Aman Gupta's story on how he made it to Wharton.

Two years earlier I wasn't sure if I wanted an MBA at all. I was enjoying my work. My job required me to travel and I was always on the move. Each of my projects lasted for not more than a few months, and I moved on to a different country for every new project. Life was fun and the money was good too.

But then I met a friend and that meeting changed my life. I decided what I wanted to do next, I wanted to take up an MBA and experience the learning to be a business leader in the future.

In the following pages I share with you my experiences in working towards an MBA in one of the top business schools in the world. It can be a tough ask, but once I decided to go for it and knew that the returns were worth a few sacrifices the journey became exciting too.

The applications can be very thought provoking. I learnt so much about myself while writing my essays that I seem to be a better person because of it. I know much more about myself and get a feeling that I'm more in control of what I want.

I'm sure my story will help others like me who are either on the crossroads and deciding to take the plunge, or are already into it and need help on some specific issues.

Deciding to apply

I passed out of REC Suratkal in 1995. I was a good student and considered my ability to apply my learning to real life situations as my greatest strength. I got an opportunity to work with TCS immediately after college. It was a dream job for me and I was excited.

The excitement continued when after two years at office, I started handling onsite projects at different locations in Europe and U.S..

My bosses at TCS also appreciated my work and I was seen as one of the bright guys with a great future in the company. My earnings were always on the increase and so were my responsibilities at work. The toughest and the most challenging projects were given to me and I didn't let the company down.

In one of my visits to the U.S., I met my elder brother's friend to hand over a packet of goodies from his mother. I visited his place for Lunch that Sunday afternoon and I thank god I made the effort to go that day.

Vivek ran his own Management consulting and training firm out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the expert in understanding the 'people' aspect of business. He was alone that day and on my request agreed to discuss my career. We spent a good three hours after lunch and here is what we discussed after he understood what I was into.

Vivek: How ambitious are you?

I : I want the best things in life, want to be very successful at work, and as I have recently concluded, I want to be the best at what I do. I get the kicks from doing things which I myself didn't know I could do.

Vivek: How long do you think you can continue getting the kicks in your present job?

I: I'm not so sure. As of now the travelling gives me the kicks. Finishing my projects before time gives me the kicks, surprising my customers on what we as a company can do gives me the kicks. I don't think it will stay this way for ever. But I guess I will evolve and learn to do other things that will keep offering me the kicks.

Vivek: What about your job responsibilities? How have they changed over time?

I : When I started, I was assigned projects to work on, I only worked to meet my targets and rarely looked outside of what I was supposed to do. I had a deadline and objectives to meet. I worked day in and day out, trying to complete my job.

Now, its not just my efforts that I'm concerned about but that of my team members as well. I plan the over all project execution, know about the individual capabilities of my team members and utilise their skills to achieve project objectives. I spend time with my team members, help them build skills that they lack.

I also work hard planning my meeting with my bosses. I tell them about where I see opportunities in the future, how we can exploit them, how we need to prepare and what extra skills need to be built. I particularly enjoy this aspect of my work and take it rather seriously.

Vivek: Do you have any fears right now about the work you are doing.

I : I would like to believe that I don't, but there are some.

I look at my bosses operate and I'm not so sure if I'll be able to be like them. Shoulder responsibilities the way they do. I try to put myself in their shoes and the feeling is not very comforting.

I also get to interact with the senior management of our customer companies, and some of the people I work with are brilliant. They are able to consider all angles at the same time when taking a decision.

Hearts of hearts I know I want to be like them but fear if I will be able to make it.

Vivek: Where does the fear lie, in you being able to manage technical work as the stakes get bigger or manage the managing aspect of work?

I : The managing aspect of work. I was used to working on a project and closing my eyes to the rest of the world. All that mattered was the work I was into. But things have changed now. I require to put my efforts into much more. I have changed a lot already, but I know I have to change much more to reach the level I aspire to.

Vivek: You certainly need to keep changing to meet the new demands of your work, but I guess your answer lies in building skills you presently lack and focus on learning things that you think your bosses have and you don't. Things that you wish you possess when you are in your boss's shoes.

I: I guess you are right.

Vivek: Those things that you are referring to are called 'management skills'. Every one needs them more and more as they move up the ladder. Go get yourself a management degree, Aman.

This convinced me that I needed an MBA and I decided to go for it after that day.

Taking the tests

The top schools require applicants to be good at everything they do. So, they expect them to have good scores.

I was told a 720+ is a bare minimum in the GMAT if I'm targeting the top-10 schools. I set my self a target of 760, and got a 740. I made sure that no school rejected me for a low GMAT. I know now that a high GMAT cannot get one an admission on its own. But a low GMAT can get one a reject on its own.

I started my GMAT preparation by taking a practice test. I analysed my performance and I identified topics which made me feel uncomfortable.

The books I used included Kaplan, Princeton, Arco and of course, the official GMAT guide. I did practice tests of all the above and the Crack-GMAT practice tests that were available on the net.

I spent two and a half months, studying about four hours every day after office. I kept the Saturdays and Sundays to analyze my progress and identify weak areas. The math section was easy for me. I had to work harder for the the verbal and comprehension sections and practice was the key in these sections.

I attribute my score to all the analysis I carried out about where I need to put that extra effort. If you are targeting 650, you don't need to do much, just study the material with you and go for the test.

But for a 750, you need to really take care of the finer points. This requires identifying areas where you are likely to make a mistake and brushing every single concept in that topic.

TOEFL was easier. Frankly, I didn't spend too much time on it. Picked up the Barron's guide and a CD that a friend handed over to me.

Scheduling

I spent about a month collecting all the information I needed about getting an MBA in the U.S.A. It wasn't just an MBA from anywhere that I was aiming for, I wanted the best degree on offer to set me up for a great career ahead.

These are the notes I referred to when making my schedule. I will not share my schedule because you ought to make one that suits your needs.

Tests:

- I need to register for a test date. Getting test dates can be difficult during the peak periods between June to January. It's wise to register at least three months in advance.

- I need to request GMAT and TOEFL bulletins which can be requested online. I have to keep a month to get the forms, get a dollar draft made and send the form to the required address.

Start the test registration work atleast four months before the test date.

- Immediately familiarise myself with the contents of the tests and set my self a target score so that I can schedule how long I need to prepare before taking the tests.

University application deadlines:

- Universities have about two deadlines for international students. The first is somewhere between October end and early December for most good universities and the second between January and March. It's better for International applicants to apply before the first deadline as it improves their chances of admission.

- Universities would want my applications complete in all respects before the deadline. This includes the GMAT and TOEFL score reports, which may take about a month to reach the university after I take the test.

So, the test registration work should start atleast five months before the university's first application deadline.

Preparing documents to accompany my application:

I need to submit the following documents -

1. School and college marksheets (called transcripts) - Some universities issue official transcripts in a format required by U.S. Universities. Otherwise, photocopies signed and attested by university registrar or Principal works alright.

I would need to visit my university for this.

2. Recommendation letters - I need to identify people I know well and who will be willing to spend time in writing my recommendations. Most universities have their own formats of recommendation letters. I must send the format and request for recommendations at least three months prior to university application deadlines. I have to start speaking to my recommenders immediately.

3. The GMAT and TOEFL score reports have to be sent directly through ETS (the company that conducts the tests). I can name five universities at the time of taking the test. I need to decide the universities I have to apply to before taking my GMAT and TOEFL. In case there are more than five universities I wish to apply to I must fill out the additional score reports form in the GMAT bulletin (The booklet I use to register for the test). I have to do this immediately after I take the test. Probably send out the request the day after taking the test. I need to get a dollar draft made or use a credit card to make payment for test registration and additional score reporting.

4. Financial documents like a bank statement and Affidavit of Support need to accompany my application. Bank statement must be got from a Bank where my sponsor has an account showing funds to support my expenses during the period of study. Affidavit of Support is to be made on a legal stamp paper showing that my sponsor will fund my tuition and living expenses for my study.

5. Essays take time to write. I have to download university application forms as soon as they are available, get familiar with the essay questions and set aside at least two months to write essays.

6. Finally, the documents have to be couriered to the universities, I have to keep at least 15 days for the courier to reach the universities after I despatch.

Working on applications: Universities release their applications by the month of June or July for the preceding year's Fall semester intake. I have to start downloading application forms as early as I can, probably by July.

Shortlisting universities: I have to decide where to apply by the same time, by about July end, so that I have enough time to prepare for their applications.

The above information allowed me to set a schedule which I followed successfully.

There are activities to be completed after sending out applications, you would be in the groove to handle them as they come.

Selecting Business Schools

There are three factors that influenced my selection of universities to apply:

1. Craving factor: Top Schools.

2. Sanity factor: Which ones fit your long term career needs?

3. Safety factor: Where can you get in?

I was told to consider each of the above factors before selecting the final list of universities to apply.

I chose:

- Harvard and Wharton as I wanted to be in one of these schools.

- Thunderbird and Moore because I wanted International Business.

- Vanderbilt and Carnegie Mellon, as I was told that I would get one of them.

I got Wharton, Thunderbird and Vanderbilt.

I think that had I not got Wharton, Thunderbird and Vanderbilt were good schools to go to.

But believe me this Craving/Sanity/Safety theory is a handy one to use when selecting your own set of schools.

While selecting on the basis of the sanity factor, all the research you do to find schools for your needs, comes in really handy when you answer, "Why you chose our school?" question for your essays.

Writing Application Essays

As I look back this was the best part in the whole exercise of applying for admission. It seemed difficult before I got into it. But while I was working on the essays it allowed me to visit parts of me that were previously unexplored. I'm a better person because of it and know myself much better.

I started by addressing these questions which I found on Infozee. They were very useful in getting me to think in the right manner.

• Write down all your past accomplishments - academic, extra curricular, social contributions, sports - whatever you've done well in life. Also write down all the things that you feel or care for strongly.
  
• What is it that you want to do in life? What is the career you want to choose for yourself in the future and why?
  
• Write down the area that you want to study further in. How will taking up this course of study help you achieve your long term career goals that you described above?
  
• Now, write down why should you have the life that you want? Why should you get all the things you listed above? What qualifies you to have all the success you desire

Once I completed this initial exercise, writing answers to the essay questions of almost all schools seemed extremely easy.

While I knew I could write my achievements, I was not sure if they were right for the business school, especially as some of them involved things which were quite technical to explain. Also, the word limits were a little scary. That is when I decided to take up professional counselling and editing services.

Professional editing also helped me in understanding how admission committee looks at the application essays.

Getting my visa

There are two aspects I needed to convince the visa officers about when being interviewed.

- I have the necessary funds to finance my study
- I'm not a potential immigrant.

The first was not a problem for me. I had a loan through the university which was considered proof for my ability to pay.

But the loans offered through other universities (other than Wharton) are normally not considered by visa officers. You have to show funds for at least one year of all expenses in your savings account and sufficient financial ability to generate funds for the second year of study.

The "potential immigrant" bit is a little difficult to understand. One's supposed to provide reasons for returning back to India after study. But most of us will not be returning home, at least not immediately after completing the course. So, what makes visa officers offer visas to so many of us?

That we're not returning home may not actually be a secret, the visa officers probably know about it. Knowing this, there job may actually be to select students who they may not mind having around in their country, working for their companies.

While this theory may or may not be true, you have to go for your visa with a convincing story about why you would want to return back to India after completing your course. So, put on your creative caps and think of an original story that will compel the visa officer to offer you the visa.

Of course they will not take you on face value, you need to take financial and other documentation to make your story convincing.

I guess when you get into a top school, they do not ask you much. That's what happened in my case. They just asked me a couple of questions and my interview lasted hardly 5 minutes.

Recommendations

The first question I had about getting recommendations was that since it is unlikely that the university will contact my recommender, why shouldn't I write my own recommendation and have it signed by some one senior at office?

I researched at my end and found that:

- My recommender is likely to receive a thank you note from the university.

- Admission committees who read applications day in and day out can figure out if the recommendation is authentic, 4 times out of 5.

- An honest recommendation, assessing you objectively, even highlighting some points about you that may not be very positive, hold more value than a self written recommendation that shows what a great person you are.

I however did take time from my recommenders to discuss my career till now. I highlighted to them points I was planning to project through my essays.

For instance, I wanted one of my recommenders to focus on my communication and interpersonal skills. I gave her a brief describing the presentations I had made to my customers and the feedback I got from them, about my ability to look at difficult situations objectively and to keep my bosses and my team members informed about my understanding on the situations. About the relationships I had built with two of our customers who had informed me of their future projects even before they officially approached companies for proposals.

So, even though they wrote my recommendations on their own, I was able to influence what they should write.

To allow them to make an honest assessment and write what they wanted to, I had asked them to seal the recommendations and hand them over to me. I then sent the recommendation without knowing what they had actually written.

The strategy seemed to work for me, and I believe it should work for every one.

Almost anyone will also tell you that it doesn't matter who your recommender is, just make sure the person knows you well. Only then will he/she be able to write about you in detail.

There's no point getting a recommendation from your Managing Director if he doesn't know you well. If your General Manager has worked with you and knows you well, his recommendation has more value than that of your Managing Director.

Preparing to leave

After I had listed things to carry and booked my tickets I wanted to get my self to understand what I was getting into, one of the most important phase of life.

Studying at Wharton is an amazing experience. You get a chance to interact with some of the best minds from around the world. The class experience is enriching and the faculty is top-notch.

Looking back, I think it was one of the best decisions I took and the efforts in the application process were all worth it.