Easy Ways to find a Relevant MBA Institute Based on Your Academic Scores

Studying MBA is a rigorous process that needs efforts that may be taxing at times. Selectors need to be assured of the fact that a candidate should be able to survive in the environment under the pressure. Your academic potential is directly related to your competence to thrive in a business school.

Majorly there are three ways to reflect your academic strengths:
• GPA
• GMAT Score
• Professional Certifications

 GPA is a very common tool used by B-schools to assess your academic profile. A lower GPA will diminish your chances to a top-ranked B-school. However, in such cases you need to have a list of B-schools that would entertain such score. Generally from a top ranked graduate school with a lower GPA may find some consideration. But you should remember that a lower GPA along with a low grade B-school can give a perfect disastrous recipe. So be careful while making your list.

GPA is the globally accepted score which is mandatory at all top B-schools. However in some countries, as is the case with some colleges in India, GPA scores are not provided to graduating students. Traditionally, a good GPA score is around 3.5, so, once you do the conversion and realise you have something around this, you'd know that you are in the running for a good B-school.

Apart from your GPA, B-Schools will also love to turn every stones and scan your transcripts thoroughly to evaluate how well you’ve performed in various subjects over the years.

Conversely, a high GPA along with a well-recognized school makes a strong MBA application. Though the minimum GPA required may vary from school to school, usually 3.5 is considered as a decent number. For instance, a student from IIT-Bombay with a GPA of 3.5 doesn’t need to prove his credentials to the admissions committee. It becomes implicit that he has the academic potential to sail through the MBA curriculum. 

The next important aspect to consider is your GMAT score. A good GMAT score is an indicator that you are good at analytical writing skills, math skills and the English language which is sought after in a candidate. Though GMAT score is not included while evaluating your academic score but it is considered to be another way to judge your academic strengths. Moreover, a good GMAT score will be appealing to any top notch MBA institute. 

For instance, if the average GMAT score of a B-school is 680, even a 660 stands a fair chance. If you apply to a school where the average is 650, and you have scored 680, you have a huge advantage. So, instead of searching B-schools with the minimum GMAT score, look for the average GMAT scores. 

A high GPA and a good GMAT score can make your application appealing but not unique. There will be other applications that would give you tough competition. In order to make your academic profile impressive you need to give selectors a reason to pick you up. If you have earned a globally recognized professional program like a PMP certification, you surely will be able to impress the selection committee. 

Your B-school list should also include a couple of institute that prefers candidates with such professional certifications. Find out if they give any extra credit for such certifications. You need to apply to those institutions where you think your academic records would be valued and probability of your admission would be maximum.