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08 Jun 2014, 08:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Dartmouth Tuck 2015 MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines |
 The Dartmouth Tuck adcom is interested in learning about what you as an individual, a businessperson, and a leader can contribute to Tuck’s small, close-knit program. Use your essays as a platform for expressing your earnest desire to enter the world of management and to make a difference. Following the shrinking app trend, this year Tuck reduced its required questions from three to two and tweaked slightly the second required essay prompt. I strongly recommend Tuck applicants read “The MBA Gatekeeper To Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business,” Poets and Quants interview with Dawna Clarke, Director of Admissions at Tuck. Essays: Please respond fully but concisely to the following essay questions. There are no right or wrong answers. We encourage applicants to limit the length of their responses to 500 words for each essay. Please double-space your responses. 1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA fit for you and your goals and why are you the best fit for Tuck? The MBA is a means to an end; it is a “step” towards a goal. That means you have to briefly discuss the most influential stops on your journey to date and then your reasons for wanting a Tuck MBA to continue on that journey. You have to know a lot about Tuck as well as your goals to respond effectively to this question. Why do you want a small, tight-knit program in rural New Hampshire? Why do you want a program that stresses the integration of business functions? Which of Tuck’s strengths appeal to you? How will they help you achieve your goals? To respond to the fit part of the question, reviewTuck’s six evaluation criteria for admission. You won’t have much room to address fit. Perhaps in your conclusion succinctly make the case for your fit with Tuck’s criteria. Point to elements of your application that show you meet the criteria without repeating them. You want the reader to see a match made in heaven. 2. Tell us about your most meaningful leadership experience and what role you played. What did you learn about your own individual strengths and weaknesses through this experience? This question reflects the importance Tuck, like many MBA programs, places on leadership. Last year, Tuck asked about “collaborative leadership.” This year it dropped “collaborative” from the question. Perhaps some applicants confused collaborative leadership with teamwork, and Tuck really wants to see you as a leader. Perhaps, and more likely given Tuck’s collaborative culture, Tuck wants to know what leadership example you will use and whether your definition of leadership is a fit for Tuck. Your example should reflect a collaborative and enlightened approach to leadership. Have you co-chaired a fundraiser that raised a record amount of money? Have you been a board member for a not-for-profit organization? Have you captained a sports team that led your company league while having an excellent relationship with the coach or manager of the team? Have you been a team lead on a project that came in early and under budget while cooperating closely with other team leads or members of your team? Are you the head of a sales team who empowered other members of your team in a way that greatly contributed to the success of that initiative? These could all be examples of leadership. How did you motivate your teammates? What did you learn about yourself through the experience? In answering the last question, don’t be generic and don’t wonder “What do they want to hear?” What did you actually learn from this most meaningful experience? The question asks you to reveal strengths and weaknesses. The first is fun and should be relatively easy. However we all cringe at the idea of revealing weaknesses, especially in a situation where you want to impress — like now. Nonetheless, resist that nasty impulse to write something fluffy and meaningless. Don’t even think about a phony weakness. The adcom will see right through it. Reveal a weakness that hopefully you can show yourself addressing in this leadership experience or through another later experience. Don’t dwell on the weakness, but do include it. 3. Optional question: Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. It is almost impossible for two or three 500-word essays plus a bunch of boxes, a transcript, and a GMAT score to represent fully the uniqueness and talents of a truly impressive candidate. That comment has nothing to do with writing style and everything to do with the complexity of accomplished human beings. In my opinion this “optional essay” is optional in name only. At the same time, don’t waste the reader’s time by writing a meaningless, superficial “grand finale” or summary. Don’t repeat what can be found elsewhere. 4. Reapplicant question: How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. Straightforward MBA reapplication question. What has changed that would compel Tuck to admit you this year? If you would like professional guidance with your Dartmouth Tuck MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Dartmouth Tuck application. Dartmouth Tuck 2015 Application Deadlines: Round Due Date Decisions Released Early Action October 8, 2014 December 18, 2014 November Round November 5, 2014 February 13, 2015 January Round January 6, 2015 March 13, 2015 April Round April 1, 2015 May 15, 2015   By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools2015 MBA Application, Dartmouth Tuck, MBA Admissions 
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08 Jun 2014, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: AIGAC MBA Applicant Survey |
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AIGAC published its annual MBA Applicant Survey, which evaluates the experiences and preferences of recent MBA applicants in the U.S. and abroad. Highlights from the survey include: • In terms of sources of information applicants utilized during the admissions process, school/program websites ranked the highest, followed by school rankings, communication with school alumni/current students, school visits, and MBA resource websites. (These were the top 5 sources of information.) • When choosing a program, men placed more importance on rankings than did women. • In general, U.S. News was ranked as the most popular b-school ranking source, but among international applicants, Financial Times was ranked highest. • 38% of U.S. applicants who completed at least one video essay/component felt that their final video represented them well. For international applicants, on the other hand, 50% felt that the video did not represent them well. • 20% of this year’s applicants plan on starting their own businesses after graduating from b-school. (According to U.S. News, only 7% of recent graduates from top 10 U.S. b-schools are actually self-employed.) • 51% of applicants showed an interest in going into consulting after receiving their MBAs. About 80% of foreign students want to work in the U.S. after graduating (that is, 20% want to work in the U.S. while 60% are open to numerous options, including working in the U.S.). • Only 40% of U.S. students consider working outside of the U.S. • Applicants reports that of all the b-schools, Dartmouth Tuck and Duke Fuqua “got to know them best” during the application process. (These were the top two schools in this category last year as well.). The schools that showed the greatest improvement in this category: Columbia and Kellogg. Post-Conference Reflections on the 2014 AIGAC survey There were some interesting disconnects between student expectations, as revealed in this survey, and MBA behavior as reported in school employment reports and GMAC data. 1. More than 20% of applicants plan to start their own business or be self-employed after finishing their MBA. Yet of HBS. Stanford, Sloan, Wharton, LBS, Kellogg, Booth and NYU Stern grads, less than 7% were their own boss after earning their MBA. 2. 51% hope to work in consulting, but only 28% of grads from Stanford, Sloan, Wharton, HBS, Kellogg, Booth, and NYU Stern, Tuck, Haas, and Columbia went into consulting in 2013. Do these disconnects reveal unrealistic expectation or very reasonable flexibility on the part of MBA students? Or perhaps a real change in what MBAs want to do – a trend in the offing? I suspect and hope it’s the reasonable flexibility. Time will tell. The presentation of the survey results at last year’s conference at Wharton surprised many admissions directors because of the high percentage of applicants asked to write their own recommendation and the frustration applicants felt at asking their recommenders to write a separate letter for each school. I am thrilled to report that several of the schools have cooperated and agreed to ask the same questions on their letter of recommendation forms. The grid may differ, but the questions that require writing are the same. Now there should be less and less reason for “You write it; I’ll sign it.” Your application will be stronger if your recommendations truly supplement – in voice, point of view and fact –the information you present about yourself. I’m proud of AIGAC’s role in highlighting this issue to the schools and am pleased at the schools prompt response and attempt to lessen the burden on applicants. I can’t help but note with pride the results when consultants and schools work together to improve the admissions process. The survey also highlights the unpopularity of the video essay/interview among international applicants. I can certainly understand that it’s uncomfortable to talk to an inanimate camera with no affect or feedback. But the reality is that oral presentation is of growing importance, and so is YouTube. My suggestion: Practice, practice, practice. Play back the practice videos to yourself in between rehearsals, and maybe for the first several shots have someone feeding the questions to you so there will be a human being to interact with. However, it is imperative that at some point you practice by yourself in front of the dumb webcam that you will be using for the real thing. Finally, I must give a HUGE shout-out to Vince Ricci and Andrea Sparrey, who spearheaded the survey initiative this year for AIGAC, to Huron, which provided the statistical analysis, to the committee and to all members of AIGAC who helped to publicize the survey and ensure a statistically valid sample. Finally and most importantly, thank you to the applicants who took the time to share their experiences and thoughts. More on the fantastic AIGAC conference that I attended last week will be forthcoming. I want to mull it over a little before I write. See the 2014 AIGAC MBA Applicant Survey for more details on the survey. By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business SchoolsAIGAC, MBA Admissions, MBA video Essay 
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09 Jun 2014, 08:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Brown U. Adds to B-School Landscape |
 Of the 30 students from the most recent graduating class, there were 20 nationalities represented. Since 2011, Brown University has been running a collaborative EMBA program with IE Business School, in which graduates receive a degree from IE. Now, the program will award a degree from Brown as well. The Businessweek article, “Brown University Gets Into the MBA Game,” calls the program an “unconventional EMBA program,” mentioning a course on “the shared history of slavery and capitalism,” and others like the “ethnographic study of the AIDS epidemic is southern Africa” and “the globalization of the arts.” In terms of class diversity, of the 30 students from the most recent graduating class, there were 20 nationalities represented, and nearly twice as many had come from public service jobs as from finance. The BW article continues to explain that the IE Brown program “has been an aardvark among EMBA programs, attracting a diverse set of students with its promise to provide a broader view of the world than they would get from the typical MBA playbook of accounting, marketing, and quantitative skills.” The university looks forward to putting Brown on the map of Ivy League MBA programs, and to the extra profit the program will bring in (the school has already made about $400,000 in profit).   Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: Brown University, EMBA, IE, MBA Admissions 
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09 Jun 2014, 10:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: MBA Admissions Secrets to Success |
 Attention B-Schoool Applicants: Check out the recording of our webinar, The Secret to MBA Acceptance for advice on how to examine your goals and determine which MBA programs are best for you! The recording of the event is available for your anytime, on-demand viewing. Watch the video or download the mp3 by clicking on this link: The Secret to MBA Acceptance.  Please let us know if you have any questions! Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: MBA Admissions, webinar 
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10 Jun 2014, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: What is Accepted? |
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So, what does Accepted actually do? Here is the short answer: For more information about how we can help you get accepted, drop us an email at onlinesupport@accepted.com, explore our About Us section to get to know our expert admissions consultants, and check out our A-Z admissions services. Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: Admissions Consulting, College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Medical School Admissions, video 
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10 Jun 2014, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Putting It All Together – Your Initial List of B-Schools |
 It’s quite possible that you will modify this list… “Putting It All Together – Your Initial List” is excerpted from the Accepted.com special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One. To download the entire free special report, click here. Creating the actual list of schools may seem like a formality by now. As you have gone through the previous steps, a group of feasible and appealing programs most likely has evolved almost organically. It’s time to firm it up in preparation for the hands-on application process. Establish your desired balance among the three categories: reach, on-par, and safety. (Note that these categories have variation within them.) Whether you are applying to ten programs or two, you should be clear about where each falls on this continuum vis-à-vis your profile. Out of the total number of programs you’ll apply to, how many do you want in each category, and why? Answer this question based on your previous evaluations, and make your list accordingly. This allocation should be deliberate and informed, not accidental. Now take the list of schools that meet your needs and, ideally, fulfill your important wants, and also are viable targets (i.e., they are not out of reach). Sort these schools by reach, on-par, and safety. If your research yielded more programs than you want to apply to, you’ll need to further weed down the list. Which programs in a given category meet the most of your wants and/or best meet your needs? You can also factor in where you have the better chance of admission, since the programs within a category will vary in competitiveness. What if this process results in an imbalance? You wanted two reaches, three on-pars, and one safety. You ended up with no safeties, one on-par, and an overabundance of reaches. It’s not uncommon. Remember, competitiveness will vary within category. So some reaches might be close enough to on-par to almost fit in that category or straddle the two. If not, you have some hard choices to make: • You can proceed with this less than ideal balance, fully aware of the situation and doing your best. • You can research more programs: Look again at some you previously rejected and/or broaden your scope; maybe consider other geographic regions or part-time programs. Especially if you are applying to numerous programs, consider balance within categories as well, and try to widen your scope of programs. Say you’re a consultant. The majority of consultants will gravitate to the known consulting programs (e.g., Kellogg); but you’ll stand out more in programs renowned for other areas (e.g., Chicago Booth). This balance within categories is especially helpful because the vicissitudes of the upcoming admissions season are still unknown. If a flood of consultants apply, your breadth of programs will be all the more important. Now you should have your list of MBA programs. Or, I should say, your preliminary list. Since you continue to learn as you go through the application process, it’s quite possible that you will modify this list. This list should be firm but not rigid; you shouldn’t veer from it on a whim (otherwise no point doing it in the first place), but you should for a solid reason that engages your initial assumptions or preferences.   By Cindy Tokumitsu, co-author of The Finance Professional’s Guide to MBA Admissions Success, and author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her last fifteen years with Accepted.com. Tags: Best MBA Programs Series, MBA Admissions, special report 
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11 Jun 2014, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Columbia Business School 2015 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines |
 Columbia tweaked last year’s questions for this year. Relatively minor changes only. Specifically:• Its short-answer question about your immediate post-MBA goal has gone from 100 to 75 characters. Yes, that was characters, not words. • For question 2, there is a new video to watch and the question itself is more succinct with a different focus. Other than cutting 25 characters from the goals question, CBS has not cut essays or essay length. Still, you will need to make every word, indeed every character, count to really allow your essays to effectively and compellingly present your qualifications. My tips are in blue below. Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays. Short Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (75 characters maximum) Note the character limit. Your response must be less than a tweet. What do you want to do professionally and in which industry immediately after earning your MBA? You may want to provide a geographic location if it is important to your MBA goal. According to CBS, here are examples of possible responses: “Work in business development for a media company.” “Join a consulting firm specializing in renewable energy.” “Work for an investment firm that focuses on real estate.” Warning: This question is not asking about intended area of study while in business school or a non-professional goal or even a long-term goal. And the subject is assumed to be you. No need to waste characters by including “I.” Essays: Essay 1. Given your individual background and goals, why are you pursuing a Columbia MBA at this time? (Maximum 500 words) What aspects of your background are motivating you to pursue your MBA at Columbia now? Keep in mind that the MBA is a bridge between your past and desired future. Show Columbia why its program is the right bridge for you and now is the right time for you to be traverse this bridge. To answer this question well, you will need to really know the Columbia program thoroughly along with why you want a CBS MBA at this point in your career. The essay that shines will do a great job of showing both fit and self-awareness. Essay 2. Please view the video below: The Center How will you take advantage of being “at the very center of business”? (Maximum 250 words) The video is different from the videos last year. Last year’s videos and question focused almost exclusively on the impact of Columbia’s New York City location. This year’s video incorporates that Manhattan location, but it’s more about Columbia as a center of business than NYC being the center of business. So your answer can incorporate the benefits of being at Columbia University as well as being in Manhattan. Just don’t repeat your answer to #1; this question asks you to take a broader perspective. After watching the video, think about how you intend to take advantage of the infinite opportunities and energy that reside at Columbia University and in New York City. How will you take advantage of the entrepreneurial eco-system in New York and Columbia University? The ties to bio science and pharma? Not to mention the practitioners who lead Wall Street and teach at Columbia. Or will you explore the cultural riches of NYC and take advantage of the incredible business opportunities present in the arts and media? Or perhaps Be careful not to speak of those opportunities in the generalities that I have. If you are interested in luxury goods marketing, as stated in your short answer, then write here about how you will take advantage of Madison and 5th Avenues as well as Columbia’s offerings. If you are interested in finance or consulting, Manhattan and all the businesses in it are at your feet. How will you benefit from this incredible location as well as the practitioners teaching at CBS? Essay 3. What will the people in your Cluster be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (Maximum 250 words) Make sure you understand Columbia’s Cluster System. You only have 250 words here. I would use them to bring out something fun that you like to do. Would you try to get your cluster to train for a marathon? Set up a karaoke night? Plan a ski trip? Explore New York’s museums? How have you contributed to social groups in the past? Relate you plans to a past successful initiative, and you will enhance your answer to this question. Or perhaps you would take a slightly more serious approach to this question and discuss a challenge overcome. Show that you are a survivor, not a victim and far stronger as a result of this experience. If you take this approach, don’t make it too heavy or too personal. No TMI. You will have barely met these people. Optional Essay. An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays. Clearly you can use this optional essay question to address a weakness in your profile or qualifications, but in my mind, this question is also open-ended enough to allow you to discuss a diversity element in your personal background or simply some unique area of interest. Also, tucking a weakness explanation somewhere else would allow you to end the application with a strength and not a flaw. Don’t use this essay as a grand finale or wrap up. And definitely don’t use it to rehash your reasons for wanting to attend Columbia; those reasons should be perfectly clear from the required essays. If you decide to respond to this essay, use it to educate the reader about another talent, interest, or commitment of yours. As always try to show leadership and impact. In short, give them more reasons to admit you. Knight-Bagehot Fellows. Rather than answer Essay 1, Part A above, current Knight-Bagehot Fellows applying to Columbia Business School should use the space allocated to the first essay (500 words) to complete the Wiegers Fellowship application essay. Wiegers Fellowship Essay Question. What are your career goals? How has the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship affected these goals? How will an MBA help you achieve these goals? (500 words maximum) If you would like professional guidance with your Columbia Business School MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the CBS MBA application. Columbia Business School 2015 Application Deadlines: January 2015 Entry: October 8, 2014 August 2015 Entry: Early Decision: October 8, 2014 Merit Fellowship Consideration: January 7, 2015 Regular Decision: April 15, 2015 *All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. New York Tim on the date listed.  By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools2015 MBA Application, columbia gsb, MBA Admissions 
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11 Jun 2014, 22:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Applying to Harvard Business School – A How-To Guide |
If you’re seeking expert tips on how to apply successfully to Harvard Business School or another top-ranked MBA program, then you’ll want to attend Accepted’s upcoming webinar, Get Accepted to Harvard Business School. During the webinar, Linda Abraham, Accepted’s CEO and founder, will discuss important application tips that apply specifically to Harvard’s application, including 4 must-know steps that will optimize your application. Mark your calendars! The webinar will air live on Thursday June 26th at 10 AM PT/1:00 PM EST. See what time that is for you by clicking here. Reserve your spot for Get Accepted to Harvard Business School today and get one step closer to securing your seat in the Harvard HBS class of 2017!  Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: Harvard Business School, MBA Admissions, webinar 
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12 Jun 2014, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: The Facts About Financial Services |
 Finance is the most popular career destination for business school graduates according to GMAC’s recent Prospective Applicant Survey. In fact 37% of all MBA wannabes also “wannabe” in financial service when they graduate. If you are one of those 37% or if you are planning a different route to the concrete canyons of Wall Street and the cadres of savvy spreadsheet whizes, this is your lucky episode. Listen to the recording of our conversation with Arkady Libman of Wall Street Prep to learn more about what a job in finance entails and how to land one. 00:02:43 – Letting future investment bankers know what investment banking is all about: The origins of Wall Street Prep. 00:05:46 – The skills that employers on Wall Street want to see. 00:09:21 – Who should NOT seek a job in finance. 00:11:21 – One piece of advice (sort of) for someone considering a career on Wall Street. 00:15:57 – Different degrees and the positions they lead to. 00:18:52 – Will young analysts continue to put up with the long hours of investment banking? 00:26:55 – Wall Street’s recovery from the Great Recession: Are we there yet? 00:28:06 – The Wall Street Prep approach. 00:30:20 – About Wall Street interviews and how to prepare for them. 00:33:38 – Arkady’s advice for students aiming for financial careers. 00:37:25 – Excellent advice for business school applicants.  *Theme music is courtesy of podcastthemes.com. Related Links: • Where Does Wall St. Hire: U.S. B-Schools Sending Grads into Financial Services• Wall Street Prephttps://blog.accepted.com/2014/05/07/where-does-wall-st-hire-u-s-b-schools-sending-grads-into-financial-services/• A Comeback for Wall Street Hiring of MBAs? Related Shows: • Which Schools are Good for PE/VC and VC-Backed Entrepreneurship • Case Interview Secrets and More with Victor Cheng • Business, Law and Beyond: An Interview with John Engelman • How to Become a Management Consultant Subscribe to Admissions Straight Talk:    Tags: Admissions Straight Talk, finance, MBA Admissions, podcast 
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13 Jun 2014, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Interview with an Admitted UCLA Anderson [Re]Applicant |
 This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. And now for a follow up interview with James Huntington, who was recently accepted to UCLA Anderson. (We first met James last year – you can read our first interview with him here.) Accepted: It’s nice to have you back! Can you tell us a little about how you’ve spent your last year? James: Thanks! I am excited for the opportunity to share a little bit more about my experience. I never imagined how much time, energy, and effort would go into applying to b-school. It definitely consumes you. Other than applications, interviews, etc., I have tried to spend as much time as I can with my wife and kids (we are expecting another boy here in a couple weeks). We did a couple family surf trips, one to Washington and one to Mexico…Mexico was a little bit warmer. I have also spent the past couple months brushing up on some math/Excel skills, as well as taking a few computer science and coding classes to help prep me for my goal to transition into the tech industry. Accepted: Congrats on your acceptance to UCLA Anderson! In our last interview, you had said that you were applying to Tuck, Haas, Kellogg, MIT, and Yale – but no mention of Anderson! When did you add Anderson to the list? Did you apply to any others not on your original list? James: Thank you so much! Anderson was on my shortlist of schools I wanted to apply to, but I decided I didn’t want to tackle more than five applications in round one, even though I got a very early start being a reapplicant. After being dinged or waitlisted by the schools I applied to in round one, I decided to apply to Darden, Tepper, and Fuqua, in addition to UCLA Anderson. Accepted: Where else were you accepted to? What tipped the scales to favor Anderson? James: I ended up getting into Darden and Tepper as well. At first, I was having a very difficult time deciding where to go. There were aspects of each program that I really liked and I knew I could be successful at each one. However, as I talked to more students/alumni, reflected on my personal/professional goals, etc., Anderson was clearly the right choice for me. This is not to say that Darden or Tepper lacked in any of these areas, but there were a few things that really stood out to me about Anderson: Students Throughout this whole process, I have found that Anderson students have been some of the most, if not the most responsive, friendly, genuine, and helpful students I have talked to. Of the students I contacted or was introduced to, 100% of them responded and took time to talk with me. The only other school that came remotely close to that was Tuck. All the students I spoke with at Anderson were down to earth and very friendly. A few even offered me a place to stay while I look for housing. I appreciated the fact that after I was accepted I was assigned a buddy by the admission office. I was also contacted by an alumni and spoke with him about his experience at Anderson. Another thing that really impressed me compared to some of the other programs was the amount of help/advice Anderson students gave me in terms of preparing for school and a career transition. Location One factor I didn’t think would be too important to me while I was researching programs, but became increasingly so, was the location of the school. For my career goals, to transition into tech, aside from perhaps the Bay Area, I couldn’t have picked a better location. Plus, having grown up in California, I am looking forward to returning to my home state and enjoying the great weather! No more snow 2014!!! In relation to location, one thing I really like about Anderson is they offer academic internships. With the relatively strong tech start-up scene in the Los Angeles area, this will give me the opportunity to further gain and develop the needed skills and experience while in school to land a job in tech post-MBA. Career/Technology Along the lines of location and career, another big plus for Anderson was the strength of their tech club, the High-Tech Business Association, and the amount of different offerings for students interested in tech. With nearly a quarter of the students from Anderson going into the tech industry, the school has put a lot of resources into developing this area of their program. With some of the other schools, I felt like I would have to put a lot of personal effort into being able to get anywhere near the experience I would at Anderson. Another big draw to the program was that Anderson’s Career Management Center, Parker CMC, has consistently be ranked one of the top MBA career management centers. From all my conversations with Anderson students, the strength of the Parker CMC is one thing that came up in almost every conversation. Community Although there are a ton of other reasons I chose Anderson, the last one I will talk about is the community. I mentioned this earlier, but all of the students and fellow admits that I have spoken to have been very down to earth, friendly, and receptive. I initially really wanted to be in a small town to make sure I got the tighter-knit, community feel from the program I attended. However, after the experience I have had thus far with Anderson, I am confident I will get the tight-knit community feel while being in one of the most vibrant cities in the world! Sorry to go on and on, but as you can tell, I am really excited about Anderson! Accepted: Can you talk about your different interview experiences (this year and last year when you applied the first time)? And can you share a few tips with our readers on interviewing? James: Absolutely! Of the entire application process, I enjoyed the interview the most. I felt like I was able to paint the best picture of myself while interviewing, as long as I was prepared. The difference between my first interview last year and my last interview this year was like night and day. I think some of it had to do with just gaining experience interviewing, but it was mostly due to my level of preparation and understanding my story. Of all of the interviews I did, my favorite was by far my interview with Darden. The interviewer came in completely blind, she didn’t even have my resume, and she asked me to tell her my story. She wanted to know about my personal life, my professional life, and my goals. She would interject from time to time with questions, but overall, she let me direct the conversation. Because I wasn’t restricted to answering specific questions, I felt like I was able to express who I am and who I want to be much better than in other interviews. I think that question would have been overwhelming if I hadn’t prepared and didn’t know that Darden was known for the “Tell me your story” interview style, but thanks to the various forums and interview reports, I was, and it made the experience very enjoyable. For those that will be interview soon, make sure you prepare! Don’t just prep for general interview questions, but look up interview reports for each school, the interview formats can be very different. The better prepared you are, the smoother the interview will go. Also, know your story inside and out. Own it! Know what you want to do, how you are going to do it, and how the school you are interviewing with is going to help you. When asked, “Why our school?” don’t respond with general comments like, “Collaborative culture,” “Tight-knit community,” etc. Be specific! If those things are important to you, tell them how their school exhibits those characteristics. Be genuinely specific about classes, clubs, conferences, and activities that are going to help you achieve your goals. Again, be specific about how you will contribute to you class and the program. In order to do that, you will need to prepare, research, and talk to students/professors. Accepted: What are you most looking forward to in starting b-school in the fall? James: I have always enjoyed going to school. I am really looking forward to stepping away from work for a while and devoting all that time and energy into school. I believe that an MBA is a great opportunity to better yourself personally and professionally, and I am looking forward to doing that with some great classmates. I have already had the chance to connect with a few members of my future class and I have been impressed by all the different backgrounds and things they have accomplished. I am really excited to get to know them better and to meet more great people. Outside of school, I am looking forward to going surfing, and my kids are pumped to be so close to Disneyland! Accepted: Do you still blog? How do you think your blog will evolve now that you’ve been accepted? James: I am still definitely blogging. So many of the other prospective students’ blogs and current students’ blogs helped me throughout this process, I want to give back in some way if possible. Hopefully some of the things I write about will help those that are just beginning the process, and maybe inspire some reapplicants to keep working hard and going after their dreams. My blog has definitely evolved since I started it. When I first started writing, it was mainly for myself. It was an outlet for all the pent up thoughts/anxiety brought on by the application process. I feel like it has become more of a place for me to share my experiences and information I have come across to help benefit others who are going through the process now. My hope is that it will become a resource for those individuals. I plan to blog while I am in school as well, although it might not be at the same rate, and offer insight into life at b-school, specifically UCLA Anderson. You can read more about this blogger’s b-school journey by checking out his blog, MBA Reapplicant! Thank you James for sharing your story with us!  You can read more about this blogger’s b-school journey by checking out his blog, Grant Me Admission! Thank you for sharing your story with us! – See more at: https://blog.accepted.com/tag/mba-applic ... DE9Fa.dpuf Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: MBA Admissions, MBA applicant bloggers, MBA Student Interviews, UCLA Anderson 
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13 Jun 2014, 09:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: NYU Hosts AIGAC! |
 About 70% of applicants who interview are admitted. Not only did NYU Stern host the annual conference of Association of International Graduate Application Consultants – AIGAC – last week (along with Columbia Business School) – it also shared some valuable information about its program and applications process. Here are several highlights. • The admissions team characterized the Stern MBA program as “deep, diverse, and [reflecting] academic excellence.” They cited particular strengths: finance, strategy, consulting, entertainment and media, marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation. This array behooves applicants to define their own, unique path and approach to productively using Stern’s resources. • Community is huge at NYU Stern – so EQ is as important as IQ and is sought by the adcom. The value of community is even reflected in the program’s institutional resources, including the Center for Business and Human Rights established in 2013. • Speaking of EQ, the adcom noted that applicants possessing this requisite quality will articulate fit with Stern in the application. • It’s now the second year for the scholarship established in 2013 to “support exceptional college seniors”: William R. Berkley Scholarship Program covers full tuition and includes a housing stipend. Scholarship winners are selected based on academic performance plus potential to contribute to society. • Stern’s loan assistance program is open to all types of students: regular full-timers, Langone part-timers, and EMBAs. • Fun fact: about 40% of Stern MBAs receive some kind of scholarship, including international students. • Another fun fact: about 70% of applicants who are interviewed are admitted. • Last but not least fun fact: the 80% GMAT range for Stern’s full-time MBA is 680-760, and for the Langone part-time program it is 620-730. • The Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a particularly cherished resource at Stern – a nerve center of sorts – deeply integrated into the fabric of intellectual and professional life at the school. NYU’s presentation to AIGAC conference attendees also included two samples of successful video essays in response to the longstanding essay 3 asking applicants to describe themselves creatively to their classmates. In one, the applicant showed different aspects of himself (friend, student, professional, sportsman, etc.) in little vignettes, each with a touch of humor. None was highly unusual – one stood out because this presentation captured his charm and enthusiasm. In the second, the applicant focused with warmth and wit on her specific passion: parks and public spaces. So, two different approaches: one broad, one narrow. Both fresh, expressive, confident. Both brimming with EQ. As I’ve told people many times, there is no one formula for doing this essay well. And yes, it’s there again this year. By Cindy Tokumitsu, author and co-author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports, including Why MBA and Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her last fifteen years with Accepted. Tags: AIGAC, MBA Admissions, NYU Stern 
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15 Jun 2014, 10:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Is Ten Days per Business School Application Enough? |
 Give yourself plenty of time – about one to two weeks – per application. There are a number of steps involved in the MBA application essay writing process: contemplating the questions, choosing the topics, and crafting a collection of short stories that tell a tale and appeal to an admissions committee. Each of these steps takes time. But HOW MUCH time do you actually need? A day? A week? A month? I think the best way to maximize efficiency is to give yourself plenty of time – about one to two weeks – per application. The following tips should help you get organized: 1. Do the easy stuff first. Before you sit down to focus on your essays, make sure that you’ve already taken care of the application basics – get your GMAT squared away, school selection finalized, transcripts sent out, recommenders lined up, resume polished, etc. There are two benefits to this: First, you’ll be able to focus better on your task at hand after you’ve already crossed off so many things on your to-do list; and second, you’ll have a much clearer idea of your admissions profile once you’ve tackled these objective application elements. 2. Reserve more time for your first application. The first essay and application almost always take the longest to complete. It rarely comes naturally to applicants to think and write about their accomplishments and failures, career background and goals, leadership and teamwork experiences, and turning points in life. Getting used to writing in such a way takes practice. After you’ve forced yourself to think and write in this new way, you’ll find subsequent essays less challenging. 3. Leave time for the tricky ones. There’s always a tricky essay that holds up the schedule, and that essay is different for every applicant. You may be blow through a 500-word career goals essay only to get bogged down in a 200-word culture-shock essay. Mental blocks don’t adhere to a schedule. Be prepared for the unexpected! 4. Understand that life happens. A project at work suddenly requires overtime or travel, a family need suddenly fills a weekend, a recommender suddenly has no time to write a recommendation. Unanticipated events may cause you to put your application on hold, even after diligent and steady progress, leading you to delay submitting several applications until Round 2. So yes, set a schedule, try to stick to it, but recognize that an application is ready when it’s ready. Recognize that submitting a GREAT application in the second round is far better than submitting a mediocre application in the first round. Mediocrity doesn’t get accepted to top, highly selective business schools.  Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: MBA Admissions 
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17 Jun 2014, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Selecting Which B-Schools to Apply to: Two Examples |
 “Selecting Which B-Schools to Apply to: Two Examples” is excerpted from the Accepted.com special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One. To download the entire free special report, click here. Here are two examples that illustrate how this school selection process works. Example 1: A 25-year-old male (American of Korean ethnic background) in finance has two years as an investment banking analyst followed by one year in private equity. His career track record of impact and accomplishment is solid but not exceptional; similarly he demonstrates clear but not outstanding leadership. He has a combined GMAT score of 710 and a GPA from a strong but not elite college of 3.45. His extracurricular activities are consistent but do not elicit a “wow.” His post-MBA goal is to return to his present employment at a higher level. MBA brand is important to him, but he accepts that he may not be competitive at Wharton or Columbia. Given his age, he would rather reapply (at least he knows where he can improve if need be – leadership, impact, and GMAT) than attend a program that does not excite him or that represents a steep compromise, and since no safety schools excite him, he select only reaches and on-pars. Still, he’d love to get in this year, so he decides to apply to eight programs over Rounds 1 and 2 to widen his chances. During his research he was surprised to find a few on-pars that interested him, and he put all three on his list: Georgetown (he was unexpectedly thrilled when he visited by the extensive campus resources and the high caliber of students), USC Marshall (a lot more intense than he’d believed, and he was invigorated by the Asia focus), and Cornell (where his private equity experience will be a slight differentiating factor, and Cornell actually straddles reach level). The five reaches contain some variation in competitiveness: Columbia, Wharton, Chicago, NYU,LBS. Example 2: A 30-year-old female is a junior manager in manufacturing operations, with a record of solid advancement and leadership. Her GMAT score is 680 and she has an undergrad GPA of 3.3 from a second-tier state school and a grad (supply chain and IT) GPA of 3.65 from the same school. Her extracurricular activities include significant leadership in her church. This applicant’s post-MBA goal is to acquire a mid-level management position in global operations at a top-tier manufacturer that will lead to senior management within several years. She needs to get in this year because of her age, since she knows that chances of acceptance become increasingly difficult for each year after the age of 30. Her work experience is a strength, in part because females in operations are relatively few, but also because core manufacturing related experience isn’t highly represented in many programs. She doesn’t have the time, the resources, or, in fact, the desire to apply to more than six schools, and she feels she should be able to gain acceptance to an exciting program if she approaches her list thoughtfully. She targets two reaches—Michigan and MIT (women are even a smaller percentage at MIT than at most US b-schools)—two on-pars—Kelley and Tepper—and two safeties—Schulich in Canada and Krannert (Purdue University). For both of the above hypothetical applicants, objective assessment of their profiles, thoughtful examination of their needs and wants, extensive school research, and consideration of the number of schools to apply to yield promising lists of targeted MBA programs. By Cindy Tokumitsu, co-author of The Finance Professional’s Guide to MBA Admissions Success, and author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her last fifteen years with Accepted.com. Tags: Best MBA Programs Series, MBA Admissions, special report 
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17 Jun 2014, 13:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Save 10%. Get Accepted. Smile. |
 Enjoy a Juicy %10 Off! Hey grad, law, and b-school applicants – are you looking to save money this summer AND get one step closer to gaining acceptance to your top choice school? Introducing Accepted’s SUPER Summer Sale – 10% off your choice of grad school services, law school services, and MBA services through Tuesday, July 15th.* Not sure which service is best for you? Check out the options below and then, as always, please be in touch if you have any questions! Top Graduate School Admissions Services: Top Law School Admissions Services: Top MBA Admissions Services: We look forward to helping you get into grad/law/business school AND have a fabulous summer!  * Offer valid only on non-rush services and may not be combined with other offers. Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions 
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18 Jun 2014, 08:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Wharton 2015 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines |
 Wharton is still marching in the MBA application shrink parade. It now has one required question and has dumped the question about contribution to Wharton’s learning community. However, it has made the optional a broader question than it was last year and has increased the optional essay word limit. Overall the Wharton essay word limit count has declined from 1250 to 950 including the optional. My tips for completing the Wharton application essays are in blue below. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid, and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest you be yourself. Essays: 1. What do you hope to gain both personally and professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words) What do you want to achieve personally and professionally that you can’t do now and that a Wharton MBA will help you achieve? Note the questions is not just asking what you want to do after you graduate, and it’s not asking for exclusively professional aspirations. It is giving you the option to dream a bit. As with most MBA goals questions, Wharton still wants to see how you connect your Wharton education to your future. Keep in mind that Wharton has an incredibly rich curriculum. How will you take advantage of its premier offerings to prepare yourself to achieve your vision for the future? Reapplicant Essay. All reapplicants to Wharton are required to complete the Optional Essay. Explain how you have reflected on the previous decision about your application, and discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). You may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances. (250 words) The key part of this question is the update part. Don’t ignore reflection on your previous decision, but focus on the new and improved you. For more suggestions for your reapplication, please see MBA Reapplication 101. Optional Esssay. Please use the space below to highlight any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about your candidacy. (400 words) You can use the optional essay to explain or provide context for decision you have made or events in your life. For example:
Or you can use your optional essay to highlight something in your experiences, background, personal or professional life that didn’t fit into the required essay and that you want the admissions committee to know about. You can discuss a diversity element, a unique area of interest or an accomplishment that you don’t feel is adequately described elsewhere. Don’t use it as a grand summary of you application or reasons for wanting Wharton. Make sure it adds value. If you would like professional guidance with your Wharton MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Wharton MBA application. Wharton 2015 Application Deadlines: Application Deadline . Decisions Released Round 1 Oct 1, 2014 Dec 16, 2014 Round 2 Jan 5, 2015 Mar 24, 2015 Round 3 Mar 26, 2015 May 5, 2015 *To be considered for a round, you must submit a complete application by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of the deadline. By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools2015 MBA Application, MBA Admissions, Wharton 
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19 Jun 2014, 08:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Harvard Business School: Analytical Aptitude and Appetite |
 So HBS wants “analytical aptitude and appetite.” What is there to add? I mean, it’s pretty obvious. We didn’t really need HBS to say it. Yet they did say it. Maybe it’s not as obvious as it sounds. Let’s take a look. Analytical: This concept encompasses a range of things – quantitative methods, various tools and processes such as decision trees and FMEA, mental objectivity, an exacting attitude. Parsing the relationship between a whole and its parts. Pursuing root causes. Aptitude: Ability, innate and/or learned. Appetite: This is the really interesting word, because it’s open to interpretation. We can read it as meaning to enjoy, to savor, to be open to, to relish, to hunger for, to have capacity for. Here are some of its practical implications and nuances (in question form): • Do you use objective analysis in understanding past events, planning future actions and strategies, and making decisions? • Do you respect results and outcomes determined by analysis when they don’t jive with your preconceptions, ideologies, or preferences? • Does your analytic mindset allow you to be comfortable with – even relish – ambiguity and uncertainty? • Do you help your teammates understand and use analytic approaches and thinking? • Perhaps most important, do you use language effectively as an analytic tool, e.g., when the team is facing a muddle, are you the one who can verbally separate the threads, clarify them, and guide the team to understand their relative weight and importance? As the HBS website indicates, for HBS, analytical aptitude is not a solitary feast (regardless of how hearty the analytic appetite). You’ve got to bring your analytical chops to the table, i.e., to classroom debates and case studies, projects, etc. Therefore, you must be able not only to read and play the analytic score – but also to improvise, on the spot and with other virtuosos. The adcom will grasp your analytic aptitude from your transcript(s), test score, and resume. But if you feel these elements don’t properly show this dimension, use other parts of the application (essay, short answers, additional info, recommendations) to amplify it. As for showing analytical appetite: • Your resume may reflect this quality, depending on your work. • Invite your recommenders to discuss this quality and to provide examples. • In your essay(s) use a story or two that demonstrates analytical appetite. And be assured, it won’t hurt to let other programs you apply to appreciate your analytic aptitude and appetite!…  By Cindy Tokumitsu, author and co-author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports, including Why MBAand Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her fifteen years with Accepted.com, including many successful applicants to HBS. Tags: Harvard Business School, MBA Admissions, What HBS is Looking For 
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20 Jun 2014, 10:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Entrepreneurship, Fashion, and Wharton: MBA Alum Interview |
 This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. And now for a chat with Dorie Golkin and Emelyn Northway, Wharton graduates and co-founders of Of Mercer (which you’ll read more about below). Accepted: We’d like to get to know you! Where are you from? Where and what did you study as an undergrad? What’s your favorite non-school book? Dorie: I (proudly) grew up in New York City. At Princeton, I majored in Civil Engineering and minored in visual arts, with a focus on darkroom photography. My favorite non-school book is Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Emelyn: I’m originally from East Grand Rapids, Michigan. I attended Cornell University and majored in Economics and Psychology. My favorite non-school book is Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. I also love Tina Fey’s Bossypants for a laugh out loud read. Accepted: Where did you go to b-school and when did you receive your MBA? What have you been doing since? D&E: Both of us went to Wharton Business School, where we were members of the class of 2013. Since graduating a year ago, we have been working full-time on our startup, Of Mercer, a new women’s workwear brand of fashionable, office-appropriate apparel that we launched last November. It is a concept that we conceived and worked on while at school, after discovering that we weren’t the only women who struggled to find budget-friendly, desk-to-dinner clothes. Accepted: When you started Wharton, did you know that you wanted to start your own fashion line/online store? How did your company evolve? Can you point to specific classes, clubs, or other resources that directly helped you launch your company? D&E: We both came to Wharton planning to pursue entrepreneurship, but not necessarily in the e-commerce space. We’ve both always been interested in fashion, but Of Mercer was really about solving a personal problem, one that we discovered after we wore the same work dress to an event and realized it was the only one in our closet that we actually wanted to wear to work. While at Wharton, we conducted numerous surveys and focus groups to test and refine our idea. It was through this feedback that we decided go with a direct-to-consumer model and develop a “beta” line of five dresses that we tested and sold at Wharton before building out our launch collection. During the process, we were accepted into the Venture Initiation Program, Wharton’s incubator program. Having a team of advisors, a network of fellow entrepreneurs, and a wealth of start-up specific programming and resources to draw on was incredibly useful in helping us go from idea to launch. We also tailored our course selection to what would be most helpful (both in the near and long term) for Of Mercer, including Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship, Customer Analytics, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce, and many more. Accepted: What was your favorite thing about Wharton? If you could change one thing about the program, what would it be? Dorie: It was definitely the Wharton community. Everyone from our professors to our peers was incredibly supportive of us and our venture, and was willing to help in any way possible, whether that meant taking an hour of time to participate in a focus group or sitting down with us for a one-on-one conversation about inventory management. In addition, the community of student entrepreneurs at Wharton is strong and growing. In fact, our class had a record number of students who went on to pursue their own startups after graduation. Emelyn: Wharton’s curriculum has really evolved and covers the gamut of topics you’ll need to know well to be a successful entrepreneur. However, I would love to see a few more opportunities to learn the more gritty, practical skills and tasks that are actually part of the day-to-day operations of an early-stage startup – things like basic coding, graphic design, or even how to set up bookkeeping and payroll. Accepted: How would you rate Wharton as a program for entrepreneurs? Which other b-schools do you think are best for entrepreneurs? D&E: Wharton is a great place for aspiring entrepreneurs. We were incredibly happy with the program and can’t imagine going anywhere else. We felt support from all levels – from our peers to the administration – support that still continues today, a year after graduating. We didn’t go to any other business schools, so we don’t think we can accurately comment on their programs, but great entrepreneurs come out of all the top schools. It’s all about having an entrepreneurial mindset going into business school and using your resources effectively while you’re there. Accepted: Can you share your top three admissions tips with our readers? (These can be specific to Wharton or general, or ideally, a combination of both.) Dorie: Be authentic and realistic. You don’t have to claim that you’re going to cure cancer to stand out, but you should have a track record of what it is you want to pursue. Even if you’re making a career change, there should be something on your resume – an extracurricular pursuit, a specific project, etc. – that shows you’ve already dipped your toes in the water and are bringing valuable experiences to the school and your future peers. Emelyn: Be honest in your application about how business school will take you to the next step in your career. It’s quite possible that the next step may change once you get there, but you need to apply with a clear vision of what you think that step is now – not only to get in, but also to get the most out of going to business school and hit the ground running once you’re there. Focus on your essays and make sure they shed light on qualities about you or experiences you’ve had that may not come across on your resume. They’re one of the few places in your application in which you have the ability to differentiate yourself. And don’t wait to get feedback on your essays – get it as early as possibly from as many people as you can (preferably people who have gone to that school) to make sure you’re headed in the right direction. For one-on-one guidance on your b-school applications, please see our MBA Application Packages. For specific advice on how to create the best application for Wharton see:
 Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: MBA Admissions, MBA Interview, MBA student interview, Wharton 
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20 Jun 2014, 10:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Review of The Economist’s GMAT Tutor |
 The Economist’s GMAT Tutor is a highly navigable GMAT test prep option for test-takers who are looking for a balanced combination of self-study and interaction. The program enables you to read up on loads of GMAT topics, rank your strengths and weaknesses, and take practice tests (those are self-study elements), as well as schedule tutoring sessions, ask questions to tutors, and submit your essays for markup (the interactive elements). Of course, the extent to which you receive these features (particularly the interactive ones) will depend on your level of membership, which depends on how much you pay. Highlights of GMAT Tutors features: • Personalization. GMAT Tutor measures your strengths and weaknesses and develops a program tailor-made for you. According to the site, “GMAT Tutor uses a cutting-edge artificial intelligence system that studies you in order to determine the optimal subject to teach you and the optimal difficulty level at any given moment. Our system is designed to take you to your maximum possible performance and to do so more quickly and pleasantly than any other prep program currently in existence.” • Available support. For technical issues, you can email GMAT Tutor’s support team. But for academic queries, you can use the program’s integrated Ask-a-Tutor system. You just click on the Ask-a-Tutor icon and submit your question. • Essay grading. You can submit an essay draft to the program and receive an essay grade and feedback within three business days. That’s really just a brief sampling. I urge you to check out the other fantastic features GMAT Tutor has to offer. I really found it to be a user-friendly program – very clear and very organized!  Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: GMAT, MBA Admissions 
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20 Jun 2014, 12:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Is a Harvard MBA in your future? |
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If you want to answer that with a resounding “yes” then you need to tune in to our upcoming webinar, Get Accepted to Harvard Business School. The webinar will take place on Thursday June 26th at 10 AM PT/1:00 PM EST. You can look up what time that is for you here. Reserve your spot for Get Accepted to Harvard Business School now! Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best Tags: Harvard Business School, MBA Admissions, webinar 
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22 Jun 2014, 08:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Michigan Ross 2015 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines |
 Ross completely redid the essay part of its MBA application this year. Getting rid of its long-standing goals essay, a fairly new “elevator pitch” question, and a question about dealing with frustrating or disappointing situations, it added two questions on achievements. The overall word count is down 150 words. Since the application is not live, I can’t see the short answer questions or the online boxes. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Ross asks about goals in the non-essay portion of the application. Review Ross’ Evaluation Criteria before you sit down to write the essays. And remember: your essays should reveal the qualities Ross seeks — not just mouth them. Show that you walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Also, read carefully the introductory paragraph to the essay questions. The advice is excellent. My comments are in blue below. Essays: Our goal with these new questions is that we’ll get a sense of who you are, how you think about yourself and how you process your experiences. The range of responses can be quite wide – from an accomplishment to a challenge or difficult situation that you overcame or a characteristic about yourself. There isn’t a “right” or “preferred” type of response. Applicants often ask how they can differentiate themselves. The essays are the best way to do it. Your undergraduate school and major may be similar to another applicant’s. Your career path and goals may be similar to another applicant’s. But your experiences and what you take away from them will be unique. 1. What are you most proud of professionally and why? What did you learn from that experience? (400 words) The first part of the question is fairly straightforward. What are you truly proud of professionally? The reasons for your pride and the lessons learned require thought and soul-searching. And of course, you only have 400 words. Good reasons for the choice: Contribution to your team, department, company, or society. Impact on you or others. Try to quantify this part of your answer. Numbers are a great way to show both contribution and impact. However, if your #1 achievement is qualitative or difficult to quantify, don’t let lack of numbers stop you from using it. For the lessons learned part of the question, focus. Choose one lesson that has changed how you think or behave and describe those changes. You don’t have room for many lessons learned, so select the most important one. 2. What are you most proud of personally and why? How does it shape who you are today? (400 words) This response should compliment your response to #1 and obviously it should not be professional. Ross wants to know that you have a life off the job and that you make a difference then too. What have you done off the job that you are really proud of? Raised money for a favorite charity by running a marathon? Organized a political event? Engaged in interfaith dialogue that broke down communications barriers? Led a sports team to victory? Any of the above and many, many other non-professional achievements would qualify as a good topic for this essay. Then what was its impact on you? Please don’t write that you learned you can do anything you put your mind to. That response is cliched and not really true. It’s a non-answer. A good response will show how your behavior or thinking has changed as a result of this accomplishment. 4. Optional question: is there anything not addressed elsewhere in the application that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you to evaluate your candidacy? (300 word maximum) Optional questions aren’t junk drawers or shoe boxes in which to jam “stuff.” Focus on one facet of your life or an experience that is important to you, reveals the human being you are, and isn’t described in other parts of the application. Of course, you can also use this essay to provide context for a weakness, but I prefer not to end your application on that note if possible. So weigh your options. If you have something to explain, do so. If you can slip in the explanation somewhere else, great. If the best place for the explanation is this last essay, so be it. If you would like professional guidance with your Michigan Ross MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Michigan Ross application. Michigan Ross 2015 MBA Application Deadlines: Round 1 Applications due Oct. 6, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST) Decisions posted Dec. 19, 2014 at 12:00 PM (EST) Round 2 Applications due Jan. 5, 2015 at 11:59 PM (EST) Decisions posted March 13, 2015 at 12:00 PM (EST) Round 3 Applications due March 23, 2015 at 11:59 PM (EST) Decisions posted May 15, 2015 at 12:00 PM (EST)  By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools2015 MBA Application, MBA Admissions, Michigan Ross 
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