It’s less than two months to go until the round-one deadline at the country’s top MBA program. Harvard Business School (HBS) has the earliest application deadline with round-one applications for Fall 2017 entry due on September 7.
Business Insider caught up with Stacy Blackman, the CEO of aleading MBA-admissions advisoryfirm, to get some advice on how applicants can get into the program of their dreams.
With the GMAT, application, essays, references, and interviews, it can be a pretty daunting process.
Here Blackman reveals her top tips for MBA applicants on how to stay ahead:
Research all types of programs.
Business schools are changing leadership, revamping programs and reinventing themselves. International programs are blooming and there is an option for everyone. Do your research to determine what is best for you. Applicants should visit campuses and speak with faculty, current students and former students to determine if a particular school is the right place for them.
Consider taking the GRE.
More and more schools are accepting this in lieu of the GMAT, and since GRE scores are not currently reported out, schools may be more likely to take a risk on a low GRE score.
Choose your references wisely.
Just because you passed JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon in the lobby once, doesn’t mean he is qualified to write your rec.JPMorgan Chase shareholder letter
Choose a recommender for the MBA applications who knows you well and is supportive of your application, as opposed to a prestigious “name” who has little insight into your personality and skills.
Many applicants treat recommendations as a “drop-off-and-forget” part of an application or ask the wrong person to participate. An applicant should select a person who knows them personally and then share his or her essays and other information, to help them best support the applicant in a recommendation.
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Use fresh eyes.
Engage the help of a “reviewer” to review the B-school application. Even when not working with a consultant, a friend or a colleague can provide a fresh perspective on an application. Leave time to incorporate their feedback.
Having too many people review and comment on an application, however, is a mistake. Applicants should pick a few trusted advisers and work with them, or their essay could be become a watered-down “essay by committee” and show less about them as an individual.
Show leadership.
Choose to highlight stories that demonstrate leadership and impact, as opposed to simple involvement. Stories can come from work or any number of experiences outside of work.
Be real.
Don’t hide failures and mistakes. Provide an explanation and lessons learned, using these experiences to demonstrate resilience, growth, and self-awareness. Failing to address obvious weaknesses, such as low test scores or a blemish on your academic record, is a mistake many applicants make.
No one is perfect, and admissions officers often are interested in what an applicant learned from a mistake. If an applicant does not proactively explain, admissions officers will come to their own conclusions.
Discuss the why.
Discuss the WHY behind your stories, not just the WHAT. Why you did certain things or made certain choices is much more interesting and will help the admissions committee get to know the real you.
Practice out loud.
Prepare thoroughly for the in-person admissions interview, including practicing out loud.
Anticipate questions, and practice. Many elite business schools are also introducing the online video essay, where applicants have 60 seconds to answer a question via video.
Be professional from beginning to end.
Remember that EVERYTHING counts — every interaction or lack of interaction with your target schools will be considered. Be sure to manage your entire process with professionalism.
Specialize.
Don’t wear too many hats. Admissions officers sometimes wonder how applicants have time to develop a PowerPoint presentation in between the oil painting, tutoring, skiing, sky diving, Farsi speaking, flower arranging, foreign-film watching, blogging, environment saving, meal delivering, judo-ing, and overseas traveling he or she “supposedly” engages in every week.
MBA programs want a well-rounded class made up of specialists – emphasize a couple important aspects of your background rather than trying to be master of everything. Good admissions officers can spot a fake a mile off. It’s important that an applicant show his or her true self.
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/CollegeGraduateFocus1.jpg369553First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2016-07-16 16:47:252020-09-30 20:51:37Your #Career : Pro Tips for Getting into a Great MBA Program from a Consultant Who Charges Thousands of Dollars for Advice…Remember that EVERYTHING Counts — Every Interaction or Lack of Interaction with your Target Schools will be Considered. Be Sure to Manage your Entire Process with Professionalism.
True Leadership is Not about Rank or Job Titles. It’s an Attitude. It’s Way of Doing What You Do. Having a perspective that extends way beyond the list of tasks on your daily do-list will help you demonstrate your leadership even if you don’t have the title.
I was recently coaching a group of young professionals who work for one of my clients in New Jersey. I was helping them analyze their360Reach personal brand survey reports (disclosure: 360Reach is a product of my company, Reach Personal Branding) so they could understand how they are perceived by those around them. Many in the group saw themselves as leaders, yet their external feedback clearly classified them as “doers.” One of the participants asked, “How can you be seen as a leader when you don’t have a leadership title?” The results of our discussion were eye-opening.
Leadership is an attitude, not a title. Here are 7 leadership characteristics that you can adopt even if you just joined the workforce or are an individual contributor.
1. Take carefully calculated risks.
Doers go along with what’s said and accomplish tasks. Leaders are willing to take on the hard problems – those that most people avoid. They are willing to speak out rather than go along with something they feel will be a mistake. They see the big-picture implications of what they are doing and seek to understand its impact. This means being strategic and looking at all sides of an issue and the consequences of various actions. Sometimes it means questioning authority – in a positive and respectful way – or bringing up important issues that are seemingly unrelated to the task at hand.
2. Acknowledge others.
Leaders don’t wait to receive gratitude; they freely bestow it upon others – thanking their peers, subordinates and managers. They publicly express appreciation, and they recognize others for their contributions. You don’t need a management title to give kudos to your peers. Being willing to share praise and spread the spirit of positivity will make you stand out. You’ll be acknowledged as someone who sees the importance of positive feedback in motivating and engaging others.
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3. Initiate.
Leaders are proactive and self motivated, and they do things without being asked or told. By maintaining a perspective on the ultimate mission, they identify needs, and they act to fulfill these needs without waiting for management direction. They don’t like the status quo. They pursue best processes, innovate and make recommendations that have an impact beyond the scope of their role.
4. Exude optimism.
Leaders stay above the fray and don’t get mired in blame, negativity or office gossip. They remain focused on what’s important and wear their can-do attitude proudly. Positivity is attractive – and it’s differentiating in some corporate environments. Smile, exude your can-do attitude, surround yourself with other positive people and steer clear of Debbie Downer.
5. Think outside the hierarchy.
Leaders think beyond their role, function and department. They have a keen interest in what’s happening in product development even if they work in finance. They engage with others throughout the organization. They volunteer to be part of multi-disciplinary teams. You can put this approach into action by offering to contribute to a corporate-wide initiative, or better yet, by identifying an initiative – something that will be valuable to the company – and taking the lead role. I spoke with one self-described newbie who offered to lead a “go-green” initiative – first for her team, then for her department, then for the office, then for the entire organization. She quickly became known as a leader.
6. Demonstrate leadership outside your job.
Leadership skills are useful well beyond the typical 9-5 workplace (not that 9-5 describes the workday of today any more!). Take on leadership roles in professional associations and causes. Volunteer to lead the next team outing or event. Hone and demonstrate your leadership skills through your commitment to a social cause that moves you. Leadership is not needed just in traditional work environments.
7. Mentor others and reverse-mentor superiors.
You don’t need a long title to make a difference in the professional lives of others. Provide a training course, coach your peers or lead a lunch ‘n’ learn. If your company has a mentoring program, let HR know you are interested in serving. If there isn’t one, start one (either officially or unofficially). Reverse mentoring is another visible, practical way to show your leadership skills to someone senior to you. For example, if you are an expert in social media, and you know that the leaders in your organization are clueless when it comes to social media, offer to support them. It’s a powerful way to get on the radar of leaders.
True leadership is not about rank or job titles. It’s an attitude. It’s way of doing what you do. Having a perspective that extends way beyond the list of tasks on your daily do-list will help you demonstrate your leadership even if you don’t have the title.
Learn more about your personal brand. Download my complete list of 50 eye-opening questions to ask yourself when uncovering your brand here.
https://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpg00First Sun Teamhttps://www.firstsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-min-300x123.jpgFirst Sun Team2015-07-08 12:01:202020-09-30 20:56:04#Leadership : How To Lead When You Aren’t The #Leader … Leadership is an Attitude, Not a Title. Here are 7 Leadership Characteristics that you Can Adopt Even If you Just Joined the #Workforce or are an Individual Contributor.
