Don't Be An Ass | Deferred MBA Weekly Check-In: April 8, 2024
There is one thing we can learn from toxic Reddit posts about deferred MBAs: humility goes a long way.
Happy Eclipse Day in North America! I’m up in Vermont today to see the Total Solar Eclipse. I know this has nothing to do with your deferred MBA application, but let this be your queue to take some time today away from the stress and rigor of the application grind and enjoy the little moments in life!
Enough chit-chat. Let’s get into it.
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On Your Radar
Deadline season is here! I’ve got a comprehensive list of admissions events here to get you through it.
Wharton (University of Pennsylvania): Ask the Admissions Committee - Moelis Advance Access Program
When: Tuesday, April 9, 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Where: Virtual
Description: “As you finalize your application for the Moelis Advance Access Program—Wharton’s deferred enrollment program—we’re here to answer your questions. Join Jake Kohler, Director of the Moelis Advance Access Program, and other members of the Wharton MBA Admissions Committee during this open Q&A session.”
Northwestern Kellogg: KFL Program: Admissions Officer Information Session
When: Tuesday, April 9, 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM CDT
Where: Virtual
Description: “Join an admissions officer for a virtual information session on our Kellogg Future Leaders Program.”
[WAITLIST] Columbia (CBS): Virtual Deferred Enrollment Program Application Q+A
When: Wednesday, April 10, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EDT
Where: Virtual
Description: “During the Deferred Enrollment Program roundtable, you will have the opportunity to chat with an admissions officer and ask any remaining questions ahead of our April 15th application deadline.“
Harvard (HBS): 2+2 Program Application Q&A
When: Thursday, April 11, 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM EDT
Where: Virtual
Description: “If you’re a final-year undergraduate student (or master’s student) contemplating or gearing up to apply for the 2+2 program, this virtual session is for you. The session will be hosted by a member of the MBA Admissions Team and will include a short presentation on the admissions process and plenty of time for questions. As this event will be primarily Q&A based, we encourage you to attend a 2+2 Program Information Session beforehand and come with questions. We look forward to meeting you!”
MIT Sloan: MBA Early Application Tips & Q&A Webinar
When: Thursday, April 11, 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM EDT
Where: Virtual
Description: “If you’re a college senior or recent college graduate who wants to gain experience before getting an MBA, check out our MBA Early Admission program! You can apply now, and then work for two to five years before beginning the MBA program at MIT Sloan. During this webinar, our Admissions staff will share tips on how to apply and answer your questions.”
Northwestern Kellogg: KFL Program: Last Minute Application Q&A
When: Monday, April 15, 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM CDT
Where: Virtual
Description: “This is your opportunity to connect with our admissions team before you hit submit. For this Ask Me Anything-style event, we invite candidates to come prepared with their application-focused questions.”
Harvard (HBS): 2+2 Alum Insights: AMA Edition
When: Wednesday, April 17, 5:00 PM to 5:45 PM EDT
Where: Virtual
Description: “Join Harvard Business School MBA students for an Ask Me Anything about the 2+2 program. This session will give you the opportunity to engage with students who have already been where you are and benefited from all the 2+2 program has to offer.”
All times displayed are local to the respective institutions.
Looking for more?
I’ve compiled a list of all of the calendars for the top deferred MBA programs in the US. Check it out to see more events!
MBAxcel Tip of the Week: Don’t be an ass.
In January, I wrote about avoiding the toxic content online surrounding deferred MBAs (and MBA admissions in general).
Well, I have a confession. I indulged in it. And it filled me with rage.
When I sat down today to write this week’s newsletter, I took to Reddit to see what deferred MBA applicants were discussing online as we make our way through deadline season (bad idea right??).
What you’ll find there is exactly what you would expect: a bunch of anonymous posters humble bragging and ranting about how they had an insane resume and still didn’t get into a deferred MBA program of their choice.
This type of content can be incredibly discouraging, especially if you’re in the midst of submissions right now, constantly doubting your own self-worth and whether or not you deserve admission.
But here’s the truth:
Nobody inherently deserves to get in.
Regardless of how GOATED you are, how high your GRE score is, how many nonprofits you started and starving children you fed, admission to one of these deferred MBA programs is a privilege, not a right.
There is a harsh truth to academia: nothing is fair. You are not owed admission.
We can talk about how the whole system is rigged and rooted in old money and aristocracy. I’m not here to doom-speak or discourage you. That’s not my point.
There are a multitude of reasons why qualified applicants do not receive admission.
A lot of these Reddit posts I scanned have similar premises: I’m making X amount of money post-grad, I have all of these academic achievements and prestigious internships. How did I not get in to Stanford?
Some could see this as sheer bad luck. But there’s more to that.
As you finish your written applications and start preparing for the interview phase, remember to focus on the overarching questions.
Deferred MBA programs are not just looking to see whether or not you are qualified. That is just one chunk of the pie.
Remember, deferred MBA admissions about your potential to succeed, and, more specifically, your potential to succeed at that specific school.
Every school is looking for qualified candidates, but more importantly, they’re looking for students who will not just fit in, but enhance the experience of their fellow students and contribute to the school’s culture, whatever that may be.
If you visited some of the schools you are applying to, you’ll know that sometimes you’ll feel like a perfect fit at one school, but feel completely out of place somewhere else.
That’s completely natural! Different schools attract different types of people!
Tell the school explicitly why you want to be there.
On both your application and during your interview, focus specifically on why you want to attend that school. Why is it your top choice? What attracts you to that program? Why X school over all the others?
Business schools want to feel wanted (figuratively speaking). That’s why it’s essential to carve out a story for each school you are applying to to tell them why you are in love with them. Show them you’re serious, and not just applying for the sake of improving your chances at admission in general.
Why MBA?
This question was one of the first ones I asked you back in December. Why do you want an MBA? Why do you need an MBA?
With some highly-qualified candidates, admissions advisors may be wondering why you’re even looking for an MBA in the first place. It is possible to be overqualified for an MBA. After all, an MBA is not for everyone. It’s a means to an end for many, a jumping-off point to accelerate one’s career. But, if you’re already making a shit-ton of money post-grad, some schools might wonder whether or not you’ll even end up matriculating to their school after a few years of working.
It’s okay to not know for sure whether or not you want to actually go to business school. To be honest, I’m not 100% sure either, even after accepting admission to Kellogg and paying the deposit (although, at this point, I’m like 95% sure I will).
But put your best foot forward. Explain to Wharton or Columbia or whichever school your’re applying to why it absolutely has to be them (even if it really doesn’t). How can a Harvard MBA solve your problem? How can Darden get you to your end goal?
Stay hungry. Hustle hard.
To sum it up, as one of my close friends Ryan always says, “Stay hungry, hustle hard.”
I don’t mean this in the cringe alpha male way. What I’m trying to say is, when it comes to deferred MBA admissions, regardless of how strong of an applicant you are, don’t ever tell yourself that you are owed admission. Keep that fire under you. Channel your energy into proving yourself as someone who does deserve to be admitted. Prove it to the admissions committee, and to yourself.
Keep working hard. Keep reviewing your essays. Keep scheduling coffee chats. Take time for yourself, but remember: MBA admissions may be up to the schools, but you are 100% in control of the effort you put into your application.
Just don’t be an ass.
I’ll say it again. There is a fine line between informing admissions readers about your accomplishments and bragging about them. Walk that line. Be proud of your achievements, by all means! But being an ass will get you nowhere.
Postscript.
My point with today’s topic was not to be discouraging or stress you out. You know what you want from this. You’ve worked hard and it’s about to pay off, regardless of the outcomes. I promise you, at the end of the day, you will look back on this admissions experience fondly and proudly. Keep pushing! You’re almost there!
If you need a boost, send me a message or schedule a coaching session with me below!
Thank you and talk soon!