This interview is the latest in an Accepted blog series featuring interviews with MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. And now for a chat with Aditya Marathe, MBA class of 2018 at UCLA Anderson…
Accepted: We’d like to get to know you! Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad?
Aditya: I am from Mumbai, India and I graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (India) in 2008. I graduated with a Bachelor in Technology with a major in Electrical Engineering.
Accepted: If you could meet any famous person – past or present – who would it be and why?
Aditya: I have always wanted to meet Albert Einstein, and have been fascinated by his research in astrophysics. I spent a lot of my time in high school reading about him and his work on gravity and the concept of space-time.
Accepted: If you could describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
Aditya: Social, Funny, Curious.
Accepted: Where are you currently attending b-school? What year?
Aditya: I am currently a first year full-time MBA student at UCLA Anderson.
Accepted: Why was UCLA Anderson the right “fit” for you? What is your favorite thing about that program?
Aditya: While researching business schools, I reached out to as many current students and recent alumni as I could. All the Anderson students and alumni I reached out were extremely prompt in their responses and very helpful in helping me submit a strong application. On talking to several people, I got a sense of Anderson’s values of “Sharing Success,” “Thinking Fearlessly” and “Driving Change.” I knew that MBA programs could get really competitive, and that was exactly the kind of environment I wanted for the two years I would spend at business school. Also, UCLA Anderson seemed to be the perfect fit for my professional goals for its associations with the healthcare and technology industries in California. UCLA being home to one of the best healthcare facilities in the United States only made the case stronger.
Lastly, Los Angeles! I cannot talk enough about how amazing this city is. While I did apply to business schools in various cities and towns across the US, I always knew that I wanted to experience business school in a big city. Having grown up in Mumbai, a city on the west coast of India, and also known as the financial and entertainment capital of India, I always had a fascination for Los Angeles – which coincidentally is Mumbai’s sister city. Professionally, I firmly believe Los Angeles (and California in general), is the place to be for healthcare research and innovation, the industry I aspire to work in post-MBA.
Accepted: Where are you currently working? Do you plan on staying in that field of work after graduation? Or shifting to another realm?
Aditya: Before I joined Anderson for the MBA program, I was working as Associate Director at Dr Reddy’s Lab (a $2 billion Indian multinational pharmaceutical company), helping the organization take data-based sales and marketing decisions. While I do plan to stay within the larger healthcare industry, I wish to work in the healthcare-technology space (biotech, medical devices or other evolving healthcare technologies) at an innovator organization. I want to work on technologies that help patients manage their diseases better and improve the quality of their lives.
Accepted: Can you share a couple of your top GMAT tips for success?
Aditya: I actually have a blog post that I wrote down right after my GMAT specifically capturing my mantras for success. I definitely recommend reading through my blog post, but there are a few tips that I think are more important than others.
1. GMAT is a test of logic and your ability to reason, more than being a test of your math or verbal skills. If you remember this mantra, you would be able to appreciate the study material better.
2. Speaking of study material, stick to the Official Guide and the original GMAT Prep Tests only. Nothing comes closer than those two resources to the actual GMAT.
3. Carry a bar of chocolate, and an apple to snack on in the break you get during the GMAT.
Accepted: Lastly, looking back at the application process, is there anything you wish you would have done differently? Any challenges?
Aditya: I started thinking about applying for MBA programs at a much later stage than I probably should have, but I did not let that reduce my chances to get admits from top business schools. I used my eight years of experience in the healthcare industry to highlight the value I would bring to the MBA program and also how the MBA program would be necessary to take me from where I was to where I wanted to be.
You can read more about Aditya’s journey and advice by checking out his blog, Aditto’s Blog. Thank you Aditya for sharing your story with us – we wish you continued success!
For one-on-one guidance with your b-school application, please see our MBA Application Packages.
Related Resources:
• 9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application
• UCLA Anderson: Cool, Chic, and Tech
• How to Study Like the Highest-Scoring GMAT Test Takers
