GMAT with experience

Question

I have 11 years working experience and want to go to gmat as experienced resource. Will I get good colleges in India for mba?
Has such a vast experience negative impact in college allotment?

Archit3110 · Answer

Sure you can secure admit
. Work on GMAT score..

dotsoftme · Answer

Having 11 years of experience is  not a negative , but it does change your "target" significantly. If you apply for a standard 2-year MBA, you will likely be considered "over-qualified," and the algorithm/admissions team may indeed penalize you.
However, for  Executive MBA (1-year full-time)  or  Modular MBA  programs in India, you are the ideal candidate. At 11 years, you are no longer competing with 24-year-old freshers; you are competing with mid-to-senior managers.
1. Will you get "good" colleges?
 Yes.  India has world-class programs specifically designed for your profile. In fact, many of these programs  require  a minimum of 5–10 years of experience.
 
  Top Tier (GMAT required): 
 
  IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX):  One of the most prestigious 1-year programs globally. The average experience is ~7–9 years, so you are slightly above average but well within the range. 
  ISB (PGP):  While the average is 4.5 years, they have a "Senior Executive" bucket. However, for 11+ years, their  PGPpro  or  PGPMAX  (for 10-15+ years) might be even better fits. 
  IIM Bangalore (EPGP) & IIM Calcutta (MBAEx):  Both are top-ranked and value candidates who can bring deep industry insights to class discussions.  
  
2. The "Vast Experience" Impact: Positive or Negative?
The impact depends entirely on  which program  you apply to.
    Program Type  
  Impact of 11 Years Exp.  
  Reason  
 
   Traditional 2-year MBA  (CAT-based) 
  Negative  
 These are geared toward younger students. You would be 10 years older than your peers, and companies hiring from these cohorts are looking for entry-level managers, not senior leads. 
 
   1-Year Executive MBA  (GMAT-based) 
  Highly Positive  
 These programs  crave  your experience. They look for "peer learning," where your 11 years of professional "war stories" add value to the classroom.

3. Your Competitive Advantage
At 11 years, the AdCom (Admissions Committee) will look past just your scores. They will focus on:
 
  Leadership Depth:  Have you managed teams or significant budgets? 
  Career Progression:  Have you been promoted, or have you done the same role for 11 years? (The latter is a red flag). 
  International/Cross-functional Exposure:  Since you're an engineer in BD, highlight how you "bridge the gap" between technical and business teams.  
4. Recommendation for Preparation
Since you've asked for honest advice on where to work hard:
 
  GMAT Score:  For IIM PGPX or ISB, aim for  700+ (Old GMAT)  or  655+ (GMAT Focus) . Because you have high experience, a strong score proves you still have the "academic stamina" to handle a rigorous curriculum. 
  The "Why Now" Essay:  This is your biggest hurdle. You must explain why you need an MBA  now  instead of 5 years ago. If you can’t answer this convincingly, the "immaturity" or "lack of direction" tag might stick. 
  Target the right "Tier":  Don't waste time on 2-year programs. Focus exclusively on  IIM A/B/C/L one-year programs, ISB, and XLRI (PGDM-GM).

kartickdey · Answer

I have a different query. I have also 11 years of job experience. Is it better for me to do executive MBA abroad or in India? Please suggest me.

EducationAisle · Answer

IIMs and ISB are two good colleges that are quite open to candidates with 10+ years of experience.

For these colleges, see if you can target a GMAT score of 675 or above.

GMAT with experience

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My Rewards

Program Type	Impact of 11 Years Exp.	Reason
Traditional 2-year MBA (CAT-based)	Negative	These are geared toward younger students. You would be 10 years older than your peers, and companies hiring from these cohorts are looking for entry-level managers, not senior leads.
1-Year Executive MBA (GMAT-based)	Highly Positive	These programs crave your experience. They look for "peer learning," where your 11 years of professional "war stories" add value to the classroom.