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infromaniac wrote:Hi,
I am looking for clarity about how I should go about my B-school applications, and wanted expert opinions on my profile before I proceed.

Indian Male
Age: 25 years
Background:
- Indian engineering graduate: B.E (Electronics & Communication Engg) from NSIT, Delhi : 67% / 100 (Didn't have GPA/percentile system)
- CBSE Class XII: 93%
- CBSE Class X: 84%

GMAT Score: 700 (V 35, Q49)

Work Profile:
- Analyst with McKinsey & Company's Private Equity/ Principal Investors (PE/PI) Practice since June, 2011
-- 10+ private equity and M&A commercial due diligence engagements) across sectors such as high technology, healthcare, retail, auto, IT services etc.
-- Involved in pre-diligence, target scan, market assessment and portfolio strategy and operations engagements across Industrials, High Tech, Financial Services
-- Contributed to and led several CSR initiatives such as blood donation camps (2011,2012,2013) and mobilizing center-wide participation for half-marathons

- 2-month internship with Maruti Suzuki India : 2010
-- Executed time motion study analyzing the efficiency of 2 assembly lines relative to benchmarks


Academic Achievements:
- Merit Scholarship for Academic Performance from NSIT for the year 2007-08
- School Topper in the CBSE Class XII Board Exam
- Awarded Merit Certificate in the National Mathematics Olympiad 2004 and 2005

Positions of Responsibility (College)
- Placement Coordinator, Placement Committee
- President, Quiz Club
- Founding Member, Consulting Club
- Vice-Chairman, IEEE chapter
- Founding member, Movie and documentary society
- Member, Neighborhood Project

Extra-curricular achievements:
- National finalist on numerous quizzes
- Won over 30 quizzes in inter-college competitions between 2007 and 2011.
- Quizmaster, several inter-school quizzes in Delhi
- Awarded the Best All Rounder trophy in Class XI (2005-06)
- Wrote a term paper on '70s Music in the UK
- Other hobbies include listening to music and running

Post-MBA goal: Private Equity / Consulting

Specific questions around my profile are:
- What are my chances in the Top-20 B-schools with my existing profile for this year's applications?
- By how much can my chances improve if 1) I get a GMAT score of 750+ and/or 2)add another a year of work experience to my profile (i.e. apply next year)?
- I have done limited research so far in terms of my application strategy, selecting my target schools, and retaking the GMAT (I would really like to, ideally). Do I still have time to nail my apps in Round 1?

Any other guidance would be more than appreciated.

Thanks a lot!