As the long and arduous journey to Class of 2018 gets underway, an unprecedented number of non-US citizens will be getting ready to apply. But how are you supposed to overcome the inherent advantage that US citizens possess when it comes to crafting a compelling application?

Here are three of the most common mistakes we've seen non-US applicants make - and some simple strategies to avoid them.

1. Over-emphasizing the GMAT: Any admissions consultant worth their salt will tell you that the GMAT is little more than table stakes. While a particularly weak GMAT can hurt you and a strong GMAT can enrich your overall application, the path to business school is littered with unsuccessful 770s and above. Develop a scoring mechanism for your whole application - and focus on optimizing this holistic score.

2. Under-coaching your recommenders: Recommenders are full of good intentions - but if they aren't American, they probably don't understand what it takes to craft a truly compelling recommendation. Actively inform and coach your recommenders to make sure they're telling the story you need them to tell - not just the story they think is interesting.

3. Prioritizing substance over style: Yes, the content of your application is critical to your success. However, the quality of your expression and your ability to tell an engaging story are just as important - particularly for schools that place great emphasis on personal narrative, such as HBS, Stanford and INSEAD. Prepare a storyboard that captures your unique narrative before you put pen to paper, and get help to improve your verbal and written expression.


Of course, this list barely skims the surface of the challenges faced by non-US applicants. Which mistakes are you most concerned about making in your application? Reply below and we'd be happy to offer some advice. Or contact us at www.internationalmba.squarespace.com/get-started.