|
Once you have decided which MBA
program is for you - this is your most important
step. Take your time over it - get it right. You
might be applying to more than one program - but
don't be tempted to rush it.
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:
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 (typed rather than
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 that 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 address 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 checklist and
ensure 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
· Don't 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 don't 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 - i.e. not just tick
the boxes and write no comments
The Tests
You will probably be required to take tests such
as GMAT, TOEFL etc. Be sure to:
· Practice before - as far as possible.
Note that there are organisations which offer
coaching and tuition
· If you are required to do psychometric
tests (e.g. personality tests) it will usually
be at the time of the interview. You cannot prepare
for them in the sense of getting the right answers
(if fact you probably will not know what test
will be used), but you can try to do some tests
before just to get the feel of them. University
careers officers, and careers guidance organizations
normally have tests that you might be able to
take, or you might get a book of personality and
apptitude tests to try out
· Remember the normal test/exam guidance
- pace yourself - try to complete the full questionnaire/test
· Schools which use tests attach a lot
of importance to them - so should you. Tests (especially
GMAT) are a convenient filter for them, enabling
them to reduce a very large number of applicants
to a smaller group for closer scrutiny
· You may get some group tests/exercises
at the time of the interview. You will be given
a task and observed. The school will want to see
balanced behaviour - i.e. your ability to lead,
take decisions and form opinion, as well as to
listen to, support and encourage others.
The Interview
If you get this far, you are shortlisted. It is
the critical stage. Think about it beforehand.
Get prepared.
· Think about some of the questions you
might be asked and consider how you would answer
them, but don't try to prepare answers as they
will not seem natural, and you may forget the
words
· The interviewer wants to see what you
are like; they do not want an act. They will be
trying to decide whether you would 'fit' the program,
what you would contribute etc.
· Dress smartly
· Aim to get there a bit earlier. You might
then be able to look around, if it is at the school
· Show that you have done your 'homework'
e.g you have gathered information on the school
and the program. You need to know quite a lot
about the school and the program as you might
get asked questions just to see how serious you
are about your application. Have a file of cuttings,
prospectus etc., - but don't spread it out on
the table!
· At the end, when you are asked if you
have any questions, don't pull out a long list!
Have one or two (at most) good questions - e.g.
information which is not in the prospectus.
· Don't behave/question/discus as if you
expected to be accepted. Don't talk about 'we'
when you refer to the program.
· Know about the cost/fees/funding issues.
The interview is not the time to get into details.
The interviwer is not there to help you solve
your financial problems. Make it clear that you
understand all the cost issues - fees, residence,
materials etc.
· Remember the key questions: Why do you
want to do this MBA? Why do you want to do it
now?
Funding and
Scholarships
MBA programs are expensive. You will want to be
sure that you can afford it, and the school to
which you apply will want to be sure also:
· Make sure you know all the cost implications.
The fees are just a part of what it will cost
you. If you need a grant or scholarship, start
looking early.
· Notice that there are sources of scholarship
info, e.g. reference books,
listings etc.
· Some Schools will have scholarship or
financial assistance schemes. Get all the details
before you get too far into the application process
· If you are dependent on financial assistance
it may well influence what places you can apply
to, eg. schemes in your own country may only apply
to certain other countries, and schemes from the
schools may be restricted to particular types
of candidate. Sorting all this out can take a
lot of time, so start early.
with thanks to: THE MBA PROGRAM
INFORMATION SITE
(www. mbainfo.com)
|
