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When it comes to applying for a masters in management degree, doing your research is just as important as having the right motivation to take the program.
Omid Aschari, managing director of the strategy and international management masters program at Universität St Gallen, says that candidates are expected to "have done their homework by properly investigating our program and its value for their career aspirations".
There is no shortage of sources of information such as school websites, social networks, blogs, alumni, current students, the programs office and the careers service.
You can seek out school in-house publications, such as the SIMpact magazine at St Gallen, which offers insight into the masters in strategy and international management program, explains Mr. Aschari. "It captures the students' perspectives and one can get a feel about what the program is about."
It is essential to check the entry requirements of the program you are interested in. At the London School of Economics and Political Science, applicants with British degrees are required to have achieved at least a 2.1 degree in any subject, says James Browne, communications and marketing manager at the school.
Often, institutions insist on specific scores in either the graduate management admissions test (GMAT) or graduate record examination (GRE). The school will accept both qualifications, and the recommended GMAT score is 650 or above, Mr. Browne says. However, he points out that there is no strict minimum, as the GMAT or GRE only forms part of the picture.
At St Gallen, beyond the minimum GMAT score, profiles of candidates are taken into account to see if they can "enrich the program and add to its diversity", Mr. Aschari says. "Their background must show that they are competitive and motivated, have a good grade average and have pursued other extracurricular activities including international experience such as exchange programs or internships."
If English is not your first language, you will be asked for a particular score from an approved English language test. Some schools require candidates to sit in-house tests. For example, at ESCP Europe, which has campuses in five European countries, applicants from Europe have to take two language tests in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish, but not in their native language.
Once candidates are ready for the form-filling stage, some schools offer the choice of submitting a hard-copy application or an online submission via the school's website. About 95 per cent of prospective students apply online for the masters in management at LSE, according to Mr. Browne. The school's online form can be saved in stages so it does not need to be completed and submitted all at once. Additional documents, such as a CV, can be attached.
Part of the application may include writing a personal statement or letter of motivation.
This is not to be taken lightly, and candidates should not repeat what is on their CV, warns Mr. Aschari. At St Gallen, there are questions about candidates' motivation for enrolling, what candidates expect to achieve, what their professional aspirations are beyond the course and how the program will help them to achieve their goals.
"The students' responses offer a good indication of the extent to which they have investigated the program," he explains. "There must be evidence to indicate that applicants are thinking strategically about their application. Candidates should apply for a program that is suitable for them, not just because it is an excellent brand."
Applicants should demonstrate self-awareness by acknowledging their strengths and potential areas for improvement, plus leadership ability, communication and writing skills, says Mr. Browne. Personal statements can also be used, for example, to explain lower exam grades on a candidate's record.
Claude Laurin, director of the masters program at HEC Montréal, says candidates who opt for the thesis stream in the school's master of science in administration course need to describe their research interests.
It is also important to submit appropriate references. HEC Montréal prefers two academic references, but will accept one from a previous employer, says Mr. Laurin.
Work experience is welcomed at LSE but is not required as most candidates will have come straight from undergraduate studies, says Mr. Browne. Ideally, applicants should have completed at least one or two internships while completing their first degree, he adds.
Internships are highly valued and "appreciated on the same level as a full-time job", explains Mr. Aschari. He adds that the type of internship will be scrutinized: a tough role in a small company with a good screening process will look good on your application, but working for a relative in an unchallenging job "will not get you ahead".
Once you have submitted your application, you may be invited for an interview. Usually, LSE conducts interviews only in exceptional cases. For instance, they can be used to reassure a selector that a candidate has good communication skills and is able to converse effectively in English, says Browne.
At ESCP Europe, on the other hand, it is compulsory for applicants to attend a face-to-face interview. Claudine Bertin-Lord, director of the masters in management course for the school, and Maria Koutsovoulou, its academic dean, say this is a way to assess candidates' motivation for taking on the degree and their ability to study at a masters level.