Overcoming MBA Anxiety With The Help of an HBS Admissions Officer

• Part Two: How Anxiety and Worry Can Be Helpful To Your Application

For this very special three-part series, we are joined by SBC Consultant Pauline. Pauline holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, worked for years as an HBS Admissions Officer, and has presented/lectured at Stanford, Tufts and Villanova.

Pauline is uniquely positioned to speak about anxiety as it relates to the MBA application process. Pauline is passionate about Business, Education and Spirituality and worked as a Level 1 Hospital Trauma Chaplain. She also holds a Divinity degree in Pastoral Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

In last week's episode we talked about anxiety in the MBA context: what anxiety is, where it comes from, and discussed very specific strategies for what to do when anxiety strikes in the present moment. Today, we are going to dig deeper and talk about how you can HARNESS this worry and anxiety in healthy and productive ways to IMPROVE your application.

In this segment Chandler and Pauline:

• Share specific examples of how previous clients have harnessed worry and anxiety to improve their MBA essays,
• Discuss how thinking through your own “worst case scenarios and greatest fears” can help you prepare for your interviews,
• Roleplay specific scenarios in which applicants transform what they consider to be their greatest weaknesses as an applicant into strengths
• Provide a template to use when discussing failures or things you are not proud of in the MBA context

This episode is a must for anyone grappling with worry, anxiety, or self-doubt along their MBA journey.

Overcoming MBA Anxiety With The Help of an HBS Admissions Officer

• Part One: Understanding What Anxiety Is In The MBA Application Context

For this very special three-part series, we are joined by SBC Consultant Pauline. Pauline holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, worked for years as an HBS Admissions Officer, and has presented/lectured at Stanford, Tufts and Villanova.

Pauline is also uniquely positioned to speak about anxiety as it relates to the MBA application process. Pauline is passionate about Business, Education and Spirituality and worked as a Level 1 Hospital Trauma Chaplain. She also holds a Divinity degree in Pastoral Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

This episode starts with a bit of radical candor about the fact that there are LOTS of things that applicants can find themselves worrying about. This includes the test taking process, starting your application, writing (and rewriting) those essays, pressing send, preparing for interviews, managing worries while waiting for your decision, wrestling with imposter syndrome, and so many other topics.

In this episode, Pauline draws from her work as an HBS Admissions Officer—as well as her masters and doctoral work—to:

• Dive into the scientific underpinnings of anxiety, what it is, and where it comes from
• Share perspectives from various experts about physiology of anxiety
• Discuss the neurocognitive components, including the way anxiety affects the way you process information

And there is good news—so much good news. Chandler and Pauline also share:

• a reminder that ALL applicants face anxiety at some point in their application process
• the benefits of "leaning in" to the discomfort anxiety sometimes brings
• understanding your own "window of tolerance" as it relates to anxiety
• ways procrastination and anxiety are often interconnected
• specific tips and tricks to implement IN THE MOMENT when anxiety strikes
• the difference between "self-care" and "self-preservation" on your application journey
• powerful things you can learn about yourself by facing anxiety head-on

This podcast is a must for anyone struggling with anxiety, worry, or self-doubt on their MBA journey.

After you submit your MBA applications, should you contact the admissions committee with updates on your candidacy? What should you do if you find an error in your materials? Should you start preparing for your interviews now?

This episode answers those questions and more, and advises listeners on the best way to make use of their time between submission deadlines and their interviews.