If you show desperation, your potential partner won’t find it attractive and even might wonder what you are lacking. The same goes for MBA admissions. The school wants to know your motivation. All of them have some variation of the Why MBA essay where you are required to capture unique aspects of the curriculum that are relevant for your post-MBA goals. You also get extra credit for mentioning at least one current student or alumnus interaction in the essay to validate the claim that you did the research. The extra effort in research is proof of your interest, but the application pool is filled with applicants who are looking at MBA as a shortcut for life’s ailments.
Many ask multiple alumnus to write recommendation letter despite school’s warning not to do so.
Many ask alumni to start parallel conversation outside the accepted protocol.
They assume that admissions work like a sale. You persuade through multiple channels. It might work if your parents have a building to donate but for traditional applicants, such ‘extra’ push to be noticed always backfires.
You are showing a lack of respect for the admission team’s rules and the worst - time.
I understand that desperation. Many are right in the middle of a recessionary trend in an industry or the toxic culture of a company or a country. They look at an MBA from the US as the only opportunity to be free.
Desperate times force many to do foolish things.
One Way to Show Interest
Will the admissions team remember you – the Indian or Chinese or British applicant who came all the way to visit the campus?
They might. Make sure that you strategically pass on this information.
I used to study movies and characters and noticed a big difference between movies that were mediocre and the ones with Nolan’s brilliance.
The revelation is strategically placed by the supporting cast in good movies while in the amateur ones the hero gives you a flashback.
So here is a 5-step process to show interest without being desperate:
1) Maintain consistent style of communication, email signature and frequency of interaction. Don’t over communicate or under communicate when you are showing interest.
2) There should be a genuine appreciation for the History of the School, and the reasons why you find the MBA program valuable. Drink the cool aid and it will show in the essay.
3) Be courteous to all school representatives including event organizers, admissions team, marketing team and even the alumni.
4) Prepare. Ask questions about current student’s strategy in leveraging the curriculum, navigating the job market and the power of networking.
5) Note down all the unique aspects of the experience – the interaction with the event organizer, the majesty of the halls, the quality of the class, the professor’s command over the subject, but most importantly what makes the school unique. Use the notes for your essays.
If you are waitlisted, a visit will show interest. Most waitlisted applicants are deciding whether to follow through with the communication or just let it go. Let alone visit the campus. In such rare scenarios – desperation works. But even in such visits, prepare. Ask smart questions.
You can stand out by sharing updates about your promotion, an improved GMAT/GRE score and even a client appreciation letter.
Take all the corrective steps but understand one thing – the best persuasion is in the work you show – the achievements you highlight in the resume, the stories you capture in the essay and the qualities supervisors highlight in the recommendation letter.
