Is this the year you hope to make your MBA dream a reality? If so, read on.

While this advice is especially timely for those who will soon be hitting “submit” on applications to the top MBA programs, the principles behind it are just as useful at any stage in the application process. They are all based on what I have observed while reviewing and making admissions decisions on thousands of MBA applications in my former life as Dean of MBA Admissions.

So as you double and triple check that you have put together the strongest possible application you are capable of, here are the parts—big and small—that deserve special attention:

1. Consistent narrative
   Ensuring that your application materials present a coherent and compelling story is key. But what does it mean? The most important alignment your application must demonstrate is a clear connection between your background and experience and your short-term goals. Long term goals are of course also important but short-term goals MUST make sense and be achievable. Equally essential is to demonstrate how the MBA program you are applying to is the BEST program that can take you there. No, that doesn’t mean showering them with praise and piling on adjectives. It means citing specific resources that align with your goals and demonstrating you have done your research. And yes, you must do this for each of the business schools you are applying to. Going generic on this alignment sinks too many applicants. Don't be one of them.

2. Overall application strength
   The second most important thing - is this the strongest possible application you could have put together? While there is no easy scientific way to gauge the strength of your candidacy, you can assess a couple of things here. The time (as in the weeks and months when you consistently dedicated substantial hours to building all parts of your candidacy) is the first one. The biggest single factor that will determine the strength of your application (and your GMAT score too, BTW!) is the amount of hours you work on it. Each part of your application carries a significant weight. And then there is the gut check. Do you truly believe you did your best? As an MBA candidate you know yourself well. If you are not strongly convinced you have put in all possible effort to be a truly competitive MBA candidate, pause and take stock. Are things still fixable before you hit "submit"?

3. Proofread
   Yes, this sounds like a trivial, almost ridiculous advice. And yet, it happens with alarming regularity. The most common mistake applicants still make in their materials is leaving the wrong school name. Even the clever ones who use "search and replace" get tripped up here. Consider that the home of the Harvard MBA is Harvard Business School and at Stanford, it’s the Stanford Graduate School of Business. What happens if you simply search and replace Stanford with Harvard? You end up with Harvard Graduate School of Business – a dead giveaway of repurposing.

4. Letters of recommendations
   What makes these so hard is that you do not control the content and submission. By now, you should have had conversations with your recommenders that ensure they are ready to write LORs filled with strong examples and plenty of solid evidence of how you stand out among your peers. At least a week before the deadline, check in gently with your recommenders. A sample email to them should read something like "I wanted to say one more time how appreciative I am of your support and willingness to serve as a recommender. As the deadline for submitting the letters of recommendations approaches on [insert deadline here], I wanted to make sure you have the form handy. Thank you again!". And then insert the link or instructions for submitting.

5. Online presence
   While this is not new advice, it is frequently overlooked. You focus on the application materials and rightfully so. But as you get ready to hit submit, make sure that your online presence is not detrimental to your application. Lately, emotions run high. The pandemic and the political landscape have presented plenty of ground for heated debate and confrontations. Make sure none of this is present in your social media content. Ensure your social media profiles do not display information or statements that are controversial. Helpful hint - even if none of your posts can be viewed as problematic, check what you have been re-tweeting.

Onwards and upwards,

Petia

P.S. You don’t have to pay a fortune to work with a top MBA admissions consultant. Many of my successful candidates use a simple 3-hour package to ensure their materials are crisp and on point.