Bombed GMAT:630(first attempt) Suggestion request

[xer0zon3]

Hello,

Can someone please comment on my profile?

Standard Indian male working in the IT industry
Age: 26 soon kicking out 25

ACADEMICS:
1. GMAT - 630 (first attempt) - Q44, V33
2. Graduated Undergrad with First Class and a GPA of 8.24/10 (Information Technology and Management)
3. School GPA - 88% both in 10th (CBSE) and 12th 90.4(Andhra Pradesh State Board,India)

WORK EXPERIENCE:
1. Technology Analyst at a IT service provider company(Infosys) since July,2009 (4.7) years of work experience.
2. Providing services in the business intelligence area for the hi-tech industry in the US(Hitachi Data Systems(HDS) and Apple)
3. Worked on the Sales and Channels area of HDS and Apple Online Sales and Service area for Apple developing reporting dashboards for the clients.
4. Short term goal: To be a consultant for a top tier product based technology company, or venture into product management.
5. Long term goal: To be a consultant in the top 4 / to be responsible for the end-to-end management of a well recognized product.

EXTRACURRICULAR AND OTHER INTERESTS:
1. Was active in games during school and college, interested even now. Play Table Tennis and Tennis.
2. Deeply passionate about the technological innovations in the world. Keep myself updated with them.


Do I stand a chance in one of the 20 to 40 ranked colleges in the US? I am open to colleges in western Europe and Asia too. I am short of time with R2 closing out in most colleges.
Should I give another attempt in a month and apply for R3? Or else, should I wait and apply for the next year?(would not prefer this, now who would like to wait so long! )

Please advise.
Thanks

[GeneralEducation]

Hi,

You have good academics and decent work ex along with extra curricular activities. So don't worry about GMAT score you still have fair chance @ 20 to 40 ranked b-schools. I would encourage you to apply in R2 , if you are satisfied with the quality of essays. Never compromise on the quality of essays you can also delay and apply in R3 if required. You can target b-schools like Kelley, Minnesota-Carlson, Georgetown-McDonough, Michigan state-Broad, Purdue, Arizona-Eller, SMU Cox, Texas A&M. Let me know if you have any questions, happy to help...

Regards,
Manish
www.general-ed.com
Try www.general-ed.com/chances-of-bschool

[Jon@Admissionado]

Hi,

You have good academics and decent work ex along with extra curricular activities. So don't worry about GMAT score you still have fair chance @ 20 to 40 ranked b-schools. I would encourage you to apply in R2 , if you are satisfied with the quality of essays. Never compromise on the quality of essays you can also delay and apply in R3 if required. You can target b-schools like Kelley, Minnesota-Carlson, Georgetown-McDonough, Michigan state-Broad, Purdue, Arizona-Eller, SMU Cox, Texas A&M. Let me know if you have any questions, happy to help...

Regards,
Manish
www.general-ed.com
Try www.general-ed.com/chances-of-bschool

Hmmm, sorry good sir, but I don't agree at all. Average GMAT for these schools hovers around 670. You figure 10-20 points more for Indian candidates. Plus as Indian/Male/IT your chances aint to hot to start off with. I'd advise that you rather retake the GMAT and apply next year.

Best,
JF

[CriticalSquareMBA]

I agree with Jon. Right now, your GMAT is going to be a significant red flag in your application. As he mentioned, the average for those programs is higher and your being an Indian male IT applicant takes it even higher. So you need to move the needle quite a bit to become competitive. In your pool, your GMAT will rarely be a differentiator. Sorry, just too many people with your profile are doing really well on it.

Bhavik

[xer0zon3]

Thank you Jon and Bhavik for the straight answers.
I would definitely try to up the needle and score better in the next attempt.
On this note, could you please advise what would be a competitive score range.Yeah, more the better, but still...a minimum would help me.
Also,would international exposure help to add value to my profile. I had worked at the client location in Cupertino for around 6 months(that is where i understood the need for an mba).

Kindly advise.
Cheers!

[Jon@Admissionado]

Well there's no real easy formula, cause there are schools that put a lot of emphasis on GMAT and some that put less, etc. etc.

But the way to figure it is (in a very rough manner) that all aspects of your application are important, and if you have one strength than it can make up for another weakness.

right now, for example coming in as an Indian/Tech/Male, you can assume that you have a less than average background (and I don't mean to say that there's anything "bad" but let's Say that if you were a Mexican Female working in the movie business with the same exact everything else, you'd have better chances). So given that you are working with a tougher profile, you need to factor that in. So meaning, if the school's GMAT average is about 640, you'd need say a 660 to have competitive chances. It's not that simple of course, and any real good deep profile evaluation will be a lot more dynamic, and consider things in a much more specific (and qualitative) manner, but it can illustrate a way to proceed.


I hope this helps,

[CriticalSquareMBA]

Hey there,

I won't repeat what Jon wrote regarding the GMAT but I'll address the latter half of your question (re: international work experience). International projects are always worth highlighting and can be useful from a variety of perspectives. For most companies, sending you abroad for a client means the client is a high importance one and the company is willing to incur a significant cost for that relationship. That speaks a bit to your capabilities and the confidence your company has in your capabilities. It can also, at times, speak to your ability to work across cultures. In the event you're pursuing a US based MBA, working here and being successful is great! Collaboration and culture are two main things MBA programs consider and if you can demonstrate past experiences where you did well in the US, even better! Different international experiences can be used in different ways and highlight different themes.

Bhavik

[MBAPrepAdvantage]

First, I concur with the other posters you should try to retake the GMAT and score higher.

But assuming you applied with your score you would be competitive for certain schools outside the top 10 in Europe like Warwick and a little bit more competitive in Asia like Melbourne Business School. In the U.S. top 40 would be difficult. A GMAT of 680-ish would make you more competitive.

Here is a list of MBA Rankings.

Best of luck,