{"id":58236,"date":"2023-07-17T05:36:01","date_gmt":"2023-07-17T12:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2023\/07\/advice-for-mit-sloan-mba-applicants\/"},"modified":"2023-10-24T21:42:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T04:42:29","slug":"advice-for-mit-sloan-mba-applicants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/advice-for-mit-sloan-mba-applicants\/","title":{"rendered":"Advice for MIT Sloan MBA Applicants"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The MIT Sloan School of Management<\/a> is a dream MBA program for many B-school hopefuls. Today we\u2019re pulling back the curtain on what the Sloan admissions committee looks for in candidates and how you can put forth the most robust possible application package.<\/p>\n

To do so, we put our burning questions about MIT to SBC consultant DeeDee<\/a>, who worked for 12 years at this prestigious institution. During the last three years of her tenure, she served as the assistant director of MBA admissions and worked with applicants to the Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program and the Masters in Finance program.<\/p>\n

As someone who recruited, interviewed, and evaluated candidates for those three programs, DeeDee has deep expertise in all things Sloan. She recently stopped by the B-Schooled<\/em> podcast to share insider intel about the school\u2019s ethos, admissions process, and student life. We bring the conversation highlights here and encourage you to listen to the podcast<\/a> for all the deets.<\/p>\n

Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school? Contact us<\/a> to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s a question many MBA aspirants are curious about. Why is it called the Sloan School of Management rather than Business, as most others are known? Is there any significance there?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

DeeDee: It is minor, but the focus is different. Business is defined as making one\u2019s living by engaging in commerce. But management is the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. So, what\u2019s key here is that business focuses on the endpoint, the outcome, and the profit, whereas management focuses on the people and the process.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you extrapolate from that to MBA admissions at Sloan, this translates into attention to how candidates have accomplished things, not just that they have accomplished things. Many successful people have impressive accomplishments, but Sloan also cares about how they treat others as they achieve those successes.<\/em><\/p>\n

Can you share some of the newer aspects of the program that are worth pointing out?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Sloan experience is still very much a \u201cchoose your own adventure\u201d place. Students can take whatever they want after the first semester of core courses. The MBA program is STEM-designated now, which is a boon for international students.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sloan has also added certificates in healthcare sustainability and digital product management. There\u2019s also a new business analytics master\u2019s, with exciting machine learning courses and an analytics lab. In addition, students can pursue a new dual-degree program with urban studies and planning.<\/em><\/p>\n

Is there anything that potential applicants get wrong about Sloan? Are there any misconceptions out there?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The main one that comes to mind is that a candidate must be a highly technical person. This myth persists because of MIT\u2019s reputation. But just like other MBA programs, they\u2019re looking to build a diverse class every year. The AdCom believes that if a candidate has been successful in one area or industry, they have the skills to be successful in another.<\/em><\/p>\n

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What is the MIT Sloan admissions committee looking for in applicants?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This is a tricky question we\u2019re constantly trying to answer because it\u2019s the hardest thing to explain and describe. But the admissions staff are looking for candidates with a special spark. It\u2019s a special something they know when they feel and see it. It\u2019s what you feel in your gut.<\/em><\/p>\n

The admissions committee uses the application to learn more about specific personal attributes and better understand a person\u2019s professional successes. As I said earlier, it\u2019s as important how you\u2019ve accomplished something and with whom as what that something is.<\/em><\/p>\n

They look for how you lead and influence others, how you treat people, how you respond to uncertainty, and how you think. Like other programs, the Sloan AdCom wants to understand your purpose and confirm that you know it, too.<\/em><\/p>\n

The MIT Sloan application has a unique way of drawing out that information from applicants. Instead of a traditional essay prompt, the school asks candidates to submit a cover letter under 300 words. That\u2019s not a lot of space. How should an applicant approach this?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You need to keep in mind the purpose of a cover letter: to sell yourself to the person reading it. So, consider your audience. They don\u2019t know you. And so, the cover letter is a way for them to get to know you better. The letter should focus on your professional success, who you did it with, what was challenging, and how you overcame those challenges.<\/em><\/p>\n

The letter is not about telling the whole story of your resume. It\u2019s also not about what you want to get from Sloan. It\u2019s about what you have to offer them and how you have added value in your work so far.<\/em><\/p>\n

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MIT Sloan also gives candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves to their future classmates in a 60-second, single-take video. What is your advice here?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Like you use the cover letter to tell your professional story, you can use the video to tell a personal story. Use it as an opportunity to weave in your passions, interests, and purpose. That way, they get a real sense of the energy you bring, your presence, and your attitude. You can focus on one interesting story, or some people use a broader brush.<\/em><\/p>\n

Avoid talking too much about your goals because they\u2019re not asking about that in either component. That\u2019s where people often go wrong. They start going down the road of talking about their goals, which takes away from talking about themselves, which is what MIT wants to hear about.<\/em><\/p>\n

Think about the story you can tell that will be memorable. The admissions committee will read your application and then look at the video. That\u2019s the last thing you leave them with, your last opportunity to make an impression. So, you want to think about the best way to make a good one.<\/em><\/p>\n

What are your thoughts on the optional short-answer question? It asks how the world you come from has shaped who you are and your identity.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I\u2019m so glad that something like this has been added to the application. In prior years, the application lacked a place for people to reveal those parts of themselves. While it is optional, I genuinely think everyone has something to share for this question. Take advantage of the opportunity to share something about your personal story.<\/em><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s a chance to demonstrate self-awareness and show you\u2019ve reflected on the people and experiences that shaped and influenced you. It\u2019s a way to tell them interesting things, whether it\u2019s about your cultural background or that you\u2019re a first-generation college student. Anything that influences how you see the world is fair game.<\/em><\/p>\n

Everyone has something special or unique about their background that the admissions committee will only know if you share it with them. We\u2019ve all been shaped by our background and the people in our lives. So definitely don\u2019t leave it blank and use it as an opportunity to reflect. You bring your whole self to the program, so you must share your whole self in the application.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Sloan application also asks applicants to submit an organizational chart, often stressing people out. What is Sloan looking for in these organizational charts?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s a link to a sample where you can see that it\u2019s very simple and, therefore, okay to keep this application element straightforward. You don\u2019t have to be a graphic artist to do this assignment! It\u2019s okay to be basic. Use PowerPoint or whatever works for you. You can use color to ensure they can quickly find you and your recommenders within the organization.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Sample Organizational Chart from MIT Sloan School of Management<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just think of it as a way for the eye to follow it fast and skim it like everything else. They\u2019re looking for a visual understanding of where you sit within your organization or unit\u2014what are the relationships up and down the chart around you. So, it needs to make sense and look pleasing, but it doesn\u2019t have to be a work of art.<\/em><\/p>\n

How does Sloan handle interviews? What is it looking for during these exchanges?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Interviews are by invitation only and conducted by Sloan\u2019s staff, which is not true for all programs. They\u2019re looking for reasons to admit you when they come into that interview. So, they want you to share new examples you didn\u2019t discuss in your application. And anything that can highlight your personal attributes and competencies more than they already have.<\/em><\/p>\n

They want to know if you\u2019re an interesting and engaging person to talk to. Are you likable, friendly, and humble? Most of all, they want more new information they can take back to the committee.<\/em><\/p>\n

As far as interview performance goes, you need to show up as your best self because they will assume that\u2019s how you always show up. If you\u2019re off that day, they will wonder if that is the norm. But remember, people are often their own worst critic. You may feel like you bombed the interview, but your interviewer might have had a totally different experience. Again, they\u2019re looking for more reasons to admit you, so think of yourself going into the interview as a winner.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Unlike many other MBA programs, Sloan asks for only one recommendation letter plus the contact information for two additional references. Who should the applicant pick when it\u2019s obviously such an important part of their overall package?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This is no different from any other program, and the best person to use is typically your current and most recent supervisor\u2014someone who knows your work best and can talk about your accomplishments and abilities in detail. AdCom will go to the references if they don\u2019t get what they want or need from the recommendation letter, which makes that recommendation choice more crucial.<\/em><\/p>\n

Still, choosing these references wisely is essential because you\u2019re demonstrating that you have many good options to pick from, not just one person. This isn\u2019t the place to choose colleagues, friends, or alumni who barely know you. Choose former managers and supervisors who can also speak to your abilities if called.<\/em><\/p>\n

Any final thoughts for applicants considering MIT Sloan School of Management?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Sloan is a fantastic place full of down-to-earth people who want to work on cool ideas to improve the world. They\u2019re looking for community-minded, humble people with a clear sense of purpose and passion. Sloanies and MIT people are a nice bunch of people and want their culture to stay that way.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

We thank DeeDee for sharing all of this helpful advice with our readers and encourage you to visit the MIT Sloan School of Management admissions website<\/a> to learn more about the program.<\/p>\n

Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership<\/a>\u00a0to test prep to hourly help with targeted tasks. Contact us today for a\u00a0free 15-minute advising session<\/a> to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.\u00a0<\/em>Here\u2019s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on\u00a0our SBC team<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The post Advice for MIT Sloan MBA Applicants<\/a> appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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