Applying to an MBA program can feel like an American Ninja Warrior competition. There are obstacles at every turn, such as conducting school research, introspecting about your goals, preparing your essays, and interviewing. However, when you apply along with your partner, the degree of difficulty increases! You must prepare for two obstacle courses instead of one and consider the needs of two different people.
Can anyone navigate this process successfully? The answer is yes! I have worked with many pairs—from roommates to twins to engaged couples and even spouses. Here are five tips that couples applying jointly to MBA programs should keep in mind during the application process:
1. Communicate.
Communicate with your partner about what is most important to you. Have difficult conversations about what each person values at the start. Are you willing to go to different programs if that becomes the best option for both of you? Do you have a clear understanding of what is most important to each of you? Having this conversation early will help you avoid misunderstandings and resentment later in the process.
Additionally, inform the MBA programs to which you are applying that your partner is also applying. Many programs ask this question in the short answer section of the application, or you can note this in an optional essay. Be consistent in your approach. Both applicants can damage their credibility by sharing inconsistent information in their application—for example, one person says that they will attend a program only if their partner is also admitted, while the other person says they want to be considered individually. I worked with one married couple who did a great job here; they made it clear to the programs they applied to that although they preferred to attend the same program, they did not want to diminish the other’s chances and wanted each person to have full consideration based on their unique profile.
2. Compromise.
Every relationship requires some give and take. Any big decision a couple makes—such as whether or when to have children or which house to buy—requires compromise. The same principle applies to the MBA admissions process. Each person must decide which scenarios are deal breakers and which ones are tolerable. Some couples might decide that they must attend the same program, while other couples might be okay with attending programs in different cities. There is no right or wrong here, but you want to present a unified front in your applications.
If one partner has a more competitive profile, some creativity and compromise can be beneficial. For example, if one partner is interested in Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan, and the other partner is not, there are several other programs in the Boston area to consider, including Babson College, BU Questrom, and Hult. In Los Angeles, there are options at UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, and Pepperdine Graziadio. Looking at MBA programs in major cities will often give a couple more options, though being in the same city does not always guarantee an easy commute. It can take just 20 minutes to navigate between some programs in the same geographic area, such as UNC Kenan-Flagler and Duke Fuqua, which are only 11 miles apart. Meanwhile, the travel time between Northwestern Kellogg and Chicago Booth can be anywhere from 40 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic and the mode of transportation.
3. Compartmentalize.
Although you can support your partner during the admissions process, you want to present yourself as an individual. After all, the experience of attending an MBA program still must work for each of you as individuals. When I served as the coach to a married couple during the MBA admissions process, we set some ground rules up front. I encouraged them to brainstorm on their own and avoid discussing too many details about their essays with each other so that they could each develop their own voice. Talking with your partner during the early part of the essay-writing process could result in essays that are too similar, which will not be helpful to either applicant. For the couple I worked with, it helped to have a neutral coach with whom to discuss the unique elements of their own applications so that each could focus on their own story without feeling responsible for their partner’s MBA candidacy.
4. Consider consecutive timing.
Although both partners often apply to programs in the same year and graduate together, consider having one partner apply in one year and the other apply the following year. One advantage of this approach is that the couple will only have one year with no income. Another benefit is that the second partner will have access to their partner’s insider knowledge and contacts in the program, which could help them submit a stronger application.
5. Celebrate together.
Couples might not realize the appeal they have when they apply to a program as a pair. One power couple can provide an MBA program with two strong candidates. MBA power couples are also more likely to attend social and extracurricular events and to bring other classmates together. I have seen my coupled clients receive generous scholarships and grow closer through the MBA application process. After all, your partner knows exactly how difficult and stressful applying to an MBA program can be, and they will be able to share your excitement more than a partner who is not familiar with the process. Celebrate and support each other along the way, because that is the foundation for a healthy long-term partnership!
Our Stratus team has experience helping couples achieve their MBA goals together, and all members of our team have MBAs from top programs. We are available to start the conversation about your profile through a free consultation that you can schedule here.