Getting In: The Best of Jon Fuller (The Sequel)

OVER 30 APPLICANTS

How Should I Position Myself If I’m Over 30?

“…Other things they’ll be looking to hear are your answers to the classic “why MBA” and “why now” questions. I’m wondering that a bit myself. They’ll also be curious about “why full-time MBA instead of part-time.”

“…that’s not to say that being older is a deal breaker with most programs in general. The main consideration is that it primarily puts more pressure on you to demonstrate fit to a school’s community, show that you’re currently and consistently active with extracurriculars, hobbies, and interests, etc…clearly articulating your enthusiasm about contributing to the school community.”

“…It might also impact the adcom’s impressions on the feasibility of your goals and how compatible you are with what consulting firms are typically seeking. While many management consulting firms are open to less-traditional candidates/career paths (like PhDs) in general, the recruiting path through the MBA route is a bit different.”

“…a fairly common advantage of being a bit older/having more work experience is you’ve probably been promoted a few times and you’re more likely to have had some leadership/managerial roles and responsibilities. That can help differentiate you from all of the other Indian candidates with a technical background. So being older isn’t always a liability!”

DON’T MISS: OVERCOMING B-SCHOOLS’ 20-SOMETHING PREFERENCE

 

MILITARY APPLICANTS

What Advice Can You Give to Military Applicants?

“Like most military applicants, you’ve had some rather compelling leadership and team-oriented opportunities; have overcome significant challenges; and so on. You won’t be the only military candidate, though, and these experiences and candidates can be challenging for adcoms to differentiate sometimes. What will help you be more memorable are your solid volunteer/EC experiences.”

“So as you enter in to the application experience, there are a few things for you to keep in mind . . . they really apply to any kind of candidate, but they can be especially important to applicants with military backgrounds.

First, be sure to translate your military experiences (in your resume, but also in your essays and eventual interview) into language that the adcom can appreciate and understand. Most applicants are coming from traditional business backgrounds and can readily speak to how they’ve impacted their company and/or clients in terms of improved profitability, productivity, etc. Start trying to think about your experiences in such terms, and also be mindful to strip jargon out of the presentation.

Second . . . it’s very important to figure out [why you want to get an MBA] now. As I’ve said many times, clear, realistic, and specific goals are key . . . you might not yet know definitively what you’d like to do post-MBA and are looking to the MBA experience to help you figure that out. Fine to tell me that, but it’ll be a red flag when it comes to the adcom. Adcoms know that most MBA employers will fall over themselves for students who are veterans, but you have to get in first, and conveying your goals well will make the adcom more enthusiastic about you.”

“…Generally, military applicants are sought after by MBA programs and are a bit more of a scarce resource. While the perspective is changing, I’ve typically seen that people coming out of the military see entering the civilian workforce as a more attractive/less risky proposition than jumping right into school. All if this is a good thing or you – your military background will initially help you to get your foot in the door.”

DON’T MISS: MILITARY MBA ENROLLMENT SURGES

 

CAREER TRANSITION

How Easy Is It to Make a Career Transition in a Part-Time Program?

“…it’s become more feasible in recent years to make a career transition via a PT MBA, but it’s still more challenging than going the FT route. Career offices have begun providing more services to PT MBA and EMBA students, but the machine is still mostly geared towards FT students – both at the schools and the companies hiring MBA talent.

You’ll have to tread carefully with this next suggestion if you’re still in the applicant phase, but this is also a perfectly reasonable question to ask them. See what current students (especially leaders/members of the finance club) and alumni say about their experiences, too.”

How Difficult is It for a Lawyer to Get Into Business School?

“…overall, it is an upward climb for most lawyers to be admitted to MBA programs in general and top tier programs in particular…in my experience, I’ve rarely seen lawyers effectively show how their skills/experiences are relevant and transferable to the MBA context and/or towards their intended career path. Many candidates also make the impression (albeit most likely inadvertently) that their primary motivation for getting an MBA is that they hate practicing law. While these kinds of things may not apply to you, it is a bias that will frequently greet your application.”

DON’T MISS: SHOULD YOU GO FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME?