One of the advantages of working with an MBA admissions consultant is understanding how other aspiring MBAs are approaching the process – and how you compare.

My goal with this weekly email is to give you, my reader, insights into the MBA admissions process that help you build a stronger application even if you never purchase any service.

​And if the recent rumors that yours truly, aka Petia Whitmore, the founder of My MBA Path, was just ranked as a Top 10 MBA Admissions Consultant in the whole entire world are true, perhaps you can benefit from an observation or two about what I'm seeing candidates do well – or not so well – right now.

So let’s begin!

Am I on the right track?

With the Round 1 deadlines mere weeks away, decisions need to be made.

Have I differentiated myself clearly through my application?

How do I explain my low GPA or a gap in resume in the optional essay?

Are my essays really a compelling MBA story or just a series of claims of leadership? [Keep reading to see what this means… I have some examples included.]

No candidate is ever perfect.

Everyone has something they need to overcome. The key point is that if you are a Round 1 candidate, you need to have a clear and robust strategy for tackling these areas.

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Do I measure up?

Class profiles for your dream schools are readily available. But averages are a tricky thing.

How do you really know if you are competitive? One of the questions I get all the time is about GPA. “My GPA is below NYU’s average of 3.60”, candidates fret. OK, but where did you go to school and what did you study? “I studied engineering at Cornell and have a 3.2.” Then stop obsessing so much, Cornell engineering is notoriously hard when it comes to grading.

But the opposite is also true.

Candidates look at the class profiles, confirm they are within the ranges, and merrily assume they are very competitive.

And yet statistics are simply table stakes. A ticket to the game. To win, you need so much more.

Get a refresher on what it REALLY means to be a competitive candidate:

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Is my MBA story strong enough?

I'm editing MBA essays every single day (and by editing, I mean developmental editing, which is the most important kind you can get as an MBA candidate).

One of the worst mistakes I see MBA candidates make AGAIN and AGAIN is over-explain an over-label.
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What do I mean by that?
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​They think that unless they mention EVERY! SINGLE! DETAIL! about how something happened, the admissions reader might miss the point of JUST HOW GREAT the accomplishment was.​
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I want to encourage you to rethink your relationship with specificity and develop one with relevance!
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By overburdening your narrative with too many details, you’re actually burying your accomplishments so deep, they fail to shine and get the recognition they deserve.

What about over-labeling?
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If you feel the need to explicitly state that your example shows your superior innovative thinking and leadership, then maybe the example isn't strong enough. It should stand on its own, without you needing to tell the MBA AdCom how to interpret what they've read.

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Take your cues from the changes in MBA essays prompts

The reason so many MBA programs are breaking down their essays and imposing a shorter word limit is because you need to demonstrate the superior communication skills expected of a candidate to a top MBA program.

And with some work and iterations, I know you can do it!
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Quitting is for Winners

It happens every single round, a week or two before the deadline. Worried, sometimes panicked MBA candidates realize their application is not nearly as ready as they thought it would be.

They thought things were coming together. They had spent weeks browsing the online forums. They had brainstormed! They even had essay outlines. But when the deadlines loomed, one thing became clear. They were behind.

They come to me referred by their friends. The ones who by that point have been working with me for months.

I try to do my best to help them over the finish line but a week before the deadline, it’s damage control, not MBA application strategy. MBA application strategy takes time.

Why am I telling you this?

Consider this a message from your future self. Contrary to popular opinion, quitting is for winners.

You don't have to navigate the MBA application alone and feel overwhelmed. Or spin your wheels with DYI tools only to find yourself lost as you struggle to figure out how the advice applies to YOU.

No one should learn by trial and error.

A big caveat here

I can no longer take any new Round 1 applicants, not for comprehensive and not for hourly services either. My hands are absolutely full with work!

August will be a beautiful insanity as we bring stories about curiosity and growth or what matters most to you across the finish line.

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But if you are applying in Round 2?

If you hope to work with me for R2, we should be speaking as soon as you have a competitive test score – or maybe sooner.

Because my roster of Round 2 candidates is filling up too (which also means that even R2 candidates are already working on their applications).

​You can also get on the invite list for MBA ABC for Round 2, which will open in October.​

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PSA: School engagement matters

School engagement Is an on-going part of your MBA application work.

Whether you're just beginning your research or preparing your application, there are events that offer an unparalleled opportunity to network with MBA AdComs from HBS, Duke, Yale, Cornell, and so many more. ​
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​I'll be there too, to answer your questions - so bring your resume or your application and essay strategy questions!​
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Onwards and upwards,

Petia

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