Personal MBA Coach’s

MBA Admissions Roadmap

personalmbacoach.com [email protected]
Table of Contents 03 About Personal MBA Coach

04 Comprehensive Packages Overview

05 Enhancing Your Extracurricular Profile

06 Your GMAT, GRE & Executive Assessment FAQs

08 Less Is More When It Comes to Writing

Compelling MBA Application Essays

10 Short Answer Questions, Optional Essays and

Videos

12 4 “Seemingly Obvious” Application Mistakes

14 Personal MBA Coach’s MBA Application

Checklist

15 How to Maximize Your Chance for an MBA

Scholarship

18 Testimonials
A B OU T P E R S O NA L M B A COACH W H AT S E T S P E R S O N A L M B A CO A C H A PA R T

Personal MBA Coach has helped hundreds of applicants around Founded by Scott Edinburgh, a Wharton MBA, member of
the world get into top MBA, EMBA, part-time MBA and graduate AIGAC Board of Directors and industry veteran with nearly
programs including HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Chicago Booth, 13 years of admissions consulting experience
Kellogg, Columbia GSB, Dartmouth Tuck, MIT Sloan, London
Business School, INSEAD, Yale SOM, UVA Darden, Duke Fuqua,
Berkeley Haas, NYU Stern and many more, as well as advancing Scott presents globally and was invited to present to
their careers with a 96% success rate. admissions directors at GMAC conference

Personal MBA Coach was founded in 2008 by Scott Edinburgh,

Prior corporate experience to inform your essays and goals,
a former management consultant and industry strategist with
including consulting, banking and strategy
an MBA from Wharton and a BS from MIT. With a boutique and
personalized approach, Scott helps turn analytical, general
management and client services experiences into the powerful
and convincing stories that admissions committee members are Former M7 admissions director and M7 MBA interviewers on
our team
looking for. Personal MBA Coach helps clients through all aspects
of the application process, including application strategy, pre-
application planning, GMAT/GRE/EA prep and school selection. Flexible scheduling and fast turnaround times
Scott is on the Board of Directors and is a Committee Chair
of AIGAC (Association of International Graduate Admissions
Consultants: an organization that meets annually with admissions
Personalized and customized GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring
directors of the top 25 schools globally). Learn how Personal MBA
Coach can make your dreams a reality by walking you step by step
through the entire process.
One point of contact
S E R V I C E S O F F E RE D

• Comprehensive Packages
• GMAT/GRE/EA Tutoring Direct, honest feedback
• Interview Preparation
• Waitlist Support
• Gut Check Internal network of former clients at all top schools
• Early MBA Planning
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Comprehensive Packages Overview

1. Develop Your Story

The boutique one-on-one approach begins day 1. With a kickoff call or
meeting, Scott will learn all about you and your aspirations. Together you
will select target schools, articulate your DISTINCT story and fine-tune your
goals. ​

2. Resume Review
Virtually all professional resumes need to be tailored for business school
applications. Your resume will be updated from top to bottom, as many times
as it takes to bring it to perfection.

3. Essay Brainstorming and Unlimited Essay Editing

Building from YOUR personal story, we will brainstorm topics and review
award winning essays. Send your essays back for detailed edits and feedback
as many times as it takes to get them right, with fast two-day turnaround and
direct and honest insight.

4. LOR Support
Don’t underestimate this crucial step. Scott will guide you through selecting
the ideal recommenders and preparing them so your LORs shine and align
with your overall application.

5. Interview Preparation
Seal the deal with detailed interview guides and mock interviews with former
M7 admissions interviewers, followed by written feedback. For Wharton/Ross,
we will conduct group mock interviews and for HBS we include post interview
reflection support.

6. Waitlist Strategy and Post Acceptance Support

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Find out how andFind out to
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how and when to reach out to get off the waitlist and receive advice on
reach out to get off the wait list and receive advice on which school best suits which
your
school best suits your goals. He will connect you with former clients
goals. He will connect you with former clients at your future school as you joinat your
future school as you join the small Personal MBA Coach alumni family and
the small Personal MBA Coach alumni family and attend Personal MBA Coach
attend Personal MBA Coach alumni networking events.
alumni networking events.
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Enhancing Your Extracurricular Profile

Strengthening extracurricular profiles is one of the key areas Personal MBA Coach works on
with MBA candidates early in the application process.

There are three key guiding principles to keep in mind when developing your own
extracurricular strategy.

1) Quality over quantity

No one has the time to work with 10 different organizations. Having a laundry list of activities
is not going to appeal to admissions committee members. Instead, focus your efforts on
organizations or areas where you can have a real impact and add value. There is no “right”
number of activities; this will vary from client to client and depend on the depth of your work.
However, more often than not, less is more, particularly if you are just getting started now.

2) Focus on leadership

You have probably heard this time and time again, but it is important enough to repeat.
Business schools want leaders. This is true for all schools, not just HBS. While there
are countless ways that you can (and should) display leadership throughout your profile,
extracurricular activities are one great opportunity to do so. Look for an organization where
you can step up, or explore options to expand your role at an existing organization. Take the
time now to do this so that you have clear results to share come essay time.

3) Activities should fit with your profile

Successful applications share a consistent and impactful story. The reader should instantly
see who you are, what has defined you and why you have made specific choices. Choose areas
that you are passionate about and that fit with your story. For example, if you want a career as
an educational consultant, consider volunteering in the education industry. If your passion is
tennis, give tennis lessons to underprivileged children in your neighborhood. You do not need
to pick the most unique or prestigious charity. Instead, do what you love!

During application time, you will find many strategic ways to use your activities to fill in gaps in
your profile. Do not underestimate the importance of extracurriculars and get started today!

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Your GMAT, GRE & Executive Assessment FAQs

Testing, testing, testing! For better or for worse, GMAT, GRE and Executive Assessment (EA)
are key topics of conversation throughout the application process. Below are the questions
Personal MBA Coach is asked most often about the MBA admissions testing.

Q. How important is the GMAT/GRE?

A. While these tests are not the be all and end all and are just one part of the application, they
are very important. Further, they will play a more important role for some candidates than for
others. If you are applying with a weaker academic record or from a field of study that is less
analytically intensive, your score (particularly your quantitative scores) will be key to showing
that you can handle the academic rigor of an MBA program. In addition, if you are applying
from an overrepresented applicant pool, differentiating yourself with a strong GRE/GMAT will
be even more important.

Q. What score do I need to get?

A. While naturallly this varies from school to school, it is becoming less common to see
students earn admission to the top 10-20 schools with a GMAT score below 700. For the
Wharton class of 2022, the average GMAT was 722 (the average GRE was 161V/161Q). For
Columbia Business School, the class of 2022 average was 726. Harvard Business School
reported a median GMAT score of 730 and a median GRE score of 163V/163Q for the class of
2022.

When determining your target score, researching average scores is a great way to start. While
those with a very strong profile, a unique background or from an underrepresented applicant
pool could enjoy success with a below-average score, it is becoming less common to see
large numbers of applicants succeed with scores more than 20-30 points below average.
In addition, in some cases, such as the ones discussed in the previous questions, you may
need to score 20-30 points above the average even to be on the same playing field as other
applicants.

Q. What should I take, the GMAT or the GRE?

A. This question is much easier to answer: candidates should take whichever test they can
score better on. Schools do not have a preference between the two tests, the GRE is becoming
more common and average data is becoming easier to find. Personal MBA Coach’s advice is to
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Your GMAT, GRE & Executive Assessment FAQs
(cont.)
take a practice test for each and see which one comes more naturally to you. Generally,
if quant is a strength the GMAT may be your friend while those stronger in verbal tend to
prefer the GRE. Further, if you have taken one test many times and have not been successful,
consider changing gears and trying the other test. Of course, you will need additional
preparation for this new test, but that may be worth the effort!

Q. How many times should I take the test?

A. GMAT scores are valid for 5 years AND you can take the exam up to 5 times during a
12-month period. There is also a lifetime max of 8 tests and you can take the test only once
every 16 calendar days.

Further, you can cancel your score and the report does not go to the school if you are not
happy with the result. This change has led to candidates taking the exam multiple times. Our
average candidate now sits for the exam 2-4 times (with some giving the test as many as 6
or 7 shots.) While this policy may seem great, it has caused average GMAT scores to rise, as
more candidates cancel low attempts.

Q. How should I prepare for the GMAT/GRE?

A. Think about how you learn best and use this to inform your study plan. Personal MBA
Coach feels that most applicants do best with one-on-one tutoring, allowing the applicant to
target areas where he or she is struggling the most. For this reason, we offer a variety of one-
on-one tutoring packages with tutors who scored in the 99th percentile.

Q. What is the Executive Assessment (EA) exam?

A. The EA exam was designed for experienced professionals interested in pursuing advanced
education and is most often used by those applying for EMBA programs (some Part-Time
programs are now also accepting the EA). The 90-minute exam was created to assess the
skills and knowledge of experienced professionals and evaluate business school readiness.

Currently, Berkeley Haas, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Duke Fuqua, INSEAD,
London Business School, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, UVA Darden,
Wharton and Yale SOM are included in the list of programs accepting the EA for Executive MBA
candidates. Personal MBA Coach provides dedicated one-on-one EA tutoring.
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Less Is More When It Comes to Writing
Compelling MBA Application Essays

Personal MBA Coach spends the greatest amount of time with our clients on the actual
editing process, helping clients maximize each available word. Even with MBA essays that
have no word limits, it is crucial to be succinct.

Here are our top four tips for writing more with fewer words.

1) Resist the urge to include unrelated details

Business applicants are accomplished. Naturally, it can be tempting to try to include as many
of these accomplishments as possible in your application essays. However, it is crucial that
you avoid this urge.

For each application essay, think about what the question asks and why the admissions
committee is asking this question. Do not include any detail that does not cover this what
or why. For example, a question asking how an MBA will help does not require hundreds of
words on your past professional success, however impressive it may be. Similarly, a question
on career goals does not require you to explain the industry dynamics in detail or the reasons
behind your perspective on the industry. With each sentence you add to your essays, consider
the question you are actually answering. If it is not related to the question asked, cut it!

2) Avoid repetition

With limited words available to sell yourself, there is rarely a need to say anything twice.
Regardless of how successful you might have been in your role, admissions committee
members do not need to read about it multiple times. Whether you founded a non-profit, were
the first in your class to be promoted, or were a Division I athlete, tell each story one time.
While naturally you can (and should) touch on a broad theme or aspect of your personal story
from multiple angles, this is not the same as repeating the same story.

3) Leverage all aspects of the application

Use all aspects of your application to your advantage. Even for schools requiring very short
essays, there are countless other aspects of the application to pay attention to. Ensure every
piece counts! Take the time to carefully craft answers to your short-answer questions. Prepare
your recommenders to ensure their stories complement (but do not reiterate) yours. Use every
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Less Is More When it Comes to Writing
Compelling MBA Application Essays (cont.)

line in your resume as efficiently as possible to show your leadership and success. In
addition, video essays and pre/post interview essays provide other ways to sell yourself.

Leave plenty of time for these application extras.

In fact, Personal MBA Coach advises our round 1 clients to finish their essays by the end of
July (and round 2 clients to finish by late November) whenever possible to allocate adequate
time to other crucial MBA application components.

4) Look for every opportunity to trim words

As we have said countless times, edit, edit, edit. Ensure every word counts. If there is a way to
say it more succinctly, do! Cutting excess words will lead to stronger writing while giving you
extra space to cover details that really set you apart. You’d be surprised how an attentive eye
can cut 50-100+ words from a 400-word essay without deleting a single piece of true content.

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Short Answer Questions, Optional Essays and
Videos
While the essay questions may get the bulk of your attention, there are other crucial
application components that require significant effort including short answer questions,
optional essays and videos. Below is Personal MBA Coach’s advice on how to tackle each.

Short Answer Questions

Do not underestimate the importance of the short answer questions. Set aside adequate
time to perfect these answers. Many schools, including HBS, have lengthy short answer
sections that will require significant time. These questions serve a few important purposes.
First, they allow you to share additional aspects of your candidacy. Naturally, there are many
accomplishments and traits that you will not cover in your application essays; this is your
chance to share these important successes.

Second, the format of the short answer section also allows admissions committee members
to easily compare you to your peers. Ensure you take the time to stand out by carefully
selecting the accomplishments discussed. Wherever possible, these answers should be
complementary and not repetitive.

Finally, short answer questions are a test of consistency and cohesion. The voice used here
should match that shared throughout your essays and should paint a credible and concrete
image of who you are as a candidate.

Optional Essays

Most schools offer candidates the chance to complete an optional essay. However, DO NOT
feel compelled to answer these questions. In most instances, Personal MBA Coach advises
only candidates with extenuating circumstances to provide additional information here. (There
are a few schools where we advise all candidates to answer the optional question, but this is
the exception and not the rule.) Such extenuating circumstances include low GPAs, gaps in
employment and an unusual choice of recommenders (i.e., not asking a direct supervisor).

Keep in mind with these essays: be brief and to the point. Do not offer long-winded excuses or
any more information than is needed.

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Short Answer Questions, Optional Essays and
Videos (cont.)
Videos

Videos essays are increasingly used by top programs to assess applicants. After all, you will
have limited career success if you are unable to nail an interview, so this is the admissions
committees’ way of evaluating your physical presence / delivery. For some schools, such as
MIT Sloan, the video question is provided in advance and applicants submit a pre-recorded
video with their applications. For other schools, including Kellogg, Yale SOM, London
Business School and INSEAD, applicants are asked to record videos on the spot within two
days to one week after submitting their applications.

For these statements, be yourself. These videos offer admissions committee members the
chance to learn more about you on a personal level. Potential topics include goals, passions,
values and hobbies, among other more challenging questions. While you do not want to
sound overly rehearsed, it is important to practice for these videos. If you have the question,
write out a rough script in advance of filming. If you do not, practice sample questions. As
you practice, consider factors such as audio quality, demeanor, and fluency in addition to
the content itself. Personal MBA Coach has proprietary software available and a list of prior
questions asked to help candidates prepare for these videos and includes analysis of sample
videos in its comprehensive packages.

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4 “Seemingly Obvious” Application Mistakes

Over the years, Personal MBA Coach has seen some mistakes time and time again. While
they may seem obvious, they are also extremely common. Find out if you are one of the many
applicants making these errors in their MBA essays.

1) Using over-the-top language

There is no need to add multiple flowery adjectives to your essay. This is particularly true if
you are using them to describe your accomplishments or praise the school. You do not need
to tell the schools that you developed a fabulously unique program or that the school has
incredibly famous and talented staff.

Instead, describe the program that you created and show what makes it unique and fabulous.
Similarly, discuss particular staff or organizations on campus you are most interested in and
how you will take advantage of them. Your word count is limited in nearly all essays so choose
them wisely.

2) Being “cocky”

There is a fine line between being proud of your accomplishments and being conceited.
Business schools are looking for accomplished professionals, but they are also looking
for compassionate students who will make thoughtful peers and colleagues. They want
candidates that one would want to live, study and work with.

There is a well-known “airport test” in the consulting industry when an interviewer considers
whether he or she would want to be stuck in an airport for hours with a prospective candidate.
If the answer is no, that candidate has a slim chance of receiving an offer. Think about this as
you read through your essays and be sure to remain proud yet humble.

3) Pointing out a mistake that wasn’t asked for

Not being cocky does not necessarily mean you need to volunteer your flaws, however.
Some questions specifically ask for an example of a failure or a weakness. Unless this
is the case, there is no need to point out your mistakes or volunteer negative information
about yourself. Your essays provide a very limited opportunity to sell yourself so focus on
your strengths and your specific accomplishments.

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4 “Seemingly Obvious” Application Mistakes
(cont.)

4) Not answering the question

This is the most obvious and frequent flaw that we see. While you often need to read
between the lines and dig a bit below the surface of the question, you still need to
answer the question. If a question asked for implications and learnings, include them. If
a question asks for personal and professional goals, include both! Adding a bit about the
situation for context is ok, but in an essay that should be focused on goals, do not recount
your entire resume. Answer the question asked!

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Personal MBA Coach’s MBA Application Checklist

While most checklists merely cover the basics, Personal MBA Coach challenges you to ask
these 9 questions to assess whether your applications are REALLY ready!

1) Is your story clear? Does the reader walk away knowing who you are and what matters to
you?

2) Have you thought out and articulated why you want an MBA? To get promoted or to gain
“business skills” are NOT good enough reasons.

3) Are you consistent throughout all of the application components? Your resume, essays,
short answer questions and letters of recommendation should all include the same general
message. Any inconsistencies are an instant red flag.

4) Does your application include specific information about the target school? Admissions
committee members read thousands of essays every year, and it is very easy for them to
determine who is genuinely interested in the school and knows a lot about the program.

5) Are your letters of recommendation strong enough? Did you advise your recommenders to
use specific examples and compare you to other candidates?

6) Are your essays easy to read? Or do you find yourself re-reading paragraphs because you
do not see how they fit into the essay?

7) Did you have someone else read your essays? This will give you an outsider’s objective
opinion of your accomplishments and help to ensure you are talking about your experiences
with the right level of detail for someone outside of your industry.

8) Do you have an MBA-specific resume? For an MBA resume, you want to show how you have
been successful and demonstrated leadership. You are selling your future potential. Make sure
not to get too detailed here, though.

9) Have you actually answered every question? It can be tempting to go off-book or include
additional information but schools ask each question for a specific reason. Ensure you are
answering the question asked and not offering what you think they want to hear.

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How to Maximize Your Chance for an MBA
Scholarship

Personal MBA Coach is here to help you maximize your chances of MBA Scholarship
success!

First, let’s discuss the basics of MBA scholarships. Scholarships/fellowships fall into two
major categories:

1) Merit-based money offered as a result of the MBA application

The vast majority of scholarships are offered based on your original MBA application. They do
not require you to submit anything additional. Schools offer this money to candidates they are
trying to attract (often away from other schools).

This money can come directly from the school itself, having nothing to do with the applicant’s
specific demographic or professional background. Or the scholarship may be in collaboration
with another organization. While this other organization may suggest guidelines for
consideration, it is up to the schools to decide which candidates actually receive the award.

For example, one of our partners, the Forté Foundation, gives the following guidelines to
admissions directors selecting Forté Fellowship recipients:

- Candidates should exhibit exemplary leadership in one or more ways: academic leadership,
team leadership, community leadership, and creative leadership.

- Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to women and girls via personal mentorship
or community involvement. Such commitment is in alignment with the mission of Forté
Foundation.

- Schools are encouraged to nominate fellows from their schools who represent diverse
educational and work backgrounds, career goals, ethnicities and citizenship.

2) Scholarships that students apply for directly

These scholarships generally target specific candidates based on industry, ethnicity, gender,
etc. A separate application is required for each of these scholarships, and specific criteria
apply. Examples include:
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How to Maximize Your Chance for an MBA
Scholarship (cont.)

The Consortium (note: you can also apply to participating schools through the scholarship
application): Since 1966, we have offered more than $465 million in fellowships to the best
and brightest MBA students in the country. We have programs that cover full tuition and
mandatory fees for two years of full-time study (Emory also offers a one-year program).

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans: The Paul and Daisy Soros
Fellowships for New Americans is a $90,000 merit-based fellowship exclusively for
immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate school in the United
States. The program draws nearly 1,800 applications annually for just 30 fellowships.

Military MBA: Military MBA is an education network for military officers and NCOs who are
interested in obtaining and applying their MBA graduate degrees for career advancement. We
represent MBA schools and prospective MBA students who have a background in the military.

Now that we know the basics about MBA Scholarships, what can you do to maximize your
chances of earning one of these coveted scholarships? Here are 4 key tips from Personal MBA
Coach.

1) Ensure your application stands out!

The good news for candidates hoping to receive a scholarship is that the same advice
Personal MBA Coach provides on developing stand-out applications applies to earning
scholarships, too (which is why our clients do so well!).

Business schools look for well-rounded classes. For candidates hoping to secure extra $$, it is
even more crucial that your application tells a solid story about how you will add unique value
on campus.

At the end of the day, the school wants to pay you to be one of the best students on campus.
This can be because of your outstanding academic qualifications or because you will
contribute on campus in a unique way.

2) Court your target schools.

MBA admissions directors do not want to hand out precious money only to lose the candidate
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How to Maximize Your Chance for an MBA
Scholarship (cont.)

to another top MBA program. Therefore, while it is not required, getting to know a school
never hurts your chances of getting scholarship funds.

While COVID-19 is preventing MBA applicants from visiting campuses, there are many options
for reaching out to and connecting with your target MBA programs. In the best-case scenario,
you will build a rapport with an admissions representative and directly improve your chances
of earning a scholarship.

Even if this does not happen, attending online events and interacting with the school you hope
to attend will give you valuable material to make your essays stand out. Remember, students
are often the most valuable resources since admissions directors may not be as available to
chat with you.

3) Submit your applications as early as possible.

With a limited amount of money to go around, the earlier you can get your applications in, the
better. Schools also want to be sure that their classes are filled with well-rounded students
and are more likely to use scholarships to ensure this earlier in the process.

By round 3, there is likely to be less money left. That said, scholarships sometimes do open up
even late in the year!

4) Excel in as many areas as possible.

While this may seem obvious, we often see candidates who have a decent GMAT/GRE score
but have not put in the extra effort to maximize it. If you took the test once and did little
preparation, consider getting a tutor to reach your full potential!

Similarly, we see candidates who do not want to dedicate time outside of the office to beef up
their extracurricular profiles.

While we always advise that candidates put their best foot forward, this is even more crucial
for those looking for a scholarship. Scholarship recipients most often excel in multiple areas.

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TESTIMONIALS

I have a bit of an unconventional background, so I wanted to work with someone dedicated

and who really looks into my background to help me put my best foot forward. After some initial
research and scoping calls with a shortlist of admissions consultants, it was a
no-brainer to decide to work with Scott, because he really listened to what I had in mind
and challenged me where appropriate. He was patient, friendly, yet super straightforward
and critical. It was really pleasant working with Scott; I followed on with additional
interview prep services. Got into Yale and MIT Sloan.

M I T S LO A N

Scott is extremely knowledgeable in this field. He deeply cares about your development with heart and
soul and wants to do whatever he can to help you get into your dream school. It has been a fantastic
experience working with Scott and he made my application process very enjoyable. I would not have
gotten into Haas and Tuck with scholarships if I did not work with Scott from Personal MBA Coach. I highly
recommend anyone who wants to get into their dream school talk to Personal MBA Coach.
BERKELEY HAAS (W/ SCHOLARSHIP)

If you are even considering working with an MBA consultant, be sure to talk to Scott first. From
essay writing to letter of recommendation support to general application questions, Scott is
always available and has great insights. The best part about working with Scott is how well he
gets to know you early in the process. This helps not only when cultivating your story but also
when writing essays. Prior to working with Scott, I wondered how a single person would be able
to do so much but he exceeded my expectations by miles. He challenges you to think carefully and
methodically about your application and his ability to provide feedback on a holistic application is
impressive. Thanks to Scott and his support, I will be attending my dream school,
Harvard Business School, next fall.

H A R VA R D B U S I N E S S S C H O O L

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 L E T P E R S O N A L M B A CO A C H H E L P

Helping clients since 2008, our boutique one-on-one approach has led to a
96% success rate!

Call or email for a consultation with founder, Scott Edinburgh

personalmbacoach.com