We've all done it before.
We've picked up a book, started reading it, and then realized that it wasn't worth our time.
And so we put it down and move on to the next book until we find something that catches our attention.
Similarly, business school admission committees follow this behavior when they're reading your applications.
If you don't know how to hook them right in, you're going to lose them.
And that means, you may end up in the ding pile.
No one wants to be there.
So what to do? For me, it was always helpful to look at the admission process almost as if I were writing a book for the very first time.
Except, in this book, you need to be the main character, only write the first half of the book, and write the ending.
The second half of the book remains a mystery because it's the part where you're actually in business school.
Think of it as shaping your own destiny.
In the first half of the book, you want to present your story in manner that persuades admission officials that you're the "it" person for their next MBA class.
You're going to present the challenges you face to get ahead and ultimately talk about the end goal - which is to fulfill your career dream.
However, let's be realistic, most MBA applicants only have 2-5 essays to explain their story.
So you want to make sure that you're using these essays wisely so you leave enough room to cover all the bases in your life.
The first half of your 'book' should be all about you.
You want to present stories that show off (in a humble way) all the experiences that make you who you are.
While you're doing this, you want to have stories that create an emotional connection with the readers.
Basically, you want admission officers rooting for you in the first half so that they look forward to the ending.
If anything, you want to make them feel certain that you CAN reach the 'ending' or in this case, your ultimate career vision.
More importantly, you want to convince them that you can reach this career vision at [x] business school and that it's the vehicle to get you there.
So go ahead, while you're attempting to write applications, use this literary approach to writing so you can create a bond with admission officers.
One of the best things you can do for yourself during this process is approach the application with ease, with a calmness, have an open mind so you can focus on all the parts with consistency.
Breaking the experience down to a literary approach or writing a 'book' helps you to look at things differently and not make it seem as bad.
So go on, do it, write your first bestseller! But please, make it good! Or I will move onto the next 'book'.