Tuck (Dartmouth): Class of 2016- Calling all applicants!

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Competitive, but not Impossible

Though this post was originally published in March of 2013, the advice from Laura and Sara (final round admits) is every bit as applicable now.  Next week, a T'15 from Romania will share her journey to Tuck via the final application round. Tuck's final application deadline is April 2, 2014.    Final b-school application rounds are notoriously the most competitive; the majority of ‘seats’ have been filled and, in many cases, much of the scholarship money has been allocated.  Although the climb may be steeper, reaching the finish line via the final application round is possible.   We spoke with Laura and Sara, current students who each applied in the last round, about their path to Tuck and what they think it takes to be admitted as a competitive final-round candidate.  Unsurprisingly, there were a few common themes that are important for all applicants regardless of the round you apply to. Timing Sara wasn’t completely satisfied with her professional life.  So although an MBA was something she had been considering, when her company began undergoing some changes, she decided she was ready for a change as well.  Because she wanted to ensure that she presented the best possible application, she opted to let a few rounds pass.  Additionally, providing a little explanation in your application as to why you’ve chosen to apply at this particular time helps the committee understand your motivations better. The takeaway:  Apply when you feel your application is at its best, even if it means taking some time to get it there. Standing Out An admissions committee’s job is not an easy one.  They see a lot of applications from very worthy candidates, so it’s incredibly important to ask yourself how you’re unique and then show it through the application process.  Laura chose to differentiate herself by highlighting a unique background with Teach for America and microfinance.  Impressive, yes, but this can be simpler than you think; what are you passionate about? What distinctive experiences have you had? Can that passion and experience help illuminate who you are as a person or who you aspire to be?  For instance, Sara is an avid marathon runner and was proud of where she comes from. These details, though they may seem inconsequential in the application process, helped provide a foundation for making her case. The takeaway:  Differentiate yourself in a genuine way and tie back to your MBA, career and personal goals. Final Notes from Laura and Sara Study a school’s culture, because fit really is important!  Are you right for Tuck?  Is Tuck right for you?  An MBA requires a lot of resources and two years of your life – make sure you’re spending them wisely. Once you’ve determined that the fit is right, spend time speaking with as many people as possible; students, alumni, staff.  Tuck offers a number of opportunities to visit campus, meet us on the road or connect online.  Take advantage! Lastly, there are always other options.  If your first attempt at getting into Tuck doesn’t work out in your favor, take time to reassess your goals and your application – whether it’s the way you present them or their value.  Often, feedback from the Admissions Office is also available for those wishing to re-apply. The takeaway:  Have a plan B. While you may not get the outcome you hope for, the process will no doubt teach you something about yourself and help guide your next steps.

Did anyone get this? I got it in February. I applied and interviewed in early January, and I haven't taken the GMATs in years and had them sent when I applied.

"Dear [NAME],

Thank you for selecting the Tuck School of Business to receive your GMAT® results. We are delighted that you are interested in applying to Tuck, and we look forward to getting to know you as you embark on the application process.

If you have not visited us, we encourage you to make this the next step in your application process.Tuck is a pretty special place, and you can’t fully understand what sets us apart until you experience Tuck for yourself. Tuck's visit and interview season begins in mid-September and continues through mid-April for each admissions cycle."

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: From April Applicant to T’15

Laura Ionita is an MBA candidate in the class of 2015 at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Prior to Tuck, Laura lived in in the South of France and worked in the IT industry as a Product Marketing Manager. After Tuck, Laura would like to live on the West Coast and bring to market smart devices that improve the quality of life. Where do you see yourself on December 12, 2014? You could have just finished your Personal Leadership final self-assessment and are on your way to catch a flight to San Francisco for the West Coast trek with 50 other Tuckies. Or you could be relaxing around the Christmas tree in Stell Hall, planning the next few days of skiing in Killington. Or maybe you’re planning the New Year’s party in the Bahamas with your classmates and dorm friends. All this could happen if you apply to Tuck this year! I visited Tuck on February 19, 2013 and I fell in love with the school. I was already applying to other schools, but when I visited I knew this was the place I wanted to have my MBA experience. By waiting to visit before applying and getting to know some of the Tuckies, it allowed me to get better at writing essays and was probably the key to completing my strongest application in April. Two months later I got the call from Tuck letting me know that I was admitted. This is how one of the best periods of my life started. There are many myths surrounding the final application round at all schools – some of them true, some not. Is it competitive? Yes, but is the January round not competitive? Are there any spots left? Again yes, the Admissions Office is prepared for great candidates that may apply later into the process. Are there any scholarships awarded? Yes, it’s still possible to receive a scholarship. Can you still get a room in the dorms? Yes, the lottery happens in June, just after results are announced. Can you still join a pre-term program with everyone else? Of course, I even did two of them. Bottom line is that if you are determined to join Tuck, get to know the school, the culture, and the people. Then use that to put your best effort forth in the application. Don’t wait another year – we want to meet you!   Last week, we shared some advice from other Tuck students who successfully applied in the April Round. Read what they have to say here, in "Competitive, but not Impossible."  Tuck's final application deadline is April 2 - begin your application here.

It's an automated message I believe. Did you send them an official score report? Sometimes this gets sent out as a consequence and not necessarily immediately after sending the score report.

Correct me if I am wrong. If we don't get the interview invitation so far from the school, we are probably get dinged or waitlisted.

Happened to me as well for both the GMAT score and the interview. Seem to be automated messages that get sent often long after the event. So don't worry about it.

Anyone know when the admitted student weekend is? I need to plan some surgery and don't want to still be recovering while visiting Tuck (assuming I get in). March 14 can't come soon enough.

April 11-13

Decision date is getting closer...only 9 days to go guys!

US News released a preview of the 2015 rankings this morning and Tuck is in the top 10 again:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-gr ... ss-schools

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Digital Strategies Fellow Interviews Time Warner VP

Like other research centers at Tuck, the Center for Digital Strategies offers an MBA Fellowship program for second-year students.  Those interested in business strategy and the impact of information technology in the extended enterprise are asked to submit a letter of interest, a resume, and complete an interview before being selected in this competitive process.  Through this program, selected Tuck MBAs gain: Unique networking opportunities with the center's visitors, including executives visiting a number of technology-related classes A deeper understanding of the impact of digital strategies in business today by working with center faculty An opportunity to pursue areas of particular interest to them On the Center for Digital Strategies blog, Mandakini Saroop writes about her experience as a CDS Fellow.  She specifically highlights her recent opportunity to interview Adam Mayer, VP of Intelligent Home at Time Warner Cable, during the Tech@Tuck conference. Actual video interview included!  Visit the Center's website to meet the 2013-2014 CDS Fellows and for more information about the specific activities they engage in.

Okay everyone... here is my "official" forecast for R2! Good luck!

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: Career Treks - Tuck goes West for Tech

Sandy Chen is a T’15 from San Francisco, CA.  Prior to business school, she spent two of her most glorious years eating her way through the halls of Williams-Sonoma as their Sweet Food Inventory Planner.  She is also a former Industrials investment banker and founder of a career mentorship non-profit.  Sandy is currently working on her start-up at Tuck and looking for opportunities at the intersection of Technology and Retail.   Before coming to Tuck, I had already decided I wanted to pursue a career in Technology.  You’re probably wondering why I did not choose to attend one of the fine institutions on the West Coast.  Tuck was the best fit for me.  After attending the WIB conference, interacting with current students and sitting in on classes, I had the gut feeling that Tuck is where I belong.  I prioritized fit over location and reasoned that I would figure out a way to pursue my target career. In the fall, we first years in the Tech Club worked with the CDO to coordinate a Tech Trek to the West Coast to visit companies of our choosing.  Fifty-six first-years travelled across the country together during Winter Break to visit fourteen companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.  While it felt like a huge feat, we managed to pull it together and all made it to the West Coast in one piece.  On Wednesday, a few folks arrived to the Bay Area early to either visit Tesla in Palo Alto or attend an informational session with alums at Shutterfly in Redwood City.  I attended the Shutterfly visit, where we had an intimate discussion with alums and recruiters about the company culture and future of the business.  Afterward, Jesse Lampert’s (T’15) parents (Russ (T’87) and Christine Lampert) graciously hosted a Tuck dinner at their home.  Thursday was a big day.  Most of us were in hotels in San Francisco, providing us the great opportunity of experiencing California rush hour traffic first hand.  With commutes in mind, we started our day early as we slowly migrated south to visit LinkedIn, Groupon, Google, Facebook, and Electronic Arts.  After our visits, what better way to end an exciting, jam-packed day of meeting alums and networking than with a Tucktails in San Francisco?  There we met up with even more alums who were excited to attract more Tuckies to the Bay Area.   How many T15s can you fit in an elevator?  En route to SF Tucktails!   Friday went at a much more leisurely pace, with visits to Intel, Pocket Gems, IDEO, and eBay.  This was the last day of the Bay Area portion of the trek.  While I stayed behind in San Francisco, others moved on to Seattle to visit Microsoft and Amazon, with a Tucktails hosted by Amazon.   Michael Fedor (TP15) of Pocket Gems talks about the dynamics of the mobile gaming industry   Our whirlwind excursion to the West Coast gave us the incredible opportunity to visit a wide range of tech companies, immersing ourselves in their company cultures and establishing new relationships.  By the time some of these companies came on campus to recruit, we all recognized one more familiar face in the crowd, reducing some of the stress of the internship search.   Aside from being able to experience so many tech companies in such a short period of time, my favorite part of the trek was bonding with my fellow T'15s.  On Friday night we let loose a little and met up at my favorite bar in San Francisco, telling each other stories about our travels to the different companies and having our own mini Tucktails.  And on Saturday, we were able to go on a tour of Lagunitas Brewing Company, where we were invited to the employee loft to hang out with alums of the company as they regaled us with tales of the brewery.   Hanging out in the Lagunitas loft with Leon Sharyon (T90)   The Tech Trek showed me that no matter where we end up, Tuck provides an unbreakable bond that brings us together.  I was overwhelmed by the support of the West Coast Tuckies in helping us plan this trek.  Without them, we never would have been able to pull off such an endeavor.  It is a comfort to know that despite our distance, the Tuck contingency is strong and supportive. While tech recruiting for summer internships is still in process today, the Tech Trek gave me hope that even though I am not in the hub of my target industry, I will be able to pursue the career of my dreams through the strength of our Tuck network.

If anyone is applying for the April round and still needs to interview, I created a Tuck Interview Question Guide. I have all of the most common Tuck interview questions and the probability that you will be asked that question. Good luck everyone. I can't wait till next Friday to see if I got in.

The adcom might start calling admits early next week. They will finish them all by Friday.

Does anyone know if admits will also be told about scholarships on the phone?

Yup they will tell you on the phone during the admit call and subsequently in your paper copy admit letter. Note that there is no mention of it online.