Advice for Class of 2013 Applicants

It is the year that you would graduate - so you would be class of 2013.

I probably have some things to share with you guys - when I get some time this weekend, I will start a thread with learnings from this year's applicants.

Thanks highhopes! Look forward to reading your topic with learnings from this year's applicants!

Highhopes: Congrats on your Ross admit!

I look forward to reading your learnings. As I have not heard back from the schools I've applied to, despite submitting early, I think I'll definitely apply as a re-applicant for Class of 2013.

I request you to focus a bit more on the differences between your last years essays/goals/Recos and the current years essays/goals/Recos. What do you think were those 'things' that did not work last time but worked this time?

Thanks,

Unplugged

Thanks! I got started already on a spreadsheet. It is really helping me put things in perspective.

I echo most of what was said here...

I would also say that one thing that really helped me was visiting campuses.
Schools that I fell in love with on paper quickly fell off my list after I visited.

It's a couple of years of your life, make sure you're going to a place that will make you happy (in an environment that you will thrive in).

Get out to the schools. Take a couple of days (use one to check the place out on your own along with the surrounding area and use the other for an official tour) and get a sense of whether or not you are a fit. [ and use that as part of your essays ]

Lots of great info on this thread. I have it bookmarked and I actually printed out Sternys guide! I've also started working on a spreadsheet. I plan on getting some visits in this spring.. Does anyone think that's way too early to visit since we won't be filling apps out till the fall?

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Hey all,

I'm another Class of 2013 applicant. Finished taking the GMAT yesterday, Jan 23, and scored a (mildly disappointing ) 710 - Q50 V37. But, time to put that behind me and focus on the other 80% of my application, I guess.

Is anybody on this thread in the greater Boston area?

Hey all, I'm also planning on applying this fall. I'm taking the GMAT in about 3 weeks. What schools is everyone interested in?

Hey perseverance,

Good luck on your GMAT. I'm applying to several Top 20 schools.

Very good point, and something I wish I had followed to a greater extent. I had three decent post-college extracurriculars to discuss on my apps, but nothing really that stellar. I'm kind of hoping that as an investment banker they'll say, "hey this kid works a ton so we'll give him a pass since he was so involved as an undergrad," but that may be wishful thinking.

The other advice I would give would be to get your gmat out of the way before the year in which you are applying. I didn't start to prep for the gmat until last september and took it in november. It worked out well, but was such a huge energy drain at a time i should be focused on my applications and precluded me from applying round 1. So if possible, be done with that by next fall.

My second piece of advice would be to start attending the events and visiting schools as soon as possible. If you have the chance to attend multiple events for your favorite schools in your home city, you'll be able network so much deeper, meet more people, talk with admissions people more, and you'll get so much more out of it. I attended the events for more schools when they came through town and visited each campus, but again, it was while i was doing my gmat prep and my applications and so was a huge burden, and at each event i felt like i should have been attending them for years. Agree with whoever said the school you like the most on paper may not be your favorite when you visit...

Anyway, good luck to all of you!

1) Prescription for Xanax, stat. Also, if you don't have an internet plan on your phone and your personal email is blocked at work-make sure to get one before the bill gives you a heart attack. Because you will be sneaking away to obsessively check that all day long.

2) Remember if you stress eat your way through GMATs + Apps + Interviews you will then find discover that you have to lose that weight once you no longer have a good excuse to stuff whatever you want in your maw ("empty calories help me think faster"). Ergo, munching your way through a causeway of Krispy Kremes to the moon is a baaad idea.

3) Plan a kidney "donation" if you plan to attend Columbia or NYU. I hear there's a nice rabbi in Brooklyn that expedites such charitable donations.

In all seriousness, attend the receptions and if possible, visit the schools. Most of them have slick websites and flashy receptions (exception this year in L.A. was Wharton). You may feel completely different after you hang out there for a whole day. Case in point for me was NYU.

Thanks for sharing your tips. Good luck.

Wiredo - not greater boston, but close by in connecticut

There's so much good stuff on this thread! I'm getting excited about the process.

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Guys, I would very much appreciate if somebody gave me broader explanation as to how the things in the quote should be done:
Order transcripts now (no point in waiting) - how is it done? Should I turn to a company dealing with this kind of activities? Should it be both printed on paper and transfered to an excel file? Should I transfer data by myself?...
Order nice resume paper and a folio if you dont have one (again no point in waiting) - Why do I need resume paper or folio if application process is carried out online? Maybe in case of being invinted to an interview?

Thanks a lot!

i never bothered with a nice folio or posh paper for my resume (which is not required before interview). I rocked up with a basic print out folded in my pocket. Got in but do not recommend this!

However I did order ten copies of both of my academic transcripts from the institutions via their websites and it was very handy to have them on hand. Many schools accept scanned copies during the application. Some will require the transcripts to be posted.

Unfortunately some evil schools require you to type the data into excel. All of these use the same template though so go to any one (Harvard, Wharton, Chicago etc) and register to apply so you can download the template and fill it in. Then you can copy and paste in ten seconds for your other apps when the time comes.

If you're international, don't worry about getting your 4.0 GPA conversion, most schools prefer your original grades. You may need to look into translation requirements though if the transcripts are not in English.

Hi britguy! Thanks for stopping by. You're right I am international.

So, as far as I got your comments, I simply need to order transcripts from my university, disregarding whatever blank's format they use. Right? What if I've got transcripts as a supplement to my diploma, do I still need to order them? How do b-schools want my diploma to be submitted? In a form of scanned copy?

Thanks for your advice with transcripts template, I'll definetely heed it.

Regarding translation requirements... are you talking about subjects name translation? If so, can I find information on the matter on b-schools websites? Will I need translating agency service or it's satisfactory to conduct translating on my own? However, I'm leaning towards a compulsory need for engaging a translating agency.

And one more thing... rhyme said "Buy a calendar or print one out online". Why kind of calendar was he talking about?

Appreciate!

Hello:

Given all the wait and anxiety for Class of 2012, the timing of this post may not be right, but does anybody know when application for Class of 2013 gets launched? If so, how do you find out? (Some schools have "blogs" but some seem to give me a run-around). I wanna start on essays, and while I am pretty sure that the topics won't change dramatically, I don't wanna spend God-knows-how-many-hours and see it getting shift+del.

Also, just out of curiosity, has anyone who got accepted to Columbia ED "violated" their honor code and enrolled at other MBA? Is there any serious consequence?