Add Sensory Language in your MBA Application

Make no mistake about it. Your application to business school is an exercise in INFLUENCE and PERSUASION.

That's why I always take time to listen to research from Professor Jonah Berger of The Wharton School and see if there are lessons to apply to the MBA admissions journey.

In his research, Professor Berger has found that "one additional sensory word is associated with over 10,000 additional likes and comments on TikTok."

Now I know that an application to an elite business school isn't exactly like posting something on TikTok.

But listen to this:

"By understanding what sensory language is and understanding how to work it into what we’ve done, what we’ve posted, what we’re sharing, we can have a big impact on our content’s eventual influence," he continues.

And that's EXACTLY what you are trying to do in your application. INFLUENCE the reader to make an informed decision about the strength of your candidacy.

I think that this powerful insight speaks directly, in particular, to your letter of recommendation (LoR).

While your boss is not a TikTok influencer recommending a particular brand of shampoo to teenagers based on the tropical smell (sensory language), they ARE influencing the admissions reader that you are a great fit for the program.

So, what sensory language can they use?

Here's an example:

Original LoR sentence: "Tom has strong team leadership skills."

New LoR sentence: "I observed (sensory language) that Tom has strong team leadership skills by hearing him (sensory language) speak in a client meeting where he said that......"

See the difference?

If you want to take your application to the next level, take time to research thought leaders like Professor Berger, who is one of the best scholars in the world in consumer behavior. You'll find some terrific lessons, whether you are applying to a fantastic business school like Wharton or recommending your favorite shampoo on TikTok.