Weekly Columns

Education/Testing

- T20 US University, 3.73 GPA, Economics - Graduated 2022
- Won some research/academic awards in undergrad - not sure if that matters
- GRE 332: 167Q/165V

Background & Experience
- 26M, based in South America, work across two roles in a family business
- Role 1: Small division within the family business making a leather goods (private label for a small client base). I led the entire public launch of our own brand, from the ground up, including hiring the full team and building out retail placement. Now have 3 of our own retail locations plus placement in larger third-party retailers, roughly $1.5M in sales over the last two years
- Role 2: Regional sales leadership for a distribution business, leading two teams (40+ people total). Led a strategy pivot that roughly quadrupled our regional sales target over three years to 250K$

ECs
- Regional chair of global professional organization

Pivot to Energy Strategy Consulting and potential achievable universities. GMAT Focus: 665. India-based Chemical Engineering gold medalist (rank#1) with 5+ years in India at renowned US-based EPC major, delivering process engineering on two flagship LNG EPC projects, earning 6+ internal recognitions and 2 merit based promotions. Took on a parallel 6-month international leadership role coordinating a USAID-funded social impact project in Zambia, managing a 16-person local team. Extracurricular national-level footballer, leadership of two Toastmasters clubs (one to President's Distinguished status), and an accredited Mental Health First Aider certification. Post MBA transition into Energy Strategy Consulting to build commercial and strategic capability before returning to scale a GCC-based family business, which currently supporting for past 9 months, into an energy transition solutions provider. Thank you!

Chemical Engineering Bachelors and Masters (3.44 and 3.88 respectively)

Currently mentoring entry level engineers as well.

Worried about transition from a more engineering field to consulting and how the masters impacts admission odds

Background:
24F, Indian
GPA - 7.5 from a Tier 1 Indian college

Participated in CBSE Swimming nationals, and won medals in relay

Took part in badminton clusters

Was part of the prefectorial body in which we welcomed delegates from all around the world

Took part in a NASA program wherein we visited the Johnson Space Centre in Houston

College:

Not good GPA but can defend it

Part of college badminton team and won many laureates

Got bronze in an inter-collegiate tournament as the women’s badminton team captain. And created history as this wasn’t achieved before by any woman’s badminton team

Was the sportswoman of the year for my college

Was part of the incubation center management team of the college. Was part of the strategic relations team (where we almost got Steve Wozniak to deliver a speech) and was the event management team lead

Work Experience:

3yrs Software eng/ quant experience in a top investment bank (front office and back office Eng roles)

Got a promotion

Lead a 2months intern project

What are my chances for the above colleges for a MBA and can I expect any scholarship?

Should I retake the test? Planning to apply in R1

Two-time founder (marketing agency during undergrad, then a fintech post-graduation), ex-Kearney consulting, currently on the founding team of a boutique financial consulting firm. Based in Pakistan, 29. Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Undergrad from LUMS (top business school in Pakistan) with a 2.91 GPA, which I know is my main weakness.
Targeting HBS, Stanford, and MIT Sloan for R1. I'm aware these are reaches given my GPA. GRE is in progress, currently retaking to push into the 315 to 320 range with a strong quant score to offset the academic profile.
Post-MBA goal is to scale into senior operating or founder roles in fintech and financial services, building on my consulting and startup background.