An astounding number of students aspire to do their MBA abroad and have many queries related to it. The levels of awareness vary significantly, betting on wherever they are in this race. Some have done a little analysis – within the areas of colleges, entrance tests, essays, and records – but not enough to produce a whole image.  

Then some are somewhere midway within the method (‘I’ve got a GMAT score, now what?’). There’s also a section that wishes a confirmation if they are heading in the right direction.  

This simple question can be troublesome to answer. Some aspects that’ll assist you in addressing the ‘why MBA‘ query. Scrutinize your current situation and assess objectives like what’s sensible and what’s missing. Is it cash, job satisfaction, growth prospects, unmanageable employment, stress, or international prospect? Expand this list to support your situation. 

H2 Tag: What does it take to get Accepted into the Top Business Schools? 

1 Leadership skills 

Business schools are designed to prepare students to thrive in the business world; therefore, these schools seek students with the leadership skills necessary to succeed in business. 

2 Marketable skills 

Can you think out of the box to come up with creative solutions? It is an essential quality to possess when solving business problems and leading organizations. Top B-schools are looking for candidates who can make an impact after they graduate. They assess whether a student is a willing team player who can collaborate on group projects and has strong communication skills. 

3 Self-awareness 

Every MBA applicant has strengths and weaknesses in the admissions profile, so the best course of action for any applicant is to acknowledge weaknesses and explain how the business school would help them grow in their career. 

4 Non-academic Accomplishments 

A Resume is a critical aspect of the MBA application for any candidate. It works as evidence that a student has done high-quality work. Extensive community service gets you to have a diverse set of networks that can help you stand out. 

5 Managerial Abilities 

Soft and problem-solving skills are important for MBA admissions. Beyond good grades, top MBA programs are looking for students who demonstrate initiative. It can also be a social impact. Ask yourself these questions, are you passionate about a cause? Have you led any significant change in your region to make a difference?  

Which business school should I apply to? 

Take some time out to do the research rather than relying on others to give you quick business school recommendations. Identify your strengths and weakness in the academic, professional, and personal dimensions. 

A Tip: Study the websites of a few schools listed in the rankings. Financial Times, Business Week, and Economist Intelligence Unit are good starting points for the same.  

BUSINESS SCHOOL	AVERAGE GMAT	AVERAGE GPA  (UG)	AVERAGE WORK EXPERIENCE	U.S. NEWS BUSINESS SCHOOL RANK
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)	733	3.60	60 Months	1st (rank)
University of Chicago (Booth) (IL)	730	3.54	63 Months	1st (rank)
Northwestern University (Kellogg) (IL)	727	3.70	59 Months	3rd (rank)
Stanford University (CA)	738	3.78	58 Months	3rd (rank)
Harvard University (MA)	727	3.69	60 Months	5th (rank)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)	728	3.60	60 Months	5th (rank)
Yale University (CT)	726	3.67	53 Months	7th (rank)
Columbia University (NY)	732	3.50	63 Months	8th (rank)
University of California—Berkeley (Haas)	726	3.67	66 Months	8th (rank)
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor (Ross)	722	3.53	64 Months	10th (rank)

Entrance Exam 

Top B-school will consider evaluating a student’s test scores and grades with the student’s history of making meaningful contributions to the organizations. Also, the work experience and the impact of your work on the company.  

1 GMAT/ GRE Preparation 

A golden rule of thumb- the higher, the better. If you have a decent score, you could get this out of the way and focus on the other aspects of the application.  

Tools that can help you: 

• Self-study: Textbooks like Kaplan, Princeton Review, MBA In A Book, and Manhattan are the best in the market out there for MBA preparations. Also, apart from the textbooks, several websites will help you brush up on your verbal/quant concepts. 

• Coaching classes: Comparatively a more expensive option. But it might help in adding structure and discipline to the process. You can also try online coaching, which offers flexibility and access to some of the best material on the market. 

2 TOEFL/ IELTS Preparation 

It’s an international standardized test for English language proficiency for non-native speakers. 

Tools that can help you: 

• Online course: Enroll in the English language course that can prepare you for IELTS or TOEFL. Check which language test is required for admission as it may vary per university. 

• Language Test Waiver: If you can show that you’ve completed your education in an institution where the medium of instruction was English, you might get a waiver in some B-schools.  

Necessary Requirements for MBA 

Essays 

You can expect to write 15-20 different essays as each school that you apply to will have its own set of essays. But you may see overlaps across many schools as the essays tend to be around similar themes (motivation for applying to b-schools, identification of strengths/weaknesses). 

Professional Accomplishments 

There is a critical difference between a good and a successful application. You can prove your academic and professional achievements through your resume, which can act as evidence of your quality of work. Relevant Coursera classes, Certified Public Accountant, or Certified Financial Analyst credentials are also a bonus in an MBA application. 

LORs 

You may ask to get two letters of recommendation. You can get one from people who know your capabilities and another from those who can vouch for you. It could be a manager you worked with recently, and the higher the designation of the recommender, the better. 

Interviews 

Study your application thoroughly, and think about what you’ve written in your essays and resume. Seek any leading questions that you can predict and work on those responses. Ask your friend or colleague to review your application and ask you questions. Sometimes it can get a bit technical, so be ready with the case studies, general knowledge topics, and even puzzles. 

Conclusion 

Thoughtful application essays, significant professional accomplishments, and meaningful extracurricular activities can make a difference in the MBA admissions process. Excellence in any mentioned areas could compensate for a lack in a candidate’s GPA, test score, or work history.  

Try relevant Coursera courses to improve your knowledge and skills required in the field. Work experience in Data Analytics or any analytical job profile, as such, can give you an upper hand.