I got into 3 top IIMs despite low CGPA: GMAT MBA after PSU Bank PO job

Many assume that their chances of getting into top business schools like the Indian Institutes of Management will plummet if they haven’t worked in a private sector company, or if they have a low GPA.

That’s not true. The admissions process for one-year MBA programs offered by IIMs follow the same approach adopted by international business schools. They will not reject you because of a single parameter.

So, what does it take to get a GMAT MBA from IIM after a PO job in a public sector bank?

Purnendu Shekhar shares how he fought with personal setbacks while working on his MBA applications and got into a top IIM.
 

---

GMAT MBA from IIM after PSU Bank PO job

by Purnendu Shekhar

 

I was a very curious and active kid. You could spot me diving into a mud-pool trying to prevent a goal and getting thrashed by my mother for spoiling new clothes.

I have spent my childhood in several remote towns, wandering through forests, climbing trees and learning about nature; my father was a forest officer.

His passion for wildlife and forest conservation and tribal welfare has inspired me to do the same.

In 2009, just before my class XIIth boards, my father fell extremely ill. Being the elder child, I had to shift my focus towards this urgent crisis. Despite getting an EML rank in IITJEE & a good rank in AIEEE, I deferred my admission for a year as my father underwent a major heart surgery.

In college, I actively participated in cultural fests and won 1st prize in cultural fashion-shows every year. I also love to ride my bike and have travelled across many states.

Post college, I opted out of placements as I had a low CGPA for top companies that visited our campus.

I wanted to start something of my own and hence started my own 2.5 acres-strawberry farm in my hometown, taking inspiration from Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra.

However, due to non-existent ecosystem there, the growth opportunities were limited.

During this time, I also worked with couple of Impact consulting agencies to train farmers and small cottage industries under a NABARD programme.
 

Time to change my career strategy

After some introspection about my career goals, I attempted the IBPS PO exam and secured less than 200 rank among a million candidates approximately.

I joined Canara Bank, one of the largest PSB, where I had a very diverse experience across functions.

I led two teams during Demonetization scheme, managed auction and delivery of raw diamonds in Panna Diamond Mines and worked for economic upliftment of weaker section through Government schemes.

In my latest posting, in rural Maharashtra, I worked on credit to Food processing industries and Agricultural Enterprises.

I had an immensely satisfying career but at this stage, the learning curve and the earning potential reached a saturation. An MBA would help me expand my knowledge beyond banking and finance.
 

Setbacks during GMAT preparation

At the beginning, I had a lot of concerns about my profile as I had no international experience, a less feeder college and a low GPA. Hence, I targeted a high GMAT score.

When I started my preparation for GMAT, I did not know that the journey was going to be so hard. Soon, I got infected with COVID-19 and was bedridden for 3 weeks. I used this as an opportunity to have a good head start.

As I was well prepared for my test date, my father got extremely ill and was hospitalised.

I had to postpone my GMAT test date for 2 months.

My father’s health remained critical and he was to undergo a major operation just the very next day of my test date. I spent my days in the hospital taking care of my father and using some free time to practice for GMAT.

This time around, I handled the crisis better and scored a 710. Though I expected 740-750 as in my practice tests, I went ahead with the score as I believed that a marginal high score won’t make much difference.
 

I knew the value of hiring a good admissions consultant

I was clear from the beginning that I needed a consultant because I was aware of dynamic nature of the process.

However, finding the right fit in sync with my thought process was difficult. I not only needed someone who could help me with the essays and applications but also provide clarity about the whole MBA journey and beyond.

I browsed the internet, attended a few webinars and had some zoom meetings in my search for a consultant.

I was cautious of over-assuring and over optimistic admission consultants.

Although I had the impression that MBA Crystal Ball (MCB) was expensive, I thought of reaching out to them once, as they have such a good reputation and impressive conversions.

After examining my profile, Avinash (a top admission consultant from MCB) had a long talk with me on the whole process. I really liked how he explained my situation to myself with so much clarity.

It was exactly what I needed, hence I decided to go ahead with Avinash. He provided clarity and devised specific plans which were vague earlier.

As we moved ahead in the process, my priorities regarding schools kept changing and Manish (MG) was generous enough to accommodate all my requests.

In fact, when I asked him to sign me up for a bigger scope service, he recommended going for a smaller package as he felt that the larger one was not justified.

I don’t think any of the other admission consulting teams I spoke to would’ve sacrificed their revenue in the interest of a client.

That convinced me that I was working with an honest and ethical team that I could trust completely.

So, we got started with the essays with MBA Crystal Ball.
 

My admissions consulting experience: From confusion to clarity

I really like to read and write and hence was expecting that I would frame good essays.

However, after seeing my first draft, Avinash explained to me for an hour as to how my essays were full of jargon and the stories lacked coherence and flow.

We got on a ‘Brainstorming’ call and Avinash explained everything from choice of words to perspective in points and well formulated frameworks. Still, sometimes the essays I wrote did not have any flow and looked really abstract.

Avinash was really patient and explained the flaws in my perspective of the stories. It was a gradual improvement in my case and things got better with every draft I wrote.

A dozen drafts and couple of months later, I was ready with my essays. I learned a lot about myself in the process.

I started getting interview calls and attended all the interviews. Avinash took my mock interviews, which took away my nervousness. Initially I was waitlisted in some schools and rejected in a few.

On one such interview day, I was waiting in the lobby for my turn, I got a call from my home that my grandfather passed away. It was a huge setback for me as I was very close to him.

I lost my motivation for MBA and almost gave up. However, my father and my wife supported me and motivated me to stay put.
 

Finally, the fruits of my labour

After many such interviews and anxious days, I was able to convert most schools, waitlisted in a few and rejected in a few.

Out of all the converts (3 top IIMs), I chose IIM Calcutta and was thrilled when I got to know. Calcutta has been very close to my heart as my grandfather wanted, I study there.

An MBA from IIMC, one of the most prestigious colleges in the world, will help me achieve the career progression I desire.

As I look back on the journey, I believe what differentiated me from other applicants were my GMAT score and my diverse work experience.

I am thankful that I went ahead with Avinash as he not only got me my choice of school but also made me wiser in the process.
 

Lessons from my MBA application experience

In hindsight, I believe I learned the importance of clarity of thought and self-belief.

If I were to go through the process again, I would remove the fear of failure and give my all to the process with focusing more on my strengths than worrying about my weaknesses.

My advice to any aspirant from a PSU background would be to get an above par GMAT score and develop a clear sense of transferable skills and be thorough with their work experiences. This will help them pull themselves up in the moments of weakness.

I believe that the outcome doesn’t even matter as long as the goal is audacious and the attempt is with a resolute heart.

I am super-excited to make the best out of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and have a great time in IIM-C.

---

Also read:
– More IIM success stories
– How I got into IIMA, IIMB and IIMC
– From government job to Berkeley MBA with scholarship
– Balancing Work, Life, GMAT prep & MBA