{"id":52839,"date":"2021-08-06T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=52839"},"modified":"2023-10-10T04:26:53","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T11:26:53","slug":"three-challenges-asian-applicants-must-overcome-when-applying-to-business-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/three-challenges-asian-applicants-must-overcome-when-applying-to-business-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Challenges Asian Applicants Must Overcome When Applying to Business School"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

One of my favorite times of the year when working at LBS was the recruitment and interview season. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend time traveling across Asia meeting prospective candidates and\u00a0interviewing applicants<\/a>. Aside from thoroughly enjoying my time exploring India, China, and Hong Kong over the years, I found these visits educational; I was able to gain a deeper insight into the motivations driving candidates across these countries, as well as the challenges they faced in applying to business school.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There\u2019s no denying that those applicants hailing from overrepresented nations face stiff competition. But that shouldn\u2019t be an excuse to throw in the towel and put off or cancel your b-school dream. What it does mean is that, as an applicant, you need to take time to consider possible pitfalls, along with the positives that can help you stand out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Challenge #1: Bigger pipeline of Indian and Chinese applicants<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The bad news<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

One of the challenges that Chinese and\u00a0Indian applicants\u00a0face when applying to business school is that the overall number of applicants from these countries is much larger relative to many other applicant pools and other international regions, particularly for\u00a0top U.S. business schools<\/a>. As a result, candidates from these countries compete against a larger pool, and acceptance rates tend to be lower for these demographics.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

But\u2026<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The good news<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Whether an MBA or a MiM,\u00a0business schools value diversity<\/a>. Diversity of opinion and experience (not just professional, but life experience, too) adds value to the depth of classroom discussions. It also requires students to consider perspectives different from their own and to understand how to work with those from different cultural and professional backgrounds. The business world isn\u2019t homogenous, and neither is the b-school environment that prepares students for work in the global world.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Challenge #2: Higher GMAT scores<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

According to GMAC\u2019s Geographic Trend Report (2018), GMAT scores of 700+ amongst citizens of East and Southeast Asian countries had a growth rate of 6.4% over a five-year period. And while mean scores out of China, India, South Korea, and Japan aren\u2019t the highest (in 2019 that prize went to New Zealand and Australia), these scores (on average) tend to be higher than for their counterparts from other countries, such as America. What does that mean for you as an applicant? In order to stand out among your \u201cpeer applicants,\u201d\u00a0your GMAT (or GRE) score<\/a>\u00a0has to be on par or higher than your competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Challenge #3: Lack of international experience<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Do top MBA programs like applicants with experience of collaborating with others from different cultures? Yes. Do adcoms like applicants who have put themselves in situations outside of their comfort zone (to use an overused phrase)? Yes. Do they require applicants to have done so in countries outside of their own? No. While applicants need not have studied abroad or worked in a foreign country, they must show a global mindset and awareness of the world around them. As an applicant, think about the diversity you\u2019ve encountered in your home country and how this has developed your worldview and values, and understanding of how to work with others with different backgrounds.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Here are a few considerations<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n