Cassandra's Top Three Application Tips for a Tough Admissions Year... (or any year, really)

Hello everyone! Bonjour tout le monde! 大家好!

I know we've been quiet for a while, but we're back from our summer holidays now and have headed full swing into our 2008 - 2009 recruiting season. And what a season it is! I've been on the road for the last month, attending fairs and hosting information sessions. It seems that conversations have picked up right where we left off: we're all still talking about the financial crisis. Before the summer break, I wrote an entry called Surviving Subprime: INSEAD Style. In that entry I discussed the interconnectivity of the world's financial markets and the global economy. Here's an excerpt:

There might be something slightly concerning about the fact that Manhattan bankers can threaten the financial security of teachers in Norway, but the upside is that prosperity and growth in one country can also serve to boast economies on the other side of the globe. If our problems are global, so are our solutions. And it will be leaders who have not only a sound knowledge in business fundamentals and managerial competence, but who have also developed the knowledge and sensitivity to operate anywhere in the world who will achieve them.

Welcome to INSEAD.

Today, I'd like to take the conversation to a more personal level. Over the last month, one of the most common questions I've been asked is, 'How will the state of the economy impact my chances for MBA admission'. So, let's get straight to it:

There's no question that applications are up. Not just at INSEAD, but colleagues I have spoken with at other business schools also report an increase. Put simply, this *is* going to be a more competitive year for MBA admissions. So, what can you do to make your application stand out in this competitive year? Here are my top three tips:

1.) Know Your Audience

Its important for you to know how, and by what criteria your application will be assessed. At INSEAD, we evaluate every application against four central criteria - and four only. But, each one carries equal weight, meaning you must be strong in all four to present a strong application. They are: Academic Capacity, Leadership Potential, International Motivation, and Ability to Contribute to the INSEAD experience. You can learn more about each one by visiting the Admissions Requirements page on our website.

2.) Address Your Weaknesses

We all have strengths and weaknesses. You need to be honest with yourself about what yours are. And then you need to take it to the next level and do what you can to genuinely address your weakness. In this competitive environment, you'll want to avoid being borderline anything if you can, so exhaust all avenues to strengthen your application. If you did more poorly than you would have liked during your undergraduate studies, for example, you'll want to be sure to present your strongest possible score on the GMAT. (Remember, that in order to be competitive at INSEAD, you should aim to achieve a score in the 70 - 75 percentiles in both the quantitative and verbal sections of the test). If you haven't had much experience leading people, teams or projects, you might want to considering engaging in some voluntary work which will give you the opportunity to do so.

3.) Be Authentic

In this competitive environment, you might be tempted to simply tell us what you think we want to hear. RESIST THE TEMPTATION. I can't emphasis this enough. We're looking for people who shine off paper as well as on. Now, more than ever, it is important for you to distinguish yourself from the crowd. Your uniqueness will be your strength, so be yourself, and tell us about who you are, not just the work you want to do.

Do you love yoga? Great. Maybe you'll organise yoga classes after exams. Are you a great salsa dancer? Fantastic. You can help us bring home the Cup in the MBA Olympics. Perhaps you can help us organise the Latin American week too! Are you truly passionate about making a positive impact on the world? Amazing. You could be elected to lead our Student Organisation for Social Impact (INDEVOR) or the Energy Club.

We're looking for people who shine off paper as well as on. Whatever they may be, telling us about your passions help you stand out from everyone else with your similar career and academic profiles.

Want more?

The best way to learn more about the programme, what we're looking for, and if INSEAD is the right school for you is to connect with us in person on campus or at one of the hundred + events we host and attend worldwide throughout the year. You can also post your questions on this blog, or email us at mba.info@insead.edu