Answers to Top Questions: Applying to B-School – Part One

Question

Hi All,

Over my 24 years of advising candidates about various admissions processes, and my 10 years of running MBA Admit.com full-time as an MBA admissions consultant, I have received countless questions from candidates, and many of those questions have focused on similar topics of concern. It has been my pleasure to provide guidance to candidates and to also have my work cited in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Businessweek.com.

Below, I have posted some of the common questions I often receive about the MBA admissions process, and some responses to those questions. Whether a candidate is from the United States, India, East Asia, Europe, Latin America or elsewhere in the world, the topics below are issues of concern. I hope the responses help you as you progress on your MBA admissions journey.

Given how many questions there are and the lengths of the responses, I have placed each question as a separate post.

In this thread, I have covered topics including:
* what to do about a low GPA;
* what to do about a low GMAT score;
* the impact of MBA essays on your admission prospects;
* the impact of MBA recommendations on your admission prospects; and,
* prospects for admission upon re-application.

If you enjoy the posts, please give us a kudos (click on the +1 on the left)!

Please feel free to visit our website at https://www.mbaadmit.com.

With my best wishes,
Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Have you had cases when you believe an MBA recommendation was the main reason for an applicant’s rejection during the admissions process?

Yes, there have been many instances when candidates have come to me after they had applied on their own and were rejected, and I determined that a key factor in each rejection was the quality of the recommendations.

For example, several years ago a highly accomplished young businesswoman came to me seeking assistance after she had applied on her own and was rejected from a top MBA program. Her academic credentials (a Harvard college graduate!) and GMAT score were impeccable. Her work experience was solid. Her essays were good—not great, but much stronger than I typically see when a candidate has written them on their own, without formal guidance. Yet, she had not even landed an MBA interview! From this, I believed the main problem must have been with her recommendations.

I asked her to secure copies of her recommendations for my review. She had never seen them. When her recommendation writers forwarded to me their copies, my suspicions were confirmed. The recommendations were awful!

The very next year, we re-wrote her entire application, presenting outstanding essays and a compelling storyline. After receiving feedback from me, her recommendation writers also presented new, strong and supportive recommendations. This candidate was admitted to the same school from which she had been rejected the year before. Her case presents a clear example of the importance of recommendations.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Can one mediocre recommendation derail my entire MBA application?

Yes. Many candidates don’t realize how important the recommendations are to their MBA applications. In requesting two or three recommendations, the admissions committee has asked you to provide references, and you of course will go to the two or three people who you believe will comment most favorably about your abilities and achievements. What these recommendation writers report, therefore, can be key to your success or failure in the admissions process. If any one of those recommendation writers communicates to the admissions committee that they do not think highly of you, the admissions committee may be hard pressed to overlook this.

In fact, Businessweek.com quoted my insights about this topic, providing my advice to its readers along with the insights of the admissions directors of Wharton and the University of Chicago. Businessweek.com reported:

“It's important for recommenders to give a positive and up-to-date portrayal of the applicant. Admissions consultant Shel Watts explains that this can sometimes end up being the deciding factor because many top MBA programs pay special attention to the quality of recommendations. ‘Even if you have one that's mediocre and you are applying to a top school, you will get rejected based on that one recommendation,’ says Watts. She tells clients to be extra diligent in picking recommenders who respect their work and can attest to career growth in their new application.”

For the full article, see here: https://www.businessweek.com/bschools/co ... 660876.htm

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Have you had cases when you believe an MBA recommendation was the main reason for an applicant’s rejection during the admissions process?

Yes, there have been many instances when candidates have come to me after they had applied on their own and were rejected, and I determined that a key factor in each rejection was the quality of the recommendations.

For example, several years ago a highly accomplished young businesswoman came to me seeking assistance after she had applied on her own and was rejected from a top MBA program. Her academic credentials (a Harvard college graduate!) and GMAT score were impeccable. Her work experience was solid. Her essays were good—not great, but much stronger than I typically see when a candidate has written them on their own, without formal guidance. Yet, she had not even landed an MBA interview! From this, I believed the main problem must have been with her recommendations.

I asked her to secure copies of her recommendations for my review. She had never seen them. When her recommendation writers forwarded to me their copies, my suspicions were confirmed. The recommendations were awful!

The very next year, we re-wrote her entire application, presenting outstanding essays and a compelling storyline. After receiving feedback from me, her recommendation writers also presented new, strong and supportive recommendations. This candidate was admitted to the same school from which she had been rejected the year before. Her case presents a clear example of the importance of recommendations.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Can one mediocre recommendation derail my entire MBA application?

Yes. Many candidates don’t realize how important the recommendations are to their MBA applications. In requesting two or three recommendations, the admissions committee has asked you to provide references, and you of course will go to the two or three people who you believe will comment most favorably about your abilities and achievements. What these recommendation writers report, therefore, can be key to your success or failure in the admissions process. If any one of those recommendation writers communicates to the admissions committee that they do not think highly of you, the admissions committee may be hard pressed to overlook this.

In fact, Businessweek.com quoted my insights about this topic, providing my advice to its readers along with the insights of the admissions directors of Wharton and the University of Chicago. Businessweek.com reported:

“It's important for recommenders to give a positive and up-to-date portrayal of the applicant. Admissions consultant Shel Watts explains that this can sometimes end up being the deciding factor because many top MBA programs pay special attention to the quality of recommendations. ‘Even if you have one that's mediocre and you are applying to a top school, you will get rejected based on that one recommendation,’ says Watts. She tells clients to be extra diligent in picking recommenders who respect their work and can attest to career growth in their new application.”

For the full article, see here: https://www.businessweek.com/bschools/co ... 660876.htm

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Is it especially true that, when applying to the top-5 business schools, one lukewarm recommendation can derail an MBA application?

In the case of the top-5 MBA programs, the admissions committees want to hear that you are the best in your professional world. If any one of your recommendation writers indicates that you are not the best—just “second best” or just “fairly good”—the admissions committee may conclude that there is no compelling case for your admission.

So the long-and-short of it: one poor MBA recommendation can close the door to admission. Even a lukewarm recommendation can cause fatal damage, becoming a deciding factor in the admission committee’s choice to reject your application.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Have you had cases when you believe an MBA recommendation was the main reason for an applicant’s rejection during the admissions process?

Yes, there have been many instances when candidates have come to me after they had applied on their own and were rejected, and I determined that a key factor in each rejection was the quality of the recommendations.

For example, several years ago a highly accomplished young businesswoman came to me seeking assistance after she had applied on her own and was rejected from a top MBA program. Her academic credentials (a Harvard college graduate!) and GMAT score were impeccable. Her work experience was solid. Her essays were good—not great, but much stronger than I typically see when a candidate has written them on their own, without formal guidance. Yet, she had not even landed an MBA interview! From this, I believed the main problem must have been with her recommendations.

I asked her to secure copies of her recommendations for my review. She had never seen them. When her recommendation writers forwarded to me their copies, my suspicions were confirmed. The recommendations were awful!

The very next year, we re-wrote her entire application, presenting outstanding essays and a compelling storyline. After receiving feedback from me, her recommendation writers also presented new, strong and supportive recommendations. This candidate was admitted to the same school from which she had been rejected the year before. Her case presents a clear example of the importance of recommendations.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Have you had cases when you believe an MBA recommendation was the main reason for an applicant’s rejection during the admissions process?

Yes, there have been many instances when candidates have come to me after they had applied on their own and were rejected, and I determined that a key factor in each rejection was the quality of the recommendations.

For example, several years ago a highly accomplished young businesswoman came to me seeking assistance after she had applied on her own and was rejected from a top MBA program. Her academic credentials (a Harvard college graduate!) and GMAT score were impeccable. Her work experience was solid. Her essays were good—not great, but much stronger than I typically see when a candidate has written them on their own, without formal guidance. Yet, she had not even landed an MBA interview! From this, I believed the main problem must have been with her recommendations.

I asked her to secure copies of her recommendations for my review. She had never seen them. When her recommendation writers forwarded to me their copies, my suspicions were confirmed. The recommendations were awful!

The very next year, we re-wrote her entire application, presenting outstanding essays and a compelling storyline. After receiving feedback from me, her recommendation writers also presented new, strong and supportive recommendations. This candidate was admitted to the same school from which she had been rejected the year before. Her case presents a clear example of the importance of recommendations.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Have you had cases when you believe an MBA recommendation was the main reason for an applicant’s rejection during the admissions process?

Yes, there have been many instances when candidates have come to me after they had applied on their own and were rejected, and I determined that a key factor in each rejection was the quality of the recommendations.

For example, several years ago a highly accomplished young businesswoman came to me seeking assistance after she had applied on her own and was rejected from a top MBA program. Her academic credentials (a Harvard college graduate!) and GMAT score were impeccable. Her work experience was solid. Her essays were good—not great, but much stronger than I typically see when a candidate has written them on their own, without formal guidance. Yet, she had not even landed an MBA interview! From this, I believed the main problem must have been with her recommendations.

I asked her to secure copies of her recommendations for my review. She had never seen them. When her recommendation writers forwarded to me their copies, my suspicions were confirmed. The recommendations were awful!

The very next year, we re-wrote her entire application, presenting outstanding essays and a compelling storyline. After receiving feedback from me, her recommendation writers also presented new, strong and supportive recommendations. This candidate was admitted to the same school from which she had been rejected the year before. Her case presents a clear example of the importance of recommendations.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Is it especially true that, when applying to the top-5 business schools, one lukewarm recommendation can derail an MBA application?

In the case of the top-5 MBA programs, the admissions committees want to hear that you are the best in your professional world. If any one of your recommendation writers indicates that you are not the best—just “second best” or just “fairly good”—the admissions committee may conclude that there is no compelling case for your admission.

So the long-and-short of it: one poor MBA recommendation can close the door to admission. Even a lukewarm recommendation can cause fatal damage, becoming a deciding factor in the admission committee’s choice to reject your application.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Have you had cases when you believe an MBA recommendation was the main reason for an applicant’s rejection during the admissions process?

Yes, there have been many instances when candidates have come to me after they had applied on their own and were rejected, and I determined that a key factor in each rejection was the quality of the recommendations.

For example, several years ago a highly accomplished young businesswoman came to me seeking assistance after she had applied on her own and was rejected from a top MBA program. Her academic credentials (a Harvard college graduate!) and GMAT score were impeccable. Her work experience was solid. Her essays were good—not great, but much stronger than I typically see when a candidate has written them on their own, without formal guidance. Yet, she had not even landed an MBA interview! From this, I believed the main problem must have been with her recommendations.

I asked her to secure copies of her recommendations for my review. She had never seen them. When her recommendation writers forwarded to me their copies, my suspicions were confirmed. The recommendations were awful!

The very next year, we re-wrote her entire application, presenting outstanding essays and a compelling storyline. After receiving feedback from me, her recommendation writers also presented new, strong and supportive recommendations. This candidate was admitted to the same school from which she had been rejected the year before. Her case presents a clear example of the importance of recommendations.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

DrShelle · Answer

Dr. Shel Watts - Question and Response
https://www.mbaadmit.com

Have you had cases when you believe an MBA recommendation was the main reason for an applicant’s rejection during the admissions process?

Yes, there have been many instances when candidates have come to me after they had applied on their own and were rejected, and I determined that a key factor in each rejection was the quality of the recommendations.

For example, several years ago a highly accomplished young businesswoman came to me seeking assistance after she had applied on her own and was rejected from a top MBA program. Her academic credentials (a Harvard college graduate!) and GMAT score were impeccable. Her work experience was solid. Her essays were good—not great, but much stronger than I typically see when a candidate has written them on their own, without formal guidance. Yet, she had not even landed an MBA interview! From this, I believed the main problem must have been with her recommendations.

I asked her to secure copies of her recommendations for my review. She had never seen them. When her recommendation writers forwarded to me their copies, my suspicions were confirmed. The recommendations were awful!

The very next year, we re-wrote her entire application, presenting outstanding essays and a compelling storyline. After receiving feedback from me, her recommendation writers also presented new, strong and supportive recommendations. This candidate was admitted to the same school from which she had been rejected the year before. Her case presents a clear example of the importance of recommendations.

--Dr. Shel Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

lrogers85 · Answer

great thread

PTK · Answer

ShellyLWatts,

I would like to ask you about low GMAT score. I am an international student, my GMAT score is low due to verbal part. I am consistently scoring 47-48 in quantative section, while Verbal score is about 30-32.

I don't know whether I am competitive with a score for example of 630 (Q48 V 28) or 650 (Q48, V32). I am ACCA qualified (Europenian equivalent of CPA), and my GPA is quite good - equivalent of 91% percentile (we do not have GPA, but marks from 1 to 10, my mark is 9.1). 
I hesitate to apply to top-20 schools because of low GMAT score. 
The main question should I apply with GMAT of 630 or 650 or postpone my application untill I receive higher than 650 on the GMAT? Is it a big difference between 630 and 650 in my case?

Thank you a lot.

DrShelle · Answer

Hi Pkit,

My response is simply: it depends. That is, I would need to know more about your overall profile in order to know if you should apply with a 650. How long have you been working? What country are you from? Have you been promoted? Also, you would need to be more specific about what schools you are targeting - the top 20 list of MBA programs covers a large range of schools. Yes, you can potentially be okay with the lower part of the top 20, but I need to know where in the top 20 you are really aiming.

Best wishes!
Shelly Watts
mbaadmit@aol.com

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