<p>How much of a GMAT score? How many years of experience? Does going international help? I'm taking a job in India (I'm not Indian)</p>
<p>Business schools care a lot more about your leadership potential, creativity and innovativeness than they do about the grades you got 3-5 years ago. (And the really top ones do want you to work 3-5 years, so you can demonstrate growth in your professional potential). You can be certain that if you start a company (or two), run a division, achieve a senior level mgt. position in a smaller company, or otherwise demonstrate that you are going to be a high flyer, they will want you. Of course, diversity counts too, by which I mean most of them have enough I-banker and mgt. consultant wannabees. Try to be different. If you can convey a passionate interest in some less trampled field, it makes you more interesting and valuable to have in class discussion. Lots of top schools use case studies (a bit like the socratic method) and students who have real life experience to bring to the table are the ones who add the most and learn the most. My HBS class included two people with significant military experience, a former professional baseball player, an opera singer/arts manager, a "Christian" entrepreneur, and a union negotiator. A two others had, or were going to inherit companies from parents. Of course the rest of us had to do it the hard way-grades, test scores, recommendations, and demonstrated leadership. </p>
<p>Taking a job in India is a step in the right direction because it not only gives you a valuable international perspective that differentiates you from the herd, but will teach you so much. And remember, Bill Gates didn't go to business school...it's not like medicine. You can practice without a license.</p>