Finding the Right Match ?

In January 2018, I met with Prakash in New Year’s Party. After few drinks, the motion of emotion started from both the ends and the situation in our table became serious. Prakash, as like all of us, has done engineering. After the first 3 months in placement during the 4th year of engineering realised that learning Java, SQL, Python may help but mastering Fourier Transform, Fluid Mechanics definitely not. So, he realised the match was not the right one depending on the competitive advantage the country has where he was born. Now, Prakash after working two years as software developer in some prominent MNCs, again realised the decision to learn Java was impetus of peer pressure not something he really wanted to do. Now, he is 24 and his mother is looking for the right match to form a lifetime alliance just as him. The story resonates with almost everyone in the age group of 22-28 who became engineer by chance or even after by choice due to limited exposure and information. Now, Prakash has two options to choose- either do an MS/M.Tech or do an MBA. So, Prakash now chooses to do magic wand “MBA” to resolve all the past sins of his soul as he has already forgotten the basics of his subject that he learnt almost 3 years back.

I met Prakash just after he had written his GMAT and aced it and waiting for CAT result. Prakash looks very confused in choosing the right B-schools to apply and how he should make decision after having multiple admits from different prestigious B-schools. His allegation was to find my better half I can rely on the judgement of my beloved mother but all the admission consultants first make you enrol and then only provide the required information. Later when I was returning from the party, I realised the latent need to explicitly mention few things which may help a budding aspirant in making right decision regarding B-School selection so that no one feels helpless and lost with numerous choice.

B-Schools are just like wife or husband. The opportunity cost seems higher to have one in short run as one remains unemployed and takes significant amount of loan. Once. You have paid the admission fee the infinite possibility converges to singularity just like the marriage. Prakash’s mother has simple check list which covers multiple behavioural aspects to find the right match for Prakash. Similarly, every B-school is different in their value proposition and to find the right match one should look at these intrinsic parameters which are common in selecting the right B-school.

The first thing, one should consider where do you want to work post MBA? Yes, geographic location is very important. Apart from some prestigious world famous B-schools, most of the B-Schools graduates are working in the same country (UK, Spain : subtle exception) . For example, if you want to work in North America region, doing an MBA from US or Canada will give you the right professional networks, alumni and industry insights which will help you shape your career in short and long run. Similarly, if one wants to work in India, IIMs, ISB and other prominent B-schools in this region will have better presence than some well-known but not so famous B-school from different geographic region.

Once, decided on location one may look after the location of a industry in that geographic region to fine tune his /her options. For example, if one wants to work in technology domain west coast’s B-Schools are better due to proximity with Silicon Valley and tech starts up in that region. On the contrary, if one chooses finance as specialisation, B-Schools near Wall street will be great choice to connect with alums, industry leaders, to host seminars and speakers during the B-school tenure.

Secondly, if one does not have deep pockets should look after the ROI of the B-schools. To state explicitly, students from emerging countries face difficulties in taking and paying back the huge loan of $ 140-200 k including living expenses if admitted in premier B-schools without good amount of scholarship. Some of the Indian B-schools has great ROI as the cost of study is much lower compared to the B-schools abroad. Even German and French B-schools have significantly higher short-term ROI compared to US, UK or Canadian B-schools.

Thirdly, work experience is of prime importance. For example, if one already has 5+ years of experience he/she should consider the B-schools which have average incoming students in that work-ex range. One with lower experience (1-3 years) may look out for IIMs in India and MiM programmes (Master in Management) abroad.

Another aspect to look out for particularly Indian aspirants is the availability of job visa and visa tenure post study. For example, UK has very strict job visa rules which hampers the probability of getting job post study significantly. The popular destination for Indian students i.e. US is also raising the barriers for H1-B visa. The same goes with Australia, Singapore. On The other hand, France, Germany and particularly Canada has easy work rule permits for Indians and students from abroad. As one need to work for a considerable time post study to repay the loan at least, should look after this issue and consider it as one of the prime factors in making final decision.

Another unavoidable parameter is language if the country does not speak English as its first language. For example, France, Germany, Spain and Netherlands have premier B-schools where getting admission is considerably easy for Indians due to low traffic of students applying in those schools from India. There is a reason of low application - the local language. Most employers look for certain degree of local language proficiency (in some jobs like consulting, finance roles; close to native fluency) which is very difficult to master within the limited timeframe. This language requirement essentially may squeeze the job market opportunity for foreign students.

Finally, one with more than 4+ years of work experience should consider the fact how long he/she wants to be out of job market. If one has serious obligation to re-enter workforce quickly should look after 1-year MBA programmes mainly offered in European B-Schools. On the other hand, if someone is looking for a change in career track should ideally choose 2-year programme so that an internship in the desired function can facilitate the transition.

To conclude, after marriage, the next big decision is may be doing MBA in terms of cost associated with it. So, to make informed decision and to make most out of it, one can focus in these parameters to find the right match.