GMAT is important. And so is getting into substantial universities. But concentrating only on the test will not get you through. To receive offer letters flying into your email, it should be well understood that aspects other than the GMAT scores hold gravity as well.
According to a survey on 50 of the most distinguished MBA admission consulting firms, GMAT scores hold only 21.7% of weight in a typical application for MBA. So what other factors to consider before sending your MBA application form?
13. Being Multilingual
Fluency in other languages takes up about 1.4% of weight. The admission officers consider polyglots (learn the word for your IELTS/TOEFL) to have superior communication skills. Such people hold the ability to multi-task and have elevated cognitive processing. So now is the time to learn the language you were procrastinating about.
12. Undergraduate Major
Undergraduate major amounts to a meagre 2.4% of weight in an MBA application. It does not affect your application in any way, as an MBA degree is open to candidates from a broad spectrum of majors. It is a common misconception that business is an ideal background for MBA. According to QS Top MBA website, only about 27% (on average) of those accepted to top MBA colleges in the US have a business or related major.
11. International Experience
For those who have work experience on an international level, it is time to reflect it on your application. Although international experience does not hold a significant impact (only 3%), it might give you an edge over the other candidates and a way to show off your managerial skills.
10. Industry Background
No matter what industry you have worked in, your industry background exudes your experience with management in general. It holds a weight of 3.1%. The following link is an anecdote by Harvard Business School MBA graduate Kenny Lim, who has an undergraduate major in Electrical Engineering - How my Engineering and Manufacturing background prepared me for an MBA.
9. Years of Work Experience
Number of years of work experiences is considerable to only some degree in your application (only 4.7%). Your managerial skills are what matter the most in order to pursue this degree.
8. Extracurricular Activities
Your extracurricular activities define your involvement in things other than academics. It enhances your leadership skills and paves a chance for you to pursue your passions. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Nevertheless, it accounts for only 5.7% of weight in your application. Introverts rejoice!
7. College/ University Attended
The better the university or college you attend during your under graduation, the better your impression is in your application. Although, it is not of much significance (5.9%) as it does not majorly affect your admission.
6. Notable Employer
If you have worked with a noteworthy employer, mentioning it in your application is a good idea. It establishes your worth in the industry; it shows how your skills have been polished. It holds a 7.3% of weight in your application.
5. Recommendation Letters
You might want to start buttering that teacher who holds grudges against you now. Recommendation letters weigh 7.6% in your application. They put on display your general conduct in academia and work. Keep in mind to get recommendations from teachers and employers you like and with whom you worked your best with so that you get letters appreciating your skills and behaviour akin.
4. Undergraduate GPAs
It was a topic of discussion at your household. Now, it will be one with admission officers too. While scoring well definitely gets you closer to your admission, a poor academic performance can taint your application form as it holds a significance of 10.3%. So, make sure to apply to safe and moderate schools and not only ambitious ones.
3. Admission Interviews
Prepare well for this one. Admission interviews hold a crucial 12.1% weight in your application. Do not flout this opportunity of wooing the admissions committee in a vis-a-vis. Practice your interview skills with the commonly asked questions. Nobody will judge you in front of a mirror. Here is a list of possible questions you will face during an interview - Top 20 MBA Interviews Questions.
2. Essays
Significant to a whopping 14.5% in your application, essays play a significant role in getting you into the college/university of your dreams. Try enhancing your vocabulary and writing skills. Here is a list of 20 must-do tips for MBA essay by The Princeton Review.
1. GMAT Scores-
GMAT scores are, of course, the most important bit of your MBA application. Weighing an aforementioned 21.7%, it is a deciding factor, in terms of cut-off marks, to the colleges that you would call safe, intermediate, and ambitious. It is advised to start preparing for this test as early as 3 months before the test date. A guide through the process GMAT preparation.
Therefore, there are various factors at play when you apply to universities for your post-graduation. Keeping this in mind, it is vital for an application to be well-rounded. Being a jack of all trades seems like a safe option here. Nonetheless, it is wise to look into the preferences of universities you are applying to. For example, you might find out that your dream university stresses more upon undergraduate GPAs than anything else. In such a case, make sure your academic profile is lit.
Getting an admit is in your hands and improvising your profile to the terms of the colleges you are tackling is the way to go.
For more guidance through the application process, please visit our University Application section.
