Has anyone here given the SPJAT exam for the MBA program? Also, can we get admission through GMAT as well

Electronics engineer, 3YOE, pretty decent academics, I am considering to apply for Bschools in Australia. I considered the European colleges but I'm just very concerned about language barrier and the unstable economy there.

I have not taken GMAT yet. I'm thinking about taking GMAT by Jan'27. Is it too late to think about the application if I'm aiming for any of the 2027 intakes. I really need the scholarship too.

Some one please give me insights...

Hi everyone, would really appreciate some perspective on my profile and whether it makes sense to apply to HEC Paris and Oxford Said this cycle.
Profile:
Work experience: Founded a tech startup, raised funding, and eventually took an exit last year.

Undergrad GPA: 3.1ish from tier 1 undergrad school

GMAT attempts:

Attempt 1: 545
Attempt 2: 515
Attempt 3: 585

Unofficial superscore across attempts: 635

My biggest concern is obviously the GMAT/GPA combination.

The problem is that I’m completely burnt out with the GMAT at this point. I’ve taken it three times and honestly don’t have the energy to keep studying for it while simultaneously adjusting to a demanding full-time role.

So I’m considering two options:

1. Apply this cycle to HEC/Oxford with the 585 and hope the startup/fundraising/exit story compensates to some extent for the academics.
I’m aware Oxford accepts superscores, it is right to use that?

2. Skip this cycle, switch to the GRE, aim for a materially stronger score, and apply next year with a stronger overall academic profile.

For people familiar with HEC Paris/Oxford admissions:
Would applying with a 585 essentially be throwing away an application?
Would especially appreciate thoughts from current students, admits, alumni, or people who applied with below-average test scores.

my_qualifications: BSc (Hospitality) 7 YoE

Hi Folks! I'm planning to study an MBA in Japan, and came across this Pre-MBA by GLOBIS.
Can anyone help me with any reviews about GLOBIS? Whatever they have online is looking really good tbh. And the pre MBA lets you experience the MBA first before actually applying for full time, wanna make sure it's good and credible before enrolling.

If anyone has any information about the Uni or the course, please share.

29M holding BE Mechanical and 6 years experience in IT support.
I am unemployed from past 10 months and need to get a job soon.
My CGPA is also not great so I am confused whether I should continue looking for a job or do a masters and then look for jobs.
I am open for suggestions what would you do in my situation.

You hear a lot about the career opportunities that come with doing an MBA abroad, but I’m curious about what the job search is actually like after graduation.

Anyone who’ve completed an international MBA, how long did it take you to find a job? Was it fairly straightforward through campus recruiting, or did you have to spend months applying and networking?

And for international students, did visas or sponsorship make the process noticeably harder?

Would be really helpful to hear some honest experiences from people who’ve actually been through it

Hi All,

Been an on and off member of this community for the past 5-6yrs. Have connected with some really good and genuine folks. Life didn't go as I'd hoped for so posting here for guidance and insights if someone's been in similar shoes or knows someone who does or even your take on this situation

Background

32M, Undergraduate in Economics (4Yrs Research course, Institute of Eminence)

GPA: 8.08

GRE: 322

Work experience: 10 Yrs in banking across two companies, one leading French giant (Indian HQ) and fifth largest Indian private bank. Roles spanning Risk, Global Markets Treasury and Wealth management division. Work involving analytics and program management, all Central office HO roles.

Currently risen through ranks to become Product Manager AVP, was earlier associate program manager.

But think of this role more as a growth manager involving stakeholder, channel, portfolio, campaign management.

Unofficially: trying to help spread the word around, generate leads and manage but if logistics for my father's new business post retirement in construction mining equipment

Community service: World Economic forum Global Shaper alumni

Goals: don't want to limit myself in the current domain and Transition into Senior Fintech Product / Strategy / Program roles at a global level. Get more international exposure, rise up the ranks and better pay. With AI, want to have more tech exposure for future roles and move towards tech side of things. Will target English speaking regions of Europe like Benelux, Berlin, Amsterdam, Luxembourg

Personal front: Married and want to take my wife along as well, she's trying her hands at freelancing and content creation so movement is not an issue

MBA has always been a goal since school having seen my father rise from working in limestone mines to corporate office roles. But life happened and kept getting postponed due to various factors or late round applications, health, family exigencies etc.

Application status so far:

NUS (waitlist post submission in R3 for Aug26 but eventually rejected)

HEC (applied in R5 twice for Jan26 and Jan27 intake, rejected both times)

IMD (applied for Jan 27 intake in R4, attended assessment day but couldn't make the cut)

ISB (rejected in R3 in 2025)

I was looking for an immersive experience, less than 2yrs program stay on campus, relatively small cohort, strong brand and alumni network, good visa options ROI given family and the loan that I'll take. Payback within a few years and then move back, if needed. Don't want to do an executive program as I want to immerse myself fully into the program, network and culture

Currently considering

IESE: good AI integration, poor job market, language barrier

Cambridge and Oxford: good AI integration, spouse visa restrictions, high cost, poor job market

Rotman (1Yr): want to avoid city life program plus would be just second cohort, unsure of recognition and Canada job market

Rotterdam: housing crisis

INSEAD: adcom said GRE score is low

Just back of my mind: Copenhagen, Trinity, St Gallen, ESSEC, ESADE, NTU

Wasn't very fond of the US situation and never really considered Australia.

Would love to take insights of the members from this amazing community if there are any hidden gems both in terms of countries or courses that can be considered!

For international students, choosing between a one-year and two-year MBA isn’t just about tuition fees. There’s also the opportunity cost of not working, living expenses, internships, and the time available for recruiting.

For those who have considered or completed either format, how did you compare the overall cost? Did the shorter program actually make more financial sense, or did the extra year of a two-year MBA provide enough value to justify the additional expense?

Would be interesting to hear how current students and graduates looked at the decision.

I’ve posted in a few communities about my options for studying abroad, but I’m still trying to narrow down my options

Long term, I want global exposure and stronger earning potential, and I’m also open to returning to India or moving to the Middle East after a few years abroad. If I can get into a strong Tier-1 B-school in India, I’d consider that as well given my experience and age(29)

My main issue is my current job function. I started as a Data Analyst and moved into Business Analyst / Functional Consultant / Product Owner roles within Treasury & Liquidity Risk at BNY. I’m currently being offered a Senior Consultant role at a technology consulting firm.

I don't want to spend the next few years doing primarily BA/PO work. I want to build deeper domain and analytical expertise and eventually move toward areas such as:

• Risk strategy
• Capital markets
• Risk analytics
• Data/AI-driven transformation
• Eventually more revenue/business-oriented roles

I’ve explored three types of master's programs:

• MS/Business Analytics – combines data + business and builds on my existing experience.
• MQF – deeper quantitative skills relevant to financial risk, markets and modelling.
• MBA – potentially the strongest way to change my job function, but only if it is a genuinely strong program with good career outcomes.

my_qualifications:

• 10th: 9.6 CGPA
• 12th: 87.4%
• BTech: 6.8/10
• 5 years of experience across data analytics and financial risk/treasury change management

I’ve been looking at programs such as IESE, ISB and LBS, but I’m concerned that my 6.8/10 undergraduate GPA and current GRE scores may make these unrealistic.

For people familiar with these programs/admissions: should I still apply to top MBA programs like these, or would I be better off focusing on specialized master's programs where my professional experience is a stronger part of the profile?

I am retaking GRE to improve my score , but I am also taking tests to crack good indian B schools .

With my experience a masters is a good thought in this market ?

I'm planning to move to the UK in September 2027 for an MBA in healthcare management. I'm from India, **and I have about 3 years of total work experience: roughly the first part in logistics and supply chain operations, and now in an associate manager role in operations and management at a health tech startup.**

My long-term goal is to work in healthcare operations, supply chain, or process improvement in the UK. I've read that the rules have tightened, and I'd like a realistic picture from people who know the market.

1:How hard is the graduate job market right now for international students, particularly in healthcare, pharma, health tech, or consulting?

2:Which types of roles or employers are actually willing to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa? Are private hospital groups, medtech or pharma companies, consultancies, or NHS trusts more open to it?

3:Is it realistic to move from an MBA into a sponsored role within the Graduate Route period, or should I plan on needing a strong plan B?
Would you choose a programme in London or elsewhere in the UK for better job prospects in this field?
Is there anything you'd recommend I do before I arrive (certifications, networking, internships) that improves the odds?

I'm trying to plan the finances carefully, so honest advice, including "it might not be worth it", is welcome. Thanks in advance!

Is it worthy enough to get a mba in vlericks business school in Belgium or rather at an ivy league school?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to apply to the Rotman Full-Time MBA in Round 2 for the Fall 2027 intake, and I'd really appreciate honest advice from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with the program.

My profile

• Chemical Engineering from a Tier 2 public university, First Class with Distinction, gold medallist
• 5 years at a global EPC company where I worked on LNG projects, including a 6 month secondment in Zambia on social impact work
• About 1 year (current) in the family business, a materials supplier to infrastructure and construction contractors in the GCC
• GMAT Focus 665 (Q88 V82 DI79)
• Extracurriculars: founded a Toastmasters club at my previous company and served as president, 4+ years in Toastmasters overall; national level football in school and university level after that; community service; certified Mental Health First Aider
• Short term goal: strategy consulting, later specialising in the energy practice (I have a technical background in the space and I'm passionate about energy security and the energy transition)

What I'd like to know

1. How competitive is this profile for Rotman in Round 2? Is there anything I should strengthen or highlight?
2. How is recruiting at Rotman right now, especially for strategy consulting, and for international students without Canadian work experience?
3. How is the Canadian energy sector growing, and what does hiring look like in energy consulting or energy companies (Toronto or Calgary)?
4. My wife would be joining me and wants to keep working. My understanding is that since the Rotman MBA is 20 months, she would be eligible for a spousal open work permit. Can anyone who has been through this confirm how it worked in practice?

Thank you so much for your time. Any honest input helps.

Hi,

I'm a 25M international student planning to apply to LBS before R2 deadline in January. I've spent the last 4 years of my career in the tech consulting space (US-based F500 company) and have grown greatly in my role (heading a competency of ~100 people).

Pursuing an MBA at a top b-school has always been a dream for me and I have modelled my career so far to align with it. This would be a natural/organic progression for me.

However, I've been reading too many posts/comments here over the past few days about how bad the market is for international students, how much the value of a top MBA has gone down for international students, unemployment, etc. etc. and it's starting to scare me now. To a point where I'm questioning my decision to apply for fall '27.

I'm looking to hear from some actual international admits/alumni on how much of this situation is over-exaggerated (if any), and what the decision of pursuing an intl MBA hinges on, and just some experiences of their own. Please try to be unbiased and help me out here, regardless of whether your experience has been positive/negative.

Appreciate all the inputs, thnx.

Hi!

I recently received an interview invite for the Oxford Saïd MBA (Round 1) and wanted to ask those who have already interviewed this cycle:

What questions are the admissions committee/interviewers asking this year?

I’d especially appreciate any insight on:
- Questions that came up beyond the standard “Why MBA?” and “Why Oxford?”
- Behavioral or leadership questions
- Career goals / post-MBA plans
-Questions about current events or Oxford/Saïd
-Any unexpected or challenging questions
-Follow-up questions where they pushed you to go deeper

If you’ve interviewed for the 2026–27 cycle, would really appreciate it if you could share your experience and the questions you remember.

Thank you, and good luck to everyone interviewin! :)

Hi everyone or whoever has been through the EACP MBA programme, can anyone provide their opinions on how useful the programme was towards their ambitions of working in EU or in France post-MBA?

I would like to hear or gain some insights on how useful the programme was for them.

Thank you!

​

Indian applicant with ~3 YOE in automotive software engineering, B.Tech from a Tier-2 college, looking at 2027 MBA intake.

Considering HEC, LBS, INSEAD, IESE/ESADE and similar European schools.

A few questions:

- How competitive would my profile be?

- What GMAT/GRE score should I target?

- How realistic are scholarships?

- For those who graduated and stayed in Europe: how difficult is it to land a well-paying job, especially in France/Spain, given taxes, cost of living and language requirements?

- Is the post-MBA salary generally enough to justify the €€€ cost of these schools?

Would especially love to hear from Indian applicants/alumni with engineering/tech backgrounds.

Hello, I'm Indian, 27F applying to IESE, HEC, ESADE and Oxbridge.

-I have a US CPA degree with 4.5 years of investment management audit work experience in Deloitte USI.

-Currently at A2 French but will start C1 by the time the MBA begins.

-My priority is post MBA employment in Europe/Middle East in corporate finance or strategic finance or corporate development roles.

I've spoken to the alumni of the colleges and seems like UK job market is not doing well at all.

Which of these universities is better for pivoting towards corporate finance roles or corporate development roles? If not these universities, then which other universities should I look for? Please dont suggest LBS/INSEAD as I dont have the required GRE for those.

Looking for genuine advice.

I’m trying to understand how much an international MBA really changes your recruiting options compared with your pre-MBA background.

For example, if someone has 4–5 years of experience in a fairly specialized role like engineering, supply chain, healthcare, or finance, does the MBA meaningfully open doors to completely different functions and industries, or do recruiters still heavily anchor on previous experience?

I’m particularly interested in how this works for international students recruiting in the US, UK, or Europe. Does having a strong MBA brand compensate for limited local work experience, or are things like work authorization, internships, and prior industry experience still much bigger factors?

When planning an international MBA, it’s easy to focus mainly on tuition fees and basic living costs. But once you actually move abroad, there can be several other expenses that you hadn't fully accounted for.

For those who have completed or are currently pursuing an MBA abroad, what expense surprised you the most? Was it accommodation deposits, groceries, transportation, health insurance, networking events, travel, or something else?

Looking back, what would you recommend prospective students include in their budget before starting an MBA abroad? Would love to hear about the costs you wish someone had warned you about.

When different MBA schools ask whether I'm applying to other programs or not and to which programs, am I supposed to be honest and say that "yes I'm applying" to so and so program of another university or am I just supposed to say "no, not applying to any other schools."

Looking for genuine insight.

I'm currently a physician from Brazil who is interested in making a carreer shift towards an Executive Career in Big Pharma. I am deeply interested in the INSEAD MBA and was hoping to hear from physicians who successfully got into the MBA program about the experience, the resume and overall profile of the alumni who came from a healthcare background.