Perplexed

I agree that I should engage a professional consultant this time around. I will definitely do so this year. THAT IS A VERY SMART STRATEGY -- THE ACTUAL COST OF A CONSULTANT IS ONLY ABOUT 2% OF YOUR OVERALL BUSINESS SCHOOLS COSTS SO IT IS A RELATIVELY MINOR INVESTMENT TO MAKE.

However, before doing that I would like to understand the exact reasons for my failure last year. Please let me know if you can help me with that (and how). WITHOUT STUDYING YOUR APPLICATION, I WOULD SAY THAT THE REASONS FOR YOUR LACK OF SUCCESS WAS DUE TO YOUR INABILITY TO DISTINGUISH YOURSELF IN A COMPETITIVE DEMOGRAPHIC AT COMPETITIVE SCHOOLS, SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION THAT WAS NOT AS COMPELLING AND PROFESSIONAL AS YOUR COMPETITION, AND MAYBE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT DID NOT TRULY SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDACY FULLY. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG WITHOUT STUDYING YOUR ENTIRE APPLICATION IS DIFFICULT, BUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH RE-APPLICANTS WITH SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS, THESE TEND TO BE THE REASONS I SEE MOST OFTEN.

As a follow-up to your comment pertaining to the school selection for this year, can you please indicate which of the schools mentioned by me are more competitive than the ones that I applied to last year? ALL OF THE NEW SCHOOLS ON YOUR LIST ARE VERY COMPETITIVE AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BOOTH, THESE SCHOOLS TEND TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN THE ONES YOU APPLIED TO LAST YEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL NOT GET IN THOUGH -- JUST MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE A RADICALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH. I MIGHT ALSO RECOMMEND A FEW OTHER SCHOOLS TO YOUR LIST.

Also, it would be great if you could highlight the reasons why you believe that I would not be competitive enough at these schools (say Kellogg or Haas). Which programs do you think I have a very good chance of getting through? I WOULD HAVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU AS A PERSON AND AS A CANDIDATE TO DO THIS. JUST REALIZE THAT YOU ARE COMPETING AGAINST VERY ACCOMPLISHED AND VERY MOTIVATED PEOPLE, ALL OF WHOM ARE INTELLIGENT, DEDICATED AND UNIQUE - NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY ARE ALL WILLING TO INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE BY RETURNING TO SCHOOL. GIVEN THE COST AND TIME INVESTMENT OF AN MBA DEGREE, EVERY CANDIDATE TAKES THEIR APPLICATION PROCESS SERIOUSLY AND DEDICATES THE TIME, EFFORT, ENERGY AND RESOURCES TO SUBMIT THE BEST APPLICATION THEY CAN. AS FOR WHICH SCHOOLS ARE MOST OPEN TO CANDIDATES LIKE YOU WOULD BE UCLA, YALE AND INSEAD.

Finally, do you think aligning myself to Consulting (for short-term goal) would be more prudent given that my work-ex would be more relevant in that domain? I WOULD ONCE AGAIN HAVE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR GOALS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A PERSONALIZED CAREER VISION. CONSULTING HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR SO GOING INTO GENERAL STRATEGY CONSULTING PLACES YOU YET INTO ANOTHER DEMOGRAPHIC WHICH IS COMPETITIVE AND OVER-REPRESENTED. I RECOMMEND THINKING OF A NICE IN THIS INDUSTRY TO FOCUS ON. HOWEVER, DEVELOPING A COMPELLING CAREER STORY IS THE SINGLE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF WRITING ESSAYS.

I HOPE THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS.

KIMBERLY PLAGA