NUS Singapore: Do you have an Asian MBA college on your list?
Written by Sameer Kamat
For Indian MBA applicants who’ve spent a bomb on business schools – MBA applications, GMAT preparation, exorbitant tuition fees and living expenses – there’s still no guarantee that they’ll get a dream job at the end. For international candidates it’s been tough to get jobs in US and now UK seems to be making it equally tough with their new immigration laws. So what does that leave us with? Asia!
There may not be too many top-notch internationally competitive business schools (in relative brand power, compared to the US and Europe) in Asia, but the few that make the list are forces to reckon with. Take the MBA at the National University of Singapore (NUS) for instance. The Financial Times’ Global Ranking places it at the 23rd rank. But that’s not the impressive part. What’s more interesting, specially when you are an international candidate, is your probability of getting a job when you graduate (for most of us, roti, kapda & makaan have a higher priority than rankings).
NUS claims to have placed 93% of its graduating batch within 3 months of completing the MBA. Not too shabby, naa? The other parameter that they highlight on their website is the growth in post-MBA salaries. In a 3 year period, on an average their graduates increased their salaries by 140%. That means if you had a salary of (say) $10,000 before your MBA, three years after you get your photo clicked in a black graduation gown with a funny looking square hat placed precariously on your head, you’ll most probably be raking in $24,000. Add or substract a few zeroes from that equation depending on your current salary.
Good RoI for the relatively modest investment you’d make.
So what’s the catch? With the NUS brand, you won’t get the same jaw dropping reactions that brands like Harvard, Wharton, INSEAD, LBS can get you. If your long term plans are to continue working in Asia, it might be a program worth considering.
And in case, you are wondering, no we were not approached by NUS to write this post. No tie-ups or commercial incentives from any business schools. These are the MCB team’s opinions.
Any current students or applicants of NUS Singapore (or any other Asian business school) out there who’d care to share their views?
Read this interview with Alex Chua, from the NUS Singapore MBA Admissions Office. He explains what the Bschool looks for in potential candidates.
Cambridge University's MBA Director, Dr Jochen Runde, recommends the bestselling book Beyond The MBA Hype as 'required reading for anyone contemplating an MBA at an international business school.'
Get your copy from Flipkart & join thousands of readers who've shattered the hype.
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Hi Sameer
I am currently working for Accenture Services Pvt Ltd and working onshore – Toronto , Canada.
I am a part of accenture team from last 3.5 yrs .
I plan to do a MBA in consulting management or executive MBA , also i wish to get admission this year .
Can you please advice about the Admission procedure , fees and the last dates on which colleges accept the application form.
Appreciate your help here
Shweta
As usual, a good post!!
Can we get some NUS alumni to write about their experience!
Hi Shweta,
Most top schools will need a GMAT score. So you could start reading up about how the test is structured and start preparing for it ASAP.
If you are targeting classes starting in Sept 2012 (it’s too late for Sept ’11 batches), you could take the GMAT in the next 2-3 months. Once you have a solid GMAT score, you could select schools based on your profile and then start working on the essays/recos.
We’ve got some stuff on this site to get you started. Check out the MBA primer section on the right and then follow it up with more indepth research on individual schools. Also read this:
http://www.mbacrystalball.com/get-into-the-top-mba-programs.html
If you need help at any point in the process, you could sign up with us for online GMAT course (by Knewton), school selection, application strategy, essay editing etc as you go along.
Good luck.
Hi Sameer,
I’ll be completing my engineering in June this year, I’ve got job offer from Deloitte US.
I plan to do an MBA in future & from an Indian institute, probably ISB or SP Jain…what do you suggest???
Abhisheck,
Congrats on the Deloitte offer!
From what you’ve shared, seems like a relatively straight-forward story:
Complete engineering –> Join Deloitte –> Consider MBA in a few years.
So I’m not sure what suggestions you are hoping for.
Happy to share my thoughts if you can be more specific, buddy.
Hi Sameer,
i m a engineering grad and passed in year 2010..then i worked for around 7 months and quit the job due to some personal reasons…then i wished to go for mba..this year i gave cat exam and dint do well..now plz suggest something as i m on the verge of lossing my career..!!!
Aditya,
Sorry to hear about the unfortunate events.
You don’t need to view the CAT result as a make or a break milestone in your life. Lakhs of candidates take the test and thousands of deserving guys don’t get a seat at the top Indian insitutes.
If the personal issues that caused the break have been dealt with, your best bet would be to get back to work. You were able to get a job on the basis of your engineering degree. So you have a good qualification that you can use to get another job.
If you have the interest, you can take the CAT again next year. Or continue working for a few years and then think about an overseas MBA.
Hi Sameer,
I am working for an IT major and have my MS from US University. I have around 5.5 yrs of work exp, but with a break of around 1 yr (during recession). What are my chances of getting in B School? Please reply.
Thanks
Deepa,
Tough to speak about chances when I don’t know much about your profile, your essay writing/interviewing skills and your overall MBA application strategy.
But if you are concerned about the break, then don’t be. Approach it in a structured manner.
- Step 1: First of all, choose the right post MBA career goals
- Step 2: Next, choose the right MBA program that fits your profile and your career goals.
- Step 3: Do a good job in explaining what makes you a good fit for that school. Address the key concerns. Here are some MBA essay tips to manage career breaks.