Hey Folks,

While I'm away, I wanted to keep the ball running and the minds working, so I got some thoughts to share with you today. Now, one thing I am getting asked a lot on these forums is: "How do I get the most out of my application?"

Well, there are a LOT of ways, but thankfully this isn't easy, cause if I could answer this in one phrase, I'd be out of business

But still, there are things you can do that will work EVERY time, and although not easy, they work! (Of course you gotta figure out EXACTLY how to do this for YOU, but that's another story...)

So, my three tips of the day

1. Write from the heart - Never forget that there are PEOPLE reading these essays. People with minds and feelings and ideas (yes, the Adcom members have hearts too! Even if they turn away so many wonderful and kind applicants...) The fact of the matter is that if you reach out to the person, your application will just work better. Ever find yourself at that big Hollywood romance, and you are crying and you don't even know why? It's cause they use techniques to get to your heart, and if you can master that (without the help of love songs playing in the background), your essays WILL be more effective!

2. Strategize your application - Heart is great, but not enough. The AdCom is an audience, for sure, but they also have business expectations for you. They want success, just like you do. Play to their needs and expectations. What does that mean, practically speaking? It means: PROVING that you are better than everyone else. It means SELECTING stories not only because they will MOVE the AdCom but because they have the strongest potential to highlight the most important MBA qualities you have (leadership, success, teamwork, business acumen)

3. Emphasize the uniqueness - Inevitably with soooo many candidates, STANDING OUT is mega important. So do what you can in your application to stand out from the pack. What does standing out REALLY mean? It means something truly UNIQUE. You have been tutoring children in Math and English for the last five years? Fantastic! But it's not unique. You have struggled with a death in the family while studying? A moving story, but also not unique. Saved a girl from a shark attack while scuba diving in Florida? Whoa! I've never heard that one before!

Granted, not everyone can save a girl from a shark attack while Scuba diving in Florida (and if they could, well, that story wouldn't be unique anymore), and we know that. But what you need to do is find YOUR unique thing and run with it. Or, make your story unique, either in how you approach it, how you present it, etc. This one's tricky, but you gotta do it if you want to be successful.

So while you're putting pen to paper, this is a good place to start the brainstorming process.

Good luck : )