Episode #48: How to Use Storytelling in Your MBA Applications

Donna Bauman is a Senior MBA Admissions Counselor with Stratus Admissions and a former admissions team member at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. In this interview, Donna spoke about the importance of storytelling in your MBA application, and provided some tactical guidance on how to use principles of storytelling to your advantage in your MBA applications. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify today

Show Notes

  • 2:05 – Donna’s background
  • 5:18 – Common challenges that MBA applicants face when working on their MBA application
  • 9:40 – How Donna works with clients to determine their unique story
  • 12:50 – Some key elements of ways to tell a story
  • 13:50 – Why storytelling matters in the MBA application
  • 17:30 – Admissions Directors think about how applicants can contribute to the community
  • 18:20 – The concentric circle of storytelling
  • 22:40 – Approaches to finding your unique story
  • 27:20 – How challenges can become part of your story
  • 29:00 – Getting help from others to help you find unique elements in your story
  • 31:37 – Example of how Donna worked with a previous client to uncover his unique story
  • 34:55 – Advice for figuring out your unique story when you are stuck

 

Links

  • Esther Choy’s Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/estherchoy/2020/08/05/storytelling-techniques-jeff-bezos/#60bde74c26c7