MBA Admissions Tips & Advice
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MBA INTERVIEWS – WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT?
Now that MBA deadlines are either finished (for Round 1) or approaching soon enough (Round 2), I thought a great topic for today's post would be the most frequent question I get from my MBA students and clients: "How important is the interview, and what can I expect?" Usually, this is asked with some degree of trepidation, as most people don't like going into a situation blind where the person on the other end seemingly has all the control in terms of your future. To quell some fears though, here are some very valuable tips regarding the MBA (and EMBA) interview, and what it's all about: 1. They really do just want to get to know you - MBA admission officers sort through hundreds and hundreds of applicants. They really do just want to be able to put a face with a name, to understand just a little bit more about you, to gain a sense (and an opinion) about how you carry yourself, your level of confidence, the way you enter a room, carry a conversation, make someone else feel comfortable talking to you, and your ability to demonstrate that you have thought everything through and can thereby easily articulate your
THE “TOP 3” MISTAKES MADE ON MBA APPLICATIONS
As a former Harvard interviewer and Harvard graduate, I see applicants repeatedly making the same mistakes on their MBA essays and applications, which result in them NOT getting in to their top schools. Here are the "Top 3" MBA Application Mistakes -- for best results, try to avoid them at all costs: MISTAKE #1: Assuming Your Reader Has Your Resume Right In Front Of Them This is the number 1 mistake I come across, year after year: You can never assume your reader is looking at your resume while they read. For this reason, you must always orient your reader as to who you are (i.e. your current position and industry), just very briefly at the start of each essay, so there is at least an immediate and clear understanding of who you are professionally. To not do this leaves your reader lost, and a lost reader could mean you're dinged. MISTAKE #2: Sounding Like A College Student Versus An MBA Applicant Kids applying to college talk about their past achievements and activities in their essays, and what makes them "well-rounded." MBA applicants should be talking about their current position, their professional goals, and their career, using past experiences as
MBA ADMISSIONS TIP #3: Build A Great Bridge
As a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, one of the most important things in creating a strong MBA application that will get you noticed at the top schools, is building a powerful bridge between your past professional experience and your future goals. Admissions committees -- especially at the top schools like HBS, Columbia, Kellogg and Booth want to see that you have a careful and logically thought out plan where, even if you want to use the MBA to change careers and enter a different industry or niche, your overall experience and plan MAKE SENSE. In other words, "no experience left behind." Show the ad com that each step in your journey makes sense in terms of your long-term goals. Build that bridge for the ad com between your past and your future by demonstrating how each position you've held along the way has helped develop and lead you to your current interests and goals. By paving a clear, logical and solid road that shows you value all your professional experiences and allow nothing to go to waste, you will demonstrate a type of leadership in your own life that the ad com only responds to favorably. Make this journey very clear
How to Create a Great MBA Application! – TIP # 2
As a former Harvard interviewer and Harvard graduate, I'm answering some of my clients’ most frequently asked questions regarding: “How to Create a Great MBA Application! TIP #2: Demonstrate Vision Schools want to see that you’re not just applying for an MBA because it’s simply “what to do” in order to be able to advance to the next level in your company. They want to see that you have an overall future plan in place — 5, 10, 20 years down the road. A plan that makes sense in terms of getting your MBA now. And, “now” is a key word, and one that you will see mentioned in a lot of the MBA application essay prompts: “Why do you want to get your MBA now?” “Why is now the time to pursue your degree ?” Most people overlook this tiny word when writing their essays, and doing so will cut your chances of getting in. Really. I know. Don’t disregard it. It’s very important. Schools want to see how “NOW” fits perfectly into your overall plan. How “NOW” is absolutely the right move to take in order for your future goals to come to pass. How “NOW” has been well-thought out, is completely rational,
How to Create a Great MBA Application!
As a former Harvard interviewer and Harvard grad, I thought I would answer some of my clients' most frequently asked questions, regarding How to Create a Great MBA Application! TIP 1: Focus on your professional experience Though obvious to some, it is not obvious to others, which is why I'll state it as my Number 1 point: MBA programs want to hear about your professional experience. So, whereas on your undergraduate college applications, it was important to show how well-rounded you were, and how you participated in all kinds of activities and things, when applying to an MBA program admissions committees are looking for PROFESSIONAL FOCUS in almost every question. They want to hear about your work, your professional life, your level of responsibility, the number of people you manage, the level of finances you or your department handles, your goals, your future, and your long-term career interests... all how they relate to you professionally. So, keep the fact that you "also play saxophone" out of it, unless you are planning on starting an entrepreneurial saxophone-related business. If that's the case, they love that, and you should mention it. TIP 2: Demonstrate Vision Schools want to see that you're not just applying for an
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