Ask GyanOne MBA Admission Consultants - Top Bschool Applications

Indian Entrepreneur Makes it to Stanford, Rejects MIT

What is the first picture that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘sapling’? Perhaps that of a small plant, being nurtured to growth. The growth part is spot on, but in this article, sapling refers not to a plant, but to a company founded by a very dynamic entrepreneur – Swetha GB. Swetha has travelled the world, added tremendous value to clients through SAP consulting, and then came back to India to found her own venture, or should we say to nurture her own SAPling. This is Swetha’s story, and the story of how she made it to two top programs at MIT and Stanford, a story of the relevance of the MBA for entrepreneurs.

Do MBA programs value IT applicants?
Overcrowded. Over-represented. Not valued. These are only some of the things one hears of IT professionals applying to MBA programs. To be frank, not all of it is false. IT applicants do belong to an overcrowded pool. However, saying that they are not valued is far from the truth. So many times, IT applicants give up on themselves before the school gives up on them. Similarly, so many entrepreneurs wonder how they will really be able to communicate what they wish to get from an MBA program. This process starts from within. Indian Entrepreneur Makes

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From Amazon to Kellogg: Tania's Success Story

Tania is very very passionate about the performing arts, and has trained to be a classical Indian dancer (in Bharatnatyam) for 7 years, also performing at several shows. Separately, she has been interested in painting, and have painted on pots, canvasses, lights, wine bottles, baskets, bed sheets and glass. From here, she has chosen a career in software testing, and made the most of her opportunities to get into a good role in this domain at Amazon. We now continue the story of Tania’s journey from software testing to Kellogg.

From Amazon to an MBA: Why?
The first question that Tania set out to answer was how an MBA could help her. She already had a successful career in technology, but she wanted to go beyond that. She had helped teams design and test great new Amazon services, and now she wanted to be on the business side, conceiving strategy, partnerships, and commercialization for such services and products. This clarity in thinking was important. Without this clarity, Tania would have found it difficult to make her mission align with that of Kellogg. Yet, Kellogg wasn’t the only school Tania applied to. She also applied to two other top options in the US (ranked below Kellogg) for safety, and to NUS, ISB, and IIM Bangalore (EPGP) in India. From Software Testing to Kellogg MBA

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Admitted to Ross with Just Two Years of Work Experience

The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a dream school for many an MBA applicant. Those who seek careers in Operations and in Consulting are especially attracted by the allure of the school. The steely gates of Ross are manned by gatekeepers who are quite particular about the credentials of those who enter. The average experience for the incoming class hovers around 5 years, so to hope to be admitted to Ross with just 2 years of experience was more than even a dream. A dream that Rahul Kumar, a mechanical engineer working with Tata Steel and a GyanOne client, chose to pursue. This is the story of how his dream became reality, with a twist at the end: the success story of Rahul Kumar.

If there is one quality among the many that the Ross MBA program looks for that stands out for Rahul Kumar, it is his tenacity and his potential. He grew up in a relatively water-parched region of India, but made that his strength than his weakness. In a way, that is a characteristic of winners around the world, and not just successful MBA applicants, isn’t it? Converting a weakness to a strength, and rising against all odds! This would be a theme that would resonate with Rahul even later, during his MBA admissions process.

Rahul went to IIT Kharagpur, and used his time there to not just earn a degree that is coveted across India, but also to conduct research on cheap methods to filter water. Some of his contributions are today helping hundreds of people back in his old hometown. Just like Rahul chose to do himself – this time at Tata Steel in Odisha, India.Admitted to Ross With Just 2 Years

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Duke Fuqua MBA for a Star Cruise Mariner - An Interesting Success Story

Ever heard of the Star Flyer? It is one of the most popular and well-known cruise ships in the world, and was also extensively featured in a major Bollywood movie in 2001. Now, meet Avinash Deori, who is not just part of the staff that ran the Star Flyer, but also helped extricate the ship after it was stuck in an infamous landing incident. When Avinash began working with GyanOne, he immediately came across as a very focused and diligent professional. He had applied to a few other options the previous year, with little success, and now had his eyes set on a bigger prize – a top 10 admit. As a mariner / Merchant Navy professional, Avinash brought in differentiated work experience, but this also meant that his experience was not directly relevant to operations, the domain he wanted to work in post-MBA.

If Stephen Covey ever decides to write a book on the 7 habits of highly successful applicants, two habits that he should certainly feature are resilience and rigor. Throughout the application process, Avinash showed exceptional resilience and thoroughness. Whether it was contacting Fuqua students, understanding the school culture, or conducting research to see if the school could really help him achieve his aims, he did it all very well. When GyanOne provided feedback on his essays, Avinash did not hesitate to make just slight changes, but even rewrote his entire essays to better express himself and his goals. At each point, he scrupulously understood Duke and Fuqua principles and policies and strictly adhered to them.Entreprenuership At Duke Fuqua MBA

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Study in Europe: GyanOne Interviews HEC Paris Current Student

Amrit Mann, a BITS Pilani engineer, now an HEC Paris student reveals the most sought after answers by Indian applicants intending to Study at Top business schools in Europe. Amrit has been an absolute pleasure to work with and to interact with. GyanOne caught up with him, whIle he is in the last leg of his Master’s at HEC Paris.

GyanOne: What is the most exciting aspect of being an Indian student at HEC?
Amrit: The most exciting part for me is, in a way, representing your country on a big stage. A bschool has a lot going on and if you are good at something, it shows and you are recognised for it. Another interesting aspect is that your opinions on various topics (business or cultural) are constantly challenged and that expands your horizon.

GyanOne: What would you suggest Indian students aiming to settle in Europe be cautious about, related to the below mentioned aspects.

Financials

Amrit: In my opinion, there is a major issue as we tend to be savings-oriented. There is a struggle with lower pay in internships but to be honest, the kind of work done compensates for the low pay. The experience will hold a lot of value 5 years post graduation (even if you settle in India/Europe).

Language / culture

Amrit: I think this aspect is very important yet neglected. I must say that not just in france and germany, but even other countries have their own local languages and cultures that one would benefit from knowing. If one plans to settle there, it is pretty obvious, one needs to be motivated to learn their languages and ways of life.

Legal Policies

Amrit: I dont have much insights to share here. But, from what I know, atleast in france, one needs to work here for atleast 4-5 years before they can apply for a permanent residence. Till then, a company needs to sponsor you. These policies are specific to certain jurisdictions.GyanOne Interviews HEC Paris

This interview was first published on the GyanOne Blog

LBS MiM Applications: How to Prepare for Success

LBS MiM applications can be challenging! That, at least, is no secret. Every year, London Business School chooses a very selective cohort of achievers to be part of its Master in Management (MiM) program. While most applicants are aware that strong GMAT scores (the LBS MiM currently has an average of 683), excellent essays, and noteworthy academics are important to be able to get admission to LBS, what many applicants do not understand is how to use their own strengths and skills in the application.

Vrinda D is an LBS MiM student and a former GyanOne client who had an extensive background in social work, multiple internships, and student leadership positions. However, Vrinda’s forte lay not just in having these achievements, but in showcasing them. From every aspect, Vrinda is an outstanding professional, but how did she choose what to highlight, and why?

LBS MiM Essay Questions: The Importance of Understanding
One of the critical mistakes that many applicants make is that of not understanding the essay questions and what the school is looking for before attempting to answer them. The LBS MiM essay questions focus on the applicant’s career goals, and how he or she brings in relevant skills in order to achieve those goals. Similarly, LBS looks for evidence that the candidate can excel in a team environment. The LBS Master in Management class is made up of students from more than 50 countries, so this ability is critical to succeed in the program. Finally, LBS looks for evidence that the applicant will be able to contribute meaningfully on campus. LBS MiM Applications

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ISB with a 660 GMAT: A Success Story!

ISB with 660 GMAT !!?? Most people would discourage an applicant from even thinking about this, let alone doing it. And yet, this is exactly what Ankit Nanda, a GyanOne client, accomplished, winning an admit to the ISB class of 2017 with a score of 660 on the GMAT. Ankit is not an IITian (though he is certainly as accomplished), and has an engineering profile, considered typical for many applicants for ISB (this is not entirely false – 72% of ISB’s Class of 2016 was made up of engineers). However, he is more organized and driven than most applicants we have seen. Ankit’s assiduous planning and excellent execution led him to win an ISB admit with just a 660 GMAT.

ISB with 660 GMAT undoable? Certainly not!
One of the prevailing myths about ISB admissions that we have tried to address in the past too revolves around a specific minimum score that ISB looks at. With a 701 average, the school is certainly GMAT competitive for admissions. However, that does not mean that everyone needs to exceed that mark, or even reach it. Especially over the last year, ISB has made admissions a lot more holistic. That means that multiple applicants, including those with ‘typical’ backgrounds and GMAT scores less than 700 for ISB, have made it. ISB with 660 GMAT (or even somewhat lower) is no longer a myth.

Executing a great ISB admissions strategy
While lower GMAT scores can lead one to success, the process is unlikely to be successful without the right planning and execution. Ankit prepared for this success by first and foremost starting early and giving himself enough time to create an impactful application. While he took could not apply in time for Round 1 at ISB, he ensured that he started early for ISB Round 2, in late October itself. ISB with 660 GMAT: a success story!

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The Kellogg Russell Fellows Program - An MBA for Less Work Experience Applicants


The Kellogg Russell Fellows program is fairly new compared to some of the more established Masters in Management programs offered by top schools around the world. US schools (with the exception of Duke Fuqua) are just about waking up now to the possibilities of early career programs, including Master in Management equivalents, and early career MBA programs. The Kellogg Russell Fellows program, along with the Michigan Ross Master of Management, and the Duke MMS, are some of the best non-MBA master’s options for business education. This post looks at a brief overview of the Russell Fellows, and also highlights the success story of a GyanOne client – an Indian applicant who made it to the program in 2016.

Kellogg Russell Fellows – is it a great option?
While the number of MiM/early career MBA programs is consistently growing, the Kellogg Russell Fellows program (MSMS) stands out by dint of its brand value, placement rate (100% at 3 months, as reported by Kellogg), and course structure. The program is explicitly meant for students with a non-business background (indeed, students from a business undergraduate background are ineligible). Similarly, the program only accepts applications from college seniors in the final year of their undergraduate programs. The program initially had only 2 rounds of admission (with deadlines in October and February), which Kellogg increased to 3 this year (adding an April deadline as well).

The program itself features only the basics in business education, so it is meant for students who wish to make a career change to the business side, rather than those really looking for an MBA equivalent. However, the courses are supplemented through teaching by the outstanding Kellogg faculty, the Kellogg reputation, and Kellogg’s vaunted Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) program. At a relatively early stage of their career, Kellogg MSMS students will also need greater career support, and Kellogg ensures that through its personalized support structure. Kellogg Russell Fellows

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Is International Experience Important for INSEAD?

Is International experience for INSEAD important? Is it critical? Does visiting the US for a 2-day conference count as international experience? How about working with international colleagues? Does that count as experience or is it just global exposure?

These are all questions that we often get from aspiring INSEAD applicants, especially those from India and China. These questions are not without basis – after all, INSEAD itself mentions international motivation as a key criteria on which it evaluates applicants. However, does that mean that those with little time spent working away from their home nation stand no chance?

How INSEAD looks at International Experience
International experience for INSEAD is a nuanced matter. It is important to first understand why the school looks at international experience as a criteria at all, and why it explicitly states as much (international experience is valued by all schools, but they rarely mention it as part of their evaluation criteria, at least officially). At INSEAD, almost 96% of the class is international, drawn from 77 countries around the world. Compare that to 40% at Stanford, and 34% at Harvard Business School, and you realize how far ahead of the curve INSEAD is, even when compared to other top, non-European schools (European schools such as LBS and IMD are closer to INSEAD’s average).International Experience for INSEAD

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An Indian Entreprenuer Makes it to Johnson Cornell

There was a time, not long back, when family business applicants to full-time MBA programs were looked upon almost entirely as inheritors. This has been rapidly changing over the last 4-5 years, and today, not only have top MBA programs launched specific offerings targeting family business applicants, but they have begun looking at second-generation business owners as excellent prospects to add value to their programs, and later to their alumni base. The Cornell MBA, is an excellent MBA program among the very best, has taken strong strides in this direction too. This post looks briefly at the plenty of opportunities available for studying entrepreneurship at Cornell, and also looks at the story of Rohan Sangari, one of the GyanOne clients who made it to the Cornell MBA in 2016.

Why go for an MBA as an entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur or a family business professional, the first question that one asks oneself when considering further education is around whether the MBA is the right program in the first place. In this sense, the MBA competes with other specialized master’s programs, short-term executive education options, and even the option to not get any further education at all. This is especially true for second-generation family business professionals, as many of them are already part of well-established, successful businesses. And yet, even this trend is now changing. Many family business professionals and entrepreneurs now see the value of gaining advanced business education that may not get them immediate short-term profits, but could be pivotal to helping them forge partnerships and expand their concerns in the medium to long term.

Further, the world of business changes rapidly. Even established businesses are today facing competition from smaller rivals, and with the growth of the internet, from firms across the world. There is therefore the need to not just be part of a business, but to grow it too. In that sense, the family business professionals of today do not just inherit businesses, but are increasingly being asked to take up the mantle of growing them too.

This is why we feel that entrepreneurship at Cornell is such a well-thought out educational offering, balancing the needs of first-generation entrepreneurs with those of managers/inheritors of more established businesses, and combining each with the allure of an excellent MBA program. Entrepreneurship at Cornell

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GyanOne Interviews NYU Stern MBA Current Student – Life at NYU Stern

GyanOne interviews Sudhir Patamseti, an NYU Stern MBA Current Student, and a GyanOne client on Life at this premier bschool. As of March 2016, NYU Stern MBA program is ranked #10 in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report. Sudhir shares his experience on key highlights on Life at Stern, learnings from teh program and opportunities for a technology professional post NYU Stern MBA.

GyanOne: What made you consider the Langone MBA?
Sudhir: I chose the Langone MBA because I did not want to give up my current job [context: Sudhir works at Akamai Technologies, the leading global Cloud services provider], and did not also want to go for a full-time MBA program because of the higher costs involved. The Stern Langone MBA provided me with the best of both worlds – I could work and at the same time study at Stern, and the additional work experience that I so gained would help me in my career progress later too.

GyanOne: Career-wise, what are the opportunities you are looking for, from this program?
Sudhir: I am looking for a career leap, as right now I am working as a Software Engineer, and I plan to work as a Consultant (within the same industry) in the future. As I get more senior, I want to give myself a chance to be in leadership roles in my industry, and I understand that achieving this would require a deep knowledge of business and strategy. I am happy to report that the Langone program so far (Sudhir began at Langone in Spring 2016) seems like the perfect program to help me achieve this objective. GyanOne Interviews NYU Stern MBA

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GyanOne Interviews IMD MBA Current Student - Life at IMD Switzerland

From the high seas to the IMD MBA – that is Rakesh Renganathan’s story. Rakesh navigated large MV vessels as a Master (Captain) in his earlier life, and here he is at the IMD MBA, navigating himself through a program that is intense, demanding, and full of learning. In this interview, Rakesh talks about life at IMD, his key learning experiences, and how being part of one of the world’s most elite MBA programs has helped him grow as an aspiring business professional. A must-read for those looking at the IMD MBA as a future option. Even for those who are not, this interview can help understand life at a top MBA program. Over to Rakesh, who delivers some excellent insights into B-school life at IMD.

Preparing for GMAT and applying to the IMD MBA
As a Merchant Navy captain, I knew that I would always be running against time in terms of preparing for the GMAT. I used books by Manhattan GMAT and Veritas, and studied hard, but even then, I underperformed on test day. I had been consistently scoring 700+ on my mocks, so ending up with a 660 was a little bit of a disappointment. However, I knew that a somewhat average GMAT score is not the end of the world, as top schools look at the overall profile.

To shortlist IMD, I used a fairly simple process. I wanted to go to a program which was very international, given my background. So, choosing IMD was simple for me.

The IMD MBA experience, and life at the IMD MBA
The experience has been simply fantastic. IMD is a very niche school, so I was not sure of what to expect when I began. Over time, I have seen that IMD has a very close-knit community and also found that the minute you go and meet alumni, they really take time and go out of their way to help. So in that way the IMD community is not just about people on campus but also includes alumni, most of whom are in top position in industry. Life at IMD Interview with Rakesh R

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700 to 770 on GMAT! What Does it Take to Get There?

Scoring a 770 on GMAT (99 percentile) is rare enough, but doing it in one’s first attempt on this challenging test is rarer still. What does it take to get this outstanding score, and how should one optimize one’s preparation strategy to overcome constraints and suit one’s strengths? This is the story of Vatsal Gupta, and of his 770 on the GMAT.

How to begin GMAT preparation
Before one can start dreaming of a great GMAT score, one needs to be able to plan for it. Unfortunately, most test takers plan for a test wishfully, and execute fitfully. In other words, everyone wants a great score, but not everyone puts in the effort and structure into preparation that is required to achieve it. This structure is not just about what to study, but about how to study it. Here are the key strategies that Vatsal followed:

– To begin with, Vatsal took a mock test to identify his natural strengths as well as areas that did not align with his capabilities immediately. For example, as an engineer, Vatsal knew that he would be strong at Quant – and he was – but he also found that for him, Data Sufficiency would take some more effort to get right. Data Sufficiency presented a new structure and question type, and its mechanics would entail a lot more practice. Note 1.

– Vatsal also ensured that the test he chose was not just another practice test, but a deep and comprehensive diagnostic. It is important to take a diagnostic test which can help you to evaluate and identify weaknesses across ALL areas. After this test, Vatsal was able to identify that some parts of Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, and quite a few of Sentence Correction, would need more attention from him. Note 2.

How to practice GMAT questions...How to get 770 on GMAT

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The IESE Assessment Day - Tips and Questions on How to Prepare

The IESE Assessment Day is an important part of the IESE MBA Admissions process. Surprising, then, to note that it is not even mandatory for most applicants! The IESE MBA follows an extremely thorough admissions process, and while the usual steps of asking for applications and conducting personal interviews is done by IESE too, it goes a step further by inviting a selected few applicants to the IESE Assessment Day. However, the Assessment Day invitation is not a necessary precursor for an admit – indeed, in the past, applicants have been accepted to the IESE MBA without being invited to the Assessment Day, or even after not being able to make it post an invitation. Unlike the IMD Assessment Day, which is similar but a necessary part of the process, the IESE Assessment Day is therefore not mandatory, but it is highly recommended in case one is invited.

Why is the IESE Assessment Day held?
The whole purpose of the event is to evaluate some candidates more holistically. These are usually candidates that IESE considers potential admits, but would like to know better. This process could have different purposes for different candidates invited – this purpose could be to evaluate...IESE Assessment Day

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GMAT or GRE for MBA Admissions? The Debate gets More Interesting

Should you take the GMAT or the GRE for MBA applications? This is a question that applicants often ask themselves, and others. While it has been a matter of debate since top schools started accepting GRE scores in addition to GMAT scores, recent data on average GRE scores released by top business schools makes it clear that the field is not even for students taking either exam. Yes, you read that right. Applicants using GRE scores seem to be at an advantage, at least as of now.

Do business schools prefer the GMAT over the GRE?
The debate over the GMAT v/s the GRE for MBA applications has traditionally centred on the notion that business schools somehow prefer the GMAT over the GRE. Up until 5-6 years ago, few business schools accepted GRE scores. Today, however, almost all schools do. Yet, some people (students, prospective applicants, and even some admissions consultants) have been advocating that applicants should take the GMAT instead. The common reasoning provided is....GMAT or GRE for MBA Admissions

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Can Indian Applicants Aim for Scholarships at Top MiM programs?

MiM scholarships, or scholarships for Master in Management programs, are highly sought after by each applicant to these early career management programs. With most top MiM programs in Europe (although some top schools in the US, such as Kellogg, and Ross, are also catching up), a majority of applicants looking for early career options have their sights set on not just admissions, but also scholarships in Euros! This post discusses some of the criteria that top management programs use to award scholarships and also highlights a success story of Vishal Sanduja, a GyanOne client who won a EUR 20,000 scholarship to ESSEC and an admit to the HEC MiM too. Vishal joins multiple GyanOne clients who have made it to top MiM programs in the past.

MiM essays and their role in scholarships
The fact that MiM essays play a big role in earning scholarships is not a secret from most MiM applicants. However, MiM applicants also need to exhibit greater achievement based on fewer experiences as compared to their MBA applicant counterparts, because the huge factor of work experience is absent or restricted largely to internships. Work achievements therefore play hardly a role. Further, most MiM applicants bring in achievements that are not very different in nature (the college experience provides for similar opportunities), and therefore differentiating oneself is very important. MiM applicants also need to enunciate career goals with greater clarity, because their statements of the future are not based on exhibited professional achievement, but an extension (and often a change) of what they have studied. MiM Scholarships and Essays

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Want to Be An Entreprenuer? How Will A Top MBA Help You?

There was a time, not long back, when family business applicants to full-time MBA programs were looked upon almost entirely as inheritors. This has been rapidly changing over the last 4-5 years, and today, not only have top MBA programs launched specific offerings targeting family business applicants, but they have begun looking at second-generation business owners as excellent prospects to add value to their programs, and later to their alumni base. The Cornell MBA, which we have covered in the past as an excellent MBA program among the very best, has taken strong strides in this direction too. This post looks briefly at the plenty of opportunities available for studying entrepreneurship at Cornell, and also looks at the story of Rohan Sangari, one of the GyanOne clients who made it to the Cornell MBA in 2016.

Why go for an MBA as an entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur or a family business professional, the first question that one asks oneself when considering further education is around whether the MBA is the right program in the first place. In this sense, the MBA competes with other specialized master’s programs, short-term executive education options, and even the option to not get any further education at all. This is especially true for second-generation family business professionals, as many of them are already part of well-established, successful businesses. And yet, even this trend is now changing. Many family business professionals and entrepreneurs now see the value of gaining advanced business education that may not get them immediate short-term profits, but could be pivotal to helping them forge partnerships and expand their concerns in the medium to long term. Entrepreneurship at Cornell

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