Retake?

A Ph.D. candidate is a cost center; Whereas an MBA candidate is a profit center for a B-School. When the profit centers don't work at their best then the natural tendency is to cut down on costs. Hence I said many schools may not admit Ph.D. students next year and the ones that will do might decrease the number of Ph.D. vacancies and therefore the applicants might face increased competition. An obvious way to eliminate candidates at the first stage is the GMAT score. Generally, before the covid19 situation, the required GMAT score for Ph.D. applicants had increased to 700+ for most schools. Given the aforesaid increased competition, I advised him to improve the score to 720+ so that his profile is not eliminated in the first stage itself.

Anyways, I hope the situation becomes normal and I am proved wrong but as of now things don't look so good.

What are your thoughts on increased competition for emba programs in india due to covid ? Gmat scores need to be boosted ? What's the scenario going to be like for next year admissions ?

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I am not sure how the EMBA admissions (I am assuming the top 3 IIM's and ISB) will span out next year. However, I don't see competition to increase next year as an MBA student is a profit center. Given the uncertainty, many might NOT prefer to leave their secured jobs and embark on a high-cost MBA program during economic slowdown. However, it's too early to comment. Maybe we will have more clarity in the coming 6 months as to how things are playing out and then we will be in a better position to understand the situation and its impact on EMBA admissions.

All the best!

EMBA in India is already competitive but in Indian context. Certainly, from the global perspective, the thought is that competition will increase but there are other factors too that affect MBA intake in these kind of times. Manish is right in saying PhD being a cost center and MBA being a profit center. PhDs are hired by very few companies who have established R&D centers so demand is not that much - relative to undergraduate/graduates - an unfortunate harsh reality. But COVID-19 situation is unique so what normally happens in slowdown is not necessarily going to happen now. Generalising it also doesn't helps since no one knows how things would pan out. Again, B Schools can't bump GMAT Score as it happens by itself OR rather, it's not undergraduate admissions where eligibility scores keep getting bumped.

So, if poster thinks he/she can bump the score, he/she should definitely do it. There is no harm in that. Ultimately, if someone is entering the industry he/she needs to prove the skills not educational qualification, which authenticates/boosts the skills otherwise. One of my entrepreneur PhD friend is into patents/database but he hardly gets clients in India. So, a lot depends on what as an applicant you want from PhD/MBA, which now comes to applications.

Lastly, average/median salary in India is not going to increase because of situation Indian economy is going through or likely recovery it would have.

Above is in Indian context only.

Seems that you want to apply for PhD in accounting in India? I think 700 or above is usually a competitive score for a PhD.

You should go and chat with the current, relevant PhD students. Know what their score was and what they did for the application

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Thank you for the explanation.

I guess I better prepare for retake ASAP

Wish me luck

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I want to take Phd in US

I am not aiming at HBS or those ivy school.

My preferred choice of school is Kelley since it has a professor whose interest aligns with mine.


Anyway thanks for the advice.

Good decision, all the best for your retake!

Imo, I don't think 2022 intake is more competitive then the preceding years. Recession (or perhaps depression) is knocking on the door and people don't know how long it will last.