It’s been a while since I did my MBA from IESE. The memories are still afresh!
Since then, a lot of people have asked me about the experience and whether it’s worth doing
an MBA. The answer, as I always say – ‘It depends’. For those who have done an
international MBA, these are the two most commonly used words in case studies. Because it
really depends! It depends on what you want to get out of your MBA and what would you do
otherwise, can you achieve your goals without the MBA, and many other things. This is not a
‘one size fits all approach.
I would like to go through my IESE MBA journey from the start and I hope it helps those who need
it.
The Start
GMAT: The exam was the easiest part of the process, not because I have great analytical
abilities but because I understood fairly early that this is only a part of the process. I got the
official GMAT books and studied them thoroughly. I didn’t do the mock tests until the very
end but when I started doing them, I realized where most attention was needed. I studied for
a good 6-8 weeks and gave the exam. The result was just a tad below my expectation but
overall I was happy.
I thought of going for an MBA, frankly because I was bored of my job and I
wanted to move outside the country. I only had 3 years of experience by then. Initially, I
planned to study within India but when I started researching and meeting business schools
on their tours, I thought of giving the international ones a try. I recommend everyone to meet
as many business school reps as they can when they are in India. Most of the European and
American schools have their yearly tours where they visit major cities (Delhi, Mumbai,
Bangalore) to speak to prospective candidates. You can also arrange a 1-2-1 interview with
them to assess your candidature.
Essay
This was the most difficult part. I was a graduate with just 3 years of experience in
IT so I was competing with candidates who had far more experience and somewhat distinct
experience (not so competitive). I really needed to stand out in my essays. So for that, I read
many blogs, took some free consultations, and spoke to ex-alumni of various B schools. I
took help from my friends to review the draft versions. After many reviews, I finally submitted
my application and received the interview call.
Key learnings from writing those essays
- The most important thing is clarity of thought. The admissions officers are looking for your motivation and absolute clarity on what you want to get out of your MBA.
- Make it personal: They want to get to know you. Make your essay a story and link it to your experience and your aspiration. When I was doing my essays, I linked my aspirations to my childhood experiences and what I learned from them. I was told by the admission offer that they loved it.
- Keep it simple – Can’t stress this enough. No Jargon or big words are required. Write your essays in a simple manner, with short meaningful sentences and precise.
Interview – The interview was scheduled via video conference and for half an hour. It was just a conversation regarding my experience and myself. From my experience, the interview is to assess that you have written your own essays and to know your personality. It went smoothly and I enjoyed speaking to the members of the admissions committee.
Result: Within 2 weeks of application, I got the result. Still can’t forget that moment! As strange as it may sound, I only applied to one business school where I wanted to study. No backup plan or options. And I was happy for the admit and that too, with a generous scholarship 🙂
For those who need more motivation, I applied in the March round, which is the last round for international applications and the hardest one to get any scholarship.
The MBA itself: The MBA was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. It was intense and fun at the same time. It allowed me to get the job I wanted and move to London.
I learned many things about different subjects, gained immense knowledge, gained confidence, learned a new language, and made amazing friends. It’s an experience I cannot describe in words – Living in Spain was one of the main reasons for it. I absolutely love the country, its culture, and the people.
If you are contemplating doing an IESE MBA, I absolutely recommend the experience!