I have to say, you've done an impressive amount of work so far, and I really admire your determination and the effort you've put in to reach this stage of applying to top colleges abroad. That said, I feel your thoughts might be a bit all over the place right now—juggling both a Business Analytics program and a Marketing program in your plans.
If you've done a BBA from ICFAI Business School in India, it’s important to understand that you might not have the foundational elements required for a Business Analytics degree. That could make it quite challenging to target those programs successfully.
Now, about the MiM—if you have more than two years of work experience, it wouldn’t have been the right choice either, as you'd likely be overqualified. But an MSc in Marketing? That makes a lot of sense. Among the colleges you’ve mentioned, I think Imperial College is a great fit. Warwick is also a strong option, but let me suggest something you might not have considered: UCL has recently launched an MSc in Marketing program. It's an excellent choice and, honestly, better than Warwick in many ways.
NYU SPS is another good option, but there’s a catch—it’s not a STEM program. I’m not sure if you were aware of this, but it could be a significant issue if you’re planning to head to the U.S., especially as an Indian student. We've worked with students who went to NYU SPS for similar programs and later faced challenges because of this. So, it’s worth thinking twice about that option.
As for LSE, their marketing program does require a GMAT, which is something to keep in mind. For marketing overall, the best colleges to target would be Imperial, Warwick, UCL, and even King’s as a decent option. ESCP is another great choice—no GMAT required there. You can also look at NUS Marketing, which is excellent, or NTU Marketing, which is a solid program. ESSEC is another top-tier option worth considering.
At this stage, your focus needs to shift toward building a strong, compelling story for marketing. Without a GMAT, your application will need to stand out through your narrative. This means explaining the "why" behind your choices—why marketing, why this program, why now—and connecting it all to your personal and professional goals. A well-crafted story is crucial to make your profile memorable.
The key right now is to declutter your thoughts. If it helps, I’d be happy to have a quick session with you through Alconnect to help you figure things out. Once your goals and options are clear, the essays will be the most important step. Use them to clearly showcase your short- and long-term business goals, and tie them to your passion for marketing.
You’re on the right track—just stay focused and work on getting that clarity first. Everything else will fall into place.
Founder, Al-Connectkn1
Hi,
I would love to get some feedback on my profile as I look to apply for MSc in Business Analytics / Marketing programs:
Background: Graduated from ICFAI Business School, IFHE - BBA
Major - Business Administration; Took electives in digital marketing and supply chain management
Overall CGPA: 8.5/10
Have not given the GMAT / GRE - Honestly, at this point I am not sure if I have the time to, hence, I have dropped my plans of applying to ESCP's MiM program and other MiM programs which have a pre-requisite of giving the GMAT / GRE.
I gave the IELTS over 2 years back, and received an 8.0 overall. I am planning to give the IELTS again since obviously, my previous scores aren't valid as per the 2 year rule.
Work Ex: 2+ years experience at a global MNC as an Associate in the Marketing team
Internship: 6 months at 2 start-ups, one in the FinTech industry and another an online platform
Extra-curriculars:
Co-hosted an engaging panel for 200+ new joinees at my company, with the idea of fostering a more inclusive workplace culture
Volunteering:
Volunteered as a mentor for youth empowerment - providing career guidance, teaching essential transferable skills to students in government schools
Volunteered at an eye-screening camp for the staff at my office
Recommendations:
I can get one from my direct manager or the director of my org.
Schools I want to apply to: Imperial, Warwick, NYU SPS, LSE.
I will start working on my essays this week.
I'd love to get an insight on my chances on the profile and chances at the above universities or I am open to any suggestions / recommendations for courses / universities that you think would be a best fit for my profile.
Thanks in advance!