Vikram Shah

My experience with Vikram and his team during the MBA application process was exceptional. I reached out to Vikram with high aspirations and absolutely no exam-score, but rather than being dismissive, he remained patient through the process and motivated me to get to a score that would increase my chances for success. His professionalism, expertise, and commitment to my success were evident from the start.

Vikram’s guidance strengthened my candidacy and equipped me with valuable skills that I apply in my career till date. One unique aspect that caught my attention was the coaching model that Vikram adopted, placing an additional consultant on each application. This not only brought in diverse perspectives, but also ensured quality deliverables.

Vikram and team provided direct feedback and accommodated my busy schedule, ensuring quality interactions. They remained supportive even during moments of uncertainty, continually refining my application materials and strategy for the best outcome. They also offered unlimited edits, working as many as 18 times on the same piece of content.

Overall, their expertise and support were instrumental in navigating the MBA application process successfully. Working with them was transformative and highly recommended.

I reached out to Vikram in late October. He was recommended to me by a friend and colleague who had got an admit at Wharton the previous year. Among other admission consultants, I found his methodologies and pricing transparent and structured.

Recognizing that my background as an Indian male engineer placed me in an overrepresented applicant pool for MBA programs especially as I had a humble GMAT score of 720. Despite that, Vikram approached my case with candor and unwavering encouragement. I took the full package and got his guidance on every aspect of my application journey.

He and Mitrabina meticulously helped me put together my goals coherently, and refine my resume, and essays. I got frank and actionable feedback which was crucial since there was very little time left for the deadlines. Overall, I witnessed the Vikram effect! I found massive improvements between my initial and final drafts as he helped me polish my narrative iteratively until the deadlines. I secured interview invitations from every school I applied to, including my target programs.

Beyond the initial applications, I got immense support for my interviews. He conducted multiple mock interviews, ensuring I was thoroughly prepared. Even after interviews, his counsel on navigating deposit deadlines proved invaluable.

In retrospect, the only thing I wish I had done differently was approaching him sooner. For my admission success at Kellogg, Oxford, and LBS, I owe immense gratitude to Vikram and Mitrabina for their exceptional mentorship. To a fellow prospective applicant reading this, based on my personal experience, I unreservedly endorse Vikram and his team, you simply cannot go wrong by having them on your side!

I had the best experience working with Vikram and his team member Mitrabina.

They were extremely hands-on with my application from the beginning, very thorough and detail-oriented, and kept pushing me to dig deeper into my life journey/ stories until I arrived at the best points to bring up in the essays. Each part of the application – resume, essays, form questions, LOR – went through at least 4-6 rounds of edits, until they AND I were happy with every single word in there. Both Vikram and Mitra were available at all times of the day and night for any questions or to further rework the application.

After the application, they were equally focused on converting the interview, and did multiple reviews of my answers, mock interviews, and ensured that I was 150% prepared – the actual interview felt like a cakewalk after the grilling they put me through!

I applied to LBS, INSEAD, and Oxford, got interview offers from both LBS & Oxford, and eventually got admits from both of them as well. Additionally – I got a scholarship from LBS.

I strongly feel that a consultant who is flexible with their availability and time, and is willing to do what it takes, can make or break your MBA applications. I spoke to a lot of consultants before choosing Vikram but didn’t feel confident about any of the others because they all had very fixed schedules, fixed # hrs of work every week, fixed # of iterations to the application, etc. I would strongly recommend Vikram to anyone who wants to make it to their dream schools!

Working with Vikram Shah Consulting was truly an exceptional experience. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Vikram and Aarti, who have not only been incredibly knowledgeable and professional, but also supportive and patient throughout the entire application process.

Vikram and Aarti provided me with personalized guidance every step of the way, helping me craft a strong resume, brainstorm and refine my essay topics, and prepare for my interviews. They have an in-depth understanding of what MBA admissions committees are looking for, and their insights and advice were invaluable in helping me present my best self to the schools I was applying to.

I appreciated their flexibility and willingness to work with me on a timeline that fit my needs, and I was impressed by their responsiveness and attention to detail. They were always available to answer my questions, provide feedback, and offer encouragement, and their commitment to my success was evident throughout the entire process.

In the end, I was accepted into my top-choice MBA program, and I know that I would not have achieved this without the support and guidance of Vikram and Aarti. I highly recommend Vikram Shah Consulting to anyone who is looking for a knowledgeable, supportive, and effective consultant to guide them through the MBA application process.

My journey of MBA had started with Vikram when he was straightforward about my GMAT score not being enough and the need to have a better score for a shot at top B-schools.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Vikram, and I have to say, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my career. As someone considering applying to business school, I knew I needed help navigating the complex admissions process, and that’s where Vikram came in.

Vikram is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and supportive. He took the time to really understand my life story, career goals, and unique strengths and weaknesses and then worked with me to develop a tailored application strategy that showcased my best self.

Finally, and most importantly, Vikram helped me secure admission to UCLA. He worked closely with me to prepare for interviews, provided me with invaluable insights into the school’s culture and values, and coached me on how to showcase my unique strengths in the most effective way possible.

If you’re considering applying to business school and want to maximize your chances of success, I highly recommend working with an MBA admission consultant. And if you’re looking for a consultant who is knowledgeable, professional, and truly invested in your success, look no further than Vikram – he is simply the best!

Vikram is a complete package when it comes to business school applications. Once you partner with him, he is completely involved EVERY single step of the way right from college selection to helping out with post-admit logistics.

For me, the stand-out is the absolute dedication that Vikram commits to your application journey. He is extremely accommodating of your needs – may it be getting on a call every time you need it, editing essays until the both of you are satisfied, or tweaking working methods to suit you.

Speaking of on-the-job skills, Vikram is a master at succinct, impactful writing. The clarity of thought that he induces, his writing process, resume writing and interview techniques will benefit you far, far beyond your MBA applications.
Unlike several other consultants, Vikram will never write your essays for you. Instead, he asks deep questions, pushes you to think, and draws out unique insights from your stories rather than fitting them into a standard essay template.

He truly considers you and himself an equal partner – he will work as hard as you and will give your opinions/thoughts as much weightage as his own. The amount of work he puts into getting to understand your journey, critiquing each written output, and preparing you for interviews is truly admirable and I believe rare to find in an MBA consultant.

Working with Vikram is a uniquely balanced process. He will push you to work hard, produce better output, and meet timelines. At the same time, he will also be incredibly patient with you. He will be your toughest critic but he will also be your biggest, calmest motivator during the storm! Most of all, he will be the true partner that you need as you navigate your MBA application journey.

– Vikram is very direct and insightful. He gave me very precise feedback and made me work toward my weak points.
– Even though I was not confident about applying to my dream schools, Vikram always told me that I should believe in my application and deliver my best.
– It was always Vikram or Ajey who were following up with me on my application and they have a very quick turnaround time when it comes to reviewing the drafts.

With my busy schedule, I needed a consultant who would keep me on track and I needed someone who would let me explore my story instead of just populating a template. I did not know it at the beginning but Vikram checked both requirements perfectly.

I approached Vikram after a bad experience in Round 1 with another consulting firm. My dream schools were pending for Round 2 and given my Round 1 applications, Vikram offered me a fixed fee plan. I was a bit apprehensive about his commitment v/s incentive fee applicants particularly closer to the deadlines. However, from the moment we started working until the applications were submitted, not once did I feel any lack of intent from Vikram. There were times when I fell behind in the application process but Vikram was promptly after me to get things back on track.

Vikram has a very clear vision of what top schools are looking for in an application. After my first round of applications with generic career goals, Vikram helped me first research and identify my career goals properly instead of just jumping into the applications. Presenting it to the admissions committee came much more naturally from there and was only helped by his willingness to provide detailed feedback, have impromptu calls whenever needed, and review as many iterations as needed to get the best possible application out. Even during the interview process, Vikram was far more proactive than me and chased me repeatedly to ensure I was fully prepared.

I am glad to have chosen Vikram for helping me out in my entire application process. I always knew Vikram would be the right person as my sister had also consulted him for her MBA process. Vikram’s structured approach for writing Essays or CVs, helped me save a lot of time and also the number of edits required. He helped me in detail to make my CV very short and crisp, yet impactful. His personalized approach is what makes him different from all others. Right from knowing my story in detail, to asking me questions that make me think in depth, which brainstorms further for getting the best version of myself in the Statement of Purpose. His honest and blunt feedback/suggestions are what I appreciate the most. I could clearly see the difference between my first edit of essays and the last one. I am extremely excited to join Carnegie Mellon University for my master’s program and I would like to thank Vikram once again for his guidance throughout. Definitely recommend his services to all prospective applicants.

I had spoken to several admission consultants to see what was best suited for me. Given my background and GMAT score, many of them enticed me with top B-schools that were ‘easily’ achievable. When I first spoke with Vikram, I was taken aback. He was the only one who wanted to know me in depth before talking about top B-schools. He elaborated on the factors I should be giving thought to before blindly choosing a school by the ranks. His honest, detailed, and non-sugar-coated feedback on the initial assessment was an eye-opener and I immediately knew whom I would choose.

His structured process and intriguing questions helped me introspect and transform my simple stories into ones that were more appealing. Under Vikram’s mentorship, I have gained valuable skills that go beyond B-school applications. From resume building to essays and interviews, he has provided his valuable expertise to help me get admission to Vanderbilt University. The best part – throughout the applications, where tension is high, Vikram is ALWAYS there for you. There were times when he’s given me pep talks at 1 am with the calmest voice. Besides preparing me for interviews, he has assessed the interviews I have taken to provide meaningful feedback and gear up for the following interviews.

Vikram’s approach to building an application is unique to every applicant and thus he’s helping one build and sell their unique stories. I am delighted to choose Vikram Shah Consulting for my applications.

I am extremely grateful to Vikram for helping me get an admit to my dream school- Kellogg school of management. During the application process, I found that he was always there to help me, and at times went out of the way to do so. I work in an early-stage startup and many a time left MBA applications to the last minute because of work pressure, but Vikram’s determination to get me through made him work late nights and at the last hours to get my applications submitted.
I also found that Vikram’s structured approach to writing essays helped me save time and reduce the number of edits. Vikram is also genuine, which helped me take practical decisions during B-school shortlisting.
Lastly, I have also realized that the interview preparation for B school interviews is helping me during job/internship interviews and will continue to do so post-MBA as well. I strongly recommend Vikram for top B-school MBA applications.

I talked to several consultants before I decided to work with Vikram. I chose Vikram because I felt that he truly understands what the top B school wants, and I am glad to have made that choice. He gave me confidence in my strengths but didn’t sugarcoat the feedback. The thing that I liked the most was that he helped me build a story through which I can highlight my strengths while allowing me to present my true self to the admission committees.
I remember how he helped me with interviews by identifying my problem areas and helping me practice to overcome my weaknesses. It was largely because of the structured approach that he follows in the admission process that I am joining NYU Stern this fall. Thank you, Vikram, for being patient with me, I am really grateful.

I consulted Vikram early in my B-school application process. He has pushed me beyond boundaries throughout the journey, motivating me to score higher on GMAT, shortlisting the right schools, and improving each draft to secure admission to LBS. He is a blunt and confident guy who is genuinely interested in improving your application and not in selling his consultation by hook or crook. Vikram spent a lot of time on my story, gave me directions, helped me with introspection, self-access my goals, and articulated what was within before preparing every application. I believe that my decision to choose Vikram as a consultant through this journey has been an excellent investment for the future.

Worth every penny. I spoke to around 15-18 consultants before finalizing Vikram for my MBA journey start. Being blunt, honest, non-pleaser and working towards the application as his own are some of the qualities that positions Vikram differently, rather better than the other pool of consultants. Vikram spent a lot of time on my story, gave me directions, helped me with introspection, self-access my goals and articulate what’s within before preparing every single application. Well, I was lucky enough to get one application free of cost along with his package of 5 school applications. The way he taught me behavioral rounds helped me not only secure an MBA seat but also pioneered my interview for a job in the US making me one of the highest-paid interns in my school. I believe spending time and money with Vikram on your B-School journey is an investment and not an expense.

As an applicant with fewer than average years of work experience and a non-premium undergrad in a heavily represented pool, I was unsure of my standing. Working with Vikram helped me look beyond these ‘hard statistics’ and focus on building a strong holistic application. His unique approach to start off with a ‘life history’ document helped me reflect on and identify milestones in my journey, gain a fresh perspective on my strengths and goals and tell an authentic story through my applications.
Vikram’s feedback was always prompt, detailed, and truly impactful. He is deeply involved end to end from school shortlisting, resume building, and applications to interview preparation. Made possible due to efficient communication, quick turnaround time, and high availability. Through his guidance, I applied to 5 of the best b-schools in the US and was admitted to them all in the same round! I am delighted to join the Wharton School of business and am immensely thankful to have worked with Vikram in making it possible. Highly recommend his services to prospective applicants.

I began working with Vikram soon after writing my GRE and what a journey it has been! Accepted into all the three one-year programs that I applied to including Kellogg School of Management, I owe it to his tailored approach, eye for detail, and straight talk.

Be it vetting essays, pushing me to commit to deadlines much in advance, anticipating the busy schedules of recommenders so as to get everything together on time, Vikram came through on all aspects as a 10/10 mentor.

He prepped me for all three interviews as well with extensive mocks along with detailed feedback, highlighting my strengths and giving me the confidence to play on them.

He inspires you to give your best! I strongly recommend him and his team to all applicants.

Vikram played a big role in my successful selection at London Business School. Coming from an atypical background and no informal guidance from peers and seniors, I was unsure of my approach to the applications. However, Vikram took the time to understand my requirements from the MBA and based on my interest areas, helped me shortlist B schools. Beyond the rankings, I found Vikram to be very well informed about the current offerings of different schools, pros, cons, location, and overall focus areas of the school. While preparing the application for the selected B Schools, Vikram not only proofread my essays tailoring to different school requirements but also guided me on writing style and frameworks that one must learn and follow in business essay writing. Lastly, crucial to application success was a successful interview. Again being informed about the different interviewing styles of different schools, Vikram correctly identified the weak points of my application that would be further explored in different interviews. He helped me refine my language, develop a storyline, and articulate my thoughts clearly to the interviewer. Even today, I use my preparation tapes from that time to prepare for job interviews. Throughout the process, Vikram was available on the call, honest, critical when required, collaborative, and encouraging. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with Vikram’s consultation for my MBA application.

Vikram is honest about your chances and has a fee structure tied to your success, both of which are quite rare. He is truly invested in helping you succeed. I decided to apply to INSEAD a little late and first spoke with Vikram five weeks before the deadline for the round. A month is a short time to create a good application however I felt we were able to create a good application. If you are dedicated and willing to put in the effort, Vikram’s turnaround time for providing suggestions or his availability will not be a limiting factor. Communicating with him is efficient and he made sure we go through multiple drafts until we felt satisfied with each essay. I lived in another country in North America and we still managed to communicate regularly – he was just a message away if I needed help while working on something.

I had applied to four schools before this – two of which were with the help of a popular American firm which helps business school applicants – and none of those applications went forward to the interview stage. I was surprised at the level of detail and rigor Vikram demands. It made me feel my previous efforts, before I met Vikram, were loosely guided and not focused although I had reputed professional help. He can relate to your experiences and tries to understand every little detail to find hidden gems in your stories which can be used in your essays. For example, he tried to dig deeper to understand the methods I used to drive significant savings for my employer and helped add an additional level of depth to the story. It helped make the story sound authentic and added a personal touch. He will teach you how to write a compelling narrative and point you in the right direction. If you need to choose between a few options while writing an essay, editing your resume or preparing for an interview, Vikram is generally decisive and never in doubt – there is generally some sound logic behind the decisions made.

There is no room for mediocre or average responses during interview preparation. Vikram makes sure you have a great response for questions which could be asked. During any interview of this nature, you are generally asked about your motivation to go to business school and Vikram makes sure the delivery of the story you tell is great. I was quite surprised at the level of preparation for the interviews – we tried to cover all corners. A large portion of my interviews were conversations and there was a large deviation from the standard interview questions but the key was to weave in the appropriate stories I had discussed with Vikram. He tries to probe more about the past experiences listed on your resume as a real interviewer would and cover all aspects.

It is rare to find someone who is deeply invested in your success, always a text message away if you need help, willing to understand all the details of your story, has a robust process to create a good application and persistent about helping you improve.

I had an amazing experience working with Vikram Shah for my MBA application process. Below are a few things that stood out for me:
1. Learning about me: Vikram did put a lot of effort to learn about me – he asked me to document both personal and professional experience in-depth and that helped him in understanding my strengths and weakness and know me as a person.
2. Honesty & right assessment: I remember my first phone interaction with him and he directly stated what universities look for, what was lacking in my profile, and the realistic target (surprisingly I ended up at Darden, the one he shared during our first call). Throughout the process, he would be brutally honest and would tell you directly if he doesn’t like the work.
3. Interview prep: I feel he did a commendable job throughout the process, but what stood for me was the interview prep. He would take several mocks, share exactly where you made the mistake, give actionable feedback, and even review the audio/video interview in case you are practicing with someone else. I was clearly able to see the progress I made since my first mock interview.

Vikram tries to get a thorough understanding of the client’s aspirations and recommends the best way to go forward. Unlimited edits in a crunch time helped me improve my applications. His crucial and brutally honest feedback and relentless push in interview coaching not only helps one get an admit but also polishes one’s presentation. I reached out to Vikram only two months before application deadlines and he directed all efforts in bringing me up to speed. I was sold on Vikram’s commitment to quality.

Vikram is definitely the best MBA admission consultant in India. He is personally involved at every stage of your application with a unique “Life-Story” based approach for essays. He is someone who will make you realize your strengths and weaknesses during the application process. He brings in a wealth of knowledge and experience about every top MBA program and ensures that you find programs that fit your profile and post MBA goals. If you are ready to put in the effort, appreciate the honest feedback, and ready to put your head down for b-school applications, you cannot get a better person to help you!

I was very late to the party. I had given my GMAT in October. I wanted to apply to 4 M7 schools and LBS and was adamant to make it into the class of 2022. When I started working on my applications, I had done almost zero research into the programs or schools. I had no clue what an application looked like. Vikram started with a quick evaluation of my profile, gave me a realistic picture and we decided to apply to 2 M7 schools, LBS and Ross. After deciding on the target schools, Vikram over-hauled my resume. His insights were very valuable in refining my statement of purpose. During our brainstorming session through his inputs I could leverage my experience in the oil and gas industry, and consulting to position myself in probably the best possible way. What really stood out with Vikramshahconsulting was their unfaltering commitment towards my application. They were always there, always: they will work on the essays until they are their best version, they will interview you until you are your best version, and they will help you engage with your recommenders so that they can write the best LORs. I got interviews from Kellogg, Ross, and LBS. I will be attending Kellogg and I cannot thank Vikram and Aarti enough for their help.

Working with Vikram was one of the best decisions I made during my MBA application process. We worked on my applications to 5 US B-schools and I ended up receiving interview invitations from 4 of them. I have now decided to enroll with Kellogg School of Management for their 2Y MBA program.
Vikram’s personalized approach is what helps set him apart from other consultants. Before starting the applications he would get to know your entire career path and life story, asking pointed questions that help bring out your strengths as an applicant. My biggest fear about the applications was getting lost in a crowd of equally excellent candidates but these personalized questions resulted in us identifying stories that helped me stand out. Vikram is also extremely invested in your success. He went above and beyond in helping me practice for my interviews. Moreover, when I was stuck with any piece in my application, he would brainstorm with me for hours to resolve it. He is brutally honest with his feedback and personally ensures no sub-standard application gets submitted, no matter how many reviews or iterations it takes.
Vikram not only helped me with the end-to-end application process but also helped me identify other ways in which I can boost my candidacy like student referrals and guided me in my school research/shortlisting process. I highly recommend his services to anyone looking for help with their MBA applications.

I hold Vikram in high regard as an MBA consultant. His strategy, advise and experience was instrumental in getting admission into a top MBA program in the US.

We worked together on applications to 5 US business schools and he guided me through each step of the process. He helped me create and fine-tune an impactful CV and through numerous discussions, Vikram enabled me to identify certain professional and personal stories that would later form the base to my essays. Vikram understands that every client is different and works with the applicant to showcase his/her best qualities. He is also aware of the nuances of what each college looks for and values in candidates and has designed a robust process to tackle the interviews. Personally, I found his interview preparation and mock interview process extremely efficient and productive. In the event that you are waitlisted, Vikram works with you to write additional essays/draft sample LoR’s and suggests other ways to improve your candidacy.

I found Vikram to be highly motivated and deeply invested in my success. He is transparent and provides constructive feedback that helped me identify areas of improvement and then take measures to fix them. Vikram acts as a great sounding board for ideas relating to applications and careers. I have sought his advice on matters pertaining to choice of school, navigating a waitlist, and even post-MBA goals.
I highly recommend Vikram to any candidate who wants to apply to a top business school!