Qualities that Top B-Schools look for in MBA Aspirants

Being a globally recognized programme, MBA course is one of the most popular postgraduate degrees in the world. However, it only pays off if done from one of the reputed colleges. Top MBA colleges in India receive thousands of applications every year and there are only 150-300 seats for MBA courses. Needless to say, MBA aspirants face tough competition and there is no shortcut but good preparation to achieve success.

When selecting students for an MBA course, colleges try to ensure that the candidate is the best fir for his / her selected choice of programme. Apart from testing the hard skills such as quantitative abilities of a candidate in the entrance exams, MBA colleges also test soft skills. This is why Personal Interviews and Group Discussions are part of the MBA admission process of top colleges in India.

A candidate might do well in theoretical studies and ace the entrance exam but that does not tell the whole story. Colleges must also ensure that the candidate has what it takes to complete an MBA course. Here are some of the qualities that colleges look out for in a candidate when selecting them for an MBA course.

Top Qualities Required in an MBA Aspirant

Academic Potential

MBA is considered to be a very rigorous course and b-schools have to ensure that the student is capable to handle the difficulty of the course. Hence, colleges do factor in a candidate's academic background during admission. Colleges also take into account the general interest level of a candidate, which is why any extracurricular activities that show your interest in managerial studies also help your chances of admission to top B-schools in India.

Work Experience

Many colleges consider it necessary for candidates to have some work experience before giving them admission to an MBA course. It is even included as an eligibility criterion with many MBA courses asking for 2 - 3 years of work experience. The amount of work experience is not the only thing that counts. An interviewer also takes into account your field of work and quality of work on the basis of accomplishments, handled projects, growth etc.

Decision Making

Management programmes are largely about case studies and decision-making. It the one most important skill that all top b-schools are looking for. Most of the good b-schools aim at hiring candidates who can adapt to a stressful work environment and will not fail at making growth-oriented decisions.

Vision

Top business schools look for candidates who have a strong vision. They want their students to stand out and lead the business world. You have to have a clear thought process and strong purpose in order to get through the Personal Interviews conducted by top business schools.

Leadership Qualities

Your past achievements must clearly indicate that you possess the potential to be a business leader. It is another one of the important qualities that business schools look for in MBA aspirants as all institutions want to produce MBAs that can be placed at reputed organizations and lead them.

Analytical Skills

Ability to analyze problems logically is the most basic quality that all MBA aspirants should possess. All MBA entrance exams, group discussions as well as personal interviews are aimed at testing and understanding your analyzing capabilities.

Solution-Oriented Approach

If you aspire to be selected at a top MBA College, you must be solution and result oriented. It a quality that all top b-schools value. As a manager, it is essential that you are able to come up with optimized and affordable solutions for critical problems.

Communication Skills

It is important for you to have good communication skills as all management jobs require you to be a good presenter. Hence, it is also one of the key requirements of a b-school. This is a skill that will be put to test during the personal interview.

Self-Awareness

An interview is conducted to analyze what you have learned so far from your academia and the experiences that you have gained from your job. You should clearly be able to present all your achievements, experiences, strengths and weaknesses.

Dedication

Dedication is important to succeed in anything and even more so in the field of management. Interviewers are constantly looking for students who are dedicated and eager to learn.

These are the most sought after qualities that top business schools look for in MBA aspirants. Most of the top institutions are looking for students who will strengthen their record in terms of academic performance and placement. Therefore these b-schools are looking for candidates who have the potential to become business leaders one day.

Working on these aspects of your personality will make you a strong candidate for top MBA colleges and you will have better chances of clearing the Personal Interview round.

FAQs on Qualities Required in an MBA Aspirant

Most of the qualities mentioned in this article are trainable and can be developed with practice and good guidance. Working on these will not only improve your chances of selection to a top business school but also make your personal life better. If you have any doubts, you can ask our experts on the CollegeDekho QnA Zone.

Here are some other related articles that will help you in preparing for MBA.

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