Learn about the MBA admissions process

What many people don’t know is the fact that mba admission are not just limited to weighing out a selection of

paperwork to either accept or decline a candidate. It actually comes down to a summation of quantitative, verbal and

analytical skills that the candidate has to successfully fulfill before being considered for admission. There is a lot more

to it than meets the eye. This article seeks to provide a general breakdown of the role of school admissions

departments when it comes to admitting new MBA students.

Shortlist procedure

These are the set of criteria that are used to weed out the candidates who don’t make the cut. There is no particular

order here; each set of tests gains you points, the summation of which will be what determines your suitability. All top

schools have a test kit that includes interviews, essays, and references. All these are done for the specific purpose of

separating the best from the rest. The essay you write will be for the specific reason of convincing the university

admissions board that you are suitable for the respective MBA program that you applied for.

Many schools have similar questions, so if you’ve done one, chances are you’ve done them all. This in itself is a bit of

a dilemma for many students seeking MBA admission. Why? For the specific reason that they usually end up

submitting the same essay to different schools, which is a risk in itself, and you run the risk of mentioning a different

school from the one you are applying to, perhaps by accident. The risk here is that you risk disqualification, which is

why it is advisable to write some fresh content every so often. It may sound laborious, and it is, but it may be what

secures your admission, so it is very well worth the trouble.

There is always the limitation that comes with a lack of mastery in the English language. This is because once you

have it as your first language, then you have an edge, and you can just as easily slip past other candidates whose

curriculum is set in a different language. This is because, for the most part, non-English speakers have to grow

through English tests as part of the assessment program, whose results they are required to attach to the application

form.

When you get to the interview stage, then you are as good as home free. Getting invited to the interview means that

you have passed the various stages, and that you are seriously being considered for pre mba course. This is the last

straw, and once you do enough to impress the interview panel, you can be sure everything will fall into place. Make

sure you have notes on skills of presentation, don’t be nervous, and be upfront, no half truths, and if you don’t know

something, just say so… don’t be a hero.

Finally, there are the dreaded GMAT’s that are a constant feature in many top universities. The Graduate

Management Admissions Test is a litmus test for your analytical, verbal and quantitative skills, and how you score will

have a serious implication on whether you get in, or get rejected.