Profile Evalution - Advice needed

[saurabhambulkar]

Hi

My Profile
GMAT(2009) : - 710. (Q - 47, V - 39 , AWA - 4.0).
Bachelors in Industrial Engineering - Industrial Engineering (University Topper - Gold Medalist)
M.S. in Industrial Engineering - University of Wisconsin- Madison
GPA : 3.7
Awarded Research Assistanship at Wisconsin School of Business.

Work Experience : one year in an automobile company in India before my MS
currently working in a top research & strategy consulting firm back in India. (will have total 2.5 exp at the time of joining a b skool)
involved in extracurricular activities during my undergraduate studies
planning to get myself involved in some form of community service as of now.
Target Schools : INSEAD, ISB, LBS, and the top 15 schools in US.
I would prefer one yr MBA's over two years.

Please suggest should i retake my GMAT as my quant score and AWA are low? Also what are my chances at top 1 year business schools especially INSEAD ISB & LBS.

Thanks
Saurabh

[mbamission]

Hi Saurabh,

Thanks for writing in. Your GMAT should be high enough to be a non-factor at the schools you list, and it's great that your percentiles are balanced around the 80% mark.

What has me hesitant though is:

1) Less than 3 years of work experience
2) Lack of post-college extracurriculars -- schools notice when you suddenly become involved as you are filling out applications
3) Undefined post-MBA goals.

This last one is perhaps your biggest obstacle -- given your other weaknesses you will need to differentiate yourself somehow, and since you already have one Master's degree, you need to show why you need an MBA to achieve your goals. Without this further understanding of your goals I would consider top-15 schools in the "near reach" category.

Hope this is helpful!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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