Calling all Tuck Fall 2009 applicants!

I am currently just working on my outlines, but it is looking like I will fall right around 500. I certainly wouldn't venture much past 600-650... just seems to long. Concise and to the point is the way to go.

~Sam

Stick to the average or +/-10% except if it really changes a lot your stories.

Just finished my outlines for Tuck...

Man, that constructive criticism essay was a tough one to come up with a viable topic. How is everyone going on their essays? Anybody else schedule a visit?

I am going to be on campus on the 25th, anyone else interviewing that day?

~Sam

I agree. My understanding is that this is almost same as a failure essay. So I thought of a failure and then brought in some feedback from my professor, as I am talking about an academic failure. I understand that failure should not be too old or too recent, but I did not find any worthwhile story to build other than my academic failure (6 yrs old). Do you think that should be a problem ? The way I built it was that I talked about my failure for around 100 words as its good to be as short as possible and then analyzed the failure and missed opportunities for next 200 words and then last 200 were my learnings from it. In between, I have brought in my professors feedback after the episode.

I am in a slight dilemma whether I can reuse the same story for Ross - challenging situation, essay. Posted this dilemma in Ross thread, but haven't gotten any response about it.

I have scheduled my interview for Tuck interview for 13th Oct. Wanted it as late as possible to prepare well.

I'm morphing my Wharton setback essay into the Tuck criticism essay...just about to start it so let's hope for the best

I plan to use the Ross - challenging situation essay for this as well. Will have to change few things but I think they are pretty similar.

Does anyone have the questions for the recommenders?

cheerio,
ac.

Aaaand I'm blind Found the form. For anyone else who is interested:

1. How long have you known the applicant and in what context? Have you served as the
applicant’s supervisor? If so, please provide approximate dates. Please comment upon the
frequency and nature of your interactions with the applicant.
2. What are the applicant’s three principal strengths? Please provide an example of each.
3. In which three areas can the applicant improve? Please provide an example of each. How
has the applicant worked to address these areas?
4. How does the applicant respond to constructive criticism?
Please compare the applicant on the scale below with others in his/her peer group
whom you have known during your professional career. Please give examples in the space below to support any Top 5% or Bottom 20% ratings.
If you would like to provide any additional insights into this individual’s candidacy,
please feel free to attach additional pages.

cheers,
ac.

Good. Great to know that someone else in on the same lines.

3 weaknesses plus constructive criticism is pretty tough. Lots of focus on the negatives. As an example of constructive criticisim, would it be logical for one of your reccomenders to use the same story in your constructive criticism essay? If you claim that's the toughest criticism you ever received (and it came from you supervisor) it would seem odd if your supervisor didnt' mention it in his rec.

I think it's okay if you don't mention the toughest criticism you ever received as one of the 3 weaknesses. It could have been neg feedback you got a few years back and have since corrected (my story ). It could also have been delivered by someone other than your direct supervisor so your direct supervisor may not want to speak to it in the recommendation....

Hi,

I just completed my 1st draft for essay 1 - 780 words long. Although it might seem long, I dont really know as to wht I should be cutting. The goals essay in general are always at least 750 words long. I have a quick question. how many words did u all use to explain "why tuck"?

Thanks,

I had that problem too - my first attempt at that essay was around 900 words. I've gotten a fairly solid version of the essay down in 580 words (200 on why tuck, 380 on what I've been doing and what I want to do next). Since Tuck's average essay length is 500 words, I'm comfortable with my 580 count

My essay 1 is 530 words. roughly 280 on why tuck, 250 on what I've done and goals.

My constuctive criticism story is also from a few years ago that's no longer a problem. Didn't want to write a whole essay on a current problem I meant to ask whether it would be expected for your supervisor to use this story when they answer the rec question on how you respond to constructive criticisim

My essay 1 is 535 words and here is the split
What I've done - 139 words
My short and long term goals - 222 words
Why MBA + Why Tuck - 174 words
For my essay, why Tuck and why MBA are not separate.

All of my essays are approximately 530 words or so thus far. First one was about 300 why MBA and 230 why Tuck. (I'm a career switcher Accounting to Strategy so I need to sell my transition)

Also, I've been trying to schedule an interview on their website but there are no open days before the R1 deadline. Does anyone know of getting off the waitlist for the interview or am I going to have to push back my app to R2 to ensure that I am interviewed? (I really don't want to do that since Tuck is one of my top choices and everything else will be ready well before the deadline)