With the increased awareness of the career benefits an MBA offers and business schools’ dedicated efforts to attract more women through unique program options, female enrollment is showing a big uptick. Most notably, Wharton’s MBA Class of 2023 is 52% women. And according to Graduate Management Admission Council research, 47% of GMAT test takers in 2020 were women.
Leading companies in India and around the world have been focusing their efforts to increase the representation of women in leadership roles in order to create a gender-inclusive culture. In fact, according to the Women in Business 2021 report by Grant Thornton, the percentage of women in India in senior management roles is now 39%, compared to the global average of 31%.
As corporations embrace diversity while trying to increase the representation of women in the C-suite, we at Stratus believe the trend of increased female enrollment at business schools is here to stay.
Here are a few pointers to help female Indian applicants increase their odds of admission when embarking on the MBA journey:
Go beyond academics.
Although Indian institutions’ admission criteria can be heavily focused on academic excellence, business schools around the world evaluate a candidate’s overall profile. Having strong quantitative skills is important to ensure candidates can handle the MBA curriculum, but relying solely on a high GPA/GMAT will not be enough to help secure a seat at the top MBA programs.
Go beyond academics and do a deep-dive self-reflection to come up with personal and professional experiences that led to your growth and development. Think about what you bring to the business school classroom that could help enrich the experience of your classmates.
Research and align.
Business school applicants should not base their school research and selection on rankings and brands alone, as the best brand may not always offer the right fit.
Clarifying your post-MBA goals is extremely important to ensure you are selecting the right schools to help you achieve them. When researching schools, you should also consider location, class size, culture, and how well a school aligns with your goals and personality. After all, getting an MBA is an investment of a lifetime.
Be proactive and network.
The best way to learn about someone is to talk to them. Therefore, networking can be a powerful tool to learn more about a business school and its community. We encourage MBA applicants to be proactive and reach out to current students and alumni—not just those from a similar background, but people from all backgrounds—as well as admissions representatives from target schools.
Schedule school visits and attend MBA fairs and online events to learn about program offerings. Reach out to school club officers, current students, alumni, and professionals in your career field of interest. Being proactive and sharpening your networking skills also will serve you well as an MBA student during the recruiting process. So, don’t be shy—get out there!
Show it and own it.
The motivation to drive change and the ability to collaborate and communicate well are important skills for success in business school. Although Indian women who were raised in a more traditional cultural environment can sometimes be shy about sharing their accomplishments and taking ownership of their work, they must demonstrate that they have what it takes to lead, can collaborate well, and have good communication skills.
Come up with anecdotes that showcase your leadership and communication skills and how well you work in teams. Think about a problem/challenge you solved, who was involved, how you dealt with it, and your interactions. Leadership should not be confused with having authority, managing people, or receiving titles; it can take any form such as showing initiative, leading something, organizing an event, or stepping up to take responsibility.
Seek help.
Planning and execution are important during the MBA application process. Crafting a strong MBA application while juggling full-time work can be challenging.
Consider seeking guidance from a trusted advisor on how to manage the admissions process and craft a compelling application. Having an extra set of eyes—whether an admissions consultant, friends, or family—review your application can be beneficial and help avoid errors, which will maximize your chances for success.
Our Stratus admissions counselors can help you review your situation when you reach out for a free consultation.