Selection criteria for Top US B-Schools

If you are planning to apply for an American MBA in the future, use this list to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your profile. After identifying your weak spots, you can go to work on improving them. There is no rigid ‘list’ of things colleges look for when they review an application. They look at many skills and talents of the applicant, rather than focus on one or two aspects. Keeping in mind the criteria the admission officers use to shortlist candidates, here are some points which summarize the main factors for getting admitted to the University of your Choice. It’s OK if you don’t fulfill all criteria but the more check marks you can claim, the higher your chances of earning an acceptance letter to one of the best business schools.

1. Academic Profile

Academic Profile:

• High cumulative GPA

• Above average performance in quantitative or business-oriented courses

• GMAT score above the school’s average

• TOEFL score above the school’s average

• Undergraduate degree from a school with an excellent academic reputation

2. Career Progress

• Clear evidence of career progress

• Visible progress made in achieving career goals

• Employer is known to have very high standards for hiring

• Excellent references/recommendation letters

• Plenty of evidence of managerial potential

3. Leadership Portfolio

• Evidence of leadership at work

• Evidence of leadership outside of work

• Self-awareness of leadership capabilities and development needs

4. Career Goals

• Defined career goals

• Career goals reflect a sense of purpose: passion, meaning, and significance

• Admissions committee can connect the dots between prior skills/experiences and post-MBA career goals

• Convincing motivations for pursuing an MBA

• Career goals reflect a global perspective

5. Other Qualities

• Evidence of self-awareness

• Evidence of maturity/life-experience

• Balanced personality

• International/cross-cultural experience

• A great fit with the school’s culture

Also read:

• Understand top university rankings to shortlist the best colleges
• Top Universities in US for MS in Computer Science