Request for a Profile Evaluation. Unconventional WE.

[ravimaniar]

Hi,

I am planning to apply to Business Schools for the Class of 2016. Since the applications are already on I would really appreciate your views on my profile.

So far, I am still researching the speciality of each school and their methodology of teaching but I intend to apply to Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, Darden, Ross, Booth and Tepper.

Some details:

Male 29 years

American Legal Permanent Resident of Indian Nationality.

Work Experience of: 6 years 2 months

GMAT 740 with AWA 6.0

Final year Percentage in B.Sc Nautical Sc: 76% (My university does not give any GPA is that okay with universities in US, plus I have a 3 year bachelors degree)

I also hold the license to act as an Officer in charge of Navigation Watches on board foreign going ships (we had tough licensing exams for this)

Work Experience details: Worked in the Merchant Marines for almost 5 years in the position of a Deck Officer (3rd officer and 2nd officer). My employers include Shell and Maersk. The setting was very international and have worked with many different nationalities on board. The nature of the work demanded that we deal with shore personnel from the country we are carrying out our operations in.
The job was a high pressure operational job with requirements of very high safety standards and a complete compliance with company, industry, local and international rules. Emergency preparedness and trainings also made up a big part of the job. Working on Oil Tankers specifically made the job demand higher responsibility towards the safety of people and environment.

Did take a break from my career to set up a Health food chain start up. Bad timing (recession 2008) and dependance on the IT industry in India forced me to sell out and return to my sailing career. Eventually in a few months the chain had shut shop. This is also one of my reasons to study business before I venture out next time in another entrepreneurial project I want to have education to be prepared for it as well as some experience after my education.

I decided on going to B-school in 2011 and took the GMAT, post which I wanted more work experience working in a diversified field ashore so that I could understand my business classes better and contribute more to them. I started working in an Ahmedabad based construction company as a Site Co-ordinator, since I had more time at hand I started participating in their purchase process soon. The company then gave me a chance to work as an assistant purchase manager as well. Also I put my Shipping back ground to use and with the help of senior engineers in the company helped develop SOPs for their standard processes on site. I also took up a course in SAP R3 Material Management module as it helped me understand the Procurement cycle better. But I don't have any experience on SAP yet.

I have recently moved to the US to join my partner here and intend to apply to B-schools while looking for meaningful employment.

In extra curricular: I have played basketball for my college and been a part of the swimming relay team. I have taken several computer courses since a young age but none of which are programming courses. I was the Parade commander/Squad leader at my college and have lead squads in state level events.

Apart from that am a keen traveller and have travelled extensively across India on my motorcycle. Have done challenging solo trips in the himalayas on my motorcycle crossing the some of the highest motor able roads in the world and difficult passes.

I would be happy to receive a response on this and if you can throw some light on my chances at getting into the aforementioned schools.

Many thanks for your time.

[Jon@Admissionado]

Hello there Ravi,
Well reading through your profile, I think the best thing about your profile is that you have with the Merchant Marines a very unique background, with a potential for original stories and good leadership, which will for sure help you set yourself apart. That plus your fantastic GMAT should make you competitive for some very excellent schools. HBS and Stanford will be stretches (As they are for almost everyone), but if you are passionate and have time, you can give them a shot. The other schools on your list should be more within reach, and your school list is a pretty fair one.

i think the KEY to your success at these schools is your essays. Because although you have some very good stuff, you don't necessarily have a classic profile that just "walks in" to bschool (you know, MBB consulting type, manager at big Tech firms, VC, etc.), so you will have to do a bit of convincing. But like I wrote above, luckily your job is preeeeetty interesting to start out with, so you should have some good stuff to tap into. I also like your start-up story - even if it failed, you tried! and that is what matters.