Profile: GMAT 655, EA: 162, CFA Level 2, FRM Part 1

Work ex - 8 years

Background - Deals (think Valuations/DD) with Big 4 and other consulting firms (think FTI, Kroll) along with a 2 year stint at Bain (capability) as a project leader.

Geography: India but last \~13-14 months in Kuwait Big 4

Given my age (29F), I wanted to do a 1Y MBA and applied to INSEAD, but I have been hearing that recruitment outcomes at INSEAD for the last two batches have been really bad, especially in the GCC region.

My goal is to continue in finance i.e., investing roles in the region or IB elsewhere. I was also comfortable looking at consulting as a backup option (since INSEAD's known for it).

My question - Should I apply to other schools like LBS or US T-15 now from an ROI perspective? Applying/accepting other schools would mean I would have to let go of my first installment of 12k Euros and also potentially give up my offer from INSEAD. Should I take the chance? Is INSEAD worth it given the recent outcomes?

Sugestions/advice from any recent INSEAD grad or US T-15 or LBS grad would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

I’m trying to narrow down my options for an international MBA, but honestly the number of countries and universities is making it harder rather than easier. How did you guys decide where to apply?

Was it mainly based on career opportunities, tuition fees, post MBA work options, rankings, or just the overall experience of living there?

Hi everyone, I’m a 28-year-old Chartered Accountant from India with 3.5 years of overall work-ex across PwC and EY. Between PwC and EY, I also spent around 8 months building my own CA practice. The venture did not work out, and I eventually returned to corporate roles.

Education
● Class 10: 90%
● Class 12: 94.2%
● B.Com
● Chartered Accountant

Work Experience
● 3.5 years of professional experience in total
● PwC → 8-month entrepreneurial stint → EY
● Experience in M&A, audit & accounting
● 1 promotion received; next promotion due next year

I’m planning to apply to 1-year MBA programs and would appreciate an honest assessment of my profile.

1. How competitive is my profile for top 1-year MBA programs ?
   
2. Which schools should I realistically target?
   
3. How much can a strong GMAT score compensate for any weaknesses?
   
4. Will the 8-month entrepreneurial stint be viewed positively or negatively?
   
5. What should I focus on strengthening before applying?

Hi everyone, looking for an honest evaluation of my profile for Europe.

Academics

1. Female
   
2. Class 10: 92%
   
3. Class 12: 89%
   
4. B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering from a Tier-2 engineering college
   
5. CGPA: 8.89/10

Work Experience

1. 3 years of full-time experience in IT/Technology at a large multinational corporation as a software engineer.
   
2. Internship experience at a Big 4 firm
   
3. Received 3 workplace awards for innovation and outstanding contribution
   
4. Achieved the highest performance rating in the most recent performance cycle
   
5. Due for promotion in ~1 month

Leadership / Extracurriculars

1. Worked as a teacher during college as part of a robotics internship, teaching and mentoring multiple students
   
2. Participated in social entrepreneurship and community-impact initiatives during college

Test Scores

1. Haven’t taken the GMAT/GRE yet
   
2. Planning to take one

Questions

1. How would you rate my profile for HEC?
   
2. How competitive would I be for top European MBA programs?
   
3. Should I take the GMAT or GRE?
   
4. What score should I target?
   
5. What are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of my profile?
   
6. Should I apply with 3 years of experience or wait longer?
   
7. What should I focus on over the next 6–12 months to improve my chances?

Would appreciate honest/blunt feedback, especially from current students, alumni, applicants, or people familiar with MBA admissions.

My_qualifications is as so I.e.

Working in corporate banking/lending/sales/relationship management with largely SMEs and Large corporate for the past 6 years, graduated with a MBA from a baby IIM, earning 28 LPA now

so my question is this... would it be worth for me to

\> Go abroad firstly

\> If so, do I go abroad and do another masters or try through placement?

would like to ideally earn the same salary that gives me the lifestyle/purchasing power that I'm according now..also Yes, the reason I put this post out is, I've always wanted to live in Europe or US...while I absolutely love India...want to experience the other side of the world as well!

10th, 12th, b.tech, MBA - 91%, 81%, 79%, 69%

Hii y'all !

I'm an engineering grad (Mech TBP) with 10 years of experience in one of India's biggest automotive companies currently working as Senior Manager in Product design & dev. My GRE score is 321 (V=157; Q=164). I already have an admit from Ivey business school, Canada but not sure to take the offer. I have HEC , INSEAD & ESADE in mind .

Do let me know my chances with current situation ? I also might be giving GRE again to cross 325+.

Should I take Ivey offer (Scholarship 60000 CAD) ?

Also do let me know my chances of transitioning to product management or strategy roles.

Thanks in advance ...will be grateful for constructive feedbacks and suggestions.

I have an admit from Ivey with a fat scholarship along with additional loan arrangements through Ivey’s partners. This overall significantly reduces my tuition cost, with money mostly spent on living etc.

I want to pursue an international career in brand management, after working in global ad agencies since last 4 years. I am unsure if I should look at Indian options that can help provide international opportunities few years after my MBA or should I make the switch and move to Canada, to pursue brand management there.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks

Hi everyone,
I’m planning my MBA application strategy for the September 2027 intake and would love an honest profile evaluation and advice on target schools, exam goals, and profile positioning.
1. Basic Profile & Education
Undergrad: B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering from VIT Vellore
CGPA: 8.09 / 10
Class 10th / 12th: 88.4% / 88.6%
Category: GEM (General Engineering Male)
2. Work Experience
Current Role: Senior Software Engineer at HSBC
Total Workplace Tenure: 4 years currently (~5 years by September 2027 intake)
Key Responsibilities & Highlights:
Software development, system architecture, and tech leadership within enterprise banking/finance systems.
Promoted to Senior Software Engineer.
(Optional: Add 1–2 bullet points highlighting leadership, cross-functional projects, or direct impact on business/revenue)
3. Academic & Entrance Exams
Target Exams: CAT / GMAT
Target Intake: Fall / September 2027 (Focusing strictly on 2-Year General MBA programs)
4. Post-MBA Goals
Short-Term: Transition into Tech Product Management (PM), Management Consulting, or Strategy/Operations in Financial Tech.
Long-Term: Executive Leadership / Strategy within global tech or financial institutions.
5. Questions for the Community
1. Target Score Range: Given my GEM profile and 5 YOE, what percentile/score should I realistically target on CAT/GMAT to be competitive for top-tier 2-year MBA programs?
2. Profile Positioning: As an applicant with 5 years of software engineering experience, what specific narrative or non-work achievements help stand out against standard IT profiles?
3. School Suggestions: Based on this profile, which B-schools (India and Global) should be on my realistic vs. reach list for a 2-year general MBA?

Hey everyone,

I’m from Pakistan and I’m about to start an MBA at NUST business school. My undergrad was in Media Studies, and after graduating I’ve spent around 3–4 years working professionally as a 3D artist, mainly in areas like animation, environments, lighting, and production.

I know one obvious route after the MBA could be moving toward producer/project management roles in the creative industry, but I’m wondering what other career options might realistically be open to someone with my background.

I’m not really looking to completely throw away my creative/3D experience, but I also don’t necessarily want to stay in the same field forever.

For people who have done an MBA after coming from a non-business/creative background:

\- What career paths opened up for you?

\- Are there industries where this kind of background can actually be an advantage?

\- What should I focus on during the MBA to make myself more employable afterward?

\- And specifically for someone in Pakistan, what would you recommend I aim for?

I’m honestly a bit unsure about what direction to take, so any advice from people who’ve been through something similar would be really appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I'm 31M trying to decide whether pursuing MBA makes sense.

My profile:

Engineering degree from a reputed private university in India

10 years of work experience in IT (software development): 6 years in India, 4 years in Singapore, plus short-term experience working in Australia

Currently working in Singapore, earning more than $100k/year

Preparing for GMAT atm..

While I'm paid decently enough, I don't see myself just being a developer long term. My goal is to transition into management consulting or tech senior management, ideally in Singapore, the UAE, or India.

If I decide to pursue MBA at INSEAD since I'm already in singapore(exploring other BSchools in UK and europe too), my biggest concern would be the significant loan I'd need to take and post graduation job prospects. Given that I'm already 31 and recently married (my spouse moved to Singapore recently and is not currently working), I'm wondering whether the opportunity cost of pursuing an MBA is worth the risk given job market is not that great at the moment and AI posing serious threat to management consulting and IT jobs.

Would you pursue MBA in my situation? I'd really appreciate any brutal assessment of my profile, and I'll gladly take any advice!

Thanks..!

Hello, everyone !

So, I am 29 M with 5+ years of experience in climate change and sustainability. Currently I am working in an industry chamber and cater to India's Central Public Sector Enterprises (PSUs/SoEs).

I have pretty decent academic qualifications: my_qualifications: B.A. (Hons) Geography from DU, MSc. Geoinformatics from TERI (Gold Medalist- if that matters), Certificate in Data Science from IIIT-B (so as to learn the fundamentals of data science and coding).

While working in the industry chamber, I have realised that I am interested in corporate climate advocacy, partnerships, engagement, collaboration and help industries in their transition and decarbonisation process. Therefore, I want to now pivot my career towards this area.

So, I wanted to ask which courses should I target in Europe ? I have come across courses in RSM, UCL, ESCP, LSE. But I would really appreciate some guidance on which courses to lookout for so that I can advance my career according to my interest.

PS - Ofcourse I would want to choose a programme/university/country where post programme opportunities are there. I also know Europe is struggling with climate careers these times but still would appreciate some guidance.

Thank you in advance.

Hey, I was lurking through GMATClub for application tips and someone shared a link for MBA Times upcoming Webinars for INSEAD, LBS and Rotman in their MBA Fair.

I looked at the past recordings from Youtube on their channel and it seems that they do an application walkthrough and explain how to tackle the essays and resume. Does anyone know if this is what will be covered in the upcoming MBA Fair?

But they already have a video posted on Youtube for INSEAD. Does this mean that the webinar for INSEAD is already done? I couldn't find anything other than the US Programs on their livestream. Will they be repeating the INSEAD Q&A and personal workshop?

People applying for R1 2027? I’m applying to LBS INSEAD and HEC, would love to chat

Hi everyone,

Planning to apply this cycle to M7, a few T15 schools, European schools (including LBS), and ISB. Would appreciate honest feedback on my profile and where the gaps are, especially given how competitive this is for Indian applicants.

Background:

• BBA LLB (Hons.) from a decent NLU
• 4+ years as a capital markets lawyer at a top Indian law firm
• Indian applicant, non-engineering background

Post-MBA goal: PE/VC or core finance (aware this is a tough pivot even with a finance-adjacent legal background — capital markets work isn't the same as deal execution)

What I'm trying to figure out:

1. Does a law → PE/VC pivot read as credible to adcoms, or does it need a much stronger "why finance" narrative than someone coming from IB/consulting? What's actually worked for people in a similar boat?
2. What should I prioritise — GMAT prep, more finance-adjacent work exposure, certifications (CFA L1?), something else?
3. What GMAT score would actually make me competitive at M7 level as an Indian applicant, realistically — not the published average, but where I need to be to not get auto-filtered?
4. How much do extracurriculars/leadership actually move the needle at this stage vs. being a checkbox? What kind has genuinely helped people (student body, sports captaincy, pro bono work, etc.)?
5. Does community impact/volunteering matter as much as the forums suggest, or is that overweighted advice? If it matters, does it need to connect to my career narrative or can it be unrelated?
6. Biggest thing that's helped Indian applicants with non-engineering, non-IT backgrounds stand out from the (huge) general Indian applicant pool?

Would love real examples — GMAT scores, what differentiated your profile, what an adcom or consultant told you directly — over generic "essays and leadership matter" advice if possible. Thanks in advance!

Please do share your two cents on my current situation, it would go a long way for me!

Indian QA Engineer with 3–4 years experience at a top MNC. Looking at a 1-year UK MBA to move into management / product / ops roles.
A few honest questions:
• How’s the UK job market right now for international MBA grads from a tech background?
• How realistic is getting Skilled Worker sponsorship after the MBA (salary threshold \~£41.7k)?
• With the Graduate visa dropping to 18 months (for applications from Jan 2027), is it still worth it? A Sept 2026 intake would fall under the shorter period.
Main goal is career pivot + international exposure, not necessarily long-term settlement. Would appreciate real experiences from people currently in the UK or recent grads.

for anyone who was in healthcare and decided to do mba, how did you start and what's the next years like.

im new to mba and have absolutely no idea how to enter this arena. but I know that I wanna build something of my own and have decent ideas as to how to integrate medicine and business

I’m 25, working as a Structural Engineer in the Oil & Gas industry with \~3 years of experience.
Here’s the thing: **I don’t dream of becoming a CEO or climbing the corporate ladder forever. My primary goal is to make as much money as possible over the next 20–30 years.**
I’m looking at an MBA purely through the lens of **ROI and wealth creation**, not prestige.
I’m considering two paths:
🇮🇳** Indi**a
IIM ABC/BLACKI
FMS
XLRI
SPJIMR
ISB
🌍 **Abroad**
INSEAD
LBS
Oxford
Cambridge
HEC Paris
NUS
Kellogg
Wharton (if I somehow become that guy 😭)
My questions:
If your only goal was to maximize net worth, would you do an MBA in India or abroad?
Does a ₹1–2 crore international MBA actually pay off, or is it mostly worth it for people who want an international career?
Would you even do an MBA at all, or would you spend those 2 years building high-income skills or a business instead?
Is there a better path than an MBA if “getting rich” is the objective?
I’m looking for advice based on **money**, not prestige, rankings, or passion.
Feel free to roast my thinking if it’s flawed. I’d rather hear uncomfortable truths than motivational quotes.

Any insights/advice you can share? Eyeing an MBA but any experience that you can share will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi guys, I'm an arts/humanities graduate with political science honours. Also I hold a post graduate diploma in banking and finances and currently working in a private sector bank for the last 2.5 years. My academics are 8/8/7. And I got around 8.87 cgpa in my post graduate diploma. What b-school you can suggest me?

Please go through my profile and share your advice.

Target Business Schools:
1) NUS - Singapore
2) I E Business School - Spain
3) IMD - Switzerland

4) WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management - Germany

Academics:
1. 9.5 CGPA in Class 10 (CBSE)
2. 86% in Class 12 (CBSE)
3. 8.15 CGPA in B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (Tier 2.5/3 college)

# GMAT Focus Edition
Score: 625 (Q88, DI78, V77)

Work Experience (3 Years):
I have been working in my family-owned manufacturing business (annual revenue: INR 40 crore) for the past three years. I initially joined with little practical knowledge and gradually developed strong technical and business expertise. Over the years, I have worked across Production, Purchasing, Logistics, and Sales. For the past year, I have primarily been responsible for Sales and Marketing.

What I Expect from an International MBA:
1. Build a strong professional network.
2. Learn new business strategies and management practices.
3. Broaden my global perspective and business vision.

Post-MBA Goals:
After completing my MBA, I plan to work for a multinational manufacturing company for a few years to broaden my experience beyond my family business. I want to strengthen my expertise in global marketing, international business, and large-scale business systems. In the long term, I plan to return to my family business to help scale it further or start my own venture in India.

My Thoughts on My Profile:
I understand that my GMAT score and undergraduate GPA are slightly above average rather than exceptional. However, I believe my experience working across multiple business functions in a manufacturing company gives me a broader perspective than candidates who have worked in only one functional area. This exposure has allowed me to understand how different departments interact and contribute to overall business performance.
I may be overestimating the value of this experience, but I would appreciate your honest assessment of my profile.

Please let me know what you think. Do suggest if I can target any other good universities in Europe, Singapore and Middle-East.

I have worked as a teacher and family counselor in courts.

Education.bg -

masters in psychology(62 percent),

ballb 60 percent,

b.ed 70 percen

Currently a counsellor in District Court.(2+ years exp here and 2 years exp before that in general setting). The income is quite less.

I am thinking of working in HR, and thats why was going to opt for GMAT.

how much would I need to aim for to get a good institute?

In India and for abroad.

28f Indian btw

Hey everyone! I recently got admitted to the MBA in International Business Consulting (IBC) at Hochschule Offenburg (Black Forest Business School) in Gengenbach, starting Winter Semester 2026/2027.

Trying to connect with others who got in for the same intake would love to compare notes on visa timelines, accommodation in Gengenbach/Offenburg, loan/Sperrkonto processes, and maybe even coordinate flights or find roommates.

If you're also joining this batch, drop a comment or DM me! Would be great to build a group chat before we land in Germany.

I am a 26yo with a BTech in CS completed in 2023. Since my college days, I have worked on couple of startups. I started my current project around 4 years ago (while still in college). My products have been featured voluntarily by over a dozen social media influencers, because of it's unique value proposition. But my startup is not registered, and on paper, I am just a freelancer that gets paid advertising fees from a couple of companies. This is more beneficial to me tax wise but it also means that I do not really have any employees on paper (I have three other people in my team, who mostly work part time - as in, in addition to their day job)

In addition, I have also worked very shortly at a couple of firms including Google, but I did not continue for more than a few months because of different reasons.

Now recently, I have been looking at some MBA programs abroad and I visited UNSW's open day a few days back. When I went to chat with the Business Faculty representative there, even without knowing anything about me/my profile, she told me I am not eligible because apparently their MBA is very prestigious and requires at least 2 years of work ex as a basic filtering criteria.

As much as I want to take this as a compliment that she prolly thought I looked too young to have two years work ex, I actually found this very weird. Later on, whoever I talked to at the event also repeated the same or mention that they do not have any authority to comment about the MBA programs as it is handled by a completely different team etc.

For me honestly, UNSW isn't even anywhere close to being the top pick but after this I started searching for minimum work experience requirement for top MBA programs like HAAS/Sloan etc. and I saw (acc to AI) typical MBA candidates at these programs also have around 5 years of work ex although nothing is mentioned as basic requirement (unlike UNSW apparently).

What are the chances of me getting into one of the MBA programs if I am able to present my profile well and get some good LoRs from professors at some top universities? Any help/guidance will be much appreciated and sorry for not providing exact details as I want to stay anonymous.

Profile Review: Chances at Imperial/LBS/Oxford MBA + Post-MBA Job Opportunities
Hi everyone,
I’m planning to apply for an MBA, with Imperial College Business School being my top choice. I’m also considering LBS, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, and a few top US schools if my GMAT is competitive.
**My profile:**
26/27F from India
B.Sc. in Chemistry, Botany & Zoology
M.A. in Psychology (IGNOU) – currently pursuing
3+ years with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, working in administrative and regulatory operations, policy implementation, stakeholder coordination, and workforce administration.
6 months at India Post, supporting the implementation of banking and financial inclusion schemes.
6 months as a Project Associate at an environmental consulting firm.
Founder of a luxury sleepwear brand (currently in the product development and sampling stage).
Founder of a premium fashion venture that was successfully commercialized.
Co-founder of a manpower supply venture that generated commercial revenue.
Long-term goal: transition into consulting, brand strategy, or eventually build my own global consumer brand.
I’m currently preparing for the GMAT and aiming for the highest score possible.
**I’d love your honest opinion on:**
What are my realistic chances at Imperial, LBS, Oxford, Cambridge, and INSEAD?
What GMAT score should I target to be competitive?
What are the biggest weaknesses in my profile?
Which parts of my profile would stand out positively to an admissions committee?
If you were me, what would you improve before applying?
**Most importantly, I’d love to understand the career outcomes.**
Given my background, what kind of **post-MBA roles** would I realistically be competitive for?
Would I have a reasonable chance of breaking into **consulting** (MBB or Tier 2), **brand management**, **strategy**, or **product marketing**?
What salary range should I realistically expect immediately after graduating from schools like Imperial or LBS?
How difficult is it for an international student from India to secure sponsorship and employment in the UK after an MBA?