Tips for International Applicants to U.S. MBA Programs

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Tips for International Applicants to US MBA Programs

With global interest in U.S. b-schools, you should cover your bases.

Applying to business school:

A detailed process that incorporates proven testing skills and a solid track record is tough enough for most American students. The complicated process can seem even more exacerbated for international applicants who are trying to complete the task from overseas.

The most common question is simply, ‘What do I have to do? For graduate students coming from other countries, they might not have a guidance counselor. They’re literally doing this on their own.

The application process will vary by school, so it’s always best to check with the admissions office of the school you’re interested in before you apply. Still, there are a few universal notes international students who hope to study business in the United States should keep in mind:

Prioritize your testing weaknesses:

The GMAT and TOEFL exams pose challenges you may never had to faced in your country, where you were educated.

You may have to practice a lot to try to get used to the American way to take a test.

Make sure to allocate enough study time to master the GMAT. (This study timeline might help.) Put yourself in time sensitive situations, and take each practice test as seriously as you would the real exam.

If you’re really struggling with the GMAT, consider a new alternative: the GRE, the U.S. screening exam used for most other graduate degree programs.

More than half of all business schools now accept GRE scores as an alternative. It’s a shorter exam that more heavily tests vocabulary than logic—though this could pose a different challenge to non-native English speakers.

Like the GMAT, the GRE may require a lot of practice.

Prepare way in advance, and do it every day consistently. You can’t just say, ‘I’m going to take the GRE tomorrow.

Keep in mind that, depending on English proficiency, applicants may also be required to take the TOEFL examination.

Seek out peer resources:

Though the increasing number of graduate students may seem daunting, international M.B.A. applicants can take comfort in the fact that most likely there have been foreign students who have already forged paths at the prospective school and who may be able to offer support. Connecting with them, however, can be challenging.

One key issue that many students face is finding a credible person, preferably someone who’s international and has been through the same process that can share his or her experiences. It’s difficult to find, because you go on forums; you try to stalk people on social network; and it’s a tough process.

HGBSE Support Service:

Such was the impetus for Huritt Global Business School for Entrepreneurship (HGBSE), founded on the mission of providing quality education by partnering with U.S. colleges and universities for the Nigerian marketplace. The HGBSE founder was educated in the United States, as well as started companies in the U.S. HGBSE support service aims to provide support to prospective international students who hope to attain any level of education in the United States. Contact HGBSE for more information. www.hurittglobal-edu.com