MBAXPLOIT: STEPS 1-2-3 to a MBA future.

I had a discussion with one the admission committee members of one the top business schools on what they are actually looking for in a candidate. His response actually confirms my belief. Adcom members receive quite a lot of applications from qualified candidates each year. The truth is that most applicants seem to be qualified and always belong to the same pool. So, how do you stand out from this pool of qualified applicants? Use your application essays to focus on your strengths.

Your application essays are your marketing tools. If you are involved in community development projects or one form of activity outside your work place, use your essays to talk about them. Be as real as possible. There is no point talking about what you do not do (the adcom has a way of getting to know this). You might ask a friend that knows you well to help you review your essays (I did this and it paid off). This will make sure that you do talk about what you are not in the essay.

There are many applicants whose GMAT score is higher than yours, they finished with higher GPA than you did and even have more work experience than you currently possess. So, use your essays to sell yourself well. That is your main contact point with the adcom beyond your CV.

Getting admission into business school demands a lot from applicants. My Darden application essays took me about four (4) weeks to finish aside the time it took me to review the essays. If you are applying to more than one business school in round 1, I would advise that you work on the applications together. Do not assume that you would always have time to work on the others.

Start working on all your applications now. You may need need to read Improve Your Candidacy, Take charge of your MBA application and Start your Business School Application Now

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With the growing global market, business schools are anxiously reaching out to overseas candidates gradualling filling the increased need for people with an international education. Applicants around the world are also hearing the call. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, last year nearly 40% of those who took the GMAT were from outside the US, while 85% sent their scores to US business schools. If you are an international student like me who have dreams of earning a business degree in the US, then keep reading.

Business schools in the US and all across the globe actively recruit overseas candidates. Most schools now send representatives to MBA events in different countries. I will tell you that MBA fairs provide the greatest benefit to the prospective students. I can still remember the experience I had when I attended the Harvard Business School MBA fair in my country. This fair will definitely give you an opportunity to meet with representatives from business schools all around the world as well as alumni and, in some cases, current students depending on what time of year it is. Continue Reading »

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In the past few weeks, I have had people asking me if they should apply in Round 1 or 2 application deadline. I believe it does not really matter which round you apply but how strong your application. I would suggest that you do not submit your MBA application until you are very sure that you have a strong application to present to the adcom.

You may need to read MBA: When to Apply or Re-apply. Just ensure that you take charge of your MBA application.

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It has been a while that I posted an article on this blog. In my Typical Business School application write-up, I promised to upload my third Darden Application essay - Describe how your experiences have shaped your leadership philosophy and style - on this blog.

The essay is a typical leadership experience essay. So, visit Darden Application essay 3 for the essay document.

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The following questions may prove useful in more casual or exploratory conversations with students, alumni, faculty and recruiters as well as in your interview.

	What kind of impact has your MBA had on your career?
	In what ways does the material you studied in school assist you in your position?
	Are you confident about hiring people who attended your program?
	Were your professors approachable and open to student contact?
	In terms of administrative support did you find the school supportive? Did you and your classmates find positions easily?
	What were the other students in your program like?
	What are those most challenging experiences during your MBA years?

You should also inquire about the following areas:

	Internship Opportunities and Job Placements
	Recruiting Companies & Industries
	Salary Potential and Ranges
	Reputation in the Business World
	Variety of Career Options - Sectors and Mobility
	Long-term Career Path
	Short-term Career Opportunity

In your consultations with admissions committee members, students, faculty, and alumni, you should also try to determine how helpful the alumni network is and the types of opportunities offered by their alumni.

As a rule, I would suggest that you apply as early as possible. This will definitely increase your chance in most business schools as many schools have very few spots available for the third round of admissions.

Some schools make available the numbers of applicants they accept per round. You may want to inquire into such statistics to help you determine when is the best time to complete your applications.

If you submitted your applications last year to MBA programs and were not accepted at the schools you wanted to attend, this is a great opportunity for you to apply again. In fact, re-applicants tend to have a better chance of admittance to B-School than first time applicants. But in order to reapply successfully, you will have to reconsider how you want to present yourself to the admissions committee. Continue Reading »

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This question comes in different forms in the business school application essays. So, there is really no escape route from this. I am sure by now you have been able to identify the reason(s) why you think you need an MBA. If you are not really sure, you may need to read this write-up. It will definitely give you a pointer to deciding if you need an MBA or not.
WHY MBA question is another instance of the classic career goals essay. This is an opportunity for you to address briefly your career progress to date, specific goals, and reasons for seeking an MBA from the school of your choice. You will also need to include a good deal of specific information about the program’s unique curricular and extracurricular offerings to fully demonstrate that you’ve done your homework and understand how the school would help you to meet your objectives. You may need to look through Why MBA question - a copy of the application essay I submitted to Darden Business School last year.

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Selecting the right business school (‘b-school’) is the most important decision in the application process. Before limiting your options to high profile schools, investigate all possible options available to you as a consumer of graduate management education.

Invest time in asking appropriate questions and collecting the right information, and focus on programmes that will best fit your personal and professional goals - only a fraction of the 1500 graduate management programmes worldwide will be a suitable match for you. Before you begin, make sure your career-related goals and personal considerations are well-defined. Identify a range of schools that meet your needs, and compile a select list to which you will apply. Eliminate any schools that do not closely match your personal and professional goals. Continue Reading »

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School’s process for Business School applicants is not based solely on the excellence of candidates, diversity is important to the admission committee, and schools work hard to make sure that they get the balance they want on their courses.

Although there is no “ideal” candidate, there are certainly a number of things the applicants must have in place. Given the financial and professional commitment involved in taking an MBA, Business Schools seek to see candidates who have done their homework and are fully informed about the school’s MBA program. Before you make your application, you need to know what the academic, professional, and personal requirements are, and whether you can meet them. Continue Reading »

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