S4 E2 | Everybody Has an Opinion: Sonal Chopra on Finding an Admissions Consultant (Stanford GSB)

In this episode, we sit down with Sonal Chopra (GSB '26). Sonal studied engineering at Delhi College of Engineering, then joined BCG as one of the first (and youngest) members of its big data engineering team in India. She spent several years at Procter & Gamble, first in a president's office role she worked through COVID and later back in India running analytics and insight alongside the country CEO, before interning at LVMH on the Digital Innovation team in the Fashion Group.Sonal walks through why she held off on an MBA, what changed four to five years into her career, and how she interviewed seven or eight consultants before carefully selecting one on track record and reference checks. She breaks down the GRE attempt that went sideways, the Michigan Ross application she wrote in a single day, and getting waitlisted. Her takeaway is that intentionality is paramount as an MBA applicant, and it starts with writing your own story down.(00:00) Opener(00:09) Introducing Sonal Chopra(01:13) Early Career and Experiences in Big Data(02:36) Working in Singapore during COVID(03:13) Motivation to Pursue an MBA(06:34) Starting the MBA Application Process(09:48) Selecting an MBA Admissions Consultant(10:02) Choosing the Right MBA Consultant and Application Process(10:33) Crafting an MBA Application Narrative(13:50) Life at Stanford GSB(15:05) Reflecting on Post-MBA Goals(18:31) Advice for Future Applicants