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Hi,

Could you please evaluate my profile for the top MBA programs? Thank you in advance. I am targeting for the year 2014.

Academics:

"¢ IIT BHU (Formerly IT-BHU), India, B.Tech Chemical Engineering, Year 2009
"¢ Grades - 8.12/10
"¢ Secured 1st Rank in B.Tech Part-2 exams.
"¢ Among top 10% of the batch. (Does one need to justify this, because then I need to ask my college for a certificate?)
"¢ GMAT 700, 90% (Q50, 90% and V34, 69%): I am concerned about the low verbal score. My AWA score is 5.5. Any views here?

Work Exp:

Total: 4 years

Description
~ 1 year at an Engineering Firm (Process Automation), India
~ 2.4 years at a Business research firm (It is basically a KPO company), India
~ 6 months at a Business research firm (Same company), Chile, South America. (Will continue to work from Chile, till I am done with all the applications.)

"¢ Currently working as a Senior Business Analyst in company's office in Chile.
"¢ Promoted to Senior Analyst from analyst within one year of joining the company.
"¢ Have won an award for adding two full time employees for the company within our account.
"¢ Selected for Chile office to grow the oil and gas team over there by imparting trainings and other stuff.

Responsibilities

"¢ Since joining the Business research firm, I have been working with the strategy team of a Global oil and gas major company (Revenue>$100 billion).
"¢ We help the oil company in different kinds of market and business studies such as country/company analysis.


International exposure:

"¢ Would have completed almost 8 -10 months in Chile when I apply to Business schools in R1 and R2.
"¢ Work with a European oil and gas client with a multi-cultural team
"¢ Also, within my company, we have people from almost 25 countries, so good multi-cultural exposure.
"¢ Also learning Spanish (I guess it's a must to survive here as English is not widely spoken on this part of the continent )

Extra-curricular/Interests
"¢ Learning Spanish in Chile. (Fluent with very basic conversation)
"¢ Part of company's Toastmaster group
"¢ During the 3rd and 4th year of the college, I was the Training and Placement representative of my Branch. I helped college streamline its placement process and bring in more companies. (I can ensure good certificates from here)
"¢ Good ping-pong player. (But never got an opportunity to play at college level)
"¢ Made a prototype for a mobile charger that does not require house electricity. It received coverage in print media.

Short-term goal:

"¢ Working with top consulting firms especially in Oil and gas sector. Ex: McKinsey oil and gas practice, Deloitte Energy practice etc, Accenture etc.
"¢ OR Joining strategy/business development division of an oil and gas major such as ExxonMobil, BP etc.


Tentative college list:

Kellogg, Tuck, Duke, Booth, Ross, Darden, UCLA, ISB. (Still trying to figure out)

Could you please help me shortlist the school. Schools that are within my radar are top 15 US B-schools, ISB, LBS and INSEAD. I am also planning to retake GMAT next month, because I believe that my current score is not even up to average score of top US schools. Should I retake the exam? I am under the impression that retake should not jeopardise my application since the schools usually take the highest GMAT score. Am I right?
Also do you think that EA round will increase my chances at Tuck or Duke?

So, I need your guidance in targeting schools based on my credentials.

Hi,

Your candidature looks very strong. IIT brand, strategy, consulting and advisory related work ex will help is used well.

International experience of Latin American country will add to the diversity factor.
The schools which you have shortlisted look very much achievable. Agree, retaking GMAT and improving yoru score by 20 -30 points will also strengthen the only average aspect of your application.

Yes, applying in early action will definitely help. But make sure that you also apply to schools where you have better chances e.g. Darden or ISB in Round 1 so that you have an admit at hand. The you will get the confidence of applying to only top schools in Round 2.

Feel free to contact us for any queries.

Apphelp Team

You have a good profile. I agree that your GMAT score is not very high, but it is not advisable to retake GMAT now. Business schools generally look at the most recent score report which contains the GMAT score of your last three attempts. Each school has its own policy to consider multiple scores. You should check out with the admission committee of the school to which you are applying. Most students get too much worried about their scores, and forget that there are other aspects of their application.
If I were you, I would concentrate on writing application essays. Essays are very important in deciding whether you would reach the interview stage. One needs a lot of time to draft perfect essays. Focus your energy in this direction.

As you have significant international exposure, and you are learning Spanish, you should definitely apply to LBS and INSEAD. You could also apply to Kellogg, Tuck, Fuqua, Ross, Darden, McCombs and ISB.

Best of luck!
www.InterviewBay.com

Your academic profile is very good with your undergraduate academic record very strong (IIT and grades) but your GMAT score lower than the average to top 10 MBA schools. I would be more concerned about the lower overall score than specifically the verbal score.

Your work is outside the usual technology background. Strategy consulting, international experience, promotions all are excellent.

That said I still think schools like Duke, Darden, Ross and UCLA are target schools with Kellogg, Tuck, and Booth as doable stretches. ISB is more like a safety school. Early Action for Tuck or Duke will significantly increase your chances.

Retake the GMAT. With a 740 score your academic profile moves to very strong. Schools look at your highest score (and some schools like Tuck actually look at your highest splits) so do not worry about getting a lower score.

Good luck,