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MBA Admissions Essential #7: Extracurricular Activities & Community Service

What do these MBA Admissions folks want from me? Not only do they expect me to take the GMAT test, demonstrate an ability to handle the academic rigors of b-school, write essays that outline my entire life history and goals, but they also want me to describe every club, hobby, volunteer activity, and/or community service in which I’ve been engaged since high school!  What if I don’t measure up? What if I don’t have the right number and mix of activities? What if the adcoms don’t find my interests of value?

                     

Relax… It’s as simple as this: we adcoms simply want to know more about you and your values. What matters to you beyond academics and work?  What motivates and inspires you? How well rounded are you?  For many applicants, these questions will be answered through formal, organized activities and events. For others, they will be addressed through less formal means: commitment to family or religion, observations made by recommenders, information revealed in essays.  And for some, the answers reflect a combination of formal and less formal contributions.

    

And why do we care about these things? The MBA is a professional degree that develops individuals for leadership and management positions at work and in the world. Applicants who are well-rounded possess a greater capacity to develop these skills.  Indeed, there are significant differences around the world as to the level of extra-curricular activities and community service in which people engage.  It is with this awareness in mind that we seek applicants who are broad-minded in perspective, if not in deed.

01 Nov 2006 03:12 PM in Application Strategy | Permalink

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Comments

Respected Sir,
I m P.R.KANSARA from India.I did Bachelors in Computer Engg.
My GMAT is 440 and Toefl is 250 on CBT.Sir My GPA is 3.16 rated by WES.I've been doing community services since 1994 right from the age of 15.I am associated with BAPS swaminarayan organisation.An NGO working to emancipate the lives of less fortunate.Can i join your reputed university?oR HOW WOULD YOU RATE MY CHANCES OF GETTING SELECTED.

Posted by: PRADHYUMAN | Nov 8, 2006 7:12:01 AM

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