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MBAandBeyond
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MBA and Beyond Consulting
Joined: 13 Jul 2020
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,427
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Status:MBA Admissions Consulting from INSEAD, Wharton and Columbia graduates
Affiliations: INSEAD and Harvard
Location: Singapore
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Posts: 4,427
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How to Stand Out and Avoid Being a Copycat in Your MBA Application Updated on: 24 Jul 2024, 02:09
Originally posted by MBAandBeyond on 24 Jul 2024, 00:54.
Last edited by MBAandBeyond on 24 Jul 2024, 02:09, edited 3 times in total.
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Are you ready to apply to a business school? The most effective way of differentiating yourself is being real. Rather than imitating people, concentrate on your distinctiveness. Additionally, and more crucially, show the admission board members who you are in person and not just through great scores or resumes with this piece.

Here’s how to make your application shine by showcasing your true self:

  • Avoid Mimicking Others: Do not try to emulate the techniques used by your successful friends or colleagues’ applications. Each admissions cycle is different, and what worked for one person may not necessarily work for another. In addition, admissions committees seek diversity; hence, uniqueness becomes an individual’s greatest strength.
  • Point Out What Makes You Unique: Show how you differ from others. The personal experiences/achievements/perspectives you have are yours alone. Therefore, concentrate on them in your essays and other application materials to differentiate yourself from the others.
  • Be genuine: The admissions committee appreciates genuineness because they can tell between real candidates and those who try to be like everyone else. However, about your experiences/motivations, be honest and sincere rather than using hackneyed words that do not describe you as a person.
  • Reveal Your Innermost Motivations: Articulate your passions and what propels you with clarity. Is it a specific industry, turning point in life or a long nurtured dream that should be portrayed so as to make them understand why you are the right candidate for their program.
  • Ensure Application Material Consistency: Make sure that your recommendation letters match the story you have presented in your application. It is essential to select individuals who know you well and can genuinely speak about your strengths, personality, and accomplishments. By being consistent all through your narrative, you will come up with a coherent and appealing application.
  • Have Confidence in Your Uniqueness: Believe in yourself even if you are unique because business schools value diversity within their student population hence having different background may increase richness of this community.


Conclusion

Being genuine and always unique can help one on their way to MBA admission. Don’t emulate other students, rather try portraying a real and steady image of how one is at present and what they intend to achieve. In this way, not only does an applicant differentiate him/herself from others, but also shows another facet of his or her future prospects as part of an MBA class thus giving evidence about his/her appropriateness for such programs. Have faith in yourself; let your true voice appear through your essay while presenting your authentic personal details via application forms.


MBAandBeyond helps you highlight what makes you unique. Our expert team offers personalized support to craft standout essays and prepare for interviews. Ready to shine in your MBA application? Let us guide you through showcasing the real you.­
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MBAandBeyond
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MBA and Beyond Consulting
Joined: 13 Jul 2020
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,427
Own Kudos:
927
Given Kudos: 166
Status:MBA Admissions Consulting from INSEAD, Wharton and Columbia graduates
Affiliations: INSEAD and Harvard
Location: Singapore
Expert
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Posts: 4,427
Kudos: 927
How to Stand Out and Avoid Being a Copycat in Your MBA Application 24 Jul 2024, 03:34
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ScottParker1

MBAandBeyond
Are you ready to apply to a business school? The most effective way of differentiating yourself is being real. Rather than imitating people, concentrate on your distinctiveness. Additionally, and more crucially, show the admission board members who you are in person and not just through great scores or resumes with this piece.

Here’s how to make your application shine by showcasing your true self:





  • Avoid Mimicking Others: Do not try to emulate the techniques used by your successful friends or colleagues’ applications. Each admissions cycle is different, and what worked for one person may not necessarily work for another. In addition, admissions committees seek diversity; hence, uniqueness becomes an individual’s greatest strength.
  • Point Out What Makes You Unique: Show how you differ from others. The personal experiences/achievements/perspectives you have are yours alone. Therefore, concentrate on them in your essays and other application materials to differentiate yourself from the others.
  • Be genuine: The admissions committee appreciates genuineness because they can tell between real candidates and those who try to be like everyone else. However, about your experiences/motivations, be honest and sincere rather than using hackneyed words that do not describe you as a person.
  • Reveal Your Innermost Motivations: Articulate your passions and what propels you with clarity. Is it a specific industry, turning point in life or a long nurtured dream that should be portrayed so as to make them understand why you are the right candidate for their program.
  • Ensure Application Material Consistency: Make sure that your recommendation letters match the story you have presented in your application. It is essential to select individuals who know you well and can genuinely speak about your strengths, personality, and accomplishments. By being consistent all through your narrative, you will come up with a coherent and appealing application.
  • Have Confidence in Your Uniqueness: Believe in yourself even if you are unique because business schools value diversity within their student population hence having different background may increase richness of this community.


Conclusion

Being genuine and always unique can help one on their way to MBA admission. Don’t emulate other students, rather try portraying a real and steady image of how one is at present and what they intend to achieve. In this way, not only does an applicant differentiate him/herself from others, but also shows another facet of his or her future prospects as part of an MBA class thus giving evidence about his/her appropriateness for such programs. Have faith in yourself; let your true voice appear through your essay while presenting your authentic personal details via application forms.


MBAandBeyond helps you highlight what makes you unique. Our expert team offers personalized support to craft standout essays and prepare for interviews. Ready to shine in your MBA application? Let us guide you through showcasing the real you.­
­Hey, MBAandBeyond

Thanks for the post I have question How can applicants effectively balance showcasing their unique qualities while also meeting the general expectations of business school admissions committees?­
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­Hey, ScottParker1


Let your essays and experiences speak for themselves through your application. Nonetheless, don’t underestimate the power of strong academics, work experience, and leadership. You will have to align your work experience and USPs with the business school values. For ex: INSEAD values diversity. Try to showcase your work experience or create stories in a way that makes your diverse nature visible. You have shown diversity in the exchange of ideas and worked in a diverse culture. Weave in what makes you unique in meeting these expectations.­