How To Prepare For The Best MBA Schools In The World

Do you wish to study at a crème-de-la-crème business school? What if we told you that academic performance is a significant but not the only factor that MBA admission officers consider? According to MBA admissions officers, the top MBA schools are looking for students they can turn into business leaders. So, you need leadership skills, and your professional track record should demonstrate meaningful contributions to all the organizations you’ve worked for. You must ensure you tick off the following to-dos to stand the best chance of getting admitted to one of the world’s best MBA schools:

1. Evaluate yourself and understand if an MBA is a right choice for you
   Review your academic performance, professional background, and personal qualities to understand if an MBA is the right choice for you. Getting into a top MBA school will tax you due to the time and effort involved.

2. Shortlist the right business schools 
   When you have a goal, it is best to be clear about your target. You’ll better know the most suitable MBA school by speaking to experts and doing extensive research. Go through MBA schools in the top 5, Top 15, Top 25 & Top 40 MBA schools worldwide. Ideally, there should be a mix of ambitious, moderate, and safe schools in your shortlist, and the shortlist should not have more than six MBA schools.

3. Work hard to get the test scores required to get into these schools 
   After shortlisting universities, you’ll have a clearer idea of the target GMAT score. Although a score of more than 700 shall be enough to get into most schools, it is best you list out the score needed for all of your shortlisted MBA schools.
   You can prepare for GMAT by solving as many mock tests as possible. The latest editions of Official Guide for GMAT, Magoosh GMAT, Manhattan Prep, Princeton Review, etc., are the most popular books for this purpose. You may enroll in coaching classes if you have a hard time sticking with a study schedule.

4. Write an MBA essay 
   Depending on the number of MBA schools you plan to apply to, you may want to finish writing MBA essays well before the deadline for application submission. You should take your time to write the essays as you are supposed to convince the MBA school about how you are eligible to be admitted into the MBA school.
   You must be very specific about your purpose in pursuing studies at a particular MBA school. So, you must create a unique MBA essay for each school to which you apply. To craft an effective essay, you need to do in-depth research on the MBA school and highlight the points where you fit the bill. And you shouldn’t focus only on academics and professional work.
   If you have any hobbies or interests outside of your professional life, you may use them to your advantage. For instance, if you have run a marathon in the recent past, you may talk briefly about that and indicate that you are a determined and disciplined leader. To stand out from the crowd, you must focus on the “why” for pursuing an MBA from a top school. You may also get help from MBA admission consultants and essay-editing services.

5. Get Letters of Recommendation from current/previous colleagues 
   You should submit Letters of Recommendation from people who you’ve worked closely with and who can vouch for you. The LORs must either try to reiterate the values covered in your MBA essays or talk about things not mentioned in the essay and the resume.

6. Prepare thoroughly for the MBA Interview 
   You can never be completely prepared for an MBA interview because sometimes it may become technical. At the same time, in other cases, it may be about puzzles or even general knowledge!
   To ensure you give it your best shot, study everything you’ve submitted in your application (essay, resume, etc.) in detail. This will put you in a good position to answer any questions related to your application. Just like solving mock tests for GMAT preparation, you may want to have several dry runs of interviews with family, friends, or neutrals.

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