Choosing the right business school is essential if you want to use the MBA degree as a springboard to success. In this webinar, Dr. Don Martin, former Dean of Admissions at Chicago Booth School of Business, Columbia University, Northwestern University, and Wheaton College, offers some hot tips for getting into your dream business school.

This is the final part of the 3-part webinar series with Dr. Don designed to help you with your MBA application process. You can read about the first two webinars here and here.  

Dr. Don is the founder of Grad School Road Map. Thanks to his over 28 years’ rich experience in coaching students, Dr. Don has helped more than 600 business school applicants, with a 97% acceptance rate. Grad School Road Map is not reserved only for those pursuing an MBA, but any Master’s degree, JD, MD, or Doctorate.  

Webinar’s agenda

The webinar has the following agenda:

  • What is the Grad School Road Map?
  • The biggest mistakes MBA applicants make.
  • The importance of planning ahead.
  • Suggested 12-month application checklist.
  • The book: Road Map for Graduate Study
  • Application Coaching with Grad School Road Map.
  • Upcoming webinars with Dr. Don. 
  • Q&A

Since most of these topics have been more or less covered in the first two webinars, this article will focus on the most interesting questions from the Q&A session. If you haven’t listened to the first two parts, this webinar represents a nice overview of the whole series.

What is the difference between 1-year MBA vs 2-year MBA?

One of the differences is the absence of an internship for one-year MBAs and a more focused coursework on a concentration that someone is interested in, Dr. Don said.

Typically, individuals who are pursuing a one-year MBA, may be less inclined to switch careers. They are pretty well established in their work, but they want to build further credentials and acquire more detailed knowledge about the particular field in which they operate. 

How do I write short but informative essays?

You will be given a word limit and you will want to make sure that you follow it. It’s not wise to go over the limit too much. For instance, if you have a 300-word limit, you probably can go to 350, but not much longer than that.

Also, please make sure you answer what you are asked. Don’t go on a tangent and start discussing things that you are working on. Many applicants make the mistake of answering a question that was not asked. 

Lastly, if there is something you’re burning to express and you have no opportunity anywhere in the application to say it, usually MBA programs have what’s called an optional essay. That’s the forum to vent what you’ve been eager to say.

How do I make a good impression?

The best way to make a good impression on any admissions committee is to be yourself. “I know this sounds too simplistic but it’s true,” Dr. Don said. Applicants think they have to be superman or superwoman – trying to come across that way will most definitely have a negative impact on their chances of admission.  Oscar Wilde famously said: “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”

Are those business schools requiring GMAT and GRE superior to schools that don’t require these exams?

Dr. Don says that he does not believe that test requirements are any indication of the quality of the school. Over the years it is becoming more and more apparent that test scores do not always predict success in graduate school or beyond.

What do I do if I notice a mistake in my application after submitting it?

“I didn’t mean to insinuate that your application must be perfect,” Dr. Don said. We all make mistakes. Yet, if you discover a mistake, send an email to the admissions office and tell them about it. Don’t be overly apologetic, it’s not the end of the world.

You will get a special 50% discount code should you wish to purchase Dr. Don’s book.