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Hi bakfed and MBAIsrael,

It has been a while since i am working on the essays for R1 and doesnt seem that i am getting the right direction, at this rate i feel i`ll be late for the R1 deadlines.
I would be glad if you could answer a few questions
1. In what round and at what time did you start you application process? i mean how many days before the round deadline did u start from scratch.
2. How many other schools did you apply to in R1 and R2?
3. What are the number of iterations in getting the essays reviewed? how much time should i be spending on the process?
4. What is the average time needed to get the recommendations ready for one school?

5. Any Specific advice for Darden Applications?

Waiting for replies from both of you, thanks in advance.
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I will answer your questions in line.

jimmy86
Hi bakfed and MBAIsrael,

It has been a while since i am working on the essays for R1 and doesnt seem that i am getting the right direction, at this rate i feel i`ll be late for the R1 deadlines.
I would be glad if you could answer a few questions
1. In what round and at what time did you start you application process? i mean how many days before the round deadline did u start from scratch. I started my application process for Darden roughly 1.5 - 2 months before. I forgot exactly when, but I remember that as soon as I can "start an application" for Darden, I started going through the easy stuff - personal information and such. I started way earlier than most (probably) because I was targeting a number of schools, which lead into my answer to question 2.
2. How many other schools did you apply to in R1 and R2? I applied to 5 schools for round 1, including Darden (I excluded Columbia's ED from the "5" because Columbia's application was opened way earlier and I had garnered a response before I started work on any other application). My round 2 had 3 applications.
3. What are the number of iterations in getting the essays reviewed? how much time should i be spending on the process? I think this is really just a trial and error type of deal. I can't say the number of iterations, per se, but I can say that I've scratched an entire essay and started anew for Darden. This year, Darden's only asking for one essay, but last year there were 2. One of the essay prompts asked you to describe how a certain event in the last two years had affected your view on leadership (along that line). This essay called for some creativity and I first wanted to talk about the subprime mortgage and the housing bust. Then I realized that all I wanted to do was sound 'smart', and up-to-date. It didn't reflect what I really want to say. Ultimately, I scratched the entire essay and really just put in my own thought and perspective on a certain event that changed my view on leadership. But even then, every time that I go back to my essay, I feel a need to change something. I think this mentality is imbued in most people that by not changing anything, you're admitting that everything's right in your essay, which is impossible. I've changed my essay here and there countless times. While I technically had my application for Darden completed at least a couple of weeks prior to the deadline, I still waited until a couple days before the deadline to submit it. In those two weeks, I had continued tweaking my essay to my liking. Not sure if that actually helped...
4. What is the average time needed to get the recommendations ready for one school? This one is really out of your hands. I would say that if you know who you're going to ask about letters, go ask as soon as possible. Then put in their contact information on your online application for them to submit their letters online. Most people who write these are senior level managers (or even C-suite executives) who are busy. And honestly, even if they're not busy, they'd like to enjoy their off times as well. Between the two recommenders I had, one was always very fast at getting them done and the other one basically will play the clock much like the way that the US government is doing with the debt ceiling. So in my opinion, better ask early than late. Plus, if you ask early, you always get the cushion room to 'remind' them again after a couple of weeks. And of course, don't forget some thank you presents.

5. Any Specific advice for Darden Applications? Darden prides itself on certain aspects - small class (tight-knit community) and superior case methods. For you to be able to identify yourself whether implicitly or explicitly on your application that you can fit in with the rest of the school will definitely be of help. By saying that you prefer lecture-based classes over case methods is a application-suicide to Darden. If you ever get a chance to visit the school, I say go for it. Darden is a lot like Tuck, location-wise (I think Tuck is still worse in location than any other peer school). If you're a big city person, you probably won't enjoy the type of setting that Darden resides in. Also, any and all domestic applicants will have to interview on campus, should an interview be granted. So definitely keep that in mind (I'm sure exceptions can be made, but I haven't heard of any cases).

Waiting for replies from both of you, thanks in advance.
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Thank you so much Bakfed. I couldnt have expected a better answer to my questions.

Specially like your response regarding the essays,
I have already scrapped 2 essays because i felt they were not upto the mark. Working on the third one and trying to weave it around a personal experience.

Do you think i will gain advantage applying early before the Round 1 deadline ? cause darden has rolling admissions..

I really wanted to know your motivation/ background and work ex :P ... just to know more about people who are there where i aim to be.
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jimmy86
Thank you so much Bakfed. I couldnt have expected a better answer to my questions.

Specially like your response regarding the essays,
I have already scrapped 2 essays because i felt they were not upto the mark. Working on the third one and trying to weave it around a personal experience.

Do you think i will gain advantage applying early before the Round 1 deadline ? cause darden has rolling admissions..

I really wanted to know your motivation/ background and work ex :P ... just to know more about people who are there where i aim to be.

I don't think it would make much of a difference between round 1 or round 2, at least not through any of the literature I read when I was applying. I know plenty of people who got in round 1, as well as round 2. So I don't think you're standing at a disadvantage simply because it's round 2. However, there are 'personal differences' between 1 and 2 and here's my take:

For round 1, you're new. You're a freshie. You know practically nothing about the school application. You're simply shooting darts in the dark and asking a newborn monkey to sing and dance (ok, not that bad but you get the point). Unless you hire an admissions consultant, you're really on your own in terms of your application. How to best word the essay or how to best describe your extracurricular activities/awards on the application are going to be a mystery. So basically, at the end of the day, you're still fairly new. That means your application is only going to look better and better, with each application as a real-time practice round. So if you're keen on going to Darden, you may not want to work on that application first.

For round 2, you're like a junior in high school. No longer the freshman who gets punked on. You know a lot more about what you're doing and what you should be expecting to do. Chances are, you will turn in even better applications than those of round 1. But anxiety is going to run wild in round 2. Not only are the deadlines set in January of 2012 (for you), but you'll also be hearing how your friends and people on GC got into their schools in round 1. This sets a panic attack (for some) and is not a good feeling. For round 2, if you weren't successful in round 1, this is practically your last chance for admission (given the fact that round 3 is a dead fish in the water for most applicants). If round 2 doesn't work out, you're basically out of luck for one whole year and the whole process starts all over again. Unlike round 1, which has round 2 to back itself up, round 2'ers don't get a 'third' chance.

There's my simple take on round 1 and 2.

As for me, I graduated with a biology degree thinking that I was going into med/research. But it was only after I started doing research that I realized it's not what I want. After graduating from college, I started to work at weird jobs until I was able to land a more of a corporate position with a global pharmaceutical company. I wasn't thinking about b-school when the offer letter came from the pharma company, and I was really only thinking about how I don't have to worry anymore about life. My work at the company aligns with the operations department - ensuring that the workflow in and from pre-clinical drug can be initiated, developed, and transformed to clinical trials with minimum hiccups. While I don't work on the bench, I support the scientists in their everyday lives and make sure that we're able to make the company a first-rate company and reducing cost (of commodity, of consumable, and of equipment) without sacrificing scientific function. Then after several months (to a year), I got a bit bored at my position. At that point, I started to think about what I wanted to do as the next part of my life and while I explored, b-school came on the radar and as I read more about what b-school entails, I grew more interested. So then I studied for GMAT and eventually took a huge leap of faith and went for b-school admission.
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@bakfed, this is a great post. +1 to you :)
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All,

Is the online application available to everybody? I only see an executive option on the Darden site. Thanks!
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Hey Bakfed- Thanks a ton for sharing ...really appreciate the help :P ....
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Count me in for R1... Anyone know when the application goes live?
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In for round one.
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Hi All!!!

Darden has published its schedule for Information Sessions at international locations.
Along with the help of Darden Alumni,Information sessions in India have been setup at Delhi,Mumbai and ... dates are around second/third week of September 2011.

Is anyone visiting? Please update.
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Darden has opened their online application. One interesting thing of note is that there are two "mini" essays within the actual application that aren't listed on their website:

1: At Darden, a core part of your academic experience is your participation in and contributions to your learning team. What will you contribute to your team? (150 words maximum)

2: If you were on an elevator with your dream company CEO or angel investor, what would you tell him/her about your professional ambitions and goals? (150 words maximum)
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Thanks gpb14, I updated the OP with that information.
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jko
Thanks gpb14, I updated the OP with that information.

Thanks for updating the OP jko.

gpb14-The short questions are really interesting. Opportunity for creative answers. :!:
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gpb14
Darden has opened their online application. One interesting thing of note is that there are two "mini" essays within the actual application that aren't listed on their website:

1: At Darden, a core part of your academic experience is your participation in and contributions to your learning team. What will you contribute to your team? (150 words maximum)

2: If you were on an elevator with your dream company CEO or angel investor, what would you tell him/her about your professional ambitions and goals? (150 words maximum)

Ugh 150 words. You REALLY have to be able to 'trim the fat' and only use good and pertinent info in these 'essays' to fit under that count.
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Hey guys,
In the next few months I will be posting information about Darden and would love to answer your questions.

Check out the new video Blog at YouTube of Sara Nehar, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions at Darden:
tinyurl. com/3sqzxow
(copy-paste the address and delete the space before "com")

Here is a list of Darden Upcoming Admissions Events in the US and World-Wide:

Greetings from the Darden School of Business,

Darden admissions representatives will be visiting cities around the world throughout the upcoming academic year, hosting events to help you learn more about Darden's MBA, MBA for Executives and Global MBA for Executives programs.

In addition to the events listed below, we will host Open Houses and Class Visit Days in Charlottesville, Virginia, attend a variety of partnership organization events, and participate in several online events.

For a complete listing of our travel calendar, please visit Darden Events & Receptions or go directly to the Event Registration System. We will be adding several more events, so please check our website for updates.

We hope to see you soon!
Darden Admissions

Date Location Type of Event
U.S. Events
9/6/2011 Nashville, TN Joint MBA Event
9/6/2011 Northern Virginia Darden Reception
9/7/2011 Detroit, MI Joint MBA Event
9/8/2011 Indianapolis, IN Joint MBA Event
9/13/2011 Salt Lake City, UT Joint MBA Event
9/13/2011 San Francisco, CA Darden Reception
9/14/2011 Las Vegas, NV Joint MBA Event
9/14/2011 Los Angeles, CA Darden Reception
9/15/2011 Phoenix, AZ Joint MBA Event
9/15/2011 San Diego, CA Darden Reception
9/20/2011 Baltimore, MD Darden Reception
10/4/2011 Washington, DC Darden Reception
10/5/2011 New York, NY Darden Reception
10/6/2011 Boston, MA Darden Reception
10/10/2011 Austin, TX Joint MBA Event
10/11/2011 Houston, TX Joint MBA Event
10/11/2011 Charlotte, NC Darden Reception
10/12/2011 Atlanta, GA Darden Reception
10/13/2011 Dallas, TX Joint MBA Event
10/13/2011 Miami, FL Darden Reception
10/18/2011 Bethesda, MD Darden Reception
10/25/2011 Minneapolis, MN Darden Reception
10/26/2011 Chicago, IL Darden Reception
10/27/2011 Seattle, WA Darden Reception
11/1/2011 Dallas, TX Darden Reception
11/2/2011 Richmond, VA Darden Reception
12/5/2011 Philadelphia, PA Darden Reception
12/6/2011 Washington, DC Darden Reception
International Events
8/18/2011 Buenos Aires, Argentina Darden Reception
8/22/2011 Santiago, Chile Darden Reception
8/23/2011 Lima, Peru Darden Reception
8/24/2011 Accra, Ghana Joint MBA Info Session
8/24/2011 Bogota, Colombia Darden Reception
8/26/2011 Lagos, Nigeria Joint MBA Info Session
8/29/2011 Nairobi, Kenya Joint MBA Info Session
8/31/2011 Johannesburg, South Africa Joint MBA Info Session
9/8/2011 Tokyo, Japan Darden Reception
9/11/2011 Chennai, India Darden Reception
9/13/2011 Bangalore, India Darden Reception
9/15/2011 New Delhi, India Darden Reception
9/18/2011 Mumbai, India Darden Reception
9/20/2011 Beijing, China Darden Reception
9/21/2011 Shanghai, China Darden Reception
9/22/2011 London, United Kingdom Joint MBA Event
9/26/2011 Paris, France Joint MBA Event
9/28/2011 Frankfurt, Germany Joint MBA Event
11/10/2011 Istanbul, Turkey Joint MBA Event
11/12/2011 Budapest, Hungary Joint MBA Event
11/14/2011 Sofia, Bulgaria Joint MBA Event
01/10/2012 Sao Paulo, Brazil Darden Reception


Good Luck with your Darden Applications!!!
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Hope all of the current students, faculty and staff are ok after yesterdays earthquake. I work in Alexandria, VA and it was pretty crazy here, so being right near the epicenter in Charlottesville must have been an experience!
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Everything was okay at UVA. Darden definitely felt it, but no damage was caused.
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