Harvard MBA? Stanford GSB? MIT Sloan? Maybe INSEAD or the London Business School? If you have decided that doing an MBA is the right next step towards your professional growth, the next question that immediately pops up is from which school? Yes, everyone wants to go to the M7 top US MBA programs or the top business schools in Europe. But getting into the right school is something that needs to b considered, way beyond the rankings.

The business school application process is quite overwhelming. It can be confusing for many applicants where to start. Here, are some tips on how to navigate the first stage of applying to business school – researching your options.

  • Identify first, what you want from the business school: Self-reflection and introspection are the keys to understanding your goals. Almost all schools are interested to know -why do you want to pursue an MBA? So you should have a solid story behind your motivation and a lot of clarity. Think about your past, your current situation, and your plans. How does an MBA fit into these phases in your life? And what would you want a business school to offer to you, as part of your MBA experience? The schools are interested to know the applicants and what they are passionate about.
  • Next, try to think about what business schools may want from you: Business schools, too, have certain criteria surrounding the kind of candidate they are looking for. So, after you have established what you’re bringing to the table and why you want this degree at this time, you have to learn about the programs. MBA is like a give-and-take kind of curriculum. While it is good to have an objective scaling of where your credentials stand, you should also consider what kind of impact your candidature can bring about to the program. Also, compare your profile with the class profile- like average GMAT scores, GPAs, and other stats to understand fitment. It’s nice you dream about Harvard, but your 500 GMAT score, one year of professional experience, and low GPA might not be enough.
  • Networking: You will hear “Networking is very important” time and time again in your entire MBA journey. This starts way before your applications. Reach out to people in your circle (family members, friends, or colleagues) who went to a business school. Gathering information and advice can provide valuable insight into the MBA experience at different schools. Also, LinkedIn is a powerful tool to connect with alumni and current students for gaining insider perspectives. School ambassadors can help you with questions and if possible try doing a school tour too. Talking to students, alumni, and professors not only helps you to understand more about the school; it also gives confidence to schools that you are serious about your MBA 😊. Another way to do networking is by attending Events organized by companies such as GMAC, Access MBA, QS, etc. that connect schools and prospective students. You can also attend webinars and information sessions by signing up for the school’s newsletters and be updated.
  • Employment Opportunities: one of the key purposes of getting a top-ranked MBA degree, is to achieve your career aspiration. Learn about the recruiters who come to campus and the types of jobs and salaries graduates snag. Try getting answers to the following points: What kind of companies appear on the placement drives, how many students have they recruited in the recent past, have the numbers stayed consistent, or better, grown, are there any independent employment reports that shed light on recruiter perceptions of the MBA program, how do the employment trends reflect the services provided by the program, etc. You can find most of the information in career service profiles, which are often available on business school sites or in rankings packages.
  • B School Logistics: Other practical and important factors to be considered are: tuition cost, program location, international exposure, student activities, cost of living, scholarship opportunity, etc. For instance, a lot of students may want to choose the USA for its history of pioneering MBA education, networking opportunities with worthy employers from desirable companies, and the relative ease of securing a working permit, under OPT. On the other hand, a shorter MBA program in the EU or the UK might be more economical and just as financially rewarding.

ARINGO has helped hundreds of applicants to get into their dream business school. Contact us today to take the first step toward your MBA application: https://aringo.com/mba-process-registration/