One of the most common application mistakes applicants make is that they write what they think the adcom readers want to hear, and not about what the applicants actually think is important. But friends, family, forums, and frequent flyers are always telling you to write something extraordinary, right? How are you supposed to relate your…
MBA Admissions A-Z: Q is for Quantitative Skills
5 Ways Poets Can Overcome Quant Quandaries Schools want to see evidence of quant skills. They want to confirm your ability to handle the demands of a rigorous program. For liberal arts majors who haven’t taken math since high school, the quant score on the GMAT takes on greater importance because it can be the…
MBA Admissions A-Z: S is for Story
All You Need is a Story You’re writing an application essay that you hope will grab the attention of your admissions readers and convince them that you are top b-school material. Which of the following do you think is the most effective MBA essay strategy? Construct a theoretical analysis of the importance of leadership. Create…
MBA Admissions A-Z: E is for Essay
Next up in our MBA Admissions A-Z series is E for Essay, a topic on which we could very easily write an entire book. (Hey – we DID write an entire book. Scroll down for details.) Here we are going to focus on 4 critical MBA admission essay mistakes. Make sure that your essays DON’T…
MBA Admissions A-Z: E Is For Essay
4 Common MBA Application Essay Mistakes Here we are going to focus on 4 critical MBA admission essay mistakes. Make sure that your essays DON’T include any of these: 1. Buzzwords Try this on for size: “I plan on penetrating the B2C e-commerce bubble by starting my own synergistic company. Additionally, I want to lead…
MBA Admissions A-Z: G is for GMAT
GMAT & MBA Admissions: True or False? It’s time to test your GMAT knowledge. How much do you know about this important b-school entrance exam? 1. The GMAT is one of the first elements in your application the adcoms will look at. True. While the GMAT is not always the determining factor for admission, it…
MBA Admissions A-Z: A is for Aspirations
Welcome to Accepted’s newest MBA admissions tip series, MBA Admissions A-Z. Get ready for 26 fantastic tips! Let’s begin with defining your MBA goals and aspirations. What is the Difference between a Goal and an Aspiration? A goal is something that you plan to do or accomplish in a particular timeframe. One way to look…
MBA Admissions A-Z: E is for Essay
Next up in our MBA Admissions A-Z series is E for Essay, a topic on which we could very easily write an entire book. (Hey – we DID write an entire book. Scroll down for details.) Here we are going to focus on 4 critical MBA admission essay mistakes. Make sure that your essays DON’T…
MBA Admissions A-Z: J is for Jigsaw Puzzle
Let’s take a look at all the elements that go into creating an MBA application: There’s your GPA, your transcripts, your GMAT, a resume, your letters of recommendation, all those boxes and forms on the actual application page, and finally, your MBA application essays. Creating Your Unique Puzzle One way we like to view all…
MBA Admissions A-Z: L is for Leadership
What does it mean to be a leader? Can leadership be measured by the number of awards you accumulate? Do you need an official job title (like Head of X or VP of Y) to prove you can lead? Here are some of my thoughts on what it means to be a leader and the…
MBA Admissions A-Z: M is for Motivation
A good application essay is comprised of both anecdote and analysis, the what and the why of your personal experiences. Telling a straight story (anecdote without analysis) will leave your essay flat, with no depth or insight into your character or motivations; on the other hand, an essay that rattles on about the why but…
MBA Admissions A-Z: N is for No Lies!
You’re a grownup – you don’t need to be told that lying is wrong…or do you? This kindergarten precept often needs reviewing when MBA applications roll around. Even the most honest of applicants sometimes fall prey to the sinister temptation of the Little White Lie – “Okay, so I worked there for ALMOST a year…
MBA Admissions A-Z: P is for Proofreading
You want to make sure your MBA application essay has no errors, so you run spell check on your computer, get rid of all those squiggly red and green lines, save your essay as FINAL, and then submit. But wait! Your essay isn’t really complete until you do a solid job proofreading…with your eyes and…
MBA Admissions A-Z: D is for Distinctive Writing
We’ve touched upon ways in which to highlight your uniqueness in “Be Yourself” (B in our MBA Admissions A-Z series). There we talked about the importance of expressing what you’re truly passionate about rather than simply enumerating those things that you think the adcom want to hear. Writing about your passions, as well as your…
