Profile evaluation request - chances at the top 10 bschools

[a.k.bhageria]

Hi,

I'm a prospective applicant for a 2-year MBA starting Fall 2011. I was hoping to get your inputs on what my chances are at the top 10 bschools (specifically H/S/W, Berkeley, Kellogg, MIT), and what do you make of my candidacy to these top programs. Details of my profile are mentioned below.

24/M Indian, with 3 years work-ex at matriculation as an analyst in the Investment Banking arm of a top tier Investment Bank, and have the unique distinction of possessing diverse experience as a part of 2 different teams-- handling M&A and equity raising projects for the US banking sector and working on projects pertaining to the Asian debt capital markets
-- Have actively taken part in various department-wide initiatives (Speaker sessions, Sports, Quiz, volunteering in recruitment etc), and also headed a team when pitching a multi-million dollar revenue generating idea to senior management at the Investment bank, youngest employee in the department to do so.

I'm looking at a career in Strategy Consulting in the Technology domain post my MBA, and in time move into Private Equity/Venture Capital in Emerging technologies (have a specific area of interest in Wireless Sensor networks, but I'm guessing stating that would make it too specific) and possibly cleantech.

Education:

Bachelor in Engineering (Electronics), graduated from a Top tier University in India in 2008 with highest honours (First Class with Distinction, 70.2%) (equivalent GPA of about 3.5)
GMAT - 760 (Q51, V41, AWA 5.5)
Additional courses - CFA Level 1 cleared with highest grades in all subjects

In terms of my co-curricular and extra-curricular activities,

- I have a 4-year association with National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), a nonprofit organization in India that helps budding entrepreneurs launch their businesses and mentors the youth on entrepreneurship. Currently, I'm a part of the Leadership council of NEN E-club Mumbai Chapter.

- Was very active in college co-curricular activities and held several leaderhip positions in different student bodies
(not sure how relevant that will be though)
- Have led a team from college representing the region at the national level
- Conducted a session on Global economic crisis and its repercussions on India at College a year after graduation
- Was the chief organizer that led group of 200 students for a 9-day industrial visit to 3 cities within the country.

- Additionally, I'm associated with a local NGO supporting underprivileged children and have taken initiative in mentoring the children (only recently)

I would greatly appreciate your inputs on this and your assessment would go a long way in helping me which schools to target with my profile.

Thanks and Regards,
Ankur

[mbamission]

Hi Ankur,

Thanks for writing in and sharing your details. You seem to have a solid grasp of your strengths and it seems you have a strong balance of academics, extracurriculars and work experience.

If you can use your essays to clearly explain your background and goals, I believe you should be competitive in the top tier of schools. I would also suggest considering dedicating part of one essay to your extracurricular activities, as they should help differentiate your application.

Best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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[a.k.bhageria]

Thanks much Daniel for your thoughts... I was wondering if I can leverage my extracurricular activities from college in my applications since I have a lot of good quality leadership experience while in college. Only issue is, it has been two years since I graduated, and my college extracurriculars go back to 2006 and 2007. Do you think I can still leverage that? Would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Thanks,
Ankur

[mbamission]

Hi Ankur,

Thanks for following up. It is usually recommended to draw upon your post-college extracurriculars where possible, as they show you have remained active in your interests since joining the workforce. You can still list your college activities on your resume, but I suggest you do not make them a focal point in your essays, especially since you have the current leadership experience in the National Entrepreneurship Network to write about.

Best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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[a.k.bhageria]

Thanks Daniel... appreciate your thoughts. I think I understand your point about using post college extracurriculars as far as possible... also, Stanford, MIT etc. talk about using experiences only in the last 3 years for essays... considering my work experience is 2 years as of date, there is still one year of overlap with college... you don't believe I can play on that technicality?

Also, I'm currently in the process of founding a web-based educational startup, (its still in the nascent stages)... I was wondering how, if at all, I can leverage it? Can I talk about it in my essays etc? Because I really cannot show them results as of now... although it is something I am really passionate about and want to pursue it further.

As always, would love to hear back from you.

Thanks,
Ankur

[mbamission]

Hi Ankur,

It's not that you can't use these experiences in your essays -- as they are clearly within the defined 3-year period. I just wanted to communicate that it is possible the schools will not hold a college-related extracurricular in the same regard as a post-college one, even if college was within three years for you. You can definitely mention your startup as something you are interested outside of work. Even if it is new, you can talk about why this area interests, the steps you've taken to date, how you envision it growing, etc.

Best,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (14 individual school titles)

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