A medical crisis during her Class 12 board exams forced Udisha Pandey to take a two-year academic break. Years later, she became a gold medalist, moved from Infosys to Salesforce, and secured admits from CMU Tepper (with scholarship) and ISB with a 635 GMAT score on the focus edition.
In a chat with Manish Gupta (Consulting Head, MBA Crystal Ball), Udisha shares how she overcame a low GMAT score, along with lessons on profile building, career growth and MBA applications.
Can You Get Into ISB With a Below Average GMAT Score?
ISB, CMU Tepper & UW Foster (scholarship) admits with a 635 GMAT
Q&A with Udisha Pandey
MG: To begin with, can you share a little about your life before and during college as well?
Udisha: My life has been the typical academic kind. My father has always been focused on education, so I have been primarily academically oriented throughout my life.
I also looked into various extracurriculars like debating and singing, which gave me the confidence that I am a person who does not have that typical stage fright. So I learned a lot about my personality in those 12 years of schooling.
But during 12th class, during my board exams, I ran into some healthcare issues, which was sort of a paralytic attack. I had no cognitive functions at that time. I could not speak or think properly. My memory was affected; I could not remember anything that happened five minutes back.
So it was a moment where everything came to a standstill and then I realized that, okay, I’m no longer the typical topper. Those kinds of people were moving forward in their life, getting into colleges and I had to take a drop.
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So I took a two-year medical gap at that time because that is what I felt I needed, as I could not pursue studies anyhow even if I wanted to. After two years, I worked on myself and my memory, I tried to study as much as I could and then I went into a nice enough private college – JP.
So the NOA branch is much more known, but I went to the Solan campus, which is in Himachal Pradesh. That was what I needed at that time, the beauty, the scenery, the peace. Then slowly and gradually I built myself up.
Around that time, I realized that now I need to understand what it is that I want, and I was juggling between some choices. But then I thought that I needed to keep my CGPA on track if I wanted to pursue avenues where academics are counted heavily.
I graduated as a gold medalist from my college. That was something that gave me the confidence that, okay, I think I’m back now. So that’s been primarily my journey throughout my schooling and college life.
My career pivot story: From IT to a Product Management
MG: That’s really inspirational. When I first heard about it, I felt that you’ve really come back from the difficult stages, right? So now, tell us about how your career journey evolved.
Udisha: As I said, I was struggling through some options in college. I always knew that I did not want to go into the core tech of IT because I think my soft skills were primarily the brighter part of me. So I was running between UPSC and MBA.
I thought I’ll give the UPSC part a chance, but then COVID came and everything was rattled because the preparation required a lot of work that I was not able to do in COVID.
I did sit for placements in college for Infosys, Wipro and Cognizant – all the consultancies. I got offers from all 3 of them. I chose Infosys as the option. It had many talented people and I got to work for a huge client, Raj Pharmaceuticals. If anybody knows, it’s a big giant in the pharma industry.
I did 2 years in Infosys, in which I got a promotion as well, but then I wanted to challenge myself after a certain point, so I heavily networked. I think that was the first time I started networking on LinkedIn.
I understood the concept of what networking is. I connected with people all around who were in the same technology, which is API integration for me. And from there, suddenly I got an opportunity from Salesforce. I talked to the HR and I understood what the job role requirement was.
I connected with many other people who were in the same job function or had done it for some period of time and I prepared accordingly. And I also cracked the interview and got into Salesforce.
The bigger part was that the technology that I was working in was acquired by Salesforce a long time ago. So I was primarily working at the heart of the product. I think that was one of the opportunities that really changed the direction of my career and it’s been 3 years now in Salesforce.
It has made me learn a lot. People talk about the product atmosphere – it is really that good because you get to learn many things from a lot of functions: from product managers, engineers, also from people at the senior leadership level.
Everybody is very accommodating of your questions and queries. Nobody judges you; they’re willing to help you.
I would primarily attribute all this direction to the networking that I did throughout those five years of my career. I tried to talk to as many people as I can, understand the atmosphere as much as I can and I think that laid the pipeline for where I am right now.
MG: Yes, that’s a big move because many people struggle with that. Now having made that move, working in a product setting, what prompted you to revisit the MBA question?
From Confusion to Clarity: How Career Counselling Shaped My MBA Roadmap
Udisha: I think when I was in Infosys, there was a time where I was trying to understand what my next career move should be. I was very much confused because I took the core tech space. As I said, I was never a core tech person.
So I found the MBA Career MAP service that is available. I took your service. I’ll not go deep into that right now, but I’m just saying that that was one of the pivot points where I understood that, okay, Now this is something! This is the right time for me to start considering MBA as an option.
Because my aptitude, my personality matches a lot more being in a management space rather than a core tech space. That is when I decided that I have to make certain decisions that enhance my profile to get an MBA.
So that’s why all these moves happened very gradually, but they were intentional. I wanted to move from Infosys to a product atmosphere where I’ll get to work with a lot of people who are in the management space as well. And that’s what I did.
Being in Salesforce, I took my time; I waited for a promotion. I wanted to see growth and I wanted to show that growth in my profile – that I am in a space where I’m growing and I have that talent to be in a management space.
So it was intentional and done gradually. It took some time, but that is when I finally decided, like last year, that this is the right time for me to get an MBA.
From 495 to 635: Below Average GMAT score for ISB and U.S. MBA?
MG: I think you fantastically brought our Career MAP discussion to life by making that move and building that career. So, you decided for an MBA. Talk to us about your GMAT journey. How did that go?
Udisha: My GMAT journey was not carefully managed by me. I started back in 2025. I joined a career institute, which had pretty small batches. I studied for 3-4 months. That went well, but then suddenly I got so much grabbed into office work and I also wanted to be in line for the promotion. There was a lot of work for me.
So I am not sure but at some point in time I left the preparation journey. I think I even emailed you between the time that I was preparing that I wanted to go ahead with your services, but then suddenly everything stopped.
The communication stopped from my end because there was a lot of work on my plate. So I thought let’s just focus on this, so that I’m able to do it properly now.
Anyway, since I had booked my exam, I just gave it and scored around 495 for this edition. I was like, okay, fine, this is done.
I had given myself the timeline that the next year would be the year that I would have to finally do it without any excuses whatsoever. In between that, I got promoted, so that was done; that was something that I really wanted.
Then in 2025, around April, I started preparing properly for the GMAT and this time, I wanted to do self-study and not join any institution. So I just enrolled in the self-study course of TTP – Target Test Prep. Through that, I prepared for my theory part and for the practical.
I did the quizzes on GMAT Club, and I had some PDFs of questions available from my previous institution where I had joined. So I just solved them and worked on my mistakes.
But I do think that my GMAT prep was a bit unorganized because by the time I was able to get my GMAT done, I was also working on the essays and I also had my job with me.
I think I completely neglected my health.
I had got so many health issues within that time of 1.5-2 months. So I think my score is kind of average because of all these elements. Had I structured it properly, maybe I could have gotten a better score, but I think my profile helped get me to ISB.
My final score was 635 for this attempt in November, 2025. And then, I was already too busy with the essay applications, but then I thought I’ll give a re-attempt, just to try to improve my score. If I don’t get any admission this year, maybe it will help me for next year.
But I could not improve my score. So I thought okay, let’s be done with it. Let’s work on my essays and everything else. I can’t be on two boats; I’ll ruin everything. So I got in with the mindset that this is the score I have. Let’s just improve what I can now.
How I overcame a Low GMAT Score: MBA Crystal Ball Review
MG: And going into the process, what were your top concerns and where did MBA Crystal Ball (MCB) come in, in your plan?
Udisha: So as I said, I had already worked with MCB long before, around 4-5 years ago for Career MAP service. I don’t know, randomly MCB had popped up when I was searching about MBA and mbacrystalball.com.
I went through the website and I have never seen any description like that – it’s really genuine. Like, nobody is trying to sell you anything; they’re just trying to help you if you want that guidance.
And that too is done selectively; if you can’t help us, you’ll just say that this is something that we cannot support.
So that really stood out to me and with the Career MAP service, I already had very much trust in you, as you were there to support me at that time. You gave me all the advice; because of you, I could understand the trajectory that I needed to pick.
It’s not just superficial or overview but you go into the depth of what the person is, what my potential is, and everything.
That’s why, when I finally decided on an MBA in 2024, there was no doubt in my mind. I did not even look at other consultants; I did not want to go with any other option or confuse myself when I knew that I already had an experience with you.
One thing that has stood out to me was that I randomly pinged Sameer on LinkedIn that finally now in 2024, I’m deciding to go with it. He also pinged me back, let’s connect on Google Meet.
And that stood out to me because nobody does that. Like, you don’t have the time, you don’t have the energy, but he just pinged me back. And that discussion was all about my career journey.
He was not trying to give me a pitch about MCB or anything like that. It was just to know me. And then he just told me that do let me know what you decide in the future in your career, and he just gave me normal advice.
After that, I reached out to you and we started the process. So I think it was just about that organic connection that you have, where the other person is understanding your career journey.
So I had faith in MCB from the start because of the experiences I had. And there was no doubt in my mind about going to some other service or checking it out.
Also, this year, 2025, was the make-it-or-break-it. I had put it on myself that this is the year I have to do it because now I am on the verge, where I have five years of experience.
So I did not want to leave it to chance or regret later that had I taken the service, I would have done better. I just wanted to give it my all – this is what I want, I’ll work for it, I’ll pay for the service and I will get the most out of it as I can.
Other than MCB, there was no doubt regarding choosing any other service for me because I had always had a very organic experience and a very honest experience, whether it be career map or this essay service or interview service for that matter.
Inside my elite MBA interviews: ISB, IIMA PGPX and U.S. Business Schools
MG: And which schools did you apply to? Any interview experiences that stood out that you’d like to share?
Udisha: I was primarily applying only to schools which are very much tech-focused. I did not want to gamble with the consulting-heavy schools because already the situation is not very favorable, in that if I go to a consulting school, I’m just fighting for those places for tech placements.
So I just targeted IIM Ahmedabad PGPX, then ISB, then CMU Tepper, Michigan Ross and Foster, which is in Seattle. It has a great pipeline for tech placements there in the Seattle Northwest Pacific region.
So the IIM Ahmedabad experience interview experience stood out for me because, as we know, IIM Ahmedabad drills you a lot and it tries to check your personality and aptitude. I think it went well, but then I have been placed on the waitlist.
So ISB interview experience was something different because as soon as I entered, the interviewers were trying to calm me down and be patient, saying that we are not going to grill you, we are just going to know you.
So what everyone says about the ISB interview is true that the alumni are just trying to understand you and your journey. They want to take you; they’re not in a hurry to reject you.
Whatever interaction I had, it was very patient. It was very humbling and they also asked certain things about product management just to check whether I really am interested in that space. So they just try to check how genuine your story is, how genuinely you have put your efforts into the essay.
And it was quite humbling to go to that campus. So I live nearby and this is the first time I got to visit the campus. So that was a great experience for me.
And the US interviews were pretty much the same. They just try to understand your journey and how honest you have been in your essays. But the ISB interview was something different. Especially, the alumni – it was a very special interaction I had with them.
MBA Admission Results: ISB Admit and CMU Tepper Scholarship Success
MG: Awesome. So now with the admit roll, where did you get in and where are you headed?
Udisha: Waitlisted in IIM Ahmedabad, got selected in ISB, got selected in CMU Tepper with a 50% scholarship and Foster results are still pending. So I’m hoping I’ll hear soon.
Michigan Ross, I did not hear anything, which I’m primarily attributing to my low GMAT score because after getting so many interview calls with all the colleges that you apply to, you get to understand where my weak area might have been. So I think my profile would not be that much the reason. But yes, GMAT score would be there.
I got into ISB, which was my first preference in India or my first preference overall. Somewhere in my heart, I knew that I want to go to ISB, but then since you apply, you want to apply to as many options as you have. But the first choice would have been ISB, so I’m glad that I got that right.
MG: And you said the CMU Tepper scholarship comes to 50%, right?
Udisha: Yes, so the tuition fee is $160,000 and I got $80,000 as the scholarship.
Advice for Tech Applicants: How to Stand Out with an Average GMAT Score
MG: Great! So, as a closing note, any top tips or suggestions you have for people with a similar profile? What kind of challenges in life should they keep in mind?
Udisha: For tech people, I would say that first of all, we have to very much cover every aspect of your profile from an MBA perspective. Don’t just obsess over the GMAT score. Like, I think I’m the example of someone who has an average GMAT score but still got into the colleges.
So I think if you are intentional about getting an MBA, start very early. Start making decisions which are intentional. Be very conscious of how it’s going to help in your profile.
Many people have the doubt that they are in an individual contributor role and they don’t have a leadership role. But I don’t think that matters. Every role requires some kind of leadership capabilities. As much as you can handle it, you can show it in your profile as well.
I’m an individual contributor as well, but there are so many activities I have picked up in office which show leadership capabilities and I have reflected that in my essays as well.
So first of all, start with the GMAT very early. Get it done as soon as possible so that it doesn’t hamper your essay work and your normal job work if you’re employed.
And be very intentional of every step you are taking. I did that. After my college, all my decisions were in a way that they should help me get an MBA. Even though it took 5 years of time, but still I did it, so it’s not too late for anyone. Start early and make those kind of decisions.
And just in general in life, I would say there will be times when you think that you’re not living up to your potential or you’re not getting validated for the things that you are achieving in life. But I think you just have to be patient.
For me, it was very important as I had been waiting for a very long time to validate to myself that the decisions that I’m making are taking me somewhere good.
I would not say that ISB or an MBA is the only thing that can validate you, but yes, this is something that worked for me. This is something that boosted my confidence.
So I guess even if you’re facing difficulties or challenges, just always remember that whatever is happening will end soon and then the next thing will be better. That is what worked for me.
That is the only advice I would give. And for tech people, I would really say that there’s a whole lot of pool, both male and female candidates, but it doesn’t matter.
So try to differentiate yourself as much as possible. Do not underestimate the work you are doing. Irrespective of whether you are in a not so well-known company or a well-known company, it’s the work that you are doing that will matter. The brand or the name of the company that you’re working in doesn’t matter.
As long as what you’re doing actually justifies why you want to do an MBA, it should work. Your justification should be very strong as to why you want an MBA; that would work for tech people.
MG: Awesome. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Udisha. All the best! We’ll be closely watching your career progression here onwards.
Udisha: thanks at lot, Manish. I would also like to, because this is the moment, thank Avinash publicly. He was the first person I messaged once I got into ISB because he has been immensely helpful – with essays, with the interviews, everywhere.
So I would like to thank him for helping me and supporting me in my journey and then to you and Sameer for always being there, always replying to my emails as properly as you can. I know how busy you guys are.
So yes, thank you for being through this journey with me for the last five years. It’s been really helpful and amazing!
MG: Yes, we are equally happy to be part of it. Thanks so much. All the best!
After this was published, Udisha share another wonderful update with us from ISB.
Other than the 2 schools mentioned in the Q&A, she also got an admit from the Foster School of Business (UW) with a Forte scholarship worth $65,000. That adds a third feather in her cap.
Get in touch if you are concerned about a low or average GMAT score, and whether it’ll affect your chances of getting into ISB, IIM, or any global MBA: info@mbacrystalball.com
