Hi!
I am Shailesh Otari
Your guide to getting into the world’s best MBA programs—with confidence, clarity, and strategy.
From self-navigating my way into a full-ride MBA to helping hundreds of applicants earn admits and scholarships to Top 50 schools globally—I’ve been where you are.
Now, I help ambitious professionals get into their dream MBAs.
My Journey
A quick look at my MBA journey and the wide spectrum of applicants I’ve had the privilege to guide.
Pre-MBA Profile
Applications
Mentoring Experience
Mentored Traditional Profiles
Successfully Guided Unconventional Profiles
Navigated Complex Scenarios
A Journey that sparked a mission
From Ambition to Admission
I help ambitious candidates get into top MBA programs using strategies that actually work.
Track Record at a Glance
Insights from the past track record
Success Rate
Mentees received admission offers from at least one of their target schools.
US, Europe, India
Mentees admitted to top global programs – from Wharton to ISB
Scholarship Wins
Scholarships earned by our mentees to date.
Multiple Admits
Mentees admitted to more than one school.
Avg. GMAT/GRE
Among successful applicants.
Experience Range
Across varied industries and roles.
Dreams Realized So Far
My Mentees making it to a top-tier MBA
Tech Professional Turned Product Leader, Male
Academics: B.Tech. in Computer Science, Tier 1 Indian engineering college, GPA: 3.8/4.0
Test Scores: GMAT Focus 715
Experience: 5 years as a software engineer at a well-known global tech company
Career Goals: Transition into product management in Big Tech
Special Challenge: Struggled with differentiating from other similar applicants
Final Admits:
Columbia (No scholarship)
Duke Fuqua (Scholarship: $10,000) – Attended
NUS, Singapore (Tuition Waiver)
The Data Analyst with Entrepreneurial Dreams, Female
Academics: BBA in Business Analytics, Tier 2 U.S. business school, GPA: 3.6/4.0
Test Scores: GRE 326
Experience: 3 years as a data analyst at a retail analytics startup
Career Goals: Launch a data-driven fashion-tech platform
Special Challenge: Lack of leadership experience in formal settings
Final Admits:
IE Business School, Spain (50% Tuition Waiver)
Rotman, Canada (Scholarship: CAD 15,000)
USC Marshall (Scholarship: $30,000) – Attended
The Film Producer Seeking Impact in Media-Tech, Male
Academics: BA in Literature, Tier 2 university in India, GPA: 3.5/4.0
Test Scores: GMAT 700
Experience: 6 years producing independent films and web series
Career Goals: Shift to a business strategy role in OTT/media-tech platforms
Special Challenge: No traditional professional background
Final Admits:
USC Marshall (Scholarship: $30,000) – Attended
Imperial College London, UK (Scholarship: £15,000)
ESADE, Spain (50% Merit Scholarship)
The Former Athlete Pivoting to Sports Management, Female
Academics: B.Com. and CA, Tier 2 Indian university, GPA: 3.1/4.0
Test Scores: GRE 318
Experience: 4 years as a national-level tennis player U19; 2 years as a consultant at a leading multinational firm, along with coaching U19 teams
Career Goals: Build a career in sports management and athlete development
Special Challenge: Career switch + unconventional professional background
Final Admits:
Michigan Ross (Scholarship: $35,000)
CMU Tepper (Scholarship: $70,000) – Attending
Cambridge Judge, UK (Scholarship: £10,000)
The Consultant Re-entering After a Career Break, Female
Academics: B.Com. Tier 1 Indian commerce college, GPA: 3.7/4.0
Test Scores: GMAT Focus 655
Experience: 6 years at Big 4 Consulting, 2-year break to raise a child
Career Goals: Re-enter consulting, focusing on workplace inclusion and equity
Special Challenge: Explaining work gap
Final Admits:
INSEAD, France (Spotlight Scholarship: €20,000)
Cornell Johnson (Scholarship: $20,000) – Attended
Georgetown McDonough (Scholarship: $35,000)
The Medical Doctor Building HealthTech Ventures, Male
Academics: MBBS, Tier 1 medical college in India, GPA: 3.9/4.0
Test Scores: GMAT 680
Experience: 4 years as a practicing physician + co-founder of a telehealth startup
Career Goals: Scale impact via healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship
Special Challenge: Bridging clinical and business worlds
Final Admits:
Imperial College London, UK (No Scholarship)
Erasmus, Netherlands (No Scholarship)
ISB (No Scholarship) – Attending
The Resilient Candidate with Academic & Employment Gaps, Male
Academics: B.A. in Psychology, Tier 3 liberal arts college, GPA: 2.9/4.0
Test Scores: GMAT 640
Experience: 2 years in NGO fundraising, 1-year career gap due to mental health, freelance projects thereafter
Career Goals: CSR and social impact strategy in a multinational
Special Challenge: Low GPA, career gap, and mental health disclosure
Final Admits:
University of British Columbia, Canada (Scholarship: CAD 10,000)
Queen’s University, Canada (Scholarship: CAD 10,000)
Melbourne Business School, Australia (Scholarship: AUD 20,000) – Attending
What My Clients Says
I wasn’t sure if I should even apply with my seven years of work experience and just a month left. But my mentor at Straight Admits encouraged me to take the chance and guided me through every step of the application process. His step-by-step guidance saved me so much time and gave me the confidence to complete the process. Thanks to him, the essays did complete justice to my profile and I received three interview calls from schools in Canada. I even got a scholarship at HEC Montreal, which my mentor insisted that I ask for. Straight Admits never spoon-fed me and I am grateful for that.
Samit J
HEC Montreal, MBA
As someone with a medical background, I had no idea whether an MBA would be a good move for me. But my mentor at Straight Admits explained how my profile could stand out and guided me through every step of the application process, from filling out the forms to building a resume. He even helped me weave the different parts of my medical background into a cohesive story. I am so grateful for his guidance and trust in me. Straight Admits is highly recommended!
Dr Harpreet A
ISB, PGP
My GPA was low and my GRE scores were average, so I never thought I could make it into UIC for my Masters program. But my mentor at Straight Admits acknowledged these problems and asked me to apply to a range of schools so that I could take my chances. I only had three weeks to prepare my essays, but my mentor guided me through the process and polished them up really well. All his hard work paid off in an admit. If you need an expert opinion and have some weaknesses in your profile, go with Straight Admits!
Devika S
University of Chicago, MSIS-MBA
It had been 25 years since I last applied for my Graduate program in the US. I was so excited to apply but the essays were killing me! Thank goodness I found Straight Admits! The mentor was so responsive and helpful. He had an eye for keeping my essay focused and interesting. He really helped me bring out my best accomplishments and strengths. Thanks to him, I got accepted at Penn State University MBA Graduate Program!
I’d totally recommend Straight Admits to anyone seeking to strengthen their essays with flair.
Sreeni
Penn State University, Executive Program in Management
I was so lucky to find Straight Admits when I was looking to go to college abroad. My mentor has been amazing from the start. He took the time to get to know me and helped me make the right choice for my course and put together my essays. He was always there for me, encouraging me to research beyond the conventional boundaries. Thanks to him, I secured a place for myself in an industry-renowned course at Brunel University, London. Straight Admits is my recommendation for anyone looking for a college guide and ally.
Vaidehi
Brunel University, London, Masters in Marketing
I was pretty unsure about my chances of getting into my dream schools, especially after being rejected by them the previous year. But my mentor at Straight Admits helped me figure out my career goals and gave me practical inputs. He went above and beyond in reviewing my essays and helped me crack the admissions process by identifying the flaws in my profile and guiding on how to creatively cover them. I got admitted to 3 of the 6 of my dream schools and even got the best possible scholarship thanks to my mentor. Straight Admits is the best thing to happen to me!
Jyotsna
Indiana University, MBA
Ready to map your MBA strategy?
Reach out for a free strategy session. I will help you understand your strengths, identify areas to improve, and answer your questions about the application process—so you can maximize your strategy for top programs.
After the Strategy Session
You’ll walk away with clarity. And if you want more personalized coaching to elevate your application, here’s how I work with you one-on-one.
✅Uncovering your most compelling personal and professional stories
✅ Shaping a powerful and authentic personal brand
✅ Defining clear, ambitious, and credible career goals
✅ Creating a sharp, results-driven resume that captures attention
✅ Conducting in-depth research to align with each school’s strengths
✅ Crafting and refining a tailored narrative for every target school
✅ Identifying impactful content for strong Letters of Recommendation
✅ Mapping out essential documentation for a complete application
✅ Gaining insider insights through conversations with school alumni and mentors
✅ Aligning your story with each school’s unique culture, values, and strengths
✅ Collaboratively drafting essays and LORs through multiple rounds of strategic refinement
✅ Repeating the above for each selected school
✅ Reviewing structured interview frameworks and key preparation material
✅ Mastering common interview pitfalls and best practices via pre-recorded videos
✅ Undertaking one-on-one coaching to sharpen your story and presence
✅ Participating in multiple mock interviews with detailed, strategic feedback for continuous improvement
✅ Responding to waitlists strategically
✅ Negotiating scholarships to reduce financial burden
✅ Evaluating options if desired admission isn’t secured
✅ Choosing among multiple admits
Let’s make your MBA dream real.
I work with only a handful of driven applicants each year. If you’re serious about getting into a top program—and ready for strategic, 1:1 support—let’s talk.