Some of the most frequent questions I get from applicants are: what does a successful candidate profile look like or how did X get accepted into so many schools?
Naturally, there are countless answers to these questions, but in response to applicant demand, I post Candidate Success Stories from time to time.
Below I have shared a deep dive into one recent success including a Q&A with the candidate to shed some light on the process that I take with my clients and share lessons this candidate has graciously offered to pass on.
Find out how this candidate was accepted to 4 top schools and secured $244K in scholarships.
Profile Overview
Schools Admitted To: Harvard Business School, Wharton, Chicago Booth (w/ Scholarship), Yale SOM (w/ Scholarship)
Scholarship: $244K
Gender/Ethnicity: Female/Vietnamese
Years of Experience: 4
GMAT: Mid/High 700’s
Pre-MBA Experience: Financial services
Education: Ivy League
GPA: High 3’s
Candidate Q&A
Personal MBA Coach: What inspired you to pursue an MBA?
Candidate: After working in financial services for a few years, I was interested in learning more about opportunities in consulting and social impact and wanted to leverage the MBA to pursue these opportunities.
Personal MBA Coach: How did you learn about Personal MBA Coach?
Candidate: I learned about Personal MBA Coach through their partnership with the Forte program, of which I was a member.
Personal MBA Coach: What made you choose Personal MBA Coach for application support?
Candidate: Since I was looking to apply to several business schools, I wanted to work with a coach to better understand the nuanced differences between them, and also to help stay organized throughout the long application process!
Personal MBA Coach: What aspect of the MBA application process was most challenging for you?
Candidate: The hardest part of the application process for me was the essay-writing. Personal MBA Coach was a great coach throughout this part of the application. They challenged me and kept me accountable, while helping me flesh out parts of my background, work experiences and interests to highlight –– all while keeping everything in my own voice.
Personal MBA Coach: How did you determine which business schools were the right ones to target?
Candidate: I had an initial list of schools in mind and Personal MBA Coach and I discussed which ones on the list would be great fits for my background and aspirations.
Personal MBA Coach: What unexpected part of the application journey stood out to you most?
Candidate: The biggest surprise for me was how much time each component of the application process took! There are a lot of deliverables throughout the application process, and working with Personal MBA Coach definitely helped me manage my time and stay accountable throughout it all.
Personal MBA Coach: How did Personal MBA Coach help you?
Candidate: From early on, Personal MBA Coach helped me develop a personal timeline / strategy for the application cycle. Throughout the process, they were great about pushing me through the mini deadlines to ensure that I was on track.
Are you looking for help with your MBA Applications? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.
With 18 years of experience and a 96% success rate, Personal MBA Coach provides individualized guidance across the entire MBA application process. Contact us at +1 617-645-2424 or scott@personalmbacoach.com for a complimentary consultation to review your profile and explore how our team can support your application.
Take a look at these blog posts for MBA application assistance:
MBA Application Resume Tips
MBA Essay Writing
MBA Interview Preparation
