Be a Standout U.S. Applicant for European MBA Programs

Prospective MBA students who want to get their degrees quickly can apply to one-year, domestic MBA programs, which are a growing offering in the U.S. But if they want the same quick experience, while also getting a global perspective, an MBA overseas may be a better option.

European schools typically offer full-time programs that are shorter than two years, experts say. And applicants who choose one of these programs may not have to worry about being the lone North American transplant in class.

In 2014, 35 percent of full-time, one-year European MBA schools saw an increase in foreign applicants, according to a report from the Graduate Management Admission Council.

The hardships that come with getting into top-ranked U.S. business schools may be encouraging some applicants to look abroad, says Kaneisha Grayson, who runs The Art of Applying, an admissions consulting company.

[Consider these factors about European MBA programs.]

"Students are getting weary of the sheer competitiveness," says Grayson, who graduated from Harvard Business School. While MBA programs in Europe can certainly be tough to get into, she says, some U.S. students might be able to sell themselves better with international schools.

Attending business school abroad can benefit U.S. applicants who want to connect and work with business professionals from around the world.

"It gives the students a much broader perspective in terms of cross-cultural management and understanding how different cultures face problems in different ways," wrote Itziar de Ros, director of MBA Admissions at IESE Business School, a two-year program in Europe, in an email. "Learning a new language is also an advantage which not only enriches them professionally but personally."

This experience can also help strengthen a student's professional circle. "You're truly going to gain an international network," says Paul Lanzillotti, the founder and co-owner of Amerasia Consulting Group, which helps people get into undergraduate and business schools.

Schools abroad can be more favorable to older applicants, he says, because they look for people who are more mature and established.

For U.S. applicants who want to study overseas, European MBA programs are a more popular option than programs in other continents, Lanzillotti says. London Business School, INSEAD Business School in France and IESE, which has multiple campuses in Europe, are some of the most well-known, experts say. Applicants to schools in England, France and other countries should use certain strategies when applying, experts say.

One of the most important things applicants should do is travel. Emphasizing their experiences working or living abroad is critical, admissions experts say.

[Decide between a top U.S. MBA program and a global MBA program.]

"Anything over 10 days counts," says Grayson. Applicants can mention a volunteer consulting engagement they participated in overseas or a study abroad experience from college, she says. If they don't have solid experience, there are options for finding some.

"Try to go to some sort of professional association meeting abroad," Grayson says.

Adam McKay, an MBA student at the Said Business School at University of Oxford, had years of international work experience before applying to school, he says. Even though he has roots in Alabama and Washington, D.C., he didn't pursue any domestic MBA programs.

"Living in Europe for a year would appeal to me more than living in Boston or Northern California or Chicago," says McKay, who started a travel company for people going to international sporting events such as the Olympics.

He emphasized his international experience on his Oxford application, he says.

[Get international experience with a global EMBA.]

McKay encourages applicants who are short on international experience to focus on what they've done domestically that shows they could do well in school abroad.

"Play up the diversity of your experience within the U.S.," he says, suggesting students discuss, for example, their ability to work well with different kinds of people.

But a GPA could be just as important as work experience. Schools abroad, Grayson says, are sometimes less flexible when it comes to considering applicants who don't have the preferred grades.

If students know they aren't a match in this area, they should contact schools and ask if their application would even be considered, Grayson says.

Another way to make sure you'll be a competitive applicant is to read the news, says Lanzillotti, who received his MBA from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California--Los Angeles.

"You have to be much more familiar with world events when you're going to an international business school," he says. This knowledge won't bolster a resume, but it may be useful when writing application essays.

Some schools have been known to ask applicants to weigh in on the global financial crisis, he says. Prospective students can research essay questions online, he says, to help prepare for this portion of the application.

They can also speak to people from the U.S. who have gone through the admissions process before to hear about all that's involved in being an international MBA student in Europe, says Grayson.

In these chats, prospective students can learn about the pros, cons and rewards that come from this path. And some current students may say there's no need to worry about making this move.

"If you're just considering it," McKay says, "absolutely do it."

See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities.

Delece Smith-Barrow is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering graduate schools. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dsmithbarrow@usnews.com.