https://tepper.cmu.edu/images/mediaStoryImagePlaceholder.jpg tuXlXIR0RkusKW3xVJ9yGlw Essay Questions A.What are your short-term and long-term goals? How will a Tepper MBA help you to achieve these goals. (Please include any information regarding what steps you have taken to learn more about the Tepper School.) B. The Tepper School’s culture relies on all members to be active contributors to our community. With your values, experiences, and interests, how will you make a unique contribution to the Tepper community? Your examples may include: classroom interaction, student activities, career development, community service, etc. C. Please answer two of the following three questions or statements. Please clearly specify which questions you are answering. Your two answers should equal a total of two pages or less. 1.Describe an obstacle you have faced in your professional or academic life. How did you overcome this obstacle and how did it foster your development? 2. Describe a time in which your ethics were challenged. How did you deal with the situation and what did you learn from it? 3. One thing people would be surprised to know about me is . . . D. Is there anything additional that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? Note: if you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you should not feel obligated to answer this question. This essay is intended to provide a place for you to add information that you think is important but is not covered elsewhere in the application.

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Calling all 2011 CMU- Tepper Applicants

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rao

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11 Feb 2011, 10:30

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StewieGriffin

Codename47

when most have a pleasant interview experience.. and considering Tepper invites about 70% applicants to interviews.. what sets each apart?

Good question!
I guess it comes down to
1. Love for the school as demonstrated by your essays and the interview. Tepper does have a high yield rate and the 1st essay question asks you about the efforts you made to know Tepper better.
2. Clarity of post MBA goals.

Not just for Tepper but for nay small school env, Adcom look for a FIT. It becomes esp important that you are a good fit where there are only handful of students. So make sure you demo your passion for the school and how you fit in small school env.

tess

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11 Feb 2011, 12:53

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Hi all-
New to the site applied and interviewed R2. Already tired of waiting for decision day!! Still more than a month to go. Are there any former/current military applicants on this thread?

Jerseygirl2011

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11 Feb 2011, 13:42

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Hello, any reapplicants in R2 got invited to interview? My status still shows "incomplete". I had called the school last weeka and they said they haven't yet gotten to assembling the reapplicant files, any updates?

Codename47

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11 Feb 2011, 14:16

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Question for Amigos.. esp those who got an admit when applying in R1.

Once one is done with her/his interview can she/he expect to hear something from the school (change in status or teasers:P) before the decision emails?

the long silence after the interview is kinda killing.. n 1 more month 2 go b4 decisions!

mbaapp07

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11 Feb 2011, 14:21

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Codename47

Nope - you'll just have to sit tight. There weren't any changes whatsoever until the decision emails were sent.

cmv

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11 Feb 2011, 14:23

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mbaapp07

Codename47

Nope - you'll just have to sit tight. There weren't any changes whatsoever until the decision emails were sent.

Well, the status changes to complete, but that contains no information. 4 weeks to go.

ergotropic

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11 Feb 2011, 15:34

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Please count me in for R2.

Did any R2 applicant receive interview invite today?

A question for all: How much does the networking after you have submitted the application count? Should one network right now or leave it on the merit of your application and simply wait for the interview invite? What are your views?

rao

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11 Feb 2011, 21:47

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ergotropic

it never hurts. the more you know about school the better you can show your genuine passion towards the school, during your interview.

ergotropic

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11 Feb 2011, 21:49

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Thx rao!

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raulmba

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13 Feb 2011, 10:52

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ergotropic

I applied in R2 and received application complete email on 29th Jan and still awaiting intv invite..

Anyone in the same boat ??

mv2010

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14 Feb 2011, 21:46

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Codename47

Quite surprisingly, i got an email from Adcom (very chatty and personal) saying that my application is now complete and that decision will be emailed on 14th. I finished my interview last friday.

Insearchofmba

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15 Feb 2011, 22:54

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Has anyone got invite for interviews in last 2 days? I'm R2 applicant and still awaiting a response on interview decision. Anyone sailing in the same boat?

ergotropic

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15 Feb 2011, 23:09

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Guess, many are, me included.

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ankurhbti

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16 Feb 2011, 17:00

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rao

StewieGriffin

Codename47

when most have a pleasant interview experience.. and considering Tepper invites about 70% applicants to interviews.. what sets each apart?

Even this my point of interest that how arecandidates are filtered post an interview .... as questions are set and interview is stress free ........i had my i/v on 14 feb and apart from me 22 more candidates had an interview that day.....can R1 guys put some thoughts on it

keerthy

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16 Feb 2011, 20:26

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Hey am Keerthy

new to this thread.. i applied in round 2. GMAT 700. 3.5 yrs into IT.. I got my iv invite and have scheduled it on feb 23rd.

It would be great if some one guides me with the same..

Regards
kee :-D

almostfamous

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16 Feb 2011, 21:39

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Hi,
Someone has asked earlier "what makes or breaks the deal for those interviewed, given the high percentage of candidates interviewed?

The views below are my own personal views. However, I do hope that they shed light on the matter for people who have applied for round 2.

I felt that CMU cares about 2 points: 1) commitment to attend to CMU if admitted, and 2) likability.

1) CMU knows that it is a borderline top 15 school. Thus, the school's yield is lower that it would like to see. Also, Pittsburgh is - ahem - not one of the most glamorous locations. The winter there is harsh, and the city is relatively unknown.

You should give very specific reasons WHY CMU stands out as the best program for you. People with engineering background will have an easier time to explain their fit, but remember: as many as 50 % of admitted students come from an engineering background. You should buttress your preference beyond your background, to distinguish yourself.

2) Likability.

Given the high percentage of the engineering candidates, the most prevalent "personality flaw" is that candidates lack smooth, well rounded social skills. I am not saying this is correct - I am just pointing out a generic (mis)conception that is prevalent.

You would like to show that you are an active, engaging, and likable person to overcome this generic stereotype, especially if you are from engineering background.

To give a concrete example, let's assume that you have won the Nobel prize in Physics. You think that this is a very impressive achievement, that should lead you to be accepted almost automatically. Not so fast.

If you tell the adcom that "well, my biggest achievement is the Nobel Prize in Physics" and remain mum for the rest of the interview, the adcom may not be as impressed as you thought they would. Why? because this kind of behavior just reinforces the stereotype that engineers (or scientists) are brilliant but not social.

Instead, the adcom will be more impressed if you tell them a story that you are a keen mountain climber and that you led a group of teenagers to climb the Everest last summer.

Then, at the end of the story, you add "while seeing the sunrise, I realized the major flaw in the current quantum physics. After going back home, I wrote the thesis that lead me to win the Nobel prise in physics!"

Admittedly, the above example is somewhat extreme. However, I do hope that it delivers the messages I had in mind, that I believe are important to succeed in CMU interview.

Good luck to all!

ergotropic

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16 Feb 2011, 22:16

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keerthy

Congratulations Kee! What is your location and have you visited the campus?

sscrewcaptain

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18 Feb 2011, 14:32

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Any Rd1 or First year Tepper students know how long the background check through Kroll takes to complete? Thanks!

ergotropic

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18 Feb 2011, 16:23

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R2 applicants who are waiting for an interview invite, what is your application status?

Mine is: Stage 3: Credentials Received - Appication Under Review by the Admissions Committee

brysondavis

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18 Feb 2011, 16:51

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mv2010

Quite surprisingly, i got an email from Adcom (very chatty and personal) saying that my application is now complete and that decision will be emailed on 14th. I finished my interview last friday.

I had the same experience, except it was not as chatty--just a short note saying I was complete and would have the decision on the 14th.

I don't know if it means anything. I thought I did a good job in my interview of specific interest in the program, but who knows? Maybe the adcom just had time to send it that day compared to others when they do not.