Building a profile for MBA

Question

Hi all,
Here's some basics about my profile.
 23 year old female 
Std X : 10/10
Std XII : 92%
BEngg : 7.6/10 from  BITS Pilani , one of the top 5 universities in India.
Currently working as  Senior Software Engineer at HSBC .
HSBC has a good brand value being one of the top ten banks across the globe.
My  work ex is currently 1 year 7 months , I plan to apply for an MBA only after completing 3-4 years.
I haven't taken GMAT/GRE yet but have scored  96.55 percentile  in CAT 2020.
My extra curriculars are moderate:-
Held a POR at school.
Held a POR for an association at college.
Represented my college for chess in inter college sports fest.
Been a part of the journalism club at college.
Currently a 'market lead' representing my country for a global association of graduates at my work.
Been a part of NGO drives/events in my college as well as at my work.

My goal after MBA is to switch to a people centric work profile, haven't really decided upon the exact role but marketing and/or consultancy looks appealing to me for now.

My target universities are mostly in the Asian and EU region,  INSEAD, LBS, HEC Paris , to name a few.

My queries are the following:-
1. How to  improve my profile  in terms of extra curriculars and work domain?
2. How to  plan my finances  - and how to look for funds/scholarships and increase my eligibility for the same?
3. Are there any other programmes I should consider other than MBA?

Posted from my mobile device

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

hashx63 , your profile seems to be building up well.

Profile building   is a pretty in-depth topic and depends on a more detailed discussion. From what you've described, the ECs look good and a lot is also about how you present/articulate them. Some thoughts on   what ECs work best  .

The choice of program type also depends on your career aspirations eventually.

Any reason for leaving out US?

Do check out the profile builder and feel free to reach out to us for more details.

All the best.

rn1112 · Answer

A high GMAT score will provide a further boost to your Resume for getting admission into these top universities.

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi hashx63 hope this finds you well Your academic arc is solid with a good undergrad pedigree. When it will be time for you to apply for MBA at the top-tier schools globally, the schools will look beyond academics, the GMAT, the undergrad pedigree, and the strong employer brand to judge your potential. Over the next 2-3 years, depending on your areas of interest, you should conscientiously grab professional opportunities that add new dimensions to your portfolio. If you enhance your profile, you will have a fair shot at the top 10 Global Schools down the line. But this profile enhancement would need to show as a take-off point in your career graph. For example, you could negotiate an international assignment with your employer, or get into challenging roles in startups, or in consulting and strategy roles where you get hands-on experience on the business building blocks. I feel there would be no dearth of opportunities for someone with your credentials and Bits pedigree. So take advantage 1. How to improve my profile in terms of extra curriculars and work domain? Take up projects that resonate most with your long-term motivations. For example, if you would want to pivot to entrepreneurship in the social sector, you should develop strong engagement with social enterprises and companies working in this sector. The advice on this question would require an in-depth discussion so feel free to connect at a suitable time. 2. How to plan my finances - and how to look for funds/scholarships and increase my eligibility for the same? The schools you have in consideration will have ample opportunity to request financial aid. You do not have to plan for that years in advance. Focus on your profile building and scholarships will follow

3. Are there any other programs I should consider other than MBA? Again, this requires deep deliberation about your future motivations and industry/roles that most interest you. Feel free to schedule a call should you need candid advice. Best wishes

GeneralEducation · Answer

Answering you queries, 
1. If you have an average or low academic score during your college days, you would be skeptical about how it would affect your MBA applications. While it does matter to an extent, it is not a dealbreaker for the application. All B-schools look at the holistic nature of the application and not at any particular aspect alone.

If you have plans to apply for B school in the coming years, you may have to build your profile under the below-mentioned categories.
Jobs/Internships: Most of the B schools look for a spike in last couple of years. Cross-functional/cross-organizational shows the adoms that you take initiative and are a leader. Take up responsibilities that you could use to build a story for your  essays .

Volunteer Experience: Spend your weekend volunteering for community work or teaching children who cannot afford basic education (mostly in rural parts). This will reflect to the Adcom your commitment to social responsibility, your ability to take initiative, and your organizational and leadership skills.

Build own startup/work for a startup: With B-schools trying to increase diversity in their classrooms, students are handpicked from various industry/career backgrounds. Start-up experience will be considered as Fastrack mode in leadership, multi-tasking, stress management and more skills.

Pursuing hobby: Having a creative hobby, such as fitness enthusiast, reading new books, active on social forums, learning new language, attending conferences relating to your field, Playing the guitar, dancing or doing adventure sports will display to the adcom that your willing to step out of their comfort zone to pursue success.

Certifications: Enroll for a certification course offered by Udemy, CourseEra, Unacademy etc. A course related to subject you will study in MBA or related to your career that will help you to develop your skill set.

2. Funding Options For Applicants: 
 Non-cosigner Loans Given by the MBA Program
Non-collateral Education Loans by Indian Banks
Non-collateral Education Loans by Non-Banks/Specialized Institutes
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Collateral Loans in India

3. keep the options open for other regions to wider your chances and target the schools, you can also use our unique  B school selector  tool to find the best program to fit your requirements.

MiMEssay · Answer

Hey hashx63, To improve your profile, consider taking on additional responsibilities at work, such as leading a project or cross-functional team. You can also pursue certifications, attend industry conferences, or get involved in community service or other volunteer work. Coaching, mentoring, or public speaking can also help you learn how to be a leader and talk to people. To plan your finances for an MBA, consider creating a budget, researching various funding options (e.g., loans, scholarships, grants), and reaching out to alumni or current students at your target schools to gather more information. You can also look into your company's tuition reimbursement programs or consider taking on additional freelance or side work to help save money. Other programs to consider besides an MBA could be an Executive MBA (EMBA), a Master of Management (MM), or a Master in Marketing. Consider your career goals, time constraints, and learning preferences when deciding which program is best for you. If you need more help, we'd be happy to setup a call and give more pointers on how to improve your profile and the right schools you should target. You can setup a call via this link: https://bit.ly/3DSH5km

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