Points To Keep In Consideration

Each admissions professional is charged with making the best possible selections from a large pool of applicants for a limited number of spaces in a class. Just because you appear to meet a school’s minimum qualifications, you are not guaranteed admission.

Not all MBA schools or admissions professionals have the same set of objectives or processes. Factors such as academic record, recommendations, and work experience are used by most admissions professionals to judge your potential for success in their programs relative to their overall applicant pools. Before you submit your applications, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this really the best time for you to go to b-school?
• Is your career limited to your current level without an MBA? Do you really need an MBA to move up in management?
• Do you need more time to develop your skill set, build more experience in your field, or save more money for b-school?
• Are you approaching the level of experience that limits the financial leverage provided by certain types of MBA programs?
• Who is your competition? Before preparing your application, compare the published student profile against your own GPA, GMAT™ scores, education, work experience, and accomplishments.

You may need to address one or more of these areas in your application.

• To demonstrate your relative competitiveness within a school’s applicant pool, you must present evidence of your potential to succeed.
• Read each school’s application instructions carefully.
• If you feel that you could improve your total GMAT™ score, consider retesting after additional preparation. Most schools will consider your best score.
• A strong academic record generally indicates a person’s maturity and disposition toward academic pursuits, plus the discipline and drive developed over a four-year span.
• When selecting individuals to write recommendations on your behalf, choose those who know about your plans for MBA study. Understand that references are valuable only to the extent that they provide insight into your relevant professional skills.
• Generally, schools count only full-time, post-undergraduate work experience in the “average work experience for the entering class.” Some schools require a minimum level of post-undergraduate work experience.
• Try to study the interview policy of schools as it varies from school to school. In your interview, do not ask questions that can easily be answered The questions you ask are a reflection of your preparation and understanding of the program.
• Extracurricular and community activities can demonstrate your leadership potential and your ability to balance personal and professional interests.
• If you have a family member who graduated from a school that interests you, use that person as a resource to provide insight into the program.

Following are a few suggestions for enhancing your application.

• Highlight and showcase your positive attributes.
• Be sure to acknowledge your weaknesses.
• Compare your goals to the school’s strengths.
• Earlier is better.
• Be Selective in What You Share, in your application, provide only pertinent, requested information completely and accurately. Usually, disclosure of highly personal information is not relevant to your application.
• Make sure you express your individuality and highlight it in your application.

Final Checklist

• Your application should look professional. All schools expect a serious applicant to submit materials that are typed, complete, and organized.
• Double check the materials you are submitting to each school, and make sure you send the right materials to the right place.
• Most b-schools will let you know if you have a choice of submitting the application online or on paper and whether there is a preference.
• Finally, complete the entire application. If you skip sections, you risk appearing lazy, sloppy, or uninterested.