Ask Personal MBA Coach

Last week, I shared with Poets & Quants founder, John Byrne, how my clients are receiving record scholarship amounts this year. In fact, this season, our average round 1 scholarship recipient was awarded $115,000 in scholarships, often across multiple schools.

https://poetsandquants.com/2020/02/10/mba-scholarships-at-record-levels-with-awards-as-high-as-200k/

Unsurprisingly in this stronger economy, some top schools are using scholarships to compete for prospective students. More so than in previous years, schools are also matching scholarship offers to attract top candidates, even when they did not initially offer those same candidates funding.

Scholarships/fellowships fall into two major categories:

1. Merit based money offered as a result of the MBA application.

The vast majority of scholarship $$ are offered based on your original MBA application. They do not require you to submit anything additional. Schools offer this money to candidates they are trying to attract (often away from other schools).

This money can come directly from the school itself, having nothing to do with the applicant’s specific demographic or professional background or in collaboration with another organization. While this other organization may suggest guidelines for consideration, it is up to the schools to decide which candidates actually receive the award.

For example, one of our partners, the Forté Foundation, gives the following guidelines to admissions directors selecting Forté Fellowship recipients:

Candidates should exhibit exemplary leadership in one or more ways: academic leadership, team leadership, community leadership, and creative leadership.

Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to women and girls via personal mentorship or community involvement. Such commitment is in alignment with the mission of Forté Foundation.

Schools are encouraged to nominate fellows from their schools who represent diverse educational and work backgrounds, career goals, ethnicities and citizenship.

2. Scholarships that students apply for directly.

These scholarships are generally targeted at specific candidates based on industry, ethnicity, gender, etc.

A separate application is required for each of these scholarships and specific criteria apply.

Examples include:


The Consortium (note: you can also apply to participating schools through the
scholarship application): Since 1966, we have offered more than $465 million
in fellowships to the best and brightest MBA students in the country. We have
programs that cover full tuition and mandatory fees for two years of full-time
study (Emory also offers a one-year program).


The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship For New Americans: The Paul & Daisy
Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a $90,000 merit-based fellowship
exclusively for immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing
graduate school in the United States. The program draws nearly 1,800
applications annually for just 30 fellowships.


Military MBA: Military MBA is an education network for military officers and
NCOs who are interested in obtaining and applying their MBA graduate
degrees for career advancement. We represent MBA schools and prospective
MBA students who have a background in the military.

While the rise in scholarships is great news, many candidates may be wondering what they can do to maximize their chances of earning a coveted scholarship.

Here are 4 key tips from Personal MBA Coach.

Ensure your application stands out! The good news for candidates hoping to receive a scholarship is that the same advice Personal MBA Coach provides on developing stand-out applications applies to earning scholarships, too (which is why our clients do so well).

As we have advised, business schools look for well-rounded classes. For candidates hoping to secure extra $$ it is even more crucial that your application paints a solid story as to how you will add unique value on campus. At the end of the day, the school wants to pay you to be one of the best students on campus. This can be because of your outstanding academic qualifications or because you will contribute on campus in a unique way.

Court your target schools. No school wants to hand out precious money only to lose the candidate to another school. Therefore, while not required, getting to know a school never hurts your chances of getting $$.

Apply Early. With limited money to go around, the earlier you can get your applications in, the better. Schools also want to be sure that their classes are filled with well-rounded students and are more likely to use scholarships to ensure this earlier in the process. By round 3, there is likely to be less money left. That said, scholarships do open up sometimes even late in the year.

Excel in as many areas as possible. While this may seem obvious, I often have candidates who have a decent GMAT score but have not put in the extra effort to maximize it. Or I have candidates who do not want to dedicate time outside of the office to beef up their extracurricular profiles. While I always advise that candidates put their best foot forward, this is even more crucial for those looking for a scholarship. Scholarship recipients most often excel in multiple areas.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Hi,

I request a feedback on my profile. My details are as below:

Background:
Nationality : Indian
Sex : Male
Age : 32 years
Education : BE Mechanical, PG in Environment Management
Work experience: 10 years
Work area: Environment sustainability, climate change
GMAT : 630 (Q47, V29)
Academics: Graduation 63%, Post Graduation Certification 74%

Targeted Schools:
ESADE, IESE, Imperial College London

Request your help. Let me know if its worth applying these colleges with a lower GMAT score.

Thanks,

An increasing number of top business schools are offering deferral MBA programs where current undergraduate students apply during their senior year. In most cases, students will work for a couple years after graduating from school before beginning their MBA studies. These programs give ambitious students the chance to lock in a top MBA program before entering the workforce.

Harvard Business School’s 2+2, where students work for two years before starting on campus, is one of the best-known programs. Stanford has a similar two-year deferral while Yale SOM has Silver Scholars, which allows students to study in an MBA program immediately upon finishing college. After one year, students enter the workforce for a year and then return to SOM for the third year to finish their MBA.

Over the past few years we have seen these programs rise in popularity. Kellogg became the latest top school to add a deferral program with the launch of Kellogg Future Leaders. Wharton launched the Advance Access Program, which now includes students outside of the University of Pennsylvania community. Berkeley Haas also added a new program this year for Berkeley undergraduate students, with plans to expand the program in the future.

Other programs include Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program, Chicago Booth Scholars Program, UVA Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program and MIT Sloan MBA Early Admission.

With later spring deadlines, candidates finish the undergraduate recruiting process and secure full-time job placement (hopefully) before applying. Successful applicants have already demonstrated considerable leadership through internships and extracurricular activities, either on or off campus. They also have a strong sense of their career goals (though this often comes only after working together with a consultant on the applications, and keep in mind that the goals can definitely change over time). While these programs are competitive, they are a good option for high achievers looking to get a jump on the MBA application process.

Most applicants are required to submit either the GMAT or the GRE, though there are cases where this requirement can be waived. Northwestern undergraduates applying to Kellogg Future Leaders and MIT undergraduates with a cumulative GPA of 4.2 or higher applying to Sloan Early Admission are not required to submit test scores. In addition, University of Virginia undergraduates can submit either the SAT or the ACT in lieu of the GMAT or the GRE. Those submitting GMAT or GRE scores should aim for the same range as applicants admitted through the regular admissions pool, as the average scores are often very similar. To help applicants reach their test score goals, Personal MBA Coach offers customized GMAT or GRE tutoring.

Though deferral MBA programs admit college seniors from a variety of academic backgrounds, it is important to note that certain programs give some preference to underrepresented career paths or backgrounds. For example, HBS’ 2+2 program gives some preference to STEM majors, applicants from a lower socio-economic background, applicants going into a technically demanding role, and applicants pursuing entrepreneurship. No matter what industry or function admitted students enter prior to matriculation, they must have at least two years of continuous work experience (with the exception of Yale Silver Scholars). Applicants often have the opportunity to defer past two years, though the maximum deferment period is around four years.

To find out more about the programs available and the application requirements, download our latest eBook: https://www.personalmbacoach.com/deferralmbasignup

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Were you rejected from your dream business school this year? After getting over the initial disappointment, you likely turned your attention to finding out what went wrong. While there are countless reasons for a rejection (this is why we created our ding report service) we will cover five of the most common reasons here to help you improve the next time around!

1) Problem: Lack of a compelling story.

Your MBA applications must stand out. The reader should come away understanding who you are, what you are passionate about and why these passions are significant to you. It should be clear how you are unique from your peers. If your application essays could have been written by any other candidate in a similar role, it will be difficult for you to stand out and be memorable. Successful candidates are memorable! This does not mean you need to save a third world country, of course. It all comes down to story and execution.

2) Problem: Application inconsistencies.

All aspects of your application should tie together. This includes your essays, resumes, extracurriculars and LORs. The strengths you share should match those cited in your recommendations. If your recommenders paint a picture of a detail-oriented candidate while your essays focus on your free-spirited nature, the reader will be confused. Similarly, your activities should align with your passions and expertise and your weaknesses should be consistent. If any two pieces of your application do not fit together this will raise a red flag about your intentions and sincerity.

3) Problem: Low GPA and/or testing score.

This one may be more obvious but no matter how amazing your applications are, if you do not have a competitive academic record and test score, you may not get into your dream school. While there are always outliers on either end, you must set reasonable expectations. As you begin to craft your second chance plan, think about whether there are classes you can take to demonstrate strong quantitative skills if you have a low GPA or how you can better prepare for the GMAT/GRE this time around. In addition, you may need to cast a wider net. My average client applies to 5+ schools including reach schools and some safer options.

4) Problem: An abundance of applicants with a similar profile.

For better or worse, sometimes it will come down to numbers. While we use compelling personal stories to help our clients from overrepresented backgrounds stand out, diversity is important in the MBA classroom. You cannot fill an entire class with former MBB consultants. This “numbers game” is the second reason why I advise candidates to broaden their school lists.

5) Problem: Insufficient leadership experience.

It should come as no surprise that business schools look for leaders. While this is especially crucial for Executive MBA hopefuls, leadership is important for all MBA candidates. Luckily, there are many ways one can demonstrate leadership. Leading a team at work is an obvious one but taking on informal leadership within a team, stepping up outside of the office or mentoring junior team members are also great ways to demonstrate leadership. As you plan now for next year, think about how you can step up your leadership experience AND better articulate it in your essays.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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All MBA applications require a resume. You may be thinking, “No problem, I already have a resume.” Unfortunately, it is not that easy.

An MBA resume differs considerably from a professional one as each accomplishes a different goal. A professional resume shows potential employers that you have the specific skills and experiences they are looking for. You are selling your ability to do the job and should include industry specific terminology and jargon.

An MBA resume, on the other hand, should provide evidence that you have been successful and demonstrated leadership. You are selling your future potential.

After years of detailing your specific technical and industry expertise, you may be wondering HOW you should develop your MBA resume.

To guide you, we have outlined our four top tips, based on the mistakes that we see again and again.

Bonus: by focusing on your resume NOW, you will have one less thing to do when essay questions are released this spring and summer.

1. Do not outline your job description

Too often I read resume bullets that list a candidate’s tasks and responsibilities. This might be great for proving you can do a specific job, but it does nothing to differentiate you from other applicants. Anyone in your role could copy and paste these bullets from the job description. Admissions committee members do not need to know each detail of your job and what specifically it entails. Instead, think about your key accomplishments and highlights. What initiatives did you lead? What projects did you succeed in? How did you go above and beyond in your role? How did you excel, particularly in relation to your peers? Focus on the highlights. It is ok to leave out some things you worked on, especially if they would not sound impressive to someone outside of your company or industry.

2. Include results!

Learnings, takeaways and results are the most important items to include in your business school resume. This can and should include both personal growth over time and your impact on business performance. The more specific and measurable your results are, the better. Think of items such as “increased performance 30% over previous year” or “drove $1M in new business through x, y, z.”

3. Focus on leadership and transferable skills

While it may be crucial in your current role that you are an expert in SQL, this will be much less interesting to admissions committee members. Instead of detailing the technical skills you have amassed, focus on the transferable skills you have developed. Share how you have emerged as a leader. Leadership can come in multiple forms so even if you have not managed a team or a project (if you have, include this!) there are many ways to demonstrate leadership. Teamwork and communication are other important skills to include.

As you select professional strengths to share, prioritize those that are relevant to many industries, such as analysis, strategic thinking or research. These will be much more compelling in convincing the reader that you can excel in business school and beyond.

4. Show multiple aspects of your profile

Successful business school students are active outside of work: in their communities, in athletics, within organizations, etc. They have hobbies or specific language skills. They won awards or earned certifications. They got involved on their campuses or at work outside of the scope of their jobs. These details are important to show readers another aspect of your candidacy. However, keep in mind quality over quantity! A laundry list of activities or an organization you volunteered with once will not help (and including such might even hurt your credibility).

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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COVID-19 has already begun to affect the MBA application process. Many of our clients have questions on how to respond to changes such as canceled visits, interviews and testing dates. To help during this global crisis, Personal MBA Coach is here to answer your most common questions.

Question: My campus visit was canceled, now what?

Answer: If you did not get a chance to visit your top choice schools before many campuses closed for the semester, do not panic! While normally we stress the importance of courting your target schools and visiting campuses, this expectation will be lifted this application season. While there is a chance that some schools will allow visits later in the semester or over the summer, do not wait for this. Instead, focus on other ways you can familiarize yourself with each of your target programs. Each year we have countless candidates who cannot visit campuses due to financial or geographic limitations yet successfully navigate the MBA application process.

Question: How else can I get to know my target schools?

Answer: As with any other year, reaching out to alumni within your network is a great way to learn more about the programs. Similarly, current students (even if they are not currently on campus) are a great resource. Connect with club leaders or other students with shared interests via phone or video chat. Many schools have dedicated websites with lists of students that you can reach out to. Some even allow you to search based on their background.

Question: How are campuses reacting?

Answer: Most campuses are canceling in-person admissions events. However, they are increasing their online offerings. For example, HBS is running a “Life at HBS Virtual Chat” later this month. While currently, staff members are busy setting up their own virtual working office and accommodations for current students, we expect they will soon turn their attention to rolling out additional online admissions programs.

Question: What about interviews?

Answer: Most face-to-face interviews left this season will be conducted online. Prepare for these as you would any other interview and be sure to dress the part for all video interviews. Videos and video interviews have been increasing in popularity in recent years even before the virus came and we suspect this trend will continue.

Question: What should I do if my GMAT/GRE/EA test date was canceled?

Answer: As more and more testing centers close, candidates may have a narrower window to take the GMAT/GRE/EA this season. This means that you want to be extra prepared when it comes to test time. I recommend that you continue to study as planned and take a full-length practice test during your originally scheduled date. Try to mimic testing conditions as much as possible to give you the best indication of where you stand. Then, use this benchmark to develop your study plan, keeping in mind you may have fewer chances to perfect your score this year. That said, schools may be more flexible on dates that they will accept scores. This is TBD at this point depending on how the situation unfolds and what round you are applying in.

Question: How should I change my overall application strategy?

Answer: As more and more applicants are working from home and canceling social engagements, use this extra time to your advantage. Think about the sections of the MBA application you can complete now (we are already strategically working on round 1 2020 MBA applications with our clients) and get ahead. Not only will this free up time to take the GMAT/GRE/EA later but you will appreciate having the head start when life gets back to normal!

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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With this week’s release of the 2021 US News and World Report’s Best Business School Guide, MBA rankings are top of mind for all MBA hopefuls. Personal MBA Coach would like to share our thoughts on the latest rankings.

Before I cover this year’s big changes, I would like to remind everyone of one of the most important things to keep in mind when evaluating rankings: Average ranking over time is much more important than year to year fluctuation.

So, what changed this year? A lot!

2021 Full-Time MBA Rankings:

I am proud to say that once again, my alma mater, Wharton, secured the #1 position, this year sharing the honor with Stanford GSB. Wharton has earned the #1 spot for three out of the past four years. For Stanford GSB, this 1st place finish is a jump from 2nd in 2020 and 4th in 2019. Chicago Booth and Kellogg shared 3rd place this year, a considerable increase for Kellogg, which placed 6th last year. MIT Sloan rounded out the top 5.

However, the big news for this season is Harvard Business School’s drop from 3rd to 6th place. This is the lowest ever finish for HBS, which finished 1st place just two years ago.

Berkeley Haas fell slightly from 6th to 7th place. Columbia Business School also fell this year, from 6th to 8th. Once again, Yale SOM finished 9th and NYU Stern joined the top 10 this year, up from a shared 12th place ranking last year.

Duke Fuqua and Michigan Ross, who shared the #10 position last year, were excluded from this year’s top 10, instead sharing 12th place along with Dartmouth Tuck. UVA Darden jumped one place from 12th to 11th.

Cornell Johnson, UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, Texas McCombs, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, UNC Kenan-Flagler & Washington Foster rounded out the top 21, in that order with a tie for the 20th position.

One should not lose sleep over the fact that HBS is #6 this year, nor do we recommend that every client now apply to Wharton because of its top ranking. As we opened with, the changes over time are most important and these rankings vary from year to year and guide to guide. However, the continued shuffling at the top, along with HBS’s drop for the second year in a row, demonstrates the increasing competition amongst elite business schools. The average GMAT score range between the top 10 schools was just 13 points (from 721 to 734). Similarly, there was minimal variation in average GPA, ranging from only 3.5 to 3.7. The extremely narrow windows between top programs is causing the increased shuffling at the top.

There are no longer just a few top programs to consider and the older thinking is starting to fall by the wayside. Many applicants are now looking beyond the infamous Harvard, Stanford and Wharton trio and are even thinking broader than the M7. My average client applies to five or more programs and with the newly deteriorating market condition, I suspect competition across the entire top 20+ schools will continue to rise, motivating candidates to even further diversify their lists.

Beyond rankings, it is important to look at job placement. You can often land your dream job after graduating from any number of similar schools. Depending on your post-MBA goals, you may also want to pay more attention to some of the specialized rankings that exist. Just because a school is higher ranked overall does not mean that it will do a better job at preparing you for your next job, especially if you are not going for a more standard goal like consulting or banking.

Finally, with the lines blurring between top schools, available financing should be a key consideration. You may be able to secure more substantial funding from one school vs. another: last year my clients earned almost $5M in scholarships (numbers are still coming in). Often you will be better served selecting a school with a slightly lower ranking yet a more favorable financial package. Some M7 schools are very generous with scholarships and others are not.

As a reminder, do not overreact to these new rankings but do keep an open mind to expanding your MBA list.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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As the coronavirus pandemic brings many day-to-day activities to a halt, MBA hopefuls have expressed concerns about canceled testing dates and the impact testing delays will have on their MBA application strategies.

The good news is that ETS just announced an online GRE offering, effective immediately. Similarly, GMAC has shared its plans to launch online GMAT testing mid-April. This online test will not include the AWA section, but otherwise will be comparable to standard GMAT exams. These tests will use online human proctors to ensure testing integrity.

Given these exciting announcements, Personal MBA Coach advises that MBA applicants not working on the frontlines use this unique time to their advantage to study for the GMAT/GRE.

Personal MBA Coach takes a unique approach to GMAT/GRE/EA preparation, conducting one-on-one remote tutoring sessions (though our in-person sessions will resume when it is safe to do so). These sessions are led by one of our 14 tutors who graduated from top schools including MIT, Harvard and Princeton and scored in the 99th percentile on the GMAT/GRE. We help our average client increase her GMAT score by 90 points by teaching practical concepts and tips and tricks as opposed to hard-to-follow theory.

To help test takers maximize their scores, Personal MBA Coach asked our tutors to share their top tips for GMAT/GRE preparation:

1. Focus on timing earlier rather than later. Timing is probably the #1 issue I see and an early effort to learn what two minutes feels like and get comfortable with moving on from a question if you do not know the answer can pay huge dividends.

2. The GMAT is designed to work as a mind game with its adaptive questions and length. To best master the mental aspect of the test, do as many full-length practice exams as possible as if you were taking the test for real to get used to the timing and the stress.

3. The GMAT covers a wide variety of topics, and while knowing your basics can really help get you through 80% of the test, to score above 700 you will need to know some more obscure rules for Quant and Verbal.

4. Twice per week, take a section of the test at 1.25x the normal speed. On a different day, take the same sections again within the normally allotted time. This way, you can track your internalization of material in terms of intuition and critical thinking. Most of the time, these scores are not that different.

5. Spend more time studying answer explanations than actually doing problems. Over time, this will help you build several different ways to approach problems and show you how to solve problems more efficiently.

6. Start earlier than you think! This may seem obvious, but with scores valid for up to 5 years and the ability to re-take the test, there is no reason to wait. In fact, the earlier in your career you take the test, the better. Most of the skills tested in the GMAT/GRE you mastered in undergrad (if not before), so the longer you wait, the less you will remember about reading comprehension and math fundamentals.

7. Set a schedule for yourself. Be realistic in terms of how many weeks you will set aside for studying and how many hours in each week you can carve out. Putting pencil to paper on a study plan will make it easier to stick to and less likely that you will need to cram last minute or short-change your prep time.

8. Read short articles in The Economist or Science every week. This is a great way to sharpen your reading comprehension skills and expand your vocabulary. Pick a few short articles every week and make your life easier come test time with very limited effort.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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April is upon us! This means that the first round 1 deadline is likely just five months away.

While the 2020-2021 MBA application deadlines and questions have not yet been announced (stay tuned for more details on this), last year, the first round 1 application deadline was in early September.

If you are applying to Columbia Business School, they will start accepting applications in under two months (ready to apply sooner? Check out details on the extended round 3 and round 4 deadlines here)

While we might see some delays, we do not expect major deadline changes this year.

Regardless of whether you followed our MBA Kick-Start Plan, it is time to kick your MBA application efforts into high gear.

To help you make the most of your time and avoid last-minute cramming (which is never great for anyone), Personal MBA Coach has put together this 5-month plan.

Month 1/2: April/May

1. Look for virtual campus events: While visiting campuses this spring is not an option, many schools are offering online webinars and other events to give students a sense of life on campus.

2. Develop or solidify your GMAT/GRE preparation plan: Many of you may be well underway here (or even have already completed your testing). If not, this is a great time to sign up with one of Personal MBA Coach’s tutors. Our tutoring slots often fill up later in the summer.

3. Customize your resume for your MBA applications: Your MBA resume should differ from your professional one. While you may need to tweak your resume later this summer, we advise our clients to get most of their resume development work out of the way before essay questions are released.

4. Fine-tune your career goals: Putting pencil to paper (so to speak) on your career goals now will save you time while developing your essays. We are working closely with our comprehensive clients on how to develop compelling goals statements.

5. Narrow down your school lists (if you have not already). Your final list may change (particularly if your GMAT/GRE score is not as you expected), but it is ideal to have an initial idea of your school list by May.

6. Brainstorm essay topics; begin drafting essays. For some schools, the essay questions are not likely to change from year to year. For those, you can get started on brainstorming, outlining and editing. By May, we are working on essay editing with many of our clients. For other schools, you can look at past questions to get an idea of potential focus areas for each school on your list.

7. Prepare your personal story. Think through the choices you have made in your life, what drove those choices and what makes you unique. Keep this story in mind as you outline your essays.

8. Begin to identify potential recommenders. Think about who will write the best letters (not just who is the most impressive on paper!) and begin putting out feelers.

Month 3: June

1. Draft your essays. Essay development should be getting the bulk of your attention this month.

2. Finalize and prepare your recommenders. Nail down your recommenders and schedule time to prepare them appropriately.

3. Take the GMAT/GRE. If you have not already done so, try to get your testing completed by mid-summer. (Remember, online tests can be viable options.) This will give you time to retake the test and not be too rushed.

4. Network (remotely) with current/former students. Speak with current students and alumni in your network to learn more about their programs. This will not only help you to confirm your interest, but it will also give you strong material for your applications. Some schools specifically ask who you talked to, so do not forget this step.

Month 4: July

1. Edit, edit, edit. Aim to finish your essays in July. We advise our clients to lock their essays at least 3-4 weeks in advance of deadlines. Last-minute changes are rarely for the better and you will need the time in August to focus on other application elements.

2. Revisit school lists as needed. Based on your score, you may want to critically evaluate and expand your school list. My average candidate applies to 5+ schools.

Month 5: August

1. Ensure LORs are ready to go. ​Follow up with your recommenders and make sure they are on track. Ask your recommenders if they need any additional information from you.

2. Work on short answer questions and video essays. Allocate enough time for short answer questions. Often these questions take longer than you might think and are an important part of the application.

3. Proofread, proofread, proofread. ALWAYS get someone unfamiliar with your applications to do a thorough review.

4. Research options for visiting campus, if it is safe to do so. While we do not know whether traveling will be a safe option by late summer, we certainly hope it will be! By getting a jump start on your other application components while quarantining at home, you will free yourself up to visit schools when health conditions allow.

Keep in mind that while it is great to have the full five months (or more) to prepare, we regularly work with clients who start later in the year and craft custom timelines accordingly.

Similarly, many of our clients (especially those applying to an early decision program) are working well ahead of these timelines!

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Many candidates pursue an MBA with the hopes of altering their career paths. In our current environment with declining economic conditions, this is likely to be an increasingly common strategy.

However, applicants looking to change careers should put in some extra work now to show that your desired career is both authentic AND attainable. This is even more true for applicants who might have been recently laid off or furloughed.

Here are some actions you can take now and while completing your MBA application essays and interviews to increase your chances of success!

Do your research. Know the role and industry that you aspire to join and understand the skills required for success. All too often we read vague goals statements that show a candidate does not really know his future industry. Check LinkedIn to see where MBA graduates are going and talk to friends or former classmates who work in the space. Understand the industry’s career pathing. The more you know about your future industry, the more authentic your essays will sound as you begin to articulate your goals.

Look for extracurricular work in your target industry. Volunteering in your future industry or function can be a great way to not only solidify your interest, but also to show the reader that you have truly given this future career some serious thought and consideration. This will help add cohesion to your overall story. While remote volunteer opportunities may be more limited, it is ok to think broadly as you consider related activities as long as you can draw a clear connection for the reader.

Seek out related projects in your current role. In some cases, this is easy to do. For instance, if you are a consultant seeking to transition to the technology space, ask to be staffed on a project in the industry. In other cases, you may have to be more creative. However, even experiences such as working on cross-functional projects or leading internal initiatives can expose you to related departments, so do not be afraid to think outside of the box. If you are unemployed or furloughed, consider an unpaid internship to cover any resume gaps or projects for your friend’s startup.

Make a personal tie to your future career. As you begin to explain your career aspirations, think about whether there is a personal connection you have with this career. Remember your applications should explain who you are as a person and what makes you unique, so your career goals can demonstrate a personal fit, even if the professional one is not immediately apparent. This is the type of one-on-one storytelling we work on with our clients.

Point out similarities between your current role and future goals. It is important to show admissions committee members that you are set up to succeed. Even if you are not able to gain experience in your future industry, there are likely to be past experiences you can draw upon. Think about the most important criteria for success in your future role and point out how you have already developed and demonstrated these skills. We specialize in providing our candidates with tailored advice, helping them to articulate their unique stories.

Consider short-term educational opportunities. This is particularly important if you are not currently working. It will be crucial to show that you have used time in between jobs effectively. Taking additional coursework (particularly quantitative courses or those related to your future field) can be a great remote way to improve your profile.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Many MBA hopefuls who have already narrowed down their target school lists are anxiously awaiting the release of the 2020-2021 MBA application questions and deadlines. In previous years, we have seen essay questions released as early as this week. Given the extended round 3 deadlines (still thinking about joining the class of 2023? There is time!), we have been told that some schools will delay the release of the 2020-2021 applications and application essays.

I also would speculate that fewer schools will change questions this year, given the extra work the administrators are balancing as they determine what the fall of 2020 will look like.

While we cannot perfectly predict the future, our 13 years of MBA Admissions Consulting experience and careful analysis of past trends and recent campus announcements can help us to assess what MBA candidates should expect this year.

Given the lower likelihood of essay changes, the extra time most candidates have while working from home and the potential for a delayed release of new application questions, Personal MBA Coach clients have already begun work on a number of essays.

For the essays that are least likely to change, I advise that you, too, get started today!

These schools and essays include:

Harvard Business School

HBS has asked the same question over the past few years and I would suspect this year’s question is likely to remain the same.

“As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?”

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Like HBS, Stanford GSB has not changed things up in recent years. I would begin to think about how to approach last year’s Stanford essays as well.

"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?

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."

Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School’s first essay has taken a similar form over the past years. While the exact word limit could vary, we expect Columbia to ask students something similar to last year’s first question:

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

Wharton

As with CBS, Wharton has kept its first essay question largely the same for the past few years and we expect the same this year:

What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words)

Kellogg

Kellogg also is unlikely to change its first essay question:

Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)

Chicago Booth

Chicago Booth joins the list of schools for which Personal MBA Coach clients are working on last year’s essay #1:

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

Other schools that are less likely to significantly change their essays include:

Yale SOM, Duke Fuqua, London Business School, Vanderbilt and MIT Sloan. Aside from minor tweaks or word limit adjustments, we would be more surprised to see changes from these programs.

If one or more of these schools/essays are on your list, I suggest you begin brainstorming, outlining and hopefully writing your essays ASAP. This will free up time (both personally and professionally) when the warmer weather (and hopefully fewer restrictions) emerge.

Keep in mind, the details shared above are predictions only! As soon as this year’s questions are released, Personal MBA Coach will let you know what has changed and will share advice on how to tackle each question. Join our weekly MBA Tips newsletter to be sure you do not miss anything!

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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One of the most important and exciting elements of the MBA application process is selecting your target school list. Before and as you compile your list, you will traditionally conduct research by exploring schools’ websites, getting in touch with connections at the schools and ideally visiting campus. Despite the latter of those being impossible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still possible for you to gather valuable research about the schools you hope to attend.

It is crucial, even (and especially) at times like these, to actively engage with the schools to which you are applying. When and how to interact with business school students, staff should be top of mind throughout the entire MBA application process. In the best case scenario, you will build a rapport with an admissions representative and directly improve your chances of acceptance. Even if this does not happen, attending online events and interacting with the school you hope to attend will give you valuable material to make your essays stand out. Remember, students are often the most valuable resources since adcom directors may not be as available to chat with you.

Many business schools are holding online admissions events for their prospective MBA students to learn more about their programs and offerings. This guide can serve as a starting point for you to plan out events you may be interested in attending.

Stanford GSB

The Stanford Graduate School of Business holds MBA Program Online Information Sessions on most Mondays and Fridays. These webinars offer prospective students an opportunity to listen to an overview of the Stanford GSB MBA program, the admission process and financial aid from an admissions officer, as well as an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. For those who would rather skip the overview and get straight to the Q&A, there will be an Online Chat With an Admissions Officer event on May 26. Stanford also has online resources including the virtual tour of living spaces, common areas, and classrooms to give an inside look into what it is like to be a student on campus. You can learn about these opportunities and more on the school’s website.

Wharton

Wharton has two upcoming events which may interest MBA hopefuls. On May 18, Jake Kohler, Director of the Ken Moelis and Julie Taffet Moelis Advance Access Program, will hold a live Q&A session, giving applicants a chance to learn tips for optimizing their application a week and a half before the deadline. The school will also hold a separate webinar to discuss the two-year curriculum, student life, career information and the admissions process on May 20 with Director of Admissions Marketing and Financial Aid Kara Keenan Sweeney.

Berkeley Haas

The University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business, in addition to Admissions Chat Q&A events held almost daily, offers unique online events including the upcoming Directors’ Panel: Navigating the MBA Journey in Unprecedented Times on May 13 and a virtual online chat with a member of the Berkeley Haas Financial Aid team to discuss questions MBA applicants may have about loan options on May 22.

Yale SOM

Yale School of Management also offers a slew of specialized events for communities like veterans and current undergraduate college students. A few upcoming events include the RecruitMilitary Virtual Education Expo and Virtual SACC Washington, D.C for veterans and service members, and an online panel discussion about applying to MBA programs as an undergraduate college student.

Other top 10 business schools have similar offerings, including virtual information sessions, chats with professors, admissions officers and current students, and more. Kellogg even has a bank of prerecorded events available online. Take a look at the schools’ event pages for more information about how you can stay informed about and involved with Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan, Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, and NYU Stern.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Once again, Harvard Business School was the first to kick off the official business school application season, sharing deadlines and details for class of 2023 hopefuls.

While the application itself officially opens in June, we recommend that you take this opportunity to get a head start on your essay.

The 2020-2021 deadlines are as follows:

Round 1: September 8, 2020
Round 2: January 5, 2021

HBS Admissions Director, Chad Losee recognizes the uncertainty candidates are facing during these challenging times and shares Harvard Business School’s plan to consider unique circumstances while reviewing applications:

We understand that these are difficult times globally and that many of you have been affected personally by the pandemic. Please know that we always review applications holistically and understand that many plans, employment opportunities, and personal situations have been disrupted by COVID-19. Of course we will take this most unusual of times into account as we evaluate your application.

As we predicted last week, HBS is minimizing changes this year and keeping the one and only essay question the same:

“As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?”

The HBS essay is arguably one of the most difficult to tackle, given its open-ended nature.

This essay is an open invitation to show HBS what is truly interesting about your profile. This question allows you to focus and elaborate on what is important to you. Think about this essay as your chance to let them “meet” the real you—the authentic person behind the resume and application questions.

As everyone is likely well aware, HBS educates and admits leaders. It goes without saying that whatever story or stories you choose should show your leadership and demonstrate how you have excelled across disciplines. HBS students will emerge as leaders in the areas they are most passionate about. They will drive change. They are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs. They show courage. You want the admissions committee to see and understand how you personify these traits.

I advise applicants to watch this video on the HBS case method to re-enforce how critical leadership and diversity of thought is to HBS. Keep this in mind, along with Harvard’s other stated values of analytics and community, as you craft your essays.

While we recommend that most applicants show their professional accomplishments, make sure to share enough anecdotally so that the admissions committee can learn more about you on a personal level.

Successful essays have included some sort of personal anecdote at a minimum and often a much more detailed personal story, which is often tied to a recurring theme throughout your essay.

Think about what makes you unique and why you made the choices that you did. The most accomplished individuals follow their passions, and these are usually shaped by particular experiences or personality traits. Consider what has had the greatest impact on your choices, who you are today or who you want to be. This will likely give you some areas to expand upon.

But do not just tell this story; as we have said in the past, try to help the reader live it.

Finally, mention your future ambitions and how HBS will fit. This is NOT a why HBS or career goals essay, but you would be remiss not to give the admissions committee a brief glimpse of where you are headed (which should naturally flow from the rest of the essay) and how HBS is uniquely suited to help you on this path.

Key Takeaways:

Make your essay interesting to read. Each year the admissions team receives ~10,000 applications.

Differentiate yourself - particularly if you come from an overrepresented industry, such as consulting or banking, or an overrepresented demographic pool. HBS looks to select a well-rounded class, and it will be crucial to show how you will add unique value.

Consider this essay as a starting point for an interview conversation. HBS has very detailed interviews that are planned in advance for each applicant and will dive into at least one aspect of your application. Be ready to talk in great detail during the interview about anything you submit as part of your application.

Show rather than tell. Essays are much more impactful when they describe something about you, showing it in action instead of just stating the facts. Give details. Add names. Describe your setting. Tell the reader how you felt.

This essay will be VERY different for everyone. Do not fall into the trap of trying to write an essay like one you have read in the past or like your friend is writing. There will be a wide range of successful essays this year, and proper execution will be the key rather than simply the content alone.

Most essays that work will fall somewhere between 700-1,000 words. However, absolutely consider quality over quantity. If you can write a solid 600-word essay that is powerful and moving, do not feel the need to lengthen it. I have helped many applicants write successful essays on the shorter side.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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As predicted, Personal MBA Coach learned today that Columbia Business School will NOT be changing either the first or second essay questions for class of 2023 business school hopefuls. CBS did, however, announce an update to the third essay question. While the application will open in June, candidates should now begin their essays. Given Columbia Business School’s rolling admissions, getting an early start is particularly crucial.

The three questions together will prompt MBA candidates to cover a wide range of information about their professional goals, plans on campus, personal stories and leadership styles. Avoid repeating yourself while ensuring that the three essays work together to paint an accurate and consistent picture of your candidacy.

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

Columbia specifically asks that candidates not repeat their resumes in this career goals question. While some mention of your professional past is still expected, it should be brief and used as context to further elaborate on why your goals are attainable. This question explicitly asks for both a short-term goal and a long-term dream job so be sure to include both. These goals should show a logical progression from your current experiences. If they do not, then a brief explanation is a good idea so that the admissions committee can understand how you will realistically attain your goals.

Discussing your long-term dream job is an opportunity to show the admissions committee your true ambitions and what really matters to you professionally. It is important that candidates have lofty goals here but ones that make sense for them and fit with both their short-term goals and overall story. This is a unique chance to show not only how you envision your career unfolding, but also to give the reader a little more insight into who you are by adding at least a brief mention of why this career interests you.

Finally, while not explicitly asked, a bit on how you will prepare for these goals while at Columbia will offer a nice segue into Essay #2.

Essay #2: Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you? (250 Words)

This essay takes a direct approach to Columbia’s “fit” question. During some previous cycles, CBS has asked candidates about their desire to be in New York City. While Columbia’s current essay #2 addresses fit more broadly, mentioning how you plan to leverage the city would still be advised here.

With only 250 words and a lot to cover, it is important to be focused and specific. Show that you have done your research on what options are available on campus and which specifically interests you. Naturally, a tie should be made between these opportunities and your career goals.

This is the time to discuss the classes you hope to take, clubs you will join and other programs of interest to you, such as speaker series or immersion seminars. I would also recommend that candidates consider culture, which as I have shared in the past is becoming increasingly important to many top business schools.

Essay #3: Tell us about your favorite book, movie or song and why it resonates with you. (250 Words)

As in previous years, Columbia Business School is using the third essay to get to know applicants on a personal level. Use this essay to tell admissions committee members something unique about your profile. Think here about your hobbies, passions, upbringing or values. Then, select a book, movie or song with parallels to your own experience(s). Perhaps you have a passion for music. Select a movie or book about a musician with similar talents. Similarly, if you have overcome a particular hardship, a song that discusses a struggle that mirrors your own could be an ideal choice. As we often say, the what matters much less than the why here. Do not pick something you think will impress the reader (i.e. “Becoming” might be an overused choice this year). Instead, pick something that you truly connect with personally.

Finally, Columbia has an optional essay. As I advise for most schools, do not feel compelled to answer this unless you have something specific to explain in your background (i.e. a career gap, an unusual recommender, extreme personal circumstances, etc.) This is not the time to spend 500 words professing your love for Columbia.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Essay questions for the 2020-2021 cycle are starting to be released, and there are many essay questions that candidates can and should get started on today

Before you put pencil to paper (so to speak) on your essays, I wanted to get back to the basics with MBA Essay Writing 101.

Essay Writing Process:

I advise my candidates to follow a 5-step process as they develop their application essays, leaving adequate time for each stage.

1. Brainstorm

Brainstorm each question one at a time. For those applying early decision, start with ED essays first. Otherwise, begin with the easiest essay as your writing will improve throughout the process. As you develop potential topics, consider relevant strengths, hobbies, passions, and experiences.

2. Outline

Before you begin to develop prose, outline the key points you hope to cover. Pay special attention to flow and length here. (Hint: a 250-word outline is too long for a 500-word essay.)

3. Draft

Once you have a solid outline, begin to put together your first draft. At this stage, it is ok if your writing is not perfect. Most first drafts should and will be a bit longer than the final product. For your early versions, be sure that your points flow well and are easy to follow. Do not worry about grammar, spelling, and other minor errors.

4. Edit Again & Again

This is the longest part of the essay writing process. Edit your essays as many times as it takes to get them right. Finalize general content and flow, then begin to focus on fine-tuning your writing. If your essay is not working, do not be afraid to start over. You may need to repeat steps 1-3 multiple times.

5. Proofread

Always ask someone unfamiliar with your work (and ideally your industry) to read over your essays. You will need a fresh set of eyes to catch all mistakes. Personal MBA Coach uses proofreaders for each MBA application for this reason.

Now that you have the overall writing process down, let’s look at some key tips to keep in mind as you develop your essays.

Essay Guiding Principles:

1) Answer the question ASKED

It is surprising how often candidates write beautiful essays but do not answer the question. Instead of writing what you think admissions committee members want to hear, answer the question. While thinking a bit outside of the box and considering the why behind an essay prompt is advised, first and foremost you must answer the question.

2) Write authentically

Do not write what you think admissions committee members want to read. There is no one perfect candidate profile. Instead, your uniqueness will be one of your greatest selling points. Your essays should paint a clear picture of who you are, what motivates you, and what you are passionate about. Do not feel compelled to show how you fit the mold that seemingly makes up the “ideal” candidate. If you have no desire to run a non-profit, that is ok. If you are not motivated by improving the environment, do not pretend you are. Readers will see right through this and you could end up doing more harm than good.

3) Be succinct and avoid repetition

Keep in mind that the essays are just one part of the application. In addition to submitting an MBA resume (unsure how to write an MBA resume? Check out these tips), most schools will have you fill out a detailed application. This means admissions committee members will read about everything you have accomplished, all the roles you have held, and the awards you have won. There is no need to try to fit this all into your essays. So instead of squeezing in as much as you can, focus on sharing a few key highlights and adding the details as well as your voice. This is your chance to explain your choices, show your accomplishment, and share your passions. The fewer things you try to cover in your essays, the more you will be able to achieve this objective.

4) Keep your language approachable

The terms you regularly discuss at the office may be foreign to others, including admissions committee members. When in doubt, do not assume the reader is familiar with everything about your job. Focus on language that is more general and easier to use to compare you to other applicants. Admissions committee members do not need or want all of the technical details anyway.

5) Limit flowery prose

Similarly, I often read complex flowery prose. You are not submitting your essays for a Pulitzer prize or applying to become a professional writer. Instead, you are telling your story. While of course you want your essays to be well written and free from grammatical mistakes and typos, you also want them to be relatable and easy to follow. Everyone from your grandmother to a professor of microfinance should be able to understand your essays. They should also convey why you are someone others would want to study with, learn from, and eventually be inspired by. That type of person is human and down to earth. Your essays should show this.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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The Wharton School has confirmed the 2020-2021 application essays. For the first time in two years, Wharton has decided to change the second essay question while essay 1 will remain the same. Wharton has an additional required essay for reapplicants along with an optional essay.

Below, please find this year’s deadlines along with Personal MBA Coach’s advice for how to approach the two essay questions.

Deadlines:

Round 1: September 15, 2020
Round 2: January 5, 2021
Round 3: March 31, 2021

Essay 1: What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words)

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)

Required Essay 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)

Optional Essay: 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.

Personal MBA Coach’s Tips:

As a Wharton graduate, I am intimately familiar with the MBA program and culture at Wharton and advise candidates to think about each question differently to ensure answers complement each other while showing readers multiple aspects of their candidacy.

Essay 1: What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words)

With this first question, you should discuss your specific short-term goals, but also think more broadly. Essay 1 allows you to reflect at a higher level on your aspirations. Where do you see yourself in 10, 20 or even 30 years? How will you get there? It is also expected that you touch upon your past successes, explaining how they are relevant to your future objectives. This question does not require you to walk through your entire resume, and candidates are advised not to do so. Instead, focus only on your past to establish what your key skills are as well as how and why you will succeed in the future.

As you think about your future, also think about your skill gaps and how a Wharton MBA, specifically, will help you to close these gaps. It is important that you allow adequate time to research all that Wharton has to offer. I suggest being very specific in detailing the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus. Think about classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with, etc. Do not include a laundry list. Instead, carefully think through how each offering will allow you to fill in your skill and/or experience gaps. Be sure to show an understanding of Wharton’s culture here. Avoid vague statements and copy and pasting from other essays.

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)

This new approach to essay 2 will give candidates a bit more flexibility than last year’s question to share past accomplishments and detail potential contributions to the Wharton community. What have you done beyond what is in your resume? (Or what do you wish you had space within your resume to elaborate on?) What makes you special? This question gives you the freedom to consider talents, impressive extracurricular accomplishments and/or unique professional skills. I advise candidates to think broadly here about what makes them unique and how they have succeeded both professionally and personally in the past.

Then, consider how you might share these passions, experiences and successes with your future peers. Tell the reader how you will improve and enrich the Wharton campus. Be sure to do your research on all that Wharton has to offer and to be specific on the contributions you will make. Is there a club you want to join? Perhaps there is a talent you want to share? As with essay 1, avoid listing items. Instead, select a few unique areas where you will contribute and discuss the mark you hope to leave. Then, as you discuss the specific contributions you will make, tie these to the past experiences have just brainstormed. A strong essay will cover multiple contributions that flow naturally from your personal story, passions and career goals.

Reapplicants should use the required additional essay to demonstrate growth. I advise candidates to review our tips for reapplicants before tackling this essay. Finally, the optional essay should only be answered by those with extenuating circumstances. Read more on our approach to optional essays here.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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The University of Michigan Ross School of Business has released its application deadlines and essays for this season. Michigan Ross will have four application rounds for the 2020-2021 cycle and has pushed up the round 1 deadline by two weeks. This year’s deadlines are:

Round 1: September 14, 2020
Round 2: January 4, 2021
Round 3: March 29, 2021
Round 4: June 1, 2021

In addition, Ross has streamlined its MBA essay requirements this year, reducing the number of short answer prompts while shortening its longer MBA career goals essay. While this may be a welcome change for MBA applicants, brevity will become particularly crucial this year, something that Ross notes is intentional.

Ross’s short answer prompts are as follows:

Part 1: Short-answer questions

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less (<100 words each; 200 words total). Every word counts here — the tight word count is intentional to force you to focus.

Group 1

I want people to know that I:

I made a difference when I:

I was aware that I was different when:

Group 2

I am out of my comfort zone when:

I was humbled when:

I was challenged when:

These are actually the same six prompts Ross used last year, combined into only two groups instead of three groups. This means MBA hopefuls this year will only write two 100-word short answer prompts.

Read below for Personal MBA Coach’s tips on tackling Ross’s 2020-2021 essays.

While not explicitly stated this year, with a more traditional career focused essay to follow, consider your personal background as you answer these short questions. Pick the prompt that resonates best with you as there is no preferred option.

For Group 1, think about your most unique attribute or accomplishment. What sets you apart from other applicants? A personal accomplishment or a fond personal success story would work well here. Volunteer or extracurricular stories could also be good to cover.

If you have a unique skill or talent, Group 1 would be a good place to share it. If you did something amazing that is not on your resume or that you want to call more attention to, that would also work well for this prompt. Other options for this prompt include examples of passions or values. Remember, MBA admissions directors aspire to bring a well-rounded group of students to campus each year. This is your chance to share something about your upbringing or personality that will position you to add another perspective to class discussions.

For the second group, show the reader a bit about your character. What would working and studying with you be like? This is not the time to sing your own praises but instead the time to show you are human. Show what you have gained from this experience and let the reader see that you are someone students would want to be around.

Alternatively, these prompts give candidates the opportunity to show an area of relative weakness. Authenticity and growth are key hot points for many admissions committee members. Candidates are applying to business school to grow and are not expected to be “perfect” when they arrive. Discussing a challenge that you have overcome and/or will continue to overcome could be a nice choice here.

Part 2: Career Goal Essay

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)

Michigan Ross has also shortened its career goal essay, giving candidates just 200 words. There is a lot to cover in a small amount of space. Be straightforward here. If you need help thinking through your goals, we have published a blog with our general tips.

Once you have clearly stated your short-term career goal, you will want to explain the why behind this goal. There are many questions you should consider as you answer the why behind these goals. What attracts you to your chosen field? Why are you passionate about it? How will this short-term goal help prepare you for your long-term goal?

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.

This optional essay should only be answered by those with extenuating circumstances. Read more on our approach to optional essays here.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Indian Female, 25

Hi, I am a Digital Media Planner working in the Media and Advertising industry for almost 3 years now. I have worked for clients like Google across EMEA, NA, and APAC region(collaboration with those teams). Currently, I handle verticals like FMCG, Tech, and Telecomm.

I have a B.Tech Degree in Computer Sciences with 71%, 12th with 70 %, and 10th with 9CGPA(or 85.5%). I have worked in some of the most renowned media agencies in the world, like GroupM & Publicis.

GMAT - still to be taken

Also, I have certifications such as Facebook Blueprint, Google Digital Unlock, Driving business towards sustainable development goals - RSM, Erasmus, CISCO CCNA, Amazon Sponsored Ads

For the extracurricular, I have played Nationals in athletics back in school and have also won inter-college basketball and badminton tournaments. Was awarded the Times Student Of The Year in 2010 and have won a lot of debates with highlights being awards from Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs of India.

For community services, I have led CSR activities in both my organizations, where one was tackling climate change by a plantation drive and the other was a day full of fun and sports for underprivileged kids. In addition to this, I have committed some part of my salary to a girl who is a rape survivor and has a baby now.

How strong do you think my profile is for a future in Brand Management/Marketing or Digital Strategy Consulting?
Also, what can I do to make my profile stronger and which schools I can preferably target? I have just applied to RSM as of now. Will be great to hear all your suggestions

This week we are changing things up a bit and turning the camera (so to speak) on Scott Edinburgh, Personal MBA Coach founder. Get Scott’s insight on the value of an MBA, the main challenges MBA candidates face, when the right time to apply is and more!

Question: Based on your experience and expertise, what is the value of pursuing an MBA?

While today, business school might be a great place to escape the challenging economy, there are countless benefits of earning an MBA. The most obvious, of course, is the technical knowledge you will gain. In addition to traditional courses in fields such as finance, accounting and marketing, nearly all MBA programs offer specialized courses covering a variety of industries and functional areas. Whether you are planning to go into finance, real estate, marketing or healthcare, you will have the chance to learn the fundamentals from industry experts.

Equally as important as these technical skills are the “soft” skills you can gain during an MBA. Both inside and outside of the classroom, MBA programs place a strong emphasis on skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication, all crucial skills for future leaders. In addition, the countless volunteer and travel programs offer students further opportunities to stretch themselves personally and professionally.

The business school classroom also provides students the chance to take a risk in an open and trusting environment. Often students enter business school with one goal, but use this unique and safe environment to try classes or programs in other fields. In many cases, this leads students down an unexpected path as they find a field that is a better fit.

Finally, business schools provide students with great networking opportunities, both while on campus and beyond. In addition to learning from peers in the classroom, students find alumni to be invaluable resources as they seek their first jobs. Alumni can not only provide crucial insider knowledge, but they often help fellow alums secure roles in their companies. MBA graduates will then continue to rely upon this network throughout their careers for partners, mentors or even investors.

Question: What do you recommend to candidates who have considered postponing applying to business school because of COVID-19?

Last month I attended the annual Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) conference with admissions directors and deans from all of the top global schools. After moderating many panels and having some in depth conversations, I can say that there has never been a better time than now to attend business school. Companies are changing, industries are changing, countries are changing. To be able to study amid all of these changes and come out the other side equipped to solve global problems is incredible. I studied at Wharton during the last recession and it was a great time. We are seeing applications rise and it is no surprise.

Question: What was the greatest impact attending Wharton had on your professional and personal life?

Naturally, given my line of work, my MBA experience changed my career. While I started my post-MBA career in a more traditional strategy role, the MBA was so transformational for me that while I was in school, I began helping my friends with their applications so they, too, could have this valuable opportunity. 13 years later, helping others enjoy the transformative experience of the MBA has become my life’s passion.

Tactically, at Wharton I learned to think more strategically and to develop stronger presentations. I also expanded my negotiation and decision making skills and became an overall better leader. Leadership is tough and while I am still learning now, a lot of the skills that have helped me succeed today, I developed at Wharton.

Personally, I now have friends (even very close friends) from around the world. While you meet a lot of people and develop great friends as an undergraduate, everyone is still somewhat immature. Business school is a great time to develop lasting relationships. I still cherish and leverage these relationships today, using many of my peers as sounding boards, both personally and professionally. Plus, the opportunity to attend global weddings (once they are allowed to happen) is not a bad perk, either.

Question: What is the main challenge that MBA candidates face in getting accepted to their target MBA programs?

The main challenge that Personal MBA Coach and our team help clients tackle is figuring out how to truly tell their stories. Developing the personal story may be the hardest and the most important part of the application. This story should be compelling and somewhat unique. MBA admissions directors see countless similar profiles each year, particularly for students who work in overrepresented industries or who come from overrepresented demographics. Personal MBA Coach helps candidates to stand out and clearly articulate the value they will add on campus.

We advise candidates to start this process months, if not years, in advance to develop a story that is focused, logical and unique. When I meet with a new candidate, I start by asking a lot of questions. We talk about everything the applicant has done, often starting from childhood. I advise you to start with a similar process.

Make a list of everything you have done in your life and take the time to write it all down. Think carefully about the decisions you have made, activities you enjoy and most importantly, why you made those choices. Think about your future goals. What do you want to do after you earn your MBA and again, why? Next, look for a theme! What single idea ties all this together? This is the hard part, so give it time.

Question: What is the profile of an MBA candidate?

There is no one profile of an MBA candidate. Each year we work with more “typical” candidates, including management consultants, investment bankers and private equity professionals. However, we also have clients who are opera singers, musicians, nonprofit leaders, teachers, marketing professionals, restaurateurs, physicians, family business professionals and the list goes on. Strong business and leadership skills can be an asset in any industry as supported by the diversity of MBA applicants.

Question: After completing the MBA, what comes next?

That answer is up to the applicant. The fields that MBA graduates enter are as diverse as the fields they worked in prior to business school. There are certain careers where MBA graduates feed into common roles - for example, consulting firms start MBA graduates in a “class” of their peers. Other firms have leadership development programs for recent graduates. In general, however, there are countless roles a graduate can fill. MBA programs have an entire career services department dedicated to helping graduates find their ideal jobs.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Stanford GSB, as expected, did not change the essay questions this year. However, Stanford lowered the combined word limit from 1150 to 1050 words, suggesting clients allocate up to 650 words on Essay A and up to 400 words on Essay B. This will encourage applicants to remain focused and concise in their answers.

Below, please find this year’s deadlines along with Personal MBA Coach’s advice on how to approach the two essay questions.

Round 1: September 15, 2020

Round 2: January 6, 2021

Round 3: April 6, 2021

Essay A: “What matters most to you, and why? (650 words suggested)”

This is arguably one of the hardest MBA application questions across all schools. This challenging first question requires candidates to speak from the heart. As Stanford advises, think more about your values here and WHY you made the choices you have made than WHAT you have done.

I recommend you do some serious soul searching before starting. Think about what you are most passionate about. What drives you to get out of bed each morning? If you could spend your time as you wish, what would you do? Ideally, you have acted on this passion and it extends throughout multiple aspects of your life. Then, think carefully about why this matters to you. Did you have an experience as a child? Are you following a passion held by others in your family?

Finally, once you have established the way, you should include some WHAT here. After all, a passion or cause that you have done nothing with will not be very believable. Remember though, this is only PART of this personal essay.

Essay B: “Why Stanford? (400 words suggested )”

In this short essay, candidates have a lot to cover. First, you should set up why you want an MBA. Naturally, this would include what your goals are and what skills you need to develop to achieve these goals.

Then, establish how Stanford will help you to fill these skill gaps. Once again, be specific! Name classes, clubs, programs, etc. and how they will help. Finally, be sure to articulate what attracts you to Stanford’s culture. We realize this is a tall order with a suggested word count of only 400 words so be succinct.

Unlike other schools, Stanford gives the candidate discretion on how to divide the 1150 words (1200 for dual degree candidates) across the two essays. The breakdown above is a suggestion and in general, this is an ideal breakdown for most candidates.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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