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I work with one of the biggest technology startups in India. In the last 11 years, I have worked in Fortune 500 global conglomerate, bootstrapped my own startup, and helped build the biggest cab and food aggregator in the country. I have been among the top 1% performers in all the companies I have worked with which has helped me accelerate my career. I am looking to join a 12-16 month program and I am concerned that my GMAT score will reduce the probabilities.
Target School: INSEAD
See More Profiles For: INSEAD
Application Status: Open
Undergrad School: Anna University
Undergrad Major: Computer science
GPA: 3.2
GMAT: 680
Age: 34, Ethnicity: Asian or Indian
Other Degree/Certification: Post Graduate Diploma in Management
Extracurriculars: Tennis
Title: Director
Industry: Technology
Company: Start-Up
Length of Employment: 4 yrs, 1 mos
Saving the lives of my father and uncle from a Stampede in 2006, saving the lives of 700+ people by deploying boats during a massive flood in an Indian city in 2015, and being awarded the Value champion award in 2021 which is given to less than 1% of employees in my company are some of the biggest achievements in my life so far.
My long-term goal is to start my own enterprise focused on transforming the lives of Gig workers and their families by leveraging technology to improve their financial inclusion & literacy, provide upskilling opportunities, provide equal education opportunities to their children and provide comprehensive medical wellness cover for their family.
Join in! Click here to assess the odds of Mr. Transforming Gig Worker Lives
Your demographic – Indian men in tech – is the single most challenging and competitive demo in MBA admissions. If you were applying to M7 business schools in the U.S., an admissions consultant would not accept your business in good conscience without being honest with you about your (slim) chances of acceptance in light of your age (34) and GMAT score (680). HOWEVER, your INSEAD strategy does offer you higher chances of beating the odds due to 1) a more forgiving GMAT standard (wider dispersion of accepted scores generally vs. US M7 AND a lower average overall), 2) penchant for older applicants with managerial experience and proof of people leadership, 3) Loooonnnnggg and in-depth application (word processed drafts are often 6-8 pages!) where your story, …
Your demographic – Indian men in tech – is the single most challenging and competitive demo in MBA admissions. If you were applying to M7 business schools in the U.S., an admissions consultant would not accept your business in good conscience without being honest with you about your (slim) chances of acceptance in light of your age (34) and GMAT score (680). HOWEVER, your INSEAD strategy does offer you higher chances of beating the odds due to 1) a more forgiving GMAT standard (wider dispersion of accepted scores generally vs. US M7 AND a lower average overall), 2) penchant for older applicants with managerial experience and proof of people leadership, 3) Loooonnnnggg and in-depth application (word processed drafts are often 6-8 pages!) where your story, which features dynamism not typically seen in an Indian tech-y candidate, will really shine. The INSEAD application is one of those touchy-feely applications (along with the Stanford GSB and Kellogg and Duke Fuqua) where a goosebumps-inducing story about saving your family members from a stampede or evacuating your community post-flood will be usable and appropriate. Stories like that can’t really be showcased in MIT’s cover letter application, for example, but they are great for the longer written applications that really seek to get to know their applicants on a personal, rather than merely professional, level. If you can get your GMAT past a 700, that threshold will make you “shinier” to any AdCom than you are now at a 680. If that’s not possible, then move on and work on preparing an excellent written application. I’d also recommend that you apply for the accelerated 10-month intake option, as that batch is typically a “back-door” into INSEAD re GMAT averages. You won’t have a break for an internship with that option, but it doesn’t sound like you need one, anyway, given your professional goals. I’d also recommend that you set yourself apart in the application by stating a desire to spend your studies in the Fontainebleau campus and in Philadelphia with the Wharton INSEAD alliance, given that Indian applicants usually prefer the Singapore campus (in our anecdotal experience). There is one application for all campuses, but you can use the essays to signal your preferences. The “First 100 Days” and “Blue Ocean” coursework at INSEAD is a must for entrepreneurial hopefuls, so take a look into these resources, and reach out to current/former INSEAD students to get some good “why INSEAD” academic material for your application. In general, INSEAD alums are some of the most giving and generous with their time of any top MBA alums, especially those in the start-up space. Many candidates have found success at cold-messaging alums via linkedin to discuss their interest in INSEAD. It’s worth a try and it will get you better content for your “Why INSEAD” questions than pulling material from the website alone. You’ll maximize your chances at a top program by applying to as many programs as possible. Given your stats, aspirations and headwinds (age/GMAT), I’d recommend also exploring Oxford and Cambridge. These programs also offer access to European markets/professional networks/investors, excellent entrepreneurial prep, and (relatively) more forgiving attitudes re average age and GMAT score versus US MBA programs. Hats off to you and best of luck!
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