Meet The Rochester Simon MBA Class Of 2018

Gaurav Mittal

Simon Business School, University of Rochester

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Hard working with a positive attitude and always trying to push my limits.

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I completed my first triathlon within two months of coming to the U.S.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Delhi; Major in accounting. Also a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Employer: KPMG; Job titles: 1. Staff Accountant, 2. Senior Associate, 3. Assistant Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Passing all levels of the Chartered Accountancy exams on the first attempt

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? Students should figure out whether they are a good fit for the school. This can be best done by visiting the school and speaking to current students and alumni of the school. This will give a good insight into the culture of the school. It is a crucial evaluating criterion for the schools. This will help immensely when they are writing their essays and giving their admission interviews.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA?

Simon was my first choice for the following reasons:

1. Proximity to New York allows for more networking opportunities.
2. The strength of the finance program helps prepare for finance jobs academically.
3. The small class size creates strong bonds between the students.
4. The 40% scholarship offered by the School which helped me fund my education.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? I have held a high interest in finance since I was in high school when I started reading the financial newspapers and following the financial markets. My studies after school were focused in finance and accounting and I want to take this interest and background to pivot into the investment banking industry. I would like to get hired by Bank of America in their investment banking division. My hard working style would suit this industry and I will be able to utilize my prior background of accounting here. Being able to work in a steep learning curve and work with senior managements from very early on in my career only adds to my interest in this industry.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? “Gaurav was always hardworking and pushed himself more than others. He was outgoing and went beyond expectations to help out his friends.”