Tips for Completing Your MBA Application Form

Applying to business school can be cause for major stress and anxiety for many applicants, and the majority of this anxiety  tends revolve around the more time-consuming application elements required of them,  such as  their GMAT scores,  essays and even recommendations. Most applicants spend hours upon hours in these areas in an effort to  craft the perfect application. Business school is a huge personal and financial investment, so to the well-informed, this time commitment should come as no surprise.  What may  come as more of a shock  is that candidates often do not utilize this same level of diligence and focus when it comes to completing the application form itself. By  application form, I am referring to the actual online form in which  candidates  are required to input  relevant details of their personal, academic, and professional profile for consideration for admission. (Application components like essays or recommendation submissions are aspects  of this as well, but are typically submitted via attachment or external upload, and so are not the focus of this discussion.) Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you work through the often-overlooked MBA application form: Do Proofread: Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Did I mention it is really important to proofread? As I mentioned above, the application  form  tends to get overlooked, so don’t make the  mistake of investing too little time in completing this. It is important to  make sure you avoid making crucial little typos like wrong dates or misspelled words that could potentially  send the wrong message to the reviewing Admissions Committee. Don’t Wait: Many applicants will leave filling out the application form until right before the deadline. Do not make this mistake! Typically, when  you leave something until the last minute it is because you deem it less important   avoid this flawed way of thinking and put this component of the application process on the same footing as the others. It does not need to be the first area you tackle while completing your application package, but it certainly should not be your last. The application form is surprisingly time consuming, and thus, should not be rushed given its relative importance to your future business career. Be Honest: The application form often puts many candidates in difficult moral situations. Certain questions around past mistakes, arrests or honor code violations can be  difficult to confront. Even more simple moral quandaries such as  accurately reporting salary or awards tempt many an applicant to stretch the truth. Keep this part of the application form simple by being honest. It is not worth risking a potential admission for something that is probably very minor in the grand scheme of your candidacy. Business schools take this aspect very seriously and seek to maintain the integrity of their honor codes at a very high level. Remember, the application form is just as important as every other aspect of your MBA application package, so follow these tips and give this form the attention it deserves. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+  and Twitter. Dozie A.  is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him  here.