Duke / Fuqua - 10-01-2019 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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October 1, 2019 5:21am ET

Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2020

Pre-MBA Career: Banking (Risk Management) and then Advisory Consulting at a Big 4

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Consumer Goods Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , McKinsey , Coca Cola , General Mills , Nestle , PepsiCo

GMAT: 650

GPA: 3.5

Years of Work Experience: 5.5

Location: USA

Post MBA Location: Mid-Atlantic / Southeast

Notes:

Background: Indian male in USA. Worked in variety of risk management roles at a large financial institution (from consumer credit risk to Latin America market risk) for 4 years. I then transitioned to Big 4 consulting firm providing risk consulting services to different financial institutions. In my current company, I am involved in multiple things; committee member of an affinity group, recruiting, and business development opportunities. I've also done a number of projects where I had the chance to manage multiple people. Outside of work, I volunteer for non-profit that teaches financial literacy to people from under-served community.

Post-MBA goal is to transition to consulting / corporate strategy role

I'll be taking my GMAT again in a month to get my score up and applying round 2.

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Show Comments (6) Last: November 5, 2019

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 Yes, it will be great to bump your GMAT into the 700s, if you can. It sounds like you have good progression at work, I'm assuming you can show good impact. With Indian heritage, you will be part of an over-resprented profile, so the extent that you can differentiate yourself, the better. Round 1 would have helped a little, but moving that GMAT score up is going to be very important. Might want to add 1-2 more programs from the top 16? (0)

anon25549 Likes Earned: 0 hey Alex, thanks for providing information, and sorry for the delayed reply. But I just took the GMAT again and was able to get 700, not ideal, but glad to get to the 700 mark, would ideally take like to take it one more time, but just don't have the time with the Rd2 deadline coming up. When I talked to Fuqua and Wharton AdCom, they mentioned they like seeing multiple GMAT scores (if your score is low the first time obviously), do you think the 50pt bump helps shed any positive light on my application? I am also thinking of reducing the number of schools to Fuqua, Wharton, Darden, and Kenan Flagler, as time is becoming a big factor right now. I am also heavily leaning towards Fuqua as I've been on their campus visit and talked to multiple students and really enjoyed the environment there. Another question regarding the Indian heritage, would I be compared against all the applicants from India? I was born in India but grew up in the states. On a side note, recently discovered your podcast and already a huge fan, thank you guys for all the insights. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 The 50 point bump is great, well done! Obviously any additional increase helps. Unfortunately you may still be considered in an over represented pool, but it remains up to you to differentiate yourself. Narrowing your target list makes sense, from a timing point of view. Might be worth scheduling a third test, a few weeks after Round 2 deadline, you could then submit the new score, if it's higher, before the process ends. Glad you enjoy the podcast, we'll feature you for next week! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2019/11/episode-62-wire-taps-indian-applicant-lgbt-from-china-and-more/ (0)

anon25549 Likes Earned: 0 Thank you guys for providing the feedback. Apologies for not providing more information on the LT goals. But with the work that I've been doing with the financial literacy, which includes providing financial education to men's shelter, YWCA, and women who were recently released from incarceration, I want to pivot towards working at a company that specializes in providing financial education or personal financial services, basically helping people improve their financial health. I will also be taking my GMAT post Rd2 application to try to bump it up another 30-50 points. Thanks again! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 That's a great goal, routed in realism, based on your ECs, as well as a goal that shows you care. If you get the additional GMAT bump, that will also help. Best of luck! (0)