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pranavt
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Joined: 11 Apr 2015
Last visit: 18 Aug 2017
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 9
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: Marshall '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Marshall '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
Posts: 18
Kudos: 5
Profile Evaluation 05 Jun 2015, 06:43
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Hello!

I am planning to apply for Fall-16 intake, can you please share your opinions on my profile.
Any suggestions on school selection would be appreciated as well.

Demographics:
25 years old Indian Male

GMAT:
710 (Q49, V37) - intend to re-attempt and try for a higher score

Undergrad:
VNIT - B.Tech (Electronics Communication)
- GPA: 7.75/10

Work Experience:
- As of date, completed 3 years at Oracle India as a Developer. Have worked on projects involving team work (I wasn't a lead) as well as on projects where I was the solo resource. The solo projects weren't of small scale and I was the point of contact for multiple teams across the project.
- Community service - worked with several NGOs for teaching children. Was also a project lead for one such NGO event

Extracurricular:
- Play squash and badminton - but achievements for these activities pre-date the undergrad degree (badminton - played at a National level, squash - country level in Kuwait)

Certifications:
- Passed CFA L1

MBA major:
- Finance/Strategy

Post-MBA goal:
- Finance preferably, else Consulting

Target schools:
I'm really not sure of what colleges to consider here. Maybe McCombs because of my tech background, or Stern or Booth since I am interested in Finance (both Stretch). Would you share your thoughts on this too?
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Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Last visit: 26 May 2024
Posts: 9,229
Own Kudos:
2,075
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Given Kudos: 69
Location: Chicago, IL
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Schools: HBS - Class of 2005
Posts: 9,229
Kudos: 2,075
 [1]
Profile Evaluation 08 Jun 2015, 00:30
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pranavt
Hello!

I am planning to apply for Fall-16 intake, can you please share your opinions on my profile.
Any suggestions on school selection would be appreciated as well.

Demographics:
25 years old Indian Male

GMAT:
710 (Q49, V37) - intend to re-attempt and try for a higher score

Undergrad:
VNIT - B.Tech (Electronics Communication)
- GPA: 7.75/10

Work Experience:
- As of date, completed 3 years at Oracle India as a Developer. Have worked on projects involving team work (I wasn't a lead) as well as on projects where I was the solo resource. The solo projects weren't of small scale and I was the point of contact for multiple teams across the project.
- Community service - worked with several NGOs for teaching children. Was also a project lead for one such NGO event

Extracurricular:
- Play squash and badminton - but achievements for these activities pre-date the undergrad degree (badminton - played at a National level, squash - country level in Kuwait)

Certifications:
- Passed CFA L1

MBA major:
- Finance/Strategy

Post-MBA goal:
- Finance preferably, else Consulting

Target schools:
I'm really not sure of what colleges to consider here. Maybe McCombs because of my tech background, or Stern or Booth since I am interested in Finance (both Stretch). Would you share your thoughts on this too?
Show more

Hey dude,
Good to hear from you.

So in short, what I see here is that everything is pretty good, but I don't yet see something that will make you stand out. And it will be VITAL that you find a way to present yourself to the AdCom in a unique and exciting way.

As you probably know, Indian IT applicants are the biggest pool, and the most challenging. And that's why it's so important.

In your profile I don't see any major weaknesses, which is great.

I think though that your "Sweet spot" for schools will be in the 10-30 range US, and that schools like Stern and Booth will be out of range (too many Indian candidates from IIT with 740+ and stellar jobs in the competition). So I'd say concentrate on the more realistic range.

One final thought about your goals - don't go the finance route. I KNOW you want to do finance. But so does every other Indian IT guy. I mean, sure, who doesn't want huge salaries and fancy jobs? But it's not so realistic. There are enough Indian candidates coming from finance to fill all the spaces there are in banks.


Now, to be clear, I'm not saying that you should give up on your finance goals! But just it's not a good strategic choice for your MBA application, because it's not sooo probable. A better goal might be for example management in IT.

I hope this helps, and wish you luck!
Best,
JF
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pranavt
avatar
Joined: 11 Apr 2015
Last visit: 18 Aug 2017
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 9
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: Marshall '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Marshall '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
Posts: 18
Kudos: 5
Profile Evaluation 09 Jun 2015, 00:59
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JonAdmissionado
pranavt
Hello!

I am planning to apply for Fall-16 intake, can you please share your opinions on my profile.
Any suggestions on school selection would be appreciated as well.

Demographics:
25 years old Indian Male

GMAT:
710 (Q49, V37) - intend to re-attempt and try for a higher score

Undergrad:
VNIT - B.Tech (Electronics Communication)
- GPA: 7.75/10

Work Experience:
- As of date, completed 3 years at Oracle India as a Developer. Have worked on projects involving team work (I wasn't a lead) as well as on projects where I was the solo resource. The solo projects weren't of small scale and I was the point of contact for multiple teams across the project.
- Community service - worked with several NGOs for teaching children. Was also a project lead for one such NGO event

Extracurricular:
- Play squash and badminton - but achievements for these activities pre-date the undergrad degree (badminton - played at a National level, squash - country level in Kuwait)

Certifications:
- Passed CFA L1

MBA major:
- Finance/Strategy

Post-MBA goal:
- Finance preferably, else Consulting

Target schools:
I'm really not sure of what colleges to consider here. Maybe McCombs because of my tech background, or Stern or Booth since I am interested in Finance (both Stretch). Would you share your thoughts on this too?

Hey dude,
Good to hear from you.

So in short, what I see here is that everything is pretty good, but I don't yet see something that will make you stand out. And it will be VITAL that you find a way to present yourself to the AdCom in a unique and exciting way.

As you probably know, Indian IT applicants are the biggest pool, and the most challenging. And that's why it's so important.

In your profile I don't see any major weaknesses, which is great.

I think though that your "Sweet spot" for schools will be in the 10-30 range US, and that schools like Stern and Booth will be out of range (too many Indian candidates from IIT with 740+ and stellar jobs in the competition). So I'd say concentrate on the more realistic range.

One final thought about your goals - don't go the finance route. I KNOW you want to do finance. But so does every other Indian IT guy. I mean, sure, who doesn't want huge salaries and fancy jobs? But it's not so realistic. There are enough Indian candidates coming from finance to fill all the spaces there are in banks.


Now, to be clear, I'm not saying that you should give up on your finance goals! But just it's not a good strategic choice for your MBA application, because it's not sooo probable. A better goal might be for example management in IT.

I hope this helps, and wish you luck!
Best,
JF
Show more

Hello JF,

Firstly, I truly appreciate the frank feedback on the application and my approach.
Yeah, I felt the top-10 would be out of my league, not considering those at all. Might apply to Ross as a Stretch application.
I understand what you mean about the Finance route, and I do agree with you (it's just so tempting though :wink: ). Can you suggest some schools that are favoured by technology/consulting companies, that would be a good bet for me to apply to? I do have McCombs on my list, maybe Tuck and Darden too? What do you recommend?

Thanks,
Pranav
User avatar
Admissionado
User avatar
Admissionado
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Last visit: 26 May 2024
Posts: 9,229
Own Kudos:
2,075
 [1]
Given Kudos: 69
Location: Chicago, IL
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: HBS - Class of 2005
Posts: 9,229
Kudos: 2,075
 [1]
Profile Evaluation 11 Jun 2015, 06:36
1
Kudos
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pranavt
JonAdmissionado
pranavt
Hello!

I am planning to apply for Fall-16 intake, can you please share your opinions on my profile.
Any suggestions on school selection would be appreciated as well.

Demographics:
25 years old Indian Male

GMAT:
710 (Q49, V37) - intend to re-attempt and try for a higher score

Undergrad:
VNIT - B.Tech (Electronics Communication)
- GPA: 7.75/10

Work Experience:
- As of date, completed 3 years at Oracle India as a Developer. Have worked on projects involving team work (I wasn't a lead) as well as on projects where I was the solo resource. The solo projects weren't of small scale and I was the point of contact for multiple teams across the project.
- Community service - worked with several NGOs for teaching children. Was also a project lead for one such NGO event

Extracurricular:
- Play squash and badminton - but achievements for these activities pre-date the undergrad degree (badminton - played at a National level, squash - country level in Kuwait)

Certifications:
- Passed CFA L1

MBA major:
- Finance/Strategy

Post-MBA goal:
- Finance preferably, else Consulting

Target schools:
I'm really not sure of what colleges to consider here. Maybe McCombs because of my tech background, or Stern or Booth since I am interested in Finance (both Stretch). Would you share your thoughts on this too?

Hey dude,
Good to hear from you.

So in short, what I see here is that everything is pretty good, but I don't yet see something that will make you stand out. And it will be VITAL that you find a way to present yourself to the AdCom in a unique and exciting way.

As you probably know, Indian IT applicants are the biggest pool, and the most challenging. And that's why it's so important.

In your profile I don't see any major weaknesses, which is great.

I think though that your "Sweet spot" for schools will be in the 10-30 range US, and that schools like Stern and Booth will be out of range (too many Indian candidates from IIT with 740+ and stellar jobs in the competition). So I'd say concentrate on the more realistic range.

One final thought about your goals - don't go the finance route. I KNOW you want to do finance. But so does every other Indian IT guy. I mean, sure, who doesn't want huge salaries and fancy jobs? But it's not so realistic. There are enough Indian candidates coming from finance to fill all the spaces there are in banks.


Now, to be clear, I'm not saying that you should give up on your finance goals! But just it's not a good strategic choice for your MBA application, because it's not sooo probable. A better goal might be for example management in IT.

I hope this helps, and wish you luck!
Best,
JF

Hello JF,

Firstly, I truly appreciate the frank feedback on the application and my approach.
Yeah, I felt the top-10 would be out of my league, not considering those at all. Might apply to Ross as a Stretch application.
I understand what you mean about the Finance route, and I do agree with you (it's just so tempting though :wink: ). Can you suggest some schools that are favoured by technology/consulting companies, that would be a good bet for me to apply to? I do have McCombs on my list, maybe Tuck and Darden too? What do you recommend?

Thanks,
Pranav
Show more

Dear Pranav,
Very happy to help!

So some schools for you: Anderson, McCombs, Tepper are big tech schools. Georgia Tech could be a good safe school for you.

Tuck is a Top 10 school, so that may be a bit hard. And Darden often too. Johnson might be a good compromise. They aren't soooooo tech-heavy, but do have a good finance presence. For other schools - the important thing is that you research the school's employment report and find good places where people go to Tech jobs. Nowadays its easy, because tech is everywhere, but of course there are some regions that are preferable.

This should get you started, and if you have more questions, just drop a line.