After all the self-introspection you did to find answers to the most important career-

related question in your life ‘Why MBA?’ you must have discovered a new person in
yourself!

Now that you are equipped with the checklist – of what B-schools are looking for in
their promising applicants, it’s time to think the other way round and select a
business school that is right for you!

As we always emphasize, an MBA is a huge investment of your time, effort and

money; you can’t afford to pick up just any B-school that grants you an admit. A
wrong decision will adversely affect you for life.
So, how to go about the B-school research?

Once again, you need to review your priorities. Think about this!

Do you want a 1-year or a 2-year program?

What is your dream destination – USA? Canada? Europe? Or Asia?

Do the program and living costs fall within your budget?

How much financial assistance will you need and how much are you likely to get from
the Business school you’ve shortlisted?

Should you go for a large and diverse classroom program or one with a small class
size where you may get personalized attention?

What is your dream career – investment banking? Consulting?

Does you dream company recruit from the B-school you have shortlisted?

How strong and impactful is the alumni network at this school?

How useful are their career and mentoring services?

Six Factors for B-School selection

1. B-school Profile Fitment

2. B-school Location

3. 1-year vs 2-year MBA Program

4. B-School International Ranking

5. Specialization Offered

6. B-school specific information

1. B-school Profile Fitment

This is one of the most important factors while selecting a Business school.
If you are going to spend the next 1-2 years of your life, then you better select a
Business school that fits your profile and choose a community you’d like to be
associated with for the rest of your life.

Some of the factors that contribute to B-school profile fitment include age, work
experience & batch diversity. To maximize your B-school experience, make sure you
talk to people from that school – faculty, students & alumni – and get a sense of the
B-school culture.

“
Profile fitment simply means
whether your profile is apt for the B-
school(s) you are applying to.

Don’t forget the journey matters as much as the destination and making sure your
profile is a correct fit for the program is a significant factor for beginning your MBA
journey.
For instance, say you are a 32 year old MBA aspirant with 9+ years of
banking experience.

Given your age and work experience, what would be a good MBA program for you?
The one-year IIMA-PGPX program, where the average age of students is 34 years, will
be a great fit! But what if you are just 25 years old with 3 years of IT work
experience? Your profile will not fit this PGPX program. In fact, you may not even be
eligible to apply as this program requires a minimum of 5 years of work experience!
Similarly, a typical two year MBA program at Darden is also not what you should look
forward to, where you will be surrounded by much younger and less experienced
peers!

Age and work experience are not the only criteria that determine profile fitment. You
should also look at your background.

For instance, if you are essentially looking for a diverse classroom, applying to a
school where most of the students are from an IT background will not be fruitful to
you, irrespective of the ranking or reputation of that B-school.

Why do you need to look into MBA class profile or business school
profile? And why is profile fitment so important?

Once you join a B-school, for the next 1 or 2 years (depending upon the duration of
your program), you will be spending most of your time with your peers rather than
with the faculty. Thus, your peers will influence not just your learning but also your
experiences and perspective.

If you are not able to strike a chord with your peers right from the beginning, or if
you feel that you have very little to learn from your batchmates, you will definitely
not be able to benefit from your MBA program fully! The fact that networking is one
of the primary reasons why MBA aspirants select a particular B-school makes profile
fitment all the more important.
The entire idea behind profile fitment is that you should fit in with the
average class profile of the B-school(s) you wish to apply to!

You can easily find the class profiles of previous batches on the official websites of
most top B-schools.

Profile Fitment Parameters that you need to consider:

Age (mean, median)

Number of years of work experience

Educational background

Pre-MBA industry

Class composition

Wondering which top B-School you can get into? Let us help you!

Get your Profile Evaluated!

 Here is a snapshot of an MBA Class Profile!
Harvard Business School: MBA Class of 2019 Profile
So go ahead – before you invest money and efforts applying to a B-school, spend
some time researching whether you are the right fit for the school!

2. B-school Location

Factors like post MBA job prospects, cost of living, language barriers & post study visa
policies make geography a critical parameter while selecting a B-school.

In 2016, Canada, Singapore, US, Australia & Europe were rated as the most sort after
MBA destinations for Indian students.

Canada and Australia were given higher preference by students who were looking to
get post MBA work permits while the US was chosen by students looking for better
infrastructure & seeking to get into technology companies like Google, Amazon &
Facebook. The U.S. is home to some of the greatest B-schools in the world.

“
The location of your B-school – from
continent and country, right down to
the city – is extremely important,
and plays an important part in your
MBA experience as well as your
post-MBA opportunities.
Here are 3 points that will help you make a better choice:

1. Identify the countries and cities, where you wish to work and settle after your
MBA.

2. Get in touch with Students & Alums of the particular B-school to find out which
companies hire MBA grads, career opportunities available to MBA grads and
post-MBA experience.

3. If you have relatives/friends staying in a particular country, you may want to look
at schools in that region as this may impact your cost of living.
Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of B-schools in various
countries:

1. US Business Schools:

Advantages of US B-Schools are:

Undoubtedly, the U.S. is a land of opportunities, with the best of infrastructure and
great research opportunities, where you can safely invest your future.

You will find the Headquarters of most of the top companies in the world situated in
the U.S. So, the number of top management roles in the U.S. surpasses that in any
other country in the world.

The U.S. is home to some of the greatest B-schools in the world. Schools such as
Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, etc permanently feature in Best B-schools lists.
In fact, the oldest Graduate School of Business in the world is Tuck School of Business
situated in Hanover, New Hampshire!

Disadvantages of US B-Schools are:

Visa regulations are quite stringent in the U.S. and becoming more so in recent times.
To work in the U.S. after graduation, students need an H1-B visa sponsored by
employers and there are only a limited number of visas that are issued every year.

The global economic situation and high-end job market are not in a great state at
present, including in the U.S. So, post-MBA career options may not be as robust as
expected.

U.S. MBA programs are some of the most expensive programs in the world. Many may
not be able to afford these, especially in the absence of scholarships.
Some of the well-known US B-Schools are:

M-7:Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Sloan, Columbia, Booth, Kellogg (Dream B-schools)

Top: Haas, Darden, Fuqua, Ross, Tuck, Duke, etc (Very reputed schools)

Mid: Marshall, Kelly, Krannert (Reputed schools)

Canada: Richard Ivy, Schulich, Rotman (Usually less considered but having some great
MBA programs)

In fact, the Canadian economy is closely related to the U.S. economy. After graduating
from Canada it is easier to work in U.S. and vice versa.
2. European Business Schools:

Advantages of European B-Schools are:

There are quite a few impressive B-schools spread over different parts of Europe.
With good infrastructure, an international curriculum and diverse classrooms, they
account for splendid programs for MBA aspirants.

Many European schools have dedicated 1 year programs in contrast to U.S. schools
which a typically offer 2 year programs. So, if you are in your 30s with a good number
of years of work experience and want an MBA degree to enhance your career,
European schools may be your best option.

This choice will be accompanied by all the advantages of a 1 year program such as
lesser cost, getting back to the market faster and a more focused & rigorous course.
Europe is blessed with a great culture, quality of life and picturesque locales such as
England, France, Switzerland, etc. So your experience is bound to be awesome!

Disadvantages of European B-Schools are:

Poor economic climate in Europe: this may not be the best time to join a European
school, especially if you wish to work their post your degree.

European visa regulations have been tightened. You will need to find a job while you
are still on a student visa. Ironically, you may be denied a work visa because you don’t
have a job – and you may end up caught in this vicious cycle!

European culture is not as relaxed as American culture. You will need to learn at least
one of the European languages such as Spanish, French or German to cope in a
European B-school.
Some of the well-known European Business Schools are:

Top: IMD (Switzerland), INSEAD (France), LBS (London)

Mid: SAID (Oxford), Judge (Cambridge), HEC (Paris)

Others: SDA Bocconi (Italy), Rotterdam (Netherlands), IESE (Spain), ESADE (Spain)
3. APAC Business Schools (Asia Pacific Business Schools):

Advantages of Asia Pacific Business Schools are:

South-Asian B-schools are closer to home, so you will have an “at home” feeling. It is
easier to gel with your peers of similar ethnic backgrounds and culture.
Also, it is easier to come back to India on vacations in terms of time and cost. South
Asia is a growing economy with some very promising B-schools and great MBA
programs.

Countries like China, Singapore and Korea are giving U.S. and U.K. economies a run for
their money. If you are looking for a decent MBA program at a very reasonable cost,
you can look at South-Asian programs which are relatively cheaper than American or
European programs.

Disadvantages of Asia Pacific Business Schools are:

It’s true that the economies of South Asian countries are developing at an accelerating
rate, but they are still far behind their Western counterparts. For instance, despite its
well-developed infrastructure, the Australian economy is still very much agrarian in
nature. So, you have to carefully consider what kind of jobs you could find there after
an MBA.

B-schools in South Asia are not as international in their approach as compared to those
in the U.S. or U.K. You will not find many Americans or Europeans opting for South
Asian MBA programs. So, the classrooms tend to be less diverse in nature.

An MBA program from the U.S. will be helpful even if you want to work in a South
Asian country, but the opposite is not necessarily true. If your ultimate goal is to work
in London or New York, an APAC MBA program may not be a great idea.
Some of the well-known Asian Pacific Business Schools are:

Australia: Melbourne Business School, AGSM Sydney

Singapore: INSEAD, NUS, NTU, SMU

Others: HKUST-Hongkong, AIM-Manila, CEIBES- China

4. Indian Business Schools:

Advantages of Indian B-Schools are:

The biggest advantage is that there are no visa regulations in your own country!

Half of the hassles with regard to foreign MBA programs involve obtaining visa permit
to study and work abroad. You will essentially be in familiar territory – in your own
comfort zone – and have opportunities to network with people of a similar cultural
and ethnic background.

Reputed Indian B-schools such as ISB will familiarize you with case studies specific to
the Indian market, making you fit to work and excel in India. Today, many Indian B-
schools are accepting GMAT as an admission criterion.

Disadvantages of Indian B-Schools are:

Doing your MBA in India will not help you to get out of your comfort zone and explore
newer opportunities in life. You will remain in your cocoon!

Indian MBA programs do not offer many international job opportunities. So if your
goal is to work abroad, an Indian MBA may not be the best way forward!

Indian B-schools still attract a very small percentage of international students as

compared to U.S. and U.K., and have large classrooms. This means less diversity and
lesser classroom interaction.
Some of the well-known Indian B-Schools are:

ISB

IIM A – PGPX

IIM B – EPGP

IIM B – PGSEM

IIM C – PGPEX

IIM L – PGDX

XLRI – GMP

Great Lakes Institute of Management

 3. 1-year vs 2-year MBA Program

A 2 year MBA is ideal for candidates looking to change career paths or are unsure
about what specialization to take up. A two year MBA gives you ample time to make
mistakes, learn new things and finally make up your mind about your area of
specialization

While a one year program is more suited for people who are sure about their post-
MBA goals and is ideal for people with more than six years of work experience as it
would reduce their opportunity cost.

Here are some of the factors that you need to consider before choosing between a
one year and a two year MBA:

1. Current experience

2. Social responsibilities (read marital status/kids)

3. Post-MBA career options

Here is a sneak peek into some of the advantages and disadvantage of 2-year
program which actually become disadvantages and advantages for 1-year program
respectively.
2-year MBA program:

Advantages of 2-year program:

1. One of the main reasons why many people aspire for an MBA degree is to change
career paths. After working in Technology for a few years, you may realize that your
calling is in Management Consulting and not just coding. For these people, a 2-year
program will prove very beneficial.

2. In a typical 2-year program, the first year will be dedicated to fundamental

business courses such as marketing, organizational behavior, economics, accounting
and so on; specialization through the choice of electives happens in the second year.

So, you will get ample time to make mistakes, learn new things and finally make up
your mind about your area of specialization (on which the choice of electives
depends). Essentially, you can learn at your own pace.

3. You will have ample opportunities to mingle and network with your peers in a 2
year MBA program, as this gives you more time to join student bodies and
participate in extra-curricular activities and group projects.

4. A 2-year MBA program provides you with a summer internship which is very
helpful to land a lucrative job afterwards. An internship gives you a hands-on
experience in your field of interest. In fact, most employers look to summer-interns
for recruitment, especially in the fields of consulting and investment banking.

5. An MBA is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people; It is not just a

professional journey, but often also a personal one of self-growth! And a 2 year MBA
program gives you the complete student experience, simply because your experience
is longer and well-paced.
Disadvantages of 2-year program:

1.If you are very sure about your post-MBA goals, a 2-year program is of lesser
significance to you as it will be less rigorous and less focused as compared to a 1-year
program. People who look at the MBA as a tool for career growth, a 2–year program
may not be particularly more advantageous.

2. 2-year programs are very costly as compared to 1-year programs. In fact, a 1-year
program from a reputed B-school provides you equal brand equity at a lesser cost!

3. Joining a 2-year program means that you will be out of work for 2 years; this
means that the opportunity cost will be very high as compared to a 1-year program.

4. For older applicants – specifically, those with familial responsibilities, children or

other dependents – a 2-year program may not be very feasible.
Some of the top B-schools in U.S. offering 1-year MBA program

1. Kellogg School of Management (USA):

One of the first one year MBA programs in the US. The one year program is your
fastest path to get a Kellogg MBA.
The course is designed to build upon your business fundamentals, develop new skills
and knowledge to propel your career forward. The course starts in the month of June
every year.

Location: Illinois
Tution Fee: $91,700
Average Salary: $163,000 (post 3 years of graduation)

2. Cornell University’s Johnson School of Business

This course is ideal for Professionals with significant work experience who wish to
acquire new business Skills & management knowledge.
The Course starts in the month of May every year.

Location: New York.

Tuition Fee: $90,000.
Average Salary: $142,700 (post 3 years of graduation)
3. Emory University’s Goizueta School

With more than 30 years, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is one of the
top One-Year MBA Programs in the US.
Emory’s One-Year MBA offers three semesters of rigorous learning to prepare you for
career success. The course begins in the month of May every year,.
Location: Atlanta.
Tuition Fee: $ 89,500
Average Salary: $ 134,370 (post 3 years of graduation)

4. USC (Marshall)
The course is designed for mid career professionals training for global leadership
positions. The average age of students is 35.
The 12-month program at USC’s Campus starts in the month of July.
Location: Los Angeles
Tuition Fee: $104,068
Average Salary: $135,200 (post 3 years of graduation)

5. Notre dame (Mendoza)

Notre Dame’s One-Year MBA provides a powerful strategic business education and
makes you part of one of the world’s most loyal and active alumni networks.
The program begins in May and students graduate the following May.
Location: Indiana
Tuition Fee: $73,063.
Average Salary: $127,995 (post 3 years of graduation)

6. Boston university Babson (Olin)

The Babson One-Year MBA program is designed to allow students to leverage their
existing academic foundation​ to complete their MBA in an accelerated format.
The program begins in the month of May every year.
Location: Massachusetts.
Tuition Fee: $80,167
Average Salary: $ 121,312 (post 3 years of graduation)

Other colleges include Thunderbird Florida (Hough) & Pittsburgh (Katz)

Some of the top B-schools in Europe and U.K. offering 1-year MBA
program

1. INSEAD

One of the most sort after one-year MBA programme with campuses in Europe, Asia
and the Middle East. INSEAD has a multicultural and diverse community at INSEAD
with 90 percent of its faculty and students being international.

Location: France, Singapore & Abu Dhabi

Tuition Fee: $81,000
Average Salary: $167,000 (post 3 years of graduation)

2. IMD

The IMD MBA program supports and accelerates leadership development beyond the
campus by developing technical competence, self-awareness, and moral judgment.
The course starts in January.

Location: Switzerland
Tuition Fee: $87,000
Average Salary: $157,000 (post 3 years of graduation)
3. IE Business School

The one-year MBA from IE School of Business provides students with an opportunity
to interact with future business leaders from around the world.
Intakes in the month of September & January
Location: Spain
Tuition Fee: $72,440
Average Salary: $159,000 (post 3 years of graduation)

4. University of Oxford – Saïd Business School

The one-year MBA from SAID aims to develop your ability to think logically, laterally
and independently that will take you anywhere in the world.
The course begins in the month of September every year.
Location: Oxford
Tuition Fee: $ 68,160
Average Salary: $139,235 (post 3 years of graduation)

5. University of Cambridge – Judge Business School

The course allows students to opt for sector-based topics that can improve their
expertise in their chosen fields. It also runs a personalized career development
program.
The course has single intake each year which starts in September.
Location: England
Tuition Fee: $67,000
Average Salary: $156,300 (post 3 years of graduation)

6. London Business School

The course is rated as one of the most flexible MBA program with flexible exit points
to complete the course in a span of 15, 18 or 21 months and provides an unparalleled
opportunity to build your global network.
The course has an intake in August.
Location: England
Tuition Fee: $92,600
Average Salary: $154,150 (post 3 years of graduation)
7. HEC Paris

The Course is Custom designed for managers between the ages of 25 to 35 with
previous work experience averaging 6 years. With a 92 percent international student
body, studying at HEC Paris allows you to develop a truly multicultural approach to
strategy and problem-solving.

Intakes in the month of September & January

Location: France
Tuition Fee: $77,500
Average Salary: $132,073 (post 3 years of graduation)

Other notable B-schools conducting one-year MBA programs in Europe include

Copenhagen Business School, SDA Bocconi, IESE Business School -Madrid, Cass
Business School, City University London, ESADE Barcelona & Birmingham Business
School
4. B-School International Ranking

Don’t be guided solely by the international ranking of the school – do your research;
secondly, make sure you understand the ranking parameters and methodology
before you select a Business school.

“
Rankings merely tell you whether a
particular B-school you are applying
to falls in the Top 5, Top 10 or Top
20, based on which you can make a
wise selection.
What are these rankings actually based on?

1. Average post-MBA starting salary and bonus

2. Return on investment/Value-for-money education

3. Full-time graduates employed at graduation

4. Credentials of faculty

5. Programs offered

6. Quality of Networking

7. Kind of industries and recruiters approaching

 Here is a glimpse of some of the B-school rankings!

U.S. News Rankings:

Source: US News 2016 Rankings

Business Week Rankings:

Source: Business Week 2016 Rankings

Financial Times Rankings:

Source: Financial Times 2017 Rankings

Forbes rankings:

Source: Forbes 2016 Rankings

The Economist Rankings:

Source: The Economist 2016 Rankings

At the end of the day, B-schools do try to achieve higher rankings every year or at least
maintain their position because rankings directly impact their marketability. The
bottom-line is: do not be guided solely by the rank of the school – do your research;
secondly, make sure you understand the ranking parameters and methodology before
you accept the final numbers.

5. Specialization Offered

Specialization is one of the most overlooked factors in the process of B-school

selection.

It is essential that you are clear about your post-MBA career goals and make sure that
the MBA program you have selected is the best-suited for this.

Here is the list of the most popular MBA specializations in no particular order:

• Finance

A specialization in Finance involves the efficient and effective management of

money (funds) in such a manner as to accomplish the objectives of the
organization.

• Marketing

The marketing department plays a crucial role in any organization as they are
responsible for bringing in new businesses, generating leads, creating brand
awareness and increasing the company’s revenue.
• Human Resources

HR is a management function that deals with possibly the most valuable

resource of an organization which is the human resource. A specialization in
HR helps you understand how to hire, manage and retain workforce within an
organization in an organized manner.

• Supply Chain / Operations Management

Supply Chain/operation is a process by which a company converts raw

materials, labor, and capital into a final product or service. The supply chain
and operations management will teach you how to manage the flow of
resources between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet
requirements of customers or corporations.

• International Management

A specialization in International Management will help you hone the skills

needed to meet the challenges of doing business internationally and to
formulate effective management strategies in today’s globally competitive
environment.
 • Consulting

A specialization in consulting enables you with the expertise needed to

provide solutions to specific problems or challenges faced by the organization
or take charge of projects that may be beyond the capacity of the internal
staff.

For more information on MBA specializations, read our blog on How to choose the
right MBA college based on specialization
6. B-school specific information

Now that you have shortlisted a few B-schools based on Geography, profile fitment,
course duration, and specialization. It’s time to get into specific information regarding
each B-school.

To further narrow down on your final B-school selection take a look at Specific B-
school Insights for top Colleges across the Globe.

All these are very subjective decisions that you need to make on your own. And these
can be made effectively only if you have done sincere and thorough research on the
schools as well as your own goals.

Are you wondering which top B-school you can get into? Let us help you!

Get your Profile Evaluated!

All good international MBA programs are unique in one or the other way. Unlike
Indian schools, international B-schools give a lot of importance to candidate-school
fit. The right fitment is a win-win for both – you and the B-school. So, you need to fish
into the huge pool of business schools out there to hook the best possible option for
you!