How can a candidate get into top global MBA programs? I'm not from IIT

It’s possible for an applicant from a no name university to get an admit from top tier MBA programs. You’ve got to focus on the tangibles and intangibles and outperform an average applicant to these schools. Read on…

First, the tangible things you’ve got to do:

Test Scores: Get a test score ideally higher than the school average. With a higher score, you’re helping the adcom pull up their score average. Scores in excess of 730 are desirable.

GPA: A higher GPA shows a higher drive to succeed academically and make most of the offerings in these highly competitive programs. It will help even further if you’re ranked in top 5–10% of your class.

Employers/Undergrad Brand: While quality experience can be secured in any
company, top schools value where you come from. So if you don’t have a known undergrad brand, try getting an experience with a known employer brand. The schools want to make sure that their application is not the first time that you have competed and won vs. a highly talented competitive pool.

Choice of Recommenders: Assuming that you will pick recommenders who have observed your work first hand and closely, having a recommender who is a school alumnus can only help you. They’ve been in competitive environments before and their evaluation about you would matter to the adcoms.

Legacy: If your parents, siblings or close relatives have attended, do communicate that in your application.

Next, the intangibles:

Co-curriculars & Extracurriculars: IMO, your co-curriculars and extracurriculars do move the needle for the adcom if they are remarkable. Remarkable would be achievements that are at international or national level. Yes, winning a college level competition may be important for you but 100s of applicants would have won at a college level. The proportion of winners at higher levels is much lesser and hence will standout for the adcoms

Leadership experiences: These can come from both professional and personal life. The choice of the examples you pick to communicate is crucial. Each experience needs to be - a) Highly challenging, b) Showcase innovation, influencing and other coveted leadership competencies, c) Should result in adding significant value to yourself and your organization/community

Community Service: It’s wonderful to take time to give back. However, unless the experience is significant and has longevity, it’ll not likely impact your admit decision.

Engagement with the school: Networking with alums, students and attending school sessions are important in demonstrating interest and I’d highly recommend them. Not only do they enable you to get an authentic perspective on the school and your fit, you may make contacts and get experiences that can help the quality of your application tip over the edge into admit land.

Ultimately, besides scores and GPA, your key docs are resume, essays and letters of recommendation. Every school is unique and the above docs, besides positioning you as a top applicant, should also demonstrate your understanding of these unique features.