MBA Admissions: Advice for Chinese Applicants

给中国MBA申请者的建议

Hundreds of Chinese apply for a few coveted spots in the top U.S. business programs each year. What are those programs looking for in their applications?

每年，都有很多的中国申请者申请就读他们梦寐以求的美国顶尖大学的商务课程，这些课程都对他们的申请者有什么要求呢？

●Demonstrated experience in an international business environment.

展示在国际商务环境中工作的经验。

●Applicants who have made an impact

申请人需具有一定影响。

●Rising stars, recognized by senior management

新兴之星，得到了同业前辈的公认。

●Leaders, managers, and mentors to others

身为领导，管理人员或可以为他人提供咨询建议。

●Passionate, directed people

热情的，有目标的人。

●Community activists

团队中的积极分子。

●Applicants who understand why they need an MBA from an American institution

申请人必须清楚就读美国教育体制下的MBA课程的目的。

Demonstrate your experience in an international business environment

展示你具有在西方商务环境下工作的经验。

The top American international business programs like Chinese applicants to demonstrate their ability to work in an international business environment. If you've worked overseas or with a multinational company in China, you need to discuss that experience: explain the kinds of cultural differences you observed and give examples of how you surmounted the cultural gaps with your foreign counterparts and team members.

美国顶尖的国际商务课程总是很喜欢中国的申请人展示自己在国际商务环境下工作的能力。如果你曾经在海外或者中国境内的跨国公司内工作过，你需要讨论以下经历：解释你所观察到的文化差异以及提供例子说明自己在工作中是如何克服这些文化差异的。

●Were the Westerners brash? How did you help them learn to communicate with the Chinese staff?

西方的工作伙伴是不是很无礼？你是怎么帮助他们学习与中国雇员的相处之道的？

●Were the Chinese reserved? How did you help them learn to share their ideas with Westerners?

中国的同事是不是很冷淡?你是怎么帮助他们学习与外国同事共同分享观点想法的？

But what if you haven't had the opportunity to work abroad or with a foreign multinational? You still need to prove your ability to work with foreigners and understand international business culture. You can do so by discussing your interaction with foreign suppliers or buyers or with Western consultants or auditors. Furthermore, you could draw on your experiences as a volunteer with an international non-profit organization such as the Red Cross to testify to your cultural aptitude and experiences with foreigners.

但是如果你没有在海外工作或者在跨国公司的机会，你仍然需要证明你有同外国人一起工作的能力，并且可以很好的理解国际商务文化。你可以通过与海外的供应商，买家，或者西方的咨询顾问，审计员的互相交流联系获得这些经验与能力。此外，你可以利用你做为国际非营利性组织（如红十字会）成员的经验去证明自己的文化资质以及同外国人工作的经历。

Share your impact

分享你的影响

Impact is best demonstrated with numbers. Your work experience section, resume, and essays need to give details such as the percent increase in sales that your initiatives have effected, the percent or amount in costs that your efforts have saved, or the number of offices or branches you have expanded. Use these numbers to complement your descriptions of how you revolutionized the systems, methods, and operations of your company.

显示你的影响，最好的方法是使用数据。你的工作履历，简历以及论文都需要给出很多的细节，你需要用数字表现出来，例如在销售中由于你的主动性增加的销售量，通过你的努力减少的花费支出的百分比，你办公室人员的增加，或者你拓展的分支机构。使用数据去补充你的描述，你是如何在公司中对系统，方法，公司的运营进行革命性的改革的。

●Did the marketing campaign you designed boost sales of the product by 50% within 6 weeks?

你设计的销售策略有没有在六周内使得营业额提升了50%呢？

Show that you are a rising star

展示你是明日之星。

Rising stars are already recognized by senior management. To demonstrate that you are a rising star: 1) report the number of promotions you have earned, 2) describe how your responsibilities surpass those of peers your age, 3) compare your age to those on your level in the hierarchy, and 4) detail how you are collaborating with and recognized by senior management.

明日之星要经过同行前辈们认可。如何展示你是明日之星？1：报告你通过:促销增加了多少销售 2：描述你的责任心超过了你同龄的平辈  3：:和那些和你在同一层级水平的人比较年龄 4：细节的描述你是怎么和同业前辈们合作并且得到他们的认可？

●Have you earned a promotion every year or become the youngest department manager?

你有没有每年都升职，或者成为最年轻的部门经理?

●Do you manage 30 people, the largest revenue producing sector of your company, or its most prestigious clients?

你是否管理了30人的团队，并且在成为你公司最大的盈利部门，或者在客户中享受很高的声誉？

Prove that you are a leader, manager, and mentor to others

证明你是其他人的领导，管理者或者良师。

Use your essays to illustrate the strategic initiatives you have designed to steer the company in new directions and detail how these initiatives are contributing to growth. Describe the trends you have foreseen in your industry and how you are preparing your company for them. Detail the plans you have created to nurture your staff to help them grow. Tell anecdotes about how you have led your team through controversy and difficulty.

使用你的essay去说明，你设计的战略举措，使得公司朝着新的方向运转，同时细节性的描述出这些主动性为公司的成长贡献良多。描述出你所预见的，有关于你所处行业的发展趋势，并且说明你是如何准备应对这种情况的。细节性的描述出你为了帮助员工成长所制定的计划。通过一些小事去说明你是如何领导你的团队克服困难以及解决争议的。

●Did you identify an untapped market and lead a taskforce to create a product to tap this niche?

你能敏锐的感受到一个未开发市场的潜力么？你有能力领导一个团队去开发一种新的产品从而占领这个市场么？

●How did you lead the team through the crisis to bring the product to market in record time

你是怎么带领你的团队克服危机并在破纪录的时间内把你们的产品推向市场呢？

Reveal your passion and direction

展示你的激情和发展方向。

MBA programs are seeking Chinese applicants who are passionately pursuing career growth and impact. Don't just tell the reader about your grand plans for the future; overcome your reticence and convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your career and your goals. Grant the reader some insight into the emotional reasons behind your decision to pursue your path.
MBA课程想要发现中国申请人充满激情的追逐着事业的发展与其影响。不要知识告诉读者你未来的宏伟计划，克服自己的沉默寡言，向他们展示你对于事业和目标的兴奋与激情吧。让读者深刻的理解你的情绪因素决定了你的前进之路。

●Did your experience collaborating with a Western consultant to boost the results of your department inspire you to launch your own consultancy?

与西方的顾问合作，使得你自己的部门获益良多，从而使你开展自主的咨询工作，请问你有没有这样的经验呢？

●Did spending your afternoons toiling on your family's vegetable garden motivate you to develop an environmentally safe insecticide and lead a company on a mission to increase the world's food supply?

你有没有花费了一下午的时间，在你家的菜园里辛勤劳作，这样的经历激发了你想要研发一种对于环境无害的安全杀虫剂或者领导了公司进行项目的开发，为了达到增加世界粮食供应的这一目标？

Discuss your community activism

讨论你的社会行动性

American MBA programs are seeking students who are involved outside of work and school. You need to show the admissions committees that you are more than the sum of your education and career. You are a person committed to the community, who makes an active contribution to more than just your company. Tell stories about your volunteer activities and how you are recruiting others to become more involved.

美国的MBA课程希望学生能够全心投入工作和学习之外的事情。你需要想申请委员会展示你在工作和学习之外还有这更多的价值。你是一个决心从事社会活动的人，你不仅仅只是为你所在的公司做出贡献。告诉他们一些有关于你参加志愿活动的小故事，以及你是如何招募到更多志同道合的人的。

●Has your love of the sciences prompted you to found an after-school program with free science tutoring and exciting interactive experiments that now includes 20 schools across China?

你所热爱的学科促使你成立了一个课余活动么？这项活动免费进行科学辅导并且有着令人兴奋地互动实验，同时已经在中国的20所高校传播开来？

Demonstrate that you need an MBA from an American institution

展示你需要在美国教育体制下学习MBA课程的必要性。

As a Chinese applicant, you need to convince the admissions committees that you need an MBA from an American institution, specifically the program you are applying to. First, detail the international aspect of your future goals. Second, describe how your goals are linked to this institution's program. And third, explain the importance of interacting with the international student body.

身为一个中国籍的申请人，你需要说服申请委员会你需要在美国教育体制下学习MBA课程，尤其是那门你所申请的学科。首先，详细叙述你目标中的具有国际性的部分。接着，描述你的目标与这种体制下的课程有什么联系。最后，解释与留学生互动的重要性。

●Do you want to refine your manufacturing background in a specialized program like Kellogg's?

你是否想要通过一个专业的课程，例如Kellogg's，去改善你原来的制造业的背景？

Ace the interview

突出的面试表现

What's the biggest interview obstacle for Chinese applicants? Spoken English. To improve your English, join an English conversation group, befriend English speakers in China, and read voraciously in English. Throughout the interview remember your profile and what has driven you throughout your career. Prepare examples in advance to discuss how you have led teams, overcome conflicts, and made an impact in the community. Know everything you can about this business school: what programs, majors, and clubs it offers, which you plan to participate in, and what its student body is like. Know exactly why this is the best program to help you achieve your goals.对于中国申请人来说，面试时最大的障碍是什么？就是说英语。提高你的英语，加入英语会话组群，同在中国的英语使用者交朋友，或者进行快速的阅读。贯穿整个面试需要牢记的个人资料以及你是如何你的引领你的事业发展的。提前准备好一个例子去谈论你是怎样领导团队，克服困难，在社会中起到影响。了解一切有关于商学院的事情，比如课程，专业，俱乐部，哪一个是你准备加入的，有哪些学生参加。了解为什么这门课程可以帮助你达到你的目标。

Each school is sifting through those hundreds of applications to find the Chinese applicants that will be able to benefit from its program and enhance the education and experience of its other students.

每个学校都想从那么多的申请者中筛选出最好的中国籍申请人，希望他可以得益于这门课程.