Dec 16 Chat with Tuck admissions committee

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Ask Us Anything – Round 2 Admissions. Live Chat with Tuck Admission Directors.

Wednesday, Dec 16, 2020 8 AM PST | 11 AM EST | 4 PM GMT | 9:30 PM IST
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Event Description:
Have questions about the Tuck Application? This is your chance to have admissions officers answer your questions via chat. Three admissions staff members will be here to answer all of your questions about the application and everything that goes with it.

------------------------------------ Panelist details ------------------------------------

Lesley Nesbitt - Assistant Director, Admissions Yield
Megan Creeden - Assistant Director, Yield
Aleena Fazli - Assistant Director, Marketing

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Chat transcript Question: Hi. I recently took my first GMAT and scored a 680 (Q48;V34). To give you a brief overview. I did my Bachelors in Business Administration with double majors in Finance and Marketing from Lahore School of Economics (3rd best business school in Pakistan). I graduated in 2017 with a CGPA of 3.56 out 4. Since graduating, I’ve been working in my family’s construction business. I know that just this information won’t be sufficient to make the best projection about my prospects at Tuck, but I hope it can help the experts in having an idea of where I’m coming from, and whether my GMAT score would be decent enough for me to have a shot at Tuck MBA. In case you think that my GMAT needs to improve, could you please answer this question: do you think I should first retake the GMAT and then submit my applications or should I go on to submit my apps and then later submit my GMAT score from the retake? Also, how can I positively showcase my work experience that I’ve gained in my family’s business? Is it a disadvantage? Lastly, can I submit all my Letters of Recommendations from professors who taught me at my college, since professional LORs from family-owned business may not carry much value? I’d really appreciate your taking the time out to attend my queries. Tuck Admissions: Louis, there’s a lot here! First of all, you can see that the average GMAT for last year’s incoming class was a 720 so the closer you can get to that score, the better of you will be. It’s up to you whether you retake it or not, but you do want to submit with the best score you can manage. We advise applicants to appy when they feel best about their materials. I’ll answer the rest of your question in my next window. Tuck Admissions: Louis14 regarding your qestion about LORs: family business recs are not uncommon, especially from int’l students, but it’s important that the people writing your LORs are NOT your family members. I would not recommend LORs from professors since they only know you in an academic sense and we are looking to gain a sense of who you are professionally. Question: Ma’am, the problem is that I am from Pakistan, where family businesses are primarily carried out by family members - in my case, my father and I. Our company is a sole proprietorship, and there are only a bunch of employees - almost all of them junior to me. Tuck Admissions: How about clients as an LOR source? Question: Our clients are mainly in construction sector, and Pakistani construction sector isn’t the one that would have people who can write my LOR for TUCK. I really don’t think so. It’s an industry mainly filled with people from rural areas - people who aren’t that educated. :/ Tuck Admissions: How about we find a time to have a conversation about this since it sounds a bit complicated on your end? You can email tuck.admissions@tuck.dartmouth.edu and that message will find its way to one of us officers. Thanks. I’ll send in an email. Question: How are round 2 applications compared against the round 1 waitlisted students? Tuck Admissions: All applications are evaluated on their own merits across the four admissions criteria (smart, aware, encouraging, and accomplished) whether on the waitlist or a Round 2 application. For those who may be on the waitlist right now, I encourage you to check out this recent blog post: https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/blog/waitlisted Question: From the online form: How important is GMAT score in times such as these. Given the work from the home schedule, we follow it’s been really hectic as we are working longer hours than we normally would have, leaving us almost little or no time to re-give the exam. Would the rest of my academic potential throughout my career be a good point of judgement while assessing the application. Tuck Admissions: The GMAT is one of the ways we evaluate your application but it isn’t the only way, that and your GPA make up our Smart criteria. We understand that these are unprecedented times and we look at your application with empathy, however, the GMAT is important so please submit what you think it your best score. Remember you can also take the GRE if that exam works better for you. Question: As someone from Pakistan, would I be considered from an unrepresented pool of applicants? Tuck Admissions: We consider all applicants and their matierals on their own merits. You would of course be considered an international applicant who would bring your individual perspective and experience to the Tuck community. Question: My question is easy. Any plans for the holidays?

Tuck Admissions: we’re closed from the 19th till the new year so hopefully relaxing. Question: How does Tuck incorporate Social Impact into its curriculum? For reference, I intend to focus on Impact Investing in my MBA journey and really interested in Tuck Tuck Admissions: A good starting point in getting to know how where social impact lives at Tuck is the Center for Business Government and Society: https://cbgs.tuck.dartmouth.edu/ This site will speak to curriculum, clubs, and people. We also have a Tuck Social Ventures Fund run by current students which is pretty cool as well. You should also check out the Center for PE/VC https://cbgs.tuck.dartmouth.edu/ as they work closely with the social impact investing folks in the CBGS Question: Hi. How can tuck help me advance in the field of social entrepreneurship. Clubs that can help ? Tuck Admissions: We have a great career services team who are able to work with you on your goals and they will be a great resource when you’re looking to recruit for roles. There’s also the Center for Business Government and Society: https://cbgs.tuck.dartmouth.edu/ as well as a Social Ventures Fund run by current students. Question: any approximate on the number seats available, if you can share.. Tuck Admissions: Our enrollment numbers have stayed quite stable over the last few years so no big changes in terms of slots available on the horizon. Question: What are some of the projects around the program coming down the pipeline that you are most excited about? Thanks! Tuck Admissions: Great question! There’s a lot to be excited about at Tuck even in this unprecedented year. Construction on the Irving Institute for Energy & Society, a great new campus resource attached to Tuck is progressing. Dia Draper was appointed Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion this fall and has begun great work. I’ve also been excited to see the ways the student community has brought creativity to keeping everyone on campus safe and healthy while still keeping community alive! Question: I have been working in ed-tech industry since 2011, and scored 730 in GMAT. What are my chances to get into TUCK MBA? Will my experience hamper me to get into Tuck MBA? what are my changes to change my industry? Tuck Admissions: Our application review process is truly holistic and takes into account work experience and test scores but also datapoints from your letters of recommendation, your essays, the interview and more so it is impossible for us to estimate your chances of admission - you are so much more than a resume byline and a test score and the Tuck application reflects this! Our applicants come from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds and we calibrate for your industry when assessing your accomplishments. The majority of Tuck students are either pivoting industry or function so you are in good company on this front. Question: From the signup form: For round 2 submissions, is it possible to submit an updated GMAT score after the deadline? (~2 weeks after) Tuck Admissions: Yes you can submit it and we will add it to your file. However we cannot guarantee that it is considered depending on where your file is in the reading cycle. However the earlier on it’s submitted the better. Question: Good morning! Could you please describe how the Tuck community has stepped up to facilitate internships/placements for students this year with the onset of Covid-19 (specifically, international students)? Tuck Admissions: Like other top b-schools, recruiting activities have been virtual since the onset of COVID-19. We hear from our career services colleagues that the number of companies recruiting at Tuck for internships this fall are on pace with previous years. Our students have a phenomenal support structure in the small size and access to career services advisors and the strength of the Tuck network and that has historically helped Tuckies source opportunities even during economic downturns. International students may also be interested in the Management Sciences option introduced by Tuck last year which qualifies you for the STEM OPT designation: https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/acad Question: Hi I am considering Tuck for my MBA. When I consider a school for further studies I usually look at ROI and the FT rankings. Can you share an insight (of Tuck) on ROI comparison with Indian B schools? Tuck Admissions: We stand by the value of a Tuck MBA and don’t spend much time comparing our ROI to other schools! With that said, you can check out Tuck Employment Reports from the last few years ... they are posted on our website. Question: Can you share if Tuck has any plans to enhance resources and recruiting in Technology, given that most students recruit for Consulting? Tuck Admissions: We have a career services advisor on the west coast who helps Tuck students recruit for technology and our tech numbers have gone up YOY. We also have a lot of clubs that are technology focused and a Technology conference that happens yearly. You could also connect with the Center for Digital Strategies https://digitalstrategies.tuck.dartmouth.edu/ who are a great resource Question: Under Undergraduate Activities listed in the application form, should we add summer internships as well? what about internships during the school year? Tuck Admissions: Yes, go ahead and list the internships if they add value to your professional journey (vs a dog walking internship that was just a time filler). It does help for us to see how your have pursued your interests and goals. Question: Given Tuck’s relatively remote location, what sort of experiential learning opportunities are there for current students? Tuck Admissions: I assume you mean Tuck’s location as a positive, which of course it is! TuckGo is an important place to start in investigating experience learning at Tuck; this office encompassed many of the ways that our students go out in the world to put their learning into action: Question: From the signup form: Is the chances to get admitted in the track three are the same of the tracks before? Or it would be better to apply the next year? Tuck Admissions: This really depends on the rounds before it and how many students have enrolled by the time Round 3 comes around. We also have Round 4 this year. We advise all applicants to apply in the round where their application is strongest. Question: Does Tuck have Admission Ambassadors or something similar we could reach out to? Basically current students who give are available to chat with applicants Tuck Admissions: Yes! https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/admissions/ambassadors Question: Honestly, I’ve seen people giving tons of money to admissions consultants for making "perfect" applications. I don’t have tons of money. Am I not naturally at a disadvantage, since I guess competing with consultant is nearly impossible as they spend thousands of dollars on research, etc? Tuck Admissions: The great thing about applying to Tuck is that there aren’t any "right" answers; your Tuck application should be your story and your perspective. I suspect that highly polished, consultant applications would obscure your voice. We are proud of our diverse student bodies and the experiences they represent in a very authentic way. Question: How does Tuck students engage in community contribution activities? Tuck Admissions: Tuck alumni participation is LEGENDARY - our annual giving rate is usually between 65 and 70%!!! Question: How structured is the private equity track at Tuck? From what I have researched, it would require a decent amount of outside networking/recruiting, and I would like to know how the Career Services would help facilitate that. For context, I currently work in private equity but am looking to use an MBA to pivot into a different industry sector (from aviation to software). Tuck Admissions: We don’t have tracks within the curriculum, Tuck’s is a general management MBA and you can customize your study through elective courses. In terms of recruiting, there is a strong infrastucture and support system for students recruiting for PE. While it may be a more networked job search than consulting, for example where many employers are coming to campus, Deirdre O’Donnell, our Careeer Services advisor for financial services, will start meeting with students even before they matriculate to plan for their job search. Tuck also has a Center for PE/VC which a phenomenal resource for students interested in this space and a great place for making career connections Question: From the signup form: How do you think will landing a job be post covid ? Tuck Admissions: Our employment numbers for during covid hit a few new highs: https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/care ... statistics. We don’t anticipate any large shifts this year. Question: May I ask about reacting to COVID-19, are there any additional assistance in career services or any possible change in Tuck’s curriculum? Tuck Admissions: We have not needed to add any additional resources to our Career Services office during the pandemic as our recruiting opportunities and placement rates have remained very strong and on par with past years. I do expect Covid-19 cases to play a role in courses in the future but we haven’t heard anything concrete on that front yet. Question: From the signup form: Is there any particular waitlist strategy Tuck follows? Tuck Admissions: Check out our recent blog post on the waitlist: https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/blog/waitlisted Question: From the signup form: I have working in Ed-Tech since 10 years. Is it possible to change my career through Tuck MBA? Tuck Admissions: The majority of Tuck students are pivoting either industry or function. The core curriculum coupled with the flexibility of electives and experiential learning opportunities are especially helpful for career switchers Question: What are the stats of African applicants who secured jobs after graduation? Tuck Admissions: Our placement rates for the last few graduating classes are approx 98%, inclusive of all students. Question: Does TUCK offer specialized masters in finance? Tuck Admissions: We only offer the two year, full time MBA, no other degree granting programs through the Tuck school - this is part of what makes our community so unique and immersive, the focus on the full time MBA Question: I have recently taken the GMAT and scored 770 ( Q49 V47) unfortunately my undergrad GPA is 2.9 Top 50 US university with a degree in finance. Chinese American Male. Current work exp is about 3.5 years in corporate FP&A fortune 50 retailer. looking to either apply with 4 years (5 years at matriculation) work exp (2 promotions in last 2 years) or 5 years work exp (6 years at matriculation) with 3 promotions. Which timeline would you say would bolster my application? also any general opinions on if my GPA would get me dinged straight away at tuck? Tuck Admissions: There are no check boxes or ratings scales in the Tuck evaluation process so nothing about your application would automatically qualify or disqualify you. Also, you should apply when you think the timing is right for you; there is again no right or wrong trajectory that would help your application. It’s really about your journey and how you see an MBA and Tuck specifically fitting into your goals and vision. Question: What are the prospects of securing a scholarship for international students applying in January 2021? Tuck Admissions: We award scholarships throughout the admissions cycle, across application rounds to both internatiional and domestic students. There is no separate scholarship application process, most scholarship awards are communicated at the time of admission Question: From the signup form: How do the small class sizes enhance the MBA experience vs the large sizes of other top programs in the US? Tuck Admissions: It’s a more immersive experience. At Tuck, because our classes are small you really can’t hide, you know your classmates and they know you and everyones experiences and backgrounds are heard and respected. We also ONLY have the 2 Year Full Time MBA so all of Tucks resources are for you and helping you achieve your goals. The small class size is integral to the Tuck experience! At Tuck you truly get to know your classmates and combined with the he focus on the MBA and our immersive Hanover locations, give you the opportunity to create trust based relationships that last not just two years but for life Question: What are the plans for delivering curriculum for this coming Spring term? Tuck Admissions: At this point, we are planning to stay in the hybrid learning model, where students rotate into classrooms on a weekly basis so that we have smaller cohorts of students in the classrooms while the other students are remote. This of course depends on current health guidelines and is subject to change at any point. Question: From signup form: Is there an influx of admissions and deferrals for this year? Any comments? Tuck Admissions: Deferrals from last year were in line with a typical year at Tuck and will not have an outsized impact on admissions consideration for the current cycle. We did not have a radical change to our deferral policy and reviewed these on a case by case basis aware that we wanted to build the best class last year but also for 2021 Question: Is MBA stem credited? Tuck Admissions: We do offer the STEM designation: https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/acad ... e-analysis Question: From the signup form: Anything you would like to mention about the culture of the school? Are there any community clubs(technical non technical) where in an international student can enroll and enhance more skills? Tuck Admissions: Tuck’s culture is like no other! Informed by the small class size, Hanover’s unique location, and the focus on the MBA it is an incredibly immersive comunity where students are "all in" on the experience. In terms of clubs and cocurricular opportunities, there are too many to list here but they span both recruiting and social activities: https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/life ... activities Question: From the signup form: What advice do you have for military applicants? Also, what career doors have you seen open since your time in the program? Tuck Admissions: I just happen to be the military liaison within the admissions office so you’ve come to the right place! Our Vets Club is incredibly dedicated and fiercely supportive; you can connect with them here: https://clubs.tuck.dartmouth.edu/veterans/ and they can give you advice and insight. Do you mean career paths for vets specifically? Question: We have no more questions left in the queue. Tuck Admissions, you can use the next 2 minutes for any suggestions for the Round 2 applicants

Tuck Admissions: Be sure to check out the Tuck360 blog for application tips and more: https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/blog. It’s been great chatting with you all!

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Dec 16 Chat with Tuck admissions committee

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