MBA Profile Evaluation

[SiddharthaS518]

I would greatly appreciate if you could please comment on my profile and give me some insights. I would like to apply to MBA programs for the classes starting in 2015 (2014 application process)

Personal profile: Indian male, 27 year
GMAT: 730 (49Q, 40V, 7 IR, 5 AWA)
Academics:
-> Bachelors of computer science (Pune university)- Passed with distinction

Diploma in Finance (Great Lakes)

Work Ex-

15 months with Tata consultancy services implementing Core banking system in SBI (largest bank in terms of branches in world) and handling all financial reports
-- Among top 5 performers in ILP (Initial learning plan) phase 1 & 2

40 months (present) in Cognizant as Senior research associate for Global oil and gas strategy role.
Tracking all the upstream, downstream movements of oil.
Maintaining ten year forecast of supply, demand and forecasting prices. Working directly with Global strategist.

Highlights:
In-depth Scenario analysis of Iran’s oil embargo and repercussion for global oil prices
-Modeled long-term tight oil supply in US with a key conclusion that energy independence for world's largest consumer might
no longer be a pipe dream
-Examined the nascent adoption of Natural gas and other greener fuels by US Transport sector and its potential long term impact on global oil prices
-Analyzed the widening US crude price differential and its positive impact on downstream oil and has players


Extra-curricular :

-Successfully organized health camps and financial inclusion programs in association with NGOs.
-Won 1st prize in International Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics-2008 for presenting a paper on “Study of video water marking techniques”
-Won 2nd prize in National level technical symposium at PICT - 2008.
-Participated as a speaker in “MASTER STUDENT” programmer organized by ISTE students’ chapter.
-Represented college in Inter-collegiate Chess tournament (2002).


Career Goals
Intend to work in Strategy consulting or finance role. To leverage my present knowledge.

My questions are:
What should be my target colleges -- If I categories colleges in dream, reach, safe --

Harvard, Wharton, LBS, Booth, Fuqua, Insead, Kellogg, Columbia


This was my first attempt should I try again to improve score ?

What is better studying in Europe or USA with my profile?


Thanks in advance,
Siddhartha Sharma

[mbamissionjenK]

Hello,

Thanks for sharing your profile.

You have some solid experience in a trending industry (oil & gas) that could bring some interesting experience into the b-school classroom. You have demonstrated finance & analytical skills in your roles and of course have technical strengths as well. Congrats on the GMAT-- very solid and no I would not worry about a re-take-- you're higher than the average at all top schools.

A lot of the admissions outcome will likely depend upon how well you tell your story of what you bring to a class and also what you'll do with the MBA. It will be important to showcase examples of how you've shown leadership and made an impact in your work as much as possible.

You have quite a competitive school list there.... while I wouldn't rule out top schools, it's good to keep in mind that they do turn away lots of qualified applicants each season, so you may want to narrow your options some and/or add another school or two outside top 10 or so.

Let us know what other questions you have, and good luck on the process!