In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, let us introduce Steve Togneri, Director of Admissions at the Imperial College Business School in London, England.
Steve is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in higher education admissions. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies from the University of Portsmouth. Following his undergraduate studies, Steve embarked on a career in community health promotion, gaining valuable experience in public engagement and community outreach. For the past 17 years, Steve has been a dedicated member of the admissions team at Imperial College Business School. He is passionate about higher education and is committed to guiding prospective students through the admissions process, ensuring they find the right fit for their academic and professional goals.
Keep reading for Steve’s take on writing your best essay, what to expect from the MBA admissions process this year, and some highlights of the programming.
Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Steve Togneri: The dedicated and focused careers support that is offered throughout and beyond the programme. As well as a Careers module (Personal Leadership Journey) that runs throughout the programme, students have access to a dedicated careers consultant and are exposed to a wide range of associated events and opportunities, including Careers Week and sector-specific Careers Fairs and alumni panels.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
ST: We assess candidates based on academic background, career history, motivation, objectives and responses to essay questions. If successful at this stage, candidates will be invited to an interview with a member of the Recruitment & Admissions team or an alumnus of the programme. Once all interviews for the round have taken place, we’ll hold an Admissions Committee meeting made up of Recruitment, Admissions, Career and Programme Team colleagues to review profiles and interview feedback before making a final decision.
CA: How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
ST: We are trying to gauge what an individual is like as a person and discover things we can’t see elsewhere on the application. It’s an opportunity to show research into our programme and the Imperial community and how candidates feel they align with their objectives and values. Don’t just repeat what is in CV, use it as opportunity to tell us something we might not otherwise know to help you stand out from other applicants. The key to a great essay is authenticity, don’t tell us what you think we want to hear, but what genuinely motivates and inspires you in your life, work and MBA aspirations.
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately how many applicants do you interview? Who conducts the interview (students, admissions officers, alumni) and what is the nature of the interview (resume-based, application-based, behavioral)? Will your admissions interviews be in-person or virtual for the 2024-2025 admissions season?
ST: Interviews are conducted by Alumni of the programme or senior members of the Recruitment & Admissions Team. They will be held online via Zoom Similar to the essay part of the application, the interview is used as an opportunity to discover more about career plans and impact so far. We’d also like to gain more understanding about motivation to study with us and how our MBA will help candidates achieve their objectives. Interview questions will cover career and motivation as well as a mix of competency and wider knowledge based questions.
CA: What is your testing policy? Do you offer exam waivers? Why or why not?
ST: We require GMAT or GRE for our Full Time MBA programme. We value the insight that a GMAT or GRE test provides, but we offer waivers to applicants who have achieved a First Class degree from a highly ranked institution in a quantitative area. Candidates would need to submit a waiver request for us to review.
CA: In the application data form, many schools ask for information about work experience, activities, hobbies, and much more. What advice would you give to applicants as they approach this component of the application process?
ST: Be as concise as possible and don’t be afraid to share details of what you might consider to be atypical of an MBA candidate. We are all unique with different experiences to share and it is often these differences that can make us stand out.
CA: Tell us briefly about two popular courses at your institution.
ST: Global Experience Week. This is always a highlight in the Full-Time MBA journey, as it offers students the opportunity to learn about specific challenges and successes within an overseas business environment. The experience is immersive and allows students to network and build strong ties with other MBA students, as well as international businesses.
The Imperial Innovation Challenge. Part of the wider Innovation & Entrepreneurship module, this week-long intensive experience invites students to work in groups and take a deep dive into the Imperial ecosystem and explore issues around technology commercialisation, applying integrated business thinking to technological challenges.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
ST: As well as a focus on leadership from the Careers team, students also undertake the LEADS module (Leadership, Ethics, Awareness, Diversity, Society) which aims to encourage a holistic and responsible approach to their future leadership. This module runs throughout the year and covers key issues in the workplace and society, to ensure our Full-Time MBA students are graduating with all the tools required for self-analysis and reflection throughout their professional journey.
