Don't mean to scare anyone but I have been watching many international students graduate in the last year from Top 20 MBA programs. A number of the ones I have kept in touch had a hard time getting a job. For one reason or another ... they would get interviews and get opportunities but would not convert into a job offer. At the same time, that did not seem to be an issue for those admitted into Top 10. So what does it mean?
I have a Theory: Top 20 School vs. Top 40 with a scholarship - I would pick Top 40 for InternationalsIt is only a theory and I welcome rebuttals, comments, and objections as it will help us perfect it and in discussion get a clearer picture. Here is what I am basing it on and what caveats exist - feel free to disagree:
- A scholarship is a certain and a job after graduating is not. In the worst case scenario if you have to head back to your home country, it would be much better to go back with having spent $50K than $150K. With the latest immigration, things are probably looking better than worse for MBA grads, but only the time will tell. Right now, it is just all uncertain.
- Ranking of a school is important but more so is its class size. Large programs (they all tend to be top 10), enjoy large on campus recruiting events and a number of employers who attend on campus events. That's not the case for smaller 200 or 150 class programs. If you are not a part of a large class and a school with a machine-like career office, prepare to do the heavy lifting.
- Brand names and experience in International/US/well-known companies is very important, if you don't have it, prepare to be treated like a peasant (harsh reality). However, if you have a strong brand on your resume (Microsoft, FB, Google, etc - then you will be much better off with recruiting)
- Language skills are very important. If you have a heavy access and suck at speaking, you will have a hard time converting at interviews and connecting with potential employers. Your resume and fancy brand name can only take you so far. Do what you can to improve this area - it is a lot more important than accounting or strategy class when it gets to recruiting. Sign up for toast-masters, practice speaking, rehearse, and ask others for feedback. Improving your speaking/speech skills and networking are the two most critical items you can do while in BSchool. If you have great language command, then again, you are better positioned.
- Networking is critical if you are in a non 500-person class at Booth or Kellogg. If you are a quiet IT guy - you are SCREWED. OK, maybe you are a genius and you will get a technical job for your technical skills (in which case, MBA was not really helpful) but you really need to figure out how to improve your elevator pitch, how to schmooze, and how to build a network. Get a book, sign up with as many clubs as you can, pursue opportunities and do what you can to be engaged. This will definitely push your comfort zone but did you expect results without that?
- Most successful international applicants found their first job (hardest to get) through their internship. Internships are critical and it is absolutely important to do what you can to get a great one - do whatever it takes. I did not realize this and this is a mistake I've made by working at a startup during my summer.
- Aim for Schools in large Metro areas vs. small towns - e.g. Emory in Atlanta vs. Kelley in Bloomington or McCombs in Austin vs. UNC in Chapel Hill. Large metro areas have employers and jobs right there. It is easier to network, easier to connect, and easier to attend an interview. You will also be happier as an international student living in a large cosmopolitan city.
- A Top 20 vs. Top 40 - I am not sure how much difference in terms of the most important factor - career/job after graduation you will see as an international student. Even if you go Top 5 (or just read reviews of the top 5 bschools https://gmatclub.com/reviews/business_schools) you will see that most dissatisfaction people experience with other students. No matter how elite the program is, classmates seems to be the biggest complaint. People feel their classmates disappointed them. Second most disappointing area is professors - students at Booth and Wharton often comment how teacher assistants tend to do a better job at teaching than super-famous professors who really don't care about teaching basic finance classes to 27 year olds and would rather do research or theorize with their hedge fund friends.
This kind of turned into a list of tips but you get the pros and cons. If you are an average international applicant without strong brand names on your resume, not very outgoing, and with a Top 20 school in the middle of nowhere, you may want to reconsider a scholarship offer from a lesser ranked school $100K is a bit difference and even $70 is.
Important Clarification Note on bb's Terminology: Top 10 is any School that is ranked up to #14 - these are not the subject of the discussion
Top 20 is Schools ranked between #15 and #24 (Starting with Anderson and all the way to Marshall though odd that 2 LA schools define this bracket)
Top 30 is School ranked between #25 and #35
Top 40 is Schools ranked between #36 and #44
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Updated on: 13 Dec 2017, 23:19
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