Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Apr 2511:00 AM EDT
-01:00 PM EDT
Looking to secure a coveted spot at a top business school? Our team of seasoned MBA admissions consultants, including top B schools alumni and industry leaders, is here to help turn your dreams into reality. Let’s kick-start your journey to success!
Apr 2908:00 PM EDT
-09:00 PM EDT
Join us for a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with Juno’s Co-Founder, where we’ll break down everything you need to know about financing your MBA in today’s rapidly changing landscape.
Apr 3010:00 AM EDT
-11:00 AM EDT
Applying to business school from a finance background? Personal MBA Coach is here to help with this quick tips video on how to set yourself apart during the MBA application process!
Apr 3010:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
Sia Admissions Founder Susan Berishaj will walk through why reach/target/safety produces the wrong list for many specific profiles, how admissions committees at different programs read the same background differently, and more...
Apr 3012:00 PM EDT
-01:00 PM EDT
Starting at $975 and offering up to $545 of savings, our new Amplify Hourly Packages offer structure and support in certain high-value areas (story development, resume, essays, interviewing) to help get your applications across the finish line.
Apr 3009:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
Thinking about PE/VC? Most consultants are. Few actually make it. Learn how to position your profile, build the right skills, and break into Private Equity & Venture Capital.
May 0108:30 AM EDT
-09:15 AM EDT
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
May 0108:00 PM PDT
-09:00 PM PDT
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
21 Jun 2019, 10:01
Kudos
Bookmarks
I often see business school candidates begin their application by diving straight into the essay questions. Why is the school asking these questions? How should I respond? What are my best examples to answer these questions? What will impress the Admissions Committee?
Let’s push the pause button. I know this will come as a surprise but essays are not the end all and be all of the business school application. Don’t get me wrong: well-written essays are incredibly important – but they should be considered as part of a holistic application strategy, rather than as a stand-alone deliverable.
Business school admissions committees want to understand who YOU are. They want to understand what makes you different. They want to see how you will differentiate yourself from the multitude of other candidates with similar profiles, as well as to understand how well you will fit into their class.
The first thing I do when I start to work with candidates is to ask them to put the applications aside. Together we discuss what makes them tick and how they want to represent themselves to a business school. In other words, we figure out how they should market themselves.
When a company decides to bring a new product or service to market they don’t go straight to the distribution channels. The company first figures out what the product or service stands for - and how it is differentiated from similar products / services available. This strategic decision enables them to create the product, price the product, market the product, and distribute the product. Why should a customer buy Colgate toothpaste instead of Crest? There is a strategy behind every decision that pushes a customer towards Colgate.
The business school application is no different. Essays are just one of a number of touchpoints (resume, recommendations, short answers, etc.) that allow a candidate to showcase their profile. Without a strategic direction and a clear positioning, an essay may be strong – but it might not work for the candidate.
Let’s take an example.
Wharton’s second essay is “Describe an impactful experience or accomplishment that is not reflected elsewhere in your application. How will you use what you learned through that experience to contribute to the Wharton community?”
I’m sure anyone reading this has a number of impactful experiences or accomplishments. The question I ask my Clients to think about is which example will best help them and why? Will it show the Admissions Committee that a perceived weakness is actually a strength? Will it tell a story about a candidate that makes them standout?
Let’s look at two hypothetical examples:
Example 1:
Candidate X graduated with a B.A. in psychology four years ago and now works at an art gallery. His most impressive accomplishment (according to his supervisor) was generating the most revenue of any junior associate in the past ten years by convincing an indecisive Client to purchase a masterpiece.
Is this impressive? Yes. Does it show leadership? Yes. Does it show persuasion? Yes. Does it show impact? Yes? Does it help the Client? Yes.
Then what’s missing? Well – this candidate is applying to a quant heavy program with no clear proof of analytical skills (he scored in the 70% percentile on the quant section of the GMAT). It would be better if he could find an analytic example. It must also show leadership, teamwork and impact – but this candidate would be better off allaying any concerns the school might have around an apparent lack of required skills.
Example 2
Candidate Y is a consultant with three years of experience. She was asked to step in as an Engagement Manager (leader of a project) for a ten week project – a role reserved for MBAs with a minimum of two years of experience. Is this a good example? Well . . .it depends.
This hypothetical candidate had dyslexia growing up. While in college she started a non-profit to help children who could not afford help and were suffering in school. She continues to lead this organization to this day and has secured over $500,000 in funding. This is a personal passion of hers and she spends close to 20 hours a week looking to grow this organization.
The first story is fantastic. It shows a lot of leadership and confidence on the part of her management team. However, the recommenders can speak to this. There is no other place in the application to speak to her non-profit, which is a more distinguishing part of her application.
In conclusion, focus on your profile and your messaging. Then figure out how to use each and every touchpoint (including the essays) in the best way possible to market yourself.
Let’s push the pause button. I know this will come as a surprise but essays are not the end all and be all of the business school application. Don’t get me wrong: well-written essays are incredibly important – but they should be considered as part of a holistic application strategy, rather than as a stand-alone deliverable.
Business school admissions committees want to understand who YOU are. They want to understand what makes you different. They want to see how you will differentiate yourself from the multitude of other candidates with similar profiles, as well as to understand how well you will fit into their class.
The first thing I do when I start to work with candidates is to ask them to put the applications aside. Together we discuss what makes them tick and how they want to represent themselves to a business school. In other words, we figure out how they should market themselves.
When a company decides to bring a new product or service to market they don’t go straight to the distribution channels. The company first figures out what the product or service stands for - and how it is differentiated from similar products / services available. This strategic decision enables them to create the product, price the product, market the product, and distribute the product. Why should a customer buy Colgate toothpaste instead of Crest? There is a strategy behind every decision that pushes a customer towards Colgate.
The business school application is no different. Essays are just one of a number of touchpoints (resume, recommendations, short answers, etc.) that allow a candidate to showcase their profile. Without a strategic direction and a clear positioning, an essay may be strong – but it might not work for the candidate.
Let’s take an example.
Wharton’s second essay is “Describe an impactful experience or accomplishment that is not reflected elsewhere in your application. How will you use what you learned through that experience to contribute to the Wharton community?”
I’m sure anyone reading this has a number of impactful experiences or accomplishments. The question I ask my Clients to think about is which example will best help them and why? Will it show the Admissions Committee that a perceived weakness is actually a strength? Will it tell a story about a candidate that makes them standout?
Let’s look at two hypothetical examples:
Example 1:
Candidate X graduated with a B.A. in psychology four years ago and now works at an art gallery. His most impressive accomplishment (according to his supervisor) was generating the most revenue of any junior associate in the past ten years by convincing an indecisive Client to purchase a masterpiece.
Is this impressive? Yes. Does it show leadership? Yes. Does it show persuasion? Yes. Does it show impact? Yes? Does it help the Client? Yes.
Then what’s missing? Well – this candidate is applying to a quant heavy program with no clear proof of analytical skills (he scored in the 70% percentile on the quant section of the GMAT). It would be better if he could find an analytic example. It must also show leadership, teamwork and impact – but this candidate would be better off allaying any concerns the school might have around an apparent lack of required skills.
Example 2
Candidate Y is a consultant with three years of experience. She was asked to step in as an Engagement Manager (leader of a project) for a ten week project – a role reserved for MBAs with a minimum of two years of experience. Is this a good example? Well . . .it depends.
This hypothetical candidate had dyslexia growing up. While in college she started a non-profit to help children who could not afford help and were suffering in school. She continues to lead this organization to this day and has secured over $500,000 in funding. This is a personal passion of hers and she spends close to 20 hours a week looking to grow this organization.
The first story is fantastic. It shows a lot of leadership and confidence on the part of her management team. However, the recommenders can speak to this. There is no other place in the application to speak to her non-profit, which is a more distinguishing part of her application.
In conclusion, focus on your profile and your messaging. Then figure out how to use each and every touchpoint (including the essays) in the best way possible to market yourself.
