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29 Apr 2020, 09:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Incoming MBAs Can Choose Deferment at HBS |
 Harvard Business School (HBS) has announced that deferments will be offered to incoming MBAs if they choose not to attend fall classes that may be taught partially or fully online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Poets & Quants article, MBA Admissions and Financial Aid Director, Chad Losee, and Executive Director of the MBA and doctoral programs, Jana Kierstead, sent an email to accepted applicants offering them the period between May 15 and June 1 to request a deferral to start the full-time MBA program. Deferral requests can be for one or two years. The email stated, in part, “We realize that the world has changed significantly since you applied – your employment, health, visa, or financial situation (or that of your families) may have shifted in the past few months. To provide you as much flexibility as possible, we will consider allowing you to defer your offer of admission.” Deferral requests will not be accepted after June 1 “beyond medical emergencies, military deployments, or joint Harvard degrees. While we want to be as supportive as possible to you, one real constraint is the operational capacity of the faculty and the school.” WATCH: International MBA Applicants and COVID-19: Risks & Opportunities [Short Video] >> Deferrals available for the next two years Depending on the number of students requesting deferrals, deferred enrollments may have to be spread out over two years (2021 and 2022). Students will request when they would like to begin their deferred studies, however, “…we will do our best to honor – but cannot guarantee – your preference of a one-year versus two-year deferral, as we balance the backgrounds and perspectives presented in the next few HBS classes.” The email continues, “While we offer the choice about deferral in all respect for the challenges that you face, our hope is that the majority of you who can will decide to enroll in HBS this fall and use this as a time to learn and to deepen your capacity to lead. We look forward to partnering with you to make this a spectacular year at Harvard Business School.” Why is HBS Offering the Deferral? Linda Abraham (founder and CEO of Accepted) believes three motivations are behind HBS’ move.
This new situation will also help those students currently waitlisted at HBS. New spots will certainly open up once accepted students have submitted their deferment requests. Are you applying to HBS or another top MBA program? Do you have questions about whether now is the best time to apply to and attend business school? Work one-on-one with one of our MBA admissions consultants to assure that your application strategy is on track to help you meet your educational and career goals.   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 The post Incoming MBAs Can Choose Deferment at HBS appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
29 Apr 2020, 10:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Should You Retake Your GMAT or GRE? |
 Maybe your score wasn’t what you’d hoped it would be; or, maybe you need a near-perfect score to help mitigate a lower-than-average undergrad GPA. Whatever the reason, many MBA applicants consider retaking their GMAT or GRE to improve their admissions chances. But is this the right move for you? Or is a retake a waste of time and money when you should be focusing on other elements of your application instead? This decision is an important one, and the answer will be different for every applicant. Thankfully, Accepted’s CEO and founder Linda Abraham is hosting a one-hour webinar, The Impact of your GMAT & GRE: A Critical Piece in Your MBA Application on May 6th at 10am PT/1pm ET. She’ll walk you through everything you need to know to understand how your test scores will affect your chances, and what you can do to mitigate or improve them. The session is free, but you must register to join us. Spaces are filling up fast, so grab your spot now! Register for the webinar: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: “58291”, formId: “cba84d24-0ff6-41de-9739-8841c99e8577” }); 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 The post Should You Retake Your GMAT or GRE? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
30 Apr 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: GMAC Requests Putting MBA Rankings on Hold |
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[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GMAC-requests-putting-MBA-rankings-on-hold.jpg[/img] [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GMAC-requests-putting-MBA-rankings-on-hold.jpg[/img][/url] The leaders of the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) and two accreditation agencies (AACSB and EFMO) in coordination with MBA CSEA, have asked ranking institutions to stop their work and postpone the publication of their ranking lists due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to giving reasons for the delay, the letter also underscores the fact that b-schools are responding to the changing needs of industry, local communities, and students in original ways. These innovations may lead to [url=https://www.gmac.com/why-gmac/gmac-news/delay-b-school-rankings-covid-19]new metrics[/url] in the ranking systems. Also in response to the pandemic, travel and gathering restrictions, and consulate closures, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-affect-the-mba-admissions-process-deadline-updates/]many business schools have extended their application cycles[/url]. In doing so they are both responding to applicant concerns and needs while also trying to ensure that they have diverse and full classes when the 2020-21 academic year starts. There are also many concerns about employment outcomes for this year’s graduating class. The letter was sent to U.S. News & World Report, the Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Economist, Forbes, and QS. The MBA organizations conveyed concern over the impact that the coronavirus pandemic would have on key markers used to rank MBA programs. U.S. News responded that it is reviewing its policies. [url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/8759ad4b-61cd-4b71-8746-e7a0a50aab2e][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/8759ad4b-61cd-4b71-8746-e7a0a50aab2e.png[/img][/url] How long will the postponement be? No timeframe was suggested in the request, but they would like to “provide business schools worldwide the opportunity to rebound in these tumultuous circumstances,” which could lead to a year-long suspension of rankings. It is very unlikely that ranking institutions will wait that long to publish their next list. Why do these organizations want to stop rankings? According to Linda Abraham, founder and CEO of Accepted, schools probably believe that the data that will come out of this application cycle isn’t representative or helpful to future applicants. “Rankings force schools to make those numbers public unless all the schools refuse to provide data to the rankings,” she says. “Clearly the schools don’t want those numbers known and don’t want to be ranked on traditional metrics.” Linda discusses whether the rankings themselves are cause for concern, since all of the schools are in the same situation relative to one another. She does not feel that the rankings will change radically. “However, the stats that the rankings publicize and upon which the different rankings are based could change dramatically. Perhaps schools fear significant drops of 10, 20, or 30 points in the average GMAT score for the class entering in 2020. Perhaps a .2 or more drop in average GPA. Acceptance rates could climb. [url=https://blog.accepted.com/international-mba-applicants-and-covid-19-risks-opportunities-short-video/]International diversity[/url], certainly in the U.S., is likely to take a nosedive.” A silver lining and benefit of a “no-ranking” cycle or at least round is that it frees the MBA programs to focus more on other qualities and qualifications in an application. The fact that the GMAT, AACSB, and EFMD have written this letter reflects how important the various rankings are to graduate business education. It is, according to Linda, “a profound acknowledgment of rankings’ influence on application decisions as to whether and where to apply to business schools. Let’s face it. Schools are wrestling with a new, difficult financial reality, the need to completely change their delivery method for an unknown period of time, health concerns, possible lawsuits, and myriad of other issues.” It’s a tough time for business schools. Their representative organizations are asking for a little breathing room while trying to prevent applicants from making decisions based on misleading information. [b]You still have time to apply to an MBA program in R3. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=GMAC_hold_rankings&utm_source=blog]Work one-on-one with one of our MBA admissions consultants[/url] and 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://www.accepted.com/mba/selectivity-index]Accepted’s MBA Selectivity Index[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/are-you-ready-introducing-the-mba-admissions-calculator-quiz/]Are You Ready? Introducing the MBA Admissions Calculator Quiz![/url][/*][*][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][/*][/list] Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url] The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/gmac-requests-putting-mba-rankings-on-hold/]GMAC Requests Putting MBA Rankings on Hold[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url]. |
01 May 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: For a Limited Time: 50% Off Resume Packages! |
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[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/resume-graphic.png[/img] [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/resume?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=resume_special_sale&utm_source=blog#tab-2][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/resume-graphic.png[/img][/url] Did you know that your resume is often the first thing an admissions committee will review when you submit your application? If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that first impressions count — and your resume needs to make that memorable first impression for you! [url=https://www.accepted.com/aboutus/jenniferbloom?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=resume_special_sale&utm_source=blog]Jennifer Bloom[/url] is not only a Certified Professional Resume Writer, but also an expert MBA admissions consultant with over 20 years of experience. And there’s nothing she loves more than a good resume challenge. In fact, Jennifer loves working on resumes so much, she’s offering to work on yours for [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/resume?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=resume_special_sale&utm_source=blog#tab-2][b]half off our normal resume package price[/b][/url]! Just use code [b]RESUME[/b] at checkout when you purchase your resume package, and we’ll take over $440 off your purchase price. This deal is almost too good to be true — and if you wait too long, it will be! We’re only offering this incredible opportunity to ten applicants, so take advantage of Jennifer’s expertise today and ensure that your first impression won’t also be your last. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/resume?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=resume_special_sale&utm_source=blog#tab-2][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/refine-my-resume.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] Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url] The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/for-a-limited-time-50-off-resume-packages/]For a Limited Time: 50% Off Resume Packages![/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url]. |
04 May 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Last Chance! FREE Expert Advice on Your GMAT & GRE Scores! |
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Our free one-hour webinar, The Impact of Your GMAT & GRE: A Critical Piece in Your MBA Application, is coming up soon. It’s not too late to register and join us! You’ve taken the GMAT or the GRE; now you have your scores, and you might be wondering whether or not it would be in your best interest to retake one or both of these exams. What other options are available to you? Join us for this free session and we’ll demystify the whole process and help you make the decision that’s best for your situation. This session will be led by Accepted’s own founder and CEO, Linda Abraham, an MBA admissions expert with more than 25 years of experience. She will break down the importance of test scores and the ways in which the adcom will see and use those scores when evaluating your applicant profile; with this insight, you will be better-equipped to decide whether or not to retake the GRE or the GMAT. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insight and set yourself on the path to acceptance. Register now! Register for the webinar: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: “58291”, formId: “cba84d24-0ff6-41de-9739-8841c99e8577” }); 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 The post Last Chance! FREE Expert Advice on Your GMAT & GRE Scores! appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
07 May 2020, 09:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: UPDATES: How Does Corona Continue to Impact Testing? [GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, ACT, SAT, TOEFL, EA] |
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[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/How-does-Corona-continue-to-impact-testing.jpg[/img] [img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/How-does-Corona-continue-to-impact-testing.jpg[/img] The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect schools and businesses worldwide. The health and safety of testing candidates and staff remain priorities as testing organizations continue to offer online testing while finding ways to safely reopen testing centers. Here is the most up-to-date information on admission tests and their response to coronavirus. [url=https://www.ets.org/s/cv/important-update/]GRE[/url] ETS is offering a GRE General Test at home option everywhere the computer-delivered GRE General Tests is offered, excluding Mainland China and Iran. This option is currently available around the clock every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday through June 30, 2020. Please see [url=https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/the-americas]here[/url] for more information. For GRE advice, check out our webinar, [url=https://reports.accepted.com/grad/dominate-test-gre]Your 3-Part Game Plan to Dominate the GRE[/url]. [url=https://www.mba.com/articles-and-announcements/announcements/update-on-coronavirus]GMAT[/url] Testing continues to be suspended in many testing centers around the world. The GMAT Online Exam began testing on April 20, 2020. Registration continues to be open for testing dates. Testing dates for the Executive Assessment Online exam will begin May 5, 2020. Registration is open. Visit [url=https://www.mba.com/articles-and-announcements/announcements/update-on-coronavirus]mba.com [/url]to determine the status of test centers near you and for information on scheduling your Online GMAT or Executive Assessment exam. Read about the effect of COVID-19 on MBA rankings [url=https://blog.accepted.com/tag/covid-19-mba/]here[/url]. [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.lsac.org/update-coronavirus-and-lsat]LSAT[/url] The June 8, 2020 LSAT will be replaced with the LSAT-Flex for test takers in the US and Canada. The majority of test takers will test on either Sunday, June 14 or Monday, June 15. A small number of tests will take place during the week based on specific proctoring requirements. Scheduling sign-up for this test will open Wednesday, May 13. More information can be found at [url=https://www.lsac.org/update-coronavirus-and-lsat/lsat-flex]here[/url]. Do you know the average LSAT scores at your top choice school? [url=https://www.accepted.com/law/selectivity-index]Check out the Law School Selectivity Index![/url] [url=https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/coronavirus-covid-19-and-mcat-exam/]MCAT[/url] In order to accommodate as many MCAT testing candidates as possible, the AAMC is shortening the MCAT being administered from May 29 through the end of the 2020 testing year. The “seated” time of the exam will be reduced from seven and a half hours to five hours and forty-five minutes. The time was shortened by the elimination or reduction of some of the field test questions and some administrative items, such as the tutorial and the end-of-the-day survey. Exams will be administered at test centers at 6:30 am. 12:15 pm, and 6 pm each day, with the following health and safety precautions in place: [list][*]Examinees will be seated 6 feet (2 meters) apart at the test center. [/*][*]Examinees may bring masks and gloves to the exam. [/*][*]There will be enhanced disinfecting procedures at the test centers before and after each seating.[/*][/list] More information can be found [url=https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/coronavirus-mcat-faqs/?edit]here[/url]. Want to be sure that your med school application stands out among the rest? Check out our [url=https://www.accepted.com/medical/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=virus_impacts_testing&utm_source=blog]med school admissions services[/url]. [url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/42471f69-103d-4aef-95dd-ea4921b3cc65][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/42471f69-103d-4aef-95dd-ea4921b3cc65.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www.act.org/content/act/en/covid-19.html]ACT[/url] The April 4 national ACT test has been rescheduled to June 13. All students registered for the April 4 test date received an email notifying them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13, July 18, or another national test date. Please visit [url=https://www.act.org/content/act/en.html]act.org[/url] to learn more. Be sure your application will get you accepted to the college of your choice! Working one-on-one with one of our [url=https://www.accepted.com/college/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=virus_impacts_testing&utm_source=blog]admissions specialists[/url] will help make that happen. [url=https://pages.collegeboard.org/sat-covid-19-updates]SAT[/url] In order to follow public health guidance and school closures in 192 countries, the SAT and SAT Subject Tests scheduled for June 6, 2020 have been canceled. If it is safe from a public health standpoint, weekend SAT administrations will begin in August. These tests will take place monthly through the end of 2020. The test calendar will include a new administration on September 26 in addition to the tests already scheduled for August 29, November 7, and December 5. Please see [url=https://pages.collegeboard.org/natural-disasters]collegeboard.org[/url] for more information. Make your college application shine. Check out our [url=https://www.accepted.com/college/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=virus_impacts_testing&utm_source=blog]college admissions consulting services[/url] and get GET ACCEPTED to your top choice! [url=https://www.ets.org/s/cv/important-update/]TOEFL[/url] TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test has been expanded to everywhere TOEFL iBT testing is normally available except for Mainland China and Iran. All open test centers are frequently cleaning high-touch surfaces and providing test takers with disposable wipes to wipe down their testing areas. Test takers are allowed to wear surgical masks at the test centers. These will NOT be supplied by the test centers. You must bring your own mask, which must be temporarily removed to have your photo taken and your ID verified during check-in and on returning from breaks. More information can be found at [url=https://www.ets.org/s/cv/toefl/the-americas]here[/url]. [url=https://www.mba.com/articles-and-announcements/announcements/update-on-coronavirus]Executive Assessment (EA)[/url] The online version of the Executive Assessment has the same structure and follows the same scoring algorithm as the traditional version. Currently, appointment dates are available between May 5th and June 30th, and new dates will be added if needed. Work one-on-one with one of our [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=virus_impacts_testing&utm_source=blog]admissions consultants[/url] to ensure your application is polished to perfection! ***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual testing companies for the most current information.*** [b]As the information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic changes daily, we are here for you. Accepted’s expert consultants are available via phone, email, and video. [url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=virus_impacts_testing&utm_source=blog]Contact us[/url] for all of your admissions needs. [/b] [url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/14137059-b07d-43d8-8309-0bbaea2a0055][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/14137059-b07d-43d8-8309-0bbaea2a0055.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_gen&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 applicants gain acceptance to top undergraduate and graduate programs. Our expert team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, PhDs, and professional writers who have advised clients to acceptance at top programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, MIT, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern. [url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_gen&utm_source=blog][b]Want an admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url] [b]Related Resources:[/b] [list][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/five-fatal-flaws-grad-school-statement-of-purpose]5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Personal Statement[/url], a free guide[/*][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/med/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-med-school-admissions-journey]How Will Covid-19 Impact Your Med School Admissions Journey[/url], a live Q&A with medical school admissions experts[/*][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey]How Will Covid-19 Impact Your MBA Admissions Journey[/url], a live Q&A with MBA admissions experts[/*][/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], [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/medical-school-admissions/]Medical School Admissions[/url] The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-coronavirus-impact-testing-gre-gmat-lsat-mcat-act-sat-toefl/]UPDATES: How Does Corona Continue to Impact Testing? [GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, ACT, SAT, TOEFL, EA][/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url]. |
08 May 2020, 09:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2020 |
 What are the M7 business schools?
Talk about diversity! Seven distinct, vivid cultures – each with its own history, values, characteristics, opportunities, and challenges. Sure, there are many commonalities among the M7 schools: all are highly competitive, all feature deep academic resources, all are supported by committed and involved alumni, all attract top-tier recruiters (even in down business cycles). Yet the most important commonality is their individual uniqueness! Their strong and determined “individualism” literally reflects their leadership in the MBA realm. They rise to their prominent position because they are the leaders in their domain, graduate business education. So, they reasonably expect you – their students and prospective students – to have correspondingly high ambitions, whether your domain be finance, healthcare, energy, social entrepreneurship, or something else. While these M7 programs all value diversity, together they also represent diversity. What makes the M7s so magnificent? Of course, there are other elite MBA programs. These 7 have a history together that continues –their deans connected with each other years ago and formed a group to regularly meet and share information. Eventually these meetings grew beyond just the deans to include others within their admissions offices, creating a consistent flow of information. Meetings and discussions address a range of issues, including best practices for components of the admissions process and responses to current events that directly impact MBA admissions. A deeper look at the M7s Harvard Business School  There is not a day I regret going to HBS. The classes I am taking this year have been incredibly valuable, being taught by practitioners who have been incredibly successful in their careers. The case method is also incredibly unique. You are learning from peers who have collective experiences no individual could have themselves – from the military, Tesla, big corporations with different missions and visions, and all are invaluable to my learning experience. Tess Michaels, second-year student at Harvard Business School, on Admissions Straight Talk Immersion could be the keyword for the Harvard Business School experience. The cornerstone of the program is the case-study academic approach: students read the case and then intensively analyze it both before and in class. The aim is to train students in real-world, complex decision-making. By continuously engaging with classmates from different functions and industries/sectors in these case discussions, students radically expand their perspectives, thought processes, and knowledge. This immersive experience is heightened and enhanced by the smarts, passion, and ambition of HBS students. Outside of class, these high-achieving, high-energy students participate together in many club and volunteer activities. The two years just fly by, and suddenly you’re graduating, when it seems like you’ve just started at HBS, thanks to the nonstop immersion and engagement. Average GMAT score: 728 Average GPA: 3.70 Acceptance Rate: 11.5% What HBS is looking for in applicants: Given the case approach, HBS seeks students who will carry their weight and contribute fully in the classroom – people who have something to say and the ability to communicate it. Further, they must be able to listen, respond thoughtfully, and adapt to new ideas as the dialogue progresses. Beyond the requisite high accomplishment, people who enthusiastically and capably engage. For more on this, check out our blog series, What HBS is Looking For? More HBS Resources: HBS Class Profile HBS Application Essay Tips Interview with a Harvard Business School Student Get Accepted to HBS Webinar Stanford Graduate School of Business  Stanford wants people of impact. Show the Stanford GSB that you are that kind of person. All the essays should lead Stanford to that conclusion. Linda Abraham, CEO of Accepted, in her Stanford Application Essay Tips Transformation, nothing less – that’s what Stanford is about. With its Silicon Valley connection and “mythology” (as one student puts it on the website), innovation, change, and entrepreneurship shape the Stanford program. Its small, elite cohort goes on an exploratory journey together, and many emerge in a different place than they expected starting out. This journey integrates the personal and the professional – in Stanford’s multifaceted pedagogical approach, building business and leadership skills is tied to understanding and defining your mission, your vision. Beyond the MBA classroom students learn from and engage with numerous guest speakers who represent the cutting edge in their fields and are encouraged to access Stanford’s various other top-notch programs, including law, medicine, engineering, humanities, and sciences. During the program Stanford students form a robust, mutually supportive network for testing out ideas, boundaries, and one’s own assumptions and inclinations.  Stanford GSB Average GMAT score: 734 Stanford GSB Average GPA: 3.70 Stanford GSB Acceptance Rate: 6.9% What Stanford GSB is looking for in applicants: Given the above encapsulation of the program, Stanford wants people who will be excellent “fellow travelers.” People who have – and bring to the program – a point of view, a unique perspective. Risk-takers. Change agents. At the same time, they deliberately remain a “work in progress” – always open to new information, ideas, situations and willing to change accordingly. They relish exploration and collaboration. For more on this, check out our blog series, What Stanford GSB is Looking For. More Stanford GSB resources: Stanford MBA Class Profile Stanford MBA Application Essay Tips Get Accepted to Stanford GSB Webinar MIT Sloan  If you are looking to put the finishing touches on your essay, we recommend you have two people review – someone who knows you really well and can tell you if it sounds like you, and someone who you trust but maybe doesn’t know you as well to get a sense of what the essay does sound like, and judge whether or not it’s the way you want it to be. Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean, on Admissions Straight Talk “We welcome wicked problems.” That quote from the MIT MBA website captures what’s special about the MIT Sloan MBA. The MIT cohort learns how to develop robust solutions that can weather uncertainty, ambiguity, and change. And they take pleasure in that learning. Sure, the adcom wants leaders, of a sort – “anti-leaders” – people who become leaders organically by drawing others along the journey to solve a wicked problem. The MIT MBA roots its approach in two concepts that intertwine: invention, entailing creativity and agility, and data-driven analysis, entailing rigor and objectivity. These concepts align with the broader MIT university. Just as a robust process involves iteration, this program supports its pedagogy with ongoing experiential learning opportunities – practice – to reinforce and deepen the learning and ensure the students grasp topics in a real-world context. In essence, the MIT MBA program graduates people who are able to see around corners and are prepared to make constructive use of whatever they encounter. They will probably lead others in the process, but that’s a result of their zeal and/or vision to tackle a compelling problem. MIT Sloan Average GMAT score: 727 MIT Sloan Average GPA: 3.58 MIT Sloan Acceptance Rate: 14.6% What MIT Sloan is looking for in applicants: Can you be guided by the data? MIT seeks students who are open to going where the data leads, even if it contradicts their preferences or assumptions. MIT also seeks people who possess both vision and practical skills. Who are creative and analytic. That doesn’t mean they expect (or want) these qualities 50/50. But, if, say you veer toward creative and visionary, you should still show a record of concrete impact and achievement. Needless to say, in such a program, curiosity and collaboration are also sought. More MIT Sloan Resources: MIT MBA Class Profile MIT Sloan MBA Application Essay Tips Ask Me Anything with MIT Sloan’s Assistant Dean of Admissions Wharton  We want students to do self-reflection on why they want this degree. We want students to explore the pivot moment (when they decided they wanted to do this) and unpack the talent and treasure they can bring to the MBA. Spend the time and really think about the top three things you will get out of the program. Blair Mannix, Director of Admissions, on Admissions Straight Talk The Wharton MBA program is big – almost 900 enrolled students, multiple opportunities for joint degrees and certificates (from law and veterinary medicine to the Lauder program and Harvard Kennedy School), 18 majors, innumerable electives including courses across the 11 other campus schools, and clubs too many to count in several broad categories: professional, athletics, social and special interest, community service, and international and cultural. YET – Wharton does not sacrifice quality for quantity. Each of those many majors is deep and rigorous. Moreover, its tiered structure of 5-6-person Learning Teams at the core selected to be diverse in multiple dimensions, surrounded by Clusters of 70 or so, encircled by Cohorts of about 200, ensures some consistency and drives dynamism throughout the learning process. Especially with the Learning Teams and Cohorts, what you learn from teammates and classmates will help you to and take full advantage of the program’s vast resources – and in turn you can share what you discover about the program with them – your “2 cents” about a class or a major or a club might open a magical door for someone who otherwise would not have encountered it among the abundance of opportunities. While bigness and abundance characterize this program, Wharton has devised the perfect learning structure that personalizes and optimizes it for students. Wharton Average GMAT score: 732 Wharton Average GPA: 3.61 Wharton Acceptance Rate: 23.1% What Wharton is looking for in applicants: Wharton wants applicants who, along with being high performers, are actively engaged in activities and/or interests that contribute somehow – it doesn’t necessarily have to be community service, but some clear and consistent engagement outside work that positively impacts others. Finally, given Wharton’s extensive opportunities and resources, it is essential that applicants show they are resourceful – Wharton does not want its abundance squandered. More Wharton Resources: Wharton MBA Class Profile Wharton MBA Application Essay Tips 9 Tips for Team Interviews How to Present a Winning Wharton Application: Interview with Wharton’s Director of Admissions Interview with a Wharton Student Get Accepted to Wharton Webinar Webinar Kellogg School of Management  Kellogg values people who are going to be engaged and “all in” with their experience…Bottom line we look at engagement, initiative, and collaboration. High impact, low ego – people who elevate everyone in the room. Kate Smith, Assistant Dean of Admissions, on Admissions Straight Talk Teamwork and management remain hallmarks of the Kellogg MBA program – teamwork is a means to the ends of learning content and skills, growing as a leader and manager, preparing for your goals, and contributing to the Kellogg community. Kellogg’s renowned strength in management underpins the academic program with two management-focused majors, “Management Science” and “Managing Organizations,” along with numerous other traditional functional majors. Complementing these pillars of business training, Kellogg has innovated by offering also “Pathways,” which are cross-functional sets of courses that address timely topics, including, to mention a few new ones, “Technology Management,” “Energy and Sustainability,” and “Asset Management.” Students can mix-and-match majors and pathways, benefiting from the accumulated wisdom of the scholars and experts who devise them. Kellogg has innovated in another area as well: it is one of the first US MBA programs to offer a one-year program (for people with some academic business foundation). Not least, Kellogg is renowned for its abundant global opportunities, which are taken by almost half of the students. Kellogg Average GMAT score: 730 Kellogg Average GPA: 3.64 Kellogg Acceptance Rate: 27.0% What Kellogg is looking for in applicants: Kellogg greatly values work experience that shows exemplary people skills: leadership, teamwork, collaboration, communication and that also presents a record of impactful accomplishment. As Kellogg’s student body is particularly strong in philanthropic activity, including this element is a way to show fit with the program. More Kellogg Resources: Kellogg MBA Class Profile Kellogg MBA Application Essay Tips Interview with a Kellogg MBA Student Get a Kellogg MBA: An Interview with Dean of Admissions Kate Smith Chicago Booth  [Booth is] looking for students who demonstrate self-awareness and direction. They want to read your application and see, based on what you’ve done, that you’re going to make a mark on the world. Linda Abraham, CEO of Accepted, in her Chicago Booth Application Essay Tips Academic and intellectual rigor balanced by curricular flexibility – this intriguing balancing act is the valuable gift of the Chicago Booth MBA program. Intellectual culture is paramount at Booth – a reflection of the identity of the broader university to which it belongs. In the Booth MBA program, ideas are important – having them, sharing them, challenging them, testing them – and acting on them when the time is right. Booth has unrivalled depth among MBA programs in quantitative and analytic rigor. This is a fantastic asset both for students who want to refine existing strengths in these areas and, also, for students seeking a rock-solid foundation in them. Booth’s flexibility means students tailor their own learning program to their needs, which puts the onus on students to understand what they need. Although students need not take a major, many Booth students do, in fact often pursuing a few, and Booth has compiled a fascinating array of majors that includes both standard items like “Accounting” and “Marketing Strategy” and less common ones like “Behavioral Science” and “Econometrics and Statistics.” Chicago Booth Average GMAT score: 730 Chicago Booth Average GPA: 3.58 Chicago Booth Acceptance Rate: 24.2% What Booth is looking for in applicants: Because of the program’s flexibility, Booth looks for people who have the self-knowledge, critical thinking skills, and resourcefulness to make the most out of it and use it productively. And because the program values ideas, it looks for applicants who will go beyond practical career training to explore new topics, areas, disciplines, and who will challenge themselves intellectually. (for more on this, check out Identifying and Articulating Fit With the Booth MBA: Do Your Work Experience and Career Goals Jibe With Booth’s Mission?) More Chicago Booth Resources: Booth MBA Class Profile Booth MBA Application Essay Tips Get Accepted to Chicago Booth Webinar Columbia Business School  To me [what interests me about you as an applicant is] what kind of leader will you prove to be with the people you are around right now. Do you make the people you are around right now better and how do you do that? Michael Robinson, Director of Admissions, in an AMA Session with Accepted Its New York City home is integral to Columbia’s MBA program and the program’s identity. Right on its website landing page, the first lines cite the benefit of being “at the very center of business.” Thanks to this location, along with its renowned full-time faculty, Columbia attracts adjuncts and speakers who are thought leaders in many areas of business and beyond, because so many either reside in/near NYC or visit frequently. Because Columbia’s ongoing interaction with the city makes it such a dynamic program, it builds student community from the start through the cluster program – clusters comprise 60-75 diverse students who take all first-year classes together. As for academics, CBS’s depth in finance is unique: along with a “Financed” major, it offers majors in “Private Equity” and “Value Investing.” Other highly acclaimed specializations are “Social Enterprise” and “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management” – the latter strengthened by the plethora of major pharma companies within a couple hours’ drive. The NYC location also reinforces and amplifies the “Entrepreneurship” resources, given the city’s strong tech and fintech ecosystem. CBS Average GMAT Score: 732 CBS Average GPA: 3.60 CBS Acceptance Rate: 16.4% What Columbia Business School is looking for in applicants: Beyond strong professional and academic track records, Columbia wants people who have a plan – for taking advantage of the CBS resources, for engaging with the surrounding city and its endless opportunities, and for pursuing their defined goals. Because it’s easy to fade into the background in the immensity of NYC and the dynamism of Columbia University, CBS also wants students who can and do forge bonds with peers. More CBS Resources: CBS MBA Class Profile CBS MBA Application Essay Tips Interview with a Columbia Business School Student Get Accepted to Columbia Business School Webinar A final words about the M7s Given their distinctive personalities, deep and comprehensive resources, and continuous adaptation to rapid economic, social, and technological change, these 7 MBA programs continue to lead in the MBA space. As different as they are, many applicants can find their needs met by several if not all of them – each program will provide a positive life-changing experience in its own unique way. Exploring these programs in depth is a perfect way to kickoff your MBA process, as you will be inspired to create and deliver your absolute best application presentation. The Accepted team has guided hundreds of applicants to acceptance at the M7s. Our advisors are ready to walk you through the application process. We will help you figure out which schools you have a chance of getting accepted to (you may be pleasantly surprised!) and guide you every step of the way to ensure that you submit a magnificent, acceptance-worthy application. Learn more about our MBA Admissions Services here.  Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources:
Tags: MBA Admissions The post M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2020 appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
11 May 2020, 09:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: AIGAC Virtual Conference to Include Applicant Fair |
  AIGAC (Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants), whose mission is to provide insight and transparency into the graduate admissions process, will be holding a virtual recruitment fair on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET. Click here to register for the 2020 AIGAC Applicant Fair! >> The 2020 AIGAC Applicant Fair will give you the chance to virtually meet with admissions officers from some of the top business schools, including Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Yale School of Management. The list of schools continues to grow daily. Students and schools are currently struggling with the changes and uncertainties the COVID-19 pandemic is causing. School representatives will have the chance to answer questions or concerns regarding recent changes to admissions criteria, as well as new programs such as a STEM designation. The Virtual Applicant Fair will give you:
The event is free, and space is limited, so register here now. Do you want to make the most of your attendance at the AIGAC Applicant Fair? Check out our 7 Ways to Make the Most of B-School Visits, Fairs, and Receptions to make a positive first impression – your first step to 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! Related Resources:
Tags: MBA Admissions The post AIGAC Virtual Conference to Include Applicant Fair appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
11 May 2020, 11:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Your Guide to Getting off the Waitlist in 2020-2021 |
 The application process is not over for waitlisted applicants. You’ve still got a chance of getting into your dream school. Now’s not the time to slack off, and it’s certainly not the time to give up. Continue fighting for that acceptance! Landing on a waitlist can be a nerve-wracking experience. As a result, sometimes waitlisted applicants let their anxiety or disappointment get the better of them. Many adcom members complain of applicants who react emotionally and behave in ways that are demanding, rude, disrespectful or otherwise inappropriate, either in their emails, calls, or even unscheduled drop-in visits to their offices. There may be 200 or more waitlisted applicants at your school, and these types of responses do not demonstrate perseverance; they reveal immaturity and lack of judgment. This behavior is duly noted and will work against you. If you are waitlisted, take heart: the school is still very interested in you. You’re still a contender. To maximize your chances of turning your waitlist status into an acceptance, follow the school’s instructions precisely: Send what they ask for, and don’t send what they don’t want. Your waitlist updates or letter of continued interest (you write those) and letters of support (other people write these) should focus on three areas: your growing list of qualifications, the steps you’ve taken to ameliorate shortcomings, and the ways in which you are the perfect fit for the school. Your step-by-step guide to writing a waitlist update Update letters should be short – no more than two pages. Keep the letter focused on what you have accomplished since applying. Here’s what you need to do to create a waitlist letter that will get you OFF the waitlist:
MBA admissions directors want waitlisted applicants to show passion, but not obsession. Follow these steps, and you can be sure that schools will respond to this extra personal effort, provided that your sincerity is matched by an equal measure of professionalism and courtesy. Waitlisters: 2 additional points to consider A few things to look out for when creating your waitlist update:
You are so close! Where do you go from here? Accepted’s admissions experts are ready to help you get off the waitlist and into the school of your dreams. We’ll help you identify areas you can highlight in your waitlist letter, assist with strategy, and help you edit your letter so that you can be sure it makes the best possible case for your admission. Check out our waitlist services and contact us to get started.  For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to top undergraduate and graduate programs. Our expert team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, PhDs, and professional writers who have advised clients to acceptance at top programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, MIT, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources:
Tags: Admissions Consulting, College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, Law School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Medical School Admissions The post Your Guide to Getting off the Waitlist in 2020-2021 appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
12 May 2020, 09:01
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: What Prospective MBAs Should Know About Applying to Michigan Ross [Episode 365] |
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[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Podcast-interview-with-Soojin-Kwon-and-Diana-Economy.jpg[/img] [url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/365_Soojin-Kwon_2020.mp3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Podcast-interview-with-Diana-Economy-and-Soojin-Kwon.jpg[/img][/url] Applying to business school during a pandemic [Show summary] Soojin Kwon (Managing Director, Full-Time MBA Admissions at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business) and Diana Economy, Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions at Ross, answers pressing applicant questions about applying to Ross. [url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/365_Soojin-Kwon_2020.mp3]They address how the application process has shifted in light of COVID-19 and what accepted students can expect[/url] from their MBA experience this fall. What prospective MBAs should know about applying to Michigan Ross [Show notes] Are you among the many MBA wannabes who are thinking about applying for an MBA? Are you wondering whether to apply this cycle or next? We’ve invited Soojin Kwon and Diana Economy to answer the most common applicant questions related to COVID-19 and its impact on MBA admissions, specifically at Michigan Ross. During the podcast, Soojin Kwon provides an excellent framework for evaluating whether you should apply now or not. Most of us have been confined to our homes for over a month. I first of all want to express my profound hope that all listeners and their loved ones are well. The restrictions and challenges of the coronavirus have wreaked havoc on so many areas of our lives, and this show is devoted to the challenges it has posed in the MBA admissions world, specifically at Michigan Ross’ top-notch, full-time MBA program. It gives me great pleasure to have on today’s show Soojin Kwon, Managing Director of the Full-Time MBA Admissions program at the [url=https://blog.accepted.com/michigan-ross-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]University of Michigan Ross School of Business[/url], and Diana Economy, Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions at University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Both are returning guests to Admissions Straight Talk and I’m thrilled to have them back. Soojin and Diana, in addition to being highly experienced in MBA admissions, and specifically Ross admissions, are both also highly articulate in this extraordinary time in so many ways. I’ve invited them on so that we can learn how the Michigan Ross program is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19. I’ve also used questions drawn from [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey]Accepted’s recent COVID MBA webinar[/url], so my questions in this podcast, even more than usual, are really your questions, applicant questions, in an attempt to help you determine if you should apply for your MBA, and specifically if and when you should apply to the Ross MBA. But even if you’re not applying to Ross, you’re going to find a lot of valuable insight in this episode. Other than the health risks and inconveniences that we’re all dealing with, as admissions directors what are your concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on the MBA classes now at Ross and those considering the 2020 and 2021 application cycle? [2:31] [b]Diana:[/b] This has taken up every meeting, every day right now, and we are regularly talking about both our students and our incoming students and doing everything we can to think about their needs and try to prioritize our planning accordingly. We meet regularly with the Dean’s office, whether myself or Soojin, to make sure that we’re in sync with their plans as they navigate and manage for the fall. Our Dean’s office has been great about doing regular town halls for our students. So we have done town halls for our full-time MBA students at least a few times already. We’ve even done town halls for our admitted students and even prospective students because we recognize the importance of communication during these difficult times. << [b]Read: [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][/b] >> We’re trying to communicate as much as we can, knowing that there are a lot of answers that are unknown right now, but doing what we can to stay in touch with our constituents. For our current students, one of the big areas that we’re working with them on, of course, is employment, so the internships and full-time opportunities for them. And while at this point, we haven’t seen that many internships or full time offers be rescinded, we are continuing to stay in contact and making sure that they have what they need to be successful this summer. And if something has mitigated their plans, our career office is in touch with our alumni and others to help support our students. One of the things the career office is doing is a panel of alums from 2008, 2009, and 2010 (which actually is the time that I was in school), using those alums to say, here’s how I navigated things during these times to demonstrate sort of some of the tactics and things they can think about that may apply to them as well. For prospective students, I think the biggest question is, “Should I apply now or should I apply in the fall?”, right? What’s the situation going to look like? And I’ll let Soojin share a little bit more on that since she also oversees the MBA program and experience, but we recognize it as an unprecedented time in business school, and it still might be one of the best times to apply, given all that the MBA offers. The reality of the market is that it’s a buyer’s market. There’s a smaller applicant pool, so there’s a strong demand for students. So there’s perhaps never been a better time to apply. In addition, as things potentially trend towards recession, this is a great chance for students to build leadership skills and experiences. We are working, whether school is happening in-person or virtually, to make as many opportunities available for students to stretch themselves and expand their skill set while they’re with us. [b]Soojin:[/b] One of the things that I’ve shared with prospective students is a framework to think about, “Should I apply and come to school or stay at work?” And so I introduced the concept of a two-by-two matrix. [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/how-will-covid-19-impact-your-mba-admissions-journey][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/covid_mba_apply_now_or_wait-1-1024x616.png[/img][/url] Across the top is: The world is still in stay-at-home regulations, or the world is back to normal of some sort, or we can be in-person again. Those are the two at the top, and then you can either stay at work or you can go to school. So let’s say you decide to stay at work and the lockdown is still in place. That’s the left top quadrant. In that scenario, you’re still going to be working remotely, if you’re still able to work as the economy downsizes. There’s a lot of risk to all of our jobs. So that’s kind of a precarious box to be in: staying at work, continued lockdown. Now, if you stay at work and there is no more lockdown, what happens then is the economy is still going to be sluggish and your opportunities for growth and moving to different jobs are kind of limited, and you’re not developing new skills certainly. So when the world comes out of this COVID crisis and we’ve got a vaccine, 2022/2023, you’ve got no MBA. You’re still doing what you’re doing at best, and your options are limited. Now, let’s go to the quadrant where you choose to get an MBA and the world is back to normal. So in that quadrant, you’re going to be going to business school, getting an MBA, expanding your opportunities, developing your skills, expanding your network, having a great experience. Even if it’s delayed or partially online, you’re going to end up in 2022 with an MBA that expands your career opportunities like nothing else can. Now, if you decide to get an MBA and the world is still on lock down this fall, most schools are still planning to deliver their programs. Whether it’s a virtual start or a delayed start, you’re still going to learn. You’re still going to have opportunities for career development, leadership development and the network, and then in 2022, guess what? You have an MBA, and the market’s going to be hungry for talent. What changes have you made to the admissions process for the 2020 incoming class? [8:33] [b]Diana[/b]: We are of course accepting the [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-coronavirus-impact-testing-gre-gmat-lsat-mcat-act-sat-toefl/]at-home test[/url], whether it’s the GMAT, the GRE, the TOEFL test that people can take online. We also recognize those tests are a work in progress. So we are doing our best to be able to accommodate candidates as they start to take those tests in this new frontier. What I will say is we are not going to waive the test. We will accept a test score after a candidate applies, so they can apply without a test score, but we cannot render a decision until we have that test score in-hand. We won’t give them a positive answer if we don’t have a test score. For [url=https://blog.accepted.com/international-mba-applicants-and-covid-19-risks-opportunities-short-video/]international students[/url], we really need international students to have complete applications sooner rather than later. And while we have [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-will-covid-19-affect-the-mba-admissions-process-deadline-updates/]extended our application deadline[/url] to May 29th, we have encouraged international students to apply by May 6th. May tends to be the months by which we stop admitting international students from the waitlist or in general. And even though we’re in this new environment, we believe it’s even more important than it ever has been for us to be able to give international students a decision for them to deposit so that we can begin the I-20 process and that they have every chance of being able to get a visa, as we know that the visa centers are closed right now. Any later, and they risk not getting a spot in line essentially even when they do open up to get their visa in a timely manner. << [b]Watch: [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][/b] >> So we are going to allow for a later test deadline, but we do want internationals in particular to apply with their test to the extent possible. For the American candidates that have a little bit more time, we’ve offered an extension to when they can submit that test. But again, we are planning on starting orientation August 24th, and at this point, we are moving towards an in-person, public health-informed start in the fall. With any transition, time is of the essence, and we recognize people need that time to be able to make those transition plans. One of the concerns I’ve heard from applicants over and over, especially those planning to take the GMAT, is that the online GMAT (the only one available right now) takes more time, and the scores are going down. Are you taking that into account as you evaluate scores? [10:47] [b]Diana:[/b] That is a good question, and I think one of the elements of this process is we, as an admissions team working with candidates, are very human, right? We very much want to work closely with candidates on that path. We always take a look at much more than the test score anyways to assess academic readiness. So of course we’re taking a look at your undergraduate transcript or taking a look at your professional work experience. There may be elements that help us understand how likely you are to be successful in the classroom. And I’ll be honest with you, Linda, one of the things I tell candidates is that scrappiness matters sometimes, right? The candidate who wants to do well in school, who tries hard, who goes to the office hours, who puts the work in, sometimes you see those students do a lot better than those with a much higher score who don’t put the same amount of effort into being as successful in the classroom. Perseverance, resilience, all of those things matter in the MBA experience and in the classroom. What is the deadline for submitting the test score? Any chance you’ll further that application deadline for domestic applicants beyond May 29th? [12:09] [b]Diana:[/b] We will accept test scores as late as late July. And again, I don’t recommend that candidates wait that long to submit a test score because we cannot give an admissions decision. But if we get the test score by late July, as I mentioned, we’re starting orientation on August 24th. That still gives a small window for candidates to be able to get the admissions decision and transition to the full-time experience. I do not anticipate that we will extend beyond May 29th. The deeper that we get into the summer, the later that admissions decisions are given, the more difficult it is for our students to have a really successful onboarding experience, and we do a ton with our students over the summer. And while we’ve always brought people up to speed later, if they’re admitted off the waitlist, let’s say in June or later, it is helpful to have the career preparation over the summer: the quantitative skills workshops and experiences that we have planned, the student life, health and wellness committees and DEI panels and such that we’re already planning for our students. We want our students to have as much opportunity as possible to be as ready as they can be for the full-time experience. How is Ross going to treat international accepted applicants who cannot get into the country due to visa processing delays? [13:57] [b]Soojin:[/b] If international students are unable to get their visas despite their best efforts or for travel restriction reasons, and if they aren’t able to get to the US, they can choose to start online or get a deferral. For international students who received a scholarship offer this year, we will do our best effort to honor that in the next year. Now, budgets are what they are. We don’t know what our budget will be next year, but we’re going to make every effort to honor those. We don’t know what percentage of international students will choose to defer. There are a lot of international students who’ve already said, “I’m really excited as long as I can get my visa or even if it’s online, I’m coming.” Have any members of the class of 2020 had job or internship offers withdrawn? [15:12] [b]Soojin:[/b] We’ve seen just a couple of full-time offers get rescinded. There are a few more for internships. Some of them have been shortened, but some of the ones that are getting shortened are getting guaranteed full-time offers in consulting. I’m hearing this happening. So that’s something that’s brand new. And then Ross is creating some summer action learning experiences, kind of like our math program or Living Business Leadership Experience, LBLE, with companies where our alums are to ensure that students can continue to develop their skills and be ready for full-time recruiting in the fall. And I talked to our career development director just before our podcast, and she said that the good news is that recruiters have been requesting dates to come to campus next year, so they’re still interested in recruiting MBAs. So we’re very hopeful for our incoming and continuing students. Let’s say an applicant lives in a country where they cannot take the online GMAT or GRE (China is probably the most prominent example), and they would like to apply to Ross. Would Ross consider an application without a test score? [16:08] [b]Diana:[/b] [url=https://blog.accepted.com/newsflash-gmat-to-be-offered-online/]We aren’t going to consider an application without a test score[/url] this year. We recognize there have been some changes in the market, so we will take a look again at that as we look at the next application cycle, but I don’t actually anticipate any changes in the test score. What we are reviewing right now is other alternatives to the standardized tests that might also be a substitute, but we’re not certain if that will happen in the coming year. But for consistency with the rest of this application cycle, we aren’t going to admit anybody without a test score. So I realize that in some countries, that may be restrictive for the fall of this year, but we look forward to welcoming the applications of those candidates next year. If a significant percentage of the academic year ends up being online, are there any discussions at Ross about providing a discount, or a partial or full refund? [17:05] [b]Soojin:[/b] We know that’s on the minds of a lot of students right now. Decisions like that about tuition are made at the university level. We don’t make it at the school level, and they have to be approved by the regents. So it’s something that is on the University of Michigan President’s radar, but no decisions have been made. I’ve not been informed about anything. If people are nervous about starting school now (not the ones who can’t get to campus, but the ones who can and are nervous to attend due to concerns about getting a job, etc.), can they defer? [17:42] [b]Soojin:[/b] We’re not granting deferrals for people who are not wanting to start online. When we say “online,” it doesn’t mean what a lot of people think online is: recorded lectures that are sent out, asynchronous. That’s not what we’re going to be. Online for us just means remote learning. It’s synchronous. The professor is still going to cold call you. There’s a lot of engagement. There’s a lot of breakout discussions. So it’s going to be very interactive; that’s still going to be delivered. And they’re still going to be getting the career prep. They’re still going to be getting the leadership development, the networking opportunities. In fact, they’re going to have more networking opportunities, now that the world is used to being virtual, than they ever had before. So many of our alumni have been willing to host webinars or chats with our incoming students that would have had a harder time getting their schedules to accommodate coming to Ann Arbor because they’re really busy or they have kids. This has really opened up a new way of connecting our current and incoming students with the vast alumni base that we have. So they’ll have that. And then our student clubs. I’m already working very closely with them to deliver a lot of the stuff over the summer online so that students can hit the ground running in the fall, hopefully in person, so they’re aware of what the clubs are, what they plan to do, what they’re going to get out of it, and then be more prepared to make decisions about what to join. That’s often an overwhelming time, actually, when students first come to campus and they’ve got to figure out, well, what do I want to recruit for and what clubs do I want to join and what extracurriculars do I want to do? Because we’re now so used to being virtual, we’re going to deliver a lot more of that over the summer, so they have time to digest and get more full information. I’m really excited for how much more prepared incoming students can be in this format. At our commencement address today, we had Brad Keywell, Tom Brady, Jim Harbaugh, Steve Ross, Robin Washington, who was formerly at Gilead. I’m kind of excited about it because it does open up so much more opportunity, so much more connectivity, and it changes our thinking about how we can connect with each other and how we can learn. Not everything has to be the way it used to be. [b]Diana:[/b] The other thing that’s incredible is we’ve made significant amounts of investment in digital technologies. We are the most highly-ranked MBA program with an online MBA. And while the experience would be different for our full-time MBA students, we have what I would call the equivalent of a CNN studio at the business school where you can move around charts and graphs, and it feels very visually engaging. That also means that we have faculty who have taught in an online environment before. This is not a brand-new thing for them, and the ramp up period isn’t going to be as severe for our faculty as it might be for others. And so while it’s not our preferred format, I think Michigan Ross was really, really well positioned to deliver an incredible experience, whether it’s going to be in-person or online. Are you waitlisting more applicants now than in other years? How is the process for them different than in previous years? [21:49] [b]Diana: [/b]Our round two notification deadline was March the 18th. So when we made decisions about round two candidates, which of course is the bulk of the candidates that have a response at this time, it was with an awareness that this was going to be happening, though of course not with the full awareness that we have right now. So I would say we waitlisted a healthy amount of students, but we never waitlist any candidates that we don’t think have a viable shot at getting in. That still continues to be the case. I would say a slight difference this year is we actually did start [url=https://blog.accepted.com/waitlist-updates-advice/]admitting waitlist candidates[/url] earlier than we ever have. We’ve admitted some into the middle to the late of April already. And even now, we will continue to evaluate waitlist candidates as we also are simultaneously reviewing our round three candidates. At this point, we’ve got waitlisters, we’ve got folks in a rolling round three timeline, and almost daily, we’re reviewing and re-reviewing and trying to stay in touch with our waitlist candidates to the extent that we’re able to understand their plans and priorities and also answer questions that they might have. We recognize it’s a confusing time for many, with a lot of unknowns. And so we want to try to be as compassionate and empathetic about that as possible. So we do encourage candidates to reach out to us at rossadmissions@umich.edu if they have any questions. And we always have kept in touch with waitlist candidates, I would say maybe even more so in this year with so much uncertainty. I think historically, we would say, “We’re going to review candidates again during this timeframe, you may hear from us,” those types of things, but now we’re trying to put ourselves in their shoes to think about what information we need to be providing and how often. I realize they probably would want to hear from us even more often, and I think there’s only so many times that you can say that it’s still unknown, right? So we’re trying to be mindful of that balance of communicating, but also trying to be thoughtful about communicating when we have something to say or a new decision or a timeframe to be able to share. Is there scholarship money available to applicants admitted during the extended deadline rounds? [23:57] [b]Soojin:[/b] Absolutely. We specifically set aside money for candidates who apply in later rounds. Now, that doesn’t mean that everyone’s going to get a scholarship. Scholarships are still going to be merit-based, and they’re discretionary. But absolutely, everyone still has a shot at some money. If applicants apply by the extended deadline, which is May 29th, and they don’t get in, will they be hurt if they reapply round one? [24:17] [b]Soojin:[/b] We’ll have a very different way of looking at round one re-applicants this year than in any previous year, but it won’t hurt them in the process. And in fact, we’re going to waive their reapplication fee and the reapplication process is going to be much easier than the initial application. They don’t have to submit a new essay. They don’t have to submit a new recommendation letter, and if they are invited to interview, they don’t have to interview again. So it’s really just an updated resume. If there’s anything new, it will be a cover letter saying, “Here’s what’s new and different since I last applied,” and then the form so we have all of your information still, but no app fee. [b]Diana:[/b] We also recognize that for candidates who are applying right now, there’s a variety of reasons for that, right? There are some candidates for whom, maybe, rounds one and two weren’t what they thought they would be, and now they have a little bit more time to apply. But there’s also a whole host of candidates who, in the last handful of weeks, have said, “Wow, I need to apply to MBA, and this fall seems even better, maybe because I’ve lost my job recently or things have changed.” Or maybe this time at home has allowed them additional time to reflect. But that also might mean that they haven’t been preparing for 12 months. They now have three weeks to kind of think through some of these things, and so we’re going to take that into consideration as candidates do apply this round, and we’ll use that and try to review what we can. And like I said, if it doesn’t work out, we’ll take a look again in the fall, with a respect for where they’re at in the process and what we might learn from them in both of these rounds. Will you give feedback to rejected applicants, or do you not have the resources for that? [26:36] [b]Soojin:[/b] We don’t have the resources for that. We are actively trying to recruit for next year, still trying to make decisions, still trying to figure out how we do classes and doing contingency planning, and we can’t just plan for a regular orientation. We’re planning for plan B, plan C. So there’s so many things going on right now. [b]Diana:[/b] When I talk to candidates who are re-applicants, somebody might come up to me at a fair to say, “I’m trying to reflect.” And when I ask them, “Well, what do you think it was?” And almost every single time they know, right? They know, “I think my GMAT probably wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and I knew I wanted to take it again, but I didn’t get a chance.” Or, “I don’t think I put my best foot forward in my interview or my essays.” Candidates know. And so while I think that the feedback can be reassuring on an individual basis, we do try to give general themes of things that we see in candidates and an overview of really what we’re looking for to try to be as clear as possible, so the candidates can use that to take this time to do some self-reflection as to what they might do to strengthen their app next year. Would you encourage applicants who were rejected round one or round two to appeal that decision? [27:46] [b]Soojin:[/b] We’re not taking appeals. Is there anything you would’ve liked me to ask you? [27:56] [b]Soojin:[/b] We always want people to ask us, what is the biggest misconception about Ross? The biggest misconception is that you’ll get stuck in the Midwest. I have two things to say about that. We have a phrase that goes, “Go blue, go anywhere,” which means you [url=https://blog.accepted.com/michigan-ross-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]get a degree from Michigan[/url], and your network is the world’s. We’ve got the largest living alumni network in the world, and our Ross MBA grads go to the coasts, primarily. San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Boston, D.C., LA, and then Chicago. There are very few who stay right here, although we’re seeing a lot more of our grads who go off somewhere and then they’ll move back here because they loved Ann Arbor so much. That’s the second thing about Ann Arbor is that people are surprised at how livable this is. It’s 20 minutes from an international airport, easy for our recruiters to come here, for our students to go elsewhere, for them to [url=https://blog.accepted.com/michigan-ross-mbas-entrepreneurs-and-founders-of-bschool-travel-episode-295/]travel the world[/url], which they did in crazy amounts before all of this happened. And they leave here feeling like, wow, I never thought I could have loved a place so much. But this is home. They think of the place as home. Even after they leave here, they can’t wait to come back for football games, for recruiting, to see friends. They say, “Those were two of the best years of my life.” Any final advice for this cycle’s or next cycle’s applicants? [29:22] [b]Diana:[/b] One of the things that I tell candidates to look for is when you talk to people who are a part of a community, the Michigan Ross community, whether it’s students, whether it’s alums, whether you are able to engage with us, when you’re putting your spreadsheet together and trying to assess which school is going to be [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/guide/best-mba-programs]the right one for you to apply to[/url] or the best fit, I really encourage students to write down how they’re feeling after they have those conversations. Were you energized by that conversation? Were you de-energized by that conversation? And not just the one person. If you reach out to the one person who is from your country or the one person who is doing exactly what you want to do, you’re probably going to hear exactly what you want to hear, and it sounds good and it sounds like you could go to school with that person. But you’re not just going to school with that person. You’re going to school as part of a community of faculty, staff, students. If you’re hearing consistency with the third, fourth, fifth, sixth person you talk to . . . and I don’t mean the same thing, the same lines or anything like that. I just mean consistency in the way that people are reflecting on the program, the energy that’s coming from that program and how you’re personally responding to that energy to see if you might be a fit, that’s going to be really important. If you don’t have that on your spreadsheet, you’re going to only evaluate a school based on the programs that they offer and certain objective characteristics. There’s another facet that needs to be part of your consideration set as you evaluate and talk to candidates or talk to our community. [b]Soojin:[/b] That’s great advice, Diana, because my son is a high school junior, and his high school counselor has a framework for how to choose colleges. And one of the things that they ask these juniors to do is when you do college visits or you talk to these students who are in the programs, write down how you are feeling after you have gone on the school visit or talked to others who are in the community. See what you observe, record what you observe, record how you feel, and then go back to it after you’ve done that across all schools because there will be something surprising that might emerge based on your feelings. And the feelings are really important because that’s kind of a glimpse into how you might feel being a part of that community. Business school is not just about going to classes; it’s not just about getting a job. What kind of people are you going to be surrounded by? How much are they going to inspire you to be your best self? How much are they going to be there for you when you take that risk and you fail? Are they going to be there for you? Those are the intangibles that are going to matter so much to a student’s experience. It’s going to matter so much to what you end up doing because of the community. You’re either going to be inspired or you’re just going to stay on the straight and narrow path and take these classes, get that degree, and go. If that’s what you want, there are plenty of schools where you can do that. But find the school where you are going to feel like, “I can’t wait to do all of these things. I can’t wait to be a part of this community. There is something about this place that really connects with me.” [b]Diana:[/b] As we reflect on this new recruiting environment, which is to say, it’s both a mix of candidates that are applying right now as well as those this fall, we as an admissions team would be traveling around the world over the next couple of months, but that’s obviously not going to be the case. We’re going to have to do things virtually to the extent that is needed to promote the health and wellness of our teams and the fair environments. If you’ve ever been to one, there are many, many people in the same room. So I don’t know when that will start up in that format again. But candidates often ask, what can I do to get on your radar? Or what do I need to do to impress you? Or what types of events do I need to go to? The reality is this: With any online or other events or relationships that you’re building with our student ambassadors, for us, what matters is that you learn a lot about the school in a way that helps you make a good decision for yourself. It’s not about checking a box, and [url=https://blog.accepted.com/cant-visit-b-schools-person/]you’re not going to even probably be able to visit campus anytime soon[/url], right? Even as things come together in the fall, if we are in-person, we have talked about, what does a socially distant in-person fall look like? Well, it probably doesn’t look like bringing a whole lot of people to come to campus to visit in a way that we might, but we’ll see what happens. So take your time to review our website. We’ve got a lot, probably over 40 recorded webinars. “Why Ross” for consulting, finance, marketing, life in Ann Arbor. “I have a partner,” “I’m a veteran,” “I’m from this country.” Lots of ways to connect with our community. Over 200 student ambassadors are listed on our webpage. You can filter by their backgrounds, their interests, where they’re from. And if you did nothing other than read the bios of the student ambassadors on the webpage, you’d get a really good idea of who was at Michigan Ross. But the good news is you can actually reach out to them right from that page, chat with them, get a feel for their experience. So tons of virtual opportunities to stay connected and engaged, and we hope that you do, and we’ll continue to offer more and more opportunities to get to know more about the program in the community. Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about Ross’ MBA program? [34:47] [b]Diana:[/b] They can certainly go to our [url=https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-mba/admissions]website [/url]or email rossadmissions@umich.edu to gather more information. Our full-time MBA website has a lot covered there, and our events page is where you’ll find all the webinars. [url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/365_Soojin-Kwon_2020.mp3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ListenToTheShow.png[/img][/url] [b]Related Links:[/b] [list][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/guide/mba-admissions-report]Navigate the MBA Application Maze: 9 Expert Tips to Getting Accepted[/url], a free guide[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/michigan-ross-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/a-day-and-a-year-in-the-life-of-a-ross-mba-student/]A Day (and a Year) in the Life of a Ross MBA Student[/url][/*][*][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][/*][*][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://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=podcast_365&utm_source=blog]Accepted’s 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/michigan-ross-mba-its-about-real-clear-and-teamwork/]Michigan Ross MBA: It’s About REAL, Clear, and Teamwork[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/mba-private-equity-cop-meet-nik-kumar-columbia-mba-2019/]MBA, Private Equity, Cop: Meet Nik Kumar, Columbia MBA 2019[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/michigan-ross-mbas-entrepreneurs-and-founders-of-bschool-travel/]Michigan Ross MBAs, Entrepreneurs, and Founders of Bschool Travel[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/michigan-ross-brand-new-online-part-time-mba/]Michigan Ross’ Brand-New Online, Part-Time MBA[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/yale-mba-the-inside-scoop-on-essays-videos-behavioral-assessment/]Yale MBA: The Inside Scoop on The Essay, Videos & Behavioral Assessment[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/toronto-rotman-mba-seeks-spike-factor/]Toronto Rotman MBA: The Spike Factor[/url][/*][/list] [b]Subscribe:[/b] [url=https://www.accepted.com/stitcher][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/admissions-straight-talk-stitcher.png[/img][/url] [url=https://subscribeonandroid.com/blog.accepted.com/feed/podcast/][img]https://assets.blubrry.com/soa/BadgeLarge.png[/img][/url] [url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/7de5e366-4f37-4aa9-8313-45a286c4665c][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/7de5e366-4f37-4aa9-8313-45a286c4665c.png[/img][/url] [b][url=https://blog.accepted.com/feed/podcast/]Podcast Feed[/url][/b] 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/what-prospective-mbas-should-know-about-applying-to-michigan-ross-episode-365/]What Prospective MBAs Should Know About Applying to Michigan Ross [Episode 365][/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url]. |
13 May 2020, 01:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: What Prospective MBAs Should Know About Applying to Michigan Ross |
 Applying to business school during a pandemic [Show summary] Soojin Kwon (Managing Director, Full-Time MBA Admissions at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business) and Diana Economy, Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions at Ross, answers pressing applicant questions about applying to Ross. They address how the application process has shifted in light of COVID-19 and what accepted students can expect from their MBA experience this fall. What prospective MBAs should know about applying to Michigan Ross [Show notes] Are you among the many MBA wannabes who are thinking about applying for an MBA? Are you wondering whether to apply this cycle or next? We’ve invited Soojin Kwon and Diana Economy to answer the most common applicant questions related to COVID-19 and its impact on MBA admissions, specifically at Michigan Ross. During the podcast, Soojin Kwon provides an excellent framework for evaluating whether you should apply now or not. Most of us have been confined to our homes for over a month. I first of all want to express my profound hope that all listeners and their loved ones are well. The restrictions and challenges of the coronavirus have wreaked havoc on so many areas of our lives, and this show is devoted to the challenges it has posed in the MBA admissions world, specifically at Michigan Ross’ top-notch, full-time MBA program. It gives me great pleasure to have on today’s show Soojin Kwon, Managing Director of the Full-Time MBA Admissions program at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and Diana Economy, Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions at University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Both are returning guests to Admissions Straight Talk and I’m thrilled to have them back. Soojin and Diana, in addition to being highly experienced in MBA admissions, and specifically Ross admissions, are both also highly articulate in this extraordinary time in so many ways. I’ve invited them on so that we can learn how the Michigan Ross program is dealing with the challenges of COVID-19. I’ve also used questions drawn from Accepted’s recent COVID MBA webinar, so my questions in this podcast, even more than usual, are really your questions, applicant questions, in an attempt to help you determine if you should apply for your MBA, and specifically if and when you should apply to the Ross MBA. But even if you’re not applying to Ross, you’re going to find a lot of valuable insight in this episode. Other than the health risks and inconveniences that we’re all dealing with, as admissions directors what are your concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on the MBA classes now at Ross and those considering the 2020 and 2021 application cycle? [2:31] Diana: This has taken up every meeting, every day right now, and we are regularly talking about both our students and our incoming students and doing everything we can to think about their needs and try to prioritize our planning accordingly. We meet regularly with the Dean’s office, whether myself or Soojin, to make sure that we’re in sync with their plans as they navigate and manage for the fall. Our Dean’s office has been great about doing regular town halls for our students. So we have done town halls for our full-time MBA students at least a few times already. We’ve even done town halls for our admitted students and even prospective students because we recognize the importance of communication during these difficult times. << Read: How Will COVID-19 Impact Your Admissions Journey: 5 MBA Admissions Experts Speak >> We’re trying to communicate as much as we can, knowing that there are a lot of answers that are unknown right now, but doing what we can to stay in touch with our constituents. For our current students, one of the big areas that we’re working with them on, of course, is employment, so the internships and full-time opportunities for them. And while at this point, we haven’t seen that many internships or full time offers be rescinded, we are continuing to stay in contact and making sure that they have what they need to be successful this summer. And if something has mitigated their plans, our career office is in touch with our alumni and others to help support our students. One of the things the career office is doing is a panel of alums from 2008, 2009, and 2010 (which actually is the time that I was in school), using those alums to say, here’s how I navigated things during these times to demonstrate sort of some of the tactics and things they can think about that may apply to them as well. For prospective students, I think the biggest question is, “Should I apply now or should I apply in the fall?”, right? What’s the situation going to look like? And I’ll let Soojin share a little bit more on that since she also oversees the MBA program and experience, but we recognize it as an unprecedented time in business school, and it still might be one of the best times to apply, given all that the MBA offers. The reality of the market is that it’s a buyer’s market. There’s a smaller applicant pool, so there’s a strong demand for students. So there’s perhaps never been a better time to apply. In addition, as things potentially trend towards recession, this is a great chance for students to build leadership skills and experiences. We are working, whether school is happening in-person or virtually, to make as many opportunities available for students to stretch themselves and expand their skill set while they’re with us. Soojin: One of the things that I’ve shared with prospective students is a framework to think about, “Should I apply and come to school or stay at work?” And so I introduced the concept of a two-by-two matrix.  Across the top is: The world is still in stay-at-home regulations, or the world is back to normal of some sort, or we can be in-person again. Those are the two at the top, and then you can either stay at work or you can go to school. So let’s say you decide to stay at work and the lockdown is still in place. That’s the left top quadrant. In that scenario, you’re still going to be working remotely, if you’re still able to work as the economy downsizes. There’s a lot of risk to all of our jobs. So that’s kind of a precarious box to be in: staying at work, continued lockdown. Now, if you stay at work and there is no more lockdown, what happens then is the economy is still going to be sluggish and your opportunities for growth and moving to different jobs are kind of limited, and you’re not developing new skills certainly. So when the world comes out of this COVID crisis and we’ve got a vaccine, 2022/2023, you’ve got no MBA. You’re still doing what you’re doing at best, and your options are limited. Now, let’s go to the quadrant where you choose to get an MBA and the world is back to normal. So in that quadrant, you’re going to be going to business school, getting an MBA, expanding your opportunities, developing your skills, expanding your network, having a great experience. Even if it’s delayed or partially online, you’re going to end up in 2022 with an MBA that expands your career opportunities like nothing else can. Now, if you decide to get an MBA and the world is still on lock down this fall, most schools are still planning to deliver their programs. Whether it’s a virtual start or a delayed start, you’re still going to learn. You’re still going to have opportunities for career development, leadership development and the network, and then in 2022, guess what? You have an MBA, and the market’s going to be hungry for talent. [youtube2]figure> [/youtube2] Are you waitlisting more applicants now than in other years? How is the process for them different than in previous years? [21:49] Diana: Our round two notification deadline was March the 18th. So when we made decisions about round two candidates, which of course is the bulk of the candidates that have a response at this time, it was with an awareness that this was going to be happening, though of course not with the full awareness that we have right now. So I would say we waitlisted a healthy amount of students, but we never waitlist any candidates that we don’t think have a viable shot at getting in. That still continues to be the case. I would say a slight difference this year is we actually did start admitting waitlist candidates earlier than we ever have. We’ve admitted some into the middle to the late of April already. And even now, we will continue to evaluate waitlist candidates as we also are simultaneously reviewing our round three candidates. At this point, we’ve got waitlisters, we’ve got folks in a rolling round three timeline, and almost daily, we’re reviewing and re-reviewing and trying to stay in touch with our waitlist candidates to the extent that we’re able to understand their plans and priorities and also answer questions that they might have. We recognize it’s a confusing time for many, with a lot of unknowns. And so we want to try to be as compassionate and empathetic about that as possible. So we do encourage candidates to reach out to us at rossadmissions@umich.edu if they have any questions. And we always have kept in touch with waitlist candidates, I would say maybe even more so in this year with so much uncertainty. I think historically, we would say, “We’re going to review candidates again during this timeframe, you may hear from us,” those types of things, but now we’re trying to put ourselves in their shoes to think about what information we need to be providing and how often. I realize they probably would want to hear from us even more often, and I think there’s only so many times that you can say that it’s still unknown, right? So we’re trying to be mindful of that balance of communicating, but also trying to be thoughtful about communicating when we have something to say or a new decision or a timeframe to be able to share. Is there scholarship money available to applicants admitted during the extended deadline rounds? [23:57] Soojin: Absolutely. We specifically set aside money for candidates who apply in later rounds. Now, that doesn’t mean that everyone’s going to get a scholarship. Scholarships are still going to be merit-based, and they’re discretionary. But absolutely, everyone still has a shot at some money. If applicants apply by the extended deadline, which is May 29th, and they don’t get in, will they be hurt if they reapply round one? [24:17] Soojin: We’ll have a very different way of looking at round one re-applicants this year than in any previous year, but it won’t hurt them in the process. And in fact, we’re going to waive their reapplication fee and the reapplication process is going to be much easier than the initial application. They don’t have to submit a new essay. They don’t have to submit a new recommendation letter, and if they are invited to interview, they don’t have to interview again. So it’s really just an updated resume. If there’s anything new, it will be a cover letter saying, “Here’s what’s new and different since I last applied,” and then the form so we have all of your information still, but no app fee. Diana: We also recognize that for candidates who are applying right now, there’s a variety of reasons for that, right? There are some candidates for whom, maybe, rounds one and two weren’t what they thought they would be, and now they have a little bit more time to apply. But there’s also a whole host of candidates who, in the last handful of weeks, have said, “Wow, I need to apply to MBA, and this fall seems even better, maybe because I’ve lost my job recently or things have changed.” Or maybe this time at home has allowed them additional time to reflect. But that also might mean that they haven’t been preparing for 12 months. They now have three weeks to kind of think through some of these things, and so we’re going to take that into consideration as candidates do apply this round, and we’ll use that and try to review what we can. And like I said, if it doesn’t work out, we’ll take a look again in the fall, with a respect for where they’re at in the process and what we might learn from them in both of these rounds. Will you give feedback to rejected applicants, or do you not have the resources for that? [26:36] Soojin: We don’t have the resources for that. We are actively trying to recruit for next year, still trying to make decisions, still trying to figure out how we do classes and doing contingency planning, and we can’t just plan for a regular orientation. We’re planning for plan B, plan C. So there’s so many things going on right now. Diana: When I talk to candidates who are re-applicants, somebody might come up to me at a fair to say, “I’m trying to reflect.” And when I ask them, “Well, what do you think it was?” And almost every single time they know, right? They know, “I think my GMAT probably wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and I knew I wanted to take it again, but I didn’t get a chance.” Or, “I don’t think I put my best foot forward in my interview or my essays.” Candidates know. And so while I think that the feedback can be reassuring on an individual basis, we do try to give general themes of things that we see in candidates and an overview of really what we’re looking for to try to be as clear as possible, so the candidates can use that to take this time to do some self-reflection as to what they might do to strengthen their app next year. Would you encourage applicants who were rejected round one or round two to appeal that decision? [27:46] Soojin: We’re not taking appeals. Is there anything you would’ve liked me to ask you? [27:56] Soojin: We always want people to ask us, what is the biggest misconception about Ross? The biggest misconception is that you’ll get stuck in the Midwest. I have two things to say about that. We have a phrase that goes, “Go blue, go anywhere,” which means you get a degree from Michigan, and your network is the world’s. We’ve got the largest living alumni network in the world, and our Ross MBA grads go to the coasts, primarily. San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Boston, D.C., LA, and then Chicago. There are very few who stay right here, although we’re seeing a lot more of our grads who go off somewhere and then they’ll move back here because they loved Ann Arbor so much. That’s the second thing about Ann Arbor is that people are surprised at how livable this is. It’s 20 minutes from an international airport, easy for our recruiters to come here, for our students to go elsewhere, for them to travel the world, which they did in crazy amounts before all of this happened. And they leave here feeling like, wow, I never thought I could have loved a place so much. But this is home. They think of the place as home. Even after they leave here, they can’t wait to come back for football games, for recruiting, to see friends. They say, “Those were two of the best years of my life.” Any final advice for this cycle’s or next cycle’s applicants? [29:22] Diana: One of the things that I tell candidates to look for is when you talk to people who are a part of a community, the Michigan Ross community, whether it’s students, whether it’s alums, whether you are able to engage with us, when you’re putting your spreadsheet together and trying to assess which school is going to be the right one for you to apply to or the best fit, I really encourage students to write down how they’re feeling after they have those conversations. Were you energized by that conversation? Were you de-energized by that conversation? And not just the one person. If you reach out to the one person who is from your country or the one person who is doing exactly what you want to do, you’re probably going to hear exactly what you want to hear, and it sounds good and it sounds like you could go to school with that person. But you’re not just going to school with that person. You’re going to school as part of a community of faculty, staff, students. If you’re hearing consistency with the third, fourth, fifth, sixth person you talk to . . . and I don’t mean the same thing, the same lines or anything like that. I just mean consistency in the way that people are reflecting on the program, the energy that’s coming from that program and how you’re personally responding to that energy to see if you might be a fit, that’s going to be really important. If you don’t have that on your spreadsheet, you’re going to only evaluate a school based on the programs that they offer and certain objective characteristics. There’s another facet that needs to be part of your consideration set as you evaluate and talk to candidates or talk to our community. Soojin: That’s great advice, Diana, because my son is a high school junior, and his high school counselor has a framework for how to choose colleges. And one of the things that they ask these juniors to do is when you do college visits or you talk to these students who are in the programs, write down how you are feeling after you have gone on the school visit or talked to others who are in the community. See what you observe, record what you observe, record how you feel, and then go back to it after you’ve done that across all schools because there will be something surprising that might emerge based on your feelings. And the feelings are really important because that’s kind of a glimpse into how you might feel being a part of that community. Business school is not just about going to classes; it’s not just about getting a job. What kind of people are you going to be surrounded by? How much are they going to inspire you to be your best self? How much are they going to be there for you when you take that risk and you fail? Are they going to be there for you? Those are the intangibles that are going to matter so much to a student’s experience. It’s going to matter so much to what you end up doing because of the community. You’re either going to be inspired or you’re just going to stay on the straight and narrow path and take these classes, get that degree, and go. If that’s what you want, there are plenty of schools where you can do that. But find the school where you are going to feel like, “I can’t wait to do all of these things. I can’t wait to be a part of this community. There is something about this place that really connects with me.” Diana: As we reflect on this new recruiting environment, which is to say, it’s both a mix of candidates that are applying right now as well as those this fall, we as an admissions team would be traveling around the world over the next couple of months, but that’s obviously not going to be the case. We’re going to have to do things virtually to the extent that is needed to promote the health and wellness of our teams and the fair environments. If you’ve ever been to one, there are many, many people in the same room. So I don’t know when that will start up in that format again. But candidates often ask, what can I do to get on your radar? Or what do I need to do to impress you? Or what types of events do I need to go to? The reality is this: With any online or other events or relationships that you’re building with our student ambassadors, for us, what matters is that you learn a lot about the school in a way that helps you make a good decision for yourself. It’s not about checking a box, and you’re not going to even probably be able to visit campus anytime soon, right? Even as things come together in the fall, if we are in-person, we have talked about, what does a socially distant in-person fall look like? Well, it probably doesn’t look like bringing a whole lot of people to come to campus to visit in a way that we might, but we’ll see what happens. So take your time to review our website. We’ve got a lot, probably over 40 recorded webinars. “Why Ross” for consulting, finance, marketing, life in Ann Arbor. “I have a partner,” “I’m a veteran,” “I’m from this country.” Lots of ways to connect with our community. Over 200 student ambassadors are listed on our webpage. You can filter by their backgrounds, their interests, where they’re from. And if you did nothing other than read the bios of the student ambassadors on the webpage, you’d get a really good idea of who was at Michigan Ross. But the good news is you can actually reach out to them right from that page, chat with them, get a feel for their experience. So tons of virtual opportunities to stay connected and engaged, and we hope that you do, and we’ll continue to offer more and more opportunities to get to know more about the program in the community. Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about Ross’ MBA program? [34:47] Diana: They can certainly go to our websiteor email rossadmissions@umich.edu to gather more information. Our full-time MBA website has a lot covered there, and our events page is where you’ll find all the webinars.  Related Links:
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Subscribe:    Podcast Feed Tags: Admissions Straight Talk, MBA Admissions The post What Prospective MBAs Should Know About Applying to Michigan Ross [Episode 365] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
13 May 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Online GMAT vs. Online GRE |
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[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Online-GMAT-vs.-GRE.jpg[/img] [img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Online-GMAT-vs.-GRE.jpg[/img] The COVID-19 pandemic has [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-are-business-schools-applicants-and-admitted-students-responding-to-covid-19/]affected businesses and schools[/url] throughout the world. Since testing centers closed worldwide; both the GMAT and GRE have switched to online formats for the foreseeable future. GMAT’s whiteboard debacle [url=https://blog.accepted.com/ets-announces-at-home-toefl-and-gre/]ETS was first to make the move[/url], releasing their online, at-home exam almost a month before the GMAT. While GRE examinees are allowed to use a physical whiteboard with an erasable marker or paper with a transparent sheet protector and erasable marker, GMAT banned these physical aids. In their place, the GMAT included a virtual whiteboard. This feature was initiated without a tutorial or way to practice with the whiteboard before taking the test. Reaction was swift and negative, with an [url=https://www.change.org/p/gmac-allow-use-of-pen-paper-in-the-gmat-online-exam]online petition[/url] launched demanding that test-takers be allowed to use a traditional whiteboard and marker. There have already been close to 2,300 signatures on the petition. In response to the harsh criticism, GMAC has published an explanation of the tool and made a practice version available. Potential test-takers are not impressed. It has been estimated that using the online whiteboard can cost an examinee 100 or more points on the exam, and that it would take 1-2 weeks of practicing on the tool for it not to negatively affect their score. Most students do not want to give up valuable study time to perfect the use of the online tool when the GRE offers a more user-friendly option. [url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/e47f6e09-76b2-4b02-bc17-62552b75dc6a][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/e47f6e09-76b2-4b02-bc17-62552b75dc6a.png[/img][/url] Which online exam is more user-friendly? The online GRE permits test-takers to save and return to questions during each section. This allows examinees to skip more difficult questions and return to them later. This is not an option on the online GMAT. This is not to say that GMAC is not responsive to the needs of their test-takers. In addition to the explanation of the online whiteboard and the practice version, they have already made changes to the GMAT online exam score reporting process. In order to give test-takers more flexibility, they will now be able to review test scores before sending them to b-schools. Test-takers no longer have the option to select their b-schools during registration. Anyone that has previously taken the GMAT online has been notified that their scores will not automatically be sent to schools chosen during registration. After reviewing their scores, examinees will follow this procedure to select their programs: [list][*]Log into their mba.com account. [/*][*]Search for and select from the 7,000+ programs that accept GMAT to receive their score. [/*][*]Schools selected will receive the scores within 24 hours. Sending GMAT Online scores to any school is FREE.[/*][/list] [b]Do you need help navigating the MBA testing maze or any other part of the admissions process? [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=online_gmat_vs_gre&utm_source=blog]Work one-on-one with one of our MBA admissions consultants[/url], get your questions answered, and create an application that will get you 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-will-coronavirus-impact-testing-gre-gmat-lsat-mcat-act-sat-toefl/]UPDATES: How Does Corona Continue to Impact Testing? [GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, ACT, SAT, TOEFL, EA][/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/newsflash-gmat-to-be-offered-online/]Newsflash: GMAT to Be Offered Online[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/ets-announces-at-home-toefl-and-gre/]ETS Announces At-Home TOEFL and GRE[/url][/*][/list] Tags: [url=https://blog.accepted.com/category/mba-admissions/]MBA Admissions[/url] The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/online-gmat-vs-online-gre/]Online GMAT vs. Online GRE[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url]. |
15 May 2020, 14:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Watch The Impact of Your GMAT & GRE Now! |
 Our recent webinar, The Impact of Your GMAT & GRE: A Critical Piece in Your MBA Application, was a deep dive into the world of MBA admissions testing. If you weren’t able to join us or you missed out on any part of the session, it’s now available for free on-demand viewing! Watch the webinar: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: “58291”, formId: “4070a8e4-7f16-4bd2-a8f6-dea7744b00de” }); 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 The post Watch The Impact of Your GMAT & GRE Now! appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
18 May 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Prove You’ve Got What it Takes to Get Into HBS |
  Harvard Business School is one of the top MBA programs in the world. To land a spot there, you have to be an exceptional candidate. What does that mean? It means that good grades and work experience alone won’t get you there; neither will an impressive GMAT or GRE score. So what’s the trick to getting in? Well, there is no trick—but there is a strategy. Simply put, you’ll have to prove to the adcom that you’re a better fit for their program than the other highly qualified applicants they’re considering. Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham is going to lay out exactly how to do that in our upcoming webinar, Get Accepted to Harvard Business School. We’re offering this one-hour session at two different timeslots (10am PT/1pm ET & 5pm PT/8pm ET) on Wednesday, June 3rd, so click the link below to register for the session that best fits your schedule. Getting into HBS isn’t easy, but we can help you make a plan! This webinar is free to attend, but you must register to hold your spot. Sign up today! 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 The post Prove You’ve Got What it Takes to Get Into HBS appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
18 May 2020, 10:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Don’t Miss Your Chance to Save 50% on an MBA Resume Package! |
 Time is quickly running out to take advantage of one of the best deals we’ve ever offered: half off our MBA Resume Package, and we don’t want you to miss out! Why should you invest in your admissions resume? Well, we’ll let Certified Professional Resume Writer and Accepted MBA admissions consultant of over two decades, Jennifer Bloom, explain it in her own words: Jennifer is a true resume and MBA admissions expert, and taking advantage of this amazing offer is a brilliant way to kick off your MBA application (and see for yourself that Jennifer is as great as we say she is). Use code RESUME when you purchase any resume package to receive top-notch service and a polished, professional resume for half off our regular price. This incredible offer is only valid through May 31, so grab your package deal today!  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 The post Don’t Miss Your Chance to Save 50% on an MBA Resume Package! appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
25 May 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: MBA Admissions Turn a Corner, Thanks to HBS… |
 Amidst the angst, chaos, and exhaustion of the last rounds of 2020 MBA admissions disrupted and in many cases extended by the COVID-19 pandemic, a sign of new life, a ray of light… Normalcy never glowed so appealingly: Harvard Business School has announced its 2021 MBA application deadlines. Harvard Business School 2020-2021 application deadlines RoundApplication DeadlineDecisions Released 1September 8, 2020December 10, 2020 2January 5, 2021March 30, 2021 While the online application will not open until mid-June, the essay question will remain the same as last year. [Click here to read our HBS application essay tips!] Again, HBS is the first to set sights on the next application cycle. It will shortly be followed by many top MBA programs. And with only 2 rounds last year, the HBS adcom was slightly less mired in the COVID crisis (dealing with accepted applicants’ upended lives but not also managing and recalibrating active rounds) than most MBA programs. This turn to the next application cycle – to the future – is significant. In HBS’s webpage announcement of these plans, there is recognition of the pandemic. While no specific actions or changes are cited in response to the pandemic, the adcom affirms that its holistic approach to application review will now include consideration of how the pandemic affects applicants. In other words, COVID-19 is now among myriad factors the adcom sees as potentially affecting applicants – it is part of the current gestalt. HBS and other top MBA adcoms have slogged through the upheaval of this spring’s dramatic global virus eruption. Each MBA program has adapted and adjusted in its own way, from extended deadlines and test requirement waivers to increased deferral requests, going virtual, and recruiting changes. Most of the top MBA programs offer courses about leading in uncertainty and change – they couldn’t have been more challenged to walk the talk! It’s a changed world now, a new normal. Although the COVID dust hasn’t quite settled, HBS has gathered its resources to look and plan ahead. Other programs are doing likewise. What does that mean for you, who are applying in the new application cycle? In practical terms, it means each program will be adapting in its own way, both in admissions processes and academic approaches. Many adcoms, like HBS, will be using the same essay questions as last cycle – so you can review them and start thinking about essay ideas and strategies. It also means you should review each program’s website carefully to understand how the program is adapting to COVID-19 – there will likely be changes in attendance requirements, new online options, etc. Clarifying how these fit with your needs can be part of your presentation. By moving forward – making concrete plans for a new admissions cycle, a new academic year, and a new reality – HBS turns a corner on some dark times. It’s a welcome example. Are you applying to HBS or another top MBA program? Do you have questions about whether now is the best time to apply to and attend business school? Work one-on-one with an MBA admissions consultant to assure that your application strategy is on track to help you meet your educational and career goals.  Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources:
Tags: MBA Admissions The post MBA Admissions Turn a Corner, Thanks to HBS… appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
26 May 2020, 10:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Preparing for Life as an MBA Student at Toronto Rotman |
 An engineer with Indian Railways seeks innovation as a Rotman MBA student. [Show summary] Meenakshi Chauhan spent five years as an engineer with Indian Railways (and the only woman in her department) before leaving in search of a more challenging, innovative work environment. Now, she’s preparing to re-enter student life at the University of Toronto’s Rotman MBA program. Preparing for life as an MBA student at Toronto Rotman [Show notes] Meenakshi Chauhan has worked since graduating college as an Indian Railways engineer. She started a beauty blog in 2018 and is now looking forward to starting her MBA studies at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School. Can you tell us a little bit about your background, where you grew up, and what you like to do for fun? [1:23] I was born in a small village where I lived with my parents and their extended family. I lived there for about two years, but for most of my childhood, I’ve lived with my grandmother. My father was the only person earning and my mother had to take care of the whole family, so they didn’t have much time for me. So I was mostly brought up by my grandmother. I lived for around eight to 10 years with her, and then I moved back with my parents. As far as what I like to do for fun, there are a lot of things that I like to do. I like to paint. I like to cook, and this lockdown has given me the chance to cook a lot. And I love to work out. On my blog, I’m also writing a lot about health and nutrition, so I love to work out and take care of myself. You earned your BTech in 2013. On your blog you write, “I was selected as an assistant engineer in Indian Railways, considered one of the most prestigious jobs in the engineering field. I was at the top of the world until I joined. I realized that the job was not as exciting as I had expected it to be.” Why didn’t it live up to your expectations? [2:32] So when I joined Indian Railways, I had a certain impression in my mind: The job is going to be very challenging, I’m going to work and learn about a lot of new technologies, and I’ll be involved in innovating stuff. Indian Railways is completely owned by the Indian government, so bureaucracy tends to slow down things a bit, and I felt that when I started working with Indian Railways that things were a bit slow. It took months to get the approval for anything. So it got a little monotonous for me, and I didn’t really find it as challenging as I was expecting it to be. So it got a little bit boring for me there, and I wanted to do something more exciting that would help me develop my skills as well as enjoy the whole working process. Was it difficult for you as a woman in a male-dominated field and industry? [4:04] It was a bit difficult for me, and mostly because in the department I joined, there were not many women. I was the only woman in that department, so I got judged a lot. My intelligence was questioned. My seniors, as well as my juniors, would often say that I was not fit for the job. I wasn’t capable of handling long hours or putting in that much effort towards my work. So that was a bit disheartening for me. Eventually, I did handle it, but initially it was a bit disheartening for me. How did you handle it? [5:00] I got a few opportunities, and I must say I’m lucky that I got opportunities where most of the topmost officiants of Indian Railways were monitoring the project, looking after that. I was solely responsible for handling a few of those projects, and I did exceptionally well in those projects. They eventually did understand that it doesn’t matter whether I am a girl or some male person working there, and it’s just the kind of dedication you put in, the effort you put in that matters, not my gender that matters. You worked with the Indian Railways for just about five years. Did the frustration ultimately lead you to turn to business and an MBA? [5:38] No, I wouldn’t say it was the frustration, but I just want to grow from where I am. I have achieved something in life, I have a certain set of skills, and now I want to grow and develop more. That’s what pushed me to pursue an MBA. I am from a technical field. I have great technical skills. I have those quantitative skills. But the kind of job I’m doing, that’s not just technical. It’s more of a managerial, techno-managerial kind of a job. So those are strategic skills, financial skills. They’re equally important for me, and I want to develop those. That’s why I wanted to do an MBA. Why Toronto Rotman? [6:33] The most important thing that attracted me to Rotman is that Rotman is a very innovative school. Even the video interview thing, that is so common now with most colleges, was introduced by Rotman. And the CDL lab they have, the Creative Destruction Lab, that’s also an amazing initiative by Rotman. So the first thing that attracted me to Rotman was the kind of innovation those people are doing. That was the first thing, plus, there is a lot of diversity in Rotman. So even that attracted me to it, and I had my eyes fixed on this school, and I’m lucky now that I got into it. What challenges did you face during the application process itself? [7:48] I wouldn’t say the application process was that challenging for me because even before my GMAT, I knew that I had to work with someone from Accepted.com. One of my friends who applied to Kellogg last year, she worked with Accepted, and she worked with Michelle, and she recommended her to me. Even before my GMAT, I talked to Michelle, and she was the one who convinced me to give it another go. My first go was around 660. When I talked to Michelle, she told me to give it another go and improve my score, and because of her, I gave another shot. I got a better score. I again contacted her to say, “You have to help me with the application.” So it was all very smooth for me because I worked with her from the start. She’s great. Are you concerned at all about the impact of COVID-19 and the coronavirus pandemic on your MBA experience and getting a visa to enter Canada? [8:59] I am a bit worried about that because it’s affecting visas all over the world. Currently, I’ve not been able to apply for my study permit, and I’m worried about how much time it will take. But things are so uncertain at this point that you never know what will happen in the next two weeks. So it’s just a bit scary right now, but I’m hoping for the best. Watch: International MBA Applicants and COVID-19: Risks & Opportunities [Short Video] Are you concerned that part of your MBA might be online? [9:44] Yes, that’s a concern for me, and I’m actually preparing myself for that because I think that there’s a great possibility that some part of my course will be online if things don’t improve in the near future. So, yes, I am a bit worried about this. I think I’ll be lacking some of the networking. It’s seven years at this point since you graduated college. Are you concerned about transitioning back to school? [10:44] Yeah, that’s the exact thought I was having. I’ve always been good at studies. I’ve always been good in school, in college, everywhere. So I think I’ll be able to adjust quite easily. I think I’ll get used to the school thing within a few weeks. You’ve emphasized throughout the call that you were frustrated with Indian Railways because it wasn’t very innovative. You’re attracted to Toronto because it is very innovative. What are your plans for the future? How do you intend to use your MBA? Where do you plan to innovate? [11:21] Actually, I wrote about this in my essay. I don’t plan to divert much from my current path. I’m working in a technical field, and I plan to stay in the field. But I want to enhance my skills. There’s a company, Bombardier, which is based in Canada and with whom Indian Railways has been a longtime partner. So I plan to work, if I get the chance, with Bombardier. I’ll be able to enhance my managerial and my business skills, as well as stay connected to my main field. I’ll still be connected to railways in some way. So I plan to do that. Maybe later in the future, I might come back to India, and if I get the chance, I might work again with Indian Railways, and that experience and the knowledge that I gained I know will be definitely helpful to help Indian Railways in some way. Read: Toronto Rotman MBA Application Essay Tips Have you always had a fascination with trains? [12:57] I won’t say I’ve always had a fascination with trains, but, yes, there are many memories related to it. When we were young, we mostly traveled by rail or railways, and there are many memories related to that. In India, railways are huge, and people generally travel by railway, so everyone is in some way or other connected to trains, you know? It’s not just a means of transporting people. It has certain memories related to it. Do you have any tips for Rotman MBA applicants? [13:38] Applicants need to relax a bit. I’ve heard a lot of people say that the application process is very difficult and it’s very frustrating. Even my friend who recommended Michelle to me, she said, “The application process is more difficult than the GMAT itself.” I think if you manage the time properly, it can go very smoothly. You don’t need to worry much about it. Everyone has a story, and you just need to take your time and work through it and just relax a bit. How did you come to start your blog, HealthyPassenger.com? [14:44] The blog isn’t just about beauty and travel. It’s also about health, and I’ve always been interested in nutrition, taking care of yourself, and how to be both mentally and physically fit. One day, it just hit me that I know a lot about these things, so why not share them? I consulted my friend (he’s now my husband), and we together started this blog. I wrote all the content, and he managed the digital part of it, running ads and stuff. So he did all that, and it was going great. I am still working on it. This lockdown has given me so much time that I’ve even added a category, healthy recipes, because I’m cooking a lot. So I’m working on it, and it’s going good, and I hope that it does better. Once I join Rotman, I’ll definitely think about sharing my MBA experience there as well. Where can listeners find you online? [16:35] My blog is www.healthypassenger.com. I’m also on Instagram by the same name, @healthypassenger. Anyone can message me anytime. I’m always available on Instagram or on my blog. Related Links:
Related Shows:
Subscribe: Podcast Feed Tags: Admissions Straight Talk, MBA Admissions The post Preparing for Life as an MBA Student at Toronto Rotman [Episode 367] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
27 May 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Applying to HBS? Don’t Miss These Vital Tips! |
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If you’re applying to Harvard Business School, you already know that it’s going to be an uphill climb. Your application is going to need to be essentially flawless if you want a fighting chance of securing one of those highly coveted spots. That’s a lot of pressure, but if HBS is at the top of your list, you’re probably used to operating under high stress. A lot of truly exceptional people will be fighting alongside you for those spots, though, so it’s essential that you find a way to stand out. Our upcoming webinar, Get Accepted to Harvard Business School, is being led by our own founder and CEO, Linda Abraham. She has 25+ years of experience guiding HBS applicants to acceptance and she has developed a tried and true framework for success. She’ll be sharing that and more during this free one-hour webinar on Wednesday, June 3rd. We’re even offering two timeslots to make it more convenient for you. You can join us at 10am PT/1pm ET OR 5pm PT/8pm ET. Seats are filling up fast for both sessions, so grab your spot today! Watch 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 The post Applying to HBS? Don’t Miss These Vital Tips! appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
01 Jun 2020, 10:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: Last Chance! FREE Expert Advice on Getting Into HBS |
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Our free one-hour webinar, Get Accepted to Harvard Business School, is coming up this week, but it’s not too late to register and join us! This informative and engaging session, led by our founder and CEO Linda Abraham, will clue you in to what the HBS adcom is looking for in an ideal candidate, how you can best demonstrate your fit with the program, and how you can tailor your application to stand out in an incredibly talented and crowded field. HBS is one of the most selective MBA programs in the world, but you can increase your chances of acceptance by approaching your application strategically. Let us help you! This session is absolutely free to attend, but you must register to save your spot. We’re even offering two time slots, so click here to register and select your choice of 10am PT/1pm ET or 5pm PT/8pm ET. See you then! Watch 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 The post Last Chance! FREE Expert Advice on Getting Into HBS appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
03 Jun 2020, 09:00
| FROM Accepted.com Blog: EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants |
 So, you’re considering an EMBA? Congratulations on considering this next step in your educational and professional journey! Still, the road to an EMBA acceptance can be complicated and unwieldy – especially if you’ve been out of the school-loop for a long time. But on the plus side, I’ve worked with so many clients who have not only found the acceptance thrilling, but also found the application process illuminating as they reflect on their careers, their lives, and their goals. This ultimate guide for EMBA applicants covers these topics:
What is an Executive MBA? A little background: Essentially, any type of MBA is a graduate program in business administration for professionals who seek knowledge, skills, a credential, and/or a network to advance in their careers and to maximize their business performance. Executive MBA (EMBA) programs are MBA programs targeting seasoned managers and entrepreneurs, typically in their mid-thirties to late-forties (depending on the program) whose rise to senior manager level is imminent, or who are already in senior management, or whose entrepreneurial venture is set to “scale” to a level requiring formal management expertise. Almost all EMBA programs are part-time programs, but they vary in terms of desired or required length of experience. While coursework covers the same topics as regular MBA programs, it’s developed and presented with the higher-level perspective. A great benefit of EMBA programs is the chance to network and form relationships with peers from a variety of industries and functions at a career point when a fresh perspective is highly valuable. These programs don’t target career changers but are increasingly used for that purpose and are open to it. Like everything in life, EMBA programs have their pros:
And EMBA programs have their cons:
Not sure if an EMBA program is right for you? Work with an EMBA admissions consultant to help you determine your next step! >> MBA vs. EMBA In a recent podcast episode dedicated to EMBA admissions, Linda Abraham posed the question: “Let’s say I’m in my early- to mid-30s; I’m in middle management; and have c-suite ambitions. I have a fairly strong technical background. Should I apply for an MBA or an EMBA and why?” Watch the video below for the 2-minute answer: [youtube2]figure> [/youtube2] A word on company sponsorship requirements/expectations EMBA programs usually require the applicants’ employers to sponsor the applicants’ time in the EMBA program (since many require some Fridays off, for example). But sponsorship can range from paying 100% of the tuition (rare) to accommodating the applicant’s need to take time off from work (almost universal). The vast majority of EMBA programs that require the employer to provide a statement of support for the applicant’s EMBA plans take this factor seriously. Here is MIT EMBA’s sponsorship requirement: “We consider corporate sponsorship of the time requirement to be critical. In your application package, one of your recommenders should be from your boss, and address the topic of time sponsorship.” Financial sponsorship can still be a competitive plus for applicants, because it underscores your value and high potential in the organization’s eyes. But not having it is not a negative factor. If you’re an entrepreneur, you basically sponsor yourself – therefore you must indicate how you’ll accommodate the time requirements within the context of your own organization. It sometimes happens that regularly employed applicants who are eligible for financial sponsorship may prefer to self-fund, because they do not want to be beholden to their organization but instead be free to pursue other options. Indeed, having time sponsored can create an obligation on the applicant’s part. If that’s not desired, EMBA programs (such as Columbia University’s) that offer a Saturday- or weekend-only option may be appealing.  Differentiating and distinguishing yourself: Essays are key After determining your schools of interest and your qualifications for those schools comes the biggest challenge: differentiating and distinguishing yourself. You must show your uniqueness and value as an applicant in a way that is relevant to the EMBA program. Essentially, you’re giving the adcom the reason to select you out of other highly qualified, accomplished peers in similar industry, functional, and demographic groups. While some differentiating factors might be apparent from your resume, e.g., if you work in an industry or function that is relatively underrepresented, the essays are where you can most vividly portray your distinctiveness. There are three key avenues for differentiating yourself:
The last point (c) is most important because it’s what will get the adcom rooting for you. Provide specifics: titles or positions, specific markets, likely number of people to manage, budget size or P&L responsibility, etc. Also describe how each given step builds on your previous experience. << READ: SAMPLE EMBA APPLICATION ESSAY >> How do you make your goals do “extra duty” by differentiating you? Through the vision for what you want to achieve, what impact you want to have – it goes back to that last point (c) above. While other candidates may present similar goals, only you will present your specific vision. For example, if your goal is to become a senior manager at a major pharmaceutical firm, don’t just explain why this is a logical and likely step. Get the reader excited about what you want to make happen through that role. In summary, for powerful goals essays, keep three short words in mind: what, how, and why. For more advice on how to write your school-specific EMBA application essays,click here!  Your recommendations EMBA recommendations tend to be on the shorter side – considering they are written by very busy people fairly high up the ladder. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your recommendations overall:
If you are working for an employer, the recommender may discuss your career development plan within the company, anticipated future roles/positions, and why you are targeted for those positions. (As noted above, these must be consistent with your own stated goals!) You should be shown to be a high-performing, high-impact contributor who stands out from your accomplished peers. If you are an entrepreneur, you may have some special challenges, since you don’t have supervisors or superiors. Depending on your business, you may use company peers, business partners, customers, and those of similar relationships as your recommenders. I have even seen some of my entrepreneur clients (who were accepted at top EMBA programs) use immediate subordinates – while this wouldn’t be my ideal approach, it can work if done credibly – that mean not just that the recommender is credible but that the applicant presents a candidacy that conveys credibility and integrity. Your EMBA interview It’s probably been quite a while since you’ve interviewed – as the interviewee. Therefore, the unfamiliarity with the situation may trigger nerves, even though overall your interpersonal skills are top-notch. Moreover, if you’re applying to only one or two programs, each interview holds great weight – there’s no room for error! These factors make it all the more important to prep and practice for your EMBA interview. Here are some considerations and tips that I use when coaching EMBA applicants for interviews.
This will affect your approach and preparation. If you interview before submitting your application, don’t just jump into it without thinking through your “story” and your goals. What you write later in the application must align with what you say initially. If you interview after submitting, you’re immersed in your story and goals from the app writing process. Be careful not to sound like you’re reciting your application – your challenge here is to be fresh and engaged.
In a blind interview, your interviewer has not read your application, only possibly your resume. For blind interviews, you’re essentially a blank slate to the interviewer. Your challenge is to impart a vivid, appealing impression that will leave the interviewer enthusiastic. If you’ve completed your application, you can use examples and stories in it, because they will be new to the interviewer. For non-blind interviews, expect questions probing your application, and do not repeat examples from your application; have some new stories/anecdotes.
You should be ready for anything. Still, there are types of questions that often are asked.
Beyond these, there are often questions about your industry, your function, your work culture, etc.  With these factors in mind, strategize before the interview: Think about your candidacy and what further points you want to make, and then during the interview try to weave those points into your discussion. Use your social and emotional IQ to nudge the interview toward dialogue, rather than just interrogation style Q&A. Most EMBA interviews are probing but also enjoyable dialogues – you will do best if you look forward to an interesting conversation! You can prepare for your EMBA interview by teaming up with me or another one of Accepted’s consultants. Just a few mock interviews with a pro will give you the tools you need to walk into that interview with confidence, poise, and plenty of ammunition to launch a real dialogue with your interviewer. Last but not least… If that last point above got you thinking that you could use some guidance and support in making your case as compelling as possible, you are wise. ? That is exactly why I am here! For over 20+ years, I’ve helped hundreds of EMBA applicants gain admission to the most competitive and coveted EMBA programs all over the world. If you would like my or my colleagues’ support in your EMBA journey, please get in touch!  Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources:
Tags: MBA Admissions The post EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog. |
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