{"id":38352,"date":"2017-07-23T06:00:58","date_gmt":"2017-07-23T13:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=38352"},"modified":"2017-07-23T01:57:53","modified_gmt":"2017-07-23T08:57:53","slug":"can-you-get-into-a-top-grad-school-if-you-didnt-attend-a-top-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/can-you-get-into-a-top-grad-school-if-you-didnt-attend-a-top-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Get Into a Top Grad School if You Didn’t Attend a Top University?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Get<\/a><\/p>\n

Abhishek from India recently asked on our blog what Indian applicants who graduated from undergraduate programs not among the elite Indian IIT\u2019s can do to gain acceptance to the top global MBA programs<\/a>. While Abhishek was particularly focused on Indian MBA aspirants, this question applies to all applicants who did not graduate from an elite university in their home country. Do the top programs only accept graduates from the top undergraduate schools?<\/p>\n

Abhishek and others from similar backgrounds need not be concerned solely with the name of their undergraduate institution. Plenty of alumni of non-IITs, U.S. state schools and programs outside of the top 5 in their home countries gain acceptance to the top MBA programs.<\/p>\n

Here are two ways to surmount the obstacle of a less renowned program on your resume:<\/p>\n

1. Demonstrate academic excellence on your own merit, not just by riding the coattails of your school\u2019s reputation.<\/strong> Instead of relying on the program name to prove your academic abilities, share other evidence of your intelligence and intellectual curiosity<\/a>. Did you take the most notoriously challenging courses? How did you challenge yourself and explore during your studies? Share evidence of your academic potential
\nsuch as academic awards, rank in your program and\/or nationally, research projects that you conducted and published, and certifications such as the CFA or FRM. Finally, a high GMAT or GRE score will also demonstrate your academic potential.<\/p>\n

2. Differentiate yourself so you are more than just an alumnus of your academic program in the admission committee\u2019s eyes.<\/strong> Were you a campus leader with significant impact<\/a> on student life? Have you passionately steered your career since graduating from your undergrad program? Have you led your company or its clients to tap new markets, chart a new course, or solve a relentless, pervasive problem? The impact you have been able to make on campus, in the workplace, in your industry, in your country or region will prove that you have EQ \u2013 a high emotional quotient \u2013 needed to lead people, shape teams, and guide senior management and clients.<\/p>\n

Harvard Business School shares the range of undergraduate programs<\/a> that recently-accepted applicants attended, including some lesser renowned Indian programs as Visveswaraiah Technological University, University of Poona, University of Bombay, Punjab Engineering College, Jadavpur University in addition to India\u2019s IITs, NITs, BITSes, and SRCC.<\/p>\n

So yes, Abhishek, non-IIT grads can make it to HBS and the other top MBA programs. Good luck with your applications!<\/p>\n

\"Get<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Jennifer<\/a><\/em>Jennifer Bloom<\/a> has been a consultant with Accepted for 17 years and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She is an expert at<\/i> crafting application materials that truly differentiate you from the rest of the driven applicant pool. If you would like help with your application, Jennifer can suggest a number of <\/i>options that work with any budget.\u00a0<\/i>Want Jennifer to help you get accepted? Click here!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n


\nRelated Resources:<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

\u2022 From Example to Exemplary<\/a>, a free guide to writing outstanding essays
\n\u2022 Different Dimensions of Diversity<\/a>, a podcast episode
\n\u2022 Stand Out! A Critical Goal for Your Application<\/a>, a podcast episode<\/p>\n

This article<\/a>\u00a0originally appeared on\u00a0<\/i>blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/i>get accepted<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Abhishek from India recently asked on our blog what Indian applicants who graduated from undergraduate programs not among the elite Indian IIT\u2019s can do to gain acceptance to the top…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,113,243],"tags":[829,911,2085,1338],"class_list":["post-38352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-diversity","tag-leadership-development","tag-mba-diversity","tag-top-mba-programs","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t\n