Profile evaluation please

[whizdude_1983]

Hi Stacy/Lisa,

Can you please take a look at my profile and let me know about my FIT factor for some of the B-schools mentioned below:


Male/Indian/IT
GMAT: 710 (Q49/V38) / AWA - 6.0
Intend to apply for Fall 2009


Academics:
SSC (10th) - 78.13%
HSC (10+2) - 84.00%

Engineering (Computers), Mumbai University -
Sem I 68.00% December 2001
Sem II 69.00% June 2002
Sem III 69.11% December 2002
Sem IV 63.50% June 2003
Sem V 62.54% December 2003
Sem VI 64.89% June 2004
Sem VII 60.63% December 2004
Sem VIII 70.14% June 2005

Overall: 65.07%
Note: getting above 74-75 % in any Sem in my institute means becomming an Institute topper.

Work experience:
Current work ex 39 months .....will be 50 months by next august...incudes IT Product Development and IT Services...worked in multi cultural teams.

Working (was working) as a Software developer in an endangered IB....the biggest bankruptcy till date.....

Can manage good recos...but since i have been working in IT...leadership activity is limited here...team contribution can be highlited in the recos...

Awards and Certifications:
SCJP and SCWCD Certs,
A few scholarships during HSC and engineering,
Certificates for performance is Physics Olympiads
Certs for participation in projects in college (but only a few)

Extracurricular: Involved in the Community Services team at my company. My recommenders can mention this in the recos.

Also do some personal contributions to Community Development but i have been doing it on an informal basis since last 8-10 years. Dont know how to prove it but can surely mention this in the essays and relate it to my personal background.

Interests and fun: Tennis, Trekking and Driving

Desired Post MBA career - Strategy or Financial Consulting

Target Schools: ISB, Wharton, MIT, Tuck, Darden
Can include: UNC, Kelley, NYU and NUS.

Please let me know if my profile is respectful for my target schools and if not then which schools from the other list should i include in my list.

I can actually wait for a year to build my profile but then i will be only able to add a few more certs related to my finance and also do a little more community work....will that help? I am a bit spectical about the community service since it will be evident that i did it only to build my resume.

My dream school is Tuck....struggling on the deadline for R1...is R2 good enough for Tuck...considering that Tuck has an Early Action round as well....what do they prefer?


Awaiting your response...

Thanks in advance.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear whiz_dude1983,

You have a competitive profile for all of these schools. However, to be the person offered a seat over the other applicants is a challenge for everyone. You have to present a compelling application that demonstrates how you are unique and will add value to the class. Being an international applicant, it can sometimes be even harder as schools limit their international students in the class. I think you should focus your energy on your applications and try to hit as many round 1 deadlines as possible. You should not compromise the quality of your applications to hit the deadlines, but earlier is better this year. You might also consider adding a safety school to the mix as the schools you are targeting are all quite competitive for admissions.

Best of luck,
Lisa

[whizdude_1983]

Hi Lisa,
Thanks a lot for your ressponse....could you please provide me your opinion on the following points as well:

I do some personal contributions to Community Development but i have been doing it on an informal basis since last 8-10 years. Dont know how to prove it but can surely mention this in the essays and relate it to my personal background.

How do i prove it?


I can actually wait for a year to build my profile but then i will be only able to add a few more certs related to my finance and also do a little more community work....will that help? I am a bit spectical about the community service since it will be evident that i did it only to build my resume.

Will this create a problem for me?


Out of UNC KF, Kelley and NUS.....which school can i include as a safe school?



[/list]

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear whizdude_1983,

UNC, IU and NUS are not really safety schools, per se, but from these 3 schools, I would say your profile is most competitive for NUS.

I'm not sure how you can prove anything you have done; that is for you to figure out. However, you do not need to show documentation or "proof" of these activities in your application. Some schools might ask for a contact name and phone/email in case they have a question, but other than that the schools will usually trust that you are being honest.

I don't think you should delay your application if you are ready to go to business school now. But this is something only you can decide. Getting more certifications or spending a year doing more community work is not going to make enough difference to delay your application.

Good luck,
Lisa