Overcoming Application Obstacles - 工管

Weˆve got quite a team of MBA admissions experts here at PE, full to the
brim with helpful advice for applicants. Rather than keep it to themselves
(that wouldnˆt be very fair, would it?), they are going to share their tips
and tricks right here, every month. This month theyˆre talking about
pitfalls, obstacles and hurdles in MBA applications…and what you need to do
to overcome them.

So, what are those obstacles? And how can you get past them?

DAMON:
Any obstacle can be overcome if you know about it; but if you donˆt, thatˆs
when you get into deep trouble. I had a client once, who, unbeknownst to him,
used the same unusual verb in five consecutive sentences. He couldnˆt see
it, but it was jumping out at me, and not in a good way. This is what will
sink a candidateˆs chances. The solution is simple … get an extra pair of
eyes to look through your essays. Not just a cursory glance, but a deep
review.

YARON:
The most difficult obstacle to overcome is to transform your past, your
achievements, your jobs, your hobbies and values into a PERSON. You start off
with a bunch of pieces of paper, of words on a page, of ideas and stories,
and ultimately, on the reader end, you ned all of this to jump off the page
and become a person in the mindˆs eye of the reader. Not just a person, but
a passionate, motivated, experienced one with a clear vision for their future.

FRITZ:
When it comes to personal shortcomings, the optional essay is your friend. So
use it. How?

1. Explain any personal hardships that caused you to underperform in
undergrad.
2. Highlight your extracurricular activities to show that you were busy and
did more than just struggle in your classes.
3. Offer to augment your undergrad experience. If your low grades were in
math, take the initiative and enroll in calculus classes at your local
community college to show that you will make sure you will be able to handle
the quantitive parts of your MBA. That shows initiative, and initiative is
quite appealing on a b-school application.

RICHARD:
The hardest obstacle to overcome is a lack of work experience. Work
experience provides the substance and content that are important in writing
quality essays. Work experience is also one of the more powerful venues for
leadership.

To overcome this obstacle, itˆs all about the essays. A candidate should
frame his essays around those instances in his work career when he has made
the greatest impact. Candidates should also focus on experiences outside of
work during which theyˆve exhibited strong leadership.

LEE:
As long as you donˆt have too many strikes against you, almost any
deficiency in your profile can be dealt with if you frame it well. Among my
friends and clients who went to HBS, I can name a former journalist with a
530 GMAT, a military guy with a 2.8 GPA and a consultant with a drunk driving
conviction. However, each of these guys had some other, positive aspect of
their application that stood out – a high-profile recommendation, unique
leadership experiences or an inspiring, well-articulated vision. Weˆll help
you mitigate the bad stuff and accentuate the good stuff. Just be honest and
open with us about the touchy subjects in your app – weˆre not the ones you
need to impress!

KYN:
The top obstacle in my eyes are candidates who suffer from a case of ¨Single
Dimensionality.〃 The default standard application for the Top 10 programs
are from brilliant applicants with top academics, solid impact stories, and
definable leadership traits. But, accomplishments in the workplace are not
the only things adcoms look for! Itˆs important to be well rounded and have
other interests — like volunteering, organizing events, teaching, or making
life-size animals out of paperclips. MBA programs want multi-faceted
individuals, not cookie cutter bankers!

Hope this helps gang and keep in touch :)

Jon Frank
HBS 2005
Founder Precision Essay
http://www.precisionessay.com

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