What does it take to make it to the best B schools in the USA?

[ganeshcl]

Apart from a really good GMAT score what else does it take to make it to the best (top 5 or top 10) B schools in the USA. What do the likes of Harvard and Stanford expect from their applicants? Do people with 3 years of IT experience from India stand a chance? Or do they need something to set them apart from the "rest of the crowd"?

[john_almighty]

You need to stand out of the crowd..... you have to be one of the unique 750 wharton is looking at or whatever figure the admission stands at....... but a thumb rule is a good gmat + good acads + good extracurricular + substantial 3-6 years work ex should make you a probable candidate.

Good Luck with your application.....
Best Wishes

John

[ganeshcl]

Thanks John... But it would be really helpful if you could elucidate a bit more on those parameters that you listed. Whats the level of prior acad quals do they expect? Do non IITians stand a good chance of making it? Also does just 3 years of work ex suffice or would we need some sort of offbeat exp (like NGO work ex) to make it? Do they look at the number of promotions a candidate has garnered in the duration of his work ex as well?

Thanks..
Ganesh

[ganeshcl]

Also what sort of extra-curricular stuff do they look at? Would playin sport for college and the company count as a good extra curricular activity? Or would it seem too trivial?

Thanks..
Ganesh

[john_almighty]

you need not be an IITian to get into a bschool.... that works for MSc etc not for Bschools....

well.... what i meant was if you don't outshine in one of the parameters, chances are you might not be selected... well.. if you want to work for NGO... try volunteering for Unicef or UNDP .... if you have played sports and played say cricket at ranji level or represented state at nationals..... you need be a lot of things but be really good in some..... read up the profiles of students who make it.. you will find it from the b school websites..... the profiles mentioned are usually the top 10% of the class but you will get the idea of what they are looking at......

[coolr]

See some sample decision-making videos.
UNC MBA Admissions

[no signal]

Admission tips HBS
Admissions Tips from Harvard

A good thread if Harvard is your dream.
http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/intern...07-indian.html (Harvard Business School(2007)Indian Admit!!! Also Taking Questions)

Check this as well
Understand Admissions Criteria - Harvard Business School MBA Program

Admissions at Stanford
Admission to the Stanford MBA Program: MBA: Stanford GSB

Latest offering from PG. Know more about your dream B-School
http://www.pagalguy.com/content/PaGa..._Buzz_Book.pdf

Use search facility, PG n Google

[ganeshcl]

Thanks a ton guys!! Please could you post any other info about the profiles of ppl (especially from India) who make it to the big B schools in the US. Would be really helpful. Thanks!!

Regards,
Ganesh