate enough time and energy to score around 750-760, it could help boost the overall profile. Moreover, a higher GMAT score can definitely help to offset your low CGPA. Otherwise, the only option is an essay with a proper explanation for such a low GPA, and since you have already tried that, I guess we would need to tune up the language used in order to deliver a subtle message. A LOR from the animal shelter would definitely add up to your characteristics of social service. However, it would be best if you were sure about the terms of LOR for the respective schools. All in all, I would say, focus on the written applications as they need delicate craftsmanship. Furthermore, to help boost your overall profile, we would require you to give full information about your story, your approach in the letter, and what ideas you have put forth. Therefore, If you'd like, we are happy to hop on a call with you sometime this week to discuss, your profile in length, and further chances to the schools. So feel free to book a free session with us at your convenience. Check out our upcoming events and sign up for the session that interests you. Cheers! Neha Hadke Profile Analyst & Channel Manager, MBA and Beyond Testimonials Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the rejections. We hope you will receive a successful admission soon.

First, let's talk about the positives. You have received interview calls from IESE and Kellogg. There was definitely a good approach in your essays that impressed the committee. Secondly, all the schools that you have applied to are highly competitive programs. If there isn't a clear strategy then it's difficult to convert these programs.

Maybe you need to revisit the school selection process to understand how your profile aligns with the program and whether you are approaching the process correctly. I also feel that your motivations for an MBA and the reason you want to apply abroad are not clearly outlined, at least in this query.

GMAT score, work experience overall is also good. The promotion definitely helps but the most pressing problem is to identify the uniqueness in your story and personalise the application for individual programs.

You can now find all the free resources on  the Website  or try the free  Intelligent B-School Selector Tool  for a better evaluation.

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

Hi Prudhviraju , Sorry to hear about your application results. Personal MBA Coach helps numerous reapplicants successfully gain admission each year and we can certainly help. While there are countless reasons for an MBA rejection, we've detailed some of the most common ones in our blog here . To summarize, the most common causes are: Problem 1: A too-narrow school list (not the case in your situation) Problem 2: Lack of a Compelling Story Problem 3: Application Inconsistencies Problem 4: Low GPA and/or Test Score Problem 5: Failed Interview (could be the case with IESE and Kellogg) Problem 6: An Abundance of Applicants with a Similar Profile Problem 7: Insufficient Leadership Experience Given your low GPA and the fact that you are coming from a competitive applicant pool, it may be worth retaking the GMAT to see if you can score in the 740 or higher range. We would be happy to discuss your reapplicant strategy in detail and more specific ways that you can improve your candidacy/applications moving forward. Feel free to email scott@personalmbacoach.com and check out our comprehensive packages to learn more. While rejection can be discouraging, don't give up! Best, Personal MBA Coach

Indian Male - 8 Applications - 0 Admits

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