International MBA Applicants: US-based Goals are a Very Hard Sell

Apologies for the disheartening image, but it’s true that getting a work visa in the United States has never been more difficult, especially an H1B visa, which is used for tech workers but also covers many core MBA business areas. (A green card (permanent resident status) has become exponentially more difficult.)

This reality has direct implications for the “Goals” essays of international students: it will be even more difficult than before to convince adcoms that a US-based company will hire you post-MBA, since they are likely to undertake the increased costs and uncertainty. Simple fact. So when you are developing your Goals, I strongly suggest you base them in your own country or another country that is currently more welcoming to immigrant professionals.

See here for my backgrounder on MBA Goals essays.

I have close to 20 years of experience helping MBA applicants develop Goals essays that hit the sweet spot between realistic and ambitious in countries around the world, so please sign up for a free trial consultation if you would like to talk yours through.