Experts' Q&A » Answers
What are MBA candidates’ 3 major mistakes during their application process? What are your best tips for applicants?
Answer by Jan Henk van der Werff
As we work closely with our candidates throughout the admissions process, we can really avoid mistakes. Three tips though: 1. Make sure you fully understand all relevant criteria for admission; 2.Take your time, be clear about what you want and be well prepared; 3. Speak with business schools recruiters, alumni , current students and people close to you who did an MBA.
AboutJan Henk van der Werff is Director Corporate Sales and Recruitment at Tias Nimbas Business School and former vice president, Europe at University of Phoenix. He has profound experience in international business education and is engaged in projects in USA, Brasil, Mexico and India.
Answer by Rachel Waites
I can think of three mistakes that are all related! Firstly, some candidates don’t spend enough time considering ‘why an MBA?’. Candidates have to express why an MBA will help them reach their goals and objectives – both in the essays and during the admissions interviews. It’s therefore also important to figure out your goals and objectives before beginning an application. Secondly, some candidates don’t spend sufficient time researching the schools they are applying to. In an interview situation, candidates will almost certainly be asked ‘why Chicago Booth?’, and it’s easy to spot the difference between those candidates who have spent time on our website, reading our brochure and speaking to our students....and those who haven’t! Candidates should do their ‘due diligence’. And, finally, remember that all MBA programs have different application essay questions. Don’t cut and paste application essays and change the name of the school. It’s easy to spot a cut-and-paste essay as they tend to be vague, non-specific and poorly researched.
The answer to this, therefore, is...research! Spend time reading through a school’s website and brochure. Speak with current students, alumni and admissions staff. Seriously consider why you are applying for an MBA program, and be prepared to explain why you’re a good candidate. Effective research will give you confidence and legitimacy, and this will shine through in your essays and interviews.
AboutRachel Waites is Associate Director, Corporate and Student Recruitment at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
Answer by Prof. Dr. Christian Homburg
Those interested in an MBA degree should ask themselves three basic questions:
1. Why do I want to earn an MBA, and am I bringing the necessary qualifications with me? 2. At which business school would I like to complete the degree? 3. How do I finance my degree?
In the course of the application process we repeatedly experience that many applicants have not dealt with these questions or only insufficiently. For instance, whoever would like to utilize the MBA in order to enjoy the student life once again, or whoever asks about a high scholarship in the second sentence of the interview without a good reason, has no chance to get admitted to our program!
AboutChristian Homburg is President of Mannheim Business School and Professor of Marketing at the University of Mannheim in Germany. Christian Homburg ranks first in the Handelsblatt-Ranking of german-speaking professors for Business Administration.
Answer by Yvonne Li
Most of our applicants submit a professional application but I can offer the following tips.
For the recommendation letter, applicants should obtain one from someone who truly knows him and his professional situation very well, and is able to provide objective and comprehensive feedback in a constructive way.
Spend enough time and effort on the essay question. The essay questions are the most time-consuming part of the application process. Applicants should be very logical, concise and focused throughout.
Get your application in early. First- and second-round applicants to CEIBS are eligible for various scholarships while those in round three have more limited scholarship availability. Even if their applications are pending for the first two rounds, candidates may provide additional material for further consideration during the third-round screening. Therefore, we urge our applicants to plan early and apply early.
AboutYvonne Li is CEIBS MBA Program Operations Director
Answer by Univ.Prof. Bodo B. Schlegelmilch
When applying for one of our MBA programs, a major mistake would certainly be that a potential candidate is not able to clearly illustrate why he/she wants to enroll for a specific program or what he/she can contribute to the class. Also, the decision to pursue an MBA program is a serious commitment, therefore, we sometimes do not admit candidates if they seem to have difficulties reconciling a full-time job, spare time with their families and friends and a demanding MBA program. Candidates need to be motivated, internationally minded and willing to both give and receive information and share their experiences with like-minded classmates. They should have a strong desire to learn and grow, be able to contribute to class discussions, and set themselves realistic career goals.
AboutUniv.Prof. Bodo B. Schlegelmilch Ph.D., D.Litt., Dean WU Executive Academy and Institute for International Marketing Management
Answer by Anna Farrus
Probably the most important piece of advice is for candidates to take time in their application – in researching, completing and submitting the application form.
Prospective students should take time to consider the programme carefully, learn about and really get a feel for the School and what it can offer to make an informed decision on whether it is the right fit for them personally. Candidates often fail to come to admissions directly to find out about the admissions process or the programme and instead put their trust in what they have heard from other sources. We hold Open Days in Oxford and information days in other locations around the world and encourage applicants to meet our faculty, students and staff before applying.
To present yourself professionally and in the best possible light your application should not be rushed. Applicants should start preparing at least 3 months in advance to avoid incomplete applications or sending in documents that have not been requested.
The earlier a candidate applies the higher the chances are of securing a place on the course so try to avoid applying in the last deadline. Early applications also enable a more collaborative feedback process between the university and the candidate.
AboutAnna Farrus is Admissions Manager at Saïd Business School.
HEAD OF ALL THE INSTITUTIONS & EVERYBODY, JULY 25, 2011
RESPECTED SIR,
>>>>>>>>ANIMALS’ CANNOT THINK / TELL TRUTH>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>EDUCATE A CHILD ALWAYS, ‘’HOW SHOULD NOT BE SLAUGHTERED LIKE GOAT / ANIMALS’ BY A FEMALE OR THEIR WRONG EDUCATORS’ IN REMOTE AREAS’’??????
WHETHER ANY CASTE????????????????????
WHY IS GOOD EDUCATION OR
ONLY FOR CHILDRENS’ TO MISGUIDE & SLAUGHTERED
AFTER A CHILD BORN, WHY STUDY & KEEP HIM SITTING
INFRONT OF ANY GOD
THINK & SEE, WHAT HAPPENS????????????? “THIS IS LITERATE CRIME”
GOOD WAS THERE, WORD GOD WAS MADE FOR LITERATE CRIME
WHY SO MANY RELIGIONS HAS BEEN CREATED????????????
Everybody can think on TRUTH. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN GOVERNMENTS / POLITICS WHOM WE CAN SAY THE AGENTS OF CRIMINALS OR CRIMINALS ARE THEIR GOD OTHERWISE HOW IT IS POSSIABLE LIKE THE DEATH OF FORMER PM OF INDIA LATE MRS. INDIRA GANDHI / MR. RAJEEV GANDHI OR OTHERS’ INCIDENTS ETC.
IN MY VIEWS THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE CHANGE AS UNDER OR THE BETTER / BEST SYSTEM SHOULD BE ARRANGED FOR FUTURE OF CHILDREN ALSO. WHY YOU THINK CHILDREN ARE AS GOOD AS ANIMALS’ & CAN ADJUST.
Learn from animals’ / dead bodies / WORLD to discuss as doctors’ learn to save humans and scientists’ learn for developments & safety. PLEASE DONOT LEAVE ANYTHING ON ANY GOD & THINK BETTER / BEST.
RESERVATION & BETTERMENT OF FEMALES SHOULD BE MORE THAN 100%, WHY 33% AND EVERYWHERE SHOULD BE FULL OF FEMALES OF ALL RELIGIONS.
LIKE 50% SHOULD BE FROM LOW INCOME GROUP OR FARMERS, WHO WORKS HARD FOR FOOD
10% SCHOOL STUDENTS’ INTERESTED IN POLITICS
10% COLLEGE STUDENTS’ INTERESTED IN POLITICS
10% TEACHERS’ BEST IN MATHS / SCIENCE / MEDICAL
10% DOCTORS’
10% SCIENTISTS’
IN ABOVE 30% LEARNED CATOGARIES MAY GUIDE OTHERS TO THINK BETTER / BEST.
—————————-Cont;2—————————————
After finishing the EDUCATION doesn’t Marry & become A SAINTS’ to avoid all diseases & all corruptions. THINKING SHOULD BE BETTER / BEST. WHY TO MARRY & WHY A CHILD OR A MALE CHILD FOR SLAUGHTERED IN THIS ANIMALS’ WORLD??????????? BY THIS THE CHILDREN, WHO WILL MARRY AND WHO WILL NOT MARRY BOTH / EVERYBODY WILL HAVE FULL OF KNOWLEDGE. PEOPLE / CHILDREN SHOULD BE CAREFUL FROM SCHOOLS / CHILDHOOD.SELECT ATLEAST FEW TRUTH / GOOD POINTS FOR CHILDREN TO REACH AT THE BEST LIKE DR. ABDUL KALAM / SWAMI VIVEKANANDA / BILL GATES / RAHIM ETC. BUT DONOT SING A SONG ONLY OR DONOT LISTEN ANYTHING LIKE STORY OF ANYBODY AND THINKS TO DO BETTER / BEST FOR PEOPLE / CHILDREN OR THINK IN PRACTICAL FOR CHILDREN. THE HUMANS IN THE WORLD IS MOVING BECAUSE OF FARMERS, WHO’S WORKS HARD FOR FOOD. EVERYBODY WANTS BETTERMENT OF FEMALES, IS MARRIAGE NECESSARY TO THINK FOR BETTERMENT OF ALL FEMALES????? THE MAIN CORRUPTION IS THE GAP BETWEEN STUDY / THEORY / THEORITICAL AND PRACTICAL.
Differences between animals & humans is
‘Humans can think & have mind which can think for the best’
WHY & HOW to identify people by religion or country wise?????
Page no.47 (10th Line) The pride of man is due to his thinking and man are
different due to his thinking power only.
Above written in HINDI BOOK—————-VEDANTA IN PRACTICAL LIFE
Page no.24 (18th Line) To-day the EDUCATION given to females is not good. We should
give Progressive & Truth Education and it is not only from the books.
Page no.68 (12th Line) If we think & ask them, they have nine lives in INDIA like
Cats and Boys are dying like houseflies.
Above written in HINDI BOOK—————-Bhartiya Nari
Written by Swami Vivekananda
ATLEAST BY THINKING / WORKING LIKE DR. ABDUL KALAM / BILL GATES YOU MAY ALSO REACH TO BEST / EXECELLENT TO SAVE PEOPLE / CHILDREN FROM WRONG EDUCATORS’ / LITERATE CRIME. Think & you may RESEARCH, why Muslim males are giving their skin or a small portion of males’ organ in childhood & why females are having menses, while not in animals. There is theoretical & scientific reason & behind this reason of ETHICS is also there, you can also think. Other differences may be also RESEARCH for children. TELL THEM TRUTH. Why humans cannot think above neck, if you think below neck, you are male & female. IF A CHILD HAVE MIND OR SENSIBILITY TO THINK BECOME A BEST DOCTOR / SCIENTISTS TO SAVE HUMANS’ OR THINK ON TRUTH for best world for children by automatic system OR simple law AND insist for science to become a scientists for the best world by healing or other technologies like sensor / laser / Nano technology / remote / reiki etc. A CHILD / YOU MAY UNDERSTAND BY A PICTURE WHAT THEY DO OR HOW THEY DO.
FROM ; KISHAN JALAN, INDIA 0651—2200166 / 3279 & 033—22597321 / 7429 AND 0 98318 22701
hello i like the Information given its very educational but what about my country ,do you do admission from Jamaica ? .
speaking of reseaching your MBA - if you’re interested in studying in Montreal, you might want to check this out, which I found on another website:
“An international online information session will be held on January 27th, at 6pm Central Europe Time “
Anyone know if McGill is a good choice?
This is a great idea! Very helpful questions and answers.
This is a very useful contribution for those people who intend to admit a MBA-Program. I would like to receive more info about St.Gallen & MBS Mannheim MBA’s (part time).
Thanks in advance
Heinrich
Bravo! This should prove a very popular column as well as truly helpful for those seeking an MBA.