Profile Evaluation - College Topper with break in career

Question

I am an Indian, female, currently NOT working. I have a work experience of 4 yrs and then took a break for 3 years

to take care of my baby. I have 88% in my high school, 84% in my 12th and 84% in undergraduate (BE) school. I was

the TOPPER from college and secured 3rd rank(out of 198 students) at University level.

I don't have much extra curricular's. I am looking to apply to schools in the US. As for MBA I want to specialize in

General Management and Finance. I am getting atleast 650 in my practice tests now. Any help on which 5 schools I

should aim for. Hope you can help. Thanks

Currently my list is McCombs, Haas, Tepper CMU, UCLA, Kelley. Pls suggest.

bryantmichaels · Answer

The schools you should aim for needs to be based on where you fit best with the culture, where you want to work afterwards and what you want to do. Don't worry about picking schools for which you feel you "qualify," but rather choose ones with which you feel you "fit." Women are under-represented in b-school as a general rule, and your working as a full time mother is unorthodox and unique and awesome. Write passionately about what you will bring to the table from that experience, and you will surprise yourself at how many schools may just open the door. Let us know if you need help pulling it all together.

ramo80 · Answer

Hi Bryant,

Thank you for the feedback. Will my high GPA supplement for my lesser GMAT score? My short term goal will be to get back to the workforce and long term would be to be part of a team that will work on a go to market strategy in selling software services along with business development of cloud & mobile solutions.

My main question is the break in my career of more than 3 yrs. Will that be a disadvantage or can I turn it to my advantage.

Also I see that women are under represented. If a business school have 29% total acceptance, is it fair to assume that it may have a higher, say 35-40% acceptance among women?

Appreciate your feedback.

bryantmichaels · Answer

Yes absolutely a higher percentage of women applicants get in than male applicants--there are far more male applicants vs. Female applicants to b-school. Not sure what the percentage acceptance rate for women is, but yes it's higher. You bring up a good question, and that is about employability. While b-schools will like your story and turn your work at home into a potential advantage for admission, recruiters will also have to be convinced that you bring value to the table despite the gap in your employment. B-school should bridge the gap, especially if you do a full time program and work an internship between your first and second year, but keep working on your story and how you developed skills as a full time mother that will make you a better employee. To the GMAT GPA question, yes a good GPA from a good school can help shore up academic concerns that a low GMAT raises, but your GMAT is not low if it comes in at 650. Look at a school's 80-percent range, not at their average GMAT. Hope this helps.

Profile Evaluation - College Topper with break in career

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