About to start the MBA application process and hoping to be the best possible candidate you can be? Why not take your information straight from the source? Below are 6 tips for being a good MBA applicant, courtesy of Jenni Denniston, Manager of Admission Recruiting at the Richard Ivey School of Business (University of Western Ontario).
- Do your own homework
Read each school’s website thoroughly before shooting off any emails to an admissions officer or to general inquiries. It reflects poorly on you and your commitment to the program if you’re asking questions that can be answered by reading the FAQ page. - If the opportunity exists to create an account with your target school(s), do so
Being on the mailing list keeps you in the loop for invite-only applicant events, deadlines and other important information. This will reduce the amount of searching you would have to do. If the school doesn’t know that you’re interested in their program, they won’t keep you apprised of any news that could help in your application process. - Attend events hosted by your target B-school(s)
Whether it is an MBA Fair, Info Session, Open House, etc., attending an event in person and meeting representatives from the school is a great way to determine if the school is a good fit with your personality and background. Plus, it shows that you have a higher level of commitment to the program than a person who simply submits an application with zero interaction. - Read the application requirements/instructions carefully
Requirements are similar among B-schools, but they’re not identical. Be sure to know exactly what you need to submit for each school you apply to, and what the minimum application requirements are. You will save yourself (and the admissions team) a lot of time and frustration if you take the time to print out the checklist and follow the directions. - Plan Ahead
Once you determine which schools you will apply to, work backwards. Determine which deadline you are targeting to submit your application, and schedule your GMAT for at least a month before this date (just in case you decide you want to re-write), and don’t forget to have a conversation with your banker/parents/financial advisor about the investment you are looking to make in your education. - Be Patient
After reading the website and application instructions thoroughly (Tips #1 and 4), you should have a sense of what will happen after you click the submit button on your application: if the school indicates that it will contact you, be patient and let them contact you. Many programs have a ‘no news is good news’ policy, so if anything is missing from your application, or if you are required to schedule an interview, you will be notified as soon as possible.
Read the full article: What B-School’s Want
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