Request to Evaluate Profile

[abby17]

Hello,
Can you please evaluate my profile-

Acads:
Graduated from National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, India (awarded the status of Institute of National Importance by Govt. of India) in Electronics & Communication Engineering in 2010.
CGPA- 8.2/10
GMAT- 620 (Q51, V23) - first attempt
670 (Q49, V31) - second attempt

Work Experience
- Did one of my two-months' internship from Germany(fully sponsored by the German University), that gave me international exposure.
- 26 months' experience in Oil and Gas Industry. Working with Fluor Daniel (an EPC).
-Have worked on various international projects, managing draughtsmen.
-Recently developed an application to automatize certain tasks, thereby reducing time and cost. Consequently, I've been assigned a team to lead to research and develop more such solutions.

Extra Curriculars
- Played Basketball till National Level.
- Recipient of scholarship from Sports Authority of India as selected among the best sportspersons of the state.
- Was elected as the School Prefect in grade V
- Elected, through general elections, as the member of Students' Council for two consecutive years at school(before undergrad), in grade X and grade XI, out of which served as the Head of Council in the second year.
- Captain of college Basketball Team.
- Member of National Service Scheme at college and several other clubs, such as Music & Dramatics club, etc. The National Service Scheme was committed to Community Service and organized events such as Blood Donation Camps, Distribution of free clothes to the needy, etc.
-Continuing my passion for Basketball even after college by representing a private club team.
-Plan to join Teach for India Campaign next month.

Post MBA Goal
I'd like to join either a leading Consulting firm or go into Finance sector.

I do not wish to retake the GMAT as I am targeting the Round 1 of applications. I wish to apply to the following schools:
-LBS
-Cornell
-Duke
-CMU
-Ross
-Darden
-Kelley
-UT-Austin
-UNC-Kenan Flagler
-USC

Can you please tell my chances at the above listed schools? Also, if you feel there are schools I've not listed, but at which I've chances of admission, please suggest.

[Jon@Admissionado]

Allright my friend, I'm gonna be straight with you, some of the schools on your list are gonna be tough. You have a few "challenging spots" in your profile. 1. Applicant Pool - This'll come as no surprise to you here, but you are from one heck of a tough applicant pool. 2. GMAT - The GMAT is relatively low for Top programs like LBS, Duke, even CMU. Actually most of the schools on your list have average GMATs that are higher than your actual score, and this challenge is compounded by number 1 - because Indian candidates are just so darn smart and test super well! 3. At 26 months work experience is on the low side.

Now, all of this leads to me bring an option of maybe considering applying next year. You seem to be on the verge of getting some real leadership experience in your job, which could be very helpful for your application. Plus the one extra year, will give you more experience, plus another chance to take the GMAT.

If you decide to go ahead and apply anyhow, I'd suggest adding at least one more school, a "Safety school" in which their average GMAT would be say, 20 points LOWER than your GMAT (not the only criteria, but generally a good place to start)

Lemme know your thoughts...

[abby17]

Thanks for the honest advice.

I tried to choose schools in which my score lies within the range of scores of 80% of their students and I was expecting that my extra-curriculars would make my application look a bit different from other applications in my pool.

GMAT- I know its on the lower side. In fact, this is the thing that is bothering me most. My best chances to get an admit this year would be in R1, and so I want to spend the remaining 1 month concentrating on my essays, rather than to prepare again for the GMAT, the result of which cannot be predicted. I may or may not be able to improve my GMAT score substantially.
Also, most of the Indian applicants are from the IT-sector. Won't my experience in Oil & Gas sector help my cause? I feel that I should change my post MBA goal to a role in the same industry. What do you suggest?
Lastly, I'll be having 38 months of experience at the time of matriculation

[Jon@Admissionado]

I totally agree with you that having a superb application is far better than concentrating on the maybe of a GMAT at this point. Lots of folks have very high GMATs, and a lot less have amazing applications.

For your school selection strategy, your choice of looking for schools where you fall in the 80% is definitely the right one, however, when all schools have GMAT averages above yours, then let's say that it's a wee bit more challenging.

Oil and Gas is definitely a stronger, and more well-liked than IT, because there's tons of jobs and it's a bit rarer, however that in itself doesn't necessarily efface the challenge of your pool! But I totally think that Energy is the way to go for you.

Sooooooo, in sum, basically, right now, you have a chance at these schools, although your strategy is a bit challenging. Which is fine, in of itself. After all, you gotta try for the schools YOU want to get into.

So best too you, and if you got anything else, we're here to help!