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We're often asked what is
most important in crafting the best application possible. The
quick answer, of course, is "everything." The simple
fact is that in today's competitive environment, each element
of the b-school application must be stellar. A good GMAT score,
undergraduate record, extracurricular activities, and so on.
So you're thinking, great,
that's not very helpful. I need to be perfect; tell me something
I didn't know. Well, that's not quite what we're saying. A less-than-perfect
record in all areas doesn't mean you won't get in; it just means
you have your work cut out for you. With that in mind, we offer
you the most important things for you to keep in mind as you're
focusing on presenting compelling evidence as to why you should
be given a spot at one of the top schools:
- Make yourself stand out. Admissions Committee members look at
thousands of applications each year. Thousands. After a while,
they blur together into a sea of hopeful but bland faces, all
talking about a desire to "go into international business
development" or "hone my skills in order to become
a top business leader." If there's any one thing that's
the kiss of death in the application process, it's having canned
essays or a generic application. You absolutely must make yourself
memorable. Don't be afraid to go out on a limb a little; playing
it safe will put you into the pool with the hundreds of others
who haven't presented a compelling reason as to why they deserve
admittance more than the next person.
- Play up your differences. How do you make yourself stand out if
you don't have a 790 GMAT or a famous last name? Think about
what it is that defines you, what you're most passionate about,
what would create an impression in the mind of someone who doesn't
know you. Forget the notion that there's a "typical"
MBA background and that somehow you have to make yourself fit
into that mold. That's the last thing you should do. The typical
applicants get lost in the crowd; the quirky ones stand out and
make the reviewer think hey, this person would be an interesting
and quixotic addition to this year's class.
Also forget the notion of being a "great all-around"
or "well-rounded" applicant. As they say, jack of all
trades, master of nothing. B-schools want to see evidence of
some kind of leadership, and while it's great if you've been
involved in a lot of things because you have eclectic interests,
make sure you've excelled in or mastered at least one or two.
Even if it involves carving ice sculptures or a vast knowledge
of 17th century icons. We guarantee you that the person reading
his or her 400th application is much more likely to take notice
of someone whose hobby is staging The Great Gambini's Juggling
Roadshow as a side job, as opposed to yet another person who
enjoys camping, hiking, skydiving, volunteering and cooking……and
oh yeah, global business development
- Face up to your weaknesses. Don't hope against hope that if you
ignore a potential red flag in your past, the Admissions Committee
won't notice it either. They will, and they'll wonder. Face up
to your past head on, and above all, be honest. If you partied
too much in your freshman year and your grades reflected that,
own up to it and point to evidence of more recent success. If
you've been laid off one or more times, explain why. For example,
you were bold enough to take a risk and go work for a dot com,
you were excited about the opportunities and the chance to build
a company from the ground up, but the business model was flawed.
What did you learn from that? Don't think of any past "mistakes"
as something to be covered up or explained away; think of them
as chances to point out how you've grown and learned from those
experiences and how you've put those lessons to good use. Don't
pretend that lemons aren't tart when everyone knows they are;
make lemonade instead.
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