Mr. Startup Hustler

Hi, this is Deepak Punwani from MBA Exchange. Let me start by saying that don’t have full information to go with frankly, based on this summary you have provided. You mentioned 4.5 years of experience out of which 1 year plus is at current employer and 6 months were in Dubai. Not sure where rest of experience is from? That said, if your current experience gives you additional skills (post promotion to a manager level), then you could use that to make your profile stronger. Your GMAT does compensate for your lower than average GPA so if you can explain the GPA score in optional essays, you should largely be fine. I would also like to get a sense of who you are as a person. Right now you have strong affiliations to start up world and not much else. Would like to see what other interests you have so as to make you a strong applicant at other schools on your list. If you can therefore execute well on these factors, your chances should go up. Good luck.

Hi Mr. Startup Hustler,
This is Debbie Choy, Senior Consultant at mbaMission. I like that you have had a very dynamic career to date, as reflected by your international experience in the Middle East, internship in Japan, holding a variety of roles, promotions, and leading teams. That said, because much of your experiences have been with smaller international companies, it’s important to establish credibility and help the Admissions Committee (AdCom) better understand the environment in which you have worked. For example, if your current firm is not well-known in the US, consider adding a line in your resume to describe it. Or if your firm is backed by well-known investors or venture capital firms, this could help establish credibility as well. Additionally, crafting a compelling career goal story would also be important for you. Given that you’ve been successful at your career to date, what can a MBA teach you that you can’t learn on the job? If you can address these two factors well, it will help boost your chances. Wishing you the best.

Mr. Startup Hustler – Thanks for posting your profile. Susan Cera here from Stratus.

I spent ~6 years evaluating applications from Indian applicants at Duke Fuqua. You are a candidate who shows some promise yet I feel I need more information to make a valid assessment of your candidacy. While a 6.3 from IIT is commendable and your 750 GMAT puts you above the average at every MBA program, you happen to be in a very competitive demographic. Your narrative – the whys behind your motivation and your goals – is what is going to land you as seat in a top MBA program.

I really like your global exposure. Many of your Indian peers have never worked or studied outside of India. What have you learned from these cultual experiences that has shaped your vision for the future?

I think you have the makings of a solid candidacy. Reach out to share more about your profile.
Wishing you the best on your application journey.