Tips For Getting Into Your DREAM MBA School! (From a Wharton and Columbia Admit)

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide to the MBA application process, focusing on five key areas: academics, essays, resume, recommendation letters, and the application itself. It provides practical tips for excelling in each section, emphasizing the importance of a strong GPA and GMAT/GRE scores, crafting a compelling narrative in essays, highlighting achievements in resumes, and securing impactful recommendation letters. Additionally, it suggests utilizing the optional application section to address weaknesses and recommends resources like Target Test Prep for GMAT preparation.

Takeaways

• 📚 The MBA application process is a journey of self-discovery but can be stressful without guidance.
• 🎯 Academics: Admissions look for evidence of your ability to handle the academic workload and maintain school prestige through high GPA and GMAT/GRE scores.
• 📉 For those with a low GPA, a high GMAT or GRE score can help balance the application.
• 🔍 Research school-specific academic profiles to understand the target GPA and test scores.
• ✍️ Essays: Share your story, explain the need for business school, and demonstrate research into the program.
• 📝 Write down significant life events to craft a compelling narrative in your essays.
• 🎯 Tailor your application to show how an MBA aligns with your career goals and how the specific school can help you achieve them.
• 💼 Resume: Highlight notable brands and achievements to stand out to admissions committees.
• 📁 Simplify job descriptions and quantify achievements to make your resume accessible and impactful.
• 💌 Letters of Recommendation: Provide writers with a document outlining key achievements and work streams to help them write a compelling letter.
• 🤝 Choose recommendation writers who can speak to your work ethic and contributions, favoring close working relationships over seniority.
• 📋 Application Details: Create accounts early, understand the application structure, and thoughtfully answer every question to maximize your application's strength.
• 🔑 Utilize the optional application section to address any weaknesses and provide a complete picture of your profile.

Q & A

What are the five key sections of the MBA application process discussed in the script?

The five key sections of the MBA application process discussed are academics (GPA and GMAT/GRE), essays, resume, letters of recommendation, and the actual application itself.

Why are high GPA and GMAT/GRE scores important for MBA applications?

High GPA and GMAT/GRE scores are important because they indicate the applicant's ability to handle the academic course load and help business schools maintain their prestige, as reflected in class profiles.

What is the recommended minimum GPA for MBA applications?

The recommended minimum GPA for MBA applications is above a 3.5.

How can a low GPA be addressed in the MBA application?

A low GPA can be addressed in the optional section of the application by explaining the reasons, such as taking care of a sick parent or personal illness, which impacted academic performance.

What are the three things admissions teams look for in MBA application essays?

Admissions teams look for the applicant's story and motivations, the need for business school, and evidence of research into the program to ensure the application is tailored to the specific school.

Why is it beneficial to reach out to alumni or current students when applying to MBA programs?

Reaching out to alumni or current students can provide insider information about what makes each program unique, which can be used to tailor the application and essays effectively.

What is the significance of having a coherent narrative in the MBA application?

A coherent narrative that connects past experiences, present situation, and future goals is significant as it helps admissions teams understand the applicant's motivations and how an MBA fits into their career trajectory.

Why is simplicity in language important for the resume section of the MBA application?

Simplicity in language is important for the resume because it ensures that the admissions team can easily understand the applicant's professional experiences and achievements, even if they are not familiar with the specific industry jargon.

What are the three tips given for obtaining effective letters of recommendation for MBA applications?

The three tips are: creating a document for recommenders that outlines key achievements and work streams, guiding recommenders on the importance of conveying a personal connection and care for the applicant, and choosing a recommender who can write a compelling letter over a more senior one who may not provide as personal an endorsement.

How can the optional section of the MBA application be utilized effectively?

The optional section can be used to address any weaknesses in the overall application, such as a low GPA or gaps in employment, by providing context or explanations that enhance the applicant's profile.

What is the advice for MBA applicants regarding the GMAT preparation, as mentioned in the script?

The advice for GMAT preparation is to use Target Test Prep (TTP), which offers a topic-by-topic approach and is recommended for its effectiveness, as evidenced by the speaker's own experience of scoring 750 on the GMAT.

Outlines

00:00

📚 MBA Application: Academics and GMAT/GRE Insights

The first paragraph delves into the academic aspect of the MBA application process, emphasizing the importance of a strong GPA and competitive GMAT or GRE scores to handle the academic rigor and maintain the school's prestige. The speaker suggests aiming for a GPA above 3.5 and using the GMAT or GRE as a compensatory factor if one's GPA is low. They also discuss the significance of these scores in the context of business school rankings and offer personal anecdotes to illustrate overcoming a low GPA. The paragraph concludes with a recommendation for Target Test Prep as a resource for GMAT preparation.

05:01

📝 Navigating MBA Essays and Professional Experiences

The second paragraph focuses on the essay component of the MBA application, which is often considered the most challenging. The speaker outlines what admissions teams look for in essays: understanding the applicant's story, their need for business school, and their research into the program. Tips include writing down significant life events, understanding career goals in relation to business school, and tailoring the application to each school's unique offerings. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of reaching out to alumni and attending informational sessions to gain insider insights. Additionally, they discuss the role of the resume in showcasing professional experiences and achievements, and the importance of clear and simple language to make an impact.

10:02

💼 Recommendations and Application Strategy

The third paragraph discusses the importance of letters of recommendation and provides tips for selecting the right recommenders and guiding them to write impactful letters. The speaker advises creating a document for recommenders to outline key achievements and work streams, emphasizing the need for the letter to convey genuine care and a personal connection. They also address the common dilemma of choosing between a senior manager or a closer colleague as a recommender, advocating for the latter due to the personal touch their letters can provide. The paragraph concludes with advice on the application process itself, highlighting the need to start early, thoroughly understand the application requirements, and thoughtfully answer every question to maximize the application's strength.

Keywords

💡MBA application process

The MBA application process refers to the series of steps prospective students must undertake to apply for a Master of Business Administration degree. It is central to the video's theme, as the speaker provides insights and tips on how to navigate this process successfully. The script mentions that it involves introspection and learning about oneself, but also acknowledges the potential stress involved, particularly for those unfamiliar with the process.

💡Academics

In the context of the MBA application, academics encompasses the applicant's GPA and GMAT or GRE scores. The video emphasizes that admissions teams use these metrics to assess an applicant's ability to handle the academic rigor of an MBA program and to maintain the school's prestige. The speaker advises aiming for a GPA above 3.5 and using the GMAT or GRE as an equalizer for those with lower GPAs.

💡GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized exam used by business schools for admissions. The script highlights the GMAT as a critical component of the MBA application process, suggesting that a high GMAT score can compensate for a lower GPA. The speaker also mentions personal experience with GMAT preparation, recommending a specific test prep resource.

💡GRE

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is another standardized test that can be used in place of the GMAT for MBA applications. The video script suggests that business schools do not favor one test over the other, and the choice between GMAT and GRE should be based on which the applicant feels they can perform better on.

💡Essays

Essays are a significant part of the MBA application, allowing applicants to share their story, motivations, and reasons for pursuing an MBA. The video script outlines that admissions teams look for an applicant's narrative, career goals, and research into the specific business school program. The speaker provides tips on crafting essays that address these elements.

💡Resume

A resume is a document that summarizes an applicant's professional experiences and achievements. The video emphasizes the importance of showcasing big brand names or significant accomplishments on the resume to impress admissions teams. The speaker also advises using simple language and quantifying achievements to make the resume accessible and impactful.

💡Recommendation letter

A recommendation letter, or letter of rec, provides a third-party perspective on an applicant's professional and personal qualities. The script suggests that the quality of the letter is more important than the seniority of the recommender, with the best letters coming from those who can provide detailed, personal insights into the applicant's work and character.

💡Application

The term 'application' in the script refers to the entire MBA program application, including essays, academic records, and other required materials. The speaker notes that applicants often overlook the importance of thoroughly completing every section of the application and provides tips for addressing weaknesses in the application through the optional section.

💡Target Test Prep (TTP)

Target Test Prep, also known as TTP, is a resource for GMAT preparation that the speaker endorses in the video. It is highlighted as a crucial tool that helped the speaker achieve a high GMAT score. The script mentions a special offer for viewers to try TTP for a limited time at a reduced price.

💡Class profile

A class profile is a summary of the demographic and academic characteristics of a business school's incoming class. The video script explains that business schools release these profiles annually and use them to maintain a high median or average GPA and GMAT/GRE scores, which is why applicants should aim for these metrics.

💡Career goals

Career goals are an essential aspect of the MBA application, as they help admissions teams understand how an MBA aligns with an applicant's professional aspirations. The script mentions that having a clear understanding of short-term and long-term goals is crucial, and applicants should articulate these goals thoughtfully in their applications.

Highlights

The MBA application process is a journey of self-discovery and introspection, but can be stressful without guidance.

Academics section: Admissions look for the ability to handle the MBA course load and maintaining school prestige through GPA and GMAT/GRE scores.

Aim for a GPA above 3.5 to improve MBA application chances, and use GMAT/GRE to compensate for a low GPA.

GMAT and GRE are equalizers for candidates from different academic backgrounds and grading systems.

Research school-specific academic standards and median scores for targeted applications.

Target Test Prep (TTP) is recommended for GMAT preparation, focusing on a topic-by-topic approach.

Essays are crucial for conveying your story, motivations, and fit for the business school.

Write down significant life events to construct a compelling narrative for the application essays.

Understand how business school aligns with your career goals, both short-term and long-term.

Tailor applications to show research into the program and why the candidate is a good fit for that specific school.

Reach out to alumni or current students for insider information to enhance application essays.

Utilize virtual informational sessions to gain a deeper understanding of each school's program.

Maintain a coherent narrative through past experiences, present situation, and future MBA goals.

Resume: Highlight big brand names or significant achievements to stand out to admissions teams.

Keep resume language simple and understandable, adding descriptors for lesser-known companies.

Letters of recommendation should come from those who can provide a personal and caring perspective on the candidate.

Provide a document to recommendation writers outlining key achievements and work streams for a stronger letter.

Choose recommendation writers who can speak to your work closely over more senior managers for better impact.

Application completion involves more than just essays; understand all parts of the application process.

Maximize every small question in the application to stand out and provide thoughtful responses.

Utilize the optional application section to address any weaknesses in the overall application.

Transcripts

the MBA application process is a long

and worthwhile Journey because you do a

lot of introspection and you learn so

much about yourself but let me be real

with you guys a lot of the MBA

application process is not fun it can be

stressful especially if you don't know

what you're doing that's why today I'm

going to be going over the five key

sections of the MBA application and give

you guys all really practical tips on

how you can crush each part so you can

get into the school of your dreams first

up let's go into the academics which

includes your GPA and GMAT or GRE for

each of the sections throughout the

video I'm going to be going over what

admissions teams are looking for with

each section and then I'll go into tips

on each part so starting off with

academics admissions teams are typically

looking for two things the first is

whether or not you can handle the NBA

academic course load and you can learn

more about what classes are like in this

video right here the second is honestly

just for business schools to maintain

cloud and that's because every single

School releases class profiles every

year and they want to make sure that

they have as high of a median or average

GPA and GMAT or GRE

what this means is that generally

speaking you'll want your GPA to be

above a 3.5 at least so if you're still

in undergrad make sure to study hard

just like your mama told you to do

because the higher the GPA the better

your chances will be now if you're

already out of school and you're the

type of person who doesn't include their

GPA on their resume when applying to

jobs because the GPA is too low don't

worry that's what the GMAT or GRE is for

we all know that some schools grade

harder than others some have great

inflation While others don't and some

majors are easier than others so that's

why the GMAT and GRE are great

equalizers that schools use in order to

judge candidates on a more even playing

field generally speaking the lower jjpa

the higher the GMAT or GRE score you

want to get and if you have a really

good example in the optional section of

your application you can explain why

your GPA was low if there is a good

reason like taking care of a sick parent

one example from my end is when I was in

my freshman year I was really really

sick my first semester and I wasn't able

to make a final so I know past a past

and past class now still able to get in

school in terms of the GMAT versus GRE I

don't think it really matter schools

always say that they don't care and so

as long as you're able to get a high

score in either of these tests I would

choose the one that you think you'll do

better at all schools have different

standards for their academics so what I

would recommend is Googling the schools

you're applying to and class profile and

some facts and figures will pop up and

you can find what GPA and GMAT or GRE

score you should be targeting later on

I'll be making a separate video on my

best tips for taking the GMAT but if

you're struggling to study for the GMAT

like I used to at one point one resource

I highly recommend is today's sponsor

for the video Target test prep also

known as TTP and it's a resource that

was crucial for me in helping me getting

a 750 on the GMAT when I was studying

for the test I did a lot of research and

on Reddit and different forums like GMAT

Club what kept popping up was TTP

checked it out myself and what I ended

up really liking about it is that it

took a topic by topic approach to make

sure that you're prepared for any

question that pops up on the GMAT here's

how it works for both Quant and verbal

TTP breaks down all of the individual

topics that appear on the GMAT and with

them come less than and practice tests

ranging from easy medium to hard that

lets you hone your skills and master

each topic TTP is a One-Stop shop that

covers both Quant and verbal sections of

the GMAT and it's the only company on

GMAT club with a triple digit 5 star

rating you're also able to customize

your study plan for whatever works best

for you and I credit TTP a lot for

helping me get a 750 on the GMAT if you

want to check them out for five days for

just one dollar feel free to use my link

down in the description below alright

next let's go into what often times

people consider the hardest part of the

application process which are essays for

these admissions teams are looking for

three things the first is to understand

your story and what drives you the

second is why you need business school

and the third is to see whether or not

you've done your research into the

program and not just spraying and

praying let me go into tips for how to

address each one first in terms of

sharing your story what I personally

found most helpful when I first started

was just sitting down with a piece of

paper and writing down all of the

important moments or parts of my life

that really impacted me me in a huge way

to give you some examples I wrote about

how my parents used to work when I was

in elementary school which caused me to

be a bit more independent I also wrote

down about how in 2008 my dad's business

kind of flopped and it was a pretty

tough time for us financially as a

family I also talked about my different

work experiences at JPMorgan and also my

fashion startup so just anything from

all the way back into your childhood to

the present day write down everything

you can and then start piecing

everything together next for why you

need business school this really comes

down to your career goals so have a

really good understanding of how

business school is going to be able to

help you in the short and long term one

of the best reasons for going into

business school is if you're looking to

Pivot careers so for example maybe you

work in Tech right now in a business

operational role but you want to work in

Tech Investment Banking another reason

that's commonly talked about is building

stronger leadership skills and

developing more of a community and if

you're only focused on this this

probably means that you're sponsored by

a management consulting company or a

private Equity Firm that's paying for

all your tuition and you just want a

two-year vacation next going into

whether or not you've done your research

schools want to see that you've tailored

your application to their program and

each school will ask in one way or

another about why you want to go to that

school and they want you to make them

feel all nice and special now for this I

have two important tips for you the

first one might be a little obvious but

definitely reach out to any alumni or

students that you currently know

attending these schools and learn about

what makes each program unique because

they will be able to provide you some

really good Insider info that you can

use in your essays second almost every

single school has virtual informational

sessions and some might even have them

in person which you can sign up for and

these are usually pretty helpful

especially if you are a beginner and

don't really know anything about the

school and sometimes they also give you

contact information about people on the

admissions teams which you can reach out

to if you don't know anybody attending

the school right now so a good way for

you to kind of get your foot in the door

what's also really crucial is that you

have a common line that goes through

your past present and future so past

being what drives you present being

where you're at now and future what your

goals are with your MBA all of that

should make sense and it shouldn't be

discombobulated so for example I talked

about how I was closing down my fashion

startup and wanted to pursue another

business while I was at school and then

in the long run combine my experiences

from Investment Banking entrepreneurship

and kind of being in the creative field

to create a VC firm that invests in

creatives and artists and or creative

businesses businesses in the creative

field and so as you can kind of see with

my kind of story all of that kind of

combines well together you want to make

sure that yours does as well as a really

quick plug I'm also building out a how

to get into MBA course and giving out 50

discounts for people who sign up early

feel free to check it out using my

Google form link down in the description

below alright next up let's go into your

resume AKA your professional experiences

for your resume admissions teams are

really looking for the biggest and best

brand names that they can brag about in

their class profiles that they make or

they're looking for some kind of

spectacular achievement like selling

your startup or quick promotions or

ranking at the top of your class so

anything like that should definitely be

on your resume in my opinion I don't

actually think that admissions teams

really care about what you actually do

at each of these jobs because you can

kind of put whatever you want to make

yourself sound good plus it's not like

these admissions teams have worked in

Investment Banking or management

consulting or Tech accounting Etc right

so if you use complex language about how

you built like let's say a DCF model or

an lbo Etc they won't really understand

what all that means and they care more

about the big brand names about getting

a student that worked from Goldman Sachs

instead of like a no-name bank right and

so that's why my real main tip for the

resume is to just have it in the

simplest language possible so that your

grandma could understand it besides

simplifying the language another thing

you can do is add a descriptor as to

what your actual company did especially

if it's not a really well-known company

and another thing I did on my resume was

both the key parts of my resume that I

wanted to really bring the admin

missions teams come reviewers attention

to besides that all other resume tips

pretty much apply like having a lot of

numbers to quantify your impact having

good formatting no spelling errors and

simple things like that I actually think

the letter of Rec is where the

admissions team really gets a flavor and

feel for how you work in a workplace

setting and so let's talk about that

next I have three tips for you the first

which is the most important which is to

make sure to create a document for your

recommendation writers that goes over

all of the key achievements that you've

had at work and what the important work

streams that you worked on are and no

matter how much your recommendation

writers love you I promise you no one

loves you more than you love yourself

and no one will remember what you worked

on better than you yourself in this

document also provide the schools you're

applying to the deadlines for each and

the prompts just make things really

really easy for them so that they can

write the best letter of recommendation

for you as possible the second tip I

have for you is to make sure to give

your writers some guidance about how

it's super super important for

admissions teams to actually feel when

they're ready the letter that they

deeply cared about you in some way

doesn't have to be an emotionally like

sappy letter but you don't want the

writer to just list out your

accomplishments because that's where

your resume is for the letter is really

you know a letter it should have some

kind of feeling maybe even some

vulnerability or how they really really

struggle to let you go and they don't

want you to go to business school or you

know maybe not necessarily in those

words but those kinds of feelings

because they cared about you so much as

a team member or employee that's what

really is most important in the letter

of recommendation the third tip I have

for you is more of an answer to a common

question amongst candidates which is

should I have a more senior manager

write a letter or a more lower level one

that's able to write a better letter

because you worked on them more closely

and the answer is almost always the

latter if you think about it from an

admissions team's perspective no matter

how senior your senior manager is to you

they get letters from all types of

managers across the world right and so

no matter how senior that person is it's

not really going to impress them that

much which really important is the

quality of the letter the last section

is the actual application itself which I

think is often overlooked a really big

mistake that some candidates make is

just getting the essay prompts for each

School writing them up over a few months

and thinking that their job is mostly

done there are three things you need to

know the first of which is a more

practical tip which is to make sure that

as soon as you can just create accounts

for all the schools you're applying to

and go through the different parts of

the application to understand what

they're going to be asking you to fill

out because it takes a lot longer than

you might think you'll find that there's

a lot of background information that

they'll ask you with things like what

was your latest salary when did you

leave why did you choose to leave your

latest job Etc things like that and then

also small questions like what are your

short-term and long-term goals and you

need to answer all these questions very

thoughtfully this leads to my second tip

which is to maximize every single small

question that they ask for example

instead of saying something like my goal

short term is to work on a startup and

in the long run start my own Venture

Capital fund I wrote something like upon

graduation my goal is to build a

platform connecting creatives with

consumer opportunities and in the long

run combine my experiences and finance

consumer and entrepreneurial experience

to start a VC firm focused in the

creative space the third tip I have for

you is to utilize the optional section

which is a part of almost all MBA

applications in order to address any of

the weaknesses of your overall

application alright so that concludes my

tips for the MBA application good luck

to everyone who's applying right now and

if you want to actually buy the

applications that got me into Wharton

and Colombia I'm selling those at

rareliquidcareers.com also wanted to

give you guys a friendly reminder about

Target test prep if you're studying for

the GMAT leave I'll leave links to all

of this down in my description below

that said thank you all so much for

watching in the next screen you'll see a

video about what NBA classes are

actually like if you want to check that

out hope to catch you in the next video

thanks so much and peace out

baby

[Music]