Business School
The Application Process
Once you have decided to apply to business school, you will need to
understand the admissions process. Although the it is fairly
straightforward, there are many time-consuming details. Remember that you
alone are responsible for your application every step of the way. The admission committee at the schools to which you apply will be
interested in varying degrees with four documents which might indicate
your potential for success: your academic record, your letters of
recommendation, your Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score and
your application itself.
Your academic record will be carefully reviewed by every admission
committee but assigned varying weight depending upon 1) the objective of
the institution and 2) your work and leadership record. (Please see the
discussion of the value of experience in the "When to Apply"
section.) Although there are rarely specific undergraduate requirements,
courses in math, economics and computer science can be very helpful in
business school. Generally speaking, any undergraduate major or course of
study that develops strong analytical and quantitative skills is
satisfactory. Further information on requirements at specific business
schools is available in the catalogs or from recruiters who visit campus.
Business schools usually require two or three letters of
recommendation. In selecting whom to use as a reference, remember it is to
your advantage to choose individuals who can relate your skills in some
depth. In other words, select those who know you well and can judge your
potential as a manager. You might consider including a reference from
someone who has supervised you in a work situation, as well as several
professors.
You are encouraged to open a credentials file at the CRC if you are
planning to apply to graduate or professional schools this year or in the
future, or if you will need references for employment. The Credential
Service will facilitate the storage and mailing of letters of
recommendation.
The GMAT is a
computer-adaptive test (CAT) that is available year-round at test centers
throughout the world. Like all standardized tests, preparation for the GMAT
is essential. However, the form this preparation takes varies from student
to student. The GMAT is
a timed test with complex directions. It will, therefore, be essential to
familiarize yourself with the kinds of questions and the instructions for
each section. The GMATBulletin
contains sample questions and outlines the sections of the test. It gives
directions EXACTLY as they will appear on the actual test. There are also
review books and commercial prep courses available.
If you are planning on attending business school the fall after
graduation, we strongly recommend taking the GMAT
in the summer before your senior year. This will allow you to have your
scores early enough to make effective use of on-campus visits by business
school representatives, select or add to your list of schools to which you
apply or retake the test if your score is exceedingly low. (Please note
that business schools will receive your scores from any GMAT
administration within the last five years, the test should only be retaken
if you are convinced you could increase a low score substantially.)
The application itself is an important document in the admissions
process and deserves great care. Nearly all applications include essay
questions. Some schools give you a series of questions or specific topics
on which to write; others ask broad, open-ended questions. No matter what
form, be sure your essays are carefully and cogently constructed. In
addition to demonstrating your potential for business school success, be
certain your essays testify to your written communication skills as well.
Remember also to be succinct--if asked for 200 words, don't give 600. Applications
for admission and financial aid, copies of the school's catalog and other
publications should be requested in late summer or early fall. This will allow
you time to work on essays and assemble the necessary documents. Deadlines vary
from school to school; some are as early as December, others extend until late
spring. However, we have noticed that early candidates fare better in the
admission process and urge you to complete your application well before the
published deadline. In schools with rolling admission policies, this is crucial.
If you have completed your applications by Thanksgiving break, you will be
certain to be among the early applicants.
Decisions
for acceptance are also made on varying schedules. In general, you will be
notified in mid- to late- spring of your status. You will not be asked to make a
decision until April 15 at the earliest.
Business
schools, unlike other graduate and professional schools, do not confine their
decisions to admit, wait list, reject. Several, especially those that emphasize
work experience, offer deferred admittance. This guarantees you a place in a
class one or two years after the class for which you applied. Other schools may
reject you for this year's entering class, but encourage you to reapply after
several years of work experience.
It
is often difficult to accept the fact that a school has not accepted you.
Usually, this means the admissions committee decided there was, in their
opinion, some weakness in your application itself, previous academic
performance, test scores or letters of recommendation. If you would like to know
specifically why you were not accepted, it may be worthwhile for you to call the
school's admissions office in hopes of arranging a time for you to meet with an
admissions officer. Perhaps the information you learn can better prepare you for
re-application to that school or to other selective institutions. Please feel
free to discuss your individual needs with a counselor at the Career Resource
Center at any time during this process.
Return to the Business School Guide table
of contents
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