Top MBA Colleges in World

How do I choose which business schools to apply to?

There are several factors to take into consideration here when choosing the business schools to apply to. We will focus on Geography as a factor.

Geography - Why does it matter where your business school is located physically?

Your post-MBA career opportunities are likely to be from the same broad geographical region in which your business school is located. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. For example, leading management consultants such McKinsey or BCG recruit for a global talent pool. But these are a few exception. So, rely on the norm and not the exception when making your decision.

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India

If you are an Indian aspiring to build a post MBA career in India and with less than 5 years of experience, your best bet is the ISB. B Schools such as Great Lakes in Chennai and XIMB Bhubaneswar also offer good value. These schools accept GMAT as one of the tests to admit students to their flagship MBA/PGDM programs.

If you have over 5 years of experience, the executive MBA programs at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta and Lucknow offer great value. Remember, your career opportunities when you do an MBA in India are likely to be India centric. Take a look at the top b schools in India and top b schools in India that accept GMAT scores.

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USA

The USA is the Mecca or the Rome for doing an MBA. There are more good schools in the USA than in the rest of the world taken together. The top 10 schools in the USA are iconic names when it comes to getting an MBA. The top 50 schools in the USA offer great value.

Key factors to keep in mind when applying to business schools in the USA

1. Many of the business schools that rank in the 15 to 50 range in the USA also offer part or in some cases full tuition fee waiver for deserving candidates.

2. The OPT program lets you work in the USA for a year after you complete the program, with your student visa itself, while your employer processes your H1B visa. Schools in the USA have started offering specialized MBA programs that allow you to work under the OPT program for an additional 24 months (A case in point, STEM MBA from Marshall School of Business, USC, California).

3. The proposition becomes more attractive if you get some form of financial assistance that will cushion you and make a compelling ROI even if you have to look for a job outside the US. Please note that the USA offers the most number of scholarships and tops the table in terms of value of scholarships offered.

Europe

Europe is home to many top business schools of international repute including London Business School, INSEAD, IMD. Scholarship options are far and few between. Proficiency of local language (at least one of German or French or Spanish or Italian) is preferred and some of the employers in these locations have a lesser than favorable disposition toward international students – both serving as dampeners. Take a look at the best business schools in Europe.

Canada

The best business schools in Canada such as Rotman, Schulich, Ivey are good places to get your MBA. A good GMAT score will also get you scholarships. Post-MBA job opportunities and favorable rules governing getting a permanent resident status make Canada a sought-after destination. In a post-Trump world, an MBA from Canada is also being seen as a safer route to eventually work in the more attractive neighbor to the south.

Interview with Mr.Arun Ganesh, Rotman Graduate

Asia

Singapore is home to a couple of world renowned business schools - The National University of Singapore and Nanyang Singapore. CEIBS Shangai, HKUST, Hong Kong are business schools of international repute. Both Hong Kong and Singapore offer very good post-MBA career opportunities. These schools have been a favorite for quite a few Indian students as these schools are closer home offering opportunities comparable to the ones in the USA.

Do a Comprehensive Due Diligence

An MBA is a once in a lifetime experience for most of us. It is extremely important that you do an MBA from the school that is both a right fit for you and will offer you opportunities that are commensurate to the effort and investment that is made in the MBA.

Create a broad set of parameters such as Geography, domain / industry that you will like to work after an MBA, and the amount of money you will be able to invest in the MBA to shortlist schools. Read all that you can about the school from the school's website, forums such as Poets and Quants, interact with their alumni, talk to their admissions office and also to the student ambassadors to find whether the school is a fit for you. It is a time consuming exercise. You are going to be branded as an MBA from the school that you choose for the next 40 to 50 years. You better select the one that does justice to such a long association.