Discussing Extracurriculars in Your MBA Application

When applying for an MBA, it’s important to have a well-rounded application.

But how exactly do extracurriculars affect your application and which activities can increase your candidacy?

Ilana Kowarski, a reporter at US News, recently spoke to experts on how extracurriculars affect MBA admissions and how compelling activities, like volunteering, can help.

HOW EXTRACURRICULARS AFFECT ADMISSIONS

Extracurricular activities certainly play a role in your application. But how much of a role do they have?

Phil Miller, assistant dean for MBA and M.S. programs at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, says while extracurriculars are considered, they aren’t a primary factor for admissions officers when reviewing applications. But that doesn’t mean they don’t matter.

“We review applications as holistically as possible and extracurricular activities provide a valuable sneak peek into what we can possibly expect from students if they join our community; i.e. engagement and/or leadership in student clubs and activities,” he tells US News.

WHICH ONES CAN HELP?

Having extracurriculars can help round out your application, especially if you’re looking to illustrate your candidacy past your GMAT and GPA.

But which kinds of activities can actually help?

Nicole Cornell Sadowski, director of graduate programs at the York College of Pennsylvania’s Graham School of Business, says that MBA applicants with leadership experience in an extracurricular activity can be attractive to admissions officers.

“These are valuable skills needed to earn the MBA, and can provide additional evidence of a student’s likelihood of success,” Sadowski tells US News. “Having a leadership role within extracurricular activities is a further plus, but not required to demonstrate impact.”

Leadership is a critical component when it comes to extracurriculars that can actually boost your candidacy, experts say.

“The most valued extracurricular activities present the candidate as a leader of impact and consequence, a person of initiative who makes a difference. Teamwork is also valued,” Linda Abraham, founder of Accepted, an admissions consulting firm, tells US News.

And if you have leadership experience in an extracurricular, experts stress the importance of being able to qualify your involvement when discussing it in your application.

“The key is to succinctly describe your unique contribution, learnings and impact from that experience – especially if you are describing a more common extracurricular like being a Big Brother,” Kristen Beyers, former Deputy Director of Admissions at Yale SOM, tells P&Q. “As long as you can show added value and prolonged engagement, then I don’t think it matters whether you’re volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters or a smaller, homegrown non-profit initiative.”

Sources: US News, Poets & Quants