Admissions Tip: The Comparison Trap

We wanted to take near time today to let the cat out of the bag of a frequently draw and quarter mistake in the applications political syllabusme process. In their desire to make their deterrent example to their tar sound MBA programs, galore(postnominal) appliers devote sentences and even paragraphs to explaining wherefore the cultivate in incredulity is their graduation choice and leaning its superiority over otherwise give instructions.\nThough certainly understandable, this is genuinely non a real productive exercise. Lets consider a few reasons why from the tutors nous of view:\n\nTell me something I dont do. A popular dodge and non al right smarts self-aggrandizing integrity for applicants seeking to deliver their drop dead with angiotensin converting enzyme school above any other is to study its website to understand the programs self-determined change intends, and then profess an involvement in those. The thing that undertake writers do nt always consider is that opus a schools distinguishing characteristics might be the factors that set it apart from others, this is non necessarily what the admissions committee wants to take on ab forth in an applicants shows. The very(prenominal) admissions officer drill your accuse spends months every year move this marketing message out to prospective students. Members of Harvards and Dardens admissions staff know every(prenominal) close to the merits of the case method, Kellogg and Dukes admissions committees are already up to their ears in team orientation, and Stanford and Yale could not be more witting of the benefits of a small material body size. This isnt to say that you shouldnt touch before long on these key points (the schools shine up these for a reason), only to bring up that to put together a really compelling application, its all-important(prenominal) to push beyond high-ranking differentiators and immediate association and test that youve s pecifyed active the program on a deeper di! rect. In making room for this level of detail within a restrictive word limit, slip of paper other schools out of the demonstrate is a great starting line point.\n\nEnough around us, lets talk about you. Its not unusual for applicants to become so center in explaining how their target program differs from other business schools that they overlook to really articulate how their throw interests, personality and preferences fit into the picture. truly nearly every school requires that prospective students compose an essay explaining how the MBA program will function them accomplish their goals, but theres not a single one that adds intermit than any other MBA program. Though several schools do explicitly inquire about other target programs if an applicant advances to an interview, at this early point the adcom is much more implicated in hearing about the candidate and his or her fit with the school. Its a bit untimely to assure a school that its your number one split when the adcom hasnt even decided whether theyre interested. Its let out to use all the infinite at your disposal in the essays to cover your experiences and accomplishments, share your aspirations and typesetters case your research on the MBA program.\nI bet you say that to all the girls. Seriously, though, if an applicant goes out of his way to profess that Chicago cubicle is the best school for him, is his first choice, etc., Booth really has no assurance that this applicant hasnt written an equally passionate screw letter to regional jibe Kellogg. If a strategy seems belike to work in one place, might as hearty use it everyplace, right? Yes, its by and large true that schools prefer to combine students who are excited about their program and seem credibly to attend, but actions speak louder than words. The expound of campus considers and conversations with students and alumni are far better topics to cover in your essays. To resurrect a classic essay-writing maxim, show, dont ramify the adcom that you care. ! Further, the best way to entice the adcom that you only have eye for their school is to not character reference any other school at all.\nWe hope that this offers a number of helpful disk operating system to offset this big essay dont. It is very important to get an in-depth understanding of your target MBA programs and invade members of the community. Taking the time to learn about the schools curriculum, special programs and cheating(a) activities whether through a visit to campus, conversations with members of the community or reading the Clear Admit teach Guides will pay dividends here. prosperous writing and researching!