EMBA: Apoorva's Journey to Darden, NYU, and Georgetown w/ scholarships

Question

https://myessayreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Thumbnail-Apoorva--1024x576.png

Introduction

Apoorva Dandekar is a Senior Product Manager with 14+ years of experience leading large-scale technology modernization initiatives and product development programs. Throughout her career, she steadily progressed from Quality Assurance roles to senior product leadership, managing cross-functional teams and delivering solutions that impact hundreds of thousands of users annually.

Her career reflects a consistent pattern of growth, resilience, and leadership. Over the years, she earned multiple promotions while leading mission-critical programs involving student loans, scholarship platforms, and large-scale modernization initiatives.

Apoorva learned about MER through her colleague who was also working with us. We collaborated on her application for three EMBA programs, and she was accepted into all three: Darden School of Business, NYU Stern School of Business, and Georgetown McDonough School of Business. She also received scholarships from both Darden 45K) and NYU Stern (45K).

What makes Apoorva's story particularly inspiring is her ability to balance a demanding leadership role, family responsibilities, GRE preparation, and MBA applications while remaining deeply committed to mentorship, continuous learning, and personal growth.

In this candid conversation, Apoorva reflects on the following aspects of her application. journey:

Talking Points of the Conversation

00:00  Admissions Summary 
  02:00  Academic and Professional Background 
  06:30  Leadership Lessons and Career Growth 
  08:40  Why Pursue an Executive MBA? 
  11:20  Why Darden Executive MBA Instead of a Part-Time MBA? 
  16:10  Choosing Darden over NYU Stern and Georgetown 
  19:45  Application Questionnaire and Self-Reflection 
  23:10  Georgetown Video Essay Experience 
  26:15  Building an Effective MBA Resume 
  30:20  Recommendation Letters 
  35:10  Test Preparation and the Optional Essay 
  40:20  Leadership Beyond Work 
  45:15  Balancing Work, Family, and an Executive MBA 
  49:30  Key Factors Behind Success 
  54:40  Final Advice for MBA Applicants

Let’s dive into a conversation with Apoorva:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThKbkh_OQkk

Poonam:    Hello, Apoorva. How are you?

Apoorva:  Hi, Poonam. I'm doing well. Thank you for asking. It's a beautiful, bright day, and I'm feeling very positive. How are you doing? 
  
Poonam:    I'm doing well. Thank you for your time for this conversation today, and congratulations on your admission offers from Darden, NYU Stern, and Georgetown. We applied to three schools, and you were accepted into all three. Two of them also offered you scholarships. How does it feel?

Apoorva: It feels amazing. Last July, I had almost no expectations and was very scared. Now, in July 2026, I have three admits, and two schools have offered me very good scholarships. I feel elated and happy. I owe a lot of credit to you, from building my confidence to everything else we will discuss during this interview. Long story short, I feel amazing, and I feel I made a good decision.

Poonam:    I'm overjoyed too, and I'm proud of what you have achieved.

02:00 | Academic and Professional Background: From Quality Assurance to Senior Product Manager

Poonam:    Can you briefly walk us through your academic and professional journey and explain how you progressed from quality assurance roles to a Senior Product Manager role?

Apoorva: Academically, I was the kind of person many people can relate to—the student sitting at the back of the class, not the teacher's favorite, and not academically outstanding. But while growing up, I was surrounded by amazingly strong friends who collectively brought me up.

Throughout my life, I was focused, but that focus was not channeled toward academics. I could focus on sports, knitting, or even growing a plant or a tomato—just not necessarily on academics.

I came to the United States in 2009 for my first master's degree in Engineering Management at Old Dominion University. From there, it became a journey of self-discovery. With every hurdle, I discovered something new about myself.

After graduating, I moved into quality assurance. My background was not in computers or technology, so joining a software company in a quality role was challenging. Visa considerations also influenced the opportunities I accepted at that stage.

I worked my way through quality roles from junior to mid-level positions and changed companies a few times because I wanted to grow but had not yet found the right fit. I tested the waters in software quality and product roles until the breakthrough happened.

At Publicis Sapient, my immediate manager, a Vice President, told me that he saw me as a product person rather than a quality person. I told him he should interview me and not simply rely on his instinct, but he said, 'No, just do it.'

That is why I often say I am a product of the five people around me. They changed and channelized me. I accepted the challenge. The first six months were very difficult because COVID hit, both my children were at home, and I was working long hours with the children around me. But six or seven years later, I'm grateful I put in that effort. I found the area that excited me, people trusted me, and I grew rapidly.

Poonam:    You received multiple promotions over the past few years.

Apoorva:  Yes. I moved from Associate Product Manager to Product Owner, then Team Lead, and now Senior Product Manager. I guide two—and now three—teams within the product community.

06:30 | Leadership Lessons: Leading from the Front, the Side, and Behind

Poonam:    You're leading cross-functional teams and delivering products that impact hundreds of thousands of users. What leadership lessons have shaped your growth the most?

Apoorva:  Leadership is not one-size-fits-all. Sometimes you lead from the front, sometimes from the side, and sometimes from behind.

There are phases when people are mentally down—for example, when a team is handling production support, receiving many tickets every day, and senior leadership is watching closely. At that point, you may need to be the cheerleader.

At other times, you have to roll up your sleeves and do the work yourself. Sometimes you need to step back and ask people to find a way forward and explain how they will take action. A leader has to recognize whether to lead from the front, the back, or the side, and then fit into that space to help people.

Poonam:    That's beautiful. Knowing when to lead from the front, the back, or the side is a new angle to leadership.

08:40 | Why Pursue an MBA at This Stage?

Poonam:    What motivated you to pursue an MBA at this stage of your career, when you are already doing so well? How does it connect with your long-term aspiration to become a senior business leader—a Director or Vice President?

Apoorva:  I had wanted to pursue an MBA for almost a decade, but life happens. You may be building a family, a career, a house, or something else, and the MBA keeps getting pushed back.

This time, I realized that if I kept postponing it, it might not have the same value a couple of decades later because I would already have gained much of that experience. I decided to push everything else aside, aspire for it, and work toward it. If it happened, great; if the time were not right, that would be fine too.

An MBA has been a dream for a decade, and I'm glad it is coming to fruition now. I am doing well, but I am still hungry. I am like a climber: every peak you reach becomes the base of another peak.

My next immediate step may be Senior Manager, followed by Director and then Vice President of Product. I believe the MBA will provide me with a strong foundation in fundamentals, strategy, and other areas of business. This felt like the right time.

11:20 | From Part-Time MBA to Executive MBA: Realizing the Better Fit

Poonam: Initially, you had decided to apply to Part-Time MBA programs, even though I had mentioned that your extensive experience was more aligned with an Executive MBA. Later, after receiving an admission offer from Darden's Part-Time MBA program, you realized that an Executive MBA was better aligned with your goals and stage of life. We then prepared a separate application for the switch. What led to that realization?

Apoorva: Sometimes you remain stuck in an old idea. My preference for a Part-Time MBA was probably based on a decision I had formed ten years earlier, when colleagues around me were pursuing Part-Time MBAs. I was still inside that bubble. You tried to convince me, but sometimes you have to learn for yourself.

After I was admitted to Darden's Part-Time MBA program, I attended an introductory session and met prospective classmates. I felt like a complete misfit. I do not mean that as a criticism of anyone, but most of the cohort appeared to be about ten years younger than I was, and I could recognize the kinds of conversations I might have had ten years earlier.

It was a gut feeling. I told myself, 'Apoorva, this is not for you.' I did not ignore it. I immediately wrote to Darden and said that I did not want to commit my time, money, and family sacrifices to a program where I did not feel I fit in.

Darden responded positively and agreed that, with my experience, I might be at the upper end of the Part-Time class and would probably find more similar conversations in the Executive MBA cohort. My reservation was that I wanted more in-person interaction and thought the Executive MBA met only once a month. Darden explained that I had misunderstood the format and would not lose either academically or in human interaction.

Then I called you. You were supportive and did not say, 'I told you so.' Darden told me I could switch, but I still had to complete the Executive MBA application and interview. I was frightened that I might give up my Part-Time seat and then not get into the Executive MBA.
  
  They reassured me that they believed I would be admitted, but I still had to complete the process. I was anxious and kept emailing you. We had to work very quickly, and you continued helping me even though you were unwell.

Poonam:    I just did my job.

Apoorva:  No, you did more than your job. You went above and beyond, so thank you.

16:10 | Choosing Darden Over NYU Stern and Georgetown

Poonam: You received offers from all three schools—Darden, NYU Stern, and Georgetown—and scholarships from Darden and NYU Stern. NYU Stern had always been your dream school, yet you ultimately chose Darden. How did Darden become the right fit for you?

Apoorva: I applied to NYU Stern's Washington, D.C., location rather than New York. I felt more connected to the UVA community. If I remain in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area, Darden has a stronger local network for me. NYU is a global name, but Darden has a stronger presence within my community.

Travel also made a significant difference. I could have chosen a dream school on the West Coast and traveled every weekend, but I wanted to keep things compact. When I imagined not spending nights with my younger daughter, I realized I did not want everything in one area and nothing in another. I wanted to balance.

By the time I received the NYU offer, I had already built relationships at Darden. The culture felt warmer, more accepting, and more appreciative. In the end, the scholarships were also similar, so I chose Darden even though NYU had originally been my first-choice school.

Poonam: Executive MBA candidates often have to choose differently from full-time applicants because they have careers and families. They cannot simply chase their first-choice school; they have to balance everything. When you asked me, I also advised you to discuss it with your family and make the decision that worked best for all of you. You made the best decision. Darden is a great school.

19:45 | The Brainstorming Questionnaire: A Journey of Self-Discovery

Poonam: Before we started the applications, I asked you to complete a comprehensive brainstorming questionnaire with twenty-five in-depth questions. How did that exercise help you reflect on your journey and identify content for the essays across all three schools?

Apoorva: Those twenty-five questions were so important that even today, six months later, I still reflect on them. They were almost like self-therapy and self-understanding. I often speak with a colleague who also worked with you, and we both say that the questions lead to self-realization. Even someone who is not applying to business school could benefit from completing them.

They are still useful to me when I am experiencing certain emotions. I can look back and understand what happened in my life and why I may be feeling a certain way. The questionnaire helped me understand myself, gain clarity, and even understand my emotions better.

The essays were only the tip of the iceberg. The hard work had already been done through those twenty-five questions. Once you know yourself and what you want, you can select the appropriate content for each essay.

Poonam:    Exactly. You had already generated the content, so you only needed to select pieces from it and use them in the essays. It worked like an accelerator.

Apoorva:  Absolutely. If you put your heart and soul into those questions, the essays become much easier.

Poonam:    Many applicants have told me that they discovered themselves through the questionnaire. It is heartening to know that you still return to it.

Apoorva:  I do. I am currently working on a promotion package, and I still refer to those responses.

23:10 | Georgetown Video Essay: Bringing Personality Beyond the Written Application

Poonam: Georgetown required a video essay about hobbies and interests. I was excited when I saw that question because I thought it would make an interesting video for you. Many business schools now use video essays to evaluate communication skills, confidence, and authenticity and to know candidates beyond the written word. What was your experience, how was it different from written essays, and what advice would you give future applicants?

Apoorva: This was a completely new experience for me. When I completed my first master's degree in 2009, video essays were not even on the horizon. The good part was that we both agreed that running was my hobby and passion, so identifying the topic was easy. Preparing the script was more challenging because the video could not exceed one minute. When you love something, you can talk about it for hours, so cutting it down to one minute required repeated trimming.

I kept the script on my phone and read it to my children so often that they knew it by heart, too. We made it a collective activity. My husband filmed me, and we found a nice location. It became a small team-building activity for the family.

I am glad schools ask for video essays because they give applicants experience facing the camera and thinking about voice modulation, presentation, and editing. The main thing is to find the right topic. After that, the takes and retakes require patience, but you eventually get comfortable with it.

Poonam:    It was an interesting experience for me too, and I'm glad your entire family was involved.

Apoorva:  They still watch the final video because it is saved on my phone.

Poonam: There are many things to keep in mind. The content has to fit within one minute, but delivery also matters: your communication skills, how natural you are, how excited you are about your hobby, and the background. Because you are passionate about early-morning runs before sunrise and love nature, I advised you to film the video in a natural setting. All these elements together create an impact and show the viewer that you are genuinely passionate about early-morning running.

Apoorva:  The background was also your idea. It was a beautiful idea, and we found a picturesque setting.

26:15 | Building the MBA Resume

Poonam:    Let's move to the resume. Would you like to share your thoughts on the resume we built? After the brainstorming questionnaire, we worked on the resume before moving to the essays.

Apoorva: In fifteen years of work experience, I had never built such a thorough resume. Honestly, I had not cared much about the resume because I thought the interview was where you won or lost. But you told me that the foundation came before the interview and that I needed a solid, crisp resume. The resume I brought to you was almost a copy-and-paste document filled with job responsibilities. You read it one word at a time. I had not even read my own resume that carefully before sharing it.

The resume probably took the longest time in the entire process, but it was completely worth it. It made me think through what I had done over fifteen years, one word and one line at a time. Tightening and sharpening every statement was very important. Even today, I look at the resume we built six months ago and value it. Not much has changed, and I still think it is very strong.

Poonam: Thank you for your kind words. I enjoy working on resumes—building them from scratch, working on every line, and making sure each one is impactful and shows quantifiable impact rather than only responsibilities. I also want the resume to cover the candidate's complete profile, not only the professional profile but nonwork interests as well.

30:20 | Recommendation Letters Building Strong Relationships Long Before You Apply

Poonam: Recommendation letters are a crucial part of the MBA application. Applicants often struggle to identify recommenders, guide them, and follow up so the letters are submitted on time. In your case, you were always confident that your recommenders would support you. What advice would you give prospective applicants about choosing recommenders, approaching them, helping them, and following up?

Apoorva:  Have clarity from the beginning. As soon as you think you may become an MBA applicant, identify two or three people. Even if you have not made a final decision, give them advance notice—eight months or even a year ahead.
  
  I had already spoken to my recommenders about a year before applying. I had worked at the same company for ten years and had known them for a long time. They had seen me work and grow and knew my strengths as well as my weak spots.

I was very clear that I planned to apply and needed their help. We had a strong relationship. I initially worried that it might become awkward when I shared their material with you for review, but it did not. They welcomed your feedback and were happy to make improvements. You also helped me understand the recommendation questions before I approached them, so I was prepared rather than going to them without a plan.

Following up was another matter. One recommender was extremely prompt and would return things almost overnight. The other traveled frequently, so I had to become thick-skinned and follow up every five days. If you want the work completed, sometimes you have to reverse roles and keep reminding senior people politely.

Poonam: That is an excellent tip: know your recommenders well ahead of time. You knew a year in advance whom you would approach. Many applicants start thinking about this only two or three months before the deadlines, which is too late.

Applicants should build strong relationships, guide recommenders who may not have written an MBA recommendation before, give them enough time because they are busy senior professionals, and follow up. They are obliging you by writing the recommendation, so you must remain respectful and cognizant of that.

35:10 | GRE Preparation and the Optional Essay

Poonam:    All the schools you applied to were test-optional, but you still decided to take the GRE because you wanted to challenge yourself. Your professional and personal commitments did not give you enough time to achieve a score that fully reflected your abilities. We explained the score in the optional essay along with your eight-month career gap. What advice would you give applicants about test preparation and balancing it with the application process?

Apoorva: Test scores are not the ultimate factor. You helped me understand that because I became fixated on my score. At one point, I said I would postpone my application to 2027 because I did not have my dream score. You told me not to give up my dream of completing an MBA simply because I had not achieved my dream GRE score.

The GRE was optional at all three schools, but I wanted to challenge myself. I had graduated in 2011 and had not taken a multiple-choice exam for many years. I decided to take the GRE regardless of the score. I became discouraged because my practice scores kept dropping. I took seven or eight practice tests and felt exhausted. I would return from the library and write to you that I could not continue.

You encouraged me to keep the application process moving while continuing with the test. You reminded me that the solid foundation was my essays, resume, recommenders, professional experience, and life story. The perfect score may never come, but life continues.
  
  In an ideal world, applicants would complete the test before starting their applications. But often that does not happen. Doing both can be stressful, yet repeatedly delaying can eventually make someone give up. People have to do what works best for them.

Poonam: I advised you to use the optional essay to explain the less-than-ideal GRE score. Your professional experience demonstrated your analytical and quantitative skills and provided evidence that you could handle the academic rigor of the program. That is what the schools needed to understand.

Apoorva: I also remember your advice that nothing is optional when it is needed to complete the story. I now repeat it to classmates. If the other parts of the application tell the complete story, an optional essay may not be necessary. But if there are weaknesses or red flags, applicants should use it.

Poonam:    Exactly. We used it to explain two issues in your case- your GRE and your 8-month employment gap. Sometimes applicants use an optional essay to explain several matters, including why they did not obtain a recommendation from an immediate supervisor. Schools provide the option for a reason.

40:20 | Nonwork Experiences: Finding Strength Through Running, Reading, and Giving Back  
   
Poonam:    We have talked at length about your professional experience. During our initial conversation, you said you did not have much nonwork or extracurricular experience, and your resume did not show it. But while brainstorming, we uncovered volunteering, mentoring students, running half-marathons, supporting girls' education, your early-morning routine, and your love for reading. How have these experiences shaped your leadership style and personal growth?

Apoorva: I believe I have to disconnect from the world to reconnect with myself. The busier I become—with two children, a full-time job, the kitchen, and everything else—the less time I have for myself. I realized I needed solitude.

It started with something simple: seeing a book and deciding to read it. Reading became an addiction. I also began running again after having children. One thing led to another. I became more confident, connected with myself better, and understood my trigger points, soft spots, and places of calm.

I made a conscious decision to spend at least thirty minutes with myself. Those thirty minutes have now become two hours. I wake up at four, drink tea, and read in the dark before everyone else wakes up. Then I go for a run and watch the sunrise. I love these activities.

The more time you spend with yourself, the more available you become to the world. When you are happy, you can make other people happy. I work with about fifteen people. If I arrive at work unhappy every day, that feeling multiplies through the team. What began as healthy living or time for myself has become a way of life. I now know that it is my therapy, and I make time for it.

Poonam:    That is amazing. Disconnecting from the world and reconnecting with yourself in the early-morning hours is very insightful. I hope viewers are motivated by it.

45:15 | Balancing Work, Family, and the Executive MBA

Poonam: Along with a demanding career, you are raising two young children. You balanced work, family responsibilities, GRE preparation, and applications. Now you will also have coursework, classes, and travel. How do you see yourself balancing everything?

Apoorva:  I am a checklist person. Sometimes I put emotions and feelings aside and write everything as a checkbox: run, read, finish two chapters of Business Fundamentals, empty the dishwasher, do the laundry—everything.

I get happiness from making that small tick mark. Other people use electronic planners, but for me it has to be a journal or diary. That tick feels like an achievement—almost like winning an Oscar.

Poonam:    I love that confidence. I am also like you in this respect. I need paper and a pen. 
   
Apoorva:  Exactly. I need paper, a pen, and a physical book. I do not like e-books. I like the feel, smell, and touch of paper.

For the MBA, I will have a proper guide and know my upcoming tasks and schedule. Nobody will ask me to do everything overnight. Even now, I know my schedule for the next six months. You take one day at a time, just as we write one word, one sentence, and one page at a time. If coursework, meeting a professor, or attending a business social is on my checklist for that day, I will do it. It is about planning and working toward the ultimate goal.

Poonam:    I love the expression, 'I am a checklist person,' and I also love your confidence that you know you will do it.

49:30 | Key Factors Behind Apoorva's Success

Poonam:    Looking back on the entire application journey, what do you think were the key factors behind your success, and what advice would you give future MBA applicants?

Apoorva: I met you at the right time. I had the goal, but I did not have the light or direction toward it. Applicants should find the right person and build a support system. That person could be a consultant, mentor, or even a friend.

I found you during a phase when I was confused. I knew my goal but did not know the path. This process is strenuous, so surround yourself with people who will stay with you.

Even though my admission process is complete, I keep telling you that you are not done with me. I may still write to you for help with an essay or a resume. Find the right people, get the right guidance, and have faith. You always told me to trust the process and the person guiding me.

Poonam:    I feel honored that, among the factors behind your success, you named only me. What were the other factors? Your accomplishments and disciplined approach were extremely important. You updated me on every development and every task. I never had to send you a reminder. Your methodical approach was a key factor in your success. You were never behind schedule.

Do not undermine your own strengths, your brilliant professional career, and your passion. I truly enjoyed working with you. I wish every applicant were as diligent, friendly, and disciplined as you were. I did not feel I was working with a client; it felt as though I was working with a friend or family member.

Apoorva: The feeling is mutual. Even when you corrected me, you did it with affection, and when you encouraged me, I understood where it came from. I tend to give everything to a process and keep people updated, even about details they may not need to know.

Poonam:    I needed to know what was happening with you.

Apoorva: We went through the journey together—my mental state, emotional state, happy state, and sad state. I also knew about your travel plans and was initially frightened that I would miss deadlines while you were away.

Poonam: During those four months, I traveled to India and also visited Jammu and Egypt. I kept you updated, and we worked around the travel. We finished everything in April. Things went smoothly because you understood my plans, informed me ahead of time about your work, and we submitted the applications well before the deadlines.

Apoorva: You also supported me even while you were hospitalized. My husband asked why I was making you work while you were unwell. But because we were switching from Darden Part-Time to the Executive MBA, everything was on a twenty-four-hour timeline.

Poonam:    It was essential work, and it was desk work. Even though I was unwell, I could do it while sitting and resting at home. That is how I approach this work.

Apoorva:  It is your love and passion, and you do it because it makes you happy.

Poonam: It does make me happy to work with wonderful applicants like you and later have them share their application journeys. Sometimes, after they graduate, they also return to share their MBA experience. I hope you will do that too.

Apoorva:  Of course. It is like returning to a friend and sharing what the last two years were like.

54:40 | Final Reflections

Poonam:    We have talked about many things, and it was wonderful speaking with you. Is there anything else you would like to share with our viewers that we have not discussed?

Apoorva:  Have patience. Patience is very important, even in this age of Shorts, TikTok, Snapchat, and fast food. Have patience, trust the right people, and rely on perseverance, hard work, faith, and discipline.

The admissions process will test you, and the two years of education will probably test you too. But things will come together. I would advise applicants working with you to have grit, work according to timelines, and follow the discipline you have built into the process. Give periodic updates and have patience.

Poonam:    That is very useful advice. Throughout this conversation, you have shared helpful insights for prospective applicants, and I cannot thank you enough. Thank you for your time and for being my mentee. I loved working with you and wish you a wonderful experience at Darden. Please stay in touch; I would like to know how things are going.
  
   Apoorva:  I would love to stay in touch. I keep telling you that whenever you visit Washington, D.C., you must come and see us. We would love to meet you. We have finished the admissions part, but our life journey is still ongoing, so we will definitely remain in touch. You will work with my children someday.

Poonam: I would love to work with your children. You are also invited to Phoenix whenever you want to visit the Grand Canyon or Sedona—or even if you simply want to come to Phoenix. We would love to have you.

Apoorva:  Thank you. Working with you has been an incredible experience, and I'm so grateful for all your guidance and encouragement. Thank you for inviting me to share my story.

Poonam:    Thank you again, and good luck.

Key Takeaways from Apoorva's MBA Journey

Start with Self-Reflection  
  Choose the Right MBA Program for Your Career Stage  
  Don't Let Test Scores Define Your Application  
  Build an Impact-Oriented MBA Resume  
  Invest Time in Brainstorming  
  Choose Recommenders Early  
  Treat Video Essays as an Opportunity  
  Stay Organized and Manage Your Time Well  
  Trust the Process and Stay Committed  
  Believe in Yourself and Take the Leap

You can connect with Apoorva via LinkedIn.

For Apoorva’s LinkedIn Testimonial of Poonam’s services, click  here

EMBA: Apoorva's Journey to Darden, NYU, and Georgetown w/ scholarships

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards