Admissions Committee

Letters Of Recommendation: When You Can't Ask Your Current Boss. Now what?

Letters Of Recommendation: When You Can't Ask Your Current Boss. Now what?

What happens if your current workplace does not support you going off to business school? If your current boss is unwilling to write you a letter of recommendation? Or you just can't ask them because it might jeopardize your current work situation? Well, this actually happens a lot. Luckily, we have five reasons and resolutions for this.

HOW TO START WRITING YOUR SECOND MBA APPLICATION ESSAY

HOW TO START WRITING YOUR SECOND MBA APPLICATION ESSAY

Once you’ve got your first MBA application essay to 95%-99% completion, start tackling your second MBA application essay. The second target school should go through the whole process again starting at around week four or five. A good rule of thumb is to estimate one-third less time for the second school than the first.

HOW TO START WRITING YOUR FIRST MBA APPLICATION ESSAY

HOW TO START WRITING YOUR FIRST MBA APPLICATION ESSAY

The first school could take around eight to ten draft iterations, again this is at a bare minimum. You the MBA applicant are going to touch it around 5 times and the consultant is going to touch it another five times. Each week you work on a set of MBA application essays for days one to three, and then you flip it over.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE HIRING AN MBA ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE HIRING AN MBA ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT

If you are aspiring to enroll at one of the top business schools like Harvard, Wharton or Stanford (which only admits 5 percent of applicants) you will likely need professional help to gain admission. Competition for spots at these schools is incredibly intense and an MBA admissions consultant could improve your chances drastically. But not all MBA Admissions Consultants are equal.

Start B-school Apps in Order of MBA Application Deadline Date

Start B-school Apps in Order of MBA Application Deadline Date

You have that list of five business schools you really want to apply to. Now, list your five target MBA business schools in order by the application deadline date. The earliest date should be the first MBA application to be worked on. You may be tempted to work on similar essays in parallel, but this is not advised.

REACHING OUT TO YOUR TARGET MBA PROGRAMS

REACHING OUT TO YOUR TARGET MBA PROGRAMS

You are now ready to narrow your school selection list to 5 MBA target programs by reaching out to them. Check the admissions committee website from each target school. Most of them will have an ambassador program where they will get currents students to email you back. Start reaching out to ambassador programs early.

START YOUR MBA APPLICATION ON THE RIGHT FOOT

START YOUR MBA APPLICATION ON THE RIGHT FOOT

When starting your MBA application process you need to keep in mind that you are not writing your essays for your mom or dad, nor are you writing to your boss. You need to try and assess and see if you are a good fit on paper, and be able to convince that person on the admissions committee that you are a good pick. Having said that, let’s move on and dive into the first four steps you should take when starting your MBA application process.

REJECTED? THE DING ANALYSIS "TRIANGLE" FOR MBA APPLICANTS

REJECTED? THE DING ANALYSIS "TRIANGLE" FOR MBA APPLICANTS

These days, in addition to helping our clients navigate financial aid decisions and a few waitlist scenarios, we also meet a lot of new folks who didn't use admissions consulting services to apply - but now are wondering if perhaps they should have after getting a ding. Most often, they are asking for "ding analysis."

What are the MBA application readers looking for?

What are the MBA application readers looking for?

What are the MBA application readers looking for? Get into the mind of how MBA application readers think. Avoid too much jargon. Understand how the admissions committee is constructed. Remember that you are APPLYING to attend b-school & not yet graduated. Do NOT submit the same resume you would for a job opportunity.

Getting Organized

Getting Organized

Failng to get organized as you begin your MBA application journey is tantamount to failing on purpose.  Here's a few tips on how you can ensure you take the preparation for MBA apps as seriously as you take business school itself.

Tips for Getting Off the Waitlist and into B-school (Updated)

Tips for Getting Off the Waitlist and into B-school (Updated)

Waitlist season is in full bloom and with R3 notification deadlines wrapping up the countdown clock is ticking for those still waiting in line.  Of course it’s inevitable that most of you will be waitlisted at some of your top school choices - after all, getting waitlisted at a stretch school means that you hedged effectively.  (Note - my opinion is that an effective hedging strategy should include a stretch, safe-stretch and backup school selections.)

So what can you do at this point in the game?

Will a 650 GMAT get me Admitted to Stanford GSB?

Will a 650 GMAT get me Admitted to Stanford GSB?

Stanford Graduate School of Business is considered by many to be the best business school in the world, and swaps the ranking of #1 with HBS or Wharton on any given day.  With over 8,000 applicants per year and only about 1/10th of that number in the student body, it’s daunting to imagine them saying yes.  If you happen to have a good-but-not-great GMAT score, you may struggle with your odds of admission at all.  But is it even worth applying if you have a 650 or lower?