14 Ways to Create a Standout MBA Application (Part 1)

You have chosen the Executive MBA program at the business school you want to attend and are now ready to begin creating an outstanding application for admission. But how can you best impress the AdCom (MBA admissions committee)? The fact is that the MBA application process is not easy. It is a test of not only your dedication but also your creativity, your time management, your eloquence and your resourcefulness.

The great thing is, that as you jump through the hoops like getting your transcripts and MBA recommendation letters to complete your MBA application, you will begin to see very clearly if you are ready to make this investment in yourself, and if this is the institution where you want to make it happen. Here are 14 tips (1-6 are in this article and 7-14 will appear in part 2) to help ensure your MBA admissions application is a winning one.

1. Confirm business school application deadlines

Give yourself the gift of time. Rushing through your MBA application will not only stress you out, it will also result in unedited essays, incomplete information or a lack of depth in your overall presentation. As soon as you begin narrowing down which programs might interest you, find out when they will accept your application for admission. In some cases programs have what are called ‘rolling application periods’, meaning they are open to accepting application for admission any time of the year with the understanding that if you are accepted you will be ready to join when the next class begins.

Other programs have two or three major application deadlines in the year and some only accept applications once a year. Be sure to get these dates in your calendar and then begin planning so that you have plenty of time to gather all of the required application pieces. (The stats pages in the QS TopExecutive Guide list much of this information for you. Be sure to check them out when you grab a copy at the QS World MBA Tour.)

2. Ace the GMAT and other tests

Most Executive MBA programs will require you pass some sort of test(s) before submitting your application so that they can evaluate your results as part of your overall MBA admissions profile. The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is the most common of these tests for MBA applicants, though a number of Executive MBA programs are now opting for their own in-house tests instead of the GMAT. Most EMBA programs are delivered fully or partially in English so if English is not your mother tongue, you may be required to take a test like the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) to show a proficient level of English.

Though tests like the GMAT are not the most important part of your application, they offer the school a way to evaluate how you learn and retain knowledge. If you feel you need help to boost your test score, do it. There are plenty of options online or at local testing centers to help you prepare for the tests. Use these resources so your GMAT or other test score is a help not a hindrance to your application.

3. Pull out the transcripts

Though your university years may seem like they belong to a distant past, they will be coming back into focus as you prepare your EMBA application by digging out your transcripts. If you do not have copies of your transcripts already, be sure to get some as early in the process as possible. You will want to take time to review your transcript of records and be able to explain any lapses in study time or grey areas in your GPA. If you can give solid explanations where there may be question marks in your transcripts for the AdCom, this will help strengthen your application.

4. Harness company support

It probably goes without saying but getting your company’s support for your Executive MBA program is extremely important. Even if your employer is not willing to support your studies financially, the business school is going to want to see that your organization is at least morally supporting you through this education adventure. You will need to take time away from work and be able to leave on study trips so if your company is not behind your taking this step, it could create problems with you completing the program and this will raise a red flag to the AdCom. Therefore, be sure to get your direct supervisor’s approval before beginning the application process.

5. Ready the MBA recommendation(s)

Recommendations are an extremely important part of your application because it gives the committee a valuable third party perspective. Do not be tempted to reach out to the biggest name or title to write your MBA recommendation; instead go for people you have worked for directly, who know you well and can speak to your greatest qualities. You want the recommendation to be both glowing and honest so choose your ally wisely. Also, be sure to give your recommender plenty of time to write their letter. Don’t call 24 hours before your application deadline; instead allow plenty of time for them to think about how they can best support you and write a solid letter of MBA recommendation.

6. Do your market research

In order to create the best application possible you are going to want to show the business school that you have read up on their program and that you know they are the best fit for you and you for them. Therefore, be sure to do solid market research on the Executive MBA they are offering. The AdCom will want to know why you chose their particular program and it is especially helpful for them to see that you have done your market research and found that their program came out on top. This will also allow you to come across with full confidence during the MBA admissions process and when writing and speaking about why you belong in their business school program.