Increasingly, when the admissions committee is reviewing applications, there is a narrow band around GMAT scores and GPAs.
This makes it harder to distinguish yourself, and more critical that you avoid common mistakes I have seen after assisting MBA candidates for years.
When you express yourself in the essays, a reader can discern some critical things:
- Can you make logical, supported arguments?
- Are you dynamic or narrow in your interests and experiences?
- Are you repetitive?
- Are you passionate about your life?
Admissions readers make judgments very quickly. They have a stack to get through.
Regardless of your scores, if you fail to engage the reader and sustain his or her interest, you are toast.
So unless your father is a major donor, prepare to spend at least 20 hours on your essays, if not more.