Profile Evaluation 730 GMAT, Finance Work Ex

Question

Hi,

Age- 26, Indian Male

GMAT- 730 (Q 49, V 40, AWA 5)

Education:

Bachelors in Computer Science from a Decent Indian Engineering school (Non IIT), GPA- 8.05/10 ( top 10%). Graduated in 2011.

Experience:

3 months- Summer Internship in the Investment Banking division of a major US Investment Bank in Bangalore

2 Years- as an Analyst, Risk Management and Credit Derivatives in a major European Investment Bank in Mumbai.

Presently working in a leadership position, Risk Management for a Bulge Bracket US bank in Mumbai

Extra Curricular:

Member of the College Debating Society, Organisational and fund raising work in College. Some NGO work.

Post MBA Career Goal:

To work in Front End Investment Banking or Sales and Trading in a Bulge Bracket/ Midsize IB in the US. Not rigid about location.

Planning to apply in 2014. Will have 3 years of full time experience if I apply in Round 1 2014.

I have shortlisted the following schools based on some preliminary research-

Dream- Booth, Columbia

Stretch- Stern, Johnson, Fuqua, Yale SOM

Target- McCombs, Tepper, Kenan Flagler, UCLA

Safe- Georgetown

Does my target list seem reasonable based on my profile and experience? What else would you recommend for increasing my chances at the stretch and dream schools?

Thanks and Regards

Admissionado · Answer

Hello there good sir,
First of all, I gotta say I love your school list. It is broad, reasonable and hopeful all at the same time. I couldn't have advised you better!

I think your auto-evaluation is spot-on. You seem to have great work experience and good leadership, along with good grades and an excellent GMAT. But at the same time you are totally realistic and covering all eventualities as an Indian candidate, which is wise of you.

The best thing you can do is to apply to as many schools as you can. I'd say try and apply to six schools R1 - your two dreams, two of your stretches and two of your targets, and then you can leave the others as options for R2 once you see how your results are. Admittedly applying to this many schools is a LOT of work, but you have come this far, so no reason to shirk the work now!

If there are any other specific questions you have feel free to ask,
Best,
Jon

incub23 · Answer

Hi Jon,

Thank you so much for your kind feedback.

I know this may sound ludicrous but I had this passing thought about giving the GMAT again and trying for 750+. Do you think it would give me an edge at my stretch/dream schools? especially since I come from such a geographically competitive applicant pool.

Thanks and Regards

Admissionado · Answer

Well, it's not only ludicrous, but also totally unnecessary and not helpful. There's a feeling I know very very well amongst Indian candidates (cause we work with soooooo many) that "Ah if I only get X points higher, I will get in." The problem is that it's not true. They don't want or need higher than a 730. From that point on, they want you to be more original, more passionate, more interesting, with better essays. So my advice: spent your time on something that will show returns: i.e. your application.

Hope this helps,

Profile Evaluation 730 GMAT, Finance Work Ex

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