Applications That Get a "Yes"

Clear Admit is a Philadelphia-based educational consulting and counseling firm founded in 2001 by MBA graduates with extensive admissions experience. It helps increase clients' chances of getting into top-notch B-schools, with services including initial consultation, interview tips, and essay reviews.

Graham Richmond, co-founder and CEO of Clear Admit, and Alex Brown, senior admissions counselor, recently fielded questions from audience members and BusinessWeek Online's Francesca Di Meglio in an online chat. Here is an edited transcript:

Alex Brown

BWO: This comes from a visitor who couldn't join us today: "Can you give some advice to a senior business major thinking of pursuing her MBA right after graduation? In your opinion, is it acceptable to pursue the MBA right away?"
Brown: My immediate response would be to ask her why she would want to start an MBA before gaining substantial work experience that can create great context.

dftodc: Would you say that having nonprofit work experience before applying to the top 10 B-schools is a positive? Why?
Richmond: Having nonprofit work experience can certainly differentiate you, but what's more important is what you learned from the experience and the leadership opportunities you had. One other consideration for nonprofit applicants is demonstrating their fit with an MBA program.

BWO: This is another question that comes from someone who couldn't join us today: "I am reapplying to Harvard Business School this year. From what I know, HBS is suspicious of reapplicants. How can I be successful?"
Richmond: I would not say that HBS is suspicious of reapplicants. It's more that they view a reapplicant in the same way that they view a first-time applicant -- they start from scratch and reassess. Whereas other leading schools that offer feedback (such as the Wharton School and the Kellogg School of Management) allow you to build from your previous application.

princek99: How about experience gained while working at a higher educational institution, either part-time or full-time?
Brown: That differentiates you for sure, but you have to bring up what you have learned and why the MBA makes sense for your goals.

BWO: Many of our visitors are also wondering if you need international experience to get into B-schools today. What do you think?
Brown: The short answer is no, but having the perspective provided by the experience can certainly help, and we are in a global economy.

BellaGirl02: I have only been at my current job for two months, and I don't feel like my current manager knows me well enough to give me a good recommendation. I was planning on using my former manager and a competitor from my last job. Is that a good idea?
Brown: Sure, but you should use the optional essay to explain the rationale for your choice.

BWO: Many of our visitors are also asking about whether they can get by with a lower undergraduate GPA if the rest of their application is solid. What would you say to them?
Richmond: It's not the rest of their application -- it's the rest of their academic profile that's important. For example, course selection as an undergraduate, GMAT scores, outside course-work since college, etc. These are the things that would be critical to determine how a school would assess a candidate's academic aptitude and motivation.

phoenix_2: I have experience in health information systems for three years, and I would like to move into health-care-strategy consulting. Which schools should I consider, and is my goal realistic?
Richmond: That sounds like an interesting and logical career goal based on your past experience. Wharton's Health Care Management Program would be a great starting point. Programs like those at Kellogg and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University also have strengths in this area.

NathanGen: In your opinion, what is the single most important factor in an MBA application?
Brown: The weakest element of your application is the most important factor. The admissions process takes a holistic approach and looks at many variables, so you really cannot identify one critical variable.

dftodc: Are MBA programs partial to certain goals applicants express on their applications? I will probably want to reenter the nonprofit sector after finishing and would probably be interested in a tuition forgiveness/assistance program. Will this damage my application?
Richmond: Admissions committees are partial to goals that make sense for the applicant and fit the school to which he or she is applying. Many schools offer tuition forgiveness programs, and it certainly has no impact on the selection process.

princek99: Does leadership experience have to come in a supervisory role? How well can one document one's leadership experience while working in a team? Will it be convincing?
Richmond: While it is more difficult to demonstrate leadership without explicit authority, we see many applicants doing a fine job of displaying their ability to influence outcomes and leave a footprint on a project despite lack of a formal leadership role. There are not a lot of people at this point in their careers who actually have explicit leadership roles when they apply.

toddcruise: Kellogg requires reapplicants to answer the same essay questions as they did the year before. Do those essay answers need to be completely different?
Richmond: The essays need not be completely different. However, for a reapplicant, it's important to demonstrate change and improvement in one's candidacy. And most reapplicants have had additional experiences (extracurricular, professional, etc.) that they can reference when they reapply.

mbadin44: If you do not have a business background from your undergraduate degree, do you think it is wise to take introductory-level business courses to shore up your application? And if so, does it matter whether you take them at a community college or university?
Brown: You do not have to do that, as long as you can demonstrate you have decent analytical skills. You may also consider whether you are taking this step to prepare for the application, or to make the transition into business school easier. It really does not matter where you take the courses -- it matters that you do well

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