-- Article courtesy of Accepted.com, MBA admissions consultancy
India's growing economy has created many exciting opportunities for people with the business education that will enable them to lead and manage growth there. However, to access the top business education, Indian students must first gain admission to one of the elite MBA programs. With hundreds of Indians applying to these business schools each year, how can you pull yourself out of the crowd and distinguish yourself in the eyes of the admissions committees?
First, understand what typical Indian applicants reveal in their application. Then, differentiate your own.
Working for a family business can be extremely educational: you earn high-level responsibility earlier, manage teams of employees, and gain perspective into the workings of the entire company. However, family businesses lack the influence and scope of larger companies, and it is difficult to compare your performance to that of others.
Applicants who have proven their abilities in a family business and then applied the skills in management at a large international company are able to demonstrate that they are truly talented beyond the scope of their own family. Letters of recommendation written by impartial superiors, unlike those from family members, employees, or even clients of a family business, carry more weight in the eyes of the admissions committees and can demonstrate that you truly outperform your peers and have honestly won the recognition of senior management. The Differentiated Applicant can then illustrate his or her impact on this large organization in the resume, work history, and essays.
India's high-tech sector has blossomed in the past few years as global companies have tapped the highly educated and hardworking population in India. Many of today's business school applicants have experience in that industry.
While your background may be in technology, you can prove to the admissions committees that you have what it takes to lead commerce in the future by demonstrating that you are leading and managing teams of employees, designing company strategy, earning promotions, and boosting your company's bottom line.
Most Indian applicants aspire to either expand their family business or launch their own small business.
The top business schools are searching for applicants whose ambitions will have impact on a larger scale. Furthermore, you need to convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your career and your goals. Grant the reader some insight into the emotional reasons behind your decision to pursue your path.
Unlike many other population groups, Indian applicants are often involved in many activities outside of school and work.
Don't confuse hobbies for involvement and impact. The top business schools are looking for applicants who hold active leadership roles in a few organizations, not a jumble of low-key memberships. Be sure to continue your active extracurricular involvement and leadership even after college.
Indian applicants tend to know they want a top MBA, but they don't do enough research on the programs to determine if and how each aligns with their goals. They tend to give a brief overview of the skills they hope to gain from the MBA and don't demonstrate that they know anything about each program.
There are two reasons why you need to understand each school's program: for your interest and theirs. Just as it is in your interest to know what requirements the schools has, for instance a fourth post-high school year of study (e.g., the Master in Commerce) before you apply to ensure that your application is even considered, so too it is in your interest to determine if the schools you are considering will meet your needs. If you plan to concentrate in a particular industry, you need to make sure that the schools you are applying to have courses of study in that industry.
The top business schools seek applicants who can demonstrate that they understand the school's goals and how their program will help them meet the applicant's needs. They are looking for applicants who have visited the school, spoken to alumni, researched their specific interests, and know what makes this school distinct.
Each school is sifting through hundreds of applications to find the applicants who will benefit from its program and enhance the education and experience of other students. But determining which stories differentiate your application is daunting. An Accepted.com editor can help you reflect on your experiences, select the anecdotes that best portray your exceptionality, and fit them into each school's individual questions to help your application become one that they don't let slip through their fingers. Check out Accepted.com's services to ensure that you stand out from the crowd.
By Jennifer Bloom, Accepted.com Senior Editor
Copyright Accepted.com 2003