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.
