Hello krsrinath,

Thank you for your post!

Work experience is highly valued in b-school admissions. Most incoming MBA students have 4-6 years of work experience, and are generally 26-28 years of age. Having a slightly more extensive job record (three years minimum) would allow you to be a more compelling and successful applicant. This would also give you the time necessary to really build up your professional profile, which would include gaining more responsibility, leadership chances, and a wider range of quantifiable accomplishments (revenue generated, costs saved, etc.).

In regards to your questions about the GMAT, I'd like to recommend our free Guide to GMAT Preparation Companies. Each firm will have different strengths and this will help you determine who is best suited to meet your personal needs. You may find the guide here: https://www.clearadmit.com/products/stra ... companies/. Your selected firm will also help you to determine a timeline for your studies! That said, it is possible to work and study for the GMAT simultaneously. In fact, it is preferable as you do not want to have any gaps in employment on your record.

If you do want to pursue an MBA abroad, another thing to keep in mind is that as an Indian national with a degree from an Indian institution, you come from an oversubscribed pool of applicants. Many of your fellow country men and women with similar academic histories (if not professional experiences) are also targeting top programs, and that makes it even more difficult to truly stand out or differentiate yourself. This would make your GMAT score and GPA even more important factor in your candidacy. Over the next few years, I recommend that you amass relevant work experience as well as take on leadership opportunities in your community. B-schools also look for well-rounded applicants with diverse interests, so you will want to show what kind of community member you would be by having extracurricular activities to highlight.

I hope this helps and please feel free to contact us directly when you are ready to apply to b-schools! https://www.clearadmit.com/services/free-consultation/