Next on our Fortuna Admissions list of ‘Top Tips’ – insider advice on applying to eight of the top US, and two of the top European, b-schools – is MIT Sloan. Despite its proximity to HBS, also located in Cambridge, MA, Sloan has a very different feel, as its campus is less traditional and more urban. Students at Sloan feel integrated with the larger MIT community and they have ample opportunities to get involved with innovative MIT initiatives outside of the business school.
As a top MBA program, MIT Sloan is quite selective and Admissions looks for smart candidates who can handle the rigorous, data-driven curriculum in the b-school. Sloan emphasizes innovation and entrepreneurial thinking and looks for candidates who will thrive in the unique MIT Sloan culture.
Below are the first three insider tips for MIT Sloan. To receive the full list of tips, click here. Be on the lookout for other insider tips over the next few weeks, as we’ll have tips on admission to Stanford, Wharton, Chicago, Columbia, Kellogg, NYU Stern, INSEAD, and LBS. Just check the Fortuna blog!
MIT Sloan Tip #1 – Preference for STEM Background and High Quant GMAT
MIT Sloan favors applicants with very strong quantitative foundations and has a history of attracting (and admitting) students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics profiles – as well as those who have a record of achievement in economics. So if you don’t have this kind of academic background, make sure your GMAT score is very strong in terms of supporting your skills. A very rapid advancement professionally also mitigates a weaker than average quant background.
MIT Sloan Tip #2 – Action-oriented profiles
MIT Sloan is the school which pioneered action-learning – the Institute’s motto of mens et manus (Latin for “mind your hand”) also points to the philosophy that you need not only be intelligent but you need to successfully execute your ideas. In your application and essays, you should focus on describing detailed examples of your actions, and how these have contributed to your success in a substantive, concrete way.
MIT Sloan Tip #3 – Making an impact
Making a difference matters – the Admissions Committee wants to know what you plan to do with your degree and how this will have a positive impact on the world. Sloan takes itself very seriously in terms of being a mission-driven institution, and looks for similarly minded individuals who will ultimately be able to act on this mission. Your essays should demonstrate how you view success through the lens of benefiting the world in some way.
Get additional tips for MIT Sloan and other top schools here, and check out more b-school application advice on our Fortuna videos.