Are you planning to get an MBA degree? Before you delve deeper into the application process, it is important that you know the basics of MBA application. College Times US can give you some basic information and tips on the MBA application process.
What is MBA?
MBA or Masters Degree in Business administration is a specialization and an in-depth business administration studies. MBA can be completed within a year or within three years.
A Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) is essentially a specialization and much deeper course of learning than what you covered at your undergraduate school. It is centered around the sharing of strategy, very fine technical details, and networking with your fellow graduate students. It can be of general nature, or focus narrowly on one discipline of business: Forensic Accounting, Interactive Marketing, or Quantitative Analysis, to name a few. The length of the program depends entirely on what you intend to be studying, and you can complete an MBA as quickly as one year (full-time), or up to three years (part-time) both on-campus and online.
How can MBA application help you get a brighter future
An MBA can be your ticket to an accelerated career. There are a lot of jobs out in the market that list an advanced degree as a prerequisite. Earning an MBA can give you the extra edge you need to qualify for that dream job and catapult you to new levels of higher pay grades, authority, and respect.
In addition, the path to earning an MBA can be just as rewarding as the degree itself. When you take Masters-level classes, you are placing yourself in a room with other very intelligent people; people with interesting and unique perspectives you may not have seen or thought of before. Graduate degrees are a much bigger time and financial investment, so there tend to be fewer social loafers than you probably had to deal with during your undergraduate education (though inevitably there will ALWAYS be a few.)
Another important benefit of an MBA is networking. If networking was not stressed in your undergraduate education, then you are hearing it now and need to memorize and believe in this sentence, Networking is the most important part of business. When I say networking, I don’t mean online social networks or information technology ? I’m talking about face-to-face, interpersonal relationships.
There’s no doubt that an MBA degree can help you shape and define your future. But the pleasure does not end in knowing that your future is secure with an MBA. With the degree, you can have a challenging life. Aside from the fact that you can learn a lot, you will also get the chance of meeting other people who shares your passion and who can help you in the future.
Where to get an MBA degree
Online schools can be an excellent choice for many prospective students as well, due to their flexible nature. If you are working during the day, an online MBA can be the answer to your dilemma of when you will have time to take classes. In addition, the hybrid classroom concept has been taking off lately, which can be an excellent learning method if you are skeptical of taking a class entirely online. There are a variety of resources on the web for comparing online degrees and searching for schools; one popular site is Edvisors.com, it has received a lot of traffic and praise for its large database of colleges and degree programs. In addition, GraduateCenter.com has a wealth of information about the entire process of getting into grad school, as well as funding resources, and other useful services.
Online MBA schools have definitely offered more flexible options to applicants who have to work while studying or those who have family obligations.
According to this blog, an online MBA school can give you a lot of advantages.
Earn a degree online is a good option for people who are planning to the career development or professional development. The advantages of online degree program in terms of flexible study schedule and convenient study from home lets you plan your study according to his busy work schedule.
When choosing between online and traditional MBA schools, you should weigh the pros and cons of each before you make your final decision.
A masters degree in Business Administration can give you a brighter future. Getting a degree can also make your life challenging and fun. So if you decided to pursue an MBA degree, you should start contemplating what type of school to choose, whether it’s online or traditional.
The topic for your admission essay for MBA is one of the crucial things that you have to think about when you apply to MBA school. Choosing the right topic can be daunting. Engagement Review can give you guidelines on topic selection.
Who you are as a person should be reflected on your admission essay for MBA
What do you actually need to present in a college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay? It varies actually. Some schools have several specific topics from which you are required to choose and write about. However, on the average, admissions essays usually seek to present you as an individual. This may include a listing of your past and present experiences, your nature, preferences, ideals, principles, family and social backgrounds, your school years, grades received, extracurricular activities, etc. But these are not simply listed down. The essay should seek to present these profiles in clear and specific details and preferably, accompanied with one or two related anecdotes.
As the blog says, you need to present a four dimensional image of yourself. And the most important thing is that you present that self with clarity, and of course, sincerity. Although you don’t have to list down each of your preferences and principles, the essay should provide the readers a glimpse of your personality.
This blog has many interesting things to add on the excerpt above.
You must have a thesis statement. Identify your subject. If it is an assigned topic, write it down. Why are you writing this essay? If it is an assignment, the assignment should include the essay type expected. Use this to guide you to your subject. (That your teacher requires it is not enough unless you wish to debate the issue of the requirement.) Your thesis should be a question you will answer, an issue you wish to examine, a point you want to prove or disprove, or something you wish to illustrate. It should be expressed in one sentence before you begin. That way you can stay on track.
It’s interesting to note that the thesis statement, just like in any type of literary work, is given much importance. This is because the thesis statement is the backbone of your admission essay.
What you have achieved should be visible in your essay
The area of extracurricular activities will be of particular significance. Many admissions officers are no longer impressed with high test scores as well as high grades. They realize that these do not represent the total you. They are not satisfied with the numerical side of yourself. What they would like is to get to know more about you and the activities you got involved in, which may be presented in the college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay. Specifically, they want you to present evidence that your field of expertise, for which you are seeking further studies on, is one that is very close to your heart. That being the case, you naturally do not limit your knowledge of the field to theoretical concepts in school. You go out and engage in projects wherein you are able to apply school theories in actual situations.
It is through your admission essay for MBA that you can tell the admission committee, in details, your achievements. Although, these things appear in your resume, your personal statement can bring these achievements in the spotlight more than your CV could. It is true that many admission officers nowadays look beyond test scores and grades when assessing applicants. This means your admission essay pulls as much weight as your scores and grades.
You have to show through your essay that you can contribute to the society
The college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay affords you the opportunity to present yourself as someone capable of sharing something significant in a particular field, and not just a mere statistic in the same. As such, you are encouraged to get involved in extracurricular endeavors while in the midst of completing your courses of study and to cite these in your college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay. This will make your piece more convincing as well as effective, as it will give solid proof that you are not merely satisfied with meeting course requirements. You are also applying in real life the lessons taught to you inside the classroom.
Who you are and what you achieve are not enough to convince the admissions committee of your worth. You need to show through your essay that you will be someone who will contribute to the betterment of society through your degree.
You don’t have to limit yourself to one topic. You can talk about various topics like the things mentioned above, experiences, achievements, and goals. However, you have to ensure that these topics are knitted into your essay in a coherent and clear manner.
Your business school application is probably one of the most important chapters of your life. It is in this crossroad that you are going to make a lot of important decisions. It is actually in your application that you can change the course of your life and future. 2012 MBA Applicant can give you tips on how to come up with an effective MBA application essay.
Crafting a winning MBA application essay
# Think of what you want to say before you start writing. Put your thoughts down on paper, and then organize them in a cohesive manner. You could either use this as a rough blueprint for your essay or to ensure that you don’t forget to add all that you want to in the course of writing your essay.
# Make your essay personal; your desire to get into the college must come across through your words. This means you must write your essay on your own instead of outsourcing it to someone who you think is better suited to the task. While you can take their help, make sure the effort is all your own.
# Your reasons for wanting to study an MBA and to join this particular institution should be corroborated through other aspects of your application form, like the recommendation letters, your GMAT scores, and your academic grades. So if you want to say something just because you think it will touch the admissions panel, think again. The best essays are those that are true and spontaneous.
Before you start writing, you have to brainstorm for the topics or issues that you are going to include. You have to make an outline to guide you. It is also important that you make your essay personal. After all, the purpose of the personal statement is to let the admissions committee know who you really are and what is your attitude towards success. Your goals also need to be included. Through your essay, you need to show that you are goal-driven. Being honest and spontaneous is definitely a key in coming up with a winning essay.
The blog (2012 MBA Applicant) also puts importance to the technicalities of the MBA application essay.
# Don’t go off on tangents or be too verbose about one particular subject or topic. Be as concise as you can and ensure that your flow of your narration is natural and continuous and that it does not jump abruptly from one issue to the other.
# Don’t use words that you don’t understand or because they sound good and are bound to impress. When you use flowery and bombastic language, you come across as pretentious and overeager to impress with just your use of words.
# Once you’ve written your essay, read it over a few times to ensure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors. If language is not your forte, get someone who does not need a dictionary and who knows their verbs from their adverbs to look it over. An essay filled with mistakes does not make a good impression even if what you have to say is interesting.
It is important that your essay displays conciseness. You also have to avoid sounding superficial and pretentious. You can do this by not using highfalutin words. And lastly, you have to edit and proofread your work to ensure that it is free from error.
Your MBA application essay should give a four-dimensional image of yourself. Check out this blog for other more helpful essay writing tips.
Don’t just answer the essay questions. Treat each essay as an individual piece of written art work instead of an examination paper. This means:
- No repeating of the question (even partially) in your opening sentence. For example, when the question is What is your biggest professional decision so far? don’t begin your essay by saying My biggest professional decision so far is … Makes you sound like a repeat-after-me machine (no offense!)
- The opening paragraph sets the tone of the full essay so be a bit more creative. Make a little drama, tell a story, describe a scene — visualize your ideas!
- Use more powerful words. Vary the length of paragraphs (by the way, they look too long.) Don’t be mono-tone. Use a little artistic writing techniques. Be interesting.
Like your CV, the essays serve as a vivid portrait of you and you don’t want it to look like a thousand other people.
Think about your poor readers (adcom) who go through hundreds of essays a day. They need something that catches their eyes and keeps them from dozing off. Something that makes them want to read on, and better, makes them laugh or ponder.
Recollect your personal experience and bring yourself back to the day that important decision was made or that idea was created. Relive it in your essay and excite yourself and your readers!
You have to make your essay as interesting as possible. Sure, your essay should talk about yourself, but give it enough touch of creativity to make it attention-grabbing.
Your personal statement for your MBA application should be well-written. You need to choose the topics that you should include well. It is also necessary to ensure that the technical details are excellent. On top of these, you also need to incorporate enough dose of creativity to make your work interesting.
Applying to MBA school is a serious endeavor. The result of your application will determine your future. To help you in the preparation of your MBA application, Part-time MBA Degree shares a lot of tips.
Common requirements in MBA application
* Resume
* Recommendations
* Essays
* Transcripts from undegraduate programs
* Interviews
The requirements for MBA application may vary from one University to another. The ones listed above are just among the most common items required. The letters of recommendation can come from your former professors who can vouch for your character and academic competence. The essay is one of the most important tickets to MBA schools. The essay is your means to introduce yourself to the admissions committee. The transcript from your undergrad shows your academic background. The interview, on the other hand, is very important as well.
If you are an applicant from another country, you will be required to submit additional documents. These include:
* TOEFL or equivalent test of English language proficiency
* Translation of undegraduate documents
* Evaluation of the undegraduate diploma and course work
These requirements are not definite. There are schools that make exceptions. And there are also schools that have more requirements than the ones mentioned. What you should do is to contact the school where you are planning to apply and make inquiries about the requirements.
Helpful tips for MBA application
There are a lot of tips that could make your MBA application a success. Here is an excerpt from one of the blogs that give tips for MBA school applicants:
# Business School and MBA Surveys: Read reviews of business schools like University of Virginia, Purdue, Yale, UT Austin and others.
# Choosing a Business School: This resource has tips for researching full-time programs, part-time programs, accelerated and Executive MBA programs.
# Rankings and Admission Criteria: Review percent of applicants accepted, average GMAT score and average student age for schools like MIT, Duke, University of Chicago and more in this chart.
The first and one of the most important things that you should do is to choose an MBA school and program. You have to make sure that you research well. Bear in mind that you are going to make one of the biggest decisions in your life.
# Understand what sets you apart: Admissions reps want to know how you’re different, so take some time to figure out what it is that makes you different from everyone else, like your family background, small business story or something else.
# How B-Schools Catch Resume Liars: If you think no one will catch the way you padded your resume, think again. It’s best to be honest.
# Don’t be shy: The admissions process can be cutthroat, so don’t be shy about sharing your story, speaking up during an interview or acknowledging your racial or ethnic background.
#Have a clear, specific plan for post graduation: If you want to go to a business school in order to network and learn the skills you need to start your own cosmetics line, put that in your essay and include it in your interview. The more specific, the more you stand out.
Your uniqueness and your academic competence are factors that could help you make or break your MBA application. You can show how truly unique you are through your essays and interviews.
Your MBA application should be well-handled so that you get better chances of admissions. You have to be aware of the different requirements. Aside from the ones mentioned above, you need to do your own research. Contact the school to know the different requirements. The choice of school and program should also be considered. You can make your choice by comparing various schools. In your essays, interviews, and other requirements, you have to make sure that you introduce yourself well.
Your MBA essays and GMAT scores are not everything about your MBA application. Your MBA admissions interview is also one of the tickets to your application. Kokalta Dreams has a lot of sample questions that could aid you in paving your way to the MBA school of your dreams.
Common interview questions for MBA admissions
# Why business school?
# Why did you decide to apply to this business school?
# What makes you stand out among other candidates?
# What can you contribute to our program?
The questions asked during the MBA admissions interview are usually about your goals and purposes in applying to an MBA school. These also include your valuable characteristics that could make you a deserving MBA student. It is important that you read your personal statement so that your answers on the interview and the things you wrote in your essay about your goals are consistent.
# What would you say is your biggest weakness?
# What are your greatest strengths?
# How would your colleagues describe you?
# What are your hobbies?
Your MBA admissions interview is just like your MBA essay, as it tackles a lot of personal things about you. In the interview, you are also asked about your favorite hobbies, strengths, as well as weaknesses. One blog also tells something about the personal aspect of MBA admissions.
Interviews may include behavioral questions. Questions may center on specific examples or detailed descriptions of events, projects or experience that demonstrate how situations you’ve faced in the past have been handled and what you learned from them. Behavioral interviewing holds that past performance predicts future behavior.
Behavioral interviews help admission officers learn more about the applicants. However, this type of interview may not be widely used in all universities. This is why you should prepare yourself to answer any type of interview question. Also make sure that you are honest and sincere because the admissions committee can see through your lies.
The do’s for the interview
* Do plan to arrive at least ten minutes early. Know where the interview location is and know how long it takes to get there.
* Do prepare and practice answers for common interview questions. Don’t wait until the night before to begin preparation. The sooner you start, the more comfortable you will be.
* Do dress for success. Jeans and T-shirts have no place at an interview. When in doubt, be conservative.
Preparing for an MBA admissions interview is necessary. It is the first and the most important part of the interview process. You have to choose your attire carefully. You also have to practice answering probable questions. Preparation can actually boost your confidence.
The don’ts for the interview
* Don?t reschedule the interview unless it is absolutely unavoidable.
* Don’t forget the interviewer’s name.
* Don’t forget to smile.
* Don’t answer every question with a simple yes or no. Elaborate on your answers whenever possible.
* Don’t lie. Answer questions honestly and frankly.
* Don’t ever offer any negative information about yourself.
* Don’t forget to verbally thank the interviewer for their time and consideration.
These tips may seem common but they are still worth mentioning because many still forget to avoid these MBA admissions no-no’s. Committing a single no-no from the list above can have a detrimental impact on your application. This is why before you go to the interview, make sure that you read and keep the list above in mind.
If you are really aspiring to be an MBA degree holder, you should make sure that you fare well in the admissions interview. Like your essay and GMAT, the interview result matters a great deal. This is why you really have to prepare yourself for the admission interview.
Every year, there are many MBA student hopefuls who strive hard to get into the MBA school of their dreams. Well, not all of them make that dream a reality. If you are one of the MBA hopefuls, it is necessary that you know the myths surrounding the MBA application process. MBA Game Plan has several MBA admissions myths from Chicago Booth that are worth discussing here.
Myth #1: The GMAT is the most important part of MBA application
There is no one admissions requirement that is more important than the other. While the results of your GMAT exam are important to us, they are by no means the only tool we use to make an admissions decision. The GMAT score is not a make or break item. At Chicago Booth, our application process is a holistic one in which the Admissions Committee attempts to learn all about you in order to determine a fit between you and Chicago that goes above and beyond your GMAT score.
This applies not only in Chicago Booth, but in many other universities as well. Although GMAT is a very important factor, it is not the sole determinant in making or breaking your application. There are still other factors that are equally important. These include your personal statement and your interview result.
As a matter of fact, another blog shares the same idea.
GMAT really doesn’t matter that much. Or, if you scored in the 600 range, don’t sweat it, focus on your story and your essays because they are five hundred times more important
.
Now this is not to discourage applicants from doing well on their GMAT. These just mean that you shouldn’t get too focused on your GMAT scores. You should also exert the same effort when preparing your admission essay.
Myth #2: If you don’t have a business background, you don’t stand a chance
Students who apply to and enroll at Chicago Booth come from a variety of backgrounds with respect to their undergraduate studies. In fact, 34% of the class of 2009 had a liberal arts background. We are always excited by the unique experiences that each student’s education brings to the community at Chicago.
This is true. Even if you don’t have any background in business management, as long as you pass your GMAT, essay, and interview with flying colors, you have better chances in getting admitted into the MBA school of your dreams. A business background can help you a lot in your application, but it is not a factor that could make or break your application.
Myth #3: The admissions committee read only the first few essays
Our staff, including our Admissions Fellows, reads each and every essay, recommendation letter and transcript that crosses our desks. This makes for a great deal of work but we are committed to putting together the best possible class and to do so, we feel we need to get to know each applicant well. This process is a part of what makes Chicago Booth a unique place. You’ve worked hard to submit your application, and we appreciate that effort.
This is a popular myth not just in Chicago Booth but in many other universities as well. The admissions committee takes time to read each personal statement. This is so they could determine who among the applicants have what it takes to be an MBA student. This is why you have to make sure that your whole essay, from the beginning to end, is well written.
It is important that you know the different myths surrounding MBA application. It can better guide you in your application. You should never think that your essay is less important than the other requirements or that your essay will not be read at all. Your essay is very important in landing a spot at your dream MBA school.
Your MBA essay is your chance to tell the admissions committee that you have the skills and the attitude to be admitted into your dream MBA school. But how can you secure a slot in a prestigious MBA school through your essay? Essay Writing Blog can give you ideas on how to make your essay catchy and effective.
Showcase your good qualities
According to essaywritingblog.com, the MBA essay should portray the writer as a four-dimensional character. The essay should showcase the good things about the applicant.
A mba essay for application purposes will have to be written with care and with much thought. It will have to showcase the writer’s various talents and skills as a leader and his capabilities of working together with a team. It will have to bring out a picture of the applicant as a mature and competent person who is ready to take on any challenge that comes his way. One will have to write about his special interests outside academic circles like may be trekking, or listening to music etc. It will help to create an all round picture of the writer as a normal human being yet different from others in certain special ways.
As the Essay Writing blog suggests, you should come up with an essay that will make you stand out among other applicants. This is very important because a very boring essay won’t give you a chance to be considered by the admission officers. Plus, one of the main purposes of coming up with an essay is to let the admission officers see a genuine yet different side of you.
Be honest
Although you have to portray your good points, you should keep an honest and sincere voice. You have to keep in your mind that the admissions committee can see through your lies.
While writing an application essay always remember to represent yourself honestly. Don’t exaggerate or make up attributes that you see in others and like, but don’t possess in yourself. So before writing this essay first introspect on yourself and check out your inner qualities and assess them fairly. Whatever you do don’t put on an air of arrogance and an air of know-all. This will immediately put off your reader and will most probably seal off your chances of joining the college. So the trick is to write honestly and from your heart.
Always keep this tip in mind since there is a fine line between being confident and arrogant.
Show how goal-oriented you are
You must show through your MBA essay that you are mature enough to accept the challenges when in an MBA school. One of the signs of maturity is being purpose-driven. This is why you should include your short term and long-term goals in your personal statement.
There are certain aspects which the person reading your mba essay will look for in your writing. They look for values that motivate you. So you will have to emphasize on what values you look for, the reasons you have to achieve something in your life, what made you choose that particular line of studies. Next, one will have to discuss the goals of his life and outline his post mba career objectives. So one will have to chalk out carefully and connect his objectives for joining the course and his post mba professional goals, that is, one will have to successfully bridge his present and future goals in life.
To successfully bridge your present and future goals, you need to instill self-discipline and be more persevering. These two qualities are just some of the things MBA admission officers look into applicants.
Other tips when writing your MBA essay
When you write your personal statement you have to start with an outline. The outline will serve as your guide in writing your essay. This helpful blog has tips on how to develop an outline.
Create an outline for your admissions letter using the basics of writing an essay. You’ll need an introduction, a body, and a conclusion for the letter. Open the admissions letter with something interesting, such as a quote, intriguing fact, or question. If you can engage your reader immediately, he or she will want to continue reading.
The body of your college admissions letter will cover the most important parts of the letter, showing your uniqueness as an applicant and answering questions. This part will require careful planning. Finally, the conclusion will bring your admissions letter to a logical close.
To ensure that all the important parts of the letter are included and to help you organize your thoughts, create an outline of your admissions letter. Ensure that everything is included that you need and wish to highlight.
Aside from these, having an outline will help you keep your focus and avoid including interesting but irrelevant details.
Your MBA essay is your ticket to the MBA school of your dream. When you write, start with an outline. For your content, you have to focus on your good qualities. It also pays to be honest and sincere when writing. It is also a plus if you show how goal-oriented you are on your essay.
Going through the MBA application process is not very easy. There are exams that you have to pass, essays to make, and interviews to go through. Although the application process is a bit difficult, the prize would be worth it. If you pass the MBA application process with flying colors, you can secure a brighter future. To pave your way to a prestigious MBA school, make the necessary preparations as early as possible. But before you do that, make sure that your decision to pursue MBA study is well thought of. MBA Channel has various tips to help you decide and prepare for your MBA application.
Considering your reasons for getting an MBA degree
The MBA decision
Different people decide to do MBA for different reasons. There is no one single best reason to do an MBA and its subject to individual needs and thinking. I like to split these group of reasons to two buckets.
1. Push factors
2. Pull factorsPush factors are those reasons which makes a person move away from current state of life. In the MBA perspective, the so called push factors can any of the following
* Sheer dislike for the current job and its career prospects
* Having achieved enough at the current career function and the need to grow to the next phase of career
* Need to change the current intellectual path and look out for a different way of life altogether
* Being tired of the busy work life needing for a change in lifestylePull factors are those which draws one towards a MBA program, ideally independent of his current state of affairs.These can include variety of factors like
* A great B school with top notch MBA program
* The transformational experience promised by every good MBA
It is important that you make your decision as early as possible so you can focus your future efforts in reaching your goal. You have to weigh the push and pull factors mentioned above in order to come up with the best decision.
Preparing your MBA admission essay
The essays and Interview – It becomes very important to personalize your candidacy as you project it to schools via your essays and interview. Be yourself and tell them the truth. Don’t try to be someone who can please the AdCom. Never try to wear a facade of someone who is not you. Here is excerpt from Interview with Sara Neher, Admissions Director, Darden School of business.
“I don’t always expect people to reveal as much about fit as I think some schools might. I think that if you tell me who you are, what you’re about and what you want to accomplish, I’ll be able to see if you’re a fit or not. It’s more important to me that we get personal details, because one of the mistakes people make is regurgitating the Web site back to us. You telling me that you want to take so-and-so’s class or the case method is important because of what we put on our Web site is just a waste of your word count. It shows me that you can read our Web site, but it doesn’t show me anything about who you are.”
The statement above was quoted from an MBA blog. This sums up what the MBA application essay should be about, and that would be about yourself.
Your decision to go or not to go to MBA school will have a great impact on your future. This is why you have to give yourself enough time to determine if you really want to pursue an MBA degree. You have to weigh in the push and pull factors, and if you decide to pursue an MBA degree, start preparing an essay that tells the world who you really are.
Applying for MBA can be a very daunting task to a lot of people. One of the reasons is that it is very challenging to write an attention-grabbing MBA essay that will give you an upperhand over other applicants. Fortunately, there are some simple guidelines on writing an MBA personal statement that are not that difficult to follow. Magic MBA’s blog can give you the tips on how to make your personal statement more remarkable. Below are some of the things that students should avoid when writing their MBA essay.
* Answering a different question. Answering a different question tells me the candidate cannot follow directions and gets distracted easily.
* Using distracting creative imagery. Many candidates fall into trap of trying to become a best selling novelist. Unless you’re a naturally talented writer, don’t try. Just answer the question as powerfully, precisely, and efficiently as possible. And when appropriate, entertain the reader.
* Glorifying accomplishments. I read a client essay that was filled with over 20 different names; this technique is commonly referred to as “name dropping” I didn’t recognize any of the names. And even if she claimed some relation to Barack Obama or Michael Jordan, it would be completely useless if it didn’t include some context that was specific and relevant to the essay question.
Other MBA essay writing mistakes
Here are the other mistakes mentioned in the blog.
* Skimming over the Details
* Language and Grammar error
These two are very common mistakes among applicants when writing their MBA admission essays. When you skim over the details, you are actually stuffing your essay with tidbits of information without really discussing them. This would leave the readers hanging and unsatisfied. You have to include a few but relevant details and make sure that you explain them clearly. The language and grammar error, on the other hand, are technical mistakes that could give readers a negative impression about you.
How to avoid the common mistakes in MBA personal statement
Here are another set of tips from an MBA blog on how to avoid the mistakes people make when writing a personal statement for MBA.
* Know the possible questions to be asked
If you don’t have anyone to ask for MBA essay topics, what you can do is research on your own. Online, you’ll find tons of good samples. These samples don’t necessarily have to be the same as your own. You can use them merely as guide to possible questions and topics to be discussed. By reading some of them, you’ll also see what separates the good from the bad.
* Stick to the topic or question
The common mistake in writing an MBA admission essay comes from saying too much that the message tends to get lost somewhere in between the paragraphs. In which case, an outline will help get the message across more clearly. Develop different ideas for the topic. From the main ideas, create sub-topics that will help expound your thoughts and even make a relevant connection to your application for an MBA program. Only cite experiences or ideas that will support the thesis of your essay.
* Read, edit, and proofread
After you’ve written your article, go over your essay several times. Note what’s missing or what’s not clear. List them out, and use the list as a guide for editing. Don’t rush yourself to edit the whole thing. Be patient and take time to consider not just some ideas but the content of the entire article as well. You should stop at nothing to get the whole thing right. Don’t try to be so poetic or profound. Remember your readers.
Writing an MBA essay that could make your dream of going to MBA school a reality does require a keen eye for details. Avoid the common mistakes and follow the helpful tips mentioned above, so you can be confident that your application will be given due consideration by the admissions panel.
How important is your MBA admission essay in the whole school application process? Generally speaking, your essay is one of the factors that could make or break your application. It has a domino effect on the application process. It can even influence the interview questions. MBA Admission secrets tells us about the importance of MBA admission essay and how it impacts your interview.
Interviews present a great opportunity for applicants to seal the admission deal…The questions that may arise may be as simple as probing for more details with regards to an essay you wrote. It could be feedback that your mistake essay seems weak and for you to come up with another example. Perhaps the choice of essays and the way you approached all your essays did not reveal fully who you are and this could be a flag that the admission committee has about you. Perhaps you have focused too much on work or too much on your personal/community side. The important thing with preparing for your interview is to have one or two people who know you well evaluate your admission essays and identify the knee-jerk response/issues that jump out at them. Then you may want to have an objective person who has experience evaluating candidates to assess your story in order to flag blind spots and potential gaps/issues which you can prepare for ahead of the interview.
Tips in acing the interview
Preparation for the interview requires a lot of effort. As part of your preparation, you should read blogs written by students who made it into prestigious schools. Here’s an excerpt from a blog where you can find a lot of tips that could help you prepare for MBA.
Tip #1: Share stories that demonstrate your leadership skills, team experience and approach to solving complex problems.
Tip #2: A confident appearance goes a long way.
Tip #3: Be passionate about future goals.
Tip #4: Be authentic with your interviewer, and don’t assume SOM is looking for a specific candidate.
Tip #5: Have clear career goals upon graduation, and explain how an MBA from Yale SOM with help get you there.
Tip #6: Show how your goals tie in with the school’s mission of educating leaders for business and society.
Tip #7: Don’t over-sell your volunteer work, and have confidence in the contributions business makes to society.
MBA admission interviews in Stanford
You should not only prepare yourself for questions based on your personal statement. Some universities ask questions about almost any topic. For a more specific example, let’s take a look at how Stanford conducts their MBA admission interviews.
Some schools outsource their interviews to alumni primarily. Stanford GSB is an example. My advice to candidates interviewing at Stanford is to be prepared to talk about ANYTHING. The interview is really more of an assessment of who you are, your vibe, whether you will fit at Stanford versus how impressive your particular work project or leadership impact was. Subtlety is key. That’s not to say that other MBA programs do not ask for awareness. It matters regardless of MBA program but pay particular attention to it for Stanford. And know the schools’ brand. If a school is very big on team culture (think Kellogg, Tuck) for example, going on and on about what you did and your great, impressive achievements could signal that you are not a good fit for the program. It also appears that Stanford is taking a great deal of time in matching alumni interviewers with MBA applicants which is interesting because it allows the school to get a really good read on the candidate’s authenticity. Don’t however assume that this is based primarily on work experience similarities.
You can increase your chances of getting admitted by writing an interesting personal statement and acing the interview. You can accomplish these things if you make the necessary preparation. Prepare a clear essay and review it carefully, as some questions in the interview will probably come from it. However, you should also be ready to answer questions about topics not discussed in your essay.
