MBA Consultation for Driven MBA Applicants
The top MBA schools have tight acceptance rates that waver around 6% to 20%, meaning that most applicants are rejected.[1] Most of these applicants are accomplished, intelligent graduates at the top of their class from prestigious universities.
The acceptance criteria aren’t likely to change for these schools, but you can improve your candidacy with a head start, top GMAT or GRE scores, a polished application, and our MBA consultation services.
Counselors
As one of the top MBA Admissions Consulting firms, InGenius Prep brings together over 150 Former Admissions Officers with 1,000+ years of experience to guide MBA candidates in the business school admissions process. We believe that the best admissions counseling comes directly from the source – the Former Admissions Counselors who were once making the decisions for candidates applying to top schools in the US – and we can help you make a strong impression with your MBA application.
The candidates for business school are often at the top of their class in challenging fields like engineering, finance, or economics—or working professionals with impressive careers. Business schools have unique application components to determine what candidates will thrive and best serve their institutions, which may include:
Business schools often include scores from one of two graduate admissions tests: the GMAT or the GRE.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer adaptive test that measures the verbal, quantitative, integrated reasoning, and criteria thinking skills that are most relevant for graduate business students.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that’s an admission requirement for many types of graduate schools, including veterinary school, dental school, and business school. It’s a computer-based exam that tests for verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills.
While these exams are not the only consideration for your application, they are weighted with importance. You can expect to spend over three hours completing the GMAT or GRE, and you should begin preparing at least six months before your test date.
The curricula in most business schools are focused on quant and data analysis. When a prospective school looks at your application, they will evaluate your grades in relevant courses like microeconomics, calculus, or statistics. If you have a BA degree that didn’t involve a lot of data analysis courses, you may need to take some online courses to demonstrate your proficiency in these subjects.
Another option is to take a comprehensive program that focuses on MBA competencies to enhance your application and show that you’re capable of handling the rigors of business school and these challenging subjects.
Leadership is paramount to an MBA. Top business schools are not only looking for candidates who will excel with the curriculum, but they’re also seeking out future leaders in the business world to develop and nurture.
Your extracurricular activities can help your leadership qualities shine. Leadership isn’t only obvious experience like holding a management position or being in charge of a team or project. Activities like tutoring, holding a position on student council, hosting fundraisers, or volunteering can demonstrate leadership qualities.
If you don’t have many extracurricular activities that show leadership, planning for your application early gives you time to get involved with new projects, volunteer opportunities, or activities that can improve your candidacy.
You will need letters of recommendation to gain admission into business school, preferably from people who can attest to your management and leadership skills. Professors, supervisors, and managers are good choices for your letters of recommendation, as well as school alumni.
Consider your letters of recommendation a chance to do more than get recognition on a piece of paper. Working with your supervisor for a letter of recommendation is a valuable mentorship opportunity to understand your strengths and weaknesses and hone your skills before entering an MBA program.
Aside from leadership skills, extracurricular activities can showcase other desirable traits in an MBA, such as community impact. Volunteering in any capacity is beneficial, but you can align your volunteer work to your future career to further enhance your application.
For example, if one of your goals with your MBA is to work in fintech, you can volunteer with nonprofits as a treasurer or managing fundraisers. If you want to be a consultant, volunteer to help a charitable organization develop a growth strategy.
While it’s possible to move directly from a bachelor’s degree into an MBA program, most candidates have some work experience before applying to business school. These admissions teams are often looking for work experience that involves management or leadership to ensure that you have skills that suit the real world, not just the academic environment.
MBAs can work in just about any field, but your application will be more appealing with work experience that’s relevant to business management or leadership. For example, banking, marketing, sales, or direct management experience is more competitive than unrelated fields.
In addition, some MBA programs, such as executive MBA programs, will require a minimum number of years working in business or a related field as a prerequisite. If that applies to your desired program, it’s important to make sure this experience is on your resume.
Each school has different requirements for the application essay, so you will need original tailored essays for every school you’re applying to. It’s important to not only present polished and well-written essays but also show authenticity.
The graduate school essay can be challenging for many students. It’s important to real examples from your life with the actions and results, as well as highlight your skills without coming across as pompous.
Most graduate schools are going to require an interview to give you an opportunity to tell your story and persuade the admissions team that you’re a good fit for the school. While some people excel at interviews, it can be a daunting process.
Like the essay, it’s essential to be authentic and natural during the interview. Some nervousness is expected, but your ability to convey your academic and professional skills, community impact, leadership abilities, and values can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. It’s important to prepare for your interview with mock interviews and practice questions well in advance.
As mentioned, business school admissions can be challenging, especially for the top business schools in the country. Only a few desirable candidates get in out of a total pool of talented people, so you have to stand out.
Business School Admissions Counseling is the best way to improve your application and showcase your authentic value to the admissions team at your preferred schools. With a Consultant for MBA Admissions from InGenius Prep, you can get objective feedback on your application and areas for improvement to increase your chances of admission.
Having an objective viewpoint on your application can help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to see how you could enhance your candidacy. Our Former Admissions Counselors know exactly what it takes to stand out to an admissions team to gain admission to some of the most competitive programs.
Your business school essay has to balance a number of elements to impress admissions officers, including authenticity, leadership, and impact. Our Former Admissions Counselors can help you craft a compelling story in your essay and demonstrate refined writing skills.
Whether your school requires the GMAT or GRE, our business school test prep helps with the content of the test and general standardized testing strategies and skills to ensure you perform at your best. We also include practice questions, full-length practice tests, and a proposed timeline to study and schedule your exam.
Our Business School Admissions Counseling includes the full scope of interview skills and guidance to help you make a great impression and persuade the admissions team of your value. Mock interviews, interview tips, and other services are included to develop the full range of skills you will need to excel in the interview process.
If you have gaps in your application, such as missing work history or a transcript that’s light on analytical skills, we can make recommendations to help you bolster your application according to what your preferred school is looking for.
