On the MBA Wait List? Here’s What You Can Do Now

It’s the moment of truth, MBA decision day. You’ve put your heart and soul (not to mention countless hours) into your MBA application, and you’ve been invited to join the… waitlist?! In the moment, it likely feels like a failure, but it’s time to see the waitlist for what it is, an opportunity. The admission committee has let you know that they are interested in learning more about you and how their program is the right place for you.  

Admission committees will share what they would like you to do after accepting your spot on the waitlist. Some schools will offer waitlist webinars that will provide in depth insights into how you can help the committee make their decision. Other schools will simply provide a link to a form for brief updates, while others may ask for no updates at all. 

Now that you’ve learned what they are looking for, it’s time for self-assessment. All top global MBA programs are evaluating candidates on the same criteria: academic readiness, professional experience, employability, and school fit. Looking at your profile, which of these areas do you think the school is most concerned about? Here are a few ways to start building your response on how you have or will overcome them.

Academic Readiness

Your undergraduate GPA and exam scores are the easiest way for a committee to quickly assess if you will be successful in their rigorous program. 

• If your exam score is lower than the class profile, you may consider retaking the exam.
• If you have a low GPA and a low exam score, you may consider taking supplemental quantitative courses, either online, at community college, or via business prep courses, like the Business Fundamentals options on mba.com.
• If you go this route, make sure to share your action plan with the committee and provide dates for when you plan to send your achievements.

Professional Experience

The typical average years of experience at time of matriculation at a top MBA is 5-7 years. US schools tend to fall on the lower end of the bell curve, while European/UK schools tend to fall on the higher end of the curve. 

• If you have less years of work experience, you’ll want to ensure the committee is confident you’ve had exposure to all parts of business through teams, projects or outside experiences. They want to see you will be able to contribute to the classroom discussion. It is also important to show why right now is the right time for an MBA, verses in the future.
• If you have more years of experience, you will need to address why the full-time MBA program is the right fit for you, versus a part-time or executive MBA. Again, answering the question of “why now?” and if applicable, “why not a 1-year program?”

Employability

All global programs publish employment reports, as this is part of the rankings systems, and it is important to them that your goals align with not only their areas of expertise (curriculum) but also companies that typically recruit on campus and hire for specific roles or functions. 

• Reevaluate the goals you shared in your application to ensure that they align with the employment report for each specific school.

   

School Fit

Admission committees feel that they are curating an MBA cohort and take pride in ensuring all candidates will integrate into all parts of the program, especially socially by taking advantage of all the school and town have to offer. 

• If you feel your application lacks this, you can reiterate your interest in the school by sharing how you see yourself taking part in clubs and organizations as well as exploring the area or region in which the school is located. If you will be in a major city like London, New York, or Hong Kong, discuss the immediate access to industry and resources. If the school is in a more rural setting, discuss the advantages of living in a college town and the cohesive/family feeling of the school.

In doing your research for the above areas, it is great to do more research. Speak to current students, ambassadors, or alumni. By gaining their insights, you will be able to provide an even more tailored letter to the specific school.

Next Steps

Now it’s time to write your waitlist letter to the committee. Remember that you’ve already written an entire application, so the committee is not looking for a multiple-page report. Write a concise 2-3 paragraph letter that affirms your readiness and fit for the program. 

Here is a successful example: 

Dear Admissions Committee,

While I was disappointed not to be accepted to [school] initially, I am pleased to know I am still under consideration. I understand my GMAT score of [###] is slightly below the class profile average. I am enrolled in the Business Fundamentals courses in Accounting, Finance, and Statistics from MBA.com to refresh my skills. 

[School] is my first choice to earn my MBA because of its curriculum and culture. [School's] philosophy of Wise Leadership aligns with my goal of creating a positive social impact by bringing a tech revolution. I have an engineering background. {School's] combination of case studies and experiential learning is the best mix for gaining the skill set needed to pivot to a Product Manager with a tech giant such as Google or Microsoft. 

[School] is also my top choice because of its culture. Coming from [city], a large, crowded city, I'm excited to live in a quaint college town, be part of a tight-knit community, and build lifelong friendships with my classmates – an important consideration for me as an international student. 

There is no place better for me than [school] as I seek a global MBA experience, and its small and diverse class size makes it my first choice.

Sincerely,

Remember the waitlist serves two purposes for admission committees; not only will they learn more about you, but they will also see what you do when faced with a setback.