Before Applying

Applying to an MBA program is one of the most difficult experiences you can possibly imagine. It requires more effort, planning and expense than finding a job. This site does not address this aspect of the MBA process. However, there are many other resources for you, some of which are listed below.

The Consultant's Guide to MBA Admission Success: If you are a consultant looking to apply to business school, or if you want to understand better how a consultant's work can translate to MBA acceptance, Accepted.com (offerer of professional editing, ebooks, articles, resume advice, and interview feedback) has well-written eBook on the subject: The Consultant's Guide to MBA Admission Success. They tackle MBA admissions through the lens of of an admissions consultant discussing a candidate, and the results are very positive.

Rating: 7/10

Review

The book focuses on the story of Scott Murray, a 28-year old management consultant at a top-3 firm (Scott is a fictional character representing a compilation of other, real clients). Scott's background, personality and goals are described in great detail, as are his strengths and weaknesses in the application process. Scott is given character as the book describes conversations with him regarding his decisions of where to apply, his frank discussion of his weaknesses, and even the portrayal of his lack of knowledge of the schools early in the process.

Once a set of schools is chosen and the process is laid plain, Scott gets down to discussing his essays for his top choice, Harvard Business School. There are great conversations that take place, and the development of essays, from conception to realization, is thoughtful and realistic.

A real highlight of this book is its discussion of recommendation letters. A set of letters and corresponding tips are given. These tips relate to both the recommendation letter writer as well as to the student, thus addressing the recommendation from all fronts.

The interview is discussed at the end, as well as Scott's preparation for it and his results through a mock interview.

Well-placed, effective tips are smattered throughout the book. The tips are straightforward, right on topic, and concise. They are indexed at the end of the book as well. Don't miss the tips on the essays, as this too is a valuable component of the book.

Missing from this book is greater discussion on the essay. The essay is really focused only on Harvard, and few tips are introduced to assist the MBA applicant. In addition, Scott seems incredibly capable and very self-directed in consulting; it would be rewarding for the reader to see a consulting who is not as capable apply to business school, to get a better sense of how to spin less substantial material into business-school-worthy application essays.

Despite some of these drawbacks, the book is well-written, clear, and packed full of tips for the consulting or anyone like him or her aspiring to pursue their MBA at a top program.

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