Interview Invites in October should be the first feedback about your Round 1 efforts. If you have followed our Strategy of targeting at least 3, 5 to 10 ranked schools, and then use the feedback to target Harvard or Stanford, prepare with these 3 action items:
1) Analyze the Narrative that Worked
We are least likely to evaluate the reasons for success as the feeling of triumph often clouds our thinking, and applicants start assuming that it is not the essays, the recommendation letter, or the resume. It is all about the person. Rarely that is the case. There is something unique about the voice of the story that the admissions team liked. If you need help in analyzing your narrative and helping you target M7 or Top 3 MBA programs, Subscribe to F1GMAT’s Essay Editing Service
Once you have understood in consultation with Essay Specialists like us on what worked, it is very important to see if the same narrative will work for Harvard, Stanford, or other M7 MBA programs. The open-ended essays are the toughest to draft. It takes time and multiple iterations. Once you have some offer in hand, go back to the writing room and start drafting your essays.
2) Take on Challenging Projects
This might seem counterintuitive. The more challenging the project, the less time you have on writing essays, but with a challenging project, the supervisor can add new context, perspectives, and approaches that might not have been captured in the previous iteration of the recommendation letter. The competition is much higher for the Top 3 and M7 MBA. Use all the leverage you must to stand out from the competition. Make sure that you send a Thank you Note to your supervisor for taking time out of their schedule to fill out the forms and write the recommendation letter during Round 1.
Commit to the targets allocated by your supervisor. When you request the recommendation letter during the 2nd week of December, they will have enough recent memory to strongly endorse you.
3) Shorter Non-Profit Engagement
For applicants with consistent non-profit engagement this action item is not required but for anyone else who couldn’t dedicate weekends to volunteering, even a one-month engagement helping war-affected citizens or any assistance that is short-term in nature will enhance your chances. There are certificate programs conducted by national and international agencies with special focus areas like Education, Sustainability, FinTech, Access to Water, Improving Governance, and helping Small and Medium-Sized businesses with Digitization. Even your involvement at a strategic level is useful to showcase your community engagement.
For help with Planning your Round 2 MBA Application, Contact me, Atul Jose
