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Hi Aringo,

I would appreciate input regarding my candidate profile in 4-5 years. Please let me know your concerns as well as areas of improvement.

Personal: 23 male, Asian-American (Vietnamese - does this matter?)

Education: 3.66 GPA in MIS from a regional university (Santa Clara University/Gonzaga/LMU).

GMAT: 710 (48Q, 40V, 6IR). Should I retake?

Experience: 1 year as a Business Systems Analyst at Cisco focusing on Salesforce implementations. Major exposure to informally running an international team; On my first year at a San Francisco based Tech startup with considerable IPO aspirations (backed by Google). Here, I'm focusing on product implementations for clients as well as building out KPI's/ops improvements for the org. I'm currently on the management track and plan to be promoted to a lead position within the next 2 years. This would result in solid career progression (Analyst -> Associate Technical Project Manager -> Technical Project Manager -> Lead). I've also had a previous internship at a Big 4 in risk consulting.

Certifications: Salesforce Administrator, Developer, and Certified ScrumMaster.

Leadership/Volunteer: Two years as the Technical Director at a startup nonprofit focused on technology education. This would be 4-5 years by time of application. I also spend weekends tutoring English to nonnative speakers.

Target: Stanford (dream), Yale (goal), USC, Michigan, UCLA, Berkeley. What are your thoughts on other schools?

Story: I've always been passionate about the pervasive power of technology and how it shapes the world, especially in areas of poverty and disenfranchisement. Short term, I'd like to venture into Management Consulting focusing on the nonprofit sector to develop my consultative/analytical skills. Long term, I'd like to return to Tech as a Product Manager in an area impacting the disenfranchised world, hence my emphasis on Yale's holistic curriculum.

Do you think this profile will make a strong candidacy for the aforementioned schools? I think the volunteer, IPO, and proposed plan should make for a solid story, but I'd like to hear the experts' thoughts.

patppham wrote:Hi Aringo,

I would appreciate input regarding my candidate profile in 4-5 years. Please let me know your concerns as well as areas of improvement.

Personal: 23 male, Asian-American (Vietnamese - does this matter?)

Education: 3.66 GPA in MIS from a regional university (Santa Clara University/Gonzaga/LMU).

GMAT: 710 (48Q, 40V, 6IR). Should I retake?

Experience: 1 year as a Business Systems Analyst at Cisco focusing on Salesforce implementations. Major exposure to informally running an international team; On my first year at a San Francisco based Tech startup with considerable IPO aspirations (backed by Google). Here, I'm focusing on product implementations for clients as well as building out KPI's/ops improvements for the org. I'm currently on the management track and plan to be promoted to a lead position within the next 2 years. This would result in solid career progression (Analyst -> Associate Technical Project Manager -> Technical Project Manager -> Lead). I've also had a previous internship at a Big 4 in risk consulting.

Certifications: Salesforce Administrator, Developer, and Certified ScrumMaster.

Leadership/Volunteer: Two years as the Technical Director at a startup nonprofit focused on technology education. This would be 4-5 years by time of application. I also spend weekends tutoring English to nonnative speakers.

Target: Stanford (dream), Yale (goal), USC, Michigan, UCLA, Berkeley. What are your thoughts on other schools?

Story: I've always been passionate about the pervasive power of technology and how it shapes the world, especially in areas of poverty and disenfranchisement. Short term, I'd like to venture into Management Consulting focusing on the nonprofit sector to develop my consultative/analytical skills. Long term, I'd like to return to Tech as a Product Manager in an area impacting the disenfranchised world, hence my emphasis on Yale's holistic curriculum.

Do you think this profile will make a strong candidacy for the aforementioned schools? I think the volunteer, IPO, and proposed plan should make for a solid story, but I'd like to hear the experts' thoughts.

Hi there. Sorry for the delayed response. Here is a very general overview of your chances at each of your target schools:
Columbia and Kellogg are going to be reach schools.
INSEAD, Duke, Tuck will find you competitive.
Darden, Emory and McCombs will be the easiest of the bunch.

Hope this helped! Good luck!

Dear all,
Just a quick update - the 2015-2016 season is starting with the new essay questions from Columbia!

Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays.

Short Answer Question:
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Examples of possible responses:
"Work in business development for a media company."
"Join a strategy consulting firm."
"Launch a data-management start-up."

Essay 1:
Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals going forward, and how will the Columbia MBA help you achieve them? (Maximum 500 words)

Essay 2:
Columbia Business School's location enables us to bridge theory and practice in multiple ways: through Master Classes, internships, the New York Immersion Seminars, and, most importantly, through a combination of distinguished research faculty and accomplished practitioners. How will you take advantage of being "at the very center of business"? (Maximum 250 words)

Essay 3:
CBS Matters, a key element of the School's culture, allows the people in your Cluster to learn more about you on a personal level. What will your Clustermates be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (Maximum 250 words)

Optional Essay:
An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.

Hi,

I recently wrote the GMAT and scored a 680(Q48, V35). My background is as below

34/M/Indian

10 years work ex. Past 6 yrs with Accenture Management Consulting. One of the top performers. Main focus area is oil and gas.

Mechanical Engineer and have an MBA from tier 2 college in India.

MBA%- 62
BE%-65

Social contributions: have been active within Accenture in social initiatives. Apart from that, I have done some more voluntary work in the past but nothing greatly significant.

International experience- Worked around 1year in Australia and 6 months in Thailand

Team handling: Managed 6 resources in Australia. Currently handling 3 consultants.

Leadership:

1. I had set up an entire Analytics centre of excellence for a client based out of Australia. I had 6 resources working under me. I was then given the additional task of strategic sourcing for the client.

2. Currently I am managing a team of 3 consultants to work on a strategic project for a French client. I have been instrumental in providing the client with strategic recommendations related to the oil and gas industry.

I am looking for 1yr MBA from Insead, IESE, HEC etc. Can you suggest my chances?

Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out.
You have strong work experience and global exposure. INSEAD is slightly ambitious, but you can still crack it, especially if you showcase the global nature of your work and global thinking in your perspective. IESE and HEC are within your reach for sure. What about Emory 1 Year MBA or Cornell 1 Year MBA in U.S.? Also, have you looked at USC Marshall's 1 year program? There are a few in US that may be a great fit for you, especially if you want to study in US. Let us know if you'd like to talk to us further.

Best of luck!
www.Aringo.com

Hi Aringo, would you be so kind to assess my profile?

Gender: Male

Age: 24 (25 two months ahead of matriculating)

Nationality: Uruguayan (South America)

GPA: BS Accounting (with the equivalent of a CPA in the US) 82/100 at very important private University. Top 20% of class. (please do not benchmark with US percentage system. Top 1% is about 90-91/100 here). Received 35% merit based scholarship due to a 1480/1600 entrance exam score (similar to SAT)

GMAT: Did not take it yet. Please assess my chances with 680 and with 720.

Work Experience:
-41 months at matriculation. KPMG Advisory Services - Senior Consultant (three promotions).
-Experienced in M&A, valuations, financial modeling (at the Corporate Finance division) and process engineering, integration (after merger), business transformation strategy (at the Management Consulting division).
-Developed Corporate Social Responsibility strategy -emphasized in the environment- among KPMG Uruguay.
-Captain of the Advisory Services soccer team.
-General Management Assistant Professor at my University for a year (upon applying).

Extracurriculars:
-Executive Board Advisor at Latin American Sephardic Federation in Uruguay's sephardic community. Fund-raising and community involvement projects. 2,5 years upon applying.
-Mentor at 'Project Shoah'. Gave lectures to over 700 high-school students about the Holocaust and how it connects with nowadays bullying. 2 years upon applying. Member of this organization's fund-raising board too.
-Co-found a charitable organization, with about 10 to 15 volunteers in charge of helping homeless people, raising food and clothes donations.
-Have been involved for 4 years in a youth jewish movement, where I was in charge of a group of 30 children.

Other:
-Published an analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility at Uruguay's mid-market companies.
-Lived 10 months in Israel, where I have taken a 4-month community leadership program.

I am willing to apply next winter (Class of 2018), R2 to: HBS, Kellogg, Tuck, Yale SOM, Cornell Johnson and maybe Chicago Booth.

Thank you very much, I will appreciate your insights!

InternationalApplicant wrote:Hi Aringo, would you be so kind to assess my profile?

Gender: Male

Age: 24 (25 two months ahead of matriculating)

Nationality: Uruguayan (South America)

GPA: BS Accounting (with the equivalent of a CPA in the US) 82/100 at very important private University. Top 20% of class. (please do not benchmark with US percentage system. Top 1% is about 90-91/100 here). Received 35% merit based scholarship due to a 1480/1600 entrance exam score (similar to SAT)

GMAT: Did not take it yet. Please assess my chances with 680 and with 720.

Work Experience:
-41 months at matriculation. KPMG Advisory Services - Senior Consultant (three promotions).
-Experienced in M&A, valuations, financial modeling (at the Corporate Finance division) and process engineering, integration (after merger), business transformation strategy (at the Management Consulting division).
-Developed Corporate Social Responsibility strategy -emphasized in the environment- among KPMG Uruguay.
-Captain of the Advisory Services soccer team.
-General Management Assistant Professor at my University for a year (upon applying).

Extracurriculars:
-Executive Board Advisor at Latin American Sephardic Federation in Uruguay's sephardic community. Fund-raising and community involvement projects. 2,5 years upon applying.
-Mentor at 'Project Shoah'. Gave lectures to over 700 high-school students about the Holocaust and how it connects with nowadays bullying. 2 years upon applying. Member of this organization's fund-raising board too.
-Co-found a charitable organization, with about 10 to 15 volunteers in charge of helping homeless people, raising food and clothes donations.
-Have been involved for 4 years in a youth jewish movement, where I was in charge of a group of 30 children.

Other:
-Published an analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility at Uruguay's mid-market companies.
-Lived 10 months in Israel, where I have taken a 4-month community leadership program.

I am willing to apply next winter (Class of 2018), R2 to: HBS, Kellogg, Tuck, Yale SOM, Cornell Johnson and maybe Chicago Booth.

Thank you very much, I will appreciate your insights!

Hi there,

Thank you of reaching out.

Fantastic profile! Your academic achievements certainly work in your favor as do your accomplishments in the workforce. Your promotions and initiatives will definitely impress admissions committees, but make sure to expand on any leadership capacities you held at your company in the application essays. Extra-curriculars are also excellent and demonstrate leadership skills.

Overall, you have an outstanding profile and with a 720, I'd be pretty confident about your chances of securing a spot in a number of your choice schools. With a 680, you'd have a strong chance, but will need to do a good job of emphasizing the rest of your achievements in the essays and will need to make a lasting impression if you are invited for an interview.

I invite you to talk to us further once you get take the GMAT and get your score so that we can best advise you on how to proceed. Please feel free to contact Chaya, our international CEO, at any time at [email protected] to set up a free assessment call with no attached commitments.

You can also check out our Admissions Chances Calculator which will individually evaluate every aspect of your portfolio and offer you your precise odds of gaining admission into the specific schools you have in mind (https://aringo.com/mba-admission-chances-calculator/).

Great job so far and I wish you the best of luck on your GMAT,
Zooey

Dear candidates,

Here is something you should consider handling early in your application process:
MBA programs have different requirements regarding the transcripts and/or the diploma that the candidate is required to submit. For example:
- Some programs require that original transcripts be postmarked by a specified deadline.
- Some programs require that official translation made by specific institutes be enclosed.
- Some programs require transcripts to include special information (e.g. candidate's rank)

Each year, candidates miss deadlines for required documents because they are not aware of these special requirements until very late in the process.
Be wise! Check the requirements of the programs you are applying to ahead of time so you can submit all of the required documentation by the required deadlines.

We wish you successful and relaxed process,
The Aringo Research Team

Hi,



I am using this opportunity to discuss a small point regarding my candidature and I do know that assessing a candidate success in admission application is subjective and depends on the pool as well. However I just require a small feedback.

I am an Engineering graduate from one of the top 20 colleges of India majoring in production engineering.( NITs which come below the prestigious IITs). Currently I work with an American bulge bracket bank in their fixed income division as an analyst.

I have a GMAT of 710 but a GPA of only 6.96 / 10.

My poor GPA is a result of my poor performance during my first year of college due to my extreme health conditions. ( I HAD 6-7 F GRADES IN MY FIRST YEAR). I wasn't able to attend majority of classes apart from being able to deliver good performance due to my extremely poor mindset all because of my health condition as stated above. My college uses our first year performance to put across our final GPA in its heuristics hence the poor Final GPA.( MATHS ARE ONLY C & D GRADES).

My class topper had a GPA of 8.5 hence my class standing will be around 16/45.

I know that I am in a bad position to apply to MFE since they state a minimum of 8.5 ( and F grades are heavily shunned too!!) for Indian students.Actually in my class only the topper received a GA of 8.5/10 and this has been the tradition in my department for quite some years.

Now this is my only demerit as far as academics are concerned.

MY Advantages are :

1. My professors kinda knew my situation( Bad health-->read asthma attacks --> absenteeism) but since they had to follow protocol of the college board they gave me lower grades despite my performance during my 2nd,3rd & 4th year. However they are willing to write a good Recommendation letter of a high level note including citings from the dean and HOD highlighting my special case. My professors include a current IIM ( top B school India) Asst Professor & my faculty advisor who is a NUS post grad ( Australian and Singaporean government scholarship holder)can vehemently state my cause and condition in my LORs apart from giving a stellar recommendation, plus I can give in a medical certificate as well)

2. I have taken EXTENSION COURSES(3 MATH & 3 FIN) from UC Berkeley in maths and finance ( total 6) straight A's.

3. Have a good score in GRE SUBJECT MATHS( different from the General GRE)

4. 2 Thesis on Mathematical modelling of financial models using Linear Programming and Advanced Genetic Algorithm( modeled in R) respectively that is to be immediately published in an international journal. I am further planning to present this in a conference.

5. I am a CFA level 3 candidate and a FRM charter holder

6. Good Extracurricular ( Elected Campus ambassador(Micro Finance), Lead Fundraiser(Green Peace), appreciation certificates etc)

I sincerely request you to look into my case and candidature and give a suggestion from your side regarding this. I would be highly obliged if you could advise me on the probable schools i can target.

Carnegie Mellon University LSE Financial Mathematics
Computational Finance

Columbia University Oxford MFE
New York, NY Financial Engineering

Princeton University Imperial MFE
Princeton, NJ Master in Finance

Baruch College, City University of New York
New York, NY Financial Engineering

University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA Financial Engineering

New York University
New York, NY Mathematics in Finance

Columbia University
New York, NY Mathematics of Finance

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA Master of Finance

Cornell University
Ithaca, NY MEng, FE concentration

Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA Quantitative and Computational Finance

University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Financial Engineering

Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ Mathematical Finance


University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada Mathematical Finance

Boston University
Boston, MA Mathematical Finance

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL Financial Mathematics

NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering
Brooklyn, NY Financial Engineering

Rutgers University
Newark, NJ Quantitative Finance

Fordham University
New York, NY Quantitative Finance

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD Financial Mathematics

University of Illinois
Urbana, IL Financial Engineering

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI Financial Engineering

University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN Financial Mathematics

University of Washington
Seattle, WA Computational Finance & Risk Management

Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, CA Financial Engineering

Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL

James

Hi,



I am using this opportunity to discuss a small point regarding my candidature and I do know that assessing a candidate success in admission application is subjective and depends on the pool as well. However I just require a small feedback.

I am an Engineering graduate from one of the top 20 colleges of India majoring in production engineering.( NITs which come below the prestigious IITs). Currently I work with an American bulge bracket bank in their fixed income division as an analyst.

I have a GMAT of 710 but a GPA of only 6.96 / 10.

My poor GPA is a result of my poor performance during my first year of college due to my extreme health conditions. ( I HAD 6-7 F GRADES IN MY FIRST YEAR). I wasn't able to attend majority of classes apart from being able to deliver good performance due to my extremely poor mindset all because of my health condition as stated above. My college uses our first year performance to put across our final GPA in its heuristics hence the poor Final GPA.( MATHS ARE ONLY C & D GRADES).

My class topper had a GPA of 8.5 hence my class standing will be around 16/45.

I know that I am in a bad position to apply to MFE since they state a minimum of 8.5 ( and F grades are heavily shunned too!!) for Indian students.Actually in my class only the topper received a GA of 8.5/10 and this has been the tradition in my department for quite some years.

Now this is my only demerit as far as academics are concerned.

MY Advantages are :

1. My professors kinda knew my situation( Bad health-->read asthma attacks --> absenteeism) but since they had to follow protocol of the college board they gave me lower grades despite my performance during my 2nd,3rd & 4th year. However they are willing to write a good Recommendation letter of a high level note including citings from the dean and HOD highlighting my special case. My professors include a current IIM ( top B school India) Asst Professor & my faculty advisor who is a NUS post grad ( Australian and Singaporean government scholarship holder)can vehemently state my cause and condition in my LORs apart from giving a stellar recommendation, plus I can give in a medical certificate as well)

2. I have taken EXTENSION COURSES(3 MATH & 3 FIN) from UC Berkeley in maths and finance ( total 6) straight A's.

3. Have a good score in GRE SUBJECT MATHS( different from the General GRE)

4. 2 Thesis on Mathematical modelling of financial models using Linear Programming and Advanced Genetic Algorithm( modeled in R) respectively that is to be immediately published in an international journal. I am further planning to present this in a conference.

5. I am a CFA level 3 candidate and a FRM charter holder

6. Good Extracurricular ( Elected Campus ambassador(Micro Finance), Lead Fundraiser(Green Peace), appreciation certificates etc)

I sincerely request you to look into my case and candidature and give a suggestion from your side regarding this. I would be highly obliged if you could advise me on the probable schools i can target.

Carnegie Mellon University LSE Financial Mathematics
Computational Finance

Columbia University Oxford MFE
New York, NY Financial Engineering

Princeton University Imperial MFE
Princeton, NJ Master in Finance

Baruch College, City University of New York
New York, NY Financial Engineering

University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA Financial Engineering

New York University
New York, NY Mathematics in Finance

Columbia University
New York, NY Mathematics of Finance

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA Master of Finance

Cornell University
Ithaca, NY MEng, FE concentration

Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA Quantitative and Computational Finance

University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA Financial Engineering

Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ Mathematical Finance


University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada Mathematical Finance

Boston University
Boston, MA Mathematical Finance

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL Financial Mathematics

NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering
Brooklyn, NY Financial Engineering

Rutgers University
Newark, NJ Quantitative Finance

Fordham University
New York, NY Quantitative Finance

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD Financial Mathematics

University of Illinois
Urbana, IL Financial Engineering

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI Financial Engineering

University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN Financial Mathematics

University of Washington
Seattle, WA Computational Finance & Risk Management

Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, CA Financial Engineering

Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL

James

Hi there,
Thank you so much for reaching out. Unfortunately, Aringo's expertise is limited to the area of MBAs. However, I can tell you that the strong recommendations from your professors will likely go a long way in helping your case and compensating for your GPA.
I'm sorry I can't be of more help and wish you the best of luck.

Hi Aringo,

Can you help evaluate my profile and my chances of getting admitted to programs of LBS & INSEAD.

Male/29 born in China with 8 years working experiences in a multi-culture environment where daily interactions with people around the globe is required in Telecom industry. I'm currently based in SEA in charge of service operations & service delivery for one of a top accounts in terms of its revenue for the entire APAC region. Prior to that I was managing 3 teams of around 20 people providing technical support & customer services globally, after 2 promotions in 2 years.

From non-work perspective, I'm a member of Toastmasters where communication skills, public speaking skills and leadership skills are trained and practiced.

I graduated from tire 3 university in China majoring in language with a GPA of 3.0+/4.0, which I would say is a very week point and scored 720 in GMAT.

Please let me know if further information is needed

Best Regards,

You're a great fit for both INSEAD and LBS. While your academics is a concern, the strong GMAT score helps alleviate that. Was your quant score above 80%ile? If not, plan to take some quantitative coursework to show analytical ability. Other than that, I'd focus on writing strong essays and ensure that you get positive recos.

Regards,
Zooey
www.Aringo.com

Dear forum members,
We wanted to announce a new page on our site with a comparison of MBA expenses at top MBA programs. We compiled some data to help MBA candidates understand the costs and compare different programs - tuition, living expenses and other fees and costs:
https://aringo.com/mba-expenses-comparison/