Q: It's often said in MBA admission tips books and on Web sites that essays for B-schools should portray a strong image. Can you offer any tips in achieving this?
A: That's not the end-all and be-all. Yes, an essay has to be compelling, but the content also has to be relevant. The schools are looking for evidence that you understand and value their priorities, such as leadership, and that you have demonstrated passion for those.

Q: What's your take on essays asking for your past mistakes, weakness, or failures?
A: These can be tricky because the schools expect candor. But applicants shouldn't trash their own candidacy unnecessarily. The best weaknesses or failures are those where the applicant learned from them and can cite an example showing that. That turns a weakness into strength.

Q: How about () Columbia Business School's) essay that asks, "If you could change one decision, what would it be and why?" It sounds like a failure question, but is it really?
A: Like the "failure" essays, this particular one provides a platform for the applicant to show candor and maturity in learning from the past as well as confidence in improving for the future. I believe that the difference between this and the "failure" essays is a very subtle one. The way this question is posed simply calls for more introspection on the part of the applicant. The sharing of an example that neutralized or reversed this situation is still important.

Q: Is it a huge mistake to discuss leadership experiences from college in one of the application essays (application essays)?
A: The key there is whether you have comparable leadership experience after college. Schools are looking for the best examples but have some bias toward professional leadership experience. Given the importance of that attribute and the number of times it's probed via essay questions, you would probably be wise to provide multiple examples -- professional and academic.

Q: How would you suggest that applicants with a low GPA deal with that in their application, and particularly in the essays?
A: First of all, you will want to use the optional essay as a platform for explaining the circumstances. Not to apologize, but to explain. Overall, depending upon whether your transcript includes business-related courses in which you did poorly, you can identify and take additional coursework that will demonstrate your true academic ability and potential.

Q: Here's an audience question: "I'm in the telecom industry and am considering applying to (Stanford) I only have two years of work experience. What makes a strong applicant?"
A: Leading schools like Stanford continue to look for a variety of strengths. There's no one "magic bullet" that a candidate like you, or any candidate, should rely upon. Coming from an overrepresented industry like yours, with an impressive but not uncommon education, you may want to look at an area such as nonwork leadership as a way to differentiate yourself from others with similar professional and academic profiles. For example, a community-service initiative where you made a difference as a leader could set you apart.

Q: An engineer at a Silicon Valley startup with little time for visiting campuses asks: "How important is visiting a school? How does one get the inside scoop on a school? And what are some examples of inside scoop?"
A: Visiting a school demonstrates to the admissions committee that you understand the program to which you're applying and are willing to make this effort to convey your enthusiasm. The best way to get the inside scoop is through interaction with current students. We make it a point to introduce our clients to former clients who share insights and anecdotes that can enhance essays, for example. So, trying to connect with an undergraduate friend or even just chatting with students on campus during your visit can pay big dividends.

Q: A lot of admissions directors say people who are accepted with the help of consultants, such as yourself, often would probably have made the cut without your services. Do applicants really need to pay the extra money (in you firm's case, as much as $4,500) to get into an MBA program?
A: The decision to engage an admissions consultant is a subjective one for each applicant. Certainly "perfect" candidates in terms of GPA, GMAT, professional credentials, etc., would understandably believe that they can do this on their own.

However, most applicants have some aspect of their candidacy that needs an experienced partner to address. Also, experience in working with hundreds of previous applicants provides insights that no one applicant could possibly have. So for those who feel that objective feedback and guidance can help make the difference, engaging an experienced admissions consultant is a wise investment. In the case of The MBA Exchange, our success rate compared to that of most applicants is the bottom line.

Q: What advice do you give MBA applicants who have had a number of employers? Does job-hopping affect an applicant's chances?
A: A career history that has no apparent pattern or progress is one that has to be explained in essays. We have found that the best way to do this is to first frame a compelling long-term goal and then relate the pieces of your professional experience to that goal.

Q: An audience member asks: "I attended an HBS panel discussion, and a few of the recent graduates indicated they didn't state a definite career goal in their application (one even had four different jobs). How do you market yourself with a situation like this?"
A: I would observe that that's the exception, not the rule. It can be very misleading to generalize based on the experience of any one or two applicants -- even successful ones. Those students may have been admitted despite their lack of clear goals, rather than because of it. We believe that, regardless of how strong your credentials may be, having a clear, compelling goal that links to your past and present yet also shows vision and confidence is essential.

Q: A PhD who has worked in a university lab for the past four years as a research assistant asks: "How do business schools treat this kind of academic experience? Most work experience among current MBAs was gained in companies, especially financial companies."
A: Your background is one that would have to be considered "nontraditional." However, we have worked with other applicants with similar backgrounds and seen them succeed in B-school. The key for you would be to relate your experience to the criteria that your targeted school emphasizes and to link your work to a quantified, tangible outcome.

Q: You spoke of your success rate for clients. Can you tell usspecifically how it compares with overall averages?
A: Published acceptance rates for the top business schools range from about 8% to 20%. Of course, that includes all applicants. Our historic success rate has been 80%. That is, eight out of ten clients gain admission to one or more of their targeted schools. Last year, 90% of our clients gained admission. The key is how selective the schools are that you're targeting. Even at the most selective, our success rates have been triple those of applicants overall.

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