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5 Essential MBA Admissions Tips For Indian And Indian-American Applicants - Forbes

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L EA D ER S H I P | 5/31/2013 @ 10:27AM | 1,094 vie ws

5 Essential MBA Admissions Tips For Indian And Indian-American Applicants

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As I have witnessed as the Founder and CEO of Stratus Prep, over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Indian and Indian-American applicants to American business schools. According to the Graduate Management Admission Councils 2012 Asian Geographic Trend Report, the number of Indians taking the GMAT increased by Indian Flag (Photo credit: rednivaram) nearly 20% from just 2010 to 2012, and over 50% of GMAT score reports taken by Indians in 2012 were sent to American business schools. In comparison, just over 18% of score reports were sent to Indian MBA programs and just under 8% were sent to United Kingdom institutions. Many Indians seek MBAs due to the countrys rapid growth, demand for skilled managers, and out of a desire to grow beyond more technical, often career-limiting positions in engineering. Countless Indian young professionals apply to programs in the U.S. to obtain highly-regarded American degrees even if they already possess an MBA or comparable degree from an Indian institution. As you may know, global diversity is a key criteria in MBA admissions, so as the pool of Indian applicants grows, the competition within this subsegment of the application pool also rises dramatically. Due to the surge of Indian and Indian-American applicants to American business schools, applicants from these backgrounds must differentiate themselves from their peers if they are to be successful in reaching the school of their dreams. While many Indian-Americans, who attended college in the US, have a clear grasp of the MBA admissions process, this process often represents more of a mystery to those applying directly from India or those who have been working internationally for just a few years. My firm, Stratus Prep, has distinguished itself as the leader in helping Indian and Indian-American applicants into top U.S. business schools such as HBS, Wharton, MIT, Chicago Booth, and Columbia, among others. After collaborating with Indian and IndianAmerican applicants for nearly a decade, I have identified the following five

Shawn O'Connor
C ontributor Follow (25)

With the economy in flux and the job market stagnant, more and more people are considering way s to continue their education and set themselv es apart in the marketplace. I prov ide insight on how indiv iduals can succeed in this new economy . I'm founder and CEO of Stratus Prep, an internationally -recognized leader in law, business, and graduate school test + show more preparation and admissions counseling. I also
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expres s ed are thos e of the w riter.

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5 Essential MBA Admissions Tips For Indian And Indian-American Applicants - Forbes
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strategies that help ensure the success of Indian and Indian-American applicants seeking admission to top American MBA programs. These strategies can help you stand out from the thousands of similar applicants in a way that takes into account the manner in which American business schools evaluate applications. 1. Go beyond your numbers Given the highly quantitative nature of admissions in India, many applicants believe that their 6 Good Reasons GMAT/GRE score and GPA are also paramount in Not To Check Your the American admissions process. However, at most Email American business schools, such numbers are the Erika A ndersen third or fourth most important components of your C ontributor application. Other highly important factors include where you attended university and your work experience, but first and foremost, admissions committee members will carefully examine your essays and recommendations. Admissions Directors recognize that raw numbers alone cannot indicate if an applicant is the right fit for their school, which is why they turn to the qualitative aspects of your application before reaching a decision. When applicants focus solely on numbers, they will not Grad School: Still demonstrate their full potential or resonate with the Worth the Money? admissions readers. My colleagues at Stratus Prep Shawn O'Connor C ontributor and I have helped Indian applicants demonstrate their authentic narratives throughout their applications. This has allowed us to help Indian and Indian-American applicants with GMATs under 600 win admission to MIT and Chicago Booth and others with GPAs at or below 3.0 (when converted to the American system) enter Wharton, MIT, and Chicago Booth. 2. Focus on the Personal and not just the Professional American Admissions Committees want to understand you as an individual and as a potential future leader. This requires getting to know you personally as well as professionally; therefore, you should not be afraid to discuss personal challenges you have faced. For example, in the last couple of years, we have had a number of students write very compelling essays about the challenges and rewards of their love and arranged marriages. Such authentic, personal narratives often resonate more with an Admissions Committee than a professional anecdote on a technical topic about which they have likely already read in numerous other applications. 3. Recognize that giving back to your community is about more than demonstrating generosity Many Indian applicants come to Stratus Prep with a laundry list of one-off volunteer experiences in which they have participated, from working sporadically at soup kitchens to helping to run the occasional blood drive. MBA Admissions Committees in the U.S. want to see a sustained commitment to one or two volunteer organizations, preferably non-profit groups that are either internationally-recognized or that you have helped found. They will use these experiences to assess your leadership potential; as such, they will be looking for the strategic, long-term impact that you have

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5 Essential MBA Admissions Tips For Indian And Indian-American Applicants - Forbes

had on your community rather than simply ensuring that you have checked the box when it comes to volunteering. 4. Expand on areas other than your technical or quantitative background American MBA Admissions Committees are looking for well-rounded students, not simply the most proficient IT professional or financial engineer. Since you will be competing most directly with other Indian or IndianAmerican applicants with backgrounds similar to your own, distinguish yourself by, for example, emphasizing your team leadership skills and creative pursuits. We recently had an Indian student with a highly technical professional background win a full scholarship to Yale School of Management by emphasizing his creative pursuits outside of work. Not only does this help you share your personal experiences (as suggested in tip 2), but it also ensures that you are more likely to be remembered by an admissions reader who will be reviewing thousands of applications from the region. Your IT and/or financial expertise will likely be apparent in your work experience; however, essays are an opportunity to go beyond and show Admissions Committees other distinctive skills, leadership experiences, and creative pursuits that the readers otherwise would not have known about you. 5. Search globally for the most qualified Admissions Consultant to aid you in this journey While American admissions counseling firms are typically more expensive than admissions counseling firms based in India, if you work with a U.S.based firm that has demonstrated significant success coaching Indian applicants, this additional investment is one well worth making. American admissions consultants possess the most up-to-date information on what top MBA programs are looking for, as we are constantly visiting the top schools and interacting with students, faculty, and admissions officers. For example, I have been to HBS and Yale twice each in just the last couple of weeks. However, it is absolutely essential that you work with an American firm that has served at least a few hundred Indian and Indian-American applicants, since many US-based firms are unfamiliar with the intricacies of the Indian educational system and unique challenges faced by Indian and IndianAmerican applicants. A firm that has worked with Indian applicants extensively will be able to advise you on distinct obstacles (such as loan guarantees for foreign applicants) that would not arise for American Most Popular Listsat Stratus Video New Posts applicants. For example, I discourage most of my Indian clients Fa st T ech 2 5 h est -Pa id A t h let es 'Bu y cot t ' A pp In A ct ion Prep from considering Columbia since, at the moment, theHig school is unable to guarantee student loans for foreign students. This represents a significant impediment for many applicants from emerging markets, including India. Such foresight can save applicants a lot of time and money. Investing in a USbased admissions consultant who truly understands the Indian market (I travel a number of times per year to India to meet with clients and prospective clients) will help you craft the most compelling essays and allow you to demonstrate your unique capabilities and personal attributes so that you to stand out from other applicants. With this investment, you very likely could be studying at HBS, Stanford, Wharton, MIT or Chicago next fall. If you are based in India and would like to learn more about applying to American business schools, I will be in Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai from June 24-29, 2013. Email me at shawn.oconnor@stratusprep.com for more
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5 Essential MBA Admissions Tips For Indian And Indian-American Applicants - Forbes

information about connecting during my visit. If you are based elsewhere, I would be happy to connect with you virtually or in-person, so please just send me an email.

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5 Essential MBA Admissions Tips For Indian And Indian-American Applicants - Forbes
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