Akul Jindal, a student of CBS batch of 2020, describes his experience after recently receiving an admit at the world prestigious Kellogg School of Management. Kellogg at Northwestern University in Illinois is one of the oldest business schools in the world and it’s MBA program is ranked No. 3 in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

“My interest in applying was simply kindred by the lifetime opportunities Kellogg offers for an aspiring entrepreneur. The culture of the campus evolves from a team-based perspective in and development of important soft skills to evolve as a global leader. While the options of pursuing an MBA in India is highly subjective. Depends on the industry, the intended geography, and the school you graduate from. My friend Bhavesh tells me FMS is the best for RoI across the globe – and I won’t dispute that. Indian schools have a long way to go in building a cohort at par with international schools and that experience of learning from, and working with, a truly exceptional class is something you cannot price. My ambitions of pursuing a world-class education grew and I applied to Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and Columbia Business School.

While all schools follow a similar format – Kellogg and Booth have smaller intakes, in line with their class sizes, compared with Columbia. All schools have a fit and hence picking the right one helps applicants – connect with the alumni, they are insanely helpful. The application to interview conversion should be factored in while making the story vs facts trade-off. The format differs from the typical interviews that are conducted for Indian B-Schools or campus placements etc. The admissions committee followed a conversational approach, drilling down for evidence of high EQ. Thinking on my feet to answer some of the most intriguing questions about my decisions and life trajectory was stimulating – yet most certainly, challenging. Introspecting and articulating my career plans was the most challenging part of the application, and required utmost clarity. The rest of it followed from that. Interestingly – with the interviews being application blind – there is no connection. I believe that my work with, and passion for, entrepreneurship highlighted my core traits to the admissions committee.

Everything amazing that CBS offers reflected in my application. I think it all flows back to meeting some great individuals – for instance, my classmate Neha, an entrepreneur who had raised funds for her startup inspired me. Siddhant and Prakhar are two brilliant individuals who took the leap of faith with me on all our ventures. And lastly, the great support system and wise counsel I received from my friends Rudraksh, Sanya, Garima, Bhavesh, etc. I owe it to the college, to have connected me with these remarkable people.

My worthwhile journey at CBS can be savored by the ideology of treading the road less traveled by, which has made all the difference. I motivate all the students at CBS to live their dreams by making the best choice for themselves.”