Great Lakes Admission Help

Average GMAT Score550GMAT Range 
Total Applicants Acceptance Rate 
Class Size Average Work Experience24 Months
Applicant DeadlinesR1: 01-Dec-2021
R2: 10-Jan-2021
R2: 10-Feb-2021
Decision Dates 
Length of Program16 MonthsPlacement Information 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – PGPM 2020-21:

  • All applicants applying to Great Lakes Institute of Management are required to appear for GMAT/CAT*/XAT +/CMAT before applying for the program.
  • For PGPM 2020, Great Lakes Institute of Management will accept CAT scores of the year 2020/2021, XAT scores of the year 2020/2021 or GMAT scores taken after Jan 1, 2020 or CMAT scores of the year 2020
  • All applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution.
  • A minimum work experience of two years by March 31, 2020 is mandatory and candidates found not fulfilling this criteria will not be admitted. Candidates with less than 24 months of work experience by June 30, 2020 can apply to the Great Lakes PGDM Program

*Great Lakes uses CAT scores only for screening applications for admissions and IIMs have no role in the conduct of Great Lakes academic programs.

+Great Lakes is not an associate institute of XLRI and uses XAT scores only for screening applicants for admission. XLRI has no role to play in the conduct of any of Great Lakes programs.

ADMISSION PROCESS:

  • Candidates can apply to Great Lakes Institute of Management by completing an online application form.
  • Candidates can choose to apply by any of the following methods:
    • Visit the website  greatlakes.edu.in   and fill in the online application form, after making a payment of INR 1,500. Candidates seeking to apply to both Great Lakes, Chennai and Great Lakes, Gurgaon (Delhi NCR) through a common application may do so by selecting the appropriate option in the registration form and paying an application fee of INR 2250/- only.
    • Candidates should make a payment of INR 1,500 at IMS centers and procure a coded number key for applying online.
    • The ultimate application process is online for all candidates.
    • Candidates have to provide the official email-id of the recommender. The recommendation letter will be collected from the final selected students’ recommenders and it must be submitted online only.
    • Queries regarding the admission process have to be sent to   [email protected]

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Applicants are compared based on GMAT/CAT/XAT/CMAT scores, past academic performance, essays, work experience and performance in the interview and group discussions. The selection process shapes in a criterion that facilitates reviewing each applicant:

  • Academic Abilities:  Being a one year program, the program at Great Lakes is highly demanding and intense; candidates with coherent academic background and a demonstrated ability to sustain pressure make the shortlist.
  • Standardized Test Scores:  To eliminate inconsistencies between colleges and universities at the Undergraduate level, Great Lakes consider GMAT or CAT or XAT or CMAT scores in the overall evaluation.
  • Leadership and Interpersonal Skills:  Great Lakes as an institute promises to deliver “Business Ready Managers” who would be leaders in their fields, and hence applicants who have exhibited leadership skills at work/school or college make the grade to be part of the Great Lakes family.
  • Integrity and Ethical Values: Great Lakes lays strength on integrity and values including originality. Candidates found lacking these qualities won’t be selected nevertheless of their performance in other areas.
  • Diversity of Background:  At Great Lakes, diversity in background facilitates peer learning which transforms ‘uncut stones’ into ‘diamonds’. Students in the current batch come from diverse fields like Finance, Hospitality, IT, Manufacturing, Marketing, Consultancy, Media, and so forth. 

Great Lakes MBA Essays for 2020-2021:

Required Essay:Is there anything else about you that is not covered in the application that you would like to share with us?

  • Reasoning your education/ career gap.
  • Sharing community service experience or your personal interest.
  • Highlighting your certifications and course relating/non-relating your career.

Optional Essay: What are your personal qualities which you think make you suitable to be a part of PGPM Class of 2022?

  • Highlight the personal Qualities as adaptability, perseverance, efficiency and leadership etc.
  • Mentioning the projects worked on, with the experience how successful in completing it and recognition by manager.
  • Revenue generated or saved by you in your organization, or project got in hands due to your hard work can make a huge difference to impress adcom.
  • Value added to class – how your experience will enrich the classroom and outside class discussions. What would be your contribution to various clubs etc.

Great Lakes Interview Process

Profile: Brensten is a graduate from Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore and had worked as a engineer for 4 years and started with PariPosha, Borivali, Mumbai, India as co-founder from 2018 (Edu-Tech: Teaching Emotional Intelligence, Critical Thinking and Positive Psychology to children. This also prompted him to pursue higher studies in management. She scored 650 in GMAT, applied to applied to Great Lakes Institute of Management and was invited for an interview. His interview experience with Great Lakes Interview experience is outlined below.

Work Experience 6 yearsCo-founder of an Edu-tech startup for 2 years and 2 months. Previously a Commercial Engineering professional with 5 years and 7 months’ combined
GMAT score 650Highest Education: Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, TN, Bachelor of Technology,  (Electronics & Instrumentation)

Due to Pandemic my PI was scheduled online. I was shortlisted for Cycle 2 of PGPM interviews in January 2021. I was given a online form to enter my personal details, entrance test scores and academic credentials. After school admissions briefed me about the program offerings, the Bordeaux additional MBA after PGPM, placements, and interview expectations, after which admission committee answered our queries.

Interview Duration:  20–25 minutes long.

Interview panel members: One Professor and One Current student.

Interview Questions asked:

  1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
  2. Why do you want to earn a graduate business degree?
  3. Why are you interested in this school?
  4. Why should we admit you?

My interview was more conversational. This interview actually made me feel interested in knowing how I can contribute to the program instead of knowing how well versed I am with information that I can live without.

They were more interested in my general awareness and thought process, my approach to problems, and how I have made the best out of situations – things that are essentially expected from a management professional. Finally, I was offered an admit for PGPM.

I would like to thank General Education for helping me throughout my application journey to grab a admit. I would refer General Education for everyone planning to apply for dream schools.

Interview tips

  • Be calm and do not make false stories.
  • It was a very friendly interaction, not a stress interview.
  • Almost all Great Lakes interview questions were specific to my profile and my work experience, hence it is of prime importance to be thorough with whatever one submits in the essays.