When Plans Failed, Destiny Did not: My Journey to NMIMS Bangalore

 

If you had asked me a year ago where I saw myself doing an MBA, I would have probably said “anywhere that values my hard work” Because if there is one thing I was sure of: it was how much effort I was willing to put in. 

And I did.

I prepared for every major MBA exam you could think of. I gave it my all.

Every day was a grind. Early mornings, late nights, drowning in books, mock tests, and strategies. I was convinced that my effort would pay off, that all this work would open the doors to my dream school.

And yet, the big day did not go as planned (as expected). Still I got great marks in all the exams and got the calls for interviews from the top listed b-schools. Got a spot in few, waitlisted by some and few rejected too.

NMAT: When the D-Day Did not Go as Expected

I had high expectations for the NMAT, especially since it aligned with my strengths. I approached it with confidence, believing it was my time to shine. But things did not go as planned. External factors played a role, and while I won’t use them as excuses, they did affect the outcome.

Because it was not about the score.
It was about knowing how hard I had worked and still falling short.
I cried that day. Not because the score was lower than expected.
But because I knew how much of myself I had poured into it.

And yet, sometimes, luck whispers quietly in your favour.

 NMAT: The Unexpected Turn

Despite the score, I got a call for the interview round. I went in with nothing to lose, but everything to prove. I was just… me. Honest. Passionate. Hopeful.

And maybe that’s what clicked: because I got selected.

NMIMS Bangalore.

But Let’s Be Real for a Second

Just because your college does not make someone else’s “top 10 list” doesn’t mean it isn’t good enough for you. I chose NMIMS Bangalore because:

• It gave me an opportunity when I thought the door had closed.
• It has a growing, dynamic campus that’s producing capable professionals.
• It aligned with the specializations and learning environment I wanted.
• And most importantly, it recognized my effort when even I doubted myself.

The Tier Talk? Let’s Break It Down.

People love to glorify numbers but rarely talk about reality.
No, not everyone gets ₹30 LPA.
But is ₹13–14 LPA “bad” in a country where even ₹5 LPA is a distant dream for many?

Absolutely not.

And let’s stop pretending that success is handed over in the placement brochure. It is earned through upskilling, networking, solving problems, and showing up every single day.

I have seen people from Tier 3 colleges do wonders.
I have seen resumes that didn’t make it past the first round in campus placements but made it to leadership roles just 2–3 years later.

Why? Because in the real world, your college may get your foot in the door but your work is what keeps you in the room.

 

My Takeaway? We will Keep Giving Our Best.

We have worked hard to reach where we are.
We will continue to work hard.
And we are not going to let some tier label define our future.

Yes, we will have to hustle.
Yes, it won’t be easy.
But we are not here for easy.

We are here for growth.
For learning.
For becoming better than we were yesterday.

Because the real game begins once college ends.

Final Thought: What This Journey Has Taught Me

This journey taught me that even when plans fail, destiny has a strange way of showing up.
Maybe this college was meant to be the starting point of a dream I did not even see coming.

So here I am, a little nervous, a lot hopeful and incredibly proud to say:

I am joining NMIMS Bangalore.

It is accepting my reality, and still choosing to move forward. It is knowing that I may have missed out on a better score, but I will never let go of a better version of myself. Because the real MBA does not begin in the classroom, it begins the moment you decide to bet on yourself again.

So no matter where you are headed: Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3

remember this:

You are not defined by your admit.
You are defined by what you do with it.

Let them chase labels.
You? Build a legacy.