We are into the 11th week of our 12-week series of answering prospective MBA applicants' queries about various aspects of the challenging MBA application process, including their eligibility for the program, age, GMAT prep, GPA, waitlist, employment gap, academic gap, job switch, second MBA, and much more.
The candidate asked us what she should do to stand out from the crowd and what is the magic trick to impress the admission committee.
Questions:
Dear Poonam,
I hope you are doing well. I have a few questions about my application.
I want to pursue my MBA in Canada. The universities of my choice require a GPA of 3.0 to 3.4 on a scale of 4, which is B to B+ grade. When I wrote the specific faculties on the admission requirements, the representatives said they had very limited spaces for international students, and the program is very competitive, etc. I also mentioned that my GPA is within the range of their minimum requirement. But again, they said that my GPA alone would not determine my admission chances; other factors will.
I am aware of the personal statements and recommendation letters and am currently working on them. Since you assist students in this, please let me know what I should do to stand out among the other applicants? These are my dream schools which I have hoped to join for a long time.
I want to start my application soon. Do you have success stories of students you assisted who have joined top Canadian universities? And what is the trick to impress the admission committee?
Hoping to get your response soon,
Cindy (not real name)
Our Answers
Dear Cindy,
Thanks for your email.
Here are my responses to your queries ( in blue font)
I want to pursue my MBA in Canada. The universities of my choice require a GPA of 3.0 to 3.4 on a scale of 4, a B to B+ grade. When I wrote the specific faculties on the admission requirements, the representatives said they had very limited spaces for international students, and the program is very competitive, etc. I also mentioned that my GPA is within the range of their minimum requirement. But again, they said that my GPA alone would not determine my chances of admission; other factors will.
They are absolutely right in saying that GPA alone doesn't determine your chances of success in any program. The admission committee takes a holistic view of applicants' profiles and uses different aspects of the application to evaluate them on various skills: test scores, transcripts, resume, essays, short answer questions, video essays, and interview.
I am aware of the personal statements and recommendation letters and am currently working on them. Since you assist students in this, please let me know what I should do to stand out among the other applicants? These are my dream schools which I have hoped to join for a long time.
The MBA application process is a marathon, and you must accomplish multiple things to reach the finish line. First, build a strong resume that provides the admission committee a snapshot of your professional skills and growth, academic prowess, and extracurricular activities. Then, you must write compelling and convincing essays to distinguish yourself from other candidates. This will take a lot of brainstorming, self-reflection into your experiences, and writing, rewriting, and editing. Also, your LORs should sync with your essays, so work with your recommenders to familiarize them with the LOR process and remind them of the exciting projects you have done to highlight your personal and professional accomplishments. In addition, work towards meeting other admission requirements: namely, transcripts, short questions, video essays, and interview prep.
I want to start my application soon. Do you have success stories of students you assisted who have joined top Canadian universities? And what is the trick to impress the admission committee?
Yes, I have successfully worked with applicants for Canadian, European, Asian, and US B -schools. Unfortunately, there is no magic trick to impress the admission committee. Be authentic and be yourself. Showcase your story convincingly and effectively through different parts of the application package mentioned above.
I hope it helped,
Poonam
Stay tuned for another MBA query next week.
Links to blog posts of previous weeks:
MER Answers MBA-Related Questions
Related Resources
10 Key Essay Tips with Examples
Success stories of MER students in their own words
About MER (myEssayReview)
Poonam Tandon, the founder of MER (myEssayReview), is a Ph.D. in English with 12 years of MBA consulting experience and three decades of teaching experience in India and the US. A master storyteller, Poonam has successfully guided hundreds of students from around the world to gain admission into the esteemed MBA, EMBA, and specialized Masters's programs in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Throughout her four-decade-long professional career, she has reviewed 10,000+ essays written by applicants worldwide. Poonam is recognized as one of the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club (141 reviews).
Do you have questions about your application for the 2022-23 application cycle? E-mail Poonam at poonam@myessayreview.com or sign up here for a free consultation.
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