Please evaluate my profile

Question

Hi... Thanks in advance for evaluating my profile
1) Male , Indian , 31 , Business Analyst and IT background - ERP Implementation 
2) As per 10+2 Education system in India (10th 78.2% and 12th - 82.2%)
3) Under graduation Graduation - Bachelor of Technology from a prestigious Institute -CGPA 7 out of 10
GMAT - I appeared for GMAT in Nov 2010 and scored a all time low 510( q-49 , v-12 ). My mock test score was ranging between 650-700(progressively increasing). I am aiming to reappear for GMAT in July 2016.

*WORK EXPERIENCE - 9 Years total exp.
Started my career in a Middle managerial profile for an Indian Major Automotive company where i had to deal with IT service providers being a business analyst. Delivered successfully many projects in that role. Consecutive 4 years i was awarded as best performer in the department. Worked on 2 major projects that were related to warehousing and Complete Supply Chain Solution for after market sales. Responsibility included business requirement gathering , its mapping , co-ordination with service providers to get it implemented , go-live and success of Project.Also dealt with legal department of the company to liaison with new service providers and completing Legal formalities of agreements.
After working for almost 4 years in above mentioned role i switched my profile to be on the other side of the table. Accepted an offer from Indian major IT company to work as an ERP consultant. Got good exposure to work with Fortune 500 clients(majorly from FMCG sector) in ERP implementation projects. Out of 5 years of experience i have earned 2 years of US experience(working as a Lead).

*CO CURRICULAR
I have played and won several prizes in Cricket at regional level in school.In college i was member of organizing committee of Cultural Events and College Gathering.Won Many few prizes in Athletics as well at school and college level.Certifications in Digital Photography.

For 4 years i was part of NGO that works on Environment related issues.

Can gurus evaluate my profile and at least guide me how to search on what all schools/Courses should i aim at(Assuming my GMAT score to be in between 650-700)

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

5va,

A few points for you to ponder on:
 
  Profile wise, you seem to have a solid track record. Being on both sides of the table helps. It is not clear though as to what you want to do after MBA. That will really dictate whether the experience counts and if its differentiated enough.  
  The years of experience though could make you a bit of an outlier at many schools. You may find the post  here , useful for your school search.  
  The ECs from school/college days will have minor to nil relevance given the time that has past. Important to be able to bridge those with what you do now. Just being part of an NGO doesn't tell much - details are important to understand whether this really adds to the overall profile.

Hope this helps some.

Cheers,

5va · Answer

Hi Manish,

Thanks for your comments. Regarding outliers i would take that in a positive way because of the limited choices available to me. Let me know how should i go ahead and carry on my raw research on what courses and Schools i should go for.

FortunaAdmissionsMJ · Answer

Hi  5va ,

That's great you are considering at MBA. Making a decision as to where to go, where to apply can definitely be daunting as there is so much to choose from. As Manish said, it's unclear what your post MBA plans are so that really does matter and help when choosing the right school (that's just 1 thing...).

I'd like to suggest that you do a bit more homework on business schools in general. The business school application is your opportunity to exhibit not just a level of familiarity with MBA qualifications, but also a real understanding of the personality, strengths, and resources of the schools you wish to apply to. Both in the essays and in an interview, you need to make a distinct and persuasive case about how the MBA can help you to build on existing skills and experience, and convince the school of the coherence and feasibility of your post-MBA career. The decision to pursue an MBA is not taken lightly, and all aspects of your application need to reflect this understanding.

And for that, research is essential. Are you just interested in US schools? International schools? 1 year program? 2 Year?Can you establish what sets Chicago apart from Wharton? How does Darden differ from Tuck? How can each school help you achieve your career goals? Schools might look similar on paper, but they each have their own identity and approach to management development. There’s no substitute for doing your homework on the school you’re applying to. Ideally you should visit campuses as this will give you a much stronger feel for what makes it unique. But if that’s not possible, then attend local information sessions or online webinars, contact students and alumni, visit an MBA fair, and read brochures, student blogs, and media that focus on business education. Remember it’s not just a question of whether you fit with a school’s character, but also whether a school fits with yours. Take time and effort to reflect on this.

Don’t rely on rankings. Each year MBA rankings are published in newspapers such as The Economist or The Financial Times. The characteristics of the institution, the curriculum and faculty, the alumni network, the career opportunities, and other school strengths are more important. And don’t forget the importance of course length, location, and cost. When you do look at rankings, remember that each has its own methodology. Find out what’s being measured ‒ whether post-MBA salary, return-on-investment, the quality of the students or career opportunities ‒ and decide whether they apply to you.

While there’s only one MBA degree, no two MBA programs are identical. The more familiar you are with the programs of your choice, the better your chance of choosing the right school that’s best for you and actually getting in.

And finally, as you are competing in the most competitive applicant pool (male Indian, IT) you should definitely aim for a higher gmat score in the mid to high 700s. If you aren't getting the scores you need, you might want to consider a gmat tutor.

Hope that helps!

MansieDewan · Answer

Hi... Thanks in advance for evaluating my profile
1) Male , Indian , 31 , Business Analyst and IT background - ERP Implementation 
2) As per 10+2 Education system in India (10th 78.2% and 12th - 82.2%)
3) Under graduation Graduation - Bachelor of Technology from a prestigious Institute -CGPA 7 out of 10
GMAT - I appeared for GMAT in Nov 2010 and scored a all time low 510( q-49 , v-12 ). My mock test score was ranging between 650-700(progressively increasing). I am aiming to reappear for GMAT in July 2016.

*WORK EXPERIENCE - 9 Years total exp.
Started my career in a Middle managerial profile for an Indian Major Automotive company where i had to deal with IT service providers being a business analyst. Delivered successfully many projects in that role. Consecutive 4 years i was awarded as best performer in the department. Worked on 2 major projects that were related to warehousing and Complete Supply Chain Solution for after market sales. Responsibility included business requirement gathering , its mapping , co-ordination with service providers to get it implemented , go-live and success of Project.Also dealt with legal department of the company to liaison with new service providers and completing Legal formalities of agreements.
After working for almost 4 years in above mentioned role i switched my profile to be on the other side of the table. Accepted an offer from Indian major IT company to work as an ERP consultant. Got good exposure to work with Fortune 500 clients(majorly from FMCG sector) in ERP implementation projects. Out of 5 years of experience i have earned 2 years of US experience(working as a Lead).

*CO CURRICULAR
I have played and won several prizes in Cricket at regional level in school.In college i was member of organizing committee of Cultural Events and College Gathering.Won Many few prizes in Athletics as well at school and college level.Certifications in Digital Photography.

For 4 years i was part of NGO that works on Environment related issues.

Can gurus evaluate my profile and at least guide me how to search on what all schools/Courses should i aim at(Assuming my GMAT score to be in between 650-700)[/quote

Hi 5va,

You've got the makings of a great hand. One year programs such as those offered by IIMs A and C, Oxford Said, ESADE, IESE will suit you well, presuming you want to become a Technology Consultant. You've got a very rich industry experience that you can leverage to your advantage.

The wild card will be the GMAT- you need to score a 720 to show your capability and aptitude for the rigorous curriculum that all MBA candidates go through. Get in touch with Kinjal Das ( callsign: kinjiPG @GMATclub), who was in a similar situation such as yourself and nailed it with a 760! Good Luck with your MBA journey!

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

5va, the outlier thing is a positive if you play your cards right. Feel free to reach out on the coordinates in my signature if you need help. The article I shared in my earlier response should already get you started though.

Cheers,

VeritasPrepEdison · Answer

Thanks for sharing.

In addition to the advices above, as an applicant on the upper range with regards to age and work experience, it would help to demonstrate strong leadership experiences and teamwork skills across projects, functions, and culture. This is to highlight how you can contribute to the experience of your peers and class discussions.

Long running and continuing personal passions can also help you stand out.

Wish you all the best and look forward to your updates.

5va · Answer

Thanks everyone for their valuable comments!

Please evaluate my profile

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