Applying to an MBA program can be daunting. As you polish up your resume, wrack your brain for application essay ideas, and obsess over your standardized test score, feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome often creep in. You might start questioning if you really deserve a spot in your target MBA program or if you can still make it in the academic world after spending years away from textbooks.
I totally get it—I’ve been there. During my own MBA application process, I was plagued by negative self-talk, telling myself I didn’t have enough relevant experience or that I wasn’t smart enough compared to other applicants. None of that was true, but if I’d listened to that nagging inner critic, I would’ve never had those two amazing years at Wharton.
But how can YOU overcome your imposter syndrome? The trick is to reframe those nagging self-doubts as empowering self-truths.
Here are my four tips for dealing with imposter syndrome during the MBA application process:
Tip #1: Fake it ‘til you make it, baby!
Honestly, we’re all making things up as we go along in life. Even the most successful people face self-doubt sometimes. So, puff up your chest, plaster a winning smile on your face, and strut into those interviews like you already attend that fancy-schmancy business school. Some of the most incompetent leaders are masters at faking competence, so take a page from their playbook. A little bravado can go a long way here!
Tip #2: Recall why you belong.
When plagued by imposter syndrome, revisit what drew you to apply to an MBA program in the first place. Reflect on the unique perspectives and skills you bring to the table. Reread glowing letters of recommendation from managers, mentors, or professors who affirm your talents and potential. You can also ask your colleagues or close friends what they think your best qualities are–these could become key items in your essays down the line. Many programs will ask how you plan to contribute to their incoming class, so if you’re armed with a list of traits those closest to you can already vouch for, chances are you won’t be hurting for specific examples to bring those traits to life in your essays. Most importantly, tune your inner dialogue to highlight your core competencies rather than perceived shortcomings.
But you may not even need to fake it—perhaps you just need to believe it! One of Wharton’s most beloved professors, Adam Grant, had this to say about imposter syndrome, “One of the things I’ve come to believe about imposter syndrome is it’s often a sign of Hidden Potential. If other people have higher expectations for you than you do for yourself, it means they’ve seen a capacity for growth in you that’s not visible to you yet. And if multiple people believe in you, it is time to believe them.”
Tip #3: Connect with a community who gets it.
Open up to close confidants or current MBA students about how you’re feeling–you’ll quickly discover that you are not alone in how you feel. If you don’t have a roster of current or former MBA students in your network just yet, hop on an active online forum, such as GMAT Club, to seek out advice and reassurance. Almost everyone there is navigating the same space as you and is feeling the exact same way. Sometimes just voicing self-doubts out loud can lessen their power over you. And hearing “I’ve been there, too!” from others will help normalize feelings of inadequacy.
Tip #4: Channel nerves into enthusiasm.
A little nervous energy shows you care, so funnel it into genuine passion and drive. When doubts around belonging arise, get curious about what you’ll learn or how you’ll grow rather than fixating on some arbitrary admissions metric you don’t meet. Approaching the process from a growth mindset makes it an exciting opportunity, not just a hurdle.
At the end of the day, an MBA program wants students hungry to develop their leadership capabilities—not just those who have checked every box on paper. So, continue moving forward with the spark that made you apply in the first place. You absolutely deserve to be there!
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