When the admissions committee and interviewers review your post-MBA goals, they simultaneously consider your resume, work experience, volunteering activities, extracurricular involvement, and motivation. The collective assessment of these factors largely determines the feasibility of your goal strategy. To effectively showcase your capabilities and persuade the adcom and interviewers, your entire MBA application narrative should be structured in a way that leverages the aforementioned factors to support your goal plans.
The following section provides tips for applicants to strengthen their goal strategy for each factor specifically tailored for MBA programs. Incorporate these into your narrative to make your application stronger
1. Show ability to acquire knowledge beyond your comfort zoneBusiness schools do not like to see that an MBA will be an applicant's first attempt to improve skills or take advantage of cross-cultural learning opportunities. Successful applicants at top business schools show the initiative to gain additional experience by taking on projects that take them out of their comfort zone.
For example,
A) finance professionals, who look outside of finance projects and take the initiative to learn new technical skills (such as python or SQL) to complement their core finance skills can stand out among a large number of applicants.
B)Techies and software engineers who take finance or marketing courses to develop a deeper understanding of the business and apply their newfound knowledge to developing systems, software or campaigns are also some of the other examples that will leave a lasting impression on the admissions comittees.Think of examples such as the above and show your motivation to grow professionally. Through small but impactful examples such as traveling to meet with clients, meeting with diverse stakeholders, and developing a perspective on cultural and organizational challenges can also set you apart as an applicant. When a post-MBA goal is coupled with evidence that you have gained cross-cultural and cross-functional experience and have gone the extra mile, the credibility of your goals increases significantly.
Anyone can name ambitious post-MBA goals. It's not about what you wish for. But what small steps have you taken that can convince the admissions team that you have the work ethic and drive to achieve your goals?2. Volunteer and develop secondary skillsVolunteering and extracurricular activities are an integral part of evaluating MBA applicants, and for good reason. Professional competence and academic learning, while important, are not the only criteria for achieving post-MBA goals.
Most of the skills a future business leader must possess are heavily dependent on emotional intelligence. Without interacting with people from different cultures, hierarchies, and motivations, it is difficult to understand the realities on the ground, even if you know all the management concepts.
Since many MBA candidates will be in advisory roles in their future jobs, volunteer experience before and during the program is an important part of seeing the human side of situations. The problems that afflict the majority of the world's population are not first world. Governments and non-profit organizations are not capable of solving problems of this magnitude. The experience of a professional who has worked in a highly systematized and incentive-based environment would improve the effectiveness of philanthropic organizations.
Social initiatives give MBA applicants the opportunity to navigate a cross-cultural environment, a criterion considered especially important for excellence at Top global business schools.3. Proof of flexibility and readiness to sacrifice for the good of your careerMost applicants who consider an MBA would have spoken at some point to their supervisors or managers about the fact that they cannot continue in their current position. Before deciding to do an MBA, some of the applicants may have tried to pivot to aspired roles. Some may have shadowed senior persons in the organisation while others would have taken hit on promotions to get into domains where they want to build a career. A common example is backend MBB associates getting into entry level roles in VC firms.
Willingness to make sacrifices is an important aspect for career changers to demonstrate that they are willing to make an effort to change their career path during and after the MBA. Mapping the skills that post-MBA applicants need to be successful with a Business school's curriculum is a very important exercise that applicants should do and speak about in the Goals essays.
4. Show bias for actionMBA admissions officers place a high value on applicants who demonstrate a propensity for action in achieving their post-MBA goals. One way to show this proactive attitude is to participate in networking activities with alumni, recruiters, and industry experts. At top MBA programs, there is a general perception that an applicant who engages in optimal networking before applying will have the right opportunities during the recruiting season, when networking plays a major role.
A personal observation: among my recent applicants, people with military or entrepreneurial backgrounds have demonstrated exceptional pre-MBA networking skills and earned adcoms' special love thanks to their discipline, clearly defined work plan, focused mindset, and unwavering concentration.
These profiles remain unaffected by excessive thought patterns, making them especially desirable in consulting fields that require significant personal sacrifice. Military personnel, in particular, are accustomed to such sacrifices during their service and have a remarkable propensity for action, which gives them a distinct advantage over other applicants.
5. Understand the Feasibility of your GoalsIf you are considering a career change, such as from entrepreneurship to FMCG marketing or from healthcare to consulting, you should consider the viability of your goals. While you should not to be discouraged by historical data, trends, and general perception, paying attention to relevant statistics published by schools can provide valuable insight.
Engaging with professionals who are working in your desired industry or role, whether through platforms like LinkedIn, attending webinars, or speaking with career offices, can help you gather first-hand information about the viability of your post-MBA goals. Also keep in mind that many MBA candidates refine their goals after beginning the program. Therefore, connecting with alumni who have taken a similar path can provide valuable perspectives on goal attainment and help you make informed decisions.
6. Demonstrate the Fit with the MBA programThe School-applicant fit is an important factor that is determined by admissions criteria, the applicant's work experience, culture, and international and geographical factors such as the economy, competition, application volume, similar profiles, immigration trends, and industry demand.
Applicants at the Top 20 schools who are more than 30 points below the GMAT median score (Legacy Version) can sometimes focus too much on telling their story. While interesting narratives are recommended, knowing the lower bound of the admissions criteria on academics for a school can help set the right expectations.
While for top MBA programs like M7s, a 730+ equivalent and an undergraduate percentage of 85% or higher is considered a winning combination, meeting these criteria alone does not guarantee admission. Work experience is an important piece of the puzzle. If your work history is not clearly defined, or if you are too inexperienced or too experienced, the admissions team will find an excuse to reject you.
In startups, where the organizational structure is usually flat, your contribution will usually be measured against the milestones the company has achieved. If you align your resume/professional experience section with the aspects that MBA programs look for in applicants, the admissions team may see your post-MBA goals in a positive light. MBA interviews are primarily about assessing your goals and suitability for the school. If you cannot demonstrate that you are a good cultural and academic fit for the school and your post PGP goals, you may not receive the admit you think you deserve.
Get personalized advice tailored to your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process. Reapplying? Get a free ding analysisBest wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)Founder, MBAGuideConsulting (former MBA admissions consultant at top global firm)
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