Okay, so just as I had expected, I bombed the GMAT test i took earlier this month with a dismal score of 470 ! Even though I feel I've come a long way from my earlier scores of 230 - 350, which I scored 6 months back at the time I began study, to 470 now, the adcoms at GMAT accepting bschools clearly do not consider this an achievement due to very obvious reasons.

Ive reached this with 6 months prep & I'm sure I could kick some serious butt if I were to retake the exam within a year I would do well in the next 1 year if I really tried hard, but I'm losing time & age. I feel I need to get into something soon & I think I need to forget about the GMAT if it doesn't work for me.

Im considering Universities in Canada I could apply to without the GMAT such as Lakehead, Vancouver Island etc. I hope this will serve my goal of getting employed after MBA in Canada. However, I have some questions :

1. How difficult / easy will it be for me (Indian national) to find a well paid job , preferably in the marketing / retail area (considering I have 5 years work experience in the Middle east as a Merchandiser & Junior Buyer) ?

2. This qn may be a little out of scope w.r.t the forum but I'd like to know if there is any other way to get legally employed in Canada .... I'd love the idea of foregoing the money I pay for an MBA & instead getting hired directly......are there any Canadian companies hiring this way?

3. Are all the non - gmat bschools equal or is there a best & worst within that list?

Thanks ! - For your time & comments

I would be highly critical of any school that does not require the GMAT, especially if they are not accredited by AMBA, EQUIS, or AACSB. If you choose to go this route, my take on it is that it will be very difficult for you to land a job in the country after graduation - but you should reach out to the schools you are looking at and ask them for career statistics, and ask them to put you in touch with alum who've made the same journey that you would like to make.

In terms of a Canadian firm hiring somebody internationally - I'd say this is pretty rare unless you have a highly-specialized profile that the firm both needs - and more importantly, is willing to pay for (since they would have to sponsor your work permit.)

Have you considered GMAT prep?

Thanks Ralph !

GMAT Prep.... do you mean the prep software or are you asking if I have prepared for the GMAT ? I have taken the exam recently & the score is one of a kind ...which only a select few can achieve - 470

Yes - if I were you I would consider looking into GMAT preparation services: these could include software or study books at a minimum, or even classroom-based prep or one-on-one tutoring.

how good is VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY ?

Not very good.