Profile Evaluation

[raisha16]

Hi,

I am 24/F from India. Need your guidance for selection of colleges. I just got done with my exam. Scores as below:
GMAT: 700 (49Q, 35V)
10th: 94%
12th: 85%
Undergrad (Bachelors in Chemistry) : 3.0 : passed out in 2010 (University of Delhi

For the last one and a half years I have been working for DE Shaw India. By Fall next year I it will be 2.5 years. Prior to that did an internship in AES corporation in a Finance domain and an year experience in a non-profit organisation post my undergrad.

ECs were decent:
-Was the school head girl during my school
-Actively involved in cultural events both in school and college
-A passionate dancer (learnt salsa, Indian classical and planning to take up jazz)
-Interested in travelling: Traveled across the country
-Yoga practitioner

Apart from the above I am a FRM level 2 candidate and have a few certifications from National Stock Exchange, India. I have sent my score to the below colleges:
-Darden
-Emory
-Tepper
-UCLA
-Ann-Arbor Michigan

Please let me know about my chances for the above and which other schools do you think suits my profile.
Post-MBA I am looking to get into consulting. Also, financial aid is a major concern while applying for colleges. A few colleges still on my list are Mc Combs, and UC-Berkeley, Wharton (quite a stretch).

Your help will be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Raish

[mbaMissionJenK]

Hi Raisha,

Thanks for posting. It sounds like you have an average to slightly below average profile for the schools you mentioned, which would mean you do have a shot at most of them, but much of the decision will wind up based on your application and how it all comes together, and in particular on your essays and how you tell your story and make your case for why you want the MBA, why now, and why each school specifically.

I'm not sure what your role is at DE Shaw, and one slight weakness is your work experience is on the shorter side compared with some applicants. But if you can really showcase what you've accomplished, learned and achieved during your time there, you can still have a shot. Focusing on your other interests and passions that you mentioned, and anything you can think of that makes YOU unique compared with other applicants, will be key.

Sounds like you would have the best chances at Tepper, Ross, and McCombs from those you listed. Darden and as you mentioned Wharton would be a stretch. Darden is great for consulting though (but of course most MBA degrees do prepare you well for consulting); and may consider you further if you really excel in the essays and interview.

Keep us posted on further q's and definitely spend some time researching the schools more and prepping those essays. Good luck to you!