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Discover What Schools Are Looking For

February 11, 2023 | Graduate Management Admission Council

No matter where you live in the world, you’re certain to find a school and program that matches your needs and ambitions. 

Most schools offer numerous program options – full-time and part-time, on-campus and online – and they look for candidates who come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds.

When choosing a school, think about lifestyle, cost of attending, and curriculum. You can use GMAC™ GradSelect to help you learn more about programs that will highlight your background and match your interests.

What to Expect During the Application Process

Admissions officers want to know you as a person, and they take into account your total experience. In putting together your application, you’ll typically need to provide:

  • Undergraduate transcripts
  • GMAT™ scores
  • Essays
  • A resume outlining your work experience (usually required for an MBA)
  • References and letters of recommendation
  • Extracurricular activities or community/civic involvement  

Here’s how schools consider applicants:

  • Your academic record, recommendations, and work experience are judged for your potential to succeed in a program relative to the overall applicant pool.
  • GMAT scores predict how well you will do academically in their core curriculum.
  • Work experience, extracurricular activity, and letters of recommendation help schools gauge your professional promise.
  • Interviews and essays are used to determine why you want to earn a degree, how you will use it in the future, and how well you will fit with their program. They will also help schools learn about your communication skills.

As you’re completing your application, also consider:

  • What does your competition look like? Evaluate the school’s past applicant statistics against your own strengths and weaknesses.
  • What would you add to the program?
  • How can you enrich the school’s learning environment?
  • Are your career goals attainable? 

Video: What are the pros and cons of getting an MBA with more or less work experience?

Full Video Transcript

So I think if you look at the profile of students, most MBA programs are four to six years of work experience, and that's pretty much what we see our partner employers are looking for. I think that by having more work experience, students have more self-awareness of their strengths and of their weaknesses, and I think that bodes well for them when they're out actually looking for internships and actually looking for jobs. I think from a participation standpoint, having experience also allows them to be better participants and enriches the learning experience.