This is the busiest time of the year for me- almost all the top 20 MBA programs in the world have deadlines in September. Usually this is a stressful period but I think I’m managing my time properly for a change. Partially because of the weather- its so good this time of the year in UK that I am constantly tempted by the sunshine to step out.

This is me trying to play tennis the other day:

I suck but the tennis court is free! On busy days, you can block it for about ~800 INR for an hour. The walk from my home to the tennis court is pleasant. Trees line the roads. Music spills out from roadside pubs and cafés into the dedicated walking and cycling paths.

I run here everyday. I choose a random direction and do a 5-8k loop. It’s lovely.

When I go back to India, I try to get some random 2-3 week gym membership to run indoors. Outdoors is usually not a good daily option because air quality/traffic/no pavement.

Depending on the city, I know I can go to Cubbon Park in Bangalore or Nehru Park in Delhi or Marine Drive in Bombay for a run. I can also book a court at Siri Fort or Gymkhana.

Yeah… But it’s not easy, is it? It’s not accessible like it is here. It’s definitely not accessible to most of the country. That’s a shame.

Access is everything. The people who live in these countries have had access to spaces for art, sports and culture their entire lives. I wonder about that often - what difference does this access make to trajectories of our lives?

I have access here so I run everyday. There’s no friction. Working on your health is anyway hard, introduce systemic failures and I will find a million reasons not to go out.

I have to return to India soon. I miss my family and friends. But I worry about our health and access to nature and the great outdoors. Please give me suggestions - how do you spend time in nature?

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled programming - in this edition of Base Camp we will focus on 2 things :

1. How to cheat in an MBA interview?

2. The unbearable sloppiness of LinkedIn

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Wharton - Sept 8

2. Harvard - Sept 9

3. Booth - Sept 15

4. MIT Sloan - Sept 29

Considering applying for 2027 or 2028 ? We are not taking any more folks for Round 1 but we are still accepting folks for Round 2:

Schedule a call 👋

How to Cheat During MBA interviews

Step 1. The Hardware. You will need a laptop with a good webcam and mics (eg any of the post 2020 macs should do the trick). Figure out where you will sit, the lighting + what platform the interview will happen on.

Step 2. The Software. GPT? Claude? Gemini? Pick your favorite. They all have desktop apps. Put a little Claude window next to Zoom/Meet/Teams - wherever the video call is happening.

Step 3. Practice your thinking face with friend! Get your friend to ask a question and while he is asking the question- keep the audio input prompt on so the LLM can listen to the question and then start churning out responses. Your main job here is to pretend to be thinking deeply. Nod aggressively, look at the ceiling, keep a pen on you to hit your chin with it.

Step 4. Give the interview.

Step 5. Get comfortable, you don’t have to get anxious while waiting for the results because we already know the answer- it’s a reject you idiot. Of course it is.

Last year, I was working with somebody for M7 MBA programs & she wanted to cheat during the interviews.

It’s easy to pass judgement on this but I understand the impulse.

A lot is at stake when you get to the interview stage because you’ve worked for months, sometimes years on this and now you’re so damn close. You want to do anything and everything to get an edge.

She wanted to experiment with having a chatbot next to her laptop that will listen to the interview questions and show her ‘ideal’ responses.

This is a losing strategy. Forget the moral quandary for a sec- even operationally, this is a bad plan. You can try it out. It doesn’t work.

Thankfully, I was able to convince her not to do it. I didn’t give her any grand moral or ethical reasons, I just told her she will come across as drab and robotic if she’s reading out slop.

Well, she didn’t do it and made it in anyway but that’s not the point of this post.

The point is that this AI arms race to the bottom will continue to find new levels.

Now, these top programs at Kellogg, Harvard and Stanford are experimenting with new things to ensure ‘authenticity’ in applications.

Kellogg MBA application this year has 5 VIDEO ESSAYS. Unprecedented.

At the time of application, you will get access to a portal which will ask you 5 questions, give you 90 seconds to prepare for each and 60 seconds to respond.

What they’re looking for is quite obvious:

Real-time communication skills- Can you process a prompt and deliver a coherent thought without an ai crutch

Presence- How do you carry yourself? What is your energy?

Spontaneity- Do you sound like a human having a conversation, or a robot reciting a script? Schools are explicitly warning applicants not to read from scripts during these videos.

Most importantly, they know ai help will be of extremely limited value in this scenario.

Unfortunately there are no shortcuts. The way to kill it in the interviews is to build clarity of thought and prep hard. The core narratives in your head need to be hyper clear, convincing and compelling. I would spend weeks figuring that out. Act accordingly :)

The Unbearable Sloppiness of LinkedIn

LinkedIn has always been hated. I sometimes want to stab my own eyeballs while reading the gems on here. Somehow though, against all odds, things may be improving.

Remember a while back, LinkedIn had a 'Write with AI' button? It's gone now.

Pangram is the best AI detector out there. And it published a report in July highlighting how LinkedIn is full of slop - more than 40% of all long form content on LinkedIn is AI. Right after this, Substack incorporated Pangram into their app and clearly named LinkedIn as something they definitely don’t want to be:

This had a shocking effect. The geniuses at LinkedIn finally woke up and realised that allowing a large scale volume of slop on their extremely valuable platform populated by real professionals is damaging to its credibility. When the real people leave, advertisers follow.

Not only is the 'Write with AI' button gone, there is now an option on every post to flag it as 'AI slop' .

This is an extreme U-turn by LinkedIn.

Six months ago, this company was all-in on AI content and now it is seemingly so anti AI, it is even using the word 'slop' - a word Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella famously asked all of us to stop using because he wants to improve the public perception of AI. We all collectively chose to ignore him.

I love all of this.

There is value in real human experiences and expressions. There is a case to be made about preserving and prioritising human outputs.

Substack's CEO said that the worst thing imaginable for his company is that 'we'll turn into LinkedIn". This may seem extreme, but perhaps having that clarity about what your product should and shouldn't be is the reason Substack has the highest percentage of real human content on it. They are betting on this strategy because they know that in an internet flooded with slop, the people will yearn for humanity.

I'm glad LinkedIn is waking up. In the meantime, please use Pangram's Chrome extension to see how much of your internet is slop.

What am I reading?

Book 1: The Dawn of Everything - I love David Graeber but this is a dense book. The central thesis is very compelling though- the history we have been told has been too simplistic and euro-centric. The authors show how history becomes a far more interesting place once we learn to throw off our conceptual shackles and perceive what’s really there. If humans did not spend 95 percent of their evolutionary past in tiny bands of hunter-gatherers, what were they doing all that time? If agriculture, and cities, did not mean a plunge into hierarchy and domination, then what kinds of social and economic organization did they lead to? The answers are often unexpected, and suggest that the course of human history may be less set in stone, and more full of playful, hopeful possibilities, than we tend to assume.

Banger Substack Posts:

Culture Cafe by Anurag Minus Verma

Why Dil Chahta Hai Has Not Aged Like Other Films

Back in my school there was a teacher who looked cute, and was cute for the most part, but he carried a certain coldness towards senseless violence and used to beat boys as if it were a spiritual duty assigned to him, as if he were a mere human following the orders of the almighty. His name was Mr Goswami (not Arnab). One reason for the beatings was his…

Read more

12 days ago · 234 likes · 12 comments · Anurag Minus Verma

Nostalgia Japonica - Real Japanese Aesthetics

Murakami and City Pop: How “Quiet Japan” Became a Vibe

Read more

9 days ago · 143 likes · 34 comments · Real Japanese Aesthetics

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you around!

🌲

Welcome to July. Incredible time of year- It’s my birthday month + world cup is on + the weather is suddenly amazing here in Manchester!

I go for my daily runs near a canal. The canal has a couple of swans, and they had babies recently that are growing at an incredible rate. Swan babies are called cygnets (I just found that out). Here is a picture from my run:

Towards the end of July I start getting a bit nervous though because Round 1 deadlines for MBA programmes are right around the corner - literally 50 days away.

All the people I work with are very smart, but we all have vastly different relationships with deadlines.

Some people are hyper-organised and decide to sacrifice a little bit every day so they don’t have to lose their minds closer to the deadlines.

Some, on the other hand, are not only unable to start the work till it’s super late, but they also get more anxious day to day.

Action is the antidote to anxiety. Move.

Okay, in this edition of Base Camp we will focus on 2 things :

1. Why are Indians choosing European b-schools over the top US schools?

2. What happens when couples apply to Masters’ programs together?

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Cambridge Judge - 24th August 2026

2. Oxford Saïd - 2nd September 2026

3. Wharton - 8th September 2026

4. Stanford GSB - 9th September 2026

Considering applying for the 2027 or the 2028 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

HEC>Harvard?! Why is elite Indian talent choosing Europe?

Brand America has taken a beating these last couple of years. US still has the highest density of incredible universities but for some people the math isn’t mathing anymore.

Insane tuition fees, high interest rates, shaky economy and volatile H-1B visa lottery caps have radically altered the return-on-investment (ROI) calculus for top-tier Indian applicants.

Elite European institutions, specifically London Business School and HEC Paris, are aggressively capitalising on this by positioning their MBA programs as frictionless, high-yield alternatives.

By offering shorter, customizable program durations paired with predictable post-study work visas like the UK’s Graduate Route or France’s multi-year post-study residency, these European powerhouses are systematically draining elite talent from traditional American pipelines.

For admissions committees in Europe, this migration represents a delicious opportunity to absorb pristine quantitative test scores and premium corporate backgrounds without diluting their regional diversity benchmarks.

Some numbers:

• Indian nationals now command almost 20% of the total full-time MBA student body at London Business School, out-indexing any single North American or East Asian regional bloc.

• At HEC Paris, the total tuition investment sits tightly at €98,000 ($105,000) for a highly optimized 16-month journey, delivering sharp cost savings compared to the standard M7 baseline of $160,000 to $170,000 across a rigid 24-month horizon.

• HEC Paris MBA alumni originating from international technical pipelines anchored an average post-grad salary of $181,211 when evaluated on a global purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.

Couples applying to Masters’ together <3

Cute trend I have seen for a few years- couples applying to MBA/Masters together. I call it the Two-Body Problem 💕

Usually its people who’ve been in a relationship for a few years, are same-ish ages and have been working for a while.

You might think applying as a couple is a liability. What if one partner is a weaker candidate? What if it looks like you’re only applying to tag along?

None of that matters.

Applying as a couple often works in your favour because of a simple stat that schools care about- yield.

Yield is the percentage of admitted students who actually enroll. If a school makes an offer to a candidate, they want that person to say yes.

If the AdCom knows that Candidate A is only going to enroll if Candidate B (their partner) also gets in, they are strongly incentivized to find a way to admit both- provided Candidate B is also fundamentally qualified.

No elite school will admit an unqualified applicant just to secure their partner. But if one partner is a borderline candidate, the “package deal” dynamic can occasionally tip the scales in their favor.

No schools publish data around this but alums at Harvard and Yale will tell you 5-10% of their cohort is couples. That’s not an insignificant number.

If you are a couple that’s considering applying together, some advice:

1. Don’t hide it. It’s more likely to work in your favour than against it.

2. Maintain your independence- your essays should be personal and unique, its not a joint manifesto.

3. Don’t get wedded to this idea- It’s perfectly fine to apply to a few schools together but you can and should apply to other schools as separate entities as well. You won’t die if you’re not in the same city for a year.

What am I reading?

I Served the King of England - I don’t remember now how I first heard of this but it is very enjoyable- quite funny and surprisingly sad at times. Its translated in English, originally written by the Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal. The story is set in and around Prague in the 1940s, during the Nazi occupation and early communism, and follows a young waiter who alternately gets into trouble and has successes. Hrabal wrote the book during a period of censorship in the early 1970s.

ChinaTalk

Notes on Egypt

When my driver picked me up to take me to the New Capital, he was certain there had been a booking mistake. “Are you sure you want to go this way? I can take you to the pyramids or Alexandria instead…

Read more

3 months ago · 218 likes · 20 comments · Nick Corvino

But This Time It's Different

The Islamic Architecture of Economic Limits

Here’s a radical thought: what if capitalism and communism were the same thing…

Read more

7 months ago · 147 likes · 22 comments · Sinéad O’Sullivan

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you around!

🌲

We had the hottest day in May ever recorded in the UK earlier this week. It reached 31 degrees in Manchester (where I am) and apparently hit 35 in London.

Like you, I have always found these news stories of UK ‘heatwaves’ hilarious because in India, 31 is a pleasant day. I figured the English were just weak.

But now that I’m here, I have some unfortunate new knowledge. Heat in the UK feels ‘hotter’ for a few reasons - 1. High humidity makes the heat more stuffy,
2. The homes are built for retaining heat and
3. Forget ACs, they don’t even have fans here!

We had to get one of those standing ones last year to make it through the brief ‘summer’. But it’s all good, this brief ‘summer’ lasted a week and we are scheduled to be back to rain and cold anytime now :)

Anyway, in this edition of Base Camp we will focus on 3 things :

1. The 20 year analysis of the top 20 MBA programs

2. The Death of the MBA → VC pipeline

3. Ashoka vs IIT

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Round 1 deadlines for Sept 2027 intake MBA programs begin in August (90 days away)

2. Deadlines for 2027 Masters applications and scholarships are between October and December (150 days away)

Considering applying for the 2027 or the 2028 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

The 20 Year MBA Analysis

I’ve analyzed the data from the top 20 MBA programs over a 20 year period. Some good insights below.

Where graduates go after MBA has not changed over the last 2 decades. 3 industries remain the primary sectors- Consulting, Financial Services, Technology.

Of course there are other niche industries that hire from b-schools but these are the Big 3. More than 80% of all jobs go here. Trend lines suggest this won’t meaningfully change for at least a few more years.

HOWEVER.

Look at the graph - see that sharp dropoff for the yellow line... yeah. That’s the bad news.

The golden age of tech hiring boom is coming to a close. It’s not over yet- You can still go after that lovely Product role at Google, but be ready for a fight 🥊

Now for the good news.

Regardless of macroeconomic conditions- whether during the 2008 financial crisis, the 2020 pandemic shock, or the 2023–2024 white-collar tech contractions- a specific tier of schools consistently outperforms the rest. The top 10 schools in US and top 5 in UK/EU consistently do well regardless of whats going on in the world.

The resilience of these schools seems to stem from their deeply entrenched, multi-industry pipelines. If investment banking hiring freezes (as it did post-2008), the consulting pipeline expands to absorb the talent. If Big Tech retracts (as seen recently), boutique strategy and middle-market finance scoop up the surplus. Their graduates are not locked into a single macroeconomic vulnerability. There are options.

So. Key takeaway if you’re considering an MBA in the next few years- don’t go to a random school :)

🌈

The Death of MBA →Venture Capital pipeline

One of my old clients is at Stanford. She has a message for you, if you have VC as a goal after MBA- change that goal RIGHT NOW.

The standard MBA-to-VC pathway is dying.

Harvard and Stanford still funnel about 4-5% of their cohort to VC but the party is over.

The smaller funds are struggling and aren't hiring new talent. Even the funds that aren't struggling are experimenting with leaner investment teams.

The bigger funds are hiring straight out of tech companies instead of going to b-schools.

The reason is simple- they are looking for deep technical intuition. The MBA skillset (financial modelling, strategy, market sizing) has taken a backseat.

If you have prior technical and early-stage startup operator experience, you might still be able to snag a VC role but the rest of us should look at alternatives.

I've got 2:

1. Growth Equity / Late-Stage VC: These firms act more like Private Equity. They care deeply about unit economics, financial engineering, structured deals, and scale. More importantly, they have money and are hiring from b-schools.

2. Corporate Venture Capital (CVC): Large enterprises (e.g., Google Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, or healthcare giants) heavily value the corporate strategy and navigation skills that MBAs bring to the table.


tldr- abandon ship for VC goals, hiring has plummeted, pivot to alt options (CVC, growth equity)

Ashoka vs IIT - who is cracking a top MBA?

What a delightful image. Okay. This one is for my IIT and Ashoka brethren. Rest of you can continue scrolling.

I recently spoke to an IIT alum who was a bit devastated. He applied to 10 bschools in 2025 and paid over 5L to an admissions consultant. He didn’t get a single offer.

Everything was perfect on paper- high GPA, solid work ex (consulting), high GMAT (740 on the classic edition). What happened?

This is actually a very normal outcome. There is a graveyard outside the M7 schools (Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, MIT, Columbia, Booth) filled with rejected applications from top engineering talent from India.

The reason is quite simple - these schools look for things BEYOND the basics.

High GPA + high GMAT + respectable work experience is a baseline expectation. This combination is common in the Indian applicant pool, especially among engineer candidates.

What schools are actually looking for is much harder to manufacture- initiative beyond work, values that align with schools, powerful narratives.

Give me a Ashoka graduate with 4 years of experience and above average GMAT trying to build the supply chain for a new fast fashion brand and I will bet the house on her over the IITian when it comes to cracking the M7 programs.

Because she has many things those schools value that top engg talent struggles with:

unusual extracurriculars
interdisciplinary thinking
better articulated personal narratives

What she lacks (maybe) is quantitative aptitude and a clear why mba/mission. But if she can demonstrate that, its game set match.

If you are an engineer with dreams of HBS, build stuff on the side and work on your narratives.

If you are a liberal arts grad with dreams of HBS, build demonstrable quantitative abilities and a clear mission.

What am I reading?

Rohit Lamba

On India's AI Policy: Concrete the state understands, Cognition it does not.

I wrote an op-ed for the Indian Express with mentor and co-author Raghuram Rajan, the full version appears here in the post…

Read more

4 months ago · 91 likes · 7 comments · Rohit Lamba

Savage Minds

Palantir and the New Order

A new form of capital is ascending: cloud capital—networked algorithmic machines that grant their owners remarkable powers to modify our behaviour. And just as financiers needed neoliberalism, today's tech lords need a new ideology to legitimise their rule. I call it techlordism…

Read more

4 months ago · 2005 likes · 2 comments · Yanis Varoufakis

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you around!

🌲

It's a magical place; you can easily see why Harry Potter was written there. If you're interested, you can visit the cafe where Rowling wrote the first book and explore the local kirkyard (graveyard), where you will find the graves of Tom Riddle, McGonagall, and Moody 👀

We did a ghost tour at night and this wonderful old local guy took us through the back alleys of Edinburgh telling us tales of ghosts and ghouls and murders and witch burnings (1500-2500 people, mostly women, were executed for witchcraft across Scotland between 1563 and 1736).

I took this photo during our tour of the graveyard, which adequately captures the vibes ✨

Anyway, on to less creepy things. In this edition of Base Camp we will focus on 3 things :

1. Wtf is Queer Brain Drain

2. How to hard-reset your career

3. How to think about salaries vs debt

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Round 1 deadlines for Sept 2027 intake MBA programs begin in August (100 days away)

2. Round 3 deadlines for Jan 2027 intake programs are happening right now

Considering applying for the 2027 or the 2028 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

Queer Brain Drain (or the Great Gay Exodus)

A strange/great trend(?) I haven’t seen anyone talk about- Queer Brain Drain. The Gays are leaving.

Over the last 7 years, I have seen a clear uptick in the number of LGBTQ+ folks we work with. I sat down last night and did the math - every year we work with more queer folks than the previous year.

And good news- this group has (literally) a 100% success rate at the top tier schools.

Now, I am not claiming some large scale trend - our sample size is so small (we work with a total of exactly 100 people in the year), it probably has no statistical value.

But it is worth thinking about what could be happening and why. I suspect this is a result of many things happening at once:

1. Queer folks in India have always been persecuted but for the first time some of them have the power and resources to exit.

2. They are more attractive to the top schools because of a couple of things:
a. High Resilience Scores: Navigating a professional career in India while managing queer identity requires a level of emotional intelligence (EQ) and grit that schools prioritize.
b. Intersectionality: Being an Indian applicant and an LGBTQ+ person creates a unique Venn diagram of diversity that helps them stand out in the most competitive pool in the world.

3. Indian queer applicants often have a clearer "Why an MBA?" story than their peers- The legal landscape in India (recognition of cohabitation but not full marriage equality as of early 2026) creates a powerful "push" factor for candidates seeking a stable life in the West + Candidates can clearly articulate how a global degree is a necessary tool for personal and professional mobility both. Admissions officers love a candidate with a clear, high-stakes mission.

4. Scholarships: Schools are actively competing for these candidates. Programs like LBS and Oxford have introduced specific diversity scholarships that target underrepresented regions, including queer applicants from the Global South.

Growing up gay in India can be horrible. Every interaction with every uncle, aunty, peer, boss, colleague, shopkeeper, classmate, teacher is nerve wracking. The only reason I can talk about this with conviction now is because I have spent the last few years understanding the lived experiences of people.

I worked with a guy couple of years ago, Amit (not his real name). He got into Wharton. He cried when his plane left the Indian airspace. He loves India but India had been pretty cruel to him. He hasn't returned since. I don't blame him. Godspeed.

🌈

How to hard-reset your career 💣

If you are sick of your career and want to change everything about it (job function + industry + location), there are only 2 real options:

1. Entrepreneurship. Self-explainatory.
2. MBA

No other degree comes close to a hard reset than a MBA.

This wasn’t always the case- For decades, the MBA was sold as a "finishing school" for those already on the fast track but the labour market is rapidly changing- Hard resets are not frowned upon anymore.

We are entering the era of the Triple Jumper: the candidate who uses their first few years to change their industry, their function, and their geography all at once.

Data backs this up. While historical data (2015-2020) suggested that only about 24% of MBAs made a significant career change, 2026 reports from INSEAD and Chicago Booth tell a different story:

- 65% of 2025-2026 graduates successfully changed at least one dimension (sector, country, or function).
- Approximately 14% to 22% of graduates at elite schools are now "Triple Jumpers," successfully landing roles in a new country, a new industry, and a new job function simultaneously.

Critical caveat tho- you can’t just change to ANYTHING. It’s still very hard to switch from marketing to investment banking. There are no transferable skills.

The switch needs to make sense i.e. you need to make a calculated move across "Bridge Industries." In 2026, the most successful switchers are moving into roles that act as translators between their old world and their new one. For eg- Software engg to Product management. Nonprofit to Consulting etc. Tech to consulting (basically everything to consulting kind of works if the story is good enough).

All this is easier said than done.

MBA is expensive.

It doesn’t matter if you get into Wharton if you spend the rest of your life paying back the loan. Let’s understand salaries and debt -

The key metric to pay attention to is the salary-to-debt ratio. This measures your expected first-year total compensation against the total student debt you expect to carry at graduation.

Ideally, you want a ratio of 1:1 or higher, meaning your starting salary is equal to or greater than your total debt.

For top-tier programs (the M7 schools like HBS, Stanford, and Wharton), the ratios are generally very healthy compared to other professional degrees- Often 1.5:1 to 2:1. (e.g., ~$100,000 in debt vs. ~$150,000 in total first-year compensation).

Top-25 MBA graduates in 2026 are carrying an average debt load of a little less than $100k.

Most folks from the M7 programs take about 4-5 years to pay off this debt. But there are some programs that offer similar salaries (>150k) and cheaper cost- allow you to pay off the loan in 1-2 years.

This is a worthwhile target for folks looking for great ROI- the mid-ranked program that delivers 90% of the salary for 30% of the cost.

In the US it’s hidden gems like Foster and Scheller. The salary to debt ratio is staggering here- 1.5:1 or even 2:1!

Outside US- the 1 year programs offer exceptional value. My own degree in Singapore was cheaper than ISB after all the scholarships etc. INSEAD, IMD, Oxbridge, LBS, NUS etc offer exceptional value compared to US counterparts.

What am I reading?

City of Brass by SA Chakraborty: Epic fantasy inspired by Middle Eastern West Asian folklore- set in Cairo. Seems like a banger.

The Whale and The Reactor by Langdon Winner: First published to great acclaim in 1988, Winner demonstrates that choices about the kinds of technical systems we build and use are actually choices about who we want to be and what kind of world we want to create- technical decisions are political decisions, and they involve profound choices about power, liberty, order, and justice.

What will be scarce by Alex Imas:

Ghosts of Electricity

What will be scarce?

Starbucks is a huge company (market cap of $112 billion) that sells one of the most standardized products in the modern economy. Making a cup of coffee or even one of the fancy specialty drinks is very easy to mechanize and reproduce. If the entire economy is soon to be automated, with labor being replaced with increasingly more sophisticated capital, S…

Read more

5 months ago · 1193 likes · 128 comments · Alex Imas

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you around!

🌲

A fascinating thing I have noticed is almost everyone in my orbit seems to hate AI. Sure they use it every now and then, but collectively, without talking, we have all come to the same conclusion- that there is something slimy here. We don’t feel that way about ALL new technology. People love their new iPads and such. But with AI - Things are changing too fast and the ‘black box’ nature of LLMs adds to the disquiet.

Much to my horror then, I’m sad to report that I find myself enjoying some of the AI slop videos on Instagram. My favorite one nowadays is the Galgotias bot having sleepless nights and trying to work on itself (link). Just terrible but unfortunately very good.

Anyway, on to more useful things-

In this edition of Base Camp we will focus on 2 things :

1. What are salaries like post-mba today? Who is earning what?

2. When does switching your job make sense from a b-school pov?

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

• INSEAD Jan 27 intake (Round 1) 17 March 2026

• Cambridge Judge MBA Fall 26 intake (Round 3) 17 March 2026

• Columbia Business School MBA Fall 26 intake (Round 3) 26 March 2026

• Oxford Saïd MBA Fall 26 intake (Round 3) 27 March 2026

• London Business School MBA Fall 26 intake (Round 3) 30 March 2026

1. Deadlines for Jan 2027 intake MBA programs are in March and April

2. Round 1 deadlines for Sept 2027 intake MBA programs begin in August (5 months away)

Considering applying for the 2027 or the 2028 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

Who makes the most money after MBA?

If you’re 27-30 and starting your MBA, you will probably see the highest salary increase. Let’s break down post-MBA salaries:

3 things determine compensation delta- experience, location and industry

Avg age at the top schools is 28. Candidates with 4–5 years of experience see the highest percentage salary increases

Once you hit 7+ years of experience, the “opportunity cost” (the salary you give up to go to school) begins to cannibalize your future gains

For M7 schools (Harvard, Stanford, etc.), acceptance rates begin to dip slightly for every year you stay in the workforce beyond age 30.

US base salaries are the highest in the world (Median: $125k–$175k). However, debt is also the highest. The average salary-to-debt ratio for a Top-10 US school is roughly 1.7-to-1. You earn a lot, but you owe a lot.

EU/UK top schools like INSEAD (France/Singapore) or Cambridge (UK) offer 1-year programs. While their median base salaries are lower ($110k–$130k), the ROI window is much shorter (2–3 years vs. 4–5 in the US) because you only lose one year of wages.

In India and China, the absolute dollar amounts are lower, but the salary jump is staggering. Graduates from the Indian School of Business (ISB) or Fudan (China) often see a 170% to 230% increase in their pre-MBA pay. But mostly because the pre-mba salaries here are atrocious.

Finally, the industry element - Graduates entering Tech/AI roles now earn 20-30% more than those entering traditional manufacturing or retail roles. The Consulting/Finance path remains the most stable “safe bet,” with 2025 starting salaries for MBA hires at MBB (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) hovering around $190k–$192k regardless of previous experience.

tldr- MBA supercharges the salary but the delta is different for different people - the return depends on when you do it and the choices you make along the way. Act accordingly.

Switch jobs before the MBA

One of the most under‑examined dynamics in MBA economics is how pre‑MBA industry switching (before enrolling) materially alters post‑MBA ROI.

Data across top global programs shows roughly 38–44% of MBA students change industry after their MBA. Everyone knows this.

But a smaller group- about 15% - switch industries right before business school.

This is not be accident- these people know something others don’t: candidates who execute a pre‑MBA pivot increase post‑MBA offer probability by 11–14 percentage points compared to peers attempting a full “double switch” (industry + function simultaneously).

The labor market penalizes uncertainty. Pre‑pivoting reduces perceived hiring risk post MBA.

Example- let’s say you are a software dev who wants to get into PM roles post MBA. If you are able to shift to a PM adjacent role pre-MBA, your story, motivation and post-MBA recruitment will become much smoother. The school as well as recruiters will categorize you as attractive.

Pre‑MBA pivoting produces the strongest ROI for:

• Candidates from technical backgrounds entering consulting (offer probability +16 pp)

• Candidates moving from back‑office finance to front‑office roles (+13 pp)

tldr: MBA is often framed as a transformation engine. In reality, it is also a risk‑pricing marketplace. Candidates who reduce narrative volatility before arriving shift themselves into a lower‑risk, higher‑confidence hiring bracket.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein - One of the best nonfiction books to come out of the pandemic. When Naomi Klein discovered that a woman who shared her first name, but had radically different, harmful views, was getting chronically mistaken for her, it seemed too ridiculous to take seriously. Then suddenly it wasn't. Partly a memoir, partly a searing commentary on our concept of ‘self’. internet culture and our politics.

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you around!

🌲

Every year, this week is the hardest week of my entire year. The first week of September. It's a time of panic and anxiety. I start waking up hours earlier without an alarm. I pick fights with everyone. Sometimes I forget to eat lunch.

This week is when the Round 1 deadlines of the the top MBA programs around the world begin. Harvard, Wharton, Columbia on 3rd Sept. Stanford 9th. Booth, INSEAD 16th and on and on.

At the top schools, you need to apply a year in advance. So for a program starting in Sept 26, you need to apply to it in Sept 25.

MBA programs have several 'rounds' of deadlines- which is kind of comforting because it means that if you missed this one, you can still apply in Dec 25. Applying beyond the first two deadline rounds is not recommended because the odds of getting in go down and the odds of scholarship go down to zero.

Anyway, to anyone who is applying this year - be strong and hydrate. The road is long. Pace yourself. Be strategic- split your apps between rounds. Feel free to reach out for support. Godspeed ✨

In this edition of Base Camp we will focus on 2 things :

1. Is the age of The Generalist over? + why is Consulting recruitment going down?

2. Video Interviews

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Round 1 deadlines for Sept 2026 intake MBA programs begin NOW

2. Round 2 deadlines for Sept 2026 intake MBA programs begin Nov 25 onward

3. Most Masters’ programs deadlines for the 2026 intake begin Oct 25 onward

4. Deadlines for Jan 2027 intake programs begin Jan 2026 onward

Considering applying for the 2026 or the 2027 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

Is the age of The Generalist over?

When everyone is a generalist because of AI - what does that mean for jobs?

I've been doing some research into consulting job trends post MBA and one thing is very clear- please don't be a generalist in 2025. Especially for MBB. Let me explain:

McKinsey, Bain and BCG all over-hired during pandemic- you can see it clearly in the graph where it peaks in 22/23 for the top schools in US. This obviously led to a post-pandemic boom for MBA graduates, with placement percentages and salaries hitting record highs in 2021 and 2022. For instance:

- At Yale, the consulting placement rate soared from 44.1% in 2020 to a peak of 53.6% in 2022
- Kellogg saw its rate jump from 36% to a high of 40% in the same year

This also drove up salaries, with median base pay for consultants reaching close to $180k at some schools (Wharton) 👀

However, starting in late 2023 and continuing into 2024, the market has seen a significant slowdown. This is resulting in delayed start dates, fewer full-time offers, and a decline in consulting placement percentages at many top MBA programs. For example:

- Yale's rate dropped sharply from 44.1% in 2023 to 31.9% in 2024.
- At Kellogg, it fell from a high of 42% in 2023 to 35% in 2024.

📉

If you're targeting consulting exits post MBA, please understand one thing very clearly- Firms are no longer looking for generalist problem-solvers. Generalists are attractive during bull markets. They suck in bear markets.

If you're targeting consulting you need to demonstrate hyper-specialized expertise in high-growth areas. Some advice-

1. Be a Specialist: MBB firms are prioritizing candidates with proven skills in AI strategy, digital transformation, sustainability, and data analytics. The more niche you can go, the more valuable you become.

2. Embrace a Broader View: Look beyond the traditional MBB firms. The consulting arms of the Big Four as well as a growing number of specialized boutique firms, are actively recruiting and offer strong career paths. Places like EY-Parthenon and PwC Strategy& can offer projects in areas like supply chain optimization and technology risk management.

3. Leverage Non-Traditional Recruiting: With traditional on-campus recruitment becoming more selective, use your alum network to explore roles at a wider range of companies. Internal strategy groups within Fortune 500 companies are also an increasingly attractive option for MBAs, offering a strong salary and a better work-life balance. Don't blindly chase any particular brand.

We’re in the news!

Over the years we’ve helped many students get into Harvard, but it’s never made the news- until now 💃 🚀 ✨

We worked with Purva last year and she's going to Harvard.

This was hard. We got rejected at a few places early and Harvard was our last shot. And even when we got an offer, Purva worked for ages to figure out scholarships. And once scholarships were sorted, Trump started his personal vendetta against Harvard and getting visas became problematic.

It's all sorted now. Purva is at Harvard. From Bhopal to Boston.

Purva has made a video with a Harvard campus tour, check it out-

If you're targeting Harvard or other top programs for the 2026 or the 2027 intake, or want to connect with alums, feel free to reach out with the link below.

Schedule a call 👋

Video Interviews

Berkley Haas is one of the best AND the hardest MBA programs to get into. And this time they don't want an essay.. they want you to record a video 👀

It’s not the only school going towards video essays - more and more schools will balance their applications with a mix of written and video content.

Haas' question is super personal and deceptively hard- What makes you feel alive? ✨

Man, what a great question.

Most applicants will get this wrong and think about grandiose things they can say to make themselves stand out. That's probably not the right strategy. Instead- Think about the mundane stuff that you do in your life and try to connect that with your values.

Some other tips for video essays:

1. Obviously prepare a script but focus on the language- if its too verbose and formal, it will suck. Make it conversational.

2. Content is only half the story, delivery is the other half- if you come across as super dry and non-enthu- its over.

3. Get a nice/relevant background. Practice 300 times.

I suspect more schools will go down this video questions/interview route in our post AI world 2026 onward. Act accordingly.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

1. Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange by Katie Goh 📖 - Per person, oranges are the most consumed fruit in the world. Across the world, no matter how remote or cold or incongruous a climate is, oranges will be there. This is a history of the orange but its also a memoir - Katie follows the complicated history of the orange from east-to-west and west-to-east, from a luxury item of European kings and Chinese emperors, to a modest fruit people take for granted. This investigation parallels Katie’s powerful search into her own heritage. Sweet.

2. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones 📖 - American Indian revenge story spanning centuries. Horror + History. This took me a while to finish because the middle meanders a bit but it manages to stick the landing. Surprisingly, this also made it Obama’s annual list of books he recommends!
   

3. Everything Mark Zuckerberg has gotten from Donald Trump so far -

   One year out from Trump's threat to imprison him, Zuckerberg now has the administration fighting battles for him around the world.

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

🌲

This is my 7th attempt at writing this intro. I am writing this from a sunny spot in Spain. Majorca. Here is my view:

I was supposed to have written this newsletter while I was still back home in Manchester but I lied to myself and told myself that I would be more ‘creative’ while on a beach. What bullshit. Because of course- now that I am on the beach I don’t want to work!

We often do this- at night we think we’ll do it tomorrow. In the morning we think we’ll do it tonight.

I think the essence of the human spirit lies in the grudging action that propels us to fight through the inertia and finally take the first step. Of course it’s difficult. Of course you don’t want to do this. But as Nike said in one the most famous campaigns of all time:

If you want to go to a Harvard or an Oxford, you will need to get familiar with fighting through inertia and self-doubt. You’ll pour yourself into essays that fall flat, interviews that go cold, and applications that vanish into silence. You’ll craft narrative after narrative, each one meant to capture the essence of who you are, only to watch them crumble under scrutiny. You will fail. Repeatedly, painfully, and sometimes publicly.

But if you keep pushing- through the exhaustion, the self-doubt, the endless rejection- one day, something will click. The right words will find you. The story will finally land. And the door that was always shut will creak open, just enough for you to step through.

In the edition we focus on 2 things :

1. what is the right age to do an MBA?

2. do designations matter?

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Round 1 deadlines for Sept 2026 intake MBA programs begin in August (~100 days)

2. Most Masters’ programs deadlines for the 2026 intake are after September but some scholarships deadline begin July onwards

Considering applying for the 2026 or the 2027 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

What age should you do an MBA?

I’ve found some interesting data for Harvard and other top b-schools about their age preferences:

Harvard Business School reports an average age of 27, while Stanford gsb, MIT Sloan etc have averages closer to 28. This is fairly standard and expected- schools prefer candidates who have gained SOME quality work experience (3-6 years is the typical range) before pursuing an MBA.

But- there’s a difference in how some schools treat younger vs older candidates fare.

Harvard has an acceptance rate of about 4% for applicants aged 25 or younger, compared to 12% for those aged 26 to 29. This might seem bad for young people but Harvard is statistically way more accepting of younger folks than other comparable schools.

Conversely, certain programs show a greater openness to older applicants. Kellogg has an acceptance rate of 26% (🤯) for applicants aged 30 and above, higher than the 24% for those aged 26 to 29.

European schools like IMD and HEC Paris have average student ages of 30 and above, indicating a receptiveness to candidates with more extensive professional backgrounds.

In general, US schools are more open to slightly younger candidates compared to EU. US schools (except Kellogg) are actually quite averse to older candidates - some FT data suggests that older applicants are 3x more likely to be unemployed post-MBA compared to their younger counterparts.

tldr- if you’re younger (<26) and you have stellar profile, you should consider the top US programs. If you’re older (>30) and have a stellar profile your first choice should be European programs and perhaps Kellogg. Less than 2 years work ex? MIM. More than 13 years of work ex? Exec MBA.

Do designations matter?

Yes. And also no. It’s one of those things.

Here is an insane statistic-

25% of all Goldman Sachs employees are VPs. What the fuck?

Designations are so interesting to me - they are so meaningless and yet so meaningful.

Couple of years ago I was hiring for an entry level role. Interviewing fresh graduates. The designation was ‘Associate’. I hired a great guy, he was happy with the money and responsibilities. His only ask was to change the designation to Manager.

I asked him why that was important to him - he couldn’t articulate it properly but I have some guesses - manager ‘sounds’ more important, is more brag-worthy, next role after this one might be better because of this role’s designation etc.

I told him he can call himself senior manager if he wants. And he can move to DIRECTOR the next year. Whatever makes him happy.

Designations are weird and meaningless because they are super arbitrary - usually created through bureaucratic processes, reflecting organizational politics rather than genuine achievement, and often failing to capture the true scope of one's contributions.

BUTTT - they have undeniable power. Designations shape our professional identities, influence compensation structures, and provide the framework through which institutions organize themselves. They satisfy our deeply human need for recognition and placement within social hierarchies.

Goldman is not wrong to have 25% of its entire workforce as VPs- it makes the employees happy and makes the clients happy because they always think they are dealing with a more senior member of the organisation.

It’s absurd but it is correct. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

1. My Brain Finally Broke - Incredible essay by the incredible Jia Tolentino about the strange times we are living in. Much of what we see now is fake and the reality we face is full of horrors.

   I mostly keep track of time on my phone, a device that makes me feel like I am strapped flat to the board of an unreal present: the past has vanished, the future is inconceivable, and my eyes are clamped open to view the endlessly resupplied now.

2. The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner - I just bought this book from a second-hand bookstore in Palma. I thought it was about running. It’s not. It’s a collection of stories portraying the isolation, criminality, morality, and rebellion of the working class from award-winning, bestselling author Alan Sillitoe.

   I'm a human being and I've got thoughts and secrets and bloody life inside me that he doesn't know is there, and he'll never know what's there because he's stupid. I suppose you'll laugh at this, me saying the governor's a stupid bastard when I know hardly how to write and he can read and write and add-up like a professor. But what I say is true right enough. He's stupid, and I'm not, because I can see further into the likes of him than he can see into the likes of me.

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

🌲

Last week, the clocks went forward over here in the UK (daylight savings - don’t ask me to explain it, i don’t get it). Spring has sprung. The days are long. The sun is out. People are happier. It’s a nice time to be here. Here is a photo I took yesterday of the building in front of my house and the endless blue sky-

April is a great time to reflect on the previous year - the admissions cycles are mostly over. We had a good year - over 90 people out of our 100 people cohort got offers from top schools like Harvard, MIT, Kellogg, Oxford, NUS, ISB etc. In the last 10 months, we have received over 18 crores in scholarships. Not bad.

But. I resent April. It’s a new financial year and it kind of wipes the slate clean- previous accomplishments fade and I stare at a brand new page with nothing on it. The cycle continues. Which brings me to the topics of this edition:

1. Consulting - more and more people want to get into consulting after the MBA. Why?

2. 2025 MBA rankings are out- what do they mean? who won? who lost (spoilers- Harvard lost)?

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Round 2 and 3 deadlines for Jan 2026 intake MBA programs are in April (~30 days)

2. Round 1 deadlines for Sept 2026 intake MBA programs begin in August (~120 days)

3. Most notable Masters’ programs deadlines for the 2026 intake are after September but some scholarships deadline begin July onwards

Considering applying for the 2026 or the 2027 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

Why does everyone want to do Consulting?

Almost everyone(~70%) wants to do consulting after MBA. But not just any consulting company- everyone wants to join only MBB. Why? Well, the salaries to begin with:

McKinsey, BCG, Bain offer similar compensation for top talent-
- Base salary $175,000-190,000
- Signing bonus: $30,000-35,000
- Performance bonus: Up to $45,000
- Total first-year compensation potential: ~$250,000-270,000

Consulting is particularly attractive because of a heady mix of prestige+compensation+good exits

Career progression looks straightforward but can grueling. Please forget work life balance. Typically 2-3 years per level (Consultant → Project Leader → Principal → Partner). Exit opportunities are abundant- private equity, corporate strategy, startups, or industry leadership roles.

MBA recruitment typically begins in September-October of MBA first year. Many rounds of interviews, case studies. Majority get rejected here.

Around 50-70% of MBA students at top 20 schools apply to MBB. At M7 schools (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Columbia), this number is closer to 70-80% due to strong recruiting ties.

This doesn’t mean everyone gets in. At the M7 schools- about 15-20% of the cohort gets an offer. At the top 8-20 programs- about 5-12% of the cohort gets an offer.

Consulting isn’t immune to the paradigm shifts happening right now with AI. A recent Ken story breaks it down:

Historically, the biggest advantage consulting firms have had is information asymmetry, said the McKinsey consultant. To decode the “consult-speak”, this essentially means they had access to industry- and market-wide trends at a scale clients simply did not. With AI, this asymmetry is fast shrinking. So consulting firms have been quick to leverage their expertise in the very AI that’s making them obsolete.

McKinsey reported that 40% of its projects involved the use of AI. BCG and Bain, too, predicted that AI consulting would drive 20–30% of their business in 2024.

GenAI helped consultants improve their outcomes for creative problem-solving by 40%, per a 2023 research study on a group of 750 BCG consultants. On the other hand, for business problem-solving, it worsened outcomes by 23%. That’s because consultants trusted the technology in areas it wasn’t competent in, and didn’t trust it enough where its capabilities were proven to be sound. Most alarmingly, the study showed how generative AI reduced a group’s diversity of thought by 40%.

Things are moving fast. No one knows what the landscape will be like in the next 2-5-10 years. The only thing to do is learn to be flexible - be water. Curious fast learners will always be awarded.

2025 MBA rankings breakdown

Top 100 MBA 2025 rankings are out! Some CRAZY standouts:

1. Harvard had a terrible year. It is now at rank 13- its lowest ever. Its been a rough couple of years for HBS students- No MBA program in the FT‘s Top 25 has fallen more than Harvard in the past five years. Damn.

2. The Rise of Europe- Out of the top 10 schools, 5 are now European (not counting LBS)! This is pretty crazy. INSEAD, SDA, IESE, ESADE, HEC.

3. My beloved alma mater NTU Singapore is rank 22! Way ahead of long time rival NUS (37) + beating heavyweights like Yale, Oxford, Ross, Stern.

4. Indian schools feature more prominently among the top 100, a total of 8 schools make the cut - ISB is ranked the highest at 27 followed by IIM A B C Indore Lucknow Kozhikode, XLRI. Prediction- ISB will climb higher in the coming years.

5. Wharton is number 1 - This is the 13th time Wharton’s MBA program has won the FT‘s top honor, more than any other program by far.

6. The best thing about the FT rankings are you can sort by multiple different metrics - based on what matters to you. For example, if you sort by 'Value for money rank'- top 5 schools are Terry, Warrington, ESCP, NTU and Smurfit. If you sort by 'International mobility' - top 5 schools are IMD, EMLyon, HEC, EMT, Rotterdam.

✨tldr✨ - The dominance of US schools on rankings is slowly eroding- more schools more Asia and EU are creeping into the top 100s. This is good.

Caveat on methodology- of course, as always, analyze schools on your own. Rankings can and are gamed by the schools. Different publications use different methodologies. According to Financial Times- The MBA ranking is derived from 21 criteria- some have nothing to do with the MBA experience (eg faculty research output).

I've put the full ranking with some useful columns (salaries, employment percentages etc) over here as an excel sheet if you want to download and play around with the numbers.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

The limits of AI generated Miyazaki - The launch of GPT-4o inspired a rash of A.I.-generated Studio Ghibli-style images. They may bode worse for audiences than for artists.

Ways of Seeing - A delightful collection of essays on how to view art, one of the best things I read last month. Full of quotable bangers, allow me to illustrate -

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

🌲

And welcome to December- the month where everyone collectively stops trying. It’s my favorite time of the year.

I’m in the UK which means the days are short, wet and cold. On paper it is miserable out here. In reality, its kind of- nice? I don’t mind the rain, Christmas markets are in full swing and unlike India, the homes are well insulated!

I’ve even started running for some reason. I enjoy running on cold, rainy days. Its a raw, primal experience that fair-weather running can't match. The streets become quieter, more contemplative and the cold air has a crisp sharpness that makes me feel more alive.

There's also some sort of masochism going on- I do get a sense of extra accomplishment from running in ‘difficult’ conditions. I think a lot of people operate like that, no? While others retreat indoors, you're out there, moving forward despite – or perhaps because of – the elements. The discomfort becomes the reward.

Working on your applications in December is a lot like those cold runs. It's a lovely time of year, nobody else is working- which is exactly why you should be. While others are cozying up with holiday movies, you're out there in the wilderness, pushing through the brambles. Good. Put on your war paint. You've got dragons to slay.

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Round 2 deadlines for Sept 2025 intake MBA programs are literally 35 days away

2. Round 1 deadlines for Jan 2026 intake MBA programs are 100 days away

3. Most notable Masters’ programs deadlines are also in January (MPP, MIM)

Considering applying for the 2025 or 2026 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

MBA interviews 101 🥷🏿

Contrary to popular belief, MBA interviews are straightforward. The admissions committee has gone through your resume, essays and LORs and genuinely want to know what kind of a candidate you are and whether you would be a good addition to the cohort.

Questions can be divided into 3 categories -

1. Profile based- related to your work experience

2. MBA focused- related to the program

3. General- related to your interests and values

The most common questions are-

• Why MBA/Why MBA now

• Why this school

• Goals- short term/long term

• Tell me about yourself/walk me through your resume

• Strengths/weaknesses

• Achievements/Challenges

Straightforward right? And yet, > 60% of the candidates who go for interviews are rejected. This is almost always due to a lack of prep.

In our mock interview sessions, one of the things our clients struggle with is shortening the length of responses. Keeping most of your responses to 60-90 seconds is crucial, here’s 3 reasons why-

1. Research shows people start zoning out after 90 seconds of monologue. Do you want your interviewer to be listening to you carefully or thinking about their own grocery list? 🛒

2. A shorter duration of answer forces you to focus only on your greatest hits - A lot of people want to add everything they have ever done in their responses, this is a grave error. Focus on key accomplishments and you will come out on top. 🏆

3. Shorter answers make the interview more like a conversation less like an interview. Consider these 2 options- a 10 second question and 3 minute response or a 10 second question and a 60 second response. Which one more closely mimics a real conversation? Shorter answers make you seem concise and makes the interview FLOW- like a good conversation. 🦦

What does Trump in office mean for immigration?

What does Trump in office mean for immigration and students in the US (details):

— H-1B (non-immigrant work visa) denials may go up: In 2016-2020, denial rate was ~18% on average and after that it's been ~3.2%

— H-1B RFEs may go up: Last administration, avg RFE rate was ~34% and since it's been ~12.1%

— Attempt to stop H-1B spouses from working: In 2018, Trump moved to eliminate H-4s, spouses of H-1B holders, from working in the US.

— Slight decrease in EB-1, EB-3 and L-1 approvals: While EB-2 didn't change last administration, EB-1 approval (extraordinary people, researchers, multinational executives) went from 82% during Trump to 88% during Biden. EB-3 (undergraduate degree holders) went from 92% to 98%. L-1 (temporary intra-country company transfer) went from 86% to 96%.

— O-1 (temporary extraordinary worker), EB-2 (advanced degree holders), EB-2 NIW (advanced degree + national interest) did not change significantly.

— The previous Trump administration also sought to crack down on OPT (temporary work for intl students) for F-1 student visa holders.

— Trump had proposed raising wage levels to qualify for the H-1B.

Although Trump said on the All-In podcast that he thought a green card should be stapled to international US college graduate visas, his last administration was not statistically favorable for legal high-skilled immigration. (Source- Debarghya Das)

So, tldr - Last time the Trump administration was anti-immigration as a whole. This time with half of silicon valley behind him- highly skilled immigration (relevant for students) may get a little boost.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

The AI Agents have arrived- Move over LLMs, the next step in computing is approaching. It’s shit right now but give it 12 months and a few billion dollars.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Sanders- A delightful book about writing; a Booker prizewinner explains what makes classic short stories work so well

The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King - If you’re into poker, pick up this book to get a glimpse inside the richest poker game of all time 👀

Thank you for reading our newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

🌲

The decision to do a Master’s or an MBA is an expensive one.

All this week I’ve been thinking about a strange comparison - LVMH and Harvard Business School.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton commonly known as LVMH, is a French multinational holding company and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods. They own luxury brands like LV, Tiffany, Dior, Bulgari etc. The usual suspects.

So why was I thinking of Harvard and Louis Vuitton??

One is a luxury brand, and the other… is also a luxury brand. Higher education is not seen as a right anymore. It is a luxury, one few can afford. In the past five decades, the price of college has risen 1,600%. Meanwhile, sub-10% acceptance rates are viewed as a feature not a bug.

Exorbitant prices. Exclusive customer base with high barrier to entry. Sounds familiar?

Universities are unfortunately becoming more and more like luxury brands.

They are focused too much on attracting only a certain clientele under the garb of meritocracy and not enough on teaching the maximum number of people. The question facing higher education is not "Who?". It’s "How Many?". The answer should be … "More." Specifically, lower cost, increased volume

Unfortunately, the ridiculous pricing of Master’s and MBA programs has reached Indian shores as well. This is what we shall touch upon in this edition along with how to choose a master’s program!

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. Round 1 deadlines for top MBA programs are literally 50 days away (September)

2. Round 2 and deadlines for 2025 Masters programs are 150 days away (December)

3. IMD Switzerland → 15th August

4. HEC Paris → 19th August

5. Cambridge → 27th August

Considering applying for 2025 or 2026 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

Are Indian MBAs too expensive?

It costs > 40Lacs to study at ISB. 25-30 to study at IIMs.

The cost of MBA in India is ridiculous!

This is at par with global standards - NUS in Singapore costs ~40L. Oxford costs ~70L.

I’ll demonstrate how insanely ridiculous this is with GDP per capita - India’s GDP per capita is USD 2410. Singapores GDP per capita is USD 82807.

34x.

Education costing the same in such economically disparate countries is crazy.

So then the following questions arise -

1. Is the quality of education and the MBA experience at indian schools at par with global standards?

2. Are the student outcomes at indian schools at par with outcomes at top schools abroad?

My opinion is that the quality and mba experience of international mba programs is miles ahead of indian counterparts.

But when it comes to outcomes there’s room for nuance - if your goal has always been to stay in india and build a career here then the Indian b-schools are a better fit. Especially if you have less than 3 years work experience.

But if you want international exposure, actual diversity and international opportunities- there’s no question. You should apply outside.

The truly unfortunate part of all this is that anyone who can’t afford international MBA programs is effectively being priced out at indian business schools as well.

It’s just too damn expensive.

How to choose the right Master’s 🎯

Choosing the right master's program is a significant decision and a daunting task that can impact your career and personal growth. There are many factors to consider, such as your career goals, area of expertise, and the cost of tuition. However, with a bit of research and soul-searching, you can find a program that’s right for you.

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right master’s for you:- 

1. Self-Reflection - When thinking about pursuing a master's degree, it's essential to start with some self-reflection. Take the time to understand your career aspirations, and strengths, and assess where further education could benefit you. Reflect on whether you want to advance in your current field, change careers, or specialize further.

2. Research Extensively - After that, it's time for extensive research. Look into a wide range of programs offered by different institutions. Check online and offline reviews, and have conversations with alumni to get a feel for the programs. It's important to research the curriculum, course offerings, and specializations to ensure they align with your interests and goals.

3. Align with Career Goals - Next, make sure the program aligns with your career goals. Look at the profiles of past graduates and where they are now. Consider the program's specialization areas and whether they are relevant to your field.

4. Evaluate Program Structure and Flexibility - Consider the program's duration, course requirements, and whether it offers the flexibility to design your own curriculum. It's also crucial to consider whether the program offers part-time or online learning options, especially if you have other commitments.

5. Consider Cost and Financial Support - Calculate the total cost of the master's degree, including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Investigate whether the institution offers scholarships, financial aid, or alumni discounts. It's important to weigh the potential return on investment against the cost of education.

6. Investigate Faculty and Class Size - Research the faculty members and their expertise. Consider whether smaller class sizes and lower student-to-faculty ratios would result in a more engaging learning environment and provide more personalized attention.

7. Look for Internship and Networking Opportunities - Check if the program offers internships, industry connections, and professional development workshops. These opportunities can provide practical experience and help you build a strong professional network, which is invaluable for your career growth.

In conclusion, choosing the right master's program requires careful consideration and thorough research. It will be your terminal (final) degree in all probability- do it from the right place and for the right reasons.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Book - Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez - From economic development, to healthcare, to education and public policy, we rely on data to allocate resources and make crucial decisions. But because so much data fails to take into account gender, because it treats men as the default and women as atypical, bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. And women pay tremendous costs for this bias, in time, money, and often with their lives.Perez investigates the shocking root cause of gender inequality and research in Invisible Women​, diving into women’s lives at home, the workplace, the public square, the doctor’s office, and more.

How Birkenstock became India’s Bata- In just five years, Birkenstock—once labelled as "ugly"—has become one of the fastest-growing footwear brands in India, with FY2024 sales reaching Rs 200 crore.

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

🌲

Welcome to the fool’s month 🫵

Do you know where April Fools comes from? I looked it up. The weird part is no one knows for sure. Yes there are theories- Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year began around April 1. People who didn’t realize the change continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 and became the butt of jokes and hoaxes, earning the title of “April fools.”

We don’t think about it much but time is a weird concept- how we perceive it and how we count it. We perceive time as a linear progression, a relentless march forward. Yet, in its relentless ticking, it reveals its absurdity. Moments stretch and compress, like a cosmic accordion playing an unpredictable tune.

Our perception of time bends under the weight of deadlines, especially those looming over MBA aspirants. These deadlines, arbitrary markers set by institutions, become the puppet masters of our existence. We dance to their rhythm, juggling essays, recommendations, and standardized tests. The absurdity lies in our frantic pursuit of these temporal milestones, as if they hold the keys to our future. We laugh, we fret, and we question our sanity, all while racing against the clock. But perhaps, hidden within this chaos, lies the essence of our journey—a paradoxical blend of urgency and reflection, where deadlines become both our captors and liberators.

This month’s newsletter focuses on 2 things - Round 1 vs Round 2 deadlines and the ACTUAL outcomes post-MBA.

Let’s dive in 🤿

🚨 Notable upcoming deadlines 🚨

1. MIT Sloan R2 decision → 5th April 2024

2. Cornell R2 decision → 5th April 2024

3. Stanford R3 deadline → 9th April 2024

4. Harvard 2+2 deadline → 25th April 2024

5. Georgetown R4 deadline → 30th April 2024

Considering applying for 2025 intake?

Schedule a call 👋

MBA Application Deadlines: Round 1 vs. Round 2 ⏰

Let’s talk about MBA applications rounds- almost all business schools have multiple deadlines called ‘rounds’. The practice of having multiple application rounds for MBA programs serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it allows admissions committees to evaluate a sizable pool of applicants simultaneously. By staggering the rounds, they can compare historical data with the current round, assessing both demand for their programs and how the qualifications and demographics of the new group compare to previous ones. This approach helps in assembling an optimal cohort with a well-rounded mix of expertise, experience, and ambitions. Additionally, the timing of these rounds aids in allocating scholarships and financial aid effectively. Applying early in Round 1 does come with increased odds of admission, as all seats are up for grabs, and scholarship budgets have not yet been awarded. However, quality remains paramount, regardless of the round chosen. Let’s break it down:

1. The Early Bird Advantage: Round 1

• Serious Intent: Applying in Round 1 signals your commitment and planning to admission committees. It shows that a particular business school is your top choice.

• Higher Acceptance Rates: Top schools often have more available seats in Round 1, leading to better chances of admission.

• Scholarship Opportunities: Round 1 applicants may receive scholarships as a reward for their early commitment.

2. The Quality Factor: Round 2

• Application Readiness: If you have a polished resume, strong letters of recommendation, and a competitive GMAT score, Round 1 is your best shot.

• Extra Time: Round 2 allows you additional months to improve your application. If you need more time to enhance your profile, consider this round.

• Top Business Schools: Applying in Round 1 or 2 is essential for top-ranked schools. Their acceptance rates drop significantly in Round 3.

3. International Applicants

• Visa Formalities: International students benefit from applying in the first two rounds due to additional time required for visa applications.

Expert Advice

• Most top business schools don’t have a strong preference between Round 1 and Round 2. However, they discourage applying in Round 3.

• Remember, quality matters more than timing. Craft a compelling application regardless of the round.

• BUTTT - try to go for Round 1 for maximum chances of success in terms of admissions + scholarships.

Round 1 for the 2025 intake for most top schools is in 150 days (Sept 2024).

Round 2 is in 200 days. Act accordingly 🚀

Post-MBA Career Outcomes: Insights from the top schools 📈

Graduating from a top-tier MBA program opens doors to diverse and rewarding career paths. But what precisely are these career paths? Let’s look at 8 popular programs-

1. Columbia Business School (CBS)

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Consulting: CBS alumni often land roles in top consulting firms.

  • Financial Services: Investment banking, investment management, and private equity are popular choices.

  • Technology: CBS graduates also thrive in tech-related roles.

2. Insead

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Financial Services: Insead graduates find success in finance-related roles.

  • Management Consulting: Consulting firms value Insead talent.

  • Technology: Roles in tech, media, and telecommunications are common.

3. IESE Business School

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Consulting: IESE alumni excel in consulting.

  • Finance: Investment banking, venture capital, and fintech roles.

  • Diversified Industries: Graduates explore various sectors.

4. Harvard Business School (HBS)

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Consulting: HBS students often join prestigious consulting firms.

  • High Salaries: Median base salaries for HBS graduates are impressive.

  • Diverse Functions: Roles span strategy, operations, and HR.

5. Stanford Graduate School of Business

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Entrepreneurship: Stanford GSB fosters innovation and startup success.

  • Technology: Graduates thrive in Silicon Valley and beyond.

  • Social Impact: Many choose nonprofit or social enterprise roles.

6. SDA Bocconi School of Management

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Consulting: SDA Bocconi alumni contribute to global consulting firms.

  • Finance: Roles in investment banking and private equity.

  • Luxury Goods: Italy’s influence shines in luxury brand management.

7. University of California at Berkeley: Haas

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Tech Industry: Haas graduates make waves in tech companies.

  • Consulting: Consulting roles remain popular.

  • Consumer and Retail: Roles in consumer goods and retail sectors.

8. Cornell University: Johnson

• Common Career Outcomes:

  • Investment Banking: Johnson School alumni find success in finance.

  • Consulting: Consulting firms value their analytical skills.

  • Retail and Consumer Goods: Roles in these sectors are common.

So- what did we learn? Common threads seem to be finance, consulting and tech. These are the 3 industries that recruit the most from b-schools. Are you already in them and want to grow further or change your job function? Do you want to pivot to these industries from somewhere else? MBA makes it possible.

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What are we reading at Base Camp?

Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara - Great, incisive book about how the blood of Congo powers our lives. Cobalt is an essential component to every lithium-ion rechargeable battery made today, the batteries that power our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and electric vehicles. Roughly 75 percent of the world’s supply of cobalt is mined in the Congo, often by peasants and children in sub-human conditions. Billions of people in the world cannot conduct their daily lives without participating in a human rights and environmental catastrophe in the Congo. In this stark and crucial book, Kara argues that we must all care about what is happening in the Congo—because we are all implicated.

The Rise and Fall of the Trad Wife - Some content creators helped lead an online movement promoting domesticity- especially for women. Now it’s become its own monster.

What does the future of Bengali Food look like? - Chef Auroni Mookerjee is redefining and elevating Bengali cuisine whilst simultaneously digging down and getting back to its roots. Somika Basu accompanies him on a market walk, as they discuss seasonality and the need to explore Bengali cuisine beyond its stereotypes.

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

We are a small team of MBA & PhD alumni that work with only 100 people every year to help them get into tier-1 MBA & Masters programs.

We have a 97% success rate.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice →

Schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

👋

In one of the greatest films ever made, The Shawshank Redemption (spoilers ahead), a wrongfully imprisoned man, Andy Dufresne, spends 19 years in jail and then suddenly… disappears. Turns out he had been slowly digging a tunnel in his cell for 19 years. He was hiding the tunnel behind a big poster on the wall.

His friend Red (Morgan Freeman) tells us that Andy could do the unimaginable because he understood the magic of pressure and time.

Here is the exact quote -

I remember thinking it would take a man six hundred years to tunnel through the wall with it. Old Andy did it in less than twenty. Oh, Andy loved geology. I imagine it appealed to his meticulous nature. An ice age here, million years of mountain building there. Geology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes really, pressure, and time. That, and a big goddamn poster.

Hmmm. So we are going to stretch this metaphor a bit and say that to do something great you need 3 things:

1. Time

2. Pressure

3. A poster (?)

Time is time. We understand that. Pressure is effort. Got it. In the film, the poster is the sleight of hand that is required to conceal the effort. In our context, we can suggest that the poster is the profile - the brands you have worked with along with the impact you have had through your work experience.

Time + Effort + Profile = MBA offers?

In a nutshell? Yes. This is mostly it. Of course there are complexities within each step and nuances of profile and this and that but at its most basic level, these 3 things are the biggest predictors of success- more so than college, GPA, GMAT score etc.

Let’s dive in 🤿

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Notable upcoming deadlines

MBA Interviews- how to crack them 🎙️

The entire last month was interview season. Tensions were running high. A lot of the people we work with feel (understandably) nervous and unsure about this stage of the application process. They are under pressure to ‘say the right things’ and come across as competent and likeable. 

While this is natural, interviews aren’t anything to be afraid of. It’s just a way for schools to get a sense of what kind of person you are, and if you’ll be a good fit for the cohort. Even if you’re not a natural speaker, or feel like you don’t come across well, there are definitive ways to hack the process and improve your outcomes. 

Ok, let’s get into it. 

1. Know what to expect: The biggest tip is to do your due diligence. Figure out the length of the interview, the format, if it’s ad-com led or alumni led, and what kinds of skills they’re looking for. For instance, Ross has a team-based interview, Yale has a video component, and HBS asks for a post-interview reflection. It’s best to know what to expect – get on Reddit, reach out to alums and don’t hesitate to shoot the ad-com an email if you have any doubts. Removing the element of surprise ensures that you can be prepped and calm now that you know what to expect. 

2. Prep, prep, prep: I cannot overstate the importance of taking time to prepare yourself for interviews – both technically and emotionally. This is the single best way to build your confidence and ensure you come off as informative, natural and confident. Questions about why you’re pursuing an MBA degree, what your career goals are, and why you’re interested in this particular school should all be on the tip of your fingers. 
   
   First, jot your thoughts down on paper. Then practice by yourself, perhaps even using Zoom to record. How do you come across? Ideally, set up a couple of mocks with a friend or colleague, and ask them to give you feedback as well. 
   

3. Expect the Unexpected: Despite all your prep, you could get a question that you didn’t anticipate. Maybe you’re asked about an area of weakness, a failure, or why you left a certain position or industry. The key is to respond with honesty and humility. Present yourself in a positive light by focusing on your growth, lessons and ability to reflect. A good tip if you do slip up is to maintain your composure and then ask the interviewer if you can clarify your answer at the end of the interview. 
   

4. Ask your Questions: A curveball at the end of interviews is, “Do you have any questions for us?” If you’re not prepared, this could present an awkward moment. At the very least, you’ve missed out on an opportunity to prove to the interviewer that you’re well researched and excited about the school by asking an insightful question. You can consider asking questions specific to the strengths of the school community, or logistical questions about support for partners and families.

5. Use your advantages: Many schools are still allowing virtual interviews, and this is a huge advantage if you play it well. You’re at home, comfortable and calm. You can be half-dressed (business on top, pyjamas on the bottom). A big advantage is that you have the opportunity to place things outside your interviewer’s field of vision, such as sticky notes with key words or cues. This can be a great way to feel more confident, even if you don’t end up using it. 

Above all, remember that this is a way for schools to get to know you a little better. Most schools are not looking to trip you up or make you uncomfortable. If you’ve got an interview call, know you’ve made it further than most already. It’s your time to shine!

So… Who actually gets into a tier 1 program? 🎯

Circling back to our intro formula:

Time + Pressure + Profile = MBA offers

Let’s take an example. Ayushi started working with us earlier this year with a clear goal- get into Europe and UK’s best MBA programs. She didn’t have a great GMAT score but her profile was fantastic and she was willing to put in a lot of work into the process over several months.

So what happened? Here is what she had to say about the entire process:

What are we reading at Base Camp?

The Tao of Charlie Munger - A short, easy to read book about the wisest things Charlie Munger has said over the years.“There is no better teacher than history in determining the future... There are answers worth billions of dollars in 30$ history book.”

The Netflix Effect - A year ago Netflix was dying. Today it’s stronger than ever. What’s going on?

Who controls OpenAI? - The Sam Altman firing scandal is over. Altman is back. There is a new board. But the question remains- who really controls OpenAI?

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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice, feel free to schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

Round 1 deadlines have ended and the year’s first interview season is upon us. Preparations are in full swing. MBA Round 2 deadlines and Masters’ deadlines are in approximately 75 days. Act accordingly.

This edition of Base Camp is not about the applications though- this one is completely about Canada- what does the recent diplomatic frostiness mean for students?

Short answer- not much. Both countries have assured that recent events won’t have any impact on students.

Long answer?

Let’s dive in 🤿

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Canada Dry (sorry)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably caught wind of the unexpected flame of tensions between India and Canada. The diplomatic fracas has been mounting for a while, but it’s finally peaked and one (large) affected party is Indians studying in Canada. Of 600,000 international students in Canada in 2020, about 34% were Indian, so you can appreciate that this is a sizable population.

Canada has long been an attractive option for Indian students, given it offers high-quality education at an affordable cost in a safer (than the US) and multicultural environment. As MBAs in the US continue to get more expensive and out-of-reach for many, Canada has developed as a great alternative. Its programs are relatively inexpensive and offer strong value along with prospects of settling in the country.

Don’t get it twisted though, Indians students pay fees three to five times higher than what colleges charge Canadians. In a way, a large part of the private college ecosystem of Canada is currently being funded by Indians.

There is also something to be said about Canada’s immigrant friendly policies around student study permits, work opportunities for international graduates, and pathways to citizenship. Compared to most other parts of the world, Canada has a much more approachable path to citizenship/PR, allowing you to work anywhere in the country for up to three years—depending on the duration of your MBA program.

If you’re applying to Canadian B-schools either in this cycle or the next, you might be in two minds. Reports in the media are listing lack of adequate resources – importantly housing – available to students because of the intense influx. What should you do in this uncertain time?

Well, interestingly in this situation, many feel that India has the upper hand. The Canadian economy is significantly dependent on international students coming and enrolling in their courses, as well as taking relatively lower paying jobs in the country afterward. Remember, the population of the entire country is less than that of Delhi! Foreign students not only prop up private colleges with $30 billion a year, they also help sustain the real estate market, and are an essential part of Canada’s gig economy.

If India were to disallow students from going to Canada, the universities would really be hit where it hurts. Many colleges – barring the well funded ones – would take a hit, mortgage rates would rise and labour costs might also spin out of control very fast. It is in Canada’s best interests to smooth this situation post-haste, in fear that India will retaliate unfavourably.

In line with that, Canada has not stopped issuing visas to Indian students. If you have already applied, or are planning to in this cycle, things might not look very different from previous years. Some reports suggest that you can expect some delays on the visa front, but nothing too off-putting.

On the ground in Canada as well, it is life as usual for Indian students. Graduating students are being granted work permits and are in a position to stay on and look for jobs.

While these fluctuations might seem daunting in the moment and well-meaning friends and family might be reactive in their response, there is no long term reason for worry. The strength of the system – particularly the top schools – speaks for itself and as we already outlined earlier, Canada has a lot of impetus to resolve this problem quickly.

Worries about employment should not colour your decision, for that is a minimum of a 15 months down the line from now. For the intake of fall ‘24, this is not something that should affect your decision to apply today, as things will likely be back to normal by then. Particularly schools like Rotman, Ivey and Schulich – with strong brand value, deep pockets and wide and comprehensive alumni networks – are not particularly affected now and are expected to quickly regain whatever little momentum they might have lost in this period.

There is a catch here. This is not applicable to all universities – the small and unknown ones that have uncertain prospects for its students. An MBA only makes sense if you will be better off at the end of that period than you are now. Only a handful of universities in Canada are positioned to jumpstart your career in a way that inures you from some of these fluctuations. We already mentioned some but primarily – McGill, Rotman, Ivey and Schulich are very strong predictors of success.

If you’re a Canada hopeful, focus on bolstering your profile so that you have a shot at the top schools. They will not only give you more bang for your buck in terms of the value proposition, but are also more resistant to some of the fluctuations of the market at the moment, as well as some of the systemic issues that plague Canada right now. Get a strong GMAT score, build up your resume and work on your app well in time to ensure that you can fulfil your dream uninterrupted, with no pall over your head.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Matt Levine’s great Bloomberg writeup on carbon credits - sign up for Levine’s weekly newsletter Money Stuff (it’s free, sometimes complex, always informative)

The real time updates on Israel Palestine situation on Vox

Martin Scorsese on Making “Killers of the Flower Moon” - The director discusses shooting movies outside the studio system and finding the right way to film a story about a series of murders that took place when oil was found on Osage land.

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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice, feel free to schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

September is here- easily our busiest time. Round 1 applications are in full swing and if you are applying- good luck!

Let’s address a BIG MBA career question - Is consulting an amazing and fulfilling career or the greatest bullshit job of all time?

A LOT of MBA candidates tend to lean towards consulting as their post-MBA plan- either as their primary goal or backup. I can see why-

• Consulting offers a chance to work on a wide variety of projects

• It pays very well

• Tremendous brand value associated with MBB orgs- Mckinsey, Bain and BCG

• MBA programs seem to like this goal if your profile is good enough

So what’s the problem? 

Some say most consulting is bullshit because consultants don’t have any skin in the game. Maybe. I think a lot of people say consulting as a post-MBA goal because they don’t specifically have a good idea of what to do and consulting is prestigious enough and broad enough that one can put it in their essays and then figure it out later. I also think most people have no idea how terrible mainstream consulting is when it comes to work-life balance. 

The most famous hater of consulting was Steve Jobs. 

Consultants, he said, miss out on a key piece of professional growth at a company: learning from mistakes. Since they typically swoop in to offer advice and recommendations on a project, but don’t stick around to see the success or failure of their ideas, they’re only seeing a part of the process.

“I think that without owning something over an extended period of time, like a few years, where someone has a chance to take responsibility for one’s recommendations, where one has to see one’s recommendations through all action stages and accumulate some scar tissue for the mistakes and pick one’s self up off the ground and dust one’s self off, one learns a fraction of what one can,” Jobs said. “You do get a broad cut at companies, but it’s very thin.”

Read the full article- Steve Jobs talks consultants, hiring, and leaving Apple in unearthed 1992 talk | MIT Sloan

This month we are talking about consulting companies and what’s so special about them + advice for Round 2 applicants (Sorry you’ve pretty much missed R1).

Let’s dive in 🤿

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Notable upcoming deadlines

R2 application tips

We’re in September, and if you are an R1 hopeful and are reading this looking for tips – well, your ship has probably sailed. 

We work with plenty of people who are insistent on applying in R1, and that’s fair. There is a small statistical advantage in terms of acceptance, and a larger one when it comes to scholarship chances. Another key benefit is that if you apply in R1, you can always apply again in later rounds. 

However, rushing to meet an R1 deadline with a subpar application is NOT a good idea. You will not be bettering your chances and the psychological repercussions of getting a truckload of rejections early in the cycle might weigh you down. 

Here are 3 factors that you might consider when weighing this up:

1. You’re unsure about the quality of your app: Do you think your app would benefit from a month’s work? Can your essays be made more thoughtful; your LoRs more glowing? Adcoms evaluate every facet of your materials, so make sure every element strongly supports your MBA ambitions.

Ensure that your essays succinctly answer the provided questions. Often, applicants are so intent on positioning themselves a certain way or highlighting a particular achievement that they forget to respond to the specific questions being asked. 

Pay close attention to editing errors, and make sure you have utter confidence in your test scores and letters of recommendation. It’s always better to wait than submit with only 90% confidence in your application.

2. You’re considering taking one last shot at the GMAT: We see this with a lot of candidates, where their test scores let them down at the Nth hour. Having identified certain (ambitious) target schools and crafted a profile to fit that, a lower than average GMAT can put a rude end to their ambitions. Instead of doubling down and being bullish about applying with a subpar score, we advise them to be very strategic about their retest. If the score is borderline below average, one might be better served focusing on other components. 

Another case for delaying your application is if you’ve decided to take a college-level calculus or statistics class/course and you want the grade to prove you can handle the quant in the program. Perhaps, you’re expecting a promotion to come through any moment and you want to use that in your application.

These are all valid reasons that will only strengthen your case, not weaken it. 

3. You’re wavering on your choice of school/you want to talk to more people: Perhaps you’re not sure about your school choice, or in the course of the application you’ve come upon other schools that might be a better fit. 

Alternatively, it might be that you feel like you need a better sense of the school and its students before pressing the button. Perhaps you’d like to attend more alumni events, reach out to alumni or current students, and maybe even take out the time to have a tour of the campus on your next trip to the continent in question. 

All these can make for good reasons to delay your application – as your comfort and confidence in your decision is paramount. If you’re investing good time and money into this decision, it should be one that you feel good about and that makes you feel good. 

Remember, the statistical advantage of an R1 app over an R2 assumes that the quality of the app is consistent across cycles. If you think this won’t be the case, don’t rush it. Take your time and deliver a quality application – you deserve to put your best foot forward.

Just what exactly is so goddamn special about MBBs?

There are certain truths in life: the sun rises in the east, grass is green and MBBs always get into MBA programs! The Big Three consulting companies – McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company (MBB) – send many successful applicants to the world’s top business schools, and then turn around and hire many of the graduates. The rest of us are standing there, like “What’s so goddamn special about MBB consulting?” Going beyond jealousy or frustration, this is an important question to ask because there is a learning here; one that we can try to apply in our own pedestrian, sad little apps. 

1. Big responsibility and exposure: An average MBA applicant from a company like Unilever, Google or BP is coming to the adcom when they might have responsibility for the profit and loss of a few products or projects, but their perspective on the company’s operations is limited to their specific area. Even among management consultants, the newest hire is looking at client operations holistically. An MBB however is exposed to the operations and strategy of a wide range of top tier companies around the world and is also given a lot of responsibility – their recommendations can affect an entire organization, and they’ve been trained to consider impacts carefully. Gaining strategic perspective is essentially what attending an elite business school is all about, and the fact that these candidates already have the same experience? Perfect. 

2. They come house-broken: Top Bschools know that MBBs invest a ton of time and money into training their consultants. From the minute a new consultant starts work, they are guided through a series of classes, workshops, and summits covering everything from Excel modeling skills to presentation techniques, where they are also exposed to peers around the world. Having the opportunity to learn and practice cross-cultural management at such an early juncture is another big advantage that MBBs have over other workplaces. 

3. Broad Base: It’s not uncommon for MBB consultants to spend about up to 3 very intensive months working on a given client, which means that in a year, they may cover up to 6 different companies, from completely different industries. This exposure to not only to different products and services, but also to different corporate philosophies and business models is invaluable. For MBB consultants, it's easy to be familiar with emerging trends and best practices across industries.

Our takeaways here:

• Training and Upskilling: The actual skills being taught at MBBs aren’t rocket science. Try getting into your org’s training program for future leaders, even if it takes more work to get in – an application or a reference. In terms of actual knowledge, leverage your high speed internet and show some initiative! There are a multitude of courses through companies like edX, Coursera, and Udemy that will show evidence of your commitment to bettering yourself. 

• Strategic Thinking: Are there moments when you make decisions with the company’s bottom line in mind? Do you ever weigh costs and revenue, picking the option that maximizes overall profit? How about risks and opportunities? Highlight those experiences. MBB and MBAs are all about the big picture – show them that you have what it takes. 

• Diversity: Here your non-MBB background helps, because you’re automatically differentiated from the MBB candidates that all look similar educationally and professionally. How you portray your unique experiences in your resume and in your essays is critical. Frame your work anecdotes in terms of the positive impact that you had on your employer, on your colleagues, and clients. 

• Excellence: MBBs are automatically understood to be the top of the class and excellent performers, else they would be out of work. In your situation, highlight rare awards and superlative performance reviews that show that you are one of your organization’s best managers. Your letters of recommendation (LORs) are important here, because your recommenders have the credibility to compare you to your peers, both past and present, in a way that you don’t.

While it might seem like an uphill battle, don’t lose heart. Stay true to yourself and incorporate some of these tips to try to reverse-engineer that picture perfect profile that sends adcoms swooning!

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Yellowface by RF Kuang - With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation not only in the publishing industry but the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. R. F. Kuang's novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

What Adults Forget About Friendship - Just catching up can feel stale. Playing and wasting time together like kids do are how you make memories. (Paywalled? Use 12ft.io)

The Unbearable Slowness of Meta’s Oversight Board - A 234-day wait to get a ruling in a case about incitement to violence suggests that something important is broken at Facebook/Meta

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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better.

If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice, feel free to schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

Last Thursday, the court released opinions on cases arising from challenges to the admissions processes at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The UNC case, Students For Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina, alleged discrimination against White and Asian-American students; while the Harvard case, Students For Fair Admissions Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College, alleged discrimination against Asian Americans under a similar approach, which allows race and ethnicity to be considered as part of a candidate’s personal rating.

The court ruled in both that race-based admissions violates the Equal Protections Clause of the 14th Amendment. 

How will this affect business schools, many of whom have reported minority data with improved granularity and enthusiasm in recent years?

Obviously, the full impact of this decision will take some time to be felt, but on the surface of it, many schools have responded immediately to underline their commitment to diversity in their cohorts. Kellogg and Tuck both came out to say that trust and community across different groups makes for better leadership and stronger teams – and that they will continue to admit equitable and diverse cohorts. 

Specifically when it comes to b-school, affirmative action has been crucial in creating programs that accurately reflect the diversity of the culture milieu of the time. Race-conscious admission practices have helped graduate management education programs educate talented students representing a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

This also affects Indians, who – while not an underrepresented group in the US b-school circuit – are also victims of rising climate of intolerance and xenophobia in the US. It also weakens access to groups within groups – women, religious minorities, queer people and so on. The past decades of affirmative action have finally led to one of b-schools best achievements: near gender parity and entering classes that look and feel like the general population outside. All the progress that has been made stands to be lost with this action, with universities now having to navigate compliance with the judgment while simultaneously trying to build diverse and equitable classrooms. 

Both of our reads this month are about this monumental decision- and we look at both sides of the argument.

Let’s dive in 🤿

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For Affirmative Action

Affirmative action has been a topic of intense debate for many years, particularly when it comes to its implementation in higher education institutions. Last Thursday, the court released opinions on cases arising from challenges to the admissions processes at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. The UNC case, Students For Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina, alleged discrimination against White and Asian-American students; while the Harvard case, Students For Fair Admissions Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College, alleged discrimination against Asian Americans under a similar approach, which allows race and ethnicity to be considered as part of a candidate’s personal rating.

The court ruled in both that race-based admissions violates the Equal Protections Clause of the 14th Amendment. 

There are valid points on both sides of this argument – in this piece, let’s explore some of the reasons affirmative action has been a tool to right past wrongs.

Such policies aim to address historical inequalities and ensure that underrepresented groups have equal access to educational opportunities. By considering race, ethnicity, and gender during the admissions process, higher education institutions can create diverse and inclusive student bodies. Historically marginalized groups have faced significant barriers in accessing quality education due to socioeconomic, racial, and cultural factors. Affirmative action acknowledges these systemic disadvantages and aims to level the playing field. This doesn’t mean that such candidates are undeserving or under performing, just that they don’t have access to tools and resources that would otherwise get them through the doors of these clannish and WASP-y institutions.

Affirmative action also helps students belonging to wealthy or otherwise privileged backgrounds. It enriches the educational experience by exposing them to diverse viewpoints and backgrounds – giving them the opportunities to question their biases; a key skill going into the workplace.

Since the reality of our world is that certain educational institutions carry global recognition and bring with them greater opportunities, wealth and respect – affirmative action is key for students from low-income backgrounds to have equal opportunities for higher education. This affords them the chance to break the cycle of poverty and provides a pathway for social mobility.

The key question here is- What if this comes at the cost of more deserving Asian applicants?

Against Affirmative Action

The flip side is that there are valid concerns regarding its effectiveness and potential drawbacks. 

As exhibited in this verdict, one of the fundamental concerns raised against affirmative action is that it undermines the principles of meritocracy. Critics argue that higher education institutions should prioritize admissions based on individual merit, academic achievements, and abilities rather than considering race, ethnicity, or gender. Supporters of a purely merit-based system believe that it ensures fairness and rewards hard work and talent. This however, obviously presumes that everyone starts from the same level, which we know not to be the case. 

Opponents argue that affirmative action perpetuates a form of reverse discrimination, where individuals from historically privileged groups may face disadvantages in the admissions process. Indeed, in a situation where a 40th percentile Latinx student is preferred to a 99th percentile Asian student, it can feel unfair. The cherry on the cake is that even after all that, access is just the first step. Assimilation of those who are beneficiaries of affirmative action is very difficult, with them being made to feel doubtful and dubious about their own abilities, and alienated from and resented by the majority student body. 

The last and final piece of criticism levels that affirmative action is just a band aid solution – the need of the hour is to address educational disparities in a holistic manner. These include focusing on improving early education, implementing outreach and support programs, and offering scholarships and financial aid to students from underprivileged backgrounds. Such approaches aim to tackle the root causes of inequality and provide equal opportunities for all without resorting to preferential treatment based on race or ethnicity.

As Indians, we have a unique insight into this idea of reservation – with many from privileged groups railing against it as an unfair and outdated policy, meant to appease certain social groups for political gain. However, the persistence of the very same institutions – caste, class, gender – hold large swathes of our society back and limit their access to key opportunities that are essential to break cycles of poverty in our country. 

Where do you guys stand on this? Is affirmative action an important tool for social justice, or is it unfair and unjust in how it privileges certain groups over others?

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Higher education is US’ super-drug - exclusionary and expensive

Threads won’t kill Twitter if its boring

‘Zuck is a Cuck’ - Musk meltdown as Threads hits 100m users

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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better. If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice, feel free to schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

I was, of course, naive. Oscar Wilde said a long time ago-

There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.

I got into my dream MBA program in 2016 and moved to Singapore. The MBA was a great experience- I met wonderful people, learned new things and made some money. But, it did not, in fact, solve all my life’s problems. After graduation, I had new problems, new ambitions, new insecurities and a yearning to go back to simpler days.

I don’t want to go full buddhist this early in the morning, but they got it right. This circle of -

is not very fulfilling.

An MBA is not the solution to all of life’s problems. It is a career progression shortcut. Treat it like that- nothing more, nothing less. Be strategic. Don’t blindly chase a particular program. Think of the the life that comes after the MBA program- that is the entire purpose of doing an MBA.

Our first read for this month is about preparing for an uncertain future after the MBA program is over. Our second read is about setting yourself apart from other candidates.

Let’s dive in 🤿

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Notable Upcoming Deadlines

How Do I Prepare for a Job that Doesn’t Exist?

For most of us, an MBA is about securing THE job. Of course the academics are stimulating and the socializing is unmatched – but for us Indians, the "kitna deti hai” question is always at the forefront of our decision making process. But what happens if your job doesn’t even exist yet? With tech changing the landscape of employment so fast – not to mention major disruptors like pandemics and climate crises – the future of the job market is unknown even to the pundits. 

When you’re sinking a huge amount of money, effort and time into a decision – it is only natural to want to be certain of your outcome. While we might not have all the facts in hand, we can still utilize our time to best prepare for our own uncharted path.  

1. Learn New Things

Consider swapping more traditional MBA activities with hands-on opportunities that are included in your student fees. This could mean free coding lessons at the library, completing dual degree programs from other disciplines like CompSci or Analytics, or studying emerging fields in classes offered by other colleges.

The objective behind learning CompSci isn’t to be an expert coder alongside being an MBA student. However, these skills will just ensure that you have a breadth of knowledge and can communicate confidently with others in your cohort or workplace about your data needs. 

2. Build a Personal Brand

There is no secret list of SEO-approved keywords for jobs. Rather than relying on buzzy job titles, try to keep your networking conversations such that they frame your core competencies and interests. This is especially helpful when you’re unsure which department or role at a certain organization matches your skills.

Keep your language open at first and then more tailored as the conversation progresses. Don’t prematurely box yourself into outdated roles or things that you were doing in the past. Framing your personal brand in terms of essential MBA competencies, as opposed to role will never let you down. 

3. Ask Better Questions

At coffee chats or networking events, move away from trying to force fit into the company today. Focus instead on the future – the growth trajectory and goals of an organization. Rather than asking for the hundredth time, “What types of personalities succeed in your organization?” try “What are you working on that excites you?” or “What’s a big challenge you foresee”.  These are likely to expose you to dynamics, upcoming changes, or opportunities that you wouldn’t otherwise be aware of. Once you know where a firm is headed, you can better communicate your competencies that match their future needs – aka convince them that you are the answer to their prayers. 

4. Collect the Clues

Put those insta stalking skills to good use – and pay attention to what information an organization releases across its channels. This gives you insight into their growth goals and associated hiring needs.

Start with the organization website. Look at their quarterly earnings reports; the things they are highlighting or boasting about in their roundups. Find the investor report pages that have the nicest design. These are the things that contain what the company wants to be known for and what they are likely investing in for the future. Same goes for linkedin and industry news sites – follow the money!

For many MBA students, strategy consulting, finance, and general management will remain the old faithfuls. For those of us who are interested in emerging roles – product management, innovation consulting, or business analytics – learning how to predict trends and capture opportunities in the future is a vital skill. 

Oh you like travelling? Cool, so does everyone else

Do you like to read, cook and travel? Did you organise a fest in college? So did everyone else applying to your dream school. In a competitive applicant pool where everyone is fighting to stand out, unique extracurriculars are an easy way to make your app memorable and give proof of your well-rounded personality. 

What you do in your free time (however little of it you might have of it) is as interesting to the admissions committee as what you do at the office, because it tells them the kind of student and alum you’ll be.

Top business schools are intense and fast-paced, and are on the hunt for people who are ahead of the curve; progressing at a faster pace than their peers. But it’s not just about wanting to be successful in the business world. B schools can be very culture-heavy places, where being mission-driven is prioritized, so they want those who are looking to create a positive change in the world. What motivates you and gets you up in the morning aka your burning desire to save the Amazon rainforest or your need to better the lives of K-12 kids in rural India – these are the things you can showcase in your additional information section. 

Your extracurricular section is an opportunity to showcase leadership, collaboration, initiative, and passion for a cause. It’s also about your commitment to, and involvement in, the communities to which you belong. 

This is especially true for some of the more common career track profiles, such as consulting and finance. As an analyst at a top consulting firm, the adcomm knows that you've not had the opportunity to lead a project. But if you serve on the board of your local NGO (and have done so for many years), or if you lead the company’s annual CSR event, you have a shot at setting yourself apart.   

Make sure to: 

1. Quantify: 

If you helped organize volunteers, how many people were there? If you support a yearly fundraising event, how many people attend, and how much does it raise annually? For example, the concise description, “Serve on the gala planning committee; assist Executive Board with the planning and execution of an annual event raising $300K+ each year,” is more powerful than, “Assist with planning the annual gala.”

2. Qualify: 

The key is to succinctly describe your unique contribution, learnings, and impact from your experience —especially if you are describing a more common thing like serving as Fest Secretary at your college. As long as you can show added value and prolonged engagement the actual thing doesn’t matter. 

3. Demonstrate impact: 

Some activities carry more weight than others, but often it’s about the positioning. Explain to the admissions committee why what you did is important. If you are a self-taught coder, don’t say “Completed Intro to Python on Coursera” but instead consider “1st place winner at 3 hackathons 2020-2021, totaling $15,000 in prizes.”

4.   Get specific: 

The devil is in the details. Carve out your niche by getting really specific about what you do in these organizations or activities. Is there a specific child you worked with who captured your heart? Was a particular marathon that you ran especially challenging? Why? Be prepared to share details.

5.   Show range: 

Schools look to see a variety of characteristics in an applicant’s profile, by professional experience, personal interests or extracurricular activities. It’s about engagement —demonstrating your own unique skillset to make a difference in the community, whether that’s at a local, regional, national or international level. 

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your activities or interests are too boring. Even the most mundane of activities can be spun to give the admissions committee insight into the kind of person and leader you are.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Opinion- Succession nailed the unreal way we live now

Sure it seems to be everywhere but AI is expensive- upto $16 for a query 😵‍💫

Is Apple’s weird headset the future?

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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your people. If you didn’t like it, reply and tell me why so we can make it better. If you are targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice, feel free to schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

And welcome to May. The Star Wars month (May the 4th be with you).

When I was doing my Masters in Consumer Behaviour, I took up an elective on religion- focused on Taoism. Taoism or Daoism is a religion and a philosophy from ancient China- it emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (defined as the source of everything and the ultimate principle underlying reality).

I wrote a paper at the end of that year about Taoism and science fiction. One of the sections was about Star Wars- The concept of the “Tao” (道) is near identical to the Force in Star Wars. Roughly translated, it means something like “way,” “path,” or “road,” but in Taoism it is used to refer to a spiritual “flow of the universe” that all things are a part of. Much like the Force, all living things are part of the Tao, and vice-versa.

I started getting into Star Wars, some of the earlier movies first and then the recent stuff- Rogue One, Fallen Order. I have noticed that the fringe (i.e. non Skywalker saga) stuff appeals to me more. They also seem to be more in tune with the philosophical underpinnings of Star Wars. For instance, Fallen Order uses a great Marcus Aurelius quote to teach the protagonist about taoist flow and utilising obstacles-

The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.

I understood this during my MBA when I used to try and write a paper but it was hard. I would get frustrated sitting in front of the screen for hours unable to come up with anything great but slowly, over months I realised- that staring at the screen and feeling hopeless is part of the process. James Clear talks about this-

Many people assume they are bad at writing because it is hard. This is like assuming you are bad at weightlifting because the weight is heavy. Writing is useful because it is hard. It's the effort that goes into writing a clear sentence that leads to better thinking.

Writing IS thinking. Don’t judge yourself based on how difficult it seems or how long it’s taking you- the impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way. Persist.

Our first read for this month is about candidates who are applying to tier 1 programs but have an ‘unconventional background’. Our second read is about negotiations.

Let’s dive in 🤿

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Notable Upcoming Deadlines

I’m not like everybody else

The Kinks have a great song called "I'm Not Like Everybody Else"- I first heard it on an episode of The Sopranos, as our protagonist is walking away from the camera. It’s a wonderful track. Written in 1966, it is a defiant anthem of non-conformity.

Often we get clients who come from ‘unconventional backgrounds’ and they are usually plagued with worry. They don’t believe they can get into top tier programs; if by some act of god, they are admitted, they don’t expect to do well and somehow see themselves as inferior in some way to the ‘hardcore’ MBA types. 

Those from atypical backgrounds – teaching, law or social work – have a lot to offer. Often, an MBA is a key way for them to pivot in their career – whether that is switching function, role, location, or any combination thereof. Schools are not unaware of this; their ad comms have the ability to contextualize and evaluate different candidates differently. However, there are some key things to keep in mind if you believe you might be a ‘non-traditional’ candidate. 

(For clarity’s sake, you can define non-traditional as those outside of a finance, consulting or significantly older than the class average)

1. Be really clear on the why: Being a teacher, artist or architect, the obvious question is “Why an MBA”? It is not a natural choice, so there should be a compelling reason that is organic to you and also convincing to the add comm. Schools are quick to see through bullshit, so center your short and long term goals as you’re developing your why and be as honest as possible. 

2. GMAT is your friend: The fact that it is standardized will probably be a good thing in your case, as you’ll be able to be on equal footing with more traditional candidates. Make sure you have a strong score, so that schools can be confident of your quantitative and analytical ability. 

3. Your Essays: These will be doubly important in your case, as they will give you a chance to showcase your body of work, explain in detail and contextualize it appropriately. It’s also an opportunity for you to showcase your teamwork, leadership and collaborative skills as you used them in your context. This will likely look different than someone from a consulting background, but that’s totally ok. 

4. Your Resume: This is the place for you to really highlight impact – in concrete and quantitative terms. For instance, if you’re a teacher, you can highlight your expertise with teaching tech and how use of such tools has increased test scores by x% within a certain period of time. This shows the ad comm that despite being from a sector they might not be familiar with, you are competent and capable. 

So there you have it. Don’t fear your differences, but be tactical about how you present them. Highlight the things that set you apart, always quantify impact and remember – you are deserving of that place in b-school. 

Making an offer they can’t refuse

Negotiation is probably the single most important skill that you can hone. MBA students need these critical capabilities as soon as they can acquire them. For one thing, skillful negotiation of job responsibilities, salary, and bonuses can add to an MBA graduate’s compensation during their critical first job after graduation. Plus, those skills can also lead to better performance evaluations, since many managers engage in some form of negotiation every day.

Moreover, data shows that professors teaching negotiation courses are among the best in all of graduate management education. Often they’re the superstars on a business schools’ faculty.

Most enter a negotiation focused on the objective of claiming as much of what they think they want rather than focusing on what is of value to them. Focusing on the latter often means thinking more creatively to construct agreements that deliver a greater range of benefits to both parties. 

The three key dimensions of negotiation are setup, structure, and discussion.

Setup involves setting a stage for a positive outcome of the negotiation. 

Structure is the terms of the proposal. By thinking about the structure of your proposal in advance, you can have valuable options for your partner to consider, and potentially reach common ground. 

Discussion is actually presenting the offer to the other party. 

The first phase of every negotiation is the Setup: setting the stage for a satisfying outcome to the negotiation. The more you can stack the odds in your favor before you start negotiating, the better the deal you’ll be able to strike:

• Who is involved in the negotiation, and are they open to dealing with you?

• Who are you negotiating with, and do they know who you are and how you can help them?

• What are you proposing, and how does it benefit the other party?

• What’s the setting—will you present your offer in person, by phone, or some other means?

• What are all of the Environmental factors around the deal—do recent events make this deal more or less important to the other party?

By thinking about the setup, you can make sure you’re negotiating with the right person—the person who has the power to give you what you want. Research is what gives this dimension of negotiation its power—the more knowledge you gain about your negotiating partner during this phase, the more power you have in the entire negotiation, so do your homework before presenting an offer.

The second dimension of negotiation is Structure: the terms of the proposal.

• What exactly will you propose, and how will you Frame your proposal to the other party?

• What are the primary benefits of your proposal to the other party?

• What is the other party’s Next Best Alternative, and how is your proposal better?

• How will you overcome the other party’s objections and Barriers to Purchase?

• Are there Trade-offs or concessions you’re willing to make to reach an agreement?

Remember, your goal in creating the proposal is to find common ground. By thinking through the structure of your proposal in advance, you can prepare a few different options that you believe the other party will want.

If you’re expecting the other party to balk at the price, for instance, you can prepare arguments to overcome the objection, lower-cost options that provide less value, or alternative offers that would better fit their needs. 

The third dimension of negotiation is the Discussion: actually presenting the offer to the other party. The discussion is where you actually talk through your proposal with the other party. Whatever the setting, this is the point where you present your offer, discuss or clarify any issues the other party doesn’t understand, answer objections and eventually ask for the sale.

Regardless of what happens during the discussion phase, the end result of every round of discussion is either:

1. “Yes, we have a deal on these terms,”

2. “We don’t have a deal quite yet—here’s a counteroffer or another option to consider,” or

3. “No, we don’t have a deal—there’s no common ground, so we’ll suspend negotiations and reserve the right to talk to somebody else.”

With time, you’ll find that you’re able to enter such situations with less anxiety and leave feeling satisfied with what you’ve got. Whether in the boardroom, classroom or interview room – you can’t go wrong by developing this essential skill.

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Beauty by Roger Scruton - “Beauty can be consoling, disturbing, sacred, profane”. In a book that is itself beautifully written, renowned philosopher Roger Scruton explores this timeless concept, asking what makes an object--either in art, in nature, or the human form--beautiful.

How Saudi Money Returned to Silicon Valley 💰

Inside Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Drama 👀

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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

If you or anyone you know is targeting Tier 1 MBA/Masters programs and need some advice, reply to this email or schedule a call 👋

See you next month!

Just like that, 25% of 2023 is over. I always find evidence of passage of time unsettling. I could have sworn it was January 2 weeks ago.

This month, one of the things I want to talk about is how we think about things that we are not good at. For instance, I am not very good at forming relationships. I come across as aloof and arrogant because I don’t make enough of an effort to build a new relationship with the people I meet. It’s something I have struggled with for years. This isn’t good. So I try to be better- I go out of my way to meet new people and build a bond with them. I try out new activities and places, just so I can constantly meet new people and become better at new relationships. This is often painful and sometimes, I fantasise about being alone at home by myself. I’m sure this isn’t a solitary experience- you must be familiar with that feeling- this yearning to leave a social gathering right away. But more often than not- the right decision is to power through and things become bearable- even pleasant.

So, let’s get a bit meta- in the above paragraph, I described my weakness and then immediately told you I’m working on it. By the end of it, I also roped you into my experience. You probably felt some inkling of familiarity/sympathy. This is one possible right way to talk about weaknesses. Making it real and relatable.

Another way to talk about our weaknesses is to think of them as opportunities for growth and improvement. We all have areas where we may fall short or struggle, and it's natural to feel a sense of discomfort or even shame around these perceived shortcomings. However, instead of viewing our weaknesses as fixed or immutable traits, we can choose to see them as areas where we have room to learn and develop.

By acknowledging our areas of struggle and seeking out support or collaboration, we can demonstrate openness and vulnerability that fosters trust and support. How should we deal with this question in an interview setting?

Let’s dive in 🤿

Notable Upcoming Deadlines

What are your strengths & weaknesses? 👁️

Often people struggle with these questions. Should I be honest about my weaknesses, or will that sound terrible? I can tell them about my strengths, but what if I seem really arrogant? I get it, it can be a tough position to be in, especially with the weight of interview pressure on your head. Let’s look at some ways in which you can dispense with these questions with ease and finesse. 

1. Come up with a list of strengths: Create a list that is a blend of technical skills, transferable skills and personal characteristics. Ultimately, the interviewer wants to know if your strengths align with the demands of the program and make you a good fit for the cohort. Pick all the options that fit the bill. 

2. Curate your weakness: You don’t want to admit that you’re not up to the demands of the degree, or that your quantitative ability is extremely questionable, or that you actually despise working in teams. Despite what you might think, there is something as being too honest. Come up with a list of weaknesses that are a bit more general – such as time management or introversion – rather than specific weaknesses that might call into question your fit. 

3. Positivize it: Make sure to have a positive spin waiting in the wings. For instance, perhaps you are rather introverted, but you are aware of this and have been consciously trying to stand up for yourself and put yourself out there. If you struggle with time management, talk about how you use calendars and reminders to keep yourself on track and accountable. This shows that you aren’t stagnating in your weakness and are open to bettering yourself. 

4. Prepare your responses: Make sure that you know what you’re going to say and in what order. In general, it's a good idea to start with weakness, so you can finish strong. Also ensure that you justify your responses with specific examples and instances, so that you don’t seem either too grandiose or self-sabotaging. 

Just this simple structure should allow you to approach this question with ease and confidence. In such questions, how you say it is equally important as what you say – so make sure that you practice both aspects. Good luck!

Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast

Is culture an important thing to consider when you are choosing b-schools?

Maybe you view this as a distant afterthought to class profile and placement opportunities. Perhaps you are overly concerned about it – wanting to make sure that your school will help you grow in all the right ways. Let’s resolve this once and for all: Is school culture really all that important?

What does culture even mean in this context, you might ask? Culture refers to the values shared by students and faculty at a school. These values shape life on campus and determine what it is actually like to be a student there. Imagine starting your first day at your MBA. What are you wearing – track pants or a suit? You’ve to write an email to a professor asking for a meeting – are you signing up for office hours or suggesting a chat over coffee. These are all the small things that make up a school’s culture and impact your ability to do your best work and get the most out of the experience. As an international student without a support network in the country, this becomes all the more important. 

Here are some ways in which to think about your school choices:

Learning Style: As you evaluate your school choices, you will want to consider which type of environment fits you best. Do you want a program that focuses on competition – training you to outperform in a business environment individually – or one that places a greater emphasis on teamwork, cooperation and collective responsibility? 

Make sure to be honest about your own preferences and acknowledge which one feels more natural and motivating to you. Then, go out there and talk to students and alumni of schools to understand which ones create a learning environment that you can thrive in. 

Your Cohort: Certain schools will attract a certain type of student –  that may or may not be similar to you. While there is learning in diversity, it is also important to ensure that your school will allow you to build a network of professionals who are charting out similar paths to your own. Perhaps you are very passionate about sustainability in business. A school like Duke Fuqua is guaranteed to attract like-minded people who can help you develop your ideas and broaden your perspective. Make sure to do your research, by looking at the placements and learning about what alums are doing, so that you can ensure that you find your people. 

Communication & Structure: Some schools have a more rigid structure – with less play in the courses and a need to be more formal, organized and unchanging. Other schools take a more liberal approach – with concessions being granted for individual needs, more room to pick and choose courses and a more relaxed mode of interaction between students and faculty. If you’re someone who has constraints, is perhaps working a part time or full time job or needs any other sort of allowance, it is important to ensure that your school accounts for this. 

I think it would be silly to dismiss culture as a soft reason; something that can be compromised upon. It determines a lot of your fit, well-being and success at B-School, so make sure to have a long hard think about what kind of school will set you up for success. 

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Babel: An Arcane History - From award-winning author R. F. Kuang comes Babel, a historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal 🔥

Disney+ Hotstar has become trash- IPL, HBO and F1 have all departed. Why? What happens now? This is a Ken story, if it’s paywalled for you, drop me an email, I can gift paid stories.

We need the right kind of climate optimism - Climate pessimism dooms us to a terrible future. Complacent optimism is no better.

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

As always, if you're looking for admissions consulting for top tier MBA/Masters programs, reply to this email or schedule a call with me 👋

See you next month!

Several decades ago, when I was a little boy, my mother and I went to buy a suit. A snazzy little blue suit- very dashing for a 10 year old 🕺

The occasion was the RIMC interview. RIMC stands for Rashtriya Indian Military College (formerly known as Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College). I wanted to join the military as a kid and this was the most prestigious and competitive program for my age.

I had already cleared the written round and the final decision was going to be based on the interview- hence the suit. My parents made me practice all of my responses- especially around my subject areas and why I want to do this etc- we even practiced my entry. My mother told me that I was to walk in with my head held high and shake hands with everyone and introduce myself to each person individually.

I was fairly confident- and when I wore the suit, I felt I was Bruce Wayne. So the day of the interview arrived and I nailed my entry, and then one of the senior Army officers put aside my file and said, you know what- forget all the academic stuff- why don’t you just tell me about yourself?

I froze. We hadn’t practiced this. I don’t remember what I said except it was probably trash- I didn’t get in.

I was dejected- especially because I thought how could I have messed up such a simple question. Little did I know that this question stumps people all the time- most interviews start with this and most folks don’t know how to structure this response.

So how should you answer this?

Let’s dive in 🤿

Notable Upcoming Deadlines

Tell Me About Yourself 👁️

Perhaps the single most dreaded question in an interview is the infamous ‘tell me about yourself’. Despite the seeming innocuity of the question, many people end up being unsure of their answer which is never a good look, considering the question is literally about yourself.

This is often the opening question in an interview, and not knowing how to approach it might unsettle you from the outset. Many end up wondering what it is that the interview actually wants to know – every trivial detail of your last job right down to your toxic boss? Fortunately (or unfortunately), that’s not the case. They could do without a complete breakdown of your previous workplaces, but they definitely want a sense of your past. 

Fortunately, there is a simple formula to structure your answer. Its known as the Past-Present-Future approach. It’s quite simple:

1. Past: A brief summary of your previous experience (that is relevant to this interview), your education and general background. Avoid the temptation to go into excruciating detail here about childhood pets and summer holidays – stick to the relevant stuff and keep it snappy. 

2. Present: Link the past roles and education into the present – your current role, the scope of your responsibilities and some of your standout achievements. Once again, don’t delve into unnecessary details about horrible clients and internal politics. Make sure you center yourself in the story and keep it engaging. 

3. Future: This is the part of the answer where you link the present to the future in order to convince the interviewer of your fit for the school/position you’re applying for and how both previous stages set you up to reach this point. 

The first two stages can easily be interchanged. Many prefer to start with a description of their current role and interests before tracking back and covering their background. However, what is essential is that you finish with the future; you make sure that the thing that you are applying for is the culmination of both previous stages.

Now that you have the structure down, another thing to watch out for is the format of the question. Interviewers might ask the same question in different words. It could look like:

• I’d like about your journey to this point 

• I have your resume, but tell me a little more. 

• Walk me through your resume

• Tell me about your background. 

These are all questions to which the answer will follow the same format we’ve discussed above. Try to identify the intent behind the question, instead of getting stuck in the language, so that you can accurately gauge what the interviewer is looking for. 

Above all, keep calm, speak convincingly but succinctly (60-90 seconds). Obviously, have the format and structure for your answer in place, but don’t make it sound as though you’re reading off a teleprompter. The most honest answer can end up sounding disingenuous if the delivery is flat. So practice, but stop short of rote learning! 

The Battle of the Coasts 🌊

When applying to a B-School in the US, the East Coast v West Coast question often comes up. While you might not think it to be a crucial question, it can actually be a really important factor in your college experience, not to mention its determining role in your exit. In this article, we’re going to look at some of the ways in which East differs from West, so that you are empowered to make a decision that is right for you – keeping in mind culture, lifestyle, schools and job opportunities. 

1. Schools: The East is dominated by the Ivy League, with 8 schools having campuses in the country’s northeast. The West is dominated by the University of California  – and all its campuses – the University of Washington, and of course Stanford. 

2. Ranking: Among the top 10 schools on FT MBA 2022 Ranking, there are 3 from the East Coast – Harvard, Yale and UPenn – and only one from the West – Stanford. This is not a key determining factor, but if rankings are important to one, there is a larger concentration of higher-ranked B-schools on the Eastern Seaboard. 

3. Campus: Generally, schools in the East are older, smaller and have a long and storied history in terms of architecture, facilities and donors.West Coast schools are newer, larger and more modern in their outfitting and facilities. Many of the schools, especially those within the UC ecosystem, are built keeping in mind the proximity to the beach. For instance, UC San Diego even owns a stretch of beach alongside the campus. If you are someone who has a particular preference when it comes to lifestyle, this might be an important factor for you to consider. 

4. Exits: Perhaps one of the most important considerations for prospective students, there is a difference when it comes to the type of opportunities. The East Coast is better positioned for those who are interested in banking and finance, given the proximity to New York. Many of the largest and most aspirational firms – JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley – are headquartered in New York. In terms of internships and opportunities, it just makes more sense. 

For those who are more interested in tech and startups, the West Coast is the place to be. The tech giants – Apple, Google, Amazon and Meta– are all headquartered in Silicon Valley, and California also has a booming startup ecosystem. Don’t overlook Seattle either, as an extremely livable city, with opportunities aplenty. 

5. Switching Coasts: Perhaps you prefer the weather and culture in the West, but are actually interested in working in finance. Or perhaps you only got into schools on the opposite coast to your future career opportunities. There is nothing to say that you cannot switch coasts after graduation. Look for internships and opportunities during the course of your degree in the area of your choosing, build a solid body of work and perhaps most importantly build connections on the opposite coast. When it comes time to switch, you’ll have an easier transition. 

This is just to give one an idea of the differences in schools and exits on the two coasts. Obviously there are also huge cultural, climactic and conventional differences. Ultimately, one needs to make a decision based on one’s own interests and priorities. There is no right or wrong coast!

What are we reading at Base Camp?

Chat GPT is a blurry jpeg of the web

Lab Leak Most Likely Origin of Covid-19

This is the most populist Oscars in a long time

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

As always, if you're looking for admissions consulting for top tier MBA/Masters programs, reply to this email or schedule a call with me 👋

See you next month!

Are you or are you not currently watching The Last of Us on HBO/Disney+?

If you are not, why not? It is fantastic. Currently rated at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 9.3 on IMDb.

It’s about a post-pandemic world- where the survivors are picking up the pieces and trying to live amidst a dark and terrifying world 🫠

Hmmm sounds familiar, with some key differences- their pandemic was not viral in nature like ours- theirs was a fungal pandemic. Anddd it features a fungus called Cordyceps that takes control of people.

The truly terrifying part? Species of parasitic Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps fungi are very real. Here, on the BBC's Planet Earth series, Sir David Attenborough watches as one takes control of an ant:

Yikes.

In any case, post pandemic problems are real. Which brings me to the first story of this month- what happened to the Class of Covid? The brave folks who went ahead with their MBAs in 2020 as the world collapsed all around them? What was their experience like?

The second story is about MBA fatigue and how to deal with it.

Let’s dive in 🤿

Notable Upcoming Deadlines

The Class of Covid

The dark clouds of the pandemic seem like a distant memory to most of us now, but it was only a couple of admission cycles ago that the virus was running riot. It was so recent in fact, that those who entered their MBA programs in fall of 2020/2021 would just about have finished their degrees now, depending on the length of the course. So, what happened to this class? How has covid impacted their experiences? Have they managed to emerge unscathed or has their B-school experience been marred by the long shadow of the virus?

Well for starters, their road to their dream schools might have been a mite easier, because many schools waived the GMAT requirements for a couple of admission cycles, including the September 2021 intake. MIT Sloan, Darden, Kellog and Hult waived the GMAT and a couple of them are still committing to test flexibility, while others have reinstated it. 

Obviously, classroom learning was affected, but it might not have been all negative. For instance, at the University of Oxford Saïd, the class size was cut in half in order to accommodate social distancing needs. However, the unintended spillover was that it fostered better interactions and exchanges between students and so it's likely that this will continue. 

A few schools also acknowledged the need for flexibility in MBAs and began offering more options and means of completion for those who cannot necessarily take a couple of years off at a go. For instance, ESADE introduced a 21 month program alongside its 12, 15 and 18 month options and has vowed to continue to find better and varied options going forward. 

Finally, when it comes to exits, virtual recruitment has been a great leveler. Employers have been able to recruit from schools in regions and time-zones that might not have warranted a physical trip in pre-covid times. Firms such as PwC continue to conduct about 30% of their interviews virtually even now. 

Obviously, there were downsides too – one of the biggest selling points of an MBA is the collegial experience and all the interactions with fellow students. Further, many MBA programs saw an increase in domestic demand and a fall in international students – due to travel restrictions – leading to a less diverse cohort. Ultimately, the class of covid received a mixed bag. While some of their experiences during the program might have been curtailed, they were sheltered from the worst of the pandemic-induced downturn and are set to enter a market that is on the path to recovery. 

MBA Fatigue- how to escape the void 😵‍💫

MBA programs are rigorous – this comes as no surprise to anyone, let alone a bunch of MBA enthusiasts such as us. However, what is perhaps less obvious is how to navigate these struggles – the exhaustion, the lack of will, feeling that you’re falling behind and being uncertain about the future. Instead of just accepting this as part of the package, can we begin to think about the mental aspects of an MBA in more actionable ways?

For most of us, by the time we enter the program we are tired. It's been a long application season, what with studying for the GMAT, writing endless essays and trying to balance work and a personal life on top of that. Key to setting yourself up for success is to enter the program with the right mindset. 

1. Be realistic: Be honest with yourself about the requirements of the degree and your current level, as well as the gap that lies between these two things. Then begin to equip yourself to bridge this gap – be proactive in your planning, pace yourself and ask for help when you need it. 

2. Take breaks: A lot of MBA students are very Type A characters and often find themselves unable to slow down. They tend to work until the point of breakdown and despair. Preempt this by carving out structured blocks of time for leisure – whether that means lying down in the grass, listening to music or chatting with friends. Make sure you listen to your body’s need for rest and relaxation! Even when it comes to work, endless study sessions are characterized by a dip in productivity. Instead, explore alternative methods of study such as the Pomodoro method, in order to optimize the time spent at your desk. 

3. Catch some Zs: A lack of sleep is the key predictor of burnout. If you’re getting under 6 hours of sleep a night, you are almost guaranteed to be operating sub-optimally and putting your body under fair amounts of stress. Make sure you are draconian about your sleep schedule – even during finals weeks – because it's just that important!

4. People first: Prioritize your relationships with other humans, be it friends, classmates or professors. People in B-schools can sometimes tend towards being overly competitive and cutthroat but it always pays to be nice. Approach others with the intention of forming genuine connections and exchanging ideas, help your classmates out and take a genuine interest in the lives of others and you might just find strength in community! If that wasn’t enough motivation already, studies have shown that people who are civil tend to do better and are perceived as leaders. 

5. Find your purpose: This is the single most important thing you could do for yourself. Find out what you love doing and make that a priority. Whether that’s a line of work, an academic specialization or a volunteering gig on campus, explore your passion and pursue your purpose single-mindedly. Even when it comes to placement season, ensure you’re considering jobs that fulfill your sense of purpose; studies have shown that people are 3x more likely to stay in a job if they feel they are engaged in fulfilling work. So, in all ways, this is in your best interest to cultivate and identify. 

What are we reading at Base Camp?

The Domino Effect of Adani’s downfall

Why the Super Rich are Inevitable

Instagram’s Co-founders are mounting a comeback

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter- Base Camp.

As always, if you're looking for admissions consulting for top tier MBA/Masters programs, reply to this email or schedule a call with me 👋

See you next month!