Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
"Looking back and laughing is proof that you’ve moved on and grown up."
Close to 10 years ago, I completed my ICSE class 10 board exams with high hopes of becoming the school topper. I had had this dream from class 6, ever since I saw newspaper clips of my favourite senior topping school and becoming a mini-celebrity. That was my dream too.
When the results were announced, I was pretty happy with my marks, very close to my expectations. But then I found out I was second in school. Not first. And I was shattered. I couldn’t stop thinking, What would everyone think of me? How could I face anyone after falling short?
I felt like I had failed. I was so devastated that I didn’t go to school for the felicitation ceremony or the media pictures. No celebration. Just me wallowing in what I thought was the biggest embarrassment of my life.
Fast forward to last month – I was at home, sifting through my old stuff, and found the newspaper clipping of my board results. It had everyone's photo except mine. For me, it only had a name.
All of these thoughts came back to me.
My first reaction was a broad smile and then I laughed, really hard.
I laughed at how seriously I took it back then, how I let one rank steal my joy. How I did not see that I put in my best efforts and that in itself deserved celebration- irrespective of the results.
Looking back, it feels so trivial now. It didn’t change anything about who I became or what I achieved. Coming second didn’t stop me from building a strong foundation for my future. It didn’t define me.
In our professional and personal lives, we often encounter situations that seem monumental at the time. We invest so much energy and emotion into these moments, believing they define our worth or success. However, as time passes, we gain clarity and realize that these experiences are just small parts of a much larger journey.
How often we put immense pressure on ourselves – to meet expectations, to compare our journey with others, or to achieve ‘perfection.’ But when we zoom out and see the bigger picture, those events are just tiny dots, if anything.
Today, I look back at that 16-year-old me and smile. Not because her dreams were silly, but because she didn’t know yet that life is about so much more than your rank.
And when you can finally laugh at yourself, that’s when you know you’ve truly grown.
What's something you thought was a really big deal at that time but later thought you over exaggerated the importance of the event?
PS: No points for guessing who is not in this picture xD
hashtag#Perspective hashtag#GrowthMindset hashtag#Resilience hashtag#failure hashtag#expectation hashtag#lifestory
33 - 3
I know a friend who covered 50% of his MBA fees just through case competitions and corporate scholarships.
Now, he might be an extreme example but there are many students who ease upto 10-20% of their financial burden through these avenues.
Today, we cover scholarships in 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟯/𝟰 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗕𝗔
But before that, let me set the record straight- Scholarships aren’t just for toppers. Whether you have a strong academic record, come from a financially constrained background, or belong to a specific category, there’s likely a scholarship for you.
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of MBA scholarships to be on a lookout for depending on your situation:
💰𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 (Offered by companies to support future business leaders)
1. Aditya Birla Group Scholarship – ₹1.75L | Select IIMs & XLRI | Merit- based (Usually college makes the first shortlist)+ Interview
2. OP Jindal Engineering & Management Scholarship (OPJEMS) – ₹1.5L | Top 20 students at select IIMs | Online test + Interview
💰 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁-𝗰𝘂𝗺-𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 (Mix of merit & financial need)
1. Mirae Asset Foundation Scholarship – Based on merit & family income
Family income < ₹8L PA | Select B-schools
2. IDFC First Bank MBA Scholarship – Based on merit & family income
₹2L | Family income < ₹6L PA | Select B-schools
3. Societe Generale Global Solution Centre India Talent Scholarship
💰 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 (For students from economically weaker backgrounds)
1. PNB Housing Finance Protsahan Scholarship
₹40K | Select B-schools | Need-based | Family income < ₹3L PA
2. HDFC Bank Parivartan’s ECSS Programme
Amount varies | Financial need
💰 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 (For specific communities , specially abled, and reserved categories)
1. NTPC Scholarship Scheme
For SC/ST/PwD students in select institutes
2. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Scholarship
For students from Scheduled Tribes
3. National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation
There are multiple avenues out there, but you need to research and apply!
Don’t assume you won’t qualify—I applied for every scholarship I was eligible for. And trust me, every bit counts when you’re tackling the cost of an expensive degree like an MBA.
Know any other scholarships? Drop them in the comments so more students can benefit! And make sure you save this post if you will be joining a Bschool soon!
Sharing the Ghibli-style image of my convocation day that ChatGPT generated for me— I know, it’s way cuter than the real one!
hashtag#MBA hashtag#Scholarships hashtag#FinancialAid hashtag#Bschool hashtag#FundingYourMBA
125 - 5
Clueless about MBA loans? I was too. This is Part 2 of Financing your MBA
If you’ve secured admission to a top B-school in India, getting a loan won’t be a problem. Banks are more than willing to fund your MBA.
Repaying it? Now that’s the real challenge—but let’s save that for another day.
How do B-school loans work? The Process
You can take your MBA loan either before or after reaching campus:
1️⃣ Before Campus:
Once you get your admit, reach out to the bank of choice in the city where your college is located (e.g., contact SBI/CBI Bangalore for IIM Bangalore)
The bank usually has the list of admitted students and will initiate the loan process, asking you to visit your nearest branch in your home city for document verification. After approval, the loan amount is directly transferred to the college.
2️⃣ After Reaching Campus:
If you pay the initial fees yourself, you can still take a loan later when the banks visit campus in the first week of the course.
The bank can reimburse the amount you paid and add it to your loan.
Either way, the process is straightforward, and loans for top B-schools are easily approved without collateral in most cases.
Most common questions:
🔹 Collateral? Not needed for top B-schools
🔹 Covers exchange programs & personal expenses? Yes, but within the sanctioned loan limit
🔹 Entire amount at once? No. Fees are paid term-wise—just request the bank, and they’ll transfer the amount within 3-4 days directly to the institute.
What to Consider When Taking an MBA Loan
✅ Loan Amount & Coverage
Know the maximum loan limit and your sanctioned amount. Confirm if it covers exchange programs & living expenses.
✅ Interest Rates & Types
Public banks (SBI, CBI) usually offer lower rates than private banks.
Most loans have floating interest rates—mine ranged from 7.2% to 8.55% over two years.
✅ Moratorium & Repayment
Moratorium = Course duration + 6–12 months post-MBA.
Interest during this period is lower (usually simple interest).
Repayment tenure can go up to 15 years—confirm details with your bank.
✅ Govt. Interest Subsidy
If family income is less than ₹4.5L pa, you may qualify for interest waiver during the moratorium. Ask the bank when to submit proofs.
✅ Processing Fees & Insurance
Loan insurance can cost ₹20K–₹60K.
Check for prepayment penalties or foreclosure charges.
✅ Bank Service & Processing Time
Choose a bank with fast processing, minimal paperwork & good support—it helps during a hectic MBA life.
Your MBA loan is a big financial decision—research well, compare banks, talk to seniors, and plan ahead.
All this information is to the best of my knowledge, for exact details please ask your specific bank.
If I missed covering anything important? Drop them in the comments!
hashtag#MBA hashtag#EducationLoan hashtag#Bschool hashtag#Finance hashtag#IIM
49 - 8
When I got my IIM Bangalore admit, I was over the moon! But reality hit soon—I had to figure out how to finance a ₹30L+ MBA.
I couldn't take a single rupee from home; that wasn’t an option. I had zero clue about loans, collaterals, MBA scholarships, whether loans covered exchange programs and extra expenses, and countless others.
Through research, conversations with seniors, and some trial and error, I found five ways to finance my MBA, significantly reducing my financial burden. I understand that not every option may be available to everyone, but being aware and exploring what applies to you is the best way forward.
✅ Past Savings – I had to choose between letting my pre-MBA savings grow or using them for fees. I personally used a big chunk for the initial fee payment.
✅ Education Loan – I knew there was no escaping this given how high the fees were. Since most banks offer similar terms, I chose the one with better service and responsiveness.
✅ Financial Aid – Most B-schools offer financial aid based on family income, assets, and liabilities to support students in need. I knew I had to apply.
✅ Scholarships – There are multiple need-based, merit-based, and category-based scholarships for MBA students. I applied to all those I was eligible for and won the IDFC First Bank MBA Scholarship, which helped a lot.
✅ Central Government Interest Subsidy Scheme – A scheme for students with parental income under a certain bracket that waives interest during the moratorium period.
I'll be breaking down each of these in upcoming posts—covering processes, scholarships, and hidden opportunities.
Drop any specific questions you want me to answer about these avenues!
I usually write about CAT/MBA prep, optimizing your B-school journey, and my corporate “Riyalizations.” Follow if these topics interest you!
hashtag#MBA hashtag#EducationLoan hashtag#Scholarships hashtag#BSchool hashtag#Finance
348 - 15
Planning to do an "Ask me Anything" video where Ritwik (my brother who just got into IIMB) and I answer all kinds of questions relating to Life, CAT, MBA, IIMs, life post MBA, growing up, etc. etc.
Drop in your questions you want us to cover, and we will try our best to cover all of them!
#AMA
171 - 60
A small mistake cost us over 2 lakhs.
But more than the money, it cost us peace-during one of the scariest times of our lives.
We come from a lower-middle-class family. My parents gave up everything for our education. No savings, no safety net- just love, sacrifice, and hope.
Things got better. We both started working and began to build a life.
But when you come from such financial constraints, no one teaches you how to protect what you build.
My brother, fresh into his job, declined a subsidized health insurance plan—because we didn’t know any better.
That same year, our father met with a serious accident.
Imagine rushing to the hospital, praying he survives, and panicking about how you’ll pay. No insurance. My brother’s savings? Gone overnight.
Thankfully, our father recovered. But the trauma stayed.
We learned the hard way: health insurance isn’t a luxury. It’s peace of mind when you need it most. That’s why I truly appreciate what Ditto is doing-offering free call support and webinars that explain health insurance the way it should be: Without jargons and without any pressure to buy. Just honest advice. I had actually booked a call with them when I was deciding which health insurance to buy last year.
If you’re like us-or know someone who’s just starting out and could use help figuring out this important stuff-please check out their upcoming sessions:
🩺 Mastering Health Insurance – 25th April 2025, 6:30pm
📌 Register and educated yourself: encr.pw/AsRts
I wish no family has to learn this lesson the hard way like we did.
#brandpartnership #ditto #healthinsurance #insurance #protection
64 - 10
“I got into X B-school! How do I prepare to make the most of it?”
This is the most common DM I receive around this time of year.
But this year, it felt a little different, because one of those messages came from my own brother.
Yes, my not-so-little brother is about to start his MBA journey. And what makes it even more special? He’s joining the same B-school I went to.
So here’s what I told him-and if you’re starting B-school soon, this one’s for you too:
𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁—𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅
Spend time with your family. Hang out with your friends. Binge-watch that show guilt-free. Travel if you can. Sleep in.
B-school is intense. You’ll soon be running between deadlines, group meetings, parties and case studies for the next 1-2 years.
Time will soon become your most precious (and scarce) resource.
And if you’ve made it this far, trust me—you’ll figure the rest out too.
So for now? Recharge.
But… if you’re like my brother and still go: “Okay okay, but what can I do to prepare?”
Fine. Here’s your list
1. Level up your reading game
Work on your reading speed and comprehension. You’ll be reading pages and pages of case studies and articles. Every. Single. Day.
So, now’s a great time to start building that reading muscle.
2. Excel & PowerPoint: Learn the basics well
They’re not just tools—they’ll be your MBA BFFs (and corporate BFFs too)
Get comfortable with shortcuts, formatting hacks, basic formulas, and slide design. Your future group mates will thank you.
3. Build business awareness
Start reading The Ken, Mint, Finshots or whatever resonates with you.
Follow Instagram/YouTube creators who simplify business, marketing, and finance. The goal? Start thinking beyond the headlines.
4. Reconnect with your past-literally.
You’ll soon need to build your resume and get every point verified—work experience, transcripts, certificates, everything.
Start compiling a master Excel sheet with all your achievements. Reach out to your past employers, college admins, placement cells, etc., and keep those contacts warm.
Hope this helps!
And if you’re about to start this crazy, amazing MBA journey-drop your thoughts and questions in the comments. I’d love to help.
#bschool #mba #iim #cat2024 #tips #newbeginnings
160 - 3
Anxious about CAT Exam?
In this video, I explain why students should consider writing some of the other premium MBA entrance exams in the country and primarily explain XAT and NMAT.
We go into the exam pattern, exam fees, important deadlines and the colleges these exams can get you.
8 - 4
Deep dive into the Inspiring Journey of Shruti Sonawane | From feeling like a failure after JEE to landing at IIMV, getting her dream Sales role, and building multiple side hustles that pay well
Discover how she made life-changing decisions, decided to do an MBA as a fresher leaving her job in tech, thrived in the rigorous environment of IIM Visakhapatnam, and started creating content on Linkedin, YT, and Instagram, not just for herself but also as a ghostwriter.
https://youtu.be/nL6jD_N21M4
Get exclusive insights into her life as a Sales trainee, her life post-MBA, lessons learned, diverse experiences, regrets, and reflections on this transformative journey.
Whether you're a student, a professional, or someone dreaming big, this episode is packed with motivation and actionable advice to fuel your own path to success! This episode will be especially helpful for students from tier 3 or 4 bachelor's colleges who feel stuck and looking for ways to change their life.
20 - 0
I was invited as a guest to 'IlM ke baad', a podcast by my lIMB seniors.
Covered everything from growing up in a lower Middle class family to my first job, the forgotten part of my life where I had also given a stab at UPSC, IMB life, and about my future goals! You'll get to see the side of me that I usually don't share online but nonetheless have been so crucial in shaping me +
I know it's vvv long but do give it a hear if you have the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haKFM...
14 - 1
Hey there!
I am Riya Mehta, a learner, a generalist and a die-hard optimist.
I graduated from IIM Bangalore in 2024 and have been working in consulting since.
Through this channel I wish to document the good, the bad and the great events of my life. More than anything, I want to be able to look back and be amazed by the growth I would have made a few years from now. And maybe help others along the way!
On this channel I talk about my life, my learnings, MBA, CAT, well being and leading a 'Balanced' life.
Stick by if you find these topics exciting!