Ask Embark MBA

Kicking off my thread with a few commonly asked questions!

What makes for an impactful application?

First and foremost, your application has to SOUND uniquely like YOU! When I was adcom, I read several apps in a given day. I was astounded that 80% of applications sound identical. The answer to why this was may surprise you. MBA essays are tricky! Because it’s an “unnatural” writing style, applicants tend to use very formal language, talk at high levels about what the school can do for them, and forget to input any personal details.

The 20% of applications that felt like I could hear and see an applicant’s personality were the ones that were specific in their intent and goals, wove in details like a personal memory, a partner, a dog, or someone they met at the school, or were written with such specificity that the essay could only be about them. To me, those stood out every single time and had a real chance at moving forward.

LoR’s, on the other hand, are a chance for adcom to get to know you outside of what you say about yourself. Ensure that your writers are true champions of your work. Also ensure that if you have the opportunity to have 2 (some schools only have 1!) that they’re writing complimentary recs. The 2 letters should write about different skills, attributes, or “wins” to give adcom a fuller sense of who you are.

Beyond the essays, resumes should be a single-pane-of-glass that details how you’ve spent your time both during school, during your career, and extracurriculars.


What about extracurriculars? What differentiates “good” extracurriculars from “great” ones?

Adcom views extracurriculars as a way to 1) see how you’ve spent your time outside of work and the classroom and 2) what sort of active student you might be at their program.

When reviewing extracurriculars, adcom will pay special attention to what type of activity it is, whether someone is passionate about it or cares (vs. checking the box), how much time is involved, what they can bring to campus and make the community better with it. The types of activities can be volunteer work, club affiliation, sports, or less formal activities (pickleball is all the rage now!)

If you’ve been working for 60, 70, 80+ hour workweeks, adcom knows that you have limited time to devote to outside activities. Own that! Do not invent or pick up extracurriculars just to “check the box”!


What if I don’t have the GPA or Scores that meet or exceed a school’s average?

Scors aren’t everything, and one score is just one piece of the admissions puzzle. Some folks are just bad test takers, or had a complicated time during their studies. For those candidates, it’s important to show your academic abilities in other ways. Consider whether taking (or re-taking!) quant courses is the right step if you have the time. If you’re struggling on the GMAT or GRE, reflect on whether you’re studying in the right way or whether switching which test you’re taking may benefit you. If both of these levers aren’t options, you need to own it in the application.

There are ALWAYS applicants who are accepted despite their lower scores. Those applicants are ones who may have had unique work experience, were all-stars in their extracurriculars, or demonstrated how and why they would be additive to the class.­