Business School admission team have the hard job of choosing candidates who have demonstrated a balance in academic rigor, professional growth, extra-curricular and volunteering experience. The most common reason for rejection in admissions is lack of experience.

With close to 25-35% of the applicants receiving interview invites for most top schools, interviews are a relatively easier hurdle to cross.

Any shortcuts – working 2-3 months and getting recommendation letter/experience certificate indicating 2-3 years of experience or made up stories on volunteering are revealed during one on one conversation.

While preparing clients during mock interviews, we reiterate the need to have at least 3 narratives on extra-curricular and volunteering with preference shown to experiences in the past three years. The more far off the applicant go back to cite involvement in the community, the more likely that they would face rejection.

Why School needs proof of volunteering?

According to a 2019 labor survey in the US, the lowest volunteering age was in the 20-24 age group with the highest in the 35-44 and 45-54 range. To break the trend, MBA Applicants who typically start their professional career at the age of 22 would have to break the stereotype, plan or emulate the ideals of their role model or parents. An applicant with no role models or ideals is tough to coach in an academic environment.

By demonstrating professional competence and social responsibility, you are demonstrating a unique combination of qualities. In our experience, continuous involvement in a non-profit is rare. Only a certain type of personality is rigorously giving their time for unpaid work. They are aware of the tradeoff. Nevertheless, they commit, partially to meet the standards of Ivy league schools and partly because they began to enjoy helping others.

If you are a non-American candidate, volunteering would be ‘the’ difference and for a good reason. Americans are the most generous culture in volunteering. The puritan ideals, and the step-up of women into the mainstream during world war 2, have exploded the number of non-profits in the United States. Despite moving around in the Global Giving index, the United States has been in the top 5 - consistently toppling the ‘nicer’ Canadians.  

On average, women in the US volunteer 6% more than men. So if you are an American male applicant, continuous involvement in one or two non-profits could be a key USP. For women applicants, low involvement in the community might deter your admission chances. Applicants try hard to break stereotypes, but there are some that need confirmation. We recommend women clients to emphasize their involvement in social causes.

Another reason for volunteering is that applicants with bachelor’s degree volunteer 12% more than associate or college graduates. The influence of your country, city and close-knit network is measured in your MBA admissions. The most consequential is the close network that you keep.

Volunteering is a key data on your potential and the network that the school could access.

#1. Student Clubs

Most student clubs are divided based on function, industry, travel, extra-curricular (music, acting, stand-up) and sports. The question is necessary for an MBA admission team to evaluate your potential contribution. One consistent reason for rejection in interviews is aiming too low or aiming too high. Any narrative that includes more than 3 clubs or only 1 club are good enough reasons for rejection.

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