The 30 Commandments Of The MBA Admissions Game

  • Thou shall have multiple essay/application reviewers: One set of eyes cannot catch everything. Whether you use friends who are current (or former) MBA students or you  hire a consultant, get multiple sets of eyes that know what they are doing to ensure that your application is top quality.
  • Thou shall start an MBA blog: So here’s my soap box about MBA blogging: Do it because I said so….ok, ok…I know that blind following doesn’t really work well for exceptionally bright people like you, so here’s my actual rationale. For starters, the people who are commiserating with you through this process will become a huge source of encouragement and confidence should you begin blogging (and they really like your blog). I personally believe that there is just something magical about having people on your side; rooting for you. In my case, my blog attracted Cheetarah1980, the person who is most singularly responsible for the envious position that I am in at this point in the  admissions process. While I had several other friends who also invested hours of their time helping me (and I thank each of you!), she literally invested months reviewing my material–not because she had the time, because she didn’t. It was because she read my blog and saw a person that she began to root for. The same was the case with Linda Abraham of Accepted.com and Kofi Kankam of Admit Advantage. While I was not their client, they rooted for me and gave me about as much advice as one could every hope for short of the full monty that their actual clients get when they invest in their services. I can’t tell you who might reach out to you. It is likely to be a completely different set of people than those who reached out to me. It is impossible to guess who will buy your story and seek to help you out. What I do know, however, is that no one will buy a story that they aren’t aware of because you’ve failed to share it. Blog through your MBA application experience. At the very least, it will provide a great sense of catharsis for you.
  • Thou shall apply as early as possible: Statistically, more people apply during Round 2 than during any other round. There is, however, a bigger reason to apply on the earlier side of admissions: managing the logistics of your applications, any acceptances and finances. When you go for the gusto during round one, you will generally know by Thanksgiving whether you need to tee up for another round. If you wait until the second round and blow it, then you’re probably toast. Additionally, earlier acceptances take the pressure off should you decide to move ahead with R2; and in the event that you are accepted to somewhere you want to go, you’ll have that much more time to not only save money but devote your finances to locking things down with the school of your choice (admit weekend, deposit, summer plans, moving, etc.).
  • Thou shall not apply in round 3 without an Olympic medal, performance at Carnegie Hall or cure for cancer on thy CV: At this point, schools are simply rounding out their classes. While I’m sure that there are examples of non-exceptional (in relation to their peers, at least) applicants who were admitted during R3, the odds are insurmountable. Besides, being late to the party is NOT a great habit to begin your business school career with. I”m just saying.
  • Thou shall not assume thyself the exception to the rule: Yes, there is someone at HBS with a 2.8 GPA and a 620 GMAT; but please don’t toy with your own emotions by putting a lot of effort into trying to be that one. Your GPA is something that you can no longer do anything about; yet things like your GMAT, work performance, etc. are all things that you can push upward prior to submitting your application. Don’t even bother being inspired by those 1-off “exception to  the rule” stories of people with Phoenix stats who ended up at Wharton instead. You’re smart. You’re capable. Do what you need to do to build a competitive profile. If you are unsure about what it means to do that, then you might be an excellent candidate for hiring an admissions consultant.
  • Thou shall play nice in the MBA sandbox: Avoid being a jerk on various MBA blogs and forums like Poets&QuantsBeatTheGmat and GMAT club. Most of the people on each of these sites (and others like them) are working their butts off to try and get into the school of their dreams–or at least something close to that. If you don’t tend to be the type who is open-minded when it comes to accepting diverse perspectives that may contend with yours, then b-school probably isn’t the place for you anyway. Instead, try med school or some other environment where they deal with absolutes. You’d like it there. There is almost always a “right” and a “wrong” answer that no one is allowed to disagree with.

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