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Planning Your MBA Admissions Process

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By QS Contributor Updated Sep 03, 2014
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Approach the MBA process with a plan.
Get MBA admissions advice at the World MBA Tour

Zoya Zaitseva from the QS World MBA Tour answers questions about the world's biggest international MBA fairs. The questions were sent in by respondents from all around the world.

Question: What is a real difference between European and US MBA? What are the reasons to choose each of them?

We all have different reasons for choosing the schools. Somebody doesn't want to travel too far and prefers to study in Europe; others need guaranteed loans and apply to top American business schools only. I would put it this way: if you want to be able to work in the US, Europe or any other part of the world, American schools would be your choice. It is much more challenging to find a good job in States after a European or Asian business schools (but I am not saying it is impossible).Most of the American schools offer two-year programs; students are a bit younger than in Europe. At the same time, there are two-year program in Europe and one year programs in States.

Question: Do the top schools have seats for applicants from different counties? If I'm a Filipino and 25 years old, is that diverse enough for the admissions committee from the top 10 schools?

Being just, a Filipino and 25 years old, might not be good enough. Think of yourself as of the candidate who needs to get in, but stands out. You will be competing with hundreds of international candidates from around the world, so your age and nationality is not what you sell. Before you start working on your application package, write down five-six selling points that make you different from other candidates. While working on your essays or getting ready for the interview always remember these points and prove your uniqueness in all possible ways, not just by the ethnic background.

Question: I wish to know more about the application process. What could I do to successfully enroll in a renowned business school, which offers a specialization in Marketing? Furthermore, it has been my dream to attend Harvard Business School but coming from an African background, I face some financial difficulties. What are my chances for them to offer me a considerable scholarship that could cover at least 3/4 of my tuition fees?

You can read more about the application process in the MBA Admissions sub-section of the topmba.com web site.

There is also a very good article there - Making your application work - I think it would help you. As for the business schools, if you think about marketing Harvard wouldn't be the first choice for this major. It is a great brand, but there are other schools that are stronger in this particular specialization. Check topmba.com/scorecard to see what I mean. Scholarships are rather limited in the MBA world, but at the same time there are millions of dollars of unclaimed scholarships so please do your homework and study the web for the opportunities. QS World MBA Tour offers over $1M in scholarships, schools do it every year on need-based or merit-based grounds; independent providers are there for you: myrichuncle.com, fastweb.com, etc. In the US most of the top business schools will be also able to provide you with the loan, which is also a great option for an MBA candidate.

Question: I am a 28 yr old male from India, with not bad GPA, 740 GMAT, a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, 2.5 yrs post-degree experience and 10 yrs experience overall, presently an assistant manager in a BPO (an outsourcing unit in the servic

Thank you for providing such thorough information about your background. Everything looks rather impressive, but it is just a half of what you need before starting choosing the schools and getting ready for the application. The second half should consist of your short- and long-term career goals. Why do you want to do an MBA? What do you want to do? Where do you want to be in 5-10 years? What do you want to focus on during and after studies? What is your budget, and do you need a loan? Which companies you would like to work for? Or maybe you'd rather start your own business? After you have all these questions answered, you will see that the choice of school won't be just (top 15), but those 15 that match your criteria. For example, thinking about an entrepreneurial career you may think not just about Stanford or IE, but also Babson. Regarding working in technology and developing your German you may consider ESMT (which otherwise will be out of your top 15 list, am I right?) If you want to work in the States, I would suggest considering the US schools only as it is rather challenging to find a job with a non-American MBA degree there. Try topmba.com/scorecard - it will be able to help you narrow down your school selection. Just make sure that you know what you want from the MBA in advance.

Question: I have passed 5 CIMA papers too and am now taking exams for 3 managerial papers. Should I continue my study in CIMA or turn to the MBA?

Definitely continue your CIMA studies as it is different from MBA and additional certificates or qualifications are always good. Ideally you need to create an application calendar for yourself: when do you want to start the classes (year/season), when do you want to take the GMAT if you need to, how much time you need for the preparation, etc. It would help you to organize the time and set your priorities right.

Question: My friend is a graduate engineer with 3 years experience in IT as a software engineer. She is interested in pursuing an MBA that focuses on Quality and Industrial Engineering. Please suggest B-schools with these combinations that attract a good

This is not the most common major, to be honest. Also depends upon the countries that your friend would like to consider. There is an Industrial Management Institute in Asia; the Tagliatela College of Engineering that offers Industrial Engineering Dual Degree Program (MBA./MSIE) in the University of New Heaven, Boston, and many more. 

This is an endless discussion in the MBA world if entrepreneurs need an MBA at all! From my point of view, there are a lot of useful things you can learn from the business school and great network you obtain (not just your classmates, but the whole alumni community). Make sure that you select the schools that are good with start-ups and entrepreneurial projects. Stanford, Babson, Chicago, IE Business School, etc. - don't look at the generic rankings; find the schools that match your goals!

Question: If I want to stop being an employee and start my own business, which Executive MBA is the best choice for me?

Executive MBA programs are actually not that great for career switchers. Why not do an Executive MBA while you are still working and then set up your own business? The school will give you not just knowledge and tools, but also a fantastic network that might generate new ideas for your career future. If you plan to combine work and study, check out modular MBA programs. For the candidates located in Central Europe or ex-USSR countries something like one week every two months works better than every second weekend in London. Chicago GSB in London, INSEAD in Paris, IMD in Lausanne, Duke-Goethe in Frankfurt, IESE in Barcelona - this is not the full list of the modular MBA programs that you may consider. IE Business School in Spain and Ashridge in the UK are good in entrepreneurship, check them out, too.

Question: I am considering a career change at age 43 - have a BBA from William and Mary in Virginia. Am I too old to consider a traditional MBA - should I be looking at executive programs only? I want to move from the financial industry (trading) to alter

You are right - 43 y/o is a bit different from the average MBA student age, which would be about 28-29 in States. But there are always exceptions - I know a couple of people who received their MBA diplomas from Columbia, MIT, Chicago and other top schools being 41, 44 and 45 accordingly. So it is never too late. Talking about your career switch, I would suggest talking to the BP people. They have a Helios Fellowship that might be rather interesting for you.

Question: I have good school and college background and can get LoRs (letters of recommendation) from both my deans. However, when it comes to an LoR from my workplace, my client, who is a senior project manager, is one difficult fellow who might give me

Which one of your prospective recommenders has wider experience with you and had a chance to observe you in a team environment or stressful situations when you had to demonstrate your leaderships skills, creativity, problem solving talents, etc? I mean, the recommendation is not about the title, but about how well the recommender actually knows you. A good LoR from a client with whom you've been working for over a year will be better than a great LoR from a team lead who has known you for just a couple of months. Besides, you can always balance good recommendation with great essays - just tell about what you think would be missing in the recommendation there.

Question: I'm 25, with 7 years of experience (5 managerial) and a BBA. I am running a Greek Private Equity Investment Fund in Ukraine, targeting high GMAT & TOEFL scores. Could leading European/ UK B-schools such as Ashridge or IE consider me for their Ex

I'm sure you have good chances for IE. Not sure about Ashridge though - mainly because of the age: 40% of the class is 36-40 y/o and only 16% are 26-30 y/o. But of course you may try - there are always exceptions, in every class. I would suggest Duke Cross Continent as an option; it is a modular program with full-time class profile.

Question: What textbooks would you recommend me for preparation for the GMAT test and does their choice depend on the universities I intend to apply for - namely the ones in Tilburg, Amsterdam and Rotterdam in Netherlands?

GMAT is an international test, so it doesn't matter which schools you want to apply to. There are a lot of books on the market; the most popular are ones by Kaplan, Princeton Review, Barron's, Manhattan Review, Arco, The Official Guides and many more. 

Question: I don't have a degree but could a GMAT score above 700 ad 10 yrs supervisory experience with a big railway company can help in getting admission to good UK MBA schools?

Usually the schools ask for the first degree, either BS or MS, so I am not sure you will be able accepted to the top business schools. But if you have a good explanation why you think you still qualify (had a lot of training, executive education, non-degree studies, etc.) I would suggest you put this all into the optional essay you will have in every application.

Question: I got 570 in GMAT, AWA-5, have had a very good academic career and am working as analyst in India in a US MNC. Will I be able to get thru top 25 b-schools?

It is not just about the grades or tests, but it is also about your personality and potential. It is impossible to answer based on the information you are giving, but my answer will be always 'you never know until you try'. Maybe you can balance your modest GMAT score with some great extracurricular activities or fantastic deals. But in general if you have a look at any of the top 25 world's business schools you will see that the average GMAT would be usually not lower than 650, so it might be a good idea for you to try and pass the test again, aiming at better results. Schools appreciate the effort, and as they would see your last three results (hopefully progressing) they'll take it into consideration.

Question: Does one have to study a lot of maths before going for the MBA test? What are the preparations one has to make?

It depends upon your level of math; everything is very individual. You can check it in advance with the help of numerous GMAT online preparation web sites. Or you can also download a GMAC official program called GMAT Test Prep that would give you a taste of a real test. Based on the results you will be able to decide if you need to devote much time to math specifically or can focus on the generic test preparation.

Question: I am 25, an Indian IT professional with 3 yrs experience and also work for an NGO on weekends. What are few things that you would suggest to make one's profile stronger?

I believe there is much more about you than just two sentences. If you plan to apply in a couple of years and believe that your professional background is already quite strong try to use this time to improve your extracurricular activities. Schools want to see not just super business professionals in their classes, but also interesting personalities that will contribute to the social life while on campus. Sports, non-profit activities, and teaching kids - somehow the candidates forget about this and focus on their business profiles too much. You need to show your personality, not just the CV.

Question: I am thinking of getting a full time MBA. I have a Diploma in Geography and I have been running my parents' company for the last three years. Since I am lacking in business knowledge, the idea of an MBA came up. The problem is I've never really

I wouldn't say that you lack business experience - running a family business is a great experience and sometimes you have more responsibilities than average manager in a big company. As for the recommendation letters, you are right - you can't get it from your family members, but how about your clients or partners? During these three years you've been definitely building some great business relationships, so feel free to ask those who know you as a successful businessperson to write a letter for you. You can comment on your choice of the recommenders in the optional essays.

Question: I'd like to know what the necessary admission procedures are for MIT Sloan

You can check the description of the application process on the MIT Sloan web site. The requirements are standard for the top schools: essays, recommendation letters, transcripts, and the application itself. Please, bear in mind that MIT has rather early deadlines: usually early November and early January. Make sure you don't miss them! If you want to apply this fall to start your classes next year, you can already check out the essay topics and work on your GMAT. Though MIT doesn't have any minimum GMAT restrictions and studies every application on case-by-case bases, you have to consider that average GMAT score in Sloan is 700-710. So I would suggest that you focus on these two time-consuming issues as soon as possible.

Question: I'm interested in an MBA at LBS London. How should I plan my entrance?

As you can imagine, it is not enough information about you to give any suggestions. On what stage of your career are now at? How many years of work experience do you have? Why do you want to do an MBA in LBS, and not at, say, Cranfield, or an MS in LBS? Have you already taken a GMAT test? When do you want to start your studies? and many more questions.... But in general - start from the beginning. GMAT, essays and recommendation letters are those parts of the application that would require a lot of time. So test yourself with the Power Prep or any other online GMAT test, study the essay topics LBS has on their web site; think of the people you can ask for the recommendation letters.

Question: I am living in London and wanted to get admission in London Business School. I have an MBA from an American university. How can I do it? I don't have much in the way of resources as well.

I am not sure schools would understand why you want to have one more MBA degree if you already have one (unless it was from a very low-profile not accredited school). But the attitude differs from school to school, so I would suggest first checking out the web sites of those schools that you want to apply to (not just LBS as it is always better to have a couple of alternatives so that you don't lose a year in case you are not accepted to your dream school). Checks the web site, the application package, ask the admissions directors. But before this make sure you can clearly explain why you are not happy with your first MBA degree and why you want to have another one from that particular school. If the admissions officer doesn't tell you that they can't accept you because of the first MBA diploma, just follow the regular application steps.

Question: What would be your personal advice about the best European/UK EMBA program?

Depends upon where are you based, how flexible you are in terms of the traveling, your background and career goals. There are a lot of strong Executive MBA programs in Europe - European, joint international, American, so it is up to you which one you pick up. From my previous experience I can say that the candidates from Russia and Ukraine usually prefer modular programs that allow them to travel for not more than six weeks a year or so (except for IMD). Here are some of the Executive MBA programs that you may consider: Chicago GSB - London, IESE, INSEAD, IMD, TRIUM, One MBA, LBS/Columbia and LBS Executive MBA, Duke Fuqua, IE Business School.

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