The admissions process for getting into the best business schools in the world is long and complicated. The number of individual action-items on the to-do list can become overwhelming.
This is when the right advice at the right time can provide the motivation and act as the foundation on which you continue to build your action plan.
Aditya shares his experience of getting into multiple leading MBA programs in Europe, along with the advice that he relied on to beat the bottlenecks he encountered along the way.
Advice from top admissions consultant was a game-changer
It helped me get into Oxford & other b-schools
by Aditya
Growing up in a family deeply rooted in astrology and gemstones, I could have been the third generation poised to continue this legacy had I not decided to pursue engineering. It won’t be wrong to say that my early childhood revolved around planets and their effects on our lives, making me a firm believer in fate and destiny.
With my father’s untimely demise, my mother filled in his shoes and despite her lack of a business background, she successfully revitalized the business. Assisting her in the shop became my first exposure to the dynamics of running a family business
Besides being a young assistant to my mother and fairly good at studies, I was always fascinated by music. I started singing at the age of six where I would perform Christmas carols at school events. This was later followed by part-time gigs in college to partly fund my pocket expenses.
Singing taught me showmanship, the ability to engage with a diverse crowd and a “show-must-go-on” attitude. I learnt a lot of my life lessons through music which I still apply in my current corporate role.
Additionally, growing up in a challenging household also instilled in me a deep sense of empathy. From the age of 12, I sought opportunities to volunteer, starting with fostering and feeding stray animals, and later teaching underprivileged children through Teach for India and managing a small animal shelter at IIT Delhi.
Even though I had a challenging childhood, my mother ensured that my siblings and I could get the best education and opportunities. With a strong inclination towards science, I aimed to pursue engineering after high school. Securing the highest percentage in my school, my family decided to take loans to support my education.
I completed my engineering from Ramaiah Institute of Technology in Bangalore, engaging in multiple country-level automobile projects. This experience solidified my desire for a role that blended engineering and management. So, when L&T offered me a position as a Project Executive at one of their manufacturing facilities, I seized the opportunity, marking the beginning of my professional journey.
My Master’s Story
Upon graduating from college, I was tasked with managing one of the largest steel plant modernization projects, collaborating with technology partners from Japan and Spain.. Fortunately, I had an extremely supportive manager and with his help, I learnt decision-making and leadership early in my career.
Subsequently, I was outstandingly rated by my employer and received an opportunity to pursue a fully funded MTech program at IIT Delhi. Given my existing education loan, this opportunity was a financial blessing, allowing me to further my education without additional financial burden. Additionally, the opportunity to study at one of the premier institutes in India was something that I did not want to give up.
My experience at IIT Delhi was transformative. I engaged with some of the brilliant minds on campus and found my aspirations soaring. The environment fostered my growth, and by the time I completed my degree, I was prepared to make significant contributions at L&T.
With a renewed sense of purpose, I transitioned into a Business Development role at L&T’s Mineral and Metals business line. My prior experience in manufacturing helped me in justifying this role and delivering value to the mining clients in India.
What I did at work
As soon as I joined the team, I took up the task of understanding our products, customers, competitors and differentiators. Within 2-3 months, I began leading prospect discussions, offering solutions, and submitting proposals.
Drawing on the importance of teamwork I learned at IIT Delhi, I collaborated closely with internal teams to deliver the best techno-commercial proposals. This approach allowed me to retain top-level customers, develop new clients, and revive non-performing products within 1-2 years.
During this period, L&T was forming an internal team to devise a 5-year growth strategy in collaboration with leading consulting firms. Eager to learn about strategy, something which I had only heard the leaders talk about, I volunteered to assist the team.
Balancing my regular tasks with additional hours dedicated to strategizing, I engaged with business heads, product experts, and consultants. My perseverance paid off when my Business Head appointed me as a core member responsible for conducting independent research and aligning internal team members with external consultants.
However, there were challenges such as understanding the business from a new perspective, overcoming doubts about my capabilities due to my youth, and managing my time effectively. Luckily, I found the right guidance and quickly scale up and deliver, ultimately presenting the final recommendation to the senior leadership team.
My efforts were recognized, and I was selected to lead one of the growth pillars — Internationalization across Africa and Australia. In this role, I was responsible for setting up business in key locations by identifying mining opportunities, competition analysis, and a roadmap for market entry.
I received the chance to engage with the global mining communities and lead the implementation of business from scratch in interesting countries such as Guinea, Ethiopia and some parts of Australia.
It was at this time that I decided that I wanted to make a much larger impact not only on business but also on the community. I witnessed the amazing work done by leading mining companies- such as FMG, Rio Tinto, and others – and their lasting impact on the communities around the mining sites.
Additionally, leading implementation independently made me realize the need for a formal MBA to get a complete 360-degree understanding of business in case I wish to make a larger impact globally.
GMAT | My test prep experience
While leading the implementation efforts for L&T in Guinea, I began preparing for the GMAT. After watching a couple of YouTube videos and reviews on GMAT Club, I set my eyes on anything above 720. I started with the most cost-effective prep materials I could find, but after three months of trial and error, I realized they weren’t effective and switched to different resources.
My first GMAT test resulted in a 670, a significant improvement from my initial mock score of 580. Despite not reaching my target, I felt proud of my progress. However, I knew I needed to improve further. I dedicated the next two months to focused preparation, using TTP for Quant and GMAT Whiz for Verbal. This strategic approach helped me achieve a score of 700.
Thankfully, I scored a 700 and even though it was not a 720, I decided to allocate my remaining time and energy towards the other part of my application, a part which most of us usually ignore i.e. the essays.
What I was worried about
Looking forward, I realized that a conventional 2-year MBA program wasn’t the right fit for me. Given my long-term career aspirations in Europe or the APAC region, I identified European business schools as my best options.
I decided to apply to the Oxford SBS MBA program as it aligned with my values, had an amazing brand presence and valued diversity. Besides, their GOTO and consulting projects stood out as these opportunities would provide a formal consulting experience before I could make a formal pivot to consulting (my short-term MBA goal).
However, I had several concerns that I feared might be seen as limitations by the admissions team.
- Firstly, I belonged to an over-represented applicant pool with a modest GMAT score.
- Secondly, my background in a niche field lacked the endorsement of big-name brands.
- Thirdly, my extracurricular activities were relatively modest, with no active involvement since completing my master’s at IIT Delhi three years ago.
The Application Strategy I followed
Acknowledging the gaps, I realized I needed an experienced consultant who could help me navigate my shortcomings and effectively articulate my story. However, I did not have the budget to onboard a consultant.
I reached out to a lot of alumni and fellow applicants to gauge whether I should attempt the application process on my own and the consensus was clear: investing in a consultant would be a minor cost compared to the overall value of the MBA experience.
I reached out to a lot of Indian consultants primarily from the cost point of view but after speaking with MBA Crystal Ball (MCB), I realized that they would be the one for me.
Honestly, I had immense trust in MCB even before I ever spoke to them directly. I was a follower of their blogs and posts and used their material to decide my initial school list.
Manish Gupta, MCB’s chief consulting officer, and I had discussions at great length and he supported me throughout my journey from a 670 to a 700. I remember asking him in November if I should even apply to schools with a 670 and his exact words were
“The issue currently is of timelines …. if the choice is between trying and not at all, I always suggest the former. Even if you have to fail, fail after trying and not before!”
Coming from one of the top admissions consultants in India, it sure made a lot of sense. This advice was the game-changer that I needed to change how I viewed and tackled the admissions process.
Thus, with a backup plan to retake the GMAT for a 700 before submitting my application, I decided to onboard MCB for a one-school package focused on Oxford SBS.
MBA Admission Consultant’s Review
I worked with Ravi on my application, and from our first conversation, his patience and keen understanding of my profile stood out. We spoke for about an hour, during which he offered his analysis of my profile and strategized on my key differentiators.
In fact, I was in discussion with another consulting team for several months, and I still I ended up moving ahead with MCB for Oxford SBS based on my interaction with Ravi.
The consulting process with MCB started by filling up a “Meet me” document which required me to consciously reflect on my experiences and quite frankly identifying myself (Mind you this was the first time that I ever took a pen and paper to invest time to know myself better).
This was the “Aha” moment for me. I realized that my upbringing has had an immense impact on my life choices which I never bothered to pause and reflect upon. It made sense to look back and see what I did and why I did it. The entire exercise made me more comfortable with myself, ultimately allowing me to put forward the most authentic storyline to the admission team.
With Ravi’s guidance, I initiated writing my essays. This took me about a month as there were a lot of iterations between me and Ravi. By the end of this journey, I was extremely satisfied with the quality of my application.
MCB helped me structure my approach and taught me the art of storytelling, ensuring my narrative was coherent, impactful, and true to my experiences.
MBA Application Strategy
Having worked for six years with L&T, I was clear with my goals, aspirations and a high-level roadmap. I knew that post my MBA, I wanted to implement my learnings in a global consulting firm especially in the mining /allied industry in the short term before I rejoin the mining industry in a chief strategy/operational role in a global mining firm, such as Rio Tinto, FMG or BHP.
I sought MBA programs that would help me manage global teams, provide a holistic understanding of general management principles, and minimize time away from the workforce. I shortlisted Oxford SBS, INSEAD, HEC Paris, and IESE because each school aligned with my goals and offered unique elements.
For instance, Oxford SBS attracted me with its GOTO program and the impact in social space. INSEAD’s emphasis on sustainability, treks, and networking events appealed to my interest in engaging with industry leaders. HEC Paris offered specialization courses and dynamic events like MBAT, while IESE’s case method ensured comprehensive discussions in every subject.
Budget constraints meant I couldn’t afford MCB’s services for all applications, so I had to make a strategic choice. After consulting with alumni and current students, I decided to apply to Oxford SBS. Its location, commitment to responsible business, and connections with MBB firms and Rio Tinto made it an ideal fit for me.
However, working with MCB for my Oxford SBS application gave me the confidence and the motivation to apply to other schools separately.
MBA Interview experience
My interview was conducted by an Admission Committee member and it lasted for about 40 mins. I still remember that I was in Guinea when I had to appear for my interview at 2:00 PM. In Guinea, the connectivity drops without any warning and I was praying that it does not happen during my interview.
It was via a virtual platform and as soon as I joined the call, I was greeted by the interviewer and she made me feel comfortable. She informed me that she had reviewed my application in advance and that she would like to know about me.
This was something that I had already practiced with Ravi twice so I was confident in my delivery.
This was followed by a couple of standard questions such as Why MBA? Why now? Why Oxford, all of which was discussed in depth with Ravi.
Overall, I felt that the mocks with MCB helped in making me comfortable with myself and my story.
The last few questions were non-conventional and kind of curve balls. It was at this moment that I recalled Ravi’s advice on handling such questions: take a deep breath, pause, frame my structure, and deliver calmly. This approach worked well, and I felt composed throughout the interview. Going ahead with MCB for interview prep proved to be a game-changer.
After anxiously waiting for almost 11 days, it was time for Oxford to declare the results. I remember anxiously refreshing my Gmail while my GMAT Club account was silent on updates. Suddenly, I started receiving notifications on GMAT Club that the results were being released and initially one was receiving a rejection email. As I was browsing these messages, I received an email from Oxford.
I braced myself for a rejection but was elated to find a warm acceptance letter instead. I immediately called my wife and shared the good news with her, followed by Ravi and Manish!
This validation imbibed a sense of self-belief and confidence which I carried forward in the rest of my applications.
MBA Admission Results
After having received Oxford acceptance, I applied to INSEAD, HEC and IESE separately and ended up securing admits from HEC and INSEAD (with a scholarship!). Ultimately, I ended up choosing INSEAD over other schools as INSEAD was my dream school, considering its brand recognition, alumni network, ability to study in both Europe and Asia and a shorter duration. The scholarship was just a cherry on top!
In hindsight..
Through the brainstorming exercise with MCB, I identified several key differentiators in my profile.
- Firstly, I had a unique background in a niche industry, which I leveraged to my advantage.
- Secondly, I had international exposure in unique countries like Guinea.
- Lastly, with MCB’s help, I understood the importance of extracurricular activities and connected them to my passions—music and volunteering.
In hindsight, there are a few things I would have done differently. I would have prioritized my activities better to align my schedule, avoiding the need for GMAT retakes, which consumed a significant portion of my budget. This budget could have been used more effectively elsewhere. Additionally, I would have applied in earlier rounds to increase my chances of securing a scholarship
However, I am blessed to have been admitted to such fantastic schools. It’s almost a dream come true to have been accepted at INSEAD. I am excited to start my journey at the school and help as many applicants as I can, giving back to the community that supported me when I was uncertain.
For Indian MBA aspirants, my advice is to aim high and not be discouraged by the “over-represented” tag. Conduct thorough research on schools before applying and network with as many people as possible. Every school has something unique to offer; it’s just about discovering it within yourself, where a consultant can really help!
Self-rejection is the worst thing one can do. Had I self-rejected, I wouldn’t have applied to any of these programs and wouldn’t have secured a spot at them.
Reach out for professional help with your MBA applications: info@mbacrystalball.com
