Last visit was: 27 Jul 2024, 02:07 It is currently 27 Jul 2024, 02:07
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
Unanswered
Active Topics
New posts
New comers' posts
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

Accepted MBA Updates

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
   1  ...  60   61   62   63   64  ...  123   
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Wharton 2018 Class Profile [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   27 Jul 2017, 10:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Wharton 2018 Class Profile



Let’s take a look at who makes up Wharton’s class of 2018…

• Applications received: 6,679

• Students enrolled: 851

• Women: 44%

• US students of color: 32%

• Countries represented: 71

• International students: 32%

• Average GMAT score: 730

• Average work experience: 5 years

Pre-MBA Industries:



Do you want to be counted among Wharton’s next crop of students? Come to our webinar, Get Accepted to Wharton Business School, to learn the steps you need to take to discover your competitive advantage and GET ACCEPTED!





Related Resources:

• Wharton’s Commitment Project – a Window into Wharton, a podcast episode

• Wharton MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines

• An Inside Look at Wharton’s MBA at the 2017 AIGAC Conference

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post Wharton 2018 Class Profile appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
The Miraculous 15-Minute ROUGH, ROUGH Draft [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   28 Jul 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: The Miraculous 15-Minute ROUGH, ROUGH Draft



Having trouble getting those first few words and sentences of your application essay up on your computer screen? Don’t fret – even the most accomplished novelists or famous journalists have a tough time getting started. Tempted to get up and do something – anything! – else rather than stare at that blank screen for another second?

One piece of advice: DON’T.

STAY WHERE YOU ARE.

AND SET A TIMER FOR 15 MINUTES.

AND MOST IMPORTANT…

WRITE, WRITE, AND WRITE SOME MORE UNTIL THAT TIMER GOES OFF.

When you start to write a few words on the page – even words like “I don’t know what to say” – something miraculous happens. Suddenly, there are WORDS on the page, not just blank space. And these words will inspire you to continue writing. Here’s why:

This is Your Warm-Up

Think of this 15–minute exercise as a warm-up. It’s not a marathon, but it’s a quick jog that will remind your body that it DOES INDEED know how to run. Maybe all you’ve done is written about how you have nothing to write, but the actual act of writing will trigger your writer’s reflex and motivate you to keep up the momentum and write something more and – hopefully – something of substance.

Words Beget Words

Your babbling string of “I’m writing but I really don’t have anything to say” will likely transform into, “well, maybe I have a thing or two worth mentioning.” You’ll see.

Turn Off Your Devices

I guarantee that all of this advice will work with one big BUT: You must turn off your devices. 15 minutes of writing isn’t a real 15 minutes if halfway through you check Instagram and send a Snap. It just won’t work. So hard as it is to do…just turn off your phone and resist the temptation to open a new tab.

Reward Yourself

You’re more likely to make it through your 15–minute writing workout if you know you’ve got a reward waiting for you. Whether it’s a social media break, a coffee with a friend, or an ice cream sundae – just knowing that it’s there and waiting will help motivate you to keep on going.

Get Ready, Get Set…Go!

It’s time to start! UNPLUG and set an alarm for 15 minutes. Then ask yourself: What do I care about? What do I enjoy doing? What’s important to me? And write. Your only commitment is to keep going until you hear that beep. When the timer goes off, STOP. Hit “Save.” And then go get yourself a double scoop of sweet, cold, decadent ice cream.

Need help getting started? Talk to our experts – we’re here to answer your questions, motivate you, and help you get accepted!





Related Resources:

• The Biggest Application Essay Mistake, a short video

• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Application, a free guide

• First Drafts of Personal Statements: Let Yourself Go

Tags: Admissions Consulting, College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Medical School Admissions

The post The Miraculous 15-Minute ROUGH, ROUGH Draft appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
What’s New in Stanford MBA and MSX Admissions? Reporting From the 2017 [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   28 Jul 2017, 10:00
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: What’s New in Stanford MBA and MSX Admissions? Reporting From the 2017 AIGAC Conference



The Stanford MBA program has a new admissions director – Kirsten Moss – and, everything being personal in this program, she is already leaving a fresh stamp on admissions approaches. During our AIGAC (Association of International Graduate Application Consultants) annual conference a couple of weeks ago in CA, she generously shared her ideas, plans, and passion for the new role and what it means for our clients who want to apply to Stanford. Fresh from completing a PhD in psychology, Kirsten expressed excitement about implementing in Stanford admissions what she learned through her research into leadership.

Stanford will likely remain as daunting an admit as it was under Derrick Bolton, but I believe Kirsten will bring a unique slant to shaping the class. Here are my notes and insights from our group’s conversation with her:

• The adcom will look for a record of demonstrated impact as evidence that the applicant will grow into a leader of impact.

• Kirsten believes that there is an impression “out there” that Stanford admits or seeks only graduates from top-ranked colleges/universities. She wants to dispel that impression and cites two examples from some years back of students admitted who’d attended state colleagues of no exciting pedigree. What they DID have was outstanding academic records AND exceptional impact on their school communities. She intends to continue this approach of focusing on outstanding and distinctive performance over pedigree.

• Through the application, she is looking to discover what applicants love to learn and how they’ve demonstrated it; how they have behaved, e.g. when/how/where have they taken initiative to go above and beyond, how have the led in conflict; where their energy comes from and what motivates them. In the “what matter most” essay, she hopes to understand what is the link between “what matters” and the applicant’s actual behavior.

• Also, she’s seeking evidence of persistence – that the applicant has taken initiative and fought really hard for something important to him/her. Similarly, she’s looking for people who are doing things today – not only projecting about meaningful things in the future.

• Stanford is known for its stratospheric GMAT scores, and if I were a betting person, I would bet that under Kirsten’s direction, the adcom will weight a hyperventilation-causing GMAT slightly less, and track record of powerful, constructive impact even more. I don’t think it will make Stanford an easier admit by any means – just slightly differently weighted amazingness.

Mike Hochleutner, Director of the Stanford MSx program, also kindly gave us some time. He mentioned that, this year again, applicants will have the opportunity to apply to both the MBA and MSx programs in one application. While the MBA targets people with outstanding leadership potential, the MSx program targets people with “demonstrated leadership accomplishment” who present “clarity of purpose.” He notes that, while MSX students can have access to MBA recruiting, most recruiters are looking for a different age and experience cohort.

He made the interesting point that the MSx Diversity Fellowships are looking to reach more people in both Africa and – yes – the midwestern states of the US! Both are under-represented regions for the program.

It is tempting to write on about all the mouthwatering resources the MSx students enjoy during their year at Stanford, but there is no need to repeat the website. I’ll just say: if you are interested in the program and you are a qualified applicant, DO give your application your all. Everyone I’ve worked with who has been admitted to this program has done just that.




Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
 

Related Resources:

• Stanford GSB MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines

• Stanford MBA Class of 2018 Profile

• An Inside Look at Wharton’s MBA at the 2017 AIGAC Conference

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post What’s New in Stanford MBA and MSX Admissions? Reporting From the 2017 AIGAC Conference appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
4 Tips for Applying to B-School With Finance Experience [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   30 Jul 2017, 10:00
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: 4 Tips for Applying to B-School With Finance Experience



It’s your job to demonstrate to the adcom that you stand out from the applicant pool and are exactly the person they want in their next MBA class. In this series, you’ll learn how to dig deep to unearth your unique character traits, experiences, skills, and talents and bring them to the forefront of your application, so that when the adcom pick up your file, they’re hooked from the very first moment.

As members of one of the largest sub-groups in the MBA applicant pool, candidates with finance/investment banking/private equity/venture capital backgrounds are really going to need to step up their game! You’ve got competitive stats and a strong resume…but is that enough to make you stand out from the other highly impressive candidates? How can you demonstrate to the adcom that you’re more than just a quant buff in a nice suit?

How can you really make your application stand out?

1. Showcase your non-quant strengths.

We all know that you’re a super-strength number-cruncher, but so are the other finance applicants (not to mention the programmers and the engineers). Highlight your verbal abilities and your communication skills by talking about your experience at Toastmasters or on your college debate team, and of course, by writing a slam-dunk application essay.

2. Discuss your non-professional talents and achievements.

Your resume is impressive, but once again, you won’t be the only one with work experience worth bragging about. What else are you good at or passionate about? What do you care about most that is unique to you, that won’t clump you together with the others in your sub-group? Maybe you’re a skilled weaver or a member of your local hospital’s clown troupe. Maybe you’ve spent three summers as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Maybe you started a local lacrosse league and manage your own team. These are the things that will make the adcom pause and think, “This is someone I’d like to get to know!”

3. Delve into the WHY of your career goals.

Your resume should nicely detail your work experience, but it will say nothing about how you envision your future. This is where your essays step in. Will you continue to pursue a future in finance? If so, why? What is it about private equity that intrigues you, excites you? Do you plan on shifting or changing your career path? How has your past investing experience motivated you to make this change? What does this change say about you? The adcom readers seek thoughtful individuals who have internalized the past and pondered the future. Share your insights to help you stand out in this way.

4. Use your voice.

I know that just because you work in a popular industry, it doesn’t mean that you have nothing unique to share. You know this too. In fact, even the adcom know that every person is unique. But unless you speak (or write) using that unique voice, it’s true that your application will get lost in the shuffle. Don’t use large words if they’re not words you’d generally use. Don’t try and add a joke if you’re not genuinely a natural comedian. Don’t tell stories that you think the adcom want to hear but that aren’t on topics or experiences that you actually care about. Instead, speak naturally and openly, so that your true colors shine.

Read the complete 9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application series for more tips on how to create a compelling application that highlights your unique strengths, character traits, and talents.

For personalized advice tailored just for you, check out our MBA admissions consulting and editing services and work one-on-one with a pro who will help you discover your competitive advantage and use it to get ACCEPTED.





 

Related Resources:

• Why MBA, a free guide to writing about MBA goals

• Extracurricular Activities in Your MBA Admissions Profile

• Stand Out! A Critical Goal for Your Application, a podcast episode

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post 4 Tips for Applying to B-School With Finance Experience appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
All You Need to Know About Recommenders & Recommendations [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   31 Jul 2017, 10:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: All You Need to Know About Recommenders & Recommendations



Some applicants have this idea that if they can just get their company CEO, whom they have never met, to write their business school recommendation, then the admissions committee will cower in awe and immediately accept them. But this is really not the case.

There are two simple rules for choosing recommenders:

a. You should choose people who know your work very well, and b. you should choose people who will write the recommendations themselves (with your guidance).

What makes a recommendation bad?

The typical bad recommendation, the kind written by someone who does not know you well (like a CEO), is full of assertions about what a good person you are but gives no evidence to back up those assertions. It’s a generic write-up full of platitudes that does not help you.

What makes a recommendation good?

A great recommendation, on the other hand, is written by someone who knows your work very well, someone who can go beyond simple assertions to give examples of impressive contributions that provide evidence of your leadership skills and teamwork ability and business acumen. People who know you well can often write great stories of your work that you had completely forgotten or taken for granted. They write about what was important to them, and therefore they give great third-person points of view about your candidacy to the admissions committee, which is exactly what the committee wants.

Who should recommend you?

Typically, this means that your recommender should be a supervisor, a colleague, or a client. Do not choose someone who simply has a big title or happens to be an alumnus of the school, thinking that this will carry weight with the admissions committee, because that person will write something generic that will not help you. Only if this big titleholder or alumnus knows your work very well should you choose them.

Also, try to select a range of recommenders – ones who have seen you in different situations – so that they all don’t end up saying the same things about you or using the same stories. For example, choosing your supervisor and that person’s supervisor is rarely a good strategy, because they’ve seen you work on the same projects from the same point of view. The admissions committee wants views of you from different angles; they do not want the same point of view given two or three times.

Should you write your own recommendations?

Do not write your own recommendation if you can avoid it. Seriously. Put aside the likelihood that the admissions committee will recognize your writing style and discount the recommendation accordingly: the problem is that if you write your own recommendation, you’ll just write things you already know about yourself, or repeat things from your essays, and it’s a recommendation that brings out new things about you that works well.

You do, however, want to guide your recommenders. You want to tell them you’re applying to business school, tell them your goals, remind them of successful projects you’ve worked on together, and suggest to them that they write about your business-related skills rather than your technical-related skills. You can even write an outline or a series of bullet points for them to serve as helpful reminders and save them some time. In these ways, you can influence the recommendation process. But really, they should write the recommendation themselves, in their own style, with their own thoughts. Someone who takes the time to write your recommendation is someone who believes in you and your candidacy; you can draw your own conclusions about someone who does not want to take the time.

You can also suggest that your recommenders check out our Letter of Recommendation Services. They’ll be matched with an advisor who will coach them through the LOR writing process or help them edit and polish their letters.





Related Resources:

• School-Specific MBA Application Essay Tips

• MBA Letters Of Recommendation: Who, When, What, Where & How

• MBA Admissions: Selecting Your Recommenders

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post All You Need to Know About Recommenders & Recommendations appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
What 4 Things Must Your Wharton App Do if You Want to Get Accepted? [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   31 Jul 2017, 10:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: What 4 Things Must Your Wharton App Do if You Want to Get Accepted?



There’s still time to join our webinar, Get Accepted to Wharton, during which you’ll learn the four important elements your application must contain if you want it to shine!

In just one hour, Accepted founder Linda Abraham will guide you through the Wharton application process. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how to approach your application and a step-by-step strategy for successfully navigating the process.



The webinar is free, but you must reserve your space.



Tags: MBA Admissions

The post What 4 Things Must Your Wharton App Do if You Want to Get Accepted? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Flaws Make You Real [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   01 Aug 2017, 14:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Flaws Make You Real



A speaker recently told a story about traveling in Asia where he saw a stunning emerald. Enchanted by the stone’s beauty, he decided to buy it. On the spot.

He returned home and took the emerald to a jeweler for appraisal. The jeweler began to examine the stone through his magnifier, and as he did so, his face went pale.

“What’s the matter?” asked the proud owner of the emerald.

“I can’t find a flaw.” said the jeweler.

“Wonderful!” said the stone’s owner.

“No, it’s not. If it’s flawless, it’s a fake. A phony. It’s not real. Nothing in the natural world is flawless.” replied the jeweler.

“Then find a flaw!!!”

After a few more tense moments the jeweler found a small flaw, and the owner of the stone could again enjoy its beauty without worrying that he had been taken in by a piece of plastic masquerading as a gem.

The adcoms are trying to appraise you through your essays. If they ask you about a flaw, failure, or weaknesses and you fail to provide that proof of authenticity, then you will be a phony and fake in their eyes.

Remember what the jeweler said: “Nothing in the natural world is flawless.” Everything in nature has an imperfection, a flaw. Certainly human beings are wonderful proof of his point. But, the question becomes how do you handle yours? Do you deny they exist? Do you just throw up your hands and say, “That’s me. Take it or leave it.”

If asked, don’t hesitate to reveal a real weakness. Also, try to show how you have strengthened that area, developed other talents to compensate, or grown as you dealt with and minimized your imperfection so that over time it has become much harder to see, perhaps imperceptible.

Get personalized advice that will help you write a “weakness essay” that impresses the acdom! Click here to get started!




By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted and co-author of the definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business SchoolsFrom Example to Exemplary, a free guide to writing winning application essays

• Writing About Overcoming Obstacles in Your Application Essays, a short video

• Resilience in the Face of Failure

Tags: Admissions Consulting, College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Medical School Admissions

The post Flaws Make You Real appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Columbia Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   02 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Columbia Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines



These essay questions focus mostly on the present and future, by no accident – so don’t reflexively portray your professional development as a prelude to your goals. Be guided by the Columbia adcom’s focus and give them what they ask for: a vivid engagement with your professional future that encompasses both “dream” (vision) and practical focus, as well as a willingness to share aspects of your life and character beyond work. Considering the lack of opportunity to discuss past professional achievements and experience, your resume carries all the more weight in the Columbia EMBA application – attend to it accordingly.

Short-Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Examples of possible responses: 
“Work in business development for a media company.” 
“Join a strategy consulting firm.”
 “Launch a data-management start-up.”

As their examples show, a factual phrase or bullet will suffice; don’t worry about responding with a whole sentence. Do include function and industry.

Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals going over the next 3-5 years, and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)

You may start by mentioning your current career situation to set the context, and how the MBA education will enable you to achieve important immediate goals. You can then naturally move on to your short-term, or 3-5 year, goals. Give solid detail about the role(s) you plan during these years: position, company, scope of accountability, what you want to accomplish, and how you hope to grow (or, to put it another way, why you want to pursue this path).

Your longer-term “dream job” needs less detail, and should of course reflect some reasonable trajectory from the earlier role. Yet the wording of “dream job” instead of “long-term goal” plus “in your imagination” provides an invitation (even encouragement) to be open, to “go for it.” Put some heart and risk into this future vision and think beyond just practical considerations. If it’s a dream job, it should be ambitious in a way that is meaningful and enticing to you. Make the reader feel your excitement.

There is no request to explain “why Columbia” in the question, but it would be fine to add a sentence or two about what is truly compelling to you about the program, if you have something thoughtful and insightful to say in this regard. And only if.

Essay 2: Columbia Business School’s Executive MBA will challenge you by offering a rigorous academic experience, global exposure through the international seminar, and the opportunity to immediately apply what you learn to your career. How will you approach balancing the demands of the program with your professional and personal life while you are in school? (250 words)

Discuss the accommodations you will make at work, such as delegating more, adjusting travel schedules, etc. Focus on the most significant two or three adjustments.

Also address your personal responsibilities and how you will meet them with this additional demand on your time and energy; include 1-2 specific changes (probably, sacrifices), e.g. acknowledging that you’ll have less time at the playground with your toddler or mentioning the support of your significant other.

If you’ve already successfully balanced school and working full time, mention it. Nothing is better than actual evidence that you can do this.

Essay 3: Please select and answer one of the following essay questions: (250 words)

a. Please tell us what you feel most passionate about in life.

b. If you were given a free day and could spend it anywhere, in any way you choose, what would you do?

The adcom wants to get to know you beyond your resume and transcripts. This essay, if done well, gives them a little peek into what “makes you tick.” Both questions are equally good to answer, so go with the one that you feel most engaged by.

Whichever you choose, use anecdote and example to make your points, not explanation. Option A may seem more amenable to this approach, but option B can also use it, e.g. whatever your choice of how to use your free day, there is a reason for that choice, and the reason can be grounded in experience.

Pitfall for option A: discussing a passion that overlaps too much with your “dream job” in essay 1. Pitfall for option B: making the whole essay about the future imagined day, without any grounding in experience.

Last but not least: your chosen topic should show some essential part of you that is not readily apparent elsewhere in the application.

Optional Essay: An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.

This question invites you to present new material that will enhance your application, as well as explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., gap in employment, choice of recommender if not using a direct supervisor, etc.). As far as non-necessary points, since you are making the adcom read more than is required, there should be a clear value to the information you’re sharing. Finally, keep it short.

If you would like professional guidance with your Columbia Business School EMBA application, please consider Accepted’s EMBA essay editing and EMBA admissions consulting or our EMBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the CBS EMBA application.

Deadlines:



***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***




Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
 

Related Resources:

• The MBA Menu at Columbia Business School [Episode 171]

• The Applicants That Stand Out At Columbia Business School

• 3 Tips for Writing a Winning EMBA Essay

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post Columbia Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   02 Aug 2017, 10:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Cornell SC Johnson College of Business MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines



If you are looking for a small MBA class in an idyllic location with warm and genuine classmates, then Cornell Johnson may be your program. While Johnson places the largest portion of its class in the financial industry after graduation (32% of the class), 25% enter the consulting industry, 12% join the technology industry, and 6% go into consumer products, which is a diversity of industries that reflects the strong quant, analytical, and marketing curricula of the school. Cornell’s class of around 300 students is known to be close knit and collaborative. Most first-year students choose to spend their second semester in an Immersion Experience, a unique combination of course and field work that positions them to thrive in their summer internships.

The school’s curriculum improvements in 2014 introduced more critical thinking, data analysis, financial modeling, and leadership assessment and guidance into the program – changes that helped improve the class of 2016’s 3-month post-graduation rate of employment to 94% (up from 91% in 2013). Most interesting is that students who were not authorized to work in the US actually had a higher placement rate (95%) than those who did have US citizenship or work visas: clearly the Ivy League Cornell education is valued in global industry.

Below are Johnson’s essay questions and the admissions office’s guidance. My comments are in blue.

Goals Statement:

Use this short answer question to succinctly share your short and long term goals. If invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate further and should be prepared to connect your prior experience with your future aspirations.

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences:

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

Industry:

In 5 – 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

Industry:

If your goal immediately after graduating from Johnson is not deemed possible by the Admissions office, then you might as well not bother finishing the application. No applicant will be accepted if their short-term goal is unachievable: at the very least it will ruin Johnson’s placement rating, but at worst it could potentially leave a graduate in a great deal of financial debt for their MBA degree. Speak to current students and recent graduates to hear about the recruiting process, positions available, and the qualifications, if any, that students must have to enter your field of interest.

Impact Essay:

At Cornell we value students who create impact. Please indicate the opportunities for impact that you’ve identified through engagement with our community and describe how what you learned has influenced your decision to apply to Johnson. Please limit your submission to 500 words or fewer.

This essay is designed to explore the intersection of engagement and community culture. Whether during the program or following graduation, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. To help you explore your potential for impact, we encourage you to engage with our students, alumni, faculty, and professional staff. You may choose to connect with them via email or phone or in person during one of our on campus or off campus events. As you seek their input and insight, please be respectful of their time and prepare a few discussion points or questions in advance.

The best answers to this essay question don’t solely focus on the impact you hope to make at Cornell Johnson but rather share how your background and previous impacts have prepared you to make this future impact. To prove you will be an engaged community member in Ithaca, you will need to show in what other environments you have been such a member in the past. Thus, this essay requires evidence that you know about campus life at Cornell Johnson AND about how you will uniquely make your mark.

Table of Contents:

You are the author of your Life Story. Please create the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. We value creativity and authenticity and encourage you to approach this essay with your unique style. Alternative submission formats may include a slide presentation, links to pre-existing media (personal website, digital portfolio, YouTube, etc.), as well as visually enhanced written submissions.

Maximum file size is 5 MB. If you choose to submit a written Table of Contents, please limit your submission to 500 words or fewer. Multimedia submissions should be under 5 minutes.

This essay is an opportunity to present yourself as an individual. We encourage you to think about your proudest accomplishments, moments of adversity that have been overcome, and interesting personal highlights that will help us to get to know you as a person and potential community member.

Isn’t it fun to open a fresh magazine, to flip through the first ads to reach the Table of Contents, where the pictures, article titles, and summaries entice you to read on? Here is your chance to showcase the highlights of your life, in text, pictures, or multimedia to pique the Admissions office’s interest. Five minutes of multimedia will give the Admissions staff time to really get to know you – to see and hear you, much more content than a 500-word essay could.

Optional Essay:

This essay is required for applicants seeking re-admission and should call attention to the steps taken to strengthen one’s candidacy. Candidates may also use the optional essay to call attention to items needing clarification or to address any gaps in experience.

If you are a re-applicant, this is a great space to demonstrate that you have made considerable efforts to improve your candidacy: you have improved your GMAT score, taken on more leadership roles, reached out to more Cornell staff and students, or researched your career goals in greater depth.

If you are a first-time applicant, then you should use this space to address any issue that you feel the application left unaddressed. In particular, if you feel your goals require some explanation beyond the very terse phrasing allocated to them, this is a great opportunity to share it.

If you would like professional guidance with your Cornell SC Johnson College of Business 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 Cornell application.

Johnson at Cornell 2017-18 Deadlines:



*After January 10th, applications will be received and reviewed on a space available basis with a final submission deadline of March 15, 2018.



*After April 5th, applications will be received and reviewed on a space available basis

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***




Jennifer Bloom has been a consultant with Accepted for 17 years and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She is an expert at crafting application materials that truly differentiate you from the rest of the driven applicant pool. If you would like help with your application, Jennifer can suggest a number of options that work with any budget. Want Jennifer to help you get accepted? Click here!
 

Related Resources:

• Why MBA?, a guide to writing about your MBA goals

• Cornell Johnson Straight Out of College: A Young Entrepreneur’s Story, a podcast episode

• The School’s Culture & Mission [Fitting In & Standing Out]

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post Cornell SC Johnson College of Business MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Up Close and Personal with Berkeley Haas at the 2017 AIGAC Conference [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   03 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Up Close and Personal with Berkeley Haas at the 2017 AIGAC Conference



Last month, the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants – AIGAC – held its annual conference, and Berkeley Haas generously hosted our first two days. This “host” role included a valuable opportunity to interact with Dean Rich Lyons (just announced he will step down), Haas adcom members including Executive Director Morgan Bernstein, and Haas students.

It was powerful to see firsthand how this program walks the talk of its distinctive and ambitious values. Indeed, the grandness of the program’s vision – to fuel students’ personal transformations so that they in turn can transform the world or a part of it by creating purpose, meaning, and value (my own paraphrase) – combined with the small student body results in an intense two years. This program pushes students to be open, to bare their souls in order to truly grasp their deepest calling. One of the adcom’s specific challenges is selecting from the river of highly qualified applicants those who will embrace and thrive in such a personally and emotionally demanding culture.

A few tidbits from the Haas days:

• The new class will be – a little – bigger, going from 250 to 275 in 2017. Still, that’s 10% larger. And, in 2018, to 300. Cohorts will grow from 60 to 75 people.

• The adcom reviews international students by country; initially, readers have specific countries that they read and get to know closely.

• Aside from the obvious “qualification” factors such as GMAT and career, adcom readers specifically look for and evaluate extracurricular involvement, leadership, shaping one’s own path, initiative, and ability to immerse in the Haas culture.

• In evaluating goals, the adcom looks for passion and wants to see the motivation for those goals.

• The Student Affairs has a strong role in such an inclusive and student-driven culture; it (a) works in partnership with students, (b) facilitates students taking ownership of their experience by creating activities, programs, projects, etc., and (c) promotes “ally-ship” such as “Men as Allies” supporting the Women in Leadership group.

• Senior Director of MBA Career Coaching and Programs Hoyt Ng runs a very hands-on service with a focused approach: to enable you to embody your “best authentic self” and bring a “point of view” to your job meetings. I say “meetings” instead of “interviews” because, in his approach, the goal is to “have a conversation” about the job, not an interview. He wants you to understand your target company so well that you can present yourself in such a way so the interviewer sees you as already part of the organization, not somebody waiting and hoping to be let in. (And, aha, that’s what we admissions consultants try to help you get your applications to do with adcoms!)

• Career Services partners with industry specialists who serve as career advisors, e.g. Deepak Gupta in the startup space, Vince Law in Product Management – a great resource for students to gain both the real-world, real-time grasp of an industry or function, plus the first rung of a network.

• In numerous activities (academic, community, social), Evening/Weekend MBAs and Executive MBAs participate with MBAs, expanding both the number and perspectives.

A highlight of this time at Haas was a panel of 5 highly articulate students (recent alumni and current students) presenting their own stories of how they were transformed or are transforming during their years at Haas. They all cited both personal and professional transformation – and how the Haas community was/is instrumental in that process.

Are you hungry for a journey of change while you also hone business skills and rev up for your next career move? Do you want to spend 2 years in a culture that is inclusive and generous but also demands much of your time, effort, heart, and imagination? If so, it’s a tough admit, but DO give Haas your best shot.




Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
 

Related Resources:

• Leadership in Admissions, a free guide

• Exploring the Haas MBA with Asst. Dean Peter Johnson, a podcast episode

• Highlights of AIGAC 2017

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post Up Close and Personal with Berkeley Haas at the 2017 AIGAC Conference appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Stanford MSx Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   04 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Stanford MSx Application Essay Tips & Deadlines



Both the relatively complex MSx application form and your resume will establish you as a leader in your organization (and possibly even your domain), and that’s essential to be a qualified MSx applicant. Hence, you don’t need to, and shouldn’t try to, prove your qualifications with these essays. In reviewing current and former MSx student profiles, one thing stands out: they’re vibrant. They shine. They have impact, not just because of solid career strategies and impressive results, though that’s part of it. They are propelled forward by qualities of character: passion, courage, energy, curiosity, commitment, rigor, vision, big thinking, heart. These essays are your opportunity to reveal your own special character and clarify how it will add to the mix. You’re already a substantial leader organizationally. To shape the future, you must have something to say, a point of view, a distinctive voice – so don’t hesitate to take a stand in these essays.

Essay Questions

No length limit; you can “use as many words as you feel necessary to convey your message.” That said, the website also advises succinctness. (If you are using the combined MBA/MSx application, you are limited to 1200 words total.)

Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why?

To really hit a home run with this essay, you need to bare your soul, at least a bit; take a risk, be open and probing about some essential aspect of yourself. That doesn’t mean the topic must be about your personal life, though for many applicants it is. You could, for example, discuss a political belief that truly drives you, and if it’s that strong, it will reflect your deepest values and relate to your significant experiences. I do suggest using a topic that has some profound meaning to you and that will allow you to ground this essay in your experience. Ultimately, it’s your experience and how you “process” or synthesize it that will be a key part of this essay.

Sometimes my clients worry when facing this question that their most intuitive topic isn’t “unique” – to which I say, it will be by the time you’re done with the essay, if you delve deep into your experience and deliver your message via detailed anecdotes and frank reflection.

Don’t make this essay overly or overtly strategic; that ends up feeling superficial and manipulative given the topic. One straightforward approach is to structure the essay as a story, with reflection and insight at various pivotal points.

Last, don’t forgot to explicitly address “why” your chosen topic is what matters most to you. The explanation need not be long, and the “why” may already be obvious from the bulk of the essay. But do still address it.

Essay 2: Why this program now? What are your personal and professional objectives, and how will the Stanford MSx Program help you achieve them?

I suggest starting with your professional objectives – include specific details about position, company, anticipated responsibilities, etc. Equally if not more important, however, is why you want to pursue this position/role: what motivates this projected career path, what impact you aim to have. This information will invigorate the essay and turn a competent essay into a compelling one. It ideally will get the adcom excited about being a part of your career journey.

Toward the end of this section, add a specific point or two about your personal objectives for attending this program – this part of the question also reflects the program’s emphasis on holistic growth, and your application should respond to that emphasis. Personal objectives need not be divorced from professional ones – often, development of a given trait or capability will benefit various aspects of one’s life.

Do be explicit about “why now” – it’s an especially important point for mid-career professionals pursuing a full-time program. If you are being sponsored, you can include aspects of that condition as context; if you are shifting career focus, your answer to why-now may be more complex, e.g. market conditions combined with career factors.

In discussing how the program will benefit you, be specific: describe what skills and knowledge you need, and how the program meets those needs. Also refer to the structure, culture, and special features of the program, detailing how they will support you and your goals.

Additional information: If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the “Additional Information” section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance

• An explanation of why you do not have a letter of reference from your current direct supervisor

• An explanation of any academic suspension or expulsion

• Work experience that did not fit into the space provided

• Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

The wording of this question indicates that you should use this optional essay to explain things that need explaining in some way – not to add additional points that you think will enhance the application. Indeed, the app form plus the essay questions provide ample opportunity to present your holistic candidacy, so adhere to the spirit as well as the phrasing of this question, and stick to necessary topics – if any.

If you would like professional guidance with your Stanford MSx application, check out 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 Stanford MSx application.

Deadlines:





***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***


Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
 

Related Resources:

• Leadership in Admissions, free guide

• Stanford GSB 2017-18 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines

• Too Old for an MBA? Check Out 3 Outstanding MBA and EMBA Alternatives, a podcast episode

Tags: Grad School Admissions, MBA Admissions

The post Stanford MSx Application Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
3 Tips for Standing Out as an IT MBA Applicant [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   06 Aug 2017, 09:00
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: 3 Tips for Standing Out as an IT MBA Applicant



It’s your job to demonstrate to the adcom that you stand out from the applicant pool and are exactly the person they want in their next MBA class. In this series, you’ll learn how to dig deep to unearth your unique character traits, experiences, skills, and talents and bring them to the forefront of your application, so that when the adcom pick up your file, they’re hooked from the very first moment.

We know you’re unique, but when it comes to applying to top b-schools, IT professionals are a dime a dozen. So how do you transform your status as Super Smart Techie Applicant #4221 into…well…something more than just that? Here’s how:

1. Highlight your non-techie strengths.

It will take one quick glance at your resume for the adcom to know that you have top-notch analytic abilities. They may not, however, know that you’re also a fantastic leader who cares tremendously about personal growth; so make sure you tell them that you started a juggling club on campus and organized a Jugglers-on-Wheels program at your local children’s hospital, or that you led a 12-person team on an important project at work and hit goals well beyond expectations. Your resume may also leave out the fact that in your spare time you teach guitar at an assisted living facility; so make sure to mention that as well. You are a multifaceted individ. Your techie-ness is just one of the many wonderful aspects of who you are – embrace and share your other elements as well.

2. Be proud of your strengths.

Yes, you want to highlight that you are more than just an IT techie, but that certainly shouldn’t be at the expense of techie pride! You have impressive skills, stats, and experiences – make sure that you don’t neglect those when singing praises of your other strengths.

3. Share your unique goals.

Not all IT professionals are headed in the same direction, so make sure you include as much detail as possible in your MBA goals essay. Discuss your goal position (industry and function), as well as timeframe (in the next year? Five years? Ten years?), location (in your home country? Abroad?), etc. Don’t just say that you want to transition into consulting; instead, explain how in the next five years you see yourself working as a senior technology consultant at a U.S. (west coast probably) media and communications firm.

Most importantly, stay positive! With the right advice, some creativity, and with a focused eye on the prize, you’ll have no trouble convincing adcom at all the top schools that you’re an IT techie like none other before – a total standout, a total catch.

Read the complete 9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application series for more tips on how to create a compelling application that highlights your unique strengths, character traits, and talents.

For personalized advice tailored just for you, check out our MBA admissions consulting and editing services and work one-on-one with a pro who will help you discover your competitive advantage and use it to get ACCEPTED.





Related Resources:

• Choosing an MBA Admissions Consultant, a free guide

• Admissions Tip: BE YOURSELF!

• Stand Out! A Critical Goal for Your Application, a podcast episode

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post 3 Tips for Standing Out as an IT MBA Applicant appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
What 3 Essential Ingredients Must You Include in Your Statement of Pur [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   07 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: What 3 Essential Ingredients Must You Include in Your Statement of Purpose?



What are the essential components of a strong statement of purpose or MBA goals essay? The adcom will want to see a MAP of where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you’re headed. (A personal statement is slightly different in that your readers will want to know your current location and how you got there, but clear plans for the future are secondary and usually not required.)

MAP has a double meaning for those of you writing statements of purpose and goals essays. It stands for Motivation, Aspiration, and Perspiration, and represents the map you should follow when writing your essays.

• Motivation: What makes you tick? Why have you made the decisions you have made? Why do you want to go into your chosen field?

Example:

You’re passionate about feeding children in poverty-stricken families or communities. While growing up, one of your best friends was a recent immigrant from Swaziland, and came with horrific stories of seeing friends and family die of starvation. From spending time with his family, you learned about the value of having a full belly, and you began to learn about poverty and starvation that was happening closer to home, in neighborhoods not far from your own. Throughout high school, you volunteered in a soup kitchen, and realized that this was a population and a cause that you wanted to continue to work with in the future.

• Aspiration: Where are you headed? What do you aspire to immediately after you complete your degree and sometimes long term?

Example:

You want to feed the world. You know it’s a lofty aspiration, but you’ve already seen the benefits of baby steps, and you’re eager to takes greater leaps in this area. You’ve seen what works at local soup kitchens, and what doesn’t work. You’ve seen good leadership, and you’ve seen what happens when poor leadership takes control. Most importantly, you have ideas – big ideas, real ideas. You want to enter the not-for-profit space and truly learn how to feed more people and how to make your efforts more sustainable. You’ve worked hard to make connections with leaders in organizations that do exactly this, and you plan to bring your skills and ideas to such a place after you earn your degree.

• Perspiration: When in the past have you sweated to achieve? When have you dedicated yourself to a cause or goal? When have you worked hard to make an impact and contribute?

Example:

You’ve worked tirelessly, for years now, as a volunteer at your local soup kitchen, and then as a paid intern one summer in their office. You’ve seen how hunger can tear a family apart and break a person down. You’ve seen sickness and have gotten sick yourself, and worked through it because of your pure dedication to the people that you met along the way. You’ve increased the amount of food at the kitchen, while simultaneously lowering costs. You’ve brought educators (volunteers) to the shelter to present seminars and workshops of job and interview skills. You’ve written proposals, and you’ve been heard.

The above examples relate more to a goals essay, but the same three elements should also be present if you’re writing a statement of purpose for an academic program. Describe your motivation (how your research interest developed and why it is important), your aspiration (what you plan to do – both your current research goals and your career goals), and perspiration (how your previous academic, research, and professional experiences have prepared you for graduate study).

When you write your statement of purpose or MBA goals essay, check it for MAP. If it has these three critical elements, you have started down the right path.

Work with an Accepted consultant to check whether you have MAP in your essay or on any other element of your application. Click here to get started.





Related Resources:

• From Example to Exemplary, a free guide to writing outstanding admissions essays

• Stand Out! A Critical Goal for Your Application, a podcast episode

• Add Detail to Your Social Enterprise/Community Service Goals

Tags: Admissions Consulting, College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Medical School Admissions

The post What 3 Essential Ingredients Must You Include in Your Statement of Purpose? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
EMBA-Global Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   08 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: EMBA-Global Application Essay Tips & Deadlines



The Global EMBA has 2 program options: EMBA-Global Americas & Europe which combines the strengths of Columbia University and London Business School; and EMBA-Global Asia, with Columbia University, London Business School, and Hong Kong University Business School.

Of course, all EMBA applications are in part about “fit.” The Global EMBA is too – just more so. This adcom really focuses on fit, because the program is so intense. And the concept of “global leader” is a critical part of that fit. How to demonstrate it will be unique to each applicant; ensure that your essays reflect your own mindset and vision of global leadership. In addition, the culture of the programs features a high degree of entrepreneurial energy, so entrepreneurship-related qualities like fresh thinking and initiative will also enhance fit.

These adcoms also look for applicants who truly understand and will make productive use of this distinctive educational opportunity, which comprises multiple campuses and schools, each with its own distinct focus and areas of excellence.

The three essay questions vary in approach, requiring you to present yourself effectively from different angles to create a holistic picture. There’s a classic goals essay, a “story” (behavioral) essay, and an open statement. The challenge is to employ a consistent individual voice while adapting it to the various essay types.

Essay Questions:

Essay 1.

For EMBA Global-Americas & Europe: Why do you wish to participate in the EMBA-Global programme? What do you hope to experience and how will participation in this programme help you to achieve your objectives? (maximum 500 words)

For EMBA Global-Asia:Why do you wish to participate in the EMBA-Global Asia programme? What do you hope to experience and how will participation in this programme help you to achieve your objectives? (maximum 500 words)

Here’s that goals question. First a note about the nuance of the question: notice the words “wish,” “hope,” “experience,” and “participate/participation.” These words imply an immersive, personal, community-minded, collaborative orientation. In the essay (and indeed throughout the application), show how you fit with this culture and these values.

Structure: I’ve found that it’s intuitive and logical to start the essay by discussing your goals – the objectives noted at the very end of the question. And indicate what motivates them. You can then naturally move into what you hope to experience from the program, because your professional goals create your needs for the program. This part can (indeed should) include a personal component as well. To address participation, discuss elements beyond the classroom where you will learn and contribute, such as clubs, social interactions, etc.

Essay 2. Please describe a situation either work or personal where you faced a particular challenge. What was the outcome and what did you learn from the experience about your own strengths and personal development needs? (maximum 500 words)

This is the “story” essay I referred to in the introduction. Approach it as you would relate an interesting experience to a friend or acquaintance – straightforward narration with some expression of your feelings and/or thoughts at key points in the narrative. I suggest selecting a topic that’s relatively recent. Make it a situation with some significant stakes, and one that yielded meaningful insight, growth, and change.

Structure: Jump right into the story. Avoid preambles that give away the ending! This approach grips the reader and frees up space for detail, which will keep the reader engaged and let her get to know you more through the story. As you walk through what happened, highlight your actions and weave in those thoughts and feelings. Conclude with a short paragraph reflecting on what you learned about your strengths and development needs.

Personal statement: Please tell us about yourself and your background. How do you embody the characteristics of a future global leader? The objective of this statement is to get a sense who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (maximum 500 words)

First, think. Selecting content is not easy when faced with such an open question. There is no one formula that will work for everyone. Some people might most effectively focus on aspects of their cultural milieu and its formative influence on their values and perspective. Others might focus on pivotal experiences during university, others yet on influential role model(s) or relationships. Many people will appropriately discuss more than one topic.

The adcom knows that the every leader on the world stage will uniquely manifest the qualities that make him/her a “global leader.” So rather than trying to fit your experiences to the concept of global leader, work from the other direction: start with your experiences and elucidate how they will help you develop into a unique global leader.

If you would like professional guidance with your EMBA-Global application, check out 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 EMBA-Global application.

EMBA Global-Asia Deadlines:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, within these deadline dates:



EMBA Global-Americas & Europe Deadlines:



***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***




Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
 

Related Resources:

• Excellent Executive MBA Admissions Advice, a podcast episode

• 3 Tips for Writing a Winning EMBA Essay

• EMBA Interview Tips You Need to Get Accepted

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post EMBA-Global Application Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Can You Get Accepted After Doing Something Stupid? [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   08 Aug 2017, 10:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Can You Get Accepted After Doing Something Stupid?



The point of this article is not to tell you that you shouldn’t engage in disorderly conduct, petty theft, or other minor (or major) infractions (though you really shouldn’t…); what we want to discuss here is how you should overcome the obstacle of a criminal record when approached with the application question: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain.”

If you did something stupid, something deserving of a conviction or suspension, how do you prove to an admissions committee that you are worthy of their acceptance?

Don’t Try to Hide a Conviction

Admissions committees (and the firms they hire) conduct background checks on applicants, and an unexplained discrepancy gives them an easy reason to reject your application or withdraw an offer of admission. So, when asked, own up to your behavior on your application.

Don’t Make Excuses

The biggest struggle you may face is overloading your writing with justifications of your behavior. Even very subtle self-serving statements can be read by an admissions committee as failure to take responsibility for your actions. Leave out the excuses and directly address what you did.

Don’t Go Overboard Addressing the Infraction

Avoid turning your applications into overblown mea culpas. Usually a well-written response to an application’s “failure” essay question is enough; don’t discuss your mistakes in every element of the application – that’s too much!

Show That You Learned Your Lesson and That Your Past Behavior Won’t Happen Again

This step tends to be less of a struggle, because usually you can express remorse, detail the actions you took to atone for your behavior, and show how you matured from your experiences. For example, consider illustrating how you became heavily involved with your community, counseled others who tended toward that same behavior, and turned your failure into a success benefiting others.

Perfect execution of these suggestions will increase your chances of admission, but they may not be enough to gain you acceptance to a top school. So avoid having to deal with this situation altogether: think twice and three times before you do something that you could regret for a very long time.





Related Resources:

• From Example to Exemplary, a free guide to writing outstanding application essays

• Your Past Doesn’t Define You, a podcast episode

• The Importance of Obstacles in Your Application Essays

Tags: Admissions Consulting, College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Medical School Admissions

The post Can You Get Accepted After Doing Something Stupid? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Columbia Business School Admissions Director Answers Applicant Questio [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   09 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Columbia Business School Admissions Director Answers Applicant Questions

Missed our AMA with Columbia Business School Admissions Director, Emily French Thomas?

Watch the video below for some great questions and answers from the session:



Topics covered in this video:

• CBS interviews

• How applicants from different locations are viewed

• Visiting the school

• The NYC Immersion Seminars

• The Value Investing Program

• CBS’ Master Classes

Best of luck with your CBS application!





 

Related Resources:

• Columbia Business School MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines

• Podcast Interview with the Columbia Business School Admissions Team

• The Applicants that Stand Out at Columbia Business School

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post Columbia Business School Admissions Director Answers Applicant Questions appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
UVA Darden MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   10 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: UVA Darden MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines



If you like the idea of constantly being thrown into the decision maker’s role, using the case method to navigate real-life business situations, then you may want to consider applying to the University of Virginia’s Darden MBA program. Darden is the second-largest case publisher in North America, and because of Darden’s commitment to the case study method, a Darden student will examine over 500 business cases throughout the course of their 2-year Darden MBA studies.

Many applicants will make the mistake of sweating over their one Darden application essay and then carelessly completing the rest of the application form. Darden actually has several short answer sections in its online application that provide applicants more room to demonstrate to the admissions committee that they are a great fit with the Darden program. Here are all of the questions that Darden asks in its application, with my tips in blue. In addition, Darden’s admissions team has put together several video tips for their application here.

While in the MBA program, where do you want to go to explore a specific economy or business culture? (5 words) Why? (40 words)

Darden has an array of international experiential learning programs and expects every one of its students to take part in at least one global opportunity during their 2 years in the program. Applicants should identify a location somewhere in the world that excites them and then explain the unique opportunity to learn or make a difference that they envision there.

Tell us what you would want your learning team to know about you – personal, professional or both. (100 words max)

Darden is one of the smaller MBA programs, with 345 students in the class of 2018. That class size means that every single student needs to be congenial: there’s just no room for a jerk at Darden. Applicants who share an example here of contributing to a personal or professional team – during a difficult situation, through a crisis, or just with a specific set of talents or personality traits – will be offering the Admissions Committee the opportunity to truly envision them in a Darden learning team.

In Charlottesville, you will find members of the Darden community engaged in activities such as: Running on the Rivanna Trail near Darden, tasting wine on the Monticello Wine Trail, listening to live music and dining on the Downtown Mall, tubing on the James River, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, or cheering on UVA’s athletic teams.

What are you excited to explore in Charlottesville? (15 words)

There’s very little room to explain your choice here but you can pique the Admissions Committee’s interest with your selection. Pick an activity you enjoy in your free time now and show how you will continue to engage in it in Charlottesville.



List up to three hobbies or interests you enjoy in your free time. (10 words each)

Do you run for an hour every day (showing your drive and commitment)? Do you enjoy preparing elaborate meals for friends and relatives every weekend (showing your sociability and creativity)? Here’s your chance to give the Admissions Committee some insight into what you do when you are not at work so they can start imagining the role you will play on campus.

What is your short-term, post-MBA career goal and why? (150 words)

You have room here for 2 small paragraphs to explain your expected path after you graduate from Darden. If your goals are seen as unachievable – for example, investment banking or consulting industry aspirations despite having a low GMAT score, or a pharmaceutical general management ambition despite having no background or education in that field – then you will have weeded yourself out of the class. Darden also has a few fields to which they send most of their students; if you wish to stray greatly from them, you will need to demonstrate your ability to tap your own connections and network to help pave that path – as 11% of 2016 Darden graduates did.

Essay Question:

When preparing for class at Darden, students formulate an opinion on each case before meeting with their learning teams and class sections. When encountering different views and perspectives from their own, opinions frequently shift. Tell us about a time when your opinion evolved through discussions with others. (500 words maximum)

If you have all the answers and can rely solely on your own skills and knowledge, then there is no reason for you to attend an MBA program and certainly no reason to attend Darden, where students integrate each other’s experiences and insights to analyze each case study. This essay gives you the opportunity to share a similar experience with the admissions committee. The best answers will demonstrate initiative in finding alternative opinions and resources – and the ones that challenged your thinking processes the most – instead of relying only on the ones within easy reach and understanding.

Optional Essay: Darden also offers applicants the opportunity to share additional information in a short 250-word Additional Comments space:

If there is further information you believe would be helpful to the Admission Committee, please provide it.

If you have any gaps in your experience, you may address them here. Alternatively, you may use this space to share your affinity for Darden or any details from your background that will entice the Admission Committee to meet you.

A final note:

Darden’s online application form has no word limit for your job description in the Employment History, a 1500-character limit to describe each activity in the Community Activities Since College section, and a 200-word allotment for your Activities During College. While I would not recommend detailing every single project you contributed to in these sections, these spaces do certainly allow more detail than many other schools’ applications, which tend to be more parsimonious with their character limits and even the number of activities you can mention in these sections. Darden is clearly seeking active students! I recommend using some of the allotted space to describe your most significant initiatives, roles, and impacts to compensate for the limited essay space.

If you would like professional guidance with your UVA Darden MBA application, check out 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 UVA Darden application. 

UVA Darden 2017-18 Application Deadlines:



All applications for the full-time, residential MBA are due by 12:00 p.m. EST (noon) on the deadline day. All decisions are released at 12:00 p.m. EST (noon) on the decision release day.

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***




Jennifer Bloom has been a consultant with Accepted for 17 years and is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She is an expert at crafting application materials that truly differentiate you from the rest of the driven applicant pool. If you would like help with your application, Jennifer can suggest a number of options that work with any budget. Want Jennifer to help you get accepted? Click here!

Related Resources:

• Why MBA, a free guide to writing about your MBA Goals

• How to Get Started on Your Personal Statement with One Easy Technique

• How Do You Deal with Criticism? MBA Admissions Committees Want to Know

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post UVA Darden MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Yale SOM Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   11 Aug 2017, 09:01
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Yale SOM Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines



Yale SOM’s Executive MBA is relatively new, but it fully reflects the character of the SOM and more broadly of Yale University: intensive community, holistic perspective, intellectual vigor, and real-world engagement and impact. Carefully review the website, read the blog, and, if possible, interact with the adcom by visiting the school, and/or attending an info session, and/or obtaining the offered pre-assessment. These efforts should inform your essays and will help you convey fit.

Essays:

1. How will the Yale MBA for Executives program help you achieve your personal and professional goals? (500 words maximum)

You may want to start by discussing your current career situation to set the context, and clarify how the MBA education will enable you to achieve your immediate goals in your current role. You can then naturally move on to your future goals. In describing your goals at any given point, indicate why you are taking that step or pursuing that role. Put more detail on the roles you plan immediately post-MBA and the several years following; longer-term goals need less detail, but they still should present a clear direction.

The question has an interesting twist in also asking about your personal goals. These can be personal growth areas and/or explorations you wish to make for personal interest. They may or may not be connected to your professional goals. If they are, you can either weave them into one overall goals discussion or separate them out. Obviously, if they’re not connected to professional goals, then they must be a separate section. Most people will, understandably and appropriately, devote more space to the professional goals. But DO discuss personal goals as well. This part of the question aligns with Yale’s holistic perspective and is important for fit.

In discussing how the program will benefit you, be specific: describe what skills and knowledge you seek, and how the program will provide it.

2. Cite a statistic that you find shocking. What actions could be taken to address this challenge? (500 words maximum)

You might at first reasonably think that you should choose a statistic strategically linked to your career goals in some way. Or that will show some distinctive area of knowledge or experience you possess. Well, maybe. Or maybe not.

Just picking some random statistic that you really did find shocking when you heard it might be a bit scary for an MBA essay. I’ve seen it work. Why? Think about Yale SOM’s intellectual dimension. They appreciate people who are open to intellectual exploration and find interest in the world around them. In this question, the Yale SOM adcom is truly interested in the quality of your thinking and your curious nature, not just how advantageously you can portray your existing interests.

What triggers your “shock”? And in determining what actions could be taken to address the issue, how do you approach it? Where do you look for answers, how do you synthesize your findings? How do you assess the viability of possible solutions?

Your topic may be known to you already – or it may be totally new. Regardless, the best essays in answer to this question will convey a freshness of inquiry, willingness to look at something new or in a new way, openness to considering steps that could be taken – you needn’t have the perfect answer wrapped up in a bow; you should share the process of exploration.

Extenuating Circumstances (Optional)

Please explain any extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware (e.g., choice of recommenders, inconsistent academic performance). You may also take this opportunity to share other defining aspects of your life that the Admissions Committee would not otherwise have learned from your application or resume.

You can use this space not just to explain a problem (e.g. low GPA) or clarify a point (e.g. employment gap) but also to present new material that will further illuminate your candidacy. However, if you do the latter, use good judgment and make sure your points are germane to and truly enhance your application. For structuring the essay, first, straightforwardly explain any points that need explaining. Then, if there is some additional content, present it succinctly.

If you would like professional guidance with your Yale SOM EMBA application, check out Accepted’s E/MBA essay editing and E/MBA admissions consulting or our E/MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Yale SOM EMBA application.

Yale SOM EMBA 2017-18 Deadlines:



***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***




Cindy Tokumitsu  has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted to the Yale SOM EMBA Program? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• A Lot About Yale SOM’s EMBA Program, a podcast episode

• School Specific EMBA Application Essay Tips

• Executive MBA Applicants: 4 Immediate Action Items

Tags: Admissions Consulting, MBA Admissions

The post Yale SOM Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
4 Tips for Chinese Business School Applicants [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   13 Aug 2017, 11:00
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: 4 Tips for Chinese Business School Applicants



It’s your job to demonstrate to the adcom that you stand out from the applicant pool and are exactly the person they want in their next MBA class. In this series, you’ll learn how to dig deep to unearth your unique character traits, experiences, skills, and talents and bring them to the forefront of your application, so that when the adcom pick up your file, they’re hooked from the very first moment.

Top business schools generally accept a few to several Chinese applicants each year, depending on class size. How can you make sure that you’re one of them?

The following four tips will help Chinese applicants boost their candidacy by teaching them how to highlight their strengths, explain why they need an international MBA, and emphasize how they – as global citizens of the world – will contribute to the next MBA class.

1. Explain why you are pursuing an American or international MBA.

The adcom will want to know that you’re not just applying to their school because you want to be closer to Disney World. You need to be able to address this point or you shouldn’t be applying to b-school. Why are you pursuing an MBA so far from home? Why in this particular country? Why at this particular institution? How are your goals dependent on this school’s location and on an international education? How will interacting with international faculty and students add value to your experience and help further your goals?

2. Improve your English.

You need to make sure that your written and spoken English language skills are up to snuff. Your essays need to be well written with correct grammar and word usage (try to get a native English speaker to review your writing), and later on when you interview, you need to be clearly understood – both in meaning and enunciation (be sure to prepare specific stories and practice telling them so that you don’t need to think up examples on the spot). If you’re not confident about your English language skills, take some time to polish them: read English newspapers/books/websites, join an English conversation group, and make some new English speaking friends. Your goal here isn’t to acquire a mastery of the English language on the native level, but you do need to convey a good grasp of the language if you want to be considered by an English speaking MBA program.

3. Show off your global experience.

As a non-American applicant, you have the advantage of having natural exposure to other non-American cultures – including business culture. Show the adcom that you understand the differences between Western and Eastern business values, ethics, and practices, and that your skills and global experiences have helped you gain the sensitivity to shift from one to the other, depending on the situation. What have you learned about the different ways Chinese business people and American business people communicate? How has that knowledge contributed to your life as a global citizen?

Other things to emphasize: your language skills, your international business experience, your understanding of multinational business, non-work cultural experiences, study abroad experiences, etc. Think about what makes your experience unique, and show it in your application.

4. Highlight your community involvement.

Volunteer activities are heavily encouraged among American students, so you’ll need to show that you’re competitive in this category as well. Show the adcom that in addition to your rigorous academic and work life, you’ve also carved out time to serve your community. Volunteering demonstrates devotion, passion, and oftentimes, leadership. Be sure that when describing your experiences, you demonstrate the impact you had: For example, if you taught disadvantaged youth how to read English, make sure you talk about the number of students you tutored, over the course of how many months or years, and for how many hours. What was the result?

Finally, it’s your goal to prove to the adcom that you will fit in with the school’s culture of diversity, while simultaneously standing out due to your unique background. Show the school how your experience growing up in China has positioned you as an ideal candidate, as someone who will contribute to their class, their school, and to the business community at large.

Read the complete 9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application series for more tips on how to create a compelling application that highlights your unique strengths, character traits, and talents.

For personalized advice tailored just for you, check out our MBA admissions consulting and editing services and work one-on-one with a pro who will help you discover your competitive advantage and use it to get ACCEPTED.





Related Resources:

• Why MBA?, a free guide to discussing your MBA goals

• How to Fund Your International MBA in the US, a free webinar

• How Can You Show Passion in Admissions?

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post 4 Tips for Chinese Business School Applicants appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
User avatar
D
Accepted.com
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6466
Own Kudos [?]: 848 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
INSEAD MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   14 Aug 2017, 10:00
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: INSEAD MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines



Communication is key for INSEAD – in part because it is a key factor that their recruiters look for. Hence the INSEAD application elicits your communication effectiveness. First, INSEAD asks you to write reflective essays – and to do so succinctly. Balancing this emphasis on written communication is a video component -– the adcom wants to see you articulate your thoughts in a spoken, interpersonal setup as well. Ultimately, verbal acuity really matters in the INSEAD program because the ability to comprehend, synthesize, communicate, and act on complex ideas across cultures is central to global leadership.

Motivation is the second driving interest of the INSEAD adcom. The application form terms its three essays “Motivation Essays.” Keep that word “motivation” in clear focus as you draft those essays; it indicates that you should express not just what you’ve done but why – what drives you; what propels your choices, decisions, and actions. These written essays are the first “getting to know you” element. Taken together in both form and content, the written and video components should portray both sophisticated communication abilities and self-awareness of who you are and what inspires you, moves you, propels you forward.

Motivation Essays:

Essay 1.

Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (Approximately 500 words)

This question gets to a key point: how well do you know yourself, and are you able to openly acknowledge your motivations and shortcomings? (Perhaps one could interpret it as “Are you mature?”) Note that “strengths” and “weaknesses” are plural – and they should be personal, not professional, characteristics. A personal weakness such as “impatience with detail” could certainly have professional impact, but don’t cite a weakness that is purely work-related.

I suggest 2-3 strengths and 1-2 weaknesses. Provide examples for all of them – these examples can vary in length – sometimes a sentence will suffice. Also, try to bring in anecdotes/examples from outside work and from work. Sometimes, one anecdote can cover both a strength and a weakness, and, also, sometimes, a strength, taken to excess, can turn into a weakness – just possibilities to keep in mind when deciding on content for the essay.

The main formative factors you choose to cite may be related to and integrated with the strengths/weaknesses; in addition, you can discuss key elements of your background that differentiate or distinguish you and are truly key to your personal development.

(NOTE: There is potential for some overlap in this essay with Essay 2, so look at both questions together and organize content before writing them.)

Essay 2.

Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned.(Approximately 400 words)

With only 400 words to describe 2 significant experiences, and the specified discussion points, use stories that can be told without a lot of background information. And keep in mind Essay 1 – don’t use stories that reflect exactly the same messages.

“Achievement of which you are most proud“ is a high bar, and it can be from either work or outside of work. It also should be something that reveals qualities or attributes about you that are positive and relevant. I suggest using something from the last two to three years. Luckily you don’t have to write about the failure about which you are most ashamed…
  Discuss a failure that is specific, fairly recent, and meaty enough to have rattled you a bit. Again, work or non-work topic is fine.

In discussing what you learned from the experiences and how they impacted your relationships, either identify one specific thing each for each story, or integrate “impact relationship” and “what you learned” into one point – avoid broad learnings, as targeted, specific insights will be more thoughtful and illuminating.

Essay 3.

Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc.). How are you enriched by these activities? (Approximately 300 words)

Simply discuss the range of activities you participate (or have participated) in – those that are major passions, and those that are “just fun” – clarifying their relative role and importance in your life. Be straightforward in how they enriched you – insight is what’s important. Imagine you are meeting with clients or superiors – between the business dealings (and perhaps over a drink), you and they chat about non-work interests – approach this essay like such a conversation. Not quite as casual as with a peer, but still conversational, straightforward, and connecting on a person-to-person level.

Optional Essay.

Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the admissions committee? (Approximately 300 words)

Use the optional essay to explain anything that needs explaining and/or to give them one more reason to accept you. DON’T use it for a superficial summary, a restatement of your other essays, or anything similarly boring and trite. If you choose to write it, produce a tight, focused essay revealing something you haven’t yet discussed.

Video Component.

After you hit the “submit” button on the application, you will receive on your dashboard 4 questions (a link will also be emailed to you). Your application will be deemed completed only after you submit your video interviews.  The questions will likely further explore your motivations and perspective. Finally, presentation matters. If they only wanted the content, presumably they would have had written questions. Find that perfect balance – be yourself, but be professional. Polished, but not slick or contrived. This “perfect balance” will be different for different people, depending on their culture, their personality, their profession. To prepare, if you haven’t had formal training in presentations or communication, it would be a good idea to try some self-videos with random questions and analyze them, looking as well as listening.

If you would like professional guidance with your INSEAD application, check out 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 INSEAD application.

INSEAD Application Deadlines for January 2018 Intake:



INSEAD Application Deadlines for Sept 2018 Intake:



INSEAD Application Deadlines for Jan 2019 Intake:



***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***



 
Cindy Tokumitsu  has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted to INSEAD? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Answering INSEAD’s MBA Application Essay Question #1 [Short Video]

• What INSEAD is Looking For

• Get Into INSEAD, the International Business School, a podcast episode

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post INSEAD MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
INSEAD MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink]
14 Aug 2017, 10:00
   1  ...  60   61   62   63   64  ...  123