An MBA is a high-value investment. The estimated average total cost of attending one of the world’s top MBA programs is around $203,000, according to findings from GMAC’s latest Cost of MBA Report. M7/T10 MBA costs can be close to $250K The cost begins to add up even before securing an admit. MBA application fees … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
Each year sees many well-deserving MBA aspirants pouring months to put together strong MBA applications. But in spite of their relentless efforts, around 80% don’t make it to the program of their choice. The slam dunk they visualized in their mind ends very differently in reality. Not because they weren’t good enough – but owing … Read more
The Cambridge full-time MBA is a 1-year intensive program from the one of the world’s most prestigious research universities associated with a rich 800-year old tradition. Studying in the vibrant and picturesque student city of Cambridge in UK places you at the heart of a world-class innovation and tech ecosystem – ‘Silicon Fen’ – valued … Read more
Long-time followers of MBA Crystal Ball would be aware of the lucrative post-MBA jobs in consulting, big tech, banking, PE/VC where the compensation can scale dizzying heights. It may have prompted you to think about how you can get your hands on one of those lucrative roles that can touch $200,000 or even more. The … Read more
The number of MBA applicants hiring admissions consultants has been growing rapidly. Estimates are hard to come by, but depending on who you ask you might get an answer ranging from a naïve 10% (from business schools) to an over-optimistic 80% (from consultants). The reality may be somewhere in between, depending on the caliber of … Read more
The MBA is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after degrees in the world. It has earned the reputation of paving the way for a successful and rewarding career. In the United States – which dominates the MBA rankings – the number of MBA graduates is growing at the rate of approximately 2.4 percent, reaching 11.2 … Read more
MBA is competitive. Not just the journey within, but especially the ride into a prestigious business school. As they say, it is competitive because it is highly selective and it is highly selective because it has to stay competitive. Think of it as the snake eating its tail, excuse the gory imagery. It is natural … Read more
When writing an MBA essay, you want to convince the admission committee that you are an ideal match for their business school. The last thing you want when writing an MBA essay is to leave evaluators wondering about your intended message. If your writing isn’t self-explanatory and you leave the interpretation to the admissions committee, … Read more
An applicant wants to know – What are my MBA admission chances for Harvard [or Oxford, Columbia, ISB, MIT, IIM]? Finds a free online MBA admission chances calculator that spits out a seemingly random answer with no justification. The applicant trusts this data blindly, uses it to select b-schools and lives happily ever after. If … Read more
“I have my flaws. I sing in the shower, sometimes I volunteer too much, occasionally, I’ll hit somebody with my car.” – Michael Scott, Regional Manager, Scranton Branch, Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. In two delightfully short sentences, Michael Scott from The Office, with his trademark humor, summed up the contradictions and complexities involved in confronting … Read more