{"id":29808,"date":"2015-07-27T09:29:03","date_gmt":"2015-07-27T16:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/mba-application-mistakes-to-avoid-part-1\/"},"modified":"2015-07-27T09:29:03","modified_gmt":"2015-07-27T16:29:03","slug":"mba-application-mistakes-to-avoid-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/mba-application-mistakes-to-avoid-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"MBA Application Mistakes to Avoid \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

MBA Application Mistakes to Avoid \u2013 Part 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the new 2015-2016 MBA application season underway, many of you are just getting started with your business school applications. But before you get too far along, we\u2019d like to make you aware of some of the common mistakes that we saw on a regular basis when we worked as admissions directors at top MBA programs. Many of these mistakes are easy to make, especially when you\u2019re working under tight deadlines to complete your applications while also juggling the demands of your full time job. By identifying these mishaps in advance, hopefully you can avoid these traps to improve your chances for admission.<\/p>\n

Mistake #1 \u2013 Waiting until the last minute to work on your application<\/strong><\/p>\n

When we read applications at top business schools, it was pretty obvious to us when someone had waited until the last minute to complete an application. Telltale signs were sloppy typos, essays that were poorly organized, and even mentions of why applicants wanted to attend another school (Note \u2013 if you\u2019re applying to NYU Stern, make sure not to write about how much you can\u2019t wait to be uptown at Columbia). With about two months to go before the first round of deadlines for most schools, you should already be started on your MBA applications. But if you\u2019re a little bit behind already, get moving now and focus on dedicating a few hours of time during the week and on weekends to your applications. Plan out a week-by-week schedule and set deadlines for yourself. One of the most time-consuming components of the application will be your essays, so it\u2019s important to invest time upfront on self-reflection before you get started on your drafts. Remember, you can\u2019t prepare to run a marathon by starting to train a week in advance, so the same goes for your MBA applications. Start early and pace yourself.<\/p>\n

Mistake #2 \u2013 Repeating too many points from your CV\/resume in your essays<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re like many other MBA applicants, you have a number of professional accomplishments that you\u2019re proud of and eager to share with admissions committees. However, don\u2019t try to incorporate a long list of achievements in your essays, especially when they\u2019re already listed in your CV. The individual reading through your application will also read through your resume and will get a sense of what you\u2019ve done already. Some applicants use their essays to write out long list of various points on their resume rather than focusing on one or two points and providing more detail to explain these and showcase examples. When it comes to your essays, focus on depth rather than breadth.<\/p>\n

Mistake #3 \u2013 Not fully answering the essay questions being asked<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before you start writing your essays, ask yourself if your answer is really getting to the heart of the question being asked. For essays with multiple questions, make sure that you cover answers to everything that\u2019s being asked. Let\u2019s take the Tuck question, for example, which asks about your goals, why you need an MBA and specifically why Tuck. Make sure that you specify what skills or knowledge you will gain from a Tuck MBA to help you achieve both your short-term and long-term goals. It\u2019s not enough to just answer part of the question, which is a mistake that we sometimes see applicants make.<\/p>\n

Mistake #4 \u2013 Choosing the wrong recommenders<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although it might appear impressive to have a letter of recommendation written by a company CEO or other C-suite executive, it\u2019s more important that you select someone who knows you well and can provide very detailed examples of your performance, skills, and accomplishments. We often read letters of recommendation written by someone with a senior level title but who barely knew the applicant or who had limited experience working together. Schools are more interested in getting to know more about you on a deeper level, so think about who you have worked with who can best attest to your skillset, your character, and your achievements.<\/p>\n

We have four additional mistakes to avoid, which we will discuss in our next blog, part 2, on this topic. Please check back on the Fortuna Admissions blog shortly to read the additional tips.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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