In the second part of the interview, Cristina shares how the ESADE MBA Admissions team choose the ideal candidate.
How do you choose an ESADE MBA candidate?
Admission process: Candidates submit their application, which is then reviewed by the MBA Admissions Committee
• The Committee makes a shortlist of candidates who are called to an Official Interview. This may be held on our Barcelona campus, in the candidate’s region of residence, or exceptionally via video conference.
• On the basis of the interview, the Committee reviews the full application again and reaches a final decision regarding his or her admission. From the moment the candidate submits his or her application materials (GMAT scores, English proficiency exams, etc.), the process lasts four to six weeks in all.
• Non-academic qualities
In addition to fulfillment of the application requirements, the Committee asks itself three key questions about MBA candidates:
i. Do they show potential for leadership? In other words, have they raised the stakes in terms of challenges and levels of responsibility in the course of their career to date?
ii. Will they feel comfortable in the international environment of the ESADE campus? They are not necessarily expected to have spent long periods abroad, but it is definitely a plus if they have seized the chance to come into contact with a variety of cultures, languages and business environments.
iii. Do they understand the nature of the MBA program and the collaborative, teamwork-based learning environment at ESADE?
Successful candidates usually elicit an affirmative response to these three questions, although any other strengths they may have are also taken into account.
What are the academic criteria for joining the ESADE full-time MBA program?
The academic criteria considered in the ESADE full-time MBA admission process are the university studies GPA, the level of English and the GMAT or GRE grade.
These elements are not looked at on their own; they become part of the candidate’s application and are evaluated with rest of the application materials.
Essays are an excellent opportunity for candidates to draw attention to aspects of their personal, professional, and/or academic experience that are not covered elsewhere in the application. By answering the essay questions, candidates will provide the Admissions Committee with information about their reasons and expectations from the MBA at ESADE. We consider the motivation during the admission process, and special emphasis will be placed on it in the admission interview.
Through the interview, the Admissions team seeks to guarantee not only that the candidate will be a good fit for the program, but also that the program is the best fit for the candidate. It will also validate the candidate’s ability to adapt to a highly international environment and work in a collaborative setting, two crucial aspects to succeed at the ESADE full-time MBA.
Letters of recommendation will give the Admissions team third-party information about the candidate’s professional experience and his or her potential for professional development.
Reference
Esade Full-time MBA
About Cristina Sassot
Cristina is the MBA Admissions Director at ESADE Business School.