Get your focus back

Jatin Bhandari
Q.I have been preparing for GMAT for a year now, but I seem to have lost focus now. How do I overcome my lack of focus for the GMAT? — Suraj Tuli

Advertisement

A.It seems you have been working on GMAT without any direction. You have not seen the cheese on the other side. The current reality of GMAT will begin to change if you put something on the  other side: an MBA from Harvard, a job with Goldman Sachs, a Lamborghini ….if these things make you happy. 

Do you know: The difference between 650 and 750 can be Rs50 lakh of scholarship. I am not sure Rs50 lakh is how many times your current CTC. But if you start considering your GMAT as your full time job too, I am sure you will experience good savings. 

I am not sure how good your quant is, but I will offer you a another good advice. Think about this as a philosophical GYAAN :

What does GMAT mean to you? If GMAT means burden to you, it definitely will make you fall asleep. However, if you can create a picture of what will you accomplish out of your GMAT preparation and an MBA, that will give you a very different picture. We human beings get motivated on the basis of the outcomes that we expect. If you can see an amazing vacation after getting admission to Wharton, or if you can see an amazing $$ Career after your GMAT, I think that will motivate you enough to work towards your goals.

Be convincing

Q.I do not have an impressive  extra-curricular record and only a GMAT score. Will that be sufficient for getting into ISB? I have been working for Infosys for the past three years. — Neha Kohli

A.The formula here is simple: They will take you if you want them to take you : ….It is about really understanding why do you want them. It is about your knowing the need for an ISB MBA. As long as you meet the basic hygiene of GPA and GMAT( above the bare essentials), it is all about your conviction. You are a customer. Remember that. 

Make them understand your story. Tell them how has your programming experience exposed you to the next stage of your career, and how you were exposed to something bigger than you. It is not theoretical. 

Think about it this way: They are not as interested in your extra-curricular activities as they are in learning more about you, and your reasons for joining ISB. They are more interested in your intentions rather than the facts on your candidature. 

Do the following to maximise your chances:

Have a very strong reason to join ISB: When you tell them why you are keen on joining ISB, be well researched, and know more about your target employers, your immediate goals( short-term goals after MBA). Be as definite as possible. 

Get strong recommendations: When I say get strong recommendations, I mean that your expression on the recommendations should be well supported with examples.

Do the following while you are applying to ISB

• Take measures to learn about the school and your overall learning curve about them: Something that makes the admissions committee member value your statement: Do you know some schools have specific essays on “What measures you have taken to learn more about the school?”  For ISB, reach out to them and tell them more about your story. They should know that you are applying. And do not reach out to them unprepared. Have strong reasons to join them. Look at the following carefully:

Measures to take in order to learn more about a school: 

• These measures include but are not limited to 
• Conversing with the alumni in India/International locations/current students
• Building the right elevator pitch to showcase your readiness for their programme and asking smart questions. Smart questions are the ones that seek smart opinions and not address mere facts. 
• Finding time to network with the right people within your area of interest (Industry/Function). 
• Spending some extra money to make a trip to your target schools. It is not a bad idea to take a vacation and show the seriousness to your schools by visiting their campuses. Visiting their campuses does not mean you will be hanging out aloof in the school campus. A planned school visit essentially is your opportunity to interact with the key members of the school committee, and conduct informational interviews. It also gives the school an opportunity to display their strengths to you in action. 

You do not have any extra curriculars then it does not mean that you do not have any other interests. As long as you can convince the school that you are worth it, take a strong shot.

— The writer is CEO & Founder of PythaGurus, an education consultancy