Meet The HEC Paris MBA Class of 2017

Reema Arya 

HEC Paris

Hometown: Delhi, India

Undergraduate School and Major:

• Stephens College, Delhi University, India (BSc Honours Mathematics)
• London School of Economics, UK (MSc Risk and Stochastics)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Analyst, Assistant Vice President, Associate Director (Barclays Bank PLC, London – Debt Origination)

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Discipline is important for the GMAT. The GMAT is neither a difficult nor a very time-consuming exam. However you need regular practice of key concepts for a few hours every day at least 3 months ahead of the exam date. As a working professional, I would come home by 8 p.m. and study for 2.5 to 3 hours every weekday. I would do one full practice test on the weekend. I studied the official guide and Manhattan sets, which I managed to complete within 2 months. I spent the remaining 30 days, revisiting those areas in which I was weak, and spent the last week taking a practice test every day. The test day is equally important. If you can, spend enough time familiarising yourself with the pattern and what you could expect on exam day. Time your questions and move on if you get stuck on one.

Based on your own selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to which to apply? Self-awareness is important. Before selecting your B-Schools, spend some time reflecting on your scores, achievements, background, and your reasons for an MBA. What’s important is what you want from your business school and how best you can optimise your experience. For example, if you are in Europe and want to always work in Europe, I don’t see the value that a U.S. business school can bring to your career. Spend time going through the course curriculum in detail, recruitment profiles, what alumni have gone on and done post-MBA, extra-curricular opportunities the school offers, average GMAT scores (median, etc.), and student clubs. League tables are not always a good indicator. Even if they are, they touch very limited aspects. Go on to the school website and find out for yourself what aspects interest you and how the school could enhance your career. Spread your applications across Round 1 and 2 mainly. I would recommend selecting a maximum of three schools per round, and devote time to those applications.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf? Do not rush with your essays. Take time and review them several times. If you can, find a confidante to critique your essay. He/she can be alum, spouse, brother, or anyone else. You’d be amazed at how helpful they can be. Be genuine. Look out for what the school stands for and demonstrate examples which reflect the school’s values. You don’t have to lie or be creative with these things.

Most of us applying will have several years of work experience and lots of qualifications. We will all have examples where we have undertaken challenges and social experiences, notched accomplishments, thought about our careers, social and global issues, carved out our own values and views, made mistakes, and learned lessons. Take lots of time to think about your experiences and jot down a genuine essay. If you really like the business school, you will relate to it and you will find aspects of your life that gel with the school.

Select recommenders carefully. I definitely recommend someone who has gone through the MBA process themselves. These people are more likely to understand the importance and value of an MBA reference. Share your goals with them and have a discussion. If possible, share what you would like them to bring out in your reference. Ask them if they disagree with anything you mentioned. Try to give them examples for qualities you want to bring out. They might not remember, so a refresher with examples would help.

MBA interviews are very different from job interviews. Know your background well. And be prepared with the usual questions – Why MBA, why now, why this school, and what next? Also think about what you could bring to the school and how you could enhance the student experience.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I wanted to broaden my perspective on innovations in the financial technology, marketing, and general management techniques as financial services are bolstering their technological platforms to enhance customer experience. My clients value a digital branch on campus, across product payment solutions, and mobile payment applications more than the interest on a £100mn debt offering. HEC Paris MBA has electives under Entrepreneurship to get insight into managing technological developments and innovation with multinational operators. The school also offers several extracurricular platforms to immerse within the European start-up arena.

I also felt that the HEC Paris MBA doesn’t only cater to students who have had prior experience with start-ups or advanced-stage business ideas. Its program has a diverse mix of students with different aspirations, backgrounds, and experiences, making my education immersive, productive, enjoyable, and comfortable.

Experience and productivity outside the classroom is what truly completes the arsenal of business knowledge any individual can get from an MBA program. I went through the range of local and global experience opportunities the program offers. I believe that incorporating practical experience in its curriculum can truly broaden my perspective and prepare me for the realities of business world, thus maximising the value of my MBA at HEC Paris.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I want to leave the MBA program with credentials recognised by most European recruiters, a wider social network to leverage, and flexibility in my career options without having to compromise on professional growth. But more importantly I’d like to have a network of genuine like-minded friends all around the world, with whom I can forever share my professional journey and the challenges we all would face in our progressive future.