By Priya Garg, MBA’24
After deciding to move from India to the US for an MBA at the Kelley School of Business, I was having a plethora of mixed emotions. I was unsure of what to expect from life here and how it would differ. For the last nine years, I was financially independent and could afford most of the luxuries in India. Is it worth giving that all up for my dream—i.e., an MBA—at this stage? My gut said, “Yes!”
MBA in India vs the US
I got into all the top MBA colleges in India and had a few offers from the US. I compared the benefits and decided on the US, primarily for exposure. It proved to be the right decision. What better school to choose than Kelley, which has a huge pool of international candidates, a focus on bringing diverse perspectives through students, and one of the best ROIs for a full-time MBA program in the nation? Moreover, as a bonus, I would get to study along with my husband! Being part of one of the largest universities gave me insights into new happenings across the globe. Life took a U-turn and I had to face the reality of not earning anymore and living on loans, and this still isn’t the most adjusting that I had to do!
MBA after nine years of consulting
The most challenging part of doing an MBA was going back to the classroom after nine years. But don’t worry—every student is in the same boat! It is a roller coaster ride that I had never taken. From trying to set up the house and learning concepts that I had never studied earlier in my life to preparing myself again from scratch to find the best possible job out there, it brought a fresh perspective to my life. Even if it’s just been seven months into the program, I can already feel a positive change in my attitude toward life. Today, I have a better understanding of how a business is run, I am more confident in my communication, and I am more self-aware. I am grateful for that last achievement as I know what it would take for me to perform better. I want to specifically call out the Consulting Academy, as it completely transformed the way I used to look at the consulting world. I now better understand what matters to the client and how we can provide an impactful solution to their problems. Thanks to the guidance and learnings from Professor J. Scott Laughner, I participated in and won the International Case Competition hosted by the Tepper School of Business. This was an invigorating experience that gave me an opportunity to interact with the C-suite executives at Honeywell and provided me with deep insights into their long-term mission.
Kelley community
I am grateful to have met some of the most wonderful people here at Kelley. They proved to be the most helpful resource thus far. Kelley also has an outstanding faculty and Career Services. The biggest difference that I felt was that the vision of education is completely different in the US from India. The focus of the faculty is not on getting good grades, but rather on making sure you understand the concept and how it’s going to apply in a practical business situation. At Kelley, the phrase “a close-knit community” stands true to its word. The Kelley community is a result of small class size, greater faculty interactions, and personalized coaching, which gives numerous opportunities to interact and communicate. I have met ambitious people who are always available to not only have a good time but also help you out when in need. Besides improving my business acumen, I have made some of the best relationships that will stay with me forever. I will always cherish the decision to pursue an MBA at Kelley!
