Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 03:32 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 03:32
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

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

Track
Your Progress

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

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
agold
User avatar
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Last visit: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 1,578
Own Kudos:
300
Location: Southern California
Concentration: Investment Banking
Schools:Chicago (dinged), Tuck (November), Columbia (RD)
Posts: 1,578
Kudos: 300
Name dropping in essays 10 Apr 2008, 18:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Is it acceptable/appropriate to mention names of alumni that you know/have interacted with in your essays? If so, in what context is this appropriate?

On a similar note, is it a smart idea to write about books that you have read related to your field that inspired you?
User avatar
msday
User avatar
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
Last visit: 09 Jul 2014
Posts: 515
Own Kudos:
64
Given Kudos: 28
Concentration: General Management
Schools:Harvard '11
GMAT 1: 790 Q51 V48
Posts: 515
Kudos: 64
Name dropping in essays 10 Apr 2008, 18:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I plan on doing the former, in the context of "person X (class of 2003) told me this important fact about xx school/opened my eyes to this opportunity" etc.

terp06
Is it acceptable/appropriate to mention names of alumni that you know/have interacted with in your essays? If so, in what context is this appropriate?

On a similar note, is it a smart idea to write about books that you have read related to your field that inspired you?
Show more
User avatar
aaudetat
User avatar
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Last visit: 10 Jan 2016
Posts: 1,854
Own Kudos:
233
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Social Enterprise
Schools:The Duke MBA, Class of 2009
Posts: 1,854
Kudos: 233
Name dropping in essays 10 Apr 2008, 19:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It's acceptable to talk about real connections. It's not acceptable to simply name drop. Tie the name (and accompanying story) into your essay. Ex: "I'm particularly interested in Cornell's Big Red Fund. At your applicant reception in NYC, I spoke with Don Juan Financero (Johnson, 2005) who described the challenges of ... and excitement of ...etc. I feel that Big Red is a great way for me to gain experience as a fund manager, and will position me well come recruiting season."
User avatar
aaudetat
User avatar
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Last visit: 10 Jan 2016
Posts: 1,854
Own Kudos:
233
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Social Enterprise
Schools:The Duke MBA, Class of 2009
Posts: 1,854
Kudos: 233
Name dropping in essays 10 Apr 2008, 19:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Oh, and same for the books. if you weave it into your story, it's fine.

"I am particularly excited about taking Sustainability with Stu Hart. I recently read his book, and have found his model to be particularly helpful in better understanding the clean tech industry...blahblahblah....."
User avatar
defenestrate
User avatar
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Last visit: 21 Aug 2013
Posts: 158
Own Kudos:
37
Posts: 158
Kudos: 37
Name dropping in essays 10 Apr 2008, 20:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I believe that you should name drop in the right manner. It shows a real interest and your ability to reach out into a community that you are not yet a part of. If you have read the books of professors, spoken with students/faculty and these people have had an impact on your desire to attend a particular school then you should find a way to work this in...there is no better way to show your interest.
avatar
aceman626
avatar
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Last visit: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 469
Own Kudos:
9
Posts: 469
Kudos: 9
Name dropping in essays 11 Apr 2008, 00:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aaudetat
It's acceptable to talk about real connections. It's not acceptable to simply name drop. Tie the name (and accompanying story) into your essay. Ex: "I'm particularly interested in Cornell's Big Red Fund. At your applicant reception in NYC, I spoke with Don Juan Financero (Johnson, 2005) who described the challenges of ... and excitement of ...etc. I feel that Big Red is a great way for me to gain experience as a fund manager, and will position me well come recruiting season."
Show more

are you heading to cornell?
User avatar
aaudetat
User avatar
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Last visit: 10 Jan 2016
Posts: 1,854
Own Kudos:
233
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Social Enterprise
Schools:The Duke MBA, Class of 2009
Posts: 1,854
Kudos: 233
Name dropping in essays 11 Apr 2008, 06:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aceman626
aaudetat
It's acceptable to talk about real connections. It's not acceptable to simply name drop. Tie the name (and accompanying story) into your essay. Ex: "I'm particularly interested in Cornell's Big Red Fund. At your applicant reception in NYC, I spoke with Don Juan Financero (Johnson, 2005) who described the challenges of ... and excitement of ...etc. I feel that Big Red is a great way for me to gain experience as a fund manager, and will position me well come recruiting season."

are you heading to cornell?
Show more

No, I'm an FY at Duke. But I lived in Ithaca for 5 years and Cornell was the other school I seriously considered last year. I feel like a broken record talking about Duke sometimes, so felt like shaking it up a little. I'm crazy like that.
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
744
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 744
Name dropping in essays 13 Apr 2008, 15:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
yes, there were some threads about this in the past if I can find them...

search "name drop" or something in this forum.

I used a LOT of names in my essays, generally tying them to clubs and things I'm interested in. It got me into the schools I wanted to get into. :)
User avatar
lepium
User avatar
Joined: 24 Sep 2006
Last visit: 22 Oct 2012
Posts: 1,359
Own Kudos:
208
Posts: 1,359
Kudos: 208
Name dropping in essays 13 Apr 2008, 22:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
On a few apps I got over-excited about researching the schools (weaving researchers and their work into my Why School X? essays) and got dinged. On others I just simply synthesized the couple of things I liked the most about them and got in.

The above is just anecdotal evidence, however I do believe it's a generalizable principle: namedrop reasonably and smoothly, within a clear concept and you'll be fine. Namedrop awkwardly and you are toast.

L.