Sponsored by London Business School
“Getting offered a place on your master’s program of choice is a competitive and selective process.
It is now more important than ever that students are better informed, undertake extensive research from multiple sources and strive to make their application stand out from the crowd” said Stephanie Thrane, Senior Recruitment and Admissions Manager at London Business School.
Well, she’s not wrong. Admission teams are forced to be extremely selective, especially as the number of applications for places continues to grow every year. To get into your dream university now, you need to be more determined and study harder than ever before.
To make sure your application has the best chance possible, we’ve asked admissions experts from London Business School’s reputed Master’s in Management, Master’s in Financial Analysis and Global Master’s in Management to share their top tips.
1. Only apply to places you can afford to go (or find a loan or bursary that can help)
Just because you can’t afford to pay for university out of your own pocket doesn’t mean the roof’s caved in and your dreams with it.
But before you take out a loan or apply for a scholarship, stop and ask yourself if the hassle of funding this course will translate into greater earnings in the future. Some courses will be more worthwhile than others. In 2016, 95% of students graduating with a master’s in management from LBS accepted a job offer within three months of graduation! So, make sure to research graduate jobs statistics.
If you’re thinking of studying in the UK, you could be eligible for a professional career and development loan, provided you’re an EU national seeking to remain in the UK, or even a US federal loan if you’re a US citizen. Explore more funding options here.
2. Attend information sessions which have been organized by the university
A few grad schools run events for prospective students in major cities, which are a great way to potentially meet the people who’ll be assessing your application. London Business School has a stand at some of the world’s biggest postgraduate fairs, and runs information sessions on its London campus. You can register for an event here, and get the chance to speak to admissions counselors about your goals and find out whether you would be a good match for the school.
3. Approach current students to find out what their course is actually like
A slightly round-about way of researching a postgraduate course – but a really great one – is through current students. Your weapon of choice? Social media.
Once you’ve found a current student on LinkedIn or Twitter, ideally someone who’s attended the same undergraduate university as you or shares a mutual connection, just drop them a quick line: “Hi [First name], I'm thinking of applying to [enter name]. I'd love to hear about your experiences over coffee. It's on me! Thanks, [Your name]”
Once you have a current student sitting opposite you, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the department or course. Any information they give you will be much more honest than what you’ll find in a prospectus.
4. Go the extra mile on your standardized tests. Re-sit them if you must
While good standardized test scores won’t be enough to get you in by themselves, they could be enough to tip the scales in your favor. Remember, standardized tests are simple to crack, provided you have a good study plan and revision aids. Unlike your university coursework and exams, standardized tests aren’t a measure of how clever you are – but rather of how familiar you are with the test(s). Practice for the GMAT prep here.
5. Have an awareness of the university’s values
Every university has its own set of values and ethos, and admissions officers will be looking out for signs that your personality and values are a good fit with their university. There are many ways to do this of course – through word of mouth, by looking at the university’s published research or even speaking to admissions advisers at an event.
6. Enlist the help of an academic advisor
Are you striking the right note in your admissions essay? Should you re-sit the GMAT? Does your CV look unprofessional? If you’re unsure, ask your university’s academic advisor to examine your application. Unlike friends and family, a school counselor should be able to offer a level of support that goes beyond just spotting rogue typos. Instead, they’ll help ensure your application is the strongest it could be…
7. Google “Interview questions [enter name of dream university here]”
University and job applicants often blog or answer questions in forums about their interview, so finding potential interview questions is more than possible. Once you know what to expect, you can rehearse answers so that you’re not lost for words on the day when an odd or cryptic question catches you unaware.