The EMBA Admissions Team’s Top Tips for Applicants
Advice for putting together your best application, from resume to recommendation and beyond.
With our Round 1 application deadline approaching soon, it is a busy season for the admissions team! We are looking forward to getting to know you and reading your applications. Here’s some advice from our team to consider as you start your application.
“Your resume is a great foundation for your application and an opportunity to showcase your skills, leadership, and professional experience to the admissions committee. Use your resume to tell us about yourself. Aim for one to two pages that focus on your professional history, educational background, and leadership trajectory; feel free to briefly include other meaningful experiences (such as volunteer work, committees, or activities) that shape who you are on a more personal level. Before you hit submit, make sure dates are included and consistent, proofread carefully, use spell-check, and—if possible—ask someone you trust to review it for clarity and typos.”
—Liz Lewis, associate director of admissions
“Our application process is thoughtfully and comprehensively designed to help us get to know you. Each component of the application gives us valuable insight into how you will contribute to, and benefit from, the program. With that in mind, I encourage you to consider using the optional application components to highlight strengths and clarify any aspects of your candidacy. The video questions, while not required, offer a chance to get to know you better and provide a window into your communication style; in my experience, they have consistently helped us better understand an applicant. If needed, the optional essay is an ideal place to explain anything that would benefit from additional context—such as the rationale for an unconventional recommender, a challenging semester, or an employment gap. These details help connect the dots as we review your application.”
—Emily Whitehouse, associate director of admissions
“Identifying a recommender is often stressful for applicants. A current supervisor who knows you professionally and can speak to your current work and accomplishments is an excellent choice. I suggest connecting with your recommender as soon as possible and scheduling a conversation to remind them of your contributions and impact on your company, so that they can write you a great letter of recommendation. Make sure they know the application deadline so that they have plenty of time to craft and submit their letter, and so that your application isn’t missing a critical component when it’s time for the committee to review your file.”
—Wendy Tsung, assistant dean
Another important area to consider is standardized testing. We require the submission of a score as part of our holistic application review process, and we value the opportunity it provides to consider your readiness for an EMBA program. We accept three exams: the Executive Assessment (EA), GMAT, or GRE. I recommend the EA. At 90 minutes, this exam is relatively short and requires less prep time—key advantages for a busy working professional. Check out our recent webinar on the EA for more information and tips, and be sure to sign up for a test date well in advance of your EMBA application deadlines. When those deadlines loom, you’ll be glad to have it in your rearview mirror!
—David Daniel, associate director of operations and marketing
“We really want to get to know you personally. Your essays and the optional video questions give you the opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and to let your character and personality shine through. The essays are short, so I recommend getting right to the point. They should have a beginning, a middle, and an end (just like when you wrote essays in high school!) and they should engage the reader so we will want to read more. You are welcome to ask a friend to review, but keep in mind that this should be entirely your own work. We encourage you to review the AI statement at the beginning of the application, which provides guidelines on appropriate use of AI in this process. I also strongly encourage you to complete the video response section, which will allow you to tell us more about your background, your experiences, and yourself in your own voice. For more information about this year’s application, I invite you to read my recent blog post.”
—Keith Gallinelli, director of admissions
We hope you find these tips helpful and that you’ll take the time to get to know us this year! An MBA is a major investment, and it is important that you take the time to explore how a program aligns with your personal trajectory, goals, and mission. This research will be invaluable for you, both in deciding where to apply and in enabling you to put forth the strongest and most authentic application you can. Whether you’re planning to apply in Round 1 or in the spring, now is a great time to begin that journey! Take the opportunity to submit a resume for pre-assessment, request a call, join an information session, or attend one of our upcoming webinars. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at emba.admissions@yale.edu.
