APPLICATION 2002

This was the toughest year for MBA applicants - the economy was in a pretty bad shape, there were hardly any new jobs in the market and thousands of people were getting laid off. Hence the competition was strong, with number of applications doubled in most of the top 20 schools. First Round was the most competitive as I found out later in the application process. I applied to all the schools in the 1st round - MIT, Kellogg, Michigan and 2 top 20 schools (I will use 20a and 20b). Kellogg and Michigan - I gave an alumni interview and for 20a, 20b - I interviewed with the adcomms. The final score was admitted to 20a, 20b; waitlisted at Michigan and finally dinged; dinged by Kellogg and MIT (without interview).

My approach to the entire application was cynicism and hope. I hoped that I would get admitted to a top 5 school but I was skeptical at the same time since I knew that I would not be competitive with 3 years of experience, a GMAT score of 700 and absolutely no professional leadership experience. So, I stressed on other parts of my application like my involvement with the non-profit boards, community activities, outside interests, diversity and drive. I had substantial extra-curricular activities in college but I was not sure that was enough to offset my not-so at-that-time involvement. And I worked fervently on my essays with my fiancé (I won’t deny that she helped me a lot with the essays and edited them multiple times - she is very adept in English unlike me) - they were truthful and from my heart. But one thing I felt that I ran out of content and was duplicating information in the essays. (this raised a red flag that I didn’t have considerable stories - especially professional to portray) I dropped Wharton at the last moment, as I was not confident enough to get an admission in the 2nd round.

My Michigan interview went pretty bad; as it was the first interview I gave. It was an alum interview. I choked on most of the answers. I was not well prepared for most of the questions like why x engineering? Why did you choose this undergrad university? Why this post-MBA career? How do you know you want to this? In the end I had a bad feeling. Michigan was also the first application I completed but I think I did a pretty good job with the essays. Actually, I am still pretty passionate about Michigan - especially about the camaraderie culture in the student community. I had a feeling that Michigan would be a fun place to get my MBA (not to mention that I would do no injustice to my academic needs) Even after the bad interview experience I was waitlisted in Michigan so I think that my essays pull me through and the fit.

MIT was always the dark horse but I still hoped. I knew it would be not possible to get into MIT with just the profile I had and especially since they had such a small class size. Even then I visited MIT and spent a day there. This is another school for which I had the soft corner. (Was it infatuation?) The community is unbelievable - if you think that you would meet a bunch of snooty nerds you are wrong. Every one of them were so humble and down to earth - they would take a passionate interest in you spending hours explaining to you the horrors of the application process, enlightening you with tips unique to MIT. And you get the tech vibe everywhere. Unfortunately I was not invited for an interview and consequently dinged mercilessly.

And then there was Kellogg. The alumni interview went excellent. We immediately clicked and he told me that I was the perfect fit for the Kellogg community. We are still in touch and he couldn’t believe that I was dinged. He told me later that 2002 was competitive and was pretty difficult to get admitted. In the feedback interview they told me that they had doubts about my leadership skills and my extra-curricular activities were not in par with the admitted applicants. Anyway I brushed up on both but that’s a different story. Kellogg is the place if you love to work in a team - you will smell teamwork in everything. I was absolutely impressed by the Kellogg alum - he was so friendly and helpful and we still exchange emails.

20a and 20b are two top 20 schools. In both of the schools I gave an interview with a member of the admission committee. In both interviews I felt pretty confident and I managed to impress them. My essays were usually cut-and-paste from the first 3 schools. I got admitted in the first rounds. In one of the schools I deferred for a year and finally didn’t join deciding to apply this year.

Conclusions at the end of the application process:
- Adcomm interviews are more useful than alum interviews. Or else why would I get dinged by Kellogg and waitlisted by Michigan?
- I come from a pretty competitive pool and essays, interviews, extra-curricular and community activities make a difference.
- GMAT is not so important once you cross a certain threshold since Michigan, 20a and 20b dinged friends with higher GMAT scores.
- Goals need to be crystal clear and especially why X.