Applying to the Best Business Graduate Schools
Applications for enrollment to the best business graduate schools is on the rise. Because of the economic crisis (maybe), the change in life styles (women working more than ever, and higher educational levels of the once less educated minorities) many of the top business colleges and schools are calling for applicants to flock to graduate programs, sometimes even straight after finishing their under-graduate majors.
The registrars offices of University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Harvard Business School, University of Wales, or Kellogg are not the only ones being flooded with applications for admissions from all over the world.
Just look at the number of candidates taking the GMAT this year: 270 000. The flip side of things is that for the first time ever, applicants from outside the USA outnumber those from inside.
European top business schools do not scape this craze. Esade, IE, and the likes are steaming with applications for enrollment to their best graduate MBA programs.
However, and inspite of the large number of applicants (being reeled in by top schools themselves), MBA admission requirements anywhere are getting harder.
What do top business graduate colleges and schools pay attention to?
Applicants should pay more attention to the quality of their application and not so much to the quantity of candidates at any given point.
Admissions comittees treat every application individually and give more weight to a solid academic background, strong and relevant work experience, how much you can contribute to the overall quality of the clasess, and a very clear mission statement on your part in regards as to what you expect to gain from your graduate MBA training.
These factors above are totally under your control and they will determine how well assessed you will be as a candidate.
Tips for making enrollment to the best graduate schools easier for you.
1-Do not pay attention to the number of applicants. If you know, feel, or think that a particular MBA graduate program is the one for you, and that you have what it takes, both academically & professionally as well as personally, then just go for it.
2- If several of the best business schools MBA courses fit the profile you are looking for, then try to approach those that give you better chances of getting in based on your nationality, gender, race, or industry sector. Admissions comittees always aim to create well-rounded classes that ponder the diverseness in skills, talents, leadership abilities, backgrounds, personalities and other features students offer.
3- Prepare each admission pre-requisite as if you were the ONLY applicant. There is not a universal definition for “business skills”, business schools cluster each of their classes looking at one applicant at a time.
A condecorated female fire marshall most probably would not be competing for the same seat in an MBA graduate program with a young manager from a bank in Boston. Or an international applicant from an oil company in Venezuela would not be competing with a system analist from London.
Each person’s history, achievements, capability, mission statement, and potencial contribution to the class is different. So, each one is assessed separately.
You should also assess each school separately. Certain schools have a strong alumni presence in a city, region, country or in a particularly industry or sector. If you know where you want to end up, then it will be easier to find the path (b-school) to get there.
So how do I get in?
In conclusion, you stand better chances of being admitted to the best MBA graduate programs if you can manage not to think in terms of quantity but of quality. In other words, ignore how many people are applying for the same MBA program you are and focus on the quality of your application.
Pay attention to your undergraduate GPA, GMAT scores, and race/gender/industrial sector. Each school will assess each of these differently, so you need to find out which is your strongest point and approach those schools which put more weight there. Finally, make sure you can express clearly and in writing the following:
1- what you expect to gain from the MBA, if you were accepted, and
2- how you can contribute with creating a well rounded class. This basically means: what is your competitive advantage and why they should pick you. Just like a job interview.
Quality, not quantity. Good luck and go for it.
