We posed questions to admissions officials at Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business 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? The Rice M.B.A. Application process is designed to give applicants the opportunity to tell their story and help the admissions committee get to know them as an individual. We encourage applicants to use the application essays and interview to highlight not just their strengths as a professional and prospective M.B.A. candidate but also the elements of their personality and life experiences that make them unique. 2. What do you look for in the application essays? What do the essays tell you about a candidate? The admissions committee uses the essays to get to know the candidates and also to assess the candidate's self-knowledge, maturity, and writing ability. We like to see thoughtful, well-organized, and well-written essays that tell the applicant's story while responding to the essay prompts. Essays are also used to gauge a candidate's knowledge of and compatibility with the Rice M.B.A. program, so we encourage candidates to reflect on the unique elements of the Rice M.B.A. and how the program will help the candidate reach his or her goals. 3. How important is the applicant's GMAT score? How do you weigh it against undergraduate GPA and work experience? Which of these carry the most weight? The least? The admissions committee reviews applications holistically; each component of the application is reviewed and considered as the committee makes its recommendation. If one area of the application is below average, it benefits the candidate to have other portions of the application that are above average—but no one area carries more "weight" than any other area. |