Andrew Scharf has a sharp way of phrasing his opinion. As the head of the WCW Group that offers MBA and career coaching, he also frequently stirs the discussion on MBA education and admission. As the MBA rounds start again beginning of autumn, it is indeed a good time to get prepared on the MBA application front. But how to file a successful one without paying thousands to MBA consultants? One that really lets you shine?
These are the recommendations of the expert:
Step 1: CHOOSE
Investigate the 4-6 MBA programmes that are a perfect fit for your preferred career choice.
Step 2: TALK
Talk to alumni, the admissions officers or the school administrations and if possible, visit the campus. Get a feel if the programme is right for you and if you will actually stand a chance during the course work.
Step 3: PREPARE
Organise yourself for the two important exams without which you won’t stand a chance at most business schools: the Gmat & Toefl. If you have difficulties preparing yourself for the exams, you can enlist help from Test Prep centres. Check their results and standards first! Apart from that understand the structure of the test, practice sample questions, and work yourself through one section at a time.
Step 4: WRITE
After taking the tests, concentrate on your MBA essay as it is an important part of the application. Writing the essays for the different schools is a bit like strategic marketing to a highly targeted constituent audience.
Step 5: INTERVIEW
If you are lucky enough to be invited for an interview at one of your preferred schools, make sure you prepare yourself upfront well. Try to train with someone in person, if he or she is an HR specialist or experienced in career management the better.
Andrew Scharf’s very own piece of advice reads almost poetic, but it shows how important it is to find your own sense of purpose. He writes: “For inspiration, take Mohammed Ali’s advice: ‘float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee’. Although you can sting, you will prefer to grace the air as a butterfly. This is what we refer to as strategic choice. Manifest your own beauty and believe that you can give joy to many. By doing so, you will show that you have the perception to think beyond your own professional aspirations. A butterfly serves its purpose with a fruitful and productive life. You can too. It is just a question of purpose, direction, and will.”
Sources:
http://www.whitefieldconsulting.com/wordpress/?p=9704
http://www.mba-channel.com/downloads
Preparation Toefl Test: http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/
Preparation Gmat Test: http://www.mba-channel.com/channel/article/i-phone-application-helps-with-gmat/