Executive MBA participants share their top tips for making an application

Participants of our Executive MBA programme offer valuable insights and expert tips to help you craft a standout application and increase your chances of success.

Sowmya Anandhi Rajan

Reputation & Rankings
The first criterion that guided my decision-making process was the reputation and rankings of the business schools. Warwick Business School (WBS), renowned for its Executive MBA programme, stood out with its impressive rankings and positive feedback from industry professionals globally.

Modules
Secondly, I sought a curriculum to equip me with strategic leadership skills to accelerate my career. Warwick Business School’s Executive MBA offered a well-rounded curriculum that addressed the foundations of business, with a focus on Entrepreneurship as a specialism, which suited my needs perfectly.

Location & Format
The location of the business school also played a pivotal role in my decision-making process. Considering the demands of a part-time programme, I chose the Executive MBA programme at The Shard, London, a convenient location for attending lectures and networking events. The weekend format eased the challenges of juggling between work, family, and studies for me.

Scholarship
Finally, the financial considerations were another crucial aspect. I secured the Warwick Business School's "Inspiring Females" scholarship for the Executive MBA 2023-25, alleviating my financial concerns.

I engaged in a one-on-one discussion with representatives from the Executive MBA recruitment team at WBS, during which I gained insights into the diverse composition of the incoming cohort, encompassing individuals from various industries and possessing differing levels of professional experience. Additionally, I established connections with current students and alumni through social networks, seeking their perspectives on the programme.

Venkata Durvasula

Research MBAs and Business Schools

Online resources, alumni testimonials, and programme rankings were crucial in helping me identify schools that aligned with my career goals. You can also connect with alumni to gain insight. WBS stands out for its exceptional alumni network and I had the opportunity to have multiple conversations with various alumni who provided me with valuable information on the school.

Another way to find out about the school is through open events. I attended the open days at WBS and The Shard and had the opportunity to speak to professors, current students, and admission teams.

Allow plenty of time for the application process

Allowing ample time for researching, drafting essays, gathering recommendation letters (make sure your boss is on board with your idea of doing an MBA), and preparing for interviews significantly reduced my stress and contributed to a more polished application. START EARLY!

Prepare for the written application

A compelling written application requires thoughtful reflection on one's experiences, goals, and motivations. My strategy was to ensure each question asked aligned with Warwick Business School’s core values. Be authentic and genuine in sharing your story. Admissions teams appreciate sincerity and a unique perspective. Don't be afraid to share challenges you've faced and how you've overcome them.

Use your personal and professional experiences and concrete examples to illustrate key qualities or skills that make you a standout candidate. Clearly connect your past experiences with your future goals. Demonstrate how your skills, achievements, and lessons learnt so far have prepared you for success in the MBA programme and beyond.

Finally, don't hesitate to seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, or friends and ensure that your essays are clear, concise, and free of grammatical errors. Attention to detail is crucial in making a positive impression.

Preparing for the interview

The interview is a pivotal moment in the MBA application process, offering a chance to bring your application to life and showcase the person behind the paperwork. Here are my top tips:

Know yourself: Take the time to reflect on your professional and personal journey. Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and the experiences that have shaped you. Be ready to discuss key achievements, challenges you've overcome, and what motivates you.

Anticipate common questions: While every interview is unique, certain questions are universal in MBA interviews. Be ready to discuss your professional background, reasons for pursuing an MBA, and your post-MBA goals. Practice concise and compelling responses to these common questions.

Mock interviews: Conduct mock interviews with friends, mentors, or career advisors. This not only helps you practice articulating your thoughts but also provides an opportunity to receive constructive feedback. Pay attention to your body language, tone, and clarity of expression.

Express your unique value: Identify what makes you stand out from other candidates. Whether it's a unique skill set, diverse experiences, or a compelling personal story, ensure that you communicate the unique qualities that you bring to the WBS community.

Handle the 'Why MBA' question with precision: Be ready to articulate why now is the right time for an MBA and how it fits into your overall career trajectory. Address how the WBS programme specifically aligns with your aspirations and why it stands out among other options.

Regina Quartey

My three top tips:

Understand the MBA landscape

The MBA world is vast and you will find that no two programmes are the same. There are programmes that specialise in specific areas, from finance through to executive leadership, and it helps to have an initial understanding of what sort of programme excites and interests you. It is also helpful to research candidates that are on the course, who have graduated - read their testimonials, check out where their MBAs took them. Understanding the world you are entering can help you feel prepared for the workload, what will be expected of you, but also the value you are going to bring to the programme, your cohort and the reputation of the institution that you choose.

Understand yourself

This consists of aligning your aspirations to the specific courses and programmes that align with your life and goals. The Executive MBA programme has enabled me to be exactly who I am, with the life commitments I have and still thrive - but I had to know and understand myself to select the MBA programme that suited me as a person. When you understand yourself, you know you can be upfront in your application and interviews and turn up as yourself - knowing that you align with the Institution before they make that decision for you.

Understand your network

It is important to be mindful that MBA programmes have a culture and often the type of network you have is a representation of that culture. I knew that I wanted to build a network at a peer level but also upward - I am one of the youngest and least experienced people in my cohort and I love it, I learn so much more not only from the content of each lecture but from the many years of experience that my classmates have and the breadth of industries that we all come from. Think about the network you hope to acquire, and go into your MBA understanding the value that meeting new people can bring to your own network.

To find out more about our Executive MBA and to have an informal chat with a member of team, you can book an in-person or online 1-2-1.