Veritas Prep Quoted in CFO.com Article

The intersection of business school and the economy continues to be a story worth telling and the latest to do so is CFO.com. The noted website has run a feature on the effects of the economic recession and the spike in applications that has already been on display and that is projected to continue through the remaining rounds of the MBA admissions process. The value of the CFO.com piece is that the article moves from mere trends in the admissions space to some helpful tips that will allow applicants to maintain their footing in a more competitive cycle.

In what is becoming a common occurrence, Veritas Prep's Scott Shrum was featured prominently in the article, weighing in with several key application tips.

On highlighting work experience:

In both their résumé and personal essay, applicants should play up their work experience, especially any management experience or exposure to research, according to Scott Shrum, director of admission consulting research for Veritas Prep, a GMAT-preparation and MBA-admissions consulting firm.

On application weaknesses:

In the essay, applicants should articulate the value they put on an MBA, but they should also admit what skills they lack and how those gaps are limiting their career development. "They want someone with limitless potential but who is also raw in some areas," Shrum says. "They want you say that you're open to being transformed, and you want a program that will help you open your eyes to what you don't know."

On choosing the best authors for you letters of recommendation:

Letters of recommendation are also important. It's vital to tailor each letter to the specific MBA program, says Shrum. Many applicants automatically seek references from very well-known or high-ranking people in their departments, like the CFO. "Then what you get is a boilerplate response with very little information about you, and schools see right through that," says Shrum. "An admissions person would always prefer to hear from your direct manager with specific examples."

On prepping the people who will write those recommendations:

Shrum also recommends coaching letter-writers by giving them a list of examples of when you've excelled or overcome specific challenges. "Even though your recommenders may think highly of you," he says, "they may not know how to write a good letter of recommendation. There's no harm in helping or coaching them through it."

You can read the whole article here. And for more advice on mba admissions, visit Veritas Prep.