Mitigating a Red Flag in the MBA Application
Nobody likes drawing attention to their past mistakes, academic or otherwise. But when applying for a seat at a competitive business school, not addressing an apparent red flag does more harm than good. Being upfront about your foibles can go a long way toward minimizing the damage. In fact, it can actually boost your chances of admission. Below you’ll find three common red flags in the MBA application. See how b-school applicants can deal with them successfully.
Explaining a layoff
Many people assume that a significant gap in their employment history will raise a red flag in the MBA application. Yes, the admissions committee will notice the time out of the workforce. However, they care more about how you spent that time. With so many people laid off in 2020 due to the pandemic, the AdComm will be even more understanding. The goal is to show how you used that break in your career productively.
Briefly explain the layoff, and then draw attention to how you bounced back from the experience. We’ve had several clients in this situation, and we advised each to approach the challenge differently.
Some may have used the time away to hike solo through Tibet. Others dove into COVID-related volunteer work that allowed them to hone their business skills while giving something back. Still others used the time to flesh out their entrepreneurial dreams, unencumbered by the 9-to-5 grind.
Handling a low GPA
After a few years in the workforce, most MBA applicants would say they’ve matured significantly from their college days. They’re ready to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the academic rigors of a top-tier business school. The trouble is that a ho-hum GPA—meaning anything below a 3.5—will follow them to every admissions office and is seldom well-received.
When MBA programs look at academic records such as GMAT scores and GPAs, there’s a question of aptitude (“Can this applicant do the work?”) and a question of application (“Will this applicant work hard?”). A low GPA might signal that the applicant would have trouble dedicating themselves to the MBA coursework.
Addressing this red flag in the MBA application may require a two-pronged approach, depending on the individual circumstances. Some clients have chosen to take pre-MBA courses to boost their quantitative profile and alleviate any concerns about their ability to handle MBA-level coursework. We also typically advise such applicants to use the optional essay to address the matter directly.
We can sympathize with not wanting to draw attention to poor academic performance. But if you don’t provide all of the details, the adcomm might make negative assumptions. Isn’t it better to supply the admissions committee with the facts and tell them your story rather than have the committee jump to the wrong conclusions?
One client made no excuses but freely admitted that he had lacked the maturity to see the big picture during undergrad. He had only worked hard in classes that he considered intellectually engaging. By coupling his career trajectory with various extracurricular involvements, his essay demonstrated clear evidence that he had since developed that maturity and was prepared to dedicate himself to his MBA studies.
Addressing the ultimate red flag: a criminal record
This red flag in the MBA application may seem insurmountable, but we have helped more than one client explain an embarrassing episode from their past. In one such case, the applicant had been arrested for underage drinking and a DUI during his sophomore year at a well-regarded liberal arts college. Having to disclose this information on his MBA applications mortified him. He feared no top business school would accept him due to his criminal record.
In this case, honesty is the only policy to assure that the background check yields no surprises. We turned this setback into an opportunity and decided to actively address the arrest in one of his essays for each school. Because the incident sparked a period of considerable self-reflection and change, his story was ultimately inspiring.
Are you worried about the background check process? Our MBA Precheck service will help you understand background verification.
Many MBA programs ask you to explain a mistake you have made or discuss a challenge you overcame. The most compelling candidates have faced difficulty and learned from it, preferably changing their behavior for the better. We took a youthful mistake and showcased a person determined to improve his life.
Admissions officers look for applicants who will succeed in their particular program and the world after graduation. Showing who you are, your potential, and even how you have overcome blemishes to your otherwise perfect record gives the school insight into your potential as a student and as a future business leader.
Sometimes, we all fail, but the trick is to try to look at your failures through a fresh lens and figure out the good that came from them.
