Profile evaluation/Ideal profile

[erjamit]

Hi,

I am in a dilemma regarding my profile. I feel my profile is very common and I don't think I have any single "highlight-point" in my profile. So need some help on how to improve my profile as well as what are the criteria which a B-School looks for in a candidate.

- GPA - 8.4/10, Wireless Communication, MS from IIT Delhi.
- GMAT date is 20-Aug-08,
- resume highlights, working in Motorola India in wireless communication field, job title - software/telecomm engg., most probably will be promoted by October
- work experience - 3 years
- extracurricular involvements - not much to write about, member of IIT placement committee, member of an NGO, but NO leadership role
- awards, patents, publications, - only one publication. 2nd Rank in Batch (which is not much to write about)
- interesting personal facts - countries lived in, challenges faced, unusual interests - nothing much to write about...


So, you can now see my profile is quite ordinary. This is a big concern for me since GMAT is not THE criteria for selection. I was originally thinking of applying for this year, but looks like my profile will be a BIG hindrance and I have to improve it.

Can you please give some details on what profile is suited for B-Schools. Few things which I have got from reading some of the earlier posts are :-
leadership roles, clarity of why MBA, extra-curricular, social service etc....

Is it possible to give some details for the same. (It might sound stupid but profile improvement is my major concern at the moment)

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear erjamit,

You are right to be concerned as you do have a common profile. Depending on your GMAT score and the schools you target, how much you will need to distinguish yourself will vary. For a global top 30 program, you will absolutely need the highest score possible (definitely one starting with a 7) and to distinguish yourself more than if you target schools outside the global top 30.

You can distinguish yourself by putting together a well-thought, well-written application with clear, succinct goals and a solid rationale for why you want a MBA, why now, and why the program. It would be helpful to have some interesting examples/stories from your background that would be different from other engineers from India. Perhaps you have some multi-national, interesting projects at Motorola or commendable experience with the NGO? Or some other examples from a family business? Or do you have unique, non-traditional post-MBA goals?

Think about how you might be different either (or both) personally and professionally and use these differences to your advantage.

Best of luck,
Lisa

[erjamit]

Thank you very much Lisa. I was also thinking on the same lines. I have a doubt, will I be at a huge disadvantage with my current profile. Also, I read somewhere on internet that suddenly showing up interests in some activities might be a negative since AdComm might get an impression it was done just to impress them rather than for any worthwhile purpose.

Thanks
Amit