The Application Process

High School: 92.2 % (ranked in top 50 in state and 3rd in the district)
Graduation: B.E (IT) 8.7 CGPA (out of 10) (in Top 10 in my class)
GMAT: 710 (Q 49,V 37) (Waiting for AWA Score)
Experience: 4+ Yrs. in a TCS (2 years in USA).I have more than two years of experience working in a very diverse team with teammates from USA, Europe and China.
1.Recognized and awarded by my employer more than twice
2.I had been sent to USA 1.5 years back to deliver a critical part of my current project.Since then,I am leading a small team of 3 people.I am still in USA continuing this assignment

Extra-Curricular Activities: I do not have much in this area.

I took part in state level cricket championship, representing my school.
I helped my uncle on and off with his software and hardware reselling business, solving some unique problem he was facing.The steps thus taken reduced their number of support calls and helped further to optimize its operation in future.
I have experience of working in rural India mostly through management of my family assets.I had to partially give up this opportunity for the last 2 years
after coming overseas.

I would like to continue my career in consulting post MBA but my current lack of business knowledge is not giving me an edge over my peers,who are in the same state.

I am applying for Kellog,UCLA Anderson,Kenan-Flagler and ISB as a choice for competitve school and Oxford Said,Kelley as safe school.Do you think profile can standout or I should take the GMAT again?


Most of my extra-curricular activities stopped at my school level as I had to increasingly involve myself in my family matters (My native place is extremely rural part of India with Maoist Rebel concentration) and to engage in activities that will earn some money.The reason for that is I lost my father when I was at high school and coming from a lower middle class with a younger brother who was about to enter into college,I had to constantly engage into activities that will earn me some money for my family.I am not trying to make an excuse with a poignant story but putting my brother through college(He is employed now in a MNC) and securing a place for my mother outside of my problematic native place I think my greatest success.


Do you think personal hardship stories can be valid matter of application essay?

Your GMAT score isn't how to differentiate yourself. It's strong enough.

The way to differentiate yourself is through the other pieces of the application, like your essays, resume, interview and letters of recommendation. This is your means of giving admissions officers insight into who you are, why you are interested in an MBA, why you are different and how you will contribute to the campus community. You have the academic qualifications to be admitted; this is about making a compelling case to admissions officers as to why you should be admitted among all of those applicants in the same position.