Profile Review

Question

Hi please help review my profile,

Nationality / Age : Thai / 25
GMAT / GPA / Work experience : 610 (q44,v30) / 3.65 / 3 years FMCG (manager level for 2 years).
Educational Background : Applied Chemistry, Top Tier Thai University
Post MBA goals : C level / Entrepreneurship

Please feel free to ask for more information

I have spent my last 2 years as a manager level both locally and across function with international stakeholder, I also have experience with managing a team as well as finance for my function. I understand that my GMAT is quite low this is due to my fundamental math skill and quite frankly math anxiety to put into perspective. I do plan on reviewing and possibly taking the exam 1 more time next year (still debating). 
Right now I am planning to apply for top 20 universities (gmat requirement) : 
Oxbridge (650+) - understandably this is quite a reach 
Imperial (600+), UCL (600+), NUS (600+) - this is more realistic at the moment (how do you think Imperial will take a 610? or is that still considered too low)

thank you in advance

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi  tanvong  hope this finds you well

Looking at the breakup of your GMAT, I am optimistic and feel that you may be able to pull up your Quant score further to a Q47+ level. If your profile is competitive, even Oxbridge will give you strong consideration with a Q47+. But I am also a little concerned about your performance in the verbal section. I know for a fact that top-tier EU/UK schools are considerate of the verbal performance of non-native speakers of English. However, I feel Oxbridge would be slightly less willing to compromise here than schools in the EU. A 34-35 on verbal may be a safe score. Imperial although maybe not as difficult to get into.

Please consider a GMAT retake.

Best wishes

CrackAdmission · Answer

Dear  tanvong ,

Thank you for sharing your profile.

Below is our take on your candidature.

GMAT: On the lower side considering the choice of top UK schools.

Academics: Average; in case you can demonstrate a consistent upward trend in your score across the individual years, it will be more impactful.

Work Experience: You are in a sweet spot as far as the volume of experience is concerned. However, it will be interesting to know the transition from a Chemistry background to the FMCG sector. Did you leverage some of our chemistry know-how for any product development of the FMCG company, or were you involved in a business function (sales/vendor management) or a marketing function (digital, offline, branding etc.). You have mentioned that you have been promoted to the role of a Manager at work. While this is an indication of career progress, you will have to substantiate this with suitable examples from work where you demonstrated leadership attributes.

Extracurriculars: Note that schools look for cultural fitment apart from academic and professional fitment specially in international candidates. Your involvement in extracurricular activities wherein you have engaged with groups/communities outside your core professional network would be an indicator for them. Thus, try to include them in your story.

Goals: You have mentioned C Suite and Entrepreneurship as career goals. Are you suggesting that you want to become a C-suite person in the short run and start a venture in the long run? If so, the short-term goal will seem a little unrealistic to the ad com since directly post an MBA, students with just 3 years of experience are not inducted in C suite positions of an organization. I would encourage you to revisit the goals and mention something that is more realistic.

Choice of Schools: UCLA with your current score is practically very difficult to get. For others, Cambridge, Said, Imperial, you can get a shot with a supremely impactful application.

Needless to say, retaking and bumping your GMAT score by at least 40 points will give you a definite push in terms of your candidature.

I have been guiding applicants in their admission journeys for the last 6 years and would be happy to support you as well. so feel free to reach out to me (details in the signature) if and when you seek professional guidance.

Cheers and wish you all the very best.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey, tanvong ! Thank you for your post! First of all, I must say that’s an interesting situation! A bit of additional boost in each aspect of your can really land you a spot in your reach schools. Your GMAT is quite low, you should consider retaking. However, I would suggest adding a bit more about your academic accolades, additional courses, and any major certificates to back your academic potential. Also, I would recommend you understand the different criteria and eligibility for your GMAT Waiver at your target B-schools! Here is a reference for you, MBA GMAT waiver 2023. This would help you understand the process of applying for a GMAT waiver and the list of B-schools waiving GMAT. Coming to job experience, a promotion looks good on any profile; however, I want you to emphasize the important projects you worked on as a manager, the skills you gained, your position and duties, and even add any professional accolades to boost your chances. Moreover, your responsibilities across functions with international stakeholders must be highlighted in your resume, along with the impact you helped create both as a team member and a leader. Coming to the ECs, you haven’t mentioned much about them. ECs play an important role in an application and help add value to the profile. Your association with NGOs, social activities, and community services helps to display your social responsibilities. For a better understanding, you could refer to our article on Significance of Extracurriculars for MBA Application. Go through it once and highlight some crucial points to strengthen your application (don’t think much, even some great hobbies will do!). Your target schools depend greatly on your post-mba goals (short and long-term). So, I suggest bringing more clarity and adding a brief about your goals (both short and long)and then interlinking it with your experience. Currently, I feel your profile is quite brief; hence, we would like to know your profile in detail to help you with your school applications. Hence, If you’d like, we are happy to connect you with our Profile Experts (who are alums and students of top B-Schools) who will discuss your profile at length in a 30-45 minutes call and provide you with feedback based on your aspirations and goals. Feel free to schedule a call with us here for in-depth profile evaluation (and some networking on the side!) No one knows the application process better than the individuals who have gone through it. We match you with alums from your desired business school. Meet our Panel of Consultants. Cheers! Neha Hadke Strategy Manager Testimonials Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com Visit our website www.mbaandbeyond.com for more MBA resources.

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