What does MIT Sloan Seek in MBA applicants?
According to Poet’s and Quants’ latest “Top Business Schools” ranking, MIT’s Sloan School of Management ranked sixth. With a 14% acceptance rate, this prestigious b-school is extremely selective with who they chose to bring on board their MBA program. So, what kinds of students does Sloan seek out and how are their applications different from others?
According to a recent P&Q article, the biggest thing that will make you stand out is to show MIT Sloan who you are. Sloan seeks out applicants who have experience and can back it up. Julie Strong, a former senior director of MBA admissions at MIT Sloan says, “They’re always really looking at how people have taken their talents and put them into action.” Luckily, your cover letter and video statement are the perfect opportunity to express who you are and tell your unique story to the admissions committee.
Understand MIT wants a different kind of answer.
However, be cautious. By the time you get to nearing the Sloan deadline, you might have 3-to-4 sets of essays in the bag. Lots of cut and paste opportunities, right? Nope. MIT is a different kind of animal than other programs. They want to know how you think. In other words, MIT Sloan always sums up their approach to: “Thoughts, Feelings, Words, and Actions.” Notice that actions come last, meaning that equal or greater value is given to the ability to think, feel and articulate. Most applications are loaded with brute force actions that drive the narrative forward. Not MIT Sloan. Repeat: not MIT Sloan!
Embrace the Cover Letter.
In the cover letter, the admissions committee wants to know who you are and what you have done. So, tell them. The cover letter is not a difficult essay – it’s a gift from the MBA essay gods. You get to simply sit down and say, “here is who I am and what I want.”
Don’t turn this into your goals essay. And don’t turn it into a love letter either. Of course, you can mention your goals and why you would love to go to Sloan. But this letter should sum YOU up. It should tell them what you want (a spot in the class) and it should tell them who you are and what you have done (focusing on making an impact). In other words, our rule of thumb is this: if they would not be able to admit you solely off the cover letter, you don’t have a good MIT Sloan cover letter.
MIT has the perfect explanation for the video portion of the application.
You can watch it here . Additionally, MIT Sloan's application committee wants to see that you have all your teeth and that you are physically presentable as a person (and to a certain extent as a professional and articulate.) Unfortunately, it's a vain world out there according to the Economist.
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