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biggrigg
Joined: 28 Aug 2025
Last visit: 18 Apr 2026
Posts: 3
Location: Pakistan
Schools: HBS '26 (S) Darden '26 (S) LBS '26 (S)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q82 V84 DI80 
GPA: 83.73
10 Dec 2025, 09:22
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello All,
I will appreciate if I can get brutally honest feedback on my profile and which colleges do you suggest I target for business school.
32M, Pakistani nationality, married, 2 kids
Undergrad in chemical engineering from a reputed university in Canada (3.7gpa)
Masters in chemical engineering from a reputed university in USA (top 20 in engineering / 4.0gpa) - 2 research articles published in high impact journals
GMAT: 645. (Gave it today and disappointed at the score. Planning on giving it again by end of this month)
Work experience:
1. 1 year in big 4 consulting in the Middle East working on corporate governance for major oil and gas company
2. Afterwards, moved to a multinational oil and gas company and worked there for 5 years / 3 years in the field as an engineer and 2 years in planning and workforce performance management. Managed operations and also led several projects with measurable impact around digital transformation and cost savings.
3. I am now starting a new role in another country in the Middle East where I will be a project manager for digital transformation initiatives across the country. The company is part of the biggest sovereign fund in the region.
Extracurricular:
nothing in particular.
1. I have done some tutoring.
2. I led the local chapter of my company’s empowerment team focused on health, safety and environment related initiatives both inside the workplace as well as outside of it.
3. I have done some acting (content creation) in the past on YouTube videos that have crossed over a million views.
4. I have also helped a few underprivileged families start businesses by aiding them with strategy and execution as well as providing capital for the business from my own pocket. Nothing too structured. The reason for this is that social responsibility is extremely close to my heart due my family background (although, I am not too keen on highlighting this point as I feel it comes across as too braggy or self-preachy).
Please let me know what you all think. Ideally, I wanted to target M7 + LBS and INSEAD but with my current GMAT score, I am reconsidering my options.
I will appreciate if I can get brutally honest feedback on my profile and which colleges do you suggest I target for business school.
32M, Pakistani nationality, married, 2 kids
Undergrad in chemical engineering from a reputed university in Canada (3.7gpa)
Masters in chemical engineering from a reputed university in USA (top 20 in engineering / 4.0gpa) - 2 research articles published in high impact journals
GMAT: 645. (Gave it today and disappointed at the score. Planning on giving it again by end of this month)
Work experience:
1. 1 year in big 4 consulting in the Middle East working on corporate governance for major oil and gas company
2. Afterwards, moved to a multinational oil and gas company and worked there for 5 years / 3 years in the field as an engineer and 2 years in planning and workforce performance management. Managed operations and also led several projects with measurable impact around digital transformation and cost savings.
3. I am now starting a new role in another country in the Middle East where I will be a project manager for digital transformation initiatives across the country. The company is part of the biggest sovereign fund in the region.
Extracurricular:
nothing in particular.
1. I have done some tutoring.
2. I led the local chapter of my company’s empowerment team focused on health, safety and environment related initiatives both inside the workplace as well as outside of it.
3. I have done some acting (content creation) in the past on YouTube videos that have crossed over a million views.
4. I have also helped a few underprivileged families start businesses by aiding them with strategy and execution as well as providing capital for the business from my own pocket. Nothing too structured. The reason for this is that social responsibility is extremely close to my heart due my family background (although, I am not too keen on highlighting this point as I feel it comes across as too braggy or self-preachy).
Please let me know what you all think. Ideally, I wanted to target M7 + LBS and INSEAD but with my current GMAT score, I am reconsidering my options.
10 Dec 2025, 11:04
Kudos
Bookmarks
Dear @biggrigg,
Please find our analysis of your profile.
1. Unique Strengths:
We have been helping applicants successfully crack MBA programs over the last 8+ years. Feel free to reach out if you seek professional assistance. You can also sign up for a pro-bono profile evaluation here: https://calendly.com/crackadmission/profileevaluation
Wishing you all the very best !
Please find our analysis of your profile.
1. Unique Strengths:
- Vertical impact stack: You’ve operated at three levels : field ops → corporate control tower → sovereign-fund transformation. Very few applicants show this depth across an entire economic value chain.
- Risk intuition: Engineering + HSE leadership + governance consulting gives you a multi-dimensional understanding of risk (operational, safety, compliance, people). This can be positioned from the lens of unique leadership.
- Macro-scale exposure: Your new role signals national-level transformation ; this positions you as someone who drives change at system level, not just company level.
- Creative + social blend: YouTube content + business mentoring for underprivileged families shows (if drafted properly) you can communicate, influence and uplift, a combination MBA programs value but applicants often fail to highlight.
- GMAT is the single biggest limiter.
Asian engineering pool = high score expectations.
<675 blocks top programs regardless of strong experience. - Narrative clarity missing: You must explain why MBA now given your advanced career stage and two technical degrees.
- Under-framed extracurriculars: You have meaningful impact, but it's scattered. Needs packaging into leadership, empathy and initiative themes.
- Evidence that you can translate your ops + governance + digital work into post-MBA strategic leadership roles.
- Clear articulation of your career pivot and timeline.
- Confidence that your GMAT reflects your intellectual ceiling, not your first attempt.
- 685+: INSEAD, LBS, Duke, Ross, Darden, Booth, MIT Sloan (just because of your core ops background)
- 705+: Rest of M7
- With current score : Rotman, Ivy, Georgetown, HEC, UT Austin etc.
We have been helping applicants successfully crack MBA programs over the last 8+ years. Feel free to reach out if you seek professional assistance. You can also sign up for a pro-bono profile evaluation here: https://calendly.com/crackadmission/profileevaluation
Wishing you all the very best !
11 Dec 2025, 08:40
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello! Thank you for sharing such a detailed and impressive profile. I will provide you with the "brutally honest" feedback you requested, focusing on how your profile stacks up against M7, LBS, and INSEAD, and what your next steps should be.
⚖️ Brutally Honest Profile Assessment
Your profile is exceptionally strong in many key areas, which means you are a competitive candidate for top-tier schools.
[hr]
🎯 Target School Strategy
Your goal is to apply to schools where your strong academics and unique work experience can overcome the GMAT score.
Tier 1: Stretch/Re-Take GMAT Required (M7 & Global Top 3)
These schools highly value diverse backgrounds, leadership, and a clear story, and their average GMATs are slightly lower ($\sim 710-720$).
Tier 3: Excellent European/Asian Targets (Cambridge Judge, Oxford Said, HEC Paris, NUS/HKUST)
These schools offer excellent international exposure, shorter programs (in the case of INSEAD/HEC), and can be a fantastic pivot for a high-impact global career.
[hr]
📝 Application Strategy: The Narrative
The GMAT is the only piece of your profile that is currently telling a "no" story. Your essays must tell a compelling story that makes the AdComs want to take a chance on you despite the 645.
1. Frame Your Career as a Logical Progression
Your profile is strong enough to get interviews at M7/LBS/INSEAD, but the 645 score will likely lead to an immediate ding at the most competitive schools (HBS/GSB/Wharton) and put you on the "risk" pile for the others.
⚖️ Brutally Honest Profile Assessment
Your profile is exceptionally strong in many key areas, which means you are a competitive candidate for top-tier schools.
| Profile Component | Assessment | Impact |
| Age (32M) | Slightly older than the 28-29 average, but very manageable for European schools (INSEAD/LBS) and US programs with stronger career progression. | Manageable. You need to articulate a clear "Why MBA Now" that justifies the slight delay and links your experience directly to your post-MBA goal. |
| Academics | Outstanding. Canadian Undergrad (3.7) and US Masters (4.0) in Chemical Engineering from reputed universities, plus two high-impact publications. | Huge Asset. This mitigates a lower GMAT score and demonstrates exceptional academic rigor and intellectual horsepower. |
| Work Experience (7+ years) | High Quality & Unique. Big 4 Consulting + Multinational O&G (Field Engineering to Planning/Management) + New Project Management role in Digital Transformation for a Sovereign Fund entity. | Major Strength. This shows rapid progression, international mobility, a rare mix of technical depth (engineering), strategic oversight (planning), and future-forward leadership (digital transformation/sovereign wealth). Your new role is a fantastic story piece. |
| Extracurriculars | Hidden Gems. The tutoring and company leadership are standard, but the acting/content creation (1M+ views) and aiding underprivileged families with strategy/capital are unique. | Very Positive. The social impact work is exactly what AdComs want to see—impact, not structure. The YouTube work shows creativity, market understanding, and a willingness to step outside the corporate box. You absolutely must highlight the social impact work. |
| Nationality (Pakistani) | Positive Differentiator. Pakistan is an underrepresented country in top MBA classes, unlike India or China. This gives you a slight edge in terms of diversity within the Asian pool. | |
| GMAT (645) | The Primary Weakness. The average GMAT for M7 schools is typically $\sim730$, LBS is $\sim708$, and INSEAD is $\sim708$. A 645 is significantly below these averages and will be a major hurdle for US M7 schools and a high-risk factor for LBS/INSEAD. | High Risk. Your high academic performance (GPAs, publications) is strong compensation, but a 645 places you in the bottom 10% of accepted candidates for your target schools, making it difficult to stand out from the highly competitive applicant pool. |
🎯 Target School Strategy
Your goal is to apply to schools where your strong academics and unique work experience can overcome the GMAT score.
Tier 1: Stretch/Re-Take GMAT Required (M7 & Global Top 3)
| Schools | Assessment & Strategy | GMAT Target |
| M7 (HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Booth, Kellogg, CBS) | High Risk. Your work history is M7-caliber, particularly the Big 4, O&G, and Sovereign Fund roles. Your academics are flawless. However, the GMAT 645 is a severe obstacle. | 700+ is non-negotiable for a competitive application; 720+ to be comfortable as an international candidate. |
| INSEAD & LBS | Stretch. INSEAD and LBS are more accepting of a slightly lower GMAT if the holistic profile is strong, especially for international and experienced candidates. Your profile is highly international (Canada/USA/ME) and mature. | 680-700. A re-take to 680+ would significantly improve your chances here and make you a serious contender. |
Quote:
Tier 2: Strong Target Schools (Tuck, Yale, Berkeley Haas, Ross, Duke Fuqua)
These schools highly value diverse backgrounds, leadership, and a clear story, and their average GMATs are slightly lower ($\sim 710-720$).
| Schools | Why It's a Good Fit |
| MIT Sloan | Dual Degree/LGO. Given your deep engineering background, explore the Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program. Your chemical engineering masters and operations/project management experience are a perfect fit. This program's average GMAT is sometimes more flexible for strong technical profiles. |
| Yale SOM | Highly value mission-driven candidates and diverse backgrounds. Your social impact work (aid to underprivileged families) and unique international career path would resonate strongly with the "for society" mission. |
| Tuck / Ross / Duke Fuqua | Strong general management programs with a collaborative culture. They are excellent feeders into consulting, which could be a post-MBA goal. They value a mature, highly engaged class member. |
These schools offer excellent international exposure, shorter programs (in the case of INSEAD/HEC), and can be a fantastic pivot for a high-impact global career.
[hr]
📝 Application Strategy: The Narrative
The GMAT is the only piece of your profile that is currently telling a "no" story. Your essays must tell a compelling story that makes the AdComs want to take a chance on you despite the 645.
1. Frame Your Career as a Logical Progression
- Theme: Bridging the gap between Deep Technical Expertise and Strategic Digital Leadership.
- Narrative: Show how your work progressed from:
- Technical Master: Chemical Engineer in the field (Hands-on problem solving).
- Operational Strategist: Planning and workforce management (Process optimization, measurable impact).
- Digital Leader: Project Manager for Digital Transformation in a massive sovereign fund entity (Leading the future, setting national strategy).
- Post-MBA Goal: Your goal should logically follow this: Moving from managing project-level digital transformation to a strategic, executive-level role (e.g., VP of Digital Strategy) at a major energy firm or technology consulting firm.
- Social Impact: Do not be shy about the family businesses you helped start. Frame it as "Applying Business Acumen for Social Upliftment." Focus on the strategy and execution you provided, not just the capital. Quantify the impact (e.g., "Helped three families establish sustainable micro-businesses, resulting in a 50% increase in their average monthly income.")
- Creative Side: Use the content creation to show traits highly valued in business: creativity, public presence, communication, and understanding of market engagement. This is a very memorable and non-traditional element for an engineer.
- If you apply with a 645, you must have a strong essay that addresses any perceived weaknesses. The best way to compensate for a low GMAT is through:
- High GPAs (which you have).
- Demonstrating Quantitative Rigor in your new job/projects.
- Taking an alternative course (e.g., an HBS CORe certification or an online Statistics/Finance course) to prove readiness.
Your profile is strong enough to get interviews at M7/LBS/INSEAD, but the 645 score will likely lead to an immediate ding at the most competitive schools (HBS/GSB/Wharton) and put you on the "risk" pile for the others.
- GMAT Retake: Dedicate the next few weeks to studying and re-taking the GMAT. Aim for 700+. This is your highest-priority action item.
- School Research: Begin deep research into the Tier 2 schools (Tuck, Yale, Ross, MIT LGO) as strong backup/target schools, as they align well with your values and profile.
- Essay Brainstorming: Begin crafting the narrative around your unique progression (Engineering -> Consulting -> Operational Strategy -> Digital Transformation) and your impactful, non-traditional extracurriculars.
biggrigg
