What does it take to get into the world’s best MBA programs? The easy answer is, build a superstar profile, ace the GMAT/GRE, nail your essays and interviews. Easier said than done, especially when you don’t already have a shiny profile.
Over 15 years, MBA Crystal Ball has been helping applicants get into the toughest business schools all over the world. These include the American M7 MBA programs & ivy leagues, European E7 and elite schools in India (ISB, IIMs).
We have published many of these individual stories on our blog. These go deep and way beyond the typical testimonials you see on admission consultant websites. We do this so applicant can understand the strategy and psychology of success.
But is there a pattern across the narratives? That’s what we wanted to find out. So we dug into hundreds of our success stories, that include applicants from diverse backgrounds. This includes diversity across test scores, qualifications (engineering, commerce, CA), career backgrounds (tech, finance, consulting, non-profit, performing arts), geography (USA, Europe, Asia, Canada) and programs (M7, T20, T50).
And we found some clear and interesting trends.
One clear trend we’ve seen over the years is that it’s getting increasingly difficult for Indian applicants to get into the top league. Which means, what worked a decade back (e.g. obscenely high test scores) aren’t sufficient to tilt the scales. But there are traits that have stood the test of time. Here are the top ones.
Trends & patterns across MBA success stories
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1. Strategic profile optimisation
Those who started their MBA prep journey a couple of years before the year of application, were better placed for success. This includes folks who took the GMAT 1-2 years earlier and had enough time to get to their target scores for their dream schools It also includes candidates who worked on profile building to identify and fix the shortcomings in their profile.
- M7 admit reveals GMAT profile building plan and MBA application strategy
- Profile building for second MBA after IIM: M7 (Kellogg) admit with scholarship
Those who were late to join the party (included those who found success eventually) had a tougher and more stressful ride.
2. Storytelling over numbers
Numbers (GPA, test scores) are important, no doubt. But there are numerous cases where applicants with low GMAT scores and low GPA managed to get into great programs. They did this by focusing on storytelling. Let’s be clear that we aren’t talking about cooking up stories (that’s a no-no). We’re referring to the manner in which they extracted the most impactful incidents from their lives and weaved them together. Effectively, they made it easy for Adcoms to understand their life and career journeys.
- How an equity researcher from India overcame low GMAT scores to get into top MBA programs in Europe
- I got into 3 top IIMs despite low CGPA: GMAT MBA after PSU Bank PO job
3. Non-linear, unconventional and underrepresented profiles are gold
Many applicants follow a predictable graph. They work in the field they graduated from and spend many years in the same industry before deciding to apply. Others have had a more unpredictable ride. Some switched careers, others got laid off, and then there were some who chose their own path. That non-linearity can actually backfire in MBA applications, if not managed well. On the other hand, the successful ones are able to turn it into an advantage, showcasing personality traits that b-schools value.
- How an architect-turned-singer got into a top MBA after 1,500 live performances & a national reality show
- Forté Fellowship with T15 MBA admits after rejections from 6 business schools & a reputed admission consultant
4. Resilience after rejection
Rejection isn’t easy to take. In many cases, the reasons behind the rejections aren’t obvious. This rattles many applicants and makes them question their self-worth. Most apply to additional schools without reflecting and re-evaluating their approach. The result…more rejections.
Then there are others who play smart. They get up, dust themselves and work on creating a new strategy that finally delivers the results. Sometimes it’s one small tweak (better storytelling) or a bunch of changes (better clarity of goals + better test score + better choice of schools).
- How an Indian musician got into INSEAD and Cambridge with scholarship (£40000) as a reapplicant
- CA rejected by ISB, admitted in second attempt: Here’s what she did differently
5. Scholarship wins despite odds
Scholarships are generally reserved for the strongest applicants in the class. Many incorrectly assume ‘strong’ means those with high test scores. That’s not entirely true. As with admits, high scores definitely help with scholarship decisions. But you’ll find many stories on our blog where candidates battled the odds to get not just admits but also scholarships. The best part – quite a few were reapplicants who hadn’t had luck with admits (forget scholarships) in their previous attempts.
- How I got $250,000 (over ₹2 crores) in scholarships from 6 top MBA programs in USA
- How an Indian chartered accountant got over ₹3 crores in scholarships from top business schools in USA
- Second MBA from INSEAD with scholarship vs MIT SCM Masters: Indian applicant’s envious dilemma
Of course, there are more nuances to each of these patterns that made the difference. Those aspects depend on individual’s case. Applicants start off with lot of the preconceived notions about what will work for them and what won’t. Those who are open to ideas and have a higher threshold for risk end up surprising everyone.
Hope we get to host your success story on our blog soon. Good luck!
Image: Hans-Peter Gauster (Unsplash)
