The QS World MBA tour, the most prestigious MBA fair in the world, made a stopover in Chennai on the 5th of December 2011, giving local students and working professionals access to experts from some of the leading B-schools in the world. The Chennai leg of the QS World MBA tour was held at the Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers, Chennai, and consisted of several sections, including a panel discussion, a fair, and a seminar providing students with tips on how to prepare a strategy for the GMAT exams.

The discussion panel consisted of professors and admissions personnel from various foreign colleges and universities such as DePaul University, Chicago, USA; IE Business School, Madrid, Spain; Monterey Institute of International Studies, California, USA; and Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK. The panelists were posed questions by a host from among the organizers of the fair. They offered some insightful thoughts on several aspects of college admission. Some of the questions and the panelists’ opinions are listed below.

Why an MBA?

• When you are choosing an MBA course it is important that you ask yourself why you intend doing the course. If you are already employed, a fundamental question would be whether you would like to further your prospects in your current line of work or you plan to change to a new career altogether.

What should you look for in an MBA?

• First, you need to know that not all MBA courses are the same. Do some research to understand the nature of each MBA course. You need to choose a course that suits your specific career goals. Apart from reading up on the faculty of a college/university, you should also look into the kind of career advisors that are part of the institution. Another indicator of the standards of a school is the alumni base it has; find out what verticals the alumni are predominantly employed in and whether they align with your requirements and aspirations.

• Second, find out what kind of placements are on offer at the school. Most colleges predominantly focus on career assistance and do not guarantee placements.  
You may also want to consider whether you prefer to study in an urban or rural setting. The climate of the place could also influence your choice, so it is advisable to know a little about the geography of the location.

Is a 2-year program superior to a 1-year program?

• Either of the two types of programs could be a good fit for you, it entirely depends on what your career plans are. Neither is superior to the other, it is all up to personal preference as well as your individual profile.

• One of the advantages of doing a 2-year program is that you have a longer period to acclimatize to a foreign culture and environment, such acclimatization is particularly important if you are studying outside your home country. Also, in a 2-year program you have a summer to do an internship that would provide you with work experience as well as an opportunity to put into practice what you have studied over the first year. If you have less than 5 years of work experience it is preferable to do a 2-year program; a 1-year program may not be right for someone who needs time to soak up the culture and environment, not to mention to sink teeth into volumes of Phillip Kotler and Peter Drucker.

• So who would benefit from a 1-year MBA?  The 1-year program is perfect for those with considerable experience, generally over 5 years, and are already well acclimatized with foreign culture and environment. It would further suit them to go for a shorter program since they would prefer to be out of the job market for a reduced time. A longish sabbatical may not be possible for some. Being out of the job market for two years might also mean losing close touch with trends.

How important are B-School rankings?

• Rankings are important but you need to put them in perspective. They serve as a good starting point to shortlist colleges you intend applying to. However, your decision should be based on your future plans as well as the field you want to specialize in. A university or college not ranked too high may not necessarily be all bad, there may be courses and specialties that are not only good but also the right fit for what you want to achieve; it might have a particular program that is well respected and recognized in the industry or vertical in which you are planning your future.

• Take a look at the variables that are considered while ranking, select the variables that are most relevant to your profile and career plans, and then choose a program.
What do schools look for in applications?

• Schools generally take a very holistic approach during admissions. Apart from academic history, extracurricular activities are also very important. Personal history of the candidate is also considered.

• Leadership qualities are important and any evidence of such qualities (e.g., event organizer, team leader) should be highlighted in the application as well as SOP

• You should also highlight any instances of being a team player (e.g., member of an organizing committee, volunteer at a club).

• Schools generally look for drive, passion, and enthusiasm and demonstrable qualities that have helped you overcome difficulties.

• Exam scores are an important factor but they are not the end all, be all

• Also, while writing the  SOP you may not meet all the expectations of the college, but if you feel you are lacking in something you should include a justification
What should candidates ensure while creating their SOP?

• Make sure that the SOP is proofread and is grammar- and spell-checked

• Stick to the word limit if specified; write precisely and avoid including superfluous information

• Make sure that your story is conveyed through the essay. You should understand that the SOP is essentially your interview on paper

• Make sure that the general appearance of the text is neat. The formatting of the text and styles should give it a professional look. Use the right kind of justification and ensure that the font size is consistently the same throughout

• A good way to convey some of your qualities is through anecdotal stories and evidence. But ensure that you keep it brief. You can do this using the STAR format of representing your achievements. The STAR format is a job interview technique that is commonly used by interviewers to gather more information on a candidate’s proficiency in a particular skill area.

• S – Situation: Present a challenging situation in which you found yourself
• T – Task: What was it that you were expected to achieve?
• A – Action: What was it that you did?
• R – Result: What was the outcome of your actions?

Who should ideally write a candidate’s letter of recommendation?

• Peer
• Supervisor and/or professor
• Client
• Ensure that the recommender comments on your
• character
• work ethics
• ability
• Discuss with the recommender about your dreams and aspirations and try to make sure that the recommendation aligns with them.
• In addition, some colleges might want recommendations from specific people. Ensure that you check on this.

What is your advice on financing?

• Most schools offer scholarships
• Check with colleges and countries about loans
• Fellowships and on-campus work are some other options.
• Scholarships based on the merit of your performance in the first semester or year can also be availed.
• There are scholarships that are specific to particular groups and you might be eligible for some (e.g., scholarships for female students).

List of Universities and colleges that attended the fair in Chennai

1. Australia

• Sydney Business School

2. Canada

• Saint Mary’s University
• University of Ottawa
• University of Toronto – Rotman
• York University – Schulich

3. France

• ESSEC Business School

4. Hungary

• CEU Business School

5. India

• Aegis School of Business
• Amity University
• Great Lakes IM

6. Ireland

• Trinity MBA – University of Dublin

7. Italy

• Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

8. Spain

• IE Business School

9. United Kingdom

• Henley Business School
• Leeds Metropolitan Business School
• Newcastle Business School – Northumbria University

10. United States

• Boston University School of Management
• California State University – San Bernardino
• De Paul University – Kellstadt
• Drucker School of Management Claremont
• George Mason University
• Monterey Institute – Fisher
• SMU Cox
• UC Irvine – Merage
• UC San Diego – Rady School
• University of Denver – Daniels
• Washington University – Olin
• West Virginia University

11. Multi-Campus

• Hult International Business School (w/Campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shangai