May 2004 Archives - 2/2 - Clear Admit MBA Admissions Blog

Wharton Bumps Up 'Round 3' Decision Date

Posted by Clear Admit on May 7, 2004, at 9:47 am
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It looks like those of you who are waiting for a decision from Wharton will find out sooner than originally planned (see the school’s message below). This is likely due to two reasons: 1) The Wharton adcom tends to be very efficient and often moves up their decision dates, and 2) Application volume in ’round 3′ was relatively low this year.

Best of luck to all those awaiting a response!

—–Original Message—–
From: MBA Operations
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 2:52 PM
Subject: Wharton Decision Release Date

Dear Wharton Applicant:

We have decided to move up the decision release date for Round 3 to Thursday, May 13.
While an e-mail will be sent out that day notifying you of the change in status, you will be able to access your decision directly from your online account.

Sincerely,

Wharton MBA Admissions

Admissions Tip: Keep your recommenders 'in the loop'.

Posted by Clear Admit on May 4, 2004, at 12:01 pm
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Admissions Tips

Many applicants underestimate the work involved in ‘managing’ recommendation writers. Here are a few tips in this area:

1) Getting a manager to agree to write a letter is only the beginning of the process from the applicant’s standpoint – not the end. You’ll need to proactively manager your recommenders throughout the process.

2) Ideally, you should give the following items to your referees as background reading: an up-to-date resume, a rough copy of your ‘career goals’ statement, a blurb on your overall strengths and weaknesses in the MBA admissions process, a summary of each school you are looking at and why the various programs appeal to you, and a list of anecdotes from work that might help to jog your recommenders’ memories of all the great things you’ve accomplished with them.

3) Spend some time with your recommenders. Take them to lunch and talk about your goals, interest in the MBA, etc. The more they hear about your plans, the more likely their letters will complement the materials you submit.

There are numerous other ways to ensure solid recommendations, but the three tips above are an excellent starting point. ‘Early Bird’ applicants for 2005 can contact us now for a free assessment of their chances and additional tips on this aspect of the process.

Article: Less Work Experience Needed?

Posted by Clear Admit on May 3, 2004, at 11:38 am
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General

The Economist has just published an article that raises some questions about the ‘work experience’ prerequisite in business school admissions. As expected, schools like Harvard and Stanford are featured prominently in the discussion about admitting younger applicants. Here’s an excerpt:

“Some business schools have already begun trying to get hold of promising younger applicants. Harvard Business School has a brochure directed at undergraduate students who might apply within a year or two of graduation. At Stanford Graduate School of Business, Derrick Bolton, director of MBA admissions, says he hopes to reach out “pretty aggressively” to less experienced potential students.”

See the full text of the article here.