Tepper Application Tips

Each month, a member of our admissions team will present a Tepper Application Tip to help you prepare an effective application. Be sure to check back for next month's Tepper Tip!

Demonstrating Teamwork and Leadership in your Application

by Krystal Brooks, Assistant Director of Admissions

My colleagues and I often field this common question: What is the most important part of my application? All components of your application tell us something different and significant about your candidacy – they work together to create a complete account of who you are.

So, what are we looking for when we evaluate these components?   Much of what we are looking for is unsurprising: the ability to academically succeed in the program, the potential for professional success, the elusive “Tepper fit” that was discussed in February’s tip. However, for the admissions committee to truly see the total package of your candidacy, we also need to understand your qualitative attributes or “intangibles.” At the Tepper School, we think that these are best exemplified by your teamwork and leadership experiences.

Why is a b-school interested in teamwork and leadership? First of all, to be academically successful in this program, you must be able to work well with others. The Tepper MBA program is very collaborative and necessitates working together in study groups, group projects, and case competition teams. As a student entering the program, you will bring a unique skill set with you. The ability to share your skills with your classmates and benefit from their unique experiences is what makes b-school such a special place. If my background is in marketing, but yours is in engineering, we can work together so we are both successful.

Secondly, we want you to be able to be wildly successful upon graduation and into the future. Business does not operate in a vacuum. To make an impact in whatever organization you join, you must be able to work well with those around you. Making that impact is where your leadership skills are highlighted. We believe that you can hone the confidence to make big decisions while you are here at business school, but we are also interested in what kind academic and professional initiatives you’ve already taken in your career.

How should you demonstrate your teamwork and leadership capabilities? Regardless of your academic and professional background, you’ve undoubtedly had multiple opportunities to take initiative or be a team player. Leading does not necessarily mean that your title was “president” or “team lead.” You have probably motivated a team, solved a problem, or moved an idea forward at some point in your career. These illustrations are all examples of leadership. Likewise, being a “team player” does not require participation in an all star sports team. There are many different ways to contribute to a team; we are interested in how you will contribute.

When thinking about your team and leadership experiences, we recommend:

• Reflecting on all of your experiences
• Thinking about instances where you performed as a team player or leader, even if they are non-traditional
• Noting recent examples that highlight your team or leadership abilities

By highlighting your previous experiences, you illustrate what kind of Tepper student you will be when you join our community. Ultimately, this is why we are so interested in these aspects of your application.