The
first thing that students generally do is look at the program rankings. But to
get an in-depth view of the outcomes one has to understand the rankings first
and whether that applies to you. For example a school may have high post grad
salaries but if you miss looking at whether that may apply to you in case you
are international student then you may apply based on a faulty filter.
Similarly many top schools may not have as strong inter mobility options
between countries which may lead you working in a country where language may be
a barrier
Hence it is important to first define where do you see yourself in next 3-5
years post graduation. Whether you are comfortable learning a new language, or
if the program allows you enough mobility between countries, culture of the
country, suitability of the role and company you want to work in and the post
study work visa rights (For example when I chose IE Business School in Spain -
it did not have a PSWV which limited my options. Don't make that mistake)
Once you use the top down approach you begin shortlisting the countries and
finally the universities you wanna target. Based upon your background you may
either target specialised masters degree or a general degree such as the
Masters in Management or the MBA. Not to say that they don't have electives
however someone with enough work experience of 2-3 years specialised masters
degrees may catapult you into the career you have foreseen for yourself. MBA is
still the gold standard for management but doing it from top universities and
aligning with the career outcomes can be a good choice.
Next would be finalising the universities based upon your profile. Almost all
the universities list the requirements on their website so it can be easy to
determine your eligibility but they may have unsaid requirements as well. A lot
of programs mention the GMAT median and range for example to understand where
you stand compared to your peers however that may not give the whole story. If
your essays and experiences stand out you may still have a shot ( as I have
seen with comparatively weaker profiles in my last 7 years of mentoring
applicants). However to be on the safer side having a schools average
requirements or above with a holistic profile showcased in the application
drastically increases your chances
Finally I see a lot of students make this mistake of not applying to enough
schools. Having a basket of safe, target and dream schools is a must. There
have many incidences where an applicant might have been rejected at a top Ivy
League to gain admission at a different m7 school. Since every school has their
own value system it's best to try it out with different schools that align best
with your personality and goals.
Keep these points in mind while applying.
I'm curious - How are you shortlisting right now, based on rankings, budget,
or job opportunities?
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