What is considered as an "overrepresented pool of applicants"

Question

Hello Experts,

Although this is not a evaluation request, I'm pondering upon what is considered as an "overrepresented pool of applicants" when it comes to applying to top MIM programs worldwide.

I know for a fact that "INDIAN Male IT Engineers" are considered one, but that's for MBA. I wonder what is it when it comes to MIM.

PS: Do I fall in that category? Me- Indian, Male, 20, Business Administration. 
PPS: If yes, tips for applying in terms of which round to apply to would be appreciated!

Thank you in advance!!

yashikaaggarwal · Answer

I also come from a Business Administration background.
Our bachelor's doesn't make us come from an over-represented pool, freshers joining masters as soon as they are done with bachelor's might be seen as one. 
But then almost 60% of students do MIM/MSc just after their bachelor's, so no one is exactly under the over-represented pool. What can make you unique is your experience - Work or extracurricular, your GPA, Volunteering Experience, etc.

You are selling your profile. So in place of worrying about being over or under-represented, strengthen your profile in any way you can. There is no such over and under-represented stats for Masters except for those who are looking for a career change. 
Regarding which round to choose, R1 is always beneficial, but if you think you could work on your profile better till R2, R2 won't be a deal-breaker either.

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dvfin · Answer

I'm no expert but based on my research, one of the most important criterion is nationality, followed by educational and professional background.
If you check any class profile, one of the first things they mention is the number of nationalities in that particular class.

To maintain diversity, AdComms do not want too many people of the same nationality or background in one class.
So people from India or China for example will always have more competition than someone from say Azerbaijan or Mongolia.

So yes, you do fall in that category both because of your nationality being over-represented and your educational background being very similar to a lot of MiM applicants. But being over-represented is nothing a stellar profile has to worry about, so focus on building your profile and standing out. All the best!

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  Aarya20 ,

An over represented pool would refer to the kind of applicants who are most likely to apply - basis geography, background, and gender. When it comes to an MiM, this is not going to very clear because most students will be coming straight after completing their undergrad degree. Therefore, one should focus on differentiating his or her case from other applicants in whichever way possible. Again, do not over think this, just focus on putting your candidature forth in the best way possible.

All the best!

What is considered as an "overrepresented pool of applicants"

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