“Kellogg has excellent Finance programmes, many successful alumni and an excellent learning environment”

…says Anup Dhalwani, a Computer Engineer from University of Pune. Anup has worked as a consultant with IBM and NESC. He has 7 years of work experience in diverse areas like Manufacturing, Distribution, CPG, Food and Beverage and Pharmaceutical industry. He is currently pursuing his MBA from Kellogg School of Management. In a succinct interview with Reshma Majithia he talks of his journey from being a computer Engineer to an MBA at Kellogg School of Management.

Besides Kellogg which other schools had you applied to and why did you choose Kellog in the end?
I had applied to all the top schools in the US, I chose Kellogg for its extremely collaborative environment and support structure in terms of learning, careers and potential to network.

You enrolled in the business when the US recession was still at its peak. Did you have any apprehensions when you joined the programme. How did you deal with these?
I did have some apprehensions, but by the time I joined, the recession was officially over (June ‘09 I suppose). I dealt with it by networking with alumni and taking advice from the Career Management Center (CMC).

What are the typical challenges that a career-switcher faces during an MBA programme (Considering the fact that you shifted from computer engineering to marketing and finance)?
That’s a good question. I feel top B-Schools provide an excellent support system for everyone. That’s one of the hallmarks of a great school. A lot of students are career- switchers, and many are engineers. I feel engineers are well prepared for many of the quantitative and analytical subjects.

What are your long-term aspirations and how do you see the Kellogg MBA degree helping you achieve the same?
I am considering a career in finance, and for now, I am looking at Investment Banking. Kellogg has excellent Finance programmes, many successful alumni and an excellent learning environment that helps.

What advice would you give students targeting the top 10 schools in the US?
Focus on your GMAT, make sure your essays have a distinctive style and differentiate you from others and diversify. Most importantly, be patient.