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Application Advice: Know Your Why

Maybe you are unhappy in your current career, maybe you have just hit a plateau and want a role that is more challenging and fulfilling. For either situation, an MBA can help you make that transition. Before you dive into furiously filling out application forms and panicking about deadlines, you need to think about the Big Picture. Why are you seeking an MBA? What do you want to get out of the degree? To find the best program for you, you need to do some reflection and some research.

Holistic review

First, you need to understand the holistic review process because it helps to know how admissions readers and committees approach their work. For one, they are looking to admit people every time they review an application. They are looking for your strengths and to understand the complexity of your challenges and accomplishments. Use that to your advantage by giving them the information – evidence – they are looking for. The application tells a story and each element of an application should share new information about you as person and a professional.

Take Time To Reflect

The MBA job search starts with the application process, not when you meet with a career advisor for the first time. Through your essays, resume, and conversations with your recommenders, you will start developing your personal story, the narrative you will hone for conversations with employers and school alumni. Sit down and write three sentences that describe who you are and what you are good at. Make a list of your most interesting work projects, why they were interesting to you, and what you learned from them. Think about the defining moments and significant events and achievements (or failures) that shaped and influenced who you are and how you approach problems. What in your background defines your identity? What are you most proud of?

Do Your Research

The next step is to research programs to find the best ones for you. The right program is out there for everyone. There is a lot of information out there and it can be overwhelming, so start by making a spreadsheet keep track of what you like about each program. What factors matter to you? Location, cost, class size, course offerings, employer partners, reputation or rankings, etc. Choose a broad range of schools to apply to – cast a wide net – and identify reach schools, target schools, and backup schools and be realistic in those choices. You don’t need to attend an M7 school to find the success you want. Choose schools where you know you will thrive. Also, start thinking about financing early. Schools can be very generous, but no program is free. Know what you can afford to spend while you stop working for 2 years.

Make a Plan

Once you’ve determined what schools you will apply to, it’s time for application planning. Submitting successful applications is largely about planning and preparation. Open your spreadsheet and start a new tab to track application deadlines. When it comes to the actual application, give yourself plenty of time to work through each element. You are in control of the process until you hit the Submit button, so use each element strategically to share new information about yourself, emphasizing your strengths and accomplishments. Do the best that you can on the GMAT or GRE by taking ample time to prepare. If you are eligible for a test waiver, think about whether or not a strong test score would help you compensate for any other weaknesses in your application like a low GPA or poor grades in some classes or lack of quantitative coursework. Consider taking an online math for managers course with UCLA Berkeley or HBX Core or MBAMath. And get an A! Use the essays to tell your story, share information they won’t know from elsewhere in the application. Be strategic with your choice of recommenders and make sure they have the information they need to write you a strong recommendation. Take the time to revise your resume to fit the format they expect and use it to describe your accomplishments and how you have impacted your organizations and communities. To be clear: Follow the instructions!

Why This All Matters

Applying to business school is not a transactional process; it is a reflective process. Use the time to really think about what you have done, why you have done it, and how it prepares you for what you want to do in the future. If you don’t know yourself, you can’t expect any admissions committee to figure it out for you. Through your interactions with programs and through your application, you need to make a compelling case for why each program is the best place for you to succeed and how you will contribute to those programs. You have to be authentic, for sure, envision yourself in each program and really think about what they offer that you are excited to do. Also, make sure your goals are reasonable and achievable, build off of the skills and experience you already have, and know how they connect to your larger purpose: Why you are who you are and why you do what you do.

Focus on You

If it isn’t clear already, the best way to get through the application process is to keep the focus on you. You are only competing with yourself – your job is to show what makes you distinctly you. Don’t try to be someone else or what you think they want you to be. Stay off the forums as much as possible! Everything else is noise and will cause you a lot of stress and take your energy away from your process.

The application is not just a form – it’s part of the whole journey and it is the foundation for your success in your program. There are no shortcuts to get from Point A to Point B. You have to get in on your own merits, so you have to do the work to the best of your abilities. A rushed application rarely has a positive outcome. Getting an MBA is about knowing where you want to go. The process doesn’t start when you fill out the information – it begins with YOU.

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