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CATEGORY - WIKI WEDNESDAYS

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua Interview Reports

With 2009 nearly upon us, welcome to the final 2008 edition of Wiki Wednesdays, where we share fresh interview reports published in the Clear Admit Wiki, a repository of MBA applicants’ experiences and observations! As most schools have distributed decisions to Round 1 candidates, we’re taking a break from the race to Round 2 deadlines to peruse a few interview reports from Dartmouth / Tuck and Duke / Fuqua.

A recent Tuck candidate recounted the following interview experience with an adcom member:

1. Walk [me] through [your] resume, starting from undergrad. What [were you] involved in outside of class in undergrad?
2. Why MBA? (Which led to discussion of goals after school.)
3. Why Tuck? (It seems they ask everyone this)
4. Tell about a time / how [you] work in teams.
5. Tell about a time / how [you] lead.
6. How will [you] get involved in Tuck, outside of class? (what groups and activities?)

Blogger MissionMBA shared the following questions from his Fuqua interview in the Clear Admit Wiki:

1. Tell me something about yourself, starting with your education.
2. Tell me about a team-effort that did not work out well.
3. Tell me about a time when you had to convey a difficult message to somebody.
4. How would you enrich the cultutre at Fuqua?
5. If given a chance, what would you like to change in your life?

That wraps up Wiki Wednesdays for 2008!  We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Clear Admit Wiki this year and we look forward to receiving plenty of reports in 2009!  If you would like to contribute a report of your experience in applying for an MBA, simply e-mail your interview report, campus visit account or school comparison evaluation to wiki@clearadmit.com.  You can also post directly to the Clear Admit Wiki by creating an account.  Thanks again to all those who have contributed this year and best of luck to those undergoing the application process in 2009!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: UCLA / Anderson, NYU / Stern, Yale School of Management Interview Reports

Welcome to another round of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight new and informative reports in the Clear Admit Wiki, an online repository of information learned by applicants throughout the MBA admissions process.  This week, we’re setting the spotlight on UCLA / Anderson, NYU / Stern and the Yale School of Management as they are still distributing Round 1 interview invitations.

In California, a Round 1 applicant shared his on-campus interview experience at Anderson:

1. Tell me about what you do now?
2. Why did you choose your current position?
3. What part of your leadership experience will be the most helpful at Anderson?
4. Elaborate on your career goals.
5. How will Anderson help you get to your career goals?

Back on the East Coast, a Stern candidate faced the following queries from a member of the adcom:

1. What are three words to describe Stern?
2. What do you like about NYU?
3. If you got into all the schools you applied to, how would you decide?

The Sterns candidate also noted, “I did not get any questions on my application or essays. She had my resume in front of her and asked a few questions from it.”

Another Round 1 candidate recounted the following interview with a second-year student at Yale:

1. “The questions were like ‘what do you think of this topic (related to your industry)’. I don’t think the question was meant to throw me off or test me, but a different way to understand my point of view (and, of course, to see if I am informed). Because I added in stories on my own, I think that precluded the interviewer of asking me ‘tell me about a leadership experience etc…’ Then, Why MBA/Why Yale/Post-MBA goals. Because Yale is a lot about fit, I think the Why Yale question needs to be sincere and when you ask questions at the end they should be thoughtful. You don’t want them to think this is another stop on your interview tour.”

In line with this candidate’s advice, applicants may want to conduct some research by checking out the school’s website, contacting current students or reading the Clear Admit School Guide for Yale School of Management in order to prepare a distinctive case.  Also, don’t forget to check out the Clear Admit Interview Guides for a bit of extra guidance.

That concludes Wiki Wednesdays for this week.  As always, we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed content to the Clear Admit Wiki this season!  If you would like to share your interview or campus visit for the benefit of other applicants, simply create an account or send your reports to wiki@clearadmit.com.  Thanks for tuning in and best of luck!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: Last Chance to Win an iTunes Gift Card!

Welcome to another edition of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight the latest interview questions as shared by MBA applicants in the Clear Admit Wiki!  This past week, candidates have shared interview experiences from programs like Harvard Business School, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU /Stern, MIT / Sloan, UCLA / Anderson, UVA / Darden, and the Yale School of Management.

Before posting some of the latest questions, we’d like to remind those going through the MBA admissions process that we’ll be awarding a $10 iTunes gift certificate to every fifth applicant who contributes content to the Wiki through this Friday, December 19th.  To be eligible for the prize, simply e-mail your content - whether an interview report, a school visit account or a school choices case - to wiki@clearadmit.com; we’ll post the content to the Wiki and notify the winners by e-mail.

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the reports that have rolled in recently!

A Round 1 aspirant for HBS shared the following questions from an adcom member:

1. Why <Y> company? I talked about the culture of the company, so the next couple of questions had to do with the culture. Why did I fit in, etc.
2. How long I have been participating in a sport?
3. Why HBS? Why MBA? Most basic of questions, right? He thought my first answer was a bit generic, and wanted more.
4. Explain [your] current job.
5. Explain a project that I described as one of my 3 accomplishments (this one I may have expected as it was the least described project as I had to rip out a lot of the details). So a lot on this project (what was the problem - give numbers, what was the solution, what was my specific role, who was driving the project)

Down in Virginia, a candidate for Darden recounted the interview experience with a second-year student:

1. “The only real question that they ask you is to ‘tell us about yourself,’ and the applicant takes it from there… That part went on for about 40 minutes and I led my remarks towards any potential follow up that could be asked, or at least that I had anticipated. I then used the next 15 minutes to ask questions, and I was surprised by the frankness and honesty of the student.

Moving on to MIT / Sloan, a Round 1 hopeful provided details about the off-campus interview with an adcom member:

1. “The adcom explained that MIT conducts behavioral type interviews… The questions included Why MBA / Why Now / Why MIT? And I was challenged or asked for more detail on each…  I was asked to describe more about two or three of my application essays. The questions were pretty vague (i.e. “you mentioned your undergraduate experience in essay 3, tell me more about that”), so I recommend reviewing immediately prior to the interview. I was asked what question I wished I was asked. I stumbled a bit because I was able to previously mention the two stories I had planned if this came up.”

These are just a few snapshots of the latest interview reports MBA applicants have added, but there are plenty of other questions to peruse in the Clear Admit Wiki! Also, be sure to check out the Clear Admit Interview Guides for some extra interview tips.  As always, we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed content to the Wiki this season and we wish the best of luck to those still facing some tough questions!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: New Interview Reports from Chicago, CBS, Tuck, Duke, LBS, Kellogg, Michigan and Wharton!

Welcome to another installment of Wiki Wednesdays, where we share a few new interview tidbits from the Clear Admit Wiki.  Just this past week, we’ve received interview reports for no fewer than eight schools, including Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, London Business School, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg and Wharton! We’d, therefore, like to start this post with a hearty “thanks!” to all those who have been contributing content to the Wiki and keeping it an informative resource for fellow MBA applicants!   

Before highlighting some of the latest posts, we’d like to remind those going through the MBA admissions process that we’ll be awarding a $10 iTunes gift certificate to every fifth applicant who contributes content to the Wiki through December 19th.  To be eligible for the prize, simply e-mail your content - whether an interview report, a school visit account or a school choices case - to wiki@clearadmit.com; we’ll post the content to the Wiki and notify the winners by e-mail.  Now, without further ado, here are a few snippets from the numerous reports that have rolled in recently!

A trio of applicants to Wharton shared their interview questions from second-year student interviewers, including:

1. How do you manage a global team?
2. How do you motivate your team members?
3. How do you deal with challenges in your team?
4. Tell me about a time when you exhibited leadership.
5. Provide three examples of how you would become involved with the Wharton community.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: Submit a Report, Win an iTunes Gift Card!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight fresh and informative content in the Clear Admit Wiki, a user-generated resource of MBA applicants’ experiences with the admissions process. Before recapping some of the latest posts - from a pair of Chicago Booth interviews to a set of INSEAD interviews – we’d like to remind applicants of the potential to win a $10 iTunes gift card!

As announced in last week’s Wiki Wednesdays, we’ll be awarding a $10 iTunes gift certificate to every fifth applicant who contributes content to the Wiki through December 19th. Beyond interview information, we’d also love to see some more detailed accounts of visits to campus and decisions about where to apply. To be eligible for the prize, simply send your contribution to wiki@clearadmit.com; we’ll post it to the Wiki and notify the winners by e-mail.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the latest posts to the Clear Admit Wiki! One Round 1 applicant to Chicago Booth shared his “blind” interview experience – meaning the interviewer had not reviewed the candidate’s application prior to the interview – with an alumnus:

1. “The interview questions were pretty much as expected, all centered around why MBA, why now and why Chicago Booth… What took me by surprise was the depth of the standard questions. The interviewer probed… about the why MBA and tried to gauge whether my expectations from Chicago Booth were realistic, and whether there was match between my reasons for why MBA and his opinion about whether the school could provide what I expected from the MBA…My recommendation to interviewees is to be thoroughly prepared for the why MBA, why Chicago Booth part.”

In line with this candidate’s advice, applicants may want to conduct some research by checking out the school’s website, contacting current students or reading the Clear Admit School Guide for Chicago Booth in order to prepare a sound case. Meanwhile, blogger Soni shared his on-campus interview experience with a second-year Chicago student, recounting the following questions:

1. Tell me about yourself and how you got here.
2. Tell me about a couple of leadership experiences.
3. If you had a team member that wasn’t carrying his/her weight, how would you approach it?
4. Why Chicago?

An INSEAD Round 1 candidate also shared his interview experience in the Clear Admit Wiki this week. He faced the following queries from his alumni interviewers:

1. Why international? Why INSEAD?
2. Where do you see your career developing following the program?
3. Would [you] want to stay in France?
4. What would [you] offer to INSEAD? What clubs or organizations would you like to be involved in? When I responded, he asked me if I knew these clubs existed and had I researched and contacted people involved in them.

That wraps up Wiki Wednesdays for this week. Be sure to tune in next week for a glimpse at the latest posts to the Clear Admit Wiki! In the meantime, don’t miss the chance to help fellow applicants and win an iTunes gift card – send in your relevant admissions experience to wiki@clearadmit.com.

As always, we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed content to the Wiki! We look forward to receiving more reports and awarding iTunes gift cards over the next few weeks. Best of luck to those in the midst of interview season!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: iTunes Gift Certificates for Wiki Contributors!

Welcome to another installment of Wiki Wednesdays, reporting the latest goings on with the Clear Admit Wiki. Firstly, we’d like to say thanks to all the applicants who’ve been submitting interview reports lately! Recent additions include an account of an Early Decision interview at Columbia, a Wharton applicant’s interview with a second-year student, a report on a relaxed UCLA / Anderson interview and blogger Hakuna Matata’s Michigan / Ross interview experience!

As we’ve stressed in this blog, and as anyone who’s used the site to prepare for their interviews will attest, having access to firsthand accounts of the interview process at a given program can be invaluable in understanding what a program is looking for and arriving at a feeling of readiness. To build this resource and encourage applicants who’ve already interviewed this season to post their interview reports, campus visit accounts and school decisions, we’ll be offering an added incentive over the next few weeks.

Between now and December 19th, we’ll be awarding a $10 iTunes gift certificate to every fifth applicant who contributes content to the Wiki. For those wondering what sort of details to include in their Wiki entries, we find that the most helpful and informative reports include the following information:

1. Date/Admissions Round
2. Description of visit and/or interview atmosphere
3. Type of interview (alum vs. adcom, blind vs. application-based)
4. List of interview questions
5. Commentary (What did you think of the interview? What surprised you? What didn’t surprise you? What might you conclude about the school based on this experience?)

Beyond interview information, we’d also love to see some more detailed accounts of visits to campus and decisions about where to apply.

To be eligible for the prize, simply send your contribution to wiki@clearadmit.com; we’ll post it to the Wiki and notify the winners by e-mail. Thanks in advance for your reports and don’t forget to check out the Clear Admit Interview Guides for extra interview tips!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: UNC Kenan-Flagler, Northwestern Kellogg

Welcome to this week’s installment of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight fresh additions to the Clear Admit Wiki, an online collection of firsthand accounts of MBA applicants’ experiences with the admissions process. Before we take a closer look at some recent posts, we’d like to share an email we recently received from an appreciative Wiki user.  This note sheds some light on how the Wiki can be helpful in the MBA interview process:

—– Original Message —–
From: xxxxxx
To: wiki @ clearadmit . com
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 5:01 PM

The interview page in the wiki section of the Clear Admit website is a godsend! The questions provided by the students were very helpful in preparing for my interviews, both on and off campus, as I was able to formulate my responses beforehand and was not stumped during the interview itself. Even if I did not write out a response, having seen the question before helped as it was not a total surprise.

I have used the wiki section for multiple interviews in the past and I will use it during my preparations for my upcoming Wharton interview.

Regards,

XXXXXXX

We’re proud to provide such a useful forum, but the site could not be as “helpful” if not for firsthand accounts from applicants! Speaking of which, over the past week, we’ve received a number of interview reports for UNC / Kenan-Flagler and Northwestern / Kellogg. Without further ado, here’s a glimpse at the questions applicants posted to the Clear Admit Wiki…

A Round 2 applicant to UNC / Kenan Flagler listed the following questions:

1. Walk me through your resume?
2. Why do you want to get an MBA?
3. Why an MBA from Kenan Flagler?
4. What qualities do you hope to develop during your MBA?
5. What do you plan to do after your MBA?

Kicking the spotlight over to Kellogg, this applicant shared his encounter with the adcom, including some of the following questions:

1. Can you walk me through your key leadership experiences at company X?
2. Can you talk about your community experience?
3. Tell me 3 things you are good at? Or 3 good characteristics.
4. What would your colleagues tell me about you?
5. What kind of a person are you on a team?
6. What is an ideal teammate like?
7. What feedback have you used to do better?
8. What part of your application makes you nervous?
9. What do you want the reviewer to notice?

Thanks for joining us for this week’s Wiki Wednesdays! As always, we extend our gratitude to those who have contributed content to the Clear Admit Wiki for the benefit of the MBA applicant community. If you have an interview or campus visit to describe, be sure to share your experience! Simply create an account or send your reports to wiki@clearadmit.com. Don’t forget to check out the Clear Admit Interview Guides for a little extra help as well! Best of luck with those interviews and tune in next week for another taste of the Clear Admit Wiki.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: Northwestern Kellogg, Michigan Ross and Columbia Business School Interview Reports

Welcome to this admissions season’s first edition of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight new and informative reports in the Clear Admit Wiki, an online repository of information learned by applicants throughout the admissions process. With several schools now conducting Round 1 interviews and HBS having just distributed a large number of Round 1 interview invitations, the roller coaster ride of questions and answers has begun. Several applicants have recently shared their interview experiences in the Wiki for such schools as Northwestern / Kellogg, Michigan / Ross and Columbia Business School. Let’s take a look at some of the queries these applicants faced!

One Kellogg applicant shared a “conversational” interview with a local alumnus:

1. [Describe your] leadership experiences.
2. [Explain] conflicts at the work place.
3. [Describe] tough decisions at work place.
4. [Explain a] situation during work when, you could see a solution that others could not.
5. What clubs will you get involved at Kellogg and why?
6. What unique traits will you bring to Kellogg?

Another Round 1 Kellogg candidate noted the following questions from his/her interview:

1. How do you find it beneficial working in a team?
2. [What do you] like about working in a team?
3. [What do you] dislike about working in a team?
4. [Identify] one situation where you made a difference as a leader.
5. [Explain] one decision that you are proud of.

Moving on to Michigan, a recent Ross applicant faced the following queries from an alumnus:

1. Tell me about your most significant leadership experience.
2. Tell me about a time you worked in a tough group setting.
3. What will you add to the Ross student body?
4. What extra-curricular activities would you join at Ross?

An admitted Early Decision candidate at Columbia summarized the alumna’s series of inquiries, “The questions were broadly why this [undergrad] school, why this company, why this switch, why MBA, why Columbia and a lot of discussion of my goals…I was also asked the standard ‘ethical dilemma’ question which I was prepared for.”

That just about wraps up this week’s edition of Wiki Wednesdays! Be sure to tune in next week for a glimpse at the latest posts to the Clear Admit Wiki. In the meantime, check out our Clear Admit Interview Guides, which provide school-specific insight and strategic advice to help applicants with their admissions interviews. Also, if you would like to add your interview experience to the Clear Admit Wiki, simply create an account or send your reports to wiki@clearadmit.com.

Thanks to all the applicants who have submitted their interview reports! Best of luck to those in the midst of interview season!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Interview Season and the Clear Admit Wiki

With a number of top schools currently rolling out Round One interview invitations - from Chicago GSB to Harvard Business School, Northwestern / Kellogg, Columbia Business School, Michigan / Ross School of Business and Wharton to Yale SOM - we wanted to take a moment today to point readers to the Clear Admit Wiki as a free source of breaking interview invitation news and extensive information on the interview process at each program. For those who aren’t familiar, the Wiki is a collaborative resource for the MBA applicant community where applicants can (anonymously or otherwise) post reports about their interviews, campus visits and application experiences at the top business schools, and read about those of others. Our hope is that the sum of these individual first hand accounts is a representative picture of the culture and processes at each program.

If you would like to add your interview experience to the Clear Admit Wiki, simply create an account or send your reports to wiki@clearadmit.com. The most helpful and informative reports usually include the following information:

1. Date/Admissions Round
2. Description of visit and/or interview atmosphere
3. Type of interview (alum vs. adcom, blind vs. application-based)
4. List of interview questions
5. Commentary (What did you think of the interview? What surprised you? What didn’t surprise you? What might you conclude about the school based on this experience?)

Applicants who would like to supplement the information available on the Wiki can check out our Clear Admit Interview Guides, which provide school-specific insight and strategic advice to help applicants with their admissions interviews.

As always, we wish the best of luck to Round One applicants who have submitted their materials and are now eagerly awaiting good news from their target schools! Stay tuned to this blog for an array of interview tips in the coming weeks, and keep an eye out for upcoming editions of Wiki Wednesdays, a column highlighting especially insightful and informative contributions to the Clear Admit Wiki.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: GMAT Prep

Welcome to another edition of Wiki Wednesdays, where we highlight fresh and informative content from the Clear Admit Wiki! This week, we’re zeroing in on the GMAT page as many applicants are in the midst of preparation - and perhaps a little perspiration - for the test. Let’s take a look at what blogger AlchemistMBA shared in the Clear Admit Wiki about his GMAT experience…

After summarizing his take on a number of GMAT prep materials, the applicant noted, “I used a small diary to keep track of some grammar quirks, the more challenging Quant problems and the weird sentence correction sentences I came across.” While study habits and preferences will undoubtedly vary, candidates could consider keeping separate notes for ease of reference when tackling such problems again and again and again.

Despite thorough preparation, however, the test taker wasn’t quite ready for everything! As he recounted, “you have to use an erasable clipboard that you write on with a sketchpen for scratch work. I didn’t know this before hand and I had a VERY difficult time. On the page, I couldn’t tell the difference between my 7’s and 4’s while doing my calculations.” Applicants may want to crumple up that scratch paper and trade in their yellow legal pads for a dry-erase board in order to more closely simulate the test-taking situation. To find out AlchemistMBA’s final score, be sure to check out the Clear Admit Wiki!

As always, we encourage the MBA applicant community to share their thoughts on and experiences with the GMAT, a sometimes challenging, but necessary, part of the admissions process. If you would like to add your experience to the Clear Admit Wiki, simply create an account or send your reports to wiki@clearadmit.com. Thanks to all those who have contributed this season! Best of luck to those still sharpening their pencils!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: School Choices

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!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: School Choices

Welcome back to Wiki Wednesdays, our weekly look at informative entries in the Clear Admit Wiki! We’ve received a number of great interview reports for Berkeley / Haas, Stanford GSB, UVA / Darden and MIT / Sloan, even though interview season is winding down. At this point, 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. In addition to individual blogs and the BusinessWeek discussion forums, the Clear Admit Wiki’s School Choices page provides a sound place to weigh one’s options.

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

1. “Both are reputable finance schools, but if you wanna work for IB/on wall street, go to NYU! NYU has the unshakable advantage regarding jobs on wall street, proved by [the fact] that 60% of the students go into financial services sector after graduation. On the other hand, [people] say UCLA has an advantage in PE/VC in Silicon Valley, but you need to compete with Stanford and Haas guys for this handful of job openings.”

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!

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Wiki Wednesdays: Choosing Between Offers

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!