Why candidates get rejected from MBA programs?
When admissions decision time comes, MBA hopes soar or sink. If you got denied, it feels like your entire worth is being put into question. Don’t believe that feeling. Remember that admission to the world’s top MBA programs is not simply about evaluation but about selection. An admissions decision is not a verdict on your value as an individual and professional. And yes, MBA admission has an element of luck, too.
Whether you are applying for the first time or considering re-applying, you can educate yourself on the top reasons MBA applicants get rejected. Use this knowledge to avoid making MBA application mistakes or to strengthen your candidacy as a re-applicant. It can help you create an actual MBA admissions strategy or DYI a “ding assessment”. (And here is a secret – you can leverage the Get Unstuck service to get the most cost-efficient MBA application strategy session or “MBA ding report” in the market!).
1. Low GMAT or GRE score
Academic ability matters and the tests do provide some measurement of it to the admissions committee. If your test score is below the range for an MBA program, your chances of admittance will be impacted. Consider retaking the exam, multiple times if necessary. One of the hard truths of MBA admissions is that there is rarely a perfect substitute for a strong GMAT score.
2. Poor undergraduate performance
Similar to the GMAT or GRE tests, your undergraduate record will serve to judge your ability to perform well and consistently in a rigorous academic environment. The undergraduate GPA is one thing you can’t change. It’s also one thing you can often successfully mitigate by showing a very strong test performance. In addition, unexplained low undergraduate GPA is a huge mistake. Schools give you an opportunity to shed light on the reason you underperformed. You need to take it.
3. Work experience
Both quantity and quality matter. Having too few years of professional experience or lacking a record of management and leadership potential and progress will make it questionable if you could be successful in an MBA program and contribute to the experience of your classmates. In many cases, quality is more important than quantity. In that lies an opportunity to develop the experiences that can help you stand out even if you are below the average years of work experience or don’t have a flashy title.
4. Career goals
This is a big one. It’s also very simple. Career goals that are vague, unrealistic, or misaligned with the attributes of an MBA program will frequently result in rejection. It’s also absolutely critical to demonstrate how your previous experience has positioned you to successfully achieve your post-MBA goals, especially in the short term.
5. Communication skills
Whether it’s your essays, the various application sections, or your email correspondence with the admissions team, poor or weak writing is an issue. The same goes for speaking. Failure to communicate clearly, compellingly, and consistently will raise a red flag. One often overlooked area is the lack of consistency. If your essays show impeccable writing but your email correspondence is poor, this will raise questions.
Most importantly, writing is the most critical vehicle for conveying the coveted fit that MBA programs look for.
An often overlooked fact is that a survey of the weight of MBA application components revealed that “One admissions criteria uniquely affects international candidates, who usually must clear the added hurdle of becoming fluent in the English language. Across all graduate management programs, English language proficiency exam results carry a minimum weight of 50 percent in relation to all other admissions factors for non- native English speakers, highlighting its importance.”
6. Letters of recommendation
Even a great manager can write a poor LOR if it’s done hastily. Even a CEO can be a poor choice for a recommender if they don’t know you well. Choose your recommenders well. Invest the time and effort to connect with them early and have a discussion about your career and your goals. Activate them. Make them excited to support you on your MBA journey and easy for them to do it (but not by writing your own LORs!).
7. Weak interview
I recently did a poll of prospective students to find out how they prepared for their MBA admissions interview. Here are the results of the 445 responses I received:
29% said they winged the MBA admissions interview
34% said they spent considerable time preparing but did no mock MBA interviews
22% involved friends, colleagues or mentors to prepare
15% used an MBA admissions consultant
One way to interpret these results? 63% of the responders left too much to chance. There is a direct correlation here to how many interviewed candidates get an offer of admission.
8. Lack of spark
Some would call it candidate differentiation but it’s more than that.
Spark is what happens when your true accomplishments, aspirations, and drive shine through.
Two of the biggest reasons for this is that candidates often don’t work hard enough or they try too hard. And no, these two things don’t contradict each other.
There is no substitute for deep, honest reflection. And it’s actually much easier to present a genuine and humble view of yourself throughout the application than to try to build a persona that you think the adcom wants to see. It’s easier but it still takes a whole lot of work. That’s the catch. As I suggest in my It’s rarely a sprint piece, the data point that has the strongest correlation with a successful MBA application is the amount of time you spend working on it. This is it. It’s that simple. It’s also the one data point you have full control over.
Onwards and upwards,
Petia
Is this helpful? What else would you like to know as you work on your MBA application? Get in touch and let me know. I respond to all emails personally and promptly. And if you need me to be your second set of eyes, I have made appointments available every day this week.