Positioning Yourself Differently From Competition in MBA Application

­­Every MBA program applicant has some weak area (it would be an exaggeration to say they don’t!), whether it's limited experience(between 2 and 4 years of experience), shortfall in extracurricular involvement(low social work or community outreach), a low GPA, a subpar GMAT score, or being part of a competitive pool (Technology or Finance).

First, understanding your target Business School’s preferences is important

Applicants, especially those who may be new to the business school admissions tend to overlook a very important aspect- that different business schools look for different things in their applicants. Some typically prefer candidates with strong analytical skills. Whereas some others seek individuals who excel in team environments. During your MBA application journey take the time to understand the specific qualities sought by respective business schools. This will help you define what qualities should you highlight as your strengths. If a school values teamwork, emphasize your experience leading or contributing to a team, diving deep into your management style and providing a concrete example of when collaborative efforts outperformed individual work.

Some Unfavourable Stereotypes that adcoms have:

1. Applicants from technology and finance backgrounds are often labeled with low social skills and high analytical capabilities.
2. A low GPA is interpreted as a lack of seriousness about education or an absence of skills to thrive in a competitive learning environment.
3. Finance folks face the stereotype of being one-dimensional
4. Nonprofit candidates are seen as being idealistic and oblivious to/lacking an understanding of incentives.
5. Marketers struggle to communicate achievements beyond abstract concepts.
6. Older applicants may be perceived as lacking ambition if they didn't consider an MBA 2-3 years ago.
7. Younger applicants might be viewed as lacking the experience to make meaningful contributions to a class.

To overcome these stereotypes, applicants must project typecast opposites.

Low Social Skills
If you are considered to have poor interpersonal skills, you should give examples where you have organized events or led a team of volunteers. You can provide detailed insights into the recruitment process, including the challenges you faced in finding venues, negotiating prices with vendors, obtaining permits for public events, and inviting special guests. Participating in a community service activity as a volunteer is not the same as organizing it, which is why most mentions of perfunctory community service fall flat in admissions committee essays. By emphasizing how you did something on your own, you show that you are able to get past perceived weaknesses.

A low GPA
Highlight your successes in computer-based tests, GMAT, math, Olympiads and similar exams to showcase your academic abilities. If you've addressed your weaknesses through courses on platforms like Coursera, emphasize those improvements. Opt for platforms associated with leading US schools where you can print your grades on certificates. Before enrolling in undergraduate courses from institutions like Wharton or MBA prep courses from HBX, make sure they cover statistics and align with first or second-round deadlines.
You must also pay heed to your undergrad transcripts and take relevant courses in the weak areas. If your grades in calculus, statistics, accounting or economics were mediocre, you should take courses in these subjects and let the school know. If you have a liberal arts background, take calculus and statistics. If you get an A in any of these courses, you should submit the proof of improvement as early as possible.

Older applicants
Like it or not, but the schools, especially ISB and the 2 year US programs have a clear bias against you. If you are age 30 or above, and don’t have figured out a career with an MBA suffixed to your name, the adcoms will likely think you missed the ball. You do not ideally want to be seen as someone who couldn’t crack it at work and is looking for an exit path through an MBA program.
However, if you are a non-traditional applicant, military or nonprofit or entrepreneurial, worked in multiple startups or founded some, age will not be considered against you as long as you articulate your career choices clearly. Don’t oversell the diversity of your experience. Show just enough diversity and capture the weakness that will be filled by a full-time MBA.

Younger applicant
For younger applicants who do not yet have experience, there is an early application round at all top schools. It is the applicants at the borderline with 2-3 years of experience who will find that typecasting weighs most heavily against their chances of admission. Experience in a start-up can be a boon to your profile as you will get the opportunity to put on a variety of hats. Capture the years of experience you have gained in just one year and the impact you have had on the strategic and immediate work of the company. Do not get carried away by the percentage increase in the startup's revenue. Look for projects where your influence was directly related to the outcome of the project. If you work in a larger organization, leverage the scale of the projects. Create narratives to demonstrate the complexity and multi-functional knowledge you had to employ to achieve the milestones.

Finance Folks
Like it or not, the cultural narrative is against you. Look for nonprofit organizations where your creative and social skills are on full display. Look for experiences that highlight your impact on a community or the underserved people in the world. The more hands-on the role you have played - traveling, tutoring, mentoring - the more likely you are to be the antithesis of your type.

Nonprofit
Indifference to any profit-driven motives is evident in many nonprofit applicant essays, often overlooking the fact that wealthy donors are the primary source of support for nonprofit organisations. Demonstrate a pragmatic understanding of investment and shed light on the funding dynamics of nonprofit organisations. The conventional "change the world" narrative falls short if you don't recognise the central role of the technology and finance industries in bringing about concrete change. Craft an empathetic narrative that highlights the shortcomings of the nonprofit sector and provides an ideal opportunity to create powerful typecast opposites.

Marketing
It is a great challenge for marketing candidates to successfully achieve a noticeable effect in a campaign. Therefore, provide a comprehensive examination of your specific contributions, such as the detailed background information about the clients you served and emphasize how your involvement dynamically changed various facets of the campaigns. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the client's strategic objectives and emphasize your ability to align your efforts with the client's overarching goals. Use creativity as a focal point in showcasing your unique approach.

Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process. We do not cap discussion hours with our applicants.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, former INSEAD admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com­­­

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