Tarushee was a delight to work with! Both Co-Founders of Faith Career coached her at different stages of the application and interview process, and both thoroughly enjoyed doing so while being impressed with her consistent hard work & sincerity. She received both an offer letter and a scholarship (of INR 6 lakhs) from Masters' Union but still decided to accept BITSoM's offer. Read on to find out more.
#1) Tarushee, can you please briefly describe your profile?
Inquisitive nature and a thirst to explore the world have definitely been defining traits of my personality. Right from school, involvement in varied extracurricular activities such as dance, art & craft, and music helped me develop holistically. My interest in coding made me pursue a bachelor’s in technology with a major in computer science from Bharti Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, GGSIPU. While maintaining a high grade on the academic front, I was heading many societies in college like IEEE Women Chapter and Google Development Society. I have also worked on social initiatives close to my heart, like empowering women and the younger generation of India in technology.
During engineering, I dabbled with a couple of start-ups. Both my start-ups were online marketplaces for selling mobile accessories and a value chain of digital gaming elements.
After graduation, I joined Ernst & Young, Delhi as an Analyst in Technology Consulting. I have worked on SAP software (SuccessFactors) to manage various HR functions. I have partnered with senior leadership and management teams to develop interfaces for clients like Ola, Nuvoco, Crompton, etc. I now stand with 2 years 6 months of experience with the position “Associate Consultant” in EY.
I have a score of 320/340 in GRE (170/170Q,150/170V). My college GPA is 8.03/10 and CBSE class 12 %age is 91.75% (PCM).
#2) Why did you decide to pursue an MBA?
Since my childhood, business was one of the most common topics of our dinnertime conversation. This focus on pioneering and self-reliance during my upbringing had a lasting impact on me. After graduation, I started working with Ernst & Young (EY) as an Analyst in Technology Consulting. At EY, I have learnt teamwork, delegation and time-management skills that have proven to be indispensable while working with clients.
In all these years, I have utilized my analytical skills and industry expertise to become a reliable back end support to my projects. Now, I wish to take my role to the next level where I directly work with clients to understand their problems and carry out end-to-end implementation of solutions. Hence, to bridge this knowledge gap, a formal coursework in management (preferably MBA) is a discerning step forward for me.
#3) Why did you choose Faith Career to be your mentor for your application?
During my research for B-School, I bumped into Faith Career on LinkedIn. I requested them for a 1-1 call to help clear my doubts. They not only cleared them, but also helped me select B-schools according to my goals and made a roadmap for the same. From the first call itself, I was confident that I am going to go ahead with them and work with them on my applications. They do have a lot of knowledge, especially when it comes to Indian B-schools.
#4) What 2 tips would you like to share with an aspirant who is working on their application?
Essays matter: Scores take up only 20-25% of weightage in the application. Well-written essays can definitely cover up your low scores (CAT/GMAT/GRE). So, work on the overall application and DO NOT MISS OUT THE EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES to showcase your skills.
Time Prioritization: Always try submitting, if not completing, your application 2-3 days before the deadline so you have enough time to introspect and do last minute checks.
#5) How did you prepare for BITSoM's interview after submitting the application? What all steps did you take to make yourself ready for the interview?
I started preparing for the interview right after I submitted my BIT SoM application.
Steps:
1) Research the business school: Familiarize yourself with the school's programs, curriculum, faculty, campus, and culture. You can check the school's website, read brochures, attend virtual information sessions or talk to alumni and current students via LinkedIn.
2) Prepare to talk about your experience: Prepare to discuss your professional and academic background, highlighting your achievements, strengths, and weaknesses. Also, be prepared to explain how your experience aligns with the business school's goals and values. Thoroughly read the entire webpage.
3) Show your passion for the program: Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the program by expressing your specific interests, goals, and aspirations. Explain why you want to pursue an MBA and how it will help you achieve your career goals.
4) Be ready to answer common interview questions: Prepare to answer common interview questions such as "Why do you want to attend this college?" "What are your short-term and long-term career goals?"
5) Practice, Practice, Practice: Mocks do help a lot. Here’s where Faith Career Mentors will help you gain the required confidence.
#6) What questions were asked to you during your BITSoM interview?
BITSoM's interview was more like a conversation wherein they were trying to get to know and understand me. Few questions asked were:
Why BITSoM?
Why MBA after engineering?
What makes you happy in life?
As we can see, you have a GRE score. Assuming you must have given GRE for international universities, why didn’t you go to those schools/university? What made you choose/apply here?
You had fine arts in school along with PCM. What is the relation of art and science or art and management?
What projects have you worked on in EY?
Anything you believe we might’ve missed out on your application during the course of the interview?
#7) How did you think you performed in the interview?
During the interview, the panel had 2 interviewers - The admissions head and the dean of college.
They did indeed seem laid-back, but as expected, the questions he asked were challenging. However, thanks to my preparation with Faith Career Mentors, I was able to answer them confidently and accurately.
At one point, the interviewer asked me a particularly tricky question that I had not anticipated, but I remained calm and took a moment to gather my thoughts. I then applied the problem-solving skills I had practiced with my mentors and was able to come up with a viable solution to the question.
Overall, the interview was a success, and I felt confident in my ability to handle difficult questions because of the time I had spent practicing with my mentors. I was grateful for their guidance and support, and felt that I had truly benefited from their expertise. I had taken about 3-4 mocks, so by the time of the actual interview, I was confident enough.
#8) How was Faith Career’s mentorship important while writing down the application?
Having Faith Career as my mentor was truly a blessing in disguise. My mentor was available round the clock for all my doubts. He actually sat down and understood me and my goals and helped me draft answers according to them. The times where I was little low, he not only counseled me but also served as a source of motivation and encouragement. He assisted me and provided constructive criticism wherever required thus, helping me present my best self to the school.
#9) You also received an admit from Masters' Union. Why BIT SoM?
As an engineer, I was strongly inclined towards pursuing a 2-year program to understand the basics of management (Core HR, Finance, and Marketing). MU is a great school but has a one-year, fast-paced program.
BITSoM offers an MBA degree, whereas MU offers a diploma certificate. In the long run, BITSoM's brand name is what I would need in order to reach where I want. (no offence to MU)
Furthermore, BITSoM places emphasis on compulsory internships which will help me understand where exactly I want to work after MBA (field). It also has brand name of BITS Pilani and hence, a comparatively bigger alumni network. Another thing that attracted me to BITSoM was its immersion program with LBS, making its MBA truly global.
#10) What are your final ‘Dos’ and ‘Don'ts’ for a BIT SoM aspirant?
Do's:
1) Thoroughly research programs before applying to ensure they align with your career goals. (BITSoM’s specialization were directly proportional to my aspirations)
2) Start preparing early for the entrance exams such as GMAT, GRE, etc.
3) Build a strong network through internships, informational interviews, and networking events. (I had participated in every meet-ups and Zoom info seminars to understand the school and its workings completely.)
4) Develop strong communication skills as they are crucial in interviews and the business world in general. Faith Career mentors can help you with this.
5) Focus on extracurricular activities that align with your interests and showcase your leadership potential.
6) Seek guidance and advice from mentors, professors, and alumni in the field. (I connected to a lot of students on LinkedIn)
Don'ts:
1) Don't limit your MBA program search to just a few top-tier schools; consider other options that may better fit your needs and goals.
2) Don't rely solely on your academic record or test scores; make sure your application highlights your unique qualities and experiences.
3) Don't neglect to research and prepare for the interview process, as this is a crucial part of the application process.
4) Don't wait until the last minute to complete your application materials; take the time to ensure they are polished and professional.
5) Don't underestimate the value of networking and developing relationships. I got a lot of insights for my interview prep from the alumni and current batch of BITSoM students.
Below are few more inspiring success stories from Faith Career ✨
Smriti Dhawan's journey from Ambedkar University to the London School of Economics (LSE) – https://www.faithcareer.org/post/smriti-s-stellar-journey-to-the-london-school-of-economics-and-political-science-lse
Nikhil Bhonsle's story of bagging MBA offers from 5 B-Schools in the UK with scholarship, without a GMAT score - https://www.faithcareer.org/post/5-mba-offer-letters-in-4-months-without-gmat
Yashashwat Srivastava’s MIM journey from IP University to the Schulich School of Business - https://www.faithcareer.org/post/yashashwat-s-mim-journey-to-the-schulich-school-of-business
Mimansha Dublish's MIM journey to ESCP Europe (ranked 5th for MIM in the world) - https://www.faithcareer.org/post/escp-mim-mimansha-s-story-of-perseverance-success
Want to start your success story as well? Message us on Instagram for consultation - https://www.instagram.com/faithcareer/
Follow us on LinkedIn to get important tips and tricks for your MBA/MIM/MS application - https://www.linkedin.com/company/89586646