BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Profile eval: GMAT 680, 3.5yrs Exp Investment Banking

Launched September 22, 2008
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:54 pm

Profile eval: GMAT 680, 3.5yrs Exp Investment Banking

by Road2Ivy » Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:11 pm
Hi,

I want to study at INSEAD or LBS. It will be very helpful if you could give me some advice regarding the following questions:

1. Should I take the GMAT again based on my profile?
2. Any other facets of my profile that I should work on?
3. Will taking the GMAT again reduce my chances of getting into my target schools?
4. What is valued more by these schools: International exposure with limited skillset or little international exposure with a diverse skillset?

GMAT Score: 680 (QA: 50 (89%); VA: 31 (60%); IR: 3 (23%))

Experience: 3.5 yrs
1. 2.5 yrs as an Investment banking analyst in a bulge bracket investment bank. Over the course of this period I have worked directly with the NY team as part of a team extension model. I have also had the chance to work in NY for a month. In addition to that, I am the top ranked analyst in the IBD division. I have also been given the offer the join the NY office.

2. 1.0 yr as a Design Engineering in a leading US based Semiconductor designing firm . My work entailed designing semiconductor chips for clients. No major achievements here because I was there for only a year and the recession had just started so all their major projects had bee scrapped.

Education:

1. MBA - Top 10 bschool from India (Ranked among Top 10% of the batch)
2. B.E Electronics & Communication Engineering: Top 10 engineering school (Rank 4)
3. CFA Level 3 candidate
4. FRM (All levels cleared)


Extra curriculars
1. Founder and Head of the Entrepreneurship cell at my bschool
Awarded a certificate of leadership for the same by the National Entrepreneurship Network
2. Event organizer of a few technical and cultural events at my engineering college

Purpose / Motivation
1. Why second MBA?
I want to start my own PE / Asset mang. fund in the APAC region.
Thus, I want to go to a top notch school such as INSEAD that will help me in the following ways:
Globalize my network: It will help me raise capital and business from different parts of the world
Get some work experience in the PE / Asset mang space + learn the nuances of business in different parts of the world
Global brand name
Top
Source: — Ask Clear Admit |
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:07 am
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:1 members

by Jon Fuller » Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:34 am
Road2Ivy -

Thanks for contacting Clear Admit for some advice about your candidacy . . . before I get to my responses to your questions, it is definitely important for you to verify that LBS and INSEAD will even consider your application given that you already have an MBA. I've seen some information that indicates that they do, but I was unable to find anything concrete on their respective websites. Contact them directly for a definitive answer.

Schools are often hesitant to admit candidates who already have an MBA for a variety of reasons, and it's essential for you to clearly articulate how a second MBA will help you achieve what your first MBA could not. While I certainly understand your motivations for getting your second MBA, you need to be cautious about focusing on a school's network and reputation in your essays and application. It tends to create an impression that you only want to get your ticket punched and then take advantage of the benefits of alumni status. This applies to any candidate, but it's going to be especially true for someone like you who already has an MBA. You'll need to focus your energy on the LBS/INSEAD learning experience, the diversity and quality of the student body, intellectual discussion with others in your field of interest, etc.

So, with the assumption that you're still eligible to apply to LBS/INSEAD . . .

1. Should I take the GMAT again based on my profile?
Yes, I think you should, even with your overall profile. The average for both of these schools is right around a 700, and obviously, it's always better to be on the higher side of the average than the lower. The adcoms are already going to be a bit skeptical about your overall application given that you already have an MBA, so don't give them another reason to be critical of your profile. Also, while your quant score is quite healthy, there's certainly room for improvement in your verbal and IR sections.

2. Any other facets of my profile that I should work on?
As I mentioned earlier, I think your purpose/motivation needs some fine-tuning. Other than that, I see some good elements in what you've described, but you're very light on more recent extracurricular experience. You'll need to add some additional dimension to your profile, and personal interests and extracurriculars are an important thing to be able to highlight.

3. Will taking the GMAT again reduce my chances of getting into my target schools?
How many times have you taken the GMAT? If you've only taken it once, then by all means, you should feel free to take it two or three more times as necessary. It's quite common for candidates to take the GMAT multiple times, and I generally don't get too concerned about the number of tests until you get into the 4 or more category.

4. What is valued more by these schools: International exposure with limited skillset or little international exposure with a diverse skillset?
I'd lean towards the latter situation for these schools and just about all others, too. LBS and INSEAD are definitely very internationally-oriented programs, so there is no doubt that they value an international mindset. However, it is even more key for candidates need to demonstrate that they've had robust experiences, impact on their firms, leadership experiences, etc.

I hope that helps!

Regards,
Jon

Jon Fuller
Clear Admit, LLC
215.568.2590

Stay Informed with Clear Admit!
Read our award-winning blog for daily MBA admissions updates
Use our b-schools dashboard for your MBA program research
Download our publications on b-schools and admissions strategy
Visit our MBA interview archive to read and share interview insights
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:54 pm

by Road2Ivy » Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:25 am
Thanks for the reply Jon.

As for the extra curricular activities / personal interests, I am an active value investor and over the course of the last 1-2 years I have learned, practiced and made decent amount of money through value investing. This is something I do whenever I have some time on my hands. Also, I am in the process of starting a value investing magazine that will feature articles from passionate value investors on stocks to consider as a possible investment opportunity. Do you think this will be considered as a extra curricular activity for the likes of Insead and LBS.

Thanks once again for your feedback, Jon
Top
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:07 am
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:1 members

by Jon Fuller » Tue Oct 29, 2013 2:43 pm
You're welcome . . . thank you for sharing some more information about your extracurriculars. The bulk of what you described is good, but my concern is that those activities are so closely related to your professional work. They don't necessarily provide additional texture and insights to your personality and candidacy that will help differentiate you from other applicants. I know this isn't likely a true reflection of you, but you're probably familiar with the phrase "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." You generally want to show that you have multiple facets to yourself and your personality and show that you're interested in a variety of topics.

Regards,
Jon
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1