Hi,
My Profile,

Academics:
10th - 72%
12% - 73%
Bachelors in Commerce - 74%
Masters in Commerce - 56%
Chartered Alternative Investment Analysts, CAIA

Professional Work Exp - 13 years
Designation - Vice President at one of the leading diversified financial Services co in India.

- I have been a trader for the treasury of the group for 11 years. Was based out of Singapore for 5 years to setup and head the Global Currency trading desk. Headed the Global FX & Fixed Income Trading desk. Over the years managed Equity, Fixed Income, Currencies trading books and been part of the Balance sheet Management unit as well.
- Moved back to India as wanted to get into the Credit Business and since last 2 years part of the CEO's office working on the Asset side and Liabilities side strategy for the business
- Leading teams since last 7 years
- Got performance based internal awards and selected for 3 different leadership development programs of 1-2 years each as got higher in the hierarchy

As part of the CSR:
- have been associated with NGO's in helping in their actitvies
- Teaching students etc.

Gmat Score - 670 ( gave it in end 2016). Dont think will be able to give it again.

Weaker points on my application - Age - 33, GMAT score, Undergrad - Non Engineering, Extra-Curricular - Nothing Significant to mention

Why MBA -
- Want to be in Credit / Fintech space and on Strategy side. Though my past experience is more on treasury and so impacting lateral movement to other org.
- Taking a break for studies and focusing on building strong foundational / technical knowledge as everything for me has on the job learning.
Key topics - Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Marketing, Fintech etc
-Target role - Strategy team of a new age finance firms into credit post MBA and then in 2-3 years owning P&L on one of the product line
Duration - 1 year MBA preferable given the stage in my career. Chose UK also because of the location. Ideally would want to be near global finance hubs.

Target Schools :
1. Oxford SAID
2. Cambridge Judge
3. Indian School of Business

Do you think these are fair choices or difficult with my profile.
Suggestions for Any other schools in mind with the fintech / entrepreneurship focus
Any other suggestion is most welcome

Target

ISB if you want to stay in India; Oxbridge if you want to work in the UK. 

For Oxford vs Cambridge: Cambridge probably has the edge for the kinds of careers you are looking for (especially FinTech). However, for pure 'corporate' finance roles I would go with Said. 

Of course, LBS could also be a very, very good choice. 

Hey thanks a lot ! Totally agree LBS was my top choice as well. Its just I feel my profile ( low Gmat relatively, higher work exp etc), would get difficult to get in. That is why trying for strong schools but with a bit of lower avg gmat score as well. 

But from brief understanding of my profile, you think is Judge and Said a tough shot or achievable.

Judge or the Sloan Fellow programme at LBS? The full-time MBA at LBS won't be a good fit with your GMAT. 

Ideally would prefer Judge based on the Universities strong research and network in Alternative finance, location, placement etc. I will also be doing more research on placement through the linkedin Alum placement route, which you had written about in an earlier post. Hope the gmat score or high work exp would be much of a barrier for this programme.

LBS Sloan is a great programme, hadn't considered it before so will be doing more research on the programme. Thanks for the recommendation

[Edited by Vishal Goradia on Aug 05, 2020]