Anusha’s Odyssey to Columbia
Anusha, the eldest in her family, lost her mother to cancer while she was still preparing for the engineering entrance exam in 12th standard. Despite this, her mother’s desire of seeing her daughter get into top colleges abroad never left her mind. And subsequently, in the year 2022, she not only got into six of the seven colleges that she had applied to, which included three M7 colleges- Kellogg, Booth, Columbia; but also got scholarships of worth 80k dollars from both Ross and Columbia.
Anusha’s story of fulfilling her dreams as she says is just like connecting dots in a puzzle; excluding even one of her life’s experiences would have implied an unaccomplished journey. A pivotal moment arrived during her second year of college at NSIT, when she led a delegation to Harvard Model United Nations. This marked her first exposure to international education, sparking a desire to join top-tier institutions. At Harvard, a class centered on business in the automobile sector struck a chord, solidifying her desire for an MBA and her passion for business and economics.
Anusha with her team at Harvard, representing their college at an MUN conference.
Her experience of working in McKinsey just added to her dream. Living up to her goals and strategic planning, she successfully tackled the GMAT in August 2020. However, the allure of novel projects at McKinsey delayed her transition until 2022 when she resolved to embrace MBA applications.
She says her decision to take Admissions Gateway was because of Rajdeep’s confidence and clarity that he showed in the first conversation itself. She could distinctly differentiate him from other consultants that she had talked to. Collaborating with Admissions Gateway proved immensely rewarding. In her own words “The whole team came together to help me curate a successful application”. Even after submitting her 30th resume draft, she was asked to proofread, edit and analyze her experience; helping her meticulously fine-tune the essays. She adds “Nisha, my primary counselor, helped me make sense of my story from a different perspective which I wouldn’t have been able to thought of myself’’
Reflecting on her voyage, she imparts invaluable advice. Early preparation and meticulous planning were her guiding principles. Beyond the tactical, the process of introspecting her choices with the counselor became a mirror for her values. This enabled her to connect life’s dots and unveil hidden patterns. Crafting her application became an opportunity for profound self-discovery, revealing the driving forces within her.
Her academic journey began at Mother’s Global School in Delhi, followed by NSIT for Electronics and Communications. The shift from engineering to consulting was sparked by her participation in case competitions, igniting a newfound passion. She says one of her post MBA goals is to delve into consulting while broadening her past exposure beyond the realm of digital solutions.
In summary, Anusha’s narrative resonates with resilience, dreams, and unwavering determination. Her journey underscores the power of seeking guidance, introspection, and weaving these elements into a captivating narrative. A beacon of inspiration, her story illuminates the path for those navigating challenges, proving that even in adversity, one can carve a path and shine brightly.