Charting Your Destiny: Advice for First-Generation MBA Applicants
In the competitive landscape of business school admissions, standing out from the crowd can be daunting. Yet, for first-generation MBA applicants, their unique backgrounds are not just a compelling narrative that sets them apart but a source of empowerment and value that can boost their confidence in the application process.
Though they may be often overlooked as a group, first-generation students comprise a notable percentage of the B-school classroom. In fact, 31% of global respondents from GMAC’s Prospective Students Survey identified as first-generation MBA students.
“While being first generation builds skills and characteristics that can serve you well (think resilience, problem-solving, and ability to connect with diverse audiences), anyone will tell you that going to a top-tier MBA program is not without its challenges and feelings of imposter syndrome,” explains Mitch Morecraft, a first-year MBA student at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and the founding president of the school’s First Generation MBA Club.
Morecraft says, “The good news is: (1) the admissions committee has reviewed thousands of applications over the years and saw that you can in fact succeed; and (2) there are first generation second years and alumni who want to walk with you through the process.”
As you navigate the complexities of the MBA application process, arm yourself with the right strategies and resources to maximize your chances of success. Below are ten tips to help you tell your first-generation MBA applicant story authentically and effectively.
Are you a first-generation MBA applicant who’s curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.
To-Do List for First-Generation MBA Applicants
Tip #1: Know Your Story
Before you start writing your MBA application essays, take some time to reflect on your journey. What challenges have you overcome as a first-generation student? What experiences have shaped your aspirations and goals? Understanding your story and the key moments that have defined it will provide a solid foundation for your application.
Tip #2: Highlight Your Accomplishments
As a first-generation student, you have likely achieved significant milestones that show determination. Whether it’s academic accomplishments, leadership roles, or extracurricular activities, don’t hesitate to showcase your achievements in your application. Admissions committees love candidates who have demonstrated the ability to excel despite adversity.
Tip#3: Be Authentic
Authenticity is crucial when telling your first-gen story. Avoid exaggerating your experiences in an attempt to impress the admissions committee. Instead, focus on being genuine and sincere in your writing. Admissions officers can spot insincerity from a mile away. So, it’s essential to stay true to yourself and your experiences.
Listen to B-Schooled Podcast #103: The Power of Authenticity in MBA Applications
Tip #4: Connect Your Story to Your Goals
When sharing your journey, connect it to your career goals. How have your experiences as a first-generation student shaped your professional ambitions? Whether you want to make a difference in your community or pursue a career in a particular industry, connecting the dots between your background and your goals will strengthen your narrative.
Tip #5: Embrace Your Unique Perspective
As a first-generation MBA candidate, you bring a fresh perspective to the classroom. Be bold in highlighting how your background has influenced your worldview and approach to problem-solving. Your unique worldview can enrich class discussions and create a more vibrant learning environment.
Tip #6: Seek Feedback
Before finalizing your application, it’s highly beneficial to seek feedback from trusted mentors, advisors, or peers. Their insights can be invaluable in identifying areas for improvement in your essays. Additionally, reach out to current MBA students or alumni with similar backgrounds to gain their perspective on navigating the application process.
“As a first generation student, it can be easy to think that asking for feedback is a burden,” Morecraft notes. “You may also not have a ton of people to provide feedback, especially people who have done this before. However, feedback as you are discerning which stories to tell and the points you want to make is extraordinarily helpful.”
Tip #7: Address Challenges Head-On
All applicants should highlight their achievements. But don’t shy away from discussing the challenges you’ve faced as a first-generation MBA applicant. Admissions committees value candidates who display resilience in the face of adversity. Be honest about the obstacles you’ve encountered and how you’ve overcome them, highlighting the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
Tip #8: Show Your Growth
Reflect on how you’ve grown and evolved due to your experiences as a first-generation student. The AdCom appreciates candidates who are self-aware and willing to learn and grow. Share examples of how you’ve developed as a leader, problem-solver, and team player, illustrating your capacity for personal and professional growth.
Tip #9: Be Positive and Forward-Thinking
While it’s important to acknowledge your challenges, focus on maintaining a positive and forward-thinking tone in your essays. Emphasize your optimism and determination to succeed despite any obstacles you’ve encountered. Admissions committees seek candidates with a can-do attitude and a strong sense of purpose.
Tip #10: Stay True to Yourself
Above all, remember to stay true to yourself and your story throughout the application process. Don’t try to fit into a mold or conform to what you think admissions committees want to hear. Your unique perspective is not just a strength; it’s your greatest asset. So, embrace it as you share your first-gen journey in your MBA applications.
From Dreamers to Doers
“As you are piecing together your application, you should absolutely reach out to the admissions team and current students at the schools of interest to you,” Mendoza MBA student Morecraft advises. “If there is a first-generation club or if student ambassadors are first-generation, ask them for their thoughts or guidance. People want to see you succeed and they want talented students to come to their program.”
Telling your first-gen story in MBA applications is a powerful way to differentiate yourself. You can showcase the resilience, dedication, and unique perspective you bring to the table. By following these tips and staying true to yourself, you can craft a compelling narrative that resonates with admissions committees and helps you stand out in the competitive MBA admissions process.
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Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership and Interview Prep to hourly help with essay editing, resume review, and much more! Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.
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Ashley
Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...
×Kerry
Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and ...
×Pauline
A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...
×Geri
Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds. Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students. In additio ...
×Laura
Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...
×Andrea
Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...
×Jennifer
Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...
×Erin K.
Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...
×Susie
Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...
×Dione
Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...
×Anthony
Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...
×Meghan
Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...
×Amy
Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...
×Ally
Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...
×Erin B.
Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...
×Emma
Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants. ×
