First impression leaves behind a permanent trail of prejudice in our mind. MBA Admission process offers several touch points for the AdCom, and, unfortunately, these interactions are subject to AdCom’s rationality in separating first impression from prejudice, and how impressionable they are at believing in Generalizations.
Here is how you manage first impression in each round
Applying for an MBA after your business has gone bankrupt does not have to be a weakness. Business schools appreciate innovation and entrepreneurship. The experience of starting and running your own company can be an interesting perspective you can bring to enrich the MBA program. Even the lessons learned from the failed venture can be worthwhile as well. There are some key questions on the minds of the admission boards when evaluating an entrepreneur whose business has failed.
First, they will evaluate the scope of the business (is this someone tinkering with a hobby or is this a real venture?) Then they will assess what you achieved (did you create a product that is being patented/raise funds from investors to expand the business or did the business not take off in the first place?) And finally, they will investigate why the business failed and the lessons you learned from the bankruptcy (are there holes in your skill set that you need to strengthen or did you make glaring mistakes that raise questions about your judgment?)
Confidence influence how you are perceived among the MBA Admissions team. It starts with your written words in essays, spoken words in Interviews, and most importantly the actions you took. A thin line separates arrogance and confidence, but you have to find the essence of your confidence before articulating what confidence means for you. In simple words, Confidence is the acknowledgement of your power – as an individual, and as a team player.
Learn how to use numbers to demonstrate confidence
According to a Gallop poll, only 28% of the workforce is actively engaged, rest of them are going through the motion, collecting paychecks, and a small fraction – 19% are actively involved in destroying the organization.
An MBA is not for the 19%, but it is likely that you are part of the 53% who are doing their job for the money.
If you confess again that post-MBA, you are likely to be in the 53% group, perhaps an MBA is a bad investment
Fuqua uses a tool called Talisma, Booth & Kellogg use a much sophisticated tool – ‘Slate’ to track all previous communication from MBA Applicants.
Business Schools are increasingly using these tools to measure eagerness or demonstrated interest in the program. They are preemptively measuring your motivation by using communication meta-data.
Read More
Applicants who had planned about positioning themselves as a distinct brand over 3-5 year pre-MBA time horizon tend to perform better than those who do 1-year pre-MBA image tweaking. By the time you are ready for MBA Application, there are two factors that you have no control: your reputation among Employers and the diversity of your experience. This article offers strategies for MBA aspirants with less than 2 years of experience.
Here are some traits that you have to develop for your Personal Brand
We approach challenges with one question – by the end of the task, will I gain or lose? The apprehension and unease is magnified when we approach high stake tasks – committing 1 year for MBA Admissions, preparing three months for GMAT, or revealing plans for MBA Admissions by inviting supervisors and managers for the recommendation writing process.
Here is a simple Method for better framing
Students with high IQ tend to be generalists, and ignore sitting for long hours preparing for any exam, and therefore the grades might not reflect their abilities. GMAT tends to level this discrepancy as the questions are in a multiple-choice format, and the concepts tested require comparatively less rote learning. Studies have shown that 20% of life success is contributed by intelligence; rest is influenced by Emotional Intelligence.
Here is why Emotional Intelligence is important for MBA Admissions
Anxiety is an all-common emotion when deadlines become part of our awareness. The deadline to prepare for the GMAT, take the test, complete the essay, pursue recommenders, and finally meet the Round 1 deadlines; all impact how we handle the stress of preparation. Develop the habit of writing down your action plan with clearly defined deadlines for each task.
The 1-Year MBA Admission process is a gamble, and uncertainties infuse emotions that can become unmanageable.
Understand how Environment, Perceived Threat, & Measuring Progress help us deal with the roller coaster emotional states
Willpower is the weapon that converts passion into action. It gives you the ability to push through tasks that you don’t enjoy. The tasks include shortlisting 5 schools from over 100 top MBA programs, creating a 3-Month GMAT Prep Plan or collecting resources for MBA Application essays; all essential tasks but most of them monotonous in nature that require greater concentration, and attention to details: two things that will drain your will power.
With each temptation that you overcome, willpower is depleted, leading you to a state that is vulnerable and ineffective. According to research, an average human being is resisting temptation 4-hours a day, overcoming the desire to sleep, eat, perform sex, use social media, or browse the web. Find out how to strengthen will power for MBA Admissions
The word limit for MBA Application essays has come down by 50%, and applicants are trying to find unique ways to express themselves. Most applicants are carefully planning how they present themselves by spreading out stories to different MBA admission rounds. The essays focus on the essential qualities – maturity, leadership, and effective communication while the interviews and group discussions allow aspirants to showcase their interpersonal and teamwork skills.
You might have often heard of comments like "Unless you have worked in a Blue Chip Firm, you are never going to get into a top business school"
Next time when you hear someone giving comments like that smile politely, change the subject or if the bad advice continues, find the nearest exit. Read More
The number one questions that MBA aspirants ask when they browse through hundreds of MBA Admissions Consultants emerging in the market every year is “Is it worth it?” That is an important question. If you invest in the wrong consultant, the loss is not limited to money but time, and a chance to get into a top Business School. Here are some best practices to pick the best consultant.
MBA Admission is a year long process with Business School Research, GMAT Prep, Essay Writing, Recommendations, Interviews, and Funding. The number of hours and the tasks involved in each stage of the process can be overwhelming. Here is a simple 5-Step process to handle the stress.
Although Business Schools would love to have A+ candidate, a class full of students who are in the pre-destined Finance and Consulting background would add very little value to the diversity of the class. AdCom is looking for students who have pivoted in their career.
Even if you are not a typical student with 3.5+ GPA and 720+ GMAT, your career choice till now can impress the AdCom. Find out how!
Most applicants I speak to spend a fair amount of time studying for the GMAT because they know it plays an important role in the admissions process. However, often applicants overestimate or underestimate the importance of the GMAT and the role it plays in the admissions process.
They want to get to know about you, your background, your goals, and how they can help you to reach them. MBA admissions committees don’t need to hear a script-worthy story, they just want to hear your story. Find out what admission committee wants to hear.
Q) I am a 26 years old Indian national , done Bachelors in Technology with 60% marks from a tier-2 school in India and Post-graduation(marketing & operation) from Symbiosis college(distance education) with 70 % marks. I am working as an import manager in a Steel Plant - Uganda(East Africa) for the last 5 years. The company I work for is not a well known brand. My job profile in this company is to procure the necessary raw materials for the plant from different parts of world. I deal with suppliers from almost 10 countries. Additional I know multiple languages- Hindi, English, French and Spanish. I have given GMAT and scored 760. What are my chances to get top business school like LBS/HBS. Will my low scores in grad school and the brand value of the company I work for affect my admission?
Stacy Blackman: I hope the following is of help. Regarding your low undergraduate record, I recommend you read this case study of a candidate who had a low GPA and was accepted into several top programs. It should give some insight into how you can address your grades.
Many students are opting to pursue their MBA abroad, sometimes traveling halfway around the world. Though programs outside of the United States may not prove the best option for each and every student, there are many reasons to consider this opportunity.
Going abroad for your MBA education does not require a sacrifice in quality. There are many top-ranked and highly selective business schools outside the United States. Learn more about top Business Schools outside US.
Dan Bauer(The MBA Exchange): Fortunately for applicants with less than ideal academic profiles, the MBA admissions decision process is subjective enough to give them a chance for success.
A dual degree may involve you getting either a Bachelors and Masters in the same program or getting two Masters degree at different universities. If it is the latter, then you will pursuing these degrees either at different schools in the same university or perhaps across 2 different universities . There are several dual degrees programs you can pursue along with an MBA such as a masters in urban planning, international relations, law, nursing, public health, journalism and engineering amongst others.