“Hi Stacy, I believe that I’m a strong candidate for a top business school. The problem is that when I look around me, most of the people that I know, who also graduated from a top school and have a high-powered job, are similarly qualified. I struggle with how to make myself stand out from my peers when we really don’t seem all that different.”

Like countless others, William is undervaluing his uniqueness. Prospective students often shy away from sharing small but important details about themselves that can help them stand out from the crowd. They think, “Admissions committees don’t want to hear about that side of me,” or “Business schools don’t want people who are interested in that.” Or, “If I talk about this, it will sound like I’m boasting.”

It’s time to get over all of that. If you want to do well in the admissions process, you have to communicate who you are, not just what you do. Bruce DelMonico, director of MBA admissions at Yale University School of Management, isn’t kidding when he says the best tip is to simply be yourself.

“This sounds obvious, but many applicants get tripped up trying to get inside our heads. Don’t outthink yourself. Tell us about what you care about, not what you think we want to hear,” he wrote.

Here are three tips to keep in mind if you find yourself falling into a rut thinking that you as an individual are the same as on a one-page résumé:

1. Tell your personal story: Whether in writing the essay or during an interview, every time you talk about what you’ve done, also tell why. Share the things in life that inspire you, what matters to you, or what moved you to make the decisions you have made.

Derrick Bolton, director of MBA admissions at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, has said the best advice is: Don’t try to stand out.

“I think standing out is a byproduct of telling your story in a really natural and compelling way. It takes some reflection,” he told the Wall Street Journal.

If you have trouble getting started, try creating a “brag sheet” for inspiration. While the résumé is a solely professional document, the brag sheet is the opposite. This manuscript talks about who you are outside of your professional career and discusses information about your family, passions, and obstacles.

You can make your own sheet by answering questions such as: How many languages are you fluent in? How many countries have you traveled to? Does your family have any interesting traditions? Have you encountered and overcome any significant obstacles in your life? Once you have filled out your brag sheet, you can sort through it and select the themes that resonate most.

2. Tell what you value and believe in: Business schools really do want to know who you are—the whole you—not just you as a professional. You want to present a balanced, well-rounded human being who has many dimensions to contribute to an MBA class. When you talk about your love of basketball or your concern for global warming, explain why those subjects are meaningful to you.

“Often times, applicants belittle [or] overlook their hobbies,” said Megan Solinger, assistant director of admissions of the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University, in a recent live chat on standing out in MBA admissions.

“This is a great way to highlight some uniquely defining characteristics and experiences you’ve had that make you, you! Know that there is no ‘cookie cutter’ student we’re looking for, and when we’re developing a class, we want diversity. We want people with various educational and professional backgrounds, non-traditional students, and those who have done some interesting things in their life [or] career,” Solinger said.

3. Add some personality: Top b-schools know you have the credentials; the essays offer them a chance to see your personality. You may not be a natural writer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make an effort to inject some humor and empathy, or talk about your vision or your fears. Peel back the layers a little bit, because talking about what’s inside is what will differentiate you from all of the other analysts and engineers in the applicant pool.

To paraphrase Jay-Z, there’s nobody built like you—you designed yourself. Keep that in mind as you’re going through this process and you’ll be able to submit a distinct application that reflects who you really are.

This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA blog on U.S.News.com.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Through the analysis of a new business case study co-authored by the Yale School of Management and the National University of Singapore Business School, the Aspen Institute’s 2013 Business & Society International MBA Case Competition inspires future business leaders to innovate at the intersection of corporate profitability and positive environmental and social impact.

“More than ever before, business leaders are responsible for contemplating and acting on how industry can best tackle societal issues that have direct impact on long-term business success,” says Nancy McGaw, Director of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Business Education.

“Now in its fourth year, this preeminent case study competition aims to inspire the kind of visionary leadership needed at the critical nexus of business and society.”

Over the course of an intense three and a half days, students will analyze and respond to a new case study focused on a real-life business decision being undertaken by a major company.  Competitions at each of the 25 partnering schools will determine first place campus winners, whose work will be reviewed by a panel of academic judges to determine five honorable mentions and five finalist teams.

Finalists will be flown to New York City, where they will present to a panel of corporate judges and join an invitation-only reception generously hosted by BNY Mellon.  All finalist teams will receive prize money, with the first place team receiving $15,000 and $1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice.
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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

MBA hopefuls then want to find out what is the most important part of the business school application. Is it the GMAT score, undergraduate transcript, essays, interview, letters of recommendations, or something else entirely?

Everyone wants to know what to focus on in their application, and how their personal circumstances rate. Top business schools don’t admit you based purely on your statistics, though.

It’s true that solid numbers can help your application be considered. While a 550 GMAT or a 2.5 GPA will raise a red flag at an MBA program like the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, a 700 GMAT and a 3.6 GPA make you a solid candidate. But even an 800 GMAT score and a perfect GPA can be rejected at an elite MBA program.

Ask most admissions committee members and they will tell you that it’s the sum of many pieces—there is no one “most important” part. The top schools want to know who you are, and statistics and a résumé don’t tell them that. It’s the essays, interviews, and recommendations that ultimately reveal the person beyond the paper.

Compelling essays, recommendations, and interviews can provide context for a low GMAT score or GPA—but the reverse is not true. Strong numbers will never make up for weak essays or a disorganized, negative recommendation.

Some say the most important part of the application is your so-called “weakest” part—one weakness could completely change how admissions committee members perceive your application. In fact, in a recent blog post, Yale School of Management‘s Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions Bruce DelMonico urged applicants to be up front about their weaknesses.

“Everyone has weaknesses,” he stressed. “We’ll see them, so you’re better off acknowledging them and incorporating them into your application than hoping we’ll miss them.”

While I doubt that any business school admissions committee would formally support this statement, I would have to cast my vote for essays as the most important part of your application. The essays allow the admissions committee to truly discover who you are. It’s where you write why an MBA makes sense as the next step of your career path, and how you differentiate yourself from all of the other individuals who also scored in the 700s on their GMAT.

The essays are your opportunity to present your strengths, explain your weaknesses, and generally convince the admissions committee members that you have a lot to offer the program and that you belong in their class.

The essays are also consistent among all applicants, so in that way they are less difficult to evaluate and compare. All candidates are given the same set of questions, and are reviewed by the same group of admissions members, creating a level playing field that can simplify the review process.

[Learn to strike the perfect tone in MBA essays.]

Interviews are very different; some are conducted over the phone, some at the business school, and all are handled by different types of individuals with different approaches.

Recommendations vary as well. While all applicants do their best to find great recommenders, some individuals work with MBAs who understand the process. Others work with people who have no idea what to write.

The essays are each individual’s opportunity to talk about their true self. You should know that most applicants to the top schools are qualified, in the sense that they would be able to handle the curriculum and benefit from the program.

However, to be admitted, you need to demonstrate that you are more than merely qualified. It’s the story that you put together about your goals, passions, and prior experience—and how business school fits into the mix—that will make the difference for you. Once that story is assembled, I can better answer the question: “What are my chances?”

This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA blog on U.S.News.com. 

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Step # 1

Two different members of the Admissions Committee review the submitted applications. Like most top-ranked schools, Yale SOM takes a holistic approach to its review and DelMonico says no one element of the application is determinative. The school is looking for candidates with strong academic backgrounds and leadership potential, with certain qualities that make Yale SOM students distinctive.

According to the admissions director, successful applicants will possess “broadmindedness and intellectual curiosity,” as well as “the ability to think rigorously and act purposefully, and the constancy to navigate uncertain situations.” With a class size of just 250 students, it’s imperative that each member of the community brings an element of diversity through his or her background, experiences, interests and professional aspirations.

Step # 2

For those who applied in Round One, know that Yale SOM has extended approximately a third of the total interview invitations it plans to offer for the round. While an interview is certainly a positive sign, DelMonico cautions against assuming that an invite is a strong indicator of AdCom’s final decision.

“We typically interview roughly 30% of our applicants, and a little more than half of those interviewed are ultimately offered a place in the class,” he explains.

The purpose of the interview is to get a better sense of how you think and act, DelMonico says. Preparation is vital, and you should come in ready to discuss your leadership experience and career trajectory as well as elements from your resume and essays.

Step # 3

If you applied in Round One, you will receive a decisions by December 13, 2012. For those applying on the January 8th Round Two deadline, expect to hear back by March 28, 2013. If you are  still working on your application and interested in learning more about the school, DelMonico notes that Yale SOM has posted additional events to its schedule, including online chats, which are a great way to get a feel for the campus and community.

For more on applying to Yale School of Management, read Stacy Blackman’s previous posts with Round Two advice, application tips, interview pointers, and more.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Earlier this week, Hispanic Business revealed its annual ranking of the top business schools, based on the effectiveness of these programs in attracting Hispanic students. Schools were ranked in terms of Hispanic diversity according to the following criteria:

• Percent of Hispanic student enrollment.
• Percent of Hispanic faculty members.
• Percent of degrees conferred to Hispanics.
• Progressive programs aimed at increasing enrollment of Hispanic students.

Of the top ten B-schools highlighted by Hispanic Business, six fall into the elite category and rank highly across the board.

1. University of Texas at El Paso
2. UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
3. University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management
4. UT McCombs School of Business
5. NYU Stern School of Business
6. UV Darden School of Business
7. University of Texas at San Antonio
8. University of Miami School of Business
9. Yale School of Management
10. Stanford Graduate School of Business

As more and more companies conduct business internationally, the ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity across cultural boundaries is crucial. Editors at Hispanic Business seem to appreciate the efforts made by the above schools, but point out that more needs to be done to “prime the pipeline from the community to the classroom” to make sure Hispanic students have access to all of the resources and opportunities that are out there.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Yale SOM, despite its impressive brand name, has remained, according to P&Q, a “relatively small and unambitious player in the business school market, with a high faculty-to-student ratio, a small student enrollment, and few executive education offerings.”

Snyder’s plan goes as follows:

1. Pinpoint the sectors with the strongest relationships and networks.
2. Recruit a diverse faculty with real world experience.
3. Boost Yale’s value by playing an active role in the collection and dissemination of data.
4. Offer more programs, including part-time programs.
5. Expand Yale’s global experience by making connections and sending students to far-off, less popular, and younger places, “a less well served country like Vietnam or Poland instead of China.”

For more on this subject, see the New York Times article, “Is Michigan State Really Better Than Yale?”

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Anjani Jain will join Yale SOM as senior associate dean for the full-time MBA program on July 1, 2012; David Bach will join the school as senior associate dean for executive MBA and global programs on September 1, 2012. Jain has served in multiple leadership roles at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, including 10 years as vice dean of its full-time MBA program. Bach is currently dean of programs at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.

Poets & Quants called the appointments a “coup” for Yale SOM dean Edward Snyder. “Rarely if ever does a business school recruit and hire leadership talent of this caliber, particularly at the sub-dean level. Both Jain and Bach have played high profile roles at their schools for years and either of them could just as easily landed a full deanship at another business school,” editor John Byrne writes.

In his new role, Jain will focus on Yale’s flagship full-time MBA program, assuming lead responsibility for admissions, career development, and student and academic services. Jain has had an impactful career at Wharton over the last 26 years.

For the past two years, he has been the vice dean of the MBA program for executives, and before that, he spent ten years as vice dean of the MBA program. He will also contribute to the Yale SOM curriculum as a senior lecturer.

Bach, meanwhile, will assume lead responsibility for Yale SOM’s executive MBA program, the new Master of Advanced Management degree program, and global opportunities, including spearheading Yale SOM’s involvement with the Global Network for Advanced Management.

Currently dean of programs and professor of strategy and economic environment at IE Business School, Bach has driven innovation and ensured the academic rigor and operational excellence of IE’s numerous master’s programs. In this capacity, he also served as academic director of the IE Brown Executive MBA, a program that fuses Brown University‘s strength in liberal arts with IE’s expertise in management education.

“Both Anjani and David are highly motivated by Yale SOM’s mission to educate leaders for business and society, and I am confident they will make important contributions as the school continues to grow in scope and influence,” says Dean Snyder.

Yale SOM will significantly increase the number of students in it master’s degree programs after the move to Edward P. Evans Hall in late 2013.

“Yale SOM has the potential to become a truly global business school, resulting in more academic and professional opportunities for students and alumni,” Snyder adds. “Having Anjani and David join Yale SOM at this promising juncture is an exciting development.”

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.