So, Tell us about yourself!

I did my B.Tech Electrical from IIT Rourkee, an Alumnus of the 2013 batch. After the completion of my engineering degree, I joined Samsung as a Software Engineer.

How did you find out about CrackVerbal?

My friend who was also planning on taking the GMAT told me about CrackVerbal. Through word of mouth and also research on GMAT forums like PagalGuy, and BeattheGMAT which showed some fabulous reviews about CrackVerbal. There was no looking back from then and I joined CrackVerbal for my GMAT.

Tell us about your GMAT journey!

I took the GMAT twice. I joined CrackVerbal before taking it for the second time and boosted my score by 40 points. With regard to my MBA applications, it took me almost a month to get done with after my GMAT. I scored a 700 (Q 51, V 32) on my second attempt.

The first time when I took the GMAT, I scored a 660 with a breakup of Q 41, V 31. Before joining CrackVerbal, my prep was pretty disorganized. Some days I would come back and study for the GMAT while some days I would skip my prep because I felt very tired after work. It felt like I had no direction. I used to borrow notes from friends at other institutions and used to learn for the GMAT.
 
In the end, I took a mock test and then appeared for the GMAT test. But unfortunately, this approach to the GMAT did not help me attain the score I wanted.
 
I knew I had to join a coaching institute to give me the required discipline and strategy to carry out my GMAT prep and so I joined CrackVerbal. I had a diagnostic test and scored a 700+. My quant improved drastically after joining CrackVerbal. The classes helped me not only in identifying my mistakes but also helped me build around my weaknesses.
 

Verbal was a problem for me. I used only CrackVerbal’s material to solidify my grasp on verbal, especially in SC and RC. SC was the trickiest according to me. Also, during this rigorous verbal practicing process, I did not neglect my quant preparation. I made sure I balanced out the study time for both sections of the GMAT. The CrackVerbal material was more than enough for my preparation. Thanks to CrackVerbal, I scored a 700 on the GMAT and I was all ready to apply to ISB.

What Schools did you apply to?

I applied to two schools ISB and MIT Sloan. I got a reject in the second round of MIT. I availed the CrackVerbal application services only for ISB. While working with CrackVerbal, I got to know of how important thought and goal clarity is in an MBA interview. It was this clarity that helped me bag an admit to the Indian School of Business and I owe it to the admission consultants at CrackVerbal who were patient and helped me introspect on my MBA and future goals.

How did you differentiate your IT profile to the Ad-comm members?

Being an IT engineer with minimum work experience, I had to ensure that I do way more than my regular day job. I knew I had to move away from the “IIT graduate” tagline and do more to enhance my profile. Before I started working with Samsung, I used to do a lot of co-curricular projects.
 
I was an enthusiast when it came to making the world a better place. I had worked on a project called “Thought for Food” which basically aimed at feeding the poor and hungry in India and slowly eradicate the hunger problems in our country.
 

I had been to Berlin, representing Asia for this project where I exhibited my ideas in front of millions. In my free time I used to develop apps on the Android Platform since I had come from software engineering background. These extra initiatives helped me in portraying the budding entrepreneur within which made all the difference to my ISB application.

Why MBA and not MS?

I was asked this very question by ISB during my interview. I wanted to do an MBA since I had an inclination towards entrepreneurship and product management. My co-curricular activities instilled a very strong desire for social service too and I believe an MBA would help me formulate new goals and ideas to make the world a better place.

Any advice for the IT Guys and Girls in the house?

For all you IT Guys and Girls out there, every B-School wants to see what we IT guys bring to the table. Why do people like us with technical background want to shift to a financial or managerial role? They are basically looking at goals and thought clarity behind your post MBA goals. I would suggest you do a bit of co-curricular activities or take extra initiatives apart from your regular IT job.