Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
May 0710:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
Sia Admissions Founder Susan Berishaj is covering this live on YouTube, May 7: how admissions committees actually evaluate goals statements, who is in the room, and why the goals statement most applicants submit wouldn't survive that conversation.
May 0711:30 AM PDT
-12:30 PM PDT
Most MBA resumes fail not because of weak experience — but because of how that experience is presented. In this episode, we break down what makes an MBA resume effective, and how to shift from listing responsibilities to demonstrating impact...- May 07
06:00 PM PDT
-07:00 PM PDT
A strong MBA application is built long before you start writing essays. In this session, Scott Edinburgh (Founder, Personal MBA Coach) shares 6 practical ways to improve your MBA profile before MBA application season - May 08
08:00 AM PDT
-08:30 AM PDT
Join the special YouTube live-stream for selecting the winners of GMAT Club MBA Scholarships sponsored by Juno live. Watch who gets these coveted MBA scholarships offered by GMAT Club and Juno. 
May 0803:00 PM PDT
-04:00 PM PDT
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
May 1111:00 AM IST
-12:00 PM IST
Looking to secure a coveted spot at a top business school? Our team of seasoned MBA admissions consultants, including top B schools alumni and industry leaders, is here to help turn your dreams into reality. Let’s kick-start your journey to success!
May 1310:00 AM EDT
-11:00 AM EDT
Applying to business school this year? Don’t miss Personal MBA Coach’s Top MBA Application Tips guide
22 Apr 2023, 08:16
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello!
I would greatly appreciate an honest review of my profile. I am planning to apply for M7/INSEAD programs for the 2025 entry, and I have some concerns about my age at the time of application.
Demographics : I am a female Hong Kong citizen who recently relocated to Toronto as a Permanent Resident. I will be 31-32 years old at the time of application.
Education : I graduated with an Upper Second Class dual degree in Bachelor of Laws and Political Sciences from the top university in Hong Kong, which ranked 21st in the QS World University Rankings in 2023. My GPA is approximately 3.2.
GMAT : I plan to take the GMAT next year and am aiming for a score above 730.
Work Experience :
- I have 5 years of experience as a Corporate Banking Relationship Manager at the two largest commercial banks in Hong Kong, covering Hong Kong & Southeast Asia conglomerates and MNCs. I was involved in landmark transactions in the Asia Pacific region (with deal sizes above USD 100 million) and collaborated with stakeholders from various countries.
- After moving to Toronto earlier this year, I joined the largest bank in Canada as a Rating Advisor within Capital Markets, covering US, Canadian, UK, and Australian real estate clients.
Extracurricular Activities : During my time at university, I participated in several summer exchange programs to the UK, Japan, and Canada to gain international exposure. Unfortunately, I have not been involved in many extracurricular activities since graduating. However, I plan to volunteer in Canada this year to assist newcomers during their transitional period.
Post-MBA Goals : I hope to transition into a buy-side real estate investment role in Canada or the UK, given my extensive experience in the real estate industry, or explore opportunities in consulting.
Target Schools : M7/INSEAD, with a preference for INSEAD due to its diverse culture and relatively short study period.
I have a few specific questions for your team:
- Am I competitive enough to apply for M7 and INSEAD, considering my age at the time of application?
- Are there any steps I should take within the next 1-2 years to strengthen my profile?
- Will my relatively low GPA (only 10% of law graduates in Hong Kong achieve a GPA >3.4) significantly impact my application?
I would greatly appreciate an honest review of my profile. I am planning to apply for M7/INSEAD programs for the 2025 entry, and I have some concerns about my age at the time of application.
Demographics : I am a female Hong Kong citizen who recently relocated to Toronto as a Permanent Resident. I will be 31-32 years old at the time of application.
Education : I graduated with an Upper Second Class dual degree in Bachelor of Laws and Political Sciences from the top university in Hong Kong, which ranked 21st in the QS World University Rankings in 2023. My GPA is approximately 3.2.
GMAT : I plan to take the GMAT next year and am aiming for a score above 730.
Work Experience :
- I have 5 years of experience as a Corporate Banking Relationship Manager at the two largest commercial banks in Hong Kong, covering Hong Kong & Southeast Asia conglomerates and MNCs. I was involved in landmark transactions in the Asia Pacific region (with deal sizes above USD 100 million) and collaborated with stakeholders from various countries.
- After moving to Toronto earlier this year, I joined the largest bank in Canada as a Rating Advisor within Capital Markets, covering US, Canadian, UK, and Australian real estate clients.
Extracurricular Activities : During my time at university, I participated in several summer exchange programs to the UK, Japan, and Canada to gain international exposure. Unfortunately, I have not been involved in many extracurricular activities since graduating. However, I plan to volunteer in Canada this year to assist newcomers during their transitional period.
Post-MBA Goals : I hope to transition into a buy-side real estate investment role in Canada or the UK, given my extensive experience in the real estate industry, or explore opportunities in consulting.
Target Schools : M7/INSEAD, with a preference for INSEAD due to its diverse culture and relatively short study period.
I have a few specific questions for your team:
- Am I competitive enough to apply for M7 and INSEAD, considering my age at the time of application?
- Are there any steps I should take within the next 1-2 years to strengthen my profile?
- Will my relatively low GPA (only 10% of law graduates in Hong Kong achieve a GPA >3.4) significantly impact my application?
26 Apr 2023, 22:54
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi momofish,
Thanks for posting your profile. You made quite a big move from Hong Kong to Toronto! It sounds like you are in a new and exciting role that builds on your previous experiences.
I'm wondering why you are planning to apply next fall, especially given your tenure. I share your concern about your experience / age, which would be a shade more than the average incoming student at M7 schools, and perhaps even INSEAD. If your personal situation permits, why not consider applying this fall?
Given your profile, I would encourage you to start prepping for the GMAT or GRE, and aim to apply in Round 1 or 2 this year, rather than wait another 1-2 years to apply. Given your soft GPA, I recommend aiming to get a competitive GMAT score that is as close to the school's average as you can get. For M7 and INSEAD, that will be around 720. As for your extracurriculars, while you could certainly beef them up, I'm not sure that it warrants delaying your application. Even starting to do some volunteering now for the next few months will suffice for this year's application.
Other than that, I think your international work experiences (in both Hong Kong and Canada) are strengths that the M7 schools appreciate. Given your experience, one key challenge will be ensuring that your career goals are coherent and well-articulated. For example, what type of companies do you aspire to work for long-term? How will business school help you achieve your goals in buy-side real estate?
If you can articulate this compellingly in your essays, that would be the key to your application success. If you would like to discuss your profile in more detail, feel free to schedule a 1:1 consultation with us. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!
Sincerely,
Debbie
Thanks for posting your profile. You made quite a big move from Hong Kong to Toronto! It sounds like you are in a new and exciting role that builds on your previous experiences.
I'm wondering why you are planning to apply next fall, especially given your tenure. I share your concern about your experience / age, which would be a shade more than the average incoming student at M7 schools, and perhaps even INSEAD. If your personal situation permits, why not consider applying this fall?
Given your profile, I would encourage you to start prepping for the GMAT or GRE, and aim to apply in Round 1 or 2 this year, rather than wait another 1-2 years to apply. Given your soft GPA, I recommend aiming to get a competitive GMAT score that is as close to the school's average as you can get. For M7 and INSEAD, that will be around 720. As for your extracurriculars, while you could certainly beef them up, I'm not sure that it warrants delaying your application. Even starting to do some volunteering now for the next few months will suffice for this year's application.
Other than that, I think your international work experiences (in both Hong Kong and Canada) are strengths that the M7 schools appreciate. Given your experience, one key challenge will be ensuring that your career goals are coherent and well-articulated. For example, what type of companies do you aspire to work for long-term? How will business school help you achieve your goals in buy-side real estate?
If you can articulate this compellingly in your essays, that would be the key to your application success. If you would like to discuss your profile in more detail, feel free to schedule a 1:1 consultation with us. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!
Sincerely,
Debbie
