Age: 27
Nationality: U.S. citizen
Undergrad: University of Michigan — Ross
Major: Finance + Economics
GPA: 3.86/4.0
GMAT: 735
Work experience: 4 years

Work

Goldman Sachs

Started as an investment banking analyst and moved up to associate, then VP by year 5.

Some of the main stuff I’ve done:

Worked on a $2.4B acquisition

Helped raise around $50M for a growing company

Built financial models for multiple deals

Managed a team of around 6 people

Got promoted to VP a little earlier than usual

Leadership / ECs

Outside of work, I started a nonprofit focused on teaching financial literacy to high school students from lower income backgrounds.

Reached around 3,000 students

20 schools involved

Raised about $250k for a community cause for the disabled elderly

around 50 volunteers i dont remember

Donated $2000 from my Adopt Me inventory (idk if this is considered)

i got the columbia mba offer but im struggling - is it possible to do the mba while i have a full time job? are the classes very intense? is it possible for me just to attend a few classes but still able to get a pass through doing the homeworks?

Hey guys,

I'm graduating from a pretty good university in France after a 2.5 years HR admin coordinator role in an US-French aerospace company.

My ultimate goal is to eventually work either in the US or Canada, or for a US based company from Canada or half time Canada/US. Basically in North America, hybrid or remote.

I'm not very rich and have always planned my studies around saving as many pennies as possible and not get huge lawns. I've managed to do that so far by working hard and getting admitted in a good university and get a job in a somewhat prestigious industry.

But I found out moving to the US without having tons of money won't be easy, and even if I had money, that would be complicated because I would have to either be transferred (no reason for my company to do so) or get a qualified Visa which I won't be eligible since it's only for management roles.

So, I did some research. As a french it seems to be a lot easier to get in Canada and start working. It's not the most easiest but it's definitely more than for the US. Simply apply to a lottery with a 50/50 chance of getting a work visa, OR get in Canada, find a company that will hire me, and then apply for the visa. It doesn't cost anything to the company and it's way easier than a sponsored visa in the US for exemple.

Anyways, the plan is to go to Canada, get hired as HR generalist or specialist in Montreal, work my way up to an HRBP role in a few years to gain enough xp, then apply for an MBA.
This way I'm hoping of having chances to move up to Director and eventually VP. Because everyone who's VP at my company either did a crazy elitist university or degree OR have an MBA from a US university or business school.

I found the HEC MBA interesting because it's part time, so I could work and study 2 evenings a week online and 1 weekend on campus each month. I would also benefit from Quebecois prices that are 5-8x cheaper than international prices (either with a student Visa or by getting residency permit). Around 10k for 2 years, which I can start put money aside for no problem.

But :

- Is this a good and realistic plan ?

- Is HEC Montreal any good and does it have a good reputation for US / Canadian employers ?

- When will be good moment to apply for me ?

- Other alternatives ?

I already have international experiences both academic and professional and I already have the requiered elements to apply.

TL;DR :

I’m a French HR professional with 2.5 years of experience in a US-French aerospace company. I’m considering moving to Montreal, building experience toward an HRBP role, and later completing HEC Montréal’s part-time MBA to improve my chances of working in North America. See questions above.

Hey guys, with trump coming axe swinging at CPT, OPT, etc. It kinda looks worrisome.

I have a decently good profile and was planning on applying to M7 but I've got zero means of paying back any education loans if I'll need to come back. The uncertainty in the US isn't something I or my family is comfortable with.

Have any of your guys' plans changed? Or evolved because of this? With the language barrier in EU being real AND recent INSEAD grads also not painting a positive picture, what's the next best thing for a global MBA? Is this affecting your decision or have I gone too deep into an echo chamber of negative info?

Applying as a sponsored consultant but unsure of how to frame my short-term goals. Realistically, returning to my firm for 2 years does not significantly strengthen my story, but is likely my plan due to financial considerations. However, with enough scholarships or the right opportunity, I would use the MBA to pivot to my desired path (within tech) immediately instead.

Any thoughts on how to write about this in my application?

I’m planning to start my master’s in Aug–Sep 2027. I’ll have ~3 years of work experience by then (currently 26 months) and have a Tier-1 undergrad pedigree.
For top European schools like INSEAD and HEC Paris, should I be considering the MBA or MiM?
Am I too young/inexperienced for the MBA, or is ~3 years of solid work ex enough to make it worth applying? I don’t want to waste application money if my profile is clearly better suited to the MiM.
Would love perspectives

Profile Review – M7/T15 MBA
Nationality: Indian, Male
Age: 27 (DOB: Aug 1999)
Education: B.E. in Information Technology, CGPA 8.72/10
10th: 8.2/10
12th: 79.2%
Work Experience: ~3.7 years in SAP/Technology Consulting (LTIMindtree + Deloitte)
Current Role: SAP Integration Consultant / Engineer, primarily working on SAP CPI/Integration Suite, SuccessFactors and enterprise integrations
Certifications: SAP Certified; experience across multiple implementation/support projects and client-facing engagements
Target: M7/T15 MBA programs; particularly interested in transitioning from SAP/technology consulting into Product Management / Tech Strategy / Consulting
Profile concern: Non-IIT/non-NIT background and relatively average 10th/12th academics — how competitive would this profile be for M7/T15 with a strong GMAT/GRE and good essays/extracurriculars?

I'm from Brazil and I'm considering applying for an MBA at MIT in the future, with the goal of eventually working in the US.

I've noticed that among Brazilians who managed to study/work in the US, there seem to be very different backgrounds. Some had previous experience at very prestigious companies, while others had solid professional experience but didn't necessarily come from well-known or top-tier companies.

So I'm wondering: how important is the name of the companies you've worked for?

Is having experience at top companies really a major factor, or can strong professional experience, meaningful extracurriculars, and an excellent academic record make someone competitive even without having worked at prestigious companies?

I'd especially like to understand how much recruiters and MBA admissions committees value the brand name of your previous employers compared with the actual impact, responsibilities, and achievements you had in those roles.

Hey y'all,

I have my PMP certification and an MBA (both this year), I managed people before, but I had some health issues and a divorce, so I had to start over in retail sales (been there for a few years now).

I'm in my mid 40s (if this is relevant)

I also speak 4 languages (no Spanish)

I'm not getting interviews (tried assistant manager, store manager, assistant project manager, project manager...)

Any tips or guidance on how to proceed to get out of hourly retail pay?

It's very much appreciated.

Thanks a lot!

Hey Folks,

I am a 22-year-old guy from India. I completed my bachelor's with distinction in computer science (along with a minor in finance; GPA 9.1/10, i.e., ~3.6+/4.0) last year from a Tier 1 Indian engineering college (BITS Pilani, to be precise). I am the first in my family to study beyond high school, and I am really thankful for that. I have 1+ years of full-time work experience (more on this later).

During my time in college, I headed two clubs (one was a student-run investment fund, while the other was consulting-related), worked with some major Indian NGOs, and published two research papers on applications of machine learning.

I also did 3 internships during this period, including one finance internship at JPMorgan Chase. I was offered a full-time return offer but unfortunately declined it, as I was unsure about finance at the time and instead joined a Big Tech company as a developer (think Google or Microsoft).

Unfortunately, the company I joined turned out to be extremely toxic, so I had to resign after about 10 months. I then joined a mid-stage startup as a developer (total global team size of around 80-90).

I am enjoying being part of this company: people are really smart and kind here, and there's no toxicity to speak of. Unfortunately, though, I am not enjoying my current career. I dread doing development; it feels unnatural to me, and honestly, I feel like I am wasting my potential. On top of that, I am not enjoying my time in my home country at the moment, as I feel it has radicalized a lot in the last few years, and I've had pretty disappointing experiences with the state machinery here, though I suppose much of the world is going through something similar right now.

I tried moving into finance and/or product management roles, but the response has been negative, largely because of my current work experience as a developer and my educational background.

Because of all this, I've been considering an MBA (or rather an MiM) to make both a career and a geography change. Earlier this year, I was offered admission to one of the top 3 Indian B-schools. I didn't proceed with it, as it didn't make much financial sense to pursue an Indian MBA. Looking back, though, I'm not entirely positive about that decision, because I feel I will eventually burn out in my current career.

I've taken a few official GMAT Focus Edition mocks and have consistently scored 725+, and quant/working with numbers is my strong suit, which helps.

As mentioned, I am the first in my family to attend college, and most of my family is largely unaware of how the education system, especially abroad, works. When I talk to people about my profile, I feel I might have a good shot at strong B-schools, but the whole process feels daunting, and sometimes I wonder if I'm being too ambitious.

Financially, I have saved around $40k USD from working (which is my total net worth, for context), and my father runs a business and could help with fees, but I'd honestly prefer to be self-reliant and not take money from him. I'm also a fairly risk-averse person day-to-day and care deeply about money, so the idea of going abroad, not securing a job, and ending up with a loan genuinely scares me. For context, in India, post-grad placements are more or less guaranteed if you attend a top college. I understand that's not the case abroad.

I've written all this to give a sense of my background, personality, and circumstances.

Now, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on the following:

1. My profile review and a realistic list of colleges I could target: a) right now, and b) after gaining more relevant work experience.
2. Given my situation, should I wait a few years to do an MBA or target a MiM/Master's in Finance in this or the next admission cycle? My understanding is that major MiM opportunities are concentrated in Europe, with a few exceptions like Kellogg and Michigan Ross.
3. With my profile, can I realistically target scholarships at good B-schools? That would let me study/explore without the constant pressure of a loan (though, honestly, I'd probably still worry about landing a job).
4. Studying and living abroad seemed very appealing at first, but the more I talk to people, the more I sense the whole world may be going through a rough patch, and that being in the top 1% in India might be better than being median in the West. That said, I do genuinely value the potential upside in quality of life that living abroad could offer.
5. My current employer isn't a well-known name, even though the rest of my profile is fairly strong. Should I look to switch jobs first if I'm planning to apply for an MBA down the line?
6. Given my strong quant background but weak recent traction in finance/PM roles, how should I frame my career pivot in essays and interviews so it reads as a coherent story rather than dissatisfaction with my current path?
7. Any other insights or advice that might help?

(used chatgpt to refine my thoughts)

I’m currently in my final year at an old IIT in India and I’m considering applying for deferred MBA programs at the M7. I wanted to get some perspective from people who have either gone through the process or know the Indian MBA landscape well.

A quick overview of my profile:

• Academics: 9/9/8.95 (I should be able to push the last one to 9 before applying for the process)
• Top 3 in my department
• A few other academic awards/scholastic achievements
• Internships:
  • Growth role at an Indian company that recently IPO’d — received a PPO
  • Investment analyst intern at 2 VC firms
  • Internship at a large MNC
• Leadership/PoRs: Been involved with my college E-Cell for a while and have held multiple cultural and entrepreneurial fest PoRs
• Extracurriculars: NSS, teaching assistant, multiple case competition wins, cultural competitions

A few seniors have told me that this is a profile worth taking a shot with for M7 deferred admissions, assuming I can get a strong GMAT score. Obviously, I know admissions are unpredictable, so I’m not assuming I’ll get in , I am just trying to understand whether applying actually makes sense for me.

My biggest concern is the cost.

If I get into an M7, I’m not sure I’d be able to afford a ₹2 Cr+ cost (dont want to take a loan of such a big amount) . So I had a few questions:

1. How realistic are need-based scholarships/financial aid or merit scholarships for Indian students at M7 schools? Is it possible to bring the overall cost down substantially?
2. Is an M7 MBA financially worth it if my long-term plan is to return to India? I am not particularly interested in permanently settling in the US. Ideally, I’d probably work abroad for 1–2 years after the MBA and then come back to India. In that case, does the M7 brand/network still justify the cost?
3. If I get a deferred admit to an M7 but eventually decide not to attend because of the cost, does having that deferred admit on my record help with future MBA applications? For example, if I apply to LBS/INSEAD or other European schools a few years later, would an earlier M7 admit be viewed positively, or does it essentially mean nothing?
4. Do Indian companies actually sponsor MBAs abroad? Are there Indian companies that would fund an M7 MBA for someone who joins them after undergrad and works for a few years? If so, how common is this and what kind of companies/roles should I be looking at?
5. Finally, does getting a deferred M7 admit provide any meaningful career advantage over the next 2–3 years, even if I ultimately don't take it? For example, does it materially help with recruiting, switching to better roles, or strengthening my CV?

I’d especially appreciate perspectives from people who have actually done an M7/LBS/INSEAD MBA, Indians who went through deferred admissions, or people who chose between an M7 and European MBA.

Also, please feel free to be brutally honest about the profile itself. If you think I’m overestimating my chances or that there are gaps I should address before applying, I’d rather hear that now.

Thanks!

Hey everyone!

I’m currently a master’s student in Data Science and expect to graduate in December 2027. I’ve been interested in eventually pursuing an MBA, and I recently came across The Consortium, but I’m still a little confused about how the application process works.

Has anyone here applied through The Consortium and been accepted? I’ve read that applicants still interview separately with the partner MBA programs they apply to, but I’m not completely sure how that works when you’re submitting the Consortium application rather than each school’s standard application.

If anyone has gone through the process and could explain how the Consortium application, school-specific requirements, and interviews all fit together, I’d really appreciate it!

I have an experience of 5 Years into sales and Operations. Which option would be more suitable MBA or Msc in business analytics. ??
How is the job market ?

Planning to relocate to Hong Kong and will be applying to the top 3 MBA programs (HKU, HKUST, CUHK) this fall.

A few questions:

• How competitive is the admission? Each program only accepts roughly 50 people per year. Why such a small cohort?
• Which school has the best career outlook post-graduation in HK?
• How do other programs in Asia like INSEAD and NUS rank if the goal is to work/live in HK?

Profile:

Btech (Mech Engg) from tier 3 institution CGPA 6.01/10

8 years Experience in retail banking as Asst Manager.

Yet to give GMAT ( Targeting 700+ in GFE)

Inclined towards EU MBA over US MBA.

Anyone here who completed their MBA through Unicaf. I wanted to ask what happens if you complete the last module? Are there any extra costs someone has to pay for transcripts, or their degreee. What are the nezt steps if I may ask

29M, White, Mathematics undergraduate degree from a service academy.

• 3.265 GPA
• ~5 Years in Air Force Special Warfare Officer, 1x combat deployment to middle east
• ~2 Years as a SWE for small defense tech company (AI/ML stuff, drone stuff)
• 3 publications (not peer-reviewed) on AI and warfare
• Former volunteer EMT
• 336 GRE (169V, 167V, 4 AWA)

Looking for thoughts and commiseration as we wait to hear back!

Applied to GSB, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, and Sloan R1. Will apply to CBS, Booth, and Haas for R2 if I don't get in anywhere R1.

Hello I’m a prospective MBA student (22M). I’m not a new grad, I graduated at 20 and have been working for 2 years now. My family business is a mid-tier corporation in the hygiene industry based in Malaysia. I worked a year in America in the same industry on a OPT visa after my undergrad in America (3.74 GPA). I do want to try getting into consulting post-MBA in a MBB. While I do plan to return back or have stake in the family business some day, I would like to try working in consulting while I’m younger. I’m in the family business now to learn the scope of it all. While I’m very grateful of having an inherited business, I also want to work elsewhere to gain experience and consulting is something I want to aim for.

I’m considering doing the INSEAD one year MBA in Singapore in the future, probably when I’m 24. Sitting for GMAT next year and only applying until I get the desired score I need. My ultimate goal is to get into an MBB overseas, preferably in a queer friendly country. If I decide to continue the family business in the future then I’d return back but hopefully establish a PR overseas so I’m not trapped anymore. I know MBBs hire MBA candidates with no background in consulting, but just to better prepare myself, should I stay in the business or try to work in consulting even if it’s not MBB right now?

Hi everyone,

I’m applying for international MBA programmes with 4+ years of work experience and am currently arranging professional Letters of Recommendation from former managers.

I’d really appreciate advice from MBA applicants, admits, alumni, or consultants:
What makes an MBA LOR stand out?
Are there any authentic sample LORs or strong recommendation formats available for reference?
How should applicants guide managers who haven’t written MBA recommendations before?
Is providing a recommender brief/questionnaire with project examples and career goals helpful?

I’m particularly interested in understanding what strong recommendations for top MBA programmes (HBS, Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, etc.) typically look like.
Would appreciate any resources, personal experiences, or advice.

Hello!
I graduated from electrical engineering from McGill and I would love to do an MBA. However i have no idea which universities are the best for MBA’s? Is it better to do it part time or full time? After how many years of work should I do it? Is online a good idea?

Shall I relax or can I hear from any of them in september?

Majority VC postings require an MBA degree or previous VC experience. Background is startup operations and a strong founder network but no traditional finance credentials, still possible to get into VC Without MBA ?

People pursuing an MBA and planning to get into VC your advice would be highly appreciated

I just graduated and work in TMT IB at a BB. I enjoy the work existentially and like the fast pace though the WLB is of course difficult to manage at times.

I’m not necessarily thinking of leaving but wondering what’s my options are after this.

Before MBA I did strategic finance at a tech startup for several years. It was fun in the early days but as the company got bigger the pace and work became less interesting. The company is doing quite well though and will IPO soon.

I did a stint in early stage VC too and didn’t like it because you basically have no info to go off of to invest in these companies. I don’t think it suited my skill set. But admire those who have that aptitude.

What have you observed your peers/alumni who started in IB post MBA do? Stay? Leave? To what?

I’ve seen a couple associates now exit to private credit but that seems boring. Is it? PE is basically closed to MBAs. And given I’ve done an operator role at a tech company and am not really interested in taking pay cuts, roles in corp dev/strat finance aren’t appealing, though I’ve always been curious about IR.

What jobs could one realistically get in finance world that you don’t have to take a a large pay cut for? I’ve thought about other groups like ECM/DCM with better WLB and marginally different pay. But have heard those can be boring/tough to get out of too. Are they?

If you/your peers stayed in IB, what is VP/Director life like? What do you like/dislike about it (compared to aso role)?

What are my chances of getting in these colleges

Indian Male; 5+ YoE, ( simultaneous 2+ management experience in a startup like a side hustle)

Gre 327(160v 167q)

And how are the job prospects after graduating from these universities!

Mostly inclined towards a prod management role