Avoiding Application Pitfalls: Booth School of Business

Rose Martinelli, the Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, recently took time out of her busy schedule (second round admissions interviews, and her OWN graduation with an Executive MBA!) to talk with me about common mistakes MBA applicants make during the application process.

Martinelli put them in two categories: obvious mistakes and strategic mistakes.

Obvious: not following instructions, not answering questions, trying to guess what you think the admissions committee wants rather than providing an authentic picture of yourself, not choosing the right place-- school, city -- for yourself.

Strategic: writing a one-size-fits-all application for all schools.

"We see that very quickly," Martinelli said, and added that schools are looking for candidates who will truly be the right fit for that particular school and MBA program. Program sizes, styles of learning, curriculum focus -- all these factors are unique to each program.

"Schools are looking for students who truly understand who they are, and what the program they are applying to has to offer. We are looking for them to draw the lines between their educational and career goals, experience, and personal qualities and the resouces the school could afford them."

Martinelli had many other helpful hints and in-depth advice for MBA applicants. Check out her blog here. And be sure to tune in to the Avoiding Application Pitfalls show on MBA Podcaster later this month to learn more.