How to Get into a Top Grad School, According to an Admissions Director

Hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of fresh bachelors all over the world have dreamt about having top careers and jobs. For many of them, graduate school is the critical stopover on the road towards their desired career. As Director of Institutional Development and Student Recruitment at S P Jain, business school with Forbes top 20-ranked MBA programs, I meet hundreds of students from all continents with such aspirations. Up to now, students from more than 70 countries have passed through S P Jain campuses in Sydney, Dubai, Singapore, and Mumbai. Let me share some personal thoughts on this subject.

1. Explore the opportunities

Visit graduate school websites. Check available profiles and programs and do not use only the first page of Google Search in your decision-making process: some gems are hidden. Follow the specialized rankings – for example, applied business rankings, such as Forbes or Financial Times, sometimes reveal more than pure academic rankings. At the end of the day, most candidates will choose to go for corporate jobs rather than pursuing the field of academic research. Ask students and alumni about their experiences. Visit specialized portals to look for possible scholarship opportunities. Be proactive and approach the admissions teams: we love discussing our programs with potential candidates. Finally, check the positions and salaries of the graduate school’s alumni: their job placements can reveal a lot about the quality of the graduate school.

2. There are no tricks

To get accepted into a top graduate school, your performance will matter the most. You will pass through a rigorous evaluation process, including testing, interviews, and most likely business case studies. Your knowledge and skills are key: if you do not perform well at the test, you will not be selected to go to the next stage. If you do not demonstrate competencies and skills through the interviews and business cases, it is unlikely you will get an offer letter. Thus, make sure to adequately prepare, in order to prove you are competent, capable, and committed.

3. Ask about your future skills, not about your future jobs

Yes, attending a top graduate school will change both your career and your thought process. It will bring you new exposures, new experiences, and new knowledge. A good graduate school will empower you with the skill set for the future. We cannot even imagine what professions and specializations will exist in 10 years. However, critical thinking, business intelligence, creative thinking, teamwork, and effective communication will never become obsolete. Moreover, imparting real-world skills makes us ready for the future. Any faculty or staff member from top graduate schools will be amazed if you ask them how their graduate programs will empower you with the skills of the future. If the interviewer is not able to provide a clear and convincing answer, perhaps it is not the right graduate school for you.

4. Do not pretend

Be what you are. Typically, interviewers from top graduate schools are trained to recognize the non-verbal signals you are sending. Any exaggerations or dishonesty will undoubtedly be recognized. Just show the best possible version of yourself and demonstrate that you have what it takes to be successful: leadership skills, engagement, passion, vision, future thinking, and orientation towards results.

5. Show Commitment

The future requires committed people who are ready to adapt, develop, and learn throughout their entire life. At the same time, the corporate world needs result-oriented managers, who are reliable and passionate. Any top graduate school will do its best to attract such candidates: they are very likely to be successful at their graduate studies pathway, and to be good brand ambassadors of the school. Our goal is to educate and empower the people who want to use their skills to become global leaders of the future: commitment is a necessary precondition for leadership.

Finally, your motivation must be intrinsic. Don’t allow yourself to be driven by money, parental pressure, or social expectations. If you want to pursue top graduate education, you should motivate yourself. It will certainly be a positive step for you. Good luck!