MBA Admissions: Q&As with Admission Staff at Top Schools

 Our full-time MBA is more for people starting off in their careers so the entrance criteria is a minimum of three years’ work experience and a good  first degree. Even at that stage we find that people have a lot to bring to the program. The average age on our full-time program is around 30. We  look at the individual more than anything. We welcome applications from any background in terms of industry and sector – so long as they can  show a good progression, and how an MBA fits into this. They need to be clear on how an MBA – and how Henley specifically – can help them.

Be yourself, first and foremost. Sometimes people underrepresent themselves. Come out and show what you have and be proud of it, and show your passion – it’s good to show what you’re passionate about, be it over the telephone when speaking to representatives of the school or in a more concise way in your application.

Our approach – we’re really focused on problem-based learning. With our core courses, we don’t just teach management disciplines, we’ve engineered them to be in line with the challenges within the organizational landscape today. For example, in competing in a global marketplace, we don’t just teach marketing and strategy, we help students tackle particular questions, looking at relevant theory to really help them answer the challenges that businesses face today.

The main question I ask myself when looking at an MBA application is, ‘would I be proud to have this person representing the Imperial brand and also representing a program that I’ve worked hard for over many years?’ Apart from the normal entry requirements, what we’re really looking for is a real fit with our culture and values. Our cultures and values are very much about collaboration and teamwork and that’s really important; we’re looking for people who will really flourish in this environment. If they don’t fit in with our culture, we’ll be very honest, and recommend somewhere else.

Think of applying to an MBA like a first date. Be yourself! Don’t try and paint yourself a certain way. Let us tell you whether you’re suitable, because you don’t want to be on a program that doesn’t fit your particular needs.

At Manchester we focus very much on practical experience and learning by doing – something we call the ‘Manchester Method’. Students get 600 hours of client contact throughout the course; this really brings the theory they learn in the core courses to life, and allows them to enjoy the benefits of interacting with real companies. Even though you’re taking time out of the job market, you have the chance to add three real clients to your résumé before you even finish the program, which can be invaluable when targeting companies after the MBA. In addition to that, we’re able to offer an internship because, as opposed to most schools in the UK and Europe, our program is a year and a half long. Finally, we’re very international – in terms of our cohorts, faculty and course content.

Part of the MBA experience is learning from your peers. We’re looking for people who are able to add something to classroom discussions, who can share their ideas and have solid work experience to draw upon. It doesn’t really matter what sector, as we’re looking for a lot of diversity in the classroom. We’re also looking for people who are very collaborative, because of the nature of the program – they’re going to be on 16-17 different teams during the MBA, so they need to be good team players.

Research schools well. You’re only going to do one MBA in your life, because of the cost in terms of both time and money, so really do your homework. Know your own profile and make sure you are able to communicate it to the schools you’re applying to. Make sure schools feel like you’ve put some effort into your application. Know what you want from your MBA and what each school can offer to make sure there’s a good fit.

First of all, it’s the size – 90 very select candidates every year. It’s almost a perfect global mix of very high caliber candidates, not only in terms of work experience and academically, but as people as well.

There’s something to be said for global ambitions – these are people using the degree as a stepping-stone to get to the top. We’re looking for complete people. If you’ve reached the summit of Mount Everest, that will help in your application, if you’re a concert pianist, that would help too. It’s taken for granted that they are top-level academic people.

Get the GMAT right – don’t let this ruin your opportunities!

Ours is the only course which has been effectively designed by employers. Based upon their feedback, they wanted a program that’s much more focused on soft skills. The biggest complaint that the Fortune 500 has is that the MBAs they hire can’t put into practice what they’ve learned, so our aim is to address this.

The biggest thing we are looking for is students we can help go on to success, and who have something to offer other students. Students learn as much from each other as they do from the professors. We’re looking for diverse, hands-on people with international experience.

Make the process as personal as possible; don’t just rely on brochures or even fairs. Get to know the school – it may take a bit of time, but ultimately you’ll choose the right school for you.