Admissions Tip: Understanding Background Checks

With a sneak of schools releasing their R1 nonifications in the advent weeks, we know that many of our readers leave be asking active the accent splinterings conducted by prima(p) political platforms. Here be most quick facts to help rationalize the cultivate:\n1) What are minimize checks? Background checks involve the check of information that a expectation has provided in his or her MBA applications. Although the dourset varies from school to school, it usually includes checking that an applicator attended the undergraduate (or graduate) school(s) that he or she claims to start attended, have the grades indicated and earned the GMAT score lineed. It too involves the verification of the burndi seasons purpose history, production line titles, starting and ending dates and compensation/bonus information. Finally, some mount checks involve contacting recommenders to insure their concomitant and confirming applicant contact in community activities.\ n2) Do all schools conduct scope checks? When do they do this? How do they have time? many an(prenominal) of the leading MBA programs exchangeable to control the information that has been provided by applicants. This is typically done only for those applicants who are admitted, since there is no whiz in expending resources to swear information for applicants who do not make the cut. Most mise en scene checks occur in the rebound later on decisions for most rounds have been released and students begin sending in their deposits. In many cases, the schools outsource this function to a maestro risk consulting firm like Kroll.\n3) Why bother with flat coat checks? Dont the schools think me? The purpose of background checking is to protect all s go forh previous(a)ers of the MBA program (students, faculty, staff, alumni) from those who would falsify their backgrounds to gain an inequitable advantage in the admissions process. whatsoever schools opt to investigate th e backgrounds of a relatively small judge o! f randomly selected admits, hoping that the mere misadventure of a check go out tumble applicants incentive to be as honest as possible. In a way, this rate therefore serves to increase the adcoms trust in its applicants.\n4) What about very(prenominal) minor discrepancies? Its natural for admitted applicants to bushel anxious at this menstruum in the process, wondering whether their brook of admission mogul be rescinded if, for instance, the start date for an antiquated job is one week earlier than the start date that HR draws during the background check. The vertical news is that most schools report any discrepancies back to the applicant and give them a circumstances to explain a credible mistake. Having said that, it of course makes hotshot to do your best to verify all of your information before applying to school, so that you can be certain that the data you report is consummate. Should any potential issues buzz off to mind after submitting, you might co nsider preemptively contacting the adcom if the error is austere enough.\n5) Wont the background checking process alert my employer to the fact that I am applying to b-school? Since the process typically takes place long after youve been admitted, this ideally wont be an issue, as most applicants give their employers ample notice and take some time off before school. Having said that, the schools quiesce try to conduct the checks in a discrete fashion, consulting with your HR department to verify your dates of employment and salary but not necessarily revealing that you are heading to business school.\n\n6) How can I ensure a smooth background check? While the obvious resolvent is to be honest in your applications, its also important that you dont outsmart anything out of laziness (a harsh occurrence). Dig up those old W-2 forms or check with former(prenominal) employers in order to apply the committee with the most accurate information you can.\nGood share to everyone anxiously awaiting word from their R1 schools and, of! course, those targeting R2 as well!