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Hi Cindy
Hope you would be able to evaluate my profile.
+ 28 years, Indian, Female

+ Undergrad – Bachelors in Engineering – GPA of 3.8
-- Gold medalist when I finished high school.
-- Overall 2nd rank (2nd in class of 300) when I finished my bachelors degree.
-- Multiple scholarships in college.

+ GMAT – 690 (38V/48Q)
-- Was going through a very difficult period at work and was not finding enough time to prepare so I am not happy with this score but I think it is too late for a retake though. Do you think this is going to carry me through the list of universities I am targeting?

+ TOEFL – iBat – 118/120

+ Work –Ex – about 7 years now.
-- Working as Project Manager with India’s most reputed IT Services Company with 100,000 plus employees.
-- Worked extensively in Supply Chain related IT transformation programs.
-- Spent 3 plus years in the United States in Maine and Rhode Island working at the client site for reputed Retail firms.
-- Currently leading a team of 18 people
-- Awards at work
1.Won Excellence award in 2008 which is only about 25 awards given at Org-wide level every year!
2.Most Valuable Player award twice in 2007 and 2008
3.Best team award in 2008 (while I was the lead for this)
4.Very elaborate engagement level feedback from retail clients on projects I have worked with them.

+ Extra Curricular
-- Prize for Dance (school, college and work)
-- Prize for badminton (school and work)
-- Active volunteer and participant in all key events at work (got certificates for most)
-- Identified for grooming and as one in the 12 LOT – Leaders of Tomorrow (leadership development program) – from an office of 3000 plus people. The only lady in this group.
-- Chairs and leads the women inclusivity program at office.

+ Community service
-- Active member and volunteer at 2 social service groups outside office. Spent easily 5-8 hours over the weekends.
-- Active member and lead for various events for the social service wing at office.
-- Participant of teaching-cum-mentoring program organized at work for girl students in school.

+ Why MBA
-- Career shift – want to move from a techno-centric career to something in supply chain consulting. Worked at client site doing technology consulting and limited exposure to domain consulting. Continuing here will take me deeper into technology only so wish to change now.
-- MY dream company looks mainly for people with MBA - is on the list of recruiters in all the universities I have in my list.
-- Want to gain experience and then come back to this company (I respect my current company a lot) but at the domain side of things.
-- Long run – 10-12 + years down the line want to start my own library chain mainly centered around the place I was born and brought up. A library with a different outlook – more to engage children in reading and open the world of books to them – less commercial interest. But at this point to really succeed I would need all the knowledge I can get on supply chain, general business management, entrepreneurship, and definitely good network.

+Specifics I look for in university
-- Diversity and International outlook and exposure
--Availability of programs in the area of my interest
-- Practical method of teaching and impressive faculty
-- Presence of an active Social service wing
-- Opportunity for networking

+ Universities I am targeting
Wharton
London B School
Harvard
INSEAD , France
MIT, Sloan
Dartmouth Tuck
Carnegie Melon, Tepper
Stern, NY
Smeal, PA
Jenkins, NC
ISB, India

Please let me know
1)Your suggestions on areas that I need to work on specifically so that I can come up with a real compelling application.
2)Weak links in my profile.
3)how achievable my target list of universities is
4)Anything in the university list I should relook at in particular.

Thanks a lot !

Hello,

It looks like you’re doing all the right things so far to be competitive at the programs you mention. I would simply suggest continuing to seek out leadership (formal or informal) challenges at work, and also opportunities to interact with business at different levels and functions. Also, think about how you would make the switch form consulting to your long-term goal, and how your short-term and intermediate goals will help prepare you for your long-term goal.

Weak links – possibly not having experience in the specific area related to your long-term goals. You may want to show that you are learning a bit about this now to strengthen credibility. Perhaps look for ways to volunteer in this sector or related ones. Also, a less-than-stellar application is a prospective weak link to beware of!

I consider the range of schools and the specific schools to be strong for your needs. Another program that would seem to have the qualities you desire is Ross/Michigan.

Good luck!

Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com

Thanks much for your time and your response, Cindy.

And will definitely look up Ross school, it's just that i was focusing on north east mainly if it is in the US.

Being 1 in that 1000 plus Indian applicants from IT services certainly does not make it any easier :-) and i believe you may have seen many such profiles.
would you please suggest 1 or 2 key elements in my profile that would suit me best to highlight in the application?

Hello,

I would need to learn more in-depth to really answer this question properly, but from the info provided, I think it might be good to emphasize your work experience in Main and Rhode Island (as long as you have something substantive and interesting to say about it beyond just the fact of it), best team award (ditto my comment above, i.e., as long as you have something substantive to say about the experience, something meaningful, beyond the fact of the award), your leadership of the women's inclusivity office, and possibly the community service (again, IF you have something substantive and interesting to say about it, not just recounting the fact of the involvement).

Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com

thanks again ! that was helpful !