Hi Atul,

I am putting my application together for LBS, and as the deadline approaches I am getting increasingly apprehensive. I would like to request your inputs for strengthening my essays. What does the LBS adcomm look for in the essays regarding leadership. I am an Indian telecom engineer and have been working in primarily technical roles for my entire career. Ours is a quite flat research organisation, so not many leadership roles around. I would like to know how important is prior management experience, for getting through at LBS. I have had a lot of international experience, and I have stressed on that in my essays. I am happy with my GMAT and degree percentage. Essays is the part that worries me.

Post MBA I am looking for a role in the telecom industry, perhaps in business development or product management. I feel the LBS MBA is the one for me primarily because its a two year program, very international and probably the best in Europe. I also think that LBS' strength in strategy would be helpful to my career plans. Do you think given my background I would fit into the MBA class at LBS.
Regards,

Hey,

I can make out very little about your profile from your note but can assure you that the School values diversity of experience and looks for clarity of thought. You can demonstrate that through the career choices you have made as well as the work you have done.Highlight your achievements and what you bring to the school.

One of the biggest issues facing schools today is funding and they want to make sure that those who are admitted can finance their education. Many admitted candidates drop their schools of choice in favour of others who are able to give them financial aid either through school sponsored loans or scholarships. You have to able to demonstrate your commitment to a school as well as your ability to finance your way through or your eligibility to get a loan from a school affiliated lending institution. I say this because across European and US schools, we have had situations where financing is becoming a problem especially for students from developing countries.

More importantly apply early so that you are not playing musical chairs for the leftovers.

Do read interviews given by Julia Tyler to Businessweek and other publications to get a better sense of what her team look for, while selecting candidates.

Hope this helps.

Atul Monga

Hi Atul

Thanx for your reply. I(first round applicant) recently interviewed with an LBS alumni. I thought that I did not do too badly. However I am reallly worried about the results now. I am wondering what is the applications:admits ratio for the first round. I am afraid that the references were the weakest part of my application and they might let me down. Any idea about how much the references weigh in the overall decision.

Regards

Hey,

Congratulations on making it to the last round. At LBS, the probability of making it is usually very high at this stage although I don't have any numbers for it. You really have to work hard to get deselected at this stage!

Having made it to this stage, you can safely presume that the reference(s) was valuable enough and does not put you at a disadvantage.

Wish you the very best with the admissions process.

Regards,

Atul Monga