Let's examine a hypothetical situation. Two students from Taiwan are applying
to MBA programs in the United States: Terry, and Sharon. Terry and Sharon both
went to NTU and got top grades all through their undergraduate careers. They
have both volunteered at the Red Cross and come from upper middle class
families. Terry's father is a professor, and Sharon's father is an executive
at a silicon chip manufacturing company.
Here's a breakdown of Terry and Sharon's grades, and scores.
Terry
GPA: 3.7
GMAT: 720
TOEFL: 100
Sharon
GPA: 3.54
GMAT: 730
TOEFL: 101
If Terry and Sharon, who are so similar on paper, are applying to the same
school, how will the admissions officers decide between them?
Making the Decision
Admissions officers have a very difficult task. They need to understand the
kind of person both Sharon, and Terry are by looking at their paper
applications. Obviously, it's impossible to completely understand the type of
person that they are without meeting them in person, but admissions people
have to inspect thousands and thousands of applications every year. It would
be impossible to meet with everyone in person. So, it is your job to
communicate the type of person you are as effectively as possible on paper to
help make their decision easier.
Your Motivations
Admissions officers want to understand what motivates you. Why do you want to
get an MBA, and will it really help you achieve your career goals? What drives
you to get out of bed in the morning, and what would you spend your time doing
for free on the weekends and late into the evenings? What passion do you bring
to the MBA program? If Sharon is more passionate seeming on paper than Terry
is, that will be a point in Sharon's favor.
Your Character
Admissions officers need to understand how you make decisions, and that you
are a moral and ethical person. Obviously, if Terry writes about the time where
he made an questionable decision and made lots of money, and Sharon writes
about how she choose to make an ethical decision even if it didn't make her
lots of money, this will be a point in Sharon's favor. Admissions people need
to see that you have a long-view of ethics, and that you will consistently
make good decisions which will benefit their University brand, and the
companies you work with down the road.
How Do You Work in Teams?
MBA programs heavily involve group work and projects. You want to be careful
to structure your application to emphasize that you work well individually,
but also in groups. If Sharon talks about how she prefers to work independently
because she can get more work done faster than others, and Terry talks about a
time where he lead a group to success by listening to everyone's input an
helping the group make an informed decision, that will be a point in Terry's
favor. It is absolutely important to play up your respect for the group
process, and ideally communicate to admissions staff that you are a leader in
groups who brings out the best in your team mates.
Conclusion
Admissions staff need to get to know you so that if you are on in front of
them when they make a decision, and a Terry or Sharon is in front of them at
the same time, they have a compelling reason to choose you. In order to help
the staff get to know you, communicate about your passions, motivations,
character, and attitude towards team work.
If you'd like to read more freely available content with strategies to
optimize your MBA application, please refer to my blog
(http://www.transcendadmissions.blogspot.tw/) . If you'd like more
personalized attention and coaching through the application process, arguably
one of the most important applications of your life, please feel free to
reach out to me personally at [email protected].
--
David Johnston
--
to MBA programs in the United States: Terry, and Sharon. Terry and Sharon both
went to NTU and got top grades all through their undergraduate careers. They
have both volunteered at the Red Cross and come from upper middle class
families. Terry's father is a professor, and Sharon's father is an executive
at a silicon chip manufacturing company.
Here's a breakdown of Terry and Sharon's grades, and scores.
Terry
GPA: 3.7
GMAT: 720
TOEFL: 100
Sharon
GPA: 3.54
GMAT: 730
TOEFL: 101
If Terry and Sharon, who are so similar on paper, are applying to the same
school, how will the admissions officers decide between them?
Making the Decision
Admissions officers have a very difficult task. They need to understand the
kind of person both Sharon, and Terry are by looking at their paper
applications. Obviously, it's impossible to completely understand the type of
person that they are without meeting them in person, but admissions people
have to inspect thousands and thousands of applications every year. It would
be impossible to meet with everyone in person. So, it is your job to
communicate the type of person you are as effectively as possible on paper to
help make their decision easier.
Your Motivations
Admissions officers want to understand what motivates you. Why do you want to
get an MBA, and will it really help you achieve your career goals? What drives
you to get out of bed in the morning, and what would you spend your time doing
for free on the weekends and late into the evenings? What passion do you bring
to the MBA program? If Sharon is more passionate seeming on paper than Terry
is, that will be a point in Sharon's favor.
Your Character
Admissions officers need to understand how you make decisions, and that you
are a moral and ethical person. Obviously, if Terry writes about the time where
he made an questionable decision and made lots of money, and Sharon writes
about how she choose to make an ethical decision even if it didn't make her
lots of money, this will be a point in Sharon's favor. Admissions people need
to see that you have a long-view of ethics, and that you will consistently
make good decisions which will benefit their University brand, and the
companies you work with down the road.
How Do You Work in Teams?
MBA programs heavily involve group work and projects. You want to be careful
to structure your application to emphasize that you work well individually,
but also in groups. If Sharon talks about how she prefers to work independently
because she can get more work done faster than others, and Terry talks about a
time where he lead a group to success by listening to everyone's input an
helping the group make an informed decision, that will be a point in Terry's
favor. It is absolutely important to play up your respect for the group
process, and ideally communicate to admissions staff that you are a leader in
groups who brings out the best in your team mates.
Conclusion
Admissions staff need to get to know you so that if you are on in front of
them when they make a decision, and a Terry or Sharon is in front of them at
the same time, they have a compelling reason to choose you. In order to help
the staff get to know you, communicate about your passions, motivations,
character, and attitude towards team work.
If you'd like to read more freely available content with strategies to
optimize your MBA application, please refer to my blog
(http://www.transcendadmissions.blogspot.tw/) . If you'd like more
personalized attention and coaching through the application process, arguably
one of the most important applications of your life, please feel free to
reach out to me personally at [email protected].
--
David Johnston
--
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