Is an MBA in the US just about the classes, or is it a complete lifestyle overhaul?
Most international students treat their Master’s degree like a transaction: Pay tuition, get good grades, get a job. But if you are spending $150,000+ and two years of your life abroad, you need to be doing more than just passing exams. You need a strategy to squeeze every ounce of ROI out of the experience.
In this episode, we sit down with Shivangi Sharma, a recent MBA graduate from UCLA Anderson School of Management, to decode what she calls the "360 MBA" Experience.
Shivangi didn’t just "attend" grad school. She hacked it. From identifying her "Resume Twins" on LinkedIn to land the perfect admit, to leveraging "Grade Non-Disclosure" to focus on networking over GPAs, she built a blueprint for success that applies to ANY Master’s student (MS or MBA) in the US.
Whether you are a Product Manager looking to level up, an engineer confused between GRE and GMAT, or an admitted student wondering how to prioritize your time between parties and case competitions, this conversation is your cheat sheet.
We go deep into the tactical side of things: How do you choose the right conferences (like Grace Hopper)? How do you become a student leader?
🚀 In this video, we cover:• The "Resume Twin" Strategy: A genius way to use LinkedIn to find the exact schools that will accept you based on your background.• GRE vs. GMAT: Which one do US Business Schools actually prefer in 2024?• Ranking vs. Reality: Why "Prestige" isn't the only metric that matters (and why Location is king).• The "360 MBA" Framework: How to balance Academics, Leadership, Social Life, and Recruitment without burning out.• Grade Non-Disclosure: Why getting a 4.0 GPA might actually be a bad strategy for your career.• Conference Hacking: A guide to crushing events like the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) and SHPE.
🔗 Resources & Conferences Mentioned:
Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC): https://ghc.anitab.org/
Society of Women Engineers (SWE): https://we24.swe.org/
SHPE National Convention: https://shpe.org/nc2024/
Collegiate Leadership Conference (CLC): https://www.tridelta.org/events/clc/
🔗 Connect with Shivangi:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivangi-sharmaa/
Disclaimer:The views expressed in this episode are personal and based on the guest's experience at UCLA Anderson. Admissions criteria and visa regulations are subject to change.
#MBAinUSA #StudyAbroad #UCLAAnderson #ProductManagement #GREvsGMAT #MastersInUSA #InternationalStudents #CareerAdvice #Networking #GraceHopper #WomenInTech #HigherEducation #F1Visa #StudentLife
Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Overview and Background
(00:03:25) Why MBA (Product Management to MBA pipeline)
(00:05:36) Applying to the earliest deadline possible
(00:07:07) GRE vs GMAT for MBA applications in the US
(00:09:27) How to shortlist MBA programs - Rankings & Reports
(00:13:19) Reaching out to current students/alumni for reviews
(00:17:06) Tool: Finding resume twins for insight into suitable MBA programs
(00:20:14) Tool: How to find resume twins using LinkedIn
(00:21:34) Career pathways after an MBA and how to set long-term goals
(00:24:30) Location as a potential parameter + Resilience of Indian international students
(00:28:33) Academics - Case-Based Learning deep-dive
(00:32:11) Grade non-disclosure and picking courses that cause mind expansion
(00:35:43) Conferences - deep-dive (360 MBA pillar)
(00:38:45) Tool: Monthly/Quarterly goals prioritization technique
(00:40:34) Insights on the annual Grace Hopper conference
(00:43:39) Leadership positions in college clubs and organizations (360 MBA pillar)
(00:49:05) Ability to build leadership and org skills using leadership roles
(00:51:50) Social life - Traveling + Party time (360 MBA pillar)
(00:55:27) A transformational experience - 10/10 would recommend
(00:57:56) Working at Gates ventures and the horizon beyond
(01:01:00) Outro and Gratitude
