In 2018, an IITian with a strong profile and a high (750+) GMAT score applied to 3 elite business schools in USA. He worked with a reputed MBA admissions consulting firm based on the excellent reviews on their blog. He got rejections from all MBA programs.
Usually we don’t reveal the name of MBA admission consulting firms that didn’t deliver. But this time we will. The admission consulting team he worked with was MBA Crystal Ball.
Which brings up the question: Is MBA Crystal Ball any good? If so, why couldn’t it help an IIT grad with a strong profile get into any of the top schools?
We’ll let Vivek answer the question. He also explains what he did after those initial rejections that helped him get a top MBA admit with merit scholarship, and subsequently launch a fantastic post-MBA career as a consultant with the prestigious Boston Consulting Group.
MBA after IIT
Is MBA Crystal Ball any good?
by Vivek Vishweshwar
I was raised in a family of educators, where both my parents worked as temporary teachers at a nearby school and college. Due to the job instability they faced, we constantly navigated through financial crises.
These challenging circumstances undoubtedly shaped my personality. Despite the tight budget, my upbringing instilled in me a strong sense of curiosity and a deep passion for learning.
I also developed a remarkable level of resilience, forged through overcoming various hardships.
As a child, my thirst for knowledge and my ability to endure set me apart from others and undoubtedly played a pivotal role in my cracking of the IIT-JEE exam.
Growing up in a small town within a low-income neighborhood, my mind was constantly filled with dreams of exploring the world.
The idea of studying in the United States captivated me, and I often read about prestigious American universities in books and saw them on TV.
However, the idea of actually being in one of those places seemed distant and unattainable, especially considering my financial constraints.
It was only when I secured admission to IIT Roorkee that I seriously began to contemplate the possibility of pursuing a career and academic path in the United States.
When one of my seniors at IIT, whom I deeply admired, joined a prestigious business school in the US, it sparked my interest in following a similar path.
Moreover, while working for startups like Flipkart and Lenskart, I had the opportunity to interact with business leaders who had received their education in the US, further solidifying my conviction.
As my responsibilities at work evolved to include P&L and people management, I began to feel a growing need for an MBA.
At last, my childhood dream had transformed into a resolute commitment, and I set a clear goal for myself: to join a top business school in the US.
Having a goal is one thing and knowing how to achieve it is another. When it came to getting accepted into a business school in the US, I found myself uncertain about the process.
While I was confident in my ability to achieve a good GMAT score, I soon realized that success hinged on many other factors, such as essays, interviews, and scholarships.
These uncertainties led to a barrage of questions, and I struggled to find satisfactory answers.
Coming from a low-income family, I lacked an extensive network and didn’t have anyone among my friends or family who had experience with US business schools.
Moreover, I never really learned the art of networking, which made reaching out to strangers feel uncomfortable and awkward.
Therefore, meeting Manish Gupta (MG) and MBA Crystal Ball (MCB) was a lifesaver.
During my research on applying to business schools, I came across MCB and was drawn to their blogs, which showcased the inspiring stories of successful MBA students.
Recognizing that I needed assistance with my own application journey, I decided to reach out to them for guidance. From the very first conversation with MG, I could sense the difference he would make.
He possessed a deep understanding of the application process and was well-versed in the various factors crucial for gaining admission to a top-notch school.
MG played a pivotal role in helping me set up a well-structured timeline for my application journey.
My journey with MCB began with their Profile Builder, which proved invaluable. This tool not only revealed the gaps in my application profile but also highlighted my areas of strength that I could leverage further.
I was confident that I’m ready to apply
The next step for me was to prepare for the GMAT.
I opted for a 3-month study plan provided by Magoosh, which I found online. With dedication and hard work, I aimed for a score in the high 700s, and to my delight, I achieved exactly that.
In late 2018, I felt prepared to apply for business schools, but I recognized the need for assistance in telling my story effectively. Initially, I was unsure about which aspects of my life to emphasize and what to avoid sharing.
Since a lot of my story was shaped by my formative years and the struggles I saw growing up, I was uncomfortable sharing these experiences with a friend.
However, MG created a safe environment where I could discuss my personal stories and he helped me articulate them in a professional manner. This guidance enabled me to share the most impactful aspects of my life experiences without hesitation.
In addition to refining my narrative, MG guided me in clarifying my post-MBA aspirations. While I had a vague idea of what I wanted, our conversations laser-focused my goals and gave me a clear direction for my future.
Moreover, MG encouraged me to reach out to current MBA students to learn from their experiences. This process of networking with strangers significantly boosted my confidence and developed my networking skills.
With high hopes, I submitted my applications to three top business schools, only to face rejection from all of them, which was undeniably disappointing.
A little introspection shed light on the reason for rejections
In hindsight, it became clear why I didn’t get accepted.
It was perhaps premature for me to apply, and my post-MBA plans weren’t well-aligned with my career trajectory up to that point.
Moreover, I lacked the self-awareness needed to identify schools that would be a better cultural fit for me.
Looking back, I can now see that a couple of the schools I applied to were completely mismatched with my personality.
These are things that the applicant has to work on independently.
An MBA consultant can only help you execute the plans you’ve made for yourself. MCB helped me with the latter (i.e. execution), but I knew there was work to be done at my end.
Tenacious as ever, I didn’t give up on my dreams. decided to give myself sometime after facing initial rejections.
During this period, I diligently worked on refining my profile (based on the inputs from the profile builder with MCB). I also honed the networking skills I had acquired, which allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the unique cultures of different business schools.
Attempt 2: Time to search for another MBA consultant?
When I finally made the decision to reapply in late 2020, I already felt better prepared. This was 3 years after I had completed the profile builder, which gave me enough time to develop my weak areas.
Naturally, I reached out to MCB again, as I had enjoyed our previous collaboration, and our working relationship was built on trust — an essential aspect when dealing with personal stories.
With newfound self-awareness, our approach in 2020 became more focused, resulting in impactful essays.
Application results this time were different
I applied to three schools once again and received interview invitations from two of them.
The moment I received my acceptance from Duke University, along with a merit scholarship, there was no doubt in my mind — it was the perfect choice for me.
My experience at Duke has been truly transformative, surpassing all my expectations. It provided everything I had ever imagined and more.
Learning from world-renowned experts, connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, and exploring new hobbies has been an incredible journey.
Having grown up in a small town where the world felt vast, my MBA experience at Duke has made it feel more accessible and connected.
It marks a fitting end to my educational saga, equipping me not only with valuable skillsets but also the confidence to make a positive impact in the world.
I am eagerly looking forward to embarking on my next adventure as a consultant at BCG in San Francisco.
Whether to do an MBA or not is a personal choice and should be based on your own aspirations and goals.
While an MBA is not a prerequisite for happiness or success in life, it can offer tremendous benefits.
During those two years, you have the opportunity to not only acquire essential business skills but also embark on a journey of self-discovery.
Your soft skills will evolve, and you’ll have the chance to build a global network, enriching your future prospects.
If you choose to pursue an MBA, it is vital to find the right business school that aligns with your values and ambitions.
Convincing them that you are a good fit requires self-reflection, extensive research, and the ability to tell your story compellingly.
It is not an easy task, so seek all the help you need.
And to answer the earlier question, yes MBA Crystal Ball is good!
If you have a few years to spare, the profile builder is a great way to not only test them out for compatibility, but also gain precious and actionable inputs that you can work on, to be ready for the main event i.e. MBA applications.
Best of Luck!
Whether you’re from IIT or not, whether you have a high GMAT score or not, whether you think you have a competitive profile – just make sure you have done what you need to do at your end before hiring a consultant.
And if you think MBA Crystal Ball is a good team to work with, drop us an email:
info at mbacrystalball dot com
