Interview with Jeremy Shinewald, Founder of MBA Mission
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jeremy Shinewald, founder of MBA Mission, to get his thoughts on the admissions season that just passed, and to provide a look ahead.
MANHATTAN GMAT: We are in the final stages of one admissions season and the earliest stages of the next. Let’s start with a look back – can you share some observations on the 2006-2007 admissions cycle?
JEREMY: Well, the MBA was all but written off by BusinessWeek a few years ago. Now, due to the strength of the economy in general and Wall Street in particular, 2006-2007 definitely proves that the MBA is back. Candidates are confident that they will see a significant return on their respective investments and are once again clamoring for places in top-MBA programs.
As you guys know, there has been a sharp rise in GMAT test-takers (approximately 24% year over year) this year and top-schools are reporting significant increases in application volume. A few weeks ago, Soojin Kwon Koh, Director of Admissions at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, wrote in the school paper that applications were up 31% and that 2006-2007 might be Ross’s most competitive year ever. She then noted that a portion of this increase could be attributed to individual candidates applying to a greater number of schools, not just to there being more applicants in general. I have heard similar comments from other admissions officers as well and am pretty certain that, as the perception of greater competition spreads, this trend will as well.
MANHATTAN GMAT: So, you anticipate that applications will be on the rise again next year…
JEREMY: We have definitely seen a surge in candidates contacting us to prepare for next year at this early stage in the process and expect it to continue. So, anecdotally, yes. Even if the economy were to falter significantly – which I don’t think will happen – in the first year or two of a downturn, candidates tend to seek refuge at Business Schools, hoping that the economy will improve by the time they return to the workforce. In either case, though, I think that business school aspirants are looking at a few very competitive years ahead.
MANHATTAN GMAT: You mentioned that candidates are contacting you earlier in the process, why? What can candidates do at this stage?
JEREMY: When candidates approach us at this point, we have time to prepare them for a very hectic schedule ahead. It can be quite overwhelming to start thinking about an MBA in the middle of the summer and suddenly realize a need to take the GMAT, visit campuses, contact recommenders, prepare a resume, take additional quantitative or financial courses and when all of that is done, write dozens of essays – all before mid-October. By establishing a detailed plan of action now to address some or all of these issues, candidates can alleviate a great deal of stress and allow themselves the time to focus on making their applications as strong as possible.
MANHATTAN GMAT: With respect to the GMAT, when do you think candidates should take the test?
JEREMY: We encourage our candidates to take the GMAT as early as possible, but, of course, only as soon as they are ready. Ideally, we would like to see candidates complete their GMAT prep and take the test at least once by mid-July, if they are applying in the first round, and by mid-September at the very latest, if they are applying in the second round. Still, we have plenty of candidates who study for the GMAT and prepare their applications simultaneously. This makes the application process more challenging, but it is certainly not unusual.
Ideally, if candidates advance their timelines for the GMAT, then they can decide which schools to target at an earlier stage and then really “kick the tires” by networking with alumni and current students and visiting campuses – some very important preliminary steps. Also, with the GMAT out of the way, if candidates need to take additional coursework to establish an aptitude for management disciplines or quantitative subjects or just to create a symbolic break with a past academic record, they can stagger the GMAT and classes and not have to deal with everything at once.
MANHATTAN GMAT: You emphasize the campus visit – is it vital for candidates to visit all of their target schools?
JEREMY: We don’t feel that a class visit is mandatory, but we certainly think it is very helpful for candidates to visit as many schools as possible. Because candidates invest two years of their lives and upwards of $100K in tuition and living expenses in their MBAs, they should be certain that they truly fit with their target schools. Many candidates just assume that because a school is held in high public esteem that they will inevitably have a positive experience. Of course, this is not always the case and every year we hear from a few candidates who are astonished to find that they did not have a positive experience at a top-ranked school or two – “I am glad that I visited Harvard, because it is not for me.” So, it is important that candidates visit schools not just to check a box, but with a critical eye, and then make informed choices.
Moreover, taking time and spending money to visit a prospective business school, before you apply, is one the strongest indications that candidates can bring to the process. And, an early visit – one in the waning days of the 2006-2007 school year for example – shows an abiding interest as a candidate applies in the 2007/2008 year. To this end, it is important that candidates convey a sincere interest in their schools – we encourage candidates to truly experience their target schools by going to classes, meeting with students, participating in social activities or club events and more. If these candidates remain interested, they can then make profound statements about their connection to schools when they draft their application essays. One of the writing “tricks” we use at MBA Mission is making sure that there is a strong connection between the writer and the reader by mentioning a priori experience: “After sitting in on Professor Smith’s Entrepreneurial Finance class in April 2007, I only became more certain of ‘MBA program X’s’ academic resources in my academic field of choice….” Intimate and personal connections with schools are invaluable.
So, by completing visiting campuses early – and making sure that visits are well thought out in advance – candidates avoid rushing through a schedule of less focused fall campus visits and also strengthen their case for admission. Unfortunately, at this point, many schools have concluded their class visit program, but several others keep them going throughout the summer. So, candidates should obviously inquire with their respective programs before making their travel plans.
MANHATTAN GMAT: What advice do you have for candidates with little or no community service on their resumes at this point?
JEREMY: Well, first, it really depends on the specific candidate, because some candidates, without engaging in community service, can still show altruism in their personal or even work lives. Others may have significant athletic or individual accomplishments that show creativity or distinct achievement. To trot out a cliché used by Admissions Officers: “We look at applicants holistically.” So, assuming that this question is being asked in a vacuum, we would recommend – even at this late date – that candidates get involved in something that they are truly passionate about. We don’t recommend that candidates start volunteering now just to “serve time.” No great stories will arise out of that kind of experience. However, when candidates truly commit to an organization about which they are passionate, then this can have terrific impact and just might lead to an interesting story for their applications. I know this will sound a bit corny, but the experience should not be expected, it will materialize if the candidate is committed and if the candidate knows how to carefully draw out the right element from his/her experiences and “translate” it into a compelling essay.
On a related note, we strongly encourage candidates to advance their personal goals. We always tell candidates, “If you can run twenty-miles now and have always intended to run a marathon, then get it done before you apply.” We would not advise someone who does not run to start training for a marathon, but if you have a clear goal that is otherwise on the horizon, then accelerate it. If you have a publication that is 90% complete, get it done; if you have two levels of the CFA done, then take the final level this summer. This is not to suggest that each of these experiences will become fodder for essays, but every data point can help create a more a comprehensive and compelling candidacy.
Finally, I would just add that I am always amazed at how many candidates fail to realize the amazing stories that they can tell. When we talk with clients, we often “coax out” details of truly wonderful experiences and these end up being centerpieces of dazzling applications. So, even if you think your application might be a touch thin here and there, you may be underestimating the strength of your experiences and your ability to draw on them to tell a compelling story to admissions committees. Everyone has interesting things to offer, the key is showcasing them in an engaging and thoughtful manner.
MANHATTAN GMAT: How would you define a comprehensive and compelling candidacy?
JEREMY: Every year, we hear from bankers and consultants who fret because they are over-represented in applicant pools and then we hear from those in niche areas – small business people for example – who worry that they are not part of the “serious” banker and consultant pool. Admissions committees do not define candidates by their employer, their job title or their extra-curricular involvement, but by their overall performance – by a commitment to excellence in everything candidates do.
So, candidates who consistently perform in their professional life, community and extra-curricular activities, personal endeavors and academics are solid candidates. People always ask me, “What is a top-school looking for?” as if there is a standard answer and a single candidate prototype. The truth is that schools – and admissions officers are always at pains to convey this message – truly want to experience the uniqueness of each candidate and the perspective each candidate can bring to the admitted class. Harvard does not want a class of 900 identical students – it wants some Wall Street bankers, of course, but it also wants some small businesspeople, artists and politicos as well. In many ways, I think that is what we help our candidates do – we ensure that they fully convey their distinctiveness to MBA admissions committees.
MANHATTAN GMAT: Is distinctiveness alone enough? How important are GPA and GMAT scores?
JEREMY: There is no question that candidates’ scores are important – GMAT more than GPA, because it is it easy to compare one candidate to the other via the GMAT, but there is a great deal of variation from case to case in terms of college grades and the degree of difficulty of certain majors. Also, the GMAT is most often a contemporary measure, as opposed to GPA which is often an indication of performance that occurred years ago.
I am not suggesting that GPA and GMAT should be discounted from candidates’ profiles, but they are definitely not “entry cards”. If candidates have strong grades – anything over a 3.6 or so – and a high-GMAT score – anything over a 700 or so – they can be assured that their applications will get read. Still, I was at a Kellogg event where the presenter bragged about how many “perfect” GMAT scores she turned away. After your scores are reviewed, it becomes a question of “What else can you offer? What is your story?”
MANHATTAN GMAT: So, what about the candidates that don’t have high scores?
JEREMY: I should state that I always discuss test scores with an enormous caveat. If candidates have relatively low scores, they do not instantly become ineligible. I always tell my clients, “the nature of an average is such that some are above average and some are below average, but both groups get admitted – not everyone can be above average.”
Generally speaking, we subscribe to a “one strike” rule when it comes to top-schools: a candidate can usually make up for one significant weakness. A low GPA can be mitigated if the rest of an application – essays/personal story, letters of recommendation, interview, GMAT, professional experience, community leadership – all truly stand out. Similarly, a low GMAT can be overcome if the remaining parts of the application are unusually distinct and strong.
We have helped candidates with GMAT scores in the high 500s get into top-5 schools, but these are candidates who are able to send a very clear message: “My GMAT is an aberration; the rest of my application reveals that I have something unique to offer the class and I also have remarkable career potential.” Essentially, when candidates’ scores are low, candidates need to overpower the admissions committee with the rest of their application, starting with their essays. Remember, essays are the only part of the application where candidates are not under the pressure of the clock, or subject to factors beyond their control, so candidates really should view them as a golden opportunity to present statements that really “wow” the admissions committees.
MANHATTAN GMAT: So, how can candidates ensure that they craft strong stories?
JEREMY: We find that sometimes we need to slow candidates down a bit – many candidates want to get writing right away. We interview our candidates thoroughly and challenge them to think about their stories in ways that they might not have considered – in order to tease out their distinctiveness. I’ll give you an example: if an applicant was once the quarterback of his college football team, his instinct might be to write about a final touchdown drive and it is quite possible that this would be a great story. But, if this candidate worked with the athletic department to recruit a new coach, mentored another player on and off-field or initiated an alumni golf tournament that raised significant funds for charity, each of these stories could reveal an unexpected side to this applicant. We encourage candidates to explore every dimension of their lives in order to ensure that all experiences are considered, and we work very closely with our clients to make sure that we really understand their unique stories. This might sound painfully obvious, but you can’t take a generic story and weave it into a distinct statement about yourself. A well thought-out story is the foundation of an excellent essay.
MANHATTAN GMAT: What characterizes strong writing?
JEREMY: Candidates may be surprised by this answer, but in the MBA admission world, a candidate does not need to be a New York Times-quality writer to succeed. In our mind, a strong essay is one in which the authors’ experiences reveals their personality in a compelling way. Candidates have a tendency to start essays by ‘telling’ the reader a mix of fact and conclusion, for example: “I am quite passionate about triathlons and train whenever I can.” We encourage candidates not to “tell” a story, but to “show” their experiences: “On Saturday morning, at 5:45 a.m., I take my first of fifty laps in my local pool.” The second example – where the candidate “shows” – allows the reader to experience the candidate’s intensity and commitment. The candidate does not need to write, “I am quite passionate about triathlons,” because we know this via the experience offered. This is but one example, but it is illustrative of the fact that as published authors ourselves, we encourage candidates to think like authors and help candidates relay their stories in a way that naturally draws the reader to the conclusion that we want them to make. We want the readers to identify with the writers and cheer at their triumphs – when that happens, the essays sparkle and candidates are much more likely to get admitted.
MANHATTAN GMAT: What do you think is the biggest mistake candidates make in their essays?
JEREMY: I find that most candidates, completely unwittingly, make a variety of errors in their personal statements – in the typical “Why School X?” essay. One common error – and again this goes back to visiting schools and truly connecting with what the school offers – is using generic language in regard to a target school. A candidate might be entirely sincere in writing: “I was impressed by the caliber of professors and the collaborative environment at Kellogg,” but, in this statement, there is nothing particular to Kellogg itself. If a candidate were to remove “Kellogg” and insert “Columbia” or “HBS” the statement would still be “true.” When it comes to personal statements, many candidates fail to “own” their particular case. And, even if candidates really are fantastic – and there are lots of truly wonderful candidates out there – they won’t persuade a school that they belong, if they can’t be clear in making the admissions committee feel like the writer really knows the target school inside and out – and that the target school really is the candidates’ first choice.
In order to avoid presenting generic reasons for wanting to attend a school, it is important to have clear goals and then relate the schools resources – its clubs, experiential learning opportunities, professors, classes and more – to these goals. A simple equation would be: “my experiences + your resources which fulfill my academic needs = achieving my ambitious goals.” In some cases candidates unwittingly create an equation: “my experiences + a few things I like about any school = achieving my ambitious goals.” Admissions committees want more than this simple approach. Of course, candidates should not just create a long list of narrow reasons explaining why they like a certain school, but they should prove that they have done their homework and have a clear understanding of how each school fulfills their needs, both academically and socially.
MANHATTAN GMAT: Socially?
Yes. Again, this speaks to “fit”. Admissions Officers want to understand that candidates are not just interested in a school’s academics, but that a student will be a strong member of the community. So, it is important that candidates reveal their awareness of the atmosphere that they will be in, in order to “prove” that they belong and that they will be committed to enriching the environment. These days, with rankings being so powerful, schools want to be absolutely sure that each student will fit in, not just in the classroom, but in the lounge and on the lawn – and ideally, they want the person in the lounge leading a student group and the person on the lawn forging friendships.
MANHATTAN GMAT: What are some of the factors that students should take into account when they decide upon a school?
JEREMY: Many candidates start and finish with rankings, but it is important to note that rankings fluctuate wildly and a school can drop several places between the time that candidates apply and the time that they graduate. Candidates should use rankings as a rough gauge of a school’s reputation, but should focus on a variety of other factors as well.
A few factors that may be “game-breakers” for candidates…
- Pedagogy: case vs. lecture. These are dramatically different approaches to how students learn. Candidates should be certain that they understand each approach and its attributes.
- Class size/location: there is a big difference in environment between Tuck which has 250 students and is located in a small town and Wharton which has 800+ students and is located in a big city.
- Academic specialization and recruiting: candidates should consider their ambitions carefully and then examine the course offerings, experiential opportunities, professors and more in this area and then cross reference them with the recruiters that come to campus.
These are just a few of the major considerations, but candidates might also factor in the quality of the facilities, availability of scholarships, gender and national representation, depth of the alumni base in specific parts of the world and more.
It is rare for candidates to get everything that they want out of a school. Still, by defining the criteria that are most important and then considering each school in this light, candidates often surprise themselves with the schools that pass their “screen”.
MANHATTAN GMAT: How many schools should a candidate apply to?
JEREMY: First and foremost, quality is far more important than quantity. If candidates can only commit the entirety of their efforts to two schools, so be it. Candidates are always better off submitting two schools with a 100% effort instead of four schools at 50% of their efforts.
Most candidates approach us wanting to apply to a mix of safe, competitive and reach schools. The mix itself really depends on the candidates’ profile and risk tolerance. We recommend that if candidates have the time, that they apply to at least three schools. Four or five is best, if the candidate wants to take a conservative approach and achieve the mix that I identified above. And, as I mentioned earlier, we see that candidates are applying to more and more schools each year.
MANHATTAN GMAT: When should candidates apply, first or second round?
In short, the earlier the better. If candidates know where they want to apply, they can submit their applications in the early decision or early action rounds that some schools offer, such as Columbia, Tuck and Darden. Otherwise, the first round, which concludes in October for most top schools, is preferable to the second round which concludes in January. Most of the admitting is done in the second round, so candidates are not at an enormous disadvantage then, but the third round which ends in March can be challenging even for remarkably strong candidates.
The bottom line is that if candidates are thinking about applying already, then they should definitely get organized and not miss the opportunity to submit applications in the early decision or first round.
MANHATTAN GMAT: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today.
MBAMission: Not at all, thank you for having me.