The Application Process

Hi,

Kindly have a look at my Profile and provide your valuable suggestions...

Background -
-8yrs Work ex in IT. Currently working as a Project Lead.
-Did all kinds of team management and financial planning for the project
-Completed PMP training, Planning to get certified.
-ITIL Aware
-Coordinated Project with Vietnam Team(despite communication challenges)
-Completed Robotics in College which was well appreciated and received accolades from Police - Department and the project is showcased in the college and is being studied by the students for different advancements/enhancements

ExtraCurricular-
College Level various Skits, Singing
Love playing Guitar
Organized college fests and gained sponsorships
Presented the scope of our project in College and organized sponsorship for the same
Member of College and Office Cricket Team
Table Tennis Player - have won couple of tournaments
Won several Awards in the organmization for various achievements

International Exposure - Ireland and London

Acads -
Xth 85%
XIIth 85%
B.Tech - NIT Jalandhar- 73%
GMAT 680 ( I know its bit on the lower side )

Target Schools - Insead, ISB, IIM A/B (Executive)

In 2 minds.. whether to work on my profile with my current GMAT score or Retake GMAT ?

Please suggest.

Thanks in Advance.

Hi,

Personally, I am never in favor of retaking GMAT so close to deadlines, but you might want to take a shot. A lot of applicants at ISB would have a similar profile but a higher GMAT, putting you at a disadvantage.

INSEAD is a stretch unless you have some international experience - how close/valuable was the Vietnam Project? I would also recommend widening your school choices, perhaps also look at some European options.

Good Luck!

Thanks ColorMeOne,

I understand that at ISB, median GMAT is around 710-720. Even I am confused about taking GMAT close to the deadlines... Problem is if I apply this year and do not get through.. It will be much tougher to reapply next year ... so need to do loads of thinking.

I have my experiences in London and Ireland to share in terms of international exposure. Vietnam Project was a learning in itself.

For Insead, I also understand that one needs to have a balanced score.

Will explore my options and let you know.

Thank you once again.

Yes, another factor you have to consider is that you already have 8 years work exp, and that is steadily moving close to the Executive MBA profile.

We all want to serve the perfect application, and that is often not possible. It is also likely that if you get rejected with a 680 GMAT, you would also have been rejected with a 710 GMAT.

To me, these are the options in front of you: a) Apply to ISB now, but retake your GMAT before applying to INSEAD for the JAN 2013 intake b) Stop worrying about your GMAT, broaden up your school selection, keep some safety schools c) Retake your GMAT, and apply in the 2nd round

I do understand your dilemma, and which is why I was slightly reluctant about advising you for another shot at GMAT. There is a risk involved in all three, but if I was applying with your profile, I would rank them b,a,c

Good Luck, take a decision soon!

That gives me something to Chew... and gotta chew fast and chew efficiently ))

Hi,
My name is Srinivas Doijode. I am from Bangalore, India. Request for a feedback on what areas I could concentrate while writting my essays for ISB

Name: Srinivas Doijode
Indian/ Male/ 32 yrs old
GMAT: 700
10th: Karnataka State board with 78 %
12th: Karnataka State board with 75%
UG: BE from university of Mysore, Aggregate of 68%, passed out in 2001

Full time work experience: 9 years in IT currently working as a Lead Analyst with a Top Canadian services firm at our Bangalore delivery center. I am directly responsible for deliveries of a 15 member team with annual revenue of one million USD. I am part of the core team of our Center of Excellence for Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution and also a member of the Center of Excellence for Testing.

Overseas Experience: I have worked for 3 years in the US for one of the largest distributors of electronics and semiconductor components in the world.

Other Professional experience:
I work with a small scale industry in its Operations and Marketing activities. This industry was started by my mother with an intension of providing employment to women in need at our native town. We manufacture Industrial and domestic cleansing agents, and Soaps and Detergents. The unit is supported and partly funded by the states department for women welfare. I do not hold an official post in the firm. I take time to meet industries around the region, put across the intentions of the unit, help with the units production and inventory planning. Currently I am helping them build a dealership network for the sales of their domestic products.

I have been a consultant panelist for a Top IT company in the country for its Campus recruitment drives. I have been involved in interviewing College grads both on-campus and off-campus.

I was also involved as a consultant in administering Physchometric Analysis tools for top executives at a leading IT firm in Bangalore.



Extra Curricular Activities: I have been involved in a host of activities since my early days. I would like to highlight the most recent and most active of these activities.

I am an Avid golfer. I picked up the game 4 years ago while I was in the US. I am self taught golfer. I laid out a well thought, one year plan for myself to improve my game. I played to a handicap index of 7.9 within two years of picking up the game. I played on the Golf Channel Amateur tour in the US. Participated in 5 tournaments. I have used golf to network well after I returned to India. I regularly play with some of the top executives from the industry. I have used the opportunity to generate leads for some of the business.

I have been painting with acrylics and oils for a long time now. I am again a self taught painter and have developed my own style and techinque of painting. I also like to experiment with my paintings. I sell some of my work at various forums.

I have been playing cricket at a competitive level. Have led various teams in the past 15 years. Currently, I lead the Corporate team of our company.

Out side of these, there are many other activities including the National Himalaya Winter Trek expedition organized by Youth Hostel.

Area of interest: I would want to work on the functional side fo supply chain particularly on the Business Intelligence and Business Analytics. In the long term I would want to build a self sustained, reusable supply chain modal for the Indian market with a particular focus of organized retail.

In anticipation
Regards
Srinivas Doijode