MBA Abroad: Average Age for MBA Programs in Different Countries

Many students wish to pursue management studies today. Getting an international MBA degree is highly beneficial for the career of a student. Read here about the advantages of pursuing an MBA abroad. For MBA programs from abroad, scores of entrance exams such as GMAT and GRE are required as the admission criterion. One thing which is very important to be noticed but people do not pay attention towards, the age.

Every field has certain criteria of age under which the students are supposed to be lest they should not have the eligibility. Also, there is a certain age in each country for MBA programs. In India, as the trend goes, a majority of students pursue an MBA right after graduation. Whereas in most of the countries abroad, MBA is pursued by people who have some years of work experience. Read here about the importance of work experience for an MBA. These differences are important to be understood if one wishes to earn an MBA degree from a foreign university.

What is the Average Age of the Students for Different MBA Programs Abroad?

Here, we are going to talk about the average age of the applicant at the MBA institutions of various countries:

What is the average age for different MBA programs in the United States of America?

The reputed business schools have an average scale of 26 to 28 for the applicants. The two topmost business school in the US are demanding the same age group of the applicants. The MBA program in Harvard Business School asks for the applicants to be 27 years and Kellogg School of Management asks for the applicants to be 28 years. There are also so many business institutions in the USA who ask for a different age group than the reputed but they will bind you to have at least 3-4 years work experience.

What is the average age for MBA in India?

Indian institutions of MBA ask for age group according to the study schedule of their management. If you simply want to take admission at the regular 2 years programs offered by IIMs (the Indian Institutes of Management), your age must be in the twenties. If you are trying for the MBA programs with GMAT and GRE, you are supposed to be 28-30 as it is higher than the others. If you have a work experience of 10 years, your age for MBA is 34. But mostly, students in India pursue an MBA earlier, after graduation directly.

What is the average age for different MBA programs in Europe (UK and France)?

The MBA programs in the European countries have different study schedules as some business schools are offering 2 years MBA courses whereas some of the institutions have a 1-year study schedule for international students.

Some European MBA institutions are offering a business course with the 10 months duration including INSEAD (European Institute of Business Administration). The average age for INSEAD is 29 years whereas for the Cambridge and Oxford is 30 years.

This is how age varies when it comes to MBA across different countries. All a student needs is to maintain his profile according to the admission requirement. If you have reached the falling line of average age you can still have an opportunity to get in MBA programs as your academic profile would recommend you. Also, the age differences also play a role in the corporate world after an MBA in different countries. What are your views on these age differences in different countries? Please do share in the comments section as we are looking forward to your feedback and suggestions.

MBA Abroad 10 Mistakes To Be Avoided in MBA Application Forms

MBA Abroad 10 Mistakes To Be Avoided in MBA Application Forms

Filling an application form is not an uphill task yet every application has its own regularities and standards which the applicants are supposed to follow. MBA application forms also require the applicants to complete them without any mistakes. Read here about the best universities for MBA in the USA. Most of the time, students are very conscious about the guidelines but still they make mistakes that are very common. It is usually said that a war is lost by the little things rather than the big ones so the students should focus on the fact that they should not be making the mistakes while filling the application forms.

Even if the students are conscious and they make sure that they are not going to make any type of mistake in the application form, there is still something makes the form to be rejected. If you are looking for the best way to complete the application form without any mistakes, then we have got this post for you.

MBA Application Form and Mistakes To Avoid

These are some of the common mistakes which the students make while completing their MBA application forms:

Target to have money

MBA Application Form and Mistakes To AvoidThese are some of the common mistakes which the students make while completing their MBA application forms:

Target to have money

This is the biggest mistake which the student shouldn’t make at any cost. It is an obvious thing that the main purpose of studies is to achieve a glorious and comfortable future but sometimes we are expected have other purposes in life as well. When it comes to MBA applications, we must take care that we have to convince the business school about our skills rather than our desires and personal goals. So, in simple words, what you need to do is  to make your first impression positive because it is the last impression but make your second impression attractive because it is the everlasting impression.

Not an exact career plan

If are going to fill MBA application form, make sure that you have a certain career plan. You should never think that you will seek and explore the opportunities during your first year of MBA. This is what makes you lose if you seek for exceptional chances of the best future. Regulate your target on a particular point and go ahead.

Only study but no extracurricular activities

Are you a bookworm? If you want to apply for MBA programs, the application will be telling you the importance of extracurricular activities. So, you need to add some extras to your academics and mention the achievements in your application form.

Less interview preparation

The admission interview schedules are not like the job interviews and they are quite difficult but most of the time you may seem not to seriously prepare for the admission interview. If you are ignoring the grave contents of admission interviews, you may be led towards the rejection.

The selection of a good choice

Before applying for any business school, you should go through the whole data of the particular. You should emphasize the placement history of the school and prefer to go for that one which had been guaranteed for more opportunities than one or two.

The ranking of study schedule

This is the most important thing to remember that you should always get into the institution which has been ranked for the best study schedule. If you are not going in such a business administration program, what your application would be supposed, you know better.

Be prepare for the visions of career planner

You are supposed not to change your career plans in the application and during the interview. This means that you may show your career plan determined and rigid. Also, make the interviewers convince that your career plan is not dynamic and affected by any atmosphere. This will lead you on the positive direction of admission.

Perfect recommendation

This is what makes your chances high to get into a business school. Basically, your academics are supposed as the basic criterion yet still you need such recommender who may side you on your strengths. All you need is to facilitate your personality professional and if you have a recommender who can make them believe the same, you will increase your chances of getting accepted. Read here about the mistakes to avoid in a letter of recommendation.

Get unique and creative each and every occasion

If you are applying for MBA programs in many business schools, do not copy and paste the content from internet sources. You must exhibit creativity in all the applications so that you can have a positive impact on the admissions committee.

Presenting oneself as a not so professional person

The student should emphasize himself as a professional individual. The mistake is that you want to impress them by telling business as your passion but presenting yourself as a professional is going to help you out to find an acceptance letter. You do not need you shape you as a business buddy but simply tell them those things which gave you a particular shape. These contents may be your professional experiences along with your academics. Don’t forget to make an impression on the service phase rather than the earning genre.

MBA Applications

These are the points to be kept in your mind whenever you are going to apply for MBA programs. A proper application form is the first step in getting into a good business school  If you want to add anything to the list, you are always free to share your views in the comments. We are looking forward to your suggestions and feedback. Do mention as well.

MBA Abroad Requirements and How to Apply for MBA Abroad?

MBA courses in abroad universities has lot more than to design the business stories and get fruitful placements at popular organizations. Let’s take a look at the basis for the admission process that how Indian students can find the right place abroad to study MBA. Read here about the best universities abroad for studying MBA course. Students are confused majorly on these:

1. What are the eligibility requirements for an MBA abroad?
2. What are the entrance exams for overseas MBA colleges?

How to Apply for Foreign Universities?

The admission process of foreign countries is quite different and lengthy from Indian MBA programs. This post is exactly how the admission process takes place in the international universities.

MBA abroad requirements and eligibility

The applications for MBA are evaluated by MBA Admissions Committee. Here is what they study about your application form prior to making any decision for the admission process.

Academic requirements for MBA Abroad

For MBA the foremost eligibility requirement is to have a basic bachelor level graduation degree, in any stream as MBA has the doors open for B.E., B.Tech, B.Sc, and B.Com, B.A. or any other graduate degree. A doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is also fine. The MBA course has been pursued even after MS.

In the process of applying for MBA course abroad, the applicant needs to submit the evidence to prove your credentials of academic transcripts. The process also includes semester wise marks of each subject that were covered in the degree.

Work Experience Requirements

The MBA colleges abroad expect not only the technical skills but the managerial skills like planning, decision-making, team leading. This allows the graduates of foreign MBA colleges to get mid and senior management level jobs that pay high salaries.

Some top MBA schools are willing to look at exceptional applicants who don’t have any experience, but that is rare.

MBA Application Requirements and Procedure

MBA application is the highly time-consuming that elaborates each and everything related to you including your past to your future moves.

The MBA application form consists of the following main sections:

General Information

This is believed to be the easiest part where you just need to fill up the objective data about yourself- Name, age, bio-data, and much more including the overall academic grades, known languages etc.

Writing MBA Essays

Writing an Essay in MBA entrance seems pretty easy, but actually, it is not. The MBA applicant needs to write about the career so far, why you thought of pursuing MBA abroad at this stage, your future plans, and goals, including strength and weakness. This test of essay allows the Admission Committee to see if you are a person with a bunch of statistics or not.

Recommendations

Apart from all that you’ve shared, Adcoms also want to know what those you’ve worked with think of you. They ask for 2 (or 3) recommendations from supervisors, managers or colleagues who’ve known you well professionally and can talk about various aspects of your skills and potential.
Every B-school has its own recommendation formats. Which means you can’t have a single letter then you email to multiple B-schools. It can be a pain in the neck for your recommends, especially when the number of applications goes up.

MBA Interview

This is the ultimate hurdle to cross. Adcoms will decide based on all the other submitted material (application, transcripts, test scores, essays, recommendations) whether they should give you the final opportunity to prove your mettle.

Entrance Exams for MBA abroad

This part gets a lot of attention from MBA adcoms and for legit reasons. MBA program consists of two sets of entrance exams, the very first category designs to test the aptitude for business management. The second category completely tests the level of English language, by the mode of communication in the business school and the corporate world as well.

1. Business Management Aptitude Exam

GMAT was the standard aptitude exams for MBA course and GRE was believed to be a more popular test for MS applicants. However, things are changing and many MBA universities have also started accepting GRE scores. If you’ve already applied to MS programs in the USA, you may have a GRE score. Read here about the top universities accepting GRE scores for MBA in the USA.

2. Language Proficiency Exams

TOEFL and IELTS are the two well-known exams which are accepted to open the doors of international business schools across the world. The two of the exams are similar enough as they cover reading, writing, speaking and listening. GMAT, GRE and much more aptitude exams which are completely automated, for certain English Proficiency sections to interact with the human beings and allot grades. Read here about the structure and pattern of IELTS exam.

MBA Abroad Cost

Masters in Business Administration

Masters of Business Administration, well known as MBA, is a high-value postgraduate degree designed for students to further develop their skills in Business and Management.

When a student does an MBA, it allows him to grow in different aspects of Business and Management. He gets to experience and understands real-life market skills through practical situations and theoretical knowledge. An MBA degree can transform the student’s raw knowledge into great opportunities.

Masters in Business Administration is the most popular internationally-recognized professional degree in the world. MBA is a very vast course and comes with various Specializations.

MBA Specializations:-

• MBA in Accounting – MBA in accounting focuses on developing the skills of a student by providing it with the knowledge of operation and control of the Accounting Information system used in the companies around the globe.
• MBA in Human Resource Management – There is a great potential in the Human Resource field, HR deals with the functioning of the organization. MBA in HR helps the student learn topics helpful incorporate such as compensation management and business coaching.
• MBA in Finance – Finance is a vital part of an organization that is mostly done by accountants and mathematicians. An MBA in Finance helps the student hone his accountancy skills and knowledge. A company prefers and MBA for financing because it understands it’s value.
• MBA in Marketing – The international market is very fast-paced, and it’s hard to keep up with changing trends. MBA in marketing offers courses in consumer behavior, brand and product management, promotions, and marketing strategies. An MBA in Marketing opens a lot of opportunities for students.

Cost of MBA Abroad

Today, the MBA has become the most sought-after course due to its high demand in the global scenario. Every individual (unless not pursuing some other relevant degree after graduation) needs to have a management degree to maintain his position and get recognized in the corporate world.

Earlier, this course had limited options in terms of colleges and universities, but now the situation in the past 8-10 years has changed greatly, and there are ample numbers of options available for the aspirants to choose from not only in their home countries but also abroad. While the quality of this supply might be questionable, the cost of this education is still high and is increasing every year.

Moving ahead, keeping this question in mind, let us analyze the main points that eventually come up while evaluating the most common question; how much will an MBA abroad cost?

The three major categories where financing is required while pursuing MBA abroad are:-

1. Application Cost- These hold the initial most and the most significant position. Application cost includes the initial fees required for tests like GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/ IELTS, the preparation material for the tests, cost of an application for each B-school, cost of transcripts and attestations, scholarship/ loan documentation costs, courier/ postage charges, and stationery.
2. Visa- Financing in VISA related issues require the visa application fees, documentation costs, and liquidity maintenance costs. This also includes extra charges in some cases where a criterion is not fulfilled, and extra documents are required to be made.
3. Course expenditure- An MBA abroad at an economical institution may cost anywhere between Rs. 20 to 50 lakhs. It may even range up to Rs. 1crore if done from an extremely reputed institution. Indian MBA is cheaper, but it isn’t that diverse and does not contain the value that an MBA from abroad does
4. Miscellaneous- These constitute the expenditure incurred on living, travel, food, transport, books and stationery, and other expenses. Staying in a country abroad often requires an individual to be in equal terms with the living standards of that particular area. It may increase your living expenses and also compel you to work part-time to make up for your lost costs and lead a better student life there. Miscellaneous expenditure also requires medical insurance because it is mandated in certain countries, and prior step in this direction is essential to ensure admission.

MBA Abroad Admissions interview question

MBA Interview for B-Schools

After the euphoria of having an interview invitation comes the anxiety and nervousness of performing and cracking the same. Interview is a very prominent part of MBA admission process and must be taken seriously.

Of the thousands of applications that business faculties like Chicago Booth, Harvard grad school or Columbia might receive annually, only a small amount of people make it to the interview. But an even smaller number of people will then be offered a confirmed admit in the MBA program, suggesting that the admissions committee is at this stage looking for reasons to select you rather than reject you. At the very least the committee believes you are a serious candidate, and would like to know further about you – that is therefore discovered consequently.

About the MBA Interview Process

To prepare for an MBA interview or any interview one must keep the following in focus.

• Sincerity for your goals
• Facts about your personality
• Communication skills
• Executive presence

Talking about preparing answers to your interview questions – it is obvious that you can’t prepare your response for everything. Your interviewer may end up asking some very random or out of the field questions such as “If you were a bird, which kind would you be?” Spontaneity and good communication skill are the keys to give an engaging response.

Important MBA Interview questions and tips to answer them

You must prepare an answer for all the basic and expected questions. 

Here is the list of five most common MBA interview questions.

1.Tell me about yourself

While answering this question remember that the interviewer is asking this question to talk about your professional self and not you in general. Add the following in your answer to this question.

-Who are you?-What motivates you?-Education and work accomplishment.-Passion, strength, and weakness.-Why do you want to pursue MBA?

2.Tell me about an ethical dilemma you faced

 Try to choose a situation that is grey. Remember to mention the lessons you learned from the situation and also mention your reaction on the same in a positive way.

 3.‎Describe poor management

Remember when you describe what poor management is you must not blame anyone in case you are giving an example of any of your poor manager. Just give your opinion on what you will consider as poor management and if possible tell ways on how you can turn poor management into good management.

4.Tell me about your biggest failure

When you discuss your failure you must discuss your reaction and response to the incident. Don’t blame anyone for your failure. Instead, discuss the lessons you learned from the same and make sure your tone while responding is a positive one.

5.‎What is your biggest weakness? 

Although some experts suggest in quoting your strength in the form of a weakness that should not be the case because the interviewer is obviously smarter than you. Instead, tell your weakness in a way that it reflects a dedication to improvement in you. Also, choose a weakness that would preferably not affect your work and study in the field.

Pro Tip: Your every answer should reflect that you’re aware of the company’s needs and values. Meanwhile, your tone should register as articulate, confident, and prepared.

Try using STAR approach for your answers. The STAR approach is an interview technique that helps you keep your answers on the right track. 
STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Situation – You start by explaining a situation which required you to solve a problem, use a skill, or come up with a new idea. 

Task – Next, you explain the action that your organization requires in such a situation. 

Action – After, you describe the action that you took. If it’s different than the required task, you should also explain why you chose a different path. 

Result – What happened in the end? How did the situation play out once you acted? It’s best here to illustrate successes with numbers and details if you can. Numbers help reinforce the impact that your action had.

MBA Abroad Interview Preparations

The way you appears in an interview matters. Take special notice of how you are dressing up for your interview day. Although eventually your performance is what matters the most but maintain your personality for that day.

Here are few things that men/women can take into consideration while dressing up for an MBA interview.
Men

1. Crisp shirt – choose soft colors like navy blue, grey-black
2. Two piece Suit, preferably
3. Tie (you can drop this if you want)
4. Well-polished shoes
5. Be well groomed
   

Women

1. Shirt/Top – Choose colors like navy blue, grey, black
2. Two pieced match suit
3. Skirt/Trouser – Whatever you’re comfortable in.
4. Keep jewelry less flashy – go for simple choices
5. Be well groomed

Make sure that you take what you are wearing into consideration before going for an interview. There are a couple situations where obsessing over what you wear is acceptable: high school prom, your wedding day, and your MBA interview. Don’t feel bad, get it right.

Most people get nervous before interviews and nervousness can cause you to stumble through even the most fundamental interactions. Therefore the final step of preparation is to relax and enjoy your interview. 

Do your interview homework seriously and boost your chances. Also, remember to have a glass of water before you enter the interview room. Going for an interview with full preparation does not guarantee you an admit, but it will surely help you in performing better.

What are your best tips for interview preparation? Do share in the comments section below. Also, please do mention your feedback and suggestions.

Mayank Maheshwari – Northampton University, UK

“I travelled all of UK upto Scotland & attended Linkin Park Live Concert”

Getting bored of being the team lead at a BPO, I one day finally decided to go for a career change. MBA seemed the best possible option and on the suggestion of a friend, I decide to pursue it abroad at Northampton University in Britain where I secured admission with 25% scholarship. A large part of credit for my career today goes to this study abroad experience. When I moved to Britain, I was troubled with the issue of finding accommodation in a foreign country. I later realised that it was a problem which a number of students were facing and thus I co-founded University Living. The LGBT culture and the open drinking culture was something which was shocking for me in my initial days as in our country the things are a bit conservative.During my time there, I travelled in different parts of UK upto Scotland. I also had a chance to attend a Linkin Park live concert, watched a practice match of the Indian Cricket Team and had a chance to meet Sachin Tendulkar and get personal pictures clicked with Virender Sehwag. I also had the fortune of celebrating desi festivals of Holi and Diwali in a foreign country at the university. The time that I spent with my friends at university was also memorable and I will always cherish those days.

Masters’ Courses in Canada: A Guide to Studying Post-Graduation in Canada

Why Study Post-graduation in Canada?

Canada is one of the best economies in the world, tenth largest to be precise. Known for its varied multicultural environment and a healthy academic behavior supplemented by quality education and assured employment, it has successfully carved a corner for itself and is counted among the most pursued study destinations for students aiming to seek education overseas, especially the Indian students. Pursuing post-graduation in Canada gives a boost to the career of the students because of a large number of opportunities there. 

The country is highly urbanized with 82% of 35.15 million people living in large and medium cities. No wonder why people prefer Canada to reside over other countries.Besides being a developed country, it has other titles to its credit, for instance, it ranks tenth in Human Development Index. To add on, according to a 2012 report by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canada is one of the most educated countries in the world, it ranks first worldwide in the number of adults having tertiary education. Thereby making the economy and the people a more informed and celebrated crowd of citizens.

Canadian universities offer many courses under its diverse programs. For all the undergraduate students out there, Post Graduation Diploma is one course to opt for. This degree is a level higher to the undergraduate degree an helps you master your field of interest. Now the question arises, What is post graduation diploma?

What is Post-graduation?

As the name itself suggests, it is the degree pursued after graduation. It stands a level ahead of graduation degree and demands a proper admission test one has to go through to get admission into it. These diplomas are offered to those students who have acquired their bachelor’s degree in the field they have pursued under-graduation in. It takes between six months to two years(depending on the program) to get completed. It offers students practical knowledge of the particular subject.

A postgraduate diploma, postgraduate degree or Master’s degree offers the student an advanced level of education in their chosen area of study. In better words, it helps them forte their area of interest and gain expertise in it.

The course content of post-graduation s such that it is designed to build on the knowledge obtained at undergraduate degree level. Often the course content is more practical in nature to better prepare the student with the skills they will need in the workplace. Completing postgraduate studies helps students further their career prospects and deepen their understanding of their area of expertise.

Requirements to apply for Post-graduation?

The requirements for applying for any postgraduate diploma include an undergraduate degree with an overall score of at least 60% or an advanced certificate in the relevant work area. Some specific diplomas require one or two years of work experience. Any applicant applying for this needs to give IELTS (i.e. International English Language Learning System) and score a 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 in the exam to be eligible for the admissions. Though some colleges do accept an overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5.

The program structure includes 60 credits per year, 30 per semester. Modules are usually 5 or 10 credits. Doing a post- graduation degree yields you a QQI Level 9 and above degree. It is the level of grade awarded.

Post-graduation in Canada

The degree or certificate from a Canadian university is well known in different sectors like business, government etc. all over the world. A  post-graduation diploma from Canada is beneficial due to many reasons like they have affordable tuition fees, one can also do part-time work, and simultaneously get a skill-oriented education. Some diplomas in Canada include a work internship also, known as Co-op program which helps the students to gain experience in their field of study and to develop professional skills , it helps them learn how an industry works by making them a part of it.

Cost and Financial aid

Costs of studying in Canada is quite lower than the other major countries imparting a somewhat same level of education. Also, to supplement the students, the Canada government provides its students financial aid and scholarships and also aids to do part-time jobs. Postgraduate diploma in Canada for international students cost approximately $15,000 to $25,000.The living expenses cost around $15,000 per year. Some Canadian universities also provide scholarships specifically for international students named as:

1. Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program
2. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
3. Mitcas Elevate
4. CIFAR Global Scholars

Read here to know about undergraduate scholarships offered to international students in Canada.

Post-graduate Courses- Canada

Canada is known for its variation and different types of courses provided to its students.There are many postgraduate diploma courses offered in Canada. The list includes:

1. Health Administration
2. Human Resource Management
3. Logistics
4. Management Control
5. Quality Management
6. Supply Chain Management
7. Engineering Studies
8. Marketing Studies
9. Business Administration
10. Tourism and Hospitality Management
11. Biological Sciences
12. Pharmacy
13. Nursing
14. Finance

These are one of the most pursued ones among others. Now, listing down the top public universities in Canada to seek post-grad from.