Planning to apply to business school in 2021 (or beyond)? Get started now with Personal MBA Coach’s 2021 MBA Planning tips.
Check out week 2 today: Enhancing Your Extracurricular Profile
In case you missed it, read week 1: Making Your Career Work Harder for You
Strengthening extracurricular profiles is one of the key areas Personal MBA Coach is working on with MBA candidates this January. By putting in the extra effort now, you will have ample opportunities to add real value before the deadlines this fall and avoid being penalized for not having a track record of involvement and leadership by the time summer comes.
Below are three key guiding principles to keep in mind when developing your own extracurricular strategy.
1) Quality over quantity
No one has the time to work with 10 different organizations. Having a laundry list of activities is not going to appeal to admissions committee members. Instead, focus your efforts on organizations or areas where you can have a real impact and add value. There is no “right” number of activities. This will vary from client to client and depend on the depth of your work. However, more often than not, less is more – particularly if you are just getting started now.
2) Focus on leadership
You have probably heard this time and time again, but it is important enough to repeat: Business schools want leaders. This is true for all MBA programs, not just Harvard Business School. While there are countless ways that you can (and should) display leadership throughout your profile, extracurricular activities are one great opportunity to do so. Look for an organization where you can step up, or explore options to expand your role at an existing organization. Take the time to do this now so that you have clear results to share come essay time.
3) Activities should fit with your profile
Successful applications share a consistent and impactful story. MBA admissions committees should instantly see who you are, what has defined you and why you have made specific choices. Choose areas that you are passionate about and that fit with your story. For example, if you want a career as an educational consultant, consider volunteering in the education industry. If your passion is tennis, give tennis lessons to underprivileged children in your neighborhood. You do not need to pick the most unique or prestigious charity. Instead, do what you love!
During application time, you will find many strategic ways to use your activities to fill gaps in your profile. Do not underestimate the importance of extracurriculars and get started today!
Not sure what your gaps are? Need advice on where to begin or how to build a strong extracurricular profile? Personal MBA Coach can help! This is the perfect time to get started and have our personal one-on-one support through the entire process, including crafting your extracurricular strategy!
About Personal MBA Coach:
Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2, currently holding the #2 ranking on Poets&Quants.
We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes a former M7 admission director and former M7 admissions interviewers.
Last year, our clients earned more than $6M in scholarships!
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MBA Planning Week 1: Make Your Career Work Harder for You
