From a small town in Jharkhand to IIT Delhi, 100th percentile GMAT and a Wharton admit - here’s what I wish I knew earlier. Hi, I’m Maitree Shandilya! I grew up in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, graduated from IIT Delhi (2024), secured an admit to The Wharton School (QS Global #1), and chose to defer it to gain real-world experience first. Today, I work as a Product Manager - first at Microsoft, where I received the Best PM Award within a year, and now at Vedantu as an AI PM, building products to democratize quality education. Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way (and why I am glad you are here): a. GMAT success isn’t about endless practice. It’s about picking the right resources, understanding the scoring logic, managing time across sections, and using smart techniques that actually move your score (like reading entire passages in under 30 sec). b. MBA applications aren’t about sounding impressive. They’re about clearly telling your story - blending academics, work, leadership, and impact into a narrative that makes sense. Most of this clarity is unfortunately gate-kept. I was able to move forward because I was fortunate enough to find mentors who shared insider context, honest feedback, and actionable advice at the right moments. Through this page, I want to democratize that access - so talented people don’t have to rely on guesswork or expensive trial-and-error. If you’re preparing for the GMAT, crafting your MBA application, or navigating early product roles, I’m really glad you’re here. Let’s chat!