APPLICANT RESOURCES

Clear Admit Interview Guides
Be as prepared as possible for your MBA interviews this season with the Clear Admit Interview Guides! School-specific sample questions and in-depth strategy, campus visit details and places to stay.

Clear Admit School Guides
Seventeen titles available! Understand how the leading programs compare and learn more about the MBA experience in and beyond the classroom through Clear Admit School Guides. As featured in the Economist.

Essay Topic Analysis
Below are links to our comments on some of the top programs' essay topics for the 2007-2008 admissions season.
The Career Goals Essay
Berkeley / Haas
Chicago GSB
CMU / Tepper *
Columbia
Cornell / Johnson
Dartmouth / Tuck
Duke / Fuqua
Harvard
IESE *
INSEAD
London Business School
MIT / Sloan
Michigan / Ross
Northwestern / Kellogg
NYU / Stern
Oxford / Said *
Penn / Wharton
Stanford GSB
UCLA / Anderson
UNC / Kenan-Flagler
UT Austin / McCombs *
UVA / Darden
Yale SOM
* denotes last year's commentary

• Admissions Tips
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• School Guides
• School: Berkeley / Haas
• School: Cambridge
• School: Chicago
• School: CMU / Tepper
• School: Columbia
• School: Cornell / Johnson
• School: Dartmouth / Tuck
• School: Duke / Fuqua
• School: Emory / Goizueta
• School: ESADE
• School: Georgetown
• School: Harvard
• School: IE
• School: IESE
• School: IMD
• School: INSEAD
• School: ISB
• School: London Business School
• School: Michigan / Ross
• School: MIT / Sloan
• School: Northwestern / Kellogg
• School: NYU Stern
• School: Oxford
• School: Penn / Wharton
• School: Stanford
• School: UCLA / Anderson
• School: UNC / Kenan Flagler
• School: UT Austin / McCombs
• School: Virginia / Darden
• School: Yale
• Trivia Tuesday
• Uncategorized
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• Which School Wednesdays
• Wiki Wednesdays
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School Rankings
Rankings are a good way to start your research on various MBA Programs. Keep in mind each uses a different methodology.
Business Week
Economist
Financial Times
Forbes
USNews
Wall Street Journal

• knowledge@wharton
• INSEAD Knowledge
• Harvard Working Knowledge
• Knowledge @ Emory
• Columbia Ideas @ Work
• knowledge@ W. P. Carey

Blog Archive

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ARCHIVE FOR MARCH 2007

Friday, March 30, 2007

U.S. News Full-time MBA Ranking 2008

Earlier today, U.S. News & World Report released its 2008 ranking of the top full-time U.S. MBA programs. Because this particular ranking relies heavily on statistics like GMAT averages, GPAs, starting salaries and peer assessments, there’s generally less variation year-to-year than in rankings based on student and recruiter opinion (the dominant metrics in several other prominent rankings). There are, however, a few interesting changes to note when comparing the list to last year’s ranking.
First, let’s take a look at this year’s top-ranking schools:

1. Harvard University
2. Stanford University
3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
5. Northwestern University (Kellogg)
5. University of Chicago
7. Dartmouth College (Tuck)
8. University of California–Berkeley (Haas)
9. Columbia University
10. New York University (Stern)
11. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (Ross)
12. Duke University (Fuqua)
12. University of Virginia (Darden)
14. Cornell University (Johnson)
14. Yale University
16. University of California–Los Angeles (Anderson)
17. Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
18. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler)
18. University of Texas–Austin (McCombs)
20. Emory University (Goizueta)

The top nine remains virtually unchanged as compared to last year. The most noteworthy is that Tuck leap-frogged over both Haas and Columbia to land in the #7 spot, but it’s also interesting that Kellogg is tied with regional rival Chicago for the #5 spot (last year it had tied MIT for 4th). As is often the case, there was more movement among schools 10-20. UCLA / Anderson was the biggest mover, dropping from 10 to 16, with Stern rising three spaces to take its place. Ross, which shared the #11 spot with Duke last year, now holds that space alone while Fuqua ties Darden for #12.

While it can be interesting and fun to track these slight changes - especially for those associated with the schools in question - the facts that there is so little change from year to year and that these same programs are included so consistently in the top 20 speaks to the consistent quality of these programs. It also underscores the importance of deeper research to really understand a school and its offerings to put these rankings in perspective and identify the school that’s the best personal and professional fit.

Fridays From the Frontline

Welcome back to Fridays from the Frontline, Clear Admit’s run-down of all the MBA blogosphere news that’s fit to blog (or at least all that fits in this week’s installment)! Recounting the thrill of admission, doling out congratulations to fellow admits and offering advice to future prospectives, applicant bloggers are on cloud nine this week, while first and second year students are celebrating a well-deserved spring break from stations around the world. Let’s take a closer look at this virtual era of good feelings.

Hardly able to believe it, AGirlsMBA chronicles the surreal feeling that accompanied her HBS triumph, while Forrest concisely conveys his success at Chicago (way to go Forrest!).  We’d also like to note the sweet congratulations from Bschool Diva and a warm welcome into the class of 2009 from InBlue.  In related news, Juggler had two posts of note: first, she was kind of enough to congratulate Ganja Turtle on rising from the Chicago Waitlist (via a creative WL strategy) and then she weighed in with some solid advice on how to get your money’s worth from the $250 GMAT fee. Similarly eager to be of help to future applicants, Iday offers an extensive essay writing guide, while Rusgirl provides some useful LBS R2 statistics to occupy those still projecting their possible results.

While JatWarrior may not have good news to report from Chicago, he joins the party by celebrating the fact that his future at Tuck has been ascertained. Similarly upholding an honorable attitude, Peter vows to have better luck next time, mapping out a comprehensive plan to advance to a more customer facing role, improve his GMAT, clarify his career goals and boost his extracurricular profile. This sounds like the kind of advice that any prospective applicant (or reapplicant) could do well to take! Speaking of advice, HairTwirler invokes an apt analogy from the movie Mean Girls about the outdated, irrelevant or just plain inaccurate advice that one has to navigate when talking bschool with out-of-the-know bosses and elders. On the other hand, Itobean leads by example, chronicling how her shift from volunteering at the Humane Society to helping out at a local animal rescue organization enabled her to take on the coveted leadership roles and make the demonstrable impact that b-school applicants are always after.

Looking for advice herself, Katrina ponders whether UCLA or NYU will better serve her entrepreneurial ambitions, sending out a call for suggestions. Ipoel is done with equivocation, however, confirming her matriculation at UCLA, although not without noting the opportunity cost, while defiant Necromonger warns that some MBA programs (mainly an undisclosed Indian institution) just aren’t worth it.  [We’d like to direct all of our readers who are struggling with school choices to read and post to the School Choices section of the Clear Admit wiki.]

Some current business school students also felt like sharing their insights with the next wave of applicants, as Fromcali offers these tips for incoming Ross students, while Nagendra posts his views on career management before and during a Said business education. Reflecting on the influence that the b-school-related concerns he harbored as an applicant have had on his actual experiences as a student at LBS, FM suggests a positive outlook for those candidates currently obsessing over school selection, financing and immigration issues.

That said, most first-years were having too much fun living it up over spring break to be offering helpful hints. Check out Ashwyn, elated to be finished with classes, as he and friends karaoke the night away to ring in the third and final term of their first year at IESE. Karaoke is mere child’s play to MJ, though, whose wild spring break was replete with drinks, cigars and getting thrown out of bars. La Lauderia had some fun herself back in San Francisco, which left her wishing the weather in Philadelphia was this nice. Far from the sunny west coast, both in reality and musical taste, Rubeo Boy enjoyed some time off at a Snow Patrol concert in Madison Square garden, while close by, J-Term Johnny was busy presenting his quirky business ideas in Columbia’s Outrageous Business Plan Competition. Similarly hard at work, Zanat0s relays his rigorous life at INSEAD via film.

Not to be outdone, Le Voyageur spent his respite partying around the globe, hitting up such sunny locales as Israel, India and Mexico. Meanwhile, Nate has been celebrating warm weather and good times as his tenure at Ross nears completion. But Mbwana isn’t ready to throw in the (beach) towel yet – as his winter quarter at Stanford draws to a close, he takes time to analyze the coursework he’s completed so far and the potential complications with the job offer he’s accepted from Microsoft, finally noting that he might do well to enjoy life as a student a bit more himself.

Thanks to all our blogging friends for such an upbeat and entertaining week - we hope that the weekend treats our readers just as well!

Thursday, March 29, 2007

MBA Podcasts at Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Chicago, Tuck, MIT and LBS

Many MBA applicants are already accustomed to getting their news – not to mention Business Week and Economist articles – delivered through their headphones, but some might be unaware that most top business schools also offer podcasts. For the applicants out there with extremely busy schedules, podcasts offer one more valuable way to get a feel for the current research and developments unique to each institution. This helps prospective students identify the programs that best fit their own interests (i.e. healthcare management, hi-tech entrepreneurship, marketing, etc.), enabling them to offer a nuanced answer to the dreaded ‘why School X and not School Y?’ interview question, if the time comes. Let’s take a closer look at a selection of some of the podcasts available:

LBS Podcasts – Free, no subscription required.

The LBS approach to podcasting is somewhat more integrated than that of some other schools. For instance, the majority of the news stories available on the school’s website are also available via podcast. The subject matter touches on faculty research, the application process and campus events.

MIT Sloan Podcasts – Subscription required (free).

As we recently posted on our blog, Sloan’s new podcast series is updated twice a week and includes both audio and video features. Like LBS, this series is more explicitly oriented towards helping prospective applicants get to know the school better. Towards that end, these podcasts include updates on student activities, as well as interviews with guest speakers and accomplished alumni.

Chicago GSB Podcast Series – Subscription required (free).

Chicago began producing this podcast in 2006 and has since posted new episodes approximately twice monthly. Archived episodes include conversations with Nobel Laureates, faculty members, popular authors and current industry leaders.

HBS Working Knowledge Podcast and Harvard Business Review IdeaCast – Free, no subscription required.

Harvard offers two different podcast series. First, the daily newsletter Working Knowledge produces interviews with faculty members on their latest research and publications. Meanwhile, the Harvard Business Review offers short summaries of the latest journal edition, interviews with recently published authors, and reflections on business education with Harvard administrators.

Knowledge@Wharton – Free, no subscription required.

Wharton’s online journal has offered approximately four podcasts per month since February 2006. The journal’s staff interviews experts on hot topics in the news, as opposed to the more campus-focused series that some schools offer. There is a bi-monthly interview with renowned Finance Professor Jeremy Siegel, and several more faculty presentations will soon be on offer as a result of Wharton’s Economic Summit in April.

RadioTuck – Subscription required (free).

Since 2001, Tuck’s Center for Digital Strategies has sponsored about 20 interviews with industry leaders on technology related issues. The interviews are conducted by second-year students and feature prominent Tuck alumni who have capitalized on digital innovations in industries like sports media, personal electronics, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, among many others.

iinovate – Free, no subscription required.

This podcast series is produced by Stanford GSB and Design School students, though it is not formally affiliated with either school. This series features in depth interviews an all-star line up of innovators and entrepreneurs, including the presidents and founders of Craigslist, Pixar, the Grameen Foundation, and many other successful and influential ventures.

There are a growing number of podcasts throughout the MBA landscape, and we encourage readers to download a few episodes to get a feel for this exciting new trend. Remember, the key to a strong application – as well as a productive MBA education – is to know about all the available resources at one’s target schools. Happy listening!

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Wiki Wednesdays

Welcome to another installment of Wiki Wednesdays!  For several months now, we’ve been focusing on the fantastic interview reports that our readers have submitted to the Clear Admit Wiki.  Though interview season is nearly over, we’re still receiving some great posts. This week, we saw valuable comments from two applicants to Columbia and Stanford, respectively, who both touched on a similar note.  AsianGal shared this insight:

“I realize now that most alumni conducting MBA interviews are probably very much in love with their schools, so the ‘any questions’ bit at the end is an excellent way to end off on a high and positive note. When many b-school applicants start talking about their school days you can definitely feel a rush of excitement in their voices … It’s a great way to establish rapport.” 

Similarly, this Stanford applicant prepared well and, given the chance to ask the interviewer questions, was able to finish on a strong note:

“I’d read up on what [the interviewer] had done… and was intrigued to hear the details, so I simply asked him to take me through it, pre-, at and post-Stanford. As an accomplished entrepreneur, he was an excellent advertisement for the program… It was the most pleasant and inspiring interview I’ve had.”

Both of these accounts illustrate the fact that when given the chance to ask questions at the end of an alumni interview, applicants should take advantage of the opportunity to glean insight from their interviewers.  Expressing curiosity is a great way to establish rapport and engage the alum in a more relaxed, conversational finish to the interview.  Whether questioned about their MBA days or their subsequent accomplishments, most interviewers will be truly enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with someone who seems genuinely interested.  There is more information on “interviewing the interviewer” in this recent blog entry.

Though the R2 interview season is winding down, it’s not too late to post interview reports for the benefit of those applying for March deadlines and for 2008 entry. As in years past, we’ve received a lot of positive feedback from applicants who used the Clear Admit Wiki to prepare for their own interviews this season, and we hope that those who benefited from this resource will add to it for the benefit of future applicants.

With the majority of the year’s interviews completed and admit decisions now coming out, we’ll soon be shifting the focus of Wiki Wednesdays to content added by applicants who have been admitted to more than one school and are now deliberating over which offer to accept.  It would be wonderful if readers who are in this happy position would share their thought process on our School Choices page; As always, the more applicants who share their thoughts, the more helpful this resource will be!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Trivia Tuesday: MBA & Master’s Joint Degree Programs

Welcome to another edition of Trivia Tuesday! Today we’ll consider the options available to students interested in complementing their MBA studies with an advanced degree in another academic area. Often referred to as either joint or dual degrees, most business schools partner with other graduate programs at their home universities to offer one or more of these joint study options. Dual degree programs differ from the certificate programs we’ve discussed in earlier Trivia Tuesday columns in that students earn two degrees - often an MBA and a Master’s. Although studying for a dual degree typically takes 3-5 years instead of the normal two years of the MBA, it is almost always faster than completing the degrees separately.

Let’s take a look at a few of the options for students seeking a Master’s degree in conjunction with their MBA, as well as the admissions requirements governing these degrees.

Like most leading MBA programs, Columbia Business School offers dual degree programs through which students earn another degree concurrently with their MBA (e.g., Master’s in International and Public Affairs, Master’s in Social Services). Applicants are required to apply to and receive admission to both programs and may apply to both programs simultaneously or to the second program if they are less than halfway through their studies at the first school.

Students in a dual degree program at Columbia register at one school per term and may take courses in either program in each term, as long as they meet each school’s course, residence and sequencing requirements. CBS recommends that candidates complete the first two terms of the MBA program consecutively to maintain the integrity and full benefits of the first-year core curriculum and cluster system.

Similar systems are in place at Chicago, which offers two joint MBA/MA programs, at HBS, which offers two concurrent degrees with the Kennedy School of Government, and at Stanford, where there are 2-3 joint MBA/MA options. A few business schools offer slightly different options for students interested in joint degree study. For instance, Kellogg does not offer a set list of MBA/MA programs, instead opting to allow students to create their own joint program through application to their two programs of interest. Meanwhile, although Tuck and Wharton offer dual degrees on their own campuses, each also teams up with other universities (including Tufts, the Kennedy School, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies) to offer a more extensive list of dual degree programs.

While dual degree students still make up a relatively small percentage of the overall MBA population, some admissions officers report that combination degrees are becoming increasingly popular as students seek to customize their educations and take advantage of the opportunity to earn two degrees in less time, and for less money, than if they pursued separate programs. For MBA applicants interested in applying their business education to fields such as public policy, education, social work, the environment, public health, international policy or another specialized field, a joint degree program can offer both the area expertise and business knowledge needed for a successful career.

To learn more about MBA/MA dual degree options, be sure to check out the business schools’ websites or the Dual Degrees section of the Clear Admit School Guides!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Clear Admit Interviews, Chats and Press

After spending some time last week revamping our press page to include a more comprehensive list of Clear Admit’s appearances in the media, we wanted to feature these links in our blog as well to point readers to a number of informative interviews and articles about MBA admissions. Happy reading!

Audio Interviews

The Economist Online MBA Fair, October 10th, 2006
“Creating a Quality Application,” interview by Roger McShane
Download the Audio or View the Feature (subscription only)

MBA Podcaster, August 29th, 2006
“Your Application Essays” with host Charles Lane
Download the Audio or Read the Transcript

MBA Podcaster, January 23rd, 2006
“MBA Admission Consultants” with host Janet Nakano
Download the Audio or Read the Transcript

Q&A and Chat

Manhattan GMAT Blog, February 27th, 2007
Conversation with an Admissions Consultant

BusinessWeek, August 16th, 2005
Applications That Get a “Yes,” moderated by Francesca Di Meglio

BusinessWeek, August 19th, 2003
Tips from an Admissions Whiz, moderated by Mica Schneider

News Items

The Economist
Educating Applicants, 10/30/06 (subscription required)

BusinessWeek
A Smaller B-school Can Be a Big Plus, 1/22/07
How to Survive the Waitlist, 12/4/06
Unfinished Business: Is the Degree Key?, 4/20/06
Testing Times for B-School Hopefuls, 6/6/05
European B-School’s New Allure, 2/11/05
The Year of the MBA Applicant, 6/17/04

GMAC Newsletter July/August 2006
Admissions Consultants: Love ‘em, Hate ‘em, Use ‘em

Wall Street Journal College Journal
Admissions Coaches Become More Popular, 9/04

Campus Chronicles: Stanford, Wharton

Spring is in the air, but spring breaks have largely come to an end and that means that MBA students are back on campus and diving into the second half of the spring semester. Let’s check in on what they’re up to with a round-up from the student newspapers at Stanford and Wharton.

For many MBA students, spring break meant an opportunity to travel abroad. An article in this week’s Stanford Reporter (back after a lengthy hiatus!) discusses the recent study trip to India, which included 25 students plus several partners and Stanford GSB professors. Participants learned about the companies fueling India’s economy, as well as the living conditions and economic prospects of those currently left out of the country’s rapid economic growth. Another group of Stanford students headed down to Guatemala over spring break as part of a service learning trip, where a day of picking coffee led to some new thoughts on the human value of the coffee value chain. Wharton students also ventured abroad during spring break, with career treks bringing groups to Japan and to Egypt. Both treks focused on exposing students to the history, culture and industry of the host country, which led to some very different trip experiences (riding camels versus riding bullet trains, for instance). These trips are a great reminder of the new experiences available at business school - even during the academic breaks!

With classes now back in session, student life is gearing up again on campus. The latest editions of both the Stanford Reporter and the Wharton Journal feature many stories on student events, campus resources, and general campus life. From the Director of Stanford’s Career Management Center comes a helpful article on off-campus job search tips (sure to be of interest to the sizable percentage of students still seeking internship or full-time offers), while elsewhere in the issue a farewell to a member of the Office of Student Life provides an interesting view into the role administrators play in supporting MBA students. In Philadelphia, Wharton students are working with community members to fix-up local houses as part of Rebuilding Together, and putting the school’s rivalry with Penn Law to good use by organizing “Philly Fight Night,” a benefit boxing exhibition expected to raise over $25,000 for the Boys & Girls Club and a memorial scholarship fund. And of course, with the return of the Stanford Reporter comes the return of the “Dear Savage” advice column - although its inside jokes and personal references make some of the humor inaccessible to a non-GSB audience, the column is still a fun peek inside Stanford’s student culture.

That’s the news from campus for this week. Stay tuned to this space in the coming weeks for more on the academic and social events making waves on business school campuses!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Wiki Software Upgrade

As anyone who attempted to post to the Clear Admit Wiki in the past week might have noticed, the site has been frozen while we’ve been upgrading to the latest version of the MediaWiki software.

The wiki is now back up and running, so we hope that those who’ve been applying this year will continue to share their interview reports, campus visit experience, and thought process in deciding which school to attend. We’re especially hopeful that the ongoing wave of admissions notifications will inspire some great new content!

To add material, simply create an account or send an email with your content to wiki@clearadmit.com.

Fridays from the Frontline

Welcome back to Fridays from the Frontline, our weekly summary of recent activity on MBA student and applicant blogs. This week seems to have been a happy one across the MBA blogosphere. Applicant bloggers shared wise advice with each other, and relayed the lessons they’ve learned this season to next year’s candidates. Moreover, current students had some great things to say about their programs! Let’s take a look:

Checking in with the applicant crowd, we find that while some are still waiting restlessly, others have been notified by schools and are blogging accordingly. Congrats go out this week go to Asian Gal on her Wharton admit and to Inblue, who officially enrolled at Chicago. It also sounds as though MBA Babe had a positive Stanford interview (we’re glad to hear that the Clear Admit Wiki was helpful!).

In addition to sharing their latest news, applicant bloggers also took the time this week to offer some sage advice for readers just beginning the application process, starting with Rungee’s thoughts on the GMAT. Iday (who we might be a bit too fond of mentioning) posted some sharp advice on researching schools to find the best fit. Apropos of his advice, Hair Twirler shared her enthusiasm for Georgetown’s international options and her doubts about Cambridge. The last piece of advice came from Necromonger, who discussed schools’ potential return on investment (and is also looking for any bloggers out there who are joining INSEAD in 2008).

As for current students’ blogs, posts this week were decidedly upbeat! Nate thought back to last year’s MAP experience at Ross fondly, while From Cali is only two weeks into her own project and seems to be loving it. Divine Miss N gushed over the LBS library, while Patxi sang the praises of an LBS entrepreneurship course. MBA Gladiator looked happy on his Yale GSE trip in Brazil; Benny was also in Brazil – and missing the weather at Tuck?! Two LBS bloggers were accepted into their school’s expansive exchange program: as second year students next semester, Karlitos will try out Stern and Angel Angie will head to Chicago GSB.

In addition to enthusiasm about specific experiences, there appears to be plenty of general school pride going around, too. Patxi happily opted for another semester at LBS rather than studying overseas, Zanat0s made some strong statements in favor of INSEAD’s advantage during the recruiting process, and J-Term Johnny told prospective students about the myriad of leadership opportunities at Columbia.

There are just two more posts to mention before signing off of this week’s FFF installment. Wharton student Perpetual Motion has an exciting (and mysterious!) venture planned for the summer, and he is searching for “a rock star programmer” to partner with him on the project, should anyone fit that bill. And lastly, Bschool Diva posted a link to this priceless video of a different kind of rock star! The Clear Admit team encourages everyone to use this helpful resource to brush up on your moves, and then go out there and have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Admissions Tip: Thinking About Financing

Though many business school applicants know exactly what they want to do – and how much they hope to make – after they graduate from an MBA program, a surprising number apply to school without thinking about how they’ll pay for this expensive degree.  While some students do foot the entire bill themselves or receive scholarship support from the school or an outside institution, the vast majority of MBA students borrow funds to cover their tuition and living expenses.  With this in mind, we wanted to cover some very basic information on loans for the benefit of both recent admits entering school this fall and early birds entry just beginning to think about their applications for Fall ’08.

The primary source of funding for U.S.-based applicants will be federal loans or alternative education loans.  The main federal loans, available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, are the Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized), the Federal Perkins Loan and the GradPLUS Loan.  Full-time students, e.g. those enrolled in two or more courses per semester, can borrow as much as $18,500/year through the Federal Stafford loan program.  Perkins Loans are low-interest (5 percent) loans with a maximum annual loan amount of $6,000/year for graduate students.  The Grad PLUS Loan can be used to pay for the total cost of education less any aid you’ve already been awarded. Those interested in applying for federal student aid should check out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When federal loans are not enough, private loans can help bridge the gap in education costs.  Students might contact their local bank or look into lender programs, such as SallieMae, Access Group or GradLoans, for details on borrowing eligibility.

International students are not eligible for federal loans, but may consider private loans as a financing option.  The International Student Loan Program (ISLP), for instance, offers a credit-based loan of up to $45,000 to international students who are looking to finance their education in the U.S.  However, as with most private loans, this loan requires a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to co-sign.  International students can also visit International Education Financial Aid (IEFA) to search for funds (as can U.S. citizens planning on studying overseas).  Finally, most of the leading MBA programs offer private loans to their students in partnership with a particular financial institution – some of which do not require a co-signer – so this might become an option after one is admitted.

Many need-based loans are classified as subsidized, meaning that interest does not accrue while the borrower is enrolled in a degree program (whereas interest begins to accrue immediately on unsubsidized loans).  Typical timelines of loan repayment can extend from 5 to 30 years, depending on the lender’s conditions of deferral and the amount of funds borrowed.  After graduation, students usually have a 6-month grace period before monthly repayment begins.  While schools’ admittance packages usually include detailed information about financing the MBA, incoming students and applicants should not hesitate contact the school’s financial aid office for further information on available need- or credit-based loans.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Round Two Decision Round Up

With Wharton’s final decisions going out to Round 2 applicants tomorrow, and notifications from a number of other programs due this week and next, we wanted to take a moment to say good luck to those readers who are still eagerly awaiting news from their target schools!

Here’s a quick rundown of the remaining March and April notification schedule:

March 22: Wharton
March 23: Cornell R3, Darden R3, LBS, Tuck
March 26: Kellogg
March 28: Chicago, HBS
March 29: UCLA/Anderson
March 30: NYU/Stern
April 5: Stanford, Yale SOM
April 20: Haas, Darden R4
April 27: Cornell R4
April 30: CMU/Tepper

Depending on the outcome, here are some links to recent blog entries that might be of interest:
Choosing Between Schools
Understanding Background Checks
Scholarships

Navigating the Waitlist
Waitlists that Discourage Supplemental Materials

Stay tuned to this blog over the next few weeks for further advice on topics like financial aid, dealing with a ding, and reapplication strategies. Again, best of luck to those waiting for decisions in the coming weeks!

Admissions Tip: Planning for the GMAT

For all you “early birds” who are planning to apply to business school this fall, we wanted to offer a few tips on managing your time as it relates to the GMAT exam. Because this is an important element for many applicants in determining at which schools they will be competitive, it’s best to prep intensively and get this out of the way early in the process.

You should ideally be finished with the GMAT by mid-summer. The reason for this is that you will want to reserve the months of August, September and October for essay writing, school visits, managing your recommenders and other miscellaneous application-related tasks. The last thing you want to be doing in September is juggling the demands of GMAT prep alongside your MBA applications, your responsibilities at work, extracurricular involvements, etc.

Of course, putting the GMAT to rest by mid-summer is much easier said than done. Given the strength of the test-taking pool and the importance of earning a high score when targeting a top program, in order to be successful, you should ideally budget time for a GMAT prep-course or 8-12 weeks of solid self-study. You should then consider the fact that you may need to take the exam more than once.

Given these considerations, here is a rough schedule to follow:

April, May: Attend a GMAT prep-class, spending as much as 2 hours each weekday doing problems, use the weekends to take full-length tests (under realistic, timed conditions).

June: Take the GMAT early in the month. If you are unsatisfied with your score, work towards taking the exam again. Ideally, you’ll take a short break 1-2 weeks (to clear your mind) and then leave at least 4 weeks to prep for the second sitting of the exam. Consider hiring a tutor to address your specific needs.

July: Take the GMAT again, hopefully achieving a score that is within the range of the MBA programs on your list. If your score doesn’t improve, it may be time to reevaluate your target schools and expand your roster to ensure that your selection is realistic.

In some cases, it may make sense to parallel your work on the GMAT by simultaneously enrolling in a calculus or statistics class at your local university or community college. While this is especially true for applicants who have a weak track record in quantitative subjects and need to build an alternative transcript, in general these classes can often help applicants get the most out of their GMAT preparation.

Good luck! For more information about how the GMAT fits into the application process and on business schools in general, feel free to email info@clearadmit.com to learn about our early bird planning services or set up an initial consultation.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Trivia Tuesday: Lifelong Learning at Chicago and Tuck

It’s Tuesday, so that means it’s time for a look at the programs and possibilities at the leading business schools. Today we’ll examine the opportunities available for MBA graduates at Chicago and Tuck to continue their business education through alumni education programs.

For instance, the Chicago GSB permits alumni to enroll in up to three courses free of tuition at any time after they graduate. Most graduates use the courses to hone or sharpen their skills in a particular area and the grades received in these courses become part of their official Chicago GSB transcript.

In contrast to Chicago’s formal alumni education program, Tuck offers a much more informal continuing education program. In addition to life-long access to the Career Development Office, Tuck alumni may enroll in programs through the Osman Tuck Alumni Lifelong Learning (TALL) Program. TALL’s classes are presented by Tuck faculty in the U.S. and abroad and help keep alumni up-to-date on the newest thinking and trends in business.

It’s important to remember that earning an MBA is about more than just the time spent on campus. Business schools want their graduates to do well not just in their first jobs, but throughout their professional lives, and the leading schools therefore devote significant resources to personal and professional support for alumni.

For more information on the career support, academic opportunities, mentoring programs and other resources available to MBA alumni, be sure to check out the Alumni Network sections of the Clear Admit School Guides or the alumni club websites at each school!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Campus Chronicles: Ross, Harvard

With most MBA students off on spring break or studying for mid-terms, it’s been a quiet week for campus newspapers. Today let’s check on the few hardy papers still going to press during the mid-semester lull.

The recent issues of the papers at Ross and Harvard each showcased the academic and social opportunities available to MBA students. Ross’s dean offers a great explanation of the value of the MAP projects, a centerpiece of Ross’s action-based learning model of education (which is an important aspect of Ross’s application essays). At Harvard, several student groups reported on recent career treks to Washington, D.C. and Saudi Arabia, which were attended by approximately 60 and 30 students, respectively. Each trek was an opportunity for current MBA students to learn more about the business options in the region, meet with local leaders and politicians, and enjoy spending time with a great group of classmates and professors.

In addition to articles highlighting exciting academic programs, both papers provide a view into social and extracurricular life on campus. At Ross, one reporter discovers that the MBA women’s ice hockey team is more than just “chicks with sticks,” and another looks into a Ross alum’s $12 Super Bowl commercial that made waves in the advertising industry. In other ice hockey news, the HBS squad returned from Hanover, New Hampshire, claiming victory over Tuck’s team in two out of three events. Meanwhile, some Harvard Business School students joined with sectionmates to overcome a fear of heights at Boston’s Trapeze School, others welcomed the Year of the Pig at a lunar new year celebration, and one made a helpful list of the 50 things students should do before graduating from HBS in order to make the most of the experience.

Regardless of where candidates are in the application process, student papers are a great way to learn about the academic and social opportunities available on campus, and with regular reading they provide a wonderful window into the student culture at each MBA program. Be sure to keep an eye on the Campus Chronicles column in the coming weeks for more on the news from the second half of the school year!

Friday, March 16, 2007

MBA News: The Ups and Downs of Demand

There was an interesting article on Bloomberg.com earlier this week about the companies recruiting on business school campuses and the prices they’re willing to pay to secure top talent.  While the main point of the feature is that MBAs remain in demand, with the average starting package of graduates from the top programs hovering between $160,000 and $180,000, the article also offers a perspective on the sometimes overwhelming experience of being pursued by a potential employer:

“Wall Street recruiters can be as aggressive as professional football players, says Chris Eitzmann, who will receive his master of business administration degree in May from Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business.

‘Once given the offer, you are getting anywhere from two or three to four phone calls a day,’ said Eitzmann, 29, who graduated in 2000 from Harvard College and spent three years in the National Football League. ‘They want to know if they can talk to your wife. Can they have their wife talk to your wife?’”

This is an interesting read for current students, who will likely enjoy the good news about their future prospects, as well as for applicants trying to understand this element of the business school experience.  The full text is available here.

Fridays from the Frontline

Welcome back to Fridays From the Frontline, Clear Admit’s round-up of recent happenings in the MBA blogosphere! It’s been an exciting week out there for MBA bloggers: we see everything from good news to bad, true love to hard drive disasters. Let’s take a closer look!

Applicants’ emotions are running high as more and more of them are hearing back from schools. There are many congratulations to go around this week: Chicago admitted Iday, HairTwirler was accepted at Cambridge, and AGirlsMBA received good news from Fuqua, Ross and Stern! Equally impressive was Bschool Diva’s resolution to get herself off McCombs’ waitlist and into the Class of 2009, and we wish her the best of luck. Finally, RusGirl was pleased to find out she’s been assigned fellow blogger Genie as her LBS mentor for next year.

Applicants who are still waiting for results and need something to do in the meantime might check out TJ’s impressive to-do list for suggestions. Meanwhile, Stress Tensor is focusing on the other March Madness, and Reveur is contemplating the meaning of success and leadership. There was also plenty of talk about Georgetown’s erroneous waitlist email last week; MBA Salsera and Patxi both weighed in on it (as did we).

Student bloggers are having a productive spring, too, it seems. Zanat0s, blogging from INSEAD, celebrated his ten thousandth reader this week, while UCLADawg helped out at Anderson’s Admitted Students Weekend. The Divine Miss N checks in with some comments on the classes she’s enjoying this term at LBS. At IESE, Jacek is keeping very busy with academics, despite serious computer problems, while Ashwyn blogged about the busy social scene there. Applicants who are getting ready to make final school decisions might want to check in with Ed Starr, who is living it up in London, and Nate, who offers a cautionary note about the burrito situation in Ann Arbor.

Last but not least, a big “congrats” goes to MBA Cutie on her engagement! With warmer weather just around the corner, maybe love is in the air – not to mention internship offers and acceptance notices! Have a great weekend everyone, and we’ll see you back here next week for another Fridays From the Frontline.