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Admissions officers know that all applicants are unique,
each with her or her own strengths and weaknesses, and they
will judge you on that basis. But after evaluating thousands
of applications, stereotypes do emerge, as you can see from
the table. Understanding how admissions officers will initially
perceive your experience - and what it says about you can
help you think strategically about ways to differentiate yourself
from other applicants with similar backgrounds.
Business school admissions Stereotypes
| Background |
Perceived
Strengths |
Perceived
Weaknesses |
| Engineers |
Good quantitative
skills; process oriented; low risk of poor academic performance |
Less developed
communication/interpersonal skills; weaker writing skills |
| |
|
|
| Consultants |
Smart;
well-grounded in fundamentals; good exposure to business
situations |
Limited
management experience; many qualified applicants to top
schools with similar experience |
| |
|
|
| Financial
Analysts |
Good quantitative
skills; solid understanding of business analysis/research |
Limited
management experience; many qualified applicants to top
schools with similar experience |
| |
|
|
| Entrepreneurs |
Hands-on understanding of how business works; high
energy; proactive; not many in applicant pool
|
Impatient
with classroom environment; limited interest in business
theory |
| |
|
|
| Human
Resources People |
Interpersonal
skills and understanding of employee related issues; strong
team players |
Weak quantitative
skills; less competitive approach may create academic
pressure at top schools |
| |
|
|
| Salespeople |
Great "in
the trenches" experience; understanding of the customer;
strong interpersonal/communication skills |
Limited
exposure to management; sales sometimes not viewed as
training ground for management |
| |
|
|
| Artists,
"Poets" |
Strong
creative skills; unique backgrounds increase classroom
diversity |
Weaker
quantitative skills; limited business exposure; questionable
fit; academic risk |
| |
|
|
| Military
Personnel |
Strong
leadership; excellent discipline; hands-on management
experience |
Inflexible;
may have trouble adjusting to a less hierarchical business
environment |
| |
|
|
| Accountants |
Good numbers;
understand language of business; background helpful for
most classes |
Quiet;
may not participate much in class; not creative |
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