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CATEGORY - FRIDAYS FROM THE FRONTLINE

Friday, November 14, 2008

Fridays From the Frontlines

Hello and welcome to another chapter in Clear Admit’s on-going Fridays From the Frontlines series. Our look into the times, tastes and tribulations of b-schoolers continues this week with continued excitement and disappointment as many second years wrap up their recruiting season and aspirants get closer and closer to interview dates and begin to consider round two applications.

In positive news, fishee chimed in to share the news of his recent interview invitation from Wharton. Ahembeea vented his own Wharton interview frustrations with a letter and shared his Ross interview experience. Samantha was also feeling a little bummed about Wharton and wished that b-schools were more like law school. D.G. had a mixed week, the lack of an interview invitation from HBS being somewhat softened by the invitation to interview at Wharton, but not so much so that he didn’t start thinking about round two schools. Theincarnated also felt the sting of not hearing from HBS and began to doubt his ‘the best or nothing’ approach. The Coronet had a little more luck, with interviews at Ross and Cornell. TienyChesney is one of the lucky few with all of that behind him, but with a whole slew of new considerations on which to get a grip.

Thos already in school are getting used to the shorter days but don’t lack school spirit. Darden ‘10 JulyDream, for example,  shared a very upbeat Darden video. McCombs ‘10 Metal, came back to life and had a lot to say about the beginning of his b-school experience.  Darden ‘10 Oren also discussed the concept of black November. Second years could feel each day pass, McDonough ‘09 Hairtwirler found herself 5/8th of the way done with her MBA and with a surprising interest in marketing. Ross ‘09  gltnfrpnshmt shared a few thoughts on the election and the recruiting system. Chicago ‘09 MaybeMBA was also considering her future moves.

And this concludes this rendition of the news for Fridays From the Frontline. The days, at least in some parts of the world, are getting darker and colder but that can’t stop the brave hopefuls from keeping their eyes, ears and hearts on the prize. Until next week, good luck and keep on keepin’ on!

Friday, November 07, 2008

Fridays From The Frontline

Hello! Welcome to another fascinating edition of Fridays From the Frontline, Clear Admit’s regular roundabout look at the lives and thoughts of those interested in attending b-school, or in the midst of earning their MBA. This past week was certainly historic for those residing in the United States, and b-schoolers and aspirants alike were not without their thoughts and opinions about the results of Tuesday’s election of Barack Obama. Politics aside, the quest for placement continues for many who hope to join the Class of 2011.

Interviews continue to be the focal point of most aspiring MBA blogs. Ahembeea shared his Kellogg and ISB interview experiences and sadly related his INSEAD zap. Samantha considered what she looks for in an interviewer and shared her tendency to bond with the crotchety. Omne also had an interview summary for his visit to Georgetown. The Teacher, after a number of weeks of silence, checked in to share his ISB interview preparations. Soni, though not without nerves, took solace in a current Wharton student’s experience waiting for an interview. In non-interview news, Maverick wished his readers a happy belated Diwalli and found the essay writing process gets easier as time goes on. D.G. shared amusing quotes from fellow aspirants at b-school presentations. MBADreamer submitted his Haas essay and thought about adding more schools to his list. TienyChesney wondered how his Columbia acceptance was affecting his readership and considered the benefits of switching roles at his job in order to get more Excel experience. Ameya submitted his Darden application, espoused the benefits of speaking with current students and was ‘Dardone’.  The only aspirant to mention the recent election, Chandara shared her excitement for voting.

It was a quiet week for first year b-schoolers, but Darden ‘10 Oren shared his feelings after voting for the first time in the U.S. ‘09ers were a little more active in their blogging, and political thoughts. Darden ‘09 Mandy, in the spirit of the elections, gave herself a middle name. McDonough ‘09 Hairtwirler was proud of her country. Ross ‘09 M@ considered Chicago, politics and religion. Chicago ‘09 MaybeMBA’s one word post suggested that she was pleased with the election results.

And that wraps up this week’s MBA blogosphere news. The U.S. has a new president-elect, aspirants continue to wait for news from their round one schools and current students are working hard. What will happen in the next seven days?

Friday, October 31, 2008

Fridays From the Frontline (Halloween Edition!)

Another exciting week has flown by since we last checked in with b-school bloggers. Fridays From the Frontline, Clear Admit’s regular study of the trials and tribulations of MBA applicants and students, is back yet again. While tonight may find many American youngsters going around neighborhoods asking for treats and threatening tricks, many b-school applicants have been putting on their own ‘costumes’ for a few weeks now. The goal of these meetings, of course, is not a pillowcase stuffed with candy nor a tree covered in toilet paper. No, these interviews’ stakes are much higher- acceptance or zaps- and the blog entries of aspirants reflects this truth. Currently enrolled students are not without their pressures, from cold calls to recruiting, life certainly doesn’t slow down once one learns their b-school fate.

Interviews were the most talked about topic of this week’s aspiring b-schoolers. Ahembeea celebrated Diwali and received interview invitations from ISB and Ross. Samantha felt drained after her Kellogg interview and went on a trip to somewhere warm. D.G. was more upbeat about his Kellogg interview, though embarrassed when his questioner asked if he was wearing a ‘Harvard red’ tie. Soni received word of his interview from Chicago promptly on the 29th. Charu scheduled his Owen interview and shared his full day’s itinerary for visiting the Vanderbilt campus. V2B-School managed to submit his Sloan application in time and was pleased to be contacted for an interview by Tepper. There was a continued flurry of application submissions throughout the aspirant pool. MBADreamer submitted his Stanford application with an exact essay word count of 1,800. MissionMBA completed his Duke and Darden submissions, while Omne gathered materials for McDonough and struggled with his UCLA recommender. In proper Halloween spirit, Earlybird planned to dress as Rick James and compared Lauder to the ‘ultra hot girl in the corner‘.

It was a quiet week for first year MBA bloggers, only Darden ‘10 JulyDream checked in to discuss the benefits of peer encouragement. ‘09ers had a little more to say. Darden ‘09 Anand considered materialism and Chuck Palahnuik, while fellow classmate Mandy went to a show alone and was perfectly comfortable. Another Darden blogger, SquareMethod, shared his recruiting experience of 11 interviews in one week. Ross ‘09 M@ was bound and determined not to spend his spring break on a beach. Chicago ‘09 MaybeMBA saw a relative bright spot in the slower recruiting season.

And that’s the news for this week. We can’t wait to see photographs of the creative costumes many b-schoolers most probably have put together for tonight’s revelries. Be safe, and stay warm!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Fridays From The Frontline

Another week has gone by and some dreams have come to pass (Phillies in the World Series, for example) while others may have been at least partially zapped (sorry Red Sox). In the Northeast of the United States autumn is certainly upon us; trees’ leaves haven’t just changed color, they’ve started falling off the branches altogether. Just think, in a short time a whole new round of applications will be due…and no leaves will remain, except in our memories.

Clear Admit was not alone in noticing the fall foliage. Darden ‘09 Mandy took a number of beautiful shots in the Virginia wilderness. ‘11aspirant, Omne, also enjoyed the arrival of the season.

Others, of course, were far more interested in the round 1 season, which is not quite over. The.Grey.One submitted his Chicago essay and took a tour of Tuck. Ahembeea prepared for his Kellogg essay and tried to decide whether to have a phone interview or take a three hour flight for a face-to-face interview. Samantha also submitted her Kellogg application, had an “inflated sense of self-worth” as a result of some of the school’s essay prompts, and considered applying to Duke. Ameya focused on Darden and wondered if, as a reapplicant, he could ask the same people to write his recommendation letters. Soni linked to a video about the Chicago GSB admissions process. V2B-School checked in after a lengthy silence with one application submitted and at least two more on their way. Leonidas also checked in and shared an update on his application process. D.G. attended an event and had a conversation with someone with very strong opinions about Harvard. TienyChesney had his own opinions after being applauded by an entire classroom of Harvard students. MissionMBA became interested by the Ratan Tata Scholarships at Cornell while MBAMonk started to ‘tweet’. And we’re sure that everyone missed HappyBunny’s presence in the blogosphere.

Current b-schoolers were full of thoughts and feelings over the past week. LBS ‘10 N.A.S. had enough of found art. Darden ‘10 JulyDream enjoyed the 100 case party but was a little disappointed to ge back to the real thing. Ross ‘09 M@ respected the recent loss that the Stanford GSB community has experienced. MaybeMBA pointed out how lost the financial community may very well be. McDonough ‘09 Hairtwirler wished that studies focused a little more on philanthropists. And HBS ‘09 CS provided translations of ‘HBSpeak’.

And that sums up this week’s meandering through the b-school blogosphere’s halls. As round one wraps up, we hope that all aspirants are properly geared up for the waiting game that follows. For those of you comfortably ensconced in an MBA community, we hope that the cooler months lead to more time snuggled up with a good case study and mug of hot chocolate.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Fridays From The Frontline

Hello and welcome to another edition of Fridays From the Frontline, Clear Admit’s weekly jaunt through the b-school blogosphere. Though a number of top tier schools’ round one deadlines are now receding from view, many MBA hopefuls can’t take a break as they move on to additional schools with later deadlines, or worry over their recommenders’ abilities to be prompt. Many current students are in the midst of their first round of exams and looking forward to a similarly brief respite before jumping into the next set of classes.

Class of 2011 hopefuls have been increasingly busy over the last week, rereading essays, checking in on recommendation writers, preparing for interviews and considering how to finance their MBA dreams. The goal of all of this is, of course, not to be zapped (’zap’ is the new ding). The recent changes in the American economy, as well as depreciation of the rupee caused Ahembeea to discuss, in depth, the ramifications these economic shifts have had on his application plans. Maverick, in addition to submitting his Ross application, also was feeling the effects of America’s faltering financial state. MissionMBA also had concerns over the consequences of the market fallout on his ability to get non-cosignor loans, this led to his dropping Darden from his list … but after assurances that the school’s financial aid office is going to try to find alternative solutions, he put the Darden back on his list.

While it is certainly wise to consider how one would afford their b-school education, you must first gain acceptance. Many aspirants continued working hard on that front. Soni visited Stern and found the registration office packed, he couldn’t help but wonder if this would have been the case in a rosier economy. HappyBunny shared the questions she answered in her Kellogg interview and her feelings on her Columbia interview (both items we’d love to see in the Clear Admit Wiki, when HappyBunny gets a chance to post them!). Samantha was gearing up for her own Kellogg interview and got sick. Omne probably felt a little sick to his stomach after scheduling problems with his recommenders, read his cautionary tale. A few aspirants, in the last two weeks, are aspiring no more, having received acceptances from Columbia. Maxwriter officially enrolled in CBS and now has a 30 point to-do list from the school. TienyChesney, also with sent his check and had his own personal list, including learning Spanish and buying Columbia sweatpants.

Prospective students weren’t alone in considering the impact the recent banking crisis would have on their futures. Wharton ‘10 TinyDancer considered the validity of the phrase ‘riding out the recession’ in relation to first and second year students. LBS ‘10 N.A.S. checked in after a lengthy blog silence, sharing his thoughts on the investment banking industry’s future, his club involvements and an overview of his first eight weeks in London. Haas ‘10 Dharu, also quiet for quite a while, checked in and let his readers know which school he ended up attending. Darden ‘10 JulyDream found herself considering finals week a break, and looked forward to the offical end of her first quarter.

‘09ers were also in the midst of their finals and weren’t without worry about their recruiting prospects. Fun was still had, however, by many. Ross ‘ 09 M@ and Ross ‘10 Gltnfrpnshmt welcomed GlamourGirl as a contributor to Ranierisms. Individually, each of these bloggers had their own posts. Gltnfrpnshmt found that one’s GMAT score remains relevant to their goals even after b-school acceptance. M@ gave a slightly softer interpretation of Gltnfrpnshmt’s message. GlamourGirl shared a great shopping/good cause opportunity. Chicago ‘09 MaybeMBA discussed the upside to Hyde Park. McDonough ‘10 Hairtwirler felt that she was melting as a result of her final exams. Darden ‘09 Mandy went to two weddings, complete with family tree and bicycle cakes.

As round one fervor dwindles, and the waiting game begins, we hope that all aspirants keep their chins up and eyes on the prize. For those embroiled in their first round of exams, just remember that the end is in sight! And for those of you getting ready to go back out into the work world, we hope that your recruiting season goes swimmingly. Until next week, this has been another trip down the strip of MBA experience.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Fridays From the Frontline

Welcome to a another addition of Fridays from the Frontline!  You may not have noticed the leaves changing colors and the days fading into night earlier and earlier with all the excitement this month!  We are settling into fall, and noteworthy news keeps coming in.   Whether it is the economy, the election, or tales about finished applications, interviews or acceptances, the admissions season is surely upon us!

For our first bit of exciting news, TienyChesney recently found out he was admitted to Columbia; Congratulations on finishing your journey!  Maxwriter has had the last week to let his good news sink in and continues to anticipate his future at CBS. HappyBunny is also stoked about the possibility of joining the Columbia crew, and has just received an interview invitation.  Omne worries that the economic situation might hinder his ability to visit schools, but he looks forward to studying more for the GMAT and is still hopeful about UCLA.  Chandra is considering adding Stanford to her list and is pumped about recently running the big 13.1!  The Teacher, meanwhile, has discovered valuable insight into the admissions process by watching Indian Idol.

While the first years have been quite quiet this week, Darden ‘10 JulyDream reports on difficult exams and exciting nights out on the town.

The ‘09ers have been busy discussing their class schedules, the economy and hard work.  Darden’s Mandy has pondered how to best manage her time, while Chicago’s MaybeMBA reflects on corporate mission statements.  INSEAD’s Marc Zornes wonders about the economy and is now deciding between exploring Spain, Scotland, or Morocco on his upcoming break!   Georgetown’s HairTwirler discusses an exciting trip to Southern Maryland and a delicious crab cake.

Well, that pretty much captures this week’s highlights, and we look forward to hearing more about everyone’s classes, finished applications, and acceptances!  Good luck in this tumultuous economy, and keep us all posted on your stories…

Friday, October 03, 2008

Fridays From The Frontline

Another turbulent week has flown by and now it’s time for another installment of Fridays From The Frontline. The last seven days have been exciting ones for b-school bloggers, a few have received acceptances, others have had interviews and many of their peers are getting closer and closer to final drafts or the GMAT. While aspirants eye encroaching deadlines, current MBA students are gearing up for exams and many are probably talking up a big storm about bailouts and consequences.

First off, congratulations to Maxwriter for his acceptance to Columbia! He seems to be one of the first to get the news. Others, however, have cleared the interview hurdles. TienyChesney had his interview and thought it went very smoothly. For some it’s too soon to be thinking interviews. MBAMonk, after a blogging hiatus, admitted to not being as proactive in his application process. Ahembeea can start his waiting game, having submitted his Kellogg, Ross and Wharton applications. Samantha took a b-school birthday breather and focused on cupcakes. D.G. used his quantitative skills to break down the statistical advantages to a round one application. Speaking of round one, MissionMBA decided to hold off a round to apply to Ross. The Teacher took part in an MBA tour in Hyderabad and appreciated the perspectives of Rotterdam, Stern and Cornell’s representatives. And Soni encouraged all applicants to post their stats.

First years were awfully quiet this week. Perhaps they, like JulyDream, were preparing for marketing exams or just feeling generally overwhelmed with the imfamous first-semester courseload at top schools…

The 09′ers had quite a bit to say over the last week. MaybeMBA envied nausea free pregnant women and talked about her fall class schedule at the Chicago GSB.  Darden’s SquareMethod finally found himself running with his blackberry and accomplishing goals. M@ at Ross expressed his love of The Big House.  Georgetown’s HairTwirler shared her tip on reclaiming your quant skills. Mandy expressed her pride in Darden. Anand, aware of the application process heating up, posted a must-read for all MBA applicants.

And that rounds up this week in the the blog world of business schools. Next week we hope for more good news, insights and stories from the vibrant MBA community.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Fridays From the Frontline

Hello and welcome back to Fridays From the Frontline, your weekly Clear Admit b-school stress bail out. Summer has officially ended and many might wonder what, exactly, happened to the first half of September? MBA students and aspirants continue to find new reserves of focus, determination and drive in order to manage their workloads (be they essays or case studies), let’s see how they’ve all done over the last seven days!

As October, the unofficial starter’s pistol of b-school application cycles, approaches all the planning and strategizing  that ‘11 aspirants have done is finally being put to the test. Ahembeea submitted his INSEAD application and shared his feelings on Wharton’s essays. Maverick, all planning aside, decided to apply to Ross while Samantha, though intrigued by a Sloan program, decided to stick to her application game plan. Happy Bunny wrote her own ‘Tainted Love’ Lyrics. TienyChesney was probably singing another song having received his Columbia interview invite. MaxWriter also received a Columbia invite and asked for interview tips (we recommend looking here and here).  MyNameisNeo had his IIMA and IIMC interviews. MissionMBA struggled with mixed reviews of his Tuck essays and The Teacher gave his take on Tuck.  OMG commented on the continuing craziness of the recent financial meltdown. Soni submitted his application to Columbia and was struck that one of his first applications would probably be one of the last schools he heard back from.

Stern ‘10 Achilles reflected on his first month at Stern–complete with class trips to Mets games, the US Open and a Broadway show. Darden ‘10 July Dream professed her love of her learning team and Columbia ‘10 Mbarunnergirl seemed to be able to sum up the beginning of her b-school experience in one word: intense.

More aware of the recent financial chaos, ‘09ers had a few things to say. Chicago ‘09 Anand wondered if now might not be the time for the US to take a step back. Darden ‘09 CS recognized the impact that the crisis would have on many a b-schooler but thought it best to wait and see. Fellow Darden student, Mandy learned a life lesson. The Ross ‘09 and ‘10 guys at Rainierisms talked like pirates. Chicago ‘09 MaybeMBA was actually excited about the upcoming recruiting season.

As October gets closer and closer we continue to wish aspirants the best of luck in their essays, data forms and overall applications. Clear Admit also sends warm regards to current students just about to start the process of finding their ’short-term goal’ and to those simply settling after a hectic opening month.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Fridays From The Frontline

Times are crazy in the financial world and times are pretty hectic in the b-school blogosphere - so what’s the best way to calm oneself and get centered? A little perusal of Fridays From the Frontline, Clear Admit’s weekly unification of MBA applicant and student bloggers, of course. FFF makes you feel a little less alone and a little more in touch.

Without any more introduction, we’ll jump right into the continuing saga that is the application process! ‘11 aspirants continue to do their best to put together stellar applications before the rapidly encroaching first round deadlines. Soni’s recommenders were on the ball and the result was a complete application for Kellogg. While Samantha continued to be stressed over her recommenders. The Teacher had the lovely advantage of finishing up and submitting his ISB application while staying on its campus. Maverick also submitted his ISB application…and moved on to six other applications. Always Thinking turned out to be “advanced mid’ in his proficiency in Chinese (part of the Wharton/Lauder requirement). Omne wondered if other applicants had ultra ‘gimme schools’. OMG pondered the fallout that would result because of the Lehman Brothers collapse. MissionMBA completed his Tuck essays and considered the possibility that the process would get easier. Ahembeea shared his thoughts on the Tuck essay prompts. MaxWriter struggled with the Chicago essays. TienyChesney continued to slowly become a networking god.

For first year students, the initial adjustment period is ending and they find themselves able to share a little more. Kellogg ‘10 Miss Curly Bee gave a great summary of her first month in Evanston before jetting off to a Mexican themed party. Darden ‘10 JulyDream shared the softball results of the Darden Cup.  We’ll look for more information from first years next week as they continue to adjust to life in b-school…and get back to blogging about it!

In ‘09er news, INSEAD ‘09 Marc Zornes was part of a winning Business Venture competition team. Darden ‘09 Mandy shared a few symptoms of senioritis with her readers. McDonough ‘09 HairTwirler scored an impressive victory for Macintosh users everywhere. And Chicago ‘09 GSBSutras wrote live, from Mumbai.

And here we conclude this week’s frontline report. We hope that those of you in the midst of your applications continue to soldier through and think good thoughts to those effected (financially, future job-wise or in any other way) by the recent Wall Street news.  Have a great weekend!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Fridays From The Frontline

Welcome to a brand new addition of Clear Admit’s Fridays From The Frontline! Yet another week has gone by and more second year MBA students are returning to their schools and getting back into the b-school swing. Applicants, who a month ago, couldn’t imagine being nearly half way through September without final essays, now know the feeling that accompanies that particular situation. Round one deadlines loom like a stalled tropical storm in the Atlantic and first year students feel like their lives have gone into a whole new gear of busy.

Second year students returned to school and started checking in on their long silent blogs. McDonough ‘09 Salsera was back at school with a goal of at least one blog entry a month. Chicago ‘09 GSBSutras was frustrated by his internship’s red tape. And Darden ‘09 Anand shared his thoughts on how to get the most out the case-method approach. Fellow Darden student, Mandy, returned to campus and became a certified rickshaw driver. Yet another Darden student (busy bloggers!), SquareMethod realized his window for camping was narrowing and saw his vegetables become more lumpy. HBS ‘09 CS was glad to get back to school and hear about her classmates’ summers though wished that there was a way not to tell the same story over and over again.

In first year news, Darden ‘10 JulyDream reflected on her new first year status and became the athletics rep of her section. Ross ‘10 Gltnforpnsmnt finally felt more connected with his class after M-Trek and a week of classes. Fuqua ‘10 Seagull needed an additional 24 hours in her day. And Wharton ‘10 TinyDancer, remembering her own round 1 applications, gave some very helpful essay advice.

Speaking of essays, MBA hopeful Ahembeea provided quite humorous alternative essay topics. Rimten will hold off on writing essays until next year. Samantha turned in part one of Kellogg’s application. TieneyChesney attended another MBA fair and snagged a Yale SOM pen and a Toigo Foundation pen! And MissionMBA looked for help concerning Fuqua’s international loan forms.

Clear Admit wishes all those in the MBA blogosphere continued good luck and spirits! Tune in next week to hear about the latest ruminations, jokes and disasters from the world of b-school bloggers!

Friday, September 05, 2008

Fridays From the Frontline

Welcome to September everyone and welcome to Fridays From the Frontline! Those of us here in the U.S. are very aware that it’s hurricane season up and down the Atlantic Coast and convention time in the middle and west of the country. These sorts of things can make a person feel the need to head to high ground to escape the deluge, whether in the form of 150 miles per hour wind or the cacophony of political pundits’ voices. This week in the MBA blogosphere we were introduced to guest bloggers, got reacquainted with a long silent blogger and continued to be amazed at just how much it takes to stay ahead of those gale force winds (re: deadlines).

Wharton ‘10 TinyDancer’s guest blogger, BadDancer explained that after expecting a category 5 change of life when his wife started b-school, he was pleasantly found to be wrong…that Wharton had passed the first test. Elsewhere in the first year universe, Darden ‘10 JulyDream found herself in a tough prioritizing position. LBS ‘10 N.A.S managed to wall climb, festival watch and consider four important questions.

After a 3 month blogging hiatus Chicago ‘09 GSBSutras had a lot to say and this included describing his summer internship as an “escapist resort”.  Fellow GSB’er ‘09 Iday happily returned to Chicago. INSEAD ‘09 Marc found he was just short of fluent in two languages and shared his excitement over Welcome Week in Fontainbleu.  Yet another windy city ‘09er, MaybeMBA, shared her thoughts on how to learn to love the job search.

While those just starting their first or second years of school are a bit quiet, the ever thinking, ever hoping aspirants were busy, busy, busy making noise! Ahembeea worried about a non-responsive recommender and reviewed Kellogg’s essays. Samantha was also gearing up for recommenders by compiling recommendation packets. Leonidas was swept away by the knowledge that all applicants are more than their academic and professional experience. Happy Bunny had a similarly upbeat and positive message. In not exactly positive but not exactly negative news MyNameIsNeo was wait-listed by INSEAD and plans to move forward with his relocation to Singapore. TienyChesney spent time in New York, considered adding chicken to his diet and worried about the low percentage of women in Columbia’s class of 2008. Maxwriter, wondered where all the accepted MBA bloggers have gone. While AlwaysThinking thought about, and discarded, the possibility of giving up on the pursuit of an MBA Chandara buckled down and studied for the GMAT.

And that about sums up this last week in and around the blogosphere. As the deadlines loom ever closer and more and more schools start their fall class schedule, we’re sure that things will continue to keep every one on their proverbial b-school toes!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Fridays From The Frontline

It’s sometimes hard to believe how fast a season can fly by and yet here we are at the end of August with many b-schools deep into their orientation and only days away from opening their academic year. Last year’s applicants are this year’s incoming students and last year’s first years are suddenly top dogs on campus! Next thing you know the leaves on the trees will be orange, yellow and red, round one will be a memory, and MBA hopefuls will be torn between spending time with their families and friends or knuckling down and getting that last essay just right. But we shouldn’t rush ahead, there are still warm days in front of us and a whole first round to consider.

On the application front, some bloggers shared lessons they learned or tricks they honed while others sought advice. MissionMBA advised that you make sure that you are answering the question. Ahembeea provided three basic tenets when it came to writing essays. Samantha sought opinions on whether an in person interview at Tuck was really necessary. Omne wondered what the best approach to explaining a class failure would be and started planning a whirlwind b-school trip. Samantha and Omne weren’t alone in trying to plan b-school visits, TienyChesney had quite a b-school busy weekend planned for later in September. Ameya completed his GMAT and finally was ready to focus his full attention on his applications. Adekku shared his strict and loose criteria for choosing schools, useful to anyone who also doesn’t want to live in a cold climate. Soni gave Clear Admit props for our school guides and set some ground rules for his readers’ behavior. The waiting begins for Happy Bunny and Maxwriter, both of whom submitted their applications to Columbia, cross your fingers and think good thoughts!

The early weeks of b-school continued relatively well for the class of 2010, though at least one injury was reported and exhaustion certainly was taking a bit of a toll. LBS ‘10 N.A.S. formulated a Carnival plan for himself and his fellow classmates. Kellogg ‘10 Miss Curly Bee arrived safely in Evanston and was pleasantly surprised by the city and excited to embark on her KWEST trip. Darden ‘10 JulyDream struggled with the limitations of an injured ankle and shared her insights on the ways that sections function. McCombs ‘10 Metal was thoroughly exhausted from all the orientation activities.

Rising ’seniors’ of the class of 2009 also had a few things to share with their readers this week. Darden ‘09 Anand summed up his Australian experience, from owning a work stream to seeing koalas for the first time. Chicago ‘09 Iday got ready to complete his internship and shared that he had been able to visit all three of Pablo Neruda’s houses while in Chile. Darden ‘09 Square Method returned to school and shared the at least one recruitment advantage given to MBA bloggers. Darden ‘09 Mandy felt great on a bike and Chicago ‘09 MaybeMBA shared her own research on the ‘MBA mom opt out’ myth.

While it might not be quite time to pull out one’s sweaters or stock up on hot cider, for many MBA bloggers it is time to put those thinking caps back on and to stockpile their supply of ‘brain food’ for the beginning of the semester. We wish new and returning students all the luck in the world and send warm thoughts out to every applicant sending out an application for the first (or second) time!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Fridays F