Engaging With London Business School to Secure Admission After Being Waitlisted

Applicant:

Pre-MBA Industry:

Senior Analyst, Ernst & Young

From:

India

Years of Experience at the Time of Application:

4 Years

GMAT/GRE Score:

720

Undergraduate GPA:

Graduated with Honors from Nottingham University. 58/100

Graduate GPA:

Admitted to:

London Business School

Engaging With London Business School to Secure Admission After Being Waitlisted

Background

ZB earned a BSc (Honors) in Financial Mathematics from Nottingham University, receiving the prestigious Nottingham University Scholarship for Excellence as the sole international recipient. Following graduation, he served as a relationship manager at a private wealth management firm, cultivating and overseeing relationships with high-net-worth individuals. Later, ZB joined Ernst & Young as a Senior Analyst, conducting diligence within the pharmaceutical sector. His role involved analyzing operational and financial data to produce vital business insight reports used in transaction negotiations by investors and investees.

Growing up, ZB witnessed his father navigate significant challenges while expanding his mid-size entrepreneurial venture. This experience shaped his perspective on business resilience. As he began his career, he observed that India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector faced significant hurdles in securing bank loans due to their informal nature, lack of publicly available data, and inability to meet stringent collateral requirements.

Since MSMEs contribute approximately 30 percent to India’s GDP, ZB identified a critical gap in financial services. Motivated by his expertise in financial products, technical finance skills, and entrepreneurial spirit, he envisioned launching a B2B Fintech lending platform in India.

This initiative aims to provide MSMEs with streamlined access to loans, enhancing financial inclusivity and fostering economic growth across India. ZB exemplified resilience by overcoming dyslexia to excel academically without seeking exemptions. He dedicated himself to studying twice as hard, confronting fears, anxiety, and frustration along the way. Adopting a systematic learning approach, he set specific, time-bound goals and held himself accountable, achieving excellence in academics. Despite grappling with stuttering while reading or presenting in groups, ZB consistently challenged himself beyond his comfort zone to thrive in professional environments.

While ZB achieved a respectable overall GMAT score, his quant score was on the lower side, and his undergraduate grades were modest. He also encountered challenges in written communication. Additionally, he was waitlisted at Berkeley Haas and London Business School.

Approach

We assisted ZB in demonstrating the analytical prowess necessary for navigating the academic demands of an MBA, leveraging additional certifications and his professional experience marked by advanced financial and analytical skills. Highlighting his unwavering commitment and agile decision-making capabilities, we showcased his dedication to equestrian eventing. This pursuit instilled in him discipline, humility, and enhanced networking abilities, all pivotal for success at business schools and in achieving his career objectives.

During his waitlist period, our strategy involved encouraging ZB to engage deeply with the schools to gain insights into their offerings and demonstrate his fit for their programs. He diligently sent update letters that underscored his professional growth, expanded responsibilities, and valuable learnings. These updates illustrated how his experiences were directly aligned with his short-term goal of securing a business development role at a fintech company. Ultimately, these efforts contributed to his successful admission to London Business School.

Key Takeaway

ZB demonstrated that perceived barriers like dyslexia and initial academic challenges can be surmounted through perseverance and dedication. His domain knowledge, stellar work experience and proactive approach to professional growth overshadowed any concerns about his educational shortcomings. Throughout the process, ZB learned the importance of objectively assessing schools to align personal goals with program offerings. This approach enabled him to visualize his career trajectory and articulate how each school could contribute towards his professional aspirations. By strategically engaging with schools during his waitlist period and providing compelling updates on his career progression and readiness for an MBA, ZB successfully secured admission to London Business School.