{"id":50473,"date":"2020-11-19T06:00:57","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T13:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=50473"},"modified":"2023-10-10T04:23:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T11:23:24","slug":"mba-admissions-application-advice-for-younger-applicants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/mba-admissions-application-advice-for-younger-applicants\/","title":{"rendered":"MBA Admissions: Application Advice for Younger Applicants"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
\"MBA<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Accepting the offer from the small niche-consulting firm after college over the offer from the big-name consulting company proved to be a smart decision. In spite of the lower starting salary, in less than two years you are managing projects and staff, bringing in new business, and contributing to company strategy. In addition, the experience, through a pivotal client engagement, has shaped your goal: joining a company in the rapidly growing bioinformatics industry and over time improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. You\u2019re ready to move toward that goal, but you need a thorough business foundation and in-depth knowledge of finance and strategy, which neither your undergrad education nor your experience has provided.\u00a0You need an MBA.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Should you apply now?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You have excellent grades in a rigorous undergrad program, a strong test score, and an impressive post-grad position \u2013 but only 1.75 years of work experience (still under 3 years by matriculation). That\u2019s less than the average at all MBA programs (and less than required at some). The answer is yes \u2013 if you target the right schools and vividly demonstrate the following five factors in your application essays (primarily) and your resume. Ideally, your recommendations also will reflect these factors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

5 factors that younger MBA applicants need to demonstrate<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
  1. Affirmative, practical reasons for applying at this specific time.<\/a>

    <\/li>\r\n
  2. Outstanding professional growth.<\/a>

    <\/li>\r\n
  3. Exceptional impact, leadership, achievement.<\/a>

    <\/li>\r\n
  4. Maturity.<\/a>

    <\/li>\r\n
  5. Ability to contribute socially and academically to the program.<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Factor 1: Affirmative, practical reasons for applying at this time.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The economy is shaky; prospects for growth in your company or industry have diminished \u2013 so you might as well pursue an MBA now, instead of waiting to gain more experience. No! Especially if you are younger than average, your reasons for applying now must be\u00a0affirmative<\/em>, not reactive \u2014 based on positive plans and opportunities, not on lack of plans or scant opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Equally important, those reasons must be practical, i.e., based on concrete goals. In essence, your goals should drive your rationale for applying now. It is essential to delineate in your goals essay how your goals make it necessary for you to obtain an MBA education\u00a0now<\/em>. It may be that the market or industry is just ripening and you want to get in early. It may be that your skill set is particularly valuable to a changing sector, industry, or niche. It may be that your company has placed you on a \u201cfast track\u201d and to effectively shoulder the management responsibilities of the next promotion, you need formal business training. Whatever the case, \u201cwork back\u201d from your goals to identify on the reason you must earn your MBA now.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Factor 2: Outstanding professional growth.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Your relatively short professional experience should reflect outstanding growth if you are to be a viable MBA candidate. While the same burden applies to more experienced applicants, if you can show that you pack into one or two years the quality that most other applicants stretch out over four, it can make a very exciting impression \u2013 you want the adcom to conclude, \u201cIf she can do this in one year, imagine what she can do in four!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    What constitutes\u00a0quality experience<\/a>? Hands-on participation in a broad range of functions. Managing staff. Promotions that skip levels. Leading high-profile projects. Assignments that are typically given to MBAs. When you discuss such growth in your essays, be sure to clarify its unusual nature (i.e., don\u2019t just say you were quickly promoted to marketing manager; add that no one before you has ever been given that position without first serving as marketing coordinator). Reinforce this factor in\u00a0your resume<\/a>, and ask your recommenders to do so as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    If you are applying to MBA programs right out of college or as a recent graduate, look to your jobs, internships, and volunteer activities during college for outstanding professional-level growth or responsibility. For example, you were waiting tables and were asked to manage the restaurant in the owner\u2019s absence. Or you were interning at an investment firm over the summer and were asked to coordinate communications for a transaction.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Factor 3: Exceptional impact, leadership, achievement.<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The more impact, leadership, and achievement any MBA applicant shows, the better. \u201cExceptional\u201d means beyond what would typically be shown by an actively involved college student or a good-to-strong performer on the job. If you are applying to top MBA programs especially, most applicants will be in the \u201cgood to strong performer\u201d category and will have had more time in which to demonstrate this excellence. To be competitive, you must at least equal them in impact, leadership, and\/or achievement, but in less time, whether on the job or elsewhere (community service, college activities).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n