THE EXPERIENCE :
Studying abroad is a life changing experience for students. In addition to giving them the opportunity to experience a global environment, it also provides a chance to enhance their future prospects. Overseas education give more than just academic qualification. It is a key factor in the overall development of an individual. Interacting closely with people from diverse cultures not only broadens students’ perspective, but also develops cross-cultural skills which are viewed favorably by employers who are scouting for individuals capable of effectively handling challenging situations in a multi-cultural office environment.
JOBS :
An educational opportunity abroad open avenues for lucrative jobs at multinational organizations since most of the universities have close links with industries and corporations. Moreover, the career guidance centers established at academic institutions assist students with the necessary information needed to be aware of the available employment opportunities. They also act as counseling centers and help match students’ interests, aptitude and skills with the job options they can consider after completing their program. Additionally, universities also organize training sessions and workshops focusing on interview skills and personality development skills that are essential for a successful placement.
COSTS :
A major deciding factor to be able to realize the dream of studying abroad is the cost incurred. The money required to be able to fund an overseas education could range from approximately INR 10 lakhs to 60 lakhs, depending on the degree program, duration and the country of destination. For most international applicants, arranging this amount appears to be a formidable challenge. However, it is not so. Apart from utilizing one’s personal savings, there are external sources of funding available that act as solution providers and make studying abroad a possibility. The academic institutions also offer financial support in the form of grants, assistantships, scholarships and tuition waivers. Besides this, academic institutions also offer various loan assistance programs. India too boasts of at least 20 banks that offer loans with easy repayment options to students for pursuing higher education abroad.

THE PRINCETON REVIEW LEARNING CYCLE:
TPR understands the importance of designing instruction such that it
impacts the learning curves of all types of learners scientifically and optimally. Our course is based on both the transmission and acquisition domains of learning and hence incorporates prework, instructor led sessions, practice and assessments.
Prework: Brush up on the basics before you come into class so that you don’t waste precious class –time learning things that you already learnt in school. Instructors recap in class, rather than teach.
In-class lessons: High impact instructor led sessions focus on the right balance of content,strategies and reinforcement  to ensure the most effective learning.
Assessments: Periodic assessments are an integral part of the course. The tests are the closest simulations of the real-time tests and give an accurate reflection of your progression, strengths and improvement areas. Teachers provide a detailed personalised analysis of your performance. This allows you to improvise on your subsequent test-taking approach.
Practice: Structured homework assignments are given every week that are critical to the students’s test performance improvement. Teachers review homework assignments in every class.

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MBA Applications
MBA Programs
Different types of MBA
MBA Specializations
B-Schools
MBA and Women
MBA Careers

More on GMAT

 Do GMAT Scores and Grades deserve all the attention that they do?

Do GMAT Scores and Grades deserve all the attention?

At the risk of sounding confusing, one might say that GMAT scores and Grades are important and yet, not important. Yes, even though a low score might make you ineligible for a B-school; a higher score too does not guarantee admission. It would help to understand the relevance of these scores from the college’s point of view. The GMAT score and grade point average, (GPA) are useful in two ways. First, they measure your competence and eligibility for rigorous academic work. A high score convinces the admission committee of your intellectual capabilities. Second, top schools use these scores to distinguish promising applicants from the larger pool of students. These schools covet students with exceptional academic scores since they wish to have a class with high score and grade profiles which indicates the worth of their MBA program.

The GMAT

Considering the fact that almost every B-school abroad requires the applicants to take the GMAT, this exam needs to be given due importance. Since a lot of top B-school favour students with a high score, you can improve your chances of admission if you prepare well. But also remember that the larger picture has to be perfect. It has been noted that if your scores are 50 points below a school’s average, the chances are dim. Some students also consider reappearing for the GMAT to get a higher score.

GPA
Along with the overall GPA, your junior and senior grades are also observed closely. The academic prestige of your college and the difficulty level of your curriculum is also considered while giving you admission.
A major portion of the course work in an MBA program is quantitative in nature and thus a strong background in quantitative courses, particularly calculus and micro-economics, does give you an edge. It assures the admissions committee of your future performance. In case, you did not pursue any quantitative courses as an undergraduate, you could invest some time and brains in a calculus, statistics, or micro-economics class before you apply.

MBA Applications

 The MBA Applications
 Why do some schools request an extensive cover letter?
 Resumes that work for you
 Selling your career change
 The MBA Interview

The MBA Applications

An MBA institute application is a bouquet of various documents that need to be carefully selected, tended and polished to reflect the fragrance of your individual personality. The entire application effort is to know your story, and each component is designed to get to know you in more detail. This is more crucial for international students as schools cannot call for a personal interview. So the entire decision on admission is based on the application mix.

Some common components are as follows:

Resume

A resume is an outline of your life. It is like an advertisement which presents you in the best light. The basic idea of a resume is to be enticing and attractive enough to make the admissions committee interested in you enough to read your applications positively.

Therefore a resume should summarise your achievements and works neatly and concisely. Take good care about formatting, which should be pleasing to the eye, and easy to read. List your achievements in reverse chronological manner, and aim to keep the length within one page, or at the most two, if it’s absolutely necessary to exceed the limit.

Essay

An essay is the most crucial component on which the application is built. Often, it is the make or break criteria. Essays are the most personal piece of the application and have the power to overcome low test scores, limited work experience or other weaknesses. They fill up any gaps in left in the resume, explain any mishaps and gloss over any aberrations visible in your career/student graph. Essays set apart a candidate from a crowd like no other application component. They are the tools to tell your story in your words – so make the best of this vital opportunity!

Each B-school has its own share of essay questions. The purpose behind each of them is to get an insight into the real you, even if the questions don’t seem to imply so. For example, in a question on your favourite personality, the admissions committee is not interested in knowing about a public figure. They are more interested to know what values and character traits you admire the most and hence, are a part of your own life as well.

Other important B-school essays include ‘your career goals and how an MBA will help you reach there’, ‘one failure/weakness, and how you overcame it/ big learning from it’, and ‘what do you do in your non-work hours’. However these are just a few examples and not a comprehensive list.

Some important aspects to keep in mind while writing an essay are: keep the narrative flow smooth and logical. Give specific examples to each point mentioned e.g. if you assert you have strong leadership qualities, then substantiate them with one or two examples where these have helped in some quantifiable gain at your work place or university. Try to use active voice as it is assertive. Emphasize on your uniqueness; make sure ‘you are different’ thought stands out in the content. Lastly, keep the language and grammar error-free.

Letters of Recommendations

Letters of Recommendations (LORs) are testimonials from your superiors or professors. As stated before, each part of the application builds an image of you. A LOR gives a third party perspective on you. Although it is quite given that a LOR will speak positively, yet the idea is to get a third party to provide that spotlight on you so that it validates what you have mentioned in your essay.

LOR’s should help in augmenting what you have mentioned in your applications. Hence, be truthful all across. Boasting an achievement is fine, but don’t exaggerate it. There cannot be anything worse than a contradicting LOR!

Most business schools require 2 to 3 LOR’s. Choose your recommenders carefully. It is advisable to get maximum work related recommendations. For example, some MBA programmes require three LOR’s. In such case, two professional and one academic recommendation is a good balance. However, if only two recommendations are asked for, then it is better for both to be professional ones. And in an ideal scenario, one of these should be from your current immediate superior. If that is not possible, then a former superior is good enough.

The most important point in selecting a recommender is that he or she should know you intimately and should have worked with you closely. The person should like you enough to invest time in writing a recommendation for you and present various facets of your personalities e.g. managerial skills, analytical ability, maturity as well.

Normally, in a B-school application, LOR is in a pre-designed question and answer format. There are specific questions to answer in a given space within 10-12 sentences.

Why do some schools request an extensive cover letter?
A business school asks for an extensive cover letter when it is interested in recruiting people who possess good communication skills. While the admissions committee goes through the cover letter, it checks the applicant’s knowledge of the language and grammar. Other factors that need to be communicated are your skills and clarity of thought. Sometimes schools specify the word limit or page length of such a letter. It is important to adhere to this limit. The topics to be discussed in the letter are career goals, why the writer is suitable for an MBA and reasons for applying for an MBA program.
A university may ask for an extensive cover letter for certain courses where entry standards are exceptionally high. Some of them will specify the focus of the letter. Otherwise, the document should run on the lines of a personal statement.
Resumes that work for you
The aim of a resume is to secure an interview call for you. An effective resume is a document that informs the reader of all of your achievements. It is to-the-point, and states the results achieved by the applicant in his past and present jobs. It is neat, properly formatted and customised according to the needs of the recruiter.
What a school wants
The admissions committee wants to be able to read your resume with as little difficulty as possible. It abhors typing, and spelling and grammatical errors. It also expects a resume to be concise. You must check your document before sending it to a firm. If you feel you are verbose, eliminate unnecessary words or phrases. You can always talk at length during the interview. Also avoid acronyms and slang; they have no role in a resume.
List your achievements
Your resume should act like a magnet to elicit an interview call or job offer. In order to do that you must list your achievements in each of the jobs you worked in. Remember that key result areas in your present job are of secondary importance to your prospective employer. How you perform in these areas is more important to them.
A physical copy
If you are sending a physical copy of the resume you will need to carefully select the paper and the envelope as well. For example, if you apply to a non-governmental organisation working in the forest conservation field, try to print your resume on recycled paper. In most other cases, a print-out on executive bond paper will suffice.
The way you write
The language, format, grammar and conciseness of your resume are also very important. Here are some important points:
• Never lie in your resume.
• After you finish composing your resume revise it and look for errors and omissions.
• All important dates must be mentioned and your attributes must be stated in a clear cut way.
• Eliminate spelling and grammatical errors.
• Leave out any controversial statements that may jeopardize your chances of being called for an interview.
• Use strong adjectives when describing yourself.
In conclusion, give the company good reasons to hire you.

The MBA Interview

The whole point of an interview is for the admissions committee to find out how well you would you perform if you are admitted to the school. Interviewers can gauge the sincerity or lack of commitment from a candidate’s response to a set of questions. Non-verbal communication, such as body language is also a give away of an interviewee’s intention. Your interviewers will ensure you are comfortable before starting an interview. Occasionally, however, you will have to deal with interviewers who want to check your response to tough scenarios.

Start with research

After you have sent in your application, you very well know the reasons for applying for an MBA at that particular school. However, it wouldn’t hurt to do another round of research on the school and the program. A candidate who has done his homework and is passionate about getting into that school will communicate future commitment, responsibility, initiative and awareness.

What should you wear?
A formal attire is best to wear. When you are dressed formally you communicate professionalism. A formal dressed person will also generate verbal communication and body language that is in accordance to the way they are dressed. A person who is dressed informally may be too relaxed in the way that they come across. It is important to be formal in your communications.
Answering the questions
It is good and useful to list down a set of tough questions that you think the interviewer will ask. A practice question-answer session with a friend can be a good preview of the actual interview.

When in the interview don’t respond to a question immediately. Think first and then reply. If the interviewer asks a general question, formulate your response to best match the requirements of the position for which you are being interviewed. While answering questions try to avoid issues that are controversial. These may include topics like religion, gender discrimination, ethnic differences or cross-cultural sensitive topics. Lastly try to give concise answers. Your interviewer will probably not have much time and other candidates may be waiting for their turn after you finish. For interview prep give us a call at 1800 – 102 – 4646.

What shall I take with me?
In order to be prepared for an interview do a checklist of the things you need to carry to the venue. Carry your application in a folder. This would have your resume as well. You might also want to take a writing pad and pen to jot down the answers to any questions that you might ask the interviewer.
Important points to be noted

• It is always better to arrive slightly before time at the venue of the interview. You will need to locate the venue, to park your vehicle and to brush up on your appearance before the interview commences.

• Greet your interviewer when he/she appears. You can do this by standing up and shaking their hand. Your hand shake must be one that has a firm grip as this communicates confidence.

• Always maintain eye contact when speaking. This communicates confidence as well as interest. If the questioner breaks off eye contact or appears unnecessarily distracted, it means he/she is less interested in your candidature and is just going through the motions.

• During the course of the discussion reiterate your strengths with special emphasis on the program you are being interviewed for.

• Tell the interviewer why you feel you ready for the program. If you feel he/she is provoking you, try to maintain your calm. Remember that other than your qualifications and experience, your poise and self-control may also be on test.

• When the interview ends, thank the interviewer for his time.

All in all stay calm. Don’t get intimidated. And while communicating formally stay relaxed within.

MBA Programs
 MBA – The right choice
 Right age to do an MBA
 What to do in college while preparing for an MBA?
 Which MBA Program should you choose?
 Executive MBA Program
 Are you considering an Executive MBA?
 Pick wisely between Executive MBA and Executive Education
 The best EMBA Program will lead you to success.
 Should you choose an International MBA?
 Non-profit MBAs

MBA – the Right Choice

Corporate recruiters the world over are realizing the importance of long term investment in human resource capital. They are looking at MBA post graduates like never before. Your decision to go for that masters in MBA has been the correct choice for now the recruiter is waiting to make his right choice – to pick you!

Management schools work like finishing schools where graduates from other disciplines (software, technology, even the liberal arts) can seek a four – year degree in business administration to sharpen their managerial skills. Investing in a management degree is worth every rupee paid for, as the education equips you with the right work ethics so essential in running business ventures. It gives one the right base to start one’s own business enterprise, another offshoot of today’s economy, in becoming more self reliant. New emerging sectors have opened the doors to many opportunities of resource management. These are in health and pharmaceutical segments, finance and accounting. Newer products and services in Information Technology; entertainment and leisure activity, require huge managerial skills. In India too, these are emerging sectors in which business graduates can make all the difference.

Salaries have rocketed for MBAs defying any economic downslide anywhere in the globe. In the context of globalization, Indian companies and MNCs working in the country cannot work in isolation alone. They will need managers who can strategize and plan operations in the global market. The buzz words are efficiency and competitive advantage. Indian students, both educated in India or abroad, are also looking to and are in demand in the global job market.

Consider this, The Boston Consultancy Group identified 100 companies from rapidly developing economies that are globalizing their business and are poised to become global challenges. Twenty one such companies are from India alone, combining revenue of $ 93 billion (Rest. 418, 510)! This will need huge managerial talent – top class talent – people not with just an engineering or IT degree but with managerial skills and with a background of knowledge in international business operations.

Pursuing an MBA after a few years as a business analyst or project manager, at a reputed Indian company, is also the right choice for a number of pay offs. Even for those who have put in some to good many years of work, an MBA helps in updation of their skills and refreshing their minds in handling old situations in a new way. That is why getting back to school to get that MBA, is making a whole lot of sense. For global recruiters, continue to repose their faith in business graduates despite fluctuating economies.

India too has woken up to this challenging need: bright managers who are willing to push the envelop.
Right age to do an MBA
Pursuing Master of Business Administration [MBA] studies has nothing to do with age. There are no age constraints but you must know your goals and your expectations from the MBA course. If you feel you should go in for a doctorate degree instead, then do so.
An MBA degree may be important to secure your professional future. MBA studies equip you to handle the opportunities and threats of today’s dynamic business environment. New products, new markets, offshore work, mergers, and new technologies all create uncertainty as well as an opportunity. An MBA helps you to take advantage of the opportunities and protects you from the threats. It provides you with a broad view of the functional areas of business.
Indian students usually opt for an MBA immediately after completing their undergraduate studies. At this time, they are in their early twenties and may not have any work experience. Students in many U.S. business schools are older and have worked for a few years before pursuing business studies. If you attend an U.S. business school and you have not worked before, you may be at a disadvantage in class discussions that expect a certain degree of corporate knowledge from the participants.
If you have short-listed a business school where the average age of students is much below or above your present age, you should reconsider your decision. Otherwise, you may feel out-of-place in the classroom. An MBA offered through distance learning, or a part-time MBA for working people or an executive MBA are other options available to prospective students.
So it is important to be sure about your goals and your expectations from an MBA course while selecting the business school and the MBA track.
What to do in college while preparing for an MBA?

A Masters in Business Administration is a coveted degree to get ahead in your career. It’s tough and for this, you will have to complete your undergraduate studies first. But do not despair. If you start the process early and plan for it, there is nothing on earth that can stop your from realizing your dream. The process starts at the undergrad level itself if you have made up your mind already to go for that MBA degree. It is a highly competitive area, so do remember that the philosophy of crossing the bridge when I come to it, does not really work here. You have to get a head start so start building that bridge straightaway. There are scores of students applying to business graduate programs in the United States of America from all over the world, not to discount the students from that country itself. As an Indian student, your homework should begin early.

Plan for your MBA

The trend to get into a good Business school is so high that aspirants now wait a few years by gaining work experience before applying. Since there is no age limit for an MBA course, 80 per cent of the applicants today are drawn from those who have a work experience of three to five years. Sometimes a couple of years suffice. If you are in the category of zero work experience, you are at a slight disadvantage. You will have to concentrate on the other areas; namely a high GMAT score, a high GPA and higher communication skills. A good essay and an equally good interview, should see you through in at least one of the college applied for. Use the Business School Search to shortlist at least seven such schools.

A high GMAT/CAT score may not always see you through but a combination of factors: good scores, a good communication skill, and a sense of international business, can equip you with a fair chance to compete in some of the best business schools. Plan your GMAT/CAT in a way that you sit for it, when you are absolutely sure of your goals and are totally prepared, instead of rushing with it. Get all the details about the examination from sources best available to you. Read about the different American/Indian/International business schools and know about their requirements; their faculty and courses offered. Search engines today provide you with volumes of information regarding studies anywhere in the world. Well-known magazines and papers run use their own Operational Research sources to list the top ten or twenty such colleges based on a number of parameters, making the identification that much simple for you. Not just Indian publications, a paper like the Financial Times also does international surveys on the subject.

Okay so you are not employed, but you can still do an internship as a part of your summer job at a business organization and gain a certain business sense. An internship is not recognized but you just might get to work under a CEO of a large corporation who could give you that wonderful letter of recommendation. Who knows! Learn a foreign language if your aspirations are global. Start analyzing business case histories to hone analytical skills so essential for business studies.

You can find yourself a recruiter too. In that case, a Business School could find you! But you still have to have that extra competitive edge in all of the above.

A Good Business School Makes All the Difference

Today not just one factor determines the choice of a good Business School. Earlier a great faculty and a teaching methodology sealed all search. In addition to that, students are looking for that “extra” something a school can offer by way of a great library, personality development programs, computer and hostel facilities and even a campus that is free of ragging and gender bias. Ultimately, the school is all about preparing one for the job market than making one a storehouse of only theoretical knowledge. After a few years of graduate studies, the school, through its Masters program, would be able to smoothen out the rough edges of that student, making him a polished product for recruiters to proudly employ. Its placement record is of vital interest. So while preparing for an MBA, an investment in competent research is of utmost value.

Which MBA program should you choose?

You are going for a graduate study in business and have finally decided to choose to do an MBA rather than a PhD. Though this may feel like your biggest decision you will find that unfortunately it is just the beginning. The different kind of programmes you will come across can leave you feeling confused, and unsure as to how to go about choosing which to do. Don’t worry; this is normal, we hope that on reading this you will feel a lot more confident in making your decision.

My options

Below are the different types of programmes that are open to you:

1. Part time MBA – Allows you to continue working in your current job/work place and attend classes in the evenings. This programme takes three or more years to finish.

2. Full time MBA – Does not take as long as a part time programme. It usually lasts for two years and some times for an even shorter time taking twelve or sixteen months to complete.

3. Executive MBA – If you have at least eight years of professional experience this programme is another option for you. It allows you to keep your work schedule and classes are held on the weekends.

4. Certificate Programme – This programme is actually not an MBA. It allows you to specialize in a particular area of interest. The skills that you gain for the important field that you choose to specialize in are highly valued in the job Market.

Keep reading. When choosing your options there are other aspects that you need to keep in mind.

How experienced are you? How much experience is required?

Different programmes require different amounts of work experience. If you have little or no experience, you will have to consider one of these options. You can either take a full time MBA programme (there are some that require very little or no experience) or you can take a certificate programme which rarely requires any experience at all. A part time MBA programme requires at least three years of work experience but does make allowances for some students who have less. Experience is always beneficial for you. If you have no experience at all you may find it hard to take part in class room discussions as well as apply what you learn in a work situation.

Most top-tier full time MBA programmes require at least three years of post-undergraduate professional experience. An executive MBA requires at least eight years of professional experience at the management level.

Do you have the time?

If you don’t have the time here are your options. You can choose the full time MBA programme which can be completed in a matter of twelve or sixteen months. The negative aspect of this programme is that you will loose out on professional experience during this time. The certificate programme also requires a fairly short commitment usually lasting for two semesters.

An executive MBA programme will normally last two years and a part time programme can take from three to four years. If you have an undergraduate degree in business you can shorten the part time programme by a few courses. Both of these are quite challenging as you juggle between your job and your studying.

Do you have the money?

Unfortunately these programmes are pretty expensive. There are scholarships available for students in full time programmes. This, however, does not make the expense a whole lot less. The good news is that if you are in an underrepresented group (which you will be in if you go abroad) there will be specific award programmes that target you. These will definitely help.

If you are considering the option of the executive MBA or the certificate programme you will be doing a full time job as well as studying. A lot of the time employers partially or completely reimburse their student employees. There is however a commitment that most of these students have to make to stay for a number of years, after their degree, with their employers.

You must take your career goals into consideration

If you aim to start a new career or business or look for a different job in the business market you will not have too much time on your hands and reimbursement from your current employers will not be an option. A full time MBA, where you are on the campus interacting with the students and the faculty of your programme is probably the best option.

To improve your position in a particular business a part time or certificate programme is your best option. The programme will equip you with important skills that your employer will definitely value and you may even get him to pay
Executive MBA Programme

An executive MBA programme is a part-time programme where the student does not take a break from his job to pursue the course. The essential difference between a normal part-time MBA student and an E-MBA one is that of profile. An E-MBA student is typically an experienced executive who does not leave his current pursuit to take up the course. Also, unlike regular part-time MBA, E-MBA is completed within two years, just like a normal full-time MBA would. An E-MBA student also has the advantage of putting to practice what he learns simultaneously in his current work place.

The first EMBA programme was offered by University of Chicago in 1943, and now many b-schools offer the same. In India reputed institutes like Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian School of Business, Symbiosis Pune and many other offer the course.

The admission process for E-MBA is tough and rigorous which focuses a lot on the essays, professional experience and performance. Since the course is for executives who have already shown their mettle on the field, it is but obvious that the school is looking for that individualism, diversity and winning edge from the student.

The course is structured to suit the demands of a full working life, though be warned that social life may take a back-seat while you pursue the course. Often, the schools arrange for classes on weekends yet the demands to finish assignments and case studies can be gruelling. Since all the students will be working, there is an enriching output of collective professional minds in these classes.

To sum up, an E-MBA programme often serve as finishing schools for upwardly mobile executives or as catch-up educational opportunities for technical executives who lack business expertise.
Are You Considering an Executive MBA?

If you are considering an executive MBA here is some information that will help you in making your decision.

What exactly is an executive MBA?

An executive MBA (EMBA) is one which allows an experienced professional to pursue their career while getting a master’s degree in business administration simultaneously. The classes are usually structured in a schedule that leaves the student with a lot of time for his career. An EMBA student is a part of a class that graduates together at the end of the course. The skills they learn are strengthened as they are able to put them into practice as soon as they learn them. An EMBA student will find that their class mates are ones who are also professionally experienced. They learn from their teachers and from each other.

What are the differences between an EMBA, a full time MBA and a part time MBA?

The EMBA course lasts for two years which is similar to the timing of a full time MBA course. The class schedules, however, are different for each.

A part time MBA is a more time consuming course that lasts for three years. An EMBA course is similar to a part time MBA course in the sense that it allows the students to pursue their career while studying. The difference is in the amount of experience the students have. EMBA students will be more professionally experienced than part time MBA students.

Is this course for you?

At least eight years of professional experience is required for this kind of course and in addition you must have experience of being a middle or upper level manager. Most students who join have ten or more years of professional experience. Work performance, academic records, GMAT scores and professional recommendations all play a big part in getting you admitted for an EMBA. The reasons for joining an EMBA course are to be equipped with skills as a team worker and as a leader as well as to refine the skills that you already posses.

Class schedules

There are different structures followed by different programmes but they all provide ample time for you to pursue your full time career. Take the USC Marshall for example. Its’ students meet for one full day every week and on every alternative Friday and Saturday. Other programmes may meet every weekend and some even give you the option of meeting on weeknights.

The cost
A lot of the time employers partially or completely reimburse their student employees and then require them to stay in the job for a certain amount of time after the course is complete. This is, however, changing and many students pay for this course themselves. Those who pay themselves are able to apply for different types of financial aid such as loans or scholarships. The good thing about the EMBA is that you will continue to work and be paid by your employers and this will help in your financial situation.
Pick Wisely between Executive MBA and Executive Education

When you decide to take up business education while you are working two choices come your way an Executive Masters in Business Administration, EMBA and the Executive Education courses. While in the EMBA, you would study the entire course of Business Management and Administration studies, the Executive Education courses would enable you to gain specialisation in a particular area of business studies. Is that confusing? Let’s make it simpler by discussing the similarities and the differences!

First for the similarities! An EMBA program is taken up by working professionals to pursue studies in their free time, after a full-time job. The program would have a study schedule that offers classes on weekends/weeknights/even once a week; every school may have its own schedule but it could be adjusted around your working time. Similarly, Executive Education programs are also business courses taken up by working professionals. Their study schedule is woven around their professional lives, too, and so classes are again very flexible. Through the EMBA program, you would be able to utilize the knowledge learnt in the class simultaneously at your work place. Same goes for an Executive Education, that is, learn over the weekend and apply the lesson during the week!

Both the programs would enhance your business acumen and provide you with the knowledge and skill sets you are looking for.

Now for the differences! An EMBA program is quite similar to the regular traditional MBA program in the course work and syllabus and also in duration, plus any working professional can pursue an EMBA. But the Executive Education programs are generally designed to offer specialised business courses to working professionals at managerial or administrative level. These are short-term courses that cover just one aspect of business management and administration, such as, say; a course in Marketing would focus on just that and nothing more. Although this would be a fairly comprehensive course on Marketing yet it would be limited to just that field!

An EMBA program lasts for two years, where most schools offer twenty hours of studies per week; entailing classroom studies, project and research work and assignments. If your aim is to acquire an MBA while working full-time, pick an EMBA!

But if you are looking for a course that’s short, productive and focused on just one area of business, this one’s for you! Executive Education programs may last from two to twenty six days, depending on the course you take and the school you join. The curriculum would also entail classroom as well as practical exposure covering just that particular stream, depending again on the course you follow.

If you still cannot decide which to pick among an EMBA and an Executive Education program, here’s a difference of vital importance. After the completion of your EMBA program, you would be given a Degree Certificate whereas after the completion of any of your Executive Education programs, only some universities may seal it with a certificate and that too for certain courses!
So when you’re in an International scenario, think before choosing and thus you would always pick wisely!
The Best EMBA Program Will Lead You to Success: Choose Right!
For you as an International student, an Executive MBA, EMBA program will be an opportunity to gain a business management education even as you work full time. The best program would be one that will facilitate classes in a way that best utilizes your free available time; one that would help you apply the theoretical knowledge learnt as part of the course in your workplace. Like a normal MBA program, an EMBA program also requires two years of studies. You would invest valuable success-building years in acquiring an education that would eventually lead you to reach the success you desire in your career.
Hence, the program you choose should be best suited to your individual requirements and should compliment your professional and personal life! So the first step you should undertake after deciding upon an EMBA- is serious contemplation and planning based on extensive research. Since along with working throughout the week, you would now be studying on weekends/weeknights so you will have to practically give up your leisure time. There are a few characteristic that you should never comprise on while choosing the program as it should make life as easy and stress-free as possible.
The first characteristic to look for in an EMBA program should be that it fulfills your requirement of a business education completely. You would have an inkling of what you want to specialize in during your EMBA so stick to that criteria and start your research. Surfing on the net specially on the program website will not be completely productive, instead go out and talk to people! Looking for guidance and advice from the faculty, the present students, even the old ones will pay good dividends. So leave your shy-coat at home and utilize those communication skills!
The next qualities you need to give importance to are the excellence and value the EMBA program you are interested in offers. Although through the program website you may come to know what the program covers, yet it will not reflect the excellence and quality of the content. For that you again need to depend on the word of mouth and experience of those who know the program closely or have studied it in the past. In fact the best way to go about this is to make a list of suitable programs and then collect individual opinions on each program. Asking the alumni would be the best but questioning your colleagues and friends is also a good idea; as in today’s busy world EMBA is a very common mode of management studies and most have them may have taken it up.
The third criteria you should consider important is how comfortably and conveniently the program falls into your everyday life. In a time where stress is the biggest killer, one must avoid extra tensions and pressures. It goes without saying that acquiring an education while you are working, that too one that will expect you to devote a lot of serious study, will definitely lead to some added pressure! But there are certain ways that you can ensure that you don’t end up burning the candle on both ends. Simple ways: first- during your research for the best EMBA program, keep in mind the class timings/schedules and your availability at that particular schedule! Second- again ask and take advice from people who have literally “been there, done that”. Third- since your personal and working life will be somehow affected, there’s just not you to consider while deciding about the schedule of classes you want to take up so talk to all the people around you whose life will be impacted too.
Next comes future planning! Now if you intend to change your job on the completion of your course, keep your eyes open and select an EMBA program that will help you in the next career move. There was a time students with the normal full-time MBA had better job opportunities than the EMBA students. But that’s not a problem now! You can always find a school that will facilitate you with job recruitments that best suit your experience.
Should you choose an International MBA?

Thanks to globalization our world is a smaller place. As a result, different businesses are fast becoming internationally based. As students begin to realize this, courses in an international MBA are growing to be more and more popular. These courses focus on global business theory and provide a diverse, multicultural environment, which stimulates the students to becoming effective and valuable in the business world. Some examples of popular international schools in Europe that provide courses in MBA are, France’s INSEAD, Switzerland’s International Institute for Management Development (IMD), the London Business School (LBS), and the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM).

Below are the benefits of taking this type of course. If you are inspired by them then an international MBA is the way for you.

Multicultural diversity

So what is so great about a multicultural, diverse environment?

• You will learn all that a MBA teaches you within a global perspective
• International management will be a valuable skill that you acquire
• International based organizations will be interested in hiring you
• You will learn to understand and accept the differences in your fellow students as well as to express your own views and beliefs

Will you really get a diverse environment?

Well, let’s take an example of an international school to see just how much diversity there can be. The Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands is an international school. In the class of 2004, 48% of the students were European, 26% were Asian, and there were a significant number of students from Central and South America, Mexico, and the Middle East. An Indian would be a part of the small population of students from Asia that make a little more than a quarter of the whole. They would definitely be experiencing a diverse culture environment.

Your post MBA career

After this international course you will find that many big companies recruit students such as yourself into offices or projects that are local to the school you are in. They value the skills that an international programme provides you with. Some examples of top American consulting companies that hire students from international MBA courses are McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group and Booz Allen and Hamilton. You will definitely not have a big problem in looking for a job after this course. Since these companies hire you in the local area of the school you should be careful in choosing the area that your school is placed in. This is important especially for those who want to settle abroad permanently.

Foreign languages

Most international MBA courses require you to learn another language besides English. It is very beneficial for you if you already are familiar with a foreign language. There are many international programmes that run bilingual programmes such as Spain’s ESADE that holds classes in Spanish as well as in English. Whether you choose to take classes in a foreign language or not it is always beneficial for you to have learnt another language as it adds to the international experience and makes you more valuable to business companies.

Non-profit MBAs

Although it might seem odd to pursue an MBA if your goal is to work as a volunteer with your neighbourhood non-profit organisation, the bottom line remains the same. Since for both kinds of organisations, i.e. for profit and non-profit, the goal is identical: the success of the company either in terms of money or in terms of the fulfilment of the mission. However, much of the skills that one learns in business school are directly applicable to work with nonprofits. By studying general business management, economics, finance, marketing, operations, and non-profit management, business school students gain a theoretical academic framework that highlights the fundamental forces in organizational management and business, certainly applicable to working effectively at the community level with any non-profit institution.

Make a difference

In this new world, where people and organisations are keen to make a positive social impact and make the world a better place via all sorts of organisations in the non-profit, private and public sectors, social responsibility has become a byword in many organisations. With more and more people wanting to learn how to ‘change the world’, it is no wonder that there is an increase in students applying to business schools to get a slice of the pie. For decades, a small number of Business School grads have chosen Washington over Wall Street. And over 80 percent of business school alumni hold positions in non-profit organizations at some point in their lives, according to Business School spokesman James E. Aisner. It is therefore quite understandable that many of the business schools in the US today offer courses which cater to that set of students who hope to make a difference by enhancing their abilities at business schools.

Non-profit MBA

In today’s world of specialization, it is not surprising that MBA students are keen to specialise too, and set themselves apart from others while capitalizing on the potential of the MBA by channelizing their abilities outside the normal business arena in the non-profit sector. Since non-profits do not operate in exactly the same way as the rest of the business sector and have different laws and considerations that apply to them, these focused courses are particularly helpful to successfully manage both the mission and the bottom line of the organization. Non-profit MBA students can add value to organizations because they possess certain business skills that are lacking in some non-profit organizations. These skills include finance, accounting and marketing. While the organization’s goal may not be maximizing profits, financing is necessary to fulfil the mission. Organizations in the public and non-profit worlds do not want their employees to ‘think like a social worker’ all the time, but rather; need to understand the larger business context and organizational strategy.

Job prospects

Non-profit MBA Graduates can work for a non-profit organization; independently as a consultant, or for the national, local or state government. Alternatively, graduates can work for a for-profit company in the area of corporate social responsibility, corporate volunteer programs or corporate philanthropy. These jobs often fall within the Community or Public Affairs Deaprtments.

Different types of MBA

MBA – Masters in Business Administration, is the most sought after course for a successful and a soaring career in the corporate world. Acquiring an MBA degree is the passport to a global and a dynamic business environment and being a competent professional is the reward of this degree.

Universities all over the world offer MBA program and this degree is offered in different formats and modules, thus allowing the students to study in accordance to their needs and priorities. Apart from the regular full-time MBA program, there are a variety of MBA programs, which enable the students from different professional and social backgrounds to pursue this degree.

Beyond the full time MBA Programs, there are several kinds of MBAs available:

MBA Online Program

Online MBA is an MBA degree, which you acquire through the mode of distance learning, and it allows you to receive instructions and course materials from distant places. As an Online MBA student, you interact with your faculty almost virtually and
the academic interaction is facilitated by the use of advanced communication technology like the Internet, video conferencing and e-mail.

An online MBA program or a distance-learning program is an ideal program for professionals who wish to soar in their careers but cannot afford to pursue a full-time MBA degree. This program provides exposure to the emerging knowledge and theories in management and enables the students to balance both their professional and academic lives.

An online MBA program has lot of advantages, which makes it quite feasible and learner-friendly. This program demands a lesser commitment of time than the regular program as the class work can be scheduled in a flexible manner. It also cuts across geographical barriers and provides access to faculty in distant locations.

However, on the flip side, an Online MBA program is not an ideal choice for career switchers since it offers a narrow scope for interaction with faculty and classmates. It also deprives students of a rich and stimulating live interactive environment. The benefits of scholarships and services such as career placement are usually absent in a distance program.

Part-time/Evening Program

A part-time MBA program is for professionals who attend classes in the evening after their work hours and wish to enhance their career by an MBA degree. A part-time program usually offers specializations same as a full-time program but in some cases, the number of concentrations is limited. Some part-time programs are as extensive as the full-time programs but are spread out over a longer time.
A part-time program is the most effective and focused program for aspiring and ambitious professionals who wish to combine their work expertise with knowledge of the contemporary management theories and practices. It offers the students an opportunity to blend their practical knowledge with the classroom wisdom and also formulate workable solutions on the job.
This program can be funded with loan money available for eligible students and sometimes the employers also provide tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit.
While considering a part-time program, one should keep in mind a few limitations of this program. Since the students are working, scholarship money is not available and even the career services are quite restricted. This program cannot be converted into a full time since the credits do not get transferred.

MBA One Year Programs

One year Full time MBA course is an intensely concentrated program with a duration of 11 to 16 months. This program has a high level of competition and there is learning beyond classroom too. Since it is a full time program, it also helps you build a strong network of MBA colleagues in your chosen field. Like a regular MBA program, this program also offers a complete and intensive learning experience which includes career services like campus interviews, social and professional clubs, career counseling and other services.

Some features of this program, however, might dissuade few applicants from applying for this course. There are no internship opportunities since there is no sufficient time break between semesters. Sometimes, the employers do not view this degree favorably as well as a two-year MBA program.

MBA Executive Programs
Executive MBA (EMBA) programs are usually company-sponsored programs, which are aimed at furthering the career growth of working executives. These programs groom the professionals in general management skills and aid them in their climb up the corporate ladder.

The classes are held over weekends and the academic environment is conducive to interactive learning with students contributing their ideas and insights towards the curriculum.

EMBA program differs greatly from a full-time MBA program in many aspects. Since the students are employed, there is no internship and university scholarships are also not available. The curriculum offers only general management skills and there is no or very limited chances of specialization.

EMBA program is a beneficial program for executives as it provides a solid foundation in each of the major business disciplines and the students earn their degree in two years or less.

Pursuing this program involves a high level of commitment since the student has to balance both the professional and academic front and keep pace with the demanding and hectic schedule. Most EMBA students have to devote 80 to 100 hours a week between job and studies. Absenteeism is not tolerated since the classroom time is squeezed especially for the convenience of the students.

Executive Education
Executive Education is a broad and an evolving concept, which is being embraced by corporate houses and multinational companies for harnessing the maximum potential of their executives. The business houses have realized the importance of honing the talent of their employees and sharpening their leadership and management skills. It is considered a judicious investment by the companies to fund the training and development of their executives since it reaps long- term benefits and contributes to the productivity and efficiency of the firm.
Executive Education forms the foundation for training the employees as senior managers and also ensures transfer of knowledge management from one generation to another.
An emerging trend in Executive Education is the bent towards customized programs, which are tailored, for a particular concern or a project in the company. These programs allow for practical learning on the job and equip the executives with the necessary set of skills in a dynamic business environment.

Difference between Executive MBA and Executive Education

Executive MBA forms an integral part of Executive Education since many corporate houses sponsor management programs for their employees to develop leadership and other crucial management abilities. This MBA program forms the core of Executive Education and is a stepping-stone towards the growth of the company and its resource pool.

Executive Education is an all-embracing term, which comprises MBA program along with various training and development programs framed for skill building in the executives. This also includes various short-term programs and sessions organized by the HR department to address the growth needs of the employees. Executive Education is an on-going process, which is undertaken by the company to constantly nourish the intellectual and emotional life of its employees.

Speciality Degree in Management Education

A speciality degree in Management Education is career specific and offers a highly intensive training in the chosen field. It therefore, does not offer a general background in management education unlike an MBA degree. There are various areas in which one can acquire a speciality degree, like: Computational Finance, Industrial Administration, Health Care, Public Accounting and others. It is advisable to research your chosen industry since some fields are accessible only after the specialized training.

MBA Specializations

General Management Program vs. Special Management Programs

Students have the opportunity to pursue either a general management program or complete a specialization as part of the MBA program. Specializations are a matter of choice, not a prerequisite, and all students receive the same MBA education regardless of whether they complete a specialization. Students should consider their career goals and professional development in settling on a specialization. As more and more universities offer MBA programmes, it is becoming ever more difficult for candidates to decide on which business school offers the most suitable MBA programme to meet their requirements. Many business schools are digressing from the ‘generalist’ system, which has been the typical MBA model for the last thirty years. Today you can choose from a wide range of MBA specializations, ranging from an MBA in Financial Studies, as well as Insurance and Risk Management Accountancy and Finance, to an MBA in Sports Management, or even an MBA in Technology.

The trend towards one-year niche, or specialist MBAs, designed for particular groups of professional people, appears to be market driven. Some fields may be nearly impossible to enter without specialized training. Research your chosen industry to determine whether a specialty program may be a better alternative for you than a generalist MBA degree.

US schools in particular, reject the specialist MBA model. Their two-year format allows MBA students to be generalists in their first year, whilst specializing in their chosen field in their second year.

Shape your studies to complement all that make you inimitable — education, experience, aptitudes, interests, passions. Famous MBA schools abroad all have their own specialties; for example, Harvard Business School is at the head of the class in commercial management, the University of Chicago Graduate Business School in financial management, and the Kellogg School of Management in marketing.

MBA in Finance

In the US the finance department has become a battleground for business school
supremacy. With the high profile of Wall Street amongst MBA recruiters, finance is one of the most eminent disciplines.

Finance is such an intricate and diverse industry that many schools have large sectors dedicated to the subject. Most of the world’s investment banks are staffed primarily by MBA graduates from schools with a strong background in finance. After several quiet years, demand for MBAs within one of the most popular sectors for business school graduates – investment banking – is back with a vengeance. According to the 2005 Top MBA.com Recruiter and Salary Survey, which canvasses opinions from recruiters in 30 countries around the world, demand is up by 20%, taking it to a level not witnessed since the bursting of the dotcom bubble at the beginning of the millennium.

For the go-getting MBA, whatever his or her gender or racial background, it means that investment banking is rapidly becoming an aspired field. Banks realize that they need to emulate the diversity and experience of their clients and are making great efforts to achieve this through, recruitment, retention and development. Background and potential, however, are just the commencement and it’s consequently no surprise that investment banks are some of the biggest per capita spenders on training and development of all MBA recruiters.

London Business School has long had a dominant finance faculty, which has only been enhanced since it developed the highly successful one year Masters in Finance (MiF) in the mid-1990s. Yet Janet Dobson, Director of the MiF, endorses the view that: “a specialist Masters like the MiF is very different from our generalist two year MBA. It is proposed for finance junkies…76% of our MiF class already have an MBA or management degree.”

MBA in Health (Pharmaceuticals)
Now worth well in excess of $500 billion per annum, the pharmaceuticals industry is a key player in the worldwide economy as more and more MBA s are opting for this trendy field. The industry’s largest market remains North America, which accounts for nearly half of all pharmaceutical sales, with Europe taking second place at around 30% of total worth. However, this may be all set to change over the next decade. While growth in North America hovers at around 8%, both Latin America and Asia are forging ahead with growth figures well into double digits.
Johnson & Johnson is alone expecting to hire as many as 300 full-time and 150 intern MBAs in the 2006-07 season. As is the case in many key industries, MBAs tend to be recruited by the pharmaceutical sector, as much for their potential as for any specific previous experience, although academic training in the sciences or a background in such areas as sales or marketing can sometimes prove to your advantage.
MBA in Consultancy
Most consultancy firms see a top MBA as a fundamental management entry-level qualification. Without an MBA, it is almost impossible to become a senior consultant in a top-consulting firm. The MBA seems to have moved from a ‘nice to have’ to a ‘need to have’ qualification for those set on an international management consultancy career. According to the Survey, top consultancies are predicting average base salaries for new MBA hires of US $94,000, while one North American firm has reported making offers of as much as US $117,500. Average salaries for MBAs graduating from US schools are on the whole only very slightly higher than those from European schools. 2006 is revealing consulting job listings running well ahead of 2005, and has seen increased hiring from all the major strategy consulting firms as well as the systems integrators like Accenture, IBM and Cap Gemini. Accenture customarily hires between 10,000 and 17,000 people, globally, each year.
MBA in Information Technology

Students interested in careers in management consultancy, software or database development, enterprise management systems, telecommunication and business analysis must opt for the specialization and will be recognized as having a thorough IT background. IT graduates play essential roles on the business team, typically designing and implementing hardware and software solutions to business problems. They hold professional positions in areas such as client/server or web applications development, systems analysis and network administration. They constitute the important workforce as technical and management professionals in a variety of industries. Students obtaining such a certificate usually acquire positions in the top management consulting firms or as strategic analysts in the transportation, telecommunications, and financial sector.

Graduates are expected to possess the appropriate knowledge, experience and skills to adapt to change in this dynamic field through a lifelong learning process. They are prepared to help shape twenty-first century organizations in a rapidly changing, globally competitive, technologically sophisticated environment. The program is designed to develop a diverse and integrated group of experts armed with the necessary skills for building new entrepreneurial ventures.

MBA in Telecommunications

Technical convergence changes everything. An MBA in this particular field equips students with a global vision of the business convergence process currently taking place and poised to form one of the major industries of the 21st century. A full time program from Instituto de Empresa Business School organized in collaboration with Accenture, international leading partner, is oriented to innovative professionals of any background who want to plan a career path in the digital economy, either as a key player in a leading multinational or as an entrepreneur.

Telecommunications have made huge leaps forward in the past two decades. It is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The emphasis is on the value added services, such as e-mail, cellular phones, WAP etc in developed countries and in improving basic telephone availability in the developing countries. This sector plays a key role in encouraging growth in the industrial and services sector.

MBA in Media
This one-of–a kind MBA is geared to professionals already working in media. It was specifically designed to provide graduates with the foundation, skills, and competencies required to both understand and function within the complex legal, ethical, economic, and social dimensions of media management.
Admission to this program requires entering students to have prior media, art or media related business expertise. Students come from a wide array of backgrounds in communication arts; radio; television; film; music; fine arts; gallery and arts administration; museum administration; law; education; business management; marketing; public relations; creative writing; journalism; multimedia; publishing; e-commerce; theatre; dance; and opera.
Each semester combines academic study with actual managerial experience. In the first semester, students focus their efforts on creating a comprehensive business plan for a media-related venture designed to satisfy a need, realize an opportunity, or address a challenge within a given media industry. In the second semester, students implement aspects of their business plans and in the third semester they develop and implement a marketing plan to promote their respective media ventures
Schulich offers Canada’s only MBA with a specialization in arts and media administration. The specialization is suitable for students who have either work experience in the cultural sector or an undergraduate education in areas of the arts such as music, theatre, dance or the visual arts, or areas of the cultural media such as film studies or literary studies. Schulich graduates from the arts and media administration specialization fill such positions as: general manager and marketing and development directors of major performing and visual arts organizations; cultural policy analysts at all levels of government; owners of entrepreneurial endeavors in the cultural sector; and business managers in the film industry.

MBA in Services

The financial services sector is undergoing profound and rapid change. Organizations require professionals who understand the dynamics of the industry, and the broad direction and implications of the forces of change. Such professionals must have a strong foundation in skills that will be relevant to a critically important and fast-changing industry. These skills include areas such as marketing, strategy, real property development and organizational behavior/industrial relations. They also include finance and financial engineering skills, which are particularly relevant to manage risk in the sector. The program is designed to compliment these skills by providing students with an appreciation of how this important industry sector is changing, and the implications of this change for the application of these skills. The program adds value to students who wish to work in the financial services industry.
The program stresses relevance as well as rigor. To this end, it is committed to developing relationships with firms and senior executives in the financial sector that can provide ‘real-world’ perspectives on current issues.

B-Schools

 Business Schools Admissions
 Finding the best B-Schools for you
 Finding the right B-Schools for you
 International B-schools – What is so great about them?
 Leadership – MBA lexicon top of the tops
 Magic formula for getting into a B-school
 The B-school reality check
 U-turn to school
 Study tips
 What are the B-schools looking for?
 What is life at B-school?
 What’s the B-school education like?
 Work Experience – No green horns, only work-ex counts

Business School Admissions Today

Despite the fact that most schools in the US have reported a steady rise in the number of applications that they receive, the quality of the students has remained the same. So if your aim is to apply to an American university, you need to know some basic facts, since you will be competing with some of the best applicants from around the world.
The three basic criteria for all courses abroad are: a consistently good academic record, financial support and proficiency in English. Most business schools say that there is no ideal time for applying. However, the old adage better late than never does not apply here. If you are well prepared, with exceptional GMAT scores, a complete application form, well-written essays and recommendations, then there is no reason why you should wait. Most top schools receive up to 5000 applications a year for about 500 places in the program, and these start getting filled up as the deadlines come up. So effectively, by the time the last deadline arrives, there are only about 80-100 places left, for which you would be competing with over a 1000 applicants.

What you need to complete your application
• Undergraduate transcript with your GPA (Grade Point Average from your bachelors degree)
• GMAT score
• TOEFL score.
• CV of your career to date
• Essays that provide examples of professional achievements
• Letters of Recommendation
At the end of the day, how you market yourself is as important as what you have achieved before you even thought of applying to a B-school. It is very essential to have a complete, organized and well-typed application. An incomplete application will reflect badly on you and your application might well end up collecting dust on the Admission’s committee desk.
Preparing yourself
The GMAT or the Graduate Management Admissions Test, is one of the most commonly used grading system that a majority of B schools in the US use to measure academic ability, especially to compare the abilities of applicants from widely varying backgrounds. It is broken up into three sections: quantitative, verbal and writing. Taken in English, it is a computer-adaptive (CAT) test, which can be taken throughout the year. GMAT scores are a very important part of your application and you need a score of at least 600 to be even considered by any of the schools. The TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language is a test used to evaluate the proficiency of individuals whose native language is not English and is scored on a scale of 0 to 300. A score of 200 is required by most schools as it establishes whether your command of English is sufficient to allow you to conduct higher education studies in the language.
Essays & SOPs
Essays and statements of purpose (SOP) form a very important part of your application. This is your chance to talk about yourself, your motivations, abilities and achievements in a frank and sincere manner. It also showcases your ability to be concise and articulate. Do extensive research through the university’s website to focus on the courses that you plan on taking up and how they will help you further your goals and make sure you mention this in your essays.
Letters of Recommendation
LORs give a third party perspective on the kind of person you are. To have a well-rounded application, you need to choose your recommenders well, someone who knows you closely and who can validate your claims of achievements. It is better to choose someone who likes you rather than someone famous, for they will take the time to write out a good recommendation with positive points about you.
Resume
Your resume should be concise and well formatted. Most schools ask for a one page resume for MBA and accept a two page one for PhD. Be honest but don’t hesitate to list your achievements. Since you will be competing with several thousand applicants you will need to have something on your resume that will give you an edge over the others. List your hobbies and extracurricular activities if these reflect well on your personality.

Finding the Best Business School for You

The Master of Business Administration is one of the most popular and sought-after degrees today. As the world moves to an increasingly corporate and service-based economy, companies have an ever-growing need for competent business professionals. The ideal way to enjoy a high flying and successful career in the area of business administration, The MBA qualification equips one with the skills and knowledge necessary for this field.
The content and focus of MBA programs can vary, and therefore you should always check the details of the course when choosing one. You can then determine which course will best suit your needs. A number of factors need to be considered in a balanced way when choosing an MBA program, as this will enable you to make a better-informed choice.
Is the curriculum as broadly or as narrowly focused (or as flexible) as you would like?
A generic MBA without any specialization would stand some applicants in good stead, if they were to change their careers. Other applicants feel that a specialized MBA—say, in healthcare administration, or banking, or international trade and finance, will be a better ticket to jobs in those professions. You need to decide if a specialized MBA best suits your career needs, or will you be better off with a more general business education.
How important is the school’s international Focus to you?
As the 21st century progresses, globalization is having a huge effect on businesses of all kinds. As a result, MBA programs are striving to become more global in focus by including more case studies that are global and especially by including a large number of diverse field students in each program.
Some schools prefer to train people to work in the country where the school is located, or at least in that region of the world. Others pay special intention to the growing globalization of the economy, and the increasing numbers of business people who may work in two, three, or more countries in the course of their career.
These differences are often reflected in the kinds of courses offered, and the approach taken in the courses. You need to determine whether an international focus is important to you and, if so, you need to be sure that the program you choose meets that need.
How does the costs factor matter to you?
It becomes apparent that an MBA program is an extremely expensive proposition, one that all prospective students are aware of. Tuition costs will vary depending upon the school and the program that you choose. Funding the course in its entirety may be difficult and banks loans may not always be feasible. Though many business schools, particularly in the US, have funds available to help students finance their programs, these are extremely competitive. When you are looking for the right MBA program, you need to check if the tuition is affordable, especially if you are dependent on a student loan. You need to decide what you can afford to pay and research your funding options thoroughly.
What is the duration of the MBA program you prefer?
Selecting a business school that meets your professional objective is not easy and can get further complicated if you are not sure about the duration of your academic endeavor. While most European MBAs often take one year, which could mean anything from 8 to 12 months, there are others that are designed to require 18 to 24 months. While many American MBAs take two academic years, there are some that require a year and a half, and some as little as one year. Many distance programs offer part-time options, allowing you to stretch the course of study to balance work and family—or, conversely, to do many courses at once, so as to finish more quickly. Based on your background and experience, you need to decide on time at your disposal for the program you chose.
Do you want to pursue a dual degree program?
Joint degree programs are designed to allow students with strong interest in two professional areas to study for two graduate degrees at the same time. These programs generally require that a candidate should fulfill all the first-year foundation requirements of both degree programs. Typically, joint degree programs reduce, by one year, the time required if you were to complete the two degrees separately. For candidates who know exactly what field they want to work in after their studies, a dual degree can offer a competitive advantage and an important point of differentiation on their resume.
Does a Business School have a strong Career Assistance Cell?
One of the best places to get recruiting information is the business school’s career center/placement office/career services, where a dedicated staff works on gathering and making available as many resources as possible to help their students. Most business schools today have career placement services that provide information about internships, job opportunities, recruitments with companies and career planning sessions. These are vital to the professional growth of any b-school student. Find out if the school’s graduates were successful in bagging the types of jobs you strive for? What are the school’s placement rate and starting salaries after attaining the degree? Does the school make arrangement for recruiters to meet/get details on new graduates? Does the school maintain an active alumni association?
Assessing these crucial factors will make it easier for you to find a program that suits your needs. Remember, your decision will be a critical one, so make sure you are investing sufficient time and energy in your quest. Read though business school web sites or promotional material and request further information from the university. Look over the curriculum of the program you are interested in, and then consult the school’s catalog to study the relevant course descriptions. Contact the faculty, current students and alumni for additional information. If you know which companies you are interested in working for, talk to them, or read through their Web sites to find out what business schools and what types of programs they tend to hire from. Whichever school you pick, keep in mind that your choice will lay the base for your future career aspirations.

Finding the Right Business School

Now that you have set your heart on pursuing an MBA program, the first thing you need to ask yourself is how the MBA will benefit you in achieving your post-MBA goals. Once you have determined this, you can start your search for the right business school which can help you accomplish what you are aiming for. With universities from so many countries aggressively marketing their MBA degree, it often becomes difficult to decide which should be your final destination. Several factors affect your choice of a B- School, but these guidelines can help you narrow down your search, which include your career goals, eligibility, lifestyle, financial issues, curriculum, and job prospects.

Eligibility

Most schools in the US, Canada and UK require a GMAT and TOEFL score of at least 600 and 200 respectively, while it is not essential for schools in Australia and New Zealand. Besides the requisite scores and at least two years of work experience, you feel you have enough potential to make it to the top rank schools; you could try Harvard or Wharton, as well as the London Business School and INSEAD, France. If you consider yourself above average, a mid-tier school in the US could be your next choice. If however, you feel you cannot make it to the top rank schools, you could try at one of the Indian IIMs which are considered amongst some of the best in the world.

Curriculum

Once you have determined what your post-MBA plans are, you can narrow down your selection based on school strengths which match your goals. If you are planning on being an investment banker on Wall Street, learning undergraduate level accounting and finance would be a waste of your time and money. It is equally important to check out a school’s international reputation. The stronger the reputation of a school, the more chances you have of earning a higher salary at the end of your course. If you know what you want to study and have very specific ideas in mind, a flexible program which allows you to tailor your curriculum would be better suited to you than a program which gives the same curriculum to all its students.

Affordability

There is no dearth of good B-Schools that you can apply to if you think you are eligible, but you would still have to consider whether or not you can afford to attend them even if you are accepted. You have to be prepared to shell out between Rs. 13 to 30 lakhs for a two year MBA course, which would include your tuition fees as well as living costs. Receiving a partial or full scholarship can make a big difference to a candidate’s choice of school.

Lifestyle

The choice of location is figuring more and more highly on an applicant’s shortlist of universities. Although it is advisable that a candidate study in the region where he/she plans to work, as the alumni network would be more effective and job search easier, at the end of the day it is the candidate’s choice. Some students prefer New Zealand specifically because of its laid back style of functioning, while others prefer the hectic pace of an American university. Besides the location of the university, you also need to check out the social atmosphere of the college that you choose. Look into the demographics of the student population before you decide; you don’t want to end up being lonely and feeling like a fish out of water for the two years that you will spend at the university.

Job Prospects

Once again, what you plan on doing after your MBA has a strong bearing on your choice of destination and university. If you decide to stay back and get a job abroad, you need to check out the career service department of the university you apply to. Today, the majority of MBA’s find their jobs through the school placement service, as most of the schools invite companies to come on campus to recruit students. And lastly, the opportunities for networking are outstanding at some schools, which include Alumni Associations and student organisations. These can help launch or propel your career in the direction that you want and need to be looked into closely before you shortlist your university choices.

International Business Schools – What is so great about them anyway?

Well, there are actually some advantages in studying in an international business school. Besides being equipped with all the skills that any business school aims to equip you with an international business school will give you more.

A different dimension in a classroom

The diversity that an international school has is definitely a big advantage. It brings a unique and useful dimension into the classroom. Different cultures will have different views on important aspects of business. You as an Indian student will be encouraged to bring your own perspective on the workings of Indian businesses in class discussions. You will learn other people’s perspectives on what you believe as well as their own ideas and views. In an international programme you will learn to understand other people’s opinions, to debate and come to certain conclusions, as well as to accept and respect the differences in your fellow students. Your thought patterns and perceptions will be largely broadened. You will be prepared to, in the future, do business internationally in different countries, with the skills that you acquire. Some business schools that boast of an international environment are the London Business School (LBS), France and Singapore’s INSEAD and Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

My post-MBA opportunities after international business school

With a degree in an international business school you will find that there are open doors in the international market for you. In America it has been found that students in international business schools are hired by regional businesses as well as American consulting companies. These American consulting companies are usually hiring these students from an international school for projects based in Europe. American based businesses generally hire students from American business schools.

It is becoming more popular now to enable a student to be advantaged by both types of schools, American and international. The Wharton-INSEAD Alliance for example has campuses in France, Singapore, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Students in all of these campuses are benefited by both schools and are also given the opportunities for their career in any of these three continents.

What can you do to get admitted?

So you are someone who wants to work internationally and not only in one specific country. You have realised that an international business school is the best step for you to take and now want to know how to get in. Well, there isn’t a whole lot you are required to do but here are some things that might help you or make you more credible for an international organisation:

 Your essays must show the schools that you are interested in that you have researched on the course that you are applying for and are familiar with the school and the opportunities that it brings.

 It would be very beneficial for you to have grasped or to be fluent in at least one foreign language besides English. An international school in a non-English speaking country will teach you the local language as well as give you instruction in it. Many international business schools in English speaking countries require you to learn another language while you are doing this MBA course.

 It would also be very beneficial for you if you are someone who has done a lot of travelling and has therefore already been broadened culturally. It is also good if you have been abroad for a semester, or during your work.

Most of all you need to really want this international experience and communicate this desire to the schools you are interested in.

MBA lexicon top of the tops – Leadership

One of the few words that occupy the sanctified place in an MBA lexicon is leadership. This one word encompasses all the other qualities like teamwork, maturity, flexibility etc that form the periphery around it. This is just the tip of the iceberg, there is more to follow: a potential candidate must not only possess this trait but also back it with relevant experience both in the job and even outside. A formidable task by any standards but then this is what is expected of a person aspiring to do MBA from a good/excellent/dream B school.

Frankly speaking how many of us even realize that we possess leadership skills leave alone using it. Now before you start your mental rummaging consider the following aspects where you may have used this precious quality/trait and then can use the information for your application.

Co-curricular activities

Usually students with leadership traits are involved in extra curricular activities both in their school/college days and some even pursue it while working. So if you have been involved in some such activities then ensure that it is brought out in front of the ad comm. This should include the parts where and how you led the school/college efforts in such activities, were you leader of a student group, took initiatives in work sphere in extra activities like workers’ welfare etc and did some thing to benefit them etc.

Initiatives and leading the teams from front

This comes into play especially during professional life. Have you led teams? If yes, then how many people were there, how did you manage the team, in what way were the individual efforts synchronized with the team goals. These experiences form the crux of your leadership questions in the applications and demonstrate how good a leader you are. Leading teams can be right from your college cricket or basketball team to even project teams in work environment. The examples can be from anywhere but an example from a work experience will be preferred unless the questions specify leadership experiences in other areas. However even if it from a work experience then too you can include the other aspects by mentioning them in passing and showing how what you learnt you imbibed in the work arena.

Remember not all the born leaders, people learn from their mistakes. So if, there have been some mistakes, from where you learnt and then used this experience in your later projects; make sure you include it in the essays or during the interview stage if so required.
Leaders also take initiatives and so if you have taken them then include it in the essays. This initiative can be for a literacy campaign for the children of the subordinate staff in your school/college, or saving/helping someone for an important task, or even in the work arena where you have suggested some important things in a project that later on proved to be a catalyst in it’s success. The list is endless and the possibilities limitless, all it needs is careful consideration of the question and your corresponding answer to match perfectly.

Exhibit the trait
Leaders are not afraid of anything and good one knows the difference between arrogance and confidence. This is what you have to exhibit during the interview stage. Besides being properly dressed, ensure that you answer the questions confidently and are not perturbed by the Ad comm. You must also be prepared to answer questions relating to all the information provided by you in the application be it in the work sphere, academics, personal and even curricular activities.

While answering questions ensure that the body language is positive and you maintain eye-to-eye contact with the person asking the question. Do not try to fib off a question or be verbose. A good leader is someone who is precise, knows what he/she is doing, has a specific objective/s and has a plan on how they want to achieve it.

Magic formula for getting in a B-School

Well, the good news is that there is no prescribed formula for getting admission into a top MBA school. But that does not mean you can take it easy; your excellence has to shine through and convince the admission committee to let you in. It is true that specific admission requirements differ according to the rank and credibility of the institution. But nonetheless, a combination of the following criteria is usually adopted by the B-schools when they screen students for admission: GMAT score, undergraduate grade point average (GPA), work experience, essays, and letters of recommendation, interviews, and extracurricular activities. All the various criterion listed above should reflect your potential as a bright and talented applicant. Of these criteria, the first four are usually the most heavily weighted and must be given serious thought and preparation. Not to forget to mention, the more competitive the school, the more intolerant it is towards weakness in any one of these areas.
How the criteria are used
A lot of applicants assume that the GMAT score or GPA can decide their fate and dictate the admissions. But it does not happen this way and unless your scores are horribly low, the chances of your getting admission may depend upon a lot of other factors which make up your whole application. At the MBA schools, your case might belong to any of the categories like ‘promising’, ‘above average’, ‘interesting’, ‘mediocre’ and all variations of ‘maybe’. Remember that in MBA admissions, not only marks but your work experience, essays and your extracurricular accomplishments also add substantial weight to your case and present a complete picture of you.
Along with your academic record, the admissions committee gauges your capabilities, interests, and accomplishments. You don’t have to feel embarrassed about your weaknesses, instead you need to focus on your strengths and present them in the best light.

The B-school reality check

Before you even think of applying to a business school, the first thing to do is ask yourself if pursuing an MBA is really what you need, if an MBA would help you further your goals and achieve where you want to go with your career. Think about your abilities, your work experience and your ambitions and see how an MBA would fit into your career graph. If an MBA can enhance your business skills and make them better suited to your particular profession or career choice, only then can it be beneficial to you. If at the end of your reflections, you feel that you really need to do an MBA, then you need to figure out which MBA would suit you best.

But before we go further, it is important to know what an MBA is. An MBA is a post graduate degree in business administration and is a major step towards a successful business management career. An MBA program equips its students with all the necessary knowledge, theoretical as well as practical, which can benefit them in managerial and administrative jobs. This applies to people not just in business, finance, marketing, but in the public sector as well as government jobs. Most MBA’s are of two-year duration except for a few which can sometimes be completed in a year or 10 months. MBA programs give valuable knowledge about business strategies and concepts, not just theoretical but also through practical training and internships which would help its students use these skills in daily operations. MBA’s also develop leadership abilities through a rigorous course of study, combined with assignments, presentations and group projects. The networks and alliances that the students develop at a business school are one of the most important and valuable things that an MBA can give them. These resources can be utilized and drawn upon for years after gaining an MBA. An MBA degree can open up a world of opportunities for you in various fields, especially in managerial and executive position jobs.

If you decide to pursue an MBA abroad, you should be prepared to shell out at least Rs. 10 lakhs, while the figure could go up to Rs. 30 lakhs for a top rank Business school. Financial aid is limited and you should not be banking on getting it. If you find you cannot afford it, it is best to opt for a top rung Indian MBA. The IIMs are considered amongst some of the best in the world. If however, you decide to do it abroad, you must first ask yourself what you plan to do after your MBA. Most aspirants decide to stay back and get a job overseas. However, if you plan to return to India, unless you have an MBA from Harvard, it is best to rethink doing your MBA from a second-tier school, since it gives you as much scope as an Indian MBA would.

The US is considered the land of plenty and produces some of the best MBA’s in the world. There are several thousand students applying to Business schools every year and only a few get selected. As the MBA is a very intense and expensive program, most schools look for aspirants who have exceptional backgrounds and extraordinary abilities. Having a high GMAT score and good work experience are not enough to get you into a top ranking business school in the US. Students applying to top schools from India include top IAS officers, MBA students from IIMs, students from IITs armed with a few years of work experience amongst others. Being prepared and motivated would give you an edge over others while being considered for a Business school.

The U-turn to school

Human beings never cease to learn. Old belief that age slows you down and makes you less receptive to newer ideas, is no longer true. The body may slow down a bit, but never, never the mind. Correlate this idea to upgrade your skills from time to time and you can end up earning more money than you are now. Education today orients you to certain skills, which was not a part of the scenario before. It is no longer a one dimensional affair and there are enough ways for one to refresh one’s total outlook. A new degree or diploma helps towards contributing to one’s personal and professional growth. Stuck in a job, it stems the dilemma behind the question – where do I go from here? This niggling worry is all the more evident when there is no possibility of a position or salary hike looming ahead.

This is not to say the decision to go back for a degree is an easy one. Meticulous planning and research are needed to set you up along that path. Maybe you have joined the workforce, and already have a family to support. So what do you do? Just think. You have a basic degree and simply need that Masters to earn more. It is proven that the more education you have, more the chances of a better job, with better earning facilities. If you are, however, in a well secure job, do not take an unwanted risk Choose the correct time. Make your self financially ready. Without a job, you may need to have a back up so that you are not unduly worried about the financial stopgap situation. Top class education costs money too for which financial planning is thoroughly required.

Your research in choosing the correct school, especially a Business School, is of paramount importance. You have to settle for a degree that will help you in your career and not something that is esoteric. Widening the mind’s horizon is fine but tailor making it to you core area of competence, will accrue the desired results. Getting into a program of your choice may not always be easy. In most MBA programs for instance, work experience works to an advantage. Then again, you may not be doing that ideal job or maybe the competition is higher based on certain other parameters, like a high GMAT score. You have to weigh each decision carefully and dip into your own thought process to come up with a realistic solution. For many of you, getting back to the classroom, may need some other adjustments or take you to another country for which certain cultural adjustments have to be made. Additional research in these matters will not make you feel a fish out of waters and help you in coping with the situation. All your friends seem to be going back to study but remember peer pressure is not always the correct pressure. You have to take your own decision that will help you and those around you the best.

Study Tips

B-school tenure is a hot masala mix with ingredients ranging from the spicy case studies to the saucy presentations; from the tingling project work to the tickling assignments; from the salty class room lectures to the sweet guest faculty dissertations; and add to this garnish of various clubs, forums and seminars. In this potent concoction it is obvious you do not wish to lose out on any flavour. To successfully savour each taste here are a few tips to get the best out of your B-school tenure.

But before we list them out, we will re-iterate the vital age old dictum that one must not forget – there is no shortcut for success. In all probabilities the course itself will not allow you to follow the familiar shortcuts taken during the school and graduation years. But, if you have been savvy enough to find some, our advice is – don’t follow them. That’s because the B-schools prepare you for an acutely cut-throat competitive corporate world. And there, you cannot cheat your way upward. It is better to learn the hard way, but learn well than be left empty-handed in a real life situation later on.

And now, on to some tips:

Organize, Organize & Organize

Well, the need for a proper and stringent time-schedule cannot be overtly stressed. This has to evolve from your own interests and priorities. If you feel that answering case studies is your forte, spend a large amount of time there. But if you are good in leading a club or forum, then concentrate there. Of course, this will emanate from what you wish to be in the corporate world.

Be realistic

Often students over-burden themselves leading to frustration and fast burn out. Be realistic in your own expectations. Know your study and social schedule thoroughly as well as your own personal limitations. For example, if you can learn best in concentrated two hour sessions, then there is no need to elongate that time just for the sake of it. Include several such short spurts of studies in your schedule.

Know your style

Whether you are a morning or an evening person, whether you like to sit or roam around or whether you like music or complete silence to accompany your studies be aware of your own style and follow it thoroughly. There is no point in emulating your best friend. Every individual has his own style and it is advisable to follow that rather than going against it.

Observe

Other than knowing your style, observe your professors and their style of teachings as well. Understand the strong and weak points of each faculty e.g. if a professor is good in his case studies but weak on lectures, then you might have to supplement that course with additional reading material.

Form study groups

Most B-schools encourage this as it also gives the student a true value of team spirit. A group can be selected by the school itself or formed on own. They help share the workload. For example, if there is an assignment that involves research, analysis and statistics – individuals competent in each field can take charge of the respective domains thus helping their weaker counterparts. Along the way, the student will gain from the knowledge of their peers. However, one cautionary note: do not overtly rely on your group. After all, in the end, you will have to face the real tests yourselves only.

Apply SQ3R

Follow a well-modulated path of SQ3R, or survey-question-read-recite and review. Survey means to just glance through a study material the first time you get it. Question is to have some basic queries in your mind regarding the material for example, what is the basic purpose of this chapter? Read is to thoroughly go through the material word by word. Recite is then to formulate answers to questions you had formed. This will also mean to enumerate back what you have just read. And finally, review is basically repetition and returning to the chapter time and again so that it remains fresh in mind.

Attend Review Sessions

Often B-schools conduct optional review sessions. Make it a point to attend them. Though it is unlikely anything new will be taught, still it will help you revise. Plus, just in case the professor offers some fresh thoughts, why miss them?!

What are the B-schools looking for?

This is almost a million dollar question! The answer is not so simple and yet not too vague. One can easily track down the list of criteria and qualities B-schools search for in their applicants. Yes, mind you it is a combination of various factors like academic record, scores, leadership abilities, work experience, extra-curricular and the measure of your overall personality.

While high GMAT and GPA scores reflect your academic competence and a good performance in the future, its importance should not be overstressed. B-schools are not looking for book worms. They would assess your talents, strengths in other areas too and for this reason you should have your share of accomplishments in leadership and team skills. A commitment towards social change and development also adds weight to your case. You should be able to present yourself as being consistently involved in taking initiatives for the greater good.
Since MBA is not merely an academic course, a significant work experience carries a lot of value. Most MBA programs in the United States require at least two to three years of full-time work experience. Work experience is evaluated on the basis of your professional and interpersonal skills; your leadership potential; and the diversity of your work experience.
Always focus on the bigger picture while applying for an MBA and learn to utilize your talents in the best possible manner. Even if you are lacking in any of the above discussed areas, you can cover up by being exceptionally strong in the rest.

What is life at B-school like?

A business school, or popularly known as b-school, is a university level institution that educates on topics pertaining to running a business viz. accounting, finance, human resource, organizational behaviour and marketing. Usually the course is for two years, if attended full-time, and three years, if done through correspondence. However, this could vary on the exact course being offered. A business school could either be a college within a university like Faculty of Management Studies at Delhi University, or a completely autonomous entity like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM).

Generally the idea about business school is that of a hallowed place where students enter, enjoy for two years and come out equipped with a fat salary cheque. While the last might be true, the thought of a picnic should be shunned immediately. An MBA programme at any good b-school is a tough academic routine coupled with a highly competitive environment and summers spent doing internships.

An MBA programme is not for those who ‘learn by rote’ because the course and subjects are not designed so. Independent analysis, powerful presentations and field surveys are just a few unique learning methods in this course. In-between, you would have dissected Indian Railways’ turnaround or evaluated India’s growing GDP or even stage managed a launch of a new product. B-schools are also equipped with multi-faceted clubs relating to different specialisations, which expose students to real-life situations.

Normally, the course would consist of one core curriculum focussing on one major business component for example marketing or finance. Within the chosen major the course will funnel down to minute details e.g. a marketing major student will learn on pricing, segmentation and promotions. However, despite selecting one major subject, other business functions will not be wholly sidelined. This is because in a business environment the various domains are not parallel line functions. In a real world a marketing manager will be asked by the financial controller the need for extra budget on certain product and the revenue expected from it. In such a case, the marketing professional will have to be fluent in financial language as well.

Usually the first year is common for all and the specialisation is chosen only in the second year. The first year is also said to be the toughest of all as it takes some time for students to settle into the programme’s rigorous schedule. Since most students come from a university college graduation background, it also means breaking free from the traditional method of learning. By the end of the first year, the students will do their strengths and weakness analysis and then opt for their choice of specialisation. A summer placement follows depending on your specialisation for example, finance majors prefer to do their training at a reputed bank or financial institution and a marketing or sales student would go in for a fast moving consumer good company due to its vast dealer and customer interaction.

Other than its own faculty, a B-school will invite guest or visiting faculty. These are industry stalwarts who expose the students to actual business environments. Apart from giving syllabus related talks, these visiting faculties present their own real life experiences thus enriching the student’s overall personal development.

However, the entire effort ploughed into these two years is well spent because of the enormous benefits they reap in developing the overall personality of a student. B-school tenure ensures that the student’s approach, ability, attitude and aptitude are wholly revamped. Other than core business subjects by the end of the two years a student will be strong in analytical skills, be able to think independently and creatively, have experience of solving tough problems and will be a man/woman of the world ready to face any managerial challenge.

What’s the B-school education like?

A b-school equips you with skills in handling various domains of a business environment. Largely they fall under the sub-heads of marketing, sales and advertising, finance management, operations and IT management and human resource.

Other than these core competencies a b-school will sharpen your analytical skills, broaden your thinking horizon, whet your decision making capabilities and hone your leadership and managerial qualities. The course helps develop sound logical and presentation skills and teaches the importance of team work and time management. The entire focus is to remove blinkers from your mind and make you think in a wide perspective, giving you insight into hitherto unknown avenues and bringing to fore unknown facets. The idea is to make you question probingly, discover the root problem or issue and then arrive at innovative, fresh and out-of-the-box solutions.

A b-school prepares managers of tomorrow, who can face the stiffly competitive corporate world and emerge successful there.

The B-school Curriculum

Normally, a b-school will have a common first year in which all the subjects are taught. The number of subjects could vary from 40-45 which may include topics like macro and micro economy, business communication, production management, accounts and statistics. Thereafter, they conduct an aptitude test based on which they allow the student to choose the specialization of their choice. Depending on each institute, there could be just a single specialization or a combination of major and minor subjects. At the end of first year, the student spends his/her summer as a trainee with some corporate house. This training is in the relevant department or company based on the specialisation that the student chooses. For example, a student opting for finance major might do his summer training at a bank or financial institution. There could be additional winter training, again depending on the institute.

The course is divided into various formats. Though normal methods like lectures and written examinations form a large part, there are various other means to teach at a b-school. One important way is through case studies. A case study, as the name suggests, is a brief description of a real company’s actual problem it underwent, and how it managed to overcome the same. Sometimes, the case study can also pick up a hypothetical problem of a fictitious company. Usually, before the solution is revealed, the students are asked to give in their views and suggestions. These could be then presented to the entire class in a formal presentation or given back as normal assignment papers. A case study is a very potent tool in a b-school curriculum as it is a study of real-life practical situations.

Other means of education at the b-schools include projects and assignments. A project could be either short ones to be completed within the term, or longer ones to be handed over after summer/winter trainings. A project at the b-school involves a lot of research, hands on experience and great deal of effort. The student chooses the topic based on his choice, relevance to the specialisation and usage in the future jobs. In the project, the student is required to undertake an in-depth investigation of a complex issue or opportunity for an organization and provide recommendations that are strategic in nature. Since the student does his own independent study, many corporates place high premium on the project’s methodology and result while recruiting from the campus.

An off beat educative experience is gained through alumni network. They are students who have gone through the same course in the same institute and then made their mark in the real world. They help in providing a much needed reality check, apart from guiding on the current business trends and recruitment procedures.

By the end of the two years, a student is well equipped to lead, manage and strategize a business corporation and give value addition to the corporate world.

No green horns only ‘work ex’ counts

Consider this, even those born with a proverbial silver spoon in the mouth by that I mean the scions of the corporate big wigs have also to prove their worth before being handled the mantle of their family business. Since it’s MBA and the corresponding importance of ‘work ex’ for seeking admission to a good college, experience therefore assumes center stage as good colleges do not seek to churn out management students by the dozens but potential leaders, innovators and people who can and have the vision to realize their dreams in the corporate world.

Why ‘work ex’ counts
Good management colleges and universities usually specify the number of years of work experience they expect from a potential candidate when applying. This can range anywhere between 1 year to three or four years. Of course this does not limit those with greater work experience, as they will be more than welcome to apply. The big question therefore arises why such importance on work experience instead of the academic records and other paraphernalia like GMAT scores etc that a candidate is required to submit. The answer to this question lies simply in the fact that good universities do not want to teach the A to Z of management practices, rather they want people already versed in this basics on a practical level which they can then use as a platform to hone the core areas where a person wants to specialize and pursue a career path in.
Does more ‘work ex’ count?

Now comes the next point: Do those applicants with more than the required experience have an upper hand. The answer is no. Although the admission committee welcomes candidates with more experience but this does not guarantee their admission. Case to the point: We had two people applying to a very prominent B school whereas one candidate had 12 years of extensive sales and marketing experience and was in the senior management category the other had about 4 years of middle management experience in operations. Both were short listed for the interview and when the list was out, the one with the lesser experience made it through while the senior one didn’t.

The above example just goes on to show that Ad comm are not solely dependent on the ‘work experience’ factor. Instead they are on the lookout for people who are dynamic, have a specific objective and can lead the Ad comm. to believe in their ability to realize those objectives.

Type of ‘work ex’

After the number of years, it’s the type of work experience that also matters a lot. However let’s admit it, that not everyone aspiring to do an MBA is currently employed by a Fortune 500 company. While working for Hewlett Packard, Infosys or PriceWaterhouse Coopers or Microsoft definitely speaks volumes for a candidates potential but these brands do not guarantee admission. While company names does count but more than that it is the candidate’s experience, responsibilities, achievements and promotions within a company play a more significant role during selection process by the Ad comm. So while a person maybe working in a Fortune 500 company but if/she has been stagnating in a the same position for a long time then they will definitely lose out to those with a more diverse and growth oriented career progression in a lesser known company.
Therefore keeping all the above facts in mind, the importance of work experience cannot be denied but remember the scales tilt more towards the type, diversity and growth oriented work ex.

MBA and Women

 W-MBA: Woman’s approach to an MBA
 Women and B-school: Breaking the B-school Gender barriers
W- MBA: Women’s approach to an MBA!

Centuries into civilization and women are standing beside men, not behind them, in very aspect of modern life. From education institutes to workplaces there are almost an equal number of females as males. The women of today are home-makers as well as professionals. Ironically, women form an integral and vital structure of today’s corporate makeup but applying for an international MBA is not a desire most of them possess!

In no way is a woman any less intelligent or weak-minded to take up the pressures of an international business education than a man is; then what are the reasons that stop women, specially, Indian women to pursue an MBA. Let us look closely at the reasons this disparity occurs and offer solutions!

The Problems

The age factor and the family calling: Usually MBA schools look for work experience in their applicants thus the applicant would be in his late twenties or early thirties. For an unmarried Indian woman to think of taking up an education at an age when she is expected to be already married or ready to be married may cause impediments. There’s family to consider and often decide. It’s even more complicated for a married woman to think of pursuing an international MBA! Leaving work midway to take up studies affects the family income. And if there are children involved the difficulties are emotional too. The expectations of family, the guilt of leaving them behind to fend on their own is a difficult road for a woman to walk on. Hence when male colleagues all around are opting for MBAs abroad many women just stick to their jobs!

The money crunch: For many women the deciding factor may also be the fee of international MBA programs. Although students’ loans are in no way biased towards men yet families or even working women themselves may often think twice before applying for a loan.

The MBA degree not a must for the corporate world: A major factor that may stop women to pursue an MBA is that a Management degree is not a mandatory requirement for pursuing business. Medicine, law, education; almost all require degrees or certificates but the business arena does not ask for any certificate of knowledge. Thus women may enter the business scene without a management degree!

Back to college; more fear than excitement: MBA is still seen as a male-dominated field where women may fear to tread! After years of working, the hesitancy of going back to school may actually hamper women from trying for an MBA education. Also it’s a general belief that MBA studies concentrate on Mathematics and women are week in the subject.

The Solutions

The age factor and the family calling: In today’s world, age plays not as vital a role as it once did. So if the men can wait to get married after an MBA education so can the women! Although for married women the level of difficulty is slightly higher yet through open communication and future prospects of a better tomorrow, women can convince family and children to support their education. A family that loves you would understand and accept your dreams. The first step is to communicate sensitively, the rest would follow easily!

The money crunch: Once the decision to pursue an MBA is taken with your family’s support, getting a loan will be no problem. Also applying for scholarships that most of the international universities offer is always a much feasible option.

The MBA degree not a must for the corporate world: Okay, so an MBA degree is not a must for being a successful businesswoman but look around you, find the people who have an international MBA degree and see the difference! You would notice that the knowledge and skill sets that they have acquired from their education makes a lot of difference! Still think MBA is not mandatory for success in business?

Back to college; more fear than excitement: Come on, if you can work shoulder-to-shoulder to men, you can also study with them! If you can handle the pressures of raising a family as well as raising a company you can easily face studies and Maths. Just self belief and confidence is needed.

Breaking the B-School Gender Barriers

Despite women making great advances in the professional field, there is still a long way to go before they can break the gender barrier and reach the same financial and professional security enjoyed by males in the arena. Many women claim they have to work twice as hard as men to prove themselves in the workplace, particularly when moving into senior and executive positions. Women also find it tough to get venture capital, while trying to juggle both home and a career.

With fewer role models to look up to, it is little wonder that women make up barely 30% of the MBA programs in leading business schools. Despite the fact that an MBA can give women, who feel they have to fight to be heard in the boardroom, the leverage they need to make others sit up and take notice, through in-depth general management knowledge and the confidence to lead others, not many are keen to take up the pursuit of an MBA.

A level playing field for all

Several studies were taken up to address this issue of the relatively low enrolment of women in leading business schools by asking MBA alumni why they thought women are under-represented in the classroom and to help Business schools get more applications from qualified female applicants. Respondents cited a number of factors they felt discouraged women from pursuing an MBA and associated career paths. These factors included lack of female role models, concerns with the compatibility of careers in business with work/life balance and need for greater encouragement from employers to pursue an MBA. The survey resulted in the formulation of a proposal to redress these issues through detailed recommendations for business schools and business organizations.

Life/work balance

Many women said they preferred to do an MBA before starting a family. But most business schools prefer to take on students who have several years’ experience and therefore tend to be in their mid-thirties or older – at a time when women are more likely to have family responsibilities. It is for this reason that it is vital to have support structures in place when embarking on an MBA programme. In response to this most full-time MBA programs have made housing more accessible to students with families and opened some events to spouses and children, as well as creating student’s associations which address women’s issues at school.

Role models

Another oft-quoted reason for women hesitant to pursue an MBA course was the lack of role models in the professional arena. Although women are increasingly taking up senior management roles, they make up a very miniscule fraction of the skilled work force. Students add that the curriculum of MBA courses rarely includes case studies of women subjects or women-friendly businesses, which makes it harder for women to relate. An obvious response to this was recruiting and hiring more women professors and inviting more senior management level women to speak at the school.

Risk taking

Further, women were more cautious than men about giving up their jobs in exchange for an experience at a B-School, since women earn less than men and have less of a financial cushion during the inactive earning stage. The solution to this is for B-schools to offer more scholarships and financial aid to women. It would also be helpful to have an employer who is supportive. If companies were to be more flexible and consider the long term gains, more women would be able to step out and take up advanced management courses.

Gender diversity

A class which is predominantly male often tends to put off women hoping to make it to a B school. How accommodating a school is of women and how facilitators handle gender diversity in a class is often one of the most important issues that women assess before applying to a school.

If business schools want to increase the percentage of their women MBA students, they have to play a more enabling role. Once MBA recruiters take charge of addressing and rectifying these issues, there is no reason why more women should not find the MBA a great way to achieve their career and personal objectives.

MBA Careers

 MBA Careers
 Career Planning

More and more technology professionals are headed back to school to obtain their MBAs in order to enhance their careers by better understanding business. Now that you have decided the MBA is for you, it’s time to decide what the best MBA programs are that suit your aspirations and situation. To help you with your research, here is a checklist of the factors that you need to consider:

1. Product and Brand Managers

A degree in MBA is a pre-requisite for a Brand Manager whose job is to coordinate and oversee a variety of divisions of a corporation to ensure the efficient and timely flow of a product to market. The responsibilities may be international or focusing on product and market development on the domestic front. It is a preferred field in marketing having a stable and balanced lifestyle more than other industries as investment banking, venture capital media and consulting. Work picks up during the planning season (of three months durations) when developing marketing plans for the coming year. Work load is also at its peak while preparing for the budget and the annual plan. The marketing companies also require you to work overseas for a few years. There are super opportunities for women, too, with a lot of flexible hours.

2. MBA Careers in Investment Management

Being a low-risk, high reward industry, investment managers are paid a percentage sum of the amount involved with the client, be it a loss or gain for the client. They earn very handsome salaries and also have Associate Portfolio Managers who act as apprentices on the largest and most complicated portfolios. Besides, there are Investment Research Associates who are responsible for generating recommendation to Portfolio Managers on companies.
One of the great advantages about Investment or Asset management is that you move up the ladder if you make money. The other positions in a investment management, beside portfolio management are Senior Research Analyst, Investment research associate and Investment research. The industry places a high premium on age and experience and thus breaking into investment management can be problematic for newly minted MBAs.

3. MBAs in Media & Entertainment

The Media Industry may seem anti corporate, it offers a host of jobs to people with little or no experience in the industry but who are passionate and have the skills to allow the artsy fartsy types to make more money for top companies like Sony, AOL Time Warner etc. This industry continues to flourish and grow in the domestic front as well as abroad even during times of economic depression. The qualities required in an individual to get through are aptitude, confidence, innovation and a driven attitude. The atmosphere is collegial and friendly. The ever changing technology attracts the young lot who can adapt quickly and can pursue new opportunities fast. It may not be as well paid as the investment Banking or consulting companies but they are not working insanely. But as you move up the ladder, the obligatory socializing can exhaust you. An MBA continues to be an essential for people who want to step into the world of creativity and wish to know the creative product and how to make money through basic strategic planning. Those with an interest or background in integrated marketing are now more than ever required in the industry.

4. The-I-Banking Deal Team.

Undergraduates pass out and join as Analyst in Investment Banking (corporate agencies). The team varies from an analyst to managing director with roles assigned to each. An analysis’s life is tough and a major percentage leaves after two years. The job involves financial modeling and many end up doing menial tasks. More work less pay and an unstable lifestyle- if the first year analyst is in New York, he can expect a salary of $ 45,000 to $ 55,000 per year with an annual bonus of $ 30,000.
Associates are MBAs who join Investment Banking. Through they are no better than Analysts as far as work and pay scales are concerned, they quickly learn the tricks of the trade, and hand over menial modeling work to analysts with negligible experience (landing straight from top business schools).They start from the beginning, but soon pick up the complicated work, client contact and bigger bonuses. They are also better salaried with a start of $80,000 and with a bonus of $ 25,000 and moving up to $ 250,000 or more in top notch firms. After four or five years as Associates, the real banking begins for those in corporate finance. They rise up to the position of Vice President. The responsibility level increases though they can now assign responsibilities to the Analysts and Associates. The VP’s are basically responsible for managing the financial modeling/pitch book production process. With responsibility comes in more traveling, social dos to complete and inaugurate deals and conferences. Directors and Managing Directors (MD’s) are the major players in corporate finance. They can work at their own convenience and their major responsibility is to cultivate business with various companies to generate business for the firm. Their typical salaries range from $100,000 to $200,000 per year with also a big bonus. It generally varies during boom time and they are paid on commission.

5. Life as a Venture Capitalist

Interested in a venture capital career? Venture capital investments generally are high risk investments but offer the potential for above average returns. A Venture Capitalist (VC) is a person who makes such investments. A highly competitive field and highly rewarding as well as challenging, it requires a background in finance and economics. Most people in the industry report working 80-100 hours a week, except Sales and Trading professionals who average about 55-hours a week. Your co-workers become your family, with many investment bankers saying they spend nights in the office. This lifestyle may sound tough to some, but to those who thrive on commitment, competition, risk and rewards, this industry is just right for them. A typical day of a venture capitalist entails contacting entrepreneurs’, analysts, VCs, reading the Wall Street Journal to look for marketplace situation, attending meetings, conferences with entrepreneurs, looking for options with other companies and making umpteen calls to CEOs. The market situations have to be continually reviewed to find out if there are competitors who are better than the company you are engaged in.

6. MBAs in the Fashion Industry

Experience counts more than education in the Fashion Industry. A hands-on experience in sales, consulting or merchandising is essential before joining the industry. There are very few companies (large ones) like live Strauss, Nike, Cartier and Eddie Bauer which hire MBA’s for creative positions. The jobs required here are in finance and supply chain issues. The companies generally look for experience prior to business school, especially in consulting or industry.

7. MBAs in the Federal Government

The Government has now started welcoming MBAs into its fold with more MBAs getting into the set-up, though bureaucracy is still the rule of the game as expected. The opportunities should first be examined and researched through other MBAs working in the Federal Government. With the growing awareness of the importance of an MBA in various fields, more MBAs would have opted for the industry but for the half- baked recruiting policies and the pay scales which happen to fall in a much lower range than the private sectors. The possibility is that the federal government will in near future, realize the benefits of an MBA with more than just government experience.

8. Real Estate MBAs

Real Estate is a complex industry encompassing all that is to do with property, buying, selling, leasing, financing and the like. An MBA needs to have specific qualifies like people’s skill and entrepreneurship to pursue jobs in the Corporate finance, Investment finance or property. They are difficult to get and are meant for real go getters. Passion and enthusiasm for the industry and a background in market spectrum is a pre requisite to even ace through the interview. Once there, there will be new challenges carrying your way each day as new laws on taxes, zoning regulations, highway routes etc. Career paths, hours and job structure differ from company to company and largely depend on the field. The real estate industry is responsible for over 5 million jobs in the US.

9. The Energy Industry

There is a strong prevalence for hiring technical people in the Energy industry and there is a stress on appointing people with a sound academic background, more so during the times of economic depression. The sector compulsorily looks for technical undergraduate degrees or pre-MBA work in energy or another technical field. If otherwise, then you need to convince the interviewers that you are passionate about the Energy Industry. You can then establish your credibility with an experience of a couple of years. If you demonstrate your ability to learn about an industry quickly, many of the service jobs in energy sector as well as energy consulting, banking, and investing may be yours. Not traditionally a glamorous industry, they are also not too keen on the brand names of schools you have studied in. Also, your connection to the geographic region in which the company is located plays a major role in the Company wishing to take you on. It is advisable to set foot in the energy industry immediately after your undergraduate degree to get a hold on the industry requirements. What they expect is stability and not a frequent switching of jobs.

10. Management Consultant MBAs

A highly demanding, yet rewarding job, you will be expected to make available original and realistic solutions to meet the business needs. You are expected to be an analytical person with strong interpersonal skills and this makes you instantly marketable. In this industry, your thirst for problem solving and ability to remain focused in a deadline-driven, detail-oriented environment should already be one of your trademarks because there will be intense crunch times during the life span of your projects that will entail you to give your best to exceed your client’s expectations. The market is prone to constant changes, and they require individuals with multi-ethnic skills as well as the proven ability to learn in a deadline-driven environment. You will be a know-all and will specialize in all possible areas as media and entertainment, technology, or change management. Complex research on various technologies and processes to create practical yet innovative solutions for your clients and convincing them to act on your solutions will be a part of your job. You will be traveling frequently (it may be 75% of your time away from home) with also mundane socializing. However, you will be rewarded for your time, with handsome starting salaries, straight out of a business school. Consulting industry is one of the largest employers of MBAs.

Career Planning – II

11. Figuring Out What You Want To Do

Most students in high School are not sure what they want to do for a living. The first step is to discover your interests and capabilities and then match them to careers. Make a career direction and do not be like a rudderless ship. Chalk out and unleash clearly your potentials and skills. You may have a flair for maths, or you may, in all probability, be a good speaker enthralling your audience by your verbal skills. Having a firm career direction will help you be on track during tough times. The primary criterion is that you should be able to enjoy whatever you aim to do. If you work at something you like, you will be good at it. Aim high and if you decide that it is too tough, it is easier to lower your aspirations. It is impossible to move up from a lower rung in a career.

Once your interests are chalked out, research the various options and learn more about them through meeting up people with like-minded interests and then progressing towards them.

12. Can you neglect the career checklist?

There are innumerable hurdles on the path of advancement in your career and a great deal of planning is required right from categorizing your dream job to writing and sending your resume to checking out the best options available in your concerned field. What you need to do is to keep a few points in mind to streamline your progress and to reorganize your priorities. Build up and deepen your skills and knowledge in your field of interest by thorough networking and reading material on it. Keep a well drafted and professional resume and effective cover letters ready to be sent to your prospective employers whenever the occasion arises. Try and understand the industry, its prospects and economic policies through researching. Visit the career discussion board to get the answers you want. Learn the tricks of the trade by doing your homework right, and the chances are that you would breeze through.

13. Follow Your Passion – Identify Your Ideal Career

You must examine your interests and research occupations most suited to you. You will be surprised to know the possibilities available to match your interests and aptitude. By testing and making a career assessment first and then exploring jobs you’ll save countless hours and will be focused in your efforts. After you’ve completed your investigation you’ll be prepared to make informed decisions about your education and which jobs you’ll apply for when you’re ready. If you choose a career that doesn’t suit your personality you become confused, unhappy and burned out. No one wants a job they dislike. So instead of selecting a career based on what you think you should do, we want to help you find a career that fits your personality.