{"id":18925,"date":"2013-06-06T11:50:23","date_gmt":"2013-06-06T18:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=18925"},"modified":"2013-06-06T11:52:34","modified_gmt":"2013-06-06T18:52:34","slug":"against-the-odds-indian-mba-applicants-should-take-a-look-at-fit-then-brand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/against-the-odds-indian-mba-applicants-should-take-a-look-at-fit-then-brand\/","title":{"rendered":"Against the Odds: Indian MBA Applicants Should Take a Look at Fit, then Brand"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Which-Brand-is-The-Best-Fit-\"<\/a>This is the second post in our new blog series <\/em>Against the Odds: MBA Admissions for Indian Applicants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Close your eyes and name the top two MBA programs that come to mind.<\/p>\n

Bet I can guess which ones you picked. Harvard<\/a> and Stanford<\/a> right?<\/p>\n

Harvard boasts former US presidents, CEOs of JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs and business tycoons like Ratan Tata who cut their teeth on its famed case study curriculum. Stanford has produced tech giants like Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla, and these days, a bounteous crop of start ups nurtured by Silicon Valley investors with money to burn. They both enjoy a world-famous brand and attract recruiters in droves.<\/p>\n

Family pressure and internal ambition may mean limiting your choice to only a handful of the world\u2019s most famous MBA brands. But what you really need to ask yourself is \u2013 what brand is the best fit for me<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Return on investment<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, you need to think about the return on investment for your time \u2013 both pre- and post-MBA.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll have limited hours to put together a stellar application \u2013 time shaved off from sleep, leisure, and away from family and friends \u2013 so put it to optimal use, not into a pipe dream. Beyond studying for the GMAT, you need to reserve time for researching programs, networking with current students or alumni and writing essays tailored to each school. Don\u2019t apply to a dream school just give it a shot. Apply to the right schools to get in.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also be taking 2 years off from the work force and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on tuition. Carefully weigh whether your MBA path will lead you to make up these lost earnings quickly \u2013 that doesn\u2019t always mean one of the top two or three ranked schools, according to this excerpt<\/a> from AOL Jobs:<\/p>\n

At Notre Dame's Mendoza School<\/a>, last year's MBA graduates landed average salaries that exceeded their pre-MBA pay by 149 percent. At the University of Minnesota's Carlson School, the increase was 132.2 percent, and at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School<\/a>, it was 122.2 percent, and these numbers exclude starting bonuses and other bennies that are often handed out to MBAs when hired.<\/p>\n

Bottom line<\/em> \u2013 take the time to look beyond the brand to the stats. You may uncover some pleasant surprises.<\/p>\n

Know how you fit the stats<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a nosebleed GMAT score (740 or above), solid GPA, work experience at a known feeder firm or entrepreneurial venture, and a robust extracurricular leadership role you may beat the 7 percent acceptance rate<\/a> at Stanford or the cut of 1 of 10 to become Harvard bound. But if you lack in one of the above criteria, especially if you belong to the overrepresented pool of Indian applicants<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to realistically expand your options.<\/p>\n

Bottom line<\/em> \u2013 you should place above the average GMAT and GPA scores to consider an MBA program a good fit. Otherwise it\u2019s a reach school, and other factors from your background will need to compensate.<\/p>\n

Career interest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carefully review your target schools\u2019 career placement data. You may be surprised that the company you\u2019re interested in working for recruits elsewhere besides Harvard and Stanford. With a little extra effort or travel on your part you can land an internship or job in a top market.<\/p>\n

This MIT student<\/a> gained a spot at top consulting firm BCG in Chicago \u2013 the heartland of US manufacturing. This Cornell Johnson student<\/a> won a place at Accenture consulting.<\/p>\n

This Darden student<\/a> says he\u2019d have no problem landing a position at a top consulting firm outside Virginia. This Duke student<\/a> landed an i-banking job in New York, and she said the one-hour flight worked to her advantage.<\/p>\n

Bottom line<\/em> \u2013 do your research now for where you\u2019d like to work when you graduate. The recruiting season starts almost immediately when you arrive on campus. The specific niches and location of an MBA program may appeal to you more once you scratch below the surface.<\/p>\n

Location and Size<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you a bright lights, big city kind of gal? Are you the type of guy who wants personal attention, after attending a big university where you were just a number?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s essential that you evaluate the fit and feel of your MBA picks before plunging in. New York, London or Boston may seem exciting, but as this Darden student shares<\/a>, sometimes smaller class sizes in smaller cities mean better bonds between batchmates, professors and alumni.<\/p>\n

You may already have an established network or family ties to a specific city. Perhaps there\u2019s a strong religious or immigrant community that you or your spouse can tap into to help feel more at home as you transition into your new life. Maybe this city is the hub of your preferred industry.<\/p>\n

Bottom line<\/em> \u2013 if you can visit campus before applying, do so. Just because it looks good on a website or on a business card, doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the best fit for you. You\u2019ll be spending two years of your life at this school, and it\u2019s the launch pad for your future. Make sure it\u2019s a great fit.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned for more posts in this upcoming series \u2026<\/p>\n

- Speak to your audience (in their language)<\/em><\/p>\n

- Find a way to pay<\/em><\/p>\n

- Prepare for your job hunt now \u2026 at home or abroad, what\u2019s best<\/em><\/p>\n


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