Posted by Clear Admit on July 30, 2004, at 11:53 am
Posted in:  Admissions Tips , Essay Topic Analysis , School: Penn / Wharton For those of you who are not tuned into Wharton’s discussion forums (Wharton student2student), here are some recent comments posted by members of the admissions committee and former students on the critical subject of essay writing:
Alex Brown (Senior Associate Director, Wharton Admissions): “…goals (vision) are important to us as you really need to articulate effectively why you plan to be at wharton so you can make the most of the wharton experience. wharton is a big place with a tremendous ammount of options / resources. your goals etc. provide the needed plan and discipline to stay focused and make the most of this place. without the plan you may lose focus and ultimately pursue things here that are not necessarily useful to you in the long run etc. no doubt some change their plans once here (with exposure to new things etc.) however if you have a well developed plan from the beginning then you will be very deliberate about any changed to that plan….” ‘Fanatical Fan’ (a Wharton ’04 graduate/former assistant for the adcom): 1. …we strongly believe that good essays reveal a lot about the person, their personality, their goals, and what makes them tick – this IS a very individual thing, and an approach that works for one candidate will likely not work for a different candidate. In light of this, we don’t have any concept of a ‘perfect’ essay, against which we compare applicants. We do not provide samples, as we believe this encourages templated thinking, which is something we don’t want to see. We celebrate diversity (of background, WE, education, etc), at Wharton and don’t want to see 800 clones in each class. 2. We don’t ‘grade’ essays, rather we look to see what the essay tells us about the applicant, and build up an overall picture of them in combination with other parts of the application. We want to admit applicants, not applications, and look to the essays as to what they say about the person. Of course, if the reader believes that the essay is particularly well (or poorly) set out and written, they will make a note pointing towards the applicant’s communication skills. 3. Journalists excel at communicating complex topics clearly and briefly, and adopting some of these traits is probably a good thing in your essays. However, we do not expect (or generally receive) journalistic quality essays. Novelist quality writing is probably too long and wordy to be effective in application essays. However, effective business leaders are almost without exception also good communicators, and we make no bones about wanting to recruit good business leaders, rather than narrow analysts. Of course, all communication skill, and no analytical capacity will probably end you up in PR school, not business school. Think about writing a memo to your CEO about a business issue. You may have done many, many hours of detailed and complex analysis on the issue, and could write a report running to hundreds of pages. However, if you . . . → Continue Reading
Posted by Clear Admit on July 29, 2004, at 11:54 am
Posted in: School: Michigan / Ross The Detroit News has published an interesting article about the recent increase in female students at programs like the University of Michigan.
For the full story: http://www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0407/29/a01-226481.htm
Posted by Clear Admit on July 28, 2004, at 11:34 am
Posted in: Admissions Tips , Essay Topic Analysis , School: Harvard Here are some very basic tips on how to approach one of the HBS essays. (The following information has been taken from Clear Admit’s Guide to HBS Essay Topics):
Essay 2: What are your three most substantial accomplishments, and why do you view them as such? Spend a little time thinking about this question to find a good balance in your accomplishments. These accomplishments can be from any part of your life – though time-wise, they should probably be from college or after. There should be at least one professional accomplishment, and at least one personal/extracurricular accomplishment. A good mix might be one professional accomplishment; one personal (individual) accomplishment – it could be academic, perhaps; and one extracurricular/community service accomplishment. If you decide to use two professional accomplishments, they should ideally be from two different jobs. Be sure to choose accomplishments that fit into your positioning strategy, and are consistent with the themes of your whole application. For instance, if you are trying to demonstrate your talent as a marketer, your professional accomplishment should be about a marketing project. They should not be things that most of the other applicants could also write about – graduation from college, for instance – unless the circumstances surrounding the accomplishment are truly noteworthy (for example, you were the first in your family to attend college and worked full-time while attending to pay for tuition).
Because the question has a second part – “why do you view them as such?” – you should focus on accomplishments that have had an impact on you, or ones whose significance can be explained concretely. Perhaps you had to overcome significant obstacles to achievement, or perhaps you learned something new about yourself or your preferred career direction.
In essence you will be writing several mini-essays to answer this question, although some of the best ‘accomplishments’ essays manage to weave them all together. Before you write a draft, work on figuring out how to state each accomplishment in 1-2 sentences; it should be completely clear what you consider to be the achievement. After you are able to state the accomplishment briefly, describe the process of the achievement. Finally, make sure you are explicit about what makes each one a significant accomplishment: what is personally important about it, what did you have to overcome in the process, why is it valuable to you?
Posted by Clear Admit on July 27, 2004, at 8:49 am
Posted in: General Most applicants assume that the best MBA programs outside of the USA are in Europe. This approach unfortunately overlooks several programs in Canada, including the University of Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business and The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business (both featured in most of the popular global MBA rankings).
Along those lines, BusinessWeek has just published an informative interview with the Director of Admissions at Ivey (Scott Walker). In the interview, Walker discusses the admissions process at the school, along with his take on the latest admissions trends. This is a must read for those of you considering your options beyond the US borders.
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jul2004/bs20040726_1537_bs037.htm
Posted by Clear Admit on July 26, 2004, at 10:51 am
Posted in: School: Harvard The Sunday New York Times featured an interesting article about the financial maneuverings surrounding Harvard’s endowment. As many of our readers know, Harvard University has the largest endowment of any university ($19.3 billion). This is more than the next two schools combined (Yale and University of Texas).
Although reading this article will not necessarily help your chances of admission to HBS, it should certainly be of interest to anyone thinking of attending the school, as well as anyone with a background in accounting, finance and/or taxation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/business/yourmoney/25harv.html?pagewanted=1
Posted by Clear Admit on July 23, 2004, at 9:07 am
Posted in: Deadlines , Essay Topics , School: Virginia / Darden From the 2005 Darden Application (just released!):
–ESSAYS– Use your best judgment in determining the appropriate length of your essays. 1. Write your life story in one page or less.
2. Why do you want to earn an MBA? In an ideal scenario, what would you be doing in fifteen years?
3. What is your understanding of how Darden is different from the other schools to which you are applying? Why do you feel Darden is a good fit for you?
4. Describe your most rewarding leadership experience and what it means to your development as a potential leader.
5. (Optional) Please use this opportunity to present any additional information that would assist the Admissions Committee in the evaluation of your candidacy.
Although there are some changes for this year, the overall themes should be familiar. The first question clearly aims at gaining a broad understanding of your life (and career) to date. The second topic covers the critical question of career goals and the need for a management degree. Question three is devoted to “why Darden” and the fourth question is a variation on essay three from last year, covering a leadership theme. The use of essay five will depend on each candidate (as is always the case with optional essays).
Overall, the range of essay topics should offer candidates an excellent opportunity to share their unique experiences and passion for the school.
The new deadlines are October 27th (early action), December 1st, January 12th and March 1st. For further details and the complete application: http://admissions.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/schedule.htm
Posted by Clear Admit on July 22, 2004, at 12:11 pm
Posted in: General An Israeli online business journal has published an interesting interview with Columbia’s former Dean (Meyer Feldberg). It highlights how much the program changed during his 15-year tenure, while asking him questions about his vision for the school.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveEN/globes/docView.asp?did=816917&fid=1724
Posted by Clear Admit on July 21, 2004, at 9:06 am
Posted in: School: Columbia Columbia has recently gone to their waitlist, offering a couple of waitlisted applicants spots in this fall’s class. Although we are certainly coming down to the wire, this movement indicates that there may be a chance for a few of you who are still hanging on.
The CBS admissions committee has stated that the class is basically full, but Columbia often has some movement around the first day of classes, since there can be a bit of a ‘trickle down’ effect as programs like Stanford, Harvard and Wharton make last minute adjustments to their waitlists, etc.
As usual, it’s a good idea to keep your Columbia waitlist manager informed of your continued desire to attend along with any recent personal/professional accomplishments or changes to your candidacy. You should also make it clear that you are willing to to show up ‘at the drop of a hat’ – should they need someone at the last minute.
Best of luck to everyone who is still waiting!
Posted by Clear Admit on July 20, 2004, at 11:10 am
Posted in: General For our readers in the Boston area, here’s an event you may want to attend:
“The Third Annual 2004 Business School Admissions Panel – The University of Pennsylvania Alumni Club of Boston hosts this panel discussion, featuring officers from Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Sloan and Kellogg. Various aspects of the business school application process will be discussed, including academics, professional experience, essays, interviews and recommendations. The event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St., Boston.”
For further information, visit www.pennclubofboston.org/bschoolpanel2004/
Posted by Clear Admit on July 19, 2004, at 11:19 am
Posted in: General Married couples applying to business school face unique challenges in the process. Here is a wonderful note we recently received from a ‘Clear Admit couple’ who are heading off to INSEAD:
—– Original Message —– From: xxxxxxx To: info@clearadmit.com Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 8:40 PM Subject: Re: Update
Dear Graham and the entire Clear Admit team,
Thanks for all your assistance and advice! It would be our pleasure to give you a quote which you could use on your website. Here is our attempt at one:
“My wife and I both had a dream of doing our MBA together at a top institution. We chose INSEAD as the school of our dreams but found out that it is not a school which readily offers admission to couples. We approached Clear Admit with this problem. Our consultant was very upfront with his feedback – he told us about the risks of applying to a single school (particularly as a couple). He guided us through the application process, helped critique our essays and even led us through mock interviews. Through his honest and precise feedback, we were able to hone our application and highlight our strengths. We recently found out that the impossible had happened – both of us have been granted admission to INSEAD! We look forward to a great experience in France and this admission is in no small part due to Clear Admit. Thank you!”
Posted by Clear Admit on July 13, 2004, at 4:23 pm
Posted in: Deadlines , Essay Topics , School: Columbia Columbia has recently released their dates for the coming year and made their application available for download. Since CBS offers rolling deadlines, I have also included the date that they begin to review applications.
Dates:
Full Time MBA – September 2005 Early Decision: review begins August 16, 2004; deadline October 11, 2004 International Applicants: review begins January 10, 2005; deadline March 1, 2005 U.S. Citizens and Residents: review begins January 10, 2005; deadline April 20, 2005
Accelerated MBA Program – January 2005 International Applicants: review begins August 16, 2004; deadline October 1, 2004 U.S. Citizens and Residents: review begins August 16, 2004; deadline October 11, 2004
Essay Questions:
1. What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will Columbia Business School help you achieve these goals? (1000 word limit) 2. In discussing Columbia Business School, Dean R. Glenn Hubbard remarked, “We have established the mind-set that entrepreneurship is about everything you do.” Please discuss a time in your own life when you have identified and captured an opportunity. (500 word limit) 3. What personal value means the most to you and why? (250 word limit) 4. Please select and answer one of the following essay questions. (250 word limit) a. Please tell us what you feel most passionate about in life. b. If you were given a free day and could spend it anywhere, in any way you choose, what would you do? 5. (Optional) Is there any further information that you wish to provide to the Admissions Committee? (Please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history.)
Note that questions two and three are new for this year (although if you have already drafted responses to last year’s questions, you are permitted to use them for this year’s application). The change to the second question would seem to indicate that the school is looking to raise the profile of its entrepreneurial program. In addition, the third essay now asks about the applicant’s values, replacing last year’s topic covering leadership or global community. This significant shift in emphasis from issues of leadership and globalization to entrepreneurship and personal values is quite interesting; I wonder whether it reflects a new marketing strategy on behalf of CBS.
Posted by Clear Admit on July 9, 2004, at 9:03 am
Posted in: Deadlines , Essay Topics , School: Harvard Harvard has now released their essay questions and deadlines! As predicted in this blog (see our posting from 7/2/2004), the first deadline will fall right next to Wharton’s R1 date.
Deadlines:
Round 1: October 13th, 2004 Round 2: January 5th, 2005 Round 3: March 9th, 2005
Essay Questions:
1. Describe a significant change that you brought about in an organization and its impact on your development as a leader. (400-word limit) 2. What are your three most substantial accomplishments, and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit) 3. Provide a candid assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. (400-word limit) 4. How do you define success? (400-word limit) 5. What are your career aspirations, and how can an MBA help you to reach them? Why now? (400-word limit) 6. What do you wish the MBA Admissions Board had asked you? (400-word limit)
Most of these questions cover familiar ground and have been featured in prior HBS applications. Question number 4 is new for this year, yet has at times been featured as an interview question at HBS. In fact, for some interesting thoughts on ‘success’ and how one might approach this essay, applicants should read the following article:
What is success to you? HBS professor Howard Stevenson offers insights from research…
It is worth noting that HBS has released their essays and deadlines more than two weeks earlier than last year. This may be pure coincidence, but I suspect that it has something to do with declines in application volume and pressure from their peers who have already posted essays, etc.
Posted by Clear Admit on July 8, 2004, at 9:19 am
Posted in: MBA News BusinessWeek has published an interesting article on the decline in international applications to American MBA programs. The article cites a number of potential reasons for the decline, ranging from uncertainty in the US economy to competition from 1-year programs available overseas. Of course, many admissions officers point out that much of the ‘decline’ is coming on the heels of record setting years (1999, 2000, 2001), when schools were simply overflowing with applications – both foreign and domestic.
For the full text of the article: http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jul2004/bs2004077_1019_bs001.htm
Posted by Clear Admit on July 7, 2004, at 10:44 am
Posted in: General Here are links to a few more web diaries (blogs) on offer from applicants who are keeping track of their path to business school. It’s always nice to be able to compare notes with others in your shoes, so feel free to visit these sites and let their authors know that you appreciate their efforts!
Dave for MBA: http://daveformba.blogspot.com/ Beowulf: http://mbawulf.blogspot.com/ Brit Chick http://brit-chickmba.blogspot.com/
Happy Reading!
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