2. Tip 1: Start Early
• You can not do it all
in one week… or two
• Start research – do
your due diligence
• Visit schools, read
• blogs & admissions
chats
3. Start Early
• Mull over essay
questions now
• Give yourself twice as
long as you need to
study for GMAT/GRE
• Use your project
management skills to
plan it out
4. Tip 2: Take Inventory
• Put your ducks in a row
• Look at career
progression – how did
you get from A to B?
• Take on extra work if
required
5. Take Inventory
• Fill in your weak spots:
– Academic – need extra
classes?
– Test scores – need to
retake?
– Community – need to
get out more?
6. Tip 3: Connect with your
Inner Rock Star
• Rock star = leadership
• Be prepared to
explore what makes
you excel
• Spend some time
being introspective
about your own
leadership style
7. Connect with your Inner Rock
Star
• Definition of
leadership is broad
• It’s about inspiring
others, enabling
them to do great
things – reflect on
that
• Leadership =
Emotional IQ
8. Tip 4: Explore Career Paths
• Create a career vision
• Articulate the
progression to get there
• Clear career goals are
the crux of a strong
business school
application
9. Explore Career Paths
• Admissions care less
about what you choose,
and more that you’ve
thought it through
• Be specific… but not too
specific
• Career switching is OK,
if it makes sense
10. Tip 5: Perform Service
• Think about how you
make a difference
and use that on your
application
• Service is more than
volunteerism – also
look at one-on-one
activities
• Use service to find
out more about
yourself
11. Perform Service
• Stay involved with
current activities –
think about how to
make them more
effective
• If you’re new to
service, start now
12. Tip 6: Stay Sane
• Eat right, get enough
sleep, stay balanced
• Choose activities that
clear your head – get
outside of the routine
• Often you find creative
solutions when you’re
NOT thinking about it
13. Stay Sane
• Get a life! You’ll spend
too much time on the
application anyway
• You never know who you
might meet – a double
benefit
• You’ll need other
interests to get through
the waiting period
14. Tip 7: Daydream
• Think big
• Daydreaming is good for
you to generate ideas
and conceptualize stuff
• Best insights often come
from letting your mind
wander
15. Daydream
• Procrastination can
be called processing
• Connect the dots
between where you
are now and where
your dreams will take
you
• Don’t forget to take
notes
16. Tip 8: Talk Around
• Find sounding boards,
mentors, friends, family
– the best ideas are
talked about
• Talk to alumni, current
students, and
admissions reps
• Make new friends!
17. Talk Around
• Enjoy hobnobbing –
and learn to think on
your feet
• You also may learn
and get support from
others going through
the process
18. Tip 9: Work Only on the Part
You Can Control
• Always more
variables than you
know about
• You can’t control who
else is applying
• Once you start
worrying, you fall into
the vortex of
impossible thinking
19. Work Only on the Part You
Can Control
• Keep your focus on
deadlines and getting
the pieces together
• If you try to manipulate
the outcome, it will
likely end in heartbreak
• There is some luck
involved
20. Tip 10: Be Yourself
• Make the process
uniquely yours
• Show your authentic
self
• Don’t try to be the
person you think
they will admit
21. Be Yourself
• Have fun – the more
enjoyable the process,
the more positive the
outcome
• You will be changed
by this… and it will be
for the better
• Speak from your heart
22. For More Information
Betsy Massar
Master Admissions
www.masteradmissions.com
betsy@masteradmissions.com
+1 415-305-1163
2887 College Ave, Suite 405
Berkeley CA 94705