MBAs owing to their massive success and lucrative career options have become rife with a ton of myths and mysteries over the course of a few decades. This article “MBA Admissions: A clandestine game of chance & Luck!” is a sincere attempt on my part to bust some of those myths and separate fact from fiction.
- MBA Prep
- MBA Admissions
- Summer Internships and PPOs
- MBA final placements
MBA Admissions
Has it happened to you or your friends that, you had all the necessary qualifications and yet you didn’t get a shortlist from your dream college?
You had the grades, you had the CAT score and a stellar profile and yet you were passed on for somebody who had lesser scores and an average profile!
Sounds familiar?
I don’t mean to pry open old wounds, but think about it for a second, why were we so sure that we would get that shortlist, or get that admission call?
Read on to find out!
The Shortlist sentiment
None of the exams baffles students as much as CAT does. The shortlisting process is so enigmatic and mysterious and stumps the students and the coaches alike.
It is common knowledge that all the top MBA colleges give shortlists based on a composite score.
The composite score is calculated using predefined criteria. Some of the parameters contributing to the composite scores are in the short infographic below:
“Our fate, when it comes to the shortlists is pretty much sealed. There is very little that we can do”
Even the math is stacked up against us!
So, the only thing left to do is to cast a wide net and attempt as many exams as possible, and fill the applications for as many colleges as possible.
That’s the only way to beat the vagaries of luck and chance.
Enumerating the points that need to be kept in mind are:
- Take as many exams as possible (CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, CMAT, MAT so on)
- Fill the admission forms for as many colleges as possible
- Manage your expectations well
- Have a list of potential colleges that are aligned with your goals and ambitions
Do not let ego get the better of you. I know of a couple of friends who haven’t applied for colleges because they felt it was beneath them. They were in for a nasty surprise once the shortlists arrived and they didn’t make the cut.
What’s worse is that they had to appear for the exam again next year.
The Interview interpretations
Few things bother students more than personal interviews. The uncertainty and ambiguity of it all make it even worse.
I remember registering with a bunch of Coaching Institutes and paid a ton of money just for the Personal Interview preparation. Only to be yelled at and grilled, all in the name of preparation.
Demoralized and disheartened, I started to prepare for the Interviews myself. I didn’t perform that bad eventually and made it into a reasonably good College.
Few things to remember
- Your personal stories matter, don’t twist facts to sound good
- Answer sincerely
- Be prepared for a stress interview
- Be calm and confident while answering
There are no shortcuts or cheat sheets for cracking the interview, just be honest with your resume, and then be prepared to answer all the questions that come up.
The ‘Convert’ conundrum
Converting good colleges is the equivalent of the finish line in a race. In the end, everybody wants to get into their dream college and jumpstart their careers.
The most important piece of information that would help a student at this phase is to ‘manage their expectations‘ and to have more realistic aspirations that are most feasible, given your profile and scores.
It is easier said than done, as it is human tendency to overestimate our capabilities and underplay our limitations.
And, once again we cannot overemphasize the role that luck and chance play in this phase as well. Your play should be to cover more ground with a shotgun rather than to use a sniper and miss (couldn’t help the Gaming reference).
That brings us to the end of this segment!
See you in the next one
Similar articles:
Read Part 1 here
3 C’s to Ace interviews and land that dream job
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