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WHAT IT TAKES FOR A MBA ABROAD

Chethan Mittapalli

Babson College Class of 2014

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AGENDA

Why MBA ? Types of MBA Programs Admission Process GMAT Preparation GMAT Material TOEFL School Selection AdCom’s Perspective Concentrations Do’s and Don'ts Deadlines Questions

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WHY MBA ?

Develop more Skills Career Growth Networking Career Switchers Company Sponsored

Just for an additional Degree

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DO I NEED A MBA ?

Analyze your background and skills Post MBA Career Goals Weaknesses or Missing Skills Can MBA provide me those missing skills ?

(Leadership and Teamwork skills, Negotiation etc)

School Specialized Learning's Can it give me Career Boost and ROI ?

If yes then MBA is for you and start preparing…

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TYPES OF MBA PROGRAMS

Full Time MBA (2 years) One Year MBA (mostly in Europe) Executive MBA Online MBA Evening or Part Time MBA Global MBA

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ADMISSION PROCESS

GMAT TOEFL or IELTS (Optional for few univs) Work Experience (Typically 5 years) Academics Extra Curricular Essays Recommendations Interviews Visa Approval

Time Consuming Process

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WHY SO LONG PROCESS ?

Admission Committee Perspective Can the Student handle the academic coursework ? Why MBA for the candidate ? Why our college ? Fit for the school ? Finally, what does the student bring to the class ?

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GMAT (GRADUATE MANAGEMENT ADMISSION TEST)

CAT (Computer Adaptive Test) Total Exam is for a score of 800 (200-800) New Pattern in effect from June or July 2012 Three Sections

AWA(Analytical Writing Analysis) – Two Essays (Old pattern) Analysis of an Issue (30 mins) Analysis of an argument (30 mins) Scores between 0-6 with half pointer intervals

Quantitative 37 Questions – 75 minutes Scores are in the range of 0-60 Highest score given is generally 51 Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving Questions

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Verbal Section 41 Questions – 75 minutes Scores are in the range of 0-60 Highest score given is generally 51 Reading Comprehension Sentence Correction Critical Reasoning

Target score about 700+

GMAT is very important especially for Indians

Register for the test at mba.com

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Great GMAT Score might not get you an Admit

But Below Par GMAT Score can Eliminate you

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GMAT MATERIAL

GMAT Official Guide is a MUST Official Guide 13 released recently Quant

Prepare Official Guide 10,11,12,13 Basic 10th Standard Math and Prepare CAT Quant Manhattan GMAT Quant is Very Good.

Verbal Prepare all the official Guide Questions Analyze all the Questions and Answers Analyze the right and wrong answers. Prepare the OG Verbal Review of All Editions

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Sentence Correction Manhattan SC Guide is a MUST contains all the rules

Reading Comprehension Practice,Practice,Practice Manhattan Reading Comprehension Book Aristotle is a good material Kaplan has very tough passages Speed Reading would be very helpful.

Critical Reasoning Power Prep CR Bible covers all the question types.

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PRACTICE TESTS

Always write complete Tests along with AWA GMAT Prep and Power Prep are the replicas of

GMAT Manhattan GMAT Exams are very good Kaplan is also good but Questions higher

standard in Verbal Grockit - Online Practice Beat the GMAT,GMAT Club etc are good as

well Practice 30 Sets,300 Quant

Questions,SC,RC,CR etc..

Start with a PRACTICE Test

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DO’S AND DON'TS OF GMAT

Give yourself Time and Work on a Date Take the Exam date and start working Gather Material and Familiarize the pattern Practice is very important Target 700+ Look at each School GMAT Requirements Make a Study Plan and Stick with it Don’t Forget the Timing Highest Score is Taken by 99% Schools

Practice Tests with AWA

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TOEFL

Some schools might ask for TOEFL Total of 120 Reading - 30 Speaking - 30 Writing - 30 Listening – 30

100+ would be sufficient

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SCHOOL SELECTION CRITERIA

MBA is a HUGE Investment of TIME and MONEY

School Ranking Program Type Faculty Class Size Duration Degree Offered Course Structure Teaching Methodology Scholarship Cost ($100,000 to $160,000 Lakhs for 2 years) Community Location Placements Alumni Profile

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IMPORTANT POINTS Think about why you applied to B-school in the first place What criteria did you use in determining which schools you applied to? How would you rank that criteria? How does each school hold up against that analysis? If you still can't decide, visit or reach out to current students/alums to gain

some more perspective. What are the career potentials for that school ? Reputation of the school in the field that you want to specialize Location, location, location Admit rate for foreigners Student activities, especially chances for international travel and hands on

exp (other than internships) Entrepreneurship Opportunities Flexible Curriculum Friendly to Young Applicants Class Profile

Class Size Average Work Experience Mean GMAT Score Alumni Profile Average age of Entering Class

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ESSAYS

Every school typically has 2-4 essays Essays takes a lot of time and effort Give Sufficient time and Get started well before They are very Important part of your application Applications that stand out are ones that

complete a good story Consistent story

Why MBA ? Why now ? Why our program ?what you want to get out of the program ? What does you bring to the program ?

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Unique about you and why you’re a good fit for our school.

Be Professional, know yourself and research the school Personalized stories are the ones that stand out. Editing Consultants could be very helpful Reach out to Alumni and Current students. Customize your Essays to the School Requirements Don’t be Generic Answer the question that was asked Top B-School Essays require a lot of time. Don’t try to be someone you are not Talk about your leadership activities, Extra Curricular

Finally, Be What You ARE and Build your Profile

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Choose people close to you rather than big names at your company

Highlight different aspects of your leadership ability

Don't be too modest Educate them if required Be Available for help as needed

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INTERVIEWS Opportunity to Demonstrate yourself Discuss your goals, accomplishments, and reasons for

seeking an MBA. Skype,Personal or Telephonic. Be Consistent with your essays.

SELL Yourself

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CONCENTRATIONS Accounting Advertising Ecommerce Economics Entrepreneurship Finance General Business Hospitality Management Human Resources Information Systems Management International Business Marketing Non-Profit Management Operations Management Project Management Public Administration Public Relations Real Estate Sales Management Supply Chain Management

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CHOOSING CONCENTRATIONS

Think about what you want to do with your business school education after you graduate.

Make a list of potential business specializations

Talk to people who work in your fields of interest

Research potential employers Choose Specialized schools for your

concentration

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DEADLINES Take GMAT asap

Don’t wait for deadlines (5 Years valid and Highest Score Taken) Admissions process can be rather extensive. Most Schools have admissions for FALL Some do have for Spring. FALL is always advisable Apply to your school of choice as soon as possible. Attend MBA Fairs and talk to people. Start Networking Most business schools

either two or three application deadlines/rounds Applying in the first round will increase your chances of admission,

because there are more empty spots available Internationals advisable by 2nd round. By the time the third round has commenced, many students have

already been accepted, which lessens your chances considerably. How Many Schools to apply ?

Typically 8-10 would be good with right mix of Safe, Reach and Dream Schools.

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TOP SCHOOLS CLASS PROFILE Class Size varies on Schools Fees would be 50-80 Lakhs Acceptance Rate is around 10-30% Mean months of work experience : 58 months Median Age of entering classes : 27 Median GMAT Score : 700 Internationals in the class : 20-30%

Diverse Work experience would be fetching

30 http://www.mbadoodle.com

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Questions ?

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THANK YOU

CONTACT:

CHETHAN2K5@GMAIL.COM9949066683