Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent (or completely uninterested) we're guessing that you may be one of the many watching the presidential debates. We can't tell you how to vote but we can point you to some of the communication strategies that the candidates are using that could actually be helpful for you in your applications. Full disclosure - my husband worked on Capitol Hill for a while, so I sourced some of this from a "debate watching" party in D.C.
What do you have in common with someone standing on a stage contending to be President of the United States? You both need to clearly craft your message, portray yourself the way you want to be perceived, and ensure that you use the appropriate tone with your audience (meaning youneed to know them first). So, here are a few things to consider as you watch the next debate that could be relevant for your MBA apps.
1) Know What They May Be Concerned About:Both candidates have some pretty large issues on the table that voters are concerned about. Hillary is dealing with a perception that she's not trustworthy. So what did she do? In the last debate, when she was asked a question by one of the people attending the town hall, notice that she turned to face them, stopped to pause (showing consideration of the question), looked them in the eye, and engaged them by asking a rhetorical question etc. She knew that trust was an issue, so she did everything she could to try to re-establish trust visually. What does this have to do with MBA applications? Know what may be an issue on your applications and ensure that you overcome it - directly. Low GPA? Take an online class and then directly refer to it in your optional essay. Limited experience? Reinforce your leadership experience throughout your application so they know you already have what it takes.
2) Stay on Message:You can probably recite the buzz words for each campaign by now because you've heard them so many times. Trump's slogan is "Make American Great Again", and his entire message on stage aligned with his feeling that America needs to be improved. With every question, he went straight to a big issue that needs to be solved. Whether you agree with him or not, what's clear is that (despite employing some "unique" strategies) he did stay on message. What does this mean for you? You amass support when someone first understands then believes in your message. We guide all of our clients to start their applications by establishing a clear "story" or "message" so that they can be sure to stay "on message" throughout their applications. For example, if you are saying that you need to develop entrepreneurship skills so you can write your business plan in school, you need to ensure that every aspect of your application aligns with that theme - it should make sense why you want to go that route and how you plan to do it. All too often we see applicants declare a goal then write three essays that basically ignore the stated goal and confuse the reader. Stay on message, be clear, and make it your goal for the reader to be able to recite your message after putting down your app.
3) Be the Part:Both candidates paint a picture of what it would be like if they were President. They talk about why they want the job, why they are qualified, and most importantly, what they would do. And as a result, every person watching the debates has an image of what this person's presidency could be like. This is not easy to do though. For example, Trump, throughout the campaign, has tried to position himself as a different type of politician; but it's confusing. Depending on the week, you've seen him tack back and forth between being a typical politician and a full firebrand. For example, one day he'll use a teleprompter and stay off of Twitter, then he'll let loose the next day and call into the Sunday morning shows unfiltered. This is exactly what you should not be doing for each school where you apply. They need to be able to picture you there, and it feel / look right; don't confuse the adcom by presenting yourself differently in different parts of the application. Be the part (an MBA student at the school you're applying to) throughout the app. Describe why you know each school is right for you. Explain which clubs you'd lead, how you'd contribute, and what unique ideas you have for advancing the program/school/your classmates' experiences.
Hope this helps and don't forget, vote for .....! Just kidding - we won't go there.
As always,contact uswith any questions as we head into round 2!
