Avoid These 5 Fatal MBA Application Errors
When you apply to an MBA program, you’re already in an uphill battle competing against some of the world’s top academic minds. It’s a battle where victory requires strategy, and strategizing when completing your MBA application is vital. Each year we meet candidates who are top of their class, visionaries, and leaders. It often happens that these applicants fall into the trap of overlooking the details in their application strategy, a decision that ultimately could cost them acceptance into the program of their choice. In order to maximize the potential of your application, check your application for these common mistakes.
Poor Planning
Every aspect of your MBA application reveals a different part of who you are. Your application offers insight into your experiences, your accolades, and perhaps most importantly, your readiness for the rigors of an MBA program. All portions of the application will offer the admissions committee a specific piece of information about you. Your application should be free of repetitions and the information you provide should offer support to your story so as to create a well-rounded profile on the applicant. By working with an admissions consultant, you can outline an effective and personalized application strategy to target every school on your list.
Lackluster Recommendation Letters
One of the biggest mistakes made by applicants is choosing their references based on title rather than professional relationship. Applicants often think that including a letter of recommendation from a high-titled individual is more beneficial to their success than someone whom they’ve had a working relationship with. The best letters of recommendation come from the people who have worked closely with you and can offer insight into how you’ve grown professionally. The CEO of a company might write you a generic letter containing a lot of positive adjectives, but a recently promoted manager who worked alongside you will be able to point out specific interactions that demonstrate the depth of your potential. Ensure that you choose individuals who are able to speak to your talents and abilities. For more help on the best strategies for delivering an effective recommendation letter, check out this article.
Sending the Same Essay
As important as your test scores, GPA, and resume are in your MBA application, it’s important not to overlook the value provided by your essay. Crafting a beautiful essay can push a candidate over the edge into acceptance. However, crafting an essay of eloquence won’t yield any value if it does not fulfill its specific purpose- revealing why you should be admitted. Programs are screening applicants to see if they are a specific fit to their values and their competencies. Every question on the application is intended to filter out those who don’t fit the criteria. When applying, it's common to be so attached to one thought that you feel that you have to convey it to the admissions committee. This can sometimes result in the applicant hijacking valuable space on the application with a story that might not be the best fit for that school. Doing this puts an immediate end to your chances of moving forward in the application process. Not following the specific instructions of the prompt on the application will lead admissions to believe you are in able to follow rules, too proud to accept change, and too emotional to let go. As a helpful guide to make sure you’re staying on track, have your friend read your essay and then ask them, “What do you think my essay is responding to?” If their answer matches the question asked from the school, you’re definitely on track.
Listing Your Accomplishments
From deciding which skills to highlight, what experience to put on, and choosing between what format you should present it with, curating an impactful resume can be a challenging task. Your resume is a link between your education and your skills and will convey to the admissions committee why you’re the best candidate for their program. In order to write a powerful and compelling resume, try focusing on using each line to highlight your most noteworthy attributes. Rather than fill your resume with masses of jargon, fill it with your leadership experience and the responsibilities you’ve held. You want to spell out your accomplishments through tactful examples of promotions, or new skills you’ve obtained. Focus on demonstrating leadership, growth, and how each skill, role, and experience influences the progression of your professional and academic career.
Leaving Gaps
Not all applicants have stellar records. Some might have received low scores on the GRE or GMAT while others might have a below-average GPA and others may lack extracurricular activities. Now, it’s okay to have said scores or peripheral numbers, but it’s not okay to explicitly leave them unaddressed in the application. Applicants that leave their gaps unaddressed tend to focus solely on their personal story and act like nothing is wrong. It’s natural to possess an inherent fear that addressing a gap calls unnecessary attention to it. But the truth is, admissions committees will notice either way, it’s their job. There are many components to your MBA application, resume, short answers, letters of recommendation, and essays. Make sure you’re using all of them to tell one story, and don’t leave the gaps up to anyone’s imagination.
Navigating an MBA Application is overwhelming. We believe that talent exists in everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or background. We strive to understand our customer’s unique talents, and we act as a catalyst to excellence. By using our 1-on-1 help from pur admission experts, we will help you formulate a targeted application strategy for each school and provide extensive analysis, writing tips, and prepare you for interviews. Let us know how we can help you.
