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MBA Admissions Tip: Community Service

This is the time of year when applicants planning to apply for 2007 should be assessing their strengths and weaknesses. Frequently, an objective assessment reveals that community service is not what the candidate or the schools would like to see.

To understand what community service is and its importance, please see "Why is Community Service So Important."

I am sometimes asked the following about community service:

  1. Is it a requirement at the top schools?
  2. If I haven't volunteered since graduating college because I am working a gazillion hours, would it even help me to start now. Wouldn't the adcoms see my community service as a ploy?

The answers:

  1. If you come from a country like the US where service is encouraged, then  service is almost mandatory at the top schools. Remember, community service has a broad definition, but some form of community service is important to your application's success.
  2. Many people applying to top MBA programs work a gazillion hours. And the most successful ones apply with some kind of community service. They are your competition. If you don't have it, start it. While yes, it would be better if you had a track record going back before April 2006, you can't go back in time. You can only start NOW.

For more tips on steps you can take now to improve your chances next fall, please see Best Practices for MBA Admissions or consider Pre-Season Consulting.

Click on the next link for more on community service in the MBA admissions process.

 

Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 02:13PM by Registered CommenterLinda Abraham in | CommentsPost a Comment

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