Mastering the MBA Application

10 Tips to Make you Rock

Betsy Massar

Tip 1: Start Early

• You can not do it all

in one week… or two

• Start research – do

your due diligence

• Visit schools, read

• blogs & admissions

chats

Start Early

• Mull over essay

questions now

• Give yourself twice as

long as you need to

study for GMAT/GRE

• Use your project

management skills to

plan it out

Tip 2: Take Inventory

• Put your ducks in a row

• Look at career

progression – how did

you get from A to B?

• Take on extra work if

required

Take Inventory

• Fill in your weak spots:

– Academic – need extra

classes?

– Test scores – need to

retake?

– Community – need to

get out more?

Tip 3: Connect with your Inner Rock Star

• Rock star = leadership

• Be prepared to

explore what makes

you excel

• Spend some time

being introspective

about your own

leadership style

Connect with your Inner Rock Star

• Definition of leadership is broad

• It’s about inspiring others, enabling them to do great things – reflect on that

• Leadership = Emotional IQ

Tip 4: Explore Career Paths

• Create a career vision

• Articulate the

progression to get there

• Clear career goals are

the crux of a strong

business school

application

Explore Career Paths

• Admissions care less

about what you choose,

and more that you’ve

thought it through

• Be specific… but not too

specific

• Career switching is OK,

if it makes sense

Tip 5: Perform Service• Think about how you

make a difference and use that on your application

• Service is more than volunteerism – also look at one-on-one activities

• Use service to find out more about yourself

Perform Service

• Stay involved with

current activities –

think about how to

make them more

effective

• If you’re new to

service, start now

Tip 6: Stay Sane

• Eat right, get enough

sleep, stay balanced

• Choose activities that

clear your head – get

outside of the routine

• Often you find creative

solutions when you’re

NOT thinking about it

Stay Sane

• Get a life! You’ll spend

too much time on the

application anyway

• You never know who you

might meet – a double

benefit

• You’ll need other

interests to get through

the waiting period

Tip 7: Daydream

• Think big

• Daydreaming is good for

you to generate ideas

and conceptualize stuff

• Best insights often come

from letting your mind

wander

Daydream

• Procrastination can be called processing

• Connect the dots between where you are now and where your dreams will take you

• Don’t forget to take notes

Tip 8: Talk Around

• Find sounding boards,

mentors, friends, family

– the best ideas are

talked about

• Talk to alumni, current

students, and

admissions reps

• Make new friends!

Talk Around

• Enjoy hobnobbing –

and learn to think on

your feet

• You also may learn

and get support from

others going through

the process

Tip 9: Work Only on the Part You Can Control

• Always more variables than you know about

• You can’t control who else is applying

• Once you start worrying, you fall into the vortex of impossible thinking

Work Only on the Part You Can Control

• Keep your focus on

deadlines and getting

the pieces together

• If you try to manipulate

the outcome, it will

likely end in heartbreak

• There is some luck

involved

Tip 10: Be Yourself

• Make the process

uniquely yours

• Show your authentic

self

• Don’t try to be the

person you think

they will admit

Be Yourself

• Have fun – the more

enjoyable the process,

the more positive the

outcome

• You will be changed

by this… and it will be

for the better

• Speak from your heart

Betsy Massar

Master Admissions

www.masteradmissions.com

betsy@masteradmissions.com

+1 415-305-1163

2887 College Ave, Suite 405

Berkeley CA 94705

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