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You already know what you need TO DO. Now let\u2019s take a look at three things you DON\u2019T want to do if you want to get accepted to your top-choice MBA program.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t make these mistakes when applying to b-school<\/a>:<\/p>\n Having clear career goals<\/a> is a MUST for successful MBA applicants. You may think you can cover up this lack of direction in your application, but the adcom are trained to see who has focused goals and who does not. Business schools are looking for applicants who will both succeed as students and as businesspeople in the post-MBA career world. If you don\u2019t show direction early on, then there\u2019s a chance you\u2019ll flounder through b-school and won\u2019t smoothly transition back into the workforce. YOU won\u2019t get the most out of your MBA experience, and nor will the school. It\u2019s a lose-lose for everyone.<\/p>\n Instead, solidify (with some degree of flexibility) what you want to do post-degree so that you present yourself as a strong, focused candidate in your applications. Remember, you\u2019ll personally benefit from this research and direction, in addition to it boosting your chances of admission.<\/p>\n You THINK that by writing what the adcom wants to hear, that your essay will be creative \u2013 ingenious even. But what ends up happening, is that everyone thinks the committee wants to hear the same thing and they end up writing something UN-original in order to fit those imagined specifications. Instead, look deep into yourself<\/a> and think about what you truly would like to share with them \u2013 that\u2019s the ONLY way that your final product will be authentically original, and the only way that you\u2019ll really impress the adcom.<\/p>\n If all applicants made this mistake, then Harvard<\/a>, Stanford<\/a>, and other top five programs would be even more selective than they are and VERY few people would ever gain admission. Yes, HBS is good for some people, and Stanford is good for others, but they\u2019re certainly not the best schools for everyone. If there\u2019s no possible chance that you\u2019ll get accepted to a top five, top ten, or top fifty program, then start your quest by crossing those off your list. Save yourself the heartbreak of rejection and the costs and setback of reapplication by choosing reasonable programs<\/a> to apply to.<\/p>\n That being said, so long as you apply to at least one safety and a few on-pars that you\u2019d be thrilled to attend, then it certainly can\u2019t hurt to try for a few reasonable reaches.<\/p>\n Accepted\u2019s expert advisors can help you check off your admissions to-do\u2019s and ensure that your application is mistake-free (of these three blunders and others). Explore our MBA Admissions Consulting & Editing Services<\/a> to learn more about how we can help you get ACCEPTED.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Best MBA Programs<\/a>, a free guide to selecting the right program for you <\/p>\n This article<\/a> originally appeared on blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\nMistake #1: Applying without a clear idea of what you want to do after you earn the degree.<\/h3>\n
Mistake #2: Writing what you think the admissions committee wants to know as opposed to what you want them to know.<\/h3>\n
Mistake #3: Applying exclusively to schools based on the rankings and without any sense of your own competitiveness.<\/h3>\n
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\n\u2022\u00a0The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Competitive MBA Applicant<\/a>, a free guide
\n\u2022 B-School Selectivity Index<\/a>: Discover the schools where you are competitive<\/p>\n