Tuck (Dartmouth): Class of 2017 - Calling All Applicants!

Hey guys, any idea about Tuck's pattern of sending invites. 4-5 people from India have updated their status today. Does it mean that all the applications from India have already been reviewed and no more invites will be sent?

It has been only India so far?

The Indian applicants who reported interview invitations today (including myself) received a mail from the head of the Tuck alumni community in India. This seems to be a geography specific phase of interviews, hope you get yours soon!

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: “What if…?” How to Address Application Weaknesses

Sometimes we just don’t have all of the credentials, the experience, or the skills we need to ensure we will get to where we want to be. There are times when these challenges can be overcome with hard work, dedicated focus on improving our prospects, and just a little creative thinking.  The MBA application is no different.  There are several situations that can leave a candidate feeling less than confidant about gaining admission to their dream school.  First, to ease your fears: there are some fairly common stumbling blocks on the road to an MBA--and they can often be overcome, or at least minimized. Here’s the key: rather than resolve yourself to months of worry and regret over things you can’t change, there are many ways to actively turn a less than ideal situation into a more positive one.  It’s also important to keep in mind that the application process really is holistic. We know that you’re way more than just one particular data point. If we missed something or if you have follow-up questions, join us for our upcoming chat on Beat the GMAT!  Wednesday, November 12, 12-1pm ET What if my undergraduate GPA is low? First, a reminder that the Admissions Committee reviews applicants with a very holistic approach.  While important, an undergraduate GPA that is below the average for any given school by itself won’t typically prevent admission.  Also note that while your GPA may be below a school’s average, it could be within its range.  That being said, a low GPA is still a weakness in your application, and that should be addressed.  If possible, start by acknowledging this in the optional essay and providing an explanation (not an excuse!).  Finally, prove to us that you’re capable of handling an extremely rigorous, and quant heavy, curriculum.  You can do this by scoring well on the GMAT (or GRE), taking additional, supplemental classes beyond your undergraduate degree and submitting well-written essays.  It’s also important to clearly show us areas you do excel in; leadership, global experiences, community involvement, etc. What if my GMAT score isn’t where I want it to be? First thing to keep in mind--a school’s average GMAT is just that, an average.  One big advantage to this challenge versus a low GPA is that you can choose to retake the GMAT, without consequence.  After giving it your best effort, if you feel like there’s no amount of additional preparation that will improve your score, you’re still not out of the game.  Again, you’ll need to prove you can handle a rigorous quantitative curriculum; high undergraduate GPA, supplemental courses with good scores (we often suggest financial accounting, statistics and microeconomics), etc.  Finally, highlight areas of your background that shine. What if I come from a non-traditional professional background? Great!  Tuck values unique experiences and individuals – many students decide to go to business school with the intention of switching careers and/or industries, so you won’t be alone.  Show us through your essays and interview how that unconventional experience will actually bring a different and positive perspective to your classmates.  Also, while you may not have been crunching numbers, there’s a good chance you’ve been honing skills that will help you succeed in business; leadership traits, interpersonal skills, communication expertise, etc.  Be sure to tell us the reality of the situation, not just what you think we want to hear.  Is your previous work experience based on a passion of yours?  Wonderful!  Let us know.  Additionally, take some time to reflect on some important questions – for you and for us.  What are your long-term goals?  How will an MBA help you achieve them?  Why now?  Why Tuck?  Once you answered these, if your path still leads you to Tuck, your sincerity and passion will be evident. Looking for more? Join Tuck Admissions next week on Beat the GMAT for live Q&A: Wednesday, November 12, 12-1pm ET What if I have very little global experience? Like everything else, global experience is an important factor in your application, but certainly not the only one.  You may have more global experience than you think.  Have you worked or lived outside your home country?  Have you visited for an extended period of time?  Have you worked with global clients within your home country?  Do you know a second language?  Or, maybe this is the perfect time to jump on that international opportunity you’ve been postponing. What if I haven’t had substantial leadership experience? Like a lack of global experience, you may have more leadership experience than you think.  Consider times you led without a formal title.  Do you take the reins when it comes to projects with your colleagues?  Was there a committee or sub-committee that you steered in undergrad or for a non-profit or athletic endeavor?  Likewise, it could be a great time to volunteer for leadership roles in the workplace, or perhaps volunteer for this responsibility in a community activity you’re involved in.     What if I’ve switched a couple of jobs in a short period of time? This definitely happens and for a variety of different reasons.  The most important thing here is to explain the situation.  The less information you give us, the more we have to guess and though we’d love to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, this method may not be to our advantage, or yours.  The optional essay is a great place to address job switching and employment gaps.  What if I can’t ask my current supervisor for a recommendation? This is a fairly common dilemma. While it’s certainly helpful to have the insight of a direct supervisor, not having one isn’t a deal breaker. Consider reaching out to the person you reported to prior to your current boss. Other options may be current clients, a colleague who led a team for a project you worked on or the director of your department or team. The key thing to remember is when selecting recommenders, focus on people who can really speak to your strengths (and weaknesses) in key areas such as leadership, teamwork, and aptitude. Steer clear of asking former professors, family members or your little league coach.   Tuck Admissions will be hosting live Q&A on Beat the GMAT, Wednesday, November 12 from 12-1pm ET.     We also host several chats on our website, featuring both staff and current students. See you soon!

I would agree that it is geography based. Since there tend to be a lot of Indian applicants and Tuck tends to interview most of the applicants, hence they might have started early to cover a seemingly large pool. Availability of interviewers is usually an issue, but since the interviewer from Bangalore is head of Indian Alumni chapter, he must have given a higher priority to this task and given earlier slots. Just a few bits of speculations.
To those Indians who haven't received calls yet, do not read in to this and do not panic. It's a long process, but if you don't get the invite until 1st week of Dec, then may be you would want to work on R2 apps.

I agree with neo656 I am sure there are a lot of Indian applicants he will interview and probably that is why he is starting early. Anyone here who has an invite in Mumbai/Delhi/other cities?

Suds, the Tuck Asia ambassador, is the one who interviews. I met him during an event in Mumbai. If you haven't met him yet, he is a very nice guy. Great to talk to and was always available to answer questions when I was applying for EA.

If you guys need any last minute tips/suggestions for the interview, feel free to send a PM. I interviewed on campus, so I am going to sit and wait till 18th December.

I am not sure they release these numbers. However, a large number of applicant initiate interviews. I remember Kristin Roth from the Ad Com telling me in Hanover that they interviewed close to 1800 people last year. For an applicant pool of close to 2500, that is huge! I am sure people get admitted from both Self Initiated and Invited interviews, I don't think they show bias there. But they do "appreciate" an applicant taking out time and visiting.

had received new delhi invite yesterday.

Hi.. I also got an invite to interview last evening in Mumbai. (I have no idea why the location on my profile says US)

The email said 'Congratulations! Your Early Action round application has been reviewed and the Tuck Admissions Committee has shortlisted you as a candidate it would like to interview.' So not sure if they are interviewing everyone or reading applications and interviewing select applicant.

People who haven't heard from them as yet..don't lose hope yet! This should help you sleep at night for the next month . Got this email this morning. Not sure how many of you have got it.

'Dear Applicant to the Tuck EA round,

Sending you my very best wishes as you, no doubt, are on the tenterhooks waiting for that interview call. Interview invitations are sent out as and when the applications are read, and so could extend all the way up to the result publishing deadline for that round.

As easy as it is for me to say "just relax," I can understand the rising level of anticipation, frustration, impatience, expectation, all rolled into one. But really, take a deep breath and relax!

Those of you who have got the interview invitations thus far and are heaving a sigh of relief, I look forward to meeting with you soon enough.

Dear Applicant to the November round,

Today also happens to be the deadline for the Round 1 (November round) for Tuck. For all the November round applicants, my very best wishes as you cross the t's and dot the i's and go over all the essays one last time before you hit the submit button. You've done everything you can, to position yourself in the best light possible. You literally have put your best foot forward. Just wrap it all up and as I said above, "just relax!"

You will hear from the Admissions Committee in due course.'

Hope this helps!

PM me for any other info. Wish me luck for next week!!!

Dang! That looks like a 3 in 1 email!

Congrats! When had you submitted the application?

And thanks for the other emails. No news is good news then.

Who sent the emails? The Indian alumnus or Tuck?

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Thank you! Submitted on 8th Oct. Mails were sent by the Indian Alumnus.

Has anyone else received both the emails?

In for November Round. Just submitted my application today morning, after getting done with a self initiated interview and visit on the 3rd.

It's going to be a long winter! Good luck everyone!

FROM Tuck Admissions Blog: A Voice Rocking in the Wilderness

By Pete D’09, T’16 A second-year student at Tuck, Pete is co-founder of Decade Records and drummer for Filligar, a touring American rock band. He has served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department and is a voting member of The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Pete holds a master’s degree from Oxford University and a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. Just 24 hours after clicking “submit” on my application to Tuck last January, I was on a plane to Kuwait City. My rock band was headed to the Middle East for performances—the latest adventure in our globetrotting as U.S. arts ambassadors. With time to kill and the application behind me, I started to think ahead. A couple of weeks performing in Kuwait, a U.S. tour, and a new album to finish—my immediate future was action packed. But what about the application? What if I got in? Launching a record label has taught me enough about business to know this: I couldn’t pass up the sacred opportunity of an MBA education at Tuck. And then a few months later, while recording in my band’s studio in Venice Beach, I got a call from Tuck’s admissions office with the good news. I was elated. I was also a little concerned. I had spent the last few years in big cities naturally connected to the business world. Would I become disconnected from that world upon entering the deep woods of New Hampshire? Dartmouth’s motto seemed to say so—Vox clamantis in deserto, or “voice crying in the wilderness.” It’s now November and I’ve been at Tuck for a little over a month. No doubt, we’re in the wilderness here. But it’s everything but isolated. In fact, I’d modify the Dartmouth motto. Replace “crying” with a word like “resounding” or “thumping.” Tuck is a voice amplified through 400,000 megawatt stadium speakers, resonating well beyond the Upper Valley—not to some slow song—but something with electrified, pulsating soul. Think Daft Punk. Kings of Leon. Adele. HOVA. I’ve never felt more optimistic about my business aspirations. My dorm, Whittemore Hall, rivals a Fortune 500 office space with state of the art business facilities. My own room feels like a managing partner’s office. Just yesterday I conferenced my partners in New York and Los Angeles about upcoming projects. One of Tuck’s esteemed professors Sydney Finkelstein—who this term taught my AGM (“Analysis for General Managers”) course—recently offered strategic insights into how to guide my business ventures. My managerial economics professor Teresa Fort even sat down with me for an hour to talk about pricing strategies on iTunes. At Tuck, these professors shaping the global business discourse become partners in your own journey. I’ve been fortunate to visit every American city—from Austin to Albuquerque, Savannah to Fargo. I can relate to a business fear of the wilderness. In my industry of interest, being in the heart of action is essential. But Tuck really is at the center of it all. I view Hanover as the world’s smallest, worldly city. CEOs, politicians, cultural icons, and entrepreneurs find their way up to Dartmouth and are suddenly no longer swarmed by the public. You have access that is otherwise impossible in a metropolis. Every day I receive an invitation to join a CEO at an intimate dinner, or find out that another of the world’s most desirable companies wants to talk with me over coffee. Later this month, I’m going to see world renowned jazzman Wynton Marsalis at Spaulding auditorium for a subsidized $10 (I couldn’t even get a box of popcorn at Lincoln Center for that price). My real business here is learning. And for that, I couldn’t imagine a better landscape to focus and fortify my business mind than here at Tuck.

In for the November round! And the long wait to February begins... now!

In for November and visiting Tuck for interview next week. Nervous....gahhh

Invited to interview!

+1 for November round. I think this wait is going to be the hardest...

Interview invite received!

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