MBA Applications to top Business Schools typically have three deadlines – Round 1 in September, Round 2 in January, and Round 3 in March/April.
GMAT/GRE test scores, Essays (Written and Video - in some schools), and 1-2 recommendation letters from your supervisor (current/previous) are mandatory.
Ideally, give yourself 2-3 weeks before the deadline.
Complete the GMAT/GRE test before the schedule to give sufficient time to write the essays, coordinate the recommendation letters and complete the online application.
1) First Element of the MBA Application – GMAT/GRE
GMAT has four sections – Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), and Integrated Reasoning (IR). AWA and IR are not as consequential as your score in Verbal and Quant.
GRE test has Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections. Unlike the question types for GMAT that require understanding the concepts and the tricks used by test creators to misdirect the test takers, GRE is straightforward.
GMAT is not for those applicants who, despite two-three attempts, have been scoring in the 620 to 670 range and targeting top schools. A better strategy would be to pivot to GRE prep and attempt the test.
Recommendation Letters: Once your GMAT/GRE test score is available, start communicating with your supervisor – preferably a month before the deadline. This would give them sufficient time to schedule, take permission (if there are the strict guideline on emails from external providers) and write the letter. Help them with a guideline document like how we at F1GMAT do.
Experience: To apply to top schools, you need 3-5 years of minimum work experience. Anyone with less than three years of experience (join date) will be at a disadvantage for MBA admissions, as peer-to-peer learning is a big selling point for schools. There is limited value in accepting an applicant with fewer years of experience unless the person has acquired a diverse range of experiences.
GMAT and GPA: Your GPA, in undergraduate degree and or master's and GMAT/GRE score, is the first data point to validate your academic readiness for an MBA program.
A 3.4 GPA (See Top MBA - GMAT and GPA) and a GMAT score of 730 (Verbal>40 and Quant>47) are safe scores.
If your score falls below the ideal score, the next data point for Business Schools is your career growth.
Career Growth: The number of promotions, career transitions, the increase in responsibility (team size, budget, or project), and the story captured in the essay determine your admission chances.
How you write essays has a huge influence on your admission.
UK schools - LBS, Cambridge, Oxford, Strathclyde, and Warwick, are some of the top schools. See Top 10 MBA in UK - Salary & Fee.
US Schools – M7 or Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, Columbia, Kellogg, and MIT Sloan are some of the top schools. NYU Stern, Duke Fuqua, Tuck, Haas, Yale, and Darden are other top schools to explore in the US. See Top MBA in the US
Among the European Schools – IESE, SDA Bocconi, and HEC Paris stand out. Top MBA in Europe.
Experience: UK vs. Europe vs. US: For UK and European schools, 5-7 years of experience is the typical range, while US schools have 3-5 years of experience.
I hope you have a basic understanding of where to start.
1. GMAT/GRE Preparation
2. Business School Research – function, industry, and funding
3. Essay Writing and Coordinating Recommendation Letters
4. Online Application
5. Interviews
6. Acceptance/Funding
Reach out to me, Atul Jose – Founding Consultant (F1GMAT), for detailed career planning with F1GMAT's Career Planning Service (School Selection, Defining Post-MBA Goals, and Assistance with fund search) or for help with Essay Review (end-to-end support with resume editing, recommendation letter editing, and essay editing) or Essay Editing (only essays)
