Get to know me

For the past 13 years, I’ve worked as an Educational Adviser in one form or another. I consider myself extremely fortunate since I had access to proper guidance when I was a student, which changed the trajectory of my academic and professional life. After completing my education, I felt a strong pull towards a career related to education, so I worked as an educational adviser at a US-India binational commission for about 5 years. (United States-India Educational Foundation / EducationUSA). Let me take you back a few years to help you understand where I come from and why I have created Manmohan Educational Advising Services. 

I was raised in Mumbai and studied at Don Bosco High School, Matunga, up to the 10th grade (SSC board). Though I was fortunate to have exceptional teachers who went beyond the curriculum, I felt something was missing in the education system itself. It lacked the breadth and depth to prepare students for the real world, both in terms of professional training and real-world knowledge.

After the 10th standard (grade), I joined Ramnivas Ruia College in Matunga, one of Mumbai’s most prestigious junior colleges. Like many students, I also enrolled in coaching classes for entrance exams. I quickly realized I was just chasing marks(grades). Actual learning, the kind that excites and empowers you, was never part of the curriculum. Add to that, I didn't feel like I had access to people working in fields that interested me or were doing work in a way that I wanted to be a part of. 

It was about this time that I began exploring. I visited the IIT Bombay campus, spoke to students,  professionals, and involved myself in extracurricular activities. Over time, it became clear to me that I needed a different kind of education. One that gave me academic freedom, practical knowledge, and a holistic worldview.

I took a gap year and spent most of it at the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) library in Mumbai (closed down now, one of the reasons I want to keep that kind of support available). I studied the U.S. education system, entrance tests, volunteered at USIEF events, spoke to educationalists, and so on. It was a challenging time since taking a gap year was not common at the time, but these were the formative years that would help me in my professional career later. 

Eventually, I scored 780/800 on the Math section of the SAT, which caught the attention of the advisers at USIEF. Dr. Ryan Pereira, a senior adviser, recommended I apply to large state universities that offered scholarships. I applied to five U.S. universities and was accepted by all. Oklahoma State University offered me a 50% scholarship, which sealed the deal. Coming from a middle-class family, that financial aid made higher education in the United States possible for me. 

I arrived in Stillwater in January 2013. From the beginning, I knew I had made the right decision. The U.S. education system was not only holistic but truly international in every sense of the word. I took advanced engineering courses alongside general education classes, which led me to pursue a minor in Sociology, both of which I use in business and motorsports. 

During my summers, I would visit India and stay connected with USIEF. I was a guest speaker at the Pre-Departure Orientation panels for all 5 years that I was a student at Oklahoma State. After I graduated, Dr. Pereira offered me a job at USIEF to guide other Indian students with their studies in the United States. In 2019, I joined USIEF Mumbai as an Educational Adviser. Over the 5 years I worked as what is more popularly known as an educational consultant, I helped around 25-30 students a year on a one-on-one basis with the admissions to the United States (both Bachelors and Masters), and conducted sessions throughout Western India, both online and in-person, on topics related to studying in the United States. 

While education is my core mission, I wear a few other hats:

• Automotive Work: I build, test, and drive automobiles to understand the ownership experience, emissions, and to measure the financial aspect of owning vehicles. I co-run a car drifting school in Mumbai with another U.S. university alumnus, where I teach students how to drift cars professionally. I am extremely privileged to study and get a degree in a field that is not only my passion but part profession too.
   
• Photography: I’ve been pursuing photography for 13 years and have been shooting professionally for the past year. I specialize in portraiture and automobiles. I learned under Shivaji Sen (The Arts University, Bournemouth, England). Art is an extremely overlooked subject in school, so I dedicated a year to better understand it and how we all make decisions based on the work of artists. Creativity is an incredibly important skill that I recommend everyone develop, regardless of their career.
   
• Canine Behaviorist: I trained under Shirin Dhabhar as a Dog Trainer and Behaviorist. I consult on dog training and behavior cases and mainly focus on educating dog owners to understand the dog-human relationship. I own a Labrador Retriever, which I trained for scent work (bomb and drug detection), and have recently rescued a Golden Retriever who is currently in training. More than the certificate courses, it was the travel to Indian villages that taught me about how to own and take care of dogs. Not all education happens in classrooms, and dogs can be the ultimate teacher.