The following general recommendations give a sense of how we assess APD applications and suggestions for highlighting your accomplishments.

We review every APD application completely, so provide accurate and thorough information. There are no knockout factors, and you need not be distinctive on every dimension. You will be better served by providing all the information we ask for than by leaving out elements you feel are weak.

Your application (i.e., cover letter, CV/resume, short essay) is our first and primary evidence of your written communication skills, so present it in a thoughtful and compelling manner. Make it easy to identify distinctive elements.

Recommendations regarding your CV or resume

• Do not tailor it to a one-page business resume. We have experience reading academic resumes/CVs, so you do not need to fit your information into a traditional business format. If you do, you will leave out important information
• PhDs should highlight top labs at lower-ranked departments. We know what the leading departments in a field are, but we won’t necessarily know of all renowned researchers in all fields. If you’re working in a distinctive lab, please let us know
• Include all teamwork and/or leadership experiences. If they’re not already on your CV or resume, please add them. These are critical to having a three-dimensional application. We understand that many graduate students must fully focus on their research, so it is okay to include examples from your undergraduate studies
• Highlight distinctive awards, honors and fellowships. For any distinctive honors, it is helpful to include the number of applicants, the number awarded, the selection criteria, and the amount of the grant (if applicable)
• If applicable, highlight distinctive refereed journal publications. Explicitly highlight publications in prestigious journals. We tend to discount publications that are in preparation but not submitted
• Include any demonstrated interest in business. Many applicants will not have this, but if you do, include it (e.g., relevant work experience, classes taken, projects completed, consulting clubs)
• Include meaningful work experience. Again, many applicants do not have this, but if you do, include it. We’re interested in all meaningful work experience, not just work experience related to business (full-time positions, internships, military service)
• Include anything else that is distinctive. We are interested in all academic and nonacademic achievements from the recent past
• Consider including interests outside of academics. If they’re not already on your CV/resume, consider adding them. They will not help or hurt your application but can be good conversation starters in an interview
• Do not include personal references or summaries of your research papers or copies of journal publications. At this stage, we do not need this information.

Items to have ready for the online application

• Your initial location preferences. Think carefully about your preference for US/Canada vs. other countries as you may interview with only one country. If you would consider a US/Canadian location, include it in your top four selections. Within the US/Canada, your initial preferences have no bearing on the success of your application
• Standardized test scores (e.g., GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, SAT scores). There are no knockout factors. You will be better served by providing your scores, even if they are low, than by leaving them off. If you have not taken any of these standardized tests, you will be able to note this fact on the application
• Undergraduate performance. You may enter performance based on your GPA, class rank/percentile, and/or honors (e.g., cum laude). If you did not receive any indication of your academic performance, you may select “Not Applicable” and provide the background in your cover letter
• Short essay. Please put some thought into your essay; it is an important part of your application. Choose an experience appropriate to the essay question. Focus on your actions and involvement and on the results of your actions and involvement
• Cover letter. A cover letter is not required; however, you may want to include one should you need to.  It is a good place to alert us of an unusual situation (e.g., if you’ll be out of town during campus interviews), highlight distinctive elements of your profile not included on your cv/resume, and/or provide background on a reapplication (i.e., when you most recently applied, the prior outcome/feedback, evidence you’ll be a stronger applicant)