Admissions officers want to see the real person behind an application: who you are, where you want to go with your career, what you want from your education, and the reasons behind your goals. They need to ensure that:

• Their program will provide you with the education you need to succeed
• Your interests, abilities, and personality will make you a good fit with your classmates and the school community
• Your career goals are realistic and can be supported by their career services office
• Your level of commitment to their program is high

It’s a challenge be able to communicate all of these details about yourself on your application. First, do some self-assessment. You need to know yourself well, how you learn best, which skills you have, and which ones you need to develop.

Being able to articulate how a program supports your overall career plan is critical. Admissions officers try to allocate seats to those most likely to succeed in the program and achieve their career goals. As an applicant, you should state your career objective clearly and explain how the program will help you achieve that goal through the education and career services the school offers.

The CareerLeader online self-assessment tool used by more than 200 graduate business programs worldwide, can help you take a more in-depth look at your interests, skills, and abilities before writing your applications and going to school interviews. Use the CareerLeader assessment to develop the sharp, clearly worded career focus you need to write a successful application—and to start your business school education fully prepared to pursue the successful career path that is right for you.

Learn more about the CareerLeader assessment and how it can help you define your application strategy and career goals.