Getting into the top MBA schools is not easy: it requires lots of hard-work, patience, strategic planning and commitment. Top MBA programs not only look for solid academic performance but non-academic accomplishments and leadership skills as well. In evaluating an applicant’s test scores and grades, a top MBA program will consider “whether the student has a record of doing quality or meaningful work” for the organizations where he or she has worked. We at Menlo Coaching believe that finding the right school is a crucial decision.
Estimating your odds of MBA admission
The best way to make this decision is to educate yourself about the MBA admissions process and read about your target schools by looking at their class profile pages (like this one for Stanford) but it can still be daunting. Educating yourself about these factors takes time, and if you’re in a rush, you could use an MBA admissions calculator, like the MBA Matching Algorithm designed by the two HBS grads who founded MBA Admissions Advisors. This tool helps you analyze your chances of getting into top MBA programs like HBS, Wharton, or MIT, plus European schools including INSEAD, IMD and London Business School, and Asian programs like HKUST and NUS.
The indicators in the MBA Matching Algorithm gives you detailed information about matching schools based on your demographics, GPA, GMAT score, work experience (professional and international), personal story (essay writing, letter of recommendation, resume and interview skills) and career aspirations. The feedback you get is grouped into three categories—strong matches, matches, and stretch schools—with the top five schools are displayed for each group. This data will help you to focus your search.
Although no calculator is perfect, it is a valid way to get quickly to a short list of target MBA programs, which can then help you to move on to the other steps in the process. By spending your time on steps like getting to know your target schools by speaking to students and alumni, preparing a great written application, and preparing for your interview, you are increasing your chances of admission.
MBA admissions factors
Test scores are the crucial factor – GMAT, GRE
Test scores are one of the crucial factors in the MBA admissions process. Because test scores are standardized across all students, unlike college GPAs, MBA programs can more easily compare students from different backgrounds. You should aim to achieve a score that’s near the average for your cohort of MBA applicants, as described at Is Your GMAT Score Good Enough?
Your professional accomplishments
A resume gives an impression about your personality, plans, ambitions and goals. The applicant becomes attractive to the reader if a resume shows an applicant progressing in their career and taking initiative on various projects in their workplace. The resume is not the place to give a basic job description. This is your chance to show your results!
MBA essays
Essay writing gives an applicant a chance to stand out to various programs and show that they are a good match beyond what test scores and data may indicate. Don’t get too creative; you are applying for an MBA, not for a writing workshop. The most important point is to convince them that you will be successful professionally, you have a good idea of how to use the MBA to advance your career, and you will make some contributions to the program during your time as a student and then an alum.
Letters of recommendation
Selecting good references shows good managerial skills. It gives the school a chance to hear about positive qualities like commitment, vision, innovativeness, and leadership in both their personal and professional life from someone other than the applicant. Be sure to prepare your recommenders to use specific examples in their letters.
Video essays
Most MBA Programs have adopted a video component in their MBA applications. This method gives you a chance to express yourself and communicate “the person you are.” Schools are hoping for natural, unscripted answers. At most schools, the video interviews are reviewed after the admissions officer has already read your written application. So, don’t fear that this will be the very first impression about you.
Admission interviews
If you are shortlisted, you will also complete an in-person or online interview as a final step. This is the last chance for schools to differentiate their applicants. They want to make sure that you are able to speak to the things you’ve written in your application, and that you look like you’d be comfortable speaking up in a classroom discussion.
Want to learn more about winning admission to your target MBA program?
No list is exhaustive, but this gives you a basic overview of the factors that influence your chances of MBA admission. We hope that it would allow you to select the right list of target schools and know where to spend your time. If you want to read more about each step of the MBA admissions process, you can read our article How to Get Into MBA Programs at Top Business Schools.
Good luck on your MBA applications!
