Top Tips to Get Into the Best US MBAs: MIT Sloan School of Management

Getting into an MBA programme isn’t an easy job, especially if you dream of securing a spot at one of the most sought-after American business schools such as MIT Sloan School of Management.

Ranked third-best in the world in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2021, the programme is well-renowned for its faculty’s research excellence. The MIT Sloan MBA focuses on ‘Action Learning’, meaning that students can develop management and leadership skills hands-on, helping companies solve real-life business challenges.

Here are our top tips to help you stand out in every step of the application process.

High test scores are crucial

According to MIT Sloan admissions committees, candidates should aim to receive a GMAT or GRE score that falls within the 80 percent range of the MBA programme average score range.

This is because recruiters want to ensure that candidates would be able to handle the intense workload that the programme entails.

The average GMAT score range for the Class of 2022 is 680-760, with a median score of 720. For the GRE quant, the range is 156-168, however, the range for the GRE verbal is slightly lower, ranging between 155 and 167.

But standardised testing isn’t the only proof of high academic performance MIT Sloan looks for in applicants.

In fact, MBA students at the school have a median undergraduate GPA of 3.54.

If you want to gain a spot at this prestigious programme, you’ll want to ensure you can meet – and even surpass – the performance of students who have already been admitted.

Past performance is more important than future goals

Unlike other schools, which will ask you to submit essays discussing your hopes for the future and how an MBA programme will help you achieve them, MIT Sloan recruiters are more interested in getting to know past experiences, successes, and personal developments.

The school will ask you to submit a 300-word cover letter, formatted according to standard business correspondence.

Remember that MIT Sloan assesses candidates based on their:

• Leadership and ability to inspire others
• Collaborative spirit and focus on community
• Intellectual curiosity and analytical strength
• Creativity to generate new solutions to existing challenges
• Growth in both professional and personal endeavours

In this part of the admissions process, make sure that you:

• Provide examples: The best way for you to showcase your skills and why you’d be a good fit for MIT Sloan is by digging deeper into your career and demonstrating self-awareness. Your best bet is to find recent examples from your work, educational or personal experience where you’ve succeeded and grown. These could be a conflict you’ve resolved at work, an innovative solution you’ve introduced or a goal that you achieved.
• Be community-oriented: MIT Sloan believes teamwork to be a crucial skill to succeed in their MBA programme. When writing your cover letter, make sure you highlight how you’ve been able to work with others in the past, as well as why you can make a positive impact to the school’s community.
• Put creativity and innovation at the forefront: While other MBA programmes might prefer candidates to be more business-minded, MIT Sloan values creativity, innovation, independence, and authenticity, so don’t be scared to push yourself outside of your comfort zone when talking about your past experiences and hopes for your time at the school.

Use the video statement wisely

The video statement is perhaps the most unique assessment of the MIT Sloan admissions process. It might seem daunting to you – after all, you only have minute to introduce yourself to future classmates and impress recruiters.

To maximise your chances of doing so, we recommend that you:

• Prepare in advance: This might seem like an obvious tip but, as you’ll only have one take, it’s extremely important for you to know exactly what you’re going to say and how you want to structure the video. Write down a detailed breakdown of all sections of your statements, including any unique facts and stories you want to tell about yourself. And make sure you practice enough times so that when the day finally comes around, you’ll sound natural and confident.
• Don’t make it all about work: While you’re applying to business school, the video statement is your chance to express your true personality. Don’t be scared to talk about your hobbies and passions outside of work – whether you enjoy traveling, making art or playing a certain sport, these will reveal to admissions committees that you not only have multiple interests, but that you can navigate life considering other people’s perspectives and unique traits.