Business school applicants should avoid these 7 deadly sins.
According to Dr. Don Martin, Dean of Admissions at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, it became clear over time that some negative attributes were a sure way for MBA candidates to fail. These are referred to as the "seven deadly sins," and they are described further below.
Falsifying facts.
According to Martin, MBA candidates who are dishonest about their application status are not always dishonest people. However, because business school is competitive, candidates succumb to the pressure that comes from assuming that what they offer to the admissions committee is not as spectacular as what others may bring. As a result, they take "liberties" with the facts. While questionable embellishment of your application may reduce your chances, falsification will eliminate them. Simply refuse to overstate or distort information in your application. And never, ever, ever lie. You will be exposed.
2. Rude or arrogant behavior.
When deciding who to let into their programs, business schools have high standards for the people they let in. According to Martin, there is never a good reason to be rude or act like a child. Yes, we all have bad days. But it is important to always be professional, kind, and flexible when dealing with the MBA admissions office in any way. Character and confidence are very important in business schools and MBA programs. But other people can easily mistake confidence for arrogance, so be careful. Demonstrate confidence but avoid conceit. A little bit of humility never hurts. In fact, it could be a sign of real confidence.
3. Excessive contact
If you have a valid query, you should contact the admissions office. But according to Martin, don’t go overboard. Avoid excessive contact or weekly e-mails reminding the admissions committee of your "strong interest." Business schools are tasked with developing future leaders, therefore candidates who can effectively tread the line between perseverance and irritation are valued. The latter is frequently regarded as desperation and will seriously harm your appeal.
4. Not adhering to instructions.
If you're asked to write a 750-word essay, don't write a 1000-word essay. If you are requested for two letters of recommendation, do not submit six. This raises the issue of how will you follow directions and progress as a student if you can't follow simple guidelines on an application?
5. Sending incorrect or incomplete information.
According to Martin, there is no excuse for submitting application essays with multiple misspellings or grammatical problems. Make spellcheck your friend. And always have someone else go over your work. Double-check your mailing address and contact details. Last but not least, do not recycle your application. If you send the identical essay to a Northeastern business school and a Southeastern business school, the admissions committee will notice and you will be removed as an applicant.
6. Asking questions you can answer yourself.
Do your research and learn the basics. Avoid asking questions that you can readily get answers to on your own. For example, ”What are the application deadlines?” Or "Do you provide financial assistance?" Martin claims that when one candidate asked him similar questions, he made a note of it and it was not because he was pleased. However, if there are features of a program that pique your interest, such as a study abroad program, it is completely OK to inquire further. This demonstrates that you are devoting time to researching the program offered and evaluating a range of factors that distinguish that business school.
7. Making excuses or leaving something unaddressed.
If there is something in your application that has to be clarified, for example a gap in employment or a low undergraduate GPA, make sure to address it head on. Otherwise, the admissions committee may suspect you are hiding something, according to Martin. Make no excuses when you confront it. Rather, accepting your responsibility for your errors is essential. Give an explanation and offer to supply any further information that is required.
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