Profile Evaluation!

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Profile Evaluation!

by aditya2789 » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:49 am
Hi guys,

I am a 22 year old male from Chennai India. This is my profile:

Academics
1. GMAT - August 22nd - Hoping for around 700.

2. Chartered Accountant (CA - similar to CPA)
Level 2 - All India Rank 40
Level 3 - All India Rank 26
Both of the above put me in the top 1% of those who wrote the exams (around 60,000 each level)

3. B.Com (3 year degree, simultaneously done along with CA i.e just need to write the exams with classes being optional) - First Class

Work Experience
Chartered Accountancy requires 3.5 years of full time work (called Articleship in CA lingo)in an audit firm.
I did mine at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Chennai between 2007 and 2011.
1. During the 3.5 years of articleship - Was part of the audit teams of many big clients such as Ford, Cognizant and other multinational companies. Solely completed the audit of a few small companies in the third year, with direct interaction with the Partners.
The work I did in SOX assignments during this period was appreciated by review teams from PwC UK and US.

2. Post completion of the 3.5 years and qualification as a CA -
a. Joined back PwC as an Associate in September 2011. Was given the responsibility of solely handling the audit of the Revenue process, a high risk and key process of an SEC Listed entity, for the SOX assignment (Revenue of around $6billion). Involved high amount of interaction and coordination with PwC US and quality of work was highly appreciated.
b. Promoted to Assistant Manager on 1st April 2012, in a short span of around 6.5 months, which is one of the fastest promotions from Associate to AM, also making me one of the youngest AMs (at 23).
c. Part of a team of around 20, with responsibility of reviewing the work done by Associates and those doing their Articleship, and also coaching them.
d. Designated the L&E Champion of my team (Learning and Education), responsible for identifying training needs for the team, organizing and/or conducting technical sessions and ensuring the team is updated technically. Complete responsibility for structuring the exercise for the team was given, with monthly reporting to the PwC Assurance Head of South and West India.

Achievements
a. Was awarded the GEM (Going the Extra Mile award) at PwC, during my articleship, for excellent performance, commitment and documentation skills. This award is given to exceptional performers, generally in positions up to the Assistant Manager Level.
b. My performance has been rated as 'Beyond Expectations' in all my appraisals done by the Partner and Senior Managers.
c. Quick promotion and recognition (As detailed above)

Extra Curriculars, Hobbies and Interests
Not much I can talk about. Used to play the keyboards for a rock band and had shows in and around Chennai and in Bangalore, Pondicherry. However, this was a while ago and I've become a corporate sell out since then :)
Like travelling and have travelled to most of India, and a short backpacking trip with friends to the UK.

Post MBA Objective
Would love to work in Strategy Consulting, providing solutions to CEO level problems, for which an MBA would broaden my perspective and provide the necessary skill sets.
Also, would like to use the knowledge and experience gained in the MBA program and in the Consulting career to be in a position where I can sucessfully start something on my own at some point in the not too distant future.

Concerns
1. I plan to apply this year for Fall 2013. At the time of application I would have only 1 year of post qualification experience. However, I have worked for 3.5 years in the same firm (PwC) while pursuing my CA. Will this be considered as full time work experience?
2. The Undergraduate degree (B.Com) is a 3 year degree and a degree where I only had to appear for the exams. Had to take this up since I did my BCom along with my CA which involves full time work. Will this have any impact?
3. Will my lack of any significant extra curriculars have a major impact?

I am targeting top US schools. Please evaluate my profile and let me know which schools I would have realistic chances in, based on which I can do some research and try to narrow down.

Please forgive if it was too long or detailed, but I wanted you guys to have as much info as possible which would help you evaluate my chances..Thanks in Advance!
Source: — Ask Admissionado |

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by Jon@Admissionado » Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:44 pm
You can NEVER be too long or detailed here! So you've deny really an EXCELLENT job of laying out what you have.

To cut to the chase: Overall things look good (depending of course upon your GMAT score too, but you'll get that when you get that). the main issue though, is as you yourself have identified the number of years worked when you apply. Although you have worked 3.5 years, the AdCom could (and likely will) perceive it as work during your studies and wont count it towards your work experience.

Now, I do understand that you HAVE worked those years, and this is definitely something you could explain to the AdCom for example in your optional essay to show them that you do have the necessary experience. But still, but still, if I was on the AdCom, esp. at top schools, I'd be asking myself "What's his rush?" And hopefully you have a good answer to that question!

Anyhow, what I suggest is that you hold your horses until you get your GMAT results anyhow, because that will greatly clarify where you stand. And if you have any other questions, drop us a line.

Cheers,
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by aditya2789 » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:00 pm
Thanks a lot Jon! That was really helpful!
Yes, at the moment I am only working on getting a good GMAT score and not worrying too much about anything else.

However, can I have your inputs on the other two concerns that I had?
1. I did not have a typical college education - I just had to attend the exams, with classes being completely optional (which I chose not to go for, since I was working simultaneously for my CA)
2. My lack of any significant extracurriculars

Appreciate the feedback! :)

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by Jon@Admissionado » Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:25 am
The first thing is easy, if you have a diploma and all, there's no reason you need to offer up this information to the Adcom. Just leave it aside. I mean, I don't know how it would be perceived exactly, but my feeling is that it might diminish the value of your degree in their eyes. (although it might help resolve the work issue.... something to think about).

As for lack of significant extracurriculars, at this point the best thing you can do is 1. DIG 2. EMBELLISH. By digging I mean that you may have more than you think, and you need to dig around to see what you can pull out 2. Whatever you DO have you should emphasize, and if you have a bit then it can be enough.
"Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder!" -- Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:
https://admissionado.lpages.co/admissio ... nter-2018/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/50-essay ... ked-vol-4/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.

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by aditya2789 » Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:41 am
Thanks a lot Jon! Appreciate it! Next time you're in Chennai, India, your beers on me :) will let you know once I beat the gmat (hopefully soon)!

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by Jon@Admissionado » Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:04 am
Oh ho! That's an offer. And some spicy food too I hope.
:)
"Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder!" -- Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:
https://admissionado.lpages.co/admissio ... nter-2018/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/50-essay ... ked-vol-4/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.

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by aditya2789 » Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:38 am
Hi Jon,
Finally wrote the GMAT yesterday and got a score of 760 (Q50 V42) :)
Please let me know if you will be able to provide some extra inputs now that you have the complete picture including my GMAT score.

Thanks in Advance!

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by Jon@Admissionado » Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:30 am
Um..... what can I say??
but...
YESSSSS!!!!!!
760! Even amongst the mighty scores, that is one heck of a mighty score.
Now, you need to figure out where you want to apply. No doors are closed to you, although the Top 3 schools in the US will still be tough... but of all the other schools, they should be open to you.
Now, all you gotta do (ALL!!! :)) is make an amazing application.
Go get 'em!

and if you have a specific question, you know where to find us...
"Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder!" -- Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:
https://admissionado.lpages.co/admissio ... nter-2018/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/50-essay ... ked-vol-4/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:18 am

by aditya2789 » Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:04 am
Thanks a lot Jon! Appreciate it..Just starting off on the research! Next few months gonna be crazy!
Will let you know if I have anything specific.
Thanks for the help :)