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23 Jun 2021, 09:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: ‘Even More Opportunity for Personalization’: ExecMBA Program Announces Focus Areas |
|
[url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/executive-mba-formats/program-faculty/core-curriculum]As close readers of our website know[/url], during their 21-months of study, Executive MBA students take a required core curriculum and a minimum of twelve (12) electives. Electives are offered primarily in the second year of the program, and students choose from a slate of electives specifically offered for Executive MBA students. Each year, the Executive MBA program team works closely with students and faculty to determine the elective offerings, and consistent with Darden’s general management orientation, electives typically touch upon a broad range of topics including strategy, leadership, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, ethics and more. While the Executive MBA program has not previously offered specializations or concentrations, earlier this month, the Executive MBA program team announced the introduction of seven new Focus Areas: [list] [*]Data Analytics & Technology[/*] [*]Entrepreneurship[/*] [*]ESG & Social Impact[/*] [*]Finance[/*] [*]Leadership[/*] [*]Marketing[/*] [*]Strategy[/*] [/list] It is worth noting that students still have significant flexibility when choosing electives, and they are not required to specialize in a specific Focus Area at any point during their course of study. However, for students who wish to take a deeper dive into a particular topic or topics, the Focus Areas represent an opportunity for personalization. [b]A few more things to know:[/b] To earn a Focus Area, students must take three (3) electives from a predetermined and approved course list. Students can earn more than one Focus Area, and as soon as the student meets the requirements for the Focus Area, they automatically receive a letter from the Registrar indicating they have earned that Focus Area. They may include this information on their resume, LinkedIn, etc. Lastly, the Focus Areas are not set in stone, the program team plans to reevaluate the offerings every couple of years to ensure alignment with market trends. We recently caught up with [url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/faculty-research/directory/yael-grushka-cockayne]Senior Associate Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne[/url] to discuss the Focus Areas, the inspiration for the idea, how this offering aligns with the Executive MBA curriculum and more. [b]Q: Where did the inspiration for the Focus Areas come from? [/b] A: It’s actually a conversation that has been ongoing within the Executive MBA program for some time. However, it was brought to the fore again by a few of our current students. Their energy around this conversation was absolutely integral to our efforts. They did an incredible job helping us understand the market landscape as well as current student interest and demand for these kinds of offerings. One of the things I love about leading the Executive MBA program is that our smaller size (roughly 270-280 students in total, across the two classes combined) allows us to be nimble. We are always listening to our students, and we absolutely view them as partners in this enterprise. They are a constant source of great ideas, and the Focus Areas are just the latest in a long line of examples of the impact students have had on this program. [b]Q: How did the program develop the areas? [/b] A: It was a multi-pronged approach, and it involved a number of stakeholders. Of course, we started with our students, and they had ideas about what might be popular with their classmates. We consulted with the faculty regarding their current and future class offerings, as well as their thoughts on grouping the electives into areas. We also talked with our Admissions colleagues about what they were hearing from prospective students. In addition, we know students are often thinking about these kinds of things as a way to signal an interest or expertise to potential employers, so we also included our Career team in the conversation. In addition, we looked at our current elective offerings and tried to get a sense of how we might organize the current courses into broader categories. Lastly, we also weighed current business trends and emerging areas of opportunity for MBA graduates. Through this integrative process we worked through a series of drafts and eventually developed consensus around seven areas. Of course, we plan to revisit the Focus Areas every couple of years, and, to me, it will be interesting to see what’s popular with students and how these offerings evolve. [b]Q: How do you think these areas fit into the overall experience for Executive MBA students?[/b] A: In my opinion, the Focus Areas offer students even more opportunity for personalization, which is directly in line with Darden’s student-centered learning model. Of course, students are not required to focus or specialize during their time in the program, but, if a student really wants to take a deeper dive into an area, they now have the option to do so, and, perhaps most importantly, to receive recognition that they have earned a Focus Area. That becomes something they can put on their resume, LinkedIn, share with their employer, etc. We know many of our students come to the program to facilitate a career transition, and, over the past few years, we have spent a lot of time building out the career resources and support available to Executive MBA students. If these Focus Areas can be helpful to students as they build their career narratives and engage with employers, that’s also a win. From an academic standpoint, I think these Focus Areas represent topics where we have curricular depth, so for a student whose interests align with this list, know that you would be able to pursue that interest here. However, it is also worth noting that the elective offerings in the Executive MBA program are quite broad, and prospective students should know that while we have these focus areas, they don’t capture the full range of our electives. There is a lot more that is possible than even what is reflected in this group. And, as with the current set of Focus Areas, we expect that students will continue to help us think about hot topics and emerging areas we can incorporate into our curriculum. As a program, we are always looking for ways to improve and keep things moving forward. In the past two years alone, we have expanded the global residency locations, formalized our co-curricular offerings, revamped the experiential learning curriculum and increased the total elective count to 12. To me, the introduction of the Focus Areas is just one more example of this constant iteration, and I’m excited to make them available to students. Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/06/23/execmba-focus-areas/]'Even More Opportunity for Personalization': ExecMBA Program Announces Focus Areas[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
23 Jun 2021, 09:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: ‘Even More Opportunity for Personalization’: ExecMBA Program Announces Focus Areas |
|
[url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/executive-mba-formats/program-faculty/core-curriculum]As close readers of our website know[/url], during their 21-months of study, Executive MBA students take a required core curriculum and a minimum of twelve (12) electives. Electives are offered primarily in the second year of the program, and students choose from a slate of electives specifically offered for Executive MBA students. Each year, the Executive MBA program team works closely with students and faculty to determine the elective offerings, and consistent with Darden’s general management orientation, electives typically touch upon a broad range of topics including strategy, leadership, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, ethics and more. While the Executive MBA program has not previously offered specializations or concentrations, earlier this month, the Executive MBA program team announced the introduction of seven new Focus Areas: [list] [*]Data Analytics & Technology[/*] [*]Entrepreneurship[/*] [*]ESG & Social Impact[/*] [*]Finance[/*] [*]Leadership[/*] [*]Marketing[/*] [*]Strategy[/*] [/list] It is worth noting that students still have significant flexibility when choosing electives, and they are not required to specialize in a specific Focus Area at any point during their course of study. However, for students who wish to take a deeper dive into a particular topic or topics, the Focus Areas represent an opportunity for personalization. [b]A few more things to know:[/b] To earn a Focus Area, students must take three (3) electives from a predetermined and approved course list. Students can earn more than one Focus Area, and as soon as the student meets the requirements for the Focus Area, they automatically receive a letter from the Registrar indicating they have earned that Focus Area. They may include this information on their resume, LinkedIn, etc. Lastly, the Focus Areas are not set in stone, the program team plans to reevaluate the offerings every couple of years to ensure alignment with market trends. We recently caught up with [url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/faculty-research/directory/yael-grushka-cockayne]Senior Associate Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne[/url] to discuss the Focus Areas, the inspiration for the idea, how this offering aligns with the Executive MBA curriculum and more. [b]Q: Where did the inspiration for the Focus Areas come from? [/b] A: It’s actually a conversation that has been ongoing within the Executive MBA program for some time. However, it was brought to the fore again by a few of our current students. Their energy around this conversation was absolutely integral to our efforts. They did an incredible job helping us understand the market landscape as well as current student interest and demand for these kinds of offerings. One of the things I love about leading the Executive MBA program is that our smaller size (roughly 270-280 students in total, across the two classes combined) allows us to be nimble. We are always listening to our students, and we absolutely view them as partners in this enterprise. They are a constant source of great ideas, and the Focus Areas are just the latest in a long line of examples of the impact students have had on this program. [b]Q: How did the program develop the areas? [/b] A: It was a multi-pronged approach, and it involved a number of stakeholders. Of course, we started with our students, and they had ideas about what might be popular with their classmates. We consulted with the faculty regarding their current and future class offerings, as well as their thoughts on grouping the electives into areas. We also talked with our Admissions colleagues about what they were hearing from prospective students. In addition, we know students are often thinking about these kinds of things as a way to signal an interest or expertise to potential employers, so we also included our Career team in the conversation. In addition, we looked at our current elective offerings and tried to get a sense of how we might organize the current courses into broader categories. Lastly, we also weighed current business trends and emerging areas of opportunity for MBA graduates. Through this integrative process we worked through a series of drafts and eventually developed consensus around seven areas. Of course, we plan to revisit the Focus Areas every couple of years, and, to me, it will be interesting to see what’s popular with students and how these offerings evolve. [b]Q: How do you think these areas fit into the overall experience for Executive MBA students?[/b] A: In my opinion, the Focus Areas offer students even more opportunity for personalization, which is directly in line with Darden’s student-centered learning model. Of course, students are not required to focus or specialize during their time in the program, but, if a student really wants to take a deeper dive into an area, they now have the option to do so, and, perhaps most importantly, to receive recognition that they have earned a Focus Area. That becomes something they can put on their resume, LinkedIn, share with their employer, etc. We know many of our students come to the program to facilitate a career transition, and, over the past few years, we have spent a lot of time building out the career resources and support available to Executive MBA students. If these Focus Areas can be helpful to students as they build their career narratives and engage with employers, that’s also a win. From an academic standpoint, I think these Focus Areas represent topics where we have curricular depth, so for a student whose interests align with this list, know that you would be able to pursue that interest here. However, it is also worth noting that the elective offerings in the Executive MBA program are quite broad, and prospective students should know that while we have these focus areas, they don’t capture the full range of our electives. There is a lot more that is possible than even what is reflected in this group. And, as with the current set of Focus Areas, we expect that students will continue to help us think about hot topics and emerging areas we can incorporate into our curriculum. As a program, we are always looking for ways to improve and keep things moving forward. In the past two years alone, we have expanded the global residency locations, formalized our co-curricular offerings, revamped the experiential learning curriculum and increased the total elective count to 12. To me, the introduction of the Focus Areas is just one more example of this constant iteration, and I’m excited to make them available to students. Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/06/23/execmba-focus-areas/]'Even More Opportunity for Personalization': ExecMBA Program Announces Focus Areas[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
24 Jun 2021, 09:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Happy Pride Month! |
Happy Pride Month! Founded in 1991 as the Darden Gay Network, Pride at Darden (PAD) is a student club dedicated to promoting an inclusive, open and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students; educating and improving awareness of LGBTQ+ issues within Darden; and creating and strengthening connections with diversity-friendly employers, other business schools and other LGBTQ+ communities in the Charlottesville area. The new PAD leadership team (featured in header image) includes: Cheyenne Johnson (President); Justin Trinidad (VP of Operations); Chris Kraft (VP of Events); Edward Couvillion (VP of Careers); Alex Smith (VP of Finance); Madeleine Parker (VP of Ally Engagement/Drag Show); Ben Coleman (VP of Admissions); Rowan Rice (VP of Communications & Marketing). Read more about diversity at Darden. Meet the new president of PAD, Cheyenne Johnson (Class of 2022):  Cheyenne Johnson, Class of 2022 Cheyenne Johnson (she/her) President, Pride at Darden Hometown: Ojai, California Why Darden? The collaborative community at Darden provides the support you need to get through the program’s rigorous curriculum, and the case method gives you the chance to practice real world decision making. Why Pride at Darden (PAD)? Every June, we celebrate Pride Month both to rejoice in the progress we’ve made and to remind ourselves of how far we still have to go. I joined Pride at Darden to be a part of that path forward, to help build an inclusive community where you are safe to love who you love and be your whole, uncompromising self. Fun Fact: I basically grew up in a mini-zoo. As a kid, I had 3 cats, 3 parrots, 4 doves, 2 guinea pigs, 3 mice, 4 freshwater crabs, 1 black Labrador, and an uncountable number of fish. Tip for Applicants: Start early and be yourself throughout the admissions process. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat. The post Happy Pride Month! first appeared on Discover Darden. |
24 Jun 2021, 09:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Happy Pride Month! |
|
Happy Pride Month! Founded in 1991 as the Darden Gay Network, Pride at Darden (PAD) is a student club dedicated to promoting an inclusive, open and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students; educating and improving awareness of LGBTQ+ issues within Darden; and creating and strengthening connections with diversity-friendly employers, other business schools and other LGBTQ+ communities in the Charlottesville area. The new PAD leadership team (featured in header image) includes: Cheyenne Johnson (President); Justin Trinidad (VP of Operations); Chris Kraft (VP of Events); Edward Couvillion (VP of Careers); Alex Smith (VP of Finance); Madeleine Parker (VP of Ally Engagement/Drag Show); Ben Coleman (VP of Admissions); Rowan Rice (VP of Communications & Marketing). Read more about diversity at Darden. Meet the new president of PAD, Cheyenne Johnson (Class of 2022): Cheyenne Johnson, Class of 2022 Cheyenne Johnson (she/her) President, Pride at Darden Hometown: Ojai, California Why Darden? The collaborative community at Darden provides the support you need to get through the program’s rigorous curriculum, and the case method gives you the chance to practice real world decision making. Why Pride at Darden (PAD)? Every June, we celebrate Pride Month both to rejoice in the progress we’ve made and to remind ourselves of how far we still have to go. I joined Pride at Darden to be a part of that path forward, to help build an inclusive community where you are safe to love who you love and be your whole, uncompromising self. Fun Fact: I basically grew up in a mini-zoo. As a kid, I had 3 cats, 3 parrots, 4 doves, 2 guinea pigs, 3 mice, 4 freshwater crabs, 1 black Labrador, and an uncountable number of fish. Tip for Applicants: Start early and be yourself throughout the admissions process. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat. The post Happy Pride Month! first appeared on Discover Darden. |
29 Jun 2021, 07:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: So Many Business Programs, So Little Time. Our Best Tips for Researching Programs to Find Your Best Fit |
|
So many schools. Only so much time. If you’re wondering where to start with researching schools, we invite you to [url=https://apply.darden.virginia.edu/register/?id=467565a8-7bc9-48da-baa9-22aa7a4ba76b]join Darden Admissions for a workshop all about the school search process[/url]! During Thursday’s session, we will share tips and insights for developing your target school list, staying organized as you search and more. Space is limited to ensure meaningful conversation during the event. [url=https://apply.darden.virginia.edu/register/?id=467565a8-7bc9-48da-baa9-22aa7a4ba76b]Sign up here for[/url] Researching Business Schools: Strategies for Finding Your Best Fit. In advance of the workshop, here are a few things to think about as you do your research: [b]A season for all things.[/b] There are distinct phases in the application process, and your research goals will vary by phase. For example, early in the process, you will be exploring your target schools and determining where you will apply. Later on, you will be sharpening your application and preparing for a potential interview. At the end, you will be weighing your offers and finalizing your decision. As a result, be sure to pace yourself. The application process can be long, and it takes a fair amount of energy. However, this extended timeline is to your advantage when it comes to researching programs. You don’t need to know everything about the school before you apply, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to learn more along the way. The goal is for you to have all your questions answered by the time you make your decision. In other words, you have time. [b]What school-specific resources are available? [/b]While rankings and third-party websites can be useful in sorting the broader MBA market, once you’ve developed your target school list, you will want to spend some time on each school’s website. We recommend making note of any school-specific resources – blogs, podcasts, social media, etc. – that can help you to stay current on student life, school- and University-related news as well as upcoming events. We’ve previously shared that a spreadsheet can help keep you organized during the application process. If you’ve created this spreadsheet, be sure to note these resources – including URLs – for quick reference. And if you’re a social media person, follow your target schools on your preferred platform(s). In the Darden feeds, you will encounter alumni profiles, student spotlights, faculty features, application tips, event reminders and much more. Check out Darden’s [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url] and [url=https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-virginia-darden-school-of-business/]LinkedIn[/url] feeds, for example! Darden Admissions has two podcasts: [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3GL2RurHqhNREAZk2kpvpP]Experience Darden[/url] and [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3RylDbKjkP8fggC5iECr6r]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url], not to mention the other podcasts, like [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/podcasts]Ideas to Action[/url], that are part of the broader Darden podcast family. Each of these shows is a great opportunity for you to hear firsthand from students, faculty and staff in our MBA community. [b]How can current students and alumni be helpful to you? [/b]The placement of this tip (i.e. last in the post) is intentional. We recommend reaching out to current students and alumni after you’ve done some preliminary research for each of your target schools. By the time you are reaching out to current students and alumni, you should be able to describe each school in relative detail, highlighting its key strengths and differentiators while also referencing a few areas about which you would like to know more. While business schools can seem very similar online and in print, there are significant experiential differences between schools. Personal interactions can be helpful in identifying and exploring some of these differences, and, for this reason, you will want to have a strategy when engaging students and alumni. How do you plan to use these conversations to learn more about the school? What questions are most important to you? Having clear goals will ensure you are maximizing these interactions. How many conversations is the right amount? Usually around 3 or 4 of these kinds of discussions during the early research phase is about right, and believe it or not, it is often more convenient for current students and alumni to talk than type, so consider proposing a short phone or Zoom call. Interested in additional perspectives? Supplement one-on-one interactions with student-focused webinars, podcasts, blog posts and news articles. These resources will allow you to easily and efficiently “meet” even more members of the community, and, as you encounter more people, listen for the resonance across conversations. What does everyone talk about or mention? These points of commonality are typically the school’s core brand and identity. [b]Pro Tip:[/b] As you move through the application process, you will meet more and more people. In your spreadsheet, be sure to note the people with whom you’ve interacted, what you discussed and any key takeaways from the conversation. This attention to detail will come in handy, particularly when you’re finalizing your decision and comparing between programs. Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/06/29/best-tips-for-researching-programs/]So Many Business Programs, So Little Time. Our Best Tips for Researching Programs to Find Your Best Fit[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
29 Jun 2021, 07:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: So Many Business Programs, So Little Time. Our Best Tips for Researching Programs to Find Your Best Fit |
|
So many schools. Only so much time. If you’re wondering where to start with researching schools, we invite you to [url=https://apply.darden.virginia.edu/register/?id=467565a8-7bc9-48da-baa9-22aa7a4ba76b]join Darden Admissions for a workshop all about the school search process[/url]! During Thursday’s session, we will share tips and insights for developing your target school list, staying organized as you search and more. Space is limited to ensure meaningful conversation during the event. [url=https://apply.darden.virginia.edu/register/?id=467565a8-7bc9-48da-baa9-22aa7a4ba76b]Sign up here for[/url] Researching Business Schools: Strategies for Finding Your Best Fit. In advance of the workshop, here are a few things to think about as you do your research: [b]A season for all things.[/b] There are distinct phases in the application process, and your research goals will vary by phase. For example, early in the process, you will be exploring your target schools and determining where you will apply. Later on, you will be sharpening your application and preparing for a potential interview. At the end, you will be weighing your offers and finalizing your decision. As a result, be sure to pace yourself. The application process can be long, and it takes a fair amount of energy. However, this extended timeline is to your advantage when it comes to researching programs. You don’t need to know everything about the school before you apply, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to learn more along the way. The goal is for you to have all your questions answered by the time you make your decision. In other words, you have time. [b]What school-specific resources are available? [/b]While rankings and third-party websites can be useful in sorting the broader MBA market, once you’ve developed your target school list, you will want to spend some time on each school’s website. We recommend making note of any school-specific resources – blogs, podcasts, social media, etc. – that can help you to stay current on student life, school- and University-related news as well as upcoming events. We’ve previously shared that a spreadsheet can help keep you organized during the application process. If you’ve created this spreadsheet, be sure to note these resources – including URLs – for quick reference. And if you’re a social media person, follow your target schools on your preferred platform(s). In the Darden feeds, you will encounter alumni profiles, student spotlights, faculty features, application tips, event reminders and much more. Check out Darden’s [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url] and [url=https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-virginia-darden-school-of-business/]LinkedIn[/url] feeds, for example! Darden Admissions has two podcasts: [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3GL2RurHqhNREAZk2kpvpP]Experience Darden[/url] and [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3RylDbKjkP8fggC5iECr6r]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url], not to mention the other podcasts, like [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/podcasts]Ideas to Action[/url], that are part of the broader Darden podcast family. Each of these shows is a great opportunity for you to hear firsthand from students, faculty and staff in our MBA community. [b]How can current students and alumni be helpful to you? [/b]The placement of this tip (i.e. last in the post) is intentional. We recommend reaching out to current students and alumni after you’ve done some preliminary research for each of your target schools. By the time you are reaching out to current students and alumni, you should be able to describe each school in relative detail, highlighting its key strengths and differentiators while also referencing a few areas about which you would like to know more. While business schools can seem very similar online and in print, there are significant experiential differences between schools. Personal interactions can be helpful in identifying and exploring some of these differences, and, for this reason, you will want to have a strategy when engaging students and alumni. How do you plan to use these conversations to learn more about the school? What questions are most important to you? Having clear goals will ensure you are maximizing these interactions. How many conversations is the right amount? Usually around 3 or 4 of these kinds of discussions during the early research phase is about right, and believe it or not, it is often more convenient for current students and alumni to talk than type, so consider proposing a short phone or Zoom call. Interested in additional perspectives? Supplement one-on-one interactions with student-focused webinars, podcasts, blog posts and news articles. These resources will allow you to easily and efficiently “meet” even more members of the community, and, as you encounter more people, listen for the resonance across conversations. What does everyone talk about or mention? These points of commonality are typically the school’s core brand and identity. [b]Pro Tip:[/b] As you move through the application process, you will meet more and more people. In your spreadsheet, be sure to note the people with whom you’ve interacted, what you discussed and any key takeaways from the conversation. This attention to detail will come in handy, particularly when you’re finalizing your decision and comparing between programs. Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/06/29/best-tips-for-researching-programs/]So Many Business Programs, So Little Time. Our Best Tips for Researching Programs to Find Your Best Fit[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
01 Jul 2021, 07:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Short Answer Questions for the Darden Admissions Application to the Class of 2024 |
|
The application is a storytelling exercise, and the short answer questions are a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your authentic voice. The short answers are also an opportunity for you to tie the other elements of your application such as your academic record, your resume, interests and demographic information to present a holistic picture of yourself. For the 2021-22 application cycle, we will again feature multiple questions, and we are particularly excited about some of the new additions to this year’s application. For the Leadership and Impact question as well as the Diversity and Inclusion question, applicants will now choose from two prompts, responding to the one they feel best aligns with their experience and their overall application narrative. You will bring your whole self to business school, and Darden students shape their experience in and out of the classroom. As a result, we are interested in learning more about how you lead, how you relate to others, what you’re passionate about, your awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion principles, your career goals and much more. Our questions reflect key values that are central to the Darden experience and community. In the application, we frame some questions with additional resources to demonstrate these values. This year’s questions are as follows: [list] [*]Tell us what you would want your Learning Team to know about you that is not on your resume. (150 words) [/*] [*]What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)[/*] [/list] As noted above, applicants will choose from two prompts when responding to the Leadership and Impact and question. [b]You should respond to one [/b](200 words): [list] [*]Tell us about a time when you worked with a team to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. What role did you play? What did you learn from this experience? [b]OR[/b][/*] [*]Tell us about a time when you acted to solve a problem for the greater good. What drew you to this issue? What did you learn from this experience?[/*] [/list] Applicants will also choose from two prompts when responding to the Diversity and Inclusion question. [b]You should respond to one [/b](200 words)[b].[/b] [list] [*]Share a time when you learned something related to diversity, equity or inclusion that was previously unknown to you? How did this experience impact your perspective? [b]OR[/b][/*] [*]Share a time when you advocated for a perspective, identity, or community different from your own. How did this experience impact your worldview?[/*] [/list] [b]Full-Time MBA applicants[/b] will also respond to a question inspired by the Batten Foundation Worldwide Scholarship. This scholarship covers the course fee for one Darden Worldwide Course for most Full-Time MBA students: [list] [*]Darden has an incredible network of alumni and partners around the world, and, in a typical year, the School connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to travel? And why? (85 words) [/*] [/list] Here are a few more tips as you think about crafting a successful essay response: [list] [*]Applicants frequently overthink their short answer responses, feeling that there must be something specific we are looking for? Let us be clear: We are not reading your responses with a prescribed or “right” answer in mind. How you choose to answer a particular question is often as insightful as what you choose to write about. The best essay responses are those that are responsive to the question, but also authentic and genuine. And remember, whenever possible, show don’t tell! [/*] [*][b]Leave time for pre-writing.[/b] Sometimes the first idea you have is the best idea, and sometimes the best idea is born of significant thought and reflection. A little planning can save you a lot of heartburn, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to craft the best essay without feeling hurried or rushed. [/*] [*][b]Keep it brief.[/b] All questions require responses of 200 words or less, and in our experience, it typically takes a few drafts before applicants hit on a response they feel is both compelling and falls within the word limit. The more time you give yourself to craft your application (again, the operative word is “craft”), the more intentional you can be with your responses, and by extension, your narrative. [/*] [*][b]Find a good editor.[/b] Of course, your essays should reflect your own thoughts and work, but it is always a good idea to ask for a second opinion. After you’ve written an essay response, set it down for a little while and come back to it later. Also, share your draft with a friend or colleague and ask for their feedback – Is it responsive to the question? Does it sound like you? An editor (and a fresh set of eyes) can also help you catch those pesky typos and grammatical errors you might miss after reading an essay a few times.[/*] [*][b]Don’t cut and paste.[/b] We know other schools’ essay prompts, and we can always tell when applicants have repurposed essay responses. We (as Business schools) know we are not making it easy on you by asking you different questions, and we know that applying to business school takes a lot of time. However, we have reasons for each of the questions we ask, and we always appreciate it when applicants take the time to craft a unique response.[/*] [/list] Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/01/short-answer-questions-2022/]Short Answer Questions for the Darden Admissions Application to the Class of 2024[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
01 Jul 2021, 08:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Short Answer Questions for the Darden Admissions Application to the Class of 2024 |
|
The application is a storytelling exercise, and the short answer questions are a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your authentic voice. The short answers are also an opportunity for you to tie the other elements of your application such as your academic record, your resume, interests and demographic information to present a holistic picture of yourself. For the 2021-22 application cycle, we will again feature multiple questions, and we are particularly excited about some of the new additions to this year’s application. For the Leadership and Impact question as well as the Diversity and Inclusion question, applicants will now choose from two prompts, responding to the one they feel best aligns with their experience and their overall application narrative. You will bring your whole self to business school, and Darden students shape their experience in and out of the classroom. As a result, we are interested in learning more about how you lead, how you relate to others, what you’re passionate about, your awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion principles, your career goals and much more. Our questions reflect key values that are central to the Darden experience and community. In the application, we frame some questions with additional resources to demonstrate these values. This year’s questions are as follows: [list] [*]Tell us what you would want your Learning Team to know about you that is not on your resume. (150 words) [/*] [*]What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)[/*] [/list] As noted above, applicants will choose from two prompts when responding to the Leadership and Impact and question. [b]You should respond to one [/b](200 words): [list] [*]Tell us about a time when you worked with a team to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. What role did you play? What did you learn from this experience? [b]OR[/b][/*] [*]Tell us about a time when you acted to solve a problem for the greater good. What drew you to this issue? What did you learn from this experience?[/*] [/list] Applicants will also choose from two prompts when responding to the Diversity and Inclusion question. [b]You should respond to one [/b](200 words)[b].[/b] [list] [*]Share a time when you learned something related to diversity, equity or inclusion that was previously unknown to you? How did this experience impact your perspective? [b]OR[/b][/*] [*]Share a time when you advocated for a perspective, identity, or community different from your own. How did this experience impact your worldview?[/*] [/list] [b]Full-Time MBA applicants[/b] will also respond to a question inspired by the Batten Foundation Worldwide Scholarship. This scholarship covers the course fee for one Darden Worldwide Course for most Full-Time MBA students: [list] [*]Darden has an incredible network of alumni and partners around the world, and, in a typical year, the School connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to travel? And why? (85 words) [/*] [/list] Here are a few more tips as you think about crafting a successful essay response: [list] [*]Applicants frequently overthink their short answer responses, feeling that there must be something specific we are looking for? Let us be clear: We are not reading your responses with a prescribed or “right” answer in mind. How you choose to answer a particular question is often as insightful as what you choose to write about. The best essay responses are those that are responsive to the question, but also authentic and genuine. And remember, whenever possible, show don’t tell! [/*] [*][b]Leave time for pre-writing.[/b] Sometimes the first idea you have is the best idea, and sometimes the best idea is born of significant thought and reflection. A little planning can save you a lot of heartburn, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to craft the best essay without feeling hurried or rushed. [/*] [*][b]Keep it brief.[/b] All questions require responses of 200 words or less, and in our experience, it typically takes a few drafts before applicants hit on a response they feel is both compelling and falls within the word limit. The more time you give yourself to craft your application (again, the operative word is “craft”), the more intentional you can be with your responses, and by extension, your narrative. [/*] [*][b]Find a good editor.[/b] Of course, your essays should reflect your own thoughts and work, but it is always a good idea to ask for a second opinion. After you’ve written an essay response, set it down for a little while and come back to it later. Also, share your draft with a friend or colleague and ask for their feedback – Is it responsive to the question? Does it sound like you? An editor (and a fresh set of eyes) can also help you catch those pesky typos and grammatical errors you might miss after reading an essay a few times.[/*] [*][b]Don’t cut and paste.[/b] We know other schools’ essay prompts, and we can always tell when applicants have repurposed essay responses. We (as Business schools) know we are not making it easy on you by asking you different questions, and we know that applying to business school takes a lot of time. However, we have reasons for each of the questions we ask, and we always appreciate it when applicants take the time to craft a unique response.[/*] [/list] Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/01/short-answer-questions-2022/]Short Answer Questions for the Darden Admissions Application to the Class of 2024[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
06 Jul 2021, 07:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Breaking down the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) Model Minority Myth |
|
In May, Class of 2023 students Jing Xu, Swaroop Rao, and Justin Trinidad hosted an event to discuss the experience of the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) community at Darden and in the broader world. The event, which included a discussion led by recent Michigan-Ross graduate and Just Like Media Founder Jerry Won, came in the wake of a significant increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes across the United States. Xu, Rao and Trinidad contributed this report on the event, which attracted more than 100 participants across the community. Pictured above L-R: Swaroop Rao, Justin Trinidad, Jing Xu On 16 March, six Asian women were tragically murdered in Atlanta in a racially motivated incident that occurred in the wake of drastic increase of hate crimes against Asian Americans. According to Stop AAPI Hate, more than 6,600 anti-Asian racist incidents were reported for the 12 months ending 31 March, a significant increase over the prior year. The Stop AAPI Hate website noted that women reported 2.3 times more than men, youth reported 12.6 percent of incidents, and seniors reported 6.2 percent of the total incidents. Incident reports have come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander identity (ANHPI) in America is complicated and nuanced. “There is a large misconception when it comes to ANHPI members being perceived as a monolith, and greater awareness is needed on the disparate outcomes for different minority groups within the ANHPI umbrella,” said Trinidad. Frequently, people assume that Asian Americans have high rates of educational attainment and higher incomes than other racial groups. In reality, however, the ANHPI community is made up of over 48 ethnic groups, all of whom have unique immigration histories to the U.S., and as a result, dramatically different life and education outcomes. For example, in a study conducted in 2018, 18.2 percent of Cambodians lived in poverty, compared to the national average of 11.2 percent individuals. The Asian model minority myth is typically used as a racial wedge to pit marginalized communities against each other. Disaggregating the data of the ANHPI community is crucial to understanding differences in life outcomes between ethnic groups and is vital to truly understanding the needs of the community. During May’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Darden First Year students Jing Xu, Swaroop Rao, and Justin Trinidad brought together the Darden community in a conversation facilitated by ANHPI storyteller, Jerry Won. Attended by over 100 faculty, staff, students, and administration, Won discussed the importance of dismantling the model minority myth, the origins of the term “Asian American” — which dates back to coalition building with Black students at Berkeley in the 60s — and the necessity of working in coalition with other marginalized communities to dismantle systems of oppression. Won challenged the audience to reflect and unpack their own experiences as ANHPIs or allies, to call out microaggressions, and to demand concrete actions from companies — beyond a Tweet or a statement. “After speaking to our ANHPI classmates regarding the rise of anti-Asian violence, some have expressed concerns about their safety and lack of belonging within the community,” said Xu. “We organized this event in order to make sure that students, faculty, and staff know about the unique barriers that the ANHPI community faces in the hopes that they will join us in advocating on behalf of our ANHPI students and staff.” While Darden has progressed significantly in its efforts to make the overall community more inclusive, like many institutions, there is still a long journey ahead. “We aim to work with administration, faculty, alumni, and student leadership to continue progressing towards a truly equitable and inclusive community for everyone at Darden and bring an ANHPI perspective into meaningful dialogues,” commented Rao on the long-term vision. For instance, the ANHPI community often lacks explicit representation in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion due to the falsehoods of the model minority myth. With both national recognition and internal efforts to address the inequities faced by the ANHPI community, we must ensure there is true representation of the diverse community under the “Asian” umbrella, meaningful inclusion when discussing race-related issues, and greater representation and elimination of biases in case discussions.  Darden First Year students Jing Xu, Swaroop Rao, and Justin Trinidad brought together the Darden community in a conversation facilitated by ANHPI storyteller, Jerry Won The post Breaking down the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) Model Minority Myth first appeared on Discover Darden. |
06 Jul 2021, 08:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Breaking down the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) Model Minority Myth |
|
In May, Class of 2023 students Jing Xu, Swaroop Rao, and Justin Trinidad hosted an event to discuss the experience of the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) community at Darden and in the broader world. The event, which included a discussion led by recent Michigan-Ross graduate and Just Like Media Founder Jerry Won, came in the wake of a significant increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes across the United States. Xu, Rao and Trinidad contributed this report on the event, which attracted more than 100 participants across the community. Pictured above L-R: Swaroop Rao, Justin Trinidad, Jing Xu On 16 March, six Asian women were tragically murdered in Atlanta in a racially motivated incident that occurred in the wake of drastic increase of hate crimes against Asian Americans. According to Stop AAPI Hate, more than 6,600 anti-Asian racist incidents were reported for the 12 months ending 31 March, a significant increase over the prior year. The Stop AAPI Hate website noted that women reported 2.3 times more than men, youth reported 12.6 percent of incidents, and seniors reported 6.2 percent of the total incidents. Incident reports have come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander identity (ANHPI) in America is complicated and nuanced. “There is a large misconception when it comes to ANHPI members being perceived as a monolith, and greater awareness is needed on the disparate outcomes for different minority groups within the ANHPI umbrella,” said Trinidad. Frequently, people assume that Asian Americans have high rates of educational attainment and higher incomes than other racial groups. In reality, however, the ANHPI community is made up of over 48 ethnic groups, all of whom have unique immigration histories to the U.S., and as a result, dramatically different life and education outcomes. For example, in a study conducted in 2018, 18.2 percent of Cambodians lived in poverty, compared to the national average of 11.2 percent individuals. The Asian model minority myth is typically used as a racial wedge to pit marginalized communities against each other. Disaggregating the data of the ANHPI community is crucial to understanding differences in life outcomes between ethnic groups and is vital to truly understanding the needs of the community. During May’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Darden First Year students Jing Xu, Swaroop Rao, and Justin Trinidad brought together the Darden community in a conversation facilitated by ANHPI storyteller, Jerry Won. Attended by over 100 faculty, staff, students, and administration, Won discussed the importance of dismantling the model minority myth, the origins of the term “Asian American” — which dates back to coalition building with Black students at Berkeley in the 60s — and the necessity of working in coalition with other marginalized communities to dismantle systems of oppression. Won challenged the audience to reflect and unpack their own experiences as ANHPIs or allies, to call out microaggressions, and to demand concrete actions from companies — beyond a Tweet or a statement. “After speaking to our ANHPI classmates regarding the rise of anti-Asian violence, some have expressed concerns about their safety and lack of belonging within the community,” said Xu. “We organized this event in order to make sure that students, faculty, and staff know about the unique barriers that the ANHPI community faces in the hopes that they will join us in advocating on behalf of our ANHPI students and staff.” While Darden has progressed significantly in its efforts to make the overall community more inclusive, like many institutions, there is still a long journey ahead. “We aim to work with administration, faculty, alumni, and student leadership to continue progressing towards a truly equitable and inclusive community for everyone at Darden and bring an ANHPI perspective into meaningful dialogues,” commented Rao on the long-term vision. For instance, the ANHPI community often lacks explicit representation in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion due to the falsehoods of the model minority myth. With both national recognition and internal efforts to address the inequities faced by the ANHPI community, we must ensure there is true representation of the diverse community under the “Asian” umbrella, meaningful inclusion when discussing race-related issues, and greater representation and elimination of biases in case discussions. Darden First Year students Jing Xu, Swaroop Rao, and Justin Trinidad brought together the Darden community in a conversation facilitated by ANHPI storyteller, Jerry Won The post Breaking down the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) Model Minority Myth first appeared on Discover Darden. |
07 Jul 2021, 08:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: All About the Application: Recommendations |
|
Recommendations are always a popular topic among our applicants, and we wanted to share some of our favorite recommendation-related tips and insights. As a reminder, this advice, as most advice seems to be, is very broad, and there are exceptions to the statements above. [b]Interested in learning more?[/b] Sign up for tomorrow’s webinar at 10 a.m. Eastern: [url=https://apply.darden.virginia.edu/register/?id=91cf8eee-a2a2-4e1f-9d1f-d89df249c347]All About the Application: Recommendations[/url] In Darden’s application process we require just one recommendation. While applicants may submit up to two recommendations, one is all we need to make a decision on your application. If you choose to have more than one recommender, make sure each recommender is offering a unique perspective on you. Recommendations typically take longer than the other parts of your application to come together. This is understandable – after all, they are the one part of your application you don’t control! With this in mind, make sure you give your recommenders plenty of time to submit their recommendations. We typically suggest at least two weeks, and, in our experience, most recommenders are motivated by a deadline, so make sure your recommenders know your application deadline and don’t be afraid to stay in touch with them throughout the process. Talk with your recommender before starting your application and make sure they understand why you’re pursuing an MBA and why you’re interested in Darden. Sharing a current copy of your resume is always a good idea! This way your recommender will understand the full arc of your career and your many accomplishments. Your recommender will receive our recommendation materials via email, and this automated email will send as soon as you enter their contact information in your application. Check in with them a day or two after you input their contact information to ensure they received the email containing the link to the recommendation materials. We find that our emails occasionally get caught in spam filters, so trust but verify that your recommender received the link. The recommendation process does not require a letter of recommendation. Your recommender will actually fill out two pieces of information — a ratings grid in which they will evaluate you across a set of competencies and a series of short answer questions. The short answers questions are: [list] [*]Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. [/*] [*]How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?[/*] [*]Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.[/*] [/list] We share these questions in advance so that you can help prepare your recommender; however, you — as the applicant — should not write your own recommendation. The recommendation is an opportunity for us to hear from someone other than you regarding your candidacy. [b]Who makes a good recommender? [/b] First and foremost, someone who knows you well. Our Admissions Committee will focus on the content of the recommendation, not the title/position of the individual who provides it, so make sure your recommender can help us learn more about your accomplishments and leadership through specific examples and anecdotes. For this reason, strictly academic recommendations are also typically less helpful in our evaluation. Reading the above prompts, you may now understand why we suggest selecting a supervisor or someone who has evaluated your work in a professional setting as a potential recommender. Colleagues or associates typically find it more challenging to fully answer the recommendation questions. Sure, they might know you and what you do, but they might not have shared feedback with you or have a meaningful sense of how you compare to other candidates in similar roles. In our Executive MBA application process, we have a strong preference for current supervisor recommendations. After all, you will be working while pursuing your degree, and we want to know you have discussed your interest in participating in our program with your manager before you begin the application process. Of course, there are reasons why you might not ask your current supervisor — you may both be new to the relationship, you recently transitioned companies, etc.. If you choose not to ask your current supervisor to be one of your recommenders, be sure to use the Additional Comments section to help us understand the reason(s) for this choice. And last, but not least, we often hear from candidates whose recommendation has not been submitted by an application deadline, wondering if they can still be included in the round? The answer is yes. We are always happy to work with you, but we will not be able to move your application through our review process until we receive your recommendation. If your application is incomplete at the deadline, we will reach out to you about any missing materials. However, if you know your recommender will need a few more days to complete their recommendation, reach out and let us know! [b]Did you know? [/b]Our recommendation process is completely electronic, and your recommendation will automatically associate with your application once the recommendation is submitted. In other words, once you have finished your portion of the application, you may go ahead and submit your materials. However, once you have submitted your application, you will be unable to edit your application or enter additional recommender information. You will receive an email notification once your recommender submits their recommendation. You will also notice a green check mark next to their name and information on your Application Status page (a red “X” will display if the recommendation is still pending). Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/07/all-about-the-application-recommendations/]All About the Application: Recommendations[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
07 Jul 2021, 08:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: All About the Application: Recommendations |
|
Recommendations are always a popular topic among our applicants, and we wanted to share some of our favorite recommendation-related tips and insights. As a reminder, this advice, as most advice seems to be, is very broad, and there are exceptions to the statements above. [b]Interested in learning more?[/b] Sign up for tomorrow’s webinar at 10 a.m. Eastern: [url=https://apply.darden.virginia.edu/register/?id=91cf8eee-a2a2-4e1f-9d1f-d89df249c347]All About the Application: Recommendations[/url] In Darden’s application process we require just one recommendation. While applicants may submit up to two recommendations, one is all we need to make a decision on your application. If you choose to have more than one recommender, make sure each recommender is offering a unique perspective on you. Recommendations typically take longer than the other parts of your application to come together. This is understandable – after all, they are the one part of your application you don’t control! With this in mind, make sure you give your recommenders plenty of time to submit their recommendations. We typically suggest at least two weeks, and, in our experience, most recommenders are motivated by a deadline, so make sure your recommenders know your application deadline and don’t be afraid to stay in touch with them throughout the process. Talk with your recommender before starting your application and make sure they understand why you’re pursuing an MBA and why you’re interested in Darden. Sharing a current copy of your resume is always a good idea! This way your recommender will understand the full arc of your career and your many accomplishments. Your recommender will receive our recommendation materials via email, and this automated email will send as soon as you enter their contact information in your application. Check in with them a day or two after you input their contact information to ensure they received the email containing the link to the recommendation materials. We find that our emails occasionally get caught in spam filters, so trust but verify that your recommender received the link. The recommendation process does not require a letter of recommendation. Your recommender will actually fill out two pieces of information — a ratings grid in which they will evaluate you across a set of competencies and a series of short answer questions. The short answers questions are: [list] [*]Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. [/*] [*]How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?[/*] [*]Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.[/*] [/list] We share these questions in advance so that you can help prepare your recommender; however, you — as the applicant — should not write your own recommendation. The recommendation is an opportunity for us to hear from someone other than you regarding your candidacy. [b]Who makes a good recommender? [/b] First and foremost, someone who knows you well. Our Admissions Committee will focus on the content of the recommendation, not the title/position of the individual who provides it, so make sure your recommender can help us learn more about your accomplishments and leadership through specific examples and anecdotes. For this reason, strictly academic recommendations are also typically less helpful in our evaluation. Reading the above prompts, you may now understand why we suggest selecting a supervisor or someone who has evaluated your work in a professional setting as a potential recommender. Colleagues or associates typically find it more challenging to fully answer the recommendation questions. Sure, they might know you and what you do, but they might not have shared feedback with you or have a meaningful sense of how you compare to other candidates in similar roles. In our Executive MBA application process, we have a strong preference for current supervisor recommendations. After all, you will be working while pursuing your degree, and we want to know you have discussed your interest in participating in our program with your manager before you begin the application process. Of course, there are reasons why you might not ask your current supervisor — you may both be new to the relationship, you recently transitioned companies, etc.. If you choose not to ask your current supervisor to be one of your recommenders, be sure to use the Additional Comments section to help us understand the reason(s) for this choice. And last, but not least, we often hear from candidates whose recommendation has not been submitted by an application deadline, wondering if they can still be included in the round? The answer is yes. We are always happy to work with you, but we will not be able to move your application through our review process until we receive your recommendation. If your application is incomplete at the deadline, we will reach out to you about any missing materials. However, if you know your recommender will need a few more days to complete their recommendation, reach out and let us know! [b]Did you know? [/b]Our recommendation process is completely electronic, and your recommendation will automatically associate with your application once the recommendation is submitted. In other words, once you have finished your portion of the application, you may go ahead and submit your materials. However, once you have submitted your application, you will be unable to edit your application or enter additional recommender information. You will receive an email notification once your recommender submits their recommendation. You will also notice a green check mark next to their name and information on your Application Status page (a red “X” will display if the recommendation is still pending). Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url]. The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/07/all-about-the-application-recommendations/]All About the Application: Recommendations[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
08 Jul 2021, 09:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Admissions Team Shares Early Action Resources |
Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat. The post Admissions Team Shares Early Action Resources first appeared on Discover Darden. |
08 Jul 2021, 09:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Admissions Team Shares Early Action Resources |
Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat. The post Admissions Team Shares Early Action Resources first appeared on Discover Darden. |
12 Jul 2021, 10:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Breakthrough Scholars Program to Prepare Diverse Leaders in Asset Management |
|
Darden recently shared an exciting new competitive scholarship initiative designed to “foster a new generation of diverse leadership in private equity, venture capital (VC), hedge funds and other areas of asset management.” The new Breakthrough Scholars program will consist of an annual cohort of up to 12 Breakthrough Scholars, who will receive merit-based scholarships in addition to other benefits including:
Breakthrough Scholars faculty adviser Greg Fairchild shared, “We’ve curated a program that will be an advantage for elite women and outstanding under-represented racial minorities launching careers in private equity, venture capital and related fields. The industry recognizes the need to increase diversity at all levels and firms are eager for partners like Darden to help them find diverse talent.” Read the full story on the Darden Report. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat. The post Breakthrough Scholars Program to Prepare Diverse Leaders in Asset Management first appeared on Discover Darden. |
12 Jul 2021, 10:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Breakthrough Scholars Program to Prepare Diverse Leaders in Asset Management |
|
Darden recently shared an exciting new competitive scholarship initiative designed to “foster a new generation of diverse leadership in private equity, venture capital (VC), hedge funds and other areas of asset management.” The new Breakthrough Scholars program will consist of an annual cohort of up to 12 Breakthrough Scholars, who will receive merit-based scholarships in addition to other benefits including:
Breakthrough Scholars faculty adviser Greg Fairchild shared, “We’ve curated a program that will be an advantage for elite women and outstanding under-represented racial minorities launching careers in private equity, venture capital and related fields. The industry recognizes the need to increase diversity at all levels and firms are eager for partners like Darden to help them find diverse talent.” Read the full story on the Darden Report. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat. The post Breakthrough Scholars Program to Prepare Diverse Leaders in Asset Management first appeared on Discover Darden. |
13 Jul 2021, 09:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application process |
|
Current students and alumni are invaluable sources of insights and information when researching business schools. However, there are some things you will want to keep in mind as you approach these networking conversations. Today, we’re highlighting four of our favorite networking tips: [b]1.Do your basic research first. [/b]Alumni and current students are best leveraged after you have done your preliminary research on your target schools. You are contacting them because you are interested in getting personal insights to supplement and reinforce what you’ve learned from rankings, websites and third-party sources. These conversations can give depth and life to a school’s community, classroom, educational experience and network (to name just a few things), and they are also an opportunity for you to raise any questions or concerns that arose during your research. Having a working knowledge of the school will allow you to maximize these interactions and ensure you are not asking questions that are best answered by the school’s website. [b]2. Finding connections. [/b]We realize not every applicant knows someone who has pursued an MBA. This is why we have Admissions podcasts ([url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3GL2RurHqhNREAZk2kpvpP?si=77V3M-Z1Q_moecv0nWxNPQ&dl_branch=1]Experience Darden[/url] | [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3RylDbKjkP8fggC5iECr6r?si=DY_MAl5hSL6PMVCQ4T-2yA&dl_branch=1]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url]) and a blog where we regularly share student stories and interviews. And it’s also why we encourage prospective students to reach out to Darden students and alumni. However, before you begin this outreach, you may want to spend a few minutes exploring your personal and professional networks for any potential connections. If you’re on LinkedIn, you have access to a powerful resource that can help you identify people in your network who are pursuing or have pursued an MBA. Spend some time on the LinkedIn pages for the schools you are targeting. The “My Employer” tab will allow you to identify anyone at your current company who attended the school. In addition, the “Alumni” section of the school page contains a host of useful information. It will display alumni you may know and allow you to search the alumni base by title, keyword or company and filter by dates attended. You can also view school alumni by where they live, where they work, what they do as well as how you’re connected to members of this network. Clicking on any of the graph bars will display the alumni who live in that location, work at that employer, etc. [b]3. Be specific.[/b] Darden students and alumni are happy to share their experience, but they are also very busy. Rather than sending an email with a long list of questions, we recommend a short email introducing yourself and requesting a phone call (15-20 minutes). In this email, be sure to indicate the one or two questions you would like to discuss during the phone call. That’s right, [b]one or two questions[/b]. And know that it may take a couple weeks for the student or alum to get back to you. Patience is a virtue — especially when it comes to this kind of outreach! Once you’ve scheduled the call, you will want to make sure you are prepared for the conversation. Be ready to introduce yourself and briefly share a little more about your background. You should also expect to talk about why you’re interested in an MBA, what attracted you to Darden and your goals post-MBA. And, last but not least, make sure to follow up the call with a thank you email. Small details and organization in the research process can go a long way. [b]4. Be targeted. [/b]In the research process, rather than contacting 15 or 20 current students or alumni, we recommend taking a more targeted approach. After all, at this stage of the process, you’re really just trying to determine if a school should be on your application shortlist. Plus, if you are admitted, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you to connect with students and alumni, so no need to overdo it in this early phase. With this in mind, focus on 3 or 4 people with whom you share a common interest or background. This could be an academic area, undergraduate institution, career goal or some other point of potential connection. This will allow you to be more intentional in your outreach, and being able to reference a commonality will also indicate to the recipient that you have done some research and this is not a blanket request. The [url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/connect/student-ambassadors]Full-Time MBA Student Ambassador webpage[/url] as well as the club leadership pages on the Darden website are great places to look for potential student contacts. Check out some of our tips for contacting the student ambassadors [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2019/10/29/student-ambassadors]here[/url]. However, before you reach out to anyone, we recommend looking them up on LinkedIn so you have a better sense of their background and experiences. Be sure to consult the [b][url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url][/b] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [b][url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url][/b]. And stay connected with us via social media: [b][url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url][/b], [b][url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url][/b], [b][url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url].[/b] The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/13/a-brief-guide-to-networking/]A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application process[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
13 Jul 2021, 09:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application process |
|
Current students and alumni are invaluable sources of insights and information when researching business schools. However, there are some things you will want to keep in mind as you approach these networking conversations. Today, we’re highlighting four of our favorite networking tips: [b]1.Do your basic research first. [/b]Alumni and current students are best leveraged after you have done your preliminary research on your target schools. You are contacting them because you are interested in getting personal insights to supplement and reinforce what you’ve learned from rankings, websites and third-party sources. These conversations can give depth and life to a school’s community, classroom, educational experience and network (to name just a few things), and they are also an opportunity for you to raise any questions or concerns that arose during your research. Having a working knowledge of the school will allow you to maximize these interactions and ensure you are not asking questions that are best answered by the school’s website. [b]2. Finding connections. [/b]We realize not every applicant knows someone who has pursued an MBA. This is why we have Admissions podcasts ([url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3GL2RurHqhNREAZk2kpvpP?si=77V3M-Z1Q_moecv0nWxNPQ&dl_branch=1]Experience Darden[/url] | [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3RylDbKjkP8fggC5iECr6r?si=DY_MAl5hSL6PMVCQ4T-2yA&dl_branch=1]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url]) and a blog where we regularly share student stories and interviews. And it’s also why we encourage prospective students to reach out to Darden students and alumni. However, before you begin this outreach, you may want to spend a few minutes exploring your personal and professional networks for any potential connections. If you’re on LinkedIn, you have access to a powerful resource that can help you identify people in your network who are pursuing or have pursued an MBA. Spend some time on the LinkedIn pages for the schools you are targeting. The “My Employer” tab will allow you to identify anyone at your current company who attended the school. In addition, the “Alumni” section of the school page contains a host of useful information. It will display alumni you may know and allow you to search the alumni base by title, keyword or company and filter by dates attended. You can also view school alumni by where they live, where they work, what they do as well as how you’re connected to members of this network. Clicking on any of the graph bars will display the alumni who live in that location, work at that employer, etc. [b]3. Be specific.[/b] Darden students and alumni are happy to share their experience, but they are also very busy. Rather than sending an email with a long list of questions, we recommend a short email introducing yourself and requesting a phone call (15-20 minutes). In this email, be sure to indicate the one or two questions you would like to discuss during the phone call. That’s right, [b]one or two questions[/b]. And know that it may take a couple weeks for the student or alum to get back to you. Patience is a virtue — especially when it comes to this kind of outreach! Once you’ve scheduled the call, you will want to make sure you are prepared for the conversation. Be ready to introduce yourself and briefly share a little more about your background. You should also expect to talk about why you’re interested in an MBA, what attracted you to Darden and your goals post-MBA. And, last but not least, make sure to follow up the call with a thank you email. Small details and organization in the research process can go a long way. [b]4. Be targeted. [/b]In the research process, rather than contacting 15 or 20 current students or alumni, we recommend taking a more targeted approach. After all, at this stage of the process, you’re really just trying to determine if a school should be on your application shortlist. Plus, if you are admitted, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you to connect with students and alumni, so no need to overdo it in this early phase. With this in mind, focus on 3 or 4 people with whom you share a common interest or background. This could be an academic area, undergraduate institution, career goal or some other point of potential connection. This will allow you to be more intentional in your outreach, and being able to reference a commonality will also indicate to the recipient that you have done some research and this is not a blanket request. The [url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/connect/student-ambassadors]Full-Time MBA Student Ambassador webpage[/url] as well as the club leadership pages on the Darden website are great places to look for potential student contacts. Check out some of our tips for contacting the student ambassadors [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2019/10/29/student-ambassadors]here[/url]. However, before you reach out to anyone, we recommend looking them up on LinkedIn so you have a better sense of their background and experiences. Be sure to consult the [b][url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url][/b] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [b][url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url][/b]. And stay connected with us via social media: [b][url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url][/b], [b][url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url][/b], [b][url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url].[/b] The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/13/a-brief-guide-to-networking/]A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application process[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
14 Jul 2021, 07:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application Process |
|
Current students and alumni are invaluable sources of insights and information when researching business schools. However, there are some things you will want to keep in mind as you approach these networking conversations. Today, we’re highlighting four of our favorite networking tips: [b]1.Do your basic research first. [/b]Alumni and current students are best leveraged after you have done your preliminary research on your target schools. You are contacting them because you are interested in getting personal insights to supplement and reinforce what you’ve learned from rankings, websites and third-party sources. These conversations can give depth and life to a school’s community, classroom, educational experience and network (to name just a few things), and they are also an opportunity for you to raise any questions or concerns that arose during your research. Having a working knowledge of the school will allow you to maximize these interactions and ensure you are not asking questions that are best answered by the school’s website. [b]2. Finding connections. [/b]We realize not every applicant knows someone who has pursued an MBA. This is why we have Admissions podcasts ([url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3GL2RurHqhNREAZk2kpvpP?si=77V3M-Z1Q_moecv0nWxNPQ&dl_branch=1]Experience Darden[/url] | [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3RylDbKjkP8fggC5iECr6r?si=DY_MAl5hSL6PMVCQ4T-2yA&dl_branch=1]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url]) and a blog where we regularly share student stories and interviews. And it’s also why we encourage prospective students to reach out to Darden students and alumni. However, before you begin this outreach, you may want to spend a few minutes exploring your personal and professional networks for any potential connections. If you’re on LinkedIn, you have access to a powerful resource that can help you identify people in your network who are pursuing or have pursued an MBA. Spend some time on the LinkedIn pages for the schools you are targeting. The “My Employer” tab will allow you to identify anyone at your current company who attended the school. In addition, the “Alumni” section of the school page contains a host of useful information. It will display alumni you may know and allow you to search the alumni base by title, keyword or company and filter by dates attended. You can also view school alumni by where they live, where they work, what they do as well as how you’re connected to members of this network. Clicking on any of the graph bars will display the alumni who live in that location, work at that employer, etc. [b]3. Be specific.[/b] Darden students and alumni are happy to share their experience, but they are also very busy. Rather than sending an email with a long list of questions, we recommend a short email introducing yourself and requesting a phone call (15-20 minutes). In this email, be sure to indicate the one or two questions you would like to discuss during the phone call. That’s right, [b]one or two questions[/b]. And know that it may take a couple weeks for the student or alum to get back to you. Patience is a virtue — especially when it comes to this kind of outreach! Once you’ve scheduled the call, you will want to make sure you are prepared for the conversation. Be ready to introduce yourself and briefly share a little more about your background. You should also expect to talk about why you’re interested in an MBA, what attracted you to Darden and your goals post-MBA. And, last but not least, make sure to follow up the call with a thank you email. Small details and organization in the research process can go a long way. [b]4. Be targeted. [/b]In the research process, rather than contacting 15 or 20 current students or alumni, we recommend taking a more targeted approach. After all, at this stage of the process, you’re really just trying to determine if a school should be on your application shortlist. Plus, if you are admitted, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you to connect with students and alumni, so no need to overdo it in this early phase. With this in mind, focus on 3 or 4 people with whom you share a common interest or background. This could be an academic area, undergraduate institution, career goal or some other point of potential connection. This will allow you to be more intentional in your outreach, and being able to reference a commonality will also indicate to the recipient that you have done some research and this is not a blanket request. The [url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/connect/student-ambassadors]Full-Time MBA Student Ambassador webpage[/url] as well as the club leadership pages on the Darden website are great places to look for potential student contacts. Check out some of our tips for contacting the student ambassadors [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2019/10/29/student-ambassadors]here[/url]. However, before you reach out to anyone, we recommend looking them up on LinkedIn so you have a better sense of their background and experiences. Be sure to consult the [b][url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url][/b] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [b][url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url][/b]. And stay connected with us via social media: [b][url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url][/b], [b][url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url][/b], [b][url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url].[/b] The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/13/a-brief-guide-to-networking/]A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application Process[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
14 Jul 2021, 07:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application Process |
|
Current students and alumni are invaluable sources of insights and information when researching business schools. However, there are some things you will want to keep in mind as you approach these networking conversations. Today, we’re highlighting four of our favorite networking tips: [b]1.Do your basic research first. [/b]Alumni and current students are best leveraged after you have done your preliminary research on your target schools. You are contacting them because you are interested in getting personal insights to supplement and reinforce what you’ve learned from rankings, websites and third-party sources. These conversations can give depth and life to a school’s community, classroom, educational experience and network (to name just a few things), and they are also an opportunity for you to raise any questions or concerns that arose during your research. Having a working knowledge of the school will allow you to maximize these interactions and ensure you are not asking questions that are best answered by the school’s website. [b]2. Finding connections. [/b]We realize not every applicant knows someone who has pursued an MBA. This is why we have Admissions podcasts ([url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3GL2RurHqhNREAZk2kpvpP?si=77V3M-Z1Q_moecv0nWxNPQ&dl_branch=1]Experience Darden[/url] | [url=https://open.spotify.com/show/3RylDbKjkP8fggC5iECr6r?si=DY_MAl5hSL6PMVCQ4T-2yA&dl_branch=1]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url]) and a blog where we regularly share student stories and interviews. And it’s also why we encourage prospective students to reach out to Darden students and alumni. However, before you begin this outreach, you may want to spend a few minutes exploring your personal and professional networks for any potential connections. If you’re on LinkedIn, you have access to a powerful resource that can help you identify people in your network who are pursuing or have pursued an MBA. Spend some time on the LinkedIn pages for the schools you are targeting. The “My Employer” tab will allow you to identify anyone at your current company who attended the school. In addition, the “Alumni” section of the school page contains a host of useful information. It will display alumni you may know and allow you to search the alumni base by title, keyword or company and filter by dates attended. You can also view school alumni by where they live, where they work, what they do as well as how you’re connected to members of this network. Clicking on any of the graph bars will display the alumni who live in that location, work at that employer, etc. [b]3. Be specific.[/b] Darden students and alumni are happy to share their experience, but they are also very busy. Rather than sending an email with a long list of questions, we recommend a short email introducing yourself and requesting a phone call (15-20 minutes). In this email, be sure to indicate the one or two questions you would like to discuss during the phone call. That’s right, [b]one or two questions[/b]. And know that it may take a couple weeks for the student or alum to get back to you. Patience is a virtue — especially when it comes to this kind of outreach! Once you’ve scheduled the call, you will want to make sure you are prepared for the conversation. Be ready to introduce yourself and briefly share a little more about your background. You should also expect to talk about why you’re interested in an MBA, what attracted you to Darden and your goals post-MBA. And, last but not least, make sure to follow up the call with a thank you email. Small details and organization in the research process can go a long way. [b]4. Be targeted. [/b]In the research process, rather than contacting 15 or 20 current students or alumni, we recommend taking a more targeted approach. After all, at this stage of the process, you’re really just trying to determine if a school should be on your application shortlist. Plus, if you are admitted, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you to connect with students and alumni, so no need to overdo it in this early phase. With this in mind, focus on 3 or 4 people with whom you share a common interest or background. This could be an academic area, undergraduate institution, career goal or some other point of potential connection. This will allow you to be more intentional in your outreach, and being able to reference a commonality will also indicate to the recipient that you have done some research and this is not a blanket request. The [url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/connect/student-ambassadors]Full-Time MBA Student Ambassador webpage[/url] as well as the club leadership pages on the Darden website are great places to look for potential student contacts. Check out some of our tips for contacting the student ambassadors [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2019/10/29/student-ambassadors]here[/url]. However, before you reach out to anyone, we recommend looking them up on LinkedIn so you have a better sense of their background and experiences. Be sure to consult the [b][url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url][/b] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [b][url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url][/b]. And stay connected with us via social media: [b][url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url][/b], [b][url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url][/b], [b][url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url][/b], [b][url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url].[/b] The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/07/13/a-brief-guide-to-networking/]A Brief Guide to Networking During the Application Process[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
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Hi Guest,
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday, Sep 24, 11am NY; 3pm London; 8:30pm Mumbai ✅ We uncover Amrit’s BSchool journey, his GMAT test-taking experience, motivations for MBA, how to worked on his applications, essays, interviews, etc. ✅ Subscribe to us on YouTube AND Get FREE Access to Premium GMAT Question Bank for 7 Days
YouTube, Instagram Live, & Chats This Week!
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09:30 AM PST |10:00 PM IST |12:30 PM EST Everything you wanted to know about MBA Admissions with ARINGO
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