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--Worked 2 years as a PE/VC transactions lawyer at a tier 1 law firm with funds like Sequoia Capital, Tiger capital
-- Been working 2 + years in tech policy advocacy. Work entails (a) govt engagement for big tech on data protection, anti-trust & platform governance, and (b) legal and strategic research on fintech, web3 and ecomm regulations.
-- Drummer, digital art hobbyist
-- Want to work at the intersection of technology, policy and social impact post MBA

A little more context --

1. I have a decent(ish) GRE at 320. Really struggling to get my GMAT above the 650 mark (GMAT focus) so thinking about skipping the GMAT.

2. Although grades seem low, its fairly above the median. Law school grading is different (Its a 5 year undergraduate programme for starters) and I went to one of the most prestigious law schools in my country.

Some questions for the good folks here at clearadmit --

Question 1.
Does my relatively unconventional profile stand out for scholarships at T16 B schools ? what about M7 ?

Question 2.
Is the GRE fine -- or should I retake given the rest of my profile? Or should I push to get a competitive GMAT ( 720 + I imagine) ?

And and all thoughts and perspectives are welcome as I am fairly new in my MBA journey. Look forward to engaging with y'all !

I'm very social impact oriented, with several examples of extracurricular / volunteer experiences. First full time job was at a Social Impact Fund founded by a Peace Nobel Laureate.

Solid career working with Marketing/Branding on the Educational sector, two of the companies I worked for are NASDAQ listed. Strong leadership skills (I've been leading people for 4 years now).

My recommender is a Columbia MBA Graduate, Marketing Director at my current employee and my career mentor.

Undergrad GPA is my main concern. Intend to take the MBA Math and give another shot at the GMAT to improve quant score.

I am not sure if I am aiming too high...

I am extremely passionate about mitigating income inequality, seen up close through my upbringing in New York City. While there are a myriad of ways to "do good", my whole motivation for going to business school is to strengthen my skills and network to be a strong business leader who acts with advocacy in mind. Short term, I'd like to intern at an organization like the Nonprofit Finance Fund, where I can apply MBA skills in financial planning to advocacy projects. After graduation, I'd like to still join a corporation to bolster my experience and network before switching to government or non-profit. Companies I would be interested in include Bridgespan or Wachs Strategies, or within the corporate social responsibility or policy arms of big consulting firms or tech firms.A born and bred New Yorker, I witnessed socioeconomic disparities firsthand, and its impact on education and opportunities. Prior to joining Big 4 consulting, after graduation, I worked at the New York City Council, a food injustice non-profit and a public policy firm. This spurred me to study economic policy analysis and urban planning at a highly regarded state university. Today, as a senior business consultant, I engage with major decision-makers e.g. Wall Street chiefs and hedge fund C-Suites. Realizing the impact corporations have on the national landscape and reconciling this with my background in non-profit work, I want to leverage my relationships for stakeholder buy-in on policy issues. During an MBA, I'd build skills in strategy, particularly in corporate social responsibility, develop my communication skills, and take courses in purpose-lead marketing and impact investing, in order to pursue roles where I’d utilize business acumen to shape policy or social impact.

My childhood dream of becoming "everything" when I grew up might have seemed unrealistic, but in hindsight, it perfectly reflects my career trajectory. Growing up in a middle-class Indian family, stability and predictability were valued. This steered me towards Chartered Accountancy, a secure and respected profession. While I excelled in this role, a nagging curiosity about technology and a desire to make a real impact simmered within me. This internal conflict would become the driving force behind my professional journey – a constant exploration of where my passions and purpose intersected.

Embracing the analytical rigor of Chartered Accountancy, I honed my attention to detail and problem-solving skills. But the call of technology proved too strong. So, I made a bold move, transitioning to consulting at Deloitte. Leading the Accounts Receivable module for Ford USA was a crash course in project management and cross-cultural collaboration. The success of the project, `which led to my promotion to Senior Consultant` , was a testament to my ability to deliver under pressure. However, the fragmented nature of consulting left me yearning for a deeper connection to the product development lifecycle.

This yearning led me to Vera Solutions, a social impact organization that perfectly aligned with my values. Beyond the social good aspect, I saw a chance to leverage technology for positive change. Fueled by my analytical background, I spearheaded the development of an analytics tool, diving into vast datasets to identify user behavior and client satisfaction. These insights helped us tailor communication strategies, leading to a remarkable 5% reduction in churn rate. This experience underscored the power of data-driven decision making in the product world. Furthermore, I streamlined the design process flow, defining key stages and milestones to ensure a smooth development pipeline. These achievements cemented my passion for product ownership and the impact technology can have on social initiatives.

`My passion for social impact extends beyond Vera Solutions. I actively volunteer with Resolution Project and Tavishi, NGOs focused on child safety and education. These experiences have provided me with invaluable insights into the challenges faced by underprivileged communities, further reinforcing my commitment to using technology for positive social change.`

My vision for the future is clear – to build a social impact company that harnesses technology to create lasting change. Business school represents the next crucial step in this journey. The opportunity to learn from diverse individuals, develop my leadership skills (mentioning examples of leadership from your career or volunteering work), and gain a comprehensive understanding of various industries will be invaluable assets on this path. My short-term goals align with this vision – to hone my product management skills in a Big Tech company or contribute strategic insights as a consultant to understand the constraints and solve for such issues in varies sectors across companies and projects. Throughout my career, I have actively sought challenges, constantly seeking new avenues to learn and grow. Business school represents another exciting chapter in this continuous learning process.

As the first person in my family to pursue this path, I am not only driven to excel academically but also to contribute meaningfully to the business school community. The prospect of collaborating with like-minded individuals who share a passion for innovation and social good fills me with immense enthusiasm. My diverse experiences, unwavering commitment to growth, and burning desire to create positive change make me a strong candidate for an MBA.