Getting into your preferred college program is a massive game-changer at all levels. This is true for undergraduate applicants looking to join their parents’ alma mater (Stanford, Notre Dame, Harvard, etc.), or a postgrad seeking an MBA admission to Stanford Business School or Wharton. A top MBA program is typically on the minds of many soon-to-be graduates, but getting into the MBA program you have your eye on can be a little harder than you might think. Only the top candidates are taken into these elite universities, and the application process can be grueling.
Working with the best MBA admissions consultants can improve your chances, though. These professionals offer unparalleled advice, and the earlier you begin working with an MBA admission consultant, the more time you’ll have to hone your application package and ultimately receive your congratulatory letter. These, and other professionals, are a crucial part of the admissions process for MBA programs, as well as others; but the foundational advice you’ll receive remains static, regardless of the tweaks and points of focus from year to year that admissions officers aim to welcome into their new cohorts.
Start early to build a portfolio of excellence.
Professionals and consultants alike will tell you about the power of time. It’s the same principle that makes for robust stock investing practices. Time is your best friend when creating a strategy for professional or financial growth alike. With a long calendar with which to complete your application profile, you can bulk up on high impact activities, great grades, and leadership positions within the organizations that you frequent in your downtime.
Renowned lawyer and mineral enthusiast Howard Fensterman built a career by looking to the future. Whether you’re thinking of a career in law like Fensterman or a business school for your next act, beginning early to lay out your plan for the future is the only way to see every angle and forge your own way ahead. U.S. college students have a unique flexibility in their course loads and can take on a variety of elective classes, discreet tracks toward the end product, and can even change majors halfway through their journey. With this freedom comes a need to chart a course toward a future that makes sense for your own personal needs and interests.
Engage with a variety of elective options.
One great way to do this is with a full elective load. Taking courses that feed into your interests and background knowledge—but don’t necessarily advance you toward your degree’s theme—is a wonderful way to diversify your education and take in a variety of viewpoints and pieces of knowledge. A well-rounded individual must feed their talents but also their hobbies and interests. An accounting major will need a few history, politics, or religion classes in addition to their math-heavy slate of courses in order to complete the elective requirements and to balance out the mind. The United States offers unparalleled higher education spaces for learning, so to leave these stones unturned is a tragedy that sadly many millions of U.S. college students commit.
Electives are a great reprieve from the more intensive courses that you’ll have to take as well. By taking an introductory science or writing course, you can relax a bit while earning a great mark in a class that is far less taxing than your high-level business operations coursework. Off-topic classes are the best way for a college student to remain grounded, and a well-rounded schedule can actually work to your advantage when seeking to apply for the next round of education. By framing these classes as an exploration of the whole picture, you can delve into a meaningful dialogue with yourself about your goals and aspirations as well as with recruitment consultants and admissions officers.
Stay sharp, and look your best.
Not only will you need to hone your mind in order to gain entry into an MBA course at Wharton or Stanford, you’ll also need to strike a professional look that will turn heads. Power suits, smart dresses, or Journee collection sandals are a great way to create that perfect professional image that will net you many callbacks over a long a successful career.
Maintaining a professional look is the best way to always make a great first impression. This is important for interviewing during the MBA application process as well as later in life when you’re looking to strike business partnerships on behalf of your major corporation or growing startup. Showing yourself as a courteous, prompt, and respectful individual that prizes personal relationships is the best way to create these lasting impressions that will drive your career forward. This begins with your MBA admissions decision and continues on throughout your life in the entrepreneurial marketplace.
Make your mark on admissions teams this year by starting early and working with a consultant with years of experience in order to launch your career.