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In our Choosing the Best MBA Program for You<\/a> series, you\u2019ll learn how to create a list of business schools that are the best fit for your educational, social, and professional preferences and how creating this list will boost your chances of getting accepted.<\/em><\/p>\n In the last few posts in this series, we talked about identifying what\u2019s important to you in choosing an MBA program. Now it\u2019s time to determine what types and levels of MBA programs you\u2019re competitive and qualified for<\/a>, and what if any are out of reasonable reach. I use the following categories:<\/p>\n 1. Reasonable reach:<\/strong> Acceptance is not likely, but with a great application, is within reach.<\/p>\n 2. On-par:<\/strong> With a great app you\u2019ll have a solid chance of acceptance.<\/p>\n 3. Safety:<\/strong> You will likely be admitted if you present your case credibly.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a fourth category: out-of-reaches. Conceding the wisdom and validity of \u201cnever say never\u201d and \u201cnothing\u2019s impossible,\u201d there are still much, much better ways to spend your energy and time than applying to such schools.<\/p>\n Several factors determine your qualification for various levels of programs. Keep in mind that they all work together holistically.<\/p>\n 1. GPA and GMAT<\/strong><\/p>\n Let's start with the basics. How do your stats stack up versus the mid 75-80% of students in a given program? To be fundamentally qualified you\u2019ll want to be in the higher two-thirds of that range at least. If you\u2019re above or in the upper one-third of this range, you\u2019re competitive in this area. If you\u2019re in the middle third you\u2019re qualified, and if you\u2019re in the lower third or below, you\u2019re reaching.<\/p>\n 2. Work experience<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the next factor to consider, specifically, the quality of your experience<\/a>. The more competitive the MBA program, the more important it is to have strong and demonstrable advancement, impact, and leadership relative to your accomplished peers, regardless of your function, industry, or organization. Quality of work experience is a key factor in determining the level of program you would be competitive in; top tier programs turn down many applicants with near perfect stats who lack the requisite professional accomplishment.<\/p>\n 3. Diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n Being in an overrepresented or underrepresented industry, demographic group, or global region\/country will affect your competitiveness. Perhaps the largest overrepresented group<\/a> is Indians in technical fields, a group that also has relatively high average stats. Schools that might be reasonable reaches for others will be almost out of reach for many in this group. On the other hand, no matter how underrepresented you are, if the adcom doubts you can handle the program, you won\u2019t be admitted. As you can see, this factor influences what programs would be reasonable reaches, on-pars, and safeties.<\/p>\n Other Factors to Consider<\/strong><\/p>\n A myriad of other factors will also affect your qualification and competitiveness. Having fewer than three or more than eight years of work experience or already holding an MBA from another program usually makes you less competitive.<\/p>\n If you have an unconventional background, such as teaching or airline pilot, you face extra burdens in making your case. However, if you successfully make the case for your qualifications and need for an MBA, your non-traditional background may become a plus in this competitive process.<\/p>\n \u201cQualified\u201d means you meet the basic standards of a given program. You can be fully qualified but not competitive \u2013 this is exactly the problem that many excellent Indian IT applicants face. \u201cCompetitive\u201d is more nuanced; it encompasses the preferences and character of the program, the commonality or distinctiveness of your background, and even sometimes political and\/or economic trends and events. When you happily conclude that you are qualified for Columbia, don\u2019t forget to ask yourself whether you are also competitive there.<\/p>\n As you research and visit MBA programs, determine how qualified and<\/em> competitive you are for them.<\/p>\n You can significantly increase your chances of getting accepted by applying to the programs that are the best fit for your unique qualifications, goals, and preferences. Our MBA admissions consulting services<\/a> will provide you with the one-on-one guidance you need to submit the best MBA applications to the best MBA programs for YOU!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 MBA Action Plan<\/a>, a free guide![\"Get](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/CTA-Best-MBA-Program.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Cindy](\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/cindy.jpg\" "\\"Cindy")
<\/a><\/em>Cindy Tokumitsu<\/a>\u00a0has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too.\u00a0Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Business School Selectivity Index [Can I Get Into My Dream School?]<\/a>
\n\u2022 Different Dimensions of Diversity<\/a>, a podcast episode<\/p>\n