UVA Students Share MBA Application Advice
Current MBA students are one of the best resources for learning what it takes to get accepted into your target business school. They are recent applicants themselves and, therefore, know what it takes to stand out in the process.
At UVA Darden, rising Second Year students shared a blog filled with MBA application advice for full-time MBA applicants. Here’s what they had to say.
Apply Early
According to Allie Medack, the last thing you should do is wait until the last minute to start the application process. She found business school applications to be highly introspective, and so felt that she needed time to reflect on her experiences and who she was as a multi-dimensional person. “Your genuine excitement will catch the Admissions Committee’s attention and help you shine through the pack.”
Reflect on Your Story
“Let [your story] shine and recognize that it’s all new to anyone who doesn’t know you,” says Max Linden. He believes that every applicant already has many defining moments that to use to demonstrate character, so take advantage of that.
For Christina Wong-Namura that meant not being afraid to dig deep. “For me, I made sure that my highest and lowest points were transparent on my application—and I tried to make my personality shine through despite the word limit.”
Link Yourself to the Program
The question of “Why this school” and “Why me” are intertwined. You can’t explain one without the other, according to Bingjing “Krystal” Yao. You have to talk about your future career in terms of how this particular MBA program will help you. Look at your passions and contributions in terms of how they’ll impact the business school community.
“For me, I made sure that my highest and lowest points were transparent on my application—and I tried to make my personality shine through despite the word limit.”
Ask for Help
You don’t have to go through the application process by yourself. Jordan Hart advises to ask for help, get diverse perspectives, and talk to anyone you can. “There are many people who would be happy to help you as you take this exciting next step in your life—let them,” he says.
At the same time, you still need to make sure that you are self-aware and honest with yourself. While advice is good, be true to who you are and follow your own instincts.
Frame Your Narrative
A well-framed narrative is critical to differentiating yourself from every other applicant. That means it’s vital to showcase your unique experiences based on your early life, education, and career. “Consider of how these experiences play a role in your resolve to apply for an MBA program and to then transition to a successful business role after graduation,” explains Clement Le Royer.
More MBA Application Advice from Students
Five more UVA Darden MBA students offered advice in the original blog. Here’s just a quick overview.
- Connect with friends and family during your application process, says Chloe Stegeman.
- Craft a personal positioning or brand statement, advises Pierce Lee.
- Don’t obsess over online forums. Instead, focus on running your own race, recommends Temi Adekanbi.
- Take time to step away from your essays after you write them to gauge the clarity of your response, says Teresa “Tess” Engebretson.
- Choose an MBA program where you are celebrated, not just tolerated, says AJ Amankwaa.
This article has been edited and republished with permissions from its original source, Clear Admit.
University of Virginia Announces Upcoming MBA Deadlines
Hopeful applicants to the next full-time MBA class at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business have some new deadlines to remember.
New UVA MBA Deadlines
Early Action
Application Deadline: Sep. 3, 2019
Admissions Decision: Oct. 9, 2019
Round One
Application Deadline: Oct. 4, 2019
Admissions Decision: Dec. 11, 2019
Round Two
Application Deadline: Jan. 6, 2020
Admissions Decision: March 18, 2020
Round Three
Application Deadline: April 6, 2020
Admissions Decision: May 6, 2020
RECAP: US News —10 MBA Programs With the Highest Signing Bonuses
Each year, prospective MBAs and college administrators eagerly await for U.S. News & World Report’s annual MBA rankings. The list has become one of the top MBA rankings in the country, and is calculated by self-reported data from 471 business schools regarding its academic programs and the makeup of its student body, among other areas. Continue reading…
UVA Opens New MBA Facility in DC Metro
According to The Cavalier Daily, the University of Virginia’s news website, the Darden School of Business announced the opening of a new facility in Rosslyn, Virginia for MBA candidates pursuing an Executive MBA or Global MBA for Executives degree. Rosslyn is located across the Potomac River from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Continue reading…
MBAs Go Head-to-Head in Smith School’s M&A Competition
Students from the nation’s top MBA programs went head to head at the Robert H. Smith School of Business 8th annual Mergers and Acquisitions Competition from October 23-24. The competition tasked students with analyzing a hypothetical case based on the Internet Software & Services industry. The teams, with up to four members each, used data tools from event sponsor Standard and Poor’s Capital IQ to prepare their analyses before pitching their merger and acquisition alternatives to a panel of judges including corporate executives.
Lehigh Appoints New President
The Lehigh University Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of John D. Simon as Lehigh’s 14th president. He will assume the presidency on July 1, 2015. Simon has previously served as the executive vice president and provost at the University of Virginia.
Simon is an internationally renowned chemist and a widely respected leader in higher education. His appointment culminates a comprehensive and wide-ranging search process that began following the announcement in January that former president Alice P. Gast had accepted the presidency of Imperial College London.
