What are my chances?

Question

I was hoping my GMAT scores to offset my college GPA (6.7), but I scored only 710 and I feel like it's not enough.

Here's a summary of my profile:
25F, BITS Pilani class of 2020 (engineering single degree)

Both X and XII boards are around 95% (since someone asked)

Work ex: 1 year in an AI firm and 2 years (by EoI) in a Fortune 50 fintech. I have had one promotion so far and my work portfolio is very risk analytics/strategy heavy, often with very high financial/PR stakes.

I participated in a bunch of activities in college, led one club in with multiple venue event organization.

I'm trying for ISB because a lot of good tech companies hire from there and I'm hoping to stay in the industry post MBA as well.

What are my chances? Is my score good enough for me to apply?

Posted from my mobile device

SarthakCareerEdge · Answer

Hey! Thanks for the query. I would advise to retake the GMAT if possible (since you have time) and target a score upwards of 720. That will really help you in compensating for your college CGPA which is less than 7 and hence a red flag. It would be helpful if you can also provide your X & XII marks for complete context on academics till now. That being said, you leading a club in college and coming from a pedigreed college are definite spikes. Club contributions and projects led (after the promotion) should be portrayed well in the essays to make them shortlist worthy. And yes, a bunch of Tech/PM corporates and startups visit ISB every year. Thanks and all the best!

MANOJMESSI · Answer

Hi,

First i would suggest you to retake the GMAT and score as much as possible.

Second coming to your bachelor accolade, show up the reason why the GPA is less. Since you were actively involved in college events and clubs, do priortise these on your essays and indicate how qualitatively and quantitatively these helped you in your odds.

If you have a year time, enroll for a pgdm or 1 year online course ( Don't spend too much money). Enroll for pgdm degree or certification course from IGNOU. Try to get good grades and apply.

Last but not least, just think how much better you are compared to a similar ISB Profile applicant. Show case them and you will get an admit. Essays and interview are important part of interview.

Posted from my mobile device

TheMBAEdge · Answer

Hey, Given the lower GPA and the relatively lower work experience, your test score will be a critical aspect to evaluate your academic aptitude. Thus, it is advised to target a robust GMAT score to offset your lower work ex and GPA. Although your number of years is on the lower end, you have an interesting profile given your background in AI and Fintech, both of which are budding industries. Would recommend that you try to retake the GMAT or maybe explore the GRE if you have platued on the GMAT. Additionally, try to build on your work ex through some leadership experience as that will give you a unique insights into project and people management which can help set you apart from the application pool. ISB is a good feeder school for Technology companies and Venture Funded Startups in core PM roles and thus will be a very good bet for your future aspirations. All the best! Do reach out if you need further guidance. Best regards, TheMBAEdge info@thembaedge.com

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi TimeKitten Before jumping into any conclusion regarding your GMAT score, you should always consider your Verbal and Quant individual scores. Very often, Indian applicants do just fine on the quant sections but struggle with verbal. And even business schools look at the individual scores in these sections to get a sense of your quantitative abilities which are more important than your verbal abilities in an MBA program. Could you share your GMAT breakup? Apart from that, your profile is great and I don't see why you wouldn't have a good shot at ISB. BITs Pilani topped with experience across technology and finance is top tier kind of pre-MBA experience. Just focus on presenting a well-thought goals strategy and how ISB fits into your career trajectory. Feel free to write to us at mbaguideconsulting.com should you wish to schedule a candid discussion about your MBA prospects. MBAGuideConsulting WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927 email: mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

TimeKitten · Answer

I actually screwed up quant (39/76 percentile) and did relatively better in verbal (41/84 percentile). My test scores had me scoring 85 percentile in both areas so I was confident but I think I spent too much time on 2-3 questions and couldn't give the last couple easy ones enough time and that put me about 20 marks behind expectation.

Posted from my mobile device

MBAGuide · Answer

TimeKitten  something doesn't quite add up. Do you perhaps mean to say that you got a 49 instead of a 39 on Quant?

TimeKitten · Answer

My bad, yes 49 in quant

MBAGuide · Answer

TimeKitten

With a Q49 on quant, you shouldn't be hard on yourself. If you do a good job on the application overall and are thorough with your answers in the interview, a score of 710 (despite your GPA) should help you in maintaining a strong position.

My reasons for saying this.
1. You can leverage your knowledge from working on finance projects and strong analytical skills to offset concerns about your low GPA. B Schools mostly worry about quant scores when they feel the applicant would not be able to cope with math-heavy subjects in MBA(especially in Finance).
2. As a professional woman who has worked at the intersection of both technology and finance, you have a differentiated profile. I would rather that you use your time to create an exceptional application than spend more time improving your quant score by 1-2 points.
3. I had the exact same individual scores and a GPA close to yours. And I got through ISB and INSEAD.

So best of luck

FLY.reachout · Answer

Hi TimeKitten , We would advise you to retake GMAT score and target your previous diagnostic score of 730 (to be on the safer side). As mentioned in our previous post, you have a good profile in terms of undergrad college, nature of work ex. and in-line post MBA goals. Since it is not late yet, you have a chance to compensate your low GPA with an above average GMAT score. Additionally, given your GMAT score split, we believe it would not be a difficult task to better your score taking into account your engineering background (improvement on quant side would suffice to significantly better your overall score). Hope this was helpful! We are a bunch of ISB alums who help potential ISB candidates with profile positioning, essay reviews and interview mocks. Feel free to book a 15 min free session for more discussion- https://calendly.com/reachusfly/15min With warm regards, Team Fly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reachusfly/

GyanOne · Answer

Hi  TimeKitten . Here's what we think:

- Academically, you have a robust profile with excellent board scores. While your BITS Pilani GPA is a bit on the lower side, it's not a deal breaker. Your GMAT score of 710 is indeed competitive for ISB. While your score is below the high 700s that some aspirants aim for, it is above the school's average and should be enough to make you a competitive candidate, especially given the rest of your profile. Remember, it's about your holistic profile, not just a single aspect. Addressing your question, yes, your GMAT score is good enough to apply. But remember, the application process is holistic and doesn't solely rely on your GMAT score or GPA. Your unique experiences, well-articulated goals, and personality traits also hold substantial weight.

- Your career trajectory in the AI and fintech industry is compelling. You seem to have a clear understanding of your post-MBA goals, which is a strength. Your desire to stay in tech is aligning well with ISB's strong tech recruitment. We encourage you to articulate what specific roles you are interested in post-MBA and why ISB's specific resources would help you achieve those goals.

- Your work experience is impressive and the promotion is a strong indicator of your performance. Risk analytics and strategy roles, particularly with high stakes, offer excellent talking points for essays and interviews. Applicants from tech usually need to showcase their business impact beyond just the technical contributions, so ensure to highlight strategic decision-making instances.

- Next steps would be to start building a compelling narrative. Connect your past experiences, your MBA from ISB, and your future goals. Given the lower GPA, we suggest focusing on areas where you've shown academic rigor or intellectual curiosity outside the classroom. Highlight your leadership experiences from college activities.

We hope this analysis is beneficial for you. Don't hesitate to post further queries or get in touch with us directly. Good luck with your MBA journey!

AdmitExpert · Answer

Hi TimeKitten , GPA: While a GPA of 6.7 might be a negative aspect, other aspects in your profile can compensate for it Work Experience: This area is quite impressive. You can easily showcase good professional growth and expertise. The quality of your work experience works in your favor. Extracurricular Activities: Your leadership role in a club can be used to showcase your leadership potential. So your extracurricular involvement will add value to your application. GMAT Score: 710 is a very decent score and falls within the average range of scores accepted by ISB. It may not be the highest for ISB but it is competitive. Your overall profile, work experience and other achievements can compensate for any concerns regarding your GMAT score. Career Goals: Your desire to stay in the tech industry post-MBA aligns well with ISB's focus on technology and management. Highlighting your relevant work experience and demonstrating a clear career progression plan in your essays and submissions will strengthen your application. Overall, your chances of getting into ISB seem reasonable. Make sure to prepare a compelling application that effectively highlights your achievements, skills and potential contributions to the ISB community. Also showcase how you are a good fit w.r.t. ISB's culture and values. For a more detailed 1-1 strategy session, please write to contactus@admitexpert.com or fill the form at http://www.admitexpert.com Good luck!

MBAkarma · Answer

Hello  TimeKitten

If you score an above average GMAT score (say a 710+), that should help compensate for the lower scores during graduation.
However, also keep in the mind that academic potential (measured via your past scores, GMAT and the strength of your degree/university) is just one piece of the puzzle. You will have to also focus on the following (around which we have very limited information).
1) Work Ex- Years of work ex, companies/roles work in, career progression, achievements and how you present the entire story will decide the strength of this aspect.
2) Diversity- what unique qualities or traits that you get (via work ex, life experiences or extracurricular activities) that will help you add value to the experience of your batch mates inside and outside the classroom.
3) Career goals- what are your long term and short term career goals, what is your personal motivation behind these goals, and how will ISB act as a stepping stone to help you achieve said goals. What are your target roles/companies post MBA. ISB is looking for leaders with clear and realistic vision of their career who are ready to invest a significant amount of time, effort and money in the pursuit of such goals.

In isolation, since other relevant information is missing, it is tough to comment whether the current 710 will help or not. Considering the tech background (which is the largest and most competitive pool of applicants), a 710 might not inspire much confidence.
A combination of the above factors together will decide whether you will have a strong chance.

Best
Varun
MBAkarma.com
+918452954888

TimeKitten · Answer

Update for y'all. I reattempted without prep and scored 740

i think I'd spent too much time double checking and didn't give sufficient time to the last few questions in Quant. The new scores are 50(87 pctl) in quant and 40(90 pctl) in verbal.

Admissionado · Answer

TimeKitten :

Latecomer to this thread, but congrats on the GMAT score. You are all set!

Focus on the rest of your application moving forward. Good luck with ISB and other schools on your list.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  TimeKitten ,

Apologies for the delayed response.

A reattempt especially when you have some time in hand is a good idea. However, do not fret even if you do not end up with an improvement; spend your time working on putting forth a set of powerful essays that tie your experience, strengths, and career goals in a seamless manner.

Should you wish to discuss your profile in greater detail, please feel free to get in touch with us.

All the best!

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