Want To Pursue An MBA Abroad? Learn About The Application Process And Booster Tips To Fulfil Your Dream

MBA is one of the most lucrative career options for Indian students. The program provides various perks such as career advancement, quality of education, improved leadership qualities and a better package. Many students want to pursue an MBA abroad, but they are not sure of the application process and find it difficult to stand out from the competitive crowd.

Unlike Indian B-schools, foreign schools emphasize more on the candidate’s work experience and his/her contribution to the company’s success. They look for entrepreneurial spirit, leadership qualities, excellent communication skills and uniqueness of the candidate’s profile. Many Indian students apply for the top foreign B-schools, thus making it quite difficult for candidates to set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd. To ace, the selection process, let’s first look at the top colleges and the application process for a foreign MBA.

Top Countries for an MBA abroad

As an Indian Student, you can have a variety of options at your disposal for an MBA. You might prefer one education destination to another due to various factors like location, the standard of living, economy, wide scope, living expenses, better career prospects, etc. Here, we provide you with a list to give you an idea about the countries that international students prefer to do an MBA from. 

MBA programme preferences of International Students

All of the top colleges across these countries offer ample opportunities for growth, learning and placements. It's up to you to decide which country to select based on various parameters like growth, average salary, offered courses, job prospects, internship opportunities, etc.

Top-Ranked Business schools across the globe

Studying at a top B-school is every MBA aspirant’s dream. But there are gazillions of B-schools across the globe. So, it’s imperative to research and find the best B-schools in the world. Seems an intimidating task? Don’t worry, we make your task easier. We provide you with a ranking list prepared by QS Global MBA 2021 rankings to give you a fair idea about the top B-schools to target.

1. Stanford Graduate Business School
2. Penn(Wharton)
3. MIT(Sloan)
4. Harvard Business School
5. HEC Paris
6. INSEAD(Paris, Singapore, France)
7. London Business School
8. Columbia Business School
9. IE Business School
10. UC Berkeley(Haas)

Also Read: HBS And Stanford: Ace MBA Interview With These Expert Tips

Application Overview for an MBA abroad

The application process can seem complicated for beginners. But actually, it’s not that difficult. We provide you with a step-wise process to completely apply for an MBA abroad.

1. Select the desired college and specialization: 

Choose which MBA specialization and college that you feel caters to your requirements and profile.

 2. Choose the mode of education (online/offline):

Decide on the mode of education ie. Whether you prefer online classes via virtual meetings or the offline mode via physically attending the campus.

 3. Prepare your transcripts of records: 

Make sure to prepare official transcripts as proof of your previous studies and achievements.

 4. Take GMAT scores seriously

GMAT and GRE scores play a significant role in the MBA admission process. GMAT is the most widely used and trusted indicator of academic success in MBA.So, make sure to give those tests properly with full preparation and try to score as much as you can.

5. Prepare a good resume

A good resume is paramount to a candidate’s selection. A diverse resume with different aspects like leadership qualities, participation in sports events, competitions and other extra-circular activities will surely help. For making a good resume, you can read our article.

6. Write an MBA essay

An MBA essay is like a projection of yourself on paper. Better the projection, the better are your chances of selection. Despite this fact, many applicants with a good GMAT score and work experience tend to write the essay at the very end, thus resulting in a poor projection of themselves. Candidates should not take this part lightly as it is the heart of the application process. 

 7. Have Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters are professional endorsements that better your chances of selection. Make sure you connect with the right people for their recommendations and give them sufficient time to reply to your request. Also, check for the format that your university may require for a recommendation letter. 

 8. English Test Scores

For non-native English speakers, you would be required to showcase your English proficiency through several accepted tests such as TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic. Make sure to check the tests that your desired university accepts and the cutoff scores a well.

9. Prepare for the admission interview

Interviews play a crucial role in the MBA admission process. They help the B-schools to gauge your communication and stress management competencies. 

 10. Keep track of deadlines

Lastly, make sure to track the application form and interview deadlines as you won’t want to miss out on those crucial dates!

To maximize your chances, you should perform excellently in the high weightage areas of the application process. GMAT score has the maximum weightage(16%) followed by essay(15%) and interview(12%). 

Source: e-gmat

Additionally, as an undergraduate student, try to participate in events and competitions that you find interesting, alongside try to maintain a good GPA as it has a significant weightage(10%). If you’re a working professional, then highlight the qualities and skills in the interview that you gained while working for a particular company.

Booster tips for an MBA abroad!

We provide you with tips from an Indian IT engineer, Aakash Borwankar, who is an author and MBA candidate at UW Foster School of Business '23. His story relates with many of you and we see his learnings to help you ace the process and stand out from the competitive crowd.

1. Firstly, have clarity on your post-MBA goals as it also reflects in your MBA essays and resumes. Being confident in your decision helps you to perform excellently in the interviews and the interviewers can also see your inclination towards the MBA programme.
2. Apply to colleges that provide opportunities that relate to your goals and ambitions.
3. Be realistic in your application interviews and essays. Being honest helped Aakash a lot as he applied to colleges as per his preferences and interests. 
4. Brainstorming for the essays is essential. Don’t leave essays for the very last moment as it can get stressful for you and will affect your performance.
5. Talk with current students and alums to better understand what the colleges have to offer.

Finally, the key to ace the application process lies in understanding the process thoroughly and being realistic in your application process as Aakash suggested. Having a holistic profile coupled with the right attitude will surely help you to sail through the process and secure an admit to the coveted B-school.

You might also be interested in reading:

1. Salary trends for Post-MBA Professionals: How is the Gender Pay Gap widening? 
2. MBA Aspirants Willing to Travel Abroad for Work, Prefer In-Person Learning
3. ISB Invites Applications For Fellow Programme In Management (FPM) 
4. The fastest method to learn a foreign language if you are planning to study abroad
5. Which business school should I choose, Stanford, Harvard or IIM Ahmedabad?