Re: Good MBA admission consultants in India
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28 May 2023, 09:31
Background:
Let me begin this LONG story with my pre-MBA experience.
I did my B. Tech in Computer Engineering and have been working with Adobe Systems since then. My job at Adobe mainly involved the development and testing of new features, automating tasks, and collaborating with teams to define feature requirements. However, being very passionate about product management, I spent a lot of time understanding user workflows, conducting user surveys, and drawing product roadmaps.
I had been thinking of pursuing an MBA since 2018. After working at Adobe for close to 4 years, I wanted to get a role from where I could drive product and business strategy/vision. To kickstart my career in Product Management, I believed a full-time MBA is imperative. Though I was confused about whether to apply to schools in India or the USA, the first step, irrespective of the choice, was to prepare, appear, and score well on the GMAT exam.
After my first attempt, I again scored a 720. Because the score is okayish as per Indian standards, I had little hope of getting interview calls from any of the T20 schools. Coming from an extremely competitive applicant pool – Indian + IT + Male Engineer - I knew the road ahead would be extremely challenging.
Nevertheless, I wanted to give it a shot since I did not want to study again for GMAT.
Why select “MBA Dream”?
The real struggle began after the GMAT.
After a quick Google search, I realized that there was a lot that I need to start thinking about. Filtering b-schools, improving my profile (LinkedIn, resume, etc), drafting essays, submitting applications, prepping for the interviews, and figuring out expenses were just a few items on the list. It was obvious that without proper guidance, I will end up floundering in the vast ocean of B-school applications.
I needed a mentor to discuss my MBA plans and seek clarity on my post MBA career goals, and an expert who could also take a dispassionate look at my profile and give me unbiased advice on where I need to improve.
During my lookout for such an expert, I stumbled upon MBA Dreams. Seeing that most MBA consultants charge bombs (>1 lac for 5 schools), I was relieved to discover that there was someone to help me at an affordable price.
After having done my research and comparison with numerous other consultants, I decided to schedule a free profile evaluation with MBA Dreams. Immediately, I was contacted by Rahul from MBA Dreams.
Right from the first call, Rahul demonstrated a keen passion for understanding my profile. As a nervous student, I remember asking him very silly questions. Rahul’s patience in answering every query implied that he would go beyond the call of his duty.
MBA Application Strategy:
I started to work closely with Rahul. The period between July and March tested me as no other and Rahul helped me in all stages. For simplicity, I broke down the 10-month period into stages.
Call, Discuss, Repeat: During the first few days, Rahul and I worked endlessly to discuss my career goals over phonecalls. For once I thought that working with MBA Dream is a waste of time. However, later I realized that through these conversations, Rahul was actually building up the base for the entire application process. Not only did these conversations helped me write better essays but also made the B-School shortlisting process a lot easier. In just about a week, I had a very realistic picture of my profile.
School Selection: Next, he helped me to shortlist the schools that resonate with career goals. Keeping my profile, interests, and finances in mind, we divided the target schools as “Stretch schools”, “Realistic schools”, and “Safe schools”. I believe this was an important step that helped me to remain sane and not be depressed later! I finally applied to 2, 4, and 2 schools from the categories, respectively.
Finalize stories: Right from Day 1, Rahul asked me to start thinking and listing the life events that I value the most (I never had exceptional stories to tell). He also stressed the importance of check-in in with myself. I had a fair idea why I wanted to do an MBA right, but Rahul’s honest feedback cleared the remaining cobwebs in my mind. By asking to me list down answers to tough questions like- “Why MBA?”, “Post MBA goals?”, “Why now?”, we were able to filter out the key stories that I would re-use in my essays. This pre-work process elucidated some blind spots and helped me to be more self-aware.
Essay drafting and editing: This was the most important and time-consuming part of the application. I knew that I had worthy experiences and numerous stories to tell, but it was important to convey those to the admissions team succinctly- and this is exactly what Rahul helped me with. Before diving into the essays, he made a point to talk about the School’s principles and values. We then discussed the essay prompts and what qualities the admissions team would want in the candidates.
Rahul pushed me on my essays. After reviewing my first draft, he interrogated the intent of my stories and the impact of the events. Later he would polish the rough edges so that the essays convey the message effectively. This is where, our initial calls and pre-work helped him to add genuine insights to my essays. Rahul ensured that the final draft was not only crisp but that it reflected the same original story written tenfold better. All thanks to his efficient team!
Interview Prep: I was overwhelmed to get interview calls from 60% of the schools that I applied to. In my opinion, interviews serve to gauge whether one can not only 'get in' but 'get through the MBA program. After getting an interview call, one is already more than halfway through the application and so it is paramount to prepare for this step and put forth all the points that set one apart as an applicant.
After giving me a list of questions that I could expect, Rahul conducted two mock interviews with me. He helped me structure my responses well. Not only did he focussed his feedback on the content, but also on the way I delivered my responses.
All coming to an end: Once I got the admits, Rahul helped me to finalize the school that was best for me. No matter how deep the pocket is, no one looks at the MBA costs without blinking. Rahul was quick enough to give me some realistic cost estimates and how I must budget for my MBA. His first-hand experience was an invaluable asset in this regard. His desire to help even after all the terms of our deal were completed, is the hallmark of a person who is there not just for the financial gain but to genuinely make a difference in the lives of MBA candidates.
More to it? What differentiates Rahul from other consultants is his nature to go above and beyond to provide a personalized coaching. Below, I have written three examples elucidating how Rahul helped me arm myself in the MBA battle.
First, Rahul is a very resourceful and friendly person. He helped me connect with some of his past students, get support letters, and make new friends.
Second, he shared his insights about job markets in India, the USA, and Canada and how things might change in future. We even talked a lot about life in general and Covid-19.
The best thing about Rahul is that rather than spoon-feeding me, he brainstormed, gave examples, and explained the right approach- thus helping me to evolve during the process.
Not to forget, Rahul always kept a watchful eye on my preparations. I can never forget the time when he called me to remind me about an application deadline!
MBA Application Results:
Apart from a few other admits, I got an offer from Kelley School of Business, which I finally accepted. To my surprise, I was also offered a generous scholarship.
To get 5-6 interview calls in one of the MOST competitive years in the past decade is an accomplishment that I feel proud of. I also feel more confident in my abilities. Without Rahul’s effort and constant motivation, I would not have been able to achieve such impeccable results.
Few Final thoughts:
The process of applying for MBA abroad is long and tiring, so it is important to have a plan. Give yourself ample time so that you do not need to rush at the last moment or compromise on quality. Having said that, it is okay to be clueless and blank at times. Never lose hope in yourself.
MBA application journey is a roller coaster ride and Rahul from MBA Dreams is exactly the kind of friend whom you would want to enjoy this ride with. He is my go-to guy- he listened to my cribbing with the same level of interest with which he he congratulated me when I received an admit. His calm and friendly attitude transformed a dreadful application process into a pleasing and stress-free one.
After working so closely with him for almost a year and discussing all my highs and lows, I feel that more than a consultant, Rahul is an amazing friend, a guide, and a confidante. Without his efforts and belief in my abilities, I would not have been able to secure admits from dream schools.
In the end, I would like to extend my gratitude to the entire team at MBA Dream (Best MBA Admissions Consultants for ISB). I highly recommend MBA Dream to all Indian applicants
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