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Accepted MBA Updates

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How Will COVID-19 Impact Your Admissions Journey: 5 MBA Admissions Exp [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   26 Mar 2020, 14:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Will COVID-19 Impact Your Admissions Journey: 5 MBA Admissions Experts Speak



We, along with everyone else on the planet, are struggling to understand how the coronavirus is affecting our lives. As MBA admissions consultants, we are also evaluating how COVID19 is impacting the lives of you, our clients and followers. We all know the immediate and short-term impact. We’re living it. The longer-term impact is harder to assess and predict.

For those of you who have actually caught COVID-19, we extend our best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. For those of you who are at home struggling to work remotely and keep your sanity in this time of social distancing, hang in there. This too shall pass. 

But how will COVID-19 affect MBA admissions, the remainder of the 2019-20 application cycle as well as the 2020-21 cycle? 

I’ve asked several consultants to share their thoughts on the situation, and that’s what you’ll find below. We present our thoughts with humility. We’re not public health experts, economists, or prophets with clear crystal balls. However, collectively we have well over one hundred years of experience as MBA admissions consultants and/or admissions directors. 

The consultants below responded to the following questions:

  • What do we think will be the impact of coronavirus on MBA admissions in the upcoming cycle?
  • What should applicants be doing now, if they are ready to apply or working to improve their qualifications? 
  • Should they consider submitting a Round 3 application?



Linda Abraham’s thoughts

The biggest source of uncertainty in my mind is: how long is this going to last? When will we be able to go to school, work, entertainment venues, or travel destinations without either fear or government restriction? 

And then how long and bad will the recession be that is sure to result from the business shutdown?

Obviously I don’t know the answers to those questions. My sense now is that anyone who has high test scores and a reasonably competitive profile has a shot at gaining acceptance to the programs (HBS 2+2, CBS, NYU, Kellogg) that have announced delays in their final deadlines or test dates. These schools are extending these deadlines both out of compassion and self-interest. They probably fear a larger “summer melt” than usual. They may also know that their application volume was either down or flat from last year, which wasn’t a great year for business schools. (Most schools are experiencing a prolonged slump in application volume.)  

You may find that you are able to get into a program R3 of this year or R1 of next year that you would have a harder time getting into later. It’s worth thinking about these odds while you have more time than usual on your hands.

For those planning to apply next year who do not have a GMAT/GRE/EA score that they are satisfied with, now is a great time to study. Those high scores can really help you get in or earn a scholarship. And it looks like many of you will be able to take the GMAT and GRE even with testing centers shut down.

ETS has announced the availability of GRE home testing and remote proctoring for many applicants. GMAC is hoping to have a similar announcement in mid-April. The application cycle will go forward, albeit with more remote and virtual interaction. 

If you have not been involved in community service, there are lots of opportunities to organize your neighborhood to help its more vulnerable residents. This opportunity for service may help you when you apply, and it will certainly help the people who can’t leave their homes.

Should you apply to a traditional MBA if social distancing is still the norm come fall, and it looks like a lot of your MBA education will be online? That depends. If the credential is primarily what you seek, then go for it. You may have an easier time getting in and end up with a more prestigious degree. And you could end up graduating into a nice recovery. If the education and experience and networking opportunities are what you’re primarily seeking, then wait… at least until R2.

In most recent recessions, the economic downturn contributed to a surge in MBA applications. MBA wannabes figured that a top business school was a good place to weather the recession, improve their skills and network, and then hopefully graduate into an expanding economy and decent job market. Will that calculus be at work Round 1 or Round 2 of next year, or will it only kick in for the 2021-22 cycle? I’m not sure, but I do believe it will happen. In addition, a growing number of MBA programs have STEM certifications, which should contribute to greater international interest in the U.S. MBA. 

Linda Abraham is the founder and CEO of Accepted. She is also the co-founder of AIGAC and the host of the Admissions Straight Talk Podcast.

Dr. Karin Ash’s thoughts

We can’t yet know the impact of coronavirus on MBA admissions applications because the pandemic is still unfolding. However, we can offer some suggestions for individuals who want to enroll in MBA programs starting in 2021.

  • If you have not yet taken the GMAT or GRE, you can study and take practice tests until such a time that the tests are once again offered in your location or remotely, online.
  • This is a great time to further refine your short-term and long-term career goals. If you are not yet clear on why an MBA will facilitate your goals, reach out to professionals in the field to learn more about the skillset needed and the types of jobs open to graduating MBAs. This is especially important if you desire an MBA to help you transition into a different career.
  • Communicate with your prospective references, asking them when the best time would be in the coming months for them to write a letter on your behalf. Provide them with a draft essay, transcripts, and a copy of your resume. Bullet point what you would like them to focus on in the letter, which may be (and probably should be) different for each reference.
  • Research the schools to learn how particular programs will facilitate your goals. Read about the courses, the faculty and their research, and research centers and practicums. Read their employment reports to learn who is hiring their graduates. Reach out to alumni of the school to learn more about the program: What was their experience like? What did they appreciate and if they could, what would they change about the program?

There really isn’t a downside to applying for the next cycle. If you are accepted and for whatever reason cannot attend in 2021, you can ask for a deferral.

Given that the countries where the virus first started are now experiencing a drop in new cases, it is possible that the same pattern will occur in the U.S. and Europe. If that is the case, schools will almost certainly be back in business by fall of 2021 when you would be enrolling. And, until then, do everything you can to stay healthy!

Before joining Accepted in 2015, Dr. Karin Ash had 30+ years of experience in career services/admissions roles at four universities, including Cornell Johnson and Cornell’s College of Engineering.  

Natalie Grinblatt Epstein’s thoughts

What do we think will be the impact of coronavirus on MBA admissions in the upcoming cycle?

Having been in admissions offices in various director roles for 19 years and in admissions consulting for 12 years, I have witnessed what economic booms and busts do to MBA admissions. I have also seen how crises such as terrorism, war, and pandemics have altered admissions cycles. However, the world has never faced anything like COVID-19 since the 1918 flu pandemic that infected a quarter of the world’s population (at the time) and killed 20-50 million people. Many of you reading this may have already tested positive. I have a client who is COVID-19-positive and can barely get out of bed (we already know that it doesn’t just impact the elderly and infirm).

Given the anxiety this novel coronavirus is causing humanity, I don’t think this will be an admissions cycle like any other cycle. Typically, when the economy tanks, applications increase because the thinking is that in two to three years, the economy will be expanding again… just around the time of graduation. But we don’t know when traditional schools will open again to traditional teaching methods. And I’m not certain that applicants will be willing to pay traditional MBA tuition for an online experience. We also don’t know when the GMAT will follow the GRE in offering an online test (hopefully soon).  

Most of Accepted’s clients apply to MBA programs in the U.S. and Europe. If those region’s coronavirus infections peak in June or July, applications will be down tremendously in Round 1 and will probably climb in Round 2. If infections peak later and schools are still closed in August, applications will be down in both R1 and R2. I do think that this issue may be further exacerbated in the most affected countries and states. I will be more confident in my advice in 30 days and even more confident in 60 days.

I think international students may have issues leaving their countries or coming into their school’s country this year. International students need to make certain they are proactive and leave plenty of time to get their visas, find an apartment, and possibly get situated for a different educational experience than one they expected.

What should applicants be doing now, if they are ready to apply or working to improve their qualifications?

Applicants should start checking things off their checklist for applications:

  • Study for the GRE or GMAT, and if required for international students, TOEFL or IELTS.
  • Complete the GRE (ETS is offering the GRE online in a few countries) or GMAT (hopefully, GMAT will follow).
  • Order transcripts.
  • Consider the schools that will be the best fit for you.
  • Update your resume.
  • Take action in a world of social distancing: make certain you have demonstrated impact at work albeit online and in your community (you can do work on charitable organizations with online fundraising and advocacy; you can tutor or mentor others online; you can foster a pet; there is a wealth of opportunity for you to demonstrate community service online).
  • Take online classes if you need to mitigate academic weaknesses from your university transcript.
  • Attend virtual recruiting sessions from the school.
  • Talk to students and alumni from the schools that interest you.
  • For international students, make sure you are communicating with your school about visas, housing, and any foreseeable changes the school or state/federal policymakers will be implementing that may impact you.

Should you consider a R3 app?

Applying in Round 3 has its pros and cons; however, COVID-19 is changing what we expect for this later round. Many schools have extended deadlines because of COVID-19. Applications are down. Clients are asking us how to obtain deferrals. If you have everything ready, then certainly consider Round 3. If you aim high, you may be pleasantly surprised. If your application results in a denial, it may give you a strong gauge for the types of schools you should be reapplying to in the 2020-21 cycle. 

Last but not least, now would be a great time to speak with an Accepted consultant to learn more about how we can help you. Stay healthy and good luck!

Prior to joining Accepted in 2008, Natalie Grinblat Epstein served as the admissions director at  Arizona State WP Carey, Cornell Johnson, and Michigan Ross. 

Esmeralda Cardenal’s thoughts

You will probably never have as much time in your hands as you have now. I have 5 tips on what you can start doing:

1. Take the time to prepare for the GMAT or GRE. Enroll in online courses, hire a virtual tutor, and use this time to prepare well.

2. Register and attend the schools’ webinars and online chats. You may not be able to visit the schools in person, but you can certainly solidify your research by participating in their virtual events.

3. Connect with the schools’ students and/or alumni via LinkedIn. Many students and alumni are more than happy to answer your questions about their program, and this will, in turn, help you in gathering useful and important information for your essays later.

4. Subscribe to our Accepted Admissions Blog to stay up-to-date with the latest news in business schools and essay and application tips for individual MBA programs.

5. Start working with an Accepted consultant. Your Accepted consultant can work with you in developing a timeline and a strategy to help you prepare a winning MBA application.

Esmeralda Cardenal has been an Accepted admissions consultant since 2014. She is a former admissions director at Yale SOM and Michigan State Broad. She has also consulted for MBA programs in the UK.

Rachel Slutsky’s thoughts

Should you apply for an MBA at this time? 

It can feel risky to invest in a graduate education in a time of such tumult, both in terms of global health and the economy. Additionally, the possibility of paying full price for a program that might switch to distance learning could be a financial risk you are not willing to take.

Here at Accepted, we are having ongoing discussions about MBA applications in the time of COVID-19, and the consensus remains that getting an MBA is as useful as ever, perhaps more now than before. Businesses and society need guidance and leadership in a time of panic and financial instability, and an MBA will develop your leadership skills, allowing you to make that difference.

If you are applying for Round 3 of the 2019-20 application cycle or Round 1 of the 2020-21 application cycle, the bottom line is:

  • Consider taking the plunge now to get yourself ready for a career in business that might be needed now more than ever.
  • Weigh the possibility of an in-person MBA program going digital against the possibility of waiting, possibly a year down the line, for an in-person, traditional opportunity.
  • Contact the schools you’re applying to and check for the most updated information concerning their application deadlines and extensions.
  • Know that we at Accepted are here and ready to help you!

Rachel Slutsky is an Accepted admission consultant with experience working as a writing tutor, consultant, and adjunct professor. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Harvard University.

The consultants at Accepted are here and ready to help guide you! All of our experts are available to work remotely and business is in full swing in spite of the current global circumstances. Check out our services and let us help you get accepted!




For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related resources:


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How Will COVID-19 Impact Your MBA Admissions Journey? Live Q&A Session [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   29 Mar 2020, 09:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Will COVID-19 Impact Your MBA Admissions Journey? Live Q&A Session Tomorrow!



With deadlines, guidelines, and requirements in what seems like a constant state of flux, it’s natural to have questions about your educational future. Should you apply this year? Or is it better to wait a while? What can you do to help your chances of admission in a time when we’re all being told to self-isolate and stay home?

Our MBA admissions experts, highly experienced MBA admissions consultants and former admissions directors, want to help you answer these questions and more! We’re holding a free, live, virtual Q&A session tomorrow and you’re invited to attend!

Tomorrow’s live panel, How Will COVID-19 Impact Your MBA Admissions Journey? connects you directly with a group of Accepted’s most knowledgeable MBA admissions experts as we discuss how this year’s admissions process will likely differ from the norm, how it will stay the same, and how you can maximize your chances of application success.

Join us tomorrow for this FREE session, and give yourself an hour to sit down and really focus on ways you can use this time of social distancing to improve your MBA application. Perhaps the steps you take now will make the difference between getting passed over and getting ACCEPTED!




For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Tags: MBA Admissions

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UVA Darden Announces Radical Flexibility for the Class of 2022 Applica [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   29 Mar 2020, 10:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: UVA Darden Announces Radical Flexibility for the Class of 2022 Applicants
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/darden-application-flexibility.png[/img]
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/darden-application-flexibility.png[/img]

Given the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the [url=https://blog.accepted.com/uva-darden-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]University of Virginia Darden School of Business[/url] is offering more flexibility  – a lot more flexibility – for students applying for their full-time MBA program class of 2022.

Darden is immediately changing to rolling admissions through July 15, 2020 for the last round of full-time MBA admissions. Applications will remain open until this date to allow applicants to submit missing parts of their applications.

[url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-admissions-journey-5-mba-admissions-experts-speak/]How Will COVID-19 Impact Your Admissions Journey: 5 MBA Admissions Experts Speak[/url]

In a Poets & Quants article, Darden Dean [url=https://poetsandquants.com/2020/03/24/uva-dardens-sweeping-mba-admission-changes/?pq-category=business-school-news]Scott Beardsley[/url] states that he believes the recession will motivate some students who have been unsure about applying to b-school to apply now. “The situation is very fast-moving and it has created a lot of uncertainty. When there is higher volatility and uncertainty, option value goes up and education is a form of an option. I think an MBA will be a very strong option for many people who are unsure of what will happen in the next few years.”

Applicants should be [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2020/03/24/unprecedented-flexibility-round-3/]aware of the following[/url]:

[list][*][b]The sooner you apply, the sooner you will hear a decision[/b]. It is recommended that any student who has completed their application submit all materials by the original Round 3 deadline of April 6, 2020. Applications will be evaluated in the order that they are received. 
[/*][/list]

[list][*][b]Darden already accepts multiple standardized tests. [/b]Under the current circumstances, undergrad entrance exam scores will also be accepted as part of their long-time holistic admissions process. Darden currently accepts GMAT, GRE, LSAT, and MCAT exams. If you have not been able to take one of these tests, you are encouraged to submit SAT, ACT, or a country-specific college entrance exam. 
[/*][/list]

[list][*][b]Recommendation writers will be given flexibility and sent reminders. [/b]Writers of recommendations are encouraged to submit the online form within two weeks of application submission. Reminders will be sent out to any writers who have not submitted recommendations.
[/*][/list]

[list][*][b]Submit your application even if you are missing some elements. [/b]You are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible so that the evaluation process can begin. An admissions decision will be held until all of the requirements are received. 
[/*][/list]

[list][*][b]Round 3 interviews will be by invitation via Zoom. [/b]This will ensure safe social distancing.[/*][/list]

The Future Year Scholar’s Program, Darden’s deferred admissions program, has announced a June 1 deadline in addition to the April 6 and August 1 application deadlines. This is to give applicants extra time to take standardized tests. 

According to Dawna Clarke, Darden’s Executive Director of Admissions, “Our message to prospective students is one of caring and flexibility. We know how stressful applying to business school can be in the best of times; in a time of unprecedented disruption, we stand ready to work with applicants to make this process as flexible as possible.”

[b]Do you want to be part of Darden’s MBA class of 2022? [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=Darden_announces_radical_flexibility&utm_source=blog]Work one-on-one with an expert MBA admissions consultant[/url] (virtually, of course) and get the guidance you need to create an application that will get you ACCEPTED.[/b]

[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey][img]https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/58291/hub_generated/resized/a9f60e6f-e4d3-4842-8754-2d91eb1e3cf1.png[/img][/url]

[url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg[/img][/url]
For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][b]Want an MBA admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-affect-the-mba-admissions-process-deadline-updates/]How Will COVID-19 Affect the MBA Admissions Process? [MBA Deadline Updates][/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/uva-darden-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]UVA Darden MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2019 – 2020][/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/whats-life-like-darden-mba-entrepreneur-episode-194/]What’s Life Like as a Darden MBA and Entrepreneur?[/url], a podcast episode [/*][/list]

Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url]

The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/uva-darden-announces-radical-flexibility-for-the-class-of-2022-applicants/]UVA Darden Announces Radical Flexibility for the Class of 2022 Applicants[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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Last chance to join us! Get accepted to a top MBA program with low sta [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   31 Mar 2020, 09:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Last chance to join us! Get accepted to a top MBA program with low stats



Our free webinar, Get Accepted to Top MBA Programs with Low Stats, is almost here, but you still have a little time left to register!

This incredibly valuable session will go into detail about how to determine if your stats are low, and if they are, how to reduce their impact on your application. It will help you understand where you stand in the competitive field of applicants and how you can improve your standing before submitting your application. 

Don’t miss this chance to examine these key application elements with Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham, an admissions advising professional with more than 25 years of proven results. Spots are going fast, so don’t wait—register now!

Register for the webinar:


For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Tags: MBA Admissions

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An Admissions Expert’s Top Tips for Business School Applicants [Episod [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   31 Mar 2020, 11:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: An Admissions Expert’s Top Tips for Business School Applicants [Episode 358]
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Podcast-interview-with-Esmeralda-Cardenal.jpg[/img]
[url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/358_Esmeralda-Cardenal_2020.mp3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Podcast-interview-with-Esmeralda-Cardenal.jpg[/img][/url]

Accepted MBA admissions consultant Esmeralda Cardenal shares advice with applicants [Show summary]

Esmeralda Cardenal, an Accepted consultant and former admissions professional at business schools around the U.S. and abroad, is an expert on both sides of the admissions process. [url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/358_Esmeralda-Cardenal_2020.mp3]In this episode, she shares her advice[/url] on improving your MBA applicant profile, applying to data science and analytics programs, and how applicants can prepare during this unconventional time for schools around the world.

Hear expert tips for a stand-out application [Show notes]

Esmeralda Cardenal is no stranger to Admissions Straight Talk. She was a guest shortly after joining Accepted and is returning to Admissions Straight Talk just about five years later. (Frankly, that’s much too big a gap! A real omission on my part.) Prior to joining Accepted, Esmeralda Cardenal was the Associate Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management, the Director of MBA admissions at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State, and then across the pond, she served as a consultant to the Cardiff Business School in the UK. In the last five years, she’s become a [url=https://www.accepted.com/service-request-esmeralda?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=esmeralda_podcast_tips_for_b-school_applicants&utm_source=article]much-loved consultant at Accepted[/url], helping Accepted’s clients who are applying to MBA, data science, and data analytics programs get accepted.

What are your top tips for dealing with a low GPA? [2:17]

The GPA is very, very important for the application. If you have a low GPA, there is not much you can do about it. You can’t just go back and erase time. But there are ways that you can mitigate the impact of a low GPA in your application. So I would say the very first thing you could do is compensate for a low GPA with a strong score, with a strong GMAT or GRE. That would be the best thing.

[b][url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/get-accepted-with-low-stats]<< WATCH: Get Accepted to Business School With Low Stats! >>[/url][/b]

Another way could be, and you could do it in conjunction with a high score, would be to create alternative transcripts. By that I mean, take classes that are relevant to business school, like accounting, economics, statistics, calculus, and try to get solid A’s on those. That would help you provide evidence that you can succeed academically at business school, and also, use the optional essay or the additional information essay. Sometimes they even provide a box in the application where you can explain what happened.

As a former director of admissions, I can tell you that there is nothing better than having an applicant who can actually admit the situation because it tells you that the person did research and knew that they had a lower GPA than the rest of the class. So I would say admit that. Explain what happened. The admission’s committee doesn’t know you, so unless you tell them, they won’t know what happened. Was that because of a family illness? Was it because you had to attend to a personal emergency that had you distracted for some time? Was it that you were maybe over-committed in some other extracurricular activities or sports, for example? Or was it that you have to work to support your schooling?

Whatever it was, explain it in the [url=https://blog.accepted.com/mba-optional-essay-not-really-optional/]optional essay[/url], but also provide evidence of improvement. Mention the classes where you did well, or maybe you had an upward trend. Maybe the first two years were low, but the other two years were higher, and maybe talk about those classes you have taken outside, the alternative transcript that I mentioned, etc., so they can see that you took the right course of action and that you are ready to succeed academically in business school.

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/b6c9f876-0125-49b0-b2cf-3c5c8301554f][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/b6c9f876-0125-49b0-b2cf-3c5c8301554f.png[/img][/url]

It’s March 2020. The whole world has stopped due to the coronavirus. How do you think the coronavirus is going to affect MBA admissions and business education in the upcoming cycle? [19:18]

We’re all living in this time of uncertainty, and we don’t know what to think of it. I think definitely it’s going to hurt the economy, not only in the States, but around the world. I would say we might see a decline in applications, but other people might argue that it might be the other way around. I would say if you were thinking of applying right now, it’s the best time to do your research on schools and do a lot of that. A lot of people have more time than normally because of working from home or being forced to be at home. But we’ve seen that this pandemic is forcing schools to be a lot more flexible. So be ready. [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-affect-the-mba-admissions-process-deadline-updates/]Check the schools’ deadlines[/url] and things like that right now because things are changing. I think we are going to have a very different application environment in the fall, probably, because of this.

There will probably be a spike in applications next year. For those people that have a job, that have stable jobs, they might want to stick to them and not go to business school. But there are a lot of people that might lose their jobs, and that’s going to bring up the applications. It’s that level of uncertainty that I don’t think it’s going to be any less this year. I think it’s going to change, and there might be an extremely high level of applications, or it might not.

And if you think about it, in the past, every time the economy slows down, applications go up. The opposite happens when the economy’s healthy. So it’s something that we need to be prepared for.

Now having said that, if you are wondering whether to apply now, like if you have things ready and the schools are still accepting applications, go ahead and apply now because of that uncertainty. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Check those round three deadlines. I normally would say, “Don’t even think about round three,” but because of the situation right now, I would say definitely take a look at them.

What can applicants do to learn about a school since they can’t visit now and fairs or receptions are pretty much nonexistent? [23:47]

Try to research online as much as you can. The fact that you can’t go visit them should not be an excuse for not researching these schools. Attend webinars and online chats and virtual events. The schools usually have a number of those, and I’m assuming they’re going to be increasing those in the numbers because they can’t provide you with a school visit. So try to attend those and be able to jot down some notes about the schools.

A lot of my clients are using LinkedIn to connect with alumni and students, and it’s amazing to me how much generosity there is from students and alumni, in terms of wanting to connect with them and telling them, explaining the situation, answering questions, and things like that. So definitely use LinkedIn for that purpose, and I think you would find that with the slowness that we have been forced to live with, try to use that to your advantage in terms of trying to really be ready for your application.

For the application, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-coronavirus-impact-testing-gre-gmat-lsat-mcat-act-sat-toefl/]you might not be able to take a test now[/url], but you could prepare for it. You can take classes, etc. You can take all the classes that you might need to bump up your GPA, for example, online. So absolutely try to do that during this time. I think that this is absolutely a great time to do that because I don’t think you’re going to have this much time available in your hands for a long time after this.

What advice do you have for MBA reapplicants, both as an admissions consultant and former admissions officer?

Don’t start your application without knowing exactly what went wrong. A lot of people think, “Oh, it is my GMAT. I’m just going to retake the GMAT and reapply.” You don’t know if that was the only problem. You don’t know if that was different.

We have a very good service that is a [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/rejection-review?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=esmeralda_podcast_tips_for_b-school_applicants&utm_source=blog]rejection review[/url] service. It only takes one hour, and I’ll say, “Send me your application.” I’ll review that for you, and I will tell you what went wrong and what steps you should take to improve that and fix those things, and then reapply. You could use that however you want, but then you have that information to help you with your next application. Fix those things and then show, once you reapply, introspection that you thought about it, that you realized what went wrong, and that you fixed those things. Show growth in your work experience and extracurricular activities, and all the things that you have changed. Business schools will appreciate that. Every year I have a few clients that are reapplicants, and we start with that [rejection review], and it doesn’t mean that this year, that’s it. It may very well be. A lot of times you will be happily surprised [with the results of a reapplication].

Use this time to your advantage in terms of trying to prepare for business schools because you won’t be as free in the coming months as you are now.

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[b]Related Links:[/b]

[list][*]Work with Esmeralda Cardenal[/*][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/how-to-fit-in-stand-out-during-the-admissions-process]Fitting in and Standing Out: the Paradox at the Heart of Admissions[/url], a free guide [/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-admissions-journey-5-mba-admissions-experts-speak/]How Will COVID-19 Impact Your Admissions Journey: 5 MBA Admissions Experts Speak[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-affect-the-mba-admissions-process-deadline-updates/]MBA Deadline Updates: How Will COVID-19 Affect the MBA Application Process?[/url][/*][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/top-mba-essay-tips]School-Specific MBA Application Essay Tips[/url] [/*][*][url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=esmeralda_podcast_tips_for_b-school_applicants&utm_source=blog]Accepted’s MBA Admissions Consulting Services[/url] [/*][/list]

[b]Related Shows:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/when-is-the-mba-worth-the-time-and-money]Is the MBA Worth It, or Is the Sky Falling Down on the MBA Degree?[/url] [/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/marco-denovellis-businessbecause-a-conversation-about-todays-mba-marketplace/]A Conversation about Today’s MBA Marketplace[/url] [/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-successful-round-1-mba-application/]How to Prepare for a Successful Round 1 MBA Application[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/mba-insider-shares-his-secrets-in-new-book/]MBA Insider Shares His Secrets in New Book[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-get-accepted-to-a-top-emba-program-the-experts-speak/]How to Get Accepted to a Top EMBA Program: The Experts Speak[/url][/*][/list]

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The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/an-admissions-experts-top-tips-for-business-school-applicants-episode-358/]An Admissions Expert’s Top Tips for Business School Applicants [Episode 358][/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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An Admissions Expert’s Top Tips for Business School Applicants [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   31 Mar 2020, 12:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: An Admissions Expert’s Top Tips for Business School Applicants



Accepted MBA admissions consultant Esmeralda Cardenal shares advice with applicants [Show summary]

Esmeralda Cardenal, an Accepted consultant and former admissions professional at business schools around the U.S. and abroad, is an expert on both sides of the admissions process. In this episode, she shares her advice on improving your MBA applicant profile, applying to data science and analytics programs, and how applicants can prepare during this unconventional time for schools around the world.

Hear expert tips for a stand-out application [Show notes]

Esmeralda Cardenal is no stranger to Admissions Straight Talk. She was a guest shortly after joining Accepted and is returning to Admissions Straight Talk just about five years later. (Frankly, that’s much too big a gap! A real omission on my part.) Prior to joining Accepted, Esmeralda Cardenal was the Associate Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management, the Director of MBA admissions at the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State, and then across the pond, she served as a consultant to the Cardiff Business School in the UK. In the last five years, she’s become a much-loved consultant at Accepted, helping Accepted’s clients who are applying to MBA, data science, and data analytics programs get accepted.

What are your top tips for dealing with a low GPA? [2:17]

The GPA is very, very important for the application. If you have a low GPA, there is not much you can do about it. You can’t just go back and erase time. But there are ways that you can mitigate the impact of a low GPA in your application. So I would say the very first thing you could do is compensate for a low GPA with a strong score, with a strong GMAT or GRE. That would be the best thing.

> (opens in a new tab)”><< WATCH: Get Accepted to Business School With Low Stats! >>

Another way could be, and you could do it in conjunction with a high score, would be to create alternative transcripts. By that I mean, take classes that are relevant to business school, like accounting, economics, statistics, calculus, and try to get solid A’s on those. That would help you provide evidence that you can succeed academically at business school, and also, use the optional essay or the additional information essay. Sometimes they even provide a box in the application where you can explain what happened.

As a former director of admissions, I can tell you that there is nothing better than having an applicant who can actually admit the situation because it tells you that the person did research and knew that they had a lower GPA than the rest of the class. So I would say admit that. Explain what happened. The admission’s committee doesn’t know you, so unless you tell them, they won’t know what happened. Was that because of a family illness? Was it because you had to attend to a personal emergency that had you distracted for some time? Was it that you were maybe over-committed in some other extracurricular activities or sports, for example? Or was it that you have to work to support your schooling?

Whatever it was, explain it in the optional essay, but also provide evidence of improvement. Mention the classes where you did well, or maybe you had an upward trend. Maybe the first two years were low, but the other two years were higher, and maybe talk about those classes you have taken outside, the alternative transcript that I mentioned, etc., so they can see that you took the right course of action and that you are ready to succeed academically in business school.



It’s March 2020. The whole world has stopped due to the coronavirus. How do you think the coronavirus is going to affect MBA admissions and business education in the upcoming cycle? [19:18]

We’re all living in this time of uncertainty, and we don’t know what to think of it. I think definitely it’s going to hurt the economy, not only in the States, but around the world. I would say we might see a decline in applications, but other people might argue that it might be the other way around. I would say if you were thinking of applying right now, it’s the best time to do your research on schools and do a lot of that. A lot of people have more time than normally because of working from home or being forced to be at home. But we’ve seen that this pandemic is forcing schools to be a lot more flexible. So be ready. Check the schools’ deadlines and things like that right now because things are changing. I think we are going to have a very different application environment in the fall, probably, because of this.

There will probably be a spike in applications next year. For those people that have a job, that have stable jobs, they might want to stick to them and not go to business school. But there are a lot of people that might lose their jobs, and that’s going to bring up the applications. It’s that level of uncertainty that I don’t think it’s going to be any less this year. I think it’s going to change, and there might be an extremely high level of applications, or it might not.

And if you think about it, in the past, every time the economy slows down, applications go up. The opposite happens when the economy’s healthy. So it’s something that we need to be prepared for.

Now having said that, if you are wondering whether to apply now, like if you have things ready and the schools are still accepting applications, go ahead and apply now because of that uncertainty. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Check those round three deadlines. I normally would say, “Don’t even think about round three,” but because of the situation right now, I would say definitely take a look at them.

What can applicants do to learn about a school since they can’t visit now and fairs or receptions are pretty much nonexistent? [23:47]

Try to research online as much as you can. The fact that you can’t go visit them should not be an excuse for not researching these schools. Attend webinars and online chats and virtual events. The schools usually have a number of those, and I’m assuming they’re going to be increasing those in the numbers because they can’t provide you with a school visit. So try to attend those and be able to jot down some notes about the schools.

A lot of my clients are using LinkedIn to connect with alumni and students, and it’s amazing to me how much generosity there is from students and alumni, in terms of wanting to connect with them and telling them, explaining the situation, answering questions, and things like that. So definitely use LinkedIn for that purpose, and I think you would find that with the slowness that we have been forced to live with, try to use that to your advantage in terms of trying to really be ready for your application.

For the application, you might not be able to take a test now, but you could prepare for it. You can take classes, etc. You can take all the classes that you might need to bump up your GPA, for example, online. So absolutely try to do that during this time. I think that this is absolutely a great time to do that because I don’t think you’re going to have this much time available in your hands for a long time after this.

What advice do you have for MBA reapplicants, both as an admissions consultant and former admissions officer?

Don’t start your application without knowing exactly what went wrong. A lot of people think, “Oh, it is my GMAT. I’m just going to retake the GMAT and reapply.” You don’t know if that was the only problem. You don’t know if that was different.

We have a very good service that is a rejection review service. It only takes one hour, and I’ll say, “Send me your application.” I’ll review that for you, and I will tell you what went wrong and what steps you should take to improve that and fix those things, and then reapply. You could use that however you want, but then you have that information to help you with your next application. Fix those things and then show, once you reapply, introspection that you thought about it, that you realized what went wrong, and that you fixed those things. Show growth in your work experience and extracurricular activities, and all the things that you have changed. Business schools will appreciate that. Every year I have a few clients that are reapplicants, and we start with that [rejection review], and it doesn’t mean that this year, that’s it. It may very well be. A lot of times you will be happily surprised [with the results of a reapplication]. 

Use this time to your advantage in terms of trying to prepare for business schools because you won’t be as free in the coming months as you are now.



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No Work Experience. Want MBA. What Should You do? [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   05 Apr 2020, 11:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: No Work Experience. Want MBA. What Should You do?



When I used to travel to applicant fairs to represent London Business School, I’d commonly be approached by candidates asking, “I want an MBA but don’t have any full-time work experience. Can I study at your school?” While the answer in that instance was “no”, the conversation never ended there. The discussion would then turn to the options for those who don’t meet the work experience requirement of most MBA programmes, but who have the desire to pursue graduate management study and start making their mark in the business world. Two of the most commonly pursued paths for candidates in this situation include pre-experience masters programmes and deferred MBAs.

Pre-experience / early career programmes

These terms are used interchangeably, but they both refer to those programmes that cater to recent graduates (‘recent’ meaning 0-3 years out of undergraduate). While this category started with the general management MiM (masters in/of management), the portfolio of programmes now includes masters in finance, innovation and entrepreneurship, and data analytics, to name but a few of the courses you might find available at business schools today. 

Applicants fitting into this category are commonly referred to as pre-experience or early-career candidates, and this market continues to grow; according to the 2017 Tomorrow’s Masters report by CarringtonCrisp, “67% of respondents were looking at a business master’s programme as an alternative to an MBA”. While pursuing a programme like a MiM doesn’t negate the need for the MBA later down the road (indeed you will find individuals who have both a MiM and MBA), these programmes are excellent options for recent graduates looking to start their careers in the business world. 

There are a myriad of reasons as to why a graduate may want to pursue their studies now versus waiting to pursue an MBA – they may be looking to specialise in a specific area, such as finance or marketing early on in order to enter a specific function. Or they might be looking to “convert” their liberal arts or science degree into a business career. Whatever the reason, these degrees provide graduates with an excellent foundation and help students build the skills, knowledge, careers support, and network to get a head start in their career.

Deferred MBA admissions

This may be slightly confusing considering the mention of MBA. What deferred admissions means is that you apply while you are in your final year of study (or just after) and before starting full-time work. If you are accepted, you receive a guaranteed seat to join after spending a couple of years in the working world. 

These programmes are a great option as they offer security (yay, no having worry about studying for the GMAT and writing your applications alongside your busy work schedule!) and add some clout to your resume (wow, already accepted to an MBA before even graduating? Impressive!). Of course as with anything there are pros and cons, so it’s important to think about whether committing yourself to a deferred programme makes sense with your career aims, or whether you will need some flexibility and the ability to change path in those first couple of years after graduating. 

Some programmes are open to students from any university (Harvard’s 2+2), and others are open only to the school’s undergraduate population (University of Pennsylvania’s Moelis Advance Access Program). There are also scholarship programmes, such as NYU’s William R. Berkley Scholarship Program, which not only provides early entry to their MBA, Tech MBA, or Fashion & Luxury MBA, but also full funding. Regardless of entry criteria or offering, these programmes are incredibly competitive, so you’ll need to prepare your best application.

Here are some other options currently on the market (as of March 2020) that you may want to take a closer look at:

  • Stanford GSB: The Deferred Enrollment programme is aimed at students in either the final year of their bachelors or joint bachelor/graduate programme, or those currently in a graduate programme started immediately following undergrad/postgrad study.  

    Stanford cites deferred enrolment as a good option for those unsure of their long-term professional path and who feel they would benefit from full-time work experience before enrolling. And they indicate some industries – such as private equity, biotech, and management consulting – recruit only MBA candidates with pre-MBA experience in that field or with specialized knowledge, so conducting some due diligence into the recruitment practices of possible target industries would be wise. 

    As for applicants, they expect students (during the deferral period) to be “productively engaged…to pursue opportunities that enable you to build expertise, enhance your skills and knowledge, expand your perspective, and develop professional judgment and self-confidence.” So you need to do some introspection about what activities will allow you to develop and how you should be spending your time.

  • Northwestern Kellogg: Hot off the press is Kellogg’s Future Leaders program, which opened admissions February 2020. This new deferred programme allows students to work for two to five years before beginning their MBA journey. Master’s and undergraduate students (excluding law, medical and PhD students/grads, who apply through the standard admissions process) can come from any undergraduate study discipline and have either graduated in the past year, be in their final year, or have gone straight into graduate study post-bachelors. 

    The usual admissions requirements exist – test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, interviews – for some, but not all candidates. Those already attending Northwestern will be exempt from taking either the GMAT or GRE, so that’s one application requirement that can be ticked off the list for those already wearing the purple N.

  • Yale SOM: The Silver Scholar’s Program works slightly differently to some of the other deferred admission programmes on this list in that college seniors earn their MBA in a fast-tracked three-year format immediately following their undergraduate years. The programme structure is as follows: Year 1 – core curriculum. Year 2 – full-time internship(s). Year 3 – electives. The opportunity to develop academic skills alongside professional experience is a unique one. Perhaps even more unique is the fact that Silver Scholars learn alongside students from the regular MBA track. Access to knowledge and experience? Check!

    On Yale’s part, they say their Silver Scholars “are chosen for their combination of intelligence and common sense, maturity and curiosity, passion and compassion. Each has made a difference and distinguished him- or herself in a particular field of interest.” You’ll need to really make yourself stand out through the application process (which, by the way, is the same as the regular MBA track, just with a few differences). Remember, you’ll be studying alongside students with five years of experience. The ad com will need assurance that you have what it takes to contribute, and you’ll need to prove you do through your application.

  • Chicago Booth: Initially open to only University of Chicago undergraduates, in 2018, Booth opened admissions to its Chicago Booth Scholars deferred admissions programme to students from any university. The programme allows candidates to apply before they graduate from college, defer and gain professional experience for two to five years before joining for their MBA.

    Booth cites “flexibility [as] one of the major differentiators”. In addition to the length of time accepted students are allowed in post-graduate employment, if students want to continue in employment instead of joining school full-time past five years, they’re able to consider Booth’s Evening MBA or Weekend MBA Program instead.

    Booth says candidates for the Scholars Program are “intellectually curious with personal maturity, competitive scores, and demonstrated leadership throughout college…and display a track record of quality internships, part-time jobs, and/or an entrepreneurial spirit.” In addition to demonstrating these qualities, Booth expects applicants to “articulate a potential career path and why an MBA is necessary in the near future…and show the ability to question the status quo, engage in the process of learning, and thrive in an academically rigorous environment.” Booth is looking for intelligent, independent thinkers with a considered career map. While of course career aims can change during the course of deferment, the ad com will want to see that candidates have taken the time to consider their career path, and how Booth fits in. 

  • UVA Darden: Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program is open to final year college students, or those pursuing a 5th year master’s degree, who can work for two to four years before starting their MBA studies. Darden entices candidates with possible merit awards at the time of admission, and additional opportunities for scholarship consideration when the admitted student matriculates. 

    Darden evaluates applications based on academics, extracurricular involvement, and personal characteristics. While the latter of these criteria is vague, they do say they are looking for students who “aspire to be future ethical leaders and managers in a global world”. Thought into why you have the potential to be this future leader, and whether your values align to theirs, wouldn’t go amiss.

  • MIT Sloan: If you are an “ambitious and forward-thinking student”, Sloan’s MBA Early Admission Program might be right for you. Open to final year or recently (current academic year) graduated students, or those in graduate study without work experience (started immediately following bachelors), students are able to work for two to five years before joining the MBA.

    The admissions process is slightly different for Early Admission candidates, and with a different application calendar for non-MIT undergrads. Candidates are required to submit a 300-word cover letter demonstrating their fit. MIT is quite specific who they’re looking for. They want “thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world…people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative… who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to pre-empt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas.” A lot to think about and a lot to squeeze into a one-page cover letter, so do carefully consider how you fit these criteria. Additionally, candidates must submit a resume and 60 second video introducing themselves to the class. The video is a great opportunity to show your personality and bring the person introduced in the cover letter to life.

    And applicants who are current MIT students with a cumulative GPA of 4.2 or above are in luck, as GMAT/GRE will be waived for them.

If these options sound interesting, but you’re still unsure of whether it makes sense to study for a masters now or wait to pursue an MBA, check out this podcast episode where we discuss the differences in the degrees and points for consideration.  

While an MBA is the ultimate education goal for many, if you’re not yet eligible due to your lack of work experience, but know you want to pursue a business masters, you have options. Start researching and contacting schools to see what options are out there for you, and what can bring you closer to your dream of making an impact in business.

The important thing here to remember is that you CAN apply for an MBA with no work experience, but it’s not without its challenges. And Accepted can help! Explore our MBA Admissions Consulting Services and work one-on-one an experienced advisor who will help you create an application strategy that will get you accepted!




Jamie Wright has more than eight years of recruitment and admissions experience at London Business School, and is the former Admissions Director for Early Career Programmes at LBS. Originally from the U.S., Jamie is now based in London. Want Jamie to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch with Jamie Wright.

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ETS Announces At-Home TOEFL and GRE [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   07 Apr 2020, 11:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: ETS Announces At-Home TOEFL and GRE



According to the ETS website, the TOEFL iBT™ Special Home Edition and GRE™ General Test at-home solutions are now accessible to international test-takers who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These tests are currently available wherever the computer-delivered TOEFL iBT™ and GRE General test are usually available, except for Mainland China and Iran. ETS is closely working with NEEFA in Mainland China to help those whose tests were canceled due to the corona pandemic by adding test dates once test centers re-open. ETS is hoping to offer an at-home testing solution in Iran in the very near future.

More about the different at-home test options

There are two types of at-home testing: one using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, and the other using ProctorU’s live human remote proctoring service. Whichever type of test is taken, at-home tests are identical to those taken at a test center, including scoring and pricing. Students will have all of the test features they would expect at a test center, including the ability to review and change answers as well as preview and skip questions.

Registration is now open for test dates through June 2020. There are many test dates and times for students to choose from. 

ETS is doing everything possible to be sure that at-home tests meet the ultimate standards for validity, reliability, and security. They employ numerous high-level security measures using real-time human observation and AI technology.

Students can sign in or create an ETS account to register for either the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition Test or the at-home GRE General Test. They can select and pay for their test, after which they will receive an email from ProctorU telling them how to schedule a test date and time. 

Do you have what it takes to get accepted to grad school? Work one-on-one with one of our admissions consultants to develop an application strategy that will get you ACCEPTED!




For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to top master’s and PhD programs. Our team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, PhDs, and professional writers who have guided our clients to acceptance at top programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Cambridge, Oxford, McGill, HKUST, and many more.  Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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How Are Business Schools, Applicants, and Admitted Students Responding [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   07 Apr 2020, 11:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Are Business Schools, Applicants, and Admitted Students Responding to COVID-19?



Poets & Quants conducted a survey of more than 300 students currently admitted to top MBA programs this year. Nearly one-third of students surveyed say that they might defer their admissions for the 2020 year if classes do not start on campus in the fall. 

These same students believe that there should be financial recompense for changes in class schedules due to the pandemic. 

  • 43% believe tuition costs should be reduced by an average of 37.5% if the first part of their MBA program is changed to online classes.

  • A number of the students responded that tuition should be cut on a prorated basis for any time they cannot have a full-time, on-campus MBA experience. 

  • A scant 17% of survey respondents would be okay with attending online classes, with 96% saying that missing out on a full on-campus experience is a major concern.

Duke postpones start date for full-time MBA program

Shari Hart, Fuqua’s Associate Dean of Admissions announced that due to the COVID-19 crisis, the start date for the Daytime MBA Program has been postponed. Orientation will start on August 31, 2020, and classes will begin on September 3, 2020. Students who cannot make it to campus for the start date can begin the program online and come to the campus when they are able.

“Duke is very fortunate to have world-class healthcare professionals, scholars, and leadership to help with guiding any decisions on the university level,” says Hart. We are taking immediate steps to ensure we do everything possible to minimize the health and safety risks to students, faculty, staff, and the wider community in response to COVID-19.”

You can find more information on the impact of coronavirus on business school here: www.businessbecause.com/news/live/coronavirus

Introducing the “COVID-19 Admissions Round”

Long-held assumptions about the admissions cycles are being upended. More schools are extending their deadlines for R2 and R3 admissions, and are adding new admissions rounds – the so-called COVID-19 Admissions Round.

US and Canadian candidates may have “the opportunity of a lifetime” to attend a top b-school if travel restrictions and student visa application restrictions remain in place. 

According to Andrew Ainslie, dean of the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business, this means that students can get into a much better program than they might have before. “If they could have gotten into UCLA, now they might get into Duke. If Duke, perhaps now Chicago, or even Stanford. And that goes all the way down the pecking order. In fact, it gets better the further down you go. If you could only get into the 100th best school, maybe now you can get into the 50th ranked. If 50th, perhaps now 25th. My advice…is to go against the grain! Apply NOW, and apply to schools that a year ago you couldn’t dream of getting into. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to get an extraordinary education.” 

Do you want to take advantage of the new “COVID-19 Admissions Round” to attend the MBA program of your dreams? Team up with one of our MBA admissions consultants and work together to create an application that will GET YOU ACCEPTED!




For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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Are You Ready? Introducing the MBA Admissions Calculator Quiz! [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   08 Apr 2020, 10:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Are You Ready? Introducing the MBA Admissions Calculator Quiz!



Are you ready to apply for your MBA? Take our interactive quiz and find out!

Here at Accepted, we’re always looking for new and exciting ways to educate and assist current and prospective applicants, and our newest tool is a great way to do just that. We’re proud to present the MBA Admissions Calculator Quiz!

This 12-question quiz is lean and mean, asking the most specific and focused questions to assess your admissions readiness and get you in the right mindset to get accepted. Even better? We provide you with detailed feedback for every answer, including tons of free resources and expert advice.

What are you waiting for? Take the quiz today and take one step closer to MBA acceptance!




For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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Linda Abraham and Al Dea Discuss COVID-19 and MBA Admissions [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   12 Apr 2020, 09:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Linda Abraham and Al Dea Discuss COVID-19 and MBA Admissions
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Abraham-and-Al-Dea-Discuss-COVID-19-and-MBA-Admissions.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Abraham-and-Al-Dea-Discuss-COVID-19-and-MBA-Admissions.jpg[/img][/url]

Linda Abraham, Accepted’s founder and CEO, is usually the one asking the questions and eliciting other’s views and insights as host of Accepted’s [url=https://blog.accepted.com/listen-mba/]Admissions Straight Talk podcast[/url]. However, when invited by Al Dea to be a guest on his new podcast, MBASchooled, the tables were turned. Linda was the one answering Al’s excellent questions. Since the interview took place shortly after “social distancing” became part of our everyday vocabularies, COVID-19 and its impact on MBA admissions and business school life took up much of the podcast.

Linda has been an MBA admissions consultant since 1994. She’s seen booms and busts, 9/11, The Great Recession, and the Great Economic Expansion that just ended. She gives her perspective on the unprecedented events we are living through. If you want to hear what this MBA admissions veteran sees for business schools, MBAs, and MBA applicants, tune in to “How MBA Applicants Can Respond to COVID-19.”

For the show notes and to learn more about Al Dea’s podcast, MBASchooled, please [url=https://mbaschooled.com/2020/04/03/episode-2-how-mba-applicants-can-respond-to-covid-19/]click here[/url].

[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-MBA-Covid-Blog-Watch-small.png[/img][/url]

[b]Many applicants find that now, more than ever, they have questions about navigating the admissions maze – our advisors are standing by ready to provide you with answers, bringing you closer to acceptance at your top choice MBA program. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=al_dea_lina_discuss_covid&utm_source=blog]Explore our MBA Admissions Consulting & Editing Services[/url] for more information.[/b]

[url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg[/img][/url]
For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][b]Want an MBA admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]

Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url]

The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/linda-abraham-and-al-dea-discuss-covid-19-and-mba-admissions/]Linda Abraham and Al Dea Discuss COVID-19 and MBA Admissions[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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When Is the MBA Worth It? [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   16 Apr 2020, 21:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: When Is the MBA Worth It?




This week, I’m taking a podcasting staycation and airing an encore of our most popular MBA podcast so far in 2020: Is an MBA Worth It, or Is the Sky Falling Down on the MBA Degree?

I recorded this episode in December, and it aired in January. Despite the radical transformation of our lives since then, most of the advice in this episode is still highly relevant. And perhaps the title, which was somewhat facetious when we chose it, has become almost prophetic.

The MBA may be more worth it than ever, especially if you can take advantage of the extended or added deadlines this cycle. The guidance on determining if the MBA is worth is still valid.

As to whether the sky is falling down on the MBA degree, it has to some extent fallen down on business schools, who fear massive “summer melt.” But next year when the recession hits, things could change.

And now, Is the MBA Worth it, or Is the Sky Falling Down on the MBA Degree?

For the complete show notes, check out the original blog post.



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Tags: Admissions Straight Talk, MBA Admissions

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How Do Your Top Choice MBA Program Ranks in Accepted’s Selectivity Ind [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   17 Apr 2020, 09:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Do Your Top Choice MBA Program Ranks in Accepted’s Selectivity Index?



This year’s MBA Selectivity Index™ is here!

Four years ago, Accepted developed the MBA Selectivity Index to help you apply realistically and effectively to business school. The index takes the most recent U.S. News rankings data and reflects the schools’ average GPA, test scores, and acceptance rates so that you can assess the relative difficulty of acceptance. You can also order the schools by average test score, GPA, or acceptance rate.

We chose to focus on these key metrics not because they are solely determinative (because they are not), but because they do illustrate how difficult it is to gain acceptance to a school. These particular metrics also suggest which schools may be focusing on a certain aspect of an applicant’s profile and which may not.

Average GMAT and GPA for top MBA programs

Here are some stats we found when analyzing the U.S. News data this year:

  • Stanford GSB is #1 on the Selectivity Index again (and #1 on the U.S. News rankings, up from second place last year) and again has the highest GPA (3.7) and the lowest acceptance rate (6.9%) of all schools on the list. Plus, this year, it regained its first-place spot for  for the highest average GMAT score (734, up from 732 last year). Columbia, which last year had the highest average GMAT is now tied with Wharton for second place on that metric at 732. Harvard is #2 on the Index (ranked #6 in the U.S. News rankings, down from third place last year), with lower GMAT scores and GPA (725 and 3.70), but with a significantly higher acceptance rate at 11.5%.

  • Across the top 10 schools in the Index, the average GMAT score is virtually unchanged at 725, GPA is 3.63, and acceptance rate is 18.4%, up from last year’s 16.4%.

  • Sixteen schools had average GMAT scores of 700 or above, compared to 19 schools last year and 20 the year before.

  • Thirty-one schools had average GPAs of 3.5 or higher this year, compared to 28 last year and 23 the year before.

CHECK OUT THE B-SCHOOL SELECTIVITY INDEX

Why did we develop the Selectivity Index?

Because we noticed that applicants tended to:

  • Apply to schools where they were not competitive.

    They were basing this decision on the stats and available information (which was inadequate – the Selectivity Index just wasn’t there yet).

  • Focus on the one metric where they were either very strong or very weak.

    Focusing on the one number that either makes you feel great or makes you feel terrible means that you fail to choose schools realistically, and consequently invest poorly in your overall application effort.

  • Ignore weaknesses.

    This generally results in a failure to address or mitigate the weaknesses. If you’re going to ignore them, you’re not going to fix them or provide context for them.

At Accepted, we don’t routinely discourage our clients from pursuing their dream schools – all you have to lose is the time spent putting together the application and the fee to submit, and at the end of the day strong examples of leadership and impact are always going to capture the attention of an admissions committee. That said, it makes sense for you to realistically assess your competitiveness at your target schools by comparing your test scores and grades as well as the non-quantitative factors in your profile to the known stats and stated criteria of the schools you want to attend.

How to use the information in the Selectivity Index

You can’t apply to b-school in a bubble. You must evaluate your qualifications in parallel to the average stats for your target schools. Here’s what we recommend you do:

  • Apply to a few dream (2-3) schools, but mostly to programs where you are competitive (4-5).

  • Assess your weaknesses and strengths in the context of your overall application so that you neither obsess over a weakness nor fail to provide positive reasons for acceptance.

  • Work to mitigate weaknesses before and during the actual application process while highlighting strengths and creating a strong case for acceptance beyond the stats in your application.

A few of you may be thinking:

“I know my chances aren’t great at my target schools. But I’m working and making good money. It doesn’t pay for me to apply to any but the most prestigious schools.”

There are some applicants in this situation, but very few. If you’re one of them, you are applying rationally. If you aren’t one of them and you could achieve your goals at programs where you are competitive, then chances are you are relying too heavily on reputation over fit.



Weaknesses in the MBA Selectivity Index

While we feel this is a useful tool for anyone considering business school when it comes to just stats, there are some things missing.

  • The Selectivity Index doesn’t reflect non-quantitative information, which does play a significant role in the holistic admissions process, and can allow those with non-quantitative strengths to get in despite lower-than-average stats.

  • It doesn’t reflect the schools’ desire for diversity in their classes and community. Depending on your demographic profile, you may have a lower or higher bar to hit to be considered competitive for admission.

  • It doesn’t reflect the importance of showing fit with an individual school’s strengths, mission, and values. It is up to you to do the appropriate research, including (if possible) visits to the school, attendance at admissions events, and/or connecting with current students or alumni. At the end of the day, the results of that research are much more important in helping you determine where to apply than stats could ever be.

  • It does not measure or reflect ROI, educational quality, or career opportunity, which are all things you should factor into your decision-making process.

  • It doesn’t reflect the impact of the still unfolding COVID-19 pandemic on MBA admissions and the economy.

Finally, while the Selectivity Index does reveal the relative level of competition at different programs, it doesn’t excuse you from making sure that the schools where you are competitive will also help you achieve your goals. It does you no good to get into a program that won’t help you go down your chosen path and realize your dreams.

CHECK OUT THE B-SCHOOL SELECTIVITY INDEX

Get an admissions consultant’s help with your MBA application

Looking for an additional way to improve your odds? Work with an Accepted admissions consultant to be sure that you are getting the best advice possible to position yourself well at your schools of choice. Don’t find yourself disappointed at the end of the admissions cycle – work with Accepted, sharpen your competitive edge…and get accepted!




For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:


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Newsflash: GMAT to Be Offered Online [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   20 Apr 2020, 09:00
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Newsflash: GMAT to Be Offered Online



According to the MBA.com website, the GMAT Online exam will be available from April 20, 2020 through June 15, 2020. This online and remotely-proctored exam has been developed to assist candidates working to meet upcoming application deadlines for fall 2020. Registration for the GMAT Online began on April 14, 2020. 

Due to the worldwide disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, b-schools have been forced to extend MBA application deadlines. Many schools are relaxing their admissions requirements, which may allow a candidate to attend a program they previously thought was out of their reach.



What can I expect from the GMAT Online?

The GMAT Online will consist of the following sections, in this fixed order:

  • Qualitative Reasoning – 31 questions/62 minutes

  • Verbal Reasoning – 36 questions/65 minutes

  • Integrated Reasoning – 12 questions/30 minutes

There is no Analytical Writing Assessment Section in the online exam. There will be the same type and number of questions, as well as section times as the tests given at testing centers.

The total time for the exam will be approximately 3 hours: 2 hours and 45 minutes for the test and 15 minutes to check in to the online proctored system. There is one optional 5-minute break prior to the IR section.

The same scoring algorithm and score scale will be used for the Section Scores and Total Score as test center-based exams. 

Your GMAT Online exam fee offers you 2 opportunities to send your scores to programs:

  • During exam registration, you can choose up to 5 programs to send your scores to. 

  • After you have received your official score via email.

There is no chance to view your unofficial score at the end of the exam.

Your score will be sent to you within 7 business days of completing your exam.

GMAT Online convenience

Appointment times are available 24/7 and can be scheduled up to 24 hours before an available testing window. At this time, the exam will be available through June 15, 2020. However, future appointment dates will be added as needed, depending on the COVID-19 situation. 

GMAT Online is available worldwide with the exception of Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Slovenia because of regulations and local data privacy rules. Proctoring support is currently offered only in English. 

Additional information about the GMAT Online

The exam can be taken on both Windows and Mac PCs and laptops.

The cost for registering for the GMAT Online exam is $200 USD, which includes score reports sent to 5 schools of your choice. 

Exams can be rescheduled or canceled for a fee up to 24 hours before your scheduled exam time.

Anyone planning on requesting a disability accommodation should not schedule their exam until their accommodation is approved. 

GMAT Online can only be taken once. The GMAT Online will not count towards your yearly or lifetime exam attempt limits. 

Are you planning on starting your MBA in fall 2020? Work one-on-one with one of our MBA admissions consultants and make your application, essays, and scores stand out among the crowd…and GET ACCEPTED!




For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:


Tags: MBA Admissions

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How Much Do Your GMAT & GRE Scores Matter for MBA Admissions? [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   21 Apr 2020, 12:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Much Do Your GMAT & GRE Scores Matter for MBA Admissions?



The MBA application process is composed of quite a few elements, and it can be hard to determine how much weight each of them carries. If you’re stressing out about the impact your GMAT or GRE scores may have on your chances of acceptance at your dream program, mark your calendar right now for this event! 

On Wednesday, May 6th at 10am PT/1pm ET, Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham will be hosting a live webinar aimed at helping you understand exactly how these exam scores factor into the adcom’s decision. She’ll address common myths and misconceptions, as well as how to approach the possibility of retaking your exam. 

This valuable advice is provided entirely free of charge, but you must register to attend. Click below to save your spot and join us on May 6th for The Impact of Your GMAT & GRE: A Critical Piece in Your MBA Application. 

Register for the webinar:


For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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Could COVID-19 Derail your MBA Dreams? [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   23 Apr 2020, 09:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Could COVID-19 Derail your MBA Dreams?



During this unprecedented time of global disruption, it’s natural to feel anxious. The MBA application process is daunting in the best of times, and all the more so when factoring in a pandemic. However, you don’t have to navigate this alone; there are people who have the answers, and they are here to guide you!

Last month, our special webinar geared towards MBA hopefuls looking for answers in these unsteady times was so helpful that we decided to offer you another chance to engage with the professionals and assuage your fears! That’s why Accepted will be hosting Assistant Dean of Admissions Amanda Carlson from Columbia Business School for a live Q&A session on Thursday, April 30 at 1pm PT / 4pm ET. 

This session, How Will COVID-19 Impact Your MBA Admissions Journey? is totally free, but spots are limited, so you must register to participate. Sign up today!

Register now:

hbspt.forms.create({
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For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Tags: MBA Admissions

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What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person? A Covid-19 [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   24 Apr 2020, 09:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person? A Covid-19 Special
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/What-should-you-do-if-you-cant-visit-b-schools-in-person.jpg[/img]
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/What-should-you-do-if-you-cant-visit-b-schools-in-person.jpg[/img]

A desirable part of the application process to b-schools is the on-campus visit. The visit usually has two purposes: (1) help prospects clarify their own impressions of the school and either build enthusiasm or, conversely, help rule certain programs out; and (2) demonstrate interest in the school by meeting with current students, administrators, etc.

But [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey]what happens when Covid-19 hits[/url], or geography, time, and finances conspire to make a visit impossible? Below, we give you all the tools to communicate the same enthusiasm and first-hand knowledge in your b-school application even when an in-person visit wasn’t possible.

COVID or no COVID and regardless of money, location, or circumstances, applicants and prospective students should contact schools to learn about virtual tours and online admissions events, which are increasingly being offered in the wake of the global pandemic.

[b][url=https://blog.accepted.com/focus-fit-episode-162/]<< Listen: The 4 Steps for Showing Fit in Your Applications [Podcast] >> [/url][/b]

How can you make the most out of the virtual opportunities? Peter von Loesecke, CEO and Managing Director of [url=https://www.thembatour.com/]The MBA Tour LLC[/url], which organizes information sessions between MBA admissions representatives and prospective students, offers these tips:

[list][*]Come prepared. Research the schools participating in the event ahead of time. Think about your career interests and goals and know how an MBA helps you achieve those goals and interests.

[/*][*]Make a good impression. Have your resume available and wear business attire. Business casual is ok, but most serious students, especially those outside the United States, attend in business attire. (If you don’t know the difference, look [url=https://www.thebalancecareers.com/business-casual-attire-2061335]here[/url]!) And remember: Dressing one’s best even for virtual interactions is just as important as for in-person ones!

[/*][*]Ask questions that pertain to your personal situation and goals, and avoid asking questions that can be answered off the school’s internet site. You might also use a question to demonstrate (gently) that you, the applicant have done a bit of background research and have an initial reason for being interested in the school, as well; this can always help to preface a question, e.g.: “I understand that your program offers students the opportunity to do X. I’m wondering if it has any options for Y, as well?”

[/*][*]Don’t monopolize conversations with school reps; limit your chats to between three and five minutes unless no one else is waiting.

[/*][*]Expand your horizons. Don’t be limited by first impressions of programs and where you want to go to school. Try and visit as many schools as you can and have your visit recorded so there is a record of interest at that program.

[/*][*]Ask for business cards. This way you can send follow-up emails thanking them for the time they spent with you. You can even resend your resume too!

[/*][*]Don’t ask questions that are not relevant to your situation or that show you haven’t done any research.[/*][/list]

Questions not to ask include:

[list][*]“What is your average GMAT score?” [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/selectivity-index]Research this online.[/url]

[/*][*]“Tell me why I should apply to your school.” This sort of question implies you think the school would be privileged to accept you and shows arrogance. You might, however, ask, “Is there a particular aspect of your school that you think sets it apart from others?”

[/*][*]“How strong are your career services in this city?” A better question is: “Does your career services center have connections with XYZ industry where I am looking for a position after graduation?” The first one will generate a predictable response of “Of course we are strong in job placement in this city.” The second question is more specific and tells the school rep a bit about your unique interests and ambitions.[/*][/list]

If you still can’t get to a school or visit a school fair, you can amass a wealth of information without even leaving your chair or couch thanks to the internet. Blogs, articles, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/from-the-mouths-of-mba-adcom-members/]podcasts[/url], webinars, chat transcripts, and other information are available through individual school websites, [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba]Accepted’s website[/url], and others such as [url=https://www.bloomberg.com/business-schools]Bloomberg Businessweek[/url], [url=https://mbapodcaster.com/]MBA Podcaster[/url], [url=https://www.topmba.com/events/qs-world-mba-tour]QS World MBA Tour[/url], [url=https://poetsandquants.com/]Poets & Quants[/url], and [url=https://www.thembatour.com/]The MBA Tour[/url]. These resources provide valuable insights and help you learn in-depth about the programs you are interested in, enabling you to narrow down your search. Don’t let the current coronavirus prevent you from pursuing your MBA dreams!

[b]For personalized advice tailored just for you, [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/consulting?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=smarties_cant_visit_schools_covid-19&utm_source=blog]check out our MBA admissions consulting and editing services[/url] and work one-on-one with a pro who will help you discover your competitive advantage and use it to get Accepted.[/b]

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/885bd87c-93a9-49cb-b45d-6f22a610ac9c][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/885bd87c-93a9-49cb-b45d-6f22a610ac9c.png[/img][/url]

[url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg[/img][/url]
For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][b]Want an MBA admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-your-top-choice-mba-program-ranks-in-accepteds-selectivity-index/]How Do Your Top Choice MBA Program Ranks in Accepted’s Selectivity Index?[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/international-mba-applicants-and-covid-19-risks-opportunities-short-video/]International MBA Applicants and COVID-19: Risks & Opportunities [Short Video][/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-are-business-schools-applicants-and-admitted-students-responding-to-covid-19/]How Are Business Schools, Applicants, and Admitted Students Responding to COVID-19?[/url][/*][/list]

“What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person?” is adapted from [url=https://www.amazon.com/MBA-Admission-Smarties-No-Nonsense-Acceptance/dp/1466294981]MBA Admissions for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools[/url], by Linda Abraham and Judy Gruen.

Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url]

The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/cant-visit-b-schools-person/]What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person? A Covid-19 Special[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person? [A COVID-19 [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   25 Apr 2020, 13:00
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person? [A COVID-19 Special]



A desirable part of the application process to b-schools is the on-campus visit. The visit usually has two purposes: (1) help prospects clarify their own impressions of the school and either build enthusiasm or, conversely, help rule certain programs out; and (2) demonstrate interest in the school by meeting with current students, administrators, etc. 

But what happens when COVID-19 hits, or geography, time, and finances conspire to make a visit impossible? Below, we give you all the tools to communicate the same enthusiasm and first-hand knowledge in your b-school application even when an in-person visit wasn’t possible.

COVID or no COVID and regardless of money, location, or circumstances, applicants and prospective students should contact schools to learn about virtual tours and online admissions events, which are increasingly being offered in the wake of the global pandemic.

<< Listen: The 4 Steps for Showing Fit in Your Applications [Podcast] >>

How can you make the most out of the virtual opportunities? Peter von Loesecke, CEO and Managing Director of The MBA Tour LLC, which organizes information sessions between MBA admissions representatives and prospective students, offers these tips:

  • Come prepared. Research the schools participating in the event ahead of time. Think about your career interests and goals and know how an MBA helps you achieve those goals and interests.

  • Make a good impression. Have your resume available and wear business attire. Business casual is ok, but most serious students, especially those outside the United States, attend in business attire. (If you don’t know the difference, look here!) And remember: Dressing one’s best even for virtual interactions is just as important as for in-person ones!

  • Ask questions that pertain to your personal situation and goals, and avoid asking questions that can be answered off the school’s internet site. You might also use a question to demonstrate (gently) that you, the applicant have done a bit of background research and have an initial reason for being interested in the school, as well; this can always help to preface a question, e.g.: “I understand that your program offers students the opportunity to do X. I’m wondering if it has any options for Y, as well?”

  • Don’t monopolize conversations with school reps; limit your chats to between three and five minutes unless no one else is waiting.

  • Expand your horizons. Don’t be limited by first impressions of programs and where you want to go to school. Try and visit as many schools as you can and have your visit recorded so there is a record of interest at that program.

  • Ask for business cards. This way you can send follow-up emails thanking them for the time they spent with you. You can even resend your resume too!

  • Don’t ask questions that are not relevant to your situation or that show you haven’t done any research.

Questions not to ask include:

  • “What is your average GMAT score?” Research this online.

  • “Tell me why I should apply to your school.” This sort of question implies you think the school would be privileged to accept you and shows arrogance. You might, however, ask, “Is there a particular aspect of your school that you think sets it apart from others?”

  • “How strong are your career services in this city?” A better question is: “Does your career services center have connections with XYZ industry where I am looking for a position after graduation?” The first one will generate a predictable response of “Of course we are strong in job placement in this city.” The second question is more specific and tells the school rep a bit about your unique interests and ambitions.

If you still can’t get to a school or visit a school fair, you can amass a wealth of information without even leaving your chair or couch thanks to the internet. Blogs, articles, podcasts, webinars, chat transcripts, and other information are available through individual school websites, Accepted’s website, and others such as Bloomberg Businessweek, MBA Podcaster, QS World MBA Tour, Poets & Quants, and The MBA Tour. These resources provide valuable insights and help you learn in-depth about the programs you are interested in, enabling you to narrow down your search. Don’t let the current coronavirus prevent you from pursuing your MBA dreams!

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.




For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:


“What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person?” is adapted from MBA Admissions for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools, by Linda Abraham and Judy Gruen.

Tags: MBA Admissions

The post What Should You Do If You Can’t Visit B-Schools in Person? [A COVID-19 Special] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
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How Much Should I Draw on My CV/Resume in My SOP? [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   27 Apr 2020, 10:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Much Should I Draw on My CV/Resume in My SOP?
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/How-much-should-I-draw-on-my-CV-or-resume-in-my-SOP.jpg[/img]
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/How-much-should-I-draw-on-my-CV-or-resume-in-my-SOP.jpg[/img]

When submitting an application for college or graduate school, it’s important to view the application holistically. The application includes multiple elements, such as [url=https://blog.accepted.com/everything-graduate-applicants-need-to-know-about-the-curriculum-vitae-cv/]a CV/resume[/url], [url=https://reports.accepted.com/from-example-to-exemplary-guide]a personal statement[/url], and grades, among other things. Because this application is key to receiving an admissions offer, it is important to be selective and strategic in choosing which elements of your academic career, personal experience, and professional development to highlight.

Many applicants are tempted to use the CV/resume (and if you’re not sure of the difference, see my article [url=https://blog.accepted.com/everything-graduate-applicants-need-to-know-about-the-curriculum-vitae-cv/]HERE[/url]) to simply reiterate or re-list their past experiences or qualifications in essay-form for their personal statement. This “resume in prose” undermines the opportunity the application provides for showcasing multiple sides of oneself. So, how do you decide what to cover in the personal statement when it feels like everything you’ve ever done is already included in your CV?

How to decide what to include in your personal statement

[list][*][b]Step 1: Do a mental check.[/b]

Ask yourself, “What aspects of my life (personal experiences; impactful teachers and classes; substantial extracurricular experience) had a significant impact on my life and outlook?”

I emphasize doing this mentally first because it is easy to turn to your CV or resume as a starting point for writing the personal statement; however, to begin with the CV is to risk overlooking other meaningful but non-CV material worth mentioning in a different part of the application, such as your personal statement. I cannot count the number of [url=https://www.accepted.com/rachel-client-feedback?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=how_much_draw_on_resume_in_sop&utm_source=blog]clients I have had[/url] who, only in the course of our conversations, have shared incredibly powerful experiences and self-insight that I would otherwise never have found written on a resume or CV. These very insights often became central to their personal statements.

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/332ce827-d7de-4f9f-9f9e-ecbe72f20b41][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/332ce827-d7de-4f9f-9f9e-ecbe72f20b41.png[/img][/url]

[/*][*][b]Step 2: Identify which achievements and experiences absolutely must be included in your personal statement. [/b]

For example, your CV probably (and should!) includes the name of the institution(s) you attended for college (or the name of one’s high school, in the case of college admissions). That institution might be so central to your narrative, or to the story of how you became interested in a particular graduate program or field of study, that it is necessary to include in the personal statement. Other items—the archeological dig you were on in 2015, which was the turning point in your career interests—or the lessons you learned from doing Teach for America last year—might also be great to expand upon in the SOP. Lastly, perhaps counterintuitively, particular weaknesses, such as a short-term job or a weak GPA, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/6-tips-for-talking-about-your-weaknesses/]should be addressed in the personal statement[/url]. Addressing both the strengths and weaknesses of one’s record give YOU the power to frame and contextualize those events and demonstrate your ability to move forward.

[/*][*][b]Step 3: Remember that Accepted is here to help! [/b]

[url=https://www.accepted.com/grad/services/resume?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=how_much_draw_on_resume_in_sop&utm_source=blog]Our expert consultants work closely with you to personalize the application process[/url] and help you to find and express your authentic voice in your writing and/or interview process. While applicants often view their experiences as somehow “the norm,” our consultants are here to remind you that your experiences, academic and otherwise, are unique to you and can all contribute to a personal statement that provides an intriguing and inviting portrait of you to its readers! [b][url=https://www.accepted.com/grad/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=how_much_draw_on_resume_in_sop&utm_source=blog]Contact Accepted today to find out how we can help you earn a spot at your dream school![/url][/b] [/*][/list]

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/7d9e8b0c-9e1e-4820-bacc-44485ccf7257][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/7d9e8b0c-9e1e-4820-bacc-44485ccf7257.png[/img][/url]

[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2033/03/Rachel_Slutsky_accepted_admissions.png[/img]
By Rachel Slutsky who has as served as a writing tutor, consultant, and adjunct professor teaching writing. Rachel has assisted applicants in applying to an array of MBA and graduate programs. She earned her masters from the University of Chicago and is currently pursuing her PhD at Harvard University. [url=https://www.accepted.com/service-request-rachel?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_rachel_slutsky&utm_source=blog][b]Want Rachel to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/resume_guide]5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Grad School Statement of Purpose[/url], a free guide[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/admissions-resume-what-to-include-2/]What to Include in Your Admissions Resume[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/showing-strengths-in-application-essays/]4 Tips for Highlighting Your Strengths in Your Application Essays[/url][/*][/list]

Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/college-admissions/]College Admissions[/url], [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/grad-school-admissions/]Grad School Admissions[/url], [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/law-school-admissions/]Law School Admissions[/url], [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url]

The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-much-should-i-draw-on-my-cv-resume-in-my-sop/]How Much Should I Draw on My CV/Resume in My SOP?[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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How the Esade MBA Program Aspires to Make a Positive Impact [#permalink] Accepted MBA Updates   28 Apr 2020, 09:01
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How the Esade MBA Program Aspires to Make a Positive Impact
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Podcast-interview-with-Judith-Puigbo.jpg[/img]
[url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/362_Judith-Puigbo_2020.mp3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Podcast-interview-with-Judith-Puigbo.jpg[/img][/url]

What does it mean to train “the best managers for the world?” [Show summary]

Judith Puigbo, Associate Director of MBA Admissions, explores how to get into ESADE, a top MBA program based in Barcelona committed to doing good.

Learn about ESADE’s unique MBA program [Show notes]

Judith Puigbo is the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at ESADE, responsible for MBA admissions in Switzerland and the Middle East. [url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/362_Judith-Puigbo_2020.mp3]Let’s learn more directly from our guest.[/url]

Can you give us an overview of ESADE’s highly ranked full-time MBA program, focusing on what’s distinctive about it? [2:06]

We were the first business school founded in Spain, in 1958. Spain was a very closed society, and we were always looking at what was going on in the U.S. So a group of entrepreneurs (well, now we called them entrepreneurs; in that period, we were calling them family businesses) thought, “Listen, we need to establish a management school, a business school here in Spain.” We had very good engineering schools and economics schools but not management.

So that’s why a group of managers from family businesses decided to create a business school together with the Jesuits because they thought, “Well, we know about management. We have no idea about education.” So that’s why they wanted to partner with the Jesuits. (Georgetown in Washington, for example, was founded by Jesuits.) The Jesuits had a very large tradition of creating schools and universities all over the world, because they believe that it’s better to empower emerging countries through education rather than just doing charity. So that’s why they had the very large tradition of creating schools and universities.

I know this is a very “grandma” story about where we come from, but it explains the DNA of the school. We were founded by entrepreneurs, so we have this entrepreneurial spirit, but also we were founded by the Jesuits, so we have this collaborative environment as well.

And regarding the full-time MBA, I want you to remember the word “flexibility.” I think that’s one of the main assets, the flexibility of the program, because you can do it in 12, 15, or 18 months, and there are many moments in the year where you can tailor the experience through electives, language courses, student clubs, the career examination programs, different tracks, and study tours. So you can ask many people about their experiences, and they would all say something different because there are never two MBAs that are exactly the same. And of course our location is also an asset.

How do you address potential concerns about Barcelona not being a major business hub (like London, New York, or Hong Kong) if you want to pursue business studies? [4:54]

I don’t agree totally with that because Barcelona is very well-known in the startup environment. For example, we have the Mobile World Congress every year here. (Not this year; it had to be postponed due to the situation.) But there are many startups here because it’s a location where it’s easy to attract talent. So it is an important hub for startups. Many technological companies also have a subsidiary here. It’s true that compared to Madrid, they would have more headquarters, big corporations. That’s true. But Barcelona has always had this entrepreneurial spirit.

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/885bd87c-93a9-49cb-b45d-6f22a610ac9c][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/885bd87c-93a9-49cb-b45d-6f22a610ac9c.png[/img][/url]

It’s true that many students, when they come to Barcelona, I have to be very honest, their main goal is maybe not staying in Spain. They take the opportunity more to have an international experience. While they are here, they can learn Spanish, and that opens the world to all Latin America. Spain is a good connection with Europe from the geographical point of view, but also with Latin America from the language point of view.

We have two other schools in Spain: one in Barcelona, one in Madrid, IESE and IE. And I always say that for me, they are not competitors. For me, we are a hub. So our goal is that when people are Googling where to do an MBA, that Spain or Barcelona are in their mindset. Don’t forget: There are two other very big important business schools. We are all different with our own DNA and different focus. But I do think that Barcelona and Spain, they are a reference.

It’s true that many students, they might not all stay here. I can’t remember exactly the figure, but something like 10% will stay in Spain. For the other ones, it’s more an international experience in their careers.

ESADE’s tagline is, ‘Do good. Do better.’ What does that tagline mean to you? [7:09]

Let me share a sentence from our Dean, who said, “We don’t want the best managers of the world. We want the best managers for the world.” So yes, we are in a business school. We don’t work for NGOs; we work for companies. We need to be sustainable from the economical point of view, but always with ethics, and always trying to give a positive impact to society, so that’s in our DNA as well. That’s part of our heritage, as I explained before: this collaborative mindset, willing to help each other, to learn from each other and understanding that even if we are working in business, always trying at the same time to have a positive impact in society.

Society is going through a tough time now (This interview was recorded March 26, 2020). Everything has moved online. How would you address potential applicant concerns that they’re going to be paying for and expecting and hoping for a traditional, in-person program but receiving an online education, which usually is less expensive? [8:03] 

We have a program running now; in fact we sent all our students home even before our Spanish government was asking all schools and universities to close because we have a very international student body, so we thought it was safer. Our main priority was asking, “Okay, what am I going to do now?” We’re very proud of our professors. We didn’t have to cancel even one single class. We went online. We are using Microsoft teams. I don’t know what other schools are using, but we are using Microsoft teams and it’s working very well, honestly speaking. And I’m especially proud of our students because they didn’t complain. We didn’t receive a single complaint. We are still receiving emails thanking for the quick reaction.

But it’s true, we are not an online school. In fact, what we are very proud of is the diversity of our cohort and this team spirit. We are now working 100% remotely because our main goal is to start in September normally. But it’s true that [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=covid-19_mba_Q&A_April2020]now it’s very uncertain[/url], the situation. We have good news coming from China. They already went into normal life after two and a half months of quarantine. In Italy, the number is still high, but it’s starting to slow down. We are now locked down. I think today is day number 13 or 14; I don’t know.

Our hope is that in a couple of months, the situation will improve, and we can start normally in September. If that doesn’t happen, of course, we will decide if it’s better to postpone because we are not an online school. We typically work on campus. So far we are doing the admissions process as normal, but of course in a couple of months when the situation is more clear and we are about to start normally or not, then we will decide. Of course, our priority is always safety, without a doubt. So let’s hope we can start normally in September. If not, we will decide if it’s better to postpone. It was the perfect solution for now, since we’re in the middle of the program, but if we have to start online, probably the best solution, I think, would be postponing.

[url=https://blog.accepted.com/international-mba-applicants-and-covid-19-risks-opportunities-short-video/]International MBA Applicants and COVID-19: Risks & Opportunities [Short Video][/url]

There are a lot of rumors about the GMAT and GRE and their availability. What are your concerns as an admissions director? [11:02]

We received an announcement from GMAT saying that they are working very hard to [url=https://blog.accepted.com/newsflash-gmat-to-be-offered-online/]launch GMAT online[/url] mid-April. I know it’s a very difficult challenge because there’s a lot of security behind an exam online, so I really hope they can manage. Maybe it will not be mid-April, but it could be in May. For the GRE, it was announced a couple of days ago that they, in a few countries, have started already offering the [url=https://blog.accepted.com/ets-announces-at-home-toefl-and-gre/]online version[/url]. I’m sure that they are doing a small test in the more critical countries, but I’m sure that they are going to improve that.

In the meantime, it’s true that we will have this one-month gap and we know that our students are very stressed about this process. As an alternative, we already had an alternative ESADE test for only the executive MBA (not for MBA full-time, not for the masters, but for selected candidates that already have a good GPA, a good profile, good CV). We think that now, we don’t want to stress them. We are offering this alternative ESADE test, but only as an alternative and only for very good select candidates. And of course it will not be for scholarship purposes. Unfortunately for scholarships, our main criteria are the GMAT or GRE. So scholarships will have to be postponed during this one-month period. But I’m sure that GMAT and GRE are working very hard to offer us solutions very, very soon.

We are [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-affect-the-mba-admissions-process-deadline-updates/]extending deadlines[/url]. Normally, if someone asks for an extension of the deadline, we need approval from financial aid. The admissions directors are a big team divided throughout the globe, but we were all empowered to give a one-month extension without any approval from financial aid. In one month we will decide if this is something that we have to continue or not. But at least for now, for sure we are giving a one-month extension because we know that everybody’s now a little bit stressed. It’s a big investment not only in terms of finance but in terms of time as well. So of course we don’t want to push anybody now to make a quick decision without a clear situation.

What are ESADE’s career placement strengths? How are people going to benefit in terms of career growth? [15:14]

We have a big department for career services. Of course, when you’re doing this huge investment, that’s your main concern. We do have some candidates sponsored by the company, but that’s few. I would say the majority are making this effort on their own. Their main goal is to find a good position afterwards. So career services are very crucial at ESADE. The idea is that they are going to help our students not after graduation (that could be too late) but from day number one of the program. So that’s why we have what we call CAPs, Career Acceleration Programs. There’s one specifically for pharma, for consulting (that one is very popular), for technology. So the idea is that with these career services, they are doing this CAPs more oriented in some specific industry and of your interest in order to get prepared from day number one. CAPs are a mix of more theoretical content and also meetings with headhunters or managers from that specific industry. And of course also career services. They are always open. 

They have what we call hotspots. So one day per week at lunchtime, you can pop in there without any kind of previous appointment and they will help improve your LinkedIn profile, your CV, how to face a job interview, what should be the typical salary in your industry, in your country, with your experience. They are working with candidates from the very beginning. That is why our cohort is 180 students, and that’s quite boutique-sized in the MBA world. And we don’t want to be bigger. We want to grow, maybe in other programs or whatever. But for the MBA, that’s our target number. We don’t want to be bigger because it’s a big family. We really want to have the chance to get to know each other and help them one by one.

What is ESADE looking for when it evaluates applications to the program? [17:18]

It’s a mix. One third is your past, so your GPA, professional experience, international exposure, number of languages you speak, and so on. We can highlight it, but we cannot change it.

One third is your [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/gmatscorewebinar]GMAT or GRE[/url]. I personally get very stressed with the GMAT. I understand people don’t like this exam, but you know what? It’s the only objective part of the process. Because with GPA, we are not comparing apples with apples. There are some universities where a 2.9 GPA is amazing and another university 3.4 is super standard. So the positive part of the GMAT is that it’s something you can work on now. Your GPA, if that was low, you cannot change it. But the good news is you can put in effort and improve and have an amazing GMAT.

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One third is your past, including your GPA and professional experience, one third is your GMAT, and one third is [url=https://blog.accepted.com/focus-fit-episode-162/]personal fit[/url], and that’s why we have an interview with all candidates because on the application, on paper, you can be an amazing candidate, but maybe during the interview, you realize that maybe this is not the right program or it’s not the right time or it’s not the right school. If we think that the match is not in both directions, that we are not going to fulfill their expectations, then sometimes we even recommend another kind of program or another kind of school because we want to fulfill all of their objectives. So personal fit, it’s very relevant, and only during the interview can you really get to know each other.

You talked a lot about the importance of the GMAT. Is there a preference for the GMAT over the GRE? [18:56]

No. In general, we have more people coming to us with the GMAT, but in our case, we have said we accept both the [url=https://blog.accepted.com/gmat-or-gre/]GMAT and GRE[/url]. In fact, for example, I specifically am in charge of admissions coming from the Middle East, and in the Middle East, the GRE is much more popular. There’s no difference. We accept equally.

“Personal fit” can be nebulous and hard to understand. What makes a strong personal fit? [19:30]

I always use the same example because it’s super clear. So this lady, she was a Romanian living in Frankfurt, a physics PhD. Amazing GPA, amazing GMAT. A woman, and we want to have more women. On paper she was perfect, the perfect candidate. But then [url=https://blog.accepted.com/preparing-for-your-mba-interview-questions/]during the interview[/url], her main purpose was to go from public industry, which was in a research institute, to private industry, but she wanted to stay in Germany. And she was super process-oriented. Even having a fluent conversation was difficult because her answers were “yes,” “no.” I wondered, why don’t you study in Germany? Maybe the school will not be at the top of the rankings, but in Germany, they will have a better network than us. And it would be more process-oriented.

If you choose to study, you have to be aware that the answers will not be “ABC” because we are discussing case studies, and the answer is not “ABCD.” We might have different opinions, so I always say business is more an art than a science. We thought that she would not enjoy the experience at ESADE. And that was a very clear example. There’s many, but that was very clear. It’s about understanding their motivations and really understanding how ESADE can help them to grow.

What are the language requirements for the program? [21:16]

Only English, so we do require some kind of proof of speaking English. So it can be TOEFL, TOEIC, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/all-about-the-ielts-episode-319/]IELTS[/url], Cambridge, or if you studied your bachelor’s degree in English, or you lived two years in an English-speaking country. Then you will have a waiver. So English is the only language. We do offer Spanish courses once you are here, but we don’t require any language other than English.

What is the ESADE interview like? [21:49]

We have different associate directors, so I assume we all have our different styles. But in any case, we always do the interview once the application is submitted because the main purpose is to really understand the application. Everything is clear because the admissions committee reads the application, recommendation letters, GPA, GMAT, and everything. But they don’t have the chance to meet that person. So that’s why I always say that the associate directors, we are a little bit partners in crime. We are their representatives.

The main purpose of this interview is, one, understanding their motivations and expectations to make sure that yes, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/focus-fit-episode-162/]we have that personal fit[/url], and also to decide together which strengths we’re going to highlight in front of the admission committee. So that’s the main purpose of this interview.

We have a https://gmatclub.com/chat group. We called ourselves The Travelers because we are traveling all year round, and we try as much as possible to do face-to-face interviews during our trips. Of course, now everything is online, but we are still seeing a normal number of applicants. We have the same number as last year during this period. Nowadays with Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime, we can meet them face to face even if it’s online. So [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-practice-for-a-video-interview-or-essay/]that’s how we are doing now the interviews[/url].

Any last pieces of advice for applicants to ESADE aiming for the 2020/2021 application cycle? [23:29]

As I told you, we are working with the assumption that we are going to start normally in September. That’s our main goal. I would say when deciding on a school, I always recommend speaking with the people from the admissions team. Because we work at ESADE, we have to say how wonderful we are. I studied at ESADE as well, so I try to share my experience as a student. But I always recommend they also talk with alumni because they were like them two years ago thinking, “Oh, is this the right program? The right school?” And there might be some questions like, “Are the exams difficult? Are the professors good? How is it in Barcelona?”

There are some questions that they will feel more comfortable asking of someone like an alumni or a current student rather than an admissions director. So if they want to talk with alumni, they can check LinkedIn, but they also can ask us to connect with them. So I would say that the best is, yes, of course check the website, brochures, and everything when doing your comparison. But for the final decision, I think you really need to talk with current students or alumni so they can share their experience. That would be my piece of advice.

What would you have liked me to ask you that I haven’t asked you? [25:01]

I always finish my interviews with candidates with the same question! I wanted to offer the big picture about ESADE, and I’m sure that was covered. I hope your audience now knows a little bit more about the ESADE Business School, and I would of course be more than happy to answer more one-on-one questions.

[url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/362_Judith-Puigbo_2020.mp3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ListenToTheShow.png[/img][/url]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://www.esade.edu/en/]ESADE’s English-language website[/url][/*][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey]How Will COVID-19 Impact Your Admissions Journey?[/url] a free webinar[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-admissions-journey-5-mba-admissions-experts-speak/]How Will COVID-19 Impact Your Admissions Journey: 5 MBA Admissions Experts Speak[/url][/*][*][url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=podcast_esade_episode_362&utm_source=blog]Accepted’s MBA Admissions Consulting Services[/url][/*][/list]

[b]Related Shows:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/an-admissions-experts-top-tips-for-business-school-applicants/]An Admissions Expert’s Top Tips for Business School Applicants[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/early-career-management-and-european-mba-programs-with-jamie-wright/]Early Career Management and European MBA Programs with Jamie Wright[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/all-about-the-ielts-episode-319/]All About t[/url][url=https://blog.accepted.com/all-about-the-ielts/]h[/url][url=https://blog.accepted.com/all-about-the-ielts-episode-319/]e IELTS[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/wharton-lauder-ma-mba-kara-keenan-sweeney-episode-225/]Wharton Lauder: An [/url][url=https://blog.accepted.com/wharton-lauder-ma-mba-kara-keenan-sweeney/]M[/url][url=https://blog.accepted.com/wharton-lauder-ma-mba-kara-keenan-sweeney-episode-225/]BA/MA that Prepares You for Global Business[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/whats-new-at-insead-episode-285/]What’s New at INSE[/url][url=https://blog.accepted.com/whats-new-at-insead/]A[/url][url=https://blog.accepted.com/whats-new-at-insead-episode-285/]D?[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/exploring-london-business-schools-masters-in-analytics-and-management/]Exploring London Business School’s Master’s in Analytics and Management[/url][/*][/list]

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Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/admissions-straight-talk/]Admissions Straight Talk[/url], [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url]

The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-the-esade-mba-program-aspires-to-make-a-positive-impact-episode-362/]How the ESADE MBA Program Aspires to Make a Positive Impact [Episode 362][/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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