![\"MBA](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/mr-red-flag.jpg\")
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Today\u2019s post comes from Manhattan Review Spain<\/a>, a well-known provider of test prep and MBA Admissions Consulting in Barcelona<\/a>, Madrid<\/a>, Sevilla<\/a>, and Valencia<\/a> for Top Business Schools.<\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re applying to the country\u2019s 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\u2019s important to avoid \u201cred flags\u201d that give admissions panels an excuse to drop your app. Here are five you need to avoid:<\/p>\n 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\u2019t want to be seen as a \"job-hopper,\" since it might lead reviewers to wonder if you\u2019re 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 resum\u00e9. In your essay make a point you\u2019ve 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.<\/li>\n Generally it won\u2019t 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\u2019t place a snarky note on your application (\"keeps calling\/emailing\u2026 a hassle\"), think again.<\/p>\n In short, be wary of placing phone calls to the admissions office! It\u2019s like dating. You don\u2019t want to seem too eager, and nobody appreciates a hassler.<\/li>\n Your essays should not consist of one long string of clich\u00e9s. !I\u2019m a go-getter who\u2019s hungry to learn and excited to be part of a great program,! doesn\u2019t 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\u2019s not just blown smoke. Of course you\u2019re a \"team-player,\" but don\u2019t 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\u2019re relying too heavily on clich\u00e9s and pat phrases. Go the extra length to slay the clich\u00e9 monster, and your application will be the better for it.<\/li>\n Tpyos mke you look bd . See? They\u2019re 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\u2019re 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\u2019ll catch a typo on a printed sheet you might not see on your computer. And here\u2019s 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\u2019t make sense, rewrite it. It costs you nothing but time, and it really can make a difference.<\/li>\n Nobody\u2019s perfect, and if you don\u2019t write about any of your weaknesses and only focus on your strengths, it might look like you\u2019re 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\u2019ve 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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n However you approach your business school application, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to write, reflect, and re-write. Don\u2019t let things go to the last minute, and don\u2019t be afraid to ask for advice from friends, family, and network. If you\u2019re diligent and steer clear of red flags, you\u2019ll give yourself a real shot at getting into a top business school, at which point you\u2019ll face a whole new set of challenges!<\/p>\n\n
Hello, Job-Hopper<\/h3>\n
The Hassler<\/h3>\n
Slay the Clich\u00e9 Monster<\/h3>\n
Typos<\/h3>\n
Achilles\u2019 Heel<\/h3>\n