Status: First-time applicant
Pre-MBA industry: Business intelligence Analysis in Banking
Years of experience at time of matriculation: 5
GMAT/GRE score: 730 (V: 40 Q: 49)
Undergraduate GPA: 78%
Admitted to: INSEAD
Given the time and monetary commitment that an MBA demands, I was very clear that I wanted to apply only to the top B-schools. After talking to 2 consultants, both of whom had suggested going with ‘safer’ options, I was a bit disappointed. The initial consultation with Kathryn stretched well beyond the designated time, during which she talked realistically about my case, yet reinforced my confidence in my application. I realised that with SOP’s help, I stood a chance at my target schools. She helped me come up with a strong strategy around which schools to apply to.
Melissa got on a 3-hour call with me to thoroughly understand my background. We then methodically brainstormed each element of my application – resume editing, building the career narrative, recommendation strategy. She helped me refine all parts of my application – with very quick turnaround times – which left me with a lot of time to work on my essays. She patiently guided me through the process (with each essay undergoing several iterations) and helped me transform facts and figures into interesting narratives. The several mocks Melissa and I did prior to my INSEAD interviews made the actual interview experience much smoother.
In the end, I secured a place at INSEAD with a €25,000 scholarship – thanks to SOP!