Profile Evaluation Request

Question

I request you to analyze my profile and advice me on the schools that I have on my list.

Profile details:

GMAT – 720 (V-36, Q-50, AWA- 4.5)
GPA - 8/10 (from one of the Top Ranked Univs)
Experience - 7 yrs in Electronics
Domain – VLSI
Age: 27 (Female)
Extra Curricular: Have a pretty good track record at Sports, Community Relations etc;

My AWA score bothers me a bit but I understand from the forum that 4.5 doesn’t really close the doors of admission at the top Bschools & I hope so.

Schools on my list:

1. Wharton
2. Stanford
3. MIT
4. Booth
5. Kellogg 
6. Tuck

As a part of my job (deals with customer support), I have been deployed at various countries including the US, UK, Singapore, China etc; & worked with different clients across the world.

I am planning to apply for R2 at the above Schools. But, given the time limit, I want to really pay caution when picking the right schools, where I stand a good chance. Your suggestions and advice would be of great help.

Thanks a ton for your time.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

Given your profile, those are all stretches or long shots to be honest.

Focus on schools like Duke, Darden, Michigan, Haas, UCLA, Cornell, Yale, NYU - these will more likely be in your range as sweet spots.

And schools like Carnegie Mellon, Texas, Georgetown, USC, Indiana, Purdue, etc. are closer to being safeties.

mbajourneyy · Answer

Hey Alex,
 Thanks a lot for your valuable feedback & insights. Would surely consider those schools you suggested.

Just curious to know if I would have a better stand at those top schools if I re-take the test & pull the Verbal/AWA scores higher? I am trying to understand the areas that my profile lacks so that I could try building on those.

Thanks for your time once again.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

It's not a math competition, nor is it about high test scores beyond a certain threshold (which you've achieved).

I hate sounding fatalistic, but the only way you can improve your chances is to change one of two things: being Indian, or being an engineer. But being both makes it much much harder especially at the top 8 schools.

hirendhanak · Answer

Hi Alex,

Hope my question is not so silly as my curiosity is.

Can you just give some idea on what kind of combination works more for an indian student at these b-schools?

I know its tooooo general question , what i hv heard in last two years isthat H/W/S has started being selective for the category of engineers ( no offences intended at all ) especially from india , because there is a huge flow of engineers with high GMAT scores applying at these schools.

In the above profile evaluation u said " your chances is to change one of two things: being Indian, or being an engineer", if being enginner is removed then do you think a 700+ might stand some more chance ( all other things remaining constant )

I know what i asked is too general , the only purpose is to understand the dynamics of undergrads and its effects within the same nationality ( irrespective of score )

thanks very much... hope i didnt ask too much.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

How many Indian nationals applying are NOT engineers? It's a bit of a moot point since by the time you're in a position to be applying to b-school, it's too late to change what you've done so far (i.e. your college major, your work experience, etc.).

The Indian nationals who tend to be more successful in the b-school admissions process worked in investment banking or mgmt consulting in the US and Europe (i.e. similar to any other banker/consultant of any nationality) -- and yes, these folks probably come from a different background than most Indian engineers. They grew up in the Middle East, they are from wealthier backgrounds, they went to the top schools in the US and Europe (or had families that could afford to send them there), and so forth.

hirendhanak · Answer

Thanks Alex... I was sure that you are the only person with such a rich experience in admission consulting who could answer this hardly discussed question ... i asked non engineer because i am not engineer

Thanks very much again

Profile Evaluation Request

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