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Admissions Advice for Business Majors

By Karen Schweitzer, About.com Guide to Business School

The admissions process can be trying. Not only do you have to choose a business school, you also have to find a way to outshine other business school applicants just to gain admission. If you are looking for an edge, you have come to the right place. Here you will find general admissions advice, advice direct from admissions officers, tips on choosing a school, business school profiles and directories, information on GMAT and SAT prep, recommendation letter and admissions essay samples, and much more.

  1. Choosing a School
  2. Business School Profiles
  3. Online Business Schools
  4. Business School Rankings
  5. Advice from Admissions Officers
  6. General Admissions Advice
  7. Admissions Interviews
  8. Grants, Scholarships, and Loans
  1. SAT Prep
  2. GMAT Prep
  3. GMAT Prep Courses
  4. GMAT Practice Questions
  5. Recommendation Letters
  6. Sample Recommendation Letters
  7. Essay Writing
  8. Sample Application Essays

Choosing a School

Choosing a business school can be difficult. You have to consider the business school's reputation, the program's strengths and weaknesses, your ability to get in, cost, location, and so much more. Here are a few tips that might make the process of choosing a business school a little easier.

Business School Profiles

Looking for a good graduate business school? Check out the profiles for these top grad schools. Each business school profile includes general information about the grad school's location, academics, programs, admissions, and more.

Online Business Schools

If you don't have the time or the ability to attend a campus-based business program, online education may be the way to go. Business schools with online programs or schools that specialize in distance learning provide the opportunity to earn your business degree conveniently from the comfort of your own home. All you need is an Internet connection and a desire to learn. The following resources offer more information about online business programs, as well as a growing directory of online business schools.

Business School Rankings

Business school rankings are nothing new. Organizations have been ranking business schools for years. While you shouldn't rely on business school rankings alone to choose a school, rankings can help you learn more about a school's reputation.

Advice from Admissions Officers

If you are looking for admissions advice, there is no better person to ask than an admissions officer. Here are several interviews with prominent business school admissions representatives. Each interview offers an overview of the indicated school's admissions process, as well as topics like GMAT scores, recommendation letters, and admissions interviews.

General Admissions Advice

You would think that after gaining admission to an undergrad school, gaining admission to the grad school of your choice would be a cinch. Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true. Grad school admissions are competitive--especially if you are trying to get into a selective program. But there's no reason why you can't get a leg up on the competition. The admissions resources shown below will help get you started.

Admissions Interviews

An admissions interview is the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about a school. It is also the perfect opportunity for admissions committees to get to know you. Put your best foot forward with these interview tips.

Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

There are many different ways to finance a business school education. Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. The following links offer general advice on financial aid, as well as tips on how to increase your financial aid package.

SAT Prep

Taking the SAT is an admissions requirement at most undergraduate schools. The SAT test can be difficult, but if you take time to prepare, you should be able to get a good score. Here you'll find a selection of SAT resources, including basic information about the test, tips on how to increase your SAT score, and can’t miss preparation techniques.

GMAT Prep

The GMAT is a standardized test used by most graduate level business schools to assess how well an applicant might do in an MBA program. Although many schools rely on other factors besides a GMAT score to determine who to admit and who not to admit, getting a good GMAT score is important nevertheless. As with anything, the key to doing well on the GMAT test is preparation. The following resources provide important information about the GMAT, as well as tips on how to increase you GMAT score.

GMAT Prep Courses

GMAT prep courses can help students prepare for the GMAT. Most GMAT prep courses offer different levels or preparation. Some GMAT courses can be taken online; others are held in a traditional classroom. Many GMAT prep services also offer private tutoring and self-study options.

GMAT Practice Questions

GMAT practice questions are a good way to prepare for the GMAT test. Practice questions give you an idea of what you can expect on the test and help you to determine whether or not you are ready to take the GMAT. The following GMAT practice questions (and the accompanying answers) were written by the renowned GMAT tutors at Integrated Learning. Test yourself by reading through the practice questions and seeing how many you can answer correctly.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters are an admissions requirement at most business schools, particularly at the graduate level. A recommendation letter should supplement your application and give admissions committees an impression of who you are. Get the basics of what should and shouldn't be included in a recommendation letter here.

Sample Recommendation Letters

If you need a recommendation letter or if you are writing a recommendation letter for someone else, it can be helpful to know what should and shouldn't be included. The following sample recommendation letters will provide you with that information, as well as the inspiration you need to produce a quality letter.

Essay Writing

It is not unusual for schools to require one or more essays during the admissions process. Admissions committees use essays to get a better sense of who an applicant is and to determine whether or not the applicant will fit in at the school or in a particular program. Here you will find tips on how you can write an admissions essay that supplements your application.

Sample Application Essays

Starting an essay can be difficult. If you need inspiration, the following sample application essays should help.

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