MBA ADMIT.

COM’S

ANSWERS TO MBA ADMISSIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
MBA Admit.com – Helping Candidates to Open the Doors
to the World’s Best MBA Programs

MBA Admit.com – Proudly, one of the most affordable top

MBA admissions consulting companies
 INTRODUCTION

Each year, we at MBA Admit.com help candidates gain admission to the top MBA programs in
the world – including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, INSEAD, London Business School,
Kellogg, University of Chicago, Berkeley, UCLA, Ross, Cornell, Yale, NYU, and the list goes on!
Because many of the top MBA programs reject over 85% of all applicants, admitting only 15%,
MBA candidates are always eager to learn best practices and gain guidance that can allow them to
put together outstanding applications that can make the difference between acceptance and
rejection. In this small “overview” booklet, we are happy to provide you with some answers to
frequently asked MBA admissions questions.

Please be in touch with us at mbaadmit@gmail.com should you want to learn more about our
services. We are proud to be one of the most affordable top MBA admissions consulting
companies!

Also visit our blog and/or sign up for our Newsletter at http://mbaadmit.com/.

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 2

 TESTIMONIALS
Before I met Dr. Watts, I applied to five different top-10 business schools including Harvard and
I did not get accepted at a single one. I was desperate and frustrated and thought my whole
career was messed up. As a European student, I did not recognize the importance of the right
strategy and the right keywords. Most importantly, I did not know how to make the best out of my
stories. In short, Dr. Watts helped me to improve my essays enormously. The interesting part was
that we were still writing about the same life stories, but were explaining it with different words.
Even more importantly, Dr. Watts helped me to find the right words in my interviews and to see
how easy it can be to make an interview a great experience. With the help of Dr. Watts, when
reapplying I got admitted to ALL top business schools—Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT,
Kellogg and Columbia!!! I know what a difference Dr. Watts made. Thank you so much for all
your help and support Dr. Watts!!

– MBA Admit.com client admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, MIT,

Kellogg

I cannot believe I got into Harvard with a 2.8 GPA!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU Dr. Watts! My dream
has come true thanks to you!

– MBA Admit.com client admitted to Harvard Business School

Dear Dr. Watts,

I got accepted into the Columbia MBA program!! I want to thank you for your great help and
support throughout my entire application process. You made my dream come true. I am truly
thankful to you.

– MBA Admit.com client, formerly rejected when applying on his own to Columbia
University, and admitted to Columbia with MBA Admit.com’s guidance

The degree to which the quality of my essays was improved as a result of MBA Admit’s editing is
directly correlated with my success in the admissions process. I applied to four top MBA
programs a few years ago and was not accepted by any of the programs. However, during this
year’s round (which was much more difficult than the competition of a few years ago), I was
accepted to Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, and Yale. I am the same person with similar GMAT
scores relative to other students’ GMAT scores. The difference was in the manner that Dr. Watts
helped me POSITION myself in the essays.

The strategy session with Dr. Watts was so key that I requested additional sessions throughout
my application process…. Although I’m a frugal person, I was so overwhelmed by Dr. Watts’
assistance and guidance that I paid Dr. Watts a bonus, which represented a 50% premium to the
price of her services. I believe the prices she charges are understated by at least that much.

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 3

 – MBA Admit.com client admitted to Harvard, Wharton, Columbia and Yale

I always contemplated joining one of the top MBA programs but was overwhelmed by the
rigorous application process and requirements. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t possess the
exceptional academic credentials normally required. My undergraduate GPA was lower than a
B average. Dr. Watts carefully guided me and helped me strategize through the entire
application process. She kept my spirits up in believing in me and thus I was inspired to be more
creative and innovative in writing my essays. Dr. Watts, I feel, dedicated more time to my cause
than I deserved and now that I’ll be attending Wharton, I’m truly indebted to her. Thank you Dr.
Watts for helping me realize my dream!

– MBA Admit.com client, admitted to Wharton

Dr. Watts is the reason that I got into Harvard! She did an excellent job helping me select essay
topics that highlighted my strengths and mitigated my weaknesses. I applied with only 3 years of
work experience, but Dr. Watts’ editing expertise helped me present myself as equal to
candidates with many more years of experience. Dr. Watts also coached me through the
interview process and made sure that I emphasized my strengths in all of my answers. I highly
recommend Dr. Watts’ services!

– MBA Admit.com client admitted to Harvard Business School and Columbia GSB Early
Decision

Dr. Watts played an incredible role in my application process. From the first moment we talked
during the strategy session, I knew that I was in good hands. She devised a remarkable strategy
that capitalized on my strengths and trivialized my weaknesses. Dr. Watts did a tremendous job
helping me revise my essays. She gave me concrete feedback regarding areas that needed
improvement. In addition, she worked directly with my recommendation writers to help them
create an optimal complementary picture of my personality. I couldn’t believe that I was
accepted to Columbia considering my low GMAT score! I think it is perfect proof that Dr. Watts
is a true strategist. I would warmly recommend her services to any applicant who wants to get
into the top-10 MBA programs.

– MBA Admit.com client, admitted to Columbia GSB

I’m in at Columbia and Wharton. That’s two down, one to go! Just received an achievement
scholarship also. How fantastic is that!

– MBA Admit.com client

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 4

During my first MBA application cycle, I went it alone and failed miserably after logging
countless hours putting together what I thought were solid applications. This time around, I
chose MBA Admit.com. Dr. Watts worked diligently with me to ensure that all of the essays
worked in harmony with one another. Dr Watts’ experience and attention to detail doubled the
quality of the essays I ultimately submitted.

After working with Dr. Watts and MBA Admit.com, I’m confident I worked with the best in the
business! After gaining admission and being offered two outstanding MBA scholarships—where
I received $25 for every $1 paid to MBA Admit.com — this has been one of the best investments
I’ve ever made. I would recommend MBA Admit.com to anyone who is serious about going to a
top notch MBA program.

– MBA Admit.com client admitted to top school with full scholarships

Hi Dr. Watts,

Thank you very much for all your help and support with my applications!! Your expertise really
brought out the best in me. And I wanted to let you know that I received my admittance to
Columbia! It’s the best Christmas gift I could have asked for! I hope you have a wonderful
Christmas and New Year’s!!

– MBA Admit.com client, admitted to Columbia GSB

When re-applying to MIT after I had been rejected the previous year (I had applied on my own
the first time around), my greatest weakness was not knowing how to best position my last year’s
work as an improvement to my previous application. Dr. Watts helped me identify my strengths
and lifted them up in my application. She also gave me tremendous moral support throughout the
whole process. The latter was as valuable as the technical advice she gave. With MBA
Admit.com’s help, I gained admission to MIT!

– MBA Admit.com client formerly rejected from MIT Sloan, admitted to MIT Sloan with
MBA Admit.com’s guidance

Dear Dr. Watts,

As you might have guessed, my Columbia interview went better than I could have ever hoped to
expect! My interviewer actually seemed to be excited by my answers. I wish that I had known of
you earlier! You have been a tremendous asset. Thanks so much.

– MBA Admit.com client applying to Columbia GSB

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 5

 THE MBA ADMISSIONS PROCESS:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IS MY GPA GOOD ENOUGH?

The question of what makes a “good GPA” is a question I hear a lot. “Is my GPA too low?”
candidates ask. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, and the answer
is usually determined on a case-by-case basis. Certainly, statistics about each business school’s
average GPA for matriculating students can help you gain a sense of your chances for admission.
But beyond this, specifics matter a great deal. For example:

Where did you attend college? Admissions committees know that some schools have more
rigorous guidelines for grades, and that grade inflation is much lower at some schools and much
higher at others. If your school was a top-ranked college in its country, your GPA likely can be
lower than the GPA of a candidate who attended a much lower-ranked college.

What is your gender? Sorry guys – girls do sometimes have an easier time because, for many
business schools, fewer women apply. Despite our modern age, women are still a minority in the
business world, and many schools are pushing to see a rise in notable women business leaders. As
a result, women sometimes receive a little more leeway on their GPA.

Are you an overrepresented profile or an underrepresented profile? If you are overrepresented

(that is, many candidates with your profile – country, ethnicity, industry – apply to business
school), your GPA will likely need to be higher. You’ll need to work harder to make your
application stand out. If you are an underrepresented profile, you might be able to have a little
more latitude with a GPA that is lower than the average for matriculating students because the
admissions committee might feel that you will bring a certain uniqueness to the classroom.

Did you have to work your way through school financially? Admissions committees realize that
some students also had families to support or other extenuating circumstances that forced them to
balance their attention between work and academics. If this is you, the admissions committee will
often cut you some slack if they realize you were juggling several duties at once.

What was your major? Some majors are known to be very difficult, and so what might look like a
low GPA in a much “softer” major may be perceived by the admissions committee as a relatively
high GPA for your major. It is usually okay to mention in the application whether your major was
one of the hardest majors in your college as a reason as to why your GPA is lower than ideal.

Did you participate in a varsity-level sport in college? Representing a school in a varsity-level

sport is generally seen as very admirable and an indication of multifaceted talent. If this is the case,
the business school may be slightly more lenient of a lower-than-ideal GPA. (Many MBA
candidates might be hopeful that this same reasoning applies to other types of extracurricular
activities, but generally it does not. For most other types of extracurricular activities, the committee
will feel you had more control over how much time you devoted and will think you should have

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 6

been able to better prioritize and maintain a strong GPA.)

Remember that each case is different. There are many other factors that affect GPA assessment. If
you are concerned about your GPA, try to evaluate how these and other mitigating factors might
affect the way admission committees will view your GPA. Do you have other strong areas to
counteract a weak GPA? Start with these simple methods to help you understand whether your
GPA will be seen as a weakness of your MBA application.

HOW IMPORTANT IS MY GMAT SCORE RELATIVE TO

MY GPA AND WORK EXPERIENCE?
A candidate’s GMAT score can be incredibly important in MBA admissions, particularly in the
United States (European schools still tend to be a little more lenient). Unfortunately, around April
and May of each year, I get emails from candidates who applied on their own and thought they
could ignore a low GMAT score. They say things like, “I thought my great work experience would
entice the school.” Like it or not, for most candidates, the GMAT score can be one of a handful
of first-cut metrics.

A “first-cut metric” is one of the factors that top MBA programs use to simply cut an application
without giving it serious consideration, regardless of how wonderful the overall candidacy might
be. Generally, if you score is not above the 500s, you are risking that your GMAT score is going
to bring you an automatic rejection at a top school. Once you are in the 600s, whether you will be
cut based on a GMAT score is a matter of your profile and the overall strength of your candidacy,
but some candidates who come from the most competitive profiles, like Indian foreign national
male engineers, really need to be in the 700s to be competitive.

WHY IS THE GMAT SO IMPORTANT IN MBA ADMISSIONS?

The GMAT is a notable factor in MBA admissions for many reasons. The GMAT score provides
MBA admissions officers with a standard metric by which to compare candidates from widely
varying backgrounds. Candidates will be applying from a wide range of countries, cultures,
schools and industries, and the GMAT helps to provide a benchmark for the admissions committee
in comparing candidates.

Another reason why the GMAT score is important is because the top MBA programs trace the
performance of their admits based on their GMAT scores, and if a GMAT score below a certain
percentile indicates that a student will struggle in 90% of the cases, the school will be wary about
accepting a candidate in with such a score.

It is also important because sometimes the top MBA programs receive so many great applicants
that they need a reason to reject applicants. Because of factors like these, your GMAT score plays
an important role in your overall “package” and can have a notable impact on your admissions
outcomes.

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 7

 DID THE GMAT SEEM MORE OR LESS IMPORTANT IN THE 2013-2014
ADMISSIONS SEASON RELATIVE TO OTHER RECENT YEARS?
This past year, a couple of the top-10 MBA programs seemed to get stricter about what they
considered to be an acceptable GMAT score. So, for that reason, we at MBA Admit.com would
urge caution with regard to your GMAT score – try to get a great score so that it is not functioning
as a weakness in your application.

I GOT A 680! SHOULD I TAKE THE GMAT AGAIN?

Oftentimes, candidates are frustrated when they study hard for the GMAT, but soon find out that
their score is below the 700-range they were hoping for. There are many candidates like this who
are wonderfully qualified and have immense leadership potential—but their GMAT scores don’t
accurately portray their abilities. When the score is in the high-600s, many candidates will worry
about whether to re-take the exam. What is my advice, they ask? Will they get rejected with a
score like 680?

The correct answer will depend on who the candidate is (gender, age, citizenship, ethnicity,
industry, etc.) and how strong the candidate’s overall record is (GPA, undergraduate institution,
alternative transcript, professional successes, community leadership, etc.). So, although each of
the above factors matter a great deal, here are some general guidelines about how you can start to
determine whether your score is good enough:

A 680 is not an automatic rejection. Candidates with scores of 680 are accepted each year by top
schools like Harvard and Wharton. However, these are generally candidates who have very
compelling background stories or an impressive work history. If you are shooting for a top school
like Stanford, Columbia, Harvard or Wharton, know in advance what their policies are for
reporting test scores. For schools that only request your highest GMAT score (rather than the most
recent two or three scores), you might want to re-take the GMAT if you have time and you have
the strong sense that a 680 puts your application at risk.

Calculate the risk of a re-take if you must send to the admissions committee more than your highest
score. For schools that want to see your most recent two or three GMAT scores, however,
determining whether to re-take the GMAT becomes a little trickier: you must also think about the
impact if your GMAT score goes lower. If you receive a higher GMAT score, your application
gets a boost! But, if you receive a second GMAT score that is lower than your first, the admissions
committee may question whether your first higher score was just a bit of good luck. If you also
have a lower-than-ideal GPA, the second low score can be interpreted as providing “evidence”
that your lower-than-ideal GPA was an accurate indicator of your abilities and potential.

Look at your whole package. When trying to determine whether to re-take the GMAT, take a step
back and try to assess your strengths, weaknesses, and any information you can find out about your
target schools. In some circumstances, re-taking the GMAT can be risky. In others, it can mean
the difference between admission and rejection. If you decide to re-take it, make sure you have
already taken a prep course that has helped you understand how to test well on the GMAT, allowed

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 8

you to take full mock tests and project your score, and then you can re-test after you are
consistently scoring in a higher range that you find acceptable. It is no secret that some candidates
test better than others, and learning a few secrets to scoring well on the GMAT and a little practice
can make all the difference.

IMPACT OF A LOWER-THAN-IDEAL TOEFL OR AWA SCORE

Some candidates, particularly those who did not attend college where English was the primary
medium of instruction, are concerned about the influence a low TOEFL or AWA score will have
on their admissions outcomes. A lower-than-ideal TOEFL or AWA score can certainly have a
negative impact. For example, if your GMAT score was very lopsided and you were much stronger
in quant than in verbal, and you also have a low TOEFL, the admissions committee may become
concerned that you will not be able to communicate adequately with your peers. Admissions
committees want to admit you not only for what you will gain from the experience, but also
because of what you can give. It won’t matter if you have profoundly unique insights and creative
ideas if you are unable to communicate those insights and ideas to your peers. In many cases, to
maximize your odds of admission you should try to improve low TOEFL and AWA scores.

Candidates frequently ask me whether there are instances when a candidate can still get into a top
MBA program in the United States and Europe with a low TOEFL or AWA score. Yes, of course.
I have worked with candidates who had poor TOEFL or AWA scores, but were such attractive
candidates that they were accepted at schools including Harvard and Wharton. In one example, an
East Asian foreign national I worked with had poor English skills and a relatively low TOEFL
score. He had terrific work experience at a Fortune 10 multinational company, however, and his
business experience was a great asset. We at MBA Admit.com worked with him extensively and
he was able to highlight through his application the many tremendous strengths of his candidacy.
As a result, he gained admission to Harvard Business School. Upon acceptance, Harvard asked
him to enroll in an English program before beginning, which he happily did before completing the
MBA program successfully.

WHAT ARE FACTORS TO CONSIDER AS I MAKE

MY BUSINESS SCHOOL SHORT LIST?
For candidates just getting started in preparing for MBA admissions and for candidates choosing
among business schools after gaining admission, many key factors should influence your choices.
Of course, for the candidate just getting started, you must assess where you are competitive. But
for candidates either just beginning the process or choosing among schools after admission, here
are two factors you should consider when narrowing your list:

PRESTIGE

Prestige is not the same thing as “ranking”. A business school can be ranked as a “top-5” business
school in one year and be only a “top-7” business school the very next year. Rankings can fluctuate
greatly, even year-to-year. They can also be notably different based upon which organization

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 9

provided the ranking. However, the “brand” you pick up from the business school you attend can
continue on and on, regardless of ranking.

When considering which business school to apply to or to attend, focusing solely on business
school rankings rather than also on the long-term prestige of each school can be shortsighted. For
instance, when a student who intends to pursue a career outside of the USA must choose between
NYU and Oxford, they must think hard about prestige. NYU is a well-ranked business school, but
Oxford’s prestige on the whole is golden, even if the business school could improve its ranking.
The prestige of an Oxford degree might outweigh the strong ranking of NYU’s business school
for a candidate who will be pursuing their career outside of the USA.

For a candidate who will pursue their career in the USA, when considering a choice between a
respectable regional school and a nationally ranked school, prestige should also be considered. If
you intend to move around the USA during your career, the more prestigious nationally ranked
school may serve you better. But prestige is a subjective matter. In the South, for instance, Duke’s
name carries far and may open more doors than an MBA from the University of Chicago, because
in the South, Booth may not be as widely known in spite of its strong national ranking.

CAREER AND ALUMNI

When applying to business school and also when choosing which business school to attend, you
should have a general sense of where you want to take your career post-MBA, both in the years
immediately following your graduation as well as in ten or twenty years. Companies that recruit
on campus usually have a target list of “core schools” and longstanding relationships with those
career management offices. More often than not, your degree is only a stepping-stone towards
what you want to do later in life. In many cases, you will have two or three job changes in your
first post-MBA decade. It is during those crucial moments when your network can make a
difference. Many schools offer lifelong career support. Alumni will often favor job candidates
from their own school. Your classmates will start companies or rise to senior positions in various
industries and offer resources, networks and career advice. Consider the school that will best help
to fulfill your career aspirations.

Other significant factors to consider include the academics, culture, student life and financial
assistance.

SHOULD I APPLY EARLY DECISION?

Each year, as the new admissions season approaches, candidates who are thinking ahead begin to
ponder early on whether they should apply to some top MBA programs through Early Decision
rounds. There are many factors you should bear in mind when assessing whether Early Decision
is a good choice for you.

There are some candidates for whom Early Decision is a clear and easy choice. For example, some
candidates are simply sold on a particular business school and know it is their first choice, so they
want to apply through Early Decision in order to know as soon as possible whether they have

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 10

admission (and if so, they might choose not to apply elsewhere). Some applicants want to gain
admission to a good business school early on so that they can feel “safer” in applying to reach
schools, knowing that they have an admission in hand already.

Other candidates have a notable weakness or challenge to overcome in their qualifications or

profile. Perhaps a candidate is coming from a small, regional company that is less attractive to
some top MBA programs. Some candidates have only a marginally acceptable GMAT score and
cannot improve it notably. Some candidates had hiccups in their undergraduate records, resulting
in a lower-than-desired GPA. Depending on what the challenge is, such candidates should think
through how to time their MBA applications excellently in order to maximize the odds that they
might override the challenge(s) in their qualifications or profile. An Early Decision pool can often
offer a good alternative for such candidates.

Indeed, sometimes when a candidate with a notable weakness in their profile approaches us in
Round 1 or Round 2, for assistance, in preparing their MBA applications, we at MBA Admit.com
can see they would have had a better chance of overriding their weakness in an Early Decision
round. For those who think ahead, it can pay off wonderfully. We had many candidates who fared
well in admissions last year likely because they applied through Early Decision. In one example,
a candidate gained admission to Columbia Business School with a 2.3 GPA in a graduate degree.
I believe Early Decision made all of the difference for him and that he would not necessarily have
fared as well in the regular decision pool.

Consider another scenario: once you become aware of the nuances of admission for each of your
target schools, you may learn that one school does not favor candidates coming from small start-
ups. If you are from a small start-up and you want to attend that business school, you may be best
off applying early so that hopefully you will be one of the candidates they admit from this sort of
background. Thus, Early Decision or Round 1 might be ideal for you. If you wait too late, you may
find that you are competing for a tiny number of seats that are still left for candidates applying
from small companies. In contrast, if you know that a school tends to favor candidates of your
profile and you do not have a notable weakness to override, you might have latitude to wait until
Round 2 for that school and you might want to apply in an earlier round to MBA programs where
you face more difficult odds.

Assess your candidacy well to determine if Early Decision is an option you should be entertaining.
If you have a notable weakness, applying Early Decision to at least one school might be a great
strategic move.

IS ROUND 2 TOO COMPETITIVE?

Every year, many qualified candidates approach me unsure about whether or not to apply in Round
2. There are several reasons for their concern. First, MBA programs will have already offered
admission to some Round 1 applicants. Hence, there will be fewer overall seats to compete for in
Round 2. Second, in Round 2, the number of MBA candidates applying for admission to full-time
MBA programs tends to be higher than in Round 1. This is partly due to the fact that many
applicants want to take advantage of the free time that they have off from work during the winter

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 11

holiday – time they use to prepare MBA applications for January deadlines. This also means that
competition will be very keen.

My response to the question of whether you should apply in Round 2 is this: every year I help
many candidates gain admission in Round 2. It is true that many applicants will have waited to
prepare and submit their MBA applications until Round 2 because the winter holiday period gives
them valuable free time to focus fully on preparing applications. But, business schools are
cognizant of this and they also realize that some of their best candidates will apply in Round 2. As
such, most business schools leave a healthy number of seats available for Round 2 candidates.

In spite of the concerns about it being too competitive, I have worked with candidates with low
GPAs – as low as 2.8 and 2.7 – to get into some of the top schools like Stanford and Wharton in
Round 2.

It is fine to apply in Round 2, but take care to prepare excellent applications because, as compared
with Round 1, you will be competing with a higher number of applicants for fewer available seats.
Be particularly careful to convey through your essays what you offer to the school. Make sure that
your recommendation writers do the same. By Round 2, the shape of the incoming MBA class has
begun to be formed already, given the Round 1 admissions. So, with a Round 2 application, pay
particular attention to communicating what makes you a great choice. That is, why should the
admissions committee add you to the students they have already admitted? How can you
distinctively add to the mix?

To do this best, be sure to research the school, how your interests relate to the school, and what
attributes you offer that would make you a unique and exceptional addition to the school. Your job
is to present very compelling reasons why you will be an outstanding student, both inside and
outside of the classroom, and a great future alumni member.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE MY LONG-TERM GOALS?

Presenting your long-term goals to the admissions committee may be one of the most important
parts of the admissions process. For many, a strongly presented long-term goal may mean the
difference between admission and rejection. So, when the time comes, you should use your long-
term goals and distinct wording to set yourself apart and present yourself as a leader, an innovator,
and someone who will be very influential in the future --- and keep these best practices in mind.

The future is hard to predict, and many candidates struggle with defining their long-term goals.
What if you are unsure, too? Although it is true that many are not sure about their future, remember
that the applications that sometimes seem the strongest are the ones in which the candidate is able
to provide a strong sense of where they intend to go in the long term. Confidence is often the key.

I have worked with thousands of applicants who had been rejected by business schools, and, when
they come to me, we could see that they had made big mistakes in how they wrote about their
long-term goals. The long-term goal can make a big difference. Some schools will react adversely,
for instance, when a candidate is too vague about their long-term interests. For such re-applicants,

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 12

once we fixed how they presented their long-term goals and improved their essay content overall,
they fared much better in admissions, both in Round 1 and Round 2 --- often even gaining
admission to the schools that they had formerly been rejected from.

HOW CAN I CULTIVATE EXCELLENT REC WRITERS?

Getting a solid recommendation to work in your favor during B-school admissions can be an
arduous task. Many candidates feel nervous asking for recommendations, or are uncertain as to
whether the recommendation will sway the admissions committee in the direction they hope for.
Below, we highlight several important steps to securing excellent letters of recommendation.

First, although every recommendation letter is different, they all should deliver the same message
– that you are a great performer and you have key strengths in areas such as leadership and
analytical skills. Make sure that some people superior to you at work know that you are this person.
They should be aware of your strong professional performance, know you reasonably well, and
feel positively enough about you to support your application. They should be willing and able to
comment on your leadership strengths, analytical strengths, and overall strong performance. The
better you know a recommender, and the better the recommender knows you, the easier this may
be.

However, for one reason or another, some candidates fail to get to know their superiors well
enough to have this sort of strong support. For this reason, it is better to start asking for
recommendations early. Begin cultivating strong relationships as early as you can. Whether this
involves taking on extra tasks for a superior, meeting up for coffee or arranging informal
opportunities to talk, try to develop the relationships so that you can draw on them later.
Remember, having a stronger relationship with a superior will most likely never work in your
disadvantage, but when the time comes it can work strongly in your advantage.

With this thought in mind, the fact is that some candidates simply do not have the time to cultivate
these new relationships. Because of this, it is strongly encouraged that candidates should also take
strides in keeping relationships with prior superiors alive. If you have switched teams, divisions
or companies, make efforts to stay in touch with those who were superior to you and thought very
well of you, because you may need to ask them also for a recommendation. A wider networking
base may make the difference.

So, what happens for someone who has failed to take such steps? If they are lucky, they have
naturally performed so excellently and have worked so closely with multiple superiors that they
are ubiquitously seen as a shining performer and are easily able to gain strong letters of support.
Unfortunately, however, sometimes this is not the case. As a result, some candidates are left feeling
that only peers will recommend them strongly, and it generally won’t look good if a candidate is
only submitting recommendations from peers.

The moral of the story is this: the earlier you begin thinking about which superiors might
recommend you, the earlier you can begin to develop strong relationships with them, and the better
off you should be in the MBA admissions process.

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 13

 IS IT IMPORTANT TO APPROACH RECOMMENDATION WRITERS EARLY?
All too often, candidates fail to recognize the importance of recommendation letters until it is too
late. The truth is, a letter of recommendation can either make or break a business school admission
decision. Even if you have a fantastic application in every other way (application form, GMAT
score, GPA, essays, resume, work experience and extracurricular record), if your
recommendations are unenthusiastic, the door to admission can immediately shut. This is
particularly true of candidates who are from an over-represented profile in the admissions pool.

In the case of the top-5 MBA programs, the admissions committees may be quick to close the door
if they see something that does not work in their favor. You want them to see recommendations
that indicate you are the best among your peers, that you have strong analytical and leadership
skills, that you have creativity, and that you are headed for great future success. If the
recommendations simply indicate you are “pretty good” or “second best”, your application may
be perceived as weak, which could adversely impact on your outcomes.

For this reason, it is best to think ahead about who you want to recommend you. Take early steps
to cultivate a strong relationship with your recommendation writers, making sure they are aware
of your successes and goals so that they can reflect this information in their references for you.
Remember, strong relationships are they key to strong recommendations, and strong
recommendations can be game-changers!

WHAT IF I CAN’T GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM

MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR?

There are many candidates who do not feel they can inform their direct supervisor that they are
applying to business school, either because their direct supervisor might get upset that they will be
losing a team member or because that direct supervisor may even become envious. In either case,
candidates are concerned that the direct supervisor will not be supportive of their application and
will evaluate them poorly in any recommendation.

The good news is that admissions committees are used to receiving applications from candidates
who are facing this challenge. Therefore, if you do not get a recommendation from a direct
supervisor, you can still fare fine in the admissions process. You can often work around the fact
that you do not have a recommendation from a direct supervisor. One key is to get at least one
recommendation from another professional in your company who is superior to you and interacts
with you often, and who can therefore attest credibly to your performance. If you can get two
recommendations from such persons, all the better!

HOW LONG SHOULD MY RESUME BE?

Many candidates question whether they should submit a one-page or a two-page MBA application
resume. First, check the specific MBA application to make sure that the admissions committee

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 14

does not restrict the length of your resume. If the admissions committee indicates it should be a
one-page resume, then you should submit a resume of only one page. If the admissions committee
does not place a restriction on the resume’s length, generally candidates can feel comfortable
submitting resumes up to two pages long. While in the United States you will usually fare poorly
in job interviews if you present a two-page resume (the tradition is to have a one-page resume),
this is not a job resume. It is an application resume, and there are several key differences between
the two.

One main difference between the application resume and a job resume is that the admissions
resume might have an expanded extracurricular activities section in which you annotate your most
important extracurricular activities.

IS THE MBA APPLICATION FORM ITSELF IMPORTANT?

Yes, the MBA application form is important. You want to use description “boxes” on the MBA
application forms excellently. Remember, the application form is the admission committee’s first
look at your candidacy!

You would be surprised by how many candidates fail to begin working on their application forms
until the last minute. They do not look at the actual online application form in detail until about a
week or so before the deadlines. Then, they become panicked, sensing that the applications are
offering them a noteworthy amount of space to describe three types of achievements/experiences:

Work experience
Awards (academic and workplace)
Extracurricular activities

When candidates have not set aside ample time to really think through how to best present the
information, they can lose a great opportunity to present a truly outstanding MBA application.
Before the applications are even released, you can draft some standard summaries that address
these three areas of credentials and achievements. You can then refine your descriptions as you
adapt them for specific applications.

For example, in a box that might ask you to summarize in 200 characters (roughly 100 words) the
key responsibilities of your role, you should give good thought to what information you want to
present. You want to capture some of the most impressive elements of you roles and
responsibilities. Where the application might ask, “Why do you leave your last job?” be sure to
think through how to best write about your reasons for leaving. “I was offered more money at my
new job” is most definitely a shallow response.

Use the application form to tout your best achievements in all of the relevant areas – professional,
academic, extracurricular and awards/honors.

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 15

 WILL A ONE-YEAR JOB HURT MY ADMISSIONS CHANCES?

There are many reasons that people leave a job in one year or less. However, the question is, will
a short stint on your resume affect your admissions chances? Many people consider the minimum
acceptable time on any single job to be two years. However, whether or not a one-year job will
hurt you will depend on various factors. First, was the job intended from the beginning to be a one-
year job – an internship, a contracted job, or something similar? If so, you probably have no reason
for concern. If not, and for some reason you left your job after a year or less, other questions may
be relevant.

One question that is particularly relevant given the economic climate is whether you were affected
by a downsizing. If so, you likely will have less to worry about if you had a fair amount of steady
work experience either before or after your job that lasted only one year. In this current difficult
economy, leaving a job due to a downsizing won’t be seen in an overly harsh light, and the good
news is that admissions committees have heard this same story from other applicants.

If the reason why you stayed at a job for only one year is not related to an internship-type job
structure or a downsizing, there are still many other legitimate reasons that may pass by the
admissions board without raising too many eyebrows. In most cases, the admissions committee
will want to know why you left the job so soon. The assumption might be that something went
wrong. Luckily, if you have a legitimate reason for leaving your place of work after less than a
year, such as a forced move or ill family member, you can often address any concerns in the
optional essay portion of the application. You can also lessen concerns the admissions committee
might have if you have had steady, longer-than-one-year work experience after the job that lasted
only one year. Another excellent tactic is to obtain a glowing recommendation from a supervisor
at the job that lasted only one year. Finally, you can indirectly address any concerns about the one-
year duration of a job if your current supervisors are raving (through your recommendations) about
how strong you are professionally, which can make the one-year duration of a job seem less
relevant.

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 16

 MORE RESOURCES FROM DR. SHEL AND MBA ADMIT.COM
Dr. Shel Watts: Webinar Archives – School Specific Advice

Dr. Shel’s “Stanford GSB Essay Analysis 2013/2014 Season - Write Like an Expert” on Beat the
GMAT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB8Evr9I7b4

Dr. Shel’s “Write Like an Expert: 2012-2013 Fuqua Essays Breakdown” on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/write-like-an-expert-2012-2013-fuqua-essays-
breakdown

Dr. Shel’s “Write Like an Expert: Berkeley Haas Essays Analysis for 2012-2013” ” on Beat the
GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/berkeley-haas-essays-analysis-2012-2013-video

Dr. Shel Watts: Chat Transcripts

October 31, 2013:

R2: Best Practices for Success at the Top 10 – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/r2-best-practices-for-success-at-the-top-10-live-chat

June 19, 2013:

Overriding Weaknesses: GPA, GMAT, WE, and/or Age – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/overriding-weaknesses-gpa-gmat-we-andor-age-live-
chat

May 21, 2013:

Early Success: 10 Best Practices for Indian & East Asian Applicants – Live Chat on Beat the
GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/early-success-10-best-practices-for-indian-east-asian-
applicants-live-chat

May 1, 2013:
Jumpstart: Preparing Applications for R1 – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/jumpstart-preparing-applications-for-r1-live-chat

April 16, 2013:

Start Early for Success: Harvard, Wharton, and the Top-10 MBA – Live Chat on Beat the
GMAT

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 17

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/start-early-for-success-harvard-wharton-and-the-top-10-
mba-live-chat

March 26, 2013:

Succeeding with a Less-than-Ideal GPA or GMAT Score – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/succeeding-with-a-less-than-ideal-gpa-or-gmat-score-
live-chat

March 6, 2013:
10 Keys to Success for Indian and East Asian Applicants – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/10-keys-to-success-for-indian-and-east-asian-
applicants-live-chat

February 6, 2013:
Best Practices for Re-applicants – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/best-practices-for-re-applicants-live-chat

January 23, 2013:

Preparing Now for Fall 2013 Applications – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/preparing-now-for-fall-2013-applications-live-chat

November 13, 2012:

10 R2 Best Practices For Indian and East Asian Candidates – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/10-round-2-best-practices-for-indian-and-east-asian-
candidates-live-chat

October 31, 2012:

How to Stand Out in Round 2 Admissions – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/how-to-stand-out-in-round-2-admissions-live-chat

July 11, 2012:

Overriding a Low GPA and GMAT: Profiles of Real Admits to Top-10 Schools - Live Chat
on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/overriding-a-low-gpa-and-gmat-profiles-of-real-admits-
to-top-10-schools-live-chat

June 20, 2012:

Profiles of Real HBS, Wharton, Stanford Admits: How do you Compare? –Live Chat on
Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/profiles-of-real-hbs-wharton-stanford-admits-how-do-
you-compare-live-chat

June 5, 2012:
How to Get Accepted into Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia or INSEAD – Live Chat
on Beat the GMAT

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 18

http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/how-to-get-accepted-into-harvard-stanford-wharton-
columbia-or-insead-live-chat

May 17, 2012:

Engineers and Techies: 10 Ways to Stand Out in MBA Admissions – Live Chat on Beat the
GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/engineers-and-techies-10-ways-to-stand-out-in-mba-
admissions-live-chat

April 24, 2012:

Strategies for Gaining MBA Admission with a Less-than-Ideal GMAT or GPA – Live Chat
on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/strategies-for-gaining-mba-admission-with-a-less-than-
ideal-gmat-or-gpa-live-chat

April 10, 2012:

10 Best Practices for Re-Applying Successfully – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/10-best-practices-for-re-applying-successfully-live-
chat-2

March 13, 2012:

10 High-Impact Actions To Do Now for Fall Admissions – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/success-begins-now-10-high-impact-actions-to-do-now-
for-fall-admissions-live-chat

February 1, 2012:
Breaking Down Columbia’s B-School Essays – Live Chat on Beat the GMAT
http://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/event/breaking-down-columbias-b-school-essays

MBA Admit.com, February 2014 Answers to MBA Admissions FAQs 19