Wildabout
The bottom line is that you know your story better than anyone else, and you are more vested in your story than anyone else. There are tons of great people to talk to and tons of great ins to read that can serve as points of inspiration for how to tell your tale.
I agree with this, 100 percent. No one will ever know your story like you. However, if you feel you need support in articulating that story and someone with a writing background (a consultant, a friend, a mentor or former teacher, whomever) can help in that way, seek that help if you think it'll make a difference. There really is no magical formula to this process. There are insights we can all glean, and some consistencies when it comes to applying to certain schools year after year, but that's about it.
The one thing we can ALL do is know that whatever happens, we did our best. We all spent hours studying, hundreds (or thousands) of dollars visiting schools and paying for app fees, slaving over essays and shaking one too many hands while collecting too many business cards. That's the gift and the curse of this process - it's hard work, but it is good work to do as practice for beasting the business world in the future.
I wouldn't take back the TWO years I've spent in this process for anything (I would gladly take back all of the money I spent, tho. I could've spent that money on a trip or shoes or something. #sideeye) We learn and grow while applying to business school, not just while attending business school, and I think that's pretty cool. It's like a bonus to have this opportunity to be self-reflective, something we don't always get a chance to do during our busy working lives.
So, let's all try to be super thankful this week that we are even afforded the opportunity to be in this graduation school process. We are all very fortunate.
Here's to those admits coming down the pipeline this week!!!