How To Stand Out In The Application Pile

On Wednesday, September 3, rain is forecast in Boston. In fact, the campus at Harvard Business School can expect a deluge. So much so that Dillon House, which houses the MBA Admissions Office, will be ready with large buckets in anticipation of the downpour.

September 3 is Harvard’s first round MBA admissions deadline. Always the business school to launch the new season, the school will be inundated with applications from the latest generation of MBA hopefuls, each trying to convince Rupal Gadhia and her admission team of the value they would bring to the HBS classroom. And despite the latest headlines swirling around Harvard and US higher education, the vast majority of serious MBA applicants – many of whom have been strategically planning their applications for a year or more – remain undeterred.

Last year, Harvard’s tight-knit core staff handled applications from nearly 10,000 individuals, many of whom worked feverishly to put together a sparkling resume, competitive GMAT or GRE scores, an impressive biodata form, and compelling essays – all supported by the well-chosen words of their recommenders.

MOST APPLICANTS ARE PUT INTO AN OVERFLOWING BUCKET OF APPLICATIONS

But the buckets in Rupal’s office are not because of a hole in the roof. They are, of course, a metaphor for categorizing the professional backgrounds of applicants. And the challenge for the legions of strategy consultants, investment bankers, and software engineers that apply in droves each year to Harvard and the other leading business schools is that they are put into a bucket that is overflowing.

It is not enough for an applicant to demonstrate strong career progress at Bain, Blackstone, or Google. There are thousands of rivals, often from the same firm, with comparable profiles, experience, and professional accomplishments. Schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton are actively seeking diversity in the MBA program. They can afford to select the best of the best who will truly bring a unique perspective and contribution, both inside the classroom and in the community at large.

So your pedigree at a blue-chip consultancy, bank, or tech giant means you are competing with colleagues and peers from Palo Alto to Philadelphia to Paris.

SMART MOVES TO MAKE BEFORE YOU APPLY

My colleagues at Fortuna Admissions faced the challenge of building a diverse and balanced classroom when they were Directors and Associate Deans and Directors of MBA Admissions at HBS, Wharton, Columbia, INSEAD, Berkeley Haas, LBS, Chicago Booth, and other top schools. They are also aware of the strain such selectivity can place on the relationship between these important feeder companies, which are also major recruiters, and the schools, as the feeder companies are fighting to get more of their staff into the school.

So, what do they recommend if you have an over-represented background, that means you are in a bucket that may be flooding? Here is their advice to maximize your chances of admission:

Don’t count on an excellent academic background, GMAT/GRE, and professional experience to get you in. These are hygiene factors, and though vital to your chances, are unlikely to be the elements that set you apart.

Start planning your MBA sooner rather than later. The right time is when you start your career, especially if you are from McKinsey, BCG, or Bain and will be applying to b school within two years. This means being thoughtful about what you can do on a personal and professional level to make your candidacy appealing.

Seek out experiences that others will not have, such as unusual projects or sector experience, or international exposure. If this can also link to some distinctive career goals, so much the better.
Be clear in your application about what is unique about your perspective and what you bring to the table that other students won’t bring and that the school community will value.
Demonstrating sustained, long-term extracurricular involvement can truly set you apart. Candidates in especially demanding careers – such as consulting or banking – often have limited time for activities outside of work, which can lead to a weaker extracurricular profile. While they may have standout accomplishments from college, recent engagement may be lacking. That’s why showing a meaningful commitment to an activity over the past year or more (rather than a last-minute addition) can make a real difference. In a pool of candidates with similar career paths, authentic and consistent extracurricular involvement can highlight your initiative, balance, and leadership potential – and help your application rise to the top.

Build your relationships with your recommenders early. You need them to be willing to champion you and rate you extremely highly. A great deal of weight is given to the letters of recommendation. Who has written them? Can you get a recommendation from a very senior person in the office who knows you well? Is the recommendation formulaic, or does the recommender really see you as someone who stands out among peers? The schools will be looking to understand how you rank versus your peers, and even how you rank versus other candidates the recommender has recommended to the school in the past.

APPLICATION IN PROGRESS? READ THIS FIRST

Discuss your recommendation with the person writing on your behalf. Be proactive in brainstorming with them what specific achievements they can highlight, and how these examples illustrate your strengths and build a story about what makes you special, your attitude, and your values. You don’t want them to just adapt a template recommendation that they have used dozens of times before.
Focus on accomplishments and what sets your experience apart – not just the mechanics of your role. When writing about your job in your application and resume, keep in mind that the file reader is likely already familiar with the general nature of your work. That’s why it’s important to go beyond describing day-to-day responsibilities. Use this space to highlight your impact, key achievements, and what makes your experience distinct or noteworthy.

Use essays to show how you are different – for example, by conveying some unique aspects of your background (eg, growing up in another country, navigating a non-traditional career path, or overcoming a setback etc) – and how this has impacted you. Also, show how this links to what you can contribute to the classroom and the community.

Think about how you can get the school excited about your career goals. Simply saying you want to become a partner or MD in your firm will not get their blood pumping. Paint a picture of the impact you want to have – a personal vision that is credible, yet ambitious and exciting.

Harvard, Stanford, and the rest of the top schools are looking for innovative thinkers – candidates who are not saying what everyone else is saying. So maybe you should create your own bucket, filled with what you will bring to a business school program lucky enough to have you, and bring some of your own sunshine to the HBS campus on September 3.

Matt Symonds is a Director and Co-Founder at Fortuna Admissions. For more free advice from Fortuna Admissions in partnership with Poets&Quants, check out these videos and articles. For a candid assessment of your MBA admissions chances, schedule a free consultation.