Advice on How to Apply for an MBA for Consultants
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You may be a child prodigy who has advanced to senior levels in your twenties, but this may not be enough to get into one of the best business schools. So why not? Because you are not the only one who goes above and beyond in this highly competitive sector known as consulting. Management consulting is one of the most common MBA candidate profiles. While academic and professional brilliance are required, these data points will not distinguish you. So, what does distinguish you? You must position yourself to stand out in such a crowded application pool. And we'll go through how in this blog post.
Avoid explaining in detail about what you do.
You may assume admissions readers are familiar with the responsibilities you conduct on a daily basis. They are familiar with the industry and the average career progression rates. Don't squander valuable space discussing what you do. Instead, concentrate on the impact you've achieved. Go beyond what you accomplished to share what you gained from your experiences. Then, relate what you've learned to what you'll contribute to the MBA classroom.
2. Add depth to your application.
Don't let your work title to determine your identity. Most consultants believe it defines them. Take this chance to sit back and consider what truly motivates you. Where do you want to have the biggest influence? Consider what has lead you to this point in your job and life, as well as your decision to obtain an MBA. Excavate unexpected and one-of-a-kind parts from your past or future ambitions that you may weave into a fascinating tale and use to demonstrate your leadership potential. Being able to communicate experiences that are meaningful to you requires reflection and self-awareness. The more personal you can be about why you do what you do, the more appealing you will be as a candidate.
3. Tailor your experience.
As soon as you know you want to pursue an MBA, begin curating your work experience to set yourself apart from the competition. The sooner, the better. Seek for unique opportunities and volunteer to lead initiatives outside your area of expertise. Take advantage of every opportunity for foreign exposure, such as international conferences or business travels overseas. You are in an excellent position if you can relate these experiences to your future ambitions. Anything out of the norm on your list of experiences can help your application stand out.
4. Look into worthwhile extracurriculars.
Outside activities sometimes are pushed aside as a result of hefty workloads. However, being active in at least one or two of your obligations outside of work suggests that you're both innovative and enthusiastic - qualities that MBA admissions officers strongly admire. Also, extracurricular activities that occur three months before your MBA deadline will be dismissed. To get a better sense of who you are and what motivates you, colleges like to see only one or two long-term interests.
5. Make it a point to have great quant-ability.
Every year, the average GMAT score seems to rise. Stanford GSB has a 738 entering class average, Wharton has a 733, and HBS has a 730. Also, management consultants often have a higher average score of 10-20 points. It is assumed that consultants have exceptional analytical skills. Consultants also prefer to apply sooner than other applicants and are usually strong test takers. So, if your GMAT is not at least the school's average, if not more, you will not be deemed competitive.
You shouldn't expect an Ivy League undergrad to set you apart either. In the 2020 class, one in every three GSB applicants and one in every four HBS candidates had an Ivy League college degree. Outstanding academics, high exam scores, and notable extracurricular achievements are all prerequisites for success as a management consultant MBA candidate.
6. Provide your recommenders with guidance.
HBS admissions staff will often look at your MBA résumé and references first. Consider how your LORs might pique the admissions consultant's interest. You must select the greatest potential recommender and work with them ahead of time to prepare an amazing letter on your behalf. Create an early connection with a senior recommender who also knows you well.
If you are coming from a conventional feeder company, be aware that you will have competition and that they will most likely be receiving many requests from other MBA applicants. Prepare your recommenders by providing them enough time and detail to perform a great job. Proactively communicate your accomplishments, talents, and professional goals. Don't be afraid to provide ideas or remind them of relevant instances to give. This level of specificity will assist them in composing it and, eventually, will benefit you. The idea is to provide a personalized summary of your best characteristics that expresses real enthusiasm for your candidacy, rather than a formulaic, template letter reused from prior years.
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7. Express your self- and situational awareness.
Your communication skills will be looked at closely in a candidate pool where a strong sense of self can quickly turn into overconfidence. Certain characteristics that may have helped you excel as a strategy consultant may come out as impatient, arrogant, or misaligned with the MBA Admissions Committee. The MBA interview is a relationship-building opportunity, not a sales pitch. Maintaining eye contact and asking insightful questions when given the opportunity can help you establish that you are who you claim you are on paper. Your capacity to be real while distinguishing between confidence and arrogance demonstrates your wisdom and maturity.
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