Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out! Now, let's give this a look, shall we?

So one thing you didn't mention - how were your undergrad academics? That'll matter so it's good to know.

Here's what I like: your GMAT score (you're batting in the 700s and you're a female), you have a start up, and your clients were international.

Let's talk work experience first. I'm not concerned with the fact that your firm was acquired. At all, actually. That merely means the work you were doing and the firm you were with previously was sought after. What I can't tell from your posts is the leadership caliber of this work. Did you lead teams? Did you lead workstreams?

Now, on to your entrepreneurial spirit

Good for you for branching out and taking the risk. What kind of problems are you facing? Not to get specific, but I'm trying to figure out why you find yourself in this situation. For example, is it financial constraints? Is it adverse market conditions? Whatever it is, it lends itself for some great stories. Success or failure can lead to some amazing learning experiences.

Ok, for your extracurriculars. These aren't a sore point but they aren't exactly a significant differentiator either. By that I mean they'll be sufficient enough to show involvement but probably not too much else. But that's ok! These gaps can be plugged with some things in your profile that don't exist in the profiles of others.

Don't worry too much about if your profile is as structured as that of others you see online.

Now, if you're targeting consulting of any sort, you need to get ambitious. Fast. Consulting is, generally speaking, a game of pedigree. Just like finance or private equity. The higher rank you get, the higher the rating of the companies that recruit.

As for schools, ISB and NUS probably are not the enablers you might be looking for. I would put Ross and Duke up there too so I agree with your assessment. However, I think you're aiming too low when you say you want 30 - 40. You have a good GMAT and a lot we can pull from.

If you want a list of schools you can narrow down, here are the ones I suggest:

McCombs, Emory, Tepper, UNC, Kelley, McDonough, Marshall, Scheller, and Fisher.

If you go too far below this, you're going to find your goals harder and harder to pursue.

So these are the schools you have a pretty good shot at. But I tend to be a little bullish and one of the things we tell our clients is, "If you don't try, you won't know know". I think you should give Ross, UCLA, or Johnson a shot. Just apply to one or two (depending on time and resource availability) from this list.

Like I mentioned, for a goal in general management / consulting, you really need to get as high up as possible.

For you, the facts are now less important than the story that pulls them together.

Let me know what you think and if you have any questions - I'm happy to help!

Bhavik

Hey - you're quite welcome.

Sorry, undergrad as in university. What was your performance there? Your performance in the 10th and 12th is irrelevant. You can convert it if you know it to the 4.0 scale but if not just give it to me in the scale of your school.

Bhavik

Ok, so it should be a little higher than a 3.0 but not by much.

Thanks for the additional information! This is pretty much what I was expecting so I stand by the schools I suggested above.

I think they give you a good range of options to look at.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to PM me!

Bhavik