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You surely know that it is necessary to re-energize from your daily routine once in a while and allocate some time for your hobbies. Why don't we mix business with pleasure and think: what can your extracurricular activities tell MBA admissions about your personality?
Here are some hints from MBA Strategy:
1. Active Sports
You don't have to win an Olympic medal or "at least" be a captain of a football team in order to mention sports as your significant extracurricular activity. Think it over: why you chose this particular kind of sport and why you are still fond of it? For instance, boxing: does it help you handle stress and hence make you more resistant to it? Or maybe you like jogging that strengthens your persistence? And how about completive sports, where each participant can prove their teamwork and leadership skills? That’s the be-all and the end-all of a successful application!
2. "Fun for introverts"
Well, your day-to-day job is so intense that all you need to do on weekends is to relax and do your stuff alone. For example, if you like playing online chess, you are actually developing your strategic thinking. One of our clients even mentioned that chess advanced his teamwork skills: “Even a queen cannot make mate alone, therefore a winning strategy includes effective collaboration of all types of pieces”. Sounds good, isn’t it? There are lots of hidden gems in other hobbies, such as reading (depends on what you like) or even handicraft that develops one’s attention to details – still a crucial business quality.
3. Arts
This part is pretty easy – schools are eager to learn how creative you are. Art is a great tool for perceiving the surrounding world differently than others, to explore different cultures through painting, music or cinema and, most importantly – to demonstrate your talents. Again, there is no need for particular awards. Check this passage from a successful Wharton, LBS, and INSEAD applicant, who practices opera singing: “Opera is so passionate that it brings out the whole mix of emotions inside me and helps me express my creativity”.
4. Travelling
Why even mention traveling in your application, if it is not an exchange semester in China or a secondment to Latin America? If you visited more than 20 countries, this can make a difference, as traveling is another way to practice cross-cultural communication skills and show your natural curiosity (Kellogg emphasizes this quality, for example). Think again: did you experience culture shock? What did you learn from it? Maybe you noticed something that you would like to implement in your community or company and therefore shaped your goals? Tell the admissions committee about it.
5. “Sharing knowledge and skills” activities
This can be your strong point, especially when you do not have many subordinates and are not supposed to teach or mentor others. There are plenty of things that could be considered as “sharing knowledge and skills”, for instance: a small discussion club at a local Starbucks, organizing short trips to smaller towns in the area (maybe you were born there and can tell something special?) or giving lectures at your undergraduate school. This would characterize you as a proactive and motivating leader, and there is no doubt that business schools would value it.
We wish you a joyful day. If you need help in classifying your activities or otherwise strengthening your application, MBA Strategy team is happy to help you.
By Polina Artemenko, MBA Strategy Application Consultant
