Author name: LeapQuest

The next hot destination to pursue an MBA? Think Canada. With its relaxed study and work rules and cheaper tuition costs, Canada is becoming an attractive destination for international MBA candidates, Canada Is Leading In International Applications. International student applications to Canada have shown an increase compared to the US, where applications have dropped significantly. According to GMAC, MBA programs in Canada are twice as likely to report growth in international applicants compared to the US. For instance, only 32% of US programs report growing international application volumes in 2017. Compare that to 77% of Canadian programs that reported increases in international applications for 2017. What Prospective International Students Are Looking For Outside of politics, experts say that Canada’s quality of education is highly attractive to international students. “It is not just a political thing,” says Gregg Schoenfeld, director of research for GMAC, in an interview with The Globe and Mail. “We have seen a shift away from the U.S. as quality education has been growing outside the U.S., and economic conditions are changing.” Another important aspect is the diversity a school or country can provide. At HEC Montréal, diversity is a key selling point for students. According to The Globe and Mail, international students make up 53.8% of all applications to HEC Montréal’s full-time French and English MBA programs. China and India are the school’s largest applicant pools, but the school enrolls students across 29 different countries. “You have to reach some balance in the group,” HEC dean Michel Patry tells The Globe and Mail. “The cachet of the MBA is important.” The best B-Schools in Canada typically received applications with GMAT scores in the 670-710 range. Now, with would-be Ivy Leaguers applying to B-Schools in Canada as backup options, the range of applicants’ scores has shot through the roof. However, a large number of these applicants get into B-Schools in the US and don’t end up accepting offers from Canada’s B-Schools. As a result, even though the average score of the applicant pool has risen dramatically, the average score of the students who study in Canada’s B-Schools hasn’t seen much of a shift. Fortunately, though, this phenomenon has had no effect on B-School rankings within Canada. The top 10 MBA programs in the country are: Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University Schulich School of Business, University of York Smith School of Business, Queen’s University HEC Montreal Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia John Molson School of Business, Concordia University University of Alberta School of Business DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University Here’s some more information on the specializations available at each of these, their locations, tuition fees, and what it takes to get in. 1. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto Location: Toronto, Ontario Duration: 2 years Average GMAT Score: 658 Concentrations: Brand Management, Business Design, Consulting, Financial Reporting, and Analysis, Funds Management, Global Management, General MBA, Health Sector Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Investment Banking, Leadership and Change Management, Process and Supply Chain Management, Real Estate, Risk Management, and Financial Engineering, Sustainability Rotman has topped charts for decades. Known to be one of the most innovative B-Schools in Canada, Rotman was the first to introduce video essays to its admissions process. The critically acclaimed Self-Development Lab and flexible Internship Program have earned Rotman its stellar record as far as campus placements go. For more details, visit Rotman’s, MBA Page. 2. Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario Location: London, Ontario Duration: 1 year Average GMAT Score: 670 Concentrations: You can choose from among five areas of focus, and your course will be tailored accordingly. The five areas of focus available are Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Corporate Strategy and Leadership, and International Management. The Ivey Business School is yet another chart-topper when it comes to MBA rankings in Canada. Their in-house career management team is internationally acclaimed for the work it does, which is just made better by the fact that 94% of Ivey graduates switch careers post-MBA. For more information, visit Ivey’s MBA Page. 3. Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University Location: Montréal, Québec Duration: 20 months Average GMAT Score: 668 Concentrations: Global Strategy and Leadership, Finance, Business Analytics, and Marketing. The Desautels Faculty of Management offers a variety of MBA programs, some of which look to integrate other fields of study with the MBA curriculum – like the Law MBA or the MD MBA programs. The McGill Case Competition Association and the McGill Business Consulting Group offer you excellent opportunities to learn in real-world scenarios. For more information, visit McGill University’s MBA page. 4. Schulich School of Business, University of York Location: Toronto, Ontario Duration: 20 months Average GMAT Score: 660 Concentrations: Accounting; Arts, Media & Entertainment Management; Business & Sustainability; Business Consulting; Entrepreneurial Studies; Finance; Financial Risk Management; Financial Services; Global Mining Management; Global Retail Management; Health Industry Management; International Business; Marketing; Operations Management & Information Systems; Organization Studies; Real Estate & Infrastructure; Social Sector Management; Strategic Management. This is easily one of the most recognized names on the list of top MBA colleges in Canada. It is known for being highly student-centric, offering flexible study options so that you can take classes at the Keele campus or at the Toronto satellite campus. The most interesting part for most students is the two-term strategic consulting project where you get to work with clients on real business problems and solutions. For more details, visit Schulich’s, MBA Page. 5. Smith School of Business, Queen’s University Location: Kingston, Ontario Duration: 1 year Average GMAT Score: 650 Concentrations: Consulting, Digital Transformation, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Management Analytics, Marketing & Sales Irrespective of the specialization you choose to go for, the Smith MBA requires you to undertake a mandatory Individual Project Course. As a part of this, you can work with an existing company to help deal with real-world business situations. Alternatively, you’re expected to come up with a new venture of your own.

Applying to an MBA program without a GMAT score can be a tricky business. Most business schools in the U.S. and Canada require a competitive GMAT score to be considered for admissions. However, that’s not always possible for every applicant. If you are an MBA candidate who’s not great at taking tests or earned a low GMAT score, don’t worry; you’re not out of luck. There are five programs in Canada that will accept your MBA application without the GMAT, as long as you meet certain specific other requirements.. Why choose Canada for your MBA You can expect a high standard of living while in Canada. It’s a country that respects diversity, so irrespective of your ethnicity, you can feel at home in Canada. Medical insurance is usually covered by the government so your health worries are taken care of. There’s life outside the campus as well with a lot of activities in and around as well as a lot of places to explore. International students can qualify to work in Canada after completing their MBA under PGWPP (Post-graduation Work Permit Program). Skilled Canadian work experience acquired under the PGWPP helps in qualifying for permanent residence in Canada. Your spouse may also be eligible to apply for a work permit and work as long as you hold a valid study permit. These are the top Canadian schools that don’t require a GMAT. These are the top Canadian schools that don’t require a GMAT. 1. Queen’s University Smith School of Business At Queen’s University Smith School of Business, you do not need the GMAT if you apply to the Accelerated MBA for Business Graduates program. Ranked by The Economist as the third best business school in Canada, this prestigious program is available in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Mississauga, Markham, Ottawa, and Montreal. To enroll, applicants need two years of work experience and an undergraduate degree in business or a related field, such as statistics management, information systems, accounting, marketing, etc. MBA students complete their degree in just 12 months while they continue to work, earning an education that builds upon the fundamentals that students already have. Instead of a GMAT score, this program relies on your application, resume, official transcripts, cover letter, references, and personal interview to decide if you are an appropriate candidate. Applicants are evaluated on their work experience, academic background, and leadership skills. However, if any of these areas are weak, the school may recommend a completed GMAT score to enhance your application. 2. Schulich School of Business – York University At York University’s Schulich School of Business, the GMAT requirement for the full-time MBA program can be waived if you meet specific criteria. First, the student must have graduated from the Schulich BBA or iBBA programs within the last five years. Second, their GPA must have been an average of a B+ or higher. Under these two scenarios, a GMAT score is not required. Ranked by The Economist as the second best program in Canada, the Schulich MBA is known for its flexible study options and extensive selection of specialization options. Students can choose between both full and part-time enrollment and 18 areas of study. Making this a uniquely customizable MBA. Beyond waiving the GMAT, candidates interested in applying to Schulich must have at least two years of work experience and filled out an application that includes three essays, two videos, one resume, two references, and transcripts. 3. Lakehead University Thunder Bay and Orilla, ON At Lakehead University, a GMAT score is not required for admissions to the MBA program if you successfully complete the Business Skills Development Program offered by the Faculty of Business Administration. This six-module program must be completed with a minimum average grade of 70 percent. The full-time MBA program at Lakehead University is one year in length—three terms—and provides students with a comprehensive and integrated knowledge of business and management. Students will develop their analytical, decision-making, and communication skills throughout the course of the program. Beyond the GMAT replacement modules, students must fill out a completed application to be considered. This application includes official transcripts, references, and a statement of academic intent. 4. Thompson Rivers University Business and Economics At the Thompson Rivers University Business and Economics school, MBA candidates are not required to submit a GMAT score. It is a completely optional requirement that is to be used as supplementary information. Instead, to apply, students must focus on demonstrating their quantitative and computing skills through education and work experience. The MBA program at TRU can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students graduate in two years, taking courses in managerial statistics, human resource management, strategic management information systems, and more. Part-time students can graduate in five years, though there is also an accelerated one-year program. To apply to the TRU one-year MBA program, applicants must have completed a three or four-year undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 3.0. Other application requirements include the TOEFL language test, IELTS test, or completion of the TRU ENGL 1100 course to demonstrate language proficiency. 5. New York Institute of Technology, Vancouver, BC The New York Institute of Technology in Vancouver, BC offers both a Management MBA and a Finance MBA that do not require GMAT scores for admission. Instead, the GMAT is used as supplemental information only helpful if your score is satisfactory. The Management MBA offered at NYIT is highly flexible with classes offered in New York, China, Abu Dhabi, and, of course, Vancouver. It’s an AACSB-accredited degree that offers students leadership and professional experience through coursework and participation in industry associations. Other application information required by the New York Institute of Technology includes an undergraduate degree from an accredited college, a 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, and a completed application. We’re determined to get you the admit you deserve. Our question is, will it be yours?

While there are many misconceptions about the MBA application process, certain ones frequently rise to the top of the list. LeapQuest would like to bust these myths and help candidates focus on what really matters in the MBA application process 1. You should apply to only a few schools Years ago, applicants may have targeted only a few business schools. However, today my average applicant applies to 5+ schools. The number of strong MBA programs is increasing. As more and more universities are investing in their business schools, candidates have numerous good options to consider. Simultaneously (and not surprisingly), the applicant pool is becoming even more competitive, meaning that countless extremely qualified candidates are rejected each year. While it is true that MBA applications are time-consuming and each application is unique, successful applicants make the investment by applying to additional schools. This strategy ensures they are ultimately successful getting into the best possible school and when working with us, the highest amount of scholarship dollars. 2. Schools want you to tell them how wonderful they are Far too often, we read about how an applicant will leverage Wharton’s “unmatched” alumni network or grow through Booth’s “renowned” curriculum. While all business schools want to know that you are truly interested in their programs, using over-the-top praise is not an effective way to articulate this message. Instead, do your research and thoughtfully share elements of their programs that you are looking to take advantage of. Ensure that these elements are specific to you and make sense relative to your background and goals. 3. Business schools want candidates only with a certain career background While it is true that there are certain career paths for which an MBA is common (e.g. Consulting and Investment Banking), there is no one ideal pre-MBA career. In fact, a unique career background can actually work in your favor. Business schools desire well-rounded classmates and appreciate the unique perspective that candidates with nontraditional backgrounds can bring to class conversations. What’s key is to show how your past experience and perspective can be leveraged during your future career path. 4. There is a “correct” career goal You may be tempted to mention a career goal you think admissions committee members want to hear. Just because it is common for applicants to pursue consulting or investment banking does not mean this is the career path you should aspire to. Admissions committee members want passionate students and well-rounded classes. So write about what you really want to do, provided it is logical and attainable, and articulate it well. 5. You need to fit in everything you have accomplished Many candidates are tempted to throw everything but the kitchen sink into their essays. They are concerned that they will hurt their chances of success if they do not tell admissions committee members everything they have done. However, this is not the case. A few well-told stories that clearly demonstrate what makes you unique will be far more compelling. Show your passions and leadership by sharing how you did a few things exceptionally well. LeapQuest has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process with a 84% success rate.The Admissions Counselling Service at Admitem, is an amalgamation of highly specialized and customized services. The student gets assistance in the admission process right from shortlisting the B school till documentation. The essence of our service lies in prioritising purity of intent, with no motive other than to provide the applicant an unbiased and comprehensive service. The first phase of this service is assessment and planning – when we align a candidate’s strengths with the target school selection criteria, isolate his/her areas of concern, and propose a very specific, customized action plan to optimize his/her candidacy.The next phase is the implementation where we work along with the candidate to develop the key components of his/her application such as the resume, recommendation letters, essays, statement of purpose, interview preparation and scholarship letters. We’re determined to get you the admit you deserve. Our question is, will it be yours?

The question has been asked for what seems like forever. “What matters most to you, and why?” Most Challenging MBA Applications Of 2020-2021 Among the toughest were the MBA applications at Harvard Business School, INSEAD, MIT Sloan and UC-Berkeley Haas School of Business. School Challenging Essays Word Limit Stanford GSB 1 ‘What matters most to you, & why’ & ‘Why Stanford?’ 1,050 words Harvard Business School 2 ‘What more would you like us to know?’ No word limit INSEAD 3 Seven essays on applicant’s job, career & motivation 2,000 words MIT (Sloan) 4 ‘Submit a cover letter’ & one-minute video introducing yourself 300 words UC-Berkeley (Haas) 5 ‘What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, & why?’ & ‘What do you need to develop to become a successful leader?’ 600 words London Business School Could Require Writing Somewhere between 4,000 and 4,500 Words Sometimes, schools were singled out for having highly challenging applications. That was true of the London Business School. “Beyond LBS’s essays, the program poses an exhaustive array of in-application questions related to academic readiness (400 words), interests and activities (400 words), pre-MBA discussions with friends and family (300 words), LBS connections (300 words), international experience (100 words), and English-language readiness (300 words, where appropriate). LBS applicants are facing 1,000 words via the main essays should they choose to answer the optional essay, 1,500 to 1,800 words via the non-job-related short-answer questions depending on whether they need to answer the English language question, and then up to 580 words for each job entry. “An LBS applicant who has had three roles could therefore end up writing somewhere in the range of 4,000 and 4,500 words. Compare that to the other end of the application spectrum where from a ‘written’ perspective, Michigan Ross requires 400 words worth of essays and has a very lean application, and MIT Sloan requires a 300-word cover letter and also has a very lean application. Rather than becoming excited to channel their stories into a couple of focused essays, most LBS applicants we encounter become downtrodden when they find out how many de facto mini-essays are hiding within LBS’s online application.” The Least Challenging MBA Applications? Of course, applying to any highly selective MBA program is never really easy. Wharton requires two essay questions: “What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA?” and “How do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community?” it is noted that those generic questions, similar to what is asked of applicants at Chicago Booth, are “the most easily repurposable and standard.” “It’s what can you GIVE to our school and what can you GET from our school.” Michigan Ross Praised for its “Lean Application” All told, Ross is looking for no more than 400 words. One consultant views this in a positive light. “If an applicant is deep into the broader process, they will almost certainly have a couple of already well-developed anecdotes to deliver in Ross’s short answers section and a well-developed “short-term goal / why” statement, which is all Ross really requests.” Not surprisingly, perhaps, some  see it differently. “Ross’ reduction from three essays down to two has also been a little stressful because there’s less room in which to really shine,” Also making the least challenging list are Columbia Business School, Chicago Booth, and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management (see below table). “Columbia, Booth, and Wharton all have similarities and rather generic ‘goals’ essays,” Least Challenging MBA Applications Of 2020-2021 Applicants are finding Wharton’s two essay questions the easiest to answer this year. Also on the easy list are the essay requirements at Michigan Ross, Columbia, Chicago Booth and UCLA Anderson School Least Challenging Essays Word Limit Pennsylvania (Wharton) 1 ‘What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA?’ & ‘How do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community?’ 900 words Michigan (Ross) 2 Complete two of six sentences, ranging from ‘I want people to know that I…’ to ‘I was out of my comfort zone when…’ & ’What is your short-term career goal & why?’ 400 words Columbia Business School 3 ‘What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years & what would be your long-term dream job?’ & ‘Why do you feel CBS is a good fit for you?’ & ‘Tell us about your favorite book, movie, or song & why it resonates with you? 1,000 words Chicago (Booth) 4 ‘How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals?’ & ‘Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are’ 500-word minimum UCLA (Anderson) 5 How have events of the past year influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both?’ 250 words How to interpret this data and plan your application strategy For what it’s worth, let’s see what this data tells us first. While there are several parameters that are already done (e.g. GPA/Employer’s brand etc), a whopping 56% is still within your immediate controls (GMAT, Essays, Interview and Recommenders). Of course, some of them are partly under your control – you cannot really change what you’ve done on essays for instance, but you can articulate and present them in the best possible way. Of these, less than half is GMAT which means there is huge merit in doing a lot of soul searching for the applications. The academic aspects viz. GMAT, GPA, Majors etc form a decent chunk of your profile at 25%. For the endless debate on the chasm between academia and industry, if you cannot do well on your academics, chances still are that you may not get good value out of your MBA experience. This is however only partly true as unlike several undergrad schools, MBA programs put a lot of focus on experiential learning, class discussions, case studies and the likes. Several candidates who work with us are nervous that they don’t have anything on the extracurricular side.

Imagine the scene: It’s Tuesday the 12th of October, about 3:45 in the afternoon. You are a persevering MBA Admissions reader who has just spent the last five hours poring over the profiles of investment managers, senior associates, private equity analysts (accepting a 25-minute break when sandwiches were brought in). There’s a point of saturation when all their professional exploits become indistinguishable. You’re grasping for something that brings you alive with delight. It’s the last line in someone’s resume that snaps you awake – ‘this guy is a famous author?’ – and flips the image you’d initially formed on its head. Or maybe it’s a startlingly fresh essay that leads with the candidate’s mushroom hunting hobby, artfully positioned as evidence of her relentless dedication and creativity. (Both of these real applicants were HBS admits.) “High achieving people are so conditioned to thinking that their achievements matter most. But once you get to a certain level, those things don’t matter as much anymore,”  When unwavering excellence is a given, then it’s about your story and the qualities that make you unique. The point is, being in finance is what you do, but it’s not who you are (even if most of us are conditioned to believing our career is our identity). And given that candidates hailing from finance are among the most over-represented profiles (along with consultants and engineers) you need to approach your application differently to really uncover those points of uniqueness if you want to catch the attention of the MBA Admissions Committee. Essential Tips for MBA Candidates in Finance 1. Identify and explore your unique qualities. As noted above, many candidates believe their identity and profession are synonymous, which makes for a one-dimensional narrative. Make sure that your application illuminates the other qualities of your personality, your background, your motivators, and things that are important to you as you tell the full story of who you are and why you want this degree. The more personal you can be in terms of why you do what you do, the more interesting and memorable you’ll be – because so few people are. It’s this feat of both vulnerability and confidence that can make a tremendous difference in your application. To this end, think about why you’ve done the things you’ve done, the events and encounters that have shaped you as a person, your values and attitude toward life. Consider the patterns of behavior that flow through your professional performance and how they extend to your engagement in the community, the roles you took on, how you show up. Get reflective about your curiosities, how these qualities are steering you toward your dreams. The earlier you start this process of introspection, the stronger your application will be. 2. Convey what you’ve learned, not just what you’ve done. Similarly, don’t make the mistake of creating the “resume to prose” type essay that will put your wearied admissions reader to sleep. Showcasing a highlights reel of professional accomplishments is a common mistake, and it robs your narrative of the potential for making an emotional connection. Go beyond what you did to convey what you learned from your experiences. And then, connect what you’ve learned to what you’re going to bring to the MBA classroom. For example, you might talk about a failure in the essay – a time you fell and picked yourself back up. Underscore what you learned from the experience and how it shaped you as a human being. It’s so much more compelling when you allow people to connect to your experience. 3. Know your story and present a clear rationale for your decisions. “Sure, there’s plenty of variation in the finance industry – being in sales and trading is very different than being in private equity, working on Wall Street or in any of the international markets.All of these realms are really quite distinct. But its less to do with where you’ve worked than why you worked there, your understanding of your role, and your rationale for making different moves at various stages of your career. What does it say about what makes you tick and the environment that you thrive in if you’re a day trader? What was it in your personality that led you towards one field or another, and why, for example, did you choose an investment management route? Your ability to articulate your thinking behind each of your decisions is critical, along with your motivations and ambitions beyond the MBA 4. Persuasively connect your career vision to the MBA. Beyond the power of its MBA brand, the admissions committee wants to know that you understand what’s being offered through its management curriculum – what it will do for you, and then how that connects to your specific professional goals. You’ll need to be logical and convincing, not only about why an MBA, but why right now, and how an MBA is going to serve as a catalyst for your own success post MBA. Reflect early on about what you want to do after your MBA, and what you’ll be doing to make it possible; and be able to articulate the impact you’ll have on your future peers and community. Keep in mind that the Admissions Committee is looking at your file thinking, how is this candidate going to look to a future recruiter? They want to bring people in who are going to be successful in achieving their post-grad goals. At LeapQuest, our MBA consultants have helped a large number of applicants convert their dream of attending top schools around the world. Send us an email if you’d like some help with business school selection and application reviews. Drop in a line to info@theleapquest.com for professional help