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.
Studies by Drach-Zahavy and Erez (2002) on two groups show that when a task is approached as a challenge and not as threat, the performance increased for the first group while the second group performed at a significantly lower level, below their capability. The key reason attributed to this performance disparity was “Framing.”
Two framing approaches that were studied include:
1) Failure Focused
In a failure-focused framing, the candidate’s attention is on things that can go wrong, or the negative aspects of the goal. Although approaching the task by second guessing obstacles keeps you focused on the task, going slightly overboard by dwelling on obstacles can debilitate your confidence.
2) Success Oriented
With a success-oriented framing, the candidate values effort, and affirms the correlation between effort and success. Confidence level is high, and obstacles are approached with a problem solving mentality.
Ask Questions
After getting into a success-oriented mindset, approach obstacles as puzzles. Studies have shown that once you frame any problem in question format, we would be unable to focus on other tasks without finding the answer to the problem. You might go about your routine but the question will haunt you until sufficient effort is expensed on finding the answer. If you are struggling with GMAT Absolute Value section, frame the problem as a question.
How can I solve Absolute Value questions with 100% accuracy?
If you have started GMAT preparation, some answers will come straightaway but most likely, you will face several follow up questions:
a) How can I master the sign-reversal concept?
b) How can I understand the representation of Absolute values in a number line?
The framing question becomes an outlet for follow up questions, and a concrete plan.
About the Author
I am Atul Jose, Founding Consultant of F1GMAT, an MBA admissions consultancy that has worked with applicants since 2009.
For the past 15 years I have edited the application files of admits to the M7 programs: Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia Business School, together with admits to Berkeley Haas, Yale School of Management, NYU Stern, Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua, Darden, Tuck, IMD, London Business School, INSEAD, SDA Bocconi, IESE Business School, HEC Paris, McCombs, and Tepper, plus other programs inside the global top 30.
My work covers the full MBA application deliverable: career planning and profile evaluation, application essay editing, recommendation letter editing, mock interviews and interview preparation, scholarship and fellowship essay editing, and cover letter editing for funding applications. Full bio with credentials and admit history is here.
I am the author of the Winning MBA Essay Guide, the best-selling essay guide covering M7 MBA programs. I have written and updated the guide annually since 2013, which makes the 2026 edition the thirteenth.
The reason I still write and edit essays every cycle: a good MBA essay carries a real applicant's voice. Writing essays for F1GMAT's Books and Editing essays weekly is how I stay calibrated to what current admissions committees respond to.
Contact me for school selection, career planning, essay strategy, narrative development, essay editing, interview preparation, scholarship essay editing, or guidance documents for recommendation letters.