The easy way to apply for the altMBA
Written by Sam Miller, Director of altMBA Operations & Admissions
We’re excited you’re thinking about joining the altMBA community.
Each session we get more qualified applicants than we have room for, so applying early is a good idea.
The altMBA application is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes to ship, but it’s important to stand out. So, we put together five pro-tips on what we’re looking for. Plus, a video for additional tips.
1. You’re more than a resume
Yes, your career trajectory tells us a little about you, but we want to know who you are beyond your professional goals and achievements. Consider telling us more about where you’ve been, where you’re going, what you’re passionate about, how you spend your free time, moments of change…
To go the extra mile, adding your personal website, blog, a special application video will help us add context to your written application. It’s not required, but that might be the point.
We can’t get to know the real you, but we can try.
2. Are you ready to show up?
The altMBA works because there are more than a hundred other people looking out for you, contributing to you, rooting for you. And we make that happen by selecting people who are eager to do that for others.
This is a commitment of time, money, and energy, so putting the effort into your application is a signal that you’re ready to show up for yourself and your classmates.
3. Is it a fit?
The altMBA is an intense 4-week sprint that requires commitment (we know you’ve heard it before) — you can consider it a passionate side hustle. It’s not only important for you to demonstrate why you would be a good fit for the workshop but why the altMBA is a good fit for you.
Communicating why the altMBA is critical to your journey will help us determine if we can help you make the change you’re looking to make.
4. Don’t wait
What do exceptional leaders have in common? They don’t wait. They ship and they ship often. The same applies to submitting your application.
Competition gets tougher as we near the final deadline for each session. There are only a limited number of seats per workshop and once we’re full, we’re full.
5. Spelling and grammar…
While the internet is a grammarian’s nightmare, in some places, a few extra minutes of attention to detail matter. The altMBA has a lot of written work so spelling and grammar make a difference. Articulation is critical and part of that is communicating in a clear, thoughtful way.
Take a minute to read over your application one more time before you hit submit. The extra polish you add doesn’t go unnoticed!
Mostly: Apply. Simply apply. That’s the most important tip we can share.
The altMBA Team
PS Take a look at what some of our alumni have to say…
“The altMBA is *only* for people who are ready to level-up in work, in personal relationships, and in life! If you’re ready to go all-in, this is the place to do it. The people you will meet will forever change you and after it’s over, you will realize it’s just the beginning. You will see the world differently — it’s still full of fear, limitations, and judgment — but you will run towards the fear and tear down all barriers standing in your way. I now have the tools to get unstuck, to achieve meaningful goals, and to live a full life. I learned what it means to be generous and will continue to be generous for the rest of my life because I’ve seen the difference it makes. Best of all, I have an amazingly supportive network of altMBA alumni to keep me honest on my once in a lifetime journey. I will never forget this experience.” - Terumi O., Product Marketing Manager, altMBA16
“The altMBA taught me lessons I didn’t even know I needed to learn. It’s like all of a sudden a bunch of teachers arrived in my life.” - Jeremiah B., Senior Designer at Starbucks, altMBA30
“Is much more valuable than an MBA, MSC, BA or whatever formal form of education. It’s the type of journey from which you get as much as you put in. It offers a context for learning with endless possibilities for development. All you have to do is be opened to experiment and trust the process.” - Armina S., Head of Learning, altMBA4
