“I was a first round applicant for the class of 2013. I’m from the midwest, four years of consulting experience, and interested in general management. I was invited to on campus interview. There were other students that were interviewed my 2nd-year students, but for some reason….I was interviewed by an adcom. She was great, very nice and respectful.

Standard Questions:

The interview lasted 45 minutes. She explained that there were no right/wrong answers and that she simply is there to assess me as a fit for the program. I have a friend who went to Darden, so he gave me the scoop on the interview. It was pretty much like everyone says, very, very, very relaxed. After the interview, we did a campus tour and had lunch with professors (food was great…some of the local fair). I assume I was being assessed throughout my visit on campus. Turns out they liked me as I was accepted.”

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Clear Admit Wiki!  To help your fellow applicants in the MBA admissions process, please send us your interview field report and we’ll add your experience to the Clear Admit Wiki.  Also, for more helpful advice on how to ace your interview, check out our line of Interview Guides.  Based on our years of experience with hundreds of applicants interviewing with the leading programs, the Interview Guides contain analysis of the most commonly asked questions for each school and can help you craft effective responses for your MBA interview.  Good luck to all interviewees!

Our journey through “MBAs’ Funniest Home Videos” starts in Chicago.  When choosing between offers, it may help to understand the admissions process from the other side of the acceptance letters, e.g. the admissions committee. For insight into admissions decisions and financial aid, ‘Sandy G’ (who bears a striking resemblance to Ali G) sat down with Chicago GSB’s Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, Rose Martinelli, and Financial Aid Director, Priscilla Parker.  Here is the resulting video.

Visiting a school may also help candidates to tip the scales. While admit weekends provide previews of business school life, however, many applicants may be left wondering about campus culture once the bridge from ‘prospect’ to ‘student’ is finally crossed. For a better sense of campus life, be sure to check the following videos:

Though spring offers warm weather, there may still be some ice to break over one’s admit weekends. For pointers on approaching your fellow admits, check out a few Stanford students’ take on these events. Although interview season is winding down, some tips offered in this mock interview can still apply when sharing one’s background with future classmates. When all else fails, the common MBA topic of career goals may save a stale conversation and prospects can take a crooning cue from Columbia Business School’s Dean Hubbard.

That wraps up this week’s installment of Which School Wednesdays! As always, we encourage those who have made up their mind to contribute to the School Choices section of the Wiki – simply create an account or send your thoughts to wiki@clearadmit.com. Best of luck and happy deliberating!

During the fall and winter, however, many applicants dread answering the question “why this school instead of that one?” in their essays and interviews. Now that admissions notifications are out, the question is resurfacing once again. Some admitted applicants are choosing between multiple offers, while others are considering attending a school that they researched only briefly in the fall. And of course, many applicants are now debating the pros and cons of relocating with their significant others.

One applicant, as shared on the School Choices page of the Clear Admit Wiki, approached this debate based on criteria such as geographic location, weather, class size and international opportunities, among several other points.

Another candidate broke down her choice among eight schools according to the individual programs, which can lead to a much more detailed and nuanced argument, not to mention a potentially dizzying list of preferences! This candidate, however, approached the debate head-on with a succinct list of perks and pitfalls. For example, when identifying the pros and cons of a few programs, she wrote:

For this candidate’s observations on the six other programs, be sure to check out the School Choices page. No matter the approach to trimming one’s short or long list of choices, it can always help to organize one’s thoughts, priorities and data points in writing. The School Choices page can be a great forum for breaking down one’s decisions, so we encourage candidates to share their debates by creating an account or sending their thoughts to wiki@clearadmit.com.

As a final reminder for those still interviewing or interested in sharing interviews from this season, it’s the last day to win a $10 . . . → Continue Reading]]> Welcome to another edition of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight some particularly poignant posts from the Clear Admit Wiki, a repository of MBA applicants’ experiences with the admissions process. While spring is in full swing, some candidates are still undergoing interviews (as can be seen in the recent UCLA / Anderson and INSEAD reports added to the Wiki) while prospective applicants are giving the GMAT a go.

During the fall and winter, however, many applicants dread answering the question “why this school instead of that one?” in their essays and interviews. Now that admissions notifications are out, the question is resurfacing once again. Some admitted applicants are choosing between multiple offers, while others are considering attending a school that they researched only briefly in the fall. And of course, many applicants are now debating the pros and cons of relocating with their significant others.

One applicant, as shared on the School Choices page of the Clear Admit Wiki, approached this debate based on criteria such as geographic location, weather, class size and international opportunities, among several other points.

Another candidate broke down her choice among eight schools according to the individual programs, which can lead to a much more detailed and nuanced argument, not to mention a potentially dizzying list of preferences! This candidate, however, approached the debate head-on with a succinct list of perks and pitfalls. For example, when identifying the pros and cons of a few programs, she wrote:

1. “IESE: I was really excited about the possibility of studying in a dual language MBA program. The IESE program is a two year U.S. style MBA program top ranked globally but with a smaller class size compared with similar U.S. schools.
2. + : international experience, foothold into European job market, Barcelona, case study method, very American friendly program.
3. - : name recognition in US not very strong though increasing, exchange rate makes it a “very expensive language class” to quote one of my bosses.

1. UCLA: I applied to UCLA to give myself a west coast option and to throw in a wild card to see how my profile would be accepted at a slightly larger program with a less specialized program. I was attracted to the international focus and exchange opportunities afforded to students.
2. + : west coast school, international focus
3. - : state school, comparatively limited resources”

For this candidate’s observations on the six other programs, be sure to check out the School Choices page. No matter the approach to trimming one’s short or long list of choices, it can always help to organize one’s thoughts, priorities and data points in writing. The School Choices page can be a great forum for breaking down one’s decisions, so we encourage candidates to share their debates by creating an account or sending their thoughts to wiki@clearadmit.com.

As a final reminder for those still interviewing or interested in sharing interviews from this season, it’s the last day to win a $10 iTunes gift certificate for an interview report for the following schools: Berkeley / Haas, Cornell / Johnson, MIT / Sloan, Stanford GSB, Dartmouth / Tuck, UCLA / Anderson, Yale SOM, INSEAD and LBS (limit one gift card per applicant). To be eligible for the prize, simply e-mail your interview report to wiki@clearadmit.com.

We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Clear Admit Wiki this season! We look forward to awarding some last minute iTunes gift cards as well as reading some dynamic debates about programs. Happy deliberating!

As one candidate wrote in the Clear Admit Wiki about NYU / Stern vs. UCLA / Anderson,

It takes quite a bit of effort to make highly-nuanced distinctions like this applicant’s (for more points of her lengthy debate, check out the School Choices page). For this reason, it’s a great idea to take advantage of every resource available when making this difficult decision. Talking to alumni in your target industry and attending events for admitted students, whether a full weekend at the school itself or a dinner hosted in your own city, are great starting points for collecting valuable information.

In the meantime, we encourage our readers to share their thoughts – whether you’re looking for others’ opinions on individual schools or just searching for a good method of breaking down this complicated decision, the School Choices page can be a great help. Simply create an account or send your debates to wiki@clearadmit.com to contribute!

For those still interviewing or interested in sharing interviews from this season, we will be awarding a $10 iTunes gift certificate to each applicant who submits an interview report for the following schools: Berkeley / Haas, Cornell / Johnson, MIT / Sloan, Stanford GSB, Dartmouth / Tuck, UCLA / Anderson, Yale SOM, INSEAD and LBS between now and April 30th (limit one gift card per applicant). To be eligible for the prize, simply e-mail your interview report to wiki@clearadmit.com.

Thanks to all of those who have added their experiences to the Clear Admit Wiki and we look forward to reading more comparative cases on candidates’ school choices! In the meantime, here’s to due diligence and calm consideration!

Before diving into some debates, however, let’s take a look at which schools are opening their doors to admitted students over the next few weeks.  These ‘admit weekends’ or ‘welcome events’ are a great way to learn more about programs, meet future classmates and blow off a little steam to celebrate favorable results.  [Note: For a humorous glimpse into what makes admitted students weekends so enjoyable, see this video].  Without further ado, here is a run-down of the upcoming events:

HBS: April 24th- 26th, 2008 Chicago GSB: April 25th-26th, 2008 Stanford GSB: April 27th-28th, 2008 MIT / Sloan: May 2nd-3rd, 2008

With all of the festivities at admit weekends, it may be easy to forget that tough choices are on the horizon.  This is why we’ve created the School Choices page in the Clear Admit Wiki – to allow candidates to explain their rationale for the choice they ultimately make. 

Diving in to some decision making cases, this season, blogger Tinydancer pitted Wharton against Kellogg on the School Choices page. Breaking down her criteria into categories like location, curriculum, cultural fit and school brand, among others, Tinydancer offered the following observations on the schools’ marketing curricula:

To find out where Tinydancer decided to attend, you’ll have to read her full report.  As always, we encourage our readers to join in the conversation – whether you’re looking for others’ opinions on individual schools or just searching for a good method of breaking down this complicated decision, the School Choices page can be a great help. . . . → Continue Reading]]> Welcome back to Wiki Wednesdays, our weekly look at informative contributions to the Clear Admit Wiki. With interview season coming to an end and many applicants sifting through their admissions results, we’re shifting our focus towards the School Choices page in the Wiki. This is a great resource for applicants who are now facing the fortunate, but difficult, task of deciding between offers from multiple schools.

Before diving into some debates, however, let’s take a look at which schools are opening their doors to admitted students over the next few weeks.  These ‘admit weekends’ or ‘welcome events’ are a great way to learn more about programs, meet future classmates and blow off a little steam to celebrate favorable results.  [Note: For a humorous glimpse into what makes admitted students weekends so enjoyable, see this video].  Without further ado, here is a run-down of the upcoming events:

1. Columbia GSB: April 11th, 2008
2. CMU / Tepper: April 11th-12th, 2008
3. Northwestern / Kellogg: April 18th-20th, 2008
4. Wharton: April 19th-20th, 2008
5. HBS: April 24th- 26th, 2008
6. Chicago GSB: April 25th-26th, 2008
7. Stanford GSB: April 27th-28th, 2008
8. MIT / Sloan: May 2nd-3rd, 2008

With all of the festivities at admit weekends, it may be easy to forget that tough choices are on the horizon.  This is why we’ve created the School Choices page in the Clear Admit Wiki – to allow candidates to explain their rationale for the choice they ultimately make. 

Diving in to some decision making cases, this season, blogger Tinydancer pitted Wharton against Kellogg on the School Choices page. Breaking down her criteria into categories like location, curriculum, cultural fit and school brand, among others, Tinydancer offered the following observations on the schools’ marketing curricula:

1. “Wharton: Most people I’ve talked to…believe that its marketing program is probably under-rated…Many people also told me the marketing curriculum is probably more quantitative and data-driven than at other schools, but I have no way to really substantiate this. I did sit in on a couple marketing classes and I was impressed.

1. Kellogg: Kellogg is as well known for marketing as Wharton is for finance. In marketing circles, it is widely regarded as the best. I sat in on a class here too, which was great. “Brand” (as in brand management) is one of the top careers students choose, and many companies recruit there specifically for that reason. Also, while I was there, the marketing club was in the middle of the annual marketing competition…There were advertisements everywhere, and it seemed [to be a] cool environment.”

To find out where Tinydancer decided to attend, you’ll have to read her full report.  As always, we encourage our readers to join in the conversation – whether you’re looking for others’ opinions on individual schools or just searching for a good method of breaking down this complicated decision, the School Choices page can be a great help. Further, the process of writing down pros and cons is often much more productive than spinning the wheels in one’s head, so we hope readers will take the time to share their own thoughts! Simply create an account or send your debates to wiki@clearadmit.com.

For those still interviewing or interested in sharing interviews from this season, we will be awarding a $10 iTunes gift certificate to each applicant who submits an interview report for the following schools: Berkeley / Haas, Cornell / Johnson, MIT / Sloan, Stanford GSB, Dartmouth / Tuck, UCLA / Anderson, Yale SOM, INSEAD and LBS between now and April 30th (limit one gift card per applicant). To be eligible for the prize, simply e-mail your interview report to wiki@clearadmit.com.

That wraps up this week’s edition of Wiki Wednesdays! As always, we wish the best of luck to those still interviewing and extend our thanks to those who have contributed to the Clear Admit Wiki!

First, this question came up for blogger MBA Babe as she made the very tough choice to matriculate at Stanford instead of Harvard. She attended admitted students’ weekends at both schools and debated key points, including her first impressions of potential classmates, curriculum flexibility, the weather, the alumni network, and more. These are typically the important considerations, but MBA Babe’s thoughts on Stanford’s recent curriculum changes were particularly insightful: “I have read and heard bits and pieces about the new, more personalized Stanford curriculum, but [the idea of] feeling like a guinea pig makes me a wee bit nervous…. I like that you have a lot of flexibility in choosing your classes. While you have to take, let’s say, a finance class, you have a choice of 3 different finance classes to fulfill that requirement…. Also, they are trying to take all the competencies and bring them together in a couple leadership classes and seminars. Innovative? Yes. Reinventing the wheel/I won’t know anything when I graduate and hence no one will want to hire me? No.”

While MBA Babe considered how Stanford’s recent changes would affect her experience there, a similar question arose on the Business Week Forums. Deciding between Yale and Darden, ebuesing recently solicited opinions about the two schools. Second year Yale student daddylew offered the following thoughts about the program’s recent restructuring: “A number of sweeping changes have been made in the last eighteen months, so it will take time for them to really start having an impact on the school. We developed a brand new curriculum, which is the first of its kind at a major business school. We’ve ramped up faculty recruitment…. We’re launching new centers such as the Millstein Center for Corporate Governance…. We’ve significantly expanded the school’s infrastructure (career development, club support, technology, case-writing, etc.), and are in the process of raising money for a new campus. That said, I wouldn’t expect a massive transformation overnight — it will take a few years for the results to become tangible.”

Both Stanford GSB and Yale SOM are going through some exciting changes right now, and the next two class years will play a major role in shaping the long-term direction of the schools. This scenario is ideal for anyone who is eager to explore new ideas and help guide his or her program’s newest developments; meanwhile the element of the unknown may be less appealing to those who are more risk-averse. As with so many other aspects of the decision process, the key here is to know your own individual style and objectives! Good luck to everyone who is still debating, and we’ll see . . . → Continue Reading]]> Welcome to another edition of Which School Wednesdays, where we take a look at some of the tough choices that admitted students are making about which MBA program to attend. This week, we found a couple of conversations around the web that consider the pros and cons of attending programs that have just been thoroughly revamped.

First, this question came up for blogger MBA Babe as she made the very tough choice to matriculate at Stanford instead of Harvard. She attended admitted students’ weekends at both schools and debated key points, including her first impressions of potential classmates, curriculum flexibility, the weather, the alumni network, and more. These are typically the important considerations, but MBA Babe’s thoughts on Stanford’s recent curriculum changes were particularly insightful: “I have read and heard bits and pieces about the new, more personalized Stanford curriculum, but [the idea of] feeling like a guinea pig makes me a wee bit nervous…. I like that you have a lot of flexibility in choosing your classes. While you have to take, let’s say, a finance class, you have a choice of 3 different finance classes to fulfill that requirement…. Also, they are trying to take all the competencies and bring them together in a couple leadership classes and seminars. Innovative? Yes. Reinventing the wheel/I won’t know anything when I graduate and hence no one will want to hire me? No.”

While MBA Babe considered how Stanford’s recent changes would affect her experience there, a similar question arose on the Business Week Forums. Deciding between Yale and Darden, ebuesing recently solicited opinions about the two schools. Second year Yale student daddylew offered the following thoughts about the program’s recent restructuring: “A number of sweeping changes have been made in the last eighteen months, so it will take time for them to really start having an impact on the school. We developed a brand new curriculum, which is the first of its kind at a major business school. We’ve ramped up faculty recruitment…. We’re launching new centers such as the Millstein Center for Corporate Governance…. We’ve significantly expanded the school’s infrastructure (career development, club support, technology, case-writing, etc.), and are in the process of raising money for a new campus. That said, I wouldn’t expect a massive transformation overnight — it will take a few years for the results to become tangible.”

Both Stanford GSB and Yale SOM are going through some exciting changes right now, and the next two class years will play a major role in shaping the long-term direction of the schools. This scenario is ideal for anyone who is eager to explore new ideas and help guide his or her program’s newest developments; meanwhile the element of the unknown may be less appealing to those who are more risk-averse. As with so many other aspects of the decision process, the key here is to know your own individual style and objectives! Good luck to everyone who is still debating, and we’ll see you next week for another edition of Which School Wednesdays!

By way of introduction, HairTwirler presents her career goals and the schools to which she’s applied in this post. With her sights set on a career in the nonprofit sector, and a list of schools that extends all the way from Southern California to Europe, she certainly went into this process with her hands full.

She first looks to Shakespeare (the great Bard of MBA Admissions) and resolves to follow the idiom “to thine own self be true”:

Knowing what you want, and being able to identify what resources and schools fit your strategy and your style of learning is critical to developing a successful application.

From there, HairTwirler goes on to collect as much information as possible about each of her options. She thoroughly familiarizes herself with each school’s curriculum and compares them against one another:

One of the reasons I became interested in Georgetown in the first place was reading about the Global Integrative. During your second year, when you are supposed to know a bit more, you take a course focused on a country. From what I’ve read… you work on a consulting project for a company doing business in the country you are studying. You then take a one week trip to the country and the visit culminates with a presentation to the local client representatives. [Side note: Yale does a very interesting and worthwhile but field trip/classroom variety international experience.]

In another blog post, she conducts an exhaustive comparison of recruiting trends:

My main focus throughout this process has been who recruits at my chosen schools. Yale and Georgetown are tops for non-profit/ NGO/microfinance “powerhouses.”

And in yet another, directs an inquisitive eye on a logistical quirk at one program, and considers how it might affect her education there.

After paying a deposit of 2800 GBP, the Judge School then undertakes the charge of finding a place at a college for you. Many MBA students are shuffled off into the lesser colleges. As most of the important MBA resources are focused within the Judge School itself this is not really a huge concern but merely an annoyance. Oxford and Cambridge need modern makeovers so badly.

Like a true MBA student, HairTwirler also walks her readers through the process of calculating the ROI of any given program:

Simple ROI calculations take into account forgone salary, tuition costs and prospective salary post-MBA given the income statistics published by business schools. Looking up post-MBA statistics is the easy part. It becomes a bit more like multivariable calculus… if you actually try to figure out what your . . . → Continue Reading]]> Welcome to another installment of Which Schools Wednesday! This week we’d like to take a closer look at one applicant’s particularly astute approach to the decision making process. Recent BoB-ranked blogger HairTwirler has done a fantastic job of chronicling her thought process over the past few months. Let’s take a look at what she’s had to say:

By way of introduction, HairTwirler presents her career goals and the schools to which she’s applied in this post. With her sights set on a career in the nonprofit sector, and a list of schools that extends all the way from Southern California to Europe, she certainly went into this process with her hands full.

She first looks to Shakespeare (the great Bard of MBA Admissions) and resolves to follow the idiom “to thine own self be true”:

Knowing what you want, and being able to identify what resources and schools fit your strategy and your style of learning is critical to developing a successful application.

From there, HairTwirler goes on to collect as much information as possible about each of her options. She thoroughly familiarizes herself with each school’s curriculum and compares them against one another:

One of the reasons I became interested in Georgetown in the first place was reading about the Global Integrative. During your second year, when you are supposed to know a bit more, you take a course focused on a country. From what I’ve read… you work on a consulting project for a company doing business in the country you are studying. You then take a one week trip to the country and the visit culminates with a presentation to the local client representatives. [Side note: Yale does a very interesting and worthwhile but field trip/classroom variety international experience.]

In another blog post, she conducts an exhaustive comparison of recruiting trends:

My main focus throughout this process has been who recruits at my chosen schools. Yale and Georgetown are tops for non-profit/ NGO/microfinance “powerhouses.”

And in yet another, directs an inquisitive eye on a logistical quirk at one program, and considers how it might affect her education there.

After paying a deposit of 2800 GBP, the Judge School then undertakes the charge of finding a place at a college for you. Many MBA students are shuffled off into the lesser colleges. As most of the important MBA resources are focused within the Judge School itself this is not really a huge concern but merely an annoyance. Oxford and Cambridge need modern makeovers so badly.

Like a true MBA student, HairTwirler also walks her readers through the process of calculating the ROI of any given program:

Simple ROI calculations take into account forgone salary, tuition costs and prospective salary post-MBA given the income statistics published by business schools. Looking up post-MBA statistics is the easy part. It becomes a bit more like multivariable calculus… if you actually try to figure out what your personal ROI is for a given program.

Lastly, in this post HairTwirler addresses the psychological requirements of the decision making process:

If you’re a type A decision maker, at a certain point you have to tell your parents, significant other, friends, colleagues and everyone else to let well enough alone, cloister yourself for a few days, and make a decision. OR, if you’re the type that actively solicits advice from every one you meet, have a close friend lock you in a room for a few days and emerge with a decision.

Deciding which offer to accept is indeed a highly personalized process and it often requires some intense inward reflection. However, HairTwirler’s thorough, independent and critical analyses provide an excellent model for anyone who is currently grappling with these kinds of questions.

While nobody except the two people in a relationship can really know how their priorities line up, it can be very helpful to pace through the debate with a neutral party. One recent discussion on the Business Week Forums highlights some helpful ways to consider the different options. One poster explains how a Harvard admit threw a wrench into his plans to attend Wharton, as his wife had been admitted into a PhD program at Penn:

“It looked like our decision was made after I received my Wharton acceptance… However, now that I have been accepted by Harvard, I am finding this decision frustratingly painful.… I know that I’m probably crazy for even entertaining the idea of living apart from my wife for two years to go to school…particularly when we have the chance to attend an Ivy League school together.”

Another poster responded with some great advice based on his own situation:

“I clearly communicated to my wife that only if she agreed would I go for my MBA elsewhere. She did agree after she realized how excited I am about Darden… From a practical perspective the difference may be small between W and HBS, however if it has always been your desire to be part of HBS then do not simply disregard it… If you go to W just because of your wife and not because you wanted it, whenever you encounter any difficulty or failure you will resent your decision, and this will put stress on your relationship.”

The applicant’s final decision was to accept Wharton’s offer, thereby doing his part to dispel the belief that MBA stands for “me before anyone (else)”!

Offering further reassurance that the idea of living apart isn’t crazy, a second year student at Chicago GSB declares that it is possible to maintain a positive long-term relationship while earning an MBA. Posting on the Student Admissions Committee blog, he writes about using Skype to touch base once or twice a day with his girlfriend living in Stockholm:

“In general, your schedule as an MBA student will offer sufficient flexibility and breaks so that you can adapt to his/her working schedule – but it does take a bit of planning and effort.”

He also emphasizes that the prospect of long distance extends beyond the duration of the MBA program. He urges students to brainstorm with their partners about jobs and internships in mutually agreeable locations, and then to pursue them early in the year:

“My girlfriend sent me a list of 60 companies based . . . → Continue Reading]]> Welcome back to Which School Wednesdays, where we take a closer look at some of the issues facing admitted students at this point in the spring. This week, we’d like to focus on perhaps one of the most difficult but least talked about elements of the decision process: making a final decision that suits the needs of both the applicant and a spouse or partner.

While nobody except the two people in a relationship can really know how their priorities line up, it can be very helpful to pace through the debate with a neutral party. One recent discussion on the Business Week Forums highlights some helpful ways to consider the different options. One poster explains how a Harvard admit threw a wrench into his plans to attend Wharton, as his wife had been admitted into a PhD program at Penn:

“It looked like our decision was made after I received my Wharton acceptance… However, now that I have been accepted by Harvard, I am finding this decision frustratingly painful.… I know that I’m probably crazy for even entertaining the idea of living apart from my wife for two years to go to school…particularly when we have the chance to attend an Ivy League school together.”

Another poster responded with some great advice based on his own situation:

“I clearly communicated to my wife that only if she agreed would I go for my MBA elsewhere. She did agree after she realized how excited I am about Darden… From a practical perspective the difference may be small between W and HBS, however if it has always been your desire to be part of HBS then do not simply disregard it… If you go to W just because of your wife and not because you wanted it, whenever you encounter any difficulty or failure you will resent your decision, and this will put stress on your relationship.”

The applicant’s final decision was to accept Wharton’s offer, thereby doing his part to dispel the belief that MBA stands for “me before anyone (else)”!

Offering further reassurance that the idea of living apart isn’t crazy, a second year student at Chicago GSB declares that it is possible to maintain a positive long-term relationship while earning an MBA. Posting on the Student Admissions Committee blog, he writes about using Skype to touch base once or twice a day with his girlfriend living in Stockholm:

“In general, your schedule as an MBA student will offer sufficient flexibility and breaks so that you can adapt to his/her working schedule – but it does take a bit of planning and effort.”

He also emphasizes that the prospect of long distance extends beyond the duration of the MBA program. He urges students to brainstorm with their partners about jobs and internships in mutually agreeable locations, and then to pursue them early in the year:

“My girlfriend sent me a list of 60 companies based in Stockholm. Then I cross checked with the list in our career services office – we had data for ALL of them. I ended up at Bain Stockholm for the summer, and when I got an offer, both Anna and I were thrilled to accept!”

This sounds like an excellent approach, since the writer benefits from both his schools’ resources as well as his partner’s input. Prospective students still making their school selection decisions might want to follow this lead by, for instance researching the school’s network and placement record in the target post-MBA region.

For those admitted students with spouses or partners who will be joining them at business school, it’s a great idea to bring him or her along to welcome events for admitted students in the spring. Many weekend events feature special activities for partners, allowing them to get a sense of how they might participate in the community once the school year begins.

Best of luck to all the couples who are debating this issue at present; we’ll see you next week for another installment of Which Schools Wednesdays!

This week, the Clear Admit Wiki received a very insightful post from applicant blogger Katrina.  Her decision-making process was impressive in several ways, and it may be of value to others who are currently deliberating over similar questions.  Let’s take a look at how Katrina approached the debate between NYU (Stern) and UCLA (Anderson):

The first thing to note is that Katrina asked a wide range of questions and was thorough in her search for answers.  On one hand, she asked questions about her potential school experience in the short-term; and on the other considered her career opportunities beyond the next two years.  As one deliberates over programs, it’s important to make sure that the next two years don’t eclipse the long-term, and vice versa.

In regards to the long-term, Katrina considered the industries with which each schools’ alumni are predominantly associated.  Looking at geography and recruiting patterns, she concluded that Stern was the place to go for Investment Banking, while Anderson would be better for Private Equity and Venture Capital.  Of course, the differences extend beyond finance:

“I saw somebody asked about entertainment programs on another blog, and the answer was that NYU’s program focuses more on TV networks, while UCLA’s program focuses more on film companies.”

Katrina also considered quality of life issues that will influence her next two years, thinking about climate, housing prices, transportation options, and the differences between cultural ‘fit’ in New York and Los Angeles.  She was also quite right to consider how the differing academic calendars would affect the already-stressful internship search:

“The problem with UCLA recruitment is school starts at Oct 1 here, which is one month after most other schools. But the companies don’t treat Anderson differently than other schools, so students at Anderson need to really work hard to catch up on the schedule, especially for those wanting a summer internship at financial service/consulting…”

Perhaps Katrina’s most influential short-term consideration of all was the substantial financial offer she received from Anderson.  Sometimes these offers come as a surprise, as in this case, but financial aid and scholarship opportunities are also an important factor to consider at the beginning of the application process.  Sometimes applicants don’t fully realize how significant an investment their MBA educations will be until the spring, at which point offers like this one can essentially flip their priorities!  Applicants who thoroughly research this aspect of the MBA experience in the fall won’t find themselves in unfamiliar territory when financial issues become more urgent in the spring.

It takes quite a bit of effort to make highly-nuanced distinctions like Katrina’s.  For this reason, . . . → Continue Reading]]> Welcome to this week’s edition of Which School Wednesdays!  At this point in the season, most applicants have received their long-awaited decision notifications, and those who have been accepted at more than one program will likely spend the next few weeks drafting (and redrafting) their lists of pros and cons before ultimately deciding on one school over another.

This week, the Clear Admit Wiki received a very insightful post from applicant blogger Katrina.  Her decision-making process was impressive in several ways, and it may be of value to others who are currently deliberating over similar questions.  Let’s take a look at how Katrina approached the debate between NYU (Stern) and UCLA (Anderson):

The first thing to note is that Katrina asked a wide range of questions and was thorough in her search for answers.  On one hand, she asked questions about her potential school experience in the short-term; and on the other considered her career opportunities beyond the next two years.  As one deliberates over programs, it’s important to make sure that the next two years don’t eclipse the long-term, and vice versa.

In regards to the long-term, Katrina considered the industries with which each schools’ alumni are predominantly associated.  Looking at geography and recruiting patterns, she concluded that Stern was the place to go for Investment Banking, while Anderson would be better for Private Equity and Venture Capital.  Of course, the differences extend beyond finance:

“I saw somebody asked about entertainment programs on another blog, and the answer was that NYU’s program focuses more on TV networks, while UCLA’s program focuses more on film companies.”

Katrina also considered quality of life issues that will influence her next two years, thinking about climate, housing prices, transportation options, and the differences between cultural ‘fit’ in New York and Los Angeles.  She was also quite right to consider how the differing academic calendars would affect the already-stressful internship search:

“The problem with UCLA recruitment is school starts at Oct 1 here, which is one month after most other schools. But the companies don’t treat Anderson differently than other schools, so students at Anderson need to really work hard to catch up on the schedule, especially for those wanting a summer internship at financial service/consulting…”

Perhaps Katrina’s most influential short-term consideration of all was the substantial financial offer she received from Anderson.  Sometimes these offers come as a surprise, as in this case, but financial aid and scholarship opportunities are also an important factor to consider at the beginning of the application process.  Sometimes applicants don’t fully realize how significant an investment their MBA educations will be until the spring, at which point offers like this one can essentially flip their priorities!  Applicants who thoroughly research this aspect of the MBA experience in the fall won’t find themselves in unfamiliar territory when financial issues become more urgent in the spring.

It takes quite a bit of effort to make highly-nuanced distinctions like Katrina’s.  For this reason, it’s a great idea to take advantage of every resource available when making this difficult decision.  Talking to alumni in your target industry and attending events for admitted students, whether a full weekend at the school itself or a dinner hosted in your own city, are great starting points for collecting valuable information.

We wish this BoB-nominated blogger the best of luck at Anderson, and invite other readers to post their own school choice debates on the School Choices section of the Clear Admit Wiki.  In the meantime, here’s to due diligence and calm consideration!

Debating between Harvard and Stanford, blogger MBA Babe said it best:

“So far, I have found the admit weekends to be the most telling, so I don’t think my decision will be made until the end of April. I want to meet the other admitted students…. Truthfully, although both schools are near either family or friends, it does sound like you spend most of your time with your fellow classmates so I’m really looking forward to meeting them and seeing where I fit best.”

Across the country (and the world), schools are hosting weekend events for admitted students.  Each one provides myriad opportunities to meet prospective classmates, current students, faculty and members of the administration.  Visitors are kept busy with a wide range of activities: conventional presentations, small group discussions, visits with current students, mock classes, and city tours.  Some academic departments even hold job interviews for prospective students seeking employment during the upcoming school year.

Most schools also make a sincere effort to include partners (and even children) in the weekend’s activities.  For example, at Ross’s Go Blue Rendezvous last weekend, there was both a wine hour and a coffee lounge for partners.  Wharton does a great job of reaching out to family members as well.  At the Wharton Welcome Weekend, which begins this Thursday, partners events feature free child care, as well as some activities specifically targeted to male partners.  This is just another way in which MBA programs try to make themselves fully accessible to prospective students who remain undecided.

Many schools also coordinate more succinct events for prospective students who can’t make the trip to campus for a long weekend.  Forrest Gump blogged about a fun meet-up for Chicago admits in his hometown, and HairTwirler also recently enjoyed a dinner and bonding experience for prospective Georgetown students.  On the other hand, Ipoel came away from Anderson’s A-Days somewhat skeptical about her fit with the school.  Their experiences show how valuable admitted student events can be for candidates still deciding between schools.

In the coming weeks, we encourage admitted students to take full advantage of these exciting events.  Soak up the atmosphere on campus, meet your potential classmates, explore the surrounding . . . → Continue Reading]]> During the fall and winter, many applicants dread answering the question “why this school instead of that one?” in their essays and interviews.  Now that admissions notifications are out, the question is resurfacing once again.  Some admitted applicants are choosing between multiple offers, while others are considering attending a school that they researched only briefly in the fall.  And of course, many applicants are now debating the pros and cons of relocating with their significant others.  Luckily, MBA programs are currently reaching out to individuals in all of these categories -not to mention that fact that, at this time of year, prospective students are in a better position to collect information without the stress of simultaneously filling out applications!

Debating between Harvard and Stanford, blogger MBA Babe said it best:

“So far, I have found the admit weekends to be the most telling, so I don’t think my decision will be made until the end of April. I want to meet the other admitted students…. Truthfully, although both schools are near either family or friends, it does sound like you spend most of your time with your fellow classmates so I’m really looking forward to meeting them and seeing where I fit best.”

Across the country (and the world), schools are hosting weekend events for admitted students.  Each one provides myriad opportunities to meet prospective classmates, current students, faculty and members of the administration.  Visitors are kept busy with a wide range of activities: conventional presentations, small group discussions, visits with current students, mock classes, and city tours.  Some academic departments even hold job interviews for prospective students seeking employment during the upcoming school year.

Most schools also make a sincere effort to include partners (and even children) in the weekend’s activities.  For example, at Ross’s Go Blue Rendezvous last weekend, there was both a wine hour and a coffee lounge for partners.  Wharton does a great job of reaching out to family members as well.  At the Wharton Welcome Weekend, which begins this Thursday, partners events feature free child care, as well as some activities specifically targeted to male partners.  This is just another way in which MBA programs try to make themselves fully accessible to prospective students who remain undecided.

Many schools also coordinate more succinct events for prospective students who can’t make the trip to campus for a long weekend.  Forrest Gump blogged about a fun meet-up for Chicago admits in his hometown, and HairTwirler also recently enjoyed a dinner and bonding experience for prospective Georgetown students.  On the other hand, Ipoel came away from Anderson’s A-Days somewhat skeptical about her fit with the school.  Their experiences show how valuable admitted student events can be for candidates still deciding between schools.

In the coming weeks, we encourage admitted students to take full advantage of these exciting events.  Soak up the atmosphere on campus, meet your potential classmates, explore the surrounding neighborhoods, and enjoy those happy hours!  As always, we would love to hear from admitted students as they weight their options, and we invite readers to post their thoughts on the School Choices page of the Clear Admit Wiki!