Powering Your Application

MM123456: Do you think MBA applications will be down again this year?
BauerDan: So far, we've seen the volume as flat again this year. However, I must say that the quality and passion of the applicants we're seeing are as high as ever. To either rush or delay an application based on the expected volume of candidates would be shortsighted. Timing in that sense should not be a driver of whether someone applies for fall 2006 admission.

Marcus2119: What are the advantages of seeking a MBA/JD degree?
BauerDan: The decision to pursue a joint degree begins with the applicant's goals. For instance, if you're planning on a career in the entertainment industry, there would be clear relevance to a joint degree that enables you to deal with contracts as well as management. However, the case for such a degree starts to weaken without such relevance.
RaynorSmith: From an admissions perspective, most schools view the applications separately.

MaxFischer23: How are the programs abroad viewed generally, and how specifically are the shorter programs stacking up to the two-year programs in terms of output quality?
RaynorSmith: I think that the MBA programs abroad are getting better and better, with some stacking above the rest. The output is generally strong based on what I've seen. However, many applicants want a summer internship, and the one-year program doesn't offer that. I think that an internship is a great way to figure out what you want to do post-MBA.

chico261: How do B-schools value entrepreneurship? My partners and I just sold our startup for a few million. Is this a plus?
BauerDan: The key to an entrepreneurial background is to make it as credible as a corporate background. The best news is that you are not constrained by the typical corporate structure in terms of your responsibilities and impact. With that in mind, the key will be to present your entrepreneurial past with a structure and a focus that is at least as convincing as that of your corporate peers.

You would do that by breaking down your experience into easily understood components, such as analytical ability or leadership, just as a corporate applicant would. However, your examples should then reveal how you exceeded the predictable scenario that a non-entrepreneurial applicant might use. Take full advantage of the open-ended nature of entrepreneurship to convey a candidacy that would add even greater value to your classmates.

gedmay99: How many schools do you typically advise applicants to apply to?
RaynorSmith: Typically, we advise applicants to apply to about six schools.
BauerDan: However, it really depends on applicants' ability to put together a quality application, so if they feel that they can do more or less, then we would support them 100%.

The wisdom behind applying to multiple schools is to bracket yourself with some that are more aggressive choices and others that are higher probability choices. There's no shortage of programs out there with the quality and focus to deliver long-term value.

MM123456: When prospective applicants visit a school, what should they do to get remembered?
BauerDan: Being gratuitous or forced is unwise. It would be important for you to first think through your candidacy and identify one or two aspects which you feel are most distinctive or memorable about yourself. These should be somewhat anecdotal rather than a line item from your résumé. Think of it as the kind of conversation starter that you might use at a cocktail party when meeting someone for the first time. The value of this is to give you a hook for your subsequent communication with that admissions officer.

BWJack: Do you sometimes advise clients frankly that they should not aim for a top-tier school or perhaps not apply at all?
RaynorSmith: We will be as honest with the candidate as we can and talk through [his or her] options based on [that person's] complete profile. Not every school is right for every candidate, but we have yet to tell a candidate no. Additionally, we might advise them on how to improve their candidacy and wait a year or so to do that.

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