Tips from Yale SOM Students on Applying to Business School
Students share what they learned during the process of researching schools and applying.
We asked our current students to think back to the summer before they submitted their MBA applications. What were they doing to prepare? What advice would they share with prospective students who are currently in the shoes they were in just one short year ago? Here’s what they said.
On Researching Schools
“Try to get as many data points on schools as possible. The first step is research, research, research. Each business school has unique characteristics that make it stand out from the others. I found the ones that spoke to me and my interests and took a deeper dive on those. That meant getting on the phone with current students and still more online research. The next step was to actually interact with the schools—go to presentations, go to events, visit campuses, and connect with admissions.” – Rayan Mansour ’20
On Preparing for the Application
“It may sound simple, but once you have a sense of what schools you will apply to, make sure to really understand all of the application requirements! MBA applicants are typically working full time and are generally busy people, and it will help you in the long run to know the nuances of each school’s application requirements. There are differences across schools, such as essay question prompts and required supplemental information. It gave me a lot of peace of mind to map everything out and avoid some last-minute surprises before submitting my applications.” – Rebecca Baehr ’20
“Make sure to spend some time reflecting on your story and how what you've done, what you want to do in the short term, and what you want to do in the long term aligns. Having a cohesive story that clearly articulates why you need an MBA, and why now, will be key to crafting a compelling essay and succeeding in your interviews.” – Giovanni Cruz ’20
On Balancing It All
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Reach out to current students or recent alumni to hear about why they chose a certain school, reach out to friends and family for help revising your essays, set up a GMAT study plan with a friend. The application process can be challenging, and having a support network will make a world of a difference.” – Jordan Woll ’20
For application tips from admissions officers, attend our Application Tips Panel on Friday, July 26 at noon ET. If you cannot attend live, we will send a recording to all registrants after the event.