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APPLICANT RESOURCES
Admissions Director Q&A Clear Admit School Guides Clear Admit Career Guides Clear Admit Strategy Series Clear Admit Interview Guides Below are the upcoming deadlines for admission to top-tier schools. Feb 10: INSEAD R3 Mar 1: Michigan / Ross R3 Mar 3: CBS Mar 3: LBS R3 Mar 4: Kellogg R3 Mar 8: Cambridge / Judge R4 Mar 8: CMU / Tepper R3 Mar 9: Duke / Fuqua R3 Mar 9: Penn / Wharton R3 Mar 10: Berkeley / Hass R4 Mar 10: Chicago Booth R3 Mar 10: Yale SOM R3 Mar 15: NYU / Stern R3 Mar 17: UCLA / Anderson R3 Mar 19: UNC / Kenan-Flagler R4 Mar 30: Cornell / Johnson R4 Mar 31: UVA / Darden R3 Mar 31: INSEAD R4 Apr 1: UT-Austin / McCombs Apr 2: Dartmouth / Tuck R3 Apr 2: Oxford / Saїd R3 Apr 7: Stanford GSB R4 Apr 8: Harvard R3 Apr 14: CBS Essay Topic Analysis Use categories to access all that has been written on each of the topics. We have categorized by school and by subject matter.
Interview Reports MBA.com Manhattan GMAT GMAT Club Princeton Review Test Prep New York Kaplan Beat The GMAT Knewton Writing Resources Guide to Grammar and Writing The Internet Grammar of English English Usage, Style and Composition The Economist Style Guide Paradigm Online Writing Assistant School Rankings The following resources should be useful to those who want to research the careers open to them after (or before) earning an MBA. Vault.com Wetfeet
Business School Resources
If an MBA Program is not listed, please e-mail and we will be happy to list it. Berkeley / Haas Boston College / Carroll Carnegie Mellon / Tepper Chicago Columbia Concordia Cornell / Johnson Dartmouth / Tuck Duke / Fuqua Emory / Goizueta Harvard HEC Montreal Indiana / Kelley Michigan MIT / Sloan Northwestern / Kellogg New York / Stern North Carolina / Kenan Flagler Notre Dame / Mendoza Pennsylvania / Wharton Queens Stanford Syracuse / Whitman Texas / McCombs Thunderbird Toronto USC / Marshall UCLA / Anderson Vanderbilt / Owen Virginia / Darden Washington University in St. Louis / Olin Western Ontario / Ivey Yale MBA Programs: Rest of the World As there is some variety in the length of international MBA programs, we have denoted the length of the program next to its name (1 = one year; 2 = 2 years). If an MBA Program is not listed, please e-mail and we will be happy to list it. AGSM (Australia) 2 Cambridge / Judge (UK) 1 CIEBS (China) 2 Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (China) 1 Cranfield School of Mgmt (UK) 1 ESADE (Spain) 1 or 2 HEC (France) 2 Hult (UK) 1 IESE (Spain) 2 IMD (Switzerland) 1 INCAE (Costa Rica) 2 INSEAD (France) 1 IPADE (Mexico) ISB (India) 1 London Business School (UK) 2 Manchester Bus. School (UK) 2 Melbourne (Australia) 2 Oxford / Said (UK) 1 Rotterdam (Netherlands) 1 Tsinghua IMBA (China) 2 University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) 1 Additional Resources Here we link a host of additional resources available across the web. E-mail info@clearadmit.com to have resources added to this list. AACSB International Association of MBAs Beyond Grey Pinstripes EFMD gradschools.com (worldwide) Infozee International Student Loans mba.com (GMAT Scores) MBAInfo mbaleague.blogspot.com MBAzone MBA Jungle TOEFL Top MBA MBA Tipline We encourage admissions officers, students and applicants to alert us of interesting news and developments, please send an email to news@clearadmit.com so we can blog it. Blog Archive
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009 USC / Marshall Essay Topics 2009-2010 The USC/Marshall essay topics for the 2009-2010 admissions season are now available! The essay topics are as follows: 1. What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will USC Marshall help you achieve these goals? (750 words) If interested in a dual-degree program, please address in this essay. 2. How will other USC Marshall MBA students benefit from your background, experience, leadership and teamwork skills? (500 words) 3. Select three from the following and describe: (250 words each) To access the online application, visit the USC/Marshall admissions site.
Rising Numbers in Graduate Enrollment The Council of Graduate Schools recently released official data about graduate school enrollment in Fall 2008. First-time enrollment in U.S. schools was up 4.5% from the previous year and applications were up 4.8%. Even more notable, for the first time since 2004, the domestic student enrollment increase (4.7%) was higher than international student enrollment increase (3.3%). “The growth in graduate school education is being driven by increases for women and minorities,” explained Nathan E. Bell, director of research and policy analysis for the Council of Graduate Schools. Minority numbers were higher across the board, with enrollment for American Indian students up 8.8%, Asian students up 6.7%, Black students up 6.5%, and Latino students up 10.6%. In contrast, the number of white students only increased 3.5%. Across racial and ethnic categories the number of women enrolled in graduate school rose as well, with average annual increases of 3.8% compared to 2.3% for men. The Council of Graduate Schools also reported that the most popular disciplines for graduate school applications in 2008 were business, engineering, and social and behavioral sciences. Education, business, and health sciences accounted for nearly half of first-time enrollment in Fall 2008, up 3.1%, 5.6% and 6.7% respectively. The economic downturn may have been a contributing factor in rising enrollment numbers and changes in discipline popularity, but increased diversity within graduate school classes is an encouraging trend—even if according to Bell, “we have a long way to go.” To read more about Fall 2008 graduate enrollment trends, click here.
Trivia Tuesday: Leadership Development at Cornell’s Johnson School In this week’s Trivia Tuesday column we turn our focus to the Johnson School at Cornell University and the program’s opportunities for leadership development. The Johnson School’s leadership philosophy is founded on personal mastery through self-knowledge and self-development. As such, Johnson students begin their MBA experience with an intensive and interactive personal assessment and continue feedback and assessment sessions into the fall semester. For students seeking to further develop their leadership abilities, Johnson offers a 10-credit Leadership Focus. The cornerstone of the Leadership Focus is the Goal Setting and Coaching for Leadership Success course, which is centered on the idea of “leader as coach.” The course trains students to effect personal behavior change, then to develop coaching strategies that enable them to help others. Throughout the semester-long course, students practice leadership by acting as a coach for a classmate. They also regularly update the personal learning plans they made during orientation so that the plans reflect their leadership progress. Students may fulfill the remaining 8.5 credits of the Leadership Focus by choosing among fourteen 1.5- or 3-credit leadership course offerings. They can also contribute credit from day-long Leadership Skills workshops. These workshops are part of Johnson’s Leadership Skills Program, which supplements the traditional business school curriculum through one-day workshops exploring practical skills from etiquette to Excel. The workshops range from three to eight hours in duration and are worth 0.1 elective credits. While there is no limit to the number of workshops a student can participate in, only 1.5 workshop credits may be applied toward graduation. Past topics have ranged from “Building Rapport through Applied Listening” to “Wine Appreciation.” For more information on the leadership development programs at Cornell or other leading business schools, be sure to check out the Academics and Special Programs sections of the Clear Admit School Guides!
Monday, September 28, 2009 Have You Ever Considered an Accelerated MBA Program? In today’s challenging economic climate, some applicants are turning to accelerated programs that take only 10-15 months to complete and cost substantially less than a two-year program. These candidates argue that they don’t have the time or money to invest in a two-year program. In light of the growing popularity of one-year MBA programs, The Wall Street Journal surveyed 1,361 recent grads and 731 alumni and reported their findings in a recent article about the one-year MBA track. The Wall Street Journal ranked fifteen one-year programs (comprised of nine European schools, five in the U.S., and one Latin American school) and European schools clearly led the pack. IE Business School in Madrid ranks #1, Switzerland’s IMD Business School is #2, and Cranfield School of Management in the U.K. is #3. Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and Babson’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business round out the top five, but according to students, international programs offer a strong curriculum and “a much stronger international exposure.” And for 86% of students surveyed, a program’s international focus was the deciding factor in choosing a school. Only 90 accredited schools worldwide offer a fast-track MBA, and few are located in the United States. Alumni reported that those in the U.S. tend to focus the majority of their career services and recruitment efforts on two-year students. On a positive note, women make up 35% of accelerated MBA graduate classes in the U.S. compared to 23% in international programs; and according to The Wall Street Journal, “American schools tend to excel in softer skills, like teamwork, building relationships, and managing across functions.” These programs won’t suit everyone. They are both rigorous and time-consuming, and almost two-thirds of students reported spending more than fifteen hours a week on schoolwork outside of the classroom, leaving little time for extracurricular activities. IMD Business School is known for having six-day, 100-hour weeks! “These students want to be taught, and then they want to move on,” said Sean Rickard, director of Cranfield’s MBA program. A very true statement, indeed—the Wall Street Journal study reported that 82% of students pursued one-year programs so they could return to the work force faster. Fortunately, most alumni reported that recruiters and managers don’t view an MBA degree from a one-year program any differently than a two-year program, and many agreed that the quick degree made their jobs safer during the recent economic crisis. For the complete Wall Street Journal article, click here.
Admissions Tip: Word Limits With applicants for the round one deadlines putting the finishing touches on their applications, the question of how strictly applicants need to adhere to word limits is perhaps more popular than ever. MBA candidates naturally have a good deal of information they want – and need – to convey in their materials, and getting the important ideas down under restrictive word counts is a difficult task. While it might be tempting to run a bit beyond the guidelines to slip in that one extra thought, it’s important to keep the reasons for word limits in mind. In addition to being a forum for explaining your goals and sharing your story, the essays also serve as a test of the applicant’s ability to communicate clearly and concisely, not to mention follow directions and answer a question. Because business schools and post-MBA employers place a premium on all of these elements, adhering to word counts ultimately works to the candidate’s advantage. The other consideration is the reader’s time. Because of high application volume and the need to give every applicant fair and thorough consideration, schools are forced to limit the amount of information in each file. If you consistently extend your answers beyond the suggested limits, you are essentially asking the reader to give you more time than they are devoting to the other applicants. In other words, if you were to ignore the word limits and overshoot by 30% throughout, this might imply that you consider yourself to be 20% more interesting than everyone else who applied. That being said, there is some leeway. For the vast majority of programs, it’s generally acceptable to exceed the word limit by 10%. There are, of course, a few exceptions: Caveat #1: If a school gives you a range (e.g. 250-750 words), you should ideally stay within that range. In terms of the other end of the length issue, it is likely unwise to consistently fall more than 10% below the word limits, as this is valuable room in which to share further information about your candidacy (and might signal a lack of effort, experience, or accomplishments). Best of luck to all those working on their application essays!
Friday, September 25, 2009 Mary Miller Joins Columbia Business School as Assistant Dean of Admissions for EMBA and MBA Programs In more Columbia Business School news, not only are eight new professors joining the School’s faculty, a new Assistant Dean of Admissions was officially appointed on Tuesday. Mary Miller will assume the new role, overseeing the recently consolidated MBA and Executive MBA admissions department. Most recently, Ms. Miller was Associate Dean of the MBA program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she managed admissions, career services, and student affairs. She has also served as Associate Dean of MBA Admissions, Student Services, and Alumni Affairs at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Ms. Miller will be reporting to Ethan Hanabury, Senior Associate Dean, Degree Programs, who recently commented that, “Mary brings 28 years of experience in higher education and a commendable record of accomplishment to this new role that will build on the remarkable success of MBA and EMBA admissions at the School.” For more Columbia Business School news, click here.
Update: Yale SOM’s New Campus On Friday, September 18th we incorrectly posted that the new Yale School of Management building project is on hold. Our reporting was based on a letter that the President of Yale sent to the University community on September 10th (see the full text of that letter below). Although it is true that “no major construction will proceed until funding is available from donor support or financial markets recover” we were informed by a representative of the Yale SOM that the current phase of the business school project (construction plans and drawings for the building) is fully funded and still moving forward. We regret any confusion this may have caused. —————————————————— From: Richard Levin and Peter Salovey We write to apprise you of the University’s financial condition as we We explained in our messages to the community last December and Because we did not make a full adjustment to the initial decline in Units of the University heavily dependent on endowment income will be We will provide full details of the budget adjustments required for As you know, construction projects that were already underway last Progress toward other important University priorities will be slowed Faculty recruitment will continue, but at a significantly reduced pace Last winter we asked units to reduce both their staff and non-salary We are truly grateful for the support and cooperation that we have This letter also appears here: http://opa.yale.edu/president/message.aspx?id=88
Fridays From The Frontline Welcome to Fridays From The Frontline, Clear Admit’s ongoing look into the lives of bloggers hoping for, or living, the MBA lifestyle. As some deadlines for the first round start looming in an altogether new way (a week or less) the applicant pool was a bit more quiet, probably focusing on last minute edits and new topic approaches. Ah, the finishing touches. Current students were a bit more vocal, especially those first years finally hitting their stride in terms of social and academic commitments. Steve felt that the GMAT, and many other things, were all about confidence. XLick attended a Columbia finance and economics panel. Bizwiz started his own biz-ness. Illuminati had a lot to report about sentence correction and studying for the GMAT verbal section. AJ’s conflicting desire to eradicate her current student debt while also preparing to apply to b-school was getting her a bit flummoxed. Rocky was committed to applying to Wharton in round 1. McCombs ‘10 Paragon2Pieces attended two events specifically for MBA women. Darden ‘10 JulyDream also participated in a women-specific event, the NAWMBA dinner. McCombs ‘10 Metal celebrated his 100th post, and made his way to New Orleans. LBS ‘10 OutOnALimb was getting into watching True Blood. Darden ‘10 Mechanigal talked consumer packaging. Harvard ‘10 Harvard Bound was looking to be hired. Melbourne Ronjon shared some business-oriented news. Wake Forest ‘11 Omne chimed in after a long silence with a post about just how busy he is in his first year. Stanford ‘11 PaloAltoForAwhile talked about how the campus changes with the addition of first years. Haas ‘11 SunnySideUp made a S’mores cheesecake. Fuqua ‘11 Choc Heaven chimed in with a overview of how her first month at Duke had gone. Kellogg ‘11 Windsor embraced his inner bucket, and shared a CIM video. Chicago Booth ‘11 GlobThink posted a long entry about international resumes and the different office cultures. Kellogg ‘11 Jeremy was on his way to an MBA conference. Following a classmate’s blogging lead, Kellogg ‘11 Orlando posted his class schedule for the fall term. Goizueta ‘11 Ahembeea continued to write about his love for his new surroundings. Kellogg ‘11 DG found rest to be elusive. Ross ‘11 Raghunathrao provided links to earlier posts about the application process for all those in the thick of it. And that’s all the noteworthy news for this installment of Fridays From The Frontline. We’re so glad to see new students settling in, second year students navigating their myriad responsibilities with ease and aspirants keeping calm in the face of impending deadlines. Until next week, have a great weekend!
Thursday, September 24, 2009 Columbia Business School Appoints Eight New Faculty Members Columbia Business School recently announced the addition of eight new professors for the 2009-10 school year. Specializing in a variety of academic divisions, each new faculty member will hold the title of assistant professor and has a wealth of knowledge and experience to contribute to the MBA program. “We are very pleased to have such distinguished professors join Columbia Business School,” said Vice Dean and Samberg Faculty Director Amir Ziv. “Our ability to attract the most talented faculty is critical to our mission to educate and develop business leaders and to create the knowledge and tools that advance the practice of management.” Two new faculty members will teach within the Management division; two will specialize in Decision, Risk, and Operations; two will join the Accounting program; and the final two will contribute their expertise to Finance and Economics. Here is a complete rundown of who has been hired: -Modupe Akinola (Management division) To find out everything you need to know about Columbia Business School, download the Clear Admit School Guide to Columbia Business School!
Twitter Thursdays: News from MBA Programs Welcome to another installment of Twitter Thursdays, a weekly column in which we highlight the latest updates from the top MBA programs on Twitter! For those who missed last week’s maiden post, think of Twitter Thursdays as a way to stay on top of what’s happening in the MBA admissions world – this time with a focus on words (or in this case ‘tweets’) from the schools themselves. Also, if you’re not following us already, be sure to check out Clear Admit on Twitter for updates, special prizes, admissions tips and breaking news. The Haas School’s Dean mingled with their alumni in Los Angeles and revealed a “surprising” post-MBA statistic. Meanwhile, across the country, UCLA / Anderson’s Dean, Judy Olian, rubbed elbows with alums in Boston. Having hosted a few alumni events in Athens and Spain, Stanford GSB shared briefings from the events. Rose Martinelli, Chicago Booth’s Associate Dean of Admissions, also related some alumni news regarding three graduates’ start-up success. The Johnson School celebrated its admission to the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, an organization for promoting diversity and inclusion in American business. The Tuck School of Business is already knee-deep in the academic school year, sharing plenty of professors’ research. Meanwhile, the Kellogg School of Management continued its steady stream of insight and research, as conducted by their notable professors. The Wharton School is gearing up for the Joseph Wharton awards ceremony, which happens to take place on the day of their Round 1 deadline! While these are just highlights of what the leading MBA programs have been “tweeting” over the past week, we certainly encourage our readers to fill their personal Twitter needs by finding out who to follow through our Twitter Index. The MBA Admissions Twitter Index is hosted within the Clear Admit Wiki (a free resource which many applicants have come to depend on for first-hand accounts of MBA interviews, and general admissions-related updates). For more fill of the top MBA programs, check out this list of admissions officers and schools’ news feeds. We’ve also compiled lists of current MBA students and alumni as well as current MBA applicants who are on Twitter. If you’re on Twitter, let us know! E-mail wiki@clearadmit.com with your user name and status as an MBA applicant, student or admissions officer so we can add you to the appropriate Twitter Index. Happy “tweeting” and we’ll see you next week with some more Twitter updates!
London Business School 2009-2010 Essay Topic Analysis London Business School’s are unchanged from last year. This is a solid indication that the school’s emphasis on international experience, as well as its interest in a candidate’s past and proposed leadership experience, remains unchanged. More than most programs, LBS asks applicants to share specific details of their future involvement on campus and contribution to the community. From this, one can extrapolate and assume that they’re interested in candidates who’ve spoken to students and learned a good deal about the program to really understand how and where they might fit. Question 1 (600 words): Question 2 (200 words): Here, the typical career goals essay is broken down into two discrete inquiries. This format clearly underlines the importance of having both a short- and long-term career plan in the MBA admissions process. Though the compartmentalization of the short and long term discussions might make it a bit more difficult to adapt content written for applications to other schools, it does signal the extent to which the adcom wants to hear about each of the topics raised. Developing one’s long-term goal discussion over 200 words, with a stopping point at the five-year mark, could be a great opportunity for applicants who often cover this topic in a single sentence to meet the word limit in their essays for other schools. The question also incorporates a “why now?” query, prompting candidates to explicitly justify the timing of their applications given the current stage of their careers. Question 3 (500 words): Question 4 (400 words): Question 5 (150 words):
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 UT Austin / McCombs Essay Topics 2009-2010 The UT Austin/McCombs essay topics for the 2009-2010 admissions season are now available. The topics are as follows: 1. Describe how your experiences, both personal and professional, have led you to pursue an MBA at this time. What are your short- and long-term goals and how will a Texas MBA help you achieve them? 2. Discuss a defining experience in your leadership development. What did you learn from this experience about your strengths and weaknesses as a leader? 3. At the McCombs School of Business, you will be part of an active and diverse community. How will you use your personal strengths and unique experiences to enrich the McCombs community during your two years in the program? The UT Austin/McCombs deadlines were announced earlier this year.
Have A Question About Applying to Harvard Business School? Just Ask the Admissions Director! In a recent post to her blog, Harvard Business School (HBS) Admissions Director Dee Leopold announced that she is trying something new on her blog: Answering your questions about admission to HBS! “As the Round One deadline gets closer and closer, I want to be as helpful as possible here. Instead of me posting and answering imaginary questions, how about if you submit yours and I respond to two each day from now until October 1?” she wrote. Although Leopold specifically states on her blog that she won’t address general inquiries like “How many students pursue careers in healthcare?” or the inevitable “What are my chances?” question, she has already provided answers for “What should I enter on the application for GPA if my university doesn’t use a 4.0 grading system?” and “Is it OK to write about accomplishments that are not recent?”. The Round One deadline is just around the corner, so if you have a question to ask—now is your chance. Send an email to: admissions@hbs.edu and insert “Questions for the director” in the subject line. To see what questions have already been answered, click here. Want more info about HBS? Check out Clear Admit’s School Guide to Harvard Business School!
What Will You Do When You Have Time To Do Things?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 London Business School Receives Two and Half Million Pound Donation to Support Entrepreneurship and Innovation The London Business School will establish a faculty chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation after receiving a two and a half million pound contribution from Sir Donald Gordon, one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and businessmen. “My gift will help the School encourage its aspiring leaders to better understand the nature and practice of entrepreneurship and innovation.” he commented. The founder of Liberty Life and Liberty International, and cofounder of Abbey Life, Sir Donald has developed several other prominent global businesses including Standard Bank and South African Breweries (now called SABMiller). Entrepreneurship is already one of London Business School’s most distinguished programs, and ranks as one of the top three subjects in size. Now, thanks to Sir Donald’s generous donation, Associate Professor of Strategic and International Management Michael G. Jacobides will become the Sir Donald Gordon Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and chair the program. A faculty member since 2000, Professor Jacobides has completed award-winning research on how industries evolve and change over time. In response to his new role, he said, “I am honoured to serve as the Sir Donald Gordon Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. . . . Sir Donald’s generosity will help support research on innovation, change and entrepreneurship that can benefit not only entrepreneurs, but also society as a whole.” To learn more about this story, click here. Find out about Entrepreneurship programs at all of the top schools in Clear Admit’s Career Guide to Entrepreneurship! Let us know what you think!
Trivia Tuesday: Chicago Booth’s International MBA It’s time once again for Trivia Tuesday, our weekly examination of the programs, policies and possibilities at the leading business schools. As business goes global, business leaders are increasingly expected to understand the nuances of doing business on the international stage. For prospective students interested in a career in international business, Chicago Booth’s IMBA offers an intriguing option. Chicago Booth is one of the few leading MBA programs to offer students an opportunity to pursue a specialized International MBA (IMBA) degree. To receive the IMBA, full-time MBA students must study abroad for one academic term, demonstrate proficiency in a non-native language and complete a concentration in international business. The concentration in international business consists of at least five courses in international business, at least three of which must be from Chicago Booth. While students must demonstrate non-native language proficiency, they do not need to do so in the language spoken while studying abroad. For instance, international students may fulfill the program’s language requirement through demonstrating proficiency in English and their native language. In keeping with Chicago Booth’s reputation for academic flexibility, students do not need to apply to the IMBA program until the first quarter of the MBA. In contrast, candidates for specialized degree and certificate programs at many other business schools must declare this during the general admissions process. For more information on Chicago Booth’s International MBA option or the international offerings at other leading business schools, be sure to check out the International Programs/Special Programs sections of the Clear Admit School Guides!
Monday, September 21, 2009 Kelley School of Business to Host 1st Annual Women’s Recruitment Weekend Calling all prospective female MBA students! On November 6-8, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business will hold its first ever Women’s Weekend. Demonstrating the School’s support and commitment to women—who made up 34% of the previous incoming full-time MBA class—the event is a chance for female applicants to learn about the Kelley MBA program and the opportunities available specifically for them. Throughout the weekend, prospective students will have the chance to get advice from successful alumnae; meet and network with faculty, administrators, and current students; and learn about the many career options available after graduation. The School has also organized a variety of information sessions, networking events, and social events, so women can get in-depth information about the Kelley program, explore the city of Bloomington, and get tips on preparing for business school. To find out more about the weekend, click here. Let us know what you think! Should all schools have programs designed specifically for female MBA students?
Admissions Tip: MBA Application Data Forms With MBA programs’ R1 deadlines just around the corner, we wanted to offer some words of advice about an often overlooked element of one’s file: the application data forms. All too often, we see candidates leave these online application forms for the last minute, even rushing to enter all the required information from work on ‘deadline day’. The truth is that a weak effort on these forms can do serious harm to one’s candidacy, as it might reflect poorly on the applicant’s professional polish or commitment to the application process. This being the case, here are a few tips for those who are in the midst of completing this component of the application: 1) Don’t be lazy. We know that many applicants feel ‘burned out’ from their essays, and that it’s tempting to zip through the application forms and provide a bare minimum of information. While it’s fine to use your resume as a starting point, make sure that you think beyond this ready-made content and consider other information that might be of interest. In many cases, the forms are a great opportunity for you to list outside activities in depth, offer a quick explanation of a bad semester, share the significance of some professional awards you’ve received, and so on. In fact, your application forms will often be the starting point for the admissions officer’s review of your file, so it’s important to put your best foot forward. 2) Follow instructions. If a school asks you to list activities in order of importance to you, then do not list them chronologically (as you may have done for another school). If the school asks for a contact person, title or the number of hours/week, do not leave these fields blank. As attention to detail is very important, spell checking another important step in this process. In fact, many admissions officers have stated that they use the application forms as a way to see whether or not candidates have the ability to follow instructions and show attention to detail. 3) Make everything clear. The last thing you want is for your reader to have to play detective in understanding your career progression, making sense of gaps in employment, or evaluating your undergraduate performance. If your listings are not clear, the reader may assume you are hiding something – a conclusion that could seriously damage your chances. By the same token, you should avoid using industry jargon and be sure that all of your statements will make sense to a reader who is not familiar with your industry or function. Given the level of competition in the applicant pool, the admissions office can afford to dismiss files that are confusing or difficult to follow. 4) Don’t go overboard. Admissions officers typically review several files in a sitting – devoting much less time than you might imagine to each file. With this in mind, avoid listing 18 activities, 22 awards and 17 publications – especially if some of those items date back to high school (or are more than 10 years old). Stay focused on the elements of your background that are most relevant, while following the instructions that have been outlined. Remember that the application process is an exercise in marketing, and that the schools appreciate applicants who are discerning about what details to share and know how to present themselves most effectively. As always, best of luck to those of you who are applying!
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MBA Twitter Index! We've created the MBA Admissions Twitter Index, a directory of applicants, current MBA students and b-schools on Twitter.Wiki MBA Admissions WikiThe Clear Admit Wiki is designed to allow b-school applicants to share their experiences through the application process. You can learn from others' experiences and contribute your own reports to the community. Below are the five most popular pages in the wiki: Wharton Interview Field Reports HBS Interview Field Reports Kellogg Interview Field Reports Chicago Interview Field Reports Columbia Interview Field Reports Discussion Boards BusinessWeek ForumsThe BusinessWeek Discussion Boards are another way to learn about the issues applicants face. Clear Admit hosts the Ask Clear Admit thread, which should help answer your questions. Here is a link to the original interface (for those of you who didn't like the recent upgrade). Also, here are the five most recent discussions taking place in the forum: Clear Admit is a featured expert in the BeatTheGMAT forums, answering questions from applicants across the globe. Feel free to ask us your questions in this forum! Here are the most recent posts: Clear Admit manages the Applying section of the StudyLink MBA discussion boards. Below are the five most recent posts to the GMAT Club message boards.
The student-2-student Discussion Boards are managed by Wharton. Here are the five most recent discussions. School-Hosted Blogs Straight from the source: aggregated posts from students and administration. Below are the seven most recent posts in school-hosted blogs. Individuals' Blogs A selection of the latest updates to MBA blogs compiled by Hella.MBA Applicants Bloggers by School The following are links to bloggers at each of the schools listed.Chicago Columbia Dartmouth / Tuck Duke / Fuqua Harvard Kellogg Michigan MIT / Sloan New York / Stern North Carolina / Chapel Hill Stanford Virginia / Darden Wharton Yale ESADE IESE INSEAD London Business School Community Blogs Bshoolers.comCommunity blog with MBA student and alum contributors. Forté Foundation MBA Diaries Video blog entries posted by women MBA students. Owen Bloggers Independent blog with content by Vanderbilt MBA students. Best of Blogging 2008-2009 Top Ten:
Best of Blogging 2007-2008 Top Ten:
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