Capturing your reader’s attention is the most important goal of your MBA application. You want the admissions officer to remember you after reading 20 applications that day. The longer you can keep his or her attention (in the right way!), the better your chances are of landing an interview.

In this episode, we take the core principles from Oren Klaff’s Pitch Anything, and discuss 4 ways you can get and keep attention in your application. The primal “croc brain” that hears a pitch is very different from the logical “neocortex” that designs a pitch.  The “croc brain” is intrigued by pleasant novelty, movement, and suspense.  Listen on for some very specific ways you can incorporate these elements into your MBA essays and resume.

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1. Be a pleasant novelty – violate the adcom’s expectations in a pleasing way.
2. Use a strong frame which makes you the prize – local star power frame, intrigue frame, prizing frame, moral authority frame, etc.
3. Always show movement – in your career progression and reasons for getting an MBA.
4. Push / Pull – make sure you have strong alternatives to the MBA program so you are a less needy, more attractive candidate.

 Show Notes:

Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading and Winning the Deal, Oren Klaff

Great Applications for Business School, Paul Bodine

Episode length: 14:57

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