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When it comes to the H1B visa, you never know which way the wind will blow.
This leaves many wondering - "What if I don't get an H1B?"
There are several immigrant and non-immigrant work visa options in USA that you could explore.
We've just published a primer on the most popular ones. But none as popular as the H1B.
See if you're eligible for any of them.
For all we know, Trump may make some (or all?) of the options listed in this article redundant very soon.
Read it here: www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2024/07/29/h1b-alterna…
Harvard Business School has added a new hurdle for applicants. It wants you to prove that you can talk, walk & laugh in Business English without using ChatGPT.
This decision gives a big advantage to GRE over GMAT.
HBS now expects applicants submitting GMAT Focus scores to take an additional test called the Business Writing Assessment (BWA), if they get an interview invite.
This 'new' add-on test essentially appears to be the good ol' AWA section that was dropped from GMAT in the Focus Edition.
Given the increasing use of generative AI in MBA applications, HBS thought dropping AWA was a bad decision. It wants the section to be brought back, albeit in a new avatar.
The not-so-gentle nudge from (arguably) the most powerful bschool in the world has got GMAC to work on quickly offering a new product that no applicant has ever asked for.
What that means is that Harvard MBA applicants who submit GMAT Focus scores have to spend an additional 30 minutes and shell out $30 more on the BWA. Not to mention the additional hours you'd need to prepare for it.
Other schools may follow Harvard's lead. For instance, MIT Sloan has already announced that it'll require the additional test.
GRE and Classic GMAT scorers aren't impacted by this.
This development is likely to sway more applicants away from the GMAT and into the open arms of the GRE - as the latter is shorter (by 45 mins) and cheaper (by $85).
Interestingly, the first line on MIT Sloan's FAQ page says: "Our goal is to make the MBA admissions process straightforward."
But looks like the wait for a simplified & unified MBA admissions process will continue.
For GMAT Focus test takers aiming for HBS, MIT Sloan (and possibly other schools), it's not just old wine in a new bottle. You'll have to get two bottles now, for a higher fee.
And maybe a third one to drown your application sorrows.
Reach out if you need help with your H/S/W applications.
The title should actually be 'Affordable AND Reputed'. Going only for the cheapest would mean you'd be dropping all quality filters and ending up with worst of the lot. That's not what we want.
So here's what we've done.
We've started off with the world's top ranking MBA programs (according to Financial Times and US News) to ensure a basic quality threshold, and then ranked them by tuition.
Don't expect any M7/T10 names in the list. This one's for applicants who value RoI more than pedigree.
There's one in there that offers a full-tuition waiver to almost 90% of the class.
Read it here: www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2024/07/15/most-afford…
An MBA is a globally renowned degree used by many professionals to transition from low-paying careers that they don't like, to better-paying careers that they don't like.
#KamatSutra
This is crazy! A quarter million dollars in total scholarships from 6 top schools - including an M7, two T10, two T15 and a T20 school...
...for an Indian applicant who worked with MBA Crystal Ball.
She is not from IIT, and has not worked for a feeder firm in consulting investment banking, private equity or technology.
We'll get you the full story soon that covers her profile details, GMAT score, her application strategy (where she tried something unique and quirky!) and helpful tips for applicants.
For now, I wanted to highlight a quick point about her school choice.
Like many, she aspired for an M7 admit.
But her school selection wasn't limited to M7 programs.
She filtered the M7 list based on where she found the best fit.
The rest of the programs were spread across T10/T15/T20, based on her career goals, and again, fit.
Prestige is fine, but don't let it distract you from your ultimate goals.
This links back to the earlier post, where I shared the career graph of 2 MBA admits who had worked with us. They got into a different league of schools (T10 and T25 respectively) and landed the same role in the same elite (MBB) consulting firm, and 2 years later were promoted to the same position.
During applications, school choice is an extremely important step. Reach out if you'd like some help with it, and the rest of the application process.
There are multiple ways to get to the same destination.
Has test anxiety held you back from reaching your potential?
Here's how this MBA applicant went beyond GMAT/GRE test anxiety: www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2024/07/08/mba-abroad-…
[1 week earlier]
Son: Dad, I'm stressed. I spent too much time on GMAT prep. Now there's hardly any time left for MBA application work.
Dad: I don't care! Marriage first, then do whatever you want.
Son: Ok dad!
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Here are some deadlines to keep in mind.
School | Deadline
HEC Paris Aug. 19, 2024 (R1-Sept. 2025 Intake)
Cambridge (Judge) Aug. 27, 2024 (R1)
Harvard Business School Sept. 4, 2024 (R1)
Wharton School Sept. 4, 2024 (R1)
Virginia (Darden) Sept. 5, 2024 (Early Action)
Notre Dame (Mendoza) Sept. 5, 2024 (Early Action)
Michigan (Ross) Sept. 9, 2024 (R1)
Stanford Sept. 10, 2024 (R1)
Yale SOM Sept. 10, 2024 (R1)
INSEAD Sept. 10, 2024 (R1)
Northwestern (Kellogg) Sept. 11, 2024 (R1)
Cornell (Johnson) Sept. 18, 2024 (R1)
Chicago (Booth) Sept. 19, 2024 (R1)
Dartmouth (Tuck) Sept. 26, 2024 (R1)
Minnesota (Carlson) Oct. 1, 2024 (R1)
Emory (Goizueta) Oct. 2, 2024 (R1)
Texas-Austin (McCombs) Oct. 15, 2024 (R1)
Indiana (Kelley) Oct. 15, 2024 (R1)
UC-Berkeley (Haas) Sept. 12, 2024
NYU (Stern) Sept. 16, 2024 (R1)
MIT (Sloan) Sept. 30, 2024 (R1)
UCLA (Anderson) Oct. 1, 2024 (R1)
Virginia (Darden) Oct. 2, 2024 (R1)
Georgia Tech (Scheller) Oct. 4, 2024 (R1)
Michigan State (Broad) Oct. 7, 2024 (R1)
Notre Dame (Mendoza) Oct. 15, 2024 (R1)
Reach out for help, if you're applying to any of these programs:
info [at] mbacrystalball [dot] com
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Deadlines Source: Poets & Quants
Her score card with 319 GRE: 6 applications --> 4 admits --> 2 scholarships
Getting an MBA after 30?
It's a strange dilemma.
On the one hand, you know you're better prepared for it than you were in your 20s. Because you now have the professional maturity, and the clarity about what you like, what you don't and where you'd like to take your career.
On the other hand, most schools show that the average age and experience in their class is lower. That makes it tougher to get in, if you don't have a good strategy.
With American programs, you're looking at around 5 years of work experience on an average. European programs are shorter in length, and attract more mature professionals.
Devika Mohole had her eyes on the Top 10 European programs.
But regardless of the applicants' age, experience, leadership potential...there's still one big hurdle to cross - GMAT / GRE.
Devika tried her hand at both...several times. No matter what she did, it just didn't work out.
So she decided to put in the best application she could, that could help her tide over her not-so-impressive test scores.
The risk manager knew her score made the application journey steeper and riskier. She'd need an experienced mentor to help her avoid rookie mistakes.
She worked with MBA Crystal Ball for her applications.
"They were not afraid of showing me the mirror, and despite my pushbacks, made me rewrite the essays until they were near perfect." she says about her mentors at MCB.
Did the extra push and rigour on the applications work?
You bet!
From almost giving up on her MBA dream, Devika left all the GMAT/GRE disappointment behind and performed like a champ in the applications.
Read her full story here: www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2024/07/08/mba-abroad-…
In her debrief, she also explains a 'tiny mistake' she was doing in the interviews, that her mentor helped her fix that made all the difference in her final interviews.
Sad truth: Test anxiety can bulldoze your MBA plans!
Discouraged by her low GMAT scores after multiple attempts, she shelved her dream of studying at a 10 top European business school.
Several years later, unwilling to let go of her desire to get a reputed MBA, she switched from GMAT to GRE, hoping for a better outcome.
She got a low score again!
She tried one more time, and...
...sorry, no inspiring turnaround this time either.
She just wasn't getting to the range she set for herself.
Being on the other side of 30 meant she could no longer keep deferring her MBA plans.
It was now...or never!
The experienced risk manager was fully aware of the risks she had to deal with if she continued on this path.
With an aim to get into one of the top 10 b-schools in Europe, she worked with MBA Crystal Ball with her highest GRE score (319).
Interestingly, she discovered us on a site that has thousands of official reviews (all 5 stars) of many admission consultants, but has no official reviews of MBA Crystal Ball.
So, why MCB?
"Friends who had done similar research also gave good reviews of MCB," she says.
In total she applied to 6 MBA programs.
She got admits from 4.
[100% conversion for the schools she worked with us!]
Two offered her scholarships.
"The MBA journey is exacting, full of uncertainties and one that will require unwavering self-belief." she says, aptly summarizing her turbulent application journey.
Her full story coming up soon on the MBA Crystal Ball blog.
MBA Crystal Ball offers the best admissions consulting & application review services for the top MBA, MS, MiM, and many other GMAT / GRE masters degrees across the world.
Our clients have got into the best business schools in India, USA, UK, Canada, Spain, Germany, France, Singapore, and many other countries, with millions of dollars in scholarships - enabling a select few international students to study abroad for free.
The bestselling book Beyond The MBA Hype, written by our founder Sameer Kamat, has been praised by readers and the top MBA admission officers.
If you're looking for the best MBA admission consultants, for professional & personalized help to get into your dream university (including the Ivy League) like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, INSEAD, London Business School, ISB & many others - contact us on email: info [at] mbacrystalball [dot] com
Learn more here ▷ www.mbacrystalball.com/