Leap Scholar Review: I Had One Condition, No Entrance Exams, and Leap Scholar Delivered

Nine years into my career, the last thing I wanted was to sit for the GMAT or CAT all over again. Here's my Leap Scholar review, in my own words, on finding an MBA that fit that one condition and ending up in a program that's taken me from Singapore to London to Dubai.

Q1. Tell me a bit about yourself and your journey so far.

I have close to nine years of work experience. I started out as an auditor, then moved into tax consulting, and after that I relocated to North Macedonia, where I worked as a financial controller for six years. Eventually I came back to India and spent two years working as a wealth manager. It was during those two years back home that I realized I wanted to pursue an MBA and build a life somewhere new, somewhere that felt like the right fit for this next stage of my life. That's what pushed me toward the decision to go for an MBA.

Q2. Which college and country did you finalize, and how did you find Leap Scholar?

While I was searching for MBA options, Leap Scholar actually came up through Google, honestly, without me expecting it. I looked into them, felt they seemed legitimate, and decided to reach out to understand what services they actually offered and how they could help. Once we spoke, we first settled on the country I wanted to go to, Dubai, and from there landed on S.P. Jain School of Global Management.

Q3. What does the actual program structure look like?

It's genuinely unique. The program starts in Singapore, and then you get to choose your second term location, either London or Dubai. I chose London, so I'm currently here for my second term. My third term will be in Dubai, starting in October.

Q4. When did you actually start this program, and what were you doing right before?

I joined this year, in February. Before that, like I mentioned, I'd spent nine years across auditing, tax consulting, financial controllership in North Macedonia, and wealth management back in India. Those last two years in India are when everything crystallized for me.

Q5. How was your counseling experience with Leap Scholar?

Genuinely good. My counselor, Sweetie, answered every single question I had, clearly and directly, and specifically met the exact requirements I brought to the table. My first requirement was a good school in Dubai. My second, and honestly the more important one for me, was that I did not want to sit for the GMAT or CAT again at this stage of my life. Combining both of those, she pointed me toward S P Jain Global, and I liked it. It's not Harvard or Cambridge, sure, but it genuinely met my expectations.

Q6. When did you tell your parents, and how did they react?

I started planning around December and began applying seriously through Leap Scholar around that time too, though I'd done some applying myself before that. I only told my parents once everything was confirmed and my results came in. They were surprised at first, genuinely asking why and what had prompted this. But once I explained it as a real stepping stone for my career, they came around. In the end, parents want the best for their children, so the support followed.

Q7. How much research went into choosing your course and country?

A lot, honestly, and it happened in clear stages. First, I had to decide between an MBA and an MSc in Finance, since my background is in finance. I reached out to people on LinkedIn doing both types of programs to understand the difference. I realized an MBA gave me the flexibility to eventually transition into other fields, while an MSc in Finance would keep me locked into finance specifically. Once that was settled, I moved on to countries, ruling out the US and Europe through a process of elimination, and eventually landed on Dubai. I did a huge amount of research myself before I even found Leap Scholar, honestly enough that once they stepped in and made everything easier, I found myself wondering why I'd bothered doing all that work alone in the first place.

Q8. Was there a specific moment where Leap Scholar genuinely added value?

Their real value was as an intermediary, someone who saves you time. Instead of me chasing colleges directly, submitting every application form and document myself, Leap Scholar took that entire piece off my plate. That freed me up to handle everything else that actually needed my personal attention, sorting out banking, submitting my resignation letter, and just mentally preparing myself for the move.

Q9. How long did the whole process actually take?

About a month, I'd say, mostly because my plan was already sorted going in. I wasn't torn between different courses or countries, I knew I wanted an MBA in Dubai with a good placement outcome, and that clarity made the whole process move quickly. I didn't just apply to S P Jain either. Leap Scholar also helped me apply to Hult International Business School, and I got an offer there too. In the end, I chose S P Jain Global.

Q10. Was the SOP or interview process stressful?

Honestly, not at all, and I think that's because I never let myself stress over interviews or SOPs in general. I approach both by just being myself. When I wrote my SOP and prepared for my interview, I kept everything genuine: no exaggeration, no undermining my own achievements either. I laid out exactly what I'd done, what my actual skills were, and what I could genuinely contribute. I sent my SOP to Leap Scholar, they forwarded it to S P Jain, and here I am, so I'd say it worked out well.

Q11. What about the visa process?

Leap Scholar didn't handle the visa directly in my case; that was managed entirely by S P Jain Global itself. That said, they were still genuinely helpful in other ways, specifically around fee payments. Since I don't have an NRI account, paying tuition in dollar terms would have been genuinely tricky, and they helped me navigate that. They also made it clear they would step in if I encountered any issues with the visa process and stayed in touch with S.P. Jain on my behalf, even though the college handled the actual application.

Q12. Did you receive any scholarship?

No, I didn't get any scholarship for this program.

From ruling out a GMAT retake as a non-negotiable to landing in a program that's taken her across three countries in one MBA, this journey is a reminder that knowing exactly what you don't want can be just as useful as knowing what you do. For anyone weighing an MBA later in their career or hoping to skip another round of entrance exams, this Leap Scholar review is worth reading closely.