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Demonstrate Leadership in Your MBA Application
Tweet Share on Facebook December 14, 2012 CommentWhen faced with any iteration of the leadership question on MBA essays, many business school applicants freak out because they think they have to come up with an example that is their greatest life or professional achievement. In reality, it's not about grand gestures or formal leadership titles. The goal is leaving a footprint on whatever situation you're in and doing more than a good job.
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How Reading Can Help You Get Into Business School
Tweet Share on Facebook November 30, 2012 CommentSetting aside time to read over the next few months is one of the smartest things you can do to enhance your candidacy for top-flight MBA programs. The broader your knowledge base, the more interesting you become to others, including the admissions committee.
The reality is that many candidates have not read a book for personal enjoyment or education for years, and they often don't consider MBA application season a good time to start. But when you consider the advantages of diving into some good books over the next several months, getting into a habit of reading is a no-brainer.
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Specify a Learning Agenda in Your MBA Application
Tweet Share on Facebook November 16, 2012 Comment"So, you want to go to business school. What exactly do you want to learn?" It sounds like a simple question, but MBA applicants often struggle with it. College interviewers might have asked about your intended major, but you could craft broad answers; in b-school everyone is a business major, so the messaging needs to be more defined.
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How to Master MBA Interviews
Tweet Share on Facebook November 2, 2012 Comment'Tis the season for interviews! This is the most unpredictable portion of the MBA application process, since every interviewer is different. The same interviewer may even react differently depending on his or her mood that day. For the lucky round one MBA applicants who have been invited to interview by their target business schools, here are several tips for preparing and guidance on what to expect.
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Striking the Perfect Tone in MBA Essays
Tweet Share on Facebook October 19, 2012 CommentFinding the right balance between confidence and humility is one of the critical challenges you will face in crafting your b-school essays and in delivering answers to admissions interviewers.
No one likes a blowhard, but at the same time, no one else is going to "toot your horn" in your MBA application either. It's all about your attitude, which will permeate your essays and set the tone for the way the admissions committee views you.
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Convince MBA Admissions Officials You’ve Done Your Research
Tweet Share on Facebook October 5, 2012 CommentAlmost every business school poses the question to applicants: "Why an MBA, and why this program?" Some do so explicitly on the application, while others pose the question during the interview stage. Either way, you need to know enough about the schools you are applying to so you can answer the question properly.
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5 Things to Weigh Before Applying to B-School
Tweet Share on Facebook September 21, 2012 CommentAll aspiring MBAs must decide how many and which business schools to apply to; the key is to be aware of where you are in the application "window"—or where you are in life in general.
The vast majority of MBA students are in their mid-20s to early 30s. Only a small portion comes directly from college, and only a few attend full-time business school in their late-30s or 40s. But even within the prime eight-year window—from 24 to 32—applicants should consider five issues when deciding where to apply.
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Strategize and Manage the MBA Recommendation Process
Tweet Share on Facebook September 7, 2012 CommentSome MBA applicants view recommendations as a part of the business school application process that can be put on auto-pilot. But make no mistake; even this part of your file will require a significant investment of time and attention.
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Highlight Extracurriculars in Your MBA Application
Tweet Share on Facebook August 24, 2012 CommentMany MBA applicants fear they don't have enough or the right type of extracurricular activities and community service to impress b-school admissions committees. Business schools do not assess candidates' extracurricular activities based on a numerical scale—three or more acts of demonstrated public selflessness certainly do not guarantee admission—but they're still an important part of the application process.
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In Your MBA Application, Be Authentic
Tweet Share on Facebook August 10, 2012 CommentYes, you're applying to business school, but you don't need to look like a business tool.
If you've doubled sales, you need to discuss that. If you've helped get a new technology to market, by all means share those details. If you've hired 100 people, you've got a great story there.
However, I've seen too many candidates attempt to convince admissions committees that they've done it all already. They believe that demonstrating their business acumen in every paragraph of their applications will overwhelm admissions officials through the sheer volume of evidence of their commercial genius. This is not the best approach.
