There are two components to the business school application process that are in your complete control: Essays and Personal Interviews.

At MBA Catalyst we focus on developing “Your Story.” Our process assists you in developing an effective essay which highlights your background and unique abilities to the application readers. While MBA Catalyst does not guarantee you will be accepted to the programs you apply to, we are confident in our ability to position your application effectively to maximize your opportunities for an affirmative response.

We do this by focusing on the following:

1. Do you have a theme? Can the Admissions Reader quickly understand where you are going with the essay? If your essay is disjointed, the admissions reader will quickly stop reading and move on to the next application. Our goal is to make sure each paragraph delivers a message.
2. Does the essay grab my attention? Admissions committee members read hundreds of essays and each essay may get two to three reviews (depending on the size of the committee). For your essay to be considered a winner, more than one person needs to remember “Your Story.” We help you incorporate memorable examples of your past work or volunteer experience. Acts of leadership are sold through examples allowing the committee to see you as a potential student with solid leadership skills. Our MyStory Surveys™, combined with our advisers’ experience help identify your achievements and strengths.
3. Do your articulate your goals clearly? Many admissions committees base their decision to admit or reject an applicant on the ability or inability of candidates to define their short-term and long-term goals. Business school is about leadership and knowing what you want to pursue. Many applicants are not sure what they want to do with an MBA, yet they pursue the degree because they know it will further their career. Regardless of whether or not you are sure of the industry you want to pursue, you must portray yourself as someone who has a clear idea of what you want to achieve.
4. Do you finish strong? The concluding paragraph is perhaps the most important paragraph of a candidate’s essay. Candidates must be able to tie everything together and leave the reader with a solid impression of your achievements and your potential contributions to the incoming class. The conclusion is not the place to introduce new ideas and many candidates make the mistake of using the last paragraph as a place to add an additional story. Use the conclusion as your final opportunity to be memorable.

Click to learn about our Interview Preparation.

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