Please review my profile: Improved GMAT from 660 to 740!!!!

AbhishekGakhar

Hi Stacy,

Please review my profile and advice me if I have any chance in any of the top 15 schools in the world with a disappointing GMAT score of 660 (Q47, V34) or do I need to go above 700. I want to start with an MBA within the next 3 years. I might be dreaming too high but I am interested in B-schools of the league of Wharton, Stanford, Harvard, Cornell, Kellog in the US and LBS, INSEAD, IMD in Europe. What schools can I realistically think of applying to in the next year?

My GMAT prep scores were all above 700 (including 700 at the beginning, 730, 760 after preparation). I gave many preparation tests and somehow my verbal score on the GMAT was as low as 34 where I always got between 39-44 in pratice tests.

Academic Background:

25 years old, have done Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering followed by a Diplom Ingenieur (German equivalent to a Masters). I was one of a select band of students who finish Mechanical Engineering in just over 8 semesters. The proposed length of the programme is 10 semesters. Besides, after doing the Bachelors in English almost as good as my mother tongue (I am an Indian), I did the Masters with German as the language of instruction (This needs German language proficiency which I acquired within 2 years of my stay in Germany). The German system does not have GPA. German universities have their own weightage systems based on the number of credit hours. The system gives an average grade where

1-1.5 = Excellent
1.5-2.5 = Good
etc..

I am at 2.2. This is considered good in Germany and is not easy to get. If I look at some GPA conversion stuff with US style values for individual grades in each subject the result comes out to be 3.1 which is not very good in terms of US system. But, this is not so easily gettable in Germany. How should I let my GPA be calculated? I have googled thousands of websites including German university websites. But none of them give 100% accurate info considering factors such as what are the average grades in this university etc.

Anyway, considering the fact that the GPA stays at 3.1.

Quantitative aspects of my application= GMAT: 660, GPA = 3.1 (average for uni let's say 2.2). Reason for bad GMAT: Lack of concentration, 1 more re-take is no problem.

[b]Quali aspects of my GPA are:

Finishing a study with 10 semesters in just over 8 semesters, courageous decision to study in German, fast achievement of German language proficiency. For my Bachelors I received full sponsorship for tuition in English (around 48000 EUR for 4 years), living expenses and 1 year of internship and my masters thesis at MAN.[/b]

Before that my high school GPA was a 4. I was selected in the first round of IIT national entrance exam where 3000 people are selected from around 150,000 candidates. I received scholarship at school for being in the select band of people with distinction.

Work experience:

In total 2.5 years of job experience.

Job 1) 1.5 years: Assistent to project leader for business unit engines in a Joint Venture project "Asia Trucks" between the MAN Commercial Vehicles, a European Truck manufacturing giant, and Force Motors, India. Under this project trucks are manufactured for markets such as India, China, Middle East countries.

My job: Coordination of all project tasks, project management, deadline fixation, leading the transfer of machines to India, training of people to work at these machines, researching price reduction opportunities for parts of the engines made by MAN.

Job 2 in the same company) 1 yr experience. I am dealing with the introduction of Lean Production systems based on Toyota Production System. Experience with differenct project management methodologies and lean manufacturing techniques like TPM, Kaizen, Production layout settings etc.

Currently, I am looking at opportunities to improve upon my work ex. Maybe, I will switch jobs in the next year and get 1-2 years of experience in another field.

Extra-curricular and other qualifications:

I have done a small 1 semester certificate study Business Admin for Engineers to build a foundation for a solid MBA from a renouned Uni and get myself acquainted with the business side besides by knowledge from the engineering side.

I have taken part in literacy mission in my school teaching poor young kids in Delhi with limited opportunity for schooling.

I have been in Germany for the last 7 years. I did my Bachelors in International Department where students from all over the world come together to study in English in Germany and received full scholarship for that. 4 years of multi-cultural experience, 2.5 years of German job experience.

Travelled in countries in European countries like France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy. Coming from India, also been to Nepal.

Languages: Hindi (Mother tongue), English (Almost mother tongue), German (Fluent), Spanish (Basic), Punjabi (Fluent).

I featured as one of the main representatives of the International Department (the place where I did my Bachelors) in the university version of DER SPIEGEL, the German version of something like TIME Magazine.

In the International Department, University of Karlsruhe, I was a member of the Student's Association (SAID) that dealt with the coordination between students and faculty.

Ambitions and career goals:

To do pioneering work in collaborations of global companies with India. The first proof of that is my first job in a joint venture between MAN, a German truck making giant and an Indian company.

I have applied for a job in Fraport, the company building with stake in atleast 3-4 airport building projects in India. If that comes through, it will be a major boost for my career.

Interests:

Travelling: Been in almost the whole of Western Europe. Want to expand my horizons soon by flying to Africa/ South America.

Sports: Cricket, Soccer, Working out. Was offered a place in the school team of soccer and basketball. But, that collided with some preparation for University entrance examination.

Singing: Won a third prize and a first prize while participating in inter-school Group Song competitions in Delhi, India.

Languages: Mentioned above. Plan to learn French as the next language.

General knowledge: In school participated in many state level school quiz competitions. International olympiads in Maths, Science, English with credit.

Am planning to take a diploma course where one experiences one day in complete darkness. This helps one to understand how the blind people live their life and use other senses.

[/b]

Lisa Anderson · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:44 am Post subject:

Dear AbhishekGakhar,

To be competitive for the schools you mention, I would suggest retaking the GMAT to try to increase your score. You are not out of range with a 660, but you are at the bottom of the range so the rest of your application has to be almost flawless.

I do think it is interesting that you have lived in Germany for a long time, working and going to school. This international experience should provide some good examples in your applications. Being an engineer from India, any unique aspects to your background should be highlighted and leveraged. Likewise, you are not a computer/electrical engineer in IT consulting. So leverage your work experience to your advantage when you are putting together your application.

You have a great foundation, now you need to work on putting it together to present a strong overall application.

Good luck,
Lisa

AbhishekGakhar · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

Hi Lisa,

Thanks a lot for your comments on my post today. I would just like to point out one thing. As I did my complete Engineering from Germany, I am not an Engineer from India. I am only a German Engineer with Indian nationality.

I will try my best in my second attempt for GMAT and get the 700+.

Thanks a lot!

Abhishek Gakhar

AbhishekGakhar · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject: Another query

Do you think I can apply for next year already if I would have around 3.5 years of work ex and have an improved GMAT score?

Lisa Anderson · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

Dear Abhishek,

Schools will view you as an Indian engineer because your nationality is Indian and your degree is in engineering. While I understand you consider yourself a German engineer, the schools will put you in the subset applicant pool with other applicants of Indian nationality. However, I think this will work to your advantage because being in Germany, with your German education and work experience, will allow you to positively distinguish yourself from the competition.

I think you could apply for fall 2009 entry if you feel you are ready. Based on what you posted, I think you will be an interesting and competitive candidate (especially with an increase in GMAT).

Good luck,
Lisa

AbhishekGakhar · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:38 am Post subject: Just got the score report online

Got 6 on the AWA section in addition to my 660. Only if the stupid multiple choice section would have 40 points more, my GMAT would be a success story. This is annoying especially in view of the fact that I was in that range.

Anyway, no shortcuts for success. Looks like I am re-taking. God bless me this time!!!

AbhishekGakhar · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:02 am Post subject: New GMAT score: 740 (Q50,V40)

Hi Stacy/ Lisa,

I gave GMAT again last week as advised by you in August. You had told me that I have a strong application and I could stand out in the applicant pool (Indian male, Engineer) because of the following reasons:

1. I have done not Software Engineering but Mechanical Engineering.
2. I have lived in Europe for 7 years and have good international experience (schooling and work).

I needed to improve my GMAT score to make my application very strong. I have now improved my score from 660 to 740. Could you tell me if I should go for Fall 09, Round 2 as I would be having 3.5 years of work ex by that time.

Lisa Anderson · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on your new score! I think it depends on whether or not you feel you are ready for business school now or if you would rather have another year of work experience. If you feel you are ready now, then you need to get your applications in as soon as possible without compromising quality.

Best of luck,
Lisa

AbhishekGakhar · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:34 am Post subject: A question about career goals

Background info about my question:

I have a long term goal of contributing in a big way (by being in a strong position such as a general manager) to global ties between India and other countries. I know I need to stress not much on India but more on the global ties. I have my 7 yrs in Germany and my first job as assistant to the project leader (German side) in a joint venture project between a German and an Indian company to prove my honest keenness to pursue my goal.

In August 2008, I also applied to Fraport AG, a company building airports in major Indian metropolitans for a job as consultant from the side of Fraport. I was called for interview because they found my profile interesting but finally settled for someone else. The major concern was my lack of knowledge in aviation and because they were hard pressed to finish the project within deadline and did not have much room for letting someone settle in first.

Now the question: Should I mention this in my essay to substantiate my commitment to the long term goal? How to show this in a positive light?

What I am afraid of: 1. Adcoms will figure out that I was looking to change my job.

2. It might play negatively on my candidacy where I myself tell them that I was rejected after an interview.

I would really appreciate if you could comment on this.

Thanks,
Abhi

Lisa Anderson · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject:

Dear Abhi,

I would not mention it in your essays or interview; they will only remember you didn't get the job. You want your application to be full of your accomplishments and contributions, highlighting how you will add value to the MBA program.

Regards,
Lisa

AbhishekGakhar · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:14 am Post subject: Thanks!!