680 - 710 on the GMAT + Profile evaluation

[kartikc11]

Hi there,

I currently work at ZS Associates in India (Sales and marketing consulting) and have three years of work ex under my belt. I plan on applying next year for an intake of the year after (essentially 5 years of work ex as I gain admission). A few other things:

Production engineer, cleared with distinction (we are not awarded GPAs)
3 years of consulting work experience
710 on the GMAT (Q48 V38, 6.0 AWA, 8 IR)
Social service lead in college
Public speaking plus speech improvement lead within office
Other extra curricular activities within office include recruitment, events management etc.
Currently pursuing a masters in English Lit through a distance learning facility (purely passion)

I want to know where I should focus my efforts i.e. which schools and what are my chances at some of the dream schools (Wharton, Stanford etc.)

Thanks!

Kartik Chaturvedi

[Eliot]

Hi Kartik,

Thank you for your post!

You have a competitive GMAT (though a bump of 20-30 points could open more doors for you) and a typical amount of work experience in your profile. So, let's consider what you can do in the coming year to strengthen your candidacy even further.

First, you'll want to keep in mind that consultants are generally perceived as being hard-working and intelligent, with strong communication and teamwork skills. They are also often credited as having a firm grasp of the big picture. On the other hand, the adcom will be looking for direct management experience as well as evidence of your quantitative skills, as many consultants typically lack these skills. So, you'll want to take on projects with related experience if possible. Also, be sure to quantify your results-the adcom will be interested in your professional impact. In regards to your activities, start getting involved outside of your office. It's great that you are going beyond your defined role at ZS Associates with recruiting and events management; however, you'll want to venture out into your community to showcase your other passions as well as what kind of b-school classmate you would be. Given your passion for English literature, is there a related activity you could undertake? Also, keep in mind that, given your pursuit of that degree, the adcom will likely expect strong, well-written essays.

Another thing to keep in mind is the value of international work experience. Coming from India, many of your fellow country men and women with similar academic histories (if not professional experiences) are also targeting top programs, and that makes it even more difficult to truly stand out or differentiate yourself. So, overall, you'll want to seize opportunities to "expand your borders" as well as demonstrate your personal passions in your community.

When you are ready to start applying, please contact us directly at https://www.clearadmit.com/services/free-consultation/.

[kartikc11]

Thank you for your detailed response! I will get back to you once my applications begin