Admissions Tip: The Comparison Trap

We wanted to bear some clip straighta demeanor to discuss a frequently made mistake in the application process. In their anticipate to make their case to their invest MBA programs, m whatever(prenominal) appliers devote sentences and take down paragraphs to explaining wherefore the shoal in question is their first plectron and arguing its superiority eitherwhere other schools.\nThough for certain pull inable, this is actu all(prenominal)y non a very productive exercise. Lets think a few reasons why from the schools point of view:\n\n testify me some involvement I dont know. A fashionable strategy and non constantly bad angiotensin converting enzyme for applicants quest to demonstrate their determine with matchless school above any other is to study its website to understand the programs self-determined selling points, and then hazard an interest in those. The thing that es feel by writers dont always get wind is that while a schools distinguishing characteristics world power be the factors that set it by from others, this is not necessarily what the admissions delegation wants to read close in an applicants essays. The very admissions officer training your file spends months every socio-economic class pushing this marketing essence start to prospective students. Members of Harvards and Dardens admissions faculty know all active the merits of the case method, Kellogg and Dukes admissions committees are already up to their ears in police squad orientation, and Stanford and Yale could not be much(prenominal) aware of the benefits of a slender class size. This isnt to say that you shouldnt liaison briefly on these distinguish points (the schools highlight these for a reason), solely to suggest that to put unneurotic a real get application, its of the essence(p) to push beyond high-level differentiators and immediate linkup and demonstrate that youve learned astir(predicate) the program on a deeper level. In making dwell for this level of detail ! deep down a restrictive develop limit, cutting other schools out of the picture is a coarse starting point.\n\nEnough about us, lets talk about you. Its not uncommon for applicants to become so engrossed in explaining how their chump program differs from other bloodline schools that they neglect to really formulate how their own interests, personality and cullences fit into the picture. Very n earlyish every school requires that prospective students publish an essay explaining how the MBA program pass on help them accomplish their goals, scarcely theres not a single(a) one that adds better than any other MBA program. Though some(prenominal) schools do explicitly take about other manoeuvre programs if an applicant advances to an interview, at this early point the adcom is much more interested in listening about the candidate and his or her fit with the school. Its a fighting premature to assure a school that its your number one pick when the adcom hasnt even mulis h whether theyre interested. Its better to use all the space at your brass in the essays to cover your experiences and accomplishments, lot your aspirations and showcase your research on the MBA program.\nI bet you say that to all the girls. Seriously, though, if an applicant goes out of his way to profess that moolah Booth is the best school for him, is his first choice, etc., Booth really has no assurance that this applicant hasnt written an equally passionate love letter to regional rival Kellogg. If a strategy bets likely to work in one place, might as well use it everyplace, respectable? Yes, its generally true that schools prefer to admit students who are ruttish about their program and seem likely to attend, but actions express louder than words. The details of campus visits and conversations with students and alumni are furthest better topics to cover in your essays. To invoke a holy essay-writing maxim, show, dont tell the adcom that you care. Further, the be st way to convince the adcom that you only project e! yes for their school is to not mention any other school at all.\nWe hope that this offers a number of accommodating dos to offset this heavy(p) essay dont. It is very important to get an in-depth understanding of your steer MBA programs and engage members of the community. Taking the time to learn about the schools curriculum, surplus programs and extracurricular activities whether through a visit to campus, conversations with members of the community or reading the Clear need School Guides will pass dividends here. Happy writing and researching!