Request for profile evaluation

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Request for profile evaluation

by [email protected] » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:56 am
Hi,

Please evaluate my profile. My target schools are INSEAD, HKUST, ISB, Johnson (one year), Ivey.

Male / 29 / Indian
I have a GMAT score of 680 ( Q50,V33). Low, I know, considering retaking.

Academics:
B. Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (one of the top engineering colleges of India)
CGPA (6.6/10) - My biggest concern. Please let me know how to overcome it.

Have also cleared CFA Level I and appeared for the Level II recently.

Work Experience (6 years in all)

3 years of experience in sell side equity research. Currently managing a team of 4 offshore analysts for a US based boutique investment bank. Working with the same US client for the last 3 years. Can this be counted as international experience.
Have also contributed outside of my project in many assignments. Those initiatives and innovations have helped the company to acquire many key projects. Played a pivotal role in the Pilot stage of these projects and i hope it can be a good example of leadership qualities.
Have won innovation award (twice) & best team award

1.5 yrs - Prior to that I worked as a derivatives trader (commodities) in a proprietary UK based trading house. The work location was India. Generated quarterly trading profits for the firm on a regular basis.

1.5 yrs - Prior to the trading job I worked as a assistant systems engineer at IBM. Worked for a large Singapore based bank. Developed applications as per business requirements

Extra curricular:

Have participated in a lot of cultural and technical events during college
Coordinated some of the events in these events. Held leadership position in some of them
Active member of the college quizzing team. Represented my institute at various inter college quizzes and have won some of them
Volunteer in an NGO that promotes world peace through meditation. Have organized various events to spread the related messages.
Have done lots of treks and other interested in more. Also participated in other adventure sports (rafting, etc)

Short term Goals:

To work in an investment bank at an associate level position and to rise to manager level

Long term goals: To run my own hedge fund / portfolio management firm, especially into commodities


Recommendation Letter: Can get good recos from company VP & my prior bosses / employers
yet to crack the GMAT
Source: — Ask Veritas Prep Admissions Consulting |

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by Bryant@VeritasPrep » Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:07 pm
Several comments:

Ironically, the easiest way to overcome poor academics is a stellar GMAT. your GMAT is not bad, but as you point out, you could get a better score and help put the adcoms minds at rest. What i really like about your background is that you will offer a diversity play as compared to other Wall Street applicants. The most common background for Indian applicants is either IT, or working for family business. The fact that you hail from a very solid b-school feeder industry will help you stand out in your core applicant pool as well (indian male) in addition to the 'typical" finance applicant. Managing others is a great achievement, and will also help you stand out. Most finance applicants are coming out of buldge bracket I-bank analyst programs and will not have had any direct reports. hope this encourages you. Let us know if you need help as you prepare your applications.
Bryant Michaels
MBA Admissions Consultant


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by [email protected] » Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:59 am
Hi Bryant,

Thanks for your post and an encouraging reply. I am retaking the GMAT and hope to post a decent score this time. Can you also suggest some of the other schools that I should add to my target list, considering the fact that I am mainly interested in one year programs.

Best
Divansh
yet to crack the GMAT