Vanderbilt Insider: How to complete a MBA application in 7 days Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management
MBA RECRUITING & ADMISSIONS TEAM
APPLICATION COMPONENTS
You are the most important component of the application!
APPLICATION COMPONENTS • Explanatory Statements – Career Focused – Explanatory (optional)
• • • • • • •
Evaluative Interview GMAT/GRE* Letter of Recommendation Resume TOEFL/IELTS Scores* Undergraduate Transcript Video Essay
*Our day-by-day guide assumes you have already taken standardized tests
DAY 1 – GET ORGANIZED! • Skim the application and read the application instructions • Make a “To Do” list • Reach out to your recommender • Complete the basic parts of the application (name, employer information, etc.) • Locate or order an unofficial or official copy of your undergraduate transcript • Request your official test scores
DAY 2 – RESUME BUILDING • Start on your resume – Brainstorm! – List out all responsibilities – Write down all accomplishments – List out 3 takeaways you hope someone gets from your resume • Research resume formats and decide how you want yours to look • Put together a draft resume (don’t worry about it being one page yet include everything!)
DAY 3 – WORK ON YOUR STORY • Start on your statements – Write out what you hope to accomplish with your MBA, what you want to study – Write down why the school is attractive to you – Draft answers to your 3 explanatory statements. If you have writers block – just start and get something on paper!
DAY 4 – LOOK WITH FRESH EYES • Go back to your resume – Start editing it down to one page • Keep the most important items and remove the items that are less important – Does every bullet start with an action? – Are there items that are quantifiable? – Do you showcase your transferrable skills? • Go back to your statements – Did you get across everything you wanted? – Did you answer the question?
DAY 5 – COMPLETE CHECKLIST ITEMS • Complete the video essay – Practice
• Write the explanatory essay (if relevant) • Upload your transcript to your application • Proofread everything!
DAY 6 – GRAB A FRIEND (OR TWO) • Buy pizza and ask a friend to help • Task list for your friend: – Read the answer to the statement first and see if the friend can tell what the question was – Tell the friend what you wanted to get across and see if you accomplished the message
DAY 7 – SUBMIT • Give everything one last look • Take a deep breath • Hit submit and pay your application fee • Celebrate (relax, engage in your favorite hobby, binge watch your favorite show– you deserve it!)
YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO SUBMIT Get organized Build your resume Work on your story Grab a friend Take a deep breath and submit
NEXT STEPS • Visit campus, meet us on the road or reach out to our Recruiting & Admissions Fellows • Monitor submission of recommendation letter • Watch for emails about potentially scheduling an interview • Decisions are published on or very near the notification deadline
QUESTIONS? CONTACT OUR RECRUITING & ADMISSIONS TEAM
MBA@Vanderbilt.edu 615-322-6469