Applicant Strategy

The MBA Interview: What Happens if You Aren’t Sure How to Answer a Question?

The MBA Interview: What Happens if You Aren’t Sure How to Answer a Question?

You got the interview. How do you not mess this up? Prepare, prepare, prepare. But also know - even if you’ve been preparing your heart out – there will always come a moment where you could strike a blank. What happens if you aren’t sure how to answer a question? The number one thing you need to do is be confident.

Waitlisted? Answers for Those Currently in MBA Purgatory 

Waitlisted? Answers for Those Currently in MBA Purgatory 

It’s that time of year again, where many MBA applicants find themselves stuck in the waitlist process. This can be a very slow and painful waiting period. Not only are you competing against everyone on the waitlist from R1, but you could also be competing against new MBA applicants applying in R2 and R3. What does waitlisted really mean?

The Number One Thing Tuck Looks For

The Number One Thing Tuck Looks For

Dartmouth Tuck is a unique school because it asks MBA applicants to be intensely personal. Granted, most business schools have an element of wanting to know applicants on a personal level – be it your passions, your background, or your inspirations. But this is the number one thing Tuck HAS to know.

DEFINING BERKELEY HAAS’ FOUR PRINCIPLES

DEFINING BERKELEY HAAS’ FOUR PRINCIPLES

The Berkeley Haas MBA application deadline is nearing. Before you write and review a single essay, you have to take stock of their overarching instructions. Haas has taken their “Defining Principles” out from one specific essay question and placed them at the top of the entire application. Why? Read on for more clarity.

A Checklist for Kellogg - Before You Hit Submit

A Checklist for Kellogg - Before You Hit Submit

Are you getting ready to apply to Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management this week? This checklist will keep you focused on crafting a competitive MBA package before you hit that “submit” button.

First, ask yourself are you portraying that Kellogg is the right fit for you?

11TH-HOUR MBA APPLICATION ADVICE: BEFORE YOU HIT SUBMIT (Updated)

11TH-HOUR MBA APPLICATION ADVICE: BEFORE YOU HIT SUBMIT (Updated)

We always tell our clients, do not wait until only a few days before the business school's deadline to begin completing your online MBA application, because you just may have an "oh-snap" type moment. Here are 15 tips you should read before hitting that MBA application submit button to avoid a disaster in the making.

MIT Sloan Seeks Something Different in MBA Applicants

MIT Sloan Seeks Something Different in MBA Applicants

MIT Sloan School of Management is ranked sixth out of all top business schools. With a 14% acceptance rate, this prestigious b-school is extremely selective who they chose to accept into their MBA program. So, what kind of students does Sloan seek out and how are their applications different from others’?

THE STAR METHOD FOR MBA ESSAYS

THE STAR METHOD FOR MBA ESSAYS

The STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) offers a straightforward format you can use to answer MBA interview questions. Prompts that ask you to provide a real-life example of how you handled a certain kind of situation at work in the past. But it is an excellent method to use for MBA essay writing too.

15 “Interpersonal Characteristics” to Consider for your Wharton LOR

15 “Interpersonal Characteristics” to Consider for your Wharton LOR

The Wharton admissions committee wants the person who knows you the best at work – usually a direct supervisor – to attest to your skills, achievements, and qualities. They need that first-person POV brought to the table. Wharton wants to get the nuanced insight and real-world examples of how you perform with others.

Difficulty Deciphering Wharton's Letter of Recommendation Questions? 

Difficulty Deciphering Wharton's Letter of Recommendation Questions? 

Wharton changed the letter of recommendation questions for the 2017 candidates to make them different to what other business schools usually ask. This article will help shed some light on significant pointers to make your MBA application package as competitive as possible.

PERSONALIZING YOUR INTERESTS IN AN MBA PROGRAM

PERSONALIZING YOUR INTERESTS IN AN MBA PROGRAM

The simplest and most important thing you can do to improve your "Why B-School X" portion of career goals essay is to personalize any and all content. Make anything you write about the school specific to you. Make it specific to your experience and your desires. Or make it specific to what you require from a program.

MBA Application Enemy #1? Procrastinating.

MBA Application Enemy #1? Procrastinating.

With business school deadlines nearing and the atmosphere in the air possibly becoming more stressful every minute, the last thing you want is to feel stuck. Are you procrastinating working on your MBA applications? We have four tips to stop procrastinating, not tomorrow... but - right now!

10 Steps To Deciphering Wharton Electives

10 Steps To Deciphering Wharton Electives

Wharton is one of the few schools that require you to declare a major and select electives before entering their MBA program. But how do you determine what those MBA classes are ahead of your arrival? Well, you will have to do some business school research. Here is a step-to-step guide to help you decipher the process.

HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR FINAL MBA PROGRAM(S) SELECTION

HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR FINAL MBA PROGRAM(S) SELECTION

An MBA list should usually be pushing the envelope a bit - aiming for all b-schools that you really want to go to and that feel pretty hard to get into. To get to this main idea, we will work through: General philosophy on selecting MBA programs, the contextual nature of ROI, and finishing off a list of programs.

The Biggest MBA Essay Writing Tip

The Biggest MBA Essay Writing Tip

Summertime is essentially the MBA application prep season. There are a ton of things to think about when applying to business school, almost to the point of being overwhelming. Overwhelmed by the MBA essay writing process? Use a simple matrix to ensure you cover all your bases.

Tactical Aspects To Wharton’s Curriculum

Tactical Aspects To Wharton’s Curriculum

Wharton believes their differentiation is in their thought leadership and faculty research. What does this mean to future MBA applicants to Wharton? Well, we need to decipher it. The most valuable guide you can read if you want to apply to Wharton is the Wharton’s MBA Resource Guide.

Wharton's New Dean: A New Direction for Wharton?

Wharton's New Dean: A New Direction for Wharton?

In July 2020, Wharton appointed a new Dean Erika James. How can you use this information to apply for your MBA to Wharton this year? You can capitalize on any new direction by including it in your essay. Wharton's pedagogy, culture of innovation, and learning environment has survived several deans.

Deciphering Wharton’s “Knowledge for Action” and “Collaborative Innovation”

Deciphering Wharton’s “Knowledge for Action” and “Collaborative Innovation”

Wharton believes their differentiation is in their thought leadership and faculty research. They believe they offer students a superior educational experience due to opportunities they provide to translate intellectual capital into better management knowledge.

The Real Value of LinkedIn with Respect To B-School?

The Real Value of LinkedIn with Respect To B-School?

What's the real value of LinkedIn with respect to business school? Determining how realistic your business school goals are - especially your short-term goal - as well as what business schools are the most appropriate for your goals. Overwhelmingly, b-schools will look at your short-term goals from a recruiter's POV.

Your Resume vs. Your LinkedIn Profile

Your Resume vs. Your LinkedIn Profile

How to make your resume and LinkedIn profile look as competitive for your MBA application as possible? Firstly, your resume and your LinkedIn profile should "match". In the very least, they should not be inconsistent. This includes names, titles, and dates as well. Here are some more pointers: