B-Schools Hypocrisy

I am not what you would call a success story insofar as how my B-school application process evolved. The results of my 5 applications are waitlisted, waitlisted, accepted, dinged and dinged. So, if you think that the conclusion that I draw in this piece is in part due to this bitter experience then you are probably right!

B-schools need their prospective students to be ambitious, driven and committed in addition to possessing strong analytical and quantitative skills. Moreover, almost every school requires future students to have clear goals, a sound career plan and strong reasons for choosing that particular school. Because B-schools have such high expectations from their students, I have a problem with them placing applicants in waitlists. Waitlists seem to be a classic way to say, “We think you are good, but we are really not sure”!

Would it be acceptable to the B-schools if I went into the admission interview and said, “Hmm.., I really like your school, but I am not that sure”!! In this sense, I find all B-schools hypocritical and self serving. B-schools are in a sellers market because there are more qualified students than the number of seats available in the top schools around the world. Under these circumstances, B-schools have a moral responsibility to provide honest and straight answers to their prospective customers. It is time that B-schools followed the ethics that they seem to preach so unabashedly in their campuses. Ultimately, B-schools are in the noble business of providing education, and education is not about self service.

Through this experience, I have learnt something very important about going to B-school. I am not going back to school to earn a much coveted brand name but to learn new skills, share my experiences and later apply my talents to make a difference in this world. In the process, if I make a few thousand dollars then so be it!