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What’s in it for you- Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with Jenifer Turtschnow, CEO ARINGO. Come with your details prepared and ARINGO will share insights! Pre-MBA Role/Industry, YOE, Exam Score, C/GPA, ECs Post-MBA Role/ Industry & School List.
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03 Mar 2025, 12:47
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If you are a college student with dreams of one day attending a top MBA, you should definitely be thinking about the unique 2+2 and deferred programs that many top schools offer.
And with the April deadlines quickly approaching, our team seems to be talking to many candidates who are doing just that. What are we telling them? Obviously, a huge part of any consultation or client engagement comes down to specifics particular to that individual. However, there are other broader things that we seem to be covering with everyone and that seemed worthy of sharing:
1. You are not applying for a merit award, so factor in the appropriateness and not just the worthiness of your pursuit.
The mistake that many college seniors make (and this is true of medical school as well) is they incorrectly assume they are applying for a spot in one of these top programs based purely on merit. You are NOT. Yes, merit plays a role - a big one. There are grades, test scores, experiences, and the like, all of which feed into the idea of earning or deserving an admit letter. However, another huge component of this process is whether or not the degree is APPROPRIATE for you. Appropriateness is critical in all MBA applications, but it is especially relevant here, as these deferred programs are going to ask of each and every applicant: "Why not just apply in 2+ years like everyone else?" So you have to spend a lot of time thinking about WHY THIS AVENUE. Why do you need to pursue this particular MBA right now? Why not just wait? We have some excellent methods for dealing with this question, but we like to hear from the client first.
2. Top MBA programs won't spoon feed you, so you have to build something from nothing.
Sticking with the theme above, these programs have set the application process in such a way that forces candidates to showcase maturity and readiness. There are no canned questions like "why are you seeking deferred admission?" Instead, you have to find ways within the essay set to speak to the timing, the way the program fits your goals, and also your ability to contribute to the class. There's no easy way to do this as it requires working off your strongest themes in such a way that not only defines them, but also uses them to propel your "Why 2+2" argument. Know this though: if you review your essays and you DON'T see a strong statement of "why this specific path" embedded in your answers, then you are in trouble. Likewise, if your essays feel like they are for a generic award program, you are in big trouble.
3. "Shape" your accomplishments so that you forward a thesis about who you are, not just a litany of things you've done.
Don't simply list off accomplishments in your essays. You want to show that your impacts and highlights build toward something. Work chronologically or in any other order that allows you to weave them together and reach a conclusion. "First, I did this within my community, where I was comfortable and took a chance on leading. Then, I went to college and did this, stepping out and pushing my abilities. Then, confident I could lead in any environment, I led a team to Bosnia to do X, Y, and Z." You want all your accomplishments to highlight leadership and highlight making an impact, but you also want to show that they were part of the building and defining of the essays subject: YOU.
There is plenty more worthy of discussing, but this seemed like a good place to start. If you're considering a deferred MBA program and would like to discuss your candidacy in more detail, please feel free to reach out to me at dhoff@amerasiaconsulting.com.
And with the April deadlines quickly approaching, our team seems to be talking to many candidates who are doing just that. What are we telling them? Obviously, a huge part of any consultation or client engagement comes down to specifics particular to that individual. However, there are other broader things that we seem to be covering with everyone and that seemed worthy of sharing:
1. You are not applying for a merit award, so factor in the appropriateness and not just the worthiness of your pursuit.
The mistake that many college seniors make (and this is true of medical school as well) is they incorrectly assume they are applying for a spot in one of these top programs based purely on merit. You are NOT. Yes, merit plays a role - a big one. There are grades, test scores, experiences, and the like, all of which feed into the idea of earning or deserving an admit letter. However, another huge component of this process is whether or not the degree is APPROPRIATE for you. Appropriateness is critical in all MBA applications, but it is especially relevant here, as these deferred programs are going to ask of each and every applicant: "Why not just apply in 2+ years like everyone else?" So you have to spend a lot of time thinking about WHY THIS AVENUE. Why do you need to pursue this particular MBA right now? Why not just wait? We have some excellent methods for dealing with this question, but we like to hear from the client first.
2. Top MBA programs won't spoon feed you, so you have to build something from nothing.
Sticking with the theme above, these programs have set the application process in such a way that forces candidates to showcase maturity and readiness. There are no canned questions like "why are you seeking deferred admission?" Instead, you have to find ways within the essay set to speak to the timing, the way the program fits your goals, and also your ability to contribute to the class. There's no easy way to do this as it requires working off your strongest themes in such a way that not only defines them, but also uses them to propel your "Why 2+2" argument. Know this though: if you review your essays and you DON'T see a strong statement of "why this specific path" embedded in your answers, then you are in trouble. Likewise, if your essays feel like they are for a generic award program, you are in big trouble.
3. "Shape" your accomplishments so that you forward a thesis about who you are, not just a litany of things you've done.
Don't simply list off accomplishments in your essays. You want to show that your impacts and highlights build toward something. Work chronologically or in any other order that allows you to weave them together and reach a conclusion. "First, I did this within my community, where I was comfortable and took a chance on leading. Then, I went to college and did this, stepping out and pushing my abilities. Then, confident I could lead in any environment, I led a team to Bosnia to do X, Y, and Z." You want all your accomplishments to highlight leadership and highlight making an impact, but you also want to show that they were part of the building and defining of the essays subject: YOU.
There is plenty more worthy of discussing, but this seemed like a good place to start. If you're considering a deferred MBA program and would like to discuss your candidacy in more detail, please feel free to reach out to me at dhoff@amerasiaconsulting.com.
