Reflective Essay On College Education

I’d like to discuss two things in my additional essay (1) My undergraduate GPA and (2) A few gaps in my work experience. First and foremost, I want to talk a little about Bits Pilani and how Indian schools approach undergraduate education.

The Birla Institute of Technology and Science(BITS, Pilani) admits students through a competitive online exam, which tests in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Of the hundred thousand plus applicants that take the admissions test every year, only the top 1,000 are admitted to Pilani campus. The first two years of the program is common for all students and is heavily weighted with classes in Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology. Since all the incoming students were chosen based on their strength in these science subjects and BITS follows a relative grading system, the competition for grades is intense in the first two years, when the courses are common to students from all academic disciplines.

Also, BITS had followed a grading system involving only even grades of 10(A), 8(B), 6(C), 4(D), E(2) until year 2011, resulting in lower average gpa, with the average graduating GPA for a civil engineering major of a 6 (converts to a C). Only in academic year 2012 were the odd
grades of 9(A-), 7(B-), 5(C-) introduced. This is also mentioned in the college transcript on page 4 (point 4-note).

By the end of the second year of my college, I realized that my academic heart lies in finance and started reading a lot of material and attended classes informally in Finance courses. Additionally, I became heavily involved in on-campus activities in an effort to try and stand out from other Indian students. Both of these factors combined, having a negative impact on my GPA. While I do acknowledge my average performance in my undergraduate classes, particularly the third year classes which consisted of core- civil engineering classes,
I was able to secure a B grade in Mathematics II & Mathematics III (a B is a very good grade in these classes considering all the BITS students are exceptional in mathematics – a subject that is heavily focused in the admission test-BITSAT).

I am a firm believer in not making excuses for things in my control; my grades are my grades. I would want to let yourself and anyone else reading this in the admissions committee that my performance during undergraduate studies will not translate into my performance at Rutgers Business School. Quantitative Finance is a subject that I am passionate about and have the Mathematical, Programming and Finance background to excel.

Regarding the few month gaps between two of my jobs, I want to say that I am someone who seeks personal improvement and is not looking to simply collect a paycheck.
When I left my job as a prop trader in 2012, I did so in an effort to trade my own capital and test our theories I had been developing while working. I found this time to be informative and personally enriching. My second gap was two months in 2015. I was feeling burnt out in this role after working and studying for CFA LII. Upon my successful completion of the level II exam, I decided to take a couple of months off to further my experience and love of Yoga before starting my current position. I am a firm believer in being a well-rounded individual and this time off was extremely important to
me.