In late April, after a month of shock due to the coronavirus lockdown, the number of initial inquiries and sign-ups for MBA admissions consulting services at Amerasia Consulting began to spike. Over the last month and a half that increased interest has been consistent, reflecting a largely held belief in MBA admissions circles that this season, both in Rd. 1 and Rd. 2, could be the most competitive MBA admissions cycle in history.
With the prospect of an economic downturn, top MBA programs are expecting a dramatic increase in applications over the last few years. Furthermore, with high deferral rates at top MBA programs due to COVID-19, the number of available admissions spots in this year’s MBA admissions classes will be reduced. So, more applicants and fewer spots available.
With an increase in the caliber of MBA candidates, how do you – as an MBA applicant – begin to set yourself apart?
1) Understand the Schools and MBA Programs You’re Targeting
Due to varying cultures, curriculums, perspectives on leadership, etc., every school and MBA program you plan on targeting values different skills and qualities in their MBA candidates. So, if you make the effort to understand and embrace the unique qualities of each program and allow those qualities to help shape your essays and application, you can begin to elevate your candidacy from being “qualified” to being “ideal.” Contact one of our Admissions Consultants for more detail on how to approach the individual programs you’re interested in. Click Here.
2) Reveal Your Emotional Intelligence by Picking the Right Goals
Admissions officers often want to know about who you are and what you value, not just what you’ve accomplished. Often the best way to do this is through the passion behind your career goals. When you think about a passion, it often stems from a person’s background and values. And a person’s background and values… that’s a pretty good window into understanding who they are as a person.
So, you want to pick career goals that reveal who you are, what makes you tick, and shows your values. Here are a few quick tips on picking your MBA career goals:
Avoid something too boring (I want to get promoted over the years and become an executive – this is a waste of precious essay real estate as it says nothing about you and rather describes a generic path to prosperity).
Avoid something “ripped from the headlines” or otherwise pie-in-the-sky (another way to think about this to borrow from a legal concept that you can only argue “facts found in evidence” – don’t talk about a LT goal in social media or clean tech or something else “buzz worthy” unless you have existing passions and experiences that support those claims).
Instead, land on something interesting that comes from your own life. Nothing is better for an admissions officer than to truly learn about you from your long-term goals. Make sure that whatever you pick connects to who you are as a person.
Make sure that your ST goal will give you skills and/or perspectives necessary to reach this LT goal (otherwise, the bridge starts to break down).
Overall, your LT goals should connect to both your ST goals and your existing life in big, swooping arcs – it doesn’t have to be a tight line from one to the other, but it should make a big circle that reveals who you are through your passion when all is said and done.
3) Show How You Stepped Up as a Leader During this Crisis
Due to the pandemic, many of us have been stuck at home for weeks. While cities and states are beginning to ease up on some of the lockdowns, many businesses are continuing to operate remotely. As telecommuting becomes the new normal, teams are interacting less and many businesses and groups are losing the social dynamic that can unite and inspire people around a goal.
As time goes on, these new realities have the potential to impact your business. So, set up and look for opportunities to lead and bring people together, even if only online. Be the person that hosts an online “social event” where you and your team can make cocktails and socialize using an app like Houseparty. Or host an online board game night. There are countless ways for you to step up to be a community and team leader despite your current isolation.
Furthermore, look for the opportunity to serve your community. Many people, mainly those with service jobs, have lost their jobs and are struggling financially. Reach out to a local financial services non-profit to see if you can counsel people dealing with debt or looking for a new job.
As you can see, the key right now is to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING to step up to serve and lead others. Because when these top programs ask you “what you did during this crisis?” You want an answer that’s better than, “I watched a lifetime’s worth of Netflix.”
4) Connect and Begin Working with an Amerasia Admissions Consultant. Click Here to Get Started!