Growing up in a military family, Ashish imbibed values of leadership, discipline, and camaraderie early on. After graduating in the top 5% of his class from Savitribai Pune University in Civil Engineering, he worked at a construction company for 1.5 years. Eager to deepen his technical knowledge, Ashish moved to the US to pursue a Master’s in Civil Engineering from California State University, Fullerton. While completing his degree, he also interned with a construction company, laying the foundation for his professional journey in the U.S.

Over the next several years, Ashish worked at four different construction companies, steadily climbing the ladder with each role. He decided to pursue an MBA to transition into a leadership position within the same industry. However, his initial attempts with UCLA didn’t work, and he was advised to improve his test scores and essays.

Last year, with the same EA score, Ashish partnered with MER (myEssayReview) for his applications to four MBA programs: Berkeley Haas, UCLA Anderson, UC Irvine, and USC Marshall. The result? Admits from all four schools- and scholarships from two: $35,000 from UC Irvine and a scholarship from USC Marshall.

In this conversation, Ashish shares insights into the following:

🗂️Talking Points of the Conversation

• Ashish’s academic and professional background  01:40
• Why MBA /  long-term Vision  02:42
• His preference for Haas over other Admits  03:49
• The role of personality and character in MBA applications  05:38
• Importance of extracurricular activities/community involvement 08:44
• Tips for crafting a compelling video essay  10:49
• Supportive Recommenders 12:34
• Interview tips 14:25
• Key factors behind his success with a modest EA score  18:00
• Advice for Prospective Applicants 21:20

And let’s dive into the conversation with Ashish……….

Admissions Summary

Poonam: Hello, Ashish. Thank you for taking the time for this conversation. I am looking forward to a rewarding conversation. Congratulations on receiving admit offers from four outstanding programs we collaborated on– Haas, UCLA, USC, and UCI. And UCI and USC even offered you scholarships. How does it feel?

Ashish: Thank you, Poonam. It feels great. Finally, I am on the other side of preparation and achieving the goal of MBA admissions. I’m really happy to be at this place and am thankful to all the people who supported me- including my spouse who has been with me on this journey from the beginning of this admission process, my family who laid the foundation for me to apply for B school, my recommenders who were a great source of encouragement for me during the process, and of course, you. Your help was very crucial this year for my application, which helped me to get all these admission offers. Thank you for your help.

Academic and Professional Background

Poonam: Thank you, Ashish. It was a pleasure working with you. Would you like to share your academic and professional background with our viewers?

Ashish: Sure. I was born and raised in India, did my Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, and worked there for over a year. Then I moved to the U.S. for my Master’s in Civil Engineering. During my master’s, I secured an internship in construction management, and I have been working in construction management for over five years now. During this time, I was also offered a board member position for a non-profit organization, called the Construction Management Association of America. That experience brought a nonprofit angle to my application, which helped me a lot as well.

Why MBA? Career Goals and Long-Term Vision

Poonam: When did you start thinking about pursuing an MBA? What are your career goals?

Ashish: After working in the field for several years and climbing the ladder, I realized that to grow into a project manager or senior Program Manager, I needed more credentials. There are various certifications, but an MBA would strengthen my portfolio. When we apply for projects, a lot of companies look for candidates with more academic and experienced backgrounds.  An MBA will equip me with the tools, business knowledge, and network to make that transition successfully. My long-term goal is to go up in the hierarchy and become a senior construction leader.

Choosing Haas Over Other Admits

Poonam: You were accepted into all four programs we collaborated on- Haas, UCLA Anderson, USC, and UCI.  As mentioned earlier, USC and UCI also offered you scholarships, yet you chose Haas. I can see Berkely Haas's picture in the background. Haas did not offer you a scholarship and requires weekend travel. Why is Haas the best school for you?

Ashish: I did extensive research on all the schools. Haas stood out for me because of its Defining Leadership Principles, which aligned with my personal values. Their long-term alumni engagement is very strong on the West Coast and all around the world, which caught my attention. Though the commute on the weekend is a commitment, I believe it’s worth it. There’s also a new online flex option, which started last year, but I have chosen the Saturday program to make the most of the MBA experience.

The Role of Personality/Character in MBA Applications

Poonam: Good, that makes sense. After working on four applications, what role do you think personality and character play in MBA admissions?

Ashish: A huge role. I literally wrote down everything starting from my family and growing up years. So that kind of highlighted my personality. Before coming to you, I was writing very professionally, just listing achievements and project outcomes. I was writing everything from a business point of view. But I realized schools want to see where you are coming from, who you really are, what your roots, background, and values are, and what brings you to the school. So, I think personality plays a huge role in shaping your application.

Poonam: Berkeley’s main essay was a personal essay about personality, family, culture, and hobbies.

Ashish: That was the most challenging essay I have written so far because of the shorter character limit and broad prompts. It was hard to incorporate leadership principles into that particular essay. But your advice to just be myself and present your picture in that essay and let the admission team do the rest of the job helped a lot. I think it’s just about putting you out there.

Poonam: Your essays will show how you resonate with the values of Haas. As I told you your stories aligned very well with Haas’s values of “Student Always” and “Beyond Yourself.”

Ashish: Yes, I didn’t realize it until everything came out after brainstorming and writing. So that was very helpful.

Importance of extracurricular activities/community involvement 

Poonam: You have a strong track record of extracurriculars and community involvement since college. What role do you think these non-work experiences have played in your admission success?

Ashish: They played a role. I can talk about two main roles. In my school days, I was part of some small local community and development teams, and in college, I participated in NSS. I have been an active volunteer for different community events, as well. In leadership, I have always sought roles that involve working with teams- school captain, undergrad president, and board member at my grad school, and now continuing that with my nonprofit work. I am also looking forward to continuing that journey here at Haas.

Poonam: And here you are playing a leadership role.

Ashish: I have been working as a board member for CMAA for over six years now. All of this added depth to my application.

Tips for Crafting Compelling Video Essays

Poonam: Let’s talk about video essays. Video essays have become a popular component of MBA applications in recent years. We worked together on your UCI video essay. Do you have any tips for applicants to craft compelling video essays?

Ashish: It was difficult for me to record myself in front of a non-living thing and share such personal information. My tips: be yourself, things will be a lot easier if you just give out the information that comes from your heart. Don’t memorize and over-rehearse and submit one of your first few takes. Your guidance was a big help. I had never done anything like that before, so a lot of the time, I was just getting distracted. So, all your suggestions and tips were helpful and made the process smoother. That video even earned me a $5,000 award on top of the $35,000 scholarship. So, thank you for that.

Supportive Recommenders

Poonam: That’s awesome! Let’s talk about recommendation letters which are also crucial parts of MBA applications. I have seen many applicants struggle with choosing recommenders, guiding them, and then following up with them for a timely submission. Did you face any challenges guiding them and getting them to submit their recommendation letters on time?

Ashish: I faced very few challenges since they were very supportive. They have been on my side all the time since they knew where I was heading. I am lucky that they were fully committed to writing good recommendation letters. The only challenge I faced was helping them frame their responses effectively, as they didn’t always know what B schools expect them to write. That's where your services were helpful. Your LOR guidelines helped guide them.

Interview Tips

Poonam: I am glad they were useful. Do you have any interview tips to share with prospective applicants? A lot of times, applicants get interview offers, but they are not adequately prepared for it because an interview is the last stage in the process that decides if they will be in or not.

 Ashish: Before the interview, try to connect with students or the admissions team- it helps you get familiar with the school, its values, and what they are looking for.  This helps you get comfortable with them while facing the interview with a new person in a different environment. Also, doing a little bit of research about the school helps.

Also, don’t stick rigidly to your resume. Be prepared for questions beyond your application. I had both in-person and recorded interviews. My advice for recorded interviews: don’t overthink it- submit your first or second take for the recorded interviews.

Poonam: Video essays also prepare you for the recorded interview, and the preparations count towards getting ready for the real interview, in-person interview as well as recorded. Sometimes candidates find recorded interviews more intimidating than in-person interviews because talking to the camera feels a bit weird. So that needs practice.

Ashish: True. I feel more comfortable talking to people in person.

Poonam: You are not the only one. I have heard it from other people also.

Ashish: I think my Haas interview was not that good at all. If I had gotten a chance to have an in-person interview, I could have answered all those questions better, but it is what it is.

Poonam: So, whether it is a recorded interview or an in-person interview, spontaneity, confidence, and communication skills are crucial for all types of interviews.

 Ashish: I agree.

Key Factors Behind His Success Despite a Modest Test Score

Poonam: Despite a modest test score, you received admits from all four schools. What do you believe were the key factors behind this success?

Ashish: I think since test-taking wasn’t my strong suit, I focused more on other aspects of my application. Some of that involved visiting schools, researching them thoroughly and answering essay questions that showed I had done my homework about each program. That was a key step.

Secondly, since I was a reapplicant, I had gathered a lot of information, but I was not able to craft it properly. I had strong experiences, both through volunteering and work, but I struggled to present them effectively. Having your service was immensely helpful in that regard. With your help, I could structure my information properly and deliver what was asked for compellingly. That made all the difference.

Also, I did some certifications to further strengthen my profile, like the QRC certification and fundamentals courses in statistics and finance, which helped boost my candidacy. I think all of that was helpful.

Poonam: You were a third-time applicant to UCLA. We used the reapplicant essay to highlight your academic readiness through certifications. That worked well.

Ashish: Yes, I think those certifications were also helpful. The Admission Committee won't specifically say that having them will help you in the long run, but I think it’s kind of implied. Since I didn’t have a  strong test score, I decided to complete those certifications in advance to strengthen my candidacy. And I think that ultimately helped me.

Advice for Prospective Applicants 

Poonam: What advice do you have for prospective applicants, especially reapplicants?

Ashish: For all the applicants and re-applicants, I will say don't fall into this “low score syndrome” similar to impostor syndrome, where you start thinking you can’t apply to certain schools. I remember a lot of consultants told me to retake the test and wait for another year before applying again. But I was in a situation where I had to apply now or maybe never.

So, my advice is- believe in yourself and keep positive people around you during this process. It truly helps boost your morale. And in the end, getting admitted is just the beginning of the journey; there are so many other levels yet to be unlocked.

Poonam: I didn't advise you to retake your EA. I had confidence in your work experiences, your community service experiences, and other non-work experiences. I had confidence in everything in your profile, including your certifications. I didn't advise you to retake it because I knew you had a strong profile. And the results are here. You got into all four programs. It's a great achievement, and I am so happy for you.

Ashish: Thank you, Poonam.

Poonam: Is there anything I missed asking that you would like to share?

Ashish: Yeah, I think I can share one or two tips for anyone who might have a similar background, age, or experience. A lot of people applying for part-time MBA programs also have family responsibilities alongside their studies. I would say- get everyone on board. Involve them in your journey so they don’t feel disconnected. A lot of times, it’s not just a personal decision- it’s a team decision. Doing this will only help you in the long run.

And second, instead of just focusing on studying all the time, invest in networking. I networked with a lot of people even before I started seriously preparing for my MBA, and all of that helped me. So, go out there, talk to people, engage, volunteer- without expecting anything in return. Good things will follow.

Poonam: That’s very valuable advice -do not expect things to happen. Ashish, thank you for your time, sharing your story with us. I’m confident that your valuable tips, experiences, and insights will be very helpful to prospective applicants for these programs. I wish you all the best during your time at Berkeley Haas and continued success in your career.

Ashish: Thank you, Poonam. Thank you for having me. I enjoyed working with you.

Poonam: It was my pleasure, Ashish. Bye.

You can connect with Ashish via LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishrajmane/

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Poonam Tandon, the founder of MER (myEssayReview), is a Ph.D. in English with 14 years of MBA consulting experience and 3 decades of teaching experience in India and the US. Poonam has successfully guided hundreds of students worldwide to gain admission into the esteemed MBA, EMBA, and specialized master's programs in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Throughout her four-decade-long professional career, she has reviewed 11,000+ essays written by applicants worldwide.  Poonam was among the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club from September 2012 to December 2023.

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