A great blog post on how to get into Harvard from one of the best blogs I’ve read in awhile called Study Hacks. This is a nice summary on how to get accepted into a top program and how we help clients:

“the greatest asset of these relaxed superstars is not the quality of their activities, but the fact that they’re genuinely interesting people. This trait, which I call interestingness, permeates their application – from their essay to recommendations – and has a profoundly positive impact on their admissions chance”

There are two effective ways to address weaknesses in the MBA application.

1. Don’t include the weakness

An often overlooked option for weaknesses is to not include them at all. This is highly recommended if the weakness was not addressed with positive actions.

For example, one of my clients had a lackluster academic performance throughout college. Although this was a weakness, she had taken little steps to improve her GPA. She had, however, excellent examples of leadership at work. Instead of explaining her poor GPA, we wrote the optional essay about additional leadership examples at work. By focusing on her strengths, she got accepted into her top choice.

1. State the weakness and bridge to strengths

If you overcame a weakness, fixed a wrong, or proved that it won’t happen again, weaknesses can actually becomes strengths. To do this effectively, you must make the reader focus on the positives. This is done by stating the weakness as an unapologetic fact then moving on to the positives.

For example, one of my clients had plagiarized a paragraph in his last college paper. He had, however, admitted to his error and learned from his mistake. Instead of writing the essay about why he plagiarized, we addressed the issue in a way that stressed his strengths. Here is an example of what he wrote:

“In the last semester of college, I plagiarized a paragraph in a paper that resulted in a one semester off punish before graduating [unapologetic statement of the weakness]. The school’s response was forgiving because I admitted to the mistake and had such a strong academic record to this point [bridged to positive]. From this experience, I have learned that the best way to overcome a problem is to be honest and forthright [transition to positives]”. (The rest of the essay included the stories of how he addressed the issue properly.)

With this bridging technique, the essay, which was supposed to be about plagiarizing, was filled with stories of honesty, integrity and growth.

Remember that the application process is about selling and marketing. It is not a confession, diary, or journal. Weaknesses should be address with the end goal in mind: to win the application game.

Tim Ferriss, the author of Four Hour Work Week, wrote a blog post about the importance of the Superstar Effect. I recommend reading his entire post, but I will summarize its relevance to the application process in this newsletter.

The Superstar Effect is a mathematical explanation for why the best receive disproportional rewards to all others. For example, a website that is ranked 1^st on Google search is clicked on almost 4 times (42.13%) more than the 2^nd link (11.90%). For the applicant, these results are no different:

A Sociologist, Paul Atwell, studied the Superstar Effect on applicants to Dartmouth College. He found that valedictorians had a 75% acceptance as opposed to the fifth-ranked student that had only 25%.To gain admission in such a competitive time, you must create the Superstar Effect in whatever field you do best. You can achieve this by not only establishing your skills but also eliminating your completion.

This application method is what helped me gain acceptance into Tuck School of Business with a modest GPA and GMAT and Harvard University with similarly credentials.  In my application, I managed to establish myself as the best in a field. For my clients, I work with them to do the same.

Contact me for more questions as I would love to help you gain admission to your top choice school.

When going into an interview or talking with faculty and students, make sure you know information about the school THAT IS NOT ON THE  SCHOOL’S WEBSITE. Since you’re competing against other applicants – a concept often overlooked by most people – go beyond, outside and above the competition. One way to do this and ultimately win the application game is to know more about the faculty than other students. For example, although Robert Shiller is a famous Yale Profession, you might quote things from his books or articles. Here is a great article by Shiller called What Would Roosevelt Do if you’re thinking about Yale SOM.

Although most of you do not lack productive skills and motivation, here is an article from the popular blog Zen Habits on How to be Insanely Productive (yes…insanely productive). If can also save time by managing your application in our online portal. Fill out a profile evaluation if you more info on how it helps our clients.

In the application process, don’t try to be the I-do-everything-applicant. For example, don’t claim to be a non-profit, finance, technology consulting guru who likes skiing all the time but living in the city.

Pick your interests, know who you are and stick with it throughout the application.

This post was inspired by a great article from 37Signals.

1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals.)

2. Discuss your most meaningful leadership experience. What did you learn about your own individual strengths and weaknesses through this experience?

3. What is the greatest challenge or hurdle you have overcome, either personally or professionally, and how did you manage to do so?

4. Tuck seeks candidates of various backgrounds who can bring new perspectives to our community. How will your unique personal history, values, and/or life experiences contribute to the culture at Tuck?

5. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.

• Understand that this is a zero-sum game

Don’t think of the application process as an academic paper to get an A. It’s a competition to beat other people out of a limited number of spots.

• Know your competition

Figure out who is your competition and how you can beat them. It’s pretty easy. For example, I was in a white, male, athletic pool. By knowing your competition, you can more easily beat them.

• Find a smaller pool

The less people you compete against, the more likely you’ll get accepted. Once you know your competition, position yourself so you compete against the smallest group.  I had a 680 GMAT and a 2.9 GPA, do you think I wanted to compete with all the white males applying? I would have been destroyed.

• Be the best

Once you position yourself against your competition, find a niche. Figure out what makes you special and be the best at it.

• Understand that people ultimately decide

A group of 5-10 admissions officers are going to sit in a room and decide your fate. These people have emotions, biases, generalities, and assumptions. Use this to your advantage. Win these people over and you get accepted.

What is Networking a Business School?

Networking a business school means meeting with and connecting to as many students and alum from your target schools. The most effective networking will result addition parts to your application file. In my application, for example, I had 10 school specific students and alum email to the head of admissions on my behalf. In another example, I worked with a client, who was also accepted into a top business school, to have so many emails sent in to admissions that the admissions department actually notified him that his file was full. Both of us got accepted into our top choice.

Why is Networking a Good Idea?

Networking business schools gives you a huge advantage over other applicants. Because connecting to students and alum is not required like the GMAT or GPA is, networking can dramatically distinguish you from other applicants. For instance, if you go head-to-head with another applicant with a very similar backgrounds, and you have 10 in your file to their non, who do you think will get accepted?

School Specific Networking

The right way to network is different for each school. Tuck, for example, incourage students and alum to email admissions. Stamford, however, will not accept any emails but that doesn’t mean networking Stamford won’t help your chances. The best way to find out what is acceptable for each school is to ask your network. You may or may not get 10 emails in your file, but you will receive information, advice and an edge over your competition if you have a strong school specific network.

Another Reason Less is More

Having the time and energy to network each school is another reason why applying to 3 schools is better than applying to 5. Spend the time you have on application 4 and 5 networking the crap out of school 1 and 2.

How to Network Your Schools

“Dig your well before you go thirsty” – Chinese proverb translated

• 1. START THIS WEEK

Start networking this week. The earlier you start connecting with people the more likely you will get accepted. Even if you’re not thinking about applying until two years, start building a network now.

• 2. FIND CONTACTS

Make a list of all the people you know from your top choices. This can include current students, admitted students, alum, and people who might introduce you to these people. You might also add business superstars who can possibly write an email on your behalf based on their name alone. This might be a CEO or big time entrepreneur.

• 3. REACH OUT

Send an email to each person on this list. Make the email casual and friendly. Your goal is to receive a response and eventually set up a time to meet if they’re local or talk on the phone if they’re not local.

Suggested email:

“Hi [name]”

How are things? I am planning to apply to business school in the fall and [Tuck] is my top choice. I would love to hear your thoughts about Tuck and business school in general. Do you have some time on [Thursday] or [Friday] for me to [buy you a [drink]]/[give you a call]?

Thanks,

-          [Brett]

Keep it casual and short to increase likelihood of a reply. Do not attach a resume! Give two options on meeting times so that it’s an alternate of choice question, which is sales lingo is a question that can only be answered with a yes (yes, I can on Thursday or yes, I can on Friday).

• 4. FOLLOW UP TO FOLLOW THROUGH

Don’t stop trying after one attempt. Track your responses and progress. If you don’t get a reply on your first email, wait a week and email again. Most people from bschool are sooooo busy, so it might take two or three emails to get a response.

You might think, “I don’t want to bother them”. But this is rarely the case. Most people, particularly post-MBAs, love to help people and know that they have this kind of ability. In actually, this is a win-win situation for the both of you.

• 5. TRACK YOUR CONVERSATIONS

Track the responses and when to follow up using an Excel doc, Google calendar or Customer Relationship Manager (CRM). If you are not familiar with a CRM, I suggest using the online applications Hirerise ($29/month) or Zoho (free/1 account). This is also a great tool and skill for finding a job during post business school.

• 6. STAY IN TOUCH

Use the CRM system to connect with each person once every month until the application season. The best thing to do is ask for advice whenever possible. Make sure your questions aren’t obvious. People love giving advice and as they get involved in your application process, they will get emotional involved in your success and will continue to help you.

• 7. MAKE 1 = 3

Ask each person for referrals to other people at that school. Make one contact introduce you to two more.

• 8. ASK QUESTIONS, LISTEN, MAKE A POINT, AND LISTEN SOME MORE

When you meet or talk to the person make sure that you do less talking and more listening. In addition to shutting up, you should…

• Know everything about the alum that can be found out online
• Let her know that this school is your top choice
• Ask questions about their experiences
• Have questions prepared
• Listen, listen, listen
• Send thank you notes

• 9. ASK FOR SUPPORT

After you submit your application, email each person and ask them to help you out. If it’s acceptable for the school, find out who they can email directly in admissions and ask for an email recommendation. Make sure to provide an easy out in case she do not feel comfortable writing the email.

The worse thing that can happen is that they say no. The best thing can happen is that they write it and this will be a huge bonus to your application. It will demonstrate that you are a great person, that you have a strong network and that you are very interested in going to that school. It will also help you win an admissions spot when you go head-to-head with 100 other applicants with similar GMAT scores, GPAs and work background.

Old Application Approach:Apply to 5 schools and hope to get into one
New Application Approach: Apply to 3 schools, get accepted into your top choice, and wait for scholarship offers from 2/3

Why 3 Schools is Better than 5

Applying to 5 schools usually leads to four rejections and one waitlist. You might be thinking, “But five schools will improve my chances”. How? How will five crappy, half-ass applications improve your chances over three kick-ass applications? How not visiting any school because you’re too busy applying to 4/5 help you get admitted? Make some hard decisions, cut schools 4 and 5, and get accepted into a top choice.

Top Five Reasons Why You Should Apply to Only 3 Schools

1. Improves your chances of getting accepted into your top choice
2. Makes time for visiting all three schools (which you will find out later makes a huge difference)
3. Produces 3 school-specific essays rather than 5 copy-pasted essays
4. Saves you from spending $180,000 on your 4th or 5th choice
5. Cheaper

The idea that you should apply to 5 schools is a relic of the old application strategy and a by-product of the admissions consulting business.

Why Applying to 5 Schools Doesn’t Work Anymore

Prior to the recession, in a less competitive application market, a shotgun application strategy might have worked (I don’t know, I didn’t have this luxury). But in today’s competitive applicant pool, you must have a laser focus on your target 3 schools to get accepted into your top choice.

“Those who admire the massive, rigid bone structures of dinosaurs should remember that jellyfish still enjoy their very secure ecological niche” – Beau Sheil

Why Most Admissions Consultants Recommend 5 Schools

Think about the Admissions Consultant business model: sell the client on an initial consulting service then up sell on similar products that take less work to complete. Most Admissions Consultants charges between $500-1500 for the 4th and 5th school (we only sell 3 schools). Schools 4 and 5 take little work – same resume, recommendation, and usually essays – but bring in more revenue. Why wouldn’t they recommend 5 schools? You need choices, right? Wrong, and here’s why: