5 Tips for MBA Applicants from Ex-Admissions Director @Stanford

I know the joy and pain of applying to business school, because at Stanford, I was often the one to call admits with news of their acceptance, and later, read their names on stage during graduation. I also had to be the one on the other end of the email when an applicant was denied--including many I thought might be qualified to be at Stanford, but whose applications weren't convincing enough. I never took this responsibility lightly, because I saw how consequential and personal it was for applicants I liked and respected. What made the difference? I wanted every applicant to submit the best application they could (while keeping it honest), but far too many fell short of this standard. And because I've seen the elation and the heartbreak these outcomes create (and couldn't help but feel somehow responsible), I now value the opportunity to work closely and selectively with serious applicants--those I know have at least the basic qualifications to attend a top business school, but more important, have the maturity, commitment, and discipline required to put together an application that shows your favored school why they will be honored to see you graduate. For most, it's hard work, but here’s the good news... Crafting a great application is a valuable step to having an exceptional business school experience, and not just because it gets you admitted. Applying can and should be a process that prepares you for what comes after--clarifying your rationale, helping you build confidence to tell a compelling, personal story. It should help you articulate the values you hold deeply and the value proposition you offer. Getting into a great program should not be the end in itself, but a step in an broader process of growth and impact. If you work with me, this is part of the perspective I bring. If you are interested in Stanford, specifically, I bring a lot of inside experience at the GSB, where I spent eighteen years--first as an MBA student, later as Executive Director of the GSB's Center for Leadership Development and Research, and then Director of the Stanford MSx Program and Admissions. Over that time, I was involved in many initiatives: • Helped manage launch of MBA core leadership curriculum (Leadership Labs, Arbuckle Fellows, GSB Executive Challenge) • Helped recruit first MBA Arbuckle Leadership Fellows cohort and oversaw GSB Executive Challenge • Managed GSB's first in-house leadership coaching staff--senior facilitators for Interpersonal Dynamics (aka 'Touchy Feely') course • Selected MBA student leaders for the CEO speaker series (View From The Top) and represented Dean's office with host speakers • Co-founded the LOWkeynotes public speaking program for MBA and MSx students • Taught a GSB elective, 'Leading with Agility', and in multiple Exec Ed programs • Co-developed the Stanford LEAP 360 leadership assessment tool used for GSB Exec Ed As Director of the Stanford MSx program and Director of Admissions, I admitted eleven cohorts of Stanford Sloan Fellows, working in close coordination with MBA Admissions on operational and policy matters. My admissions work took me to more than two dozen countries, I reviewed thousands of GSB applications, conducted hundreds of interviews, and served as academic advisor to students. I learned a lot about what it takes to be admitted, and I learned even more about what it takes to get the most out of business school. After leaving Stanford, I've had some opportunities to work with boutique admissions consulting firms, but I value the transparency and range of options Leland provides to you, the client. I don't like to work with an client unless I believe I can deliver more value than what it costs. Working with a coach/consultant is like finding a therapist, where chemistry matters, and there may be others that are a better match for what you need (or at least for some of what you need). After an initial consultation, I offer packages that allow us to spend a few hours reviewing your application or plan in detail, where I will draw on my experience to help you identify opportunities to clarify and strengthen your pitch, and possibly challenge assumptions you have, resulting in a clear plan of action. From there, we can better determine if additional engagement would be useful, where we would both commit to deliverables and a timeline if we believe, that by working together, you can succeed in hitting your goals. This might involve targeted assistance with specific components of your application, a more comprehensive effort, or simply helping you identify resources that can best serve you. Good luck! And if you've read this far, maybe let's set up a time to chat.