Profile Evaluation for 3rd Attempt at Top Business Schools

[Sul]

Hi,

I would request for a profile evaluation -

Profile -

1. Indian/Male/28
2. GMAT - 700 ( Attempt -1) , 700 (Attempt -2) AWA - 5, IR - 8
3. B. Tech (GGSIPU) - 3.4 , MBE - Delhi University ( 3.4), CFA - Level 3 candidate ( 1& 2 cleared in Attempt -1)
4. Work Experience - 4 years : 2.5 years ( World's largest management consulting company with a promotion), 1.3 years (EU's biggest retailer (Retail consulting) - no promotion)
5. Extra Curricular - Director, Autistic and Dyslexic school; Board Member Alumni Relations at current firm, Gold Medalist - DPS
6. Target Schools - Wharton , Columbia, Duke, NYU Stern, Darden, INSEAD

More Facts -
Applied for schools twice

Attempt 1 (2012) - Schools covered and Results
1. Wharton - Interviewed and Rejected
2. Booth - Interviewed - wait listed - Rejected
3. Columbia - Rejected
4. MIT - Rejected

Attempt 2 (2013)- Schools covered and Results
1. Wharton (Re- applicant) - Rejected
2. Booth - Rejected
3. Tuck - Rejected
4. Kellogg - Rejected

Queries -
1. Re attempt GMAT?
2. I always wanted to work in a Investment Banking/PE, is it still possible with my work experience and age not on my side?
3. Does it make sense for me to restrict myself to working in the management consulting environment given I have a good experience in Top management consulting firm?
4. Is the list of schools good enough given my requirement or do I need to alter it?
5. Having applied to some of Top business already in past and failed, is it fair to assume that my chances of getting through are very bleak?
6. What more could I do to improve my chances?

[Jon@Admissionado]

Hello there good sir,
So first of all, I like your perseverance! Third time's a winner, I hope!

Let me start with your questions and then we can move on to other things:
1. If you can get a higher score, yes. See my post on Indian candidates and retaking the GMAT here: to-retake-or-not-to-retake-that-is-the-question-indian-153716.html
2. It's possible but do NOT write it in your goals, not unless you have done lots of consulting for this industry.
3. Yes! Yes! Yes!
4. You need to alter it. But not because of the age. Even if you work for McKinsey, your GMAT is 30-40 points lower than the average Indian GMAT at these schools, AND you are non-IIT. From the first application on, it would have been wiser to open up your school list to top 15-20 and not stick to Top 5 schools.
5. No! You CAN do it! The keys are:
A) Come up with a better school list.
B) Show improvement and introspection if you reapply.
C) If you didn't get in twice already at school X don't apply a third time.
D) Make sure SOMEONE who knows what they are doing reviews your dinged applications. If you are interested have a look here: https://admissionado.com/mba/mba-reapplicant/
And here is the URL that explains our Ding Analysis service: https://admissionado.com/mba/services-pr ... -analysis/
6. See all of the above. And maybe change your goals if you wrote about moving to IB/PE

That's that. I'd be happy to get more into detail with you, but for that I'm gonna need more info!

Feel free to drop us a line,
Jon