The Importance of Profile for MBA Aspirants

The very common question B-School applicants frequently ask us is “how is my profile suited for the global top MBA program?” And the common myth about building a strong profile revolve around words like volunteer at a shelter home or orphanage, start a nonprofit organization, teach under privileged students, top scores in exams from a well reputed college etc. etc. Building a profile does not mean that you try out everything. You don’t need to start a club in your college, work at or start a nonprofit, volunteer at a shelter home, teach underprivileged children and top all your exams. One do not need all these things! Just pick one or two focus areas and get going. Let’s not get misguided by the myths around and understand what B-Schools would like to see in your profile. Any B-School would like to see below mentioned three basic traits in you through your application, essays and interview:

1. Intellectual Vitality
2. Demonstrated Leadership Potential
3. Personal Qualities & Contributions

Intellectual Vitality

In assessing intellectual vitality, B-School believes that your attitude towards learning is as important as your aptitude. They hope that your application will convey your passion, dedication, and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons. They also consider the initiative with which you seek out opportunities that enhance your knowledge. They want to understand your willingness to master concepts that may not be immediately relevant to your intended career, to carve your path in ambiguous environments, and to support the school’s goal of developing knowledge that deepens and advances the practice of management.

Demonstrated Leadership Potential

As they review your application, they are considering your leadership potential as demonstrated through your personal character and professional competence.  Your personal character matters not only because integrity is the cornerstone of any academic community, but also because of the vast responsibility society places on leaders of businesses and social-sector organizations. As a result, they look for evidence of behaviors consistent with your ideals, even under difficult circumstances — a sort of directed idealism.

B-School wants to understand your personal motivation and convictions, and your ability to confront complex, unfamiliar issues with good judgment. They also try to uncover the ways in which challenges to your beliefs may have changed some of your perspectives and reinforced others.

In understanding your professional competence, they look for both, leadership experience and potential. In doing so, they don’t limit themselves to your professional life. Neither should you. They look at your background for evidence of the ways you have influenced the people and organizations around you, and the way those experiences have shaped you.

They look for evidence of your desire to make a lasting impact in the organizations you serve throughout your career, inspiring and motivating your colleagues. They consider your awareness of what you do well and the areas in which you can improve, and your openness to feedback. Ultimately, they gauge your commitment to utilizing fully your opportunities and available resources.

Personal Qualities & Contributions

The strongest applications B-School see are those in which your thoughts and voice remain intact. To understand how you will contribute to and benefit from the University community, the need to know who you are, not simply what you have done. Your experiences, beliefs, passions, dreams, and ambitions will help form the school community.

Evaluation Criteria:

As B-School build each class, they seek the most promising students in terms of intellectual vitality, demonstrated leadership potential, and personal qualities and contributions. They base their evaluation on the totality of information available. Factors like college performance, test scores, essay, interview, letters of reference, or work experience are of equal importance. Moreover, important factors like experience, background, perspectives, etc are considered good while keeping in mind its MBA Program, aspirations, values, and accomplishments.

– Team Leverage