We posed questions to admissions officials at the Boston College Carroll School of Management regarding the application process, what they look for in applicants, and what sets their school apart. These are their responses:

1. What can applicants do to set themselves apart from their peers?

Applicants who demonstrate strong awareness of their background, skill set, and research on an M.B.A. program definitely garner strong attention from the Admissions Committee. Also, by attending admissions events such as information receptions, or visiting a class, or speaking with an admissions officer, applicants can make a personal introduction and connection with school.

2. What do you look for in the application essays?

We prefer to receive concise essays that directly answer the essay question but also reveal unique qualities or personality. What do the essays tell you about a candidate? Well written essays, both in content and form, serve to further illustrate the unique nature of a candidate's background and more effectively highlight an applicant's potential and fit with the school and program. Applicants should articulate a reasonable and sound game plan for short and long term post-M.B.A. goals.

3. How important is the applicant's GMAT score? How do you weight it against undergraduate GPA and work experience? Which of these carry the most weight? The least?

Work experience, GPA, and GMAT scores are weighted fairly equally. Strong work experience, in terms of depth and breadth, is valued. We partner with our Director of Career Strategies throughout the process of evaluating candidates' work history relative to their post-M.B.A. career plans. GMAT and GPA are good predictive tools for assessing a candidate's aptitude and predicting academic performance.