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While the M7 business schools (Columbia Business School, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth and Wharton) get a lot of attention, there are numerous compelling MBA program options beyond the M7 schools.

In fact, the average Personal MBA Coach client applies to five business schools, some of which will fall beyond the M7. This is why we have put together our latest eBook: MBA Essay Analysis: Beyond the M7. In this book we include our tips on how to tackle the 2019-2020 MBA application essays for seven top business schools outside of the M7, including:

Berkeley Haas: #6 (2019 US News & World Reports),
Duke Fuqua: #10 (2019 US News & World Reports)
Michigan Ross: #10 (2019 US News & World Reports)
NYU Stern: #12 (2019 US News & World Reports)
UCLA Anderson: #16 (2019 US News & World Reports)
UVA Darden: #12 (2019 US News & World Reports)
Yale SOM: #9 (2019 US News & World Reports)

Whether round 1 did not go as planned or you are just now developing your round 2 strategy, one or more of these programs may be great options for you to consider.

This eBook is offered to all Personal MBA Coach newsletter subscribers! Sign up today.

You may also like these other blog articles:

M7 Essay Analysis
Acing The MBA Interview

Hello,

Just a quick question. I will be submitting an application soon for R1 to Bocconi (not SDA so not an MBA too - just a regular master). Currently I’m doing a bachelor at another quite well reputed uni in Europe (KU Leuven), yet I tried to transfer over to Bocconi for a bachelor two years ago, but got denied. My weakest point at the time presumably was the entrance test. Now, should I address that I have already tried to get into Bocconi previously in my motivational letter thereby showing how much I’d actually want to study there (as it was my kinda dream uni for the past couple of years) and that would not even want to consider any other unis, or should I not bring it up at all (although I’m applying in the same account I submitted my bachelor application in, so guessing they will see my previous application anyway)?

Thanks a lot in advance for any input!

Posted from my mobile device

PROFILE EVALUATION FOR CANADIAN MBAS FOR FALL 2020.

DEMOGRAPHICS : Indian Male, 25 years old.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE : B-Tech in Computer Science and Engineering from SRM University, Chennai (2017)
CGPA – 8.6/10 OR 3.44/4

WORK EXPERIENCE : 2.5 years in Software consulting from Tata Consultancy Services, Mumbai

LONG TERM GOAL: To become a Marketing head in a Canadian/International company of repute in Sports/Music/Travel/FMCG/Retail/Consumer Electronics industries AND To settle in Canada with a PR.

SHORT TERM (post-MBA) GOALS : entry-level marketer/Marketing manager in the above industries OR join Management Consultancy for a few years then become a marketer in those industries.

I’ve taken a few UG-level credit courses and online courses in MGMT, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship to help me facilitate my transition from Software to Marketing.

TEST SCORES:
GMAT – 710 (Q48, V40, IR 5, AWA 5)
IELTS Academic – 8.0 (L-8, R-9, W-7, S-7)

EXTRA-CURRICULARS:
1. Committee Member & Marketing Head of the SRM University Cycling Club
2. Cleared with distinction Grade 5 exam in “Drum-kit” conducted by Trinity College of Music, London, 2008.
3. Successfully completed BRM-200 (Brevet d’Audax), a 200 km cycle race conducted by Mumbai Randonneurs division of Brevet d'Audax, France in 12 hours and 10 minutes in February 2018.
4. Since 2015, have been a regular member of The Indian Stammering Association (TISA), a not-for-profit organization by and for people who stutter. Since 2018, have been the Co-coordinator for the organization’s Mumbai chapter. Website: https://stammer.in/.
5. Regular participant and host of Mumbai Drum Circle, a community drum circle specialising in Djembes (South African hand drums).

**Interested in only 20+ months MBA program to get 3 year Work permit after graduating. Hence, IVEY, Queen’s, Simon Fraser, uOttawa, etc are OUT.
**NOT interested in colleges in Quebec due to liabilities of not knowing French. Hence McGill, Concordia, HEC are OUT.

TARGET PROVINCES: Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta

Colleges Applied so far:
1. McMaster (DeGroote) Co-op MBA -> Interviewed; awaiting final results.
2. UCalgary (Haskayne) Daytime MBA -> Submitted in R2
3. York U (Schulich) MBA -> Submitted in R1

Profile Evaluation required for:
1. University of Toronto Rotman – MBA
2. University of Alberta – MBA
3. UBC Sauder - MBA
4. Brock University Goodman – MBA ISP
5. Carleton University Sprott - MBA

Could you help me understand my initial profile evaluation for these above 5 programs?
Then I could post a few specific questions to ask.

It is hard to believe that December is upon us and the first round 2 application deadline is just over four weeks away:

2019-2020 MBA Deadlines Round 2
London Business School January 3, 2020
Harvard Business School January 6, 2020
Michigan Ross January 6, 2020
UVA Darden January 6, 2020
Dartmouth Tuck January 6, 2020
Duke Fuqua January 6, 2020
Yale SOM January 7, 2020
Wharton January 7, 2020
Chicago Booth January 7, 2020
Kellogg January 8, 2020
UCLA Anderson January 8, 2020
Cornell Johnson January 8, 2020
Stanford GSB January 9, 2020
Berkeley Haas January 9, 2020
NYU Stern January 15, 2020
MIT Sloan January 21, 2020
Columbia Business School April 10, 2020

You may be doubting whether you can get everything done in time. Personal MBA Coach prides itself on offering honest feedback, so here is the good, the bad and the ugly!

The Good News:

Many of you can still meet early January deadlines! Wondering if you can really work your magic and finish in time? Ask yourself these 4 questions:

1) Have you already narrowed down your school list?

2) Have you taken (or are prepared to take) the GMAT/GRE?

3) Have you already selected and prepared your recommenders?

4) Do you have a large portion of your holiday vacation set aside to work on your applications?

If you have answered yes to most or all of these questions, do not despair!

The Bad News:

If you answered no to a few of these questions, you have your work cut out for you; honestly, you may not be ready this year. In this case, particularly if you have not finished your testing and do not have recommenders nailed down or schools identified, ask yourself how crucial it is that you apply THIS year.

The Ugly News:

If you have answered no to all of the questions above, January 6 may not be realistic for you (though some schools offer mid/late January deadlines that could still be feasible). This is particularly true if holiday obligations will prevent you from dedicating the majority of your time to your applications.

Still not sure which bucket you fall into or need additional help? E-mail me today!

You may also like these other blog articles:

Accelerated MBA Application Plan
Businessweek 2019 MBA Rankings

With less than four weeks left until MBA application deadlines, it is time to make your list and check it twice. While most checklists will merely cover the basics, Personal MBA Coach challenges you to ask these 9 questions to assess whether your applications are REALLY ready!

1) Is your story clear? Does the reader walk away knowing who you are and what matters to you?

2) Have you thought out and articulated why you want an MBA? To get promoted or to gain “business skills” are NOT good enough reasons.

3) Are you consistent throughout all of the application components? Your resume, essays, short answer questions and letters of recommendation should all include the same general message. Any inconsistencies are an instant red flag.

4) Does your application include specific information about the target school? Admissions committee members read thousands of essays every year and it is very easy for them to determine who is genuinely interested in the school and knows a lot about the program.

5) Are your letters of recommendation strong enough? Did you advise your recommenders to use specific examples and compare you to other candidates?

6) Are your essays easy to read? Or do you find yourself re-reading paragraphs because you do not see how they fit into the essay?

7) Did you have someone else read your essays? This will give you an outsider’s objective opinion of your accomplishments and help to ensure you are talking about your experiences with the right level of detail for someone outside of your industry.

8) Do you have an MBA specific resume? For an MBA resume, you want to show how you have been successful and demonstrated leadership. You are selling your future potential. Make sure not to get too detailed here, though.

9) Have you actually answered every question? It can be tempting to go off-book or include additional information but adcom members ask each question for a specific reason. Ensure you are answering the question asked and not offering what you think they want to hear.

If after answering these questions you have doubts about whether your applications are strong enough, reach out today!

Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, Personal MBA Coach regularly helps applicants navigate their applications each year and is the #4 ranked admissions consultant on Poets & Quants. Personal MBA Coach's comprehensive support includes mock interviews with a team of former M7 interviewers and customized GMAT/GRE tutoring with tutors who scored in the 99th percentile.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for over 11 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email [email protected] for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!

Need your support to evaluate my profile for MIT Sloan Fellow and Stern Tech MBA

Indian Male from Tech Industry with @19 Years of experience in SAP and Digital Technologies

Highlights of the profile

Worked across different geographies including Singapore, US and Europe
Currently holding middle management position in the leading IT service provider from India
Associated with an organization working for blind men - specifically fund raising
PMP (Project Management Professional from PMI institute USA)
Holding various certification across leading digital technologies/packages
Can demonstrate career progression in the current organization for which I am working since last 12 years

Executive Assessment Score
149

Whether you dragged your feet in asking for your letter of recommendation or your recommender has had too many other things on her plate, you might find yourself in a crunch to get your letters submitted in time. Do not panic. Even with limited time, there are some clear steps you can take to ensure that your recommendations shine.

1) Arm your recommender with key information.

2) Remind your recommenders of your key accomplishments and provide them with some thoughts on areas you would love to see covered.

3) If possible, set up an in-person meeting or a conference call.

4) Remind your recommenders to compare you to other candidates.

5) Thank your recommender in advance and let them know how grateful you are.

6) Finally, ask each recommender if you can do anything to help them or provide them with any additional information.

Unsure of what to hand over to the recommender or how to start the conversation? Personal MBA Coach is here to help with all aspects of the application process!

Hello and Happy New Year!

If you could spare the time to evaluate my profile, it would be greatly appreciated! Any and all feedback and comments are welcome.

Age:
23 (Plan to apply in 3-4 years)

Ethnicity:
Korean-American

Academics:
Top 10 U.S. University (not known for engineering)
GPA: 3.61 (Majored in Mechanical Engineering and Minored in Finance)

GMAT:
740 (49Q, 41V)
(2nd attempt; thinking about retaking the GMAT again to achieve a score of 760+ due to my demographic)

Experience:
Engineer
100% in the aerospace industry (including internships)

Current Job:
Engineer at Fortune 100 Aerospace Engineering Firm

Intended Post-MBA Career:
1.) Management consulting (MBB), using my experiences in the engineering industry (both small and large firms) to help clients with problems unique to the intersection of business and engineering.
Or
2.) Program Manager at current company, using my engineering background, industry experience, and business education from an MBA.

MBA Schools:
Reach: HBS, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Booth, Columbia
Target: Kellogg, Haas, Ross, Stern

Thanks in advance.

To give you a head start and keep you on track in the new year, Personal MBA Coach would like to share our 4-part series this January: MBA Planning Kick-Start

Without changing jobs, there are some steps you can and should be taking now to ensure that when you sit down to draft those essays and prepare for your interviews you have plenty to talk about.

1) Be honest about your desires.

2) Take on extra work.

3) Get involved at the office.

4) Look for mentoring opportunities.

5) Get your own mentor.

Want to know more? Keep reading here!

Hello Team,

Kindly review my profile and share your valuable inputs.

Profile: INDIAN, Male, 28 years. I completed my graduation in Computer Science & Engineering from India in 2014 with a CGPA of 8.30.
I have one year Education gap after my Class 12th and Graduation, preparation for Engineering exams(IITJEE) for top colleges.

Academic:
- Engineering: CGPA- 8.30/10
- 12th: 83%
- 10th: 80%

I have been working with TCS,India for past 5 and a half years, out of which for the last one and a half years in Germany. My current role is Developer cum Solution architect.

Extra-curricular: I have won few Star of the Months and top programmers awards within the company.
I have experience of teaching school kids from government school and Security gaurds as part of CSR activity.

Areas of interest : 1) Consulting, 2) Finance

I am planning for the below colleges:
1. Kellogg,
2. INSEAD,
3. TUCK,
4. Yale,
5. ISB

Can you please let me know if my profile fits these colleges and what should be my target GMAT score?

Kindly review the above profile and please let me know if you need more info on my profile. Thanks a lot!

Enhancing Your Extracurricular Profile

(In case you missed it, read week 1: Making Your Career Work Harder For You)

Strengthening extracurricular profiles is one of the key areas I am working on with MBA candidates this January. There are three key guiding principles to keep in mind when developing your own extracurricular strategy.

1) Quality Over Quantity.

2) Focus On Leadership.

3) Activities Should Fit With Your Profile.

Keep reading here!

Unsure about what your gaps are? Need advice on where to begin or how to step up? We can help! This is the perfect time to get started and have our personal one-on-one support through the entire process, including crafting your extracurricular strategy!

Planning Ahead for the GMAT/GRE/EA

1) Start earlier than you think!

2) Take a practice test now to see your baseline.

3) Set a schedule for yourself.

4) Think about how you learn best and use this to inform your study plan.

5) Read short articles in The Economist or Science every week.

Expanding Your Network for Long-Term Success


1) Network at work.

2) Network with alums at your target business schools.

3) Network with professionals in your target field.

4) Network with admissions professionals.



Remember, networking is a skill and one you should perfect throughout your career. So, start small and take one step today!

MBA admissions representatives want you to get to know and like their schools! Sometimes this interaction is an overlooked step in the MBA application process. Yet for many schools, it is a critical one.

To ensure you do not interact the WRONG way, please read these key DOs and DON’Ts from Personal MBA Coach.

DO NOT speak just for the sake of speaking.

DO NOT ask a question that can be easily answered online.

DO NOT interrupt.

DO NOT say anything negative.

DO NOT try to get someone to sell you on her school.

DO considerable research in advance.

DO plan which schools you want to speak to before you arrive.

DO keep an open mind when making your school lists.

DO dress the part.

DO bring memorable questions.

The interview is one of the most important parts of the process and it is crucial that you are adequately prepared. Read some key tips on ensuring you are ready to win them over and then be sure to practice!

1. Learn more about each school’s interview process.

2. Know why you want to join the school, carefully considering the program’s culture.

3. Be sure you can clearly articulate your goals.

4. Prepare stories; we find that bulleting works best.

5. Show enthusiasm, bring questions & be yourself.

Hello,

Shortly, I am f***D.

I am from Honduraz and live in NYC. This round I applied to about 10 schools in R2.

Harvard, CBS, Booth, Duke, Wharton, Yale, Tuck, Darden, NYU, Berkeley.

I got rejected from Duke, CBS, Booth, Harvard without an Interview. I also have not gotten a single 2nd round interview(3rd round NYU).

My background. Originally from Honduras, with to Columbia Undergrad and studied Engineering (2.8 GPA). My best GMAT score on single sitting 710, but best quant/verbal combination is 740. I thought my hispanic background with ivy undergrad will compensate for my GPA.

Work experience 4 years. I worked at top IB/PE firms. Think MS/JPM and similar-tier PE firms. I also speak 5 languages and have a very unique background. My guess is I will also get rejected from Wharton this week and since I not received any interview from SOM, it is probably a ding too(since Duke rejected me without an interview ). Only hope maybe Darden or NYU, but at this point I am planning on taking GRE and applying 1st round next year.

This process killed killed all my confidence, mentally destroyed me, and I am at a complete loss. I know I had low GPA/GMAT, but I thought being hispanic from Honduras (relatively underreprestened country) combined with ivy league school, top brand names like JPM and PE firm) and ability to speak 5 languages will at least get me 1 interview.

My best is to kill GRE and apply early somewhere next year. No point in applying 3rd round I be

The Financial Times recently released its 2020 Global MBA Rankings. Harvard Business School took the #1 spot from Stanford Graduate School of Business. This represents a one spot jump from 2019 and a four spot jump from its #5 place in 2018.

Wharton rose in 2020 from #4 to #2 while Stanford Graduate School of Business fell to #3. INSEAD was pushed to #4.

MIT Sloan rose two places this year, to #6. London Business School fell slightly to #7 and Columbia Business School rose one spot to #8.

While US MBA programs again dominated the top 10, there are an increasing number of strong options for students looking to earn an MBA outside of the US, with four international programs ranked in the top 10.

As you review these rankings, keep the following advice in mind.

1) Use rankings to get the lay of the land.

2) Statistics such as acceptance rate and average GPA and GMAT/GRE/EA of enrolled students will give you some good benchmarking data, however, use these numbers as an initial guide only.

3) Average ranking over time is important.

4) Nearly every ranking scale will give different results.

5) Rankings vary by industry!