USA is the dream land where those with high academic qualification and a strong ambition can fulfill their career ambitions. Be the part of a glorious nation to enjoy a fabulous career.  

The applicants for business schools face some tough competition for the available slots. One thing remains true; the MBA offers long term benefits, particularly as a stepping stone to new career opportunities and enhanced earning potential. The key is finding the right school and then getting into it. We are aware that applying to a graduate professional program involves marketing the student effectively to the business schools.

 How do we find the right school? Once it is determined what the student wants to get out of business school, we find suitable programs. We decide where to apply by researching schools and evaluating their criteria and those of the student. When to apply, is a key issue too. After all, the student wants to maximize chances of admission. And with the inside word on how admissions officers will judge, we know how and when to apply. Being a well-qualified candidate isn’t enough to guarantee admission into the business school of choice. The student has to be marketed to the admissions panel.

 Business schools use GMAT scores to help assess whether the student possesses the foundation upon which to build a successful business career, so the test is meant to carefully evaluate specific analytical skills. Good scores can open doors. The GMAT is unlike any other test encountered in academic career. It requires a wide range of both knowledge-based and test-taking skills to excel in it. The good news is that one doesn’t have to be some kind of computer whiz to do well on the GMAT. The GMAT is, among other things, an endurance test. There are more than 800 business schools in America and the following is a select list.

USA has some of the top ranked and reputable business schools in the world.

Know more about the process of applying for an MBA program in the top ranking B schools of the US.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION FORMS

Your completed application form should include

1.    Academic record

2.    Admission Tests

3.  Work History

4.    Letter Of Recommendation

5.    Essays

6.  Interviews 

For further details and helpful quotes, please feel free to use our HELPLINE services

APPLICATION FORMS

Aspirants can start sending enquiries about 15-18 months before the proposed date of admission. You can get the application forms in two ways

1.            Requesting Application Forms via email: As the websites of most of the top class universities in the US have online request forms you can send a request to get the application forms via e-mail.

2.            Downloading from the university website: You can also avail a downloadable and ready to print version of the application forms online that can be used as regular forms.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Academic Records & Transcripts – Your academic record is one of the significant factors in procuring an MBA admission in one of the top ranked b schools in the US. Most B schools in the USA admit only students having an outstanding academic record. The universities have set a minimum requirement for the MBA programs, but are flexible upon the profile of the candidate. So it is extremely necessary to have an appeasing profile to get admitted to these institutions.

You have to submit an official transcript (mark-sheets) from each college/university that you have attended after completing secondary school education, along with the complete details of the subjects/credits involved (for each year). You can also include other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc.

The universities may ask you to send transcripts in a sealed envelope, signed and attested across the seal by the registrar. This procedure has to be done for each and every college that you have attended. Certain universities may ask for more than one copy of the transcript. 

The Universities also have their own methods of evaluating the flair of the candidates. This can be very much different from the marking systems of other countries. The universities of the US follow a GPA (Grade Point Average) system based on a 5 point scheme i.e. A, B, C, D & F.

We advice you not to convert your marks in your education system to GPA or any other systems used in the US, as the conversion may not be accurate and can land you in trouble.

You can attach a note of explanation from the authorities of your college to indicate your rank in the class and /or the university that awarded you the degree. The note can also give an idea about your relative ranking in the class and university average along with the total number of students in your class and the total number of colleges and students in that university. Documents that contain any other information that can facilitate an easy admission also can be added.

If the transcripts are in a language other than English, they must be converted to English, by the issuing authority or university.

ADMISSION TESTS

GMAT:

All the top ranked B schools of the US admit students who get good scores in GMAT- Graduate Management Admission Test. 

 WORK HISTORY

Your work experience can turn out to be one of the most important criterions for a B school admission in the US. This is not mandatory for all schools, but preferred by most business schools.

Get a detailed Résumé that can well compliment your application. It should include all the possible information of professional work experiences along with details like position(s) held, achievements obtained during the particular time period & scope of work.

For preparation of effective Résumés Check out our Résumé Tips section.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Letter of reference is a prominent part of your application for the MBA program. The letter should be from a person who knows you professionally or taught you a subject that is related to the course that you are applying for.

He / She must indicate the position that they hold, how long he/she has known the applicant and in what capacity. He / She can also suggest the need, relevance and usefulness of the study that the applicant is supposed to take on in the US. Concrete examples that show your ability and strength in the respective field can make your admission easier.

The person who recommends you may be asked to rank the abilities, which may help the admission officers easily interpret the academic credentials of foreign students. 

The letter of recommendation has to be sent in the prescribed format specified by the universities in the application form. Letters that give inadequate or false information may put your candidature at risk.

For more information on Letters of Recommendation Check out our Letter of Recommendation section.

Note: It is advisable to include the letter of recommendation, even if it is not recommended by the university.

BUSINESS SCHOOL ESSAYS

Personal essays play a very significant role in the process of application evaluation, to procure an admission for an MBA program. These essays can leave a remarkable impression on that faculty who evaluates your application making you distinguishable from the other candidates.

Most of the Business School courses will have their own essay questions and specified formats. Certain others may ask for a detailed résumé and reasons for applying to that particular course.

A personal statement should include an effective elucidation of your reasons for choosing a particular course, the suitability of your qualification, your experience for the chosen course, and your personal interests &career goals.

For more details and tips on essays check out Essays section.

INTERVIEWS

Interviewing probable candidates is getting common among the admission procedures of the US business schools. Hence most top business schools will take your interview to know you and your flair in the subject chosen.

The interview could be with a representative of the business school, a “third party" representative, staff, faculty or alumni of the college chosen or a telephonic interview.

Even though these interviews are usually informal they give you a golden chance to present yourself and your abilities in an impressive manner.

For more details and tips on interviews check out Interviews section.

>>GMAT Test 

   GMAT Test

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a Standardized test that measures verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills. It is intended to help the graduate schools of business assess the potential of applicants for advanced study in business and management.

Nearly 900 management institutes all over the world (almost all of them in the US) require GMAT scores from each applicant for admission to the MBA program.

The GMAT tests the fundamental skills - Reasoning and Comprehension included - and does not require any subject-specific theoretical study. 

For more information on GMAT, registration process, preparation resources, GMAT fee and other details, see the topics below 

• GMAT Test Information

                Information about format of GMAT, test fee etc. 

• GMAT Preparation - Books & Software

List of GMAT Prep resources. 

• GMAT Preparation Classes

List of GMAT preparation classes and tutors in your city. 

• GMAT Test Centers

          List of GMAT test centers. 

• GMAT Registration

                Procedure for registering for GMAT test. 

GMAT Test 

• What is GMAT?
• Who administers the GMAT test?
• When is the GMAT held?
• Eligibility and Fees
• The GMAT-CAT : A Fact Sheet
• Format of the GMAT test
• Reporting Scores
• The Scoring Pattern
• Retaking the GMAT
• What is GMAT?    

 What is GMAT?

The Graduate Management Admission Test is a Standardized test that measures verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills. It is intended to help the graduate schools of business assess the potential of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Nearly 900 management institutes all over the world (almost all of them in the US) require GMAT scores from each applicant. The GMAT tests the fundamental skills - Reasoning and Comprehension included - and does not require any subject-specific theoretical study. 

The test is designed in such a way that it would be unlike any other test you would have taken at school or college. First, the test has no question paper or answer sheets, nor does it have the same set of questions for all the examinees. Further, it does not give you the option of not answering a question (unless, of course, you run out of time at the end). All this because the GMAT is now an entirely Computer based test - the keyboard and mouse do the work of a pen or pencil. The test is scored out of 800 (in multiples of 10), and most scores fall in the range of 500-600. However, a score of even 800 is not unheard of! 

The GMAT test is only one of several parameters which the graduate schools look at to determine the selection of an applicant. A high score alone does not translate into an admission offer from a great school. But the test can be looked upon as the first major hurdle to be cleared in the process of getting admission into a B-school of your choice.

Who administers the GMAT test? 

The GMAT test is developed and administered by the US-based Pearson VUE under the direction of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a non-profit organization of graduate business schools worldwide. This implies that Pearson VUE conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score report. For the conduct of the test, Pearson VUE has appointed testing centers in various countries.

When is the GMAT held?  

When is the GMAT held? 

All-round-the-year. Unlike other exams, you can choose your own date and time for taking the GMAT! The test is administered in the above cities five-days-a-week (Monday through Friday), twice-a-day. September to December is the high season for GMAT, so in case you intend to take the test during this period, you need to register very early (say 90 days in advance) to get a date of your choice. Otherwise, registering at least 15 days in advance is mandatory. The GMAT test lasts roughly four hours, and most centres offer two slots : 9 A.M. and 2 P.M.

Eligibility and Fees   

Eligibility and Fees

Anyone and everyone is eligible for taking the GMAT - there are no restrictions based on age or qualifications. The test scores are valid for five years, i.e., most universities accept scores up to five years old. But it is always better if your scores are recent (not older than 2 years). 

The fee to take the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT) is US$250 worldwide. You will incur taxes when you schedule an exam in certain countries.   

Preferred Forms of Payment 

• By credit card

Credit card (Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, or JCB®)

• Debit card (Visa® or MasterCard® only) 

• By cashier’s check (mailed forms only) 

• By money order (mailed forms only) 

• Personal check (mailed forms only)  

Payments by check must be payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on banks located in the United States. 

All payments must be made in full, include the correct numeric and written fee amount, have the appropriate signature(s), and be made payable to Pearson VUE-GMAT.  

Postdated checks will not be accepted. The bank name and its location should be preprinted on the face of the check. Taxes must be included where applicable and the appointment date must be at least 10 calendar days after the check is received to allow time for the check to clear. Please keep in mind that it can take up to eight (8) weeks for letters to reach the U.S. from some countries. 

By sending a personal check, you are authorizing Pearson VUE, at its discretion, to use the information on your check to make an electronic debit from your account for the amount of your check; no additional amount will be withdrawn at that time. You are also authorizing Pearson VUE to make an electronic debit from your account of an additional service fee of US$20 in the event your check is returned. 

If payment is not submitted in U.S. dollars, or otherwise does not comply with the above requirements or other standard banking practices, your registration or request for service will not be processed and your payment will be rejected and/or returned. Any questions regarding billing or refunding should be directed to GMAT Customer Service in your region: 

Americas Region

Email: GMATCandidateServicesAmericas@pearson.com

Telephone (toll-free): 1-800-717-GMAT (4628), 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time

Telephone: 1-952-681-3680, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time

Fax: 1-952-681-3681 

Asia-Pacific Region (except India)

Email: GMATCandidateServicesAPAC@pearson.com

Telephone: +61 2 9478 5430, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. AEST

Fax: +61 2 9901 3330 

India

Email: GMATCandidateServicesAPAC@pearson.com

Telephone: +91 (0) 120 532 4628, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Indian Standard Time

Fax: +61 2 9901 3330 

Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) Region

Email: GMATCandidateServicesEMEA@pearson.com

Telephone: +44 (0) 161 855 7219, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. BST

Fax: +44 (0) 161 855 7301 

THE GMAT-CAT    

What is a Computer-Adaptive GMAT Test? 

In a computer-adaptive test, the computer screen displays one question at a time, which is chosen from a very large pool of questions categorized by content and difficulty. The first question is always of a medium difficulty, and each subsequent question is determined by your responses to all the previous questions. In other words, the CAT adjusts itself to your ability level - you’ll get few questions that are either too easy or too difficult for you.

Each question in the GMAT CAT has five answer options, and you are required to select one of these five as the correct answer by clicking on it. A subsequent question is displayed on the screen only after you have answered the previous question, so you cannot skip a question. You cannot also go back to a previously answered question to change your answer. Thus, if you guess a correct answer or answer a question incorrectly by mistake, your answers to subsequent questions will lead you back to questions that are at the appropriate level of difficulty for you.

Content and Format of the GMAT Test   

Format of the GMAT test

The test has three distinct sections : Analytical Writing Ability (AWA), Quantitative, and Verbal. The Quantitative section has two types of questions, Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency, mingled throughout the section. The Verbal Section has three types : Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension; here too, the questions of each type appear in no set sequence. There are a total of 78 questions, 37 in Quantitative and 41 in Verbal. These have to be done in 75 minutes each. 

The following table gives out the format of the GMAT-CAT :  

 The tutorial is meant to make you feel comfortable with the infrastructure and the environment and does not have a prescribed time limit. You are expected to be through with it in 15 minutes or so : it makes sense to acclimatize yourself fully with the setting even after you think you have understood how the system works. 

Analytical Writing Assessment    

 The analytical writing section requires you to write - or rather type - two short essays in thirty minutes each. The first is the Analysis of an Issue, in which you need to analyze the issue presented and explain your views on it. The second essay is Analysis of an Argument, in which a given argument has to be critically analyzed and evaluated. 

For both the essays, the emphasis is on the "Analytical" part, and not on the "Writing" part. This implies that a concise essay with well-reasoned points written in simple English will be looked upon more favourably than an essay which falls short on the analytical aspects even though it is high on writing skills. 

A five-minute break follows the two essays. The computer gives you the option to take this break, or to move directly to the subsequent section. Even if you finish the essays before the stipulated sixty minutes, the break will still be of five minutes. It is advisable to utilize this break by gearing yourself up for the tougher sections that follow. 

Quantitative Section  

 The 37 questions in this section comprise two kinds of questions : Problem Solving (PS) and Data Sufficiency (DS). The two kinds do not have a definite break-up; usually there are around 20 PS and 17 DS questions. The section tests you on a level of Maths that is comparable to the level of Class 10 exams, with questions on Number Systems, Percentages, Fractions & Decimals, Algebra (including Quadratic Equations), Geometry (including Basic Coordinate Geometry), Ratio & Proportion, Area & Volume of 2-D and 3-D figures, and Probability. This list is not exhaustive; questions from beyond these topics may also be asked. 

While the Problem Solving questions require you to solve a mathematical problem directly and choose the right answer, the Data Sufficiency is of a trickier variety. Each problem comprises a question followed by two statements, which may or may not lead to the answer to the given question. This is what you need to ascertain - whether the given statements can be used to answer the question or not, and if so, whether the statements can be used independently or in conjunction. Each of the five answer options present the five possibilities that arise in this case, and you have to apply the basic principles of mathematics with a strong dose of logic to get these right. 

Verbal Section    

 The verbal section in GMAT test requires the basic skills of correct English coupled with reasoning and analysis. The 41 questions, to be attempted in 75 minutes, consist of three types : Sentence Correction (SC), Critical Reasoning (CR), and Reading Comprehension (RC). The three types are intermingled, with no fixed number for each type. The break-up of questions among SC, CR, and RC could be 14-14-13 or 15-13-13, or any such combination.

 Reporting the Scores

 There is a provision of reporting your GMAT test scores to a maximum of five universities of your choice, the cost of which is built into the GMAT test fee you pay. But the catch is: you have to select these five universities/business-schools which will receive copies of your score report BEFORE you begin to take the test. This implies that even before taking the GMAT, you need to do some homework on which universities you’re finally going to apply based on the score that you expect to attain.

 For reporting to each additional university, the charge is US $28, payable by an international credit card or a dollar denominated draft. You will incur taxes when you request Additional Score Reports (ASRs) in certain countries. The

 Scoring Pattern in GMAT CAT

 The GMAT test results comprise four different scores : a total score (which is the combined verbal and quantitative scores), a separate Verbal score, a separate Quantitative score, and an Analytical Writing score. The total score is reported on a scale from 200 to 800. The Verbal and Quantitative Scores are reported on a scale of 0 to 60. For the AWA score, the scale is from 0 to 6. Note that your AWA performance is not reflected in your total GMAT score (on 800). You get to know your total, verbal, and quantitative score immediately after taking the test. Official GMAT score reports, which include the AWA scores, are mailed approximately two weeks after you take the test and take another ten days or so to reach your address. 

In addition to these scores, the score report also contains percents (%) below. These "% below" indicate the percentage of examinees who scored below you based on the scores of the entire GMAT testing population for the most recent three-year period. These percentages are important in considering how an applicant for admission to a particular management school compares with everyone in the specified period, with all other applicants to the same school, and with students already enrolled at the school. 

The following table indicates the percentage of examinees tested from June 1995 through May 1998 who scored below specified total scores : 

 No. of examinees : 602,037

Mean Score : 513

 This table implies that if you end up with a score of 600 on the GMAT, 75% of the 602,037 examinees who took the GMAT between June 1995 and May 1998 got a score below yours.

 Retaking the GMAT 

 Even though an "I could have done better" feeling is inevitable after any test, taking the GMAT again may not be helpful. Sometimes it is necessary to take the GMAT test more than once, like when a management school asks you for more recent scores than what you have. However, unless your scores seem unusually low compared to your performance in the practice tests, or if you have not been able to perform well because of a sudden illness or similar exceptional circumstances, it’s advisable not to succumb to the temptation of repeating the test. This is because, given the nature of the test, it is unlikely that your scores can substantially improve. 

If you repeat the test, your scores from the latest test date and the two most recent test administrations in the last five years will be reported to the institutions you designate as recipients. In any case, you cannot take the test more than once in the same calendar month, even if you have taken the test and cancelled your scores.     

 You can get information on TOEFL at TOEFL Test

 For our suggestions on GMAT preparation, resources & books you can log on to GMAT Preparation 

For a complete information on GMAT and the procedures of applying check out: GMAT Test

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