9 SECRETS TO

STANDING OUT
IN YOUR MBA
APPLICATION

An Accepted Admissions Guide

2016 Accepted
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9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application

Introduction
The MBA application process requires work and introspection. In addition to thinking
about your goals and how your target schools will help you accomplish them, your task is
to show the adcom that you are exactly the person they want in their class.
You don't want the adcom to pick up your application and say, "Oh, another Indian IT
male" or "Red-flag! It's a career switcher!" or anything else that's based on a few
prominent features in your resume or application checkboxes and not on who you really
are.
Whether youre a member of an overrepresented industry or an overrepresented applicant
group, its your job as an MBA applicant to make sure that this doesnt happen.
In 9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application, we'll teach you how to dig deep to
discover your competitive advantage by unearthing your precious uniqueness those
character traits, experiences, skills, and talents that are not immediately evident from a
surface description and to bring them to the forefront of your application, so that when
the adcom pick up your file, they're hooked from the very first moment.
Well also address how to mitigate situations that are potential red-flags to adcoms, such
as patchy job histories and even criminal records.
Let's get started.

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Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
What is Accepted? ........................................................................................................................... 3
Why Our Clients Love Us ............................................................................................................... 4
4 Tips for Applying to B-School with Finance Experience ............................................................ 5
How to Stand Out as an IT Applicant: 3 Tips ................................................................................. 7
4 Fantastic Application Tips for Chinese Applicants ...................................................................... 8
4 Tips for Indian MBA Applicants ................................................................................................ 10
5 Ways to Prove Youre an Easy to Place Older Applicant....................................................... 12
4 Great Explanations for Serial Job Switchers .............................................................................. 14
Can You Recover from Your Criminal Record? ........................................................................... 16
3 Day-Of Tips for a Successful MBA Interview ........................................................................... 18
5 Tips for Your Stand-Out MBA Resume ..................................................................................... 20
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 22

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What is Accepted?
Accepted is the premier admissions consultancy that offers:

1-on-1 consulting for business school

Expert editing of all application components (essays, resumes, letters of

recommendation, waitlist letters, and more)

Interview prep

Free resources guides, webinars, and a podcast

Sample essays

Our interactive blog where you can get the latest admissions news, solid advice,
and answers to your questions

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9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application

Why Our Clients Love Us

No matter where you live and no matter where you're applying, our expert admissions
consultants are ready to listen, mentor, and guide you as you prepare an outstanding bschool application that will get you accepted. You'll love us because you'll see from the
first phone call or email that we care about you and support you as you strive to achieve
your goals and dreams.
But you don't need to take our word for it. See what some of our clients have to say about
Accepted
"I just wanted to let you know that I have been accepted at Cornell Johnson (with
a significant scholarship) [and to Duke Fuqua]. I am very excited to have gotten
into two top MBA programs. Again, Thanks very much Judy for helping me
throughout the whole application process. I would not have done it without your
help."
"I did find out just over a week ago that I was admitted to HBS! Super exciting
news I definitely would not have been as successful without your help! Thank
you for the practice and support- it was a pleasure working with you!"

Read more feedback on why our clients love Accepted.

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9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application

4 Tips for Applying to B-School with Finance Experience

As members of one of the largest sub-groups in the MBA applicant pool, candidates
with finance/investment banking/private equity/venture capital backgrounds are really
going to need to step up their game! Youve got competitive stats and a strong
resumebut is that enough to make you stand out from the other highly impressive
candidates? How can you demonstrate to the adcom that youre more than just a quant
buff in a nice suit?
How can you really make your application stand out?
1. Showcase your non-quant strengths.
We all know that youre a super-strength number-cruncher, but so are the other finance
applicants (not to mention the programmers and the engineers). Highlight your verbal
abilities and your communication skills by talking about your experience at Toastmasters
or on your college debate team, and of course, by writing a slam-dunk application essay.
2. Discuss your non-professional talents and achievements.
Your resume is impressive, but once again, you wont be the only one with work
experience worth bragging about. What else are you good at or passionate about? What
do you care about most that is unique to you, that wont clump you together with the
others in your sub-group? Maybe youre a skilled weaver or a member of your local
hospitals clown troupe. Maybe youve spent three summers as a Habitat for Humanity
participant. Maybe you started a local lacrosse league and manage your own team. These
are the things that will make the adcom pause and think, This is someone Id like to get
to know!
3. Delve into the WHY of your career goals.
Your resume should nicely detail your work experience, but it will say nothing about how
you envision your future. This is where your essays step in. Will you continue to pursue a
future in finance? If so, why? What is it about private equity that intrigues you, excites
you? Do you plan on shifting or changing your career path? How has your past investing
experience motivated you to make this change? What does this change say about you?
The adcom readers seek thoughtful individuals who have internalized the past and
pondered the future. Share your insights to help you stand out in this way.
4. Use your voice.
I know that just because you work in a popular industry, it doesnt mean that you have
nothing unique to share. You know this too. In fact, even the adcom know that every
person is unique. But unless you speak (or write) using that unique voice, its true that
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your application will get lost in the shuffle. Dont use large words if theyre not words
youd generally use. Dont try and add a joke if youre not genuinely a natural comedian.
Dont tell stories that you think the adcom want to hear but that arent on topics or
experiences that you actually care about. Instead, speak naturally and openly, so that your
true colors shine.

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How to Stand Out as an IT Applicant: 3 Tips

We know youre unique, but when it comes to applying to top b-schools, IT professionals
are a dime a dozen. So how do you transform your status as Super Smart Techie
Applicant #4221 intowell...something more than just that?
Here's how:
1. Highlight your non-techie strengths.
It will take one quick glance at your resume for the adcom to know that you have topnotch analytic abilities. They may not, however, know that youre also a fantastic
leader who cares tremendously about personal growth; so make sure you tell them that
you started a juggling club on campus and organized a Jugglers-on-Wheels program at
your local childrens hospital, or that you led a 12-person team on an important project at
work, and hit goals well beyond expectations. Your resume may also leave out the fact
that in your spare time you teach guitar at an assisted living facility; so make sure to
mention that as well. You are a multifaceted individual. Your techie-ness is just one of
the many wonderful aspects of who you are embrace and share your other elements as
well.
2. Be proud of your strengths.
Yes, you want to highlight that you are more than just an IT techie, but that certainly
shouldnt be at the expense of techie pride! You have impressive skills, stats, and
experiences make sure that you dont neglect those when singing praises of your other
strengths.
3. Share your unique goals.
Not all IT professionals are headed in the same direction, so make sure you include as
much detail as possible in your MBA goals essay. Discuss your goal position (industry
and function), as well as timeframe (in the next year? Five years? Ten years?), location
(in your home country? Abroad?), etc. Dont just say that you want to transition into
consulting; instead, explain how in the next five years you see yourself working as a
senior technology consultant at a U.S. (west coast probably) media and communications
firm.
Most importantly, stay positive! With the right advice, some creativity, and with a
focused eye on the prize, youll have no trouble convincing adcom at all the top schools
that youre an IT techie like none other before a total standout, a total catch.

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4 Fantastic Application Tips for Chinese Applicants

Top business schools generally accept a few to several Chinese applicants each year,
depending on class size. How can you make sure that you're one of them?
The following four tips will help Chinese applicants boost their candidacy by teaching
them how to highlight their strengths, explain why they need an international MBA, and
emphasize how they as global citizens of the world will contribute to the next MBA
class.
1. Explain why you are pursuing an American or international MBA.
The adcom will want to know that youre not just applying to their school because you
want to be closer to Disney World. You need to be able to address this point or you
shouldnt be applying to b-school. Why are you pursuing an MBA so far from home?
Why in this particular country? Why at this particular institution? How are your goals
dependent on this schools location and on an international education? How will
interacting with international faculty and students add value to your experience and help
further your goals?
2. Improve your English.
You need to make sure that your written and spoken English language skills are up to
snuff. Your essays need to be well written with correct grammar and word usage (try to
get a native English speaker to review your writing), and later on when you interview,
you need to be clearly understood both in meaning and annunciation (be sure to prepare
specific stories and practice telling them so that you dont need to think up examples on
the spot). If youre not confident about your English language skills, take some time to
polish them: read English newspapers/books/websites, join an English conversation
group, and make some new English speaking friends. Your goal here isnt to acquire a
mastery of the English language on the native level, but you do need to convey a good
grasp of the language if you want to be considered by an English speaking MBA
program.
3. Show off your global experience.
As a non-American applicant, you have the advantage of having natural exposure to other
non-American cultures including business culture. Show the adcom that you understand
the differences between Western and Eastern business values, ethics, and practices, and
that your skills and global experiences have helped you gain the sensitivity to shift from
one to the other, depending on the situation. What have you learned about the different
ways Chinese businesspeople and American business people communicate? How has that
knowledge contributed to your life as a global citizen?

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Other things to emphasize: your language skills, your international business experience,
your understanding of multinational business, non-work cultural experiences, study
abroad experiences, etc.
4. Highlight your community involvement.
Volunteer activities are heavily encouraged among American students, so youll need to
show that youre competitive in this category as well. Show the adcom that in addition to
your rigorous academic and work life, youve also carved out time to serve your
community. Volunteering demonstrates devotion, passion, and oftentimes, leadership. Be
sure that when describing your experiences, you demonstrate the impact you had: For
example, if you taught disadvantaged youth how to read English, make sure you talk
about the number of students you tutored, over the course of how many months or years,
and for how many hours. What was the result?

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4 Tips for Indian MBA Applicants

Are you an Indian applying to a top MBA program? Well then get ready to put some
extra effort into making your application stand out. Indians are one of the largest
demographics applying to business school, and unfortunately for you theyre often
highly qualified, with lots of work experience and high stats.
So lets get right to work. What can you do to differentiate yourself from other Indian
applicants? What can you do to show that youre unique and special, even though you
come from this crowded subgroup?
1. Maximize on your family biz.
It's fairly common that Indian applicants will have a significant portion of their work
experience (if not all) in the family business. Show the adcom that your work for mom
and dad has been highly advantageous. The details will be important here. Your exposure
to and experience with the various aspects of the family business your management
position, your responsibilities, your customer dealings, the accounting youve done, etc.
have provided you with a very well-rounded experience across all business fields, more
than had you worked at a large corporation. Demonstrate that, as well as the fact that all
of these skills can easily be transferred to a larger international company, and you will
have made quite the solid case.
2. Highlight your non-IT strengths.
If you don't work for your family company, then theres a good chance that you work in
India's booming high-tech industry. And if thats you, then you probably have high quant
scores and loads of technical experience. But do you have management experience? Have
you ever managed a team successfully to complete a non-technical project? How are your
strategy skills? What ELSE can you do? You dont want to be Indian IT Applicant
#7432. Make sure your other skills, strengths, and talents shine.
3. Bulk up on extra extracurriculars.
Another way to steer clear of the Indian IT Applicant stereotype is to highlight your nonwork/non-school activities. Have you taken any leadership positions in these activities?
How have these activities contributed to your goals, promoted personal growth, or helped
you think outside the box or develop new ideas? Dont just list your activities, but explain
how theyve shaped who you are today.
4. Choose your program wisely.
Its safe to say that Harvard is a pretty great school, but that doesnt mean that its the
best program for you. This, obviously, applies to all of the top programs. Dont assume
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that all top MBA programs in the U.S. are schools you should aim for. Do your research
and apply only to those b-schools that best support your goals and meet your needs. Not
only will you have a happier and more productive educational experience, but youll also
increase your chances of getting into your top choice program if you aim for schools that
are the best fit for YOU.

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5 Ways to Prove Youre an Easy to Place Older Applicant

Adcoms often like to steer clear of applicants who are difficult to place. Like it or not,
we live in an ageist business world. Youth is associated with being hip, tech-savvy,
innovative, and ambitious. Older candidates may be viewed as out of touch. (Of course,
these stereotypes are just that stereotypes.)
If you are no longer a sprightly 20-something-year-old, you may need to think outside the
box a bit to provethat age has nothing to do with your ability to think outside the box.
How can you prove to the adcom that you will be just as employable (if not more so)
as one of your younger competitors? How can you show them that 35 is the new 25?
1. Be a (wo)man with a plan.
In your MBA goals essay, you're going to want to describe your post-MBA career path in
as clear and detailed a manner as possible. Providing a step-by-step plan will demonstrate
that you have realistic and achievable goals AND that youre the right person to execute
them. You may not be a spring chicken anymore, but that just means that you've had
more time to think seriously about where you are going and how you plan on getting
there.
2. Show you've got what it takes.
As an older applicant, you should pay extra attention to explaining how your rich and
varied experiences increase your desirability. Why would they want a KID with three
years of tech experience, when they can have YOU - with eight years under your belt
AND a wider network and a more established name within the industry?
Youre in good shape if you can show you will have a job waiting for you when you
graduate. Demonstrate that your age has contributed to your enhanced employability and
positioned you on the "easy to place" list after all.
3. Demonstrate that one CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
Stress that you are extremely open to obtaining new information and learning new
business and management techniques. Often adcoms worry that an older applicant will be
too set in his or her ways to change in any way. Yes, you should enter the scene with
concrete goals, but you should also express and demonstrate openness to change.
4. Consider an EMBA program.
If you are 35+ and have 10+ years of work experience, then an EMBA program may be a
better match for you. Do your research and make sure youre applying to the right
business program based on your age-experience equation.
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5. Stay positive and confident!

Finally, stay positive and be confident. If those elements are present throughout the MBA
admissions process (that is, in your application and then later in your business school
interview), the admissions committees will forget that they ever had concerns about your
age.

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4 Great Explanations for Serial Job Switchers

You've got high stats, great skills, and have had awesome jobstoo many of them. You
suffer from what we call in the biz Frequent Job-Switching Syndrome (or FJSS). Those
who suffer from FJSS don't have trouble finding jobs; they have trouble keeping them. A
resume with 2-3 impressive post-college or post-grad school jobs looks great, but once
that number jumps higher than 5-6 jobs in as many years, it doesn't look good, no matter
how impressive the jobs are.
Why does this matter to b-schools? Adcoms are looking for students who will a) make it
through their 1-2 years of school (or longer if it's a part-time program), and b) be easy to
place post-MBA. If you've had trouble keeping a job for longer than a year, you're going
to have a hard time showing that you're capable of a and b above.
So what can you do?
You're going to have to play defense. Here are some explanations that may work for you:
1. You moved around a lot.
Most positions require you to live within a commutable distance from the office. If you
moved across the state or jumped to another state or country, you most likely had to quit
one job and search for another. And if you moved many times in the last five or so years,
then you had to drop and search for new positions multiple times. You're going to need to
explain why you had to move (a sick parent, a new job or school for a spouse, etc.), but
once you provide valid reasons, then your FJSS won't look as bad.
2. You got laid off.
Listen, it happens. And it could easily happen to really talented and skilled people like
you. And while you were laid off, maybe you got a less-than-perfect job to help pay the
bills until you landed a better job. And then you got that better job (because you're so
talented and skilled), so had to drop the temp job. Sometimes these things are simply
unavoidable.
3. You had scheduling conflicts.
For this one you'll need to explain why you had to switch from full-time to part-time or
day-time to night-time or US hours to China hours, and why your job at the time couldn't
accommodate.
4. You weren't ready to settle.
Beware of sounding like a commitment-phobe here and tread this line carefully.
Sometimes a job just doesn't work out. You don't want to focus on things like
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interpersonal problems or other drama here, but on more substantial "fit" concerns: You
weren't challenged enough or it didn't provide long-term growth potential.
Your reasoning for frequent job switching will probably fall into more than one of these
categories. It's unlikely that you moved five times in five years or that you got laid off
after working a single year at five different jobs (and if so, yikes!). But if you moved
once, got laid off once, and had some scheduling issues, then you may be able to create
quite a compelling and understandable explanation for how you contracted FJSS and how
you can be certain that the disease is only temporary. After all, with the right medicine
(that world-class MBA and supportive network), you plan on kicking FJSS to the curb,
never to be seen again as you settle into that perfect, dream job that you've got your mind
set on.

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Can You Recover from Your Criminal Record?

Your MBA profile is nearly perfect: You've got great stats and an impressive resume.
You're friendly, personable, and a fantastic leader. There's just one little glitch: your
criminal record.
A criminal record does work as a strike against you, but it's not necessarily an
insurmountable problem. Here are some points to consider:
1. How severe was your crime?
Not all crimes are created equal, and adcoms will take the severity of your crime into
consideration. Did you shoplift from the dollar bin at Target? Did a wild night in college
put disorderly conduct on your record? Minor misdemeanors like these are more likely to
be excused than more serious crimes like drunk driving, sexual harassment, or tax
evasion.
2. When did you commit the crime?
A minor crime committed 5+ years ago (like when you were a dumb teenager or college
kid) will be forgiven sooner than a crime you committed last week (as a responsible adult
applying to business school).
3. Be honest.
You're doing the smart thing by putting your record out there in the open. Better that you
present the information yourself then for the adcoms to stumble upon your dark secret on
their own. Background checks happen; if you don't fess up, you won't look good.
4. Don't beat around the bush.
Your approach should be direct and succinct. Take responsibility for your actions,
express regret, and then discuss what you've learned and how you've grown from the
situation. Don't be defensive or apologetic. Leave the drama and tears at home, tell your
story, and move on. And don't divulge more details than are necessary this isn't
Confession and this isn't your best friend who wants to hear your every move.
5. Discuss the issue in the right spot.
You can address your criminal record in an essay that asks you to describe a personal
flaw or weakness, or, if that doesn't seem appropriate, you can disclose past indiscretions
in an optional essay. Once this information has been presented in your written
application, I would not bring it up again in an interview unless you are specifically asked
about it.
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6. Is it a deal-breaker?
If the crime you committed was especially serious, it's possible that it could lead to
rejection, regardless of how pristine the rest of your application is. Violent crimes or
money-related crimes, for example, are potentially insurmountable. Marks on your
academic record (like cheating) may also pose a threat to your acceptance. You are
expected to be a trusted contributor to the b-school environment and beyond and such
crimes will severely detract from your potential to do so.

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3 Day-Of Tips for a Successful MBA Interview

So many articles focus on how to prepare for your business school interview (and you
should read those articles!), but here I'm going to talk about things you should do
DURING the actual interview. Not what you should say, but how you should say
it. How should you answer the interview questions? How should you act towards the
interviewer? How can you make the best impression?
And most importantly, what can you do to highlight your competitive advantage and
show the adcom that you are an incredibly unique individual that will contribute to their
next class in terms of talent, career potential, and diversity?
Use these 3 tips to help you showcase your competitive value:
1. Visualize an outline when structuring your answers.
You want to answer the questions as clearly as possible, providing all necessary
information in an engaging fashion without rambling or boring the interviewer. Being
prepared with key stories and experiences will certainly help reduce your "ers" and
"ums," but staying focused and organized during the interview itself will really help you
answer the interview questions in full without veering off topic. Visualize an outline as
you formulate your answer to ensure that you go from point to point. If asked "What are
your post-MBA goals?" don't begin your answer with "I was born on an army base in
Guatemala," but with "I have three short-term goals and one long-term goal." Then
proceed to elaborate on each of those goals.
This is particularly important if English is not your first language or if you have key
distinguishing stories or ideas you want to share you don't want to miss an opportunity
to highlight your uniqueness simply because you got lost in your answer.
2. Be confident.
Confidence is essential for b-school and real-world business success, and your
interviewer will want to know that you possess the confidence necessary to excel in both.
Plus, if you're confident, you'll most likely do a better job saying what needs to be said in
the most effective manner possible.
Nerves are often responsible for tripping you up or causing temporary interview answer
amnesia. It's hard to fake confidence note how I said "Be Confident" rather than "Act
Confidently." Easier said than done? Yes. But it's not impossible to convince yourself
that you're confident.

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A few tricks:

Breathe. Take some deep breaths while waiting for your interview and remember
to continue breathing once your interview begins.
Begin and end your interview with a firm handshake.
Smile.
Dress the part of a professional business person, and you'll have an easier time
falling into that role.
Use positive imagery. Thinking happy, confident thoughts and visualizing
yourself in a comfortable place or accomplishing or experiencing impressive
achievements will help your body relax, enabling you to convey a true
confidence.

Remember, if you believe you're confident, so will your interviewer.

3. Follow your interviewer's cues.
If your interviewer is talkative and bubbly, then he or she will probably appreciate if you
work up your chattiness and humor. If, on the other hand, you end up with a slow-talking,
no-nonsense interviewer, then you may want to skip the small talk and jump right into a
focused no-frills interview.

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5 Tips for Your Stand-Out MBA Resume

Your MBA resume essentially serves as your career's "greatest hits." On 1-2 pages,
you're given the opportunity to highlight your most impressive academic and professional
experiences. For overrepresented applicants, older applicants, or applicants with other
extenuating circumstances (like a criminal record), this is your first shot at grabbing the
attention of top b-school adcom and eliminating their hesitations.
Answer these 5 questions to create a stunning resume that will highlight your competitive
advantage and boost your chances of getting accepted:
1. Who are you?
Interview yourself and examine the jobs you've had, the skills you've acquired, and your
greatest hits as a professional.
What are some of your most impressive skills or talents? What accomplishments are you
most proud of? What have you achieved that gained you the most recognition? How have
you impacted your organization or influenced coworkers? What are some of your key
successes?
Look through old emails that may jog your memory, read performance reviews or LI
recommendations, and jot down some notes chronicling your career achievements.
2. Where are you applying?
The best way to convince the adcom that youre best for their school is to understand the
schools mission, strengths, and ideals.
When putting together your resume, you'll need to learn as much as possible about the
program youre applying to. Then, customize your resume to reflect the aspects of your
background that are most relevant to your target school.
Note: You want the language of your resume to match the school's
mission/strength/ideals, but be sure that you're not just parroting back what's on their site.
Your goal is to internalize their vision and present your complementary ideals, not to cut
and paste or directly mimic their language.
3. What are some of your specific accomplishments?
Saying that you "led your team to success" just won't cut it. Impact is measured in
numbers, so you want to make sure that your resume's numbers are high.
Details matter. Look how much more impressive something like this sounds: Designed
$3 million IT strategy that increased revenue by 11% and attracted 7 new clients
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compared to "Developed IT plan that was selected for implementation. If you work for a
private company and cant disclose revenue figures, refer to percentage increases or
improvements or cite the improved industry ranking of the organizations product or
performance as a result of your contribution. Think of numbers and other hard details as
proof that you can deliver.
4. Are you being honest?
If you dropped out of your CPA course just before finals, don't say that you completed
the course. If you were one of eight equally ranked members of a team, don't say you
were team leader. If you worked for four months at a company, don't say you were there
for a year.
You get the point.
Making up degrees, accomplishments, and other personal and professional facts is just a
bad idea. Dont do it its unethical and potentially self-destructive. Schools wont
hesitate to show students the door when they learn that their resume, or any other parts of
their application for that matter, are more fiction than fact.
5. Does your resume look good?
Yes, it's important that your resume sounds good. But how does it look?
A slapdash job will portray you as a sloppy, careless person. A featureless, plain display
will make you look uninteresting or boring. The solution here isn't to create a hot pink
background bordered by birds and flowers; but adding a few design elements will do
wonders to spruce up your resume and show that you put some thought into your
presentation.
A few suggestions:
Instead of the traditional circle bullet or dash, use the less common diamond- and
arrow-shaped bullet.
Use expanded text (kerning) to highlight a key term.
Enclose certain sections of your resume in shaded boxes.
No matter what you, keep in mind that less is more you don't want a cluttered resume
that will be difficult to read. And if your target school specifies format rules (particularly
regarding margins, page number, and font), be sure to follow theirs to a T. This may
mean toning down your creative flair for design to fit their standard.

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Conclusion
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