Complete Admission Journey to Graduate School: The Definitive Guide

Before applying, understand the different options available to you.

MBA (Master of Business Administration)

• Duration: 1-2 years
• Prerequisites: 3-7 years professional experience
• Focus: General management, leadership, strategy
• Outcomes: Consulting, finance, tech, entrepreneurship
• Leading schools: Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD, Wharton

MPA/MPP (Master of Public Administration/Policy)

• Duration: 1-2 years
• Prerequisites: 2-5 years experience (public sector/NGO ideally)
• Focus: Public policy, administration, development
• Outcomes: Government, international organizations, NGOs
• Leading schools: Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton, Columbia SIPA

Specialized Masters (MSc, MiM, MFin)

• Duration: 1-2 years
• Prerequisites: Variable (sometimes no experience)
• Focus: Technical expertise (finance, data, management)
• Outcomes: According to specialization
• Leading schools: LBS, HEC Paris, MIT Sloan

PhD/Doctorate

• Duration: 4-6 years
• Prerequisites: Master's, publications ideally
• Focus: Academic research
• Outcomes: University, research, think tanks

LLM (Master of Laws)

• Duration: 1 year
• Prerequisites: Law degree
• Focus: International law, business law
• Leading schools: Harvard Law, Yale Law, Columbia Law

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is the standardized test required by almost all graduate programs.

GRE structure

Target scores by program type

Why the GRE is crucial for francophone Africans

• It's an equalizer: same test for everyone, everywhere in the world
• It compensates for a degree from a less known university
• It demonstrates your ability to perform in academic English
• An excellent score immediately distinguishes you

Liwaza preparation

Our platform combines:

• Adaptive AI: Personalized program based on your weaknesses
• Expert coaches: 170/170 in Quant, 165+ in Verbal
• Official practice tests: Real exam conditions
• Progress tracking: Dashboard and daily recommendations

A graduate school application includes several elements. Each one counts.

1. GRE/GMAT (30% of evaluation)

• Competitive score for your target program
• Preparation: 3-6 months recommended
• Can be retaken if score insufficient

2. Essays (25% of evaluation)

• Questions specific to each school
• Reveal your personality, motivations, vision
• Fatal mistake: generic copy-pasted essays

3. Letters of recommendation (20%)

• 2-3 professional or academic recommenders
• Must know you well and speak concretely
• Prepare your recommenders with key points

4. CV/Resume (15%)

• American format: 1-2 pages maximum
• Focus on quantified impact, not responsibilities
• Visible leadership and progression

5. Academic transcript (10%)

• Grades from all your degrees
• Explanations possible for atypical paths
• GPA recalculated according to American standards if needed

6. Interview (variable)

• Not systematic but increasingly common
• Can be decisive for borderline candidates
• Essential preparation

Recommended timeline

Applying to the right schools with the right strategy maximizes your chances.

The rule of 3 thirds

Apply to 6-8 programs distributed in:

• 2-3 'Reach': Very selective schools, your profile is borderline
• 2-3 'Target': Schools where your profile fits well
• 1-2 'Safety': Schools where you're above average

School selection criteria

1. Fit with your career goals

• Which employers recruit on this campus?
• What's the placement in your target sector?

1. Geographic network

• Where do you want to work after?
• Where are active alumni?

1. School culture

• Collaborative vs competitive
• International diversity
• Class size

1. Practical considerations

• Total cost (fees + living)
• Available scholarships
• Program duration

The scholarship strategy

Maximize your scholarships with this approach:

1. Apply to several schools of similar level
2. Use scholarship offers to negotiate
3. Show your interest (visits, events, alumni contact)
4. Apply to external scholarships (Fulbright, MasterCard Foundation, etc.)

Admission rounds

The cost of a top graduate school is significant. Here's how to finance it.

Typical total budget (2 years)

Funding sources

1. School scholarships (40-60% of candidates receive them)

• Merit-based: Based on your profile
• Need-based: Based on your financial situation
• Amounts: €10,000-100,000

2. External scholarships

• MasterCard Foundation Scholars: Full scholarship for Africans
• Fulbright: Prestigious American program
• Rotary Foundation: Leadership scholarships
• Government scholarships: Depending on your country

3. Student loans

• Prodigy Finance: Specialized for internationals, no guarantor required
• MPower: For international students
• US government loans (if eligible)

4. Personal savings / Family

• Recommended: 20-30% of total budget
• Shows your commitment to schools

5. Employer / Sponsorship

• Some companies fund their employees' MBAs
• Generally with return obligation

The Liwaza strategy for financing

1. Maximize school scholarships via multi-school application
2. Apply to all eligible external scholarships
3. Negotiate between admission offers
4. Loan only for remaining gap

Liwaza offers complete support for your journey to graduate school.

Phase 1: GRE Preparation (3-6 months)

• Initial diagnosis: Test to identify your strengths and weaknesses
• Personalized program: AI that adapts exercises to your level
• Structured courses: Verbal, Quant, Writing
• Official practice tests: In real conditions
• Bi-weekly coaching: Debrief and adjustments with an expert

Phase 2: Admission Strategy (2-3 months)

• School selection: Analysis of your profile, personalized recommendations
• Positioning: How to stand out
• Timeline: Planning for each deadline

Phase 3: Applications (3-4 months)

• Essays: Brainstorming, writing, multiple revisions
• CV: American format, quantified impact
• Recommendations: Brief for your recommenders
• Interview preparation: Simulations with feedback

Our results

Liwaza candidates admitted to:

• MBA: Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD, Wharton, Columbia
• MPA: Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton, Columbia SIPA
• MSc: MIT Sloan, LBS, HEC Paris

What differentiates us

• Coaches who succeeded: 170/170 Quant, admitted to top programs
• Francophone Africa expertise: We understand your specific challenges
• Technology platform: AI + human for optimal support
• Community: Network of candidates and alumni to help each other