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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.

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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.

Essay Topic Analysis
Below are links to our comments on some of the top programs' essay topics.
The Career Goals Essay*
Berkeley / Haas*
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Cornell / Johnson*
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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 '08-'09 commentary

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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Workbook Wednesdays: Win Some, Lose Some Answer

As promised, below is the answer to our weekly Challenge Problem. Enjoy!

Question

A gambler began playing blackjack with $110 in chips. After exactly 12 hands, he left the table with $320 in chips, having won some hands and lost others. Each win earned $100 and each loss cost $10. How many possible outcomes were there for the first 5 hands he played? (For example, won the first hand, lost the second, etc.)

(A) 10
(B) 18
(C) 26
(D) 32
(E) 64

Answer

Let W be the number of wins and L be the number of losses. Since the total number of hands equals 12 and the net winnings equal $210, we can construct and solve the following simultaneous equations:

So we know that the gambler won 3 hands and lost 9. We do not know where in the sequence of 12 hands the 3 wins appear. So when counting the possible outcomes for the first 5 hands, we must consider these possible scenarios:

1) Three wins and two losses
2) Two wins and three losses
3) One win and four losses
4) No wins and five losses

In the first scenario, we have WWWLL. We need to know in how many different ways we can arrange these five letters:

So there are 10 possible arrangements of 3 wins and 2 losses.

The second scenario — WWLLL — will yield the same result: 10.

The third scenario — WLLLL — will yield 5 possible arrangements, since the one win has only 5 possible positions in the sequence.

The fourth scenario — LLLLL — will yield only 1 possible arrangement, since rearranging these letters always yields the same sequence.

Altogether, then, there are 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 26 possible outcomes for the gambler’s first five hands.

The correct answer is C.

GMAC Official Fields Questions From Concerned Students About Scoretop Scandal

In a recent online chat with BusinessWeek reporter Francesca Di Meglio and reader participants, a senior official from the Graduate Management Admission Council fielded questions about the ongoing Scoretop.com scandal, in which GMAC is now determining how to mete out punishment to MBA aspirants who used Scoretop to access live GMAT questions.

While they may provide a measure of reassurance to some students, GMAC Senior Vice President Peg Jöbst’s responses made clear that GMAC fully intends to proceed with the cancellation of scores for students found to have posted GMAT questions they saw on their GMAT exam on the Scoretop site or to have confirmed that they saw questions on Scoretop that then appeared on their GMAT exam.

Jöbst did not provide specific details about when cancellations will occur. “We are working as quickly as possible in our investigation,” she said. “The investigation must be thorough, as we do not take lightly the matter of canceling scores.” Students whose scores are cancelled will receive notification from GMAC directly, which also will notify schools that their scores have been cancelled. So far, no scores have been cancelled, Jöbst said.

Asked whether students who are found to fit into GMAC’s criteria for unethical use of the Scoretop site and whose scores are cancelled would have an opportunity to retake the GMAT, Jöbst responded: “Not likely.” 

Once GMAC has completed its investigation and taken action against those students deemed to have violated GMAC policy, GMAC will post a notification on mba.com that its investigation is complete, Jöbst said. She added that she considered it “extremely unlikely” that GMAC would alter its criteria for cancellation or reopen the cases of students whose scores are not cancelled at a later date. Students who receive notification that their scores will be canceled will have an opportunity to appeal GMAC’s decision, she continued.

According to Jöbst’s answers to questions posed by concerned GMAC test takers during the chat, students who used a Scoretop VIP subscription but only browsed – without giving or obtaining live questions – do not fall within GMAC’s criteria for score cancellation. Jöbst encouraged students who are convinced that they do not fall under these criteria to proceed with their plans, be they to retake the GMAT exam or to prepare for enrollment in business school.

Some students expressed frustration that they hadn’t known that subscribing to Scoretop was in violation of GMAC’s policies and that GMAC should have done more to warn well-intentioned students which test preparation services to avoid.

Jöbst responded that GMAC does not endorse any specific Web sites or study materials other than those it operates directly, such as GMATPrep software, which is available free of charge through the mba.com site.

But she offered the following guidelines to help students avoid violating GMAC’s policies and procedures: 
• Do not purchase, request, or share materials that claim to be “real” or “live” GMAT questions in any form.
• Be wary if you see discussion threads in which test content is shared and real or “live” questions are confirmed as accessible via the site or any participant(s) of the site (online or offline).
• Do not share any test content with anyone else after you have taken the test.

So there you have it. We’ll continue to keep you updated here on the Clear Admit site with any new developments in the Scoretop case.

UCLA Anderson Deadlines and Essay Topics 2008-2009

The UCLA Anderson 2008-2009 deadlines have been announced! The three deadlines are as follows:

Round 1:
Deadline: October 9, 2008
GMAT/TOEFL taken by: September 30, 2008
Decision released: January 8, 2009

Round 2:
Deadline: January 8, 2009
GMAT/TOEFL taken by: December 31, 2008
Decision released: March 26, 2009

Round 3:
Deadline: April 2, 2009
GMAT/TOEFL taken by: March 31, 2009
Decision released: June 4, 2009

Interested applicants should note that all applications much be submitted by 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and that applications in any round will only be evaluated after the previous round’s decisions are completed. The second deadline is the priority deadline for fellowship consideration.

The UCLA Anderson 2008-2009 essay questions have also been released, and can be viewed by logging in to see the recently completed application. This year, there are five questions for applicants interested in the full-time MBA program, one of the essays being an audio response. The questions are as follows:

Essay one: How has your family and/or community helped shape your development? Please include information about where you grew up, and perhaps a highlight or special memory of your youth. (750 words)

Essay 2: What experience has had the greatest impact on who you are today and why? (500 words)

Essay 3: Discuss your short-term and long-term career goals. What is your motivation for pursuing an MBA now at UCLA Anderson? (750 words)

Essay 4: Audio or Text

Select and respond to one of the following questions. We would like you to respond to the question by recording an audio response (up to 1 minute). For applicants unable to submit a response via audio, there is an option to submit a written response instead (250 words).
a) What does entrepreneurial spirit mean to you?
b) What global issue matters most to you and why?
c) What is something people will find surprising about you?

Essay 5: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words)

Reapplicant Essays: Reapplicants who applied for the entering Fall 2007 or 2008 class are required to complete the following three essays.

1. Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. (750 words)

2. What experience has had the greatest impact on who you are today and why? (500 words)

3. Select and respond to one of the following questions. We would like you to respond to the question by recording an audio response (up to 1 minute). If you are unable to submit your response via audio, then please upload a written response instead (250 words).
a) What does entrepreneurial spirit mean to you?
b) What global issue matters most to you and why?
c) What is something people will find surprising about you?

For further information regarding UCLA’s deadlines or essays, or to view to completed application for the 2008-2009 season, those interested should visit the school’s admissions site.

Yale SOM Essay Topic Analysis 2008-2009

Yale’s SOM’s essay questions have undergone a noticeable makeover this year.  The addition of two very Yale-specific questions may be an attempt to prevent applicants from applying to the school as an afterthought, as its relatively small number of required essays (three last year and two in the years before) and open topics previously made it rather easy for candidates to submit material they had already drafted for other schools.

Given the possible concern on the part of the Yale adcom, it would likely be prudent to consider options (3.1) and/or (3.4) in response to the two personal statements (see below), as these questions get at the heart of Yale’s focus.  In electing to respond to one of these prompts, candidates have the chance to signal a strong interest and commitment to the SOM.

Let’s take a look at each of the school’s essays:

Essay 1: Why a Yale MBA?
What is the impact that you wish to have on the world? How will your previous experiences and a Yale MBA enhance your ability, in the short-term and long-term, to pursue a career that will allow you to achieve this impact? (500 words maximum)
While this prompt remains a career goals essay in essence, it is notable that Yale tweaked this question from last year, tailoring the question from “why an MBA?” to be more school-specific.  Taking the time to learn about the school’s curriculum, special programs and extracurricular activities - whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to the Yale School of Management - will pay dividends here.

Another interesting adjustment is the framing in the context of larger impact – the question now focuses on an applicant’s vision. In answering this question, candidates should introduce goals that extend beyond simple personal interests and career objectives to encompass larger plans for specific industries and to discuss the greater ramifications of this influence.  Candidates need to reflect upon the skill set needed for their career interests and argue for how Yale’s programs will provide crucial aid in developing those skills.

Essay 2: Leadership Example
Describe a professional accomplishment that exhibits your leadership style. The accomplishment should include evidence of your leadership skills, a description of the actions you took, as well as the impact you had on your organization. (500 words maximum)
While Yale posted a similar leadership and teamwork-themed question last season, this year the emphasis has shifted more explicitly to the individual and the applicant’s unique approach.  The follow-up prompt asking for evidence of one’s leadership skills and the specifics of the approach mean that the key here is to show and not tell.

The accomplishment would ideally be one that highlights your initiative and drive, emphasizing your personal role while also placing the anecdote in the context of the big picture of a team effort.  A true leader understands how to utilize the skills and abilities of those on the team through motivation and leading through example.

As the question also asks about overall impact, it will be important to provide a clear “after” picture, pinpointing what changes resulted or what organization elements improved.

Essay 3: Personal Statement 1
Choose one of the following topics and answer it in essay form. Please indicate the topic number at the beginning of your essay. (500 words maximum)

(3.1) A central premise of our teaching about leadership at the Yale School of Management is that true leadership – leadership that helps to address a significant problem in a new way – is necessarily personal. It is only when personal passion aligns with meaningful aspirations that individuals are able to inspire others to act in support of an important goal or cause. What are you most passionate about, and how have you demonstrated a commitment to this passion?
Echoing Stanford’s standard “What matters most to you, and why?” essay, Yale is looking for candidates with distinct values and an overall motivating vision.  Applicants with a deep involvement in some cause outside of work or a strong commitment to their chosen industry might find a ready topic for this response, though candidates might be able to identify a common theme or motivating factor that runs throughout a number of their experiences or activities.  Another thing to note is that the prompt hints at an interest in hearing about passion that has or will inspire leadership, adding another nuance to keep in mind when selecting topics.

(3.2)   What personal achievement are you most proud of and why?
This question leaves the door open for a wide range of examples.  While the focus on “personal achievement” doesn’t necessarily preclude accomplishments from the workplace, it does indicate that the adcom is interested in the significance of the achievement on an individual level.  Of course, it might be beneficial to take the adcom up on their invitation to bring the subject matter into the personal realm, as the very open framing gives applicants the opportunity to discuss meaningful experiences that could help them stand out from others and demonstrate valuable skills and qualities that might not be evident elsewhere in their applications.

(3.3)   Describe a situation in which your values were challenged. How did you respond to the situation and what did you learn from it?
The most obvious reading of this prompt is as an inquiry about an ethical dilemma. Questions of this sort are designed to gauge an applicant’s ability to see two sides of a situation and appreciate the merits of both - and ultimately choose the best possible solution. First and foremost, you should make sure that the example you present represents a true dilemma. It’s not enough to simply discuss a situation where you chose to do the right thing; you need to be able to show that there was a compelling reason for you to have acted otherwise. The question lends itself to personal experiences as easily as professional ones, but it’s often well suited to examples of how one views and handles ethical complexity in the workplace. For instance, there are often instances of conflicts between people and profit that work well in this context.

After setting the scene in your essay, you should explore the dilemma in depth, analyzing each of your options and explaining the potential positive and negative consequences of each. Once you’ve acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, you should lead the reader through your decision-making process, explaining the reasons behind your ultimate decision. Ideally, your strong grasp of leadership and of problem-solving will be displayed by this analysis. Finally, you should present the results of your decision. Even if there were ultimately some negative consequences, it is important to stand by the decision you made and to be proud that you stood behind your values in this situation.

Beyond the ethics framework, you might also note that the “values” element of the question could provide a great platform to discuss a challenging cross-cultural experience, a great way to showcase international work experience or extensive time spent abroad.  If you choose to address a cultural transition, you will want to show that you are flexible and open to different ways of thinking.

(3.4)    A phrase often heard among SOM graduates is that they aspire to lead a life that is an “SOM Story” – that of a broadly engaged, values-based leader who owns and solves hard problems that matter. How will you create your own SOM Story? Describe a situation in which you devised and implemented a creative or innovative solution to a difficult problem. What obstacles did you face and how did you overcome them?
There’s a lot going on in this prompt.  Through asking how you will ultimately create your own “SOM story,” the primary question focuses on a time the applicant has creatively solved a difficult problem.  The response should therefore revolve around the process of pinpointing and overcoming a difficult problem and the challenges it presented, followed by a discussion of the innovative steps you took to overcome this obstacle.  While it would be ideal for the story to include evidence of “broad engagement” and “values-based” leadership, these can also be covered in some forward-looking comments at the beginning or end of the essay as part of an explanation of how the traits that you demonstrated in solving the problem will extend to the MBA program and beyond.

(3.5)    The Yale School of Management is a community of individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests. What unique attributes would you bring to the Class of 2011?
This question is a standard inquiry, wanting to see how candidates would fit in with the community and contribute to the class.  Remembering that the question asks for unique “attributes” and not simply for a description of great accomplishments or features, this response calls for candidates to reflect on a handful of interests and involvements that work in tandem with one another.

Also, keep in mind that personal qualities are not necessarily going to fly.  Stating that you are compassionate will not be as interesting as pinpointing a distinctive interest or hobby.  Thus, think about what characteristics and interests have led you to do, as motivations for pursuing certain work and activities is more relevant to your MBA candidacy.

(3.6)    What is the most difficult feedback you have received and how did you address it? Looking forward, what skills are you most eager to build or improve upon in business school?
Also appearing on Dartmouth’s application over the past years, this question pushes applicants to recount an anecdote detailing a growth and learning process.  This learning process is so important because it can reflect maturity, flexibility, adaptability, and humility – all important qualities needed to work effectively in a team.  In answering this question, you should identify and explain the issue while also addressing how you reacted to it.  Demonstrating a mature response and desire to improve is important, and effectiveness in facilitating this improvement should be apparent.  This learning process needs to not only be something that you underwent but something that you can continue to build upon through Yale’s MBA program.  Once again, knowledge of Yale’s specific programs will be helpful, as you can pinpoint classes or extracurriculars that will contribute to your ongoing growth.

(3.7)    Required for reapplicants: What steps have you taken to improve your candidacy since your last application?
This is a standard essay asking reapplicants to identify how they have progressed over the past year and strengthened their candidacy (through refining career objectives, solidifying their academic performance, etc.).

Essay 4: Personal Statement 2
Choose one (1) of the topics listed in Essay 3, or create a topic of your own about a subject that is meaningful to you, and answer it in essay form. Please indicate the topic number (or state the topic if it is not one of the ones listed) at the beginning of your essay. (500 words maximum)
Yale’s signaled a few values that it cares about through the six non-reapplicant questions above, so it might make sense to address a second one of those questions in order to tailor your application towards the school’s central focus.  However, this question also gives you the opportunity to ensure that the important aspects of your candidacy are covered in the application.  An applicant can thus introduce a discussion of an experience, value, or trait that is relevant to Yale’s MBA program.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Chicago GSB Clears Hurdles for International Students Seeking Loans

The Chicago Graduate School of Business (GSB) remains committed to finding funding for all of its students, both domestic and international, despite recent changes to its lending partner programs. In fact, the loan application process may prove smoother than ever thanks to a new online system.

This according to Rosemaria Martinelli, Chicago GSB director of admissions and financial aid, who reached out to us here at Clear Admit in the hopes of clarifying any confusion that may have resulted from announcements earlier this month that Chicago has ended its program with lending partner IDAPP.

“We were immediately able to get another loan program for international students with very much the same terms,” she said. That program has been locked in, and Chicago GSB is now just finalizing the terms, Martinelli continued. She expects that an announcement regarding the new lender and program will go out sometime in early August.

The loan process on the international student’s end will be seamless, Martinelli continued. “My job is just to calm down those who need to take out loans,” she said. “There is a guaranteed loan for international students – just the vendor or lender name will change this year.”

And because the university will act as guarantor of the loan, students need simply provide some basic application information. It is not a credit-based loan at all, Martinelli said.

In fact, the changes to the program could bring some distinct advantages, Martinelli pointed out. “It’s actually going to be much easier because our new system will likely be all done online versus the paper-based application we had in the past,” she said. “I really can’t imagine that there will be any more hiccups applying for loans.”

Confusion around the lending issue may have stemmed from newspaper reports earlier this month suggesting that Chicago had lost its ability to fund international students, says Martinelli. “This is absolutely not true,” she stated emphatically.

What is true is this: Chicago learned at the end of June that its lending partner, the Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program (IDAPP), was unable to renew its own line of credit with a private lender due to disruptions in the capital markets, which means that Chicago is no longer able to provide graduate students with federal Stafford, Graduate PLUS and Alternative Loans through its partnership with IDAPP and the School as Lender Program as of fall quarter 2008.

This means that students who have applied for loans for the 2008-2009 school year through the university’s partnership with IDAPP need to look elsewhere in the marketplace to obtain loans from other lenders, with the guidance and support of the financial aid staff. “Domestic students are not really impacted because they have so many other options,” Martinelli said. But because international students have a unique set of challenges in finding resources to finance their education, Chicago GSB focused its attention on finding a replacement loan program for them, Martinelli continued.

And thanks to the quick work of the Chicago GSB financial aid team, that replacement loan program has already been found, Martinelli assured us. So prospective Chicago GSB students – both from the U.S. and elsewhere – can breathe a sigh of relief.

“Chicago GSB is definitely committed to finding funding for all our students regardless of citizenship,” she said, “because diversity is so important to us on so many levels as part of the education process.”

For answers to frequently asked questions regarding changes in student loan funding at the University of Chicago, please click here.

Workbook Wednesdays: Win Some, Lose Some

Here is this week’s Challenge Problem, brought to us by our friends at Manhattan GMAT. This is the caliber of problem one would see on the exam if scoring in the 700 range or higher. Take a shot at this one and check back tomorrow for an in depth look at the answer!

Question

A gambler began playing blackjack with $110 in chips. After exactly 12 hands, he left the table with $320 in chips, having won some hands and lost others. Each win earned $100 and each loss cost $10. How many possible outcomes were there for the first 5 hands he played? (For example, won the first hand, lost the second, etc.)

(A) 10
(B) 18
(C) 26
(D) 32
(E) 64

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Cambridge / Judge Deadlines 2008-2009

Although the school’s MBA 2009 application form will not be available until August, the Cambridge/Judge deadlines 2008-2009 have been released. There are four deadlines, which are as follows:

Round 1:
Deadline: October 1, 2008
Interview Notification: November 7, 2008
Interview Day: Late November/Early December (exact date to be decided)
Final Notification: December 10, 2008

Round 2:
Deadline: January 7, 2009
Interview Notification: February 13, 2009
Interview Day: Late February/Early March (exact date to be decided)
Final Notification: March 11, 2009

Round 3:
Deadline: March 4, 2009
Interview Notification: April 9, 2009
Interview Day: Late April (exact date to be decided)
Final Notification: April 29, 2009

Round 4:
Deadline: April 15, 2009
Interview Notification: May 8, 2009
Interview Day: Mid-May/ Early June (exact date to be decided)
Final Notification: June 3, 2009

Interested applications should note that all applications are due by 5:00 p.m. GMT. Late applications will be considered in the next round.

Oxford / Said Deadlines 2008-2009

The Oxford/Said deadlines for the 2008-2009 application season have been announced.  The four deadlines are as follows:

Stage 1:
Deadline: October 24, 2008
Interview Notification: November 14, 2008
Final Notification: January 9, 2009

Stage 2:
Deadline: January 16, 2009
Interview Notification: February 6, 2009
Final Notification: March 27, 2009

Stage 3:
Deadline: April 3, 2009
Interview Notification: May 1, 2009
Final Notification: May 29, 2009

Stage 4:
Deadline: June 5, 2009
Interview Notification: June 26, 2009
Final Notification: July 24, 2009

Interested applicants should note that, although the application form is not yet available, Oxford/Said has announced that it will begin reviewing applications on September 1.

Trivia Tuesday: International Orientation Programs at HBS, MIT Sloan and Tuck

Welcome to another edition of Trivia Tuesday! Each week in this column we examine the programs, policies, resources and opportunities of the leading business schools with the goal of highlighting distinctive aspects of the student experience. Following up on our recent articles on pre-term and orientation programs, this week we turn our attention to programs for international students beginning their MBA studies in the United States, with a focus on the resources offered by Harvard, MIT Sloan and Tuck.

Most international orientation programs are held on campus in the week or two before all first-year students are required to arrive. In general, these programs offer an introduction to U.S. culture, an overview of the academic expectations of the MBA program, and workshops in written and oral English language skills.

For instance, in addition to the standard orientation for all students, Tuck offers a five-day International Orientation Program that is highly recommended for international students who have not previously lived or worked in the United States. Held the week before the school-wide Orientation, students in the program engage with Tuck faculty, staff and teaching assistants to become familiar with the case-study method, the standards expected in verbal and written communications, and how to work on teams with people from other backgrounds and cultures. The Career Development Office also leads workshops on resume writing, interviewing and networking. Likewise, for international students with little prior experience in the U.S., MIT Sloan’s two week Communication and Culture workshop in mid-August provides an introduction to Sloan’s classroom environment and to U.S. business and social norms.

Meanwhile, Harvard Business School offers one of the longest international orientations among its peers. The school’s Pre-MBA International Program is a five-week course during which students from abroad are introduced not only to life in Boston and at HBS, but also to the basics of the case method. Outside experts are brought to the campus to speak to international students about writing, business English, and publication skills, after which attendees participate in several mock-case discussions to prepare them for the pace and tenor of class sessions.

For international students concerned about making the transition to business school and to the U.S., these specialized orientations are a great resource. Participants at all schools report that in addition to learning about the academic environment and brushing up on language skills, the international orientations are also a wonderful way to meet fellow international students and to start building a network of business school friendships. For more information on orientations, pre-term programs, and resources for international students, be sure to talk with current students or to check out the Clear Admit School Guides!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Carnegie Mellon/ Tepper Deadlines 2008-2009

The Carnegie Mellon/Tepper 2008-2009 deadlines have been released. There are five deadlines this season, and they are as follows:

Round One: October 27, 2008

Round Two: January 5, 2009

Round Three: March 9, 2009

Round Four: April 27, 2009

Round Five: June 1, 2009

Interested applicants should note that the round four deadline is reserved for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as well as FlexTime and FlexMode applicants, and that the round five deadline is reserved for FlexTime and FlexMode applicants only.

Haas School of Business Names Alumnus Richard Lyons to Serve as New Dean

The UC Regents has confirmed the appointment of Professor Richard Lyons to serve as the 14th dean of the Haas School of Business, according to an announcement earlier this month by UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. Lyons’ appointment, retroactive to July 1st, concludes an extensive national search for a candidate to succeed Tom Campbell, Haas dean since 2002.

Lyons, who is best known for his pioneering work in international finance and foreign exchange, holds a professorship at Haas and served as the school’s acting dean from 2004 to 2005 and as associate dean from 2005 to 2006. He returns to Haas now from Goldman Sachs, where he has served as chief learning officer since 2006.

“Just imagine getting the opportunity to come home to your alma mater, in the same department no less, and serve in this way,” said Lyons in a statement announcing his appointment. Lyons earned his undergraduate business degree with highest honors at the Haas School in 1982 and joined the Haas School faculty in 1993.

As dean, Lyons will direct the Haas School’s efforts to expand its faculty to its largest size ever, enhance student services, continue curriculum improvements, build the endowment and plan for a new building. He also plans to continue an initiative to sharpen the school’s strategic position that he helped launch while serving as the school’s acting dean, a position he held while Dean Campbell took a sabbatical to serve as finance director for California under Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger.  

The time Lyons spent at Goldman Sachs since taking leave from Haas in 2006 is also expected to influence him in his new role as dean. As Goldman’s chief learning officer, Lyons main responsibility was to direct the group charged with developing leadership among managing directors and partners.

“I learned that you can’t overestimate the importance of great people in building great firms. And that’s the business we’re in here at Haas,” Lyons said in a statement. “I’m also fortunate to have experienced where the leadership ‘puck’ is going. Haas, with its broad-based strengths, is in an excellent position to skate toward it.”

While a professor at Haas, Lyons was awarded the Cheit Award for Excellence in Teaching six times by his students, and in 1998 he received the Distinguished Teaching Award, UC Berkeley’s highest teaching honor. His research, meanwhile, has provided new insights into how to analyze exchange rates, breaking away from traditional macroeconomic approaches.

“Rich’s impeccable credentials as researcher and teacher, combined with his successful past track record as associate and interim dean, will serve him extremely well in taking Haas to the next level of business school excellence,” said Jim Lincoln, outgoing associate dean for academic affairs and a member of the dean search committee.

Duke / Fuqua Essay Topic Analysis 2008-2009

A few significant changes have been made to the Duke/Fuqua essay topics since last season. This year, each applicant must respond to three short essays and only one long essay, whereas last year, Duke asked for two short and two long responses. Further, while candidates were able to choose one of three prompts for one of last year’s long essays, this season Duke is requiring that all applicants answer the same four questions. A final noteworthy change is that the long essay now includes a harder page and spacing limit; last year’s long essays had only a suggested word count range.

Aside from these logistical changes, the essay themes remain largely the same, with topics that range from career goals to leadership to what makes each applicant unique. The first two short essays remain the same as last year, and while Duke introduced a new short essay this year, it does not cover new material, as it derives from last year’s second long essay.

Remember, when preparing to answer the following questions, it is imperative you do careful research on Duke’s program and integrate your findings in each response.

Short Answers

Essay 1: What do you hope to gain from The Duke MBA? How does it fit into your short- and long- term goals? If you are interested in a joint degree or the Health Sector Management program, please address in this response. (required, single page limit, 1.5 line spacing)
This is your standard career goals essay, with a strict length limitation. By combining its questions about the applicant’s career goals and interest in its MBA program into a single prompt, Duke requests that candidates cover a good deal of ground in a single page. Since brevity will be of utmost importance, you will have to articulate clearly your career goals while also touching on how your work experience to date has informed those goals. Key to answering this question will be to address what skills or knowledge you currently lack that is preventing you from achieving your goals and to detail the ways a Duke MBA will prepare you for success.

As is the case with most schools, demonstrating an understanding of the unique merits of Duke’s program is crucial to an effective response to this question. Taking the time to learn about the school’s curriculum, special programs and extracurricular activities - whether through a visit to campus, conversation with alumni or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to the Fuqua School of Business - will pay dividends here.

Essay 2: How will you contribute to the overall experience of your peers at The Duke MBA? (required, single page limit, 1.5 line spacing)
The prompt is fairly broad, covering just about every dimension of one’s candidacy, experience and perspective, and inviting the applicant to imagine how his or her unique characteristics might translate into participation in Team Fuqua. This response is a great place to showcase extracurricular or community involvement, as well as to demonstrate specific knowledge of the culture at Duke. Remember that you want to stand out from the rest of the applicant pool, and this essay will allow you to introduce information to that end.

Essay 3: Discuss a person, event or experience that has significantly shaped your life and explain why. Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (required, single page limit, 1.5 line spacing)
This question is a more focused version of last year’s required long essay about one’s personal history; whereas the school previously asked for a broad picture, this year they are looking for a snapshot. The best approach is to this response will therefore be to share an anecdote; from there you should draw attention to the priorities and qualities at play in the story, commenting on how you derived these from your development over the years. Since the question about what the applicant would add to the Duke community has already been asked in Short Essay 2, this question will not require you to cover the same ground. As the prompt states, the adcom’s primary objective is simply to get to know the candidate a bit better through this response. That said, however, since Duke asks two short essays that center on the applicant’s individuality, it is clear that there is an avid interest in exactly what each candidate has to offer the school. The challenge will therefore be identifying the most important and interesting aspects of one’s personality to cover in this response, and to do so in a single page.

Long Essay: Today, companies must navigate through complex and interdependent issues. They must deal with health and security matters, environmental impact questions, and diversity and cultural concerns. Leaders need adaptability, imagination, and emotional intelligence as well as business acumen.

Upon graduation, a Duke MBA will be a leader of consequence - able to deal simultaneously with complex matters and engage skillfully with colleagues, clients, and community. What impact do you hope to have as a leader of consequence? (required, two page limit, 1.5 line spacing)

Since applicants will have already addressed their career goals and what they hope to gain from a Duke MBA, the tricky part of this essay will be avoiding repetition. Because the three short essays above don’t afford a clear opportunity to share a past experience in which you have held a leadership role, a good approach might be to spend roughly half of the Long Essay discussing your past experiences (in both the professional and the extracurricular realm). Use this time to briefly discuss what skills you have developed from past leadership experiences, show how you have, up to this point, been successful in dealing with complex matters and engaging colleagues, clients, and the community. With an eye to the forward-looking phrasing of the question, it would then make sense to go back to your career goals and explore their implications further, reflecting on how being a leader of consequence fits in with that path. Project the sort of impact you expect to have; discuss specific achievements and successes you will aim for, and the relationships you hope to form. Finally, it would certainly make sense to highlight once more how a Duke MBA would cultivate the skills you already possess to help you make the kind of impact you envision.

Friday, July 25, 2008

To Reduce Fraud, Students Taking GMAT Will Have to Submit to Palm Scan

According to reports this week in the Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Graduate Management Admissions Council, which owns the GMAT exam, plans to begin using a new biometric technology to scan the palms of students entering its testing facilities in an effort to reduce fraud.

The palm scanning technology, which is considered by GMAC to be superior to the digital fingerprint scanning it began using in 2006 to validate test takers identities, has been widely used in Japan by users of automated teller machines, according to the Journal report.

GMAC will begin palm scanning at testing centers in Korea and India next month, moving to centers in the United States as early as this fall and rolling out worldwide by next May, the Journal continued.

The palms scans are designed to deter “proxy” test taking, in which prospective applicants hire high-scoring imposters to take the test in their place. Now, test takers will be required to hold their hand over a scanner that will take an infrared picture of the blood coursing through their hand. The resulting “palm vein” pattern, unique to every individual, will then be stored by the scanner and can be compared against a database of all test takers.

The palm-scanning devices, produced by Fujitsu, cost less than $1,000, according to the Journal report. But with training, installation and other costs, London’s Pearson LLC, which administers the test for GMAC, expects to spend millions rolling out the new technology to more than 450 testing centers worldwide. The exam’s $250 cost to test takers is not expected to increase, though, GMAC told the Journal.

Palm-veining scanning will not protect against other types of cheating, GMAC officials acknowledge, such as the recent Scoretop scandal in which students were able to purchase access to actual GMAT questions in advance of taking the exam.

Fridays From the Frontline

Phew, another week of summer has flown by and we’re back with another helping of Fridays From The Frontline, Clear Admit’s stalwart search for the best stories in the MBA blogosphere! As always, MBA bloggers are keeping it interesting with tips to new applicants, trips to unfamiliar cities and sips of beer in the sun.

‘10 Darden JulyDream began to wonder about the relative merits to going to b-school closer to home as she geared up for a move clear across the country to Charlottesville. Word to the wise, moving is expensive! HappyBunny wasn’t thinking about the cost of moving, instead she daydreamed about MBA programs and compared her job to an ugly wife. If an MBA program, as HappyBunny put it, is a beautiful mistress then ‘09 HBS AGirlsMBA is virtually engaged to Harvard, having recently been voted co-president of the entire student body. To continue with the analogy, ‘11 hopeful Samantha is suddenly wondering if she’s not just a little too interesting to go on a ‘date’ with Harvard and may take it off of her list of target schools. ‘10 LBS Out on a Limb reflected on his hectic consulting schedule and was looking forward to sleeping in the same bed while attending LBS.

Love was in the air throughout the blogosphere. McDonough ‘09 Hairtwirler swooned over Google Translate and the time saving abilities it provided at her internship. ‘09 Darden SquareMethod spent some quality time with New York’s west side in addition to drinking a beer while taking in a Yankees’ game. It may only be a summer romance, but it seems they’re getting to know one another better. ‘11 aspirant Ahembeea shared his crush on the PGPX program’s unique approach to b-school applications.

Of course not everything came up roses. The Teacher, though getting a very respectable score, was disappointed with his GMAT performance. Chandara learned a number of things during her Harvard minority information session but was left focusing more on the let downs of the event. Just goes to show you, not all is fair in love and b-school.

This concludes our rundown of the ups and downs of b-school romances for the week. We wish all the prospective lovers and committed couples the best until next week!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Updates from Yale SOM Admissions Director Bruce Delmonico

In a note late last week to Clear Admit’s Graham Richmond and other members of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Counselors (AIGAC) board, Yale School of Management (SOM) Director of Admissions Bruce Delmonico provided several updates about interesting things taking place on campus right now.

For starters, the school is preparing to welcome former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair to campus. Blair, who has been appointed the Howland Distinguished Fellow for 2008-2009, will teach a seminar on faith and globalization, to be jointly coordinated by the School of Management and Yale Divinity School. To learn more, check out this blog entry from the Clear Admit archives, which we posted back in March when Blair’s appointment was first announced.

Delmonico also shared that Yale will be welcoming ten new full-time faculty members to campus this fall, which he pointed out is “quite a large jump” for a school with fewer than 400 total students. Among the additions will be faculty in finance, marketing, operations, and other areas, including Gary Gorton, an expert in finance and banking from Wharton. Gorton will rejoin former Wharton colleague Andrew Metrick, an expert in venture capital and private equity who came to SOM this past year.

In other news, Yale instituted a new international student exchange program, partnering with schools in London, Barcelona, Bangalore and Beijing. The program, open to SOM students in the fall semester of their second year, is part of a larger effort by SOM to broaden its international programs. Up to 12 SOM students are expected to participate in this, the program’s launch year, three at each of the partner universities. A reciprocal number of students will attend SOM as part of the exchange.

Delmonico also shared that SOM became the 14th member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, which works to enhance diversity in business education and management by increasing the representation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in the enrollment of member schools. (We blogged on this, too, back in April.)

Finally, Delmonico also shared that Yale SOM has posted its essay questions and application deadlines for next year. Of course, you already knew that if you’ve been following our blog…

BusinessWeek Touts Clear Admit as a Valuable Application Essay Analysis Resource

It’s always nice to be noticed. Which is why last week those of us here at Clear Admit were pleased when BusinessWeek’s Alison Damast pointed to our blog as a resource for tips on how to approach the provocative new essay questions released by the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.

As readers of our blog already know, in addition to retaining its PowerPoint slide essay requirement, Chicago decided to include a few new essay questions in its fall 2009 application.

One calls for applicants to describe the decision-making process they employed when asked to choose between two equally important obligations – and how an MBA from Chicago GSB might have helped. The second asks applicants to reflect on a time they went against popular opinion, how others may have misperceived their motives, and, once again, how an MBA from Chicago might have aided them in the situation.

“These are challenging questions, ones that will require applicants to do some serious reflection over the next few weeks,” writes Damast. For guidance, she says, check out Clear Admit’s tips.

Thanks, Alison! We, of course, like to think we’re always providing our readers with the best information on how to approach the graduate management admissions process. Still, it never hurts to have others feel the same way.

Chicago GSB hasn’t officially released its 2009 application – it will do that later this month. But there’s no time like the present to start thinking about how to approach those essays…

Workbook Wednesdays: Remains of the Day Answer

Here is the answer to Wednesday’s Challenge Question from Manhattan GMAT. Check back next week for another Workbook Wednesday question!

Question

If n is an integer and n⁴ is divisible by 32, which of the following could be the remainder when n is divided by 32?

(A) 2
(B) 4
(C) 5
(D) 6
(E) 10

Answer

The prime factors of n⁴ are really four sets of the prime factors of the integer n.

Since n⁴ is divisible by 32 (or 2⁵), n⁴ must be divisible by 2 at least 5 times. What does this tell us about the integer n?

If n is divisible by only one 2, then n⁴ would be divisible by exactly four 2’s (since the prime factors of n⁴ have no source other than the integer n).

But we know that n⁴ is divisible by at least five 2’s! This means that n must be divisible by at least two 2’s (which means that n⁴ must be divisible by eight 2’s). Thus, we know that the integer n must be divisible by 4.

Now that we know that n is divisible by 4, we can consider what happens when we divide n by 32.

If we divide n by 32 we can represent this mathematically as follows:

n = 32b + c (where b is the number of times 32 goes into n and c is the integer remainder)

We know that n is divisible by 4 so we can rewrite this as:

4x = 32b + c(where x is an integer)

This equation can be simplified, by dividing both sides by 4 as follows:

x = 8b + c/4

Since we know that x is an integer, the sum of 8b and c/4 must yield an integer. We know that 8b is an integer so c/4 must be also be an integer. Therefore, c, the remainder, must be divisible by 4.

Only answer choice B qualifies. The remainder when n is divided by 32 could be 4. It could not be any of the other answer choices. The correct answer is B.

Columbia Essay Topic Analysis 2008-2009

Following up on Monday’s announcement of Columbia’s essay questions for the 2008-2009 admissions season, we wanted to offer our thoughts on each of this year’s topics.

Columbia has made some significant changes from last year’s set of questions. While they’ve retained the classic 750-word question about career goals/why Columbia MBA, the two remaining required essays ask applicants to draw on themes decidedly different from those in the past. The school has eliminated the long-standing 250-word essay about an applicant’s passions or interests that rounded out the set in previous seasons, leaving only 3 required essays totaling 1750 words. Gone too is the question about an entrepreneurial mindset that has long been a hallmark of the CBS application, with a new question about a failure taking its place. Finally, last year’s prompt asking students to read a Dean Glenn Hubbard speech and comment on the changing business environment has been replaced by a slightly different research project.

Essay 1: What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will Columbia Business School help you achieve these goals? (Recommended 750 word limit)
The general advice we’ve offered in the past on how to tackle this sort of question applies here. Because Columbia is very sensitive to the fact that it is often treated as a backup for Wharton and other leading programs, it’s especially important to convince the adcom of your interest in the program by packing your essay full of school-specific details about classes and clubs. Taking the time to learn about the school’s curriculum, special programs and extracurricular activities - whether through a visit to campus, conversations with members of the community or reading the Clear Admit School Guide to Columbia - will pay dividends here.

Essay 2: Master Classes are the epitome of bridging the gap between theory and practice at Columbia Business School. View the link below. Please provide an example from your own life in which practical experience taught you more than theory alone. (Recommended 500 word limit)
In this new essay, Columbia asks applicants to share a s