How To Tell If Your Round 2 Applications Are Strong Enough

It is hard to believe that there are less than 5 weeks left in 2021! This means time is running out to finalize your round 2 applications. Personal MBA Coach advises you to assess the strength of your applications NOW and find out what steps you should be taking to maximize your chances of success.

Below, we have shared the top 5 indicators that your round 2 applications are strong enough for submission.

1) You have crafted a winning personal story.

Articulating a successful personal story is a crucial part of the application process, and often one of the hardest. Personal MBA Coach suggests asking yourself the following when assessing the strength of your personal story:

Is your story focused and clear?
Will the reader walk away knowing who you are and what matters to you?

The admissions committee does not want to read over 1,000 words detailing a chronological flow of your life. If you feel your story might be too broad or is simply telling the admissions committee what you think they want to hear, it is time to revise. Think about what is most important to you and what led to your career and/or personal choices. Then, pinpoint a single idea that connects these together.

Next, consider whether your story is consistent throughout all of your application components. Your resume, essays, short answer questions, and letters of recommendation should all communicate the same general message. Any application inconsistencies will be an instant red flag!

Find out more about crafting a winning personal story here.

2) You have clearly articulated your goals.

Naturally, business schools want to know how you will make the business world better once you graduate and how you will leave your unique mark. So ask yourself if your career goals essay successfully does the following:

Connects your past career to your future goals. Whether you want to take your career in a completely different direction, make a slight career pivot, or return to your same company post-MBA to secure a higher role, it is key that you tie your past to your future.

Includes goals that are both attainable and focused. Your career essay should typically include a short-term and long-term goal, though of course pay attention to the wording of the question within a particular application. These goals should also be specific. While no one is going to hold you to what you write in your essay, it is important to carefully think through and convey your plan. Remember, to “get promoted” or to “gain business skills” are not strong enough goals.

If you are not quite sure that your goals are where they need to be, read our article on how to think about your MBA goals.

3) Your MBA resume sells your future potential.

As Personal MBA Coach often reminds candidates, a business school resume differs significantly from a professional resume. As you assess whether different components of your application are strong enough, ask yourself if your MBA resume provides evidence that you have been successful and demonstrated leadership.

If your MBA resume outlines your job descriptions, you have some revising to do. Instead, it should focus on the highlights, including results and transferrable skills that prove you will be successful in business school and beyond.

Want to know more about strengthening your MBA resume? Check out this article from Personal MBA Coach.

4) Your applications include specific information about your target programs.

Do your essays include school specifics such as unique classes, clubs, and programs that you are interested in? The admissions committee reads countless essays each year, and they can easily detect who is truly interested in a school versus who has crafted a generic essay.

If you have connected your background and interests to on-campus opportunities, business schools will recognize that you are genuinely interested in their programs.

5) You have prepared your recommenders.

Your recommenders are busy professionals who need ample time and information to write a strong recommendation. Particularly during the holiday season, it is important that you get this process started today in time for round 2 MBA deadlines (if you have not already done so).

Along with sharing your career aspirations and what you have written in your essays, do not be shy about reminding your recommenders of your successes. To ensure that your letters of recommendation shine, remind your recommenders to also compare you to your peers and others who have had the job previously.

Have you checked off everything on our application checklist?

If you have any doubts about whether your applications are strong enough while reading this blog, check out Personal MBA Coach’s services to find out how we can help!

About Personal MBA Coach:

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2 by leading sources including Poets&Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing, and mock interviews. Our team includes former M7 admissions directors and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last year, our clients earned more than $6.5M in scholarships!

Scott Edinburgh is a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan BS graduate and founded Personal MBA Coach 15 years ago with the goal of providing customized one-on-one support. Scott also serves on the Board of Directors for AIGAC, the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants, and is invited to speak at MBA Admissions events globally. Our clients have been accepted to all top schools globally with a 96% success rate. They received $6.5M+ in scholarships last cycle.