Axolotl: Putting on The Finishing Touches

September 18, 2013 :: Admissionado Team

We’re within a month of R1!

Crunchtime. With all recommenders out and essays deep into their umpteenth drafts it was time for me to look at the application itself, and in total.

We spend so much time on all the “big ticket” items and not a lot of time on the small things–your resume, work experience, school. And it’s not something that can be done in an afternoon. I’d suggest for future applicants to actually open the app itself when it launches and just familiarize yourself with the requirements. You’d be surprised how much “stuff” there is just hanging out and waiting to catch you off-guard.

I’ve also been able to spend a little bit of time thinking about the big picture theme that I’m trying to convey. Because, quite frankly, everyone needs to have color to their application beyond being accomplished, The theme so far for me has been curiosity–it’s an element I’ve asked all my recommenders to keep in mind and a thread that runs through multiple essays. Hopefully it’s what will lend a genuine view into my motivations beyond the relatively dry material that comprises the application itself–work experience, extracurriculars, etc.

B-school apps can be a helpful and reflective process. Doing a little bit of word association with yourself and listing out what you care about can help you find your theme and structure your thinking. In a lot of ways it’s been a refreshing journey so far because it’s a time to be show your genuine strengths.

Axolotl’s nearing the finish line, but his application journey has been long. Get the full story here.