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5 Application “Red Flags” to Avoid

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MBA Application Red Flags to Avoid

Today’s post comes from Manhattan Review Spain, a well-known provider of test prep and MBA Admissions Consulting in Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, and Valencia for Top Business Schools.

If you’re applying to the country’s top business schools, you need to do your best to give reviewers no clear reason to reject your application. Perfection is impossible, and nobody expects it, so near perfection is the game. It’s important to avoid “red flags” that give admissions panels an excuse to drop your app. Here are five you need to avoid:

  1. Hello, Job-Hopper

    Have you ever worked three different jobs in as many months, say during the summer? You might be tempted to list them all, but this can actually do your application harm. You don’t want to be seen as a "job-hopper," since it might lead reviewers to wonder if you’re inconsistent or unwilling to commit. If you want to include all your temporary work experience, note the work was always meant to be temporary and batch the temporary work together in your resumé. In your essay make a point you’ve enjoyed working in diverse settings, learning different skills and meeting diverse people. Many weaknesses can be turned into strengths, or at least mitigated, through well-crafted language.

  2. The Hassler

    Generally it won’t hurt to make contact with the admissions office. "Was my application received, and is everything in order?" is a fair question to ask by email or, a week or two after you submitted, by phone. Any interaction beyond that may earn you a reputation as a hassler, and if you think administrators won’t place a snarky note on your application ("keeps calling/emailing… a hassle"), think again.

    In short, be wary of placing phone calls to the admissions office! It’s like dating. You don’t want to seem too eager, and nobody appreciates a hassler.

  3. Slay the Cliché Monster

    Your essays should not consist of one long string of clichés. !I’m a go-getter who’s hungry to learn and excited to be part of a great program,! doesn’t actually tell the committee anything, whereas, !I have a history of leadership as evidenced by my years volunteering at XYZ. If admitted, I will bring my willingness to learn and grow," uses a real-world example that’s not just blown smoke. Of course you’re a "team-player," but don’t say that. Give an example of when you worked successfully with a team. When in doubt, read your essays aloud. Do you sound like a real person or a string of robotic phrases? If the latter, odds are you’re relying too heavily on clichés and pat phrases. Go the extra length to slay the cliché monster, and your application will be the better for it.

  4. Typos

    Tpyos mke you look bd . See? They’re unpleasant to read, and an application with more than one or two typos will reflect poorly on your attention to detail and focus. This is one thing you can control in a very simple way: enlist your friends and family to review, re-review, and re-re-review your essays until you’re 100% certain your essay is free of typos. Be sure to read your essays aloud and edit them from your device as well as paper. Sometimes you’ll catch a typo on a printed sheet you might not see on your computer. And here’s a trick: always read your essays to yourself and aloud, and if you like record it and listen back. How do you sound, really? If a phrase or sentence is awkward and doesn’t make sense, rewrite it. It costs you nothing but time, and it really can make a difference.

  5. Achilles’ Heel

    Nobody’s perfect, and if you don’t write about any of your weaknesses and only focus on your strengths, it might look like you’re not reflective. And one thing a graduate student needs, regardless of the field, is the ability to reflect, to know limits, and to set clear personal goals. How can you truly improve if you only know your strengths? Be sure and reflect on where you might make improvements, write about how you’ve improved in the past, and note how you intend to tackle your weaknesses going forward. Application committees will appreciate your ability to reflect and your honesty.

However you approach your business school application, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to write, reflect, and re-write. Don’t let things go to the last minute, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice from friends, family, and network. If you’re diligent and steer clear of red flags, you’ll give yourself a real shot at getting into a top business school, at which point you’ll face a whole new set of challenges!

If you are just beginning your MBA application, check out our free interactive MBA Admissions Webinars, where you’ll gain lots of useful insight into the MBA Admissions process from Manhattan Review’s Director of Admissions Consulting, who has been a member for the Wharton Admissions Committee for many years. The session will reveal many secrets of the admissions process and definitely increase your chances of success. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your questions answered and get an inside perspective from an expert!