As Madhavi mentions in her post, strong extracurricular activities are a must for any serious applicant. Since most applicants to top programs will probably have a solid GPAs and mind-blowing GMAT scores, strong participation in extracurricular activities is one of the main places on your application where you need to stand out (in a good way, of course).
Where do you find a good outlet for your charitable involvement? One often overlooked example is your alma mater’s alumni association. If you’re not currently a member of your alumni association (or better yet, you didn’t even know one existed), sign up immediately!
A university’s alumni association exists mainly to promote the goals and interests of the university in the broader community. It raises the university’s ability to raise money, gain political clout, recruit students, and enhance its image. The best part is, most alumni associations rely on alumni volunteers’ help. Getting involved is often a great opportunity to showcase or develop your leadership skills and show initiative in giving back to your community.
There are various ways to get involved. If you no longer live near the area where you went to college, look into starting a local alumni club. Alumni clubs across the country host various social, networking, and volunteer events to promote the spirit of their university. If a local club already exists, sign up and volunteer your services in planning various club events or running the club.
You can also visit your alumni association’s website to find out information regarding the structure of the association; often, you can volunteer to sit on various committees or even run for the board of directors. Not only is this a great way to show your commitment to you alma mater, it is also a fantastic networking opportunity. Look for opportunities that will allow you to showcase or develop skills that you lack in your work experience.
Getting involved with your alumni association has many tangible benefits for prospective MBA applicants. Some schools, such as HBS and Tuck, actually look for evidence of applicants’ post-graduation involvement with their schools – it shows that, if accepted, the applicant will continue to be involved with the school. If you’re looking for attractive extra-curricular involvement, look no further than your alumni association.
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