Top 6 MBA Application Secrets of Admissions Consultants [mba.com Insider]

Navigating the MBA application process can be tricky. Between honing your resume, crafting compelling essays, and preparing for a potentially nerve-wracking interview, it’s hard to know exactly what will make you stand out as a great candidate.

But with some time and the right strategy, there’s plenty you can do to give your application an edge. Here are six secrets from expert admissions consultants to get your MBA application on the right track.

1. Aim to excite—not to impress

Prestigious MBA programs attract candidates at the top of their professions, so it might be tempting to throw each of your achievements into your MBA application haphazardly in a bid to impress.

But Petia Whitmore, founder of My MBA Path, says your application should focus on your potential as much as your success so far.

“Instead of trying to impress the MBA adcom, a much better strategy is trying to get them excited about your candidacy,” she advises.

“In order to do this, you need to search your life story—personal and professional—for the nuggets that demonstrate your deepest convictions, values, and purpose.

“When you find them and weave them into a story of what lights you up, you will have a truly strong chance of having the MBA admissions team wanting to invite you to be part of the next MBA class.”

2. Look beyond the surface when choosing your recommenders

Choosing the best person to write a letter of recommendation is a tough decision. Many candidates turn to the most senior person in their organization by default, but this could be a mistake.

“Often if you select the most senior person you work with, the letter could be weaker because it may not have the right level of detail,” says Scott Edinburgh, founder of Personal MBA Coach.

“The most important thing is that your recommender can specifically compare you to others, write what you do in detail that is better than what someone else does, and convey their confidence in your abilities.”

Scott says your recommender should also be honest about what you could improve upon. This combination will assure admissions committees that your recommender has faith in you and understands how an MBA will help you develop.

3. Be realistic about your goals

It’s normal to have big plans for your future, but to create a successful MBA application, it’s important to make sure your immediate post-graduation goals are realistic.

“Your post-MBA goals do not have to be super ambitious,” reveals Scott.

“The whole point of writing about post-MBA goals is to make sure that you can clearly communicate what you want to do after school and show schools that you know how their programs can help you to achieve these goals.”

4. Network, network, network

Networking is a buzzword for good reason, and if you want to earn a spot in your dream MBA program, it’s an important part of the application process.

“Make sure you attend information sessions and talk to students in each program,” advises Krista Nannery, managing director at mbaMission.

“This will make essays about why you chose the program easier to write, and signal to schools that you’re serious about them.”

Along with school information sessions and campus tours, you could also reach out to individual alumni working in fields that interest you to learn more details about how the program helped them achieve their goals.

5. Show your impact on others

When an admissions committee picks up your MBA application, they want to know about your leadership credentials. Leadership is about how you work with others, and it’s crucial to take a step back and consider how your actions as leader have helped others, according to Petia of My MBA Path.

“An extremely frequent mistake candidates make is to veer too far in the direction of stories they think will make their application unique and memorable, but that don’t convey the qualities they need to demonstrate to the MBA admissions committee,” she says.

“When you write your essays, the strongest stories always involve your impact on other people.”

6. Dive deep when describing your work experience

When describing your work experience, it’s important to look beyond day-to-day duties, Krista thinks.

“Go beyond just listing your responsibilities,” she says. “Use the space to show your impact.”

This results-oriented approach to describing your career progression is much more likely to catch the eye of the admissions committee. Krista adds that you should always make the most of the word count you’re given.

“If the limit is 500 characters, use the space—don’t just write 150 characters,” she says.

Your MBA application is about getting to the bottom of who you are as an individual and a professional, and how an MBA is going to help you achieve your goals.

Make sure you take the time to really know yourself, and the programs you’re applying to. And, most importantly, weave all of that into a compelling story.

Your complete guide to MBA applications

In the mba.com Full-Time MBA Application Guide, we provide you with the information and guidance you need to craft MBA applications that elevate your story and help you stand out from the pool of other qualified applicants.

Get exclusive, insider advice on how to:

• Define your personal brand and tell a compelling story with your application
• Be strategic about when you submit your applications
• Put together an MBA resume (and how it differs from a professional resume)
• Write unique and authentic admissions essays
• Choose who will write your letters of recommendation and tips for managing the process

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