Help on Extra Curriculars

[jerrykantrell]

I have heard time and time again, hence I realize the importance of extra curriculars in your B school application. I have been a guitarist sine college, have played many gigs, have a band now, and we record stuff at home. I however have no certificates to prove any of this. How do I convince the adcom that these claim of mine are authentic ? because for all they know, I could be pulling these things out of my @ss! what do I do ? Because being an IT engineer, this was one of my major stand-out points.

I feel like I am s*rewed. what do I do ?

Thanks in advance.

[jelt]

No certificates are necessary. Business schools don't verify such things, but they reserve the right to revoke admission at any time. So if, after admitting you, it becomes clear you were pulling stuff out of somewhere, that's exactly what they'll do.

As to how to capitalise on this, you would write about them in your essays and talk about them in your interview if they are really that important. Alternatively you could also have your band manager or band leader write an optional short recommendation to provide a different perspective of you.

[jerrykantrell]

phew!
Thanks jelt, thanks so much for replying. It takes a huge load off of my back. Would it be a bad thing if I were to stress the importance of music in my life, during the interview ? for after all, I am a mechanical engineering graduate.

Thanks once again.

[parore26]

It is important to point out things that you're passionate about as that presents the interviewer with something other than your academic transcripts and professional recommendations. The interviews generally last about 30 minutes which means that there may or may not be time to emphasis your extra interests. As jelt pointed out essays or a recommendation from a Band member are your best bet in trying to present a second dimension to your application.

[jelt]

I would also focus on emphasising your professional involvement in the band, highlighting aspects that business schools are interested in- team work, success in selling tickets, production, and so on- rather than merely going with 'an interest in music'. This is, after all, business school. If you merely have 'an interest in music' (for me, I had a similar case for dance) and cannot or would rather not show professional involvement, then I would use the interview rather than waste precious essay or recommendation space.

[jerrykantrell]

I get it now, thank you parore and jelt.

I love this place (beatthegmat)

[jerrykantrell]

So, jelt, did you talk about your interest in dance during any of the interviews that you have given ?

[jelt]

Yes. When they asked me what extra-curriculars I was thinking of joining, I said that I would do dance, which I had done before in college, because I think that really livens up a campus and improves the social scene. The point is to make it a one-liner telling them why they would think your interest is useful to their programme, what u've done before in that extra-curricular (ie you're not pulling it out of your ass), and then leave it at that.

Professional judgment on what to stress and what not to push too hard is something business schools value strongly too.

[beatthegmat]

I get it now, thank you parore and jelt.

I love this place (beatthegmat)