10 tips to help you master the MBA admissions process, helping you get into the top business schools

1. Mastering the MBA
Application
10 Tips to Make you Rock
Betsy Massar

2. Tip 1: Start Early
• You can not do it all
in one week… or two
• Start research – do
your due diligence
• Visit schools, read
• blogs & admissions
chats

3. Start Early
• Mull over essay
questions now
• Give yourself twice as
long as you need to
study for GMAT/GRE
• Use your project
management skills to
plan it out

4. Tip 2: Take Inventory
• Put your ducks in a row
• Look at career
progression – how did
you get from A to B?
• Take on extra work if
required

5. Take Inventory
• Fill in your weak spots:
– Academic – need extra
classes?
– Test scores – need to
retake?
– Community – need to
get out more?

6. Tip 3: Connect with your
Inner Rock Star
• Rock star = leadership
• Be prepared to
explore what makes
you excel
• Spend some time
being introspective
about your own
leadership style

7. Connect with your Inner Rock
Star
• Definition of
leadership is broad
• It’s about inspiring
others, enabling
them to do great
things – reflect on
that
• Leadership =
Emotional IQ

8. Tip 4: Explore Career Paths
• Create a career vision
• Articulate the
progression to get there
• Clear career goals are
the crux of a strong
business school
application

9. Explore Career Paths
• Admissions care less
about what you choose,
and more that you’ve
thought it through
• Be specific… but not too
specific
• Career switching is OK,
if it makes sense

10. Tip 5: Perform Service
• Think about how you
make a difference
and use that on your
application
• Service is more than
volunteerism – also
look at one-on-one
activities
• Use service to find
out more about
yourself

11. Perform Service
• Stay involved with
current activities –
think about how to
make them more
effective
• If you’re new to
service, start now

12. Tip 6: Stay Sane
• Eat right, get enough
sleep, stay balanced
• Choose activities that
clear your head – get
outside of the routine
• Often you find creative
solutions when you’re
NOT thinking about it

13. Stay Sane
• Get a life! You’ll spend
too much time on the
application anyway
• You never know who you
might meet – a double
benefit
• You’ll need other
interests to get through
the waiting period

14. Tip 7: Daydream
• Think big
• Daydreaming is good for
you to generate ideas
and conceptualize stuff
• Best insights often come
from letting your mind
wander

15. Daydream
• Procrastination can
be called processing
• Connect the dots
between where you
are now and where
your dreams will take
you
• Don’t forget to take
notes

16. Tip 8: Talk Around
• Find sounding boards,
mentors, friends, family
– the best ideas are
talked about
• Talk to alumni, current
students, and
admissions reps
• Make new friends!

17. Talk Around
• Enjoy hobnobbing –
and learn to think on
your feet
• You also may learn
and get support from
others going through
the process

18. Tip 9: Work Only on the Part
You Can Control
• Always more
variables than you
know about
• You can’t control who
else is applying
• Once you start
worrying, you fall into
the vortex of
impossible thinking

19. Work Only on the Part You
Can Control
• Keep your focus on
deadlines and getting
the pieces together
• If you try to manipulate
the outcome, it will
likely end in heartbreak
• There is some luck
involved

20. Tip 10: Be Yourself
• Make the process
uniquely yours
• Show your authentic
self
• Don’t try to be the
person you think
they will admit

21. Be Yourself
• Have fun – the more
enjoyable the process,
the more positive the
outcome
• You will be changed
by this… and it will be
for the better
• Speak from your heart

22. For More Information
Betsy Massar
Master Admissions
www.masteradmissions.com
betsy@masteradmissions.com
+1 415-305-1163
2887 College Ave, Suite 405
Berkeley CA 94705