Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 03:55 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 03:55
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
thecheftony
avatar
Joined: 21 Jul 2015
Last visit: 20 Nov 2016
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
11
Location: United States
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Healthcare
Schools: HBS '18 (A) Ross '18 (A$)
GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38
GMAT 2: 750 Q50 V41
GPA: 3.78
WE:Engineering (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: HBS '18 (A) Ross '18 (A$)
GMAT 2: 750 Q50 V41
Posts: 36
Kudos: 11
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 12 Oct 2015, 06:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anubhavmax: I think that is a spot on assessment.
avatar
stevkang8
avatar
Joined: 14 Feb 2015
Last visit: 05 Jun 2020
Posts: 449
Own Kudos:
102
Given Kudos: 14
Location: Canada
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Darden '18 (D) Tepper '18 (D) Desautels '18 (A$) HEC Dec '17 Mendoza '18 (A$) Olin '18 (M$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
GPA: 3.6
WE:Supply Chain Management (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Darden '18 (D) Tepper '18 (D) Desautels '18 (A$) HEC Dec '17 Mendoza '18 (A$) Olin '18 (M$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 449
Kudos: 102
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 12 Oct 2015, 06:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
LOL I did not do one, did not have a clue on what they were looking for to be honest.

"We want to get to know you!" ugh okay, so a one minute video allows you to get to know me? Hummmm.....

I hope it doesn't ruin my chance of getting and interview lol
User avatar
anubhavmax
User avatar
Joined: 01 Feb 2013
Last visit: 25 May 2016
Posts: 108
Own Kudos:
26
Given Kudos: 26
Location: India
Schools: Anderson '18 (M)
Schools: Anderson '18 (M)
Posts: 108
Kudos: 26
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 12 Oct 2015, 06:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
stevkang8
LOL I did not do one, did not have a clue on what they were looking for to be honest.

"We want to get to know you!" ugh okay, so a one minute video allows you to get to know me? Hummmm.....

I hope it doesn't ruin my chance of getting and interview lol
Show more


Yea and IMHO you did the right thing if you were clueless what to write. It has to be something compelling and that will come out naturally. If someone is wondering what to write or thinking hard, he/she shouldn't probably attempt it as it won't be compelling enough.

And of course one cannot get to know you in a 1 min video :lol: :lol: Maybe a specific achievement or story which reflects upon a specific aspect of your personality will be appropriate, rather than touching upon multiple things superficially. I guess 1 to 1.5 mins is good enough for one great story to have an impact on the adcom. Multiple stories will either increase the time or dilute the impact.
User avatar
jwang27
User avatar
Joined: 14 Nov 2014
Last visit: 15 Aug 2016
Posts: 88
Own Kudos:
44
Location: United States
Schools: Kellogg '18 (M) Booth '18 (WL) Sloan '18 (WL) Darden '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
GPA: 3.34
WE:General Management (Aerospace and Defense)
Schools: Kellogg '18 (M) Booth '18 (WL) Sloan '18 (WL) Darden '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
Posts: 88
Kudos: 44
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 12 Oct 2015, 08:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I agree with what anubhavmax said. Everything there jives with what I learned from Sloan AdComms as well.

Keep in mind it doesn't have to be a video essay! I did a powerpoint that I think turned out quite well. Interestingly, I have 6 views on it last I checked, so not sure if someone is looking at it multiple times or it's being passed around.
avatar
letlive
avatar
Joined: 08 Jun 2014
Last visit: 12 Jul 2016
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
5
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management
Schools: CBS '19 Booth '19 Tepper '19 Johnson '19
GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V40
Schools: CBS '19 Booth '19 Tepper '19 Johnson '19
GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V40
Posts: 5
Kudos: 5
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 12 Oct 2015, 08:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I got a hit on my youtube video last week. But youtube analytics shows the location in unknown. So i am not sure, if the viewer is adcom.
avatar
hopefulsloanie18
avatar
Joined: 17 Sep 2015
Last visit: 07 Feb 2016
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
8
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States
Concentration: Social Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Schools: Sloan '17 (A$)
GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44
GPA: 3.71
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Schools: Sloan '17 (A$)
GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44
Posts: 10
Kudos: 8
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 12:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Anyone heard anything yet? It's officially Mid-October... and it's killing me.
avatar
helloschool
avatar
Joined: 29 Sep 2015
Last visit: 26 Jan 2017
Posts: 183
Own Kudos:
23
Given Kudos: 8
Location: United States
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 183
Kudos: 23
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 13:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hopefulsloanie18
Anyone heard anything yet? It's officially Mid-October... and it's killing me.
Show more

It seems they have not started sending out invites yet.
avatar
Kellogg797
avatar
Joined: 05 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Dec 2019
Posts: 57
Own Kudos:
28
Given Kudos: 45
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Kellogg '18 (M) Ross '18 (WL) Tepper '18 (A$) Booth '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
GPA: 3.35
WE:Engineering (Consumer Packaged Goods)
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Kellogg '18 (M) Ross '18 (WL) Tepper '18 (A$) Booth '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
Posts: 57
Kudos: 28
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 13:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jwang27
I agree with what anubhavmax said. Everything there jives with what I learned from Sloan AdComms as well.

Keep in mind it doesn't have to be a video essay! I did a powerpoint that I think turned out quite well. Interestingly, I have 6 views on it last I checked, so not sure if someone is looking at it multiple times or it's being passed around.
Show more


How did you check the views on a powerpoint? I wrote a traditional essay and threw it on a PDF host site. Is there a tool I can use to check views/hits?
avatar
Allday028
avatar
Joined: 10 Jan 2015
Last visit: 12 Jul 2016
Posts: 140
Own Kudos:
33
Given Kudos: 3
Concentration: Finance, Healthcare
Schools: CBS '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q44 V47
GPA: 3.4
WE:Analyst (Other)
Schools: CBS '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q44 V47
Posts: 140
Kudos: 33
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 17:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Am I the only one who wrote a traditional essay for the optional? It's specifically about an extra curricular and a story to do with that activity which has helped shape my career goals.
User avatar
Malluce
User avatar
Joined: 17 Sep 2015
Last visit: 25 Nov 2016
Posts: 124
Own Kudos:
29
 [1]
Given Kudos: 17
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (WD) HBS '18 (D) Haas '18 (A) Stanford '18 (D) Wharton '18 (M) Stern '18 (WD)
GMAT 1: 730 Q51 V37
GPA: 3.39
WE:Programming (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (WD) HBS '18 (D) Haas '18 (A) Stanford '18 (D) Wharton '18 (M) Stern '18 (WD)
GMAT 1: 730 Q51 V37
Posts: 124
Kudos: 29
 [1]
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 17:13
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Allday028
Am I the only one who wrote a traditional essay for the optional? It's specifically about an extra curricular and a story to do with that activity which has helped shape my career goals.
Show more

Personally I really don't think what format matters...not trying to be rude or anything, but as long as you think you had a good story that's all it matters. Trying to come up with logical explanations or convince yourself (or the people here) prolly won't help much since they are not the audience....

I've been doing the same too but after I got dinged from HBS I start thinking no matter how convinced you are, it doesn't matter since there's always people who have a more compelling stories, so I stop caring :lol: I just hope they will at least watch the video :P
avatar
Kellogg797
avatar
Joined: 05 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Dec 2019
Posts: 57
Own Kudos:
28
Given Kudos: 45
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Kellogg '18 (M) Ross '18 (WL) Tepper '18 (A$) Booth '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
GPA: 3.35
WE:Engineering (Consumer Packaged Goods)
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Kellogg '18 (M) Ross '18 (WL) Tepper '18 (A$) Booth '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
Posts: 57
Kudos: 28
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 17:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Allday028
Am I the only one who wrote a traditional essay for the optional? It's specifically about an extra curricular and a story to do with that activity which has helped shape my career goals.
Show more

I wrote a traditional essay too. It was essentially about overcoming a health issue, and how it motivates my goals and ambitions. With a School like Sloan I thought basically tried to add additional evidence that I can successfully overcome challenges and succeed.

Honestly I think that might actually stick out more than a generic Powerpoint/video of pictures showing all the world travel people have done or pictures of them doing volunteer work.

Realistically speaking I think there are very few cases where the optional essay will change an applicants fate. There's a reason its "optional".
avatar
Allday028
avatar
Joined: 10 Jan 2015
Last visit: 12 Jul 2016
Posts: 140
Own Kudos:
33
Given Kudos: 3
Concentration: Finance, Healthcare
Schools: CBS '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q44 V47
GPA: 3.4
WE:Analyst (Other)
Schools: CBS '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q44 V47
Posts: 140
Kudos: 33
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 17:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Malluce
Allday028
Am I the only one who wrote a traditional essay for the optional? It's specifically about an extra curricular and a story to do with that activity which has helped shape my career goals.

Personally I really don't think what format matters...not trying to be rude or anything, but as long as you think you had a good story that's all it matters. Trying to come up with logical explanations or convince yourself (or the people here) prolly won't help much since they are not the audience....

I've been doing the same too but after I got dinged from HBS I start thinking no matter how convinced you are, it doesn't matter since there's always people who have a more compelling stories, so I stop caring :lol: I just hope they will at least watch the video :P
Show more

Haha that's fair. I wrote a traditional essay for Booth too and an invite so I'm not too worried.
avatar
pmba2015
avatar
Joined: 27 Dec 2014
Last visit: 08 Aug 2020
Posts: 21
Own Kudos:
12
Given Kudos: 10
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance
Schools: HBS '18 (D) Booth '18 (D) Kellogg '18 (A) Wharton '18 (D) Duke '18 (D) Tuck '18 (A) Sloan '18 (D) Anderson '18 (A$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: HBS '18 (D) Booth '18 (D) Kellogg '18 (A) Wharton '18 (D) Duke '18 (D) Tuck '18 (A) Sloan '18 (D) Anderson '18 (A$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V41
Posts: 21
Kudos: 12
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 18:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
stephenhingston
Allday028
Am I the only one who wrote a traditional essay for the optional? It's specifically about an extra curricular and a story to do with that activity which has helped shape my career goals.

I wrote a traditional essay too. It was essentially about overcoming a health issue, and how it motivates my goals and ambitions. With a School like Sloan I thought basically tried to add additional evidence that I can successfully overcome challenges and succeed.

Honestly I think that might actually stick out more than a generic Powerpoint/video of pictures showing all the world travel people have done or pictures of them doing volunteer work.

Realistically speaking I think there are very few cases where the optional essay will change an applicants fate. There's a reason its "optional".
Show more


I respectfully disagree. In an application such as the MIT that you barely write anything about yourself, anything you put in your optional will probably have a great weight in your application.

Honestly, I wonder about their process. The application is pretty much a short essay, a CV and the optional stuff. They have clearly stated that they prefer videos and that it shouldn’t be more than a minute long.

I don’t think they have enough material to thoroughly evaluate all candidates.

I did the video, but I think the greatest weight is going to be on the CV and Gmat.
avatar
coblin
avatar
Joined: 22 Mar 2015
Last visit: 23 Jun 2018
Posts: 27
Own Kudos:
4
Given Kudos: 7
Schools: Haas '18 (II) Stanford '18 (D) Sloan '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Haas '18 (II) Stanford '18 (D) Sloan '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 27
Kudos: 4
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 13 Oct 2015, 22:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I hosted my optional on my website and I submitted it in the optional essay field as:

"https://asdfasdf.com/optional-essay.pdf (backup link in case: https://dl.dropbox.com/....)"

The raw access logs on my website show a request for "/optional-essay.pdf%20(backup link in case:..." -- which is a 404 page not found error obviously... The worst thing is that I've set up the 404 on my website to redirect to the front page (no error prompt is given).

No further requests for the correct link (ending in .pdf) were given... not sure if they ever tried the Dropbox link instead, or if they just saw my personal website and were like: "that's nice... moving on now"
avatar
stevkang8
avatar
Joined: 14 Feb 2015
Last visit: 05 Jun 2020
Posts: 449
Own Kudos:
102
Given Kudos: 14
Location: Canada
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Darden '18 (D) Tepper '18 (D) Desautels '18 (A$) HEC Dec '17 Mendoza '18 (A$) Olin '18 (M$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
GPA: 3.6
WE:Supply Chain Management (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Darden '18 (D) Tepper '18 (D) Desautels '18 (A$) HEC Dec '17 Mendoza '18 (A$) Olin '18 (M$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 449
Kudos: 102
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 14 Oct 2015, 08:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It seems like two people got invites already!
User avatar
anubhavmax
User avatar
Joined: 01 Feb 2013
Last visit: 25 May 2016
Posts: 108
Own Kudos:
26
Given Kudos: 26
Location: India
Schools: Anderson '18 (M)
Schools: Anderson '18 (M)
Posts: 108
Kudos: 26
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 14 Oct 2015, 08:18
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
stevkang8
It seems like two people got invites already!
Show more
If you are referring to gmatclub stats, I think it has been that way even before the deadlines. I faintly remember, not sure though.
User avatar
MV23
User avatar
Joined: 10 May 2015
Last visit: 30 Mar 2021
Posts: 296
Own Kudos:
152
Given Kudos: 502
Status:Winter is coming
Location: United States
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Schools: LBS '21 (A) Wharton '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V40
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GPA: 3.9
WE:Engineering (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: LBS '21 (A) Wharton '21 (WL)
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
Posts: 296
Kudos: 152
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 14 Oct 2015, 10:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
When do you guys think the invites would start rolling in? Mid October is kind of vague and the wait is killing me :)
User avatar
GeeMcGee
User avatar
Joined: 13 May 2015
Last visit: 14 Jul 2016
Posts: 64
Own Kudos:
25
Given Kudos: 11
Concentration: Finance
Schools: HBS '18 (M) Sloan '18 (WL) Wharton '18 (D) CBS '18 (WL)
GMAT 1: 750 Q48 V45
WE:Military Officer (Military & Defense)
Schools: HBS '18 (M) Sloan '18 (WL) Wharton '18 (D) CBS '18 (WL)
GMAT 1: 750 Q48 V45
Posts: 64
Kudos: 25
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 14 Oct 2015, 10:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MV23
When do you guys think the invites would start rolling in? Mid October is kind of vague and the wait is killing me :)
Show more

I don't know but I hope it is soon. I went through last year's thread and it seems like Monday the 19th would about line up with how long it took last year, but since they added an extra round this year who really knows. I wish more schools would throw a date on the wall like H or W so I don't have to stress constantly and wake up to check my email 5 times a night
User avatar
Malluce
User avatar
Joined: 17 Sep 2015
Last visit: 25 Nov 2016
Posts: 124
Own Kudos:
29
Given Kudos: 17
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (WD) HBS '18 (D) Haas '18 (A) Stanford '18 (D) Wharton '18 (M) Stern '18 (WD)
GMAT 1: 730 Q51 V37
GPA: 3.39
WE:Programming (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (WD) HBS '18 (D) Haas '18 (A) Stanford '18 (D) Wharton '18 (M) Stern '18 (WD)
GMAT 1: 730 Q51 V37
Posts: 124
Kudos: 29
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 14 Oct 2015, 10:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GeeMcGee
MV23
When do you guys think the invites would start rolling in? Mid October is kind of vague and the wait is killing me :)

I don't know but I hope it is soon. I went through last year's thread and it seems like Monday the 19th would about line up with how long it took last year, but since they added an extra round this year who really knows. I wish more schools would throw a date on the wall like H or W so I don't have to stress constantly and wake up to check my email 5 times a night
Show more

I'm simply using my video view count as an indicator if they reviewed my app or not...but maybe they decided it's not worth it to view it :lol:
Has anyone tried calling the admission to follow up regarding optional essay?
avatar
stevkang8
avatar
Joined: 14 Feb 2015
Last visit: 05 Jun 2020
Posts: 449
Own Kudos:
102
 [1]
Given Kudos: 14
Location: Canada
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Darden '18 (D) Tepper '18 (D) Desautels '18 (A$) HEC Dec '17 Mendoza '18 (A$) Olin '18 (M$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
GPA: 3.6
WE:Supply Chain Management (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Sloan '18 (D) Darden '18 (D) Tepper '18 (D) Desautels '18 (A$) HEC Dec '17 Mendoza '18 (A$) Olin '18 (M$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 449
Kudos: 102
 [1]
Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 14 Oct 2015, 10:57
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
No one knows for sure...if you really cannot wait, just give the admission office a call and pretend you're someone else so you don't leave a bad impression there.
   1  ...  5   6   7   8   9  ...  64   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts