Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing for MBA applications (targeting top schools like INSEAD / LBS / HEC) and trying to finalise my post-MBA goal. I’d really appreciate insights from people who have been through consulting or energy recruiting.

My background:

• Process Engineer with ~5 years experience in LNG / large EPC projects
• Currently exploring MBA as a pivot into strategy roles in the energy sector
• Long-term goal: build and scale my family business into an energy transition solutions provider

At this stage, I’m refining between two post-MBA paths:

1) Energy Strategy Consulting (Kearney, EY-Parthenon, Strategy&, Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman)

vs

2) Strategy role at Oil & Gas majors (Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, etc.)

I’m trying to understand:

• What is the real difference in day-to-day work between these two roles post-MBA?
• Which role gives better exposure to energy transition, capital allocation, and strategic decision-making?
• For someone aiming to eventually build a business in energy transition, which path is more valuable long-term?

MBA recruiting questions:

I also wanted to understand from a recruitment perspective:

• At top MBA programs, what do Energy Strategy Consulting firms actually look for in candidates?
• Is prior technical / engineering experience in energy seen as an advantage, or do they primarily prefer generalist consulting profiles?
• How structured is recruiting for energy consulting vs oil major strategy roles during MBA (timelines, competitiveness, interview style)?

Application question:

Finally, for people who have applied to top B-schools:

• If someone comes from a technical energy background, do admissions committees actually value a post-MBA goal of moving into Energy Strategy Consulting?
• Or do they prefer more “traditional consulting / finance” narratives during application and interviews?

Would really appreciate any real-world insights, especially from people who have worked in either of these paths or gone through MBA recruiting recently.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing for MBA applications (targeting top schools like INSEAD / LBS / HEC) and trying to finalise my post-MBA goal. I’d really appreciate insights from people who have been through consulting or energy recruiting.

My background:

• Process Engineer with ~5 years experience in LNG / large EPC projects
• Currently exploring MBA as a pivot into strategy roles in the energy sector
• Long-term goal: build and scale my family business into an energy transition solutions provider

At this stage, I’m refining between two post-MBA paths:

1) Energy Strategy Consulting (Kearney, EY-Parthenon, Strategy&, Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman)

vs

2) Strategy role at Oil & Gas majors (Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, etc.)

I’m trying to understand:

• What is the real difference in day-to-day work between these two roles post-MBA?
• Which role gives better exposure to energy transition, capital allocation, and strategic decision-making?
• For someone aiming to eventually build a business in energy transition, which path is more valuable long-term?

MBA recruiting questions:

I also wanted to understand from a recruitment perspective:

• At top MBA programs, what do Energy Strategy Consulting firms actually look for in candidates?
• Is prior technical / engineering experience in energy seen as an advantage, or do they primarily prefer generalist consulting profiles?
• How structured is recruiting for energy consulting vs oil major strategy roles during MBA (timelines, competitiveness, interview style)?

Application question:

Finally, for people who have applied to top B-schools:

• If someone comes from a technical energy background, do admissions committees actually value a post-MBA goal of moving into Energy Strategy Consulting?
• Or do they prefer more “traditional consulting / finance” narratives during application and interviews?

Would really appreciate any real-world insights, especially from people who have worked in either of these paths or gone through MBA recruiting recently.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I recently completed the GMAT Focus and scored a 665. I'm considering one final attempt to improve my score by another 20–30 points before Round 1 applications.

A brief overview of my profile:

• 5+ years of experience as a Process Engineer in the energy/infrastructure sector
• Worked on two CSR initiatives during my previous role
• Completed a 6-month international social impact assignment in Zambia supporting a USAID-funded food security project
• Active Toastmasters member for 4 years; served as Club President and helped establish a corporate Toastmasters club
• Gold Medalist in undergraduate studies
• Scored 100/100 in Chemistry in Grade 12

My target schools are INSEAD, London Business School (LBS), and HEC Paris, with Oxford, Cambridge, IESE, and ESADE also under consideration.

Based on the details how competitive my profile is for the Target universities?

Also, is 665 Gmat Focus be competitive or I need to push further?

Appreciate your feedback and guidance. Thank you!