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Aspirant1209
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GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
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Aspirant1209
Background:I am a 25M Engineer from India. I earned my bachelor's in computer science from one of the top 5 IITs and was among the top 3 in my department, with a graduating CGPA of>> 9.5. My pre-bachelor academic record has also been pretty good. I have a 3-year work experience with a top Indian High-Frequency Trading firm as a Quantitative Trader specializing in Options Market Making. I recently took GMAT FE and scored 725, I expected > 750 since I was constantly getting those in mocks but test day pressure led me to underperform. I was pretty active during my college days, led my college contingent in inter-IIT tournaments, headed a society, and won several college-level awards for best all-rounder. I head a small team and run a decent-sized trading book with my current employer. The primary reason to apply is to have a backup option in case the trading gig doesn't scale to the level I expect in the near term. I am mainly targeting M7 and looking to switch to buy-side roles post MBA since I feel I am cut out to handle to PNL pressure and stress that comes with such roles. I have also part-timed with a handful of startups mainly in the tech domain, a couple of founders that I have worked with are very famous in the Bay Area, so I was planning to take one referral from them and another one from my current employer. Also, I plan to pitch my startup gigs as entrepreneurial experience in my application since I have heard B schools value it.

Can you please help me evaluate my chances with M7 and how can I improve my profile? Also if you have any specific advice for dos or don'ts for specific B schools?
PS: My dream school is Wharton but I am clueless if my profile is suited for them­
­
Hi Wharton Aspirant1209,

You are very strong academically (pre undergrad grades dont matter) and you should immeditaly put the lid on any further GMAT prep, just in case you are still chasing yoru dream score. Wharton is a very competitive program and you will be far better served putting in all your energy into the application- if you are applying R1.
I don't think of an MBA as a back up plan. With the amount of effort needed to apply+ the financial resources needed to attend and the opportunity cost of not earning a trader's hefty salary - its gotta be THE plan, specificically if the b-school in question is Wharton. I say this because you need to think this way and go all in if you want to put your best application forth. And Wharton's essays require you talk to 5-6 students to write a very convincing contribution essay. If you feel you are not prepared enough to submit this great application and you need more time resaerching the program to write convincing essays, my advice would be to push to R2. The purpose is always to submit the best application possible, not just a completed application.
yes entrepreneurship is valued by b-schools. Pitch your startup experience in a manner that is authentic, and not as you think b-schools want to see it.
Hope that helps,

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
http://www.mbadecoder.com
Email: [email protected]
Sign up for a FREE Profile evaluation: https://mbadecoder.com/services/free-pr ... valuation/


WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICANTS FOR OCTOBER DEADLINES­
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Background: I am a 29M Software Engineer from India. I earned my Bachelor's in Technology in Computer Science from a private University (Symbiosis International University) and graduated with a 3.55 CGPA (out of 4). I have 7.5 years of work experience (worked in 6 companies so far), started my career in a service-based company, moved to consulting (technology analyst), and have been working in top big tech firms for the last 4 years. I gave GMAT 2 years ago and scored 740. I don't have any extracurricular activities from my undergrad days but I have received a couple of professional awards/recognitions. I have some leadership experience in terms of leading projects end to end and managing a small team as well in one of my tenures. I am interested in doing an MBA due to my interest in the finance domain. I am also open to transitioning into management positions in tech companies if Finance doesn't work out or is not an option.

I know my profile is not that great, but I wanted to know if I have any chances with M7 and, if not, how I can improve it.
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Hello,

Your academic record is excellent (IIT degree, 9.5 CGPA). Your GMAT FE 725 is well within the acceptance range of M7s including Wharton. Your startup experience and leadership roles show you're entrepreneurial and adaptable to challenges.
Your admission will depend on how you craft compelling essays that highlight your impact and personal growth. We have extensive experience sending candidates to M7s and would be happy to help if you DM us.
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gmatloverop
Background: I am a 29M Software Engineer from India. I earned my Bachelor's in Technology in Computer Science from a private University (Symbiosis International University) and graduated with a 3.55 CGPA (out of 4). I have 7.5 years of work experience (worked in 6 companies so far), started my career in a service-based company, moved to consulting (technology analyst), and have been working in top big tech firms for the last 4 years. I gave GMAT 2 years ago and scored 740. I don't have any extracurricular activities from my undergrad days but I have received a couple of professional awards/recognitions. I have some leadership experience in terms of leading projects end to end and managing a small team as well in one of my tenures. I am interested in doing an MBA due to my interest in the finance domain. I am also open to transitioning into management positions in tech companies if Finance doesn't work out or is not an option.

I know my profile is not that great, but I wanted to know if I have any chances with M7 and, if not, how I can improve it.
Hi gmatloverop ,

Your profile reflects a good tech background with 7.5 years of experience, including leadership roles in consulting and big tech, with a great GMAT score of 740. However, 6 companies in 7.5 years, can concern AdComs, so you should have a strategic answer ready. To enhance your chances, consider engaging in impactful extracurriculars, this will bring diversity to your profile. You will need to craft a compelling narrative, connecting your experience to your goals, and refining your rationale for an MBA to align with your career aspirations in finance or management. Try connecting with the school alumni to understand more about the insights and values. With these improvements, your profile has the potential to be more competitive. We would like to know more about your profile, as the information you shared is brief, and getting to know more details, will help us identify if you can pull out good stories from your experience.

If you’d like, we are happy to discuss more about your work experience, leadership skills, impact created to assess your chances better and strengthen your application with impactful stories.

“Join Our Exclusive Webinar!"

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond
Email: [email protected]