My MBA Path’s Post

The MBA Admissions landscape is always shifting. No two MBA Admissions cycles are ever the same. Let’s make sure you don’t play by last year’s rules! Join me for a live discussion June 27 - registration link in comments. #mba #mbaadmissions #mbaaplication

As Round 1 results for Top MBA programs loom near, let me tell you a secret. The hardest truth about B-school admissions isn't that deserving candidates get rejected – it's watching exceptional people who I know personally, face that reality. These are individuals whose dedication I've witnessed firsthand, whose midnight oils I've seen burning, whose dreams have been years in the making. But here's the complex reality of elite institutions: they operate at the intersection of merit and mathematics. For every seat, there are multiple deserving candidates. The final decisions often come down not to worthiness, but to the delicate balance of class composition – social and cultural diversity, industry representation, geographical distribution, and countless other factors that have nothing to do with individual merit. Coming close to admission means you were exceptional enough to be in serious consideration. That's not a consolation prize – it's a validation of your capabilities. However, many times the margins between acceptance and waitlist, or waitlist and rejection, are often razor-thin and influenced by factors entirely outside your control. This doesn't make the disappointment any less real. But it's crucial to understand that non-admission to a B-school isn't a judgment on your potential or worth. It's simply the outcome of an equation where too many exceptional variables are competing for limited space. I hope you make it to your dream MBA program. But if you don’t, remember: your worth isn't diminished by this outcome. Your journey doesn't end here. Sometimes the path to our dreams takes unexpected turns, but that doesn't make the destination any less achievable. Things get better, I promise! #mba #rejection #reality

Yesterday, my lovely colleague and AIGAC peer Krithika Srinivasan and I were discussing the purpose of MBA admissions rounds: https://lnkd.in/e2QAQPss So there are two things that deserve to be mentioned when it comes to the admissions rounds: 1) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭? 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬? 𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨.... The rounds exist so the MBA AdComs can evaluate a sizable pool of applicants simultaneously. This helps them *select* the most qualified candidates and shape the composition of their MBA class in terms of academic qualifications, professional backgrounds, and diversity. Back in the day, Round 1 used to have a certain "signaling power". It indicated the candidate is very committed and that program is a top choice for them. This is no longer the case, people have all sorts of strategies about how they split their schools across rounds. And they often plan on multiple deposits before they make a choice. So the guiding light should always be - when can you submit the strongest application possible. 2) 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 2: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭. While pushing things from Round 1 to Round 2 is a relatively risk-free option, what happens if you can't pull things off for Round 2? In Round 3, if it even exists (Harvard Business School no longer has one), your odds do go down significantly. That often leaves you with the only viable option being to apply next year... 𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 2, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖. And to make sure your efforts are smart and efficient, next month I will open MBA ABC one last time this year for Round 2 candidates. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://lnkd.in/ekcd2QVm #mba #mbaadmissions #mbaaplication

What dooms most good candidates is that on paper, they look like many other candidates. This is particularly true if you are in a competitive sub-pool of applicants. Remember, there is always someone with just a little better GPA, GMAT score, or work experience. So, you need to make sure that the narrative that you are presenting through your application is uniquely yours and clearly explains why YOU need to get an MBA at that particular school. For the full list of things to consider when selecting an MBA admissions consultant, read Stratus Senior MBA Admissions Counselor Jennifer Jackson's article linked below👇 https://hubs.la/Q02r3rlp0 #MBA #MBAadmissions #overrepresentedapplicant #MBAessay #bschool #businessschool

SBC offers insights from MBA Admissions Officers and more to analyze the key differences between these two MBA giants. Read More: https://hubs.la/Q02GQzf20 #mba #mbanews #mbadegree #mbastudent #mbaprogram #mbaranking #mbaadmissions #businessschool #businesseducation

SBC offers insights from MBA Admissions Officers and more to analyze the key differences between these two MBA giants. Read More: https://hubs.la/Q02GQhNd0 #mba #mbanews #mbadegree #mbastudent #mbaprogram #mbaranking #mbaadmissions #businessschool #businesseducation

Met Prof Kalyan Bhaskar recently while he was in Delhi. Someone I can call a Friend, Professor, Guide! Have always had engaging discussions on sustainability, public policy and b-school life. The flavour of the discussion this time was b-school admissions, campus life and placements this time, since current batches are getting convocated, while new batches are interviewing! Some takeaways for those pursuing MBA admissions and early on in their post-MBA journey. 1. Having a point of view is important and it should be backed by reasoning and facts. However, the flexibility to be questioned and re-assess is an important determinant of success (for life in general as well!). 2. Awareness about what you know and what you don't is very important. Nobody expects you to be knowledgeable on every topic. It's hard to bluff through any interview of significance, so just be honest when you don't know something. 3. MBA is an important decision (and investment) in many cases given the high fees. One should have clarity on what they want from the MBA since it helps in the admission process and the decisions in campus life. 4. While macro conditions are not in your control, the best use of your MBA life is to grow your network, widen your industry and functional exposure and just develop a "can do" attitude towards anything thrown your way. Good luck to those graduating and starting their MBA in 2024! #mbajourney #mbaadmissions

⚠️7-8PM TONIGHT ⚠️ Planning to apply to business school in 2024? It is not too early to start planning! By taking action NOW, you can dramatically improve your chances of gaining admission to a top MBA program in the coming years. Indeed, it is never too soon (and certainly not too late) to take several crucial steps to shape your MBA candidacy. RSVP https://hubs.la/Q02qKQT90 Join Nisha Trivedi, mbaMission Senior Consultant, as she discusses: 👉Creating your 10-month (and beyond) timeline 👉Factors admissions officers evaluate each candidate on 👉How to assess your own quantitative and qualitative factors to better anticipate how you will be viewed by the admissions committees...and what you can do to improve that assessment 👉Getting "stats ready" including accelerating personal goals, getting your target GMAT or GRE score, taking additional coursework, and more #mba #mbaadmissioons #mba2024 #mbaplan #bschool #businessschool #GMATprep #GREprep

In our latest video, Gatehouse Admissions Founder Liza Weale shares a crucial tip for choosing the right MBA application deadline: Could your application be stronger? https://bit.ly/4cT3QDB Concerned about choosing the right deadline for your application? Reserve your free consultation today. https://bit.ly/3AOG2n8 #MBA #ApplicationTips #GradSchool #CareerAdvice #GatehouseAdmissions #TimingIsEverything

As MBA admission consultants to the top business schools, how do we stay relevant in a dynamically changing environment? One of the ways is to regularly connect with the admissions teams of the top ranking b-schools around the world and ask questions that matter to our clients and MBA applicants in general. Based on our interactions, we often share quotes and insights from business school insiders in our articles to help the larger applicant community. One of the big mysteries for MBA applicants is - what happens to MBA applications once the candidate hits the submit button? In today's article, a senior Admissions Director from Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business explains how MBA applications are reviewed - right from the initial screening to communicating the results. Don't miss this one! Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gHefuGsq