Forum: Application & Admission (4 Comments)
Profile Evaluation
Posted by - rahul.sharma - on 25 October 2013 - 8:46am
I am currently pursuing BE (Hons) Electrical and Electronics fand MSc (Hons) Biological Science from BITS Pilani University, India (Among top 5 colleges of India)
12th Marks - 84%
10th Marks - 93%
GMAT - 713
GPA - 5.9
Internships and Achievements:a) Director of Marketing at Kairos Society India
b) 6 Months Internship at Joabong.Com (Leading e-commerce website)
c) 2 Months Internship at HINDALCO (Leading industry in coal and electricity)
d) 2 Months Internship at MyMiMApp.com
e) 2 Months Internship at Start-up Leadership Program
f) Co-Founded a start-up (www.potentiaa.com)
g) Kairos Society Global Fellow for 2011 (Traveled to Zurich to attend India Symposium Conference)
h) National Delegate for International Youth Forum for Policy, Change, Development
i) Intern at Chill.com (Hollywood based start-up)
j) National Cadet Corps (NCC) CertificateMy Low CG is because I was highly involved in extra-curricular during college time and I have the affection for CS. I was not interested in Electronics that much.
I am interested in applying to ESCP Europe and HEC Paris.
Will my low GPA a problem for my selection?
Posted by - rahul.sharma - on 6 November 2013 - 7:37am
Thanks for your reply.
One more thing which I would like to ask is whether there is a GPA criteria at IE Business School also?
What are the top 3-5 Schools I should apply? (I am planning to specialize in International Business)
Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 6 November 2013 - 3:30pm
Hi there,
thank you for your question. Every business school, particularly those that are selective (e.g. those on high ranking position) takes into account the GPA. Put yourself in the position of a business school admission officer and imagine you receive 200 applications and you have 50 places. Who would you choose?
As for your other question, over and over again people ask me to tell them the 3 to 5 best schools. But my answer always is: There are no "3-5 top schools". What is "top" and which the 3 -5 schools you apply depends solely on you. You need to carefully reflect on what you want after graduation and then carefully analyze the market. For example, if you want to work for investment banks you may want to apply at schools where investment banks recruit - no matter what I say or which ranking positions these schools have. If you want to gain entrepreneurship knowledge you need to look out for such courses in the curriculum of programs. Do you get my logic?
Hence, you need to reflect your career goals and then take some weeks to screen the schools' websites and talk to admissions officers and students. Then you make a list of programs that you can afford and apply.
best wishes
ThomasBy Thomas Graf
Posted by - Thomas Graf - on 25 October 2013 - 12:01pm
Hi there,
thank you for your question. The HEC Paris once told me: "Good internship and a good GMAT is a big plus but cannot waive a good GPA." The ESCP may see it similar.
This does not mean that you are out. To the contrary, your GMAT and your internships are great. But depending on the other applications the school receives, you may have a disadvantage unless the school wants to include you BECAUSE of your experience and the diversity you would bring into the class room.
In fact, if you should make it to the interviews and if the school representatives should ask you: "Why shall we take you?" or "How do you think would you contribute to the success of the Master's class?" or "How would your classmates benefit from you?" - you should mention your practical experience.
Bottom line: You should apply at more than 2 schools, ideally at 3 - 5, just to be save.
best wishes
ThomasBy Thomas Graf
