Applying while pursuing MBA at a different college?

Question

hi All,

I have, what I promise would be, one of the wierdest questions you've answered.

I would be applying to a number of b-schools this year. I have around 5 years of workex in I-Banks tech, with half of it in foreign countries(US and Asia). I have a good GMAT(750+), good TOEFL(115), good undergrad grades(top 10% of college) and average extra currics.

Now here's the twist. Sometime this year, I had to leave my job and relocate to India(my home country) from elsewhere due to unavoidable circumstances at home. Since I didn't want a big gaping hole in my career, I decided to take up an MBA course from one of the top 5 colleges in India alongwith my family responsibilities. Now that everything's stable at home, I want to pursue my lifelong dream of studying from a global MBA school, either in US or Asia.

However, I'm concerned that leaving my current MBA midway might negatively impact my application. Will it, and if yes, any help on how this can be tackled?

Yours truly,
crazydude123

Ducksworth · Answer

Are you studying your MBA full time?

crazydude123 · Answer

Yes, a 2 year course, of which I've completed around 5 months till now

aerien · Answer

Some schools allow you to apply when you already have an MBA degree, provided you have good reasoning for getting a second MBA. However, I am unaware of schools that let you transfer into their MBA program.

The way I see it, you can either complete the program you're in now and apply to a US program in a few years (if you still think you need it) or leave your current program and use your past coursework as an alternative transcript for your upcoming applications.

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ManhattanReview · Answer

First of all, this is not such a strange question. We frequently get calls from candidates who started an MBA program at one school and decide that it is not right for them and they want to change course. However, since MBA programs do not accept transfers, it means starting over again.

Your case has a lot of unique circumstances surrounding it and at the time pursuing an MBA at this school in India seemed like the right path to take. My biggest concern for you when applying to international programs, especially those in the United States, would be providing a convincing argument that it would be best for you to stop your current program and then re-start at a new school. To sell this, you would have to come up with compelling reasons like lack of diversity in your class, no elective course offerings in your targeted post-MBA industry, a life situation that has you needing to live in the city where the school is located, etc. The case has to be compelling and clear and cannot speak of simply defaulting into your current program due to not wanting to have a large gap on your resume.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant 
Manhattan Review

crazydude123 · Answer

@aerien: i was planning to pursue the 2nd option. Can you please elaborate more on what alternative transcript means?

@ManhattanReview: thanks, got it. So the argument needs to be compelling enough! In terms of essays, One of the colleges has a question, why start MBA now? How do i weave in my story here, or do I leave it out of this question? Also, where in the application do I mention my current academics? Basically, what I'm trying to ask is, where do I mention this scenario, in NUS application as im starting off with that.

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aerien · Answer

Most people use an alternative transcript to show Adcoms they have the academic/quantitative abilities to make it in bschool (aka making up for a low undergrad GPA). Others use it to show their interest in business, especially when people are coming from non-traditional backgrounds and/or have little past experience in business.

You can use the courses you're taking now as a way to show your academic ability (hopefully you've done well!) and in your interest in getting an MBA. Perhaps one of your courses inspired your career trajectory or an extracurricular activity -- this could turn into an essay topic or at the very least, something to speak to in an interview.

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Admissionado · Answer

I think the best direction to take is the head-on one. You are already in an MBA program, you will need to inform the new program about that and why, and you might as well "come clean" with them. I don't think you need to mention anything regarding your grades, after all you want to leave your program, so aren't you invalidating their worth anyhow? But like mentioned above, the most important thing is to have a very very good story about why you want to leave and why their school is so much better for you and you for it.

herrytaillor · Answer

if anybody know plz tell me which college is best for MBA???

Applying while pursuing MBA at a different college?

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