During the third annual BusinessWeek online MBA expo, one of the major topics of discussion was how applicants can find the right fit with an MBA program. BusinessWeek posed this question to a range of experts, including Clear Admit co-founder Graham Richmond, Ross Admissions Director Soojin Kwon Koh, Chicago Admissions Director Rose Martinelli, and Berkeley Haas Admissions Director Pete Johnson. The result is a great resource for applicants in any stage of the admissions process: the panel’s suggestions on what to ask when considering a school will help those still making a list of target schools, while the advice on how the schools evaluate fit is crucial to those candidates currently working on their applications. Some take away points from the conversations:
- Candidates should move beyond the rankings to consider how a particular program fits their interests, goals and learning style.
- Students, especially those applying from abroad, should take advantage of local information sessions and should reach out to current students and alumni via email or phone calls.
- Admissions officers are looking to the application and interview for signs that candidates have done their homework and can back up claims of fit with relevant program details.
In the school’s latest podcast, MIT Sloan Admissions Director Rod Garcia also chimed in on the issue of fit in the MBA admissions process. In the interview, Garcia reflects on his 19 years at Sloan and shares his advice on how to prepare for business school, what makes MIT Sloan stand out from its peers, and the most critical parts of the application process. The entire interview can be downloaded free or listened to online.
In other news from MIT Sloan, the school recently announced the winners of its first annual Elevator Pitch Contest, a new part of the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition. Given the importance of the “elevator pitch” to generating interest and funding for many new enterprises, the new competition is designed to help contestants build this critical skill. Participants had to create a 60-second pitch and were encouraged by the organizers to “communicate a sense of value, empathy and urgency.” Winners split $10,000 in prize money, including a $2,500 grand prize, five $1,000 category prizes, and a $1,000 “crowd favorite” award. In addition to practicing their pitches and competing for prize money, participants also had the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and to begin generating ideas for the next stages of the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition that will take place this winter.
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