Tips on applying For a B School

Procedures for applying to enter an MBA program vary - and so does the terminology. However these are the common aspects. You may not require all of them in all situations. These are our tips:


Article content:

The application form The resume or CV The Essay Letters of recommendation

Transcripts The tests The interview Funding and scholarships

The Application Form

Your form should be clear, complete and neat. When read quickly by someone who does not know you it should give a clear picture of you.

• Spend sufficient time - do the job properly. This is the first hurdle - most people fall here.
• Photocopy the blank form several times and fill out several drafts before you fill out the copy to submit. Get someone to look at your drafts - preferably someone who doesn't know you too well and who can therefore see the document as an Admissions person in the School might see it.
• If you are applying to a School in another country - remember that you might not get an interview - so the application documents are particularly important.
• If the application form refers to Interviews - and you are in another country - offer to be interviewed by telephone and/or by a local allumnus of the School.

The Resume, or CV

If a separate personal resume or CV is required, it should-

• Be concise and neat ( not handwritten ).
• Present you - as a person - clearly , to someone who does not know you.
• Be specific - saying what you have done, learnt and accomplished.
• Show evidence of your managerial and leadership skills.
• Show evidence that you are a good 'group worker' - most programs will need you to work in this way.
• Highlight specific skills and abilities that will differentiate you from others - and make you stand out from the crowd.
• Include some things which might become topics in an interview.
• Remember - spend time on your resume, and make it show - the School will want to see that you are taking them seriously.

The Essay

If it is about you - it should do all the things which are listed above for the Resume - but it is also a test of your writing ability , so it should also-

• Be well structured and logical (check spelling and syntax. Get someone to read it before you use it).
• Present your strengths - but recognize your weaknesses , and say how doing the program is intended to addrees them.
• Indicate what you would bring to the program - i.e. how you would be an asset to it , and subsequently to the School as an allumnus.
• Express your views and opinions.
• Address all the specific topics requested or suggested by the School - make a check-list and make sure you cover all items, preferably in the order the School presented them in any notes for guidance.
• Follow the School's requirements as regards line spacing, margins etc - and especially any word limit.
• Dont use 'mass produced' or 'off the peg' essays.

Letters of Recommendation/References

Take care to pick the right people to comment about you-

• Choose people who know you and who like you.
• Choose people in business or education, i.e. with job titles which will be recognized by the School.
• Ask them before and thank them afterwards (preferably when you have the result of the application).
• Brief them - but dont tell them what to write - speak to or meet with them, give them a copy of your completed application form , CV etc.
• Tell them their input is important and not just a formality.
• Choose people who have, and will give, the time to do a good job - ie not just tick the boxes and write no comments