Profile Evaluation - Indian female-28 yrs

Question

I have taken GMAT twice. Both times have scored 660

1st attempt: Q46 V35 (taken in 2012)
2nd attempt: Q48 V33 (taken this year)

Background:
I am 28 year old female divorcee working in IT in Quality Assurance(Testing). Have been a lead for past 2.5 years.
Have totally 7 years of working experience across various domain such as Banking, Retail, etc..
Have worked for clients such as Bank of America, Target, Walgreens, Hewlett Packard as a Test Analyst. Have 6 months of onsite experience.
Love to bake, cook, paint & read novels.

Request you to please evaluate my score and profile and provide suggestions as to what should be my next steps.

Would also like to know what programs should I target with this score of 660 and what schools can I apply to based on this score.

Can you please advise if I need to retake to improve my score for better chances with the schools below:
ISB, INSEAD, NUS, Wharton

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Hi lpriya, 
If you want to improve your chances for the schools you list, then yes, I would retake the GMAT. Perhaps with the exception of NUS, but the other schools you list all have average GMATs in the 700+ range. Though it depends on other factors, like your undergrad GPA which you don't mention. And I'd also want to know more about your post-MBA goals and reasons for an MBA. That's great you've had exposure to different industries and well known clients though. Also do you have any involvement in extracurriculars (professional networking groups, alumni groups, volunteer work) outside of your hobbies/interests? It depends on some of these factors too...if you want to apply with the score you've got then I think you need to look outside the top 15...aim to find programs where your 660 is pretty close to the average GMAT, and definitely within the middle 80% range. If you do decide to retake, then good luck!

lpriya · Answer

I am based in India. I have done B Tech IT from Vellore Institue of Technology. My under grad GPA is 9 out of 10. Unfortunately, I have not done any activities/community service. I have just recently joined a volunteer organization but this was done not for MBA but I was feeling down post my recent divorce. I havent started contributing yet to the organization and would not like to add this as there is no contribution until now.

Short term goal: I want to change my line by switching to IT consulting (as I have IT base) or HR(as I like helping people). Current job is fine but I am not finding it challenging me anymore and is not holding my interest. Also, would like to broaden my business knowledge. Long term goal would be to be a upper middle level manager at a multinational company I would preferably like to apply for 2016 admission but if required willing to apply for 2017 admission provided I cannot make it this year. Please suggest the colleges I can apply for and whether I can make it for 2016 admissions? Or do you suggest to improve profile and then apply for 2017 admission?

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Hi there! Thanks for the additional info. Your GPA is excellent so that will definitely help to "counteract" your GMAT. That's OK about the volunteer contributions...not everyone has a lot going on there, but just know that is one other factor that schools look at where you won't be as strong as other applicants. Thanks for sharing more about your post-MBA goals...on paper, I'd say the switch to IT consulting makes more sense given your background plus that tends to be a more common post-MBA hiring field than HR. But you can always recruit for both once you get in!

The timing question is trickier and ultimately that's up to you as it's a very personal decision whether to wait or not...I think a higher GMAT score would strengthen your profile (and you could add some extracurriculars in that time too). But on the other hand, with 7 years experience you are already on the higher end of experience levels (average age for most when they start is 27 / 28)...so waiting a year could make it harder in that regard. So I think I'd give it a shot this year, with a wide range of schools, and then if you need to, you can always reapply with a stronger profile next year.

As for schools, this is really just a starting list but a few that come to mind given your stats / interests are: SMU Cox, USC Marshall, Ohio State Fisher, Indiana Kelley, Michigan State Broad, Vanderbilt Owen, Wisconsin, Boston College, Univ of Washington Foster, maybe Cornell for their 1-year Tech-focused MBA. There are also many programs in Canada, Europe and Asia that you could consider too. Hope this at least gives you a starting point! Good luck!

lpriya · Answer

Thanks for your suggestions.

Can you also suggest some schools in Europe and Asia where I can apply with this score. I would generally like to work in Asia and Europe post the MBA so would like to apply for schools there.

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Here are a few to get you started in your research....in Europe: ESADE, Hult, Cass, Imperial College, St Gallen, Rotterdam, Manchester and in Asia: NUS, Nanyang, or HKUST. 
Good luck!

Profile Evaluation - Indian female-28 yrs

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