How to Stand Out to Top Business Schools Using GMAC GradSelect

As a business school candidate, you know you’ll be up against fierce competition for a place on a top MBA or business master’s degree. From your GMAT exam score to extracurriculars and recommendation letters, prospective students must do everything they can to stand out on their application.

With so much to organise, researching and applying to business school can take a year or even longer. But what if you could reduce your research time? What if leading business schools actually reached out to you? That’s what GradSelect does.

GradSelect is a free tool from the Graduate Management Admission Council that helps the best business schools in the world identify ideal candidates. It’s free to make a profile on GradSelect, and by doing so, you’ll ensure that admissions officers from over 500 top schools can find you.

Business schools use GradSelect to share information about their different programs to interested applicants and reach out to candidates who they think would be a perfect match for their school. Whether you’re still at the beginning of your application journey, or have a list of target schools ready, GradSelect helps you make a more confident decision.

But how exactly does GradSelect help you stand out? Let’s find out.

1. Get matched with top – ranked schools.

The first step to connecting with worldwide business schools on GradSelect is to create a profile. When you’re setting up your GradSelect profile, make sure to give as much detail as possible on your program and region preferences and work experience. The more information you provide, the higher the chance of schools finding you.

Your profile will determine which schools seek you out on the GradSelect database. For example, some business schools will be interested in seeking MBA or business master’s applicants with non – traditional career backgrounds – so adding your career background to your profile will help them find you.

Even if you’ve already identified some target schools and program options, creating a GradSelect profile is a way to cast a wider net and explore options you might not have considered. If a school reaches out, you know you’ve stood out to them and that your specialties, career goals, or career background matches their philosophy.

2. Hear directly from your target business school. 

Once you’ve set up your GradSelect profile, admissions advisors at top business schools can start communicating with you. They’ll email you with tailored program information, details about applying, and the latest scholarship and financial aid opportunities – everything you need to prepare and write your application.

Receiving personalized information from an admissions team doesn’t just mean you’re more informed about your target program – it makes it easier to put together an application that’s focused and individual to each school, increasing your chances of being accepted.

3. Supplement your research on MBAs and business master’s programs.

It’s natural for you to have a few target schools in mind when you begin your business school research. In this case, GradSelect can help you connect with your preferred schools and discover more information about their programs, application process, and financial aid opportunities.

However, if you’re still in the process of putting together a list of target programs, the information you receive through GradSelect can help you make a more informed decision about where to study.

4. Speak to b school admissions officers and get top tips for your application.

Over 500 business schools worldwide – including Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, and INSEAD – use GradSelect to connect with business master’s and MBA applicants. By opting in to the service, you’ll allow admissions advisors at these top schools to reach out to you with tailored admissions information.

Having a direct line of communication with schools can make navigating the difficult process of applying to business schools less daunting. Through GradSelect, you’ll receive tailored information based on your business school preferences and background, enabling you to make a more confident decision.

5. Discover scholarship and financial aid opportunities you wouldn’t know about.

Financing business school is a huge worry for candidates – cost is one of the biggest barriers to pursuing graduate management education. For many applicants, researching scholarships and financial aid is just as crucial as discovering program curriculum and graduate prospects.

With GradSelect, though, exploring finance opportunities doesn’t require hours of research. Once you’ve input your target schools and programs in your profile, admissions staff will reach out to you with details of their scholarship and financial aid options.

Having all your research in one place makes it easier to compare funding for different business programs, ensuring you can make a more informed decision on where to study.

Ready to hear from the best business schools?

Setting up a GradSelect profile takes just a few minutes, and once you’re done, you’ll start to be noticed by leading business schools around the world.

Are you ready to stand out? Set up your GradSelect profile here for free.