Useful Information You Should Know Regarding MBA Admissions Criteria

When you apply for admission to the business schools of your choice, your application will be evaluated based on certain criteria: past academic performance, previous work experience, and recommendations.

Generally, admissions acceptances for MBA degree programs are based primarily on merit. Past performance, future potential, and your personal characteristics all become relevant when you are being vetted for an MBA program. Most institutions study your transcript in addition to your Graduate Management Admission (GMAT) tests.

The admissions team also considers the kind of work experience that you bring to the program. Different schools may have different requirements for years of work experience but the figure typically ranges between two and five. Over the past few years, the amount of work experience that the best MBA schools' admission teams expect has increased to between five and seven years. It's also best to have two years or more work experience in your specific industry, rather than just work experience in any industry. Individuals who change careers often may find that job hopping can cost them admission to the MBA school of their choice.

Your performance at the interview, the quality of your letters of recommendation, your extra curricular activities, and your scores on LUMS Management Admissions Test (LMAT) are usually factored in. A bachelor's degree from school recognized by the Department of Education is an absolute must. Candidates who have a minimum of fifteen years of cumulative educational experiences may receive maximum preference.

MBA Degree Program Interview

After the first level of admissions is complete, the committee selects a group of students to be called for an interview. Your performance at the interview plays an important part in determining whether you are admitted to the institution. The admissions committee considers a number of factors including your thinking and processing abilities, communication skills, awareness of general issues, subject knowledge, as well as the kind of potential you display for management-level responsibilities. Typical questions can include queries about your undergraduate education experience, (why you chose a certain major, for example.), your work experience (supervision of employees, job changes, and reasons for these changes), and any career goals that actually demand an MBA. You are also encouraged to ask questions about the school, so it helps to read up on the programs and the institution before your interview.

The prerequisites for MBA degree programs vary from school to school, and therefore it's best to evaluate the admission criteria of a business school before applying. A candidate with a major in business or economics is usually better placed to be admitted to an MBA degree program. Knowledge of statistics, accounting, and economics not only helps during the admission process, it can also help in your future studies and career.