How do candidates differentiate themselves in this pool – especially since the pool is not only larger, but increasingly competitive, with more applicants from the “traditional MBA feeders” of finance and services?

The first bit of advice is to “stick with your core” – find out what really differentiates you as a candidate, and focus your application on those particular attributes.  Whilst there is an increase in applications, this does not necessarily mean there is an increase in quality applications, as many will be hurried rush-jobs that people on the chopping block have quickly constructed.  If you develop a clear, crisp application that focuses on what you see as your personal strengths, then you will put yourself into a good position for success.

This advice is especially important if you come from one of the fields expected to glut the admissions market.  Make sure that you differentiate yourself from the pool of other ex-bankers/traders/private equity gurus – whether by the deals you have worked on, your personal goals or through your extra-curricular activities.  Find some unique element of your application that separates you from the “two or three years and done” group.

Equally important is to START EARLY and APPLY EARLY in the process.  Starting early gives you the advantage of extra time to really think through your application, and really decide on good differentiation points, then wording them in a way that jumps off the page to the admissions directors.  Working with our clients, the most common comment we hear is that applicants are surprised by how much effort applications require, and how they wish they had started earlier in the process in order to maximize the time they spent on preparing good, clear applications. 

Beyond these benefits, starting early gives the advantage of being able to apply early or in one of the earlier rounds.  In a crowded pool, especially if you come from a common MBA background, there will be many applicants with profiles similar to yours.  However, each school only has so many spots reserved for candidates with different profiles.  These spots are allocated by round, however, the earlier rounds have more flexibility, and benefit from less benchmarking, thus, bubble candidates will have a much better chance in early rounds.  So get on it early and submit early!

 For more information, check out our website at http://www.langtonadmissions.com

Round 3
Haas – Jan 31
INSEAD – Feb 6
LBS – Feb 23
Wharton – Feb 28
Kellogg – Mar 7
HBS – Mar 12
Chicago – Mar 12
Stanford – Mar 14
Stern – Mar 15
Tuck – Apr 2
Columbia – Apr 16

For more information, check out our website at http://www.langtonadmissions.com or contact us at contact@langtonadmissions.com

Business School Admissions:

Check http://www.langtonadmissions.com for more information

1. Be clear about your goals and how to get there
Admissions committees like people who are clear and directed with achievable (yet grand) goals.  Your goals should be consistent with who you are and the experiences you have lived – do not try to sell the admissions committee on goals that are not supported by your experience or personal story, adcomms can smell a fib! Strong applicants can clearly articulate a precise goal in one sentence, supporting that goal with their strengths and relevant context. This goal must then be supported by a plan that outlines exactly _why_ applicants need an MBA to reach this goal and how they will put the teachings from an MBA into practice

2. Fill in your application gaps
Most people in the middle pile have one or more flaws in their application, e.g., low grades, low GMAT, gaps in work experience, mediocre GMAT/GPA, poor writer, etc.  Be aware of these issues, and start to remediate them in as soon as possible. Lower grades can be made up for by taking courses at local universities and nailing the GMAT; low GMAT can be corrected by re-taking and focusing on undergraduate performance; work experience gaps can be off-set by later stage promotions or good “life-development” stories; poor writing skills can be developed and augmented with writing coaches

3. Know your strengths, and clearly articulate them
Successful essays land 3-4 clear, crisp messages into the minds of various admissions committee members such that they put down the application and can easily defend the candidate in decision meetings.  Developing good strengths that are consistent, differentiated and match your goals takes time and thought.  Many applicants fall into the trap of offering simple, broad, non-differentiated (and often, non-supported) strengths, including “smart” (unless you are >780 GMAT and A+ student from top university, this will be non-supported), “out-going” (it is business school, not a popularity contest), “hard-worker” (most people applying to business school will work hard).  These will not resonate with admissions committees, better examples are: “strong problem solver;” “good at reading and understanding people;” “hands-on manager;” or “seasoned entrepreneur.” Then work these strengths into each essay you write.

4. Bring your recommenders into the process
Your recommendations are a key part of the application, yet many hopeful MBAs leave the recommenders until late in the process, citing job concerns or time management issues. Most good managers will be happy to help their star performers, knowing that even though they lose their talent now, that person is moving in a good direction with their career.  By engaging managers and recommendation writers early, applicants can communicate their story, which will be integrated into the recommendation.  Also, by engaging early, applicants can ensure that managers will have sufficient time to develop a strong, consistent recommendation, maximizing their time developing it

5. Be gritty, be real
Admissions committees want to see applicants’ ability to deal with adversity, and how they eventually came out on top.  Applicants should connect emotionally with the admissions committee by writing about some of their most difficult and mind-set forming life events – assuming the applicant can also demonstrate their ability to learn from the hardship and excel in their lives.  These life events vary by person, however, applicants are best off choosing the most defining event in their lives, and discussing it candidly with direct language, no matter how difficult the situation was.

6. Sell the admissions team
Applicants often forget that their application is read by a team of PEOPLE, instead thinking once they hit submit, their forms and carefully crafted essays are sent off to a black hole that somehow generates an accept/decline response. Strong applicants keep the softer side in mind as they go through the application process and are sure to humanize their application when possible.  They take the time to visit the school, meet the students, and even stop by the admissions office to personalize their application. They then craft each essay to match the spirit of the school, including the key themes the school communicates as its ethos (e.g., Harvard’s leadership, INSEAD’s international, Kellogg’s teams). Make a personal relationship with your readers and the decision makers at the school!

For more information, check out our website at http://www.langtonadmissions.com or contact us at contact@langtonadmissions.com

Much of the to-do comes from the competitiveness of b-school applications in today’s market, and the perception that by hiring third-party consultants, some applicants are getting an unfair advantage – or even, that some are out-right cheating, by having a third-party write their essays for them.

Ghost writers often miss the mark, as they lack the context about the schools applicants are applying to. Thus, their messages, whilst well-written, will often not be tailored towards the reader at each specific school. This is what adcomms refer to when they say they can spot ghost writers…

The best admissions consulting services (Accepted.com, Clear Admit, Stacy Blackman, Veritas – and Langton Associates) focus on coaching applicants through the process, helping them to think about their goals and why an MBA is the right choice for them, and explicitly do NOT ghost write essays. They help candidates find their own voice and work with their own abilities, while providing value-adding context on the application process and specific information about the schools the applicants are applying to.

I would encourage applicants looking for third-party help to contact these consultants, rather than ghost writers – as they will bring value to your application, rather than re-wording your thoughts in a way that may not resonate with admissions committees.

For more information, check out our website at http://www.langtonadmissions.com or contact us at contact@langtonadmissions.com