ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ

SPONSORED BY 

Top business schools attract a crowd of bright, talented applicants. To stand out, your application must go beyond strong academics and highlight the qualities top-tier schools seek.

5 Key Strategies to Prepare a Competitive Application

• Get specific about your work style. In addition to demonstrating a high IQ with a strong GPA or test score, find ways to show a high EQ (Emotional Quotient). For example,  evaluates applicants’ skills in two core areas: demonstrated success and personal attributes. Throughout your candidacy, include examples or stories about:
• how effectively you work on a team
• how you problem-solve
• how quickly you adapt to change
• how clearly and directly you communicate to build consensus

• Clearly explain why the school you are applying to is the place for you. Research the aspects of the school that are a personal and intellectual fit. Connect noteworthy aspects of the curriculum to your individual goals:
• is there a specific professor with whom you’re eager to work?
• is there a class where you could add valuable insights?
• how will you help shape or enhance the school’s ecosystem?

Anant Tayal, a class of 2025 student in the Master of Finance program: “MIT Sloan values unique individuals who are driven to create positive change in society through their skills and passion. This is the place where future leaders are created. … Approach your application with integrity and authenticity.”

• Tell the school about yourself, not just your accomplishments. Ensure that each aspect of your application—from a resume to a potential interview—illustrates the way you lead and behave. Find ways to communicate how you approach complex problems, manage leadership roles, and collaborate with others. Don’t limit yourself to professional experience! Volunteer and pro-bono work also help build a multi-dimensional picture of your candidacy.

Ankur Malik, who is on track to graduate in 2025 from MIT Sloan’s Master of Business Analytics program: “Embrace your curiosity, and let that drive your application. Don’t just focus on the polished achievements—showcase the things that genuinely excite you, even if they’re unconventional.”

• Let your authentic voice come through. If you have the opportunity to interview, be genuine and let your personality shine through. While it’s good to prepare, try not to sound too rehearsed; rely instead on your thoughts, instincts, and candor. For interviews, keep things conversational and bring any questions you have that might not be found in promotional materials. At , candidates submit two 60-second videos as part of their application; the MIT Sloan admissions team suggests that the best videos are conducted in one take and have clear audio with limited background noise.
  
  Whether presenting yourself in an interview or a video, give the admissions team a genuine glimpse of your personality—a window into how you might engage in class, collaborate with teams, and contribute to campus life.
  
  
• Choose recommenders who know you well. It’s tempting to approach someone with an impressive name or title when compiling your recommendation letters. The  admissions team has found that the most evocative letters of recommendation come from people who know you best and can speak to your progression: a mentor, a professor, or a direct supervisor who will capture what makes you unique.

While there are many different pieces to the application, incorporating these key strategies throughout the application can help you build a complete, competitive, and authentic picture of your candidacy for your desired top-tier business school program.        

If you’re interested in becoming a partner of The Princeton Review and sponsoring educational content, click here for details.