CANDIDATE: AP, India
QUALIFICATION: BA (Economics)
PRE-MBA INDUSTRY: Consulting
EXPERIENCE: 50 months
GPA: 3.9/5
GRE/GMAT: 645 (GMAT FE)
ADMITTED TO: London Business School
AP’s early life was anything but ordinary. A globetrotting upbringing, including boarding school in Singapore and an undergraduate degree from a top US liberal arts college, was complemented by a highly competitive tennis career. Representing his country at the U16 and U18 levels, he honed invaluable skills such as teamwork, resilience, and quick thinking on the court. This diverse foundation paved the way for his professional success, first in student athletic recruiting and then at a prestigious management consulting firm for major businesses. Here, he quickly rose, advising Fortune 500 clients on critical projects spanning India market strategy, operational efficiencies, and growth opportunities. AP came to us with a clear ambition to transition into more impactful leadership roles within consulting, using an MBA as his launchpad.
We began by exploring how AP envisioned impact at scale and helped him identify patterns across his consulting work, uncovering his passion for future-focused strategies and tech solutions in India’s retail sector. This process clarified his long-term goal to revitalizing traditional Indian industries to uplift rural communities. Grounding this vision in personal and professional experiences became the foundation of his application, which we then shaped through joint research and reflection.
AP deepened his understanding of Indian retail strategy and tech-driven business transformation through conversations with industry leaders. He then mapped these insights to specific MBA programs, demonstrating how their resources would enhance his sector knowledge, provide strong mentorship, and support his long-term growth.
His ability to clearly articulate his goals and answer key questions like “Why MBA?”, “Why now?” and “Why [specific] school?”, using detailed examples, a global perspective, and a nuanced understanding of each program, made his application stand out.
AP’s well-rounded portrayal of his strengths, including his proven ability to draw data-driven insights from his pre-MBA career, offset his slightly lower GMAT score. He went on to receive interview invites from top US and UK business schools and secured admission to his dream program at London Business School.
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