Why IIT, NIT, BITS students get rejected from the top MBA programs

If you’re an engineer from premier Indian institutions like IIT, NIT or BITS, you already come from one of the most academically rigorous and competitive talent pools in the world. On paper, such candidate profiles appear very impressive – strong quantitative training, solid brand credentials and very often, excellent work experience.

However, in the world of international MBA admissions, these are not necessarily differentiators. Each year sees a big number of such high-caliber candidates applying to the top elite MBA programs. And that’s where the challenge lies.

The MBA admission committees (AdComs) are not evaluating your application in isolation; they’re assessing it against a highly competitive pool of candidates applying to their program.

As they shortlist candidates, they aim to have a diverse cohort from a wide range of industries, roles, regions, gender and backgrounds while also avoiding overrepresentation from any single demographic. In such a highly selective process, it’s crucial to do everything you can to make your application stand out.

In a typical international MBA class, you’ll come across a mix of professionals from across the globe from varied roles and industries including consulting, financial services, technology, non-profit, government, education, healthcare, consumer products, military, arts/media/entertainment and many more fields. Having that kind of diversity enriches classroom discussions and enhances the overall learning experience.

Each year, we work with applicants from leading IIT, NIT and BITS programs who successfully get admitted into top business schools. Some are first time applicants, while others have had a bumpy ride (multiple rejections) before they came to us. Through their journeys, we’ve identified common pitfalls that can weaken an otherwise strong candidacy. Here are a few takeaways on what can go wrong.

Why do IIT, NIT, BITS students get rejected from top MBA programs?

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1. Applying too early in their career

A very common mistake that applicants make is rushing into the application process and applying without building enough depth in their professional experience.

AdComs look for a clear and compelling reason behind your decision to pursue an MBA at this point in your career. You need to be able to address this in your application in a confident and convincing manner. Also read:
Why MBA Now: How to tackle it in business school essays and interviews

Consider the case of Vivek Vishweshwar, an IIT Roorkee undergraduate. Even with a high GMAT score and a solid academic background, he faced rejection from all the 3 top business schools he applied to – the reason being he had applied too early in his career, also his post-MBA plans weren’t aligned with his career path up to that point.

[Read his full story here: MBA after IIT isn’t easy! Story of IITian who got merit scholarship after multiple rejections]

So, if you’re aiming for an MBA, you can spend the few years you have in hand before applying, making deliberate career choices or decisions to build a strong well-rounded profile. This may involve stepping into roles with more ownership or leadership responsibilities or driving initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact.

You need to adopt a strategic approach towards profile building whether it involves moving closer to business decision-making, or managing cross-functional projects. Equally important is the rationale behind your decision, as well as the outcome or impact you achieved.

These intentional shifts, aligned with your long-term goals, would show your motivation and reflect clarity and direction. An MBA should not look like a hurried decision, rather it should be a well-planned move that helps you bridge your current experience with your long-term goals.

Another example is that of Aravind Anil, who had a dual undergraduate degree from IIT Madras and had contemplated applying for an MBA. However, he decided to hold back, concerned that his GMAT score of 710, along with limited team management and international exposure, might weaken his candidacy.

He used the next 3 years to focus on addressing these gaps and then decide to apply with a much stronger profile.

[Read his story here: Going abroad after IIT for higher studies: Why international MBA]

2. Poor school fit

Not all top MBA programs are the same, so choosing schools which are the right fit is very important.

When you’re spending around US$150,000-US$200,00 on your MBA, it definitely worth taking a closer look at what the business school actually delivers.

Go beyond what’s presented on school websites or brochures by actively engaging with students, alumni, faculty, staff, career services team. These conversations would give you a clear sense of the school’s community and culture so that you can reflect on how you see yourself engaging with it over the next 1–2 years, whether you thrive in a competitive or collaborative environment and whether you prefer an urban or rural setting.

In addition to applying too early, Vivek also realized that his lack of awareness about his cultural fit with his target schools had contributed to his rejections.

Along with school culture, such discussions also reveal useful insights into how accessible various opportunities are and what career resources are actually available to students, helping you determine whether your post-MBA career objectives align with the curriculum, internship opportunities and employment outcomes.

You can ask specific questions about your target industry, including the type of roles students land, firms that hire regularly, how the program supports students’ preparation through mentorship, real-world projects, or clubs. You should also attend the school’s virtual information sessions.

From an admissions perspective, this thoughtful and in-depth research, reflected in your essays and application, demonstrates your interest and a clear vision of fit. It presents you as someone who would not only attend but also contribute meaningfully and make the most of what’s available.

3. Poor storytelling in essays and interviews

Given their IIT/NIT/BITS background, most applicants likely possess strong analytical and quantitative skills; however, they are often not trained to effectively present their narrative, which is where they tend to stumble.

Smruti Sarita Swain had a solid unconventional background having had a BTech in Electronics and Instrumentation from NIT Rourkela, an MTech from IIT Bombay in aerospace and an unusual career in the aerospace industry.

But she got rejected from all the colleges she applied to, though she got interview invites from 4 top Indian programs. (IIMs & ISB).

Smruti, a new mother, had rushed through her applications in Rounds 2 and 3. Reapplying to the same four programs, she took a far more structured approach this time.

She worked closely with her mentor to refine her positioning and sharpen her narrative. She was also significantly better prepared for the MBA interviews, ultimately securing admits from all four top programs. We will be publishing her story soon.

The essays would have a specific prompt. It’s important that you understand and address the prompt instead of giving generic responses. Also stick to the word count.

You need to dig deeper into your life experiences to uncover stories that you can use in your application essays. Read more articles on: MBA essay writing

4. Lack of profile differentiation

How do you differentiate between an IIT, NIT, BITS engineer working in tech roles? Most would have similar job descriptions, responsibilities, and promotions.

In fact, one admission officer from a top school actually told us what others won’t admit openly:

To be honest, most applicants from India appear the same!

This is where what you have done outside work matters. Another way would be to move into roles that can become a differentiator.

Vipin Mathew from NIT Karnataka, Surathkal, moved on to Canda where he completed his Master’s, and took on a leadership role as a manger in the retail industry. This international leadership experience helped differentiate his profile.

[Read his story here: Top European MBA after engineering from NIT India and masters from Canada]

Profile differentiation could also be in the form of involvement beyond academics and work, whether that’s sports, music, organizing events, community initiatives or contributing to a cause.

These extracurriculars should not be a one-off involvement, rather these experiences should demonstrate interest, passion, consistency, initiative, leadership and real impact. You can also connect these experiences into how you can add value and contribute to the MBA community.

Also read: Which is the best extracurricular activity for college admissions

Neel Patil with his IIT Madras background was keen on applying at 1.5 years of work experience. He took the MBA Profile Builder and based on the feedback received from his mentor, he decided to wait for a year or two, take up additional responsibilities at work and also build upon his extracurriculars.

In fact, he became an active member in the alumni association of IIT Madras, helping in organizing events, attended by 50-200 persons, so the impact of his contribution was huge. He got admits from Kellogg and NYU Stern.

[Read his story here: M7 admit reveals GMAT profile building plan and MBA application strategy]

You should also ensure there’s no ambiguity in your narrative. If you’ve had a career break or any weak point in your profile, address it clearly and confidently. Explain the context, whether it was due to a layoff, health concerns, personal responsibilities or other circumstances.

Highlight how you used that period productively and managed to tide through the challenging phase. Your story should demonstrate your persistence and your ability to grow through setbacks.

To compensate for weak areas in your profile, like a low undergraduate CGPA, focus on showing your technical abilities through strong test scores, relevant work experience or through certifications/courses.

Ishan Kawley from BITS Pilani Goa, had concerns about his low undergraduate CGPA. To offset this, he focused on strengthening other aspects of his profile. He attempted the GMAT twice and ultimately secured an impressive GMAT Classic score of 740.

He worked in the risk division of a top bulge bracket investment bank, secured an FRM certification and cleared CFA level 1. All his efforts paid off and he made it to the top school of his choice – INSEAD.

[Read his story here: INSEAD admit with low GPA in engineering degree]

5. Applying in the later rounds

The top elite schools have low acceptance rates. Applying in Round 1 can significantly improve your admission odds. If you decide to apply in the later rounds, especially if it’s a make-or-break attempt, the desperation level increases and that can lead to added pressure. This can result in rushed decisions, cramming too many applications in one round, with not enough time to do justice to your applications.

For instance, in Smruti’s case, applying hurriedly in the later rounds (Round 2 & 3) resulted in rejections in spite of her unique profile.

Even with a strong profile, applying in later rounds may be more competitive if the school has already admitted candidates with similar backgrounds in earlier rounds. Additionally, applying early can increase your chances of securing scholarship opportunities.

This is particularly important for applicants from overrepresented pools, such as Indian males in tech.

6. Last-minute test prep

An early start gives you sufficient time for retakes to reach your target score. It also allows for a more structured, focused approach towards GMAT preparation.

Ashish Bhutia, an IIT Bombay graduate applied with a GMAT score of 720. Given his low undergraduate CGPA, a higher GMAT score could have helped offset that weakness. However, with limited time available for a retake, he had to move forward with the rest of his application.

[Read his story: Why MBA after chemical engineering from IIT Bombay]

Aim for a GMAT score that’s above the class average. Once you’ve wrapped up the GMAT, you can focus fully on the rest of your application without distractions.

Since most candidates juggle a full-time job alongside their MBA applications, the process can become quite demanding, making early planning and preparation especially valuable.

Since the GMAT/GRE scores are valid for 5 years, it’s a good idea to start test preparation early. This gives you enough time to retake the test if needed and avoid regrets at not having had a fair shot at reaching your target score.

With focused preparation, many applicants see a significant rise in tests score in subsequent attempts.

Divy Gulati, a BITS Pilani undergraduate dedicated 7-8 months to a disciplined and structured GMAT preparation plan. After the first attempt, he identified and worked on his weak areas and then gave a re-attempt. This time he got an outstanding GMAT Focus score of 735.

A high GMAT or GRE score, while impressive, is not sufficient on its own to secure admission into top schools as candidates are evaluated holistically.

Divy completed his engineering along with a Master’s in Biological Sciences. He also pursued a minor in Finance due to his interest in this field. What set him apart was his clarity of post-MBA goals – moving into healthcare investment banking.

All his career decisions right from the start were aligned with this including gaining experience in Morgan Stanley’s Credit Risk team, taking relevant courses in investment banking and financial modelling, completing CFA Level 1.

Though he wanted to apply after 2 years of working, we advised him to work for another year. He did exactly that and worked with his mentor to craft a compelling application. And voila! He got an admit with full-ride scholarship, almost $200,000 in financial aid from NYU Stern.

Read his story here: How Divy got into NYU Stern School of Business with a Full-Ride ($200,000) Scholarship

7. Generic essays

If you’re planning to reuse the same essays across multiple business schools, it’s worth reconsidering. While there may be common elements across applications, each school expects responses that align with its own focus.

Do not relying on AI-generated content, as it can come across as generic or impersonal. Instead, focus on telling your own story in a way that feels authentic and specific to your experiences.

It can also help to seek feedback from someone (friend, mentor or MBA admissions consultant) who would understand your profile and guide you in selecting and shaping the most compelling stories.

At MBA Crystal Ball, we’ve worked with candidates from IIT, NIT, and BITS, helping them develop standout MBA applications that have resulted in admits to top business schools, frequently with scholarships. Drop us a line at info@mbacrystalball.com if you need our help.