What if They Say No?

Each year we receive far more applicants than we can admit. As we look at each applicant, we pay close attention to the following factors (in no particular order):

• Work experience - Years and quantity of full time, strategic work experience |
  
• Leadership experience developed through community and extracurricular involvement
  
• Overall GMAT score and the percentile scored on the quantitative and verbal sections. We currently do not use the writing portion of the test. Several institutions do use the score so it is best to check with potential schools to see that section of the test is required. If it is not needed, that section of test can be skipped if preferred.
  
• Undergraduate GPA - GPAs will generally not give an applicant a huge advantage due to the overall competitiveness of our applicants. Solid grades can add additional support to an application, but applicants should not assume that a high GPA will give them a sizeable benefit.
  
• Preparation - Applicants need to demonstrate that they have a clear understanding of how they plan to use their past experience and their MBA to reach their future goals. Applicants should ensure they can clearly define what those future goals are.

When looking at an applicant, all of these factors are pulled together to assess the candidate overall. Admissions does not look at any one factor as being independent from the others. A candidate's qualifications come together to form a portfolio. An applicant is then assessed on that portfolio of skills and experiences. If a candidate is weak in one area, that candidate needs to compensate for that weakness by being stronger in another.

There is a point at which a candidate cannot compensate for a weakness. For example, a candidate with no work experience cannot assume that an extraordinary GMAT will be enough to compensate. Likewise, a candidate with a very low GMAT score cannot assume that excellent work experience is enough to compensate. Admissions wants to ensure an applicant has a sufficient amount of work experience and a high enough GMAT to successfully complete the program.

If admissions decides to decline a candidate's application, the applicant should ask him or herself the following questions:

• How do I compare to the class averages? Is my GMAT higher or lower, do I have more or less full time, strategic work experience?
  
• Is there anything I can improve before the close of the application season or before the class fills? If you were declined admission because of your GMAT, you can continue to prepare and retake the test to be reconsidered for admission if the class is not full. If you choose to do this, notify admissions of your new GMAT score after you retake the test.
  
• Did I do enough preparation to show specific details on how my past experience and future goals relate in my resume, essays, and interview (if offered)?
  
• Can I improve my application enough to be considered in the future (i.e. GMAT score)?

Applicants who cannot improve their application in time to be reconsidered for admission need to determine if they want to wait a year or two to improve their application or if they want to consider an alternative. If an applicant decides to look at other programs, he or she should consider whether or not:

• He or she will be able to compete against peers for placement opportunities. Some institutions will admit a student with little to no work experience but that student will still have to compete against peers with work experience for the same jobs.
  
• The alternate institutions demand high enough academic requirements (GMAT/GPA). The applicant may want to consider how he or she will fit into a classroom with students who may or may not have the same level of academic strength.

Keep in mind that the BYU MBA admission's team has an applicant's best interest in mind. If an applicant is not admitted, it is because admissions feels that the applicant will have a much better MBA experience if elements of his or her application are strengthened.