Research Guides: Job Search, Interviewing, and Compensation: Pre-MBA &amp; GMAT

MBA Application Strategy

Montauk and Gordon are the most broadly recommended MBA application books by Bschool admissions officers and MBA application consultants.

How to Get into the Top MBA Programs by Richard Montauk
Table of contents: Why get an MBA? Types of MBA programs. How to choose the right school for you. How to use the rankings. The admissions process. Application timetable. Making the most of your credentials. Marketing yourself: general principles. Understanding the key essay topics. How to write persuasive essays. Recommendations. Interviews. Responding to wait-listing, rejections, and other disappointments. What to do once you're accepted. How to get the most out of business school. Financing your MBA. Example Essays.
MBA Admissions Strategy by A.V. Gordon
Table of contents: Admissions Fundamentals (Talking to Adcom; MBA admissions value; Elements of admissions; Researching and choosing MBA programs; What goes on after you hand in your application). Profile Recognition and Development (The profiling project; Personal profile analysis; Professional profile analysis; Positioning and messaging). Essay and Interview Management (The MBA question archetypes; Essay approaches and content mapping; The interview). Writing Tools and Methods (Serving the reader; Structure and outlines; Improving expression: word and sentence strategies).

Research tip:

Find interviews with the admissions officers of the programs you intend to apply to for insights into: what makes for a successful application at that school and how to tailor your application to their admissions team. (As with cover letters during a job search, customization is critical for admissions success!) Example: "How to Get Accepted to NYU Stern". Podcast interview with Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director for MBA Admissions at Stern.

Business School Rankings

Full Time MBA (US):

Bloomberg Businessweek Best Business Schools - Includes US, Europe, Canada, Asia-Pac, and Diversity Index. Also include top lists for MBA candidates hired within specific industries (including: consulting, financial, tech, consumer, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, real estate, retail, media/entertainment, nonprofits, transportation, government, and hospitality).
Forbes Best Business Schools
Poets & Quants Top 100 U.S. MBA Composite Ranking
US News Best Business Schools

Full Time MBA (International):

Bloomberg Businessweek Best Business Schools - Includes US, Europe, Canada, Asia-Pac, and Diversity Index.
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking - Includes lists for MBA, Executive MBA, Finance, Management, and European Business Schools.
Forbes Best 2-Year International MBA Programs
Forbes Best 1-Year International MBA Programs

Executive MBA:

Financial Times Global MBA Ranking - Includes lists for MBA, Executive MBA, Finance, Management, and European Business Schools.
Fortune Best Executive MBA Programs
US News Best Executive MBA Programs

Part-Time MBA:

Online MBA:

Undergraduate Business Programs (US):

MBA Admissions Consultants

Securing the services of an admissions consultant may be useful if you are determined to get into a highly competitive program. Below, find several Poets & Quants articles to help determine if hiring a consultant is right for you.

GMAT Preparation Companies

Free resources for current NYU students:

Kaplan All Access GMAT

These for-profit companies offer a variety of for-fee classes, tutoring, and other products and services (both in person and online) to help prepare you to take the GMAT and Executive Assessment. Please note that NYU does not endorse or recommend any particular company or service below. They are included here to help you research your options.