#1) Smit, can you please briefly describe your profile?
Graduating with a BBA from Symbiosis International University in 2018, I have pursued and charted a definitive career across depths and breadth of the Sales & Marketing industry. With over 5+ years of work experience, I am a versatile professional passionate about marketing, strategic partnerships and problem-solving. I am specialized in B2B and marketing strategies - engaging clients in transforming relations and building business.
#2) Why did you decide to pursue an MBA?
Right from my first year of BBA, I had envisioned a path that would build a base in the business world. The core of sales & marketing is market research and I aptly started my journey as a market research intern. Slowly and steadily I moved to being a client manager at American Express. I always knew I had to complete an MBA because it completed a circle of not only being a business scholar but also applying academic knowledge into practical scenarios. Furthermore, MBA is also the switch to move onto a strategic leader role.
#3) What were your top 3 reasons for selecting Tanmay Singh to be your mentor for your Maastricht MBA application?
I started working with Tanmay on my Maastricht MBA application due to the following reasons:
A) Tanmay is a good listener.
B) He gives ample space to build thoughts, lets emotions run loose all the while being supportive.
C) He suggests options which you have never heard of because he knows this can be the right for you, given the constraints of your profile.
#4) What 3 tips would you like to share with an aspirant working on their study abroad application?
A) Always play to your strengths. I never changed my course or my goal just to fit in my application.
B) Time is precious. GMAT score low? Switch to GRE or vice-versa. ISB/INSEAD not shortlisting? There are other options!
#5) How did you prepare for the interview after submitting the Maastricht (MSM) MBA application? What all steps did you take to prepare for the interview?
In order to prepare me well for my Maastricht MBA interview, Tanmay shared a Word document which was essentially a repository of plenty of interview questions, both common & uncommon. I wrote their answers. After this, he conducted two mock interviews. The first one was not good because it was awkward for me to do so. However, I improved in the second one. Practiced in front of the mirror once. On the day of the interview, I just let myself loose!
#6) What questions did Wessel Meisters and Alina Prapagic ask you during the Maastricht MBA interview?
During my Maastricht MBA interview, I was asked the following questions:
Can you walk us through your life?
Can you briefly explain your work profile?
Why do you want to study in the Netherlands?
Why do you wish to pursue an MBA?
Why is being a leader important to you? How do you think the leadership track at MSM will boost your profile?
What are your post-MBA goals?
#7) How do you think you performed in the interview with Wessel and Alina?
I was very composed yet excited. I performed wholeheartedly, readily answering almost every question. I performed pretty well and was confident.
#8) How was Tanmay’s mentorship important while working on the Maastricht MBA application?
Tanmay gave me a nuanced way of carving my thoughts and he laid it down to its bare shell. He exactly trimmed the extra lines, adding dexterity to the flow of essays and gave a crystal clear view of my vision, goals and purpose behind doing an MBA. It also gave me confidence in increasing my chance of shortlisting.
#9) Congratulations for receiving a scholarship of EUR 10,000! How did that happen? What did you do to bag that scholarship?
Thank you! I followed tips by Tanmay while keeping my goals and plans intact. He prepared me well for the interview and I highlighted my differentiators during the actual interview with Wessel & Alina.
#10) What are your final ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ for a study abroad aspirant?
Do:
1) Keep yourself open to options
2) A one-on-one with AdCom (a pre-application meeting) is highly recommended
3) Work with the right mentors
4) Remember that time is crucial
Don’t:
1) Get paranoid about applying to specific universities
2) Consider moving out of the country as ‘freedom’
3) Keep a grim face during AdCom interactions.