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Pooja1308
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Joined: 08 May 2022
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Location: India
Schools: Oxford Said'25 (A) ISB '25 (S) IIM PGPBL '25 (A)
Schools: Oxford Said'25 (A) ISB '25 (S) IIM PGPBL '25 (A)
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Motherhood, Hardships, and the Pursuit of an MBA 24 Aug 2024, 04:05
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Two years ago, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I left my job in India and moved to the UK, following my partner who had relocated here. My goal was clear: I wanted to pursue an MBA, and this move was the first step toward making that dream a reality. Settling into a new country while preparing for a highly competitive MBA exam was no small feat, but I was determined.

After months of preparation, I cleared the Indian MBA exam and received an offer letter from a top business school. But just when I should have been celebrating, life threw me a curveball. I wasn’t feeling well, but I chalked it up to nerves and anxiety. A routine blood test revealed something unexpected—I was pregnant. I found myself holding an offer letter in one hand and a pregnancy report in the other. My life was suddenly turned upside down, and I didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad.

With the MBA program set to start in a few months, I faced an incredibly difficult decision. I had always envisioned bringing a child into the world in a state of calm and joy, not amidst the pressures of a rigorous academic program. After much reflection, I decided to defer my MBA admission in India and continue my stay in London. It was a tough choice, but I knew it was the right one for me and my family.

In August, I gave birth to my daughter, and my world changed in the most beautiful way. As I held her in my arms, I knew I wanted to give her the best life possible. But I also knew that to do that, I needed to fulfil my own aspirations. So, in October, just two months after becoming a mother, I started preparing again—this time for MBA programs in the UK.

Balancing motherhood with the demands of MBA preparation was one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever faced. My days were filled with feeding, changing diapers, and comforting my newborn. My nights were spent studying, often for 3-4 hours at a stretch, in between feeding and pumping sessions. The exhaustion was overwhelming, but I pushed through because I knew what was at stake—not just my career, but also the future I wanted to create for my daughter.

In December, I took the exam. My score was decent, though not as high as I’d hoped. Time was my biggest enemy, but I wasn’t about to give up. I applied to just one school—Said Business School—because it was my dream. I knew if I didn’t get in, I would apply to other school.

When I received the interview invitation, I was in shock. I cried with my daughter in one arm and my laptop in the other. Preparing for the interview was another hurdle. With no external help, I relied on YouTube tutorials and GMAT Club forums to guide me. On the day of the interview, which happened to be Valentine’s Day, my husband took a day off from work to support me.

Two weeks later, we went to India for some family function. While doing rituals, I got the email. My husband saw the results first and went quiet. My heart sank, fearing the worst. But then I saw the results myself: I had been accepted! I couldn’t believe it. I hugged my daughter tightly and shared the news with my in-laws, who were amazed at how I managed everything with a newborn.

Looking back, I still don’t fully understand how I got through it all. But one thing is certain: my daughter is my lucky charm. If she hadn’t been born, I would have joined an Indian business school and missed out on this incredible opportunity. My partner’s unwavering support and belief in me also fuelled this journey.

Here’s to new beginnings and the incredible journey ahead at Said Business School 🎓

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bhardwaj25
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Motherhood, Hardships, and the Pursuit of an MBA 02 Sep 2024, 01:46
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Pooja1308
Two years ago, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I left my job in India and moved to the UK, following my partner who had relocated here. My goal was clear: I wanted to pursue an MBA, and this move was the first step toward making that dream a reality. Settling into a new country while preparing for a highly competitive MBA exam was no small feat, but I was determined.

After months of preparation, I cleared the Indian MBA exam and received an offer letter from a top business school. But just when I should have been celebrating, life threw me a curveball. I wasn’t feeling well, but I chalked it up to nerves and anxiety. A routine blood test revealed something unexpected—I was pregnant. I found myself holding an offer letter in one hand and a pregnancy report in the other. My life was suddenly turned upside down, and I didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad.

With the MBA program set to start in a few months, I faced an incredibly difficult decision. I had always envisioned bringing a child into the world in a state of calm and joy, not amidst the pressures of a rigorous academic program. After much reflection, I decided to defer my MBA admission in India and continue my stay in London. It was a tough choice, but I knew it was the right one for me and my family.

In August, I gave birth to my daughter, and my world changed in the most beautiful way. As I held her in my arms, I knew I wanted to give her the best life possible. But I also knew that to do that, I needed to fulfil my own aspirations. So, in October, just two months after becoming a mother, I started preparing again—this time for MBA programs in the UK.

Balancing motherhood with the demands of MBA preparation was one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever faced. My days were filled with feeding, changing diapers, and comforting my newborn. My nights were spent studying, often for 3-4 hours at a stretch, in between feeding and pumping sessions. The exhaustion was overwhelming, but I pushed through because I knew what was at stake—not just my career, but also the future I wanted to create for my daughter.

In December, I took the exam. My score was decent, though not as high as I’d hoped. Time was my biggest enemy, but I wasn’t about to give up. I applied to just one school—Said Business School—because it was my dream. I knew if I didn’t get in, I would apply to other school.

When I received the interview invitation, I was in shock. I cried with my daughter in one arm and my laptop in the other. Preparing for the interview was another hurdle. With no external help, I relied on YouTube tutorials and GMAT Club forums to guide me. On the day of the interview, which happened to be Valentine’s Day, my husband took a day off from work to support me.

Two weeks later, we went to India for some family function. While doing rituals, I got the email. My husband saw the results first and went quiet. My heart sank, fearing the worst. But then I saw the results myself: I had been accepted! I couldn’t believe it. I hugged my daughter tightly and shared the news with my in-laws, who were amazed at how I managed everything with a newborn.

Looking back, I still don’t fully understand how I got through it all. But one thing is certain: my daughter is my lucky charm. If she hadn’t been born, I would have joined an Indian business school and missed out on this incredible opportunity. My partner’s unwavering support and belief in me also fuelled this journey.

Here’s to new beginnings and the incredible journey ahead at Said Business School 🎓

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­Hi Pooja
Incredible story, I'm in a similar situation, and I was hoping if we could connect.I believe talking to someone who has been in a similar situation & can share the experience that can boost my confidence
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ritz07
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Motherhood, Hardships, and the Pursuit of an MBA 02 Sep 2024, 01:54
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That’s amazing! Congrats! And hats off to you. What’s your plan on pursuing the mba with your daughter still being so young when you do your course?

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Motherhood, Hardships, and the Pursuit of an MBA 04 Sep 2024, 22:15
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Wow. It is an awesome story! Thank you for sharing!
Congratulations on your amazing Journey!
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GGGMAT2
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Motherhood, Hardships, and the Pursuit of an MBA 26 Dec 2024, 23:11
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Congratulations Pooja for getting into your dream school! Preparing for GMAT while being a new mother is no easy feat.
If you dont mind, I would like to connect with you regarding your mindset about the application process. Please let me know if its ok.

Thanks!

Pooja1308
Two years ago, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I left my job in India and moved to the UK, following my partner who had relocated here. My goal was clear: I wanted to pursue an MBA, and this move was the first step toward making that dream a reality. Settling into a new country while preparing for a highly competitive MBA exam was no small feat, but I was determined.

After months of preparation, I cleared the Indian MBA exam and received an offer letter from a top business school. But just when I should have been celebrating, life threw me a curveball. I wasn’t feeling well, but I chalked it up to nerves and anxiety. A routine blood test revealed something unexpected—I was pregnant. I found myself holding an offer letter in one hand and a pregnancy report in the other. My life was suddenly turned upside down, and I didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad.

With the MBA program set to start in a few months, I faced an incredibly difficult decision. I had always envisioned bringing a child into the world in a state of calm and joy, not amidst the pressures of a rigorous academic program. After much reflection, I decided to defer my MBA admission in India and continue my stay in London. It was a tough choice, but I knew it was the right one for me and my family.

In August, I gave birth to my daughter, and my world changed in the most beautiful way. As I held her in my arms, I knew I wanted to give her the best life possible. But I also knew that to do that, I needed to fulfil my own aspirations. So, in October, just two months after becoming a mother, I started preparing again—this time for MBA programs in the UK.

Balancing motherhood with the demands of MBA preparation was one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever faced. My days were filled with feeding, changing diapers, and comforting my newborn. My nights were spent studying, often for 3-4 hours at a stretch, in between feeding and pumping sessions. The exhaustion was overwhelming, but I pushed through because I knew what was at stake—not just my career, but also the future I wanted to create for my daughter.

In December, I took the exam. My score was decent, though not as high as I’d hoped. Time was my biggest enemy, but I wasn’t about to give up. I applied to just one school—Said Business School—because it was my dream. I knew if I didn’t get in, I would apply to other school.

When I received the interview invitation, I was in shock. I cried with my daughter in one arm and my laptop in the other. Preparing for the interview was another hurdle. With no external help, I relied on YouTube tutorials and GMAT Club forums to guide me. On the day of the interview, which happened to be Valentine’s Day, my husband took a day off from work to support me.

Two weeks later, we went to India for some family function. While doing rituals, I got the email. My husband saw the results first and went quiet. My heart sank, fearing the worst. But then I saw the results myself: I had been accepted! I couldn’t believe it. I hugged my daughter tightly and shared the news with my in-laws, who were amazed at how I managed everything with a newborn.

Looking back, I still don’t fully understand how I got through it all. But one thing is certain: my daughter is my lucky charm. If she hadn’t been born, I would have joined an Indian business school and missed out on this incredible opportunity. My partner’s unwavering support and belief in me also fuelled this journey.

Here’s to new beginnings and the incredible journey ahead at Said Business School 🎓

Posted from my mobile device
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