- Is my resume the correct length? We recommend 1-page resumes for MBA programs. MPP resumes can be 2-4 pages, unless the school explicitly states otherwise (like Princeton WWS, which requests a maximum 2-page resume).
- Is it well formatted? A well-formatted resume has lots of white space on the page; it is not overly cramped. The resume does not rely on a lot of design elements like background shading, swirls, or “fancy” bullets. You maintain consistency for how you format the titles of organizations, your job titles, etc.
- Have you quantified the results of your efforts well? Use numbers such as the number of people on your team, how frequently you did something, numbers of pages, dollars saved, budget managed, etc.
- Do you use easy to understand language? Avoid insider jargon that only people familiar with your industry would understand. Define any possibly unclear terms in parentheses after you mention the term.
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Finalizing your essays
- Formatting: Is the essay well formatted? If the school does not specify between single-spacing and double-spacing, we suggest you submit a single-spaced document that has a line of white space between paragraphs. We do not recommend using “justified” alignment as it can cause some weird spacing within your lines.
- Word limit: Are your essays within the required word limit?
- Prompt: Have you thoroughly responded to the essay prompt?
- Specific & Detailed: Have you been specific and detailed when discussing your career plans and goals? Have you shared your short-term, medium-term, and long-term career goals, listing specific places you’d like to work, what you’d like to learn, and what you’d like to be working on?
- Juicy Stories: Are you telling memorable, juicy stories? Have you shared what you and other characters in the story thought, felt, said, and did?
- Correct school name: Make sure that you haven’t mentioned the wrong name of the school in your essay. I see this mistake every year when I am reviewing near-final drafts for clients.
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Finalizing the Application
It’s easy to miss small typos and errors in your application. For the areas where you have to fill in your data, keep these points in mind:
- Check for typos and omissions.
- Check that you’ve checked all boxes that should be checked. Example: “Check this box if you are a reapplicant.”
- Check the time of the deadline for your school. I don’t recommend waiting until the same day of the deadline to submit your application as you could run into technical issues or other unforeseen delays. However, if you do find yourself submitting your application the same day your application is due, check the time and time zone that your application is due.
Print your entire application out, review it on paper, and have a trusted person review it on paper as well before you submit. Then go celebrate!
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