Top Business Schools Report Healthy Application Volume Increases
When GMAT test-taking volume jumped by 11 percent for the year ending last June, those watching the MBA admissions space had reason to suspect that application volume at top schools might follow suit. Recent articles from Bloomberg BusinessWeek and Poets & Quants reveal exactly that, with Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, the University of Virginia’s Darden School and the University of Chicago’s Booth School all reporting double-digit increases in the number of students applying to their two-year, full-time MBA programs.
Bloomberg BW last week surveyed its top-10 ranked business schools, discovering that half were reporting significant increases in application volume, ending a three-year decline. Johnson led the pack, with an increase of 12 percent, followed by Darden, at 11 percent, and Chicago Booth, at 10 percent.
P&Q reports that Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business blew even those numbers out of the water: Applications to that school’s two-year MBA program swelled by 25 percent after it moved up the Bloomberg BW rankings four places, to 15th, last year. Continue reading…
Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management Wins Top Accolades for Diversity
The Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management got an A+ for diversity in recruitment practices as part of a recent benchmark study conducted by Diversity MBA Prep, an online community offering resources to women and minorities considering an MBA. Of 50 top MBA programs included in the study, only Johnson received the top grade.
As part of the MBA Advantage: Diversity Outreach Benchmarking Report, schools were evaluated based on the diversity of perspectives provided to candidates via their Web and social media presence, the range of activities and outreach directed toward candidates of diverse backgrounds, diversity at the school leadership level and the effectiveness of diversity recruitment initiatives. Continue reading…
Trivia Tuesday: Immersion Programs at Cornell / Johnson
Welcome to another edition of Trivia Tuesday, our weekly examination of the programs and policies that impact the student experience at the leading business schools. This week, we turn our attention to the Johnson School of Cornell University and their unusual first-year Immersion Program, as described in the Clear Admit Guide to the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management.
“In Spring Semester of the first year, students complement their final two core courses with participation in Johnson’s signature Immersion Learning program. Each immersion consists of a coordinated set of electives and experiential learning opportunities focused on a particular career or industry; these courses of study invite students to engage with business problems across functions and disciplines, as they will need to do later in their careers. Many career-switchers report that these immersions are an effective way to gain an in-depth understanding of their new target industry prior to their summer internships. Continue reading…
Cornell / Johnson MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 3 / AdCom / On-Campus
Everyone was really friendly once I arrived on campus from New York on the C2C bus. I attended an information session/tour of Johnson w/ 2 first-year MBA students – this included lunch which is good because I was starving. The students were really friendly and provided a very informal setting for Q&A. I attended a class as well prior to my interview, which was helpful to gauge the style of teaching at Johnson. My interview was with an AdCom member who had my resume and notes from those who had reviewed my application. The conversation was very directed but relaxed. A little more formal than my other interviews, but very relaxed and conversational nonetheless. I got the following questions:
(1) Give me a brief overview about your academic and professional background.
(2) What do you like about your current job – tell me more about your role.
(3) Do you manage a team? [and clarifying/related questions]
(4) What is your leadership style?
(5) How will you contribute to Johnson?
(6) Why an MBA, why now? Why Johnson?
(7) What other schools have you applied to and what do they have in common w/ Johnson?
At the end, there was enough time to ask him questions. My interview was very helpful but he was relatively new to Johnson and did not have all the answers to my questions – but he referred me to the people who would have them. The interview ran for about 50min (I believe they are 30-45min usually but I was the last one of the day, so there was no rush).
Cornell / Johnson MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 3 / Adcom / Skype
The interview was formal and lasted about 50 minutes. Questions I remember:
- Please tell me about yourself
- Why do you need an MBA at this point of your career?
- Why Johnson?
- Why 2 years MBA vs. Accelerated MBA?
- What research have you done regarding your short term or long term goals?
- Tell me about a challenging leadership experience
- What would your supervisor say are your main characteristics
- What are your main weeknesses?
- How will you contribute to Johnson?
- Is there anything else you want me to know that you feel we didn’t talk about?
- Qustions for me?
Hope it helps. Good luck !
Tell Us Tuesdays: Submit an MBA Interview Report from Harvard, Duke / Fuqua, Cornell / Johnson, or Yale SOM and Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!
Welcome to our second addition of Tell Us Tuesdays, where we highlight MBA interview reports that have recently been posted to our Interview Archive! Over the past week, applicants have sent us reports from schools such as NYU / Stern, Columbia, UCLA / Anderson, Yale SOM, Dartmouth / Tuck, and Northwestern / Kellogg.
The Clear Admit Team really appreciates all of the contributions we’ve received this admissions season! If you’re interested in sharing your experience, we’ll be awarding a $10 Amazon gift certificate to every applicant who submits an interview report for Harvard, Duke / Fuqua, Cornell / Johnson, or Yale SOM through next Monday, February 25! All you have to do is send us your interview field report for the selected schools for inclusion in the Interview Archive and we’ll send you a $10 Amazon gift certificate. We will notify the winners by e-mail (Limit: one gift card per person).
The most helpful and informative reports usually include the following information:
- Date/Admissions Round
- Description of visit and/or interview atmosphere
- Type of interview (alum vs. adcom, blind vs. application-based)
- List of interview questions
- 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 Interview Archive can check out our Clear Admit Interview Guides, which provide school-specific insight about admissions interviews. Good luck interviewing!
Cornell / Johnson MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2/ Adcom/ Skype
This was a blind interview over Skype and my interviewer was pretty friendly. She had some general questions along with written down questions from the adcom that reviewed my application. I think the interviewer was taking notes on the computer at the same time of the interviewer. This threw be off at times making it hard to read their face or get verbal feedback. My advice would be to answer your question and then wait for them to start the next. Another tip is to have a clear path of your goals and how everything ties together. I had to go back with examples to relate my multiple interests and career goals.
These were the questions asked of me:
1. Describe your career progression
2. Why MBA?
3. Why Cornell Johnson? (make sure to do your research)
4. How do you mediate conflict between team members?
5. Give an example of when you have been innovative?
6. Tell me of anything else you think we should know to get to know you better?
Cornell / Johnson MBA Admissions Interview Questions: R2/ AdCom/ Skype
I applied to the MBA-MHA program in R2. I interviewed 1/29/13 with an AdCom member. The interview lasted approximately 45 minutes.
Like other interviewees, it started with the AdCom stating that she had my resume and while she hadn’t reviewed my application, she had notes and questions from others who did. Questions were as follows:
1) Walk me through your employment history
2) You said that you supervise 3-5 individuals, in what capacity do you supervise them?
3) Have you had any difficult decisions to make regarding the individuals you supervise?
4) I’m sure you’ve done lots of research into the immersions and other activities offered by Johnson so why Johnson? and how do you plan to take advantage of everything Johnson has to offer?
5) What are you’re post-MBA goals?
6) Have you reached out to other Johnson students, alumni, or staff on the MBA-MHA program? (She also offered contact info for two individuals I should speak to after I detailed who I had already been in contact with)
7) Do you feel you have any weaknesses to your application?
8) Have you applied to any other schools?
9) I can imagine that you’re already very busy with working full-time and your grad program, what do you like to do for fun or when you have any free time?
10) Do you have any questions for me?
Overall the AdCom was very profession but still pleasant. I think it helped she had a similar healthcare research background and is a marathon runner (which is how I answered Q9). The interview was very formal and the questions, while directed, were left up to me to answer how I really saw fit. For example, some were so very directed that a brief, 1-2 minute answer was all that really seemed appropriate whereas describing my background and some of the other questions led to pretty lengthy monologues without much comment or reaction from the AdCom. She did take notes throughout the interview.
Try to make sure you’ll have a perfect internet connection. I was using the wireless at my workplace and although it rarely if ever cuts out in day-to-day use, I had two disconnects that really kind of threw me. If you can get a hard wired connection, go that route. And be prepared for disconnects if not, I think how you recover makes a difference.
Admissions Process Delay at Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management
In a letter to current applicants, the director of admissions for the S. C. Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University shared that a transition to paperless review of applications has caused a delay in the admissions process this year.
“Our reader form was not designed correctly and this caused a major delay in our application review process,” Admissions Director Christine Sneva wrote. Noting that she wanted to allow for thorough review of every application, Sneva shared that the Adcom will begin reading Round 2 applications in January, after the winter holiday break. Round 2 applicants can expect to receive interview invitations throughout January and February. Continue reading…
Cornell / Johnson MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Adcom / Skype
I did my interview via Skype with a member of the adcom. She stated that she had my resume and while she hadn’t reviewed my application, she had notes and questions from others who did. First she asked me to go over my job positions since graduating college and specifically asked me to include my reasons for promotions and moves (I had worked for one org. but had held 4 different positions with a promotion each year). This took about 7-10 minutes, with her asking a few clarifying questions – but mostly just me talking. Second, she asked “What other schools are you applying?” Based on previous interview reports, I was super ready for this question – and had my reasons (small school, community) tied back to Johnson. Next she asked “Why MBA?,” which allowed me to tie in my short/long term goals and led into the “Why Johnson?” I talked about the immersion program, specifically the program I wanted to pursue, small/close community, and proximity to NYC, which is where I want to end up. She asked me if I had visited campus (had not as I am overseas), but I went into all the students I had talked to and their international recruiter that I met at a Johnson MBA Fair. Finally, she asked about my job as it relates to leadership and team opportunities, she specifically noted that I had applied to be a Park Fellow. After that, it was more of a conversation; I asked her a few questions, talked about more hobby/activities type stuff. Again tied everything I could back to Johnson or Ithaca. Interview was 45 minutes. Overall, thought it went well – for me, it’s really about having your few examples (work experience, leadership/team) that tie back to your main attributes that you want them to remember. Lastly, it’s all about being enthusiastic about the school!
Cornell’s Johnson School Holds Annual Battle of the Brands
The Marketing Association at Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management recently hosted its annual “Battle of the Brands,” a unique two-week case competition that gives the school’s marketing students an opportunity to create and execute marketing plans for real branded products. Even better, the participating students engage early with sponsoring companies, including Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson and American Express, all of which recruit on campus.
The idea behind the Battle of the Brands is to give students an opportunity to truly understand the experience of a marketing or product manager. Each October, first-year students form teams of five with a second-year student coach. The teams are then assigned to one of the sponsoring companies and given a product to market to the Johnson School community. (Other sponsor companies this year include Mars, Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever.) Continue reading…
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