Common MBA Application Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Leave the Past Behind
Some of the reasons behind rejections may be more obvious than others, such as a low undergraduate GPA or graduating with an unrelated major, and such issues can seem much more difficult to fix.
“While it’s true that some weaknesses (like a low GPA) are seemingly etched in stone, there are still things one can do to address them,” says Richmond. “For instance, someone with a low GPA might work hard to ensure that they score incredibly high on the GMAT exam – as a way to demonstrate to the admissions committee that they are indeed very bright and that perhaps something else was at play during their college years (an optional essay explaining those circumstances would also be in order).”
He also recommends seeking outside coursework which could help bolster a low GPA and make an unrelated undergraduate major less important.
Succeeding in MBA-relevant courses, such as statistics, calculus, accounting and economics can help prove the applicant’s commitment to the subject matter, and overshadow other weaknesses on their application.
Although a very low GPA can make admittance an uphill battle, Richmond says:
“I have seen many a student mitigate a weakness with a concerted effort….especially in instances where the weakness in their candidacy was the only shadow on an otherwise strong profile.”
Be a Leader
According to Richmond, some of the other reasons for MBA rejections might include negative or poorly written recommendations, a unsuccessful in-person interview, and issues with the personal essay. Mistakes such as these don’t just weaken an application for what they are, but they force the admissions officer to question the student’s leadership skills.
Admissions officers understand that you are early in your career and will not expect you to have years of proven leadership ability on your resume. They should, however, be able to see leadership potential in each applicant.
If your essay is poorly written or includes sloppy mistakes, your attention to detail will be called into question. If your interview is poor, it sends a signal to the admissions officer that you do not have the necessary communication skills to be an effective future manager. While such things might reflect small mistakes on the applicant’s part, they can send huge warning signs to those on the other side.
Before the next round of admissions after a rejection, consider where these small mistakes might have occurred and do what you can to prevent them happening again. Of course, mistakes happen. The best you can do is ensure that your leadership skills are well represented throughout your application so as not to magnify smaller weaknesses.
Rejection can be painful and while you may at times want to give up, a little hard work can make a world of difference from one year to the next.
If you haven’t yet started the application process, you have the opportunity to avoid these common MBA application mistakes before they happen.
“It always pays to seek out feedback from a knowledgeable source and this means going beyond your best friend (or mom or dad) in order to seek out someone who is very familiar with the MBA admissions process,” Richmond says. “ Reading key resource websites and talking with current MBA students and alumni should help you to gauge your candidacy and better understand potential pitfalls or weaknesses before you submit an application.”
About the Author
Alanna Shaffer
Staff Writer, covering MetroMBA's news beat for Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas.
