With the ever-widening array of MBA programs and specialized master’s degrees out there, how do you know you’re even applying to the right program? Take advantage of the opportunity some business schools offer to help you decide which is the right program for you.
Some applicants may be concerned that uncertainty sends the wrong signal to an admissions office. Others may hesitate to contact highly selective business schools programs, fearing they might be rejected before they even begin. Procrastinators may tell themselves that it’s better to wait until their GMAT score is just a little bit higher.
Let Them Help You Decide
Some top business schools disagree. They’d like to hear from you early on in the process. They can evaluate your credentials to determine which of the programs you”re considering is the right program for your goals, and their suggestions may even help you develop your application.
Charlotte Smith, Recruitment and Admissions Officer for Graduate Masters Programs at London Business School, assures prospective applicants that her office welcomes contact early in their planning for business school. In recent email correspondence, she said, “We believe that a profile review (CV or LinkedIn review) or a chat with LBS’ recruitment team should be the first step in ensuring prospective candidates are on the right path.”
Far from looking for faults, Smith and her team may even see positive points that might help applicants. She says, “Our team support them in identifying their strengths ahead of writing their application, providing valuable informal feedback on their profile. They are experts in finding the best in candidates, so we encourage people to take a leap of faith, submit their profile, and speak to our team for some tailored advice.”
A Common Mistake
A common mistake is to limit your thinking to a traditional MBA or general Masters in Management. An admissions officer may see things about your goals or your qualifications that you hadn’t realized make you an excellent candidate for a program you hadn’t considered.
“This probably happens more than you would think,” says Smith. “Often people come to us having only considered the general management programmes, but their profile and aspirations are better suited to another programme. For example, if a prospective candidate aspires to be Asia based post-grad, we may recommend the Global Masters in Management to ensure they build the network they’ll need. If they have a STEM background and are interested in consulting, we may recommend the MAM. Similarly, they might be drawn to the MiM or MBA, but have a strong finance profile, fit for the pre-experience Masters in Financial Analysis or post-experience Masters in Finance (MiF).”
Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, concurs. In a phone conversation, she explained, “We have a portfolio that helps people at all ages and stages. For us, it’s about helping the person find the right program for them.”
How To Get Advice
So how do you reach out for this valuable help? LBS puts contact data right on their website. Fuqua expects you to make a first move.
“Get on our mailing list,” said Hubert. “Check off every program that might be of interest to you. You’ll receive the monthly newsletter for each program. Each newsletter includes the contact information for someone in the admissions office who is responsible for that program.”
What if a prospective candidate is not sure which program to approach? “We have ten different programs,” said Hubert, “each with its own admissions counselors. But we’re all one admissions team. It’s the one-year specialized master’s team. We welcome and encourage people to reach out and have a conversation with us about which program is right for them.”
So while you may have been concerned that you would be bothering admissions officers, they see this differently. They understand that this is a big decision for candidates. As Smith observed, “It’s an investment of their time, money, and a commitment to stepping away from life as they know it while they study; perhaps away from their loved ones or a job they love.” Business schools want to help you get it right.
You’ll also probably find that admissions officers tend to be quite approachable. In Hubert’s words, “Don’t hesitate. We love to hear from people!”
Be Respectful And Come Prepared
First impressions matter. Respect the fact that an admissions officer is spending valuable time with you. This is a serious engagement.
Come to your meeting prepared. This is not an occasion for you to sit back and expect an admissions officer to sell you on their school. It’s your responsibility to have researched in advance the programs you would like to discuss with the admissions officer.
The admissions officer will not calculate what your chances of admission might be or write your essays for you. But talking over your situation may help you gain clarity on why you are applying to a particular program at their school, what your qualifications and motives are, and even what you might contribute to the cohort. This can help you write well-informed, persuasive essays that show you are a great match for the program you choose.
Remember that a CV review relies on your CV. Put the necessary time into creating the strongest document you can, in the proper professional format.
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