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Indian male engineer with limited work experience
Application Round: Round 1
Akash approached us with the aim of securing a spot at INSEAD, a goal we felt highly confident about achieving. As we delved deeper into his achievements while crafting his application, our aspirations grew. Realizing his potential, we decided to also target HBS, Kellogg, MIT and Booth. We shifted our efforts to transform his INSEAD application into a compelling HBS application package, tailoring it to meet the distinct expectations of Harvard.
Challenges
One of the primary challenges was the applicant's common profile as an Indian male engineer, which is highly represented in the applicant pool. Another hurdle was his younger age compared to most of our successful applicants, leading to a relatively shorter list of achievements. Furthermore, having graduated at the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that his initial job opportunities were less than ideal, impacting his early career.
Strategic Approach
Given his relatively young age, we highlighted his academic strengths, notably his achievement as a global top 7 IB scorer and his acceptance into one of Singapore's most competitive undergraduate programs for international students. Additionally, we showcased the diversity of his background, underscored by his upbringing across three different countries, which reinforced his interpersonal skills. Finally, we wanted to showcase his ability to redefine his career by emphasizing his successful admission into one of the world's most selective rotational programs with the world’s most prestigious Oil & Gas company.
Vision Crafting
Capitalizing on the 'impact' wave that top MBA programs have been seeking in applicants since 2018, we crafted a clear long-term goal for him at the intersection of clean energy and supply chain management - his primary area of expertise. While we have developed clean energy narratives for previous clients and were confident about the relevance of this sector, we aimed to further refine this narrative to align specifically with his expertise. By integrating these elements, we strengthened his application and highlighted his well-defined career objectives.
Untraditional Essay
Though we had all the elements, his initial essay drafts were somewhat lackluster and failed to deliver the impact we were aiming for. They lacked excitement and did not effectively showcase his unique qualities. Drawing from our proven strategies, we deconstructed his essay and restructured the key points into engaging short stories, enhancing the overall presentation and appeal. Having done it successfully in the past, we knew that it was an effective way to make an essay exciting - when well done.
Results
Akash secured admissions offers at INSEAD, Kellogg and HBS (with 85% scholarship) and became one of the youngest candidates we’ve helped attend the HBS MBA.
Conclusion
Working with Akash reinforced a valuable lesson: being qualified for a top-tier MBA program like INSEAD likely means you are well-suited for any elite MBA program. This insight has underscored a key message we consistently impart to our applicants: you only apply once to business school, and ambition is not just a trait, it's a critical asset. Being rejected is acceptable. Not applying is a mistake. The pursuit of an MBA is not merely a step but a significant leap towards achieving your fullest potential.
Words from Akash:
“Jonathan was a guiding light in the preparation of my applications to top MBA programs. Under his mentorship, I was able to receive offers from 3 top B-schools - Harvard, Kellogg and INSEAD. From start to finish, he constantly kept me motivated and enabled me to bring my story and experiences to life through my essays. He was always available round the clock to support me with my queries. Interview preparation with him enabled me to anticipate the kind of questions that are asked and learn how to answer them convincingly. I owe my success to getting into Harvard with a 85% tuition scholarship to Jonathan. Highly recommended!.”
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