Request for profile evaluation

[abhisheksamantasenior]

Hi,

Could you please let me know whether I am realistic in setting my target schools with my profile/ if not then what should I do to overcome shortcomings?

Target Schools - Top 15 US B Schools (well, I know this is a wrong way of putting things - ranking should not be a deciding factor)

GMAT Score - 750 (Verbal - 43, Quant - 51)

Job Profile:
Name of the company - Capgemini Inc.
Designation - Senior Consultant
Experience - Joined in September 2005
Sector - IT
Job Description - Ahhh....this is one (only!!) area I can boast of!! Started a two-member team in 2006 to support HSBC credit cards services. Team size has grown to 20. Right now leading a team of 60 associates. Started two new engagements with HSBC. Got three promotions so far. Won four leadership awards - one of them being the quarterly CEO award.

International Experience - almost 1 year

Secondary Education (General Subjects) - 86.5% in 1998
Higher Secondary (Science) - 76.5% in 2000
Engineering Entrance Exam - Ranked 174 (out of almost 75K students in the state)
Undergraduate (Electrical Engineering) - :'(. GPA - 2.5.

Other - CFA Level 1, PMP
Extra curricular Activities - Painting (did for 4 years and have recently resumed - have some certificates to showcase) - won few prizes too, Photography
Social Service - Nil

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi,

Thanks for your post. You don't mention your short and long term post-MBA goals. Can you please share them so I can help with school selection?

Thanks,

Stacey

[abhisheksamantasenior]

Thanks Stacey for your reply!

My short-term goal is to pursue a career in a financial consultancy company. Though my professional experience has developed a knowledge in the consultancy, team management, leadership, across-the-globe client handling and risk-management, but having worked mainly in IT, I have very limited exposure to financial world. So my short term goal is to earn MBA with finance major, join a global financial consultancy corporation, acquire an expertise in financial world, develop my reputation in the industry and channelize my already earned expertise in the consultancy area into financial world.

My long-term goal is to establish my own financial and investment consultancy firm. An MBA degree from a reputed institute, its strong alumni network, skills acquired at the school as well as the post-MBA career and entrepreneurship will help me to bridge the gap between my previous experience and my long-term goal of building my consultancy firm.

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi,

Thanks for the additional information. In terms of programs that are strong in finance, you can't go wrong with Columbia, Wharton, Chicago and Stern. I realize these are all top 10 programs, therefore it might also make sense to consider some fantastic programs such as Duke and Darden, which are in the top 15. I suggest applying to mix of schools, some top 10 and some top 15 in order to increase your odds of successful admission into a program.

Best,

Stacey

[abhisheksamantasenior]

Thanks again Stacey for taking time and your advice.

So does my profile suffice to enter those biggies? I understand my GPA is way too low, but I can not change it now. So is there anything I could do to compensate for that?

Moreover, with my current profile is there anything that I can do to enhance my candidature?

By the way, I am planning to apply for the next year i.e. 2012 Fall session. So I have some time with me to prepare myself and fill up the 'void' areas.

Thanks again for your support.

regards,

Abhishek

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi,

While adcoms won't likely doubt your quantitative skills due to your high GMAT score and work experience, it might make sense for you to build an alternate transcript. I suggest taking courses in accounting, statistics or finance as a way to demonstrate you are capable of handling these types of courses in business school and to help compensate for your low GPA. I would suggest taking at least two courses. If you choose to do this, be sure to enroll in a reputable university. If you don't have one near you, you can always take an online course from Harvard, UCLA or any other qualified program.

Best,

Stacey