{"id":62016,"date":"2024-03-05T13:45:28","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T20:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/talking-about-your-accomplishments-in-mba-applications\/"},"modified":"2024-03-05T13:45:28","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T20:45:28","slug":"talking-about-your-accomplishments-in-mba-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/talking-about-your-accomplishments-in-mba-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking About Your Accomplishments in MBA Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Accomplishments<\/p>\n

Many MBA hopefuls who have come to this blog for guidance feel uncomfortable talking up themselves in their B-school applications. They know their worth but are humble about shouting their successes from the rooftops. While humility is admirable, the fact is that you must talk about your accomplishments in MBA applications. How else can you convey what differentiates you<\/a> from other candidates? The goal is to lose some of that awkwardness when tooting your own horn\u2014without veering into obnoxiousness. So, let’s dive into how you can do that in different parts of the application.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Curious about your chances of getting into a top b-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a\u00a0free 15-minute advising session<\/a>\u00a0with an SBC Principal Consultant.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Promoting Accomplishments in the MBA Resume<\/span><\/h3>\n

As we often stress,\u00a0<\/span>your resume<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is arguably the most crucial part of your MBA application package. You have one page to communicate what makes you stand out from the pack. Fortunately, that limited space can work for you when it comes to making blunt statements that would sound boastful in a conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The cardinal rule for resumes is to quantify accomplishments and shift the focus toward achievements over responsibilities as much as possible. For instance, if you led a project that resulted in cost savings or increased revenue, emphasize those hard numbers. Always include leadership skills, too, because they demonstrate your ability to make impactful decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was kind of obsessed with the fact that I wasn’t a\u00a0<\/span>typical MBA candidate<\/span><\/a>,” says SBC consultant and\u00a0<\/span>B-Schooled co-host Chandler<\/span><\/em><\/a>. “To get around that, I specifically formatted my resume to highlight the quantifiable results I’d driven.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“I put a big focus on quantifying successes not only in terms of dollars raised or children reached, but also in terms of how I performed relative to the goal, relative to expectations, and relative to performance in previous years.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlighting specific examples of organizational impact is a terrific way to boost your profile’s appeal significantly. Mention how you streamlined processes resulting in efficiency gains or developed strategies leading to market expansion. These instances showcase problem-solving abilities and capacity for strategic thinking\u2014both highly valued traits within business schools’ context.<\/span><\/p>\n

As these examples show, your resume is where you can pull off being direct when stating your accomplishments because that’s what the admissions committee expects. (The data form, with its character limits, is another place where conciseness is a must.)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bragging by Proxy\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

A prime place for touting your accomplishments in MBA applications is through your recommendation letters. But don’t assume your recommender will remember all your glowing achievements. They also may not know what schools seek in letters of recommendation.<\/span><\/p>\n

To help them get started, create a bullet-point list of the projects you have worked on. Next, give them an outline of your strengths that goes into more detail than your resume. You want your recommenders to read this document, so keep it to one page and don’t overload them with information. It should be a quick, helpful reference.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, decide on four or five characteristics you would like them to emphasize throughout the letter. For example, think of leadership, teamwork, creative thinking, determination, focus, intelligence, charisma, and integrity. Finally, develop at least one concrete example that illustrates each characteristic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, if you have a stellar accomplishment that feels too “braggy” to mention yourself, let your recommender do the heavy lifting! For example, if you were:<\/span><\/p>\n