Ask GyanOne MBA Admission Consultants - Top Bschool Applications

IE Business School: Why Should you Consider this Top European MBA?

IE Business School, ranked 12 as per FT Global MBA rankings, boasts of an extremely diverse class profile with students from more than 70+ nationalities. Udit Bhatnagar, a GyanOne client, looks forward to start his MBA journey at IE and explains his reasons to select this European MBA program, despite the ‘economic conditions’ in Europe.

What were you doing before the MBA and how did b-school come into the picture?
Before embarking on my MBA journey, I was working as a Senior Business Analyst at one of the largest banks in the Nordic region. Prior to this, I had a 7-year long career in application development at one of India’s software services giants. From being an application developer to a technology lead, from managing projects as a team leader to client management as an onsite coordinator, I have played diverse roles during my professional journey. I also gained international work experience of about 4 years and have worked with teams from several nationalities while living in Spain and Japan.

Due to the shift that I made in my profile, the decision to do an MBA felt natural to me. MBA at this stage will not only give a boost to my growth as a business analyst but will also allow me to have a holistic view of businesses. IE Business School

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FT Rankings 2016 Highlights: INSEAD is #1 and Much More!

The full-time INSEAD MBA program was ranked the best MBA program in the world in the latest released FT ranking 2016 for MBA programs. This is the first time in the history of the FT ranking that a 1-year program has been ranked at the top, above vaunted traditional 2-year options like MBA programs at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, and MIT Sloan. The business school for the world is now at the top of the world, at least in the FT MBA ranking.

FT MBA ranking 2016 – winners and losers
While INSEAD has moved from #4 in 2015 to #1 in 2016, there hasn’t been a big change in the positions of most other top schools, with the exception of Berkeley Haas (#10 to #7), Cambridge Judge (#13 to #10), and Kellogg (#14 to #11). Judge’s rise is notable, given the fact that Oxford Said, in many parameters similar to Judge, slipped 6 places to #28 from #22. INSEAD Ranked #1 in FT Ranking 2016

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The MBA Optional Essay – How to Approach and Tackle it

The MBA Optional Essay is a bit of an enigma to most MBA applicants when they first see it. For most people preparing their MBA applications, the other essays adequately cover the applicant’s career goals, reasons for choosing the relevant school, and key achievements and learning. The optional essay therefore presents an opportunity to provide yet more information, but in most cases, applicants are not clear about what exactly it should contain. As a result, many applicants tend to use this essay to provide random information, extend other essays, or make a further case for their candidature. This article attempts to remove the confusion underlying the content of the optional essay, and presents a few scenarios on how it should be used.

The MBA optional essay – what is it exactly?
In most cases, schools have only a singular purpose in mind when providing an optional essay – helping applicants to explain extenuating circumstances like career gaps, low academic performance, or frequent job switches. Typically, no other essay will provide an opportunity to discuss these aspects, so this is the applicant’s chance to provide an explanation for these topics. While these are suggested topics that the optional essay can address, the scope of the essay need not be limited to them. For example, some applicants also use this essay to discuss why they have not requested a recommendation from their direct supervisor. In principle, the optional essay is only supposed to discuss these extenuating reasons. The MBA Optional Essay

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MIT Sloan Fellows MBA – For Leaders Among Leaders

The MIT Sloan Fellows program is quite unlike any other masters program for business professionals out there. Why? Quite simply because there are very few full-time options for mid-career professionals looking at MBA equivalent programs or programs that give them advanced management skills. On the one hand, there are full-time MBA programs, which will consider applicants with 12+ years of experience as older applicants, while on the other there are Executive MBA programs, which are all part-time options.

The various flavors of the Sloan Fellows Program
While the Sloan Fellows Program originated at MIT Sloan, and still exists there, it is also offered by two other top schools in slightly different flavors. The Stanford MSx is the Stanford-equivalent, while the LBS Sloan Masters in Strategy and Leadership is the London Business School equivalent. While there are strong similarities between the three programs. Each of the programs is meant for senior executives, with 12+ years of experience behind them. already have MBA degrees and are pursuing a ‘second MBA‘ through the Sloan program, so to say. Each Sloan program emphasizes leadership and strategy, as executives at that level of experience have reached a position in their careers where both domains impact them significantly. Each Sloan program is 12-14 months long, and each is offered by a top school. While these similarities exist, the Sloan Fellows programs also differ from school to school. Not all Sloan applicants need to take the GMAT. Class sizes also vary, with the MIT Sloan program having a class size around twice that of the LBS program. MIT Sloan Fellows Programs

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MBA for Indian Army / Navy / Air Force veterans

An MBA after a life in the Indian armed forces (Army / Navy / Air Force) is something that many officers consider after they leave the military. Your operations and administration skills are far superior to those possessed by people in civilian life. After all, as an armed forces officer you are a natural leader – you have commanded large groups of men in difficult conditions, and handled many emergencies. Now, an MBA can help you to further add skills and business acumen that can make possible the attainment of better positions in business and professional life.

The importance of the MBA for Indian Army / Navy / Air Force veterans
You led a good life in the armed forces, but decided to leave due to personal reasons or to pursue other opportunities in the private sector. Right out of the armed forces, it is difficult to find positions that are high-paying and also leverage the considerable people and management skills that you have garnered so far in your career. An MBA can help. Here are some reasons why the MBA can be useful in your future professional endeavors...MBA for Indian Army / Navy / Air Force Veterans

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How to select recommenders for your MBA Applications?



What are some of the criteria that the candidate should keep in mind while selecting recommenders? Should the candidate manage the recommendation letter writing process? What are some of the best practices? The answer is that it is important to select someone who one has worked with rather than just go for the person with the highest designation who will still agree to write the recommendation. A lot of candidates feel that if they are able to get a recommendation from the CXO of their organization, their admission will be a foregone conclusion. MBA Recommendations, Failure Essays

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If You Are Planning to Start your MBA Applications, Read This Step-by-Step GUIDE



A strategy on how to prepare MBA applications is very important for any applicant planning to apply to MBA programs in top schools around the world. While planning for some of the initial steps might seem trivial – creating an online account and entering basic details – as one starts to get deeper into the application, one realizes that there are many other factors to be taken care of. How to choose recommenders for an MBA application, how to tackle different questions asked as part of the MBA application essays, and which deadline to apply for are some of the questions that applicants must tackle. In fact, some of the questions begin much before a candidate formally starts thinking of when and how to prepare MBA applications. GyanOne presents a list of some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help MBA applicants better prepare their MBA applications. How to Prepare MBA Application

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I recently gave my GMAT and scored 690. I have 5 years of workex in oil and gas sector as a mechanical design engineer. I have considerable on site experience and have been to Korea on a official business trip. Please guide which colleges should I apply to? Is isb possible at this score? Or should I go for a retake?

Posted from my mobile device

Hi Rajan

ISB is possible at this score, provided you put in a decent application. Selecting the other schools will require a deep dive into your profile as well as ascertaining your preferences, so request you to contact us directly on that.

You have definite strengths in your profile, including your work-ex (field experience in oil and gas is considered quite valuable by most B-schools) and your international experience and should definitely be leveraging these in your application(s).

Hope this helps and feel free to come back with more queries as needed.
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Is Financing your MBA a Worry? Read Ahead to Plan your Finances Well



The question of how to finance your MBA in USA can be one of your biggest worries even after getting the prized admission letter. With the top US MBA programs costing well in excess of $100,000, the decision to attend one is not just based on career needs but also financial resources. How can one get a loan? Where should one get the loan from – the USA or from one’s home country? Is a co-signer required? How long will it take to pay the loan back? All of these are questions that race through the minds of successful applicants, often dampening the celebration of having gotten the admission in the first place. For some, worry on how to finance your MBA in USA becomes a bigger issue than planning their career and deciding on how to make the most of the time they have. With proper planning and research, though, each of these concerns can be fully addressed. Funding your MBA is a critical part of deciding to go, so planning for it is important.How to Finance Your MBA in USA

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Got a Below 700 on the GMAT? Dont Worry, You can Still Apply to Top MBA Programs!



Have a low GMAT but high aspirations? Far too many MBA applicants think that this is an obvious mismatch, but it may not necessarily be! This still does not mean that the doors to all top MBA programs are open wide for you, but it does mean that not all doors are closed either! Over the years, we have seen (and fashioned!) many low GMAT MBA success stories. This post is our attempt to explain what may be the possibilities if you have a low GMAT score but are still aiming for the top programs.here are things that you can do with low GMAT scores and things you can’t. A score of 650 with an otherwise strong profile and excellent application might be good enough to even get you into schools that have 700+ GMAT averages....Low GMAT MBA Success Stories

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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5 of the Worst MBA Application Mistakes to Avoid!




Some of the worst mistakes are unintentional ones. More so when one speaks of MBA Application mistakes. For sure, everyone wants to seem the best that they can on each MBA application. However, in trying to improve things, a lack of understanding can sometimes lead to worsening them. In our effort to help MBA applicants understand the applications landscape better, we present here a list of commonly made MBA application mistakes. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but these are some very common mistakes nevertheless, and also things that we regularly advise our clients against doing. The mistakes listed here are not in any order of importance – each is equally important to understand and avoid. MBA Application Mistakes

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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Are you Working in McKinsey Knowledge Center (McKC), Bain Capability Center (BCC), Boston Consulting Group Research (BCG Research), The Smart Cube, Analysys Mason, or Corporate Executive Board (CEB)? Then Read This Before You Think About an MBA

Business professionals working at research organizations such as McKinsey Knowledge Center (McKC), Bain Capability Center (BCC), Boston Consulting Group Research (BCG Research), The Smart Cube, Analysys Mason, and Corporate Executive Board (CEB) often start to consider an MBA after 3-4 years in their roles. Many of them have met with strong success in the past, getting to top global programs like Wharton, Kellogg, and Tuck, while others have made it to top Asian and Indian schools like ISB, IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX), and NUS Singapore. What strengths can business professionals leverage?

The MBA for business research professionals – recommended
Business research and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) jobs are often seen to be the younger cousins of more glamorous and prestigious consulting positions. That need not necessarily be the right picture. Some time back, many business research units were soon only as back-office support for main business units within organizations. Today, they have come into their own, and are being valued as strategic entities providing valuable research and services to both internal and external clients. Some research firms are, and have always been, independent research houses, and provide quasi-consulting services to their clients. The value of business research is more understood now than it has ever been. MBA for Business Research

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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Round 1 or Round 2? When Should You Apply?




Applying in Round 1 vs Applying in Round 2. MBA candidates often struggle with this question. Which option increases the chances of being accepted to an MBA program? The answer to this one is a bit complicated, but read it through to understand it completely. A strong candidate will have an equally good chance in either round. However, and this is important, this should not mean delaying an application till the last possible moment to keep fine tuning it. While it is a mistake to rush to meet a deadline if is not ready, it is just as bad to push applications...How to Prepare MBA Application

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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All You Wanted to Know About the Best MBA programs in Analytics

Almost every MBA program today has a course or two focusing on Big Data and Analytics. However, a few schools lead the pack in terms of offering deeper study, more courses, and even majors in the area of Analytics. Increasingly, more schools are investing in Business Analytics and developing the capability for research and teaching in the area. The Economist mentions that Yale, Wharton, and Kelley have all invested in creating research centers focusing on Big Data, and they are not the only ones. For example, HEC Paris has teamed up with IBM to offer two new courses focusing on Analytics.

Opportunities across sectors
Before Analytics and Big Data became a phenomenon, there was just one sector that attracted professionals from across industries – Consulting. Now, whether you have a background in Finance or in Marketing, HR, or Operations, you can find positions that will value your skills in the broad domain of Analytics.

Analytics is big business – and big business is using Analytics
Large firms across sectors today have Data Analysis / Big Data divisions specifically looking only at the numbers. From large retailers (Target, Tesco, Walmart), to Financial Services firms (all big banks, capital markets firms, insurance firms), Consulting firms (Strategy, Operations, and....Analytics MBA Programs and Opportunities
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Indian IT Male?? So Which MBA Should You Choose?

This post assumes that as an IT professional looking to add business skills to your profile, you would be interested in taking up a specialization / major / focus area related to Information Technology or Information Systems. There are a few people who may be exceptions to this notion, and for them the B-school world is wide open as there selection criteria will depend on a number of factors not related to IT.

Which will it be – IT or IS?
For those focusing on IT or IS, it is important to be able to draw out a distinction between the two up-front. While IT will focus on the operational aspects of technology (such as service delivery, product design, and project management), IS will focus on the use of information technology as a business services tool (think CRM, ERP, business analytics, and MIS). No school really offers both concentrations, and courses offered within the ambit of one area (i.e. either IT or IS) may well overlap with the definition of another area. The two areas can, and often do, feed into fairly different positions post the program, so it is important to be able to distinguish between them and match one’s interests to each closely. Indian IT Male MBA Applicants

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Best MBA in Singapore: INSEAD, NUS, Nanyang, SMU

Which is the Best MBA in Singapore? Is it the prestigious INSEAD, the much-vaulted NUS, its perceived lesser cousin Nanyang (or NTU, as some refer to it), or the fast emerging SMU? For MBA applicants who would like to explore the potential of Asia, there are few programs that have the pan-Asian appeal of MBA programs in Singapore. The city itself is known as Asia’s hub for business, and almost every multi-national business organization that operates in Asia has an office (and in most cases, its regional HQ) in Singapore. Whether it is financial services, energy, FMCG, or consulting, you will find top employers from each sector based in Singapore. No wonder, then, that MBA aspirants look to the city, and its MBA programs, with much interest.



What do the Singapore MBA rankings not indicate?
The rankings don’t really speak about how difficult it may be to get in. Average GMAT scores, as indicated by class profiles, can sometimes lead to more confusion than clarity. Best MBA in Singapore

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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Apply for MBA Without Work Experience: Here's How

The HBS 2+2 is one of the few early admit MBAs around the world. Think of top MBA programs which allow applicants to be part of the admissions process right after college, and one thinks primarily of two programs – the Harvard 2+2 and the ISB YLP. Contrary to popular perception, there are other such programs as well.

Choosing between the early admit MBA and the Masters in Management
These programs are excellent options for students with a strong interest in management and business, and who wish to take up business leadership positions. They present an alternative to MASTERS IN MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, but vary in the nature of the program as well as the admissions process. While Masters in Management programs enroll applicants with little or no work experience, early admission MBA programs require applicants to put in 2-3 years of work experience and then enroll for the regular MBA. Both are excellent options, but might vary a bit in terms of career goals and professional aspirations of typical applicants. The Harvard 2+2 and the ISB YLP

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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Should You Retake the GMAT? When and Why?

Have a low GMAT but high aspirations? Far too many MBA applicants think that this is an obvious mismatch, but it may not necessarily be! This still does not mean that the doors to all top MBA programs are open wide for you, but it does mean that not all doors are closed either! Over the years, we have seen (and fashioned!) many low GMAT MBA success stories. This post is our attempt to explain what may be the possibilities if you have a low GMAT score but are still aiming for the top programs.




What does a low GMAT MBA aspiration really mean?
We think it is important to set the context here. How is a low GMAT score really defined? For some people, a GMAT score below 700 is too low. For others, that figure is 650 or even lower. The truth is, your GMAT score is low or high in relation to the programs...Low GMAT MBA Success Stories

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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An MBA vs MiM / Master in Management: Which is Better?

An MBA or a Masters in Management? This is a question that almost every college senior comes across at some point of the application process when deciding on the future. The dilemma is clear: MBA v/s Masters in Management is essentially about whether one should one opt for the Masters in Management immediately after the undergraduate program or wait for a few years to apply for the MBA (For those wondering if there are any options to go for an MBA right after college, the answer is YES – see this post for more details).



Outside the early entry options to top MBA programs, applicants therefore have two clear options – an MiM now or an MBA later. The confusion at this stage really stems from wondering whether the MiM is good enough to be a final degree and will substitute well enough for the MBA. Here are some points comparing the two programs (MiM v/s MBA) to give applicants....MBA v/s Masters in Management

This post was first published on the GyanOne Blog
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