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Getting into a top business school has only gotten more challenging over the years. The competition can be fierce, so many candidates turn to MBA admissions consultants to help them prepare their best possible application. As you speak with different MBA admissions consulting firms to determine which one to work with on your applications, here are a few important questions you should be asking:

1. What is your firm’s hiring process like?

Can anyone become a consultant with the firm? Must they have certain qualifications, such as an MBA degree themselves or writing/editing experience? At mbaMission, we hire approximately one out of every 200 job applicants. After submitting a resume and cover letter, some applicants are invited to interview. Those who do well in that initial interview are then interviewed by at least two additional consultants on our hiring committee. If all three interviewers agree to move forward with the applicant, the candidate completes several writing and editing exercises to demonstrate their skills in those areas. The hiring committee reviews the competed exercises, and applicants who perform well are then interviewed by our CEO. If he and the hiring committee agree on a promising applicant, that individual is invited to join our firm. We are committed to hiring only highly qualified consultants, and in fact, applicants who have not fulfilled our exacting standards have sometimes gone on to join our competitor firms, whose hiring processes are not as rigorous.

2. What kind of initial training do your consultants complete? How long after a consultant is hired do they begin working with clients?

Once hired, do new consultants undergo any sort of training? Do they begin taking on clients right away? At mbaMission, our admissions consultants complete a three-month, closely supervised training program that addresses how to evaluate, craft, and edit all components of an MBA application and involves learning thoroughly about the admissions field. During these three months, the new hire does not work on or interact with any real, current clients. At the conclusion of the training phase, the new consultant must complete a capstone exercise that is reviewed by a committee. They can start accepting clients of their own only after they successfully pass this review, and for their first full year, they have a dedicated mentor who reviews their essay edits and feedback before they are returned to the client.

3. What ongoing training does your firm offer its consultants?

This question will reveal whether a firm’s consultants are up-to-date on admissions trends and the characteristics of the current applicant pool. The admissions process changes constantly and has especially done so in recent years, which means that if your consultant is not constantly learning and growing with the field, their advice might be stale. At mbaMission, we have a staff meeting every two weeks to share updates and discuss concerns and trends that consultants are hearing from their clients. Twice a year, each consultant is responsible for conducting a “teach-in” through which they explain and explore a particular aspect of admissions consulting for their colleagues. Pre-COVID, mbaMission held an annual in-person conference, bringing together all our admissions consultants from around the world to meet in person and participate in targeted workshops and exercises. (We will resume this yearly conference when conditions allow.)

4. What is the background of the consultant I will be working with? What kind of admissions experience do they have?

Make sure you find out who exactly would be your dedicated consultant and what their background is. Have they gone through the MBA admissions process themselves? Did they graduate from a top business school? How long have they been in the admissions field? Do they have experience working with applicants like you? Are you able to choose the consultant you will work with, or will you be assigned someone?

All mbaMission consultants are graduates of elite MBA programs and have therefore gone through the same application process you will be going through. We have profound writing and editing experience, which makes us especially qualified to guide you in crafting your application essays. All of our consultants are listed on the mbaMission web site, and you have the freedom to choose which one you work with, provided your preferred consultant has availability. As we explained earlier, every mbaMission admissions consultant undergoes a comprehensive hiring and training process, and our team stays constantly up-to-date on the admissions process.

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This post was written by mbaMission resident Career Coach Elissa Harris. To sign up for a free 30-minute career consultation with Elissa, please click here.

Identifying the right career path for you requires time to reflect and research—and then reflect again. 

Looking at your career goal, can you answer “yes” to each of the following questions? If so, mbaMission’s experience indicates that your career goal is likely to be a realistic one. 

• Have you demonstrated passion and a foundation for your career goal (e.g., relevant functional/industry experience, exposure, or knowledge)?
• Do you have a clear understanding of the role (e.g., qualifications, tasks, responsibilities, outcomes) and the recruiting process for it?
• Do you have evidence of relevant and transferable skills for the role as well as required educational pedigree (e.g., undergraduate major, GMAT, GPA) and/or experience in similar work environments on your resume?
• Are there available jobs in your target area? Do many companies hire for your target role? 
• Does your target MBA program have resources (through the career center or student clubs/conferences) and academic courses available to support your area of interest?

If you are stuck with respect to identifying a career goal, we recommend reviewing your interests, evaluating your skills/background, and assessing the marketplace realities. As you can imagine, admissions committees and recruiters want candidates who will be successful within their organizations—those who demonstrate that they really want to be there and who articulate how they will contribute.  

Although uncovering your target career path can be time-consuming and iterative, having a structured approach will make the process easier and more productive. To get started, try the following steps:

1. Ask yourself the following questions (and write down the answers, so you can go back and identify themes):

• Why did you go into industry X? Has it met your expectations? Why or why not? 
• What is the work culture like in your current role? In past roles? Do/did you like or dislike it?
• What words describe you at your best? What compliments do you hear most often?
• What makes you feel valued at work? Why? 
• What do you really love to do at work? What really drains/frustrates you at work?  
• What articles do you stop and read in the Wall Street Journal (or other business publications)?

2. Deepen your knowledge about potential MBA career paths. 

• Review the mbaMission Career Guides. Read target job descriptions on LinkedIn. 
• Identify post-MBA opportunities for people with backgrounds similar to yours. 
• Talk with three to five people who work in roles of interest to you. Be thoughtful about the types of questions you ask; make sure you are gathering information to determine your potential fit with the role.

3. Synthesize your reflections and research to confirm or redirect your career goal.  

Bottom line: The insights you obtain from following these steps can help you develop an authentic and compelling story through which you can connect your experiences to your career goal.

If you are considering applying to business school for fall 2023 admission, this Round 3 season is shaping up to be the friendliest one in years. Except for spring 2020, this is the first time in over a decade that schools are making meaningful in-season admissions changes, from extended deadlines to test waivers. As a result, now could be a great time to apply! 

We compiled this handy table to help you decide where to focus your efforts:

Indiana Kelley, Vanderbilt Owen, and Georgia Tech Scheller have also adjusted their admissions processes. 

Many of these programs require that you apply for these terms, so please look closely at each one’s website for more details, or reach out to an mbaMission consultant for a free consultation call. 

If you are considering applying to a leading MBA program, start by ensuring that you have the right mind-set so that you are mentally prepared for the process and are positioned for success. Here is what you can expect the experience to be:

1. TIME INTENSIVE
Many applicants are surprised by how time-consuming the application process truly is—not just the bigger elements, such as writing essays and studying for and taking tests, but also the smaller demands of the application. To get a sense of how much time you will likely need and the many steps required, read this article: The Ideal MBA Application Timeline. Make sure you have thought through when you will be able to set aside time to dedicate to the process, whether that is after work, on the weekends, or early in the morning before your workday begins. You need to make this commitment to yourself to be sure you are giving your application the proper focus. An MBA admissions consultant can help keep you on track and serve as an accountability partner.

2. INTROSPECTIVE
To effectively answer the MBA application questions, you will need to be clear on your career goals—both short-term and long-term aspirations—and why you need an MBA to achieve them. Assessing new career paths, networking, and speaking to individuals in your (potential) desired future field might demand additional time. Many schools’ essay questions also require that you reflect on your personal values, your life experiences to date and what you have learned from them, and what makes you uniquely you. Ample time should be devoted to contemplating these key topics. For advice on answering the notoriously challenging, self-reflective questions posed by Harvard Business School (HBS) and the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), watch our YouTube videos (HBS, Stanford GSB) and review our book (60% off for a limited time).

3. THOUGHT-PROVOKING
Given how time intensive each application is, you must thoroughly think through what is most important to you in an MBA program and refine your list of target schools accordingly. Going beyond the rankings to learn about a program in depth is essential to ensure that it is a good fit for your personal goals, learning style, and personality. mbaMission’s business school Insider’s Guides recommend considering eight different criteria when evaluating a school and provide a comprehensive look at all eight for today’s leading MBA programs. And our YouTube channel also provides a plethora of helpful school-specific information.

Key questions to ask yourself and reflect on include the following: Do you prefer a case study or traditional lecture-based teaching style? How important is experiential learning to you? Would you rather have a core curriculum set for you in the first year of the program or the flexibility to select electives from day one? Do you thrive in an urban setting or prefer a small, more intimate college town? Do the school’s academic specialization(s) and recruiting focus align with your career goals? Is a traditional two-year program right for you, or should you consider a one-year, part-time, or even executive MBA instead? Should you work for another year or two before applying? How does your personal profile align with the school’s class profile?

You also need to define your personal “tipping point.” What do you consider the “best” school that you would actually not attend if you were to be admitted to it? Some people believe that the commitment and opportunity cost an MBA program requires are only worthwhile if they are accepted to certain schools. Others are convinced of the value of an MBA in achieving their goals, regardless of the specific program. This is a very personal decision but one you must make early on because you should apply only to schools that you would confidently and proudly attend if you received a letter of acceptance. An mbaMission consultant can help you effectively navigate the school-selection process based on your personal profile, goals, and interests. Simply schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

The decision to attend a top-tier business school is a significant one, especially given the arduous application process. However, having the right perspective and being aware of the reality of everything involved will set you up for a successful and more enjoyable experience.

Are you a business school applicant in need of some guidance from an admissions advisor? If so, then we want to meet you for a free in-person consultation in Aspen, Colorado!

On the following dates, mbaMission Senior Consultant Nisha Trivedi will be holding free in-person, one-on-one consultations in Snowmass Village, Colorado.

• Tuesday, January 31
• Wednesday, February 1 
• Thursday, February 2
• Monday, February 6
• Tuesday, February 7

During your free in-person consultation, your admissions advisor will answer all your most pressing MBA application questions, including the following:

• What are my chances of being admitted?
• How can I differentiate myself from so many other applicants?
• What is the best way to showcase my accomplishments or mitigate my weaknesses?

If you would like to meet with Nisha to discuss your MBA applications, please provide some basic information about your candidacy via the submission form at www.mbamission.com/consult/mba-admissions. We will reply to you within one business day with a link to schedule your in-person, 30-minute consultation.

We look forward to getting to know some of this season’s best and brightest business school applicants!

*This offer is valid only for those applicants who have not already had an mbaMission free 30-minute consultation. After booking, if you would like to confirm the local time of your appointment, please contact [email protected].