When it came to choosing a school for undergrad, I didn't do much research. The only schools I really knew of were the ones that were good in sports. Luckily, I enjoyed my undergraduate experience at UCLA, but when it came to choosing a business school, I took things more seriously.

I wanted to find a school that "fit" and would set me up to achieve my long-term goals through its curriculum, connections, and community. Stanford, UCLA, Michigan, and USC "fit" me and I ended up going to Stanford GSB.

Though useful, Businessweek.com doesn't organize its information in a way that makes it easy to compare schools. Click here to download a chart that compares MLT's Business School Partners on the following criteria so that you can find the schools that "fit" you.

Criteria:

• Demographics
• Diversity
• GMAT
• Work Experience
• Age
• Faculty
• Class Size
• Joint Programs
• Alumni
• Salary
• Cost

Click here to download the chart and get started on your business school research today!

When choosing between schools, a lot of people look at average GMAT scores, incoming class GPAs, and other statistics that can be found on the schools' websites. Most of that data is only correlative. It doesn't tell you the value add of the institution; it only tells you the type of candidate that the school attracts.

The best way to choose a school for fit is look at what its alumni are doing. This is the stuff that you can't find on the website. If I were you, I would recommend following this 3 step process:

1. Identify where you want to be post-business school and then find the top 5 leaders in that industry
2. Conduct research on each individual and map out their academic and professional paths
3. Look for common themes and trends in their paths and then choose your school accordingly

Alumni achievement is number one indicator of a school's value add. If business school is a launching pad for your next career move, then find out which school has launch leaders into the highest ranks of the industry that you want to excel in. Add this kind of research to your essays and you're sure to score points. Alumni achievement is perhaps the most compelling answer to 'why' you want to go to a particular school, but is the least used because it is the hardest information to find.

1. Using the Edit > Replace function

Don't use Microsoft Word's edit > replace function to replace the school name and try to use one school's essays for another school. Admission officers know each other's questions.

2. Not answering the essay question

Stanford's key essay is "What matters to you most AND why?" Make sure that you answer the 'why' part and not just the 'what matters to you most part'.

3. Embellishing

Don't use use vocabulary words that you've never used before in your essays. Also know that admissions officers do thorough background checks and will find out if you've exaggerated the truth too much.

4. Misspellings

Spell check is free. Use it! That may have been acceptable when typewriters were in style, but not in the year 2008. Whereas GMAT and GPA can be affected by a lot of external force (ie bad semester, sick on test day), essays are the portion of your application that you have the most control over and the most time to offer, therefore, they should be perfect.

5. Incomplete applications

Make sure that you answer every question. Though most application systems won't allow you submit an incomplete application, a lot of people don't read the questions correctly, therefore, they answer it incorrectly and thus the application is incomplete. An example is referencing your uploaded resume (ie "See my resume") on the online portion of the application when it specifically asks you to submit your top 3 achievements at your last job.

6. Underestimate the online application

All applications usually have 6 parts: GMAT scores, online application, essays, resume, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. The online application isn't just your name, address, and login information. It requires more time and thought than you think and is equally important to the rest of your application.

7. Submitting late

Don't even try it. Save yourself the fee and don't submit at all if you're going to submit late. (Exceptions are extremely rare.)

8. Leaving gaps

Don't leave the AO speculating. Fill in all the gaps in your story. They have great imaginations about 6 month gaps in resume. Use that additional essay to explain without writing another essay.

Also, if you are not choosing to use your current supervisor as a recommender, please let the Admissions Committee know. It is fairly common that prospective MBAs do not tell their current supervisors about MBA pursuits, because it may jeopardize a bonus or a promotion. If you don’t choose your supervisor and you don’t let the AO know, they may assume that you have a bad relationship with your supervisor.

9. Playing defense

Don't worry about who else may be applying during your round. You can't play defense in the application process. The MBA application process in a one-person offensive sport like bowling, pole vaulting, and weighlifting. Just put your best foot forward.

10. Uploading the wrong essays

Don't upload essays from the wrong school. Make sure you name your essays appropriately (ie Stanford GSB_Essay 1_v3.doc).

MBA Action Plan







(click to download)

I'm a huge proponent of business school because the experience is like no other. The diversity of people, classes, and opportunities is surreal. The possibilities in business school are infinite; MBAs are more likely to start companies, travel to multiple countries, and meet global thought leaders than I think any other grad programs allows.

The two greatest lessons I learned in business school weren't from classes; they came from my classmates challenging me to be my best and me challenging myself. My MBA taught me:

1. how to think bigger and
2. how to communicate complex ideas

For all those being admitted to B-school, congrats!!!

My MBA Action Plan is the tool I created and used to keep me focused on the reasons I chose to go to business school and what I wanted to get out of the two years. I hope this tool blesses you and helps you make the most out of your MBA experience in the same way it did for me.