{"id":30959,"date":"2015-10-20T11:55:21","date_gmt":"2015-10-20T18:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2015\/10\/getting-into-a-top-mba-program-2\/"},"modified":"2015-10-20T11:55:21","modified_gmt":"2015-10-20T18:55:21","slug":"getting-into-a-top-mba-program-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/getting-into-a-top-mba-program-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Into a Top MBA Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Read<\/a><\/p>\n

Does your GMAT score meet elite business school standards?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A recent <\/span>Forbes<\/span><\/i> article titled \u201c<\/span>America\u2019s Best Business Schools<\/span><\/a>\u201d discussed the advantages of graduating from a top MBA program. There\u2019s no doubt that earning an elite business degree increases your earning potential and broadens your career choices. So, what can you do to increase your chances of getting into a highly ranked business school?<\/span><\/p>\n

Earn top MBA credentials<\/b><\/h4>\n

According to Kaplan\u2019s 2013 survey of admissions officers, the number one application killer for top MBA candidates is a low entrance exam score. The average GMAT score of matriculating students at the ten most elite U.S. business schools is 720\u2014and the average acceptance rate at those schools is only 16%. Keep in mind that most of the people spending the money and taking the time to apply consider themselves competitive applicants, yet only one in six actually gets accepted.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, even though a great GRE or GMAT score is essential to getting in, it\u2019s clearly not enough to secure yourself a spot. Your GPA also plays a big role. MBA gatekeepers often set thresholds for GMAT scores and GPAs; if your numbers fall below a certain point, schools won\u2019t even review the rest of your application. The sheer volume of applications means they have to draw the line somewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

The average GPA of those <\/span>accepted to top-ten MBA programs in 2013<\/span><\/a> was just under 3.6, a figure that has remained steady over a five-year period. If you\u2019re applying to B-school, chances are good that your GPA is already locked in. So, while it\u2019s also important, it\u2019s nonetheless a factor outside of your control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Master the application process<\/b><\/h4>\n

Let\u2019s go beyond the quantitative aspects of your application and talk about the ways in which those who receive that coveted \u201cfat envelope\u201d from top MBA programs separate themselves from the pack.<\/span><\/p>\n

One great way to treat the entire application process is as though you\u2019re a product and business schools are consumers. The admissions committee is out shopping for a couple hundred items and walks into a store with 2,000 on the shelf. How can you help ensure that you\u2019re one of the goods that they take home?<\/span><\/p>\n