Our goal on this blog is to give you as much insight as possible on the things you can do to be successful in the MBA admissions process. But every once in a while, it’s important to address the things you ‘shouldn’t do’ as well. As admissions officers, we see A LOT. And given that most of you are going through this process for the first time, it’s only fair that we share our knowledge on the things that you shouldn’t do if you want to receive an offer from your top school. So, here it is:
How To Lose An Offer In 10 Ways
1. Don’t do enough research on the school
The MBA is a big investment – don’t forget that. The last thing you want to do is apply to a school just because you think you should, or because it’s a ‘ big-name’ school. It’s important to know why the program is a good fit for you. Is it their teaching method? The length? The location? Their specializations or focus that interests you? Tip: MOST interviewers will ask you: “Why our program?” – you want to be able to answer this question truthfully, intelligently and honestly.
2. Bombard the admissions officers
It is great to stay in touch with the admissions team and we certainly encourage it, but there is a fine line that can be crossed. This includes multiple emails or phone calls multiple times a day, calling directly after sending an email, or sending the same email to every person on the admissions staff. At Ivey, we pride ourselves on providing a great candidate experience throughout the application process. We try and be as responsive and as thorough as possible in responding to questions. So, if you haven’t heard from us right away, be patient. Rest assured that responding to candidates is our first priority but we are managing a large volume of candidates, and a large volume of applications. Tip: Review the website and entire application fully before sending the admissions office your questions. That way, you can ask everything at once and avoid excessive emails and phone calls.
3. Submit a generic application
Admissions offices know that you are likely applying to more than one MBA program. However, we all like to believe that our school is your top choice! It’s your job to make sure that this is coming through in the application. Whatever you do, DO NOT use the same answers and essays for each school. Your essay questions are the one opportunity you have to make your paper application jump off the page, and make the admissions officers notice you above all the other candidates. We put a lot of thought into our essay questions, and develop them specifically to help us identify who would be an asset in our MBA classroom. Your application should reflect why you would be a good fit for our school, not why you are a fit for any MBA. Tip: Have your friends and family read your essay without telling them the question. If they can’t figure out what the question is, you haven’t answered it specifically enough.
4. Don’t go to recruiting events
Going to recruiting events or participating in online sessions is a great opportunity to get to know the admissions officers, and for them to get to know you. Not participating in any recruiting events is not a make or break for your application – but any chance to communicate with the team in person IS an opportunity for you to sell yourself, and to form a lasting impression. By getting to meet you, we can put a face (or voice) to the name and your application. Additionally, taking the time out to learn more about us shows that you’re really serious about our program. Tip: If you can’t make an in-person recruiting event, be sure to join us for an online session. You’ll still get all of the info you need and will still have the advantage of interacting with our admissions team.
5. Plagiarize references or essays
We want to get to know YOU. Your essays should be your own thoughts, and your own voice. The last thing you want is to be asked to expand on one of your essays in an interview, and you get stuck having to make something up. Always be honest – we can usually tell if the ‘voice’ in the essay doesn’t jive with who we’re speaking with. The same goes for references. Most schools (including Ivey) spot check references to confirm who they are and what their relationship is to you. Tip: We may compete with other schools, but at the end of the day – business schools are a small community and we DO communicate with one another. If one school finds you being dishonest, word gets around. Don’t risk it.
6. Ask too much of alumni, too early
Talking to alumni is one of the best ways to get an inside scoop on what you can expect in any given program. We definitely encourage you to speak to alums from the schools you’re targeting, especially those whom you know personally or who you meet at MBA recruiting events. Remember that the alums are an extension of the admissions committee; they are representatives of the school so it’s important that you treat them with the same respect and courtesy that you would any member of the admissions committee. Don’t email them incessantly. Ask for brief conversations. Come prepared with thoughtful questions. Respect their time and their feedback. DO send thank you notes. Tip: Don’t ask the alums questions that you can ask the admissions officers like what the application deadlines are, or what the class profile is. Use your time with them wisely and ask questions that are personal to his or her experience.
7. Resist feedback
There may be times in the process where the admissions officers will help coach you on aspects of your candidacy. This could be anything from options for improving your GMAT score, to your communication skills, to questioning your work experience. It’s important to take their feedback with dignity and remember that they are doing everything they can to manage your expectations and help you succeed. At the end of the day, our job is to find the best applicants for our program and of course, we want to see as many successful applicants as possible! Tip: If an admissions officer gives you feedback, don’t get defensive or feel like you have to justify yourself. Remember that we have many years of experience doing what we do, and most times, we are working with only small pieces of information about you. What we say isn’t necessarily the end all, be all – but it’s your best interest to at least consider any advice or coaching that we provide to help you in the process.
8. Only aim for minimums
Some people may find it helpful to know what the minimum GMAT score is for admission to a particular program, or the minimum years’ work experience. However, remember that this is an extremely competitive process and every program is looking for exceptional candidates; those who stand-out and bring ‘above average’ experience and skills to the table. So while meeting the minimum criteria may give you a chance of getting in, it certainly doesn’t help you compete against all of the other applicants who meet the basic requirements. There are typically hundreds of applications submitted for less than 150 spots (in Ivey’s case). So – find out the minimum criteria for each program that you are targeting and then, aim higher. Tip: Don’t be afraid to re-write the GMAT or put off your application for another year or two of work experience. At the end of the day, you want to make sure you are putting your best foot forward when you decide to submit your application. Delaying your application might be worth it in the end.
9. Ask the wrong questions
Don’t underestimate the importance of having good, thoughtful questions for the admissions committee. If you ask things that can be found on our website, it’s hard for us to believe that you’ve done sufficient research on our program to know that we’re a good fit for you. Remember that every interaction with the admissions team, whether in person, on the phone or via email, is an opportunity to impress. Asking thoughtful, intelligent questions is the best way to show us that you’re serious about the program and our process. Tip: It’s not a good use of time to ask questions that criticize fundamental aspects about a program that can’t be changed – like program structure, delivery or length. If the program doesn’t meet some of your ‘must-have’ criteria, than it’s up to you to decide whether or not it’s something you’re willing to sacrifice for that particular school.
10. Don’t prepare for the interview
We definitely don’t recommend trying to ‘wing’ the MBA Admissions interview. It’s important that you treat this interview just as seriously as you would any job interview, which includes dressing the part and coming prepared. Take a sufficient amount of time to research the program and as well, review….yourself! Make sure you know your resume and experience inside and out and clearly identify the key skills and competencies that you bring to the table. Prepare some good examples about teamwork, client-facing skills, dealing with conflict and taking a leadership role – most schools will want you demonstrate examples of one, or all of the above. Tip: If you’re doing a phone or Skype interview, dress the part! Even though the interviewer might not see you, wearing a suit will put you in the right frame of mind for the interview and that level of professionalism will come across.
So, ‘don’t’ follow these ten steps and you’ll be well on your way to an admissions offer!