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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022]
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Michigan-Ross-2021-2022-MBA-App-Tips-REV.jpg[/img]
[url=https://blog.accepted.com/resources/mba-admissions/mba-essay-tip-posts/][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Michigan-Ross-2021-2022-MBA-App-Tips-REV.jpg[/img][/url]

The Michigan Ross MBA program is thriving. Its graduates are getting jobs throughout the United States and the world. 

Here are a few of the stats:

[list][*]93.1% of 2020 grads and 97.2% of 2019 grads had at least one job offer within three months of graduation.

[/*][*]Amazon was the 2020 top employer of Ross grads, and the school’s 2020 Employment Report shows that consulting and tech snagged roughly 60% of all Ross MBAs.

[/*][*]The average GMAT score for the entering class of 2020 was 710, down from the previous year’s 719.

[/*][*]The average GPA stayed the same at 3.5.

[/*][*]Ross accepted over one third (37%) of applicants to the class of 2021.

[/*][*]According to [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/selectivity-index]Accepted’s Selectivity Index[/url], Ross placed twenty-eighth. [/*][/list]

There’s opportunity in these numbers. The Michigan Ross MBA program is a fantastic option that is easier to get into than other top programs.

Michigan Ross MBA essays: 2021-22 application tips

Ross kept the basic structure and essays that it had last year. A career goals essay combined with short answer questions that provide a little bit of choice characterize the Ross application. The short answer questions give you the means to paint a unique, multi-dimensional picture of yourself and also to provide the Ross admissions committee with insight into “your values and what you would add to the Michigan Ross community.” Keep that goal in mind as you respond. Use your responses to provide context for events described elsewhere and perspective on your values and your ability to contribute while at Ross and beyond.

Remember, the application is a way for the admissions committee to meet you.

Michigan Ross MBA application short answer questions

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. (Choose one from each group; 100 words each)

While I wish Ross would have given you more room to answer these questions, make the most of what you’ve got. For the short answers, you’re going to have to ask yourself [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-choose-x-number-of-essay-questions-to-answer-from-y-number-of-choices/]which prompt most speaks to you[/url].

Answer the question in each group that is easiest for you to answer and that allows you to present events and experiences that complement each other and the information provided in other parts of the application. You want to minimize repetition and overlap.

Ross hasn’t labeled the groups thematically. It seems to me that Group 1 is an opportunity for you to talk about something you’re proud of — [url=https://blog.accepted.com/different-dimensions-diversity-episode-193/]your identity[/url] or a contribution you made. Group 2 relates to handling a difficult experience or situation and your resilience.

Again, choose the individual questions that allow you to present yourself best. Both groups ask for a behavioral response, where you discuss one experience or situation and reflect on it. You don’t have room for more.

Think a lot about what you want Ross to know about you as you choose the questions to answer. The question tells you what they want to know. Now answer it in such a way that allows you to tell them what you want them to know.

Group 1

[list]
[*]
[list]
[*]I want people to know that I:


[/*]
[*]I made a difference when I:


[/*]
[*]I was aware that I was different when:[/*]
[/list]
[/*]
[/list]
Group 2

[list]
[*]
[list]
[*]I am out of my comfort zone when:


[/*]
[*]I was humbled when:

[/*]
[/list]
[/*]
[/list]
[list]
[*]
[list]
[*]I was challenged when:[/*]
[/list]
[/*]
[/list]

Given the 100-word limit on each response to these behavioral questions, describe the incident or situation and succinctly analyze it in terms of the prompt. For example, why do you “want them to know” about X (Group 1, #1) or why were you humbled or out of your comfort zone (Group 2, #1-2).

Michigan Ross MBA application essay questions

Ross MBA essay #1

Michigan Ross is a place where people from all backgrounds with different career goals can thrive. What is your short-term career goal and why? (200 words)

Ross is very clear in what it’s asking for with this MBA essay question: [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/guide/why-mba]Your short-term career goals[/url] and the reasons (and experiences) that make this goal right for you. So where should you focus?

In her blog post last year announcing this essay question, Soojin Kwon, Managing Director Full-Time MBA Admissions and Program, wrote:

We found that the best responses to this essay were clear and succinct. The ones that were less successful tended to be less focused or focused too much on the “what” and not enough on the “why.” For the AdCom, the “why” is the most impactful and differentiating aspect of each essay to me.

There’s your answer: Focus on the “why” more than the what. While you do need to briefly state your short-term career goals, the majority of your essay real estate should go towards the “why.” Those reasons could include:

[list]
How the distinctive elements of your background influenced your goal.


[/*]
What you hope to accomplish in that position or how it will prepare you for a longer-term goal.


[/*]
The aspects of that role that appeal to you and times when you have enjoyed similar work in the past.


[/*]
The values that you will be realizing in that role.


[/*]
An achievement or challenge that you faced and how it has influenced your goals. Tell the story of that experience and how it influenced your short-term MBA goals.[/*]
[/list]
Those are just a few ideas. You can come up with others.

Ross MBA essay #2 (Optional statement)

Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

[url=https://blog.accepted.com/mba-optional-essay-not-really-optional/]Use this statement if necessary[/url] to provide context for circumstances that affected your performance or that may lead admissions readers to the wrong conclusion about your abilities.

Ross doesn’t provide a word limit, but keep it short.

[b]For expert guidance with your Michigan Ross MBA application, check out Accepted’s [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/application-packages?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=mba_essay_tips&utm_source=blog]MBA Application Packages[/url], which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you too![/b]

Michigan Ross 2021-22 application deadlines

[b]Application Deadline[/b][b]Decisions Released[/b]Round 1September 20, 2021December 8, 2021Round 2January 10, 2022March 18, 2022Round 3April 4, 2022May 11, 2022

*All applications are due by 11:59pm ET on the date listed. International students can apply in any round, but are encouraged to apply in Round 1 or 2 to allow sufficient time for visa processing.

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

Source: [url=https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-mba/admissions/application-requirements]Michigan Ross website[/url]

[b]Stay on top of MBA deadlines with the [url=https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed]MBA Admissions Calendar[/url]![/b]

[[url=https://calendar.google.com/calendar/b/2?cid=ZWdybWVsZ3IzZTZtczUxYzMwOGY0MGxiODhAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ]Click here[/url] to add the calendar to your Google calendar; or [url=https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/egrmelgr3e6ms51c308f40lb88%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics]here[/url] to add the calendar to another app.]

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/a921552d-3588-4837-b48b-f2b386f0a230][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/a921552d-3588-4837-b48b-f2b386f0a230.png[/img][/url]

[img]https://blog.accepted.com/linda-abraham-accepted-founder/[/img]
By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. Linda earned her bachelors and MBA at UCLA, and has been advising applicants since 1994 when she founded Accepted. Linda is the co-founder and first president of AIGAC. She has written or co-authored 13 e-books on the admissions process, and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, Poets & Quants, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS News, and others. Linda is the host of Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for graduate school applicants. [b][url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_linda&utm_source=blog]Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch![/url][/b]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/guide/five-fatal-flaws]5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your MBA Application Essays[/url], a free guide[/*][*][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[/url], a podcast episode[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/writing-about-overcoming-obstacles-in-your-application-essays/]Writing About Overcoming Obstacles in Your Application Essays[/url][/*][/list]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/michigan-ross-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022][/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: MBA Application Season Is Upon Us!



The process of applying to b-school is lengthy and complex, and you may be feeling unsure about what steps you should be taking to move forward. 

Our advice? Use this time to focus even more intently on creating an application that will help you stand out from the thousands of other highly qualified applicants you’ll be competing against. 

To help you on your path, starting June 7, we’re offering our biggest discount of the year on MBA admissions services. By using the code STARTNOW at checkout, you can save $500 on a 1-school package, $700 on a 2-school package, or $800 on a 3-school package. 

If you need a la carte services, use the code TAKE10 to get 10% off any of our non-rush hourly admissions services. But hurry! This promotion ends on June 14. 

Don’t let this unprecedented disruption of the last year throw you off your game. This class of MBA applicants is being called on to be uniquely flexible and resilient, and we know you’re up to the task! Let’s work together to make the most of this time so you can breeze through the rest of the application process and take your spot among the business leaders of tomorrow.



Note: The coupon can’t be combined with another offer, is for non-rush orders only, and can be used one time only.


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



What every applicant to Georgetown McDonough should know [Show summary]

Shelly Heinrich, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at Georgetown McDonough, explores what’s new with the school’s full-time and flex MBA programs and how applicants can stand out to the admissions committee.

Make your application to Georgetown McDonough shine! [Show notes]

Interested in an MBA focused on international business with rigorous academics and a supportive collaborative culture? Pull up a chair. Today’s guest is the Dean of Admissions at Georgetown McDonough’s MBA program, and it fits your bill perfectly.

Shelly Heinrich is Associate Dean of MBA Admissions and Director of Marketing at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business. Shelly has been leading Georgetown’s admissions efforts since 2014 and became Associate Dean in 2017. She earned her BBA from Texas Christian University, her master’s in educational administration from UT Austin, and her executive MBA from Georgetown McDonough.

Can you give us an overview of Georgetown’s full-time and flex MBA programs for those listeners who aren’t that familiar with these programs, and focus on their more distinctive elements? [2:13]

The great thing about our full-time and flex program is that they are both 54-credit degrees, and they both follow the same exact curriculum. You have the same access to the career center, which is unique sometimes for a part-time MBA, the same access to professors and the global consulting experience. The real difference is the timing and the format. The full-time MBA is a standard full-time MBA. It’s 20 months with an internship the summer between year one and year two. Our flex MBA program, you can complete in two and a half to five years, really crafting your own schedule. If you want to take two to three classes at a time, you can speed it up. If you want to stretch it out, taking maybe one or two classes at a time, you can do that as well. With the flex MBA, you also have different course delivery options in order to make it more flexible. You can choose between electives that are on Saturday, that are in the evening, that are hybrid and also do more of our intensive learning experiences, the intense one-week electives to get an entire credit knocked out. You do have a little bit more flexibility. But in general, both are standard MBAs and when you graduate, your degree says “MBA.”

What’s new at McDonough, other than the pandemic and the new reality that we’re all dealing with? [3:35]

What I love so much about Georgetown and our Dean Almeida is his energy. Even while we were dealing with the pandemic, we were still continuing to forge ahead and launch the new initiatives that we had wanted to launch and then even launch some new ones. We launched in December our MBA advanced access program, which is our deferral program. We launched an MBA mentorship program, which is a mentorship program between alumni and MBA students to get professional mentorship and guidance. Our students launched a McDonough Talks podcast to give you the real story of what it’s like to be a student.

Then, because of the pandemic, we launched operation cura personalis. We have the academics, you have the career, and then you have the community aspect of an MBA. Operation cura personalis is true to our Jesuit roots and focuses on cura personalis, which is “care of the whole person,” and looks at programming that we could bring to our students to develop the mind, body, and spirit. What is it that makes you a successful leader? Yes, it’s functional intelligence and certainly career aspiration and motivation, but you also have to have the rest of yourself that you develop as a leader so that you can be an effective leader of your team. A lot’s been launched over the last year, which is really exciting and just one of the great things I love about McDonough.

What are some of the elements of cura personalis? [5:05]

We realized shortly after a few months into the pandemic that, yes, we’ve always embodied the care of the whole person, the cura personalis. To be an effective leader, you have to understand how to lead people with empathy and to take care of them as a person and to make sure their mental health, their wellbeing, their spiritual wellbeing, if they have a spiritual wellbeing, that you’re thinking about and taking care of that, because ultimately that will lead you to be a more resilient and a more effective leader. We’ve brought in diverse programming, everything from sleep seminars, recognizing that sleep has a great output on your effectiveness, to things like yoga, things like meditation, comedy shows, different speakers coming in to talk about different ways that you can improve yourself as a person.

The way I think of it is, yes, right now you may be in the middle level of your career or maybe the entry level of your career. But one day you might be managing 300 people or 20 people or 500 people or thousands of people, and to get the most out of your people, you should reflect back on those things that make them strong personally and that allow them to take care of their staff and employees. It’s been great, and they’ve opened it up not just as students but to staff and faculty. And because of the success we had at McDonough, other parts of the university are implementing it as well. That is something that we will actually take into next year, post-pandemic. We realized students really appreciate it.

How have the pandemic restrictions affected the MBA experience and program at Georgetown McDonough? [6:49]

Every week has been exciting and has changed, and we’ve had to problem-solve. Maybe “exciting” is not the right word, but change is. Right now, any MBA student that wants to be on campus, who has met the COVID testing protocol of the university, is able to be on campus. Now, not every professor is teaching on campus at this point, but any student that wants to be can. That’s where we are now. When we started a year ago, we were very much virtual. This time last year and in the spring, we were very much virtual. We went into the fall in a hybrid model, with international students being on campus. It really wasn’t until the spring semester that domestic students who met COVID protocols could be on campus. The president has just announced in the fall that we will be back in person. We’re really excited and planning towards that. He’s also announced an in-person graduation, so that’s exciting. He just announced it a couple of weeks ago. What that looks like, we’re still figuring out, but we will be in person.

There are certainly students who this year decided to stay at home, to stay in their home state or home country. Not every student is physically living in DC because the changes were announced mid-semester, but the students that want to be are.

Students can have casual interactions? The cafeteria is open, the lounges are open, the clubs are meeting, etc., for those people who are on campus? Or are there still restrictions in that regard? [8:34]

A lot of the social activities are still, at least those that are sponsored by Georgetown, very restricted. Those are still virtual. Any type of club activities, career activities, anything like that is still virtual. The focus has really been on the classes. 

What don’t people know about Georgetown McDonough that you would like them to know? What’s a common misconception or myth that you’d like to puncture? [9:09]

Every year we try to dispel these myths, but I think they continue to be here. There’s three, really. One is that because we’re in Washington DC, we’re more of a public policy-focused MBA program, which is so far from the truth. The highest percentage of our graduates still go into finance and consulting and technology. Yes, we do have perhaps a larger percentage than other schools that will pursue social impact or nonprofit, but it’s a small sliver, typically 3% or 4%. At our core, we are an MBA program.

Related to that, people assume, and maybe this is the case for all MBA programs, but they assume that most of our alumni go to work in DC after graduation. But we are a global program. Our alumni go all over the world, where employers and jobs take them. We’re very much a global alumni program.

And then the third: People are interested to learn, “What does Jesuit education mean? If I’m not Catholic, if I’m Hindu or Muslim or not practicing a faith, what does that mean?” Jesuit education is focused on the learning and the care of the whole person. We have people of all different faiths. Our deans, our faculty, our students, and staff come from all different backgrounds. It’s a very welcoming, inclusive environment that focuses on the teaching and the well-roundedness versus the religious aspect.

Typically, at this time of year, you’d be traveling the world, engaging with prospective students, and some Hoyas would probably accompany you. How can prospective students engage with the McDonough community if you can’t go to them and they can’t go to you? [10:55]

I know. I miss 12-hour flights to Asia, to be very honest. I cannot wait to get back on it. We have had to turn our events virtual. We are hosting all of our information sessions virtually, our coffee chats virtually, our signature events virtually. And while you can never replace the in person experience, what has been fascinating is our ability to reach more people than we ever have. I can remember last May when we hosted our first monthly information session virtually. When we do it in person, we typically get about 100-120 people that would attend. Our first one had over 500 people registered and I thought, wow, maybe we’ve been doing this wrong all along. Think about all the people from different countries who weren’t going to fly in for a one-hour session, but now were able to experience McDonough. So yes, people can meet with us virtually. They can set a time to chat with us. Then, hopefully by the end of the summer and into the fall, we will be back to allowing visitors on campus.

Do you see yourself, in terms of recruiting applicants, continuing with a mix of virtual and in person? Or do you see yourself staying virtual? [12:16]

It will be a mix. I think we’ve learned a lot this year. We’ve had a lot of success with being virtual. But nothing can replace getting to chat with someone over coffee, especially in their home state or home country and really interviewing them face to face. So I think it’ll be a mix, but it’s been great to learn that we can have success in both modes, virtual and in person.

Has the success in terms of reaching out to people virtually translated to an increase in applications? [12:51]

Yes. It’s an interesting year, one like one we haven’t experienced in a while. We have passed three rounds of our MBA applications. Our full-time is up 26%. Our flex is up 11%. To drill that down, we just had round three, which typically is a very small round. Not a lot of people apply in round three. Our round three applications for full-time are up 83%. Very interesting. Coming out of round one, our deposits were up almost 50% year over year, and that was pre-pandemic. Round one deposits come in the beginning of February. It has been a very interesting year.

Is some of that round three increase from people who got rejected from programs that they thought they might’ve gotten into in previous years? [13:48]

We typically, for round three and round four, see a mix of applications. We see people who didn’t really realize that if they want to apply for an MBA, they should have started in the fall. I think people from their undergraduate experience don’t really realize round ones are in September. But then we also get a good mix of very highly qualified people that are applying to the top five programs and unfortunately don’t receive a spot. Then, they start to research great programs like Georgetown and realize, wow, I can achieve the same career goals or very similar career goals and be in a smaller class size in the heart of Washington DC, and maybe this is a good path for me. We typically see a lot of highly qualified applicants in round three and round four.

Let’s turn to the application itself. What is the purpose of the different elements of the Georgetown application, specifically the essays, the resume, and the recommendation? [15:05]

In those three elements (the essays, the resume, and recommendation), we want to understand who you are outside of your GPA, your test score, or your years of work experience. It allows us to really understand your character, your leadership ability, and what you’ll bring to the classroom. In our essays, we’re fairly unique at Georgetown. We provide three essay prompts. You only have to choose one. It allows you to determine what your value proposition is as a person and leader and then choose the essay that allows you to sell it the best, so you’re not forced into a box of an essay that maybe doesn’t really highlight your strengths.

Then we have a video essay, which I know causes anxiety with students, but honestly, it’s one of my favorite parts of the application because we get to really see them and who they are. Only one person gets to interview you on the admissions committee. But with the video essay, everyone on the admissions committee gets a chance to see you. And you can rerecord it as many times as you want until you get it right, whereas in an interview, you go in and you get one shot. I think it’s a strength for applicants in their application process.

The resume also provides more context into what you do, what your accomplishments are and your career progression, as well as how you’re involved outside of employment. Then the recommendation is something that I typically leave till the very end. By the time I’ve read your entire application, I have an idea in my head, perhaps, of what type of student you are or what your experience has been. And then interestingly, often when I read the recommendation, it confirms what I was already thinking. I love that. The recommendation typically just rounds out your application. It’s not typically make-or-break. Very few people will have a negative recommendation letter. I love that.

What about the test? McDonough gives applicants a choice between the GMAT, the GRE, and the executive assessment. Any plans to provide waivers and make the test optional? Where is Georgetown on that? [17:25]

There’s no preference among the three. I think the old adage is, if you’re thinking about the top consulting firms or investment banking, it’s probably preferable to choose the GMAT. However, I’ve heard that some companies are being more flexible. But other than that, there’s no preference. Research the test, figure out which one you’re going to do the best at, and then submit, and be sure to take it more than once. That’s what I always recommend to applicants. Take it more than once because you’re typically going to do better the second time. We see it all the time.

In terms of waivers, last year was different. But moving into this year, while most countries and states have resumed accessibility for in-person testing and still have online options, we do realize that there are some countries where there is still limited accessibility. So we have provided each round an opportunity for people to apply for a test waiver if they don’t have access to take the test, and then if they don’t have access, they also have to have met certain academic eligibility criteria. It is very selective.

We don’t know what we’re going to do moving forward with tests. I think it’s important to have tools by which to assess candidates and how they’re going to be successful in the classroom. There are people who don’t test well, but there are people who really test well and it offsets a low GPA. I can think of many applicants who maybe had a 2.7 or 2.8 GPA because they were doing intercollegiate athletics. Maybe they were supporting their family. They were working 40 or 50 hours a week. Maybe they were immature. But then two or three years after college, they go take a test and they do really, really well. And for international applicants, without a standardized test, how would we compare transcripts from Mongolia, to Ecuador, to India, to China, to Los Angeles, to San Francisco? How would we assess all of those and do it well? That’s one of the reasons why a standardized test can be helpful, but we’re really trying to dig through and think about assessments and what to do with them moving forward.

You’ve obviously been looking at a lot of applications over the last seven years at Georgetown. What are some of the most common mistakes applicants make that you’ve seen? [19:50]

The common mistakes that stand out are, first of all, just sloppiness. It seems silly, but lower-casing your first name and last name on applications and not putting in the right school, which sounds so simple. But every round, there are multiple people that do it and say, “I look forward to applying to XYZ school,” and it’s not Georgetown. Even when I was previously working at GW in admissions, the same thing.

Then, assuming that we know about the career progressions that they’ve had. To provide an example, I was interviewing a student one time and simultaneously looking at their resume. They mentioned, “When I received that promotion at Deloitte, I was then doing XYZ.” I was looking at their resume and I said, “I don’t see that promotion. You didn’t indicate that promotion on your resume.” And the person said, “Well, I wanted to get it down to one page so I decided to remove that.” And I said, “Oh no. Don’t. A key element of your candidacy is that you’ve been promoted. We look for that.” That was another “mistake” and was not strategic.

Another thing is not having attended any type of event or met with any type of alumni or current student. When I ask someone, “How have you learned about Georgetown?” the successful applicants will say, “Well, I attended this event,” or, “I know an alumnus of your university I spoke with.” Then they’ll talk about how that conversation or that event has led them to be more interested in Georgetown. Especially in this virtual environment, when all of our events are virtual, there is almost no excuse for not having attended an event. In years past, maybe if you were international, you might not have been able to attend, but this round, this cycle, you should definitely be attending virtual events.

In light of the pandemic and the crazy end to last year’s admission cycle, are you going to evaluate applications slightly differently, perhaps looking for or weighing different attributes more or less? [21:56]

What the pandemic really further highlighted is our true commitment to cura personalis, which is care of the whole person, and empathy. We, last summer, took an approach of saying, “We’re going to have individual conversations with every person that’s struggling. Maybe this isn’t the right year for them and we’re going to hear their stories.” If you think about that, 30 minutes per student times hundreds, it was a lot of students, but we said, “This is true to our values and we want to feel right about how we’re handling this. This feels right to do.” I think that’s continued to bleed into this year, that care and true perspective on each individual person. For top MBA programs that are receiving thousands of applications, but also receiving tens of thousands of inquiries, before this, while we tried to pay as much attention as possible, sometimes it physically wasn’t possible. What the pandemic has shown is we change our processes to make the time because it is important. That’s something different.

There are candidates out there who are worried that if they got laid off or if they were furloughed or if they were an entrepreneur and their business went under, that event somehow is going to tarnish their application. That is so far from the truth. We are receiving so many applications from people in those exact circumstances and from a human perspective, we understand. We get it. We were watching the news. We understand what’s happened over the last year. For those people, it’s a great time to come back to an MBA program. Don’t be ashamed of it. Don’t think of that as a barrier because of which you should not apply, because there are a lot of people in your situation.

Would it be an exaggeration to say that talking about what they learned from the experience could actually strengthen their application? Or that what they learned about being involved in an ultimately unsuccessful business could also strengthen their application? Would you agree with that? [23:46]

Definitely. Even prior to the pandemic, when people had more than a three-month employment gap or were laid off, we would ask them to tell us, “What did you do in that time?” The same holds true now. Did you go online and do certificates? How did you improve your skills? Maybe you had to take care of family members, but through that you learned different qualities about yourself that you never knew. How did you use your time and how does it make you a better person and leader?

I know some applicants have specific elements in their background that give them grave concern. How do you view applicants who had a dip in grades or a gap in their employment due to depression or emotional issues? That’s one category, and the other category is applicants who had an academic infraction as an undergraduate or perhaps a misdemeanor like a DUI on their record. [24:35]

We want to understand and learn more. No one is perfect. No one’s background, their prior personal or professional experiences, are completely perfect, and sometimes mistakes happen. In the case that you mentioned of a DUI, it was a one-time thing. You were young, and you were maybe not as mature as you are now, eight years later. We understand and realize that. And then in the case of depression or mental illness, we realize that there’s an increase in that, not only due to the COVID pandemic, but even prior to that. We were seeing more of that in undergraduate institutions. If people feel comfortable sharing it, then share it. We’re all human. We all understand that we have to deal with things. Sometimes young students have to bear a lot more responsibility than maybe they used to and there’s a lot more pressure on them.

Share it, but then also, how have you overcome? What skills have you put into place to forge into the next stage of your life? And then if it was a mistake like a DUI, did you learn from it? Did you take responsibility for it? Did you not have any more? We look at all of that, and that’s what the optional essay is for, to really explain those types of things. Don’t be ashamed of it. Again, we’re all human. We’re all people at the end.

What would you say to applicants who want to apply but are concerned that some deferrals from last year will have shrunk the number of available seats. Certainly for this year, that’s a concern, and there has been a spike in applications. Maybe they’re concerned about increased competition. [26:29]

A lot of students over the last few months have come to me and tried to analyze their probability of success. You can tell it’s angsting them. What I tell them is, “Look, the number of applications we’re getting now was similar to what it was three or four years ago. There was a dip in the market for a while, as the economy was really strong. The situation you’re entering is very much similar to the one people three or four or five years ago were entering. Don’t try to analyze your probability of success. Every applicant is different. There’s not necessarily a metric for whom we admit, and if this is the right time for you, then apply. And in a worst-case scenario where we are not able to admit you, then come back to us and say, ‘I wasn’t admitted this year. Can I have a conversation with you about how I can improve for next year?'” We love re-applicants. In fact, we admit about 50% of our re-applicants. We admit them especially if they’ve taken steps to improve their application. We love that.

Do you also provide feedback to people who are considering reapplying? [27:52]

We do at Georgetown. I can’t say other schools do. We’ll be honest with people and say, “Look, this is how you can improve for next year.” Just apply. Don’t stress. If for whatever reason it doesn’t work out, then reapply the following year and make your application more competitive.

Can you touch for a moment on the MBA Advanced Access Program? Whom is it for? And how can one get in? [28:15]

I love this. We launched it in December, and the application deadline is April 26th for this year. It is a deferral program for people in their final year of undergraduate or their final year of graduate school. If they went straight from undergrad to grad school, they may apply to then defer for two, three, or four years later. People applying now would be deferring into fall 2023, 2024, or 2025 into the full-time MBA program. I like it because of two reasons. One, there’s so much pressure placed on undergraduate students to figure out their dream job post-undergrad. Everyone asks them, “What are you doing? What do you do? Do you have a job yet?” There’s so much pressure. The reality is, people may or may not like that job. And that’s fine. You change careers six, seven times over the course of your career. By doing the deferral program, you are able to take that job knowing full well that if you like it, well then great, you can continue. If you don’t like it, you can land in a top MBA program and switch careers because 84% of our students switch functions or industries coming out of the Georgetown MBA. It gives you this fallback plan. You don’t have to have that pressure.

The other reason I like it is that by applying to the MAAP program, you’re going to be competing against a smaller pool of applicants for a seat two, three, or four years from now. If you wait and apply to the regular program, you’re applying against a few thousand applications. Your probability of success is perhaps greater applying to the MAAP program, because if you apply into a full-time MBA with only two years of work experience, while you still can be admitted, you’re competing against people with five or six years of work experience. That’s the two reasons why I believe the MAAP program and a deferral program is something to think about.

What advice would you give someone thinking ahead and planning to apply in fall 2021 for the 2022 entering class? They have about six months to nine months to go before they hit those first two deadlines, which are generally the more popular ones. [30:12]

Three things. Visit virtually. Before we all start coming back to in-person events, take advantage of everything being virtual now, and just go ahead and do it. You can always come visit us in-person later, but do the virtual visits now. Start speaking with other people that have MBA degrees, because you do want to make sure that this is the right degree for you, or maybe there’s another graduate business degree that is of interest to you. The more people you speak with (employers, hiring managers, your friends), the further you’ll know if this is the right path for you. Third, start preparing for the things in the application that do take a while. Typically preparing for the test takes a little bit of time. Make sure you know who your recommenders are. Get them lined up so that you give them at least a month to write the letter of recommendation. If you’re going to prep for the September deadlines, those are the three things I would say to do.

What would you have liked me to ask you? [31:29]

What do I personally love about Georgetown? I’ve worked at four different business schools and they were all great. They were all great experiences, but Georgetown is the one I’ve been the longest at. I’ve been here almost seven years, and it was the first school where I decided to go back and do my MBA, because I did have potential options to apply at other schools. I may not have been admitted, but I had other options to apply. This is the first school where I said, “I want to be a Hoya.” It was because of my interactions with alum and students and the senior leadership and constantly talking about and hearing these experiences in my day to day job. I said, “I want that. I want that for myself.” I truly believe in the further direction of the school and where it’s headed. So I was really excited to apply, and it was a phenomenal experience. I don’t regret it one minute and wish, frankly, I was back there sometimes doing the program.

How was it juggling the MBA and a full-time job? [32:27]

One of the reasons why I almost didn’t apply was because I was scared about the work-life balance. I also had a four year-old at the time, and my husband was in grad school at the time. I thought, is this a good decision? Should I actually do this? But I talked with another woman who had had two kids while in the MBA program and also a demanding job. I thought, okay, if this woman can do it, then I can do it. If all of these other people that have had kids have done it before me, then it’s possible. I just have to figure out the best path for me. It was definitely a decision factor, but it’s one that I don’t regret and I still feel, reflecting back, that I was able to equally give time to my family, my career, and my studies, and I was able to somehow manage it.

Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about Georgetown’s MBA program? [33:42]

Please visit choosegeorgetown.com.



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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Kellogg Eliminates Applicant Indecision Delays: Applicants Can Now Apply to Multiple Programs



This year I worked with several applicants to Northwestern Kellogg who all faced a similar conundrum: which amazing Kellogg program should they apply to?!

Kellogg offers a range of Master’s level business education: its traditional 2-year MBA program, a 1-year MBA program for professionals with a management or business undergraduate degree, the MMM joint degree between Kellogg and Northwestern’s Segal Design Institute, and the new MBAi joint degree between Kellogg and Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering for aspiring technology leaders. In addition, Kellogg offers part-time options including an Evening & Weekend program and an Executive MBA program that offers the option of meeting once or twice a month in Miami (Florida) or Evanston (Illinois), respectively. 

Until now, applicants who wanted to lead innovation had to decide whether they should apply to Kellogg alone or to the MMM joint degree. Those who specifically anticipated utilizing technology innovations to lead had to decide whether to apply to the MBA or the MBAi. What about those applicants who have an undergraduate education in business but were not sure a one-year MBA experience would be as fulfilling for them as the two-year program? And applicants who lived in the United States but had a GMAT score or GPA below Kellogg’s full-time MBA student average had to decide whether to take a risk on applying to the full-time MBA or apply instead to the Evening & Weekend program, where their stats were less of a statistical deviation. 

Thankfully, Kellogg has now eliminated the need when applying to make a decision that bars other options. Starting this year, applicants will have the opportunity to apply to more than one Kellogg program all in one application. When applying, applicants will select the program that is their first choice but will also have the option to be considered for additional full and part-time programs. If their first choice is unsuccessful, the Admissions Committee will then consider the applicant for their second, third and fourth choices, in the order of their preference. 

If you would like guidance in prioritizing Kellogg’s array of programs given your background and goals, check out Accepted’s consulting services for comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you too!


By Jennifer Bloom, admissions consultant at Accepted for 20 years and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She is an expert at guiding you to produce application materials that truly differentiate you from the rest of the driven applicant pool. If you would like help with your application, Jennifer can suggest a number of options that work with any budget. Want Jennifer to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!



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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Last Chance! Save HUNDREDS and Maximize Your MBA Application



We know you have a lot on your mind right now. Juggling MBA application prep when the world is still in such a unique situation isn’t easy, but strong leaders press forward, even through adversity. If you put in the work now, you can get into a program that will help you become the kind of business leader the world needs like never before. 

Spend your time developing an application that will ensure the adcom remembers your name (positively, of course!). Our biggest annual promotion is ending soon, but you can still take advantage of this rare discount and get the services you need to take your application to the next level

Last Day to Save: June 14

Save $500 on a 1-school package, $700 on a 2-school package, or $800 on a 3-school package with code STARTNOW.

Take 10% off all non-rush hourly MBA application services with code TAKE10.



Note: The coupon can’t be combined with another offer, is for non-rush orders only, and can be used one time only.


For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How to Respond to a Rejection
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/How-to-Respond-to-a-Rejection.jpg[/img]
[url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/422_Linda-Abraham_2021.mp3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/How-to-Respond-to-a-Rejection.jpg[/img][/url]

How to Respond to a Rejection [Show summary]

Admissions guru Linda Abraham highlights [url=https://blog.accepted.com#h-four-reasons-for-rejection]four reasons that could cause a rejection[/url] and offers concrete, practical suggestions for moving forward.

How to Respond to a Rejection [Show notes]

Some of you are unfortunately facing a fistful of dings at the moment. Some of you haven’t heard definitively. You are either in [url=https://blog.accepted.com/waitlist-updates-advice/]waitlist limbo[/url], or just waiting to hear an answer, any answer, to your applications this year. But you know that rejection is still a distinct possibility. How can you respond to rejection? [url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/422_Linda-Abraham_2021.mp3]How should you respond to rejection? [/url]

Normally I like to be positive and upbeat, and I will get positive and upbeat a little later, but of course, rejection is something that applicants have to deal with.And it isn’t positive or upbeat. And therefore I want to deal with it on the podcast.

But before we get to the main topic, I want to mention that one of the challenges of admissions is showing that you both fit in at your target schools and stand out in the applicant pool. Accepted’s free download,[url=https://reports.accepted.com/guide/how-to-fit-in-stand-out-during-the-admissions-process] Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions[/url] will show you how to do both. Master this paradox and you are well on your way to Accepted. [url=https://reports.accepted.com/guide/how-to-fit-in-stand-out-during-the-admissions-process]Download the free guide.[/url]

Today’s podcast episode is a solo show, and I’m going to give a little high-level encouragement and then get down to brass tacks advice on what you should do as you approach re-application if you choose to reapply.

Rejection reality  [2:16]

Let’s face it, I’m not Pollyanna: Rejection is disappointing. It’s frustrating. Maybe a little embarrassing, because you told people you were applying.

Acknowledge those negative feelings, but don’t wallow in them. Acknowledge them. You put a lot of effort into this year’s application, you spent money, you invested time, you invested emotionally in this endeavor and you’re disappointed. What can I tell you? It’s legitimate. Some of you may feel that this is the end of the road for your particular career dream. Maybe you’ve applied before, maybe you find rejection to be a terrible blow.

Realize that rejection is disappointing. There’s no question about it. Perfectly legitimate to feel that way. It is a setback but it is not a tragedy. No one has died, no blood has been spilled, no limbs have been lost, you haven’t lost your livelihood or anything close to it.

What about my dreams and goals? [3:12]

You might respond to me and say, “But what about my dreams, my goals?!?!” I have two thoughts for you on that. 

[list][*]You may not need to give up your dreams and goals. You may decide to reapply. We’ll get into that and how to do that effectively later on in the podcast. You may apply to different schools or programs that are easier to get into, and that still support your goal. You may decide to [url=https://blog.accepted.com/upskilling-4-steps-to-choose-your-next-learning-opportunity/]achieve your goals in another way[/url] that doesn’t require a graduate degree.

[/*][*]Or the second thought is, you may need to modify your dreams and goals and replace them with new dreams. In other words, re-dream, instead of reapply. I can tell you that there have been many times when my husband and I seemingly hit a dead end on a dream and had to re-dream, we adjusted. And you know what happened? Things worked out better than we had ever hoped with our original dream.[/*][/list]

For an example of an applicant who had to dream differently, please check out [url=https://blog.accepted.com/life-as-a-physician-assistant-andrea-benedict/]accepted.com/234[/url] for the story of Andrea Benedict who had to abandon her dream of becoming a physician to become a PA instead, and absolutely loves her work and her career.

Let’s say you acknowledge that you’re rejected, there’s no question about it. What should you do? Give yourself an hour or two, maybe even a day or two, to be down and then move on. In fact, pat yourself on the back, for your effort and initiative and applying in the first place. You tried to improve your skills through education, you tried to move forward, you tried to grow and improve. That effort deserves to be acknowledged and praised and I, for one, salute you for it. 

Handling the stress of reapplying [4:48]

Some of you may believe that you just can’t handle the stress of another application process. And there are some of you for whom that is true. And if so, again, re-dream. Change your dreams so you don’t need to apply again. But I would encourage most of you to learn how to deal with stress and disappointment, so that it doesn’t stop you from striving to achieve awesome goals, goals that you can still attain. 

Most people apply to graduate school, especially the professional schools, because they are aiming at roles that are leadership positions, positions of responsibility and consequence. Anyone assuming a position of responsibility or leadership role is going to have stress. It simply goes with the job. It goes with the future. It’s not the part you may like about your future, but it’s certainly going to go with it. And there seems to be a drum beat right now in society, perhaps an outgrowth of the pandemic, that we have to do anything, everything possible to eliminate stress. We can’t eliminate it, we have to learn to deal with it. And in a limited sense, we have to choose when to have it. Sometimes we can’t control when we have it, and those usually are very unfortunate circumstances, but there are times we choose it. Skilled skiers who thrill at black diamond runs probably have the stress of wondering whether they’re going to arrive at the bottom in one piece. I personally hate the stress of doubting if I’m going to arrive on time to catch a plane or train. So, I deal with that stress by arriving early. I basically eliminate it. I just get to the airport a half hour early, and I do something else. 

Now you might say that’s a trivial example, but you can apply it to so many different things. Is the painting that you’re working on going to be as good as you think it should be? My daughter is into baking: Are her baked goods going to turn out the way they should? That’s all stressful on a small, minimal level, but it all has to do with trying something new. And there’s a certain stress involved in that. Don’t stop yourself from experimenting, from trying new things, because you’re afraid of experiencing stress. Learn how to deal with it. 

So, whether you use meditation or music, running or art, painting or prayer, socializing or solitude, mindfulness or yoga, learn how to deal with stress. It is a part of life. Everyone has it. And it is vital that you learn how to deal with it if you aim to be a leader and a person of consequence.

Those who strive for positions of responsibility and impact have more stress than others because you aren’t doing what’s easy. But everyone has stress. Some of you choose to have it, like our skier friends, and some of you don’t. But if you’re going to have it, you might as well have it doing something you love. 

Also remember that any graduate education is a means to an end. If you have been rejected more than once, is there another way for you to achieve your professional goals, assuming that they still are your goals? If there isn’t, do you want to reapply? You might have an easier time responding to that last question at the end of this podcast. So let’s examine the four reasons for rejection and what you can do to change them. 

Four reasons for rejection

[b]Reason 1: Not being competitive at your target programs [8:01][/b]

The first one, you simply weren’t competitive at your target programs. That means your grades and test scores weren’t in range, you did not have the experience programs are looking for, whether it’s [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-an-admissions-committee-views-mba-work-experience/]professional full-time work experience[/url], which is very important to MBA programs, clinical exposure and community service in healthcare fields, some legally-relevant experience for law schools, research for PhD candidates – whatever it is, you need to have it when you apply. And maybe you didn’t have it. Well, that’s a problem. That’s the first reason you simply weren’t competitive at your target programs in terms of what they’re expecting, what they are getting and you didn’t have it.

[b]Reason 2: Not presenting your qualifications well [8:43][/b]

The second reason for rejection is you failed to present your qualifications well. You had the grades, you had the test score, and you had the experience, but somehow you just didn’t put it out there so well. You were competitive, but you didn’t present your qualifications effectively. Maybe you wrote a resume in prose for your [url=https://blog.accepted.com/tag/essay-editing/]personal statement or statement of purpose[/url]. Maybe you did not provide examples to support assertions and declarative statements in your essays. Maybe you provided examples with no indication of why they’re important in your essay. Perhaps you failed to show fit with a program’s values, mission and strengths. If there were multiple essays in the application, maybe you use all of them to discuss one thing, or there was just a lot of overlap and duplication. Maybe you focused on the negative in your written materials or spent the bulk of your essay criticizing and blaming others for misfortunes in your past.

[b]Reason 3: Intense competition [9:42][/b]

The third reason is that you were a victim of a intense competition in the field and at the schools that you applied to. This is particularly relevant for [url=https://blog.accepted.com/application-trends-to-watch-in-2021-and-a-look-back-at-2020-episode-400/]the application cycle that is ending now[/url], or just ended depending upon the field you’re going into. It seems like most fields, healthcare, MBA, law, MPH, MD, DO experienced a significant increase in applications this cycle. Business schools reported, especially a Round 1 significant increase, medical schools were talking about a 20% or so increase in applications this cycle, and as of May 22nd, US law schools reported a 19.2% increase in applicants this cycle compared to last cycle, and a 31.2% increase in application volume. So there’s no question that you have competition, and at elite programs, you have intense competition.

For example, 49 US medical schools reported [url=https://www.accepted.com/medical/med-selectivity-index]acceptance rates[/url] of under 5% last year. And the overall acceptance rate again for the year before, was in the low 40th percentile. However, I would caution you against assuming that your rejection is solely due to competition, because it’s the one factor you can’t control. Focus on the ones you can do something about, okay? Realize that this is a factor, and it could have played a role to be sure, but what you really need to think about and focus on are the factors you can control. And those are your qualifications, the schools you apply to, and your presentation.

[b]Reason 4: Combination of factors [11:21][/b]

The fourth possible reason is two or three of the above factors causing you rejection, not just one. If you focus exclusively on stats, you may still not get in – if poor presentation of your experience contributed to your rejection, even if you do raise your test scores or improve your competitiveness according to the numbers, or if your experience is still lacking – then you’ll still have a problem.

You have to address multiple issues so let’s get to work and discuss what you need to do to address those. 

Before I get into that, I just want to give you a warning – one move that’s highly unlikely to change the outcome is reapplying with the exact same application that you submitted last time. It didn’t work before, and there is no reason to think it will work this time. Furthermore, if you apply with the same application, you will fail to show growth. Presumably you’ve been doing something this past year and schools are going to want to see what you’ve been doing and how you’ve been spending your time and how you’ve been growing and [url=https://blog.accepted.com/display-teamwork-in-application-essays/]leading and contributin[/url]g or improving your grades or getting a better test score.

How should the reasons for your rejection dictate your response? [12:31]  

When you analyze the reasons for your rejection, those contributing factors should also dictate your response to rejection. So let’s go back over the reasons and see what you can do to change the outcome. 

You weren’t competitive at your target programs[b].[/b] In terms of academics, you weren’t competitive so that could be low grades or low test scores. In terms of low grades, can you take courses and show that today and in your field of interest you can do well. The courses could be extension courses, online courses, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/is-a-postbac-program-right-for-you/]postbac programs[/url] especially in healthcare, perhaps a relevant master’s degree where you do really, really well. Show them that today, you know how to perform academically. For more on this topic I suggest that you look at [url=https://blog.accepted.com/what-to-do-about-a-low-gpa/]accepted.com/137[/url], where I did a whole podcast on five A’s for your low GPA and five things that you can do.

If you have low test scores, you have to ask yourself, can you improve your test prep? Can you improve your test score, which presumably is related to the test prep? Do you have more time to invest? Can you change from self study, to a class, from a class to a tutor, from self-study to a tutor — whatever will be effective for you. If lack of that required or desirable experience is a problem for you, can you get the experience that your target schools like to see? Whether it’s [url=https://blog.accepted.com/the-importance-of-clinical-exposure/]clinical exposure[/url] in the healthcare field, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/work-experience-reveals-mba-application/]full-time work experience[/url] in business, something relevant to law for law school?  

Would you be competitive with current stats at other programs that support your goals? In other words, let’s say you aim to get into schools with acceptance rates of 10%. With schools that have acceptance rates of 20, 30, 40, 50%, depending upon the field that you’re going into, are there some of them that would still support your goal? Are your test score and your grades much more competitive at those programs than at the ones you applied to? That’s another way to address a gap between your qualifications and the typical qualifications of someone who’s admitted to your target schools.

In terms of a weak or flawed presentation of your qualifications, I gave a few examples, here are some more: [url=https://reports.accepted.com/guide/from-example-to-exemplary-guide]maybe your writing was sloppy or unclear[/url], maybe you didn’t address the essay prompt clearly, maybe your resume and activity descriptions focused much more on responsibilities and tasks that you completed, as opposed to achievements and contributions and where you really shined. Maybe you failed to show fit with the specific schools you were applying to. Did you look up their [url=https://blog.accepted.com/matching-your-values-to-the-medical-school-mission-statement/]mission[/url]? Did you look up their values and their criteria? Through your application and interview, did you show fit? Did you ask your recommenders to perhaps try and steer the recommendations towards those criteria? Any or all of these application errors mean that you did not do a great job of presenting yourself to the school. And if others did a better job and were otherwise qualified, they made it in and you didn’t You need to improve your presentation. 

Now, if you’re a victim of intense competition in your field and at the schools you applied to, this is one factor again as I mentioned earlier that you can’t change. I suggest that you focus on it the least, except to the extent that maybe you adjust your school choices. It frequently is a factor in combination with number one and number two. It’s rarely a factor on its own. If you feel that it played a role, you should focus more on presentation and choose to apply to programs where you are more competitive. 

How to choose between various next steps? [16:14]

We’ve gone through the list and all the steps you can take, now what if there are several things that you can do? Well, on one hand, that’s the good news, because you have steps you can take to change the outcome. It’s much more difficult if you don’t know what to do. You have your work cut out for you. If you really have a lot of things that you need to do, perhaps postpone reapplying by a year or more so that you can boost your qualifications, improve the presentation of your qualifications, and also consider applying to a few programs where your chances of acceptance are higher. 

So if you were rejected this cycle, recognize that you have options. Don’t focus on the disappointment, focus on your destination.

First decide if you want to continue pursuing the goal that motivated you to apply in the first place. Or do you want to, as I said earlier, re-dream? If you choose to continue pursuing your original goal, think about various ways to achieve it. And if you decide that graduate education is the best or only route forward, consider the ways that you can [url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=podcast_respond_to_rejection&utm_source=article]improve your application[/url] and the outcome of your application.

But whether you choose to re-dream or reapply, congratulate yourself on the effort and keep looking forward. 

[url=https://media.blubrry.com/admissions_straight_talk/p/www.accepted.com/hubfs/Podcast_audio_files/Podcast/422_Linda-Abraham_2021.mp3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ListenToTheShow.png[/img][/url]

[b]Related links:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://www.accepted.com/medical/services/rejection-review?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=podcast_response_to_rejection&utm_source=blog]Accepted’s Medical School Rejection Review Services[/url][/*][*][url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/rejection-review?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=podcast_response_to_rejection&utm_source=blog]Accepted’s Business School Rejection Review Services[/url][/*][*][url=https://www.accepted.com/healthcare/services/rejection-review?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=podcast_response_to_rejection&utm_source=blog]Accepted’s Healthcare Rejection Review Services[/url][/*][*][url=https://www.accepted.com/law/services/rejection-review?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=podcast_response_to_rejection&utm_source=blog]Accepted’s Law School Rejection Review Services[/url][/*][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/medical/webinar/the-reapplicants-guide-to-medical-school-acceptance?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.accepted.com%2F]The Reapplicant’s Guide to Medical School Acceptance[/url], an on-demand webinar[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-reapply-successfully-to-top-mba-programs/]How to Reapply Successfully to Top MBA Programs[/url], a short video[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/reapplying-to-business-school-how-to-do-it-right-the-second-time-around/]Reapplying to Business School: How to Do It Right the Second Time Around[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-reject-rejection/]What to Do if You’re Rejected from Grad School[/url][/*][/list]

[b]Related show:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/application-trends-to-watch-in-2021-and-a-look-back-at-2020/]Application Trends to Watch in 2021, and a Look Back at 2020[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/two-admissions-experts-on-the-latest-in-law-school-admissions/]Two Admissions Experts on the Latest in Law School Admissions[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/is-a-postbac-program-right-for-you/]Is a Postbac Program Right for You?[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/apply-at-your-best-advice-from-a-med-school-admissions-expert/]Apply at Your Best: Advice from a Med School Admissions Expert[/url][/*][*][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/how-to-prepare-for-a-successful-round-1-mba-application/]How to Prepare for a Successful Round 1 MBA Application[/url][/*][/list]

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The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-respond-to-a-rejection-episode-422/]How to Respond to a Rejection [Episode 422][/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: The MBA Common Letter of Recommendation (LOR): An Overview



One of the key pieces of an MBA application is the letter of recommendation. This letter, usually written by managers, gives the admissions committee an insightful perspective on the MBA candidate. However, since each program has their own unique form, and candidates are often hesitant to ask managers to fill out multiple recommendations, applicants often limit the number of programs to which they apply. Recommenders frequently cannot dedicate enough time to such letters, resulting in less thorough and perceptive recommendations.  

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the Common Letter of Recommendation was born out of the need to save recommenders and alumni time by enabling them to complete one, common, set of questions. Since the questions stay embedded in each school’s existing application system, few major changes are necessary. The Common LOR was developed by a group of leading business schools in conjunction with GMAC. These programs are leading the way, with the support of GMAC, to collaborate, collect information from industry professionals, and collate information from candidates worldwide.   

Benefits of the Common LOR 

  • Delivers deeper understanding of candidates by applying the best practices from top programs and using the most up-to-date science in executive assessment 

  • Allows for a wider diversity of prospective students and a greater number of applicants by enabling them to ask for multiple LORs. 


Common LOR sections 

The Common LOR is comprised of the following four sections: 

  • Personal Information About the Recommender 

[*]Leadership Assessment Grid: Made up of 12 competencies and character traits that lead to successful leadership. They are divided into these five groups: [/list]

  • Achievement 

  • Influence 

  • People 

  • Personal Qualities 

  • Cognitive Abilities 

[*] Recommendation Questions (Open-Ended Questions for Recommenders) [/list]

  • Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant, and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. 

  • How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (e.g., what are the applicant’s principal strengths?). 

  • Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. 

  • Is there anything else we should know? (Optional) 

Schools currently using the Common LOR form 

Asia School of Business – in collaboration with MIT Sloan Management Boston College – Carroll School of Management Boston University – Questrom School of Business Brandeis International Business School Carnegie Melon – Tepper School of Business College of William & Mary – Mason School of Business Cornell University – SC Johnson School of Business Dartmouth University – Tuck School of Business Duke University – The Fuqua School of Business Emory University – Goizueta Business School Fudan University – School of Management Georgetown University – McDonough School of Business Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Indian School of Business MIT Management Sloan School New York University – Stern School of Business Northeastern University, D’Amore-McKim School of Business   Notre Dame – Mendoza School of Business Penn State University – SMEAL College of Business RICE University Jones Graduate School of Business Sabanci University – Sabanci School of Management Santa Clara University – Leavey School of Business Simon Fraser University, Beedie School of Business Stanford Graduate School of Business Southern Methodist University – Cox School of Business The College of New Jersey The University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business UC Davis Graduate School of Management UCI Paul Merage School of Business UCLA Anderson School of Management UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School University of Florida – Warrington College of Business University of Georgia – Terry College of Business University of Kansas School of Business University of Michigan – Ross School of Business University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management University of Rochester – Simon Business School University of San Francisco – School of Management University of Virginia – Darden School of Business Vanderbilt – Owen Graduate School of Management Washington University in St. Louis – Olin Business School Yale School of Management 

The widespread uptake of the common LOR is due in part to the longstanding lobbying of admissions professionals. Anna Ivey, former president of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC), welcomed the development of more schools embracing the shared LOR model: “Applicants have for years found themselves in quite a pickle because they have had to dump so much work on their recommenders. In some cases, their recommenders have had to write more words than the applicants do in their essays. That has created all kinds of distortions, despite good intentions. 

“Any convergence around common recommendation questions not only makes the application process easier for applicants and their recommenders, but also helps preserve the integrity of those recommendations and the application process. Cutting down on the duplication and extra work for recommenders will make it more likely that recommenders write their letters themselves, and that’s a great outcome.” 

We can help you take advantage of the common LOR to get the most from your recommenders and supercharge your application. Our experienced consultants also work with recommenders to provide guidance in crafting compelling letters that will set you on the road 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!



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FROM Accepted.com Blog: UCLA Anderson MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021-2022]



Accepted’s B-School Selectivity Index shows that UCLA Anderson is 20th in selectivity and 18th in the U.S. News’ ranking. Its average GMAT is 707, down ten points from last year. The acceptance rate at Anderson has climbed steadily, from 20.7% for the class that entered in 2016 to 22.3% for the class that entered in 2017 to 24.3% for the class that entered in 2018 to 30.5% two years ago. The acceptance rate for the rate that entered in 2020 is 34.4%. Many other MBA programs also saw increasing acceptance rates during this period.

The essay advice that UCLA Anderson provides on its website is excellent, not just for Anderson’s essays, but for most MBA essays. Read it carefully.

UCLA Anderson 2021-2022 MBA application

We look forward to learning about your perspectives and plans via your essay responses. Essays complement the answers you provide throughout the application to show us your whole profile. The best applications are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and showing clear plans for the future.

UCLA Anderson MBA essay question

For the 2021-2022 application year, we have one essay question that is required for first-time applicants and optional for reapplicants:

How have recent events influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both?(250 words maximum)

We welcome reflection on any events that influenced you in your personal or professional lives, or in society in general, and look forward to learning about specific ways you want to leave your mark.

The last two years have been a period of unparalleled change and uncertainty. The global pandemic and shutdown. Perhaps your own illness or that of loved ones. Social unrest, particularly in the U.S. Elections, and challenges to the results.

What an era! 

How has all this affected you? How has a personal event that didn’t end up on the front page influenced you? Have any of these experiences motivated you to act? Are you helping neighbors in vulnerable populations? Do you have an enhanced appreciation for family and friends, now that you can once again see them (assuming you can)? Were you participating in demonstrations? Getting out the vote? Writing letters to elected representatives? Have your plans for the future changed? How so? And why?

Anderson expects you to answer this large question in a small space. You can start by succinctly describing the incident that had the biggest influence on you. What was your reaction to the event? What did you do? What was the impact of your actions on you and others?

As you prepare your answer, keep in mind that Anderson’s primary values are: “Share success. Think fearlessly. Drive change.” Does your response reveal these traits, or at least two of them? It should. 

UCLA Anderson MBA optional question

No preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment:

Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum)

If there are extenuating circumstances that would add perspective or context for a weakness, you can discuss them here. A few years ago, UCLA added the following: “Please do not submit redundant information in the Optional Essay.” Good advice for all optional questions. For more suggestions, please see Optional Essays: When and How to Write Them.

Special instructions for reapplicants

Reapplicants are those who applied to the MBA program within the last two application years, so those who applied three or more years ago are considered new applicants.

Reapplicants may answer one or both of the essay questions above as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.

For expert guidance with your UCLA Anderson MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to UCLA Anderson’s MBA program and look forward to helping you too!

UCLA Anderson 2021-2022 MBA application deadlines

Application DeadlineDecisions ReleasedRound 1October 5, 2021December 14, 2021Round 2January 4, 2022March 22, 2022Round 3April 12, 2022May 17, 2022

Source: UCLA Anderson website

Stay on top of MBA deadlines with the MBA Admissions Calendar!

[Click here to add the calendar to your Google calendar; or here to add the calendar to another app.]

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




By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. Linda earned her bachelors and MBA at UCLA, and has been advising applicants since 1994 when she founded Accepted. Linda is the co-founder and first president of AIGAC. She has written or co-authored 13 e-books on the admissions process, and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, Poets & Quants, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS News, and others. Linda is the host of Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for graduate school applicants. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

The post UCLA Anderson MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021-2022] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: London Business School MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022]



If you are looking for a globally focused MBA program in a city bursting with culture, finance, and industry, then LBS is certainly a program to consider. 

Strong applications to London Business School demonstrate applicants’ global interest (even without global experience per se), curiosity to learn with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and a passion for impact.

London Business School 2021-2022 MBA application essay questions

London Business School required essay question

What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words)

This is a mainstay in the LBS application, a straightforward career goals question. You need to demonstrate in the first paragraph that you know what you would like to be doing after the MBA, and it had better excite LBS. They are looking for applicants with a global outlook, committed to challenging the status quo and making an impact on business.

In general, I find that this essay needs to apply one-third of the word limit to defining your goal, one-third to summarizing what you have gained from your career and how it has prepared you for your goals, and one-third to how the London Business School education will complement that experience to propel you to your goals. Please note: 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 are guidelines, not rigid rules.

London Business School optional essay question

Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (500 words)

LBS has allotted a decent amount of space for this essay, which is a subtle hint that they are open to hearing more from applicants here. I always advocate writing the optional essay, but in this case I am highly recommending it since the one required essay will leave you little space to share details about your past experiences.

In particular, examples of your leadership, changing the status quo, making an impact, or navigating cultural differences would make great use of this space if you didn’t have room for them in the required essay.

For expert guidance with your London Business School MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to b-school and look forward to helping you too!

London Business School MBA application deadlines for 2021 – 2022

We have four application deadlines each year – see application calendar – you can expect similar deadline dates for the 2022 intake.

Source: London Business School website

Stay on top of MBA deadlines with the MBA Admissions Calendar!

[Click here to add the calendar to your Google calendar; or here to add the calendar to another app.]

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




By Jennifer Bloom, admissions consultant at Accepted for 20 years and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She is an expert at guiding you to produce application materials that truly differentiate you from the rest of the driven applicant pool. If you would like help with your application, Jennifer can suggest a number of options that work with any budget. Want Jennifer to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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FROM Accepted.com Blog: How to Prove You’re a Perfect Fit for the #1 B-School in America
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Get-Accepted-to-Stanford-GSB-blog-image.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/stanford-graduate-school-of-business?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Stanford_webinar_2021p1][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Get-Accepted-to-Stanford-GSB-blog-image.jpg[/img][/url]

This year once again, Stanford Graduate School of Business is the top-ranked b-school in the US. Admissions for the program are naturally very competitive, with acceptance rates consistently below 10%.

If you’re hoping to be one of the select few to gain admission this cycle, you’ll need to submit a near-perfect application, one that demonstrates why the adcom should choose you over hundreds of other qualified applicants. 

To help you get started on your road to acceptance at this elite program, Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham is hosting a masterclass entitled [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/stanford-graduate-school-of-business?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Stanford_webinar_2021p1]Get Accepted to Stanford GSB[/url] on Wednesday, July 7th.  

We’re offering this free, live session at two different times to maximize convenience for attendees. You must register to attend though, so choose your time slot (10am PT/1pm ET, [b]OR[/b] 5pm PT/8pm ET) and register today! 

Register for the masterclass:

[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]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-prove-youre-a-perfect-fit-for-the-1-b-school-in-america/]How to Prove You’re a Perfect Fit for the #1 B-School in America[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Applying to HBS? Watch this Video First!
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Get-Accepted-to-Harvard-Business-School-Watch-Now-1.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/harvard-business-school?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Get_Accepted_to_HBS_June2021_avail][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Get-Accepted-to-Harvard-Business-School-Watch-Now-1.jpg[/img][/url]

In our recent masterclass, [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/harvard-business-school?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Get_Accepted_to_HBS_June2021_avail]Get Accepted to Harvard Business School[/url], we shared must-have information about how to approach the elements of the HBS application in a way that will maximize your chances of acceptance.

If you couldn’t join us, make sure you watch the recording of the session before you even consider getting started on your application!

Watch the masterclass:

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For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. [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]
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Wharton MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022]



Wharton changed its first essay questions and left its second required question and optional questions as they have been for the last couple of years. The “change” to the first question is really more of a clarification. Wharton is more specific in what it’s looking for. And that should help you provide a better answer.

Wharton MBA application essay questions

Wharton MBA essay #1

How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)

This question is future-focused and exclusively professional. What do you want to do professionally that you can’t do now and that a Wharton MBA will help you do? What “soft” and “hard” skills do you hope to acquire at Wharton? How will a Wharton MBA – the education, the credential, and the experience – when combined with your past experience and education help you achieve your dreams?

In Blair Mannix’s words during an Admissions Straight Talk interview:

“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.”

As with most MBA goals questions, Wharton wants to see how you plan to connect your Wharton education to your future. Keep in mind that Wharton has an incredibly rich curriculum. How will you take advantage of its premier offerings to prepare yourself to realize your vision?

To answer this question well, you need to have professional direction and you need to know which of Wharton’s myriad resources make it perfect as the next stop on your professional journey.

There are many ways you could structure your response. You could start with a pivotal experience that either illustrates what you seek to accomplish or that shaped your short-term and long-term goals. Then why this experience — hopefully an accomplishment — is important to you and how it relates to the question. In doing so make sure you answer all elements of Wharton’s essay question.

Wharton MBA essay #2

Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words)

Start with the end in mind: How do you intend to contribute to the Wharton community?

To answer that question, research the co-curricular opportunities and pedagogical approach at Wharton. How will you contribute? Based on your experience, what difference do you intend to make? How will you participate, and yes, contribute?

Now decide on the aspects of your experience and background that prepared you to have your intended impact. You can highlight achievements, challenges overcome, initiatives you’ve led, and teamwork, and that’s just for starters. 

And now you’re ready to write.

You can start this essay with the impactful experience from your past and then analyze the lesson you learned from that accomplishment. Then bring it forward and apply it to your intended role at Wharton.

Alternatively, you can start with your intended impact at Wharton and then go back to your past experience.

Regardless of how you structure your essay, you want Wharton to see you as a giver and contributor.

Wharton MBA additional essay question (Required for all reapplicants)

Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)

The name of the MBA reapplicant game is Growth and Improvement. Wharton is asking for reflection, and you need to provide it, but also show how that reflection led to action and improvement. Show Wharton that you are a better candidate this time than last.

Wharton MBA optional essay question

Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.

“Addressing extenuating circumstances” means that you should describe those circumstances in a straightforward way. Give the admissions committee context. Avoid excuses and whining. If possible, provide evidence that those circumstances either no longer exist and will not affect your performance.

Also note that this question is broad enough where you can use it to bring to the committee’s attention an interest, achievement, obstacle overcome that you would like them to know about and that isn’t covered elsewhere.

What’s next?

For expert guidance with your Wharton MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped thousands of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you too!

Wharton 2021-22 application deadlines

Round 1September 8, 2021Round 2January 5, 2022Round 3March 30, 2022Deferred Admissions RoundApril 27, 2022

*To be considered for a round, you must submit a complete application by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of the deadline.

Source: Wharton website

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

Stay on top of MBA deadlines with the MBA Admissions Calendar!

[Click here to add the calendar to your Google calendar; or here to add the calendar to another app.]




By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. Linda earned her bachelors and MBA at UCLA, and has been advising applicants since 1994 when she founded Accepted. Linda is the co-founder and first president of AIGAC. She has written or co-authored 13 e-books on the admissions process, and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, Poets & Quants, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS News, and others. Linda is the host of Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for graduate school applicants. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

The post Wharton MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Stanford GSB MBA Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022]
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stanford-GSB-2021-2022-MBA-App-Tips-REV.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/stanford-graduate-school-of-business?hsLang=en][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stanford-GSB-2021-2022-MBA-App-Tips-REV.jpg[/img][/url]

In terms of its application, Stanford is once again re-using its essay questions. And there’s good reason for the recycling: Stanford has excellent questions that succinctly [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/stanford-graduate-school-of-business-webinar]get to the heart of what Stanford wants to know[/url] about you. They are not easy questions to answer, but they are thoughtful, probing ones.

A few years agp, Stanford GSB also added [url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/admission/application-process/essays]optional short answer questions[/url] to its application.

In a recent webinar with Kirsten Moss, she emphasized that the optional essays are truly optional. Stanford last year admitted students who wrote the optional essays and those who did not. You’ll see that sentiment echoed in GSB’s instructions. I definitely believe that Stanford intends them to be genuinely optional.

You should write the optional essays if you have experiences not presented in the required essays, that address the optional questions and that will reinforce the portrayal of you as [url=https://blog.accepted.com/understanding-stanford-graduate-business-school-interest-personal-qualities-contributions/]a change agent and consequential member of your community[/url], however you define that community. And most of us are members of multiple communities.

If you have nothing to add, write nothing. However, I suspect most applicants will benefit by responding to the optional questions. Give GSB more reasons to admit you.

Stanford gives a lot of advice and guidance on its website as to what it’s looking for in the essays. You should access that advice in addition to reviewing my suggestions below.

Stanford GSB 2021-22 MBA application essay questions

Essays help us learn about who you are rather than solely what you have done.

Other parts of the application give insight to your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the person behind those achievements.

We request that you write two personal essays.

In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions—the best answer is the one that is truest for you.

Stanford MBA Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

This superficially straightforward question has been Stanford’s first for at least the last seventeen years, but it is actually one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult, MBA essay questions to answer. Superficial responses will fail. The prompt demands introspection. Before you put finger to keyboard or pen to paper, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/understanding-stanford-graduate-business-school-interest-personal-qualities-contributions/]really reflect on what you value[/url], how you have acted upon those principles, and why you live by them. Stanford’s advice urges reflection. The question requires it.

When I reflect on our many successful Stanford clients, initiative in the face of need is the common thread among them. They are always the ones who showed, especially in Essay A, that they do not turn away when they see a problem or need for action. They seize the initiative when faced with an opportunity to contribute. They are comfortable expressing emotion and their values, and their actions reflect both, but particularly the latter. Think purpose-driven, principled lives and [url=https://blog.accepted.com/stanford-gsb-seeks-demonstrated-leadership-potential/]leadership[/url].

More than anything else, initiative and self-awareness characterize the successful Stanford MBA applicant. Implication: You have to know your values and those times you have acted upon them. Yes I wrote that a few seconds ago, but it bears repeating. Climbing Mt. Everest or suffering from terrible social ills is not a requirement of admission, but you do have to know the person occupying your skin.

Stanford MBA Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Two words. That’s it. Now that question is succinct, and really says what they want to know.

Two pieces of information are required to answer this question well: A clear MBA goal and an in-depth understanding of [url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/academic-experience/curriculum]Stanford GSB’s curriculum[/url]. (Folks: It’s not the ranking, brand, or location.)

This question is a variation of a standard [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/why-mba]MBA goals question[/url]. For this forward-looking question, discuss why you want an MBA from Stanford. The best way to do so is in terms of your desired post-MBA professional direction. Then explain how specifically Stanford’s highly customizable program will help you travel down that path.

Do your homework. You need to know what are [url=https://blog.accepted.com/m7-mba-programs-everything-you-need-to-know/#stanford-gsb]the distinctive characteristics of the Stanford MBA program[/url], or you simply can’t answer the question. Understand the flexibility inherent in Stanford’s curriculum, its integrated approach to management education, its entrepreneurial culture, and how all these elements (and others) will help you learn what you need to know to realize your aspirations. Recognize that the curriculum allows for personalization based on your goal and your past experience, specifically your previous business education.

Please do NOT write that you want to attend Stanford because of “the flexibility inherent in Stanford’s curriculum, its integrated approach to management, its entrepreneurial culture….” That phrasing is too general for your specific reasons (and besides the Stanford adcom can google the phrase if they see it too often and see that you found it here). Go deeper and be more distinctive in your writing so that you really tie your goals to different facets of Stanford’s MBA program.

[b]Length[/b]

[/b]

Both essays combined may not exceed 1,050 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B. We often find effective essays that are written in fewer words.

Additional information

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

[list]
[*]
[list]
Extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences

[/*]
Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere[/*]
[/list]
[/*]
[/list]

Is there something significant, or “critical” in Stanford’s words that you would like Stanford to know about as they evaluate your application and that isn’t included elsewhere? It could be context for an academic dip or blemish. It could be a challenge overcome. It could be an achievement not provided elsewhere, or an experience that you are proud of and believe will enhance your candidacy. 

If so, use this additional information section to succinctly tell that part of your story.

Stanford MBA optional short-answer questions

In this section, we provide an [b]optional[/b] opportunity for you to discuss some of your contributions and background more fully.

What do we mean by “optional”? We truly mean you have the opportunity to choose. In evaluating your application, we want to know about who you are, what you have done, and how your background may have influenced your experiences. If you feel that you’ve already addressed these questions well in other areas of the application, congratulations, you’re done! If not, feel free to use this opportunity to tell us more by answering one or both questions.

Optional short-answer question A

In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. If you would like to go beyond your resume to discuss some of your contributions more fully, you are welcome to share up to three examples. (Up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example)

[b]Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?[/b]

I think this question gets to the heart of the initiative, impact, and leadership we’ve seen in successful Stanford applicants. It gives you more opportunity to show those times when you’ve made a difference.

While the question is optional, [url=https://blog.accepted.com/understanding-stanford-graduate-business-school-interest-personal-qualities-contributions/]Stanford wants people of impact[/url]. Show the Stanford GSB that you are that kind of person. All the essays should lead Stanford to that conclusion.

Using a CAR approach with each example would be very effective for these short responses:

[b]Challenge:[/b] What was the situation or issue you were addressing?

[b]Action:[/b] What did you do?

[b]Result:[/b] What was the impact of your actions on you and others and why does it matter?

Given the character limit, you clearly need to be concise.

Optional short-answer question B

We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. We are interested in how your background may have influenced your life experiences. In answering this question, consider how your background, such as your work, education, skills, interests, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, where/how you grew up, and/or other factors, had an impact on your recent actions and choices. (Up to 1,100 characters, or approximately 180 words)

[b]Question: Tell us about a time within the last three years when your background influenced your participation in a situation, interaction, or project.[/b]

This question is about your identity. It’s about getting to know you and what motivates you. How has that identity, that core of who you are, that core of most significant influences and experiences expressed itself in your recent actions?

There are so many ways to approach this question, but you have so little room. You can start with “the time” you want to discuss. Briefly tell that story, and then discuss how your background influenced your behavior.  Alternatively, you could start with the element of your identity you want to discuss and move the story forward to the recent experience. 

However you structure your response, your experience could show you mentoring someone else, taking initiative, creating something, or doing a myriad of other things. However “the time” has to be in the last three years and it has to have affected your behavior in a way that reflects your identity.

Stanford GSB at a glance
Stanford GSB average GMAT score: 733

Stanford GSB average GPA: 3.8

Stanford GSB acceptance rate: 8.9%

U.S. News ranked Stanford GSB #1 in 2022.

[b]For expert guidance with your Stanford GSB MBA application, check out Accepted’s [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/application-packages?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=mba_essay_tips&utm_source=blog]MBA Application Packages[/url], which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Stanford’s MBA program and look forward to helping you too![/b]

Stanford GSB 2021-22 MBA application timeline

[b]Round[/b][b]Application Deadline[/b][b]Decisions Released[/b]1September 9, 2021December 9, 20212January 5, 2022March 31, 20223TBATBA

Your completed application, including your [url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/admission/application-process/letters-reference]letters of reference[/url] and [url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/admission/application-process/application-fee]application fee payment[/url], is due at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the deadline date for the round in which you apply.

[url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/admission/deadlines]Source: Stanford GSB website[/url]

[b]Stay on top of MBA deadlines with the [url=https://www.accepted.com/calendar]MBA Admissions Calendar[/url]![/b]

[[url=https://calendar.google.com/calendar/b/2?cid=ZWdybWVsZ3IzZTZtczUxYzMwOGY0MGxiODhAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ]Click here[/url] to add the calendar to your Google calendar; or [url=https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/egrmelgr3e6ms51c308f40lb88%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics]here[/url] to add the calendar to another app.]

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

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/69354270-0979-45a7-930d-70630c157725][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/69354270-0979-45a7-930d-70630c157725.png[/img][/url]

[img]https://blog.accepted.com/linda-abraham-accepted-founder/[/img]
By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. Linda earned her bachelors and MBA at UCLA, and has been advising applicants since 1994 when she founded Accepted. Linda is the co-founder and first president of AIGAC. She has written or co-authored 13 e-books on the admissions process, and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, Poets & Quants, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS News, and others. Linda is the host of Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for graduate school applicants. [b][url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_linda&utm_source=blog]Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch![/url][/b]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/guide/why-mba]Why MBA?[/url], a free guide to writing about your MBA goals[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/stanford-mba-grows-his-amazing-tech-startup/]Stanford MBA Grows His Amazing Tech Startup[/url], a podcast episode[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/stanford-gbb-mba-class-profile/]Stanford MBA Class of 2022 Profile[/url][/*][/list]

The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/stanford-gsb-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]Stanford GSB MBA Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022][/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: The Four Things You Must Prove to Get Accepted to Stanford GSB



The harsh reality is that more than 90% of applicants to Stanford will be rejected.

Among those rejections are no doubt scores of very accomplished and talented applicants. Yet  the numbers simply are what they are—very few applicants will be admitted. 

To position yourself to have the best chance of being in that elite group, you’ve got to absolutely nail your application. A submission that is simply average, undistinguished or one-size-fits-all will effectively ensure that you get passed over.

Our upcoming masterclass, Get Accepted to Stanford GSB, is designed to boost your chances to beat those tough odds.

The session will be hosted by our founder and CEO, Linda Abraham, a highly respected admissions pro with more than 25 years of experience helping applicants overcome seemingly insurmountable admissions challenges. In this hour, Linda will outline the four key principles (and more!) that your application must include if you want to prove that you belong at Stanford GSB.  

Join us on Wednesday, July 7th to take advantage of Linda’s expert guidance — free of charge.  We’re offering one session at 10am PT/1pm ET and another at 5pm PT/8pm ET. Seats are filling up quickly for both, so hurry and grab your spot today!

Register for the masterclass:


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

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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Time’s Almost Up! Your Last Chance to Learn the Keys to Acceptance at Stanford GSB
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Get-Accepted-to-Stanford-GSB-blog-image.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/stanford-graduate-school-of-business?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Stanford_webinar_2021p3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Get-Accepted-to-Stanford-GSB-blog-image.jpg[/img][/url]

Our free masterclass, [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/stanford-graduate-school-of-business?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Stanford_webinar_2021p3]Get Accepted to Stanford GSB[/url], is coming up this week and spots are filling up fast. Register now to join us! 

If you’re applying to Stanford, you already know that you have an uphill battle on your hands. With nine out of every ten applicants likely to be rejected, it’s not enough to have near perfect grades, a stellar GMAT score, or impressive work experience. Most applicants are likely to have all those boxes checked. 

So, what does it take?

To make the cut, you’ll need to prove that you can thrive in this rigorous environment while contributing something unique to the school community as well. Approaching your application smartly and strategically, you can demonstrate to the adcom exactly how you’ll do that.

Accepted is providing this masterclass free of charge, but spots are limited and you must register to save your seat. To make it as easy as possible for you to attend, we’re offering two live time slots. Simply [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/stanford-graduate-school-of-business?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Stanford_webinar_2021p3]click here[/url] to register and select your choice of 10am PT/1pm ET or 5pm PT/8pm ET. See you on July 7th!

Register for the masterclass:

[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]

The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/planning-on-stanford-gsb-plan-for-this/]Time’s Almost Up! Your Last Chance to Learn the Keys to Acceptance at Stanford GSB[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Dartmouth Tuck MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022]



Tuck has developed a very purposeful process focused on admitting people who meet its four criteria, summed up as: smart, accomplished, aware and encouraging. The criteria match my understanding of the Tuck community, and also are relatively easy to grasp. Once Tuck established and defined these criteria, it designed its application process to unearth the qualities it is seeking in candidates.

For more information on the Tuck criteria and the application process, please review:


Dartmouth Tuck MBA application

Tuck MBA application essay #1

Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)

What distinctive aspects of the Tuck MBA experience will help you realize your post-MBA goals? What motivates you to apply to Tuck and would compel you to accept an offer of admission? That’s really what they want to know. And those elements of the program need to be associated with your aspirations.

In terms of structuring a response, you can start with your aspirations, which should lead directly to your reasons for pursuing an MBA. Then show how Tuck is perfectly suited to propel you towards your vision of your future. Focus on the distinctive aspects of Tuck’s program.

Tuck MBA application essay #2

Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are. (300 words)

This is a big question with a small allotment of words to answer it in.

Think about aspects of you and your life that reflect your individuality and aren’t reflected in other parts of the application or in other essays. Choose the most important elements and spotlight them in this essay.

There are so many different ways to approach the response that I’m not going to suggest a structure. I do urge you to think deeply about what makes you You. Also, deliberate carefully and select those experiences and attributes that you want to highlight for Tuck.

If your transcript and test score show you’re smart and your resume shows you’re accomplished, Essays #1 and #2 will show how aware you are.

Tuck MBA application essay #3

Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative and empathetic, even when it is not convenient or easy. Describe a meaningful experience in which you exemplified one or more of these attributes. (300 words)

This question asks you to provide one experience that shows you contributing and supporting someone else’s success. Your assistance could be on or off the job.

While Tuck hasn’t given a timeframe, I would recommend that you go back not more than two years and certainly not more than four years.

A CAR approach will work well here:

  •  Challenge both for you and the beneficiary

  •  Action

  •  Result

Keep it specific and concrete or you will blend in with others writing in generalities. You’re empathetic, helpful response to the other party’s situation is key. Set the scene by describing the situation. How did you help the other party succeed? What were the challenges you both faced? What were the results?

Tuck MBA application essay #4 (Optional)

Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of evaluators, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

If you have any of the elements mentioned in Tuck’s question, by all means, address them here. You do NOT want the admissions committee guessing or assuming wrongly when they come across something anomalous.

If you feel your application represents your candidacy well, don’t feel compelled to respond to the optional essay. If you believe, however, that your application is missing key elements of your story, then briefly include them here. Whether it’s a challenge that you’ve faced or a hardship overcome or other context for what you’ve achieved that will help the admissions committee appreciate your candidacy, include it.

But don’t waste their time with drivel or material that’s elsewhere in your application. Doing so would reveal a definite lack of judgment, and in Tuck terms, awareness.

Tuck MBA application essay #5 (To be completed by all reapplicants)

How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)

This is THE question for reapplicants. Why should they admit you this time around? How are you better than you were when they rejected you last time?

Dartmouth Tuck at a glance

Tuck average GMAT score: 720

Tuck average GPA: 3.50

Tuck acceptance rate: 34.8%

U.S. News ranked Tuck #10 in 2022.

For expert guidance with your Dartmouth Tuck MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program and look forward to helping you too!

Dartmouth Tuck 2021-22 application timeline

RoundApplication DeadlineDecisions Released1September 27, 2021December 9, 20222January 3, 2022March 17, 20223March 28, 2022May 5, 20224Rolling from April 1, 2021 to June 1, 2021Rolling from May 10, 2021 to July 1, 2021Round 1 ConsortiumOctober 15, 2021December 9, 2021Round 2 ConsortiumJanuary 5, 2022March 17, 2022

Applications are due by 5:00pm EST

Source: Tuck website

Stay on top of MBA deadlines with the MBA Admissions Calendar!

[Click here to add the calendar to your Google calendar; or here to add the calendar to another app.]

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




By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. Linda earned her bachelors and MBA at UCLA, and has been advising applicants since 1994 when she founded Accepted. Linda is the co-founder and first president of AIGAC. She has written or co-authored 13 e-books on the admissions process, and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, Poets & Quants, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS News, and others. Linda is the host of Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for graduate school applicants. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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FROM Accepted.com Blog: Chicago Booth MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022]



The two required questions have 250-word minimums. While specifying MBA essay length minimums is very unusual, it fits with Booth’s history of breaking the mold. At the same time, don’t infer that the absence of a maximum is a license for verbosity. As Booth says, “We trust that you will use your best judgment in determining how long your submission should be.” Do use your best judgement, otherwise you will be showing a different kind of judgement. And you really don’t want to do that.

Chicago Booth MBA application question #1

How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 word minimum, no maximum.)

In order to answer this question you need to know three things:

  • Your immediate post-MBA goal, which you should be able to define in terms of function (what you want to do after you earn your MBA — not study during the MBA) and industry or type of company. Sometimes location can play a role, and if so, provide that information, too.

  • Your longer-term professional aspirations. These don’t have to be as specific as your short-term goal, but the two should be related.

  • The Chicago Booth program. Specifically, how do you intend to use distinctive Booth strengths to build on your past realize your goals? If it’s not obvious how your previous education and experience when combined with the Booth MBA will help you achieve both goals, clarify.



To answer the question, you can start with a seminal experience, preferably an achievement that shaped your goals and aspirations. Tell a story about this experience and describe what you learned from it and how it has influenced you and your short- and long-term goals.

Then talk about Booth. Look at the curriculum, strengths, career placement, and extracurricular activities that support your ambitions.

Alternatively, start with the achievement of your goal — you can try using a day-in-the-life approach — then flash back and tell the story of that seminal experience and how it and Booth prepared you for the future day that started your essay.

A few years ago I attended the AIGAC conference, hosted for one morning by Chicago Booth. During the informative sessions at Booth, the admissions committee members made clear that they are 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.

Write this essay so that it shows both self-awareness and your ability to make that mark.

Chicago Booth MBA application question #2

An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are. (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)

This question was new last year and is a real getting to know you kind of question. What do you like to do in your spare time? Why does it appeal to you? Introduce yourself outside the office. And if you can show yourself in a growth mode, do so.

You could approach this essay with a goal that you’re trying to achieve and the steps you’re taking to achieve it. The possibilities are endless: running a marathon, painting a certain painting, learning a musical instrument, acquiring fluency in a foreign language prior to international travel, contributing to a cause you believe in, etc.

You could approach this essay by starting with your motivation for assuming this challenge or simply you doing what you enjoy doing. Tell a story about the experience and then explore why it’s significant to you. What does it say about you? 

Chicago Booth MBA additional information question

Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? If so, please use this section to clarify. (Maximum 300 words.)

This is a restrictive optional question. Booth is really asking only for information that will clarify something that is unclear, like a drop in grades one semester or a period of unemployment, or why your current supervisor is not writing your letter of recommendation.

This question, unlike the required questions, does have a word limit. Respect it.

Chicago Booth MBA reapplicant question

Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (Maximum 300 words.)

The answer to this question is critical for MBA reapplicants, and it’s different from most reapplication essays in that it’s more about your perspective than what you’ve done. Chicago wants to see growth and development. Same old, same old got you a ding last time and probably will again this time.

Let this brief essay show a maturation and evolution of your goals and reasons for wanting to attend Chicago Booth. Let it also reveal that you meet Chicago’s criteria better this year than last.

Chicago Booth at a glance

Booth average GMAT score: 724

Booth average GPA: 3.56

Booth acceptance rate: 27.6%

U.S. News ranked Booth #3 in 2022.

You’ve just made a smart investment of time in reading this blog post. Now you’re one step closer to submitting the kind of application that can lead to acceptance at one of the most prestigious programs in the country. Why not make the next smart investment and consider one of our consulting packages? We have helped thousands of qualified applicants get to “YES” from the adcoms. Click here to learn about how we can be there for you, too.

Chicago Booth website

Stay on top of MBA deadlines with the MBA Admissions Calendar!

[Click here to add the calendar to your Google calendar; or here to add the calendar to another app.]

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




By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. Linda earned her bachelors and MBA at UCLA, and has been advising applicants since 1994 when she founded Accepted. Linda is the co-founder and first president of AIGAC. She has written or co-authored 13 e-books on the admissions process, and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, Poets & Quants, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS News, and others. Linda is the host of Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for graduate school applicants. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

The post Chicago Booth MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2022] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
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