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24 Aug 2014, 16:59
07 Sep 2014, 17:05
18 Sep 2014, 12:53
29 Sep 2014, 22:09
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Your MBA Application Strategy – How Many Schools? |
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Applying for an MBA is time consuming, as well as stressful. How many schools should you apply to? Is it even worth it to go to a “lesser” school’s MBA program? Will a mid-tier or even lower-tier school help you get to where you want to go? How many applications are average? What is the best possible strategy before you enter a land of diminished returns? In my opinion, the most important thing an MBA candidate can do is plan and structure their application strategy. By this I mean, decide upfront if you only want to apply to the top-tier U.S. MBA programs (Kellogg, Booth, Wharton, HBS, NYU Stern, MIT Sloan, and Columbia) and if you don’t get in, reevaluate again for next round or next year….or not. OR, if you would actually be pretty pleased at a mid-tier or even lower-tier school, and if a degree from those MBA programs will truly meet your future professional needs. I’ve had students who’ve done it both ways: some only want to go to the top MBA programs and if they don’t get in they would rather stay on their current course at their company, and perhaps get a few more years of work experience and promotion under their belt before trying again, or simply try to move up without an MBA degree. Others, simply want to go to any MBA program that will have them, as their trust is more in the MBA degree itself than the actual school. They simply want the degree. Which is the right choice? In my opinion, if you have the credentials, and especially if you’re in the Finance Industry, the top programs are the only way to go. HBS, Wharton, Booth, and Kellogg, if you can get in, and this goes double if you’re an investment professional and intend to work in a large city like New York. The top schools are key in the Northeast region for advancement. A low-range school isn’t going to help you much if your dream is to quickly climb to the top of your field at Morgan Stanley or Deloitte. However, you may not only be able to get by with a mid or lower range school if you want to set down roots in another region of the country = it might actually HELP you. For example, say you have family and want to stay in Tennessee, Atlanta, or North Carolina. The Southern schools (Fuqua, Darden, Emory and Vanderbuilt) are going to serve you better in my opinion, than even the Top Ten schools in the NE, because your network, opportunities, and alumni connections in that particular region of the country are going to be that much stronger. So, what do you do? First, decide where you want to be. In the NYC, shoot for the top. In the South, head for the regional schools, out West in Silicon Valley? Stanford or any of the other Top Ten are key (along with UCLA Anderson). The Midwest? Ross is a great mid-tier selection. Tailor your school choice during this application stage to your long-term location goals. It may actually give you even more opportunity than you realized. Oh, and how many schools should you apply to? If you’re open to not limiting yourself to top-tier, spread it out so you’ll increase your overall chances, applying to some from each level: top-tier, mid-tier, low-tier. I would also think about applying to 5-6 schools. Remember, you don’t have to make a choice until you actually get in, which I sincerely hope you do! [I'm a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and I currently run the MBA admissions firm MBA IVY LEAGUE, out of Manhattan. Like more information? Please fill out my contact form and request more info, today: https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com  
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29 Sep 2014, 22:09
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Successful MBA Sample Essays That Got Applicants Into HBS & Wharton |
 Last year HBS had a 12% accept rate with over 9,000 applicants. The other top MBA programs in the U.S. – Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia and MIT Sloan, just to name a few had similar tight competition. We’ve already discussed the necessary GMAT score ranges and interview skills needed in other blog posts that give you a chance at the top. The question here then is, what makes an applicant’s MBA essay successful, and what can you do to raise yourself among the best?” The answer to that question is to start by looking at some very successful essays. What does a good essay look like? The best resource I’ve found to pass on to the curious, is this resource here: 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays  65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays, Second Edition: With Analysis by the Staff of The Harbus, the Harvard Business School Newspaper  BUT, read with caution because even though I believe this book will help you better understand how to differentiate between a good essay and a bad one (and thereby help you honestly assess where you fall) it doesn’t do much for helping you tell your story, your background, or your professional vision. And, believe me, the ad com has read this book too, so if your essays sound too similar in structure or content to what’s in the book…let’s just say the word “ding” comes to the forefront of my mind. So, what can you do? How can you make your MBA essays successful and land you a place at the top? HBS of course changed their requirements this year, and only asks applicants for one personal statement and are completely open in what they’re asking (read: pressure!), however other MBA programs are still asking the standard, traditional questions: “What are your short and long-terms goals?” “Why a Columbia MBA?” (or Wharton, Stanford, NYU Stern, LBS, INSEAD), “What are Your Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?“ “What Matters to You Most and Why?” and, of course, the “Optional Essay” (which should never be optional – did you hear that… make it optional and you’re passing up a great opportunity to tell the committee even more about you. You’re trying to stand out from 9,000 other applicants…I’d take that opportunity. So, what do the successful MBA essays have in common that catapulted their authors into the Top Ten? 1. GOOD WRITING: This can’t be more stressed. Having solid experience isn’t enough, you must be able to structure your experience and narrative in a way that makes a clear and strong argument for why you would be a valuable addition to the MBA class. That’s what you’re really answering in every question — “This is what I’ve done, and this is why I am valuable.” 2. Let Them See Your Process: The ad com doesn’t just want to see a static goal, they want to understand the process of how you got there. Your decision making process. How you make and are making the hard career choices in your life and why. That’s much more revealing about you as an applicant than just a passive, simple statement that says, “I want to be _____ when I graduate.” Show them your decision-making process and why your goals truly make sense. 3. Be Realistic: The best essays are the ones where the applicants have realistic long-term goals. This doesn’t mean your goals can’t be BIG, but it does mean that if they are big, that you already have something in your background (experience at a Fortune 500 company, a degree from an Ivy League school, patents under your name if you’re perhaps an entrepreneur). SOMETHING that shows your long-term vision has a foundation that makes it at least seem possible. Lay out your course of action, your road map, that shows how you plan to get where you want to go. Too far-fetched with absolutely nothing to back it up = Dinged. 4. Ask for Help: There are a lot of MBA admissions firms out there now, and people are using them; your competition for that illusive HBS “Admitted” 12% is using them. Make sure you either have the confidence in your own writing skills to put your best foot forward on paper, and if you don’t, get help. The top consultants never rewrite your essays for you, but provide detailed comments and suggestions to help you get your own essays back on track. [I'm a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA admissions firm MBA IVY LEAGUE, out of Manhattan. Like more information? Please contact me for a free phone consultation today: www.MBAIvyLeague.com]  
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02 Oct 2014, 21:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Top Five Things That Will Get You Dinged on Your MBA Applications |
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HBS, Wharton, Columbia, NYU Stern, Kellogg, Booth, they’re all the same when it comes to one thing: “dings.” If you’re applying for your MBA degree this year, you’re probably all too familiar with what that little word means. “Dings” are the marks made against you on your MBA application, the things you’ve done wrong, your failings, the things that will keep you from the MBA degree and business school and career of your dreams. “Dings” are MBA slang for really, really bad. What if you knew ahead of time though, the top five things that you could avoid that would make sure an MBA admission officer’s “ding” on your application never happened? What if you could in fact, avoid the “dings” altogether and create a stellar application, by avoiding the most common dings, below? Again, these are the top five things NOT to do: 1. DING #1: Speaking in a general versus personal matter = don’t do it. This happens way too frequently among MBA applicants. In the essays, the applicant makes very general and sweepingly broad statements about “society” or “the global climate,” or “the issue” and goes on and on from their soapbox making a broad, generalized point, without really letting the admissions committee see them and who they are personally as an applicant. So, if you never use the word “I” in your essay and you find yourself talking about the various “ills of society” too much = DING. 2. DING #2: Not following though with your examples Let’s say the question is, “Tell Us About A Time You Overcame Failure.” You have an example, you state where you were working at the time; you state what happened…the failure…and then you just stop on the negative. You’ve stated your answer as if it’s a fill-in-the-blank question. However, you have failed to provide any kind of self-reflection in the essay about why this “failure” occurred, how it influenced your life and career, and what you learned and took away from it that was positive (you always want to end on the positive). So, not stating these things, not following through on your examples is akin to answering someone in monotone = DING. 3. DING #3: Not knowing how to write well You don’t have to be Shakespeare, you do have to be able to write well. Think about it, you’re applying for an MBA degree, and if all goes well, in the future you will be an executive or manager in charge of various employees, teams, and divisions. You better know how to write, regardless of your field. At the management level you represent the company. The MBA essays are the first place they look for clear, concise, logical and properly structured writing. If you can’t do it, get help. If you can’t do it, and you go ahead and turn bad writing in, thinking it doesn’t really matter and your essays are convoluted, unclear, grammatically incorrect or just plain confusing and/ or sounds like your eight year old wrote it = BIG DING. 4. DING #4: Not building a logical bridge Often people use the MBA degree to bridge the gap between their past career (possibly even in a different field), and their future plans. “Dings” happen on this front however, when applicants fail to make their journey from point A to point B very clear and laid-out. How are you going to go from a mechanical engineer to a strategy consultant focused on tech investments? How does all your past experience figure in? Tell us. Tell us in detail. Make sure your plan is accurate. People switch careers all the time, and what the admission committees look for is simply: is your plan LOGICAL, does it make sense? Have you laid it out? Fail to show the necessary steps, or worse, not be clear about the steps yourself = HUGE DING. 5. DING #5: Not speaking with confidence This one seems self-explanatory, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across applicants who write in a very self-deprecating way. They say things like, “if it’s possible for me to become a (fill in the blank) and go to your great school…” In other words, they put the school way up here on a pedestal, and themselves way down here in the plebeian mud. Don’t do it. The men and women who will one day be the top executives and leaders in their field KNOW they belong at these schools. There’s no self-deprecation, because they know they have just as much to contribute to the school as they will receive. There is no pedestal. Think otherwise and = DING. Show them you know you belong! Avoid these five “dings” and you will be in much better shape than most of the MBA applicants out there. Master the essays, and you will have an excellent chance at success! [I'm a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate and currently run the MBA admissions firm: MBA IVY LEAGUE. Like assistance with your MBA essays? I offer free phone consultations so contact me today: https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com ]  
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06 Oct 2014, 17:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Successful MBA Sample Essays That Got Applicants Into HBS & Wharton |
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Last year HBS had a 12% accept rate with over 9,000 applicants. The other top MBA programs in the U.S. – Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia and MIT Sloan, just to name a few had similar tight competition. We’ve already discussed the necessary GMAT score ranges and interview skills needed in other blog posts that give you a chance at the top. The question here then is, what makes an applicant’s MBA essay successful, and what can you do to raise yourself among the best?” The answer to that question is to start by looking at some very successful essays. What does a good essay look like? The best resource I’ve found to pass on to the curious, is this resource here: 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays  65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays, Second Edition: With Analysis by the Staff of The Harbus, the Harvard Business School Newspaper  BUT, read with caution because even though I believe this book will help you better understand how to differentiate between a good essay and a bad one (and thereby help you honestly assess where you fall) it doesn’t do much for helping you tell your story, your background, or your professional vision. And, believe me, the ad com has read this book too, so if your essays sound too similar in structure or content to what’s in the book…let’s just say the word “ding” comes to the forefront of my mind. So, what can you do? How can you make your MBA essays successful and land you a place at the top? HBS of course changed their requirements this year, and only asks applicants for one personal statement and are completely open in what they’re asking (read: pressure!), however other MBA programs are still asking the standard, traditional questions: “What are your short and long-terms goals?” “Why a Columbia MBA?” (or Wharton, Stanford, NYU Stern, LBS, INSEAD), “What are Your Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?“ “What Matters to You Most and Why?” and, of course, the “Optional Essay” (which should never be optional – did you hear that… make it optional and you’re passing up a great opportunity to tell the committee even more about you. You’re trying to stand out from 9,000 other applicants…I’d take that opportunity. So, what do the successful MBA essays have in common that catapulted their authors into the Top Ten? 1. GOOD WRITING: This can’t be more stressed. Having solid experience isn’t enough, you must be able to structure your experience and narrative in a way that makes a clear and strong argument for why you would be a valuable addition to the MBA class. That’s what you’re really answering in every question — “This is what I’ve done, and this is why I am valuable.” 2. Let Them See Your Process: The ad com doesn’t just want to see a static goal, they want to understand the process of how you got there. Your decision making process. How you make and are making the hard career choices in your life and why. That’s much more revealing about you as an applicant than just a passive, simple statement that says, “I want to be _____ when I graduate.” Show them your decision-making process and why your goals truly make sense. 3. Be Realistic: The best essays are the ones where the applicants have realistic long-term goals. This doesn’t mean your goals can’t be BIG, but it does mean that if they are big, that you already have something in your background (experience at a Fortune 500 company, a degree from an Ivy League school, patents under your name if you’re perhaps an entrepreneur). SOMETHING that shows your long-term vision has a foundation that makes it at least seem possible. Lay out your course of action, your road map, that shows how you plan to get where you want to go. Too far-fetched with absolutely nothing to back it up = Dinged. 4. Ask for Help: There are a lot of MBA admissions firms out there now, and people are using them; your competition for that elusive HBS “Admitted” 12% is using them. Make sure you either have the confidence in your own writing skills to put your best foot forward on paper, and if you don’t, get help. The top consultants never rewrite your essays for you, but provide detailed comments and suggestions to help you get your own essays back on track. [I'm a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA admissions firm MBA IVY LEAGUE, out of Manhattan. Like more information? Please contact me for a free phone consultation today: www.MBAIvyLeague.com]
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06 Oct 2014, 17:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Top Five Things That Will Get You Dinged on Your MBA Applications |
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HBS, Wharton, Columbia, NYU Stern, Kellogg, Booth, they’re all the same when it comes to one thing: “dings.” If you’re applying for your MBA degree this year, you’re probably all too familiar with what that little word means. “Dings” are the marks made against you on your MBA application, the things you’ve done wrong, your failings, the things that will keep you from the MBA degree and business school and career of your dreams. “Dings” are MBA slang for really, really bad. What if you knew ahead of time though, the top five things that you could avoid that would make sure an MBA admission officer’s “ding” on your application never happened? What if you could in fact, avoid the “dings” altogether and create a stellar application, by avoiding the most common dings, below? Again, these are the top five things NOT to do: 1. DING #1: Speaking in a general versus personal matter = don’t do it. This happens way too frequently among MBA applicants. In the essays, the applicant makes very general and sweepingly broad statements about “society” or “the global climate,” or “the issue” and goes on and on from their soapbox making a broad, generalized point, without really letting the admissions committee see them and who they are personally as an applicant. So, if you never use the word “I” in your essay and you find yourself talking about the various “ills of society” too much = DING. 2. DING #2: Not following though with your examples Let’s say the question is, “Tell Us About A Time You Overcame Failure.” You have an example, you state where you were working at the time; you state what happened…the failure…and then you just stop on the negative. You’ve stated your answer as if it’s a fill-in-the-blank question. However, you have failed to provide any kind of self-reflection in the essay about why this “failure” occurred, how it influenced your life and career, and what you learned and took away from it that was positive (you always want to end on the positive). So, not stating these things, not following through on your examples is akin to answering someone in monotone = DING. 3. DING #3: Not knowing how to write well You don’t have to be Shakespeare, you do have to be able to write well. Think about it, you’re applying for an MBA degree, and if all goes well, in the future you will be an executive or manager in charge of various employees, teams, and divisions. You better know how to write, regardless of your field. At the management level you represent the company. The MBA essays are the first place they look for clear, concise, logical and properly structured writing. If you can’t do it, get help. If you can’t do it, and you go ahead and turn bad writing in, thinking it doesn’t really matter and your essays are convoluted, unclear, grammatically incorrect or just plain confusing and/ or sounds like your eight year old wrote it = BIG DING. 4. DING #4: Not building a logical bridge Often people use the MBA degree to bridge the gap between their past career (possibly even in a different field), and their future plans. “Dings” happen on this front however, when applicants fail to make their journey from point A to point B very clear and laid-out. How are you going to go from a mechanical engineer to a strategy consultant focused on tech investments? How does all your past experience figure in? Tell us. Tell us in detail. Make sure your plan is accurate. People switch careers all the time, and what the admission committees look for is simply: is your plan LOGICAL, does it make sense? Have you laid it out? Fail to show the necessary steps, or worse, not be clear about the steps yourself = HUGE DING. 5. DING #5: Not speaking with confidence This one seems self-explanatory, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across applicants who write in a very self-deprecating way. They say things like, “if it’s possible for me to become a (fill in the blank) and go to your great school…” In other words, they put the school way up here on a pedestal, and themselves way down here in the plebeian mud. Don’t do it. The men and women who will one day be the top executives and leaders in their field KNOW they belong at these schools. There’s no self-deprecation, because they know they have just as much to contribute to the school as they will receive. There is no pedestal. Think otherwise and = DING. Show them you know you belong! Avoid these five “dings” and you will be in much better shape than most of the MBA applicants out there. Master the essays, and you will have an excellent chance at success! [I'm a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate and currently run the MBA admissions firm: MBA IVY LEAGUE. Like assistance with your MBA essays? I offer free phone consultations so contact me today: https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com ]
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30 Oct 2014, 13:45
03 Nov 2014, 10:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): MBA INTERVIEWS – WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT? |
 MBAIvy:Scheduling your MBA interviews?  Originally posted on MBA Ivy League: Now that Round 1 MBA deadlines are either complete or soon to be complete, I thought a great topic for today’s post would be the next most frequent question I get from my MBA students and clients: “What about the interview, and what can I expect?” Usually, this is asked with some degree of trepidation, as most people don’t like going into a situation blind where the person on the other end seemingly has all the control in terms of your future. To quell some fears though, here are some valuable tips regarding the MBA (and EMBA) interview, and what it’s all about: 1. They really do just want to get to know you – MBA admission officers sort through hundreds and hundreds of applicants. They really do just want to be able to put a face with a name, to understand just a little bit more about you, to gain… View original 408 more words  
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05 Nov 2014, 21:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): MBA INTERVIEWS – WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT? |
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MBAIvy: Scheduling your MBA interviews? Originally posted on MBA Ivy League: Now that Round 1 MBA deadlines are either complete or soon to be complete, I thought a great topic for today’s post would be the next most frequent question I get from my MBA students and clients: “What about the interview, and what can I expect?” Usually, this is asked with some degree of trepidation, as most people don’t like going into a situation blind where the person on the other end seemingly has all the control in terms of your future. To quell some fears though, here are some valuable tips regarding the MBA (and EMBA) interview, and what it’s all about: 1. They really do just want to get to know you – MBA admission officers sort through hundreds and hundreds of applicants. They really do just want to be able to put a face with a name, to understand just a little bit more about you, to gain… View original 408 more words
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05 Nov 2014, 21:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Top 2014 MBA Admissions Interview Questions – What Can You Expect? |
Top MBA Admissions Interview Questions – What Can You Expect? Are you one of the lucky ones? Have you been invited to interview at one of the star MBA programs you applied to for Round 1? Even if you’re applying Round 2, the below can help you learn what kinds of questions admission officers are asking this year, and what tips can help you make the best response. 1. Talk about your career choices since leaving college? What interviewers are looking for here, is what I call “logical progression.” They’re looking to see a focused path in how and why you moved from point A to point B, etc., and if you don’t have a focused path (which accounts for a large amount of applicants, so don’t worry) they simply want to see and understand the reasons for your jumping around. The main thing that will get you dinged though? Impulsiveness – that’s what this question is trying to screen out. 2. What are you most proud of at your current job? Here, the interviewer is trying to get a sense of the amount of responsibility you hold in your current position, as the thing you are most proud of will not only, most likely, show off your best strength as an employee, but will show what character trait you actually value most. The main thing that will get you dinged with this question? Not speaking with confidence or failing to explain or back up your answer. 3. When have you strongly differed in opinion from someone? Give your best example that has a positive outcome! Admissions is trying to see if you can a serious difference, but also describe how there was a positive solution to the difference that ended up working in your favor. If your example didn’t work out in your favor – choose another example! 4. What is an example of something really difficult you’ve had to go through, or important event in the last 5-7 years? Again, here the committee is trying to get a sense of your professional journey and what stands out in your mind, which is going to parallel highly with what you most value. They are simply trying to understand who you are professionally, and how you see yourself in relation to others. The one thing that will get you dinged on this question? Not having a strong and solid answer. Speak with confidence as the fastest thing to get you dinged on all of your questions is a wishy-washy, weak, or one-word response. 5. Why an MBA now, and why this school? Most likely, you already wrote an essay for this question, so just review all of your essays before going into your interview. Your answer to the first part, “Why an MBA now?” should really take into consideration why NOW is, in fact, the most logical time to get your degree. The word “now” is key. The second part, “Why HBS, Wharton, Columbia, Booth, Kellogg, MIT Sloan or NYU Stern?” just to name a few, should focus on the particular program’s attributes that are specific to your career. What they are trying to screen for in this question, is again, impulsiveness = they don’t like it. Everything you do, even if your career so far hasn’t been as smooth or uninterrupted as you would like, should still have a reason, an explanation, an arc and journey were everything you’ve done still has value that can be used and drawn upon, and therefore makes sense. In the end, your interview should be conversational, dynamic, and engaging! In other words, just try to have a very real and purposeful conversation. If you’ve gotten this far, it’s a very good sign that you are already on your way! [I'm a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA admissions firm: MBA IVY LEAGUE. I provide expert advice on MBA essays and applications and offer free initial consultations, so please contact me today! https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com  
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07 Nov 2014, 09:20
12 Nov 2014, 02:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Top 2014 MBA Admissions Interview Questions – What Can You Expect? |
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Top MBA Admissions Interview Questions – What Can You Expect? Are you one of the lucky ones? Have you been invited to interview at one of the star MBA programs you applied to for Round 1? Even if you’re applying Round 2, the below can help you learn what kinds of questions admission officers are asking this year, and what tips can help you make the best response. 1. Talk about your career choices since leaving college? What interviewers are looking for here, is what I call “logical progression.” They’re looking to see a focused path in how and why you moved from point A to point B, etc., and if you don’t have a focused path (which accounts for a large amount of applicants, so don’t worry) they simply want to see and understand the reasons for your jumping around. The main thing that will get you dinged though? Impulsiveness – that’s what this question is trying to screen out. 2. What are you most proud of at your current job? Here, the interviewer is trying to get a sense of the amount of responsibility you hold in your current position, as the thing you are most proud of will not only, most likely, show off your best strength as an employee, but will show what character trait you actually value most. The main thing that will get you dinged with this question? Not speaking with confidence or failing to explain or back up your answer. 3. When have you strongly differed in opinion from someone? Give your best example that has a positive outcome! Admissions is trying to see if you can a serious difference, but also describe how there was a positive solution to the difference that ended up working in your favor. If your example didn’t work out in your favor – choose another example! 4. What is an example of something really difficult you’ve had to go through, or important event in the last 5-7 years? Again, here the committee is trying to get a sense of your professional journey and what stands out in your mind, which is going to parallel highly with what you most value. They are simply trying to understand who you are professionally, and how you see yourself in relation to others. The one thing that will get you dinged on this question? Not having a strong and solid answer. Speak with confidence as the fastest thing to get you dinged on all of your questions is a wishy-washy, weak, or one-word response. 5. Why an MBA now, and why this school? Most likely, you already wrote an essay for this question, so just review all of your essays before going into your interview. Your answer to the first part, “Why an MBA now?” should really take into consideration why NOW is, in fact, the most logical time to get your degree. The word “now” is key. The second part, “Why HBS, Wharton, Columbia, Booth, Kellogg, MIT Sloan or NYU Stern?” just to name a few, should focus on the particular program’s attributes that are specific to your career. What they are trying to screen for in this question, is again, impulsiveness = they don’t like it. Everything you do, even if your career so far hasn’t been as smooth or uninterrupted as you would like, should still have a reason, an explanation, an arc and journey were everything you’ve done still has value that can be used and drawn upon, and therefore makes sense. In the end, your interview should be conversational, dynamic, and engaging! In other words, just try to have a very real and purposeful conversation. If you’ve gotten this far, it’s a very good sign that you are already on your way! [I'm a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA admissions firm: MBA IVY LEAGUE. I provide expert advice on MBA essays and applications and offer free initial consultations, so please contact me today! https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com
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23 Feb 2015, 13:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Top MBA Interview Questions – What Can You Expect? |
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Top MBA Interview Questions – What Can You Expect? Are you one of the lucky ones? Have you been invited to interview at one of the top-tier MBA programs you applied to in Round 2? Even if you’re now just applying Round 3, the below can help you learn what kinds of questions admission officers are asking this year, and what tips can help you give the best impression possible! 1. “Tell me about your career choices since leaving college?” What interviewers are looking for here, is what I call a “logical progression.” They’re looking to see a focused path regarding both how and why you moved from point A to point B, to point C, and if you don’t have a focused path (which accounts for a large amount of applicants, so don’t worry) they simply want to see and understand the reasons you jumped around. It has to sound LOGICAL. It has to add up to who and where you are NOW. The main thing that will get you dinged here? Impulsiveness – that’s what this question is trying to screen out. They want to make sure you’re just not all over the place and flaky, because then, you know, you may leave the program, too. 2. “What accomplishment are you most proud of at your current job?” Here, the interviewer is trying to get a sense of the amount of responsibility you hold in your current position, as the thing you are most proud of will not only (most likely) show off your best strength as an employee, but will show what character trait you actually value most – and that gives them great information about YOU. The main thing that will get you dinged with this question? Not speaking up with confidence or failing to explain or back up your answer. 3. “When have you strongly differed in opinion from someone at work?” Give your best example that had a positive outcome! Admissions is trying to see if you have what it takes to speak up and make a serious difference in your workplace, but also are looking for you to describe how there was a positive solution to the difference that ended up working in your favor. If your example didn’t work out in your favor – choose another example! 4. “What is an example of something really difficult you’ve had to go through, or important event in the last 5-7 years?” Again, here the committee is trying to get a sense of your professional journey and what stands out in your mind, which is going to parallel highly with what you most value. They are simply trying to understand who you are professionally, and how you see yourself in relation to others. The one thing that will get you dinged on this question? Not having a strong and solid answer. It’s really not so much what you say, but how you say it. Always speak with confidence as the fastest thing to get you dinged on all of your questions is a wishy-washy, weak, one-word response. 5. “Why an MBA now, and why our school?” Most likely, you already wrote an essay for this question, so just review all of your essays before going into your interview. Your answer to the first part, “Why an MBA now?” should really take into consideration why NOW is, in fact, the most logical time to get your degree. The word “now” is key. They want to see the logic behind your decision. The second part, “Why HBS, Wharton, Columbia, Booth, Kellogg, MIT Sloan or NYU Stern?” just to name a few, should focus on the particular program’s attributes that are specific to your career. What they are trying to screen for in this question, is again, impulsiveness = they don’t like it. Everything you do, even if your career so far hasn’t been as smooth or uninterrupted as you would like, should still have a reason, an explanation, an arc, a journey as if everything you’ve done to get you where you are still has value – value that can be used and drawn upon now in your current career. In the end, your interview should be conversational, dynamic, and engaging! In other words, just try to have a very real and engaging conversation. If you’ve gotten this far, it’s a very good sign that you are already on your way! [I’m a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate. I currently run the MBA admissions firm: MBA IVY LEAGUE out of NYC. I provide expert advice on MBA essays and applications to students all over the world, and offer free initial consultations, so please contact me today! https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com
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23 Feb 2015, 13:28
27 Feb 2015, 14:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Interested in a Top EMBA Program? What You Need to Know |
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Although most U.S. MBA deadlines have passed (though I am still taking clients for Round 3), there is still ample time to apply for an EMBA (or, Executive MBA) at some of the most prestigious and competitive schools. With final deadlines not until late May or June for most programs, due a rolling admissions process that most EMBA programs operate on, I always recommend that potential EMBA clients start early, and start now. So, how do you know if you’re right for an EMBA versus a regular track degree? You have experience. Solid experience. In other words, you are already at the top of your game, the higher reaches of your career. You are already an executive or a very successful entrepreneur with their own company, and you have the drive and ambition to push your vision even further. This is what the top EMBA programs look for in a candidate: solid professionals who have strong and varied experience that they can bring to the table. An EMBA degree is all about forming connections – putting the best of the best all in the same room, so strategies can be shared, ideas brainstormed, future business plans made, and in a place where you are interacting and associating with your equally impressive and successful peers. An EMBA can catapult you to an even higher level in your career. The degree is an experience that helps fill in any gaps in your business education. It is meant as a platform from which you can jump off even higher. It’s meant for leaders who still fully intend to be a part of their business full-time. The top EMBA programs for 2015? Columbia, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, NYU Stern, and Fuqua, just to name a few (and Columbia’s joint program with LBS (London School of Business) makes it one of the best in my opinion, on top of its location in NYC). The EMBA is a serious degree that can make a serious difference. {I’m a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard grad, and currently run the MBA & EMBA consulting firm MBA IVY LEAGUE out of Manhattan. I offer free initial consultations, so please contact me through my website today: https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com}  
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26 Mar 2015, 10:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): “DINGED” : Why Your MBA Application Didn’t Make It |
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If you applied for your MBA degree this past year, you might unfortunately be all too familiar with what the word “dinged” means in the MBA context. It means, to put it bluntly, that you didn’t get in. That you were rejected from your ideal school. Turned down. Turned aside, and basically told in no uncertain terms: NO. And, if you’re like most MBA applicants…especially those who applied to the top MBA or EMBA programs like Wharton, HBS, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Tuck or NYU Stern and then got rejected…you probably actually have no idea what happened in terms of your application or why. AND, if you are now thinking of applying again Round 1 for next year, after you already got rejected, you really need to understand 1). Why you were dinged and, 2). Exactly what you need to do to repair and improve your chances when you submit your application again. Too many students simply try again with the same application! This is a horrible, horrible plan as getting “dinged” was not an oversight. It means there was something wrong with your application that you, now, absolutely need to understand, repair, and fix. So, it’s not just all about taking the GMAT again and trying to raise your score (though that is always good). It’s usually about adding more detailed examples that exemplify your points, fine-tuning your “story” or career narrative, gaining extra experience, or better highlighting and emphasizing certain experience and skills (such as the ability to speak other languages perhaps, or starting some side business or non-profit venture) that can make you look even more valuable as a potential candidate. But first, you MUST understand why you were turned down. I am currently offering a flat rate “Ding Evaluation” if you have been turned down from one or perhaps many of your choice schools. Understand what happened before you apply again and make the improvements you need. You can contact me through my website below: I’m a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate and currently run the MBA admissions firm: www.MBAIvyLeague.com  
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16 Apr 2015, 18:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): The GMAT Score You Need to be a Competitive MBA Candidate! |
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Originally posted on MBA Ivy League: As a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, people are always asking me about their GMAT scores and “if I think they’ll get in.” Test scores are certainly one large aspect of the entire MBA admissions process, although allow me to stress that many other things including, most importantly, your professional experience, your future goals, your internships, and how an MBA degree now logically and purposefully ties in to everything, as well as your rec letters and resume all matter a lot, too. That said, what score DOES it take to get in? In my view, one needs a GMAT score between 680- –> 720 to be considered competitive at the “Top Ten” and Ivy League schools, and anything over 720 will put you in a completely different (i.e. read: excellent) ballpark and that is what you should shoot for in terms of really making a… View original 213 more words  
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08 Jun 2015, 16:01
| FROM MBA Ivy League Blog (Admissions Consultant): Top MBA Essay Books to Buy, If You’re Applying to the “Top Ten!” |
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Thinking about applying for your MBA or EMBA this year at a top school? The below are the best books around in my opinion, for students looking to ace the most competitive MBA essays, GMAT, and applications. So, if it’s your dream to get in to HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Stanford, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, INSEAD or LBS, just to name a few – take a look at my list below. The first three, in particular, are winners. 1.   2.   3.   4.   5. [I’m a former Harvard Interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA $ EMBA admissions firm https://www.MBAIvyLeague.com out of New York. Contact me for a free consultation today!]  
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Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
Tuck at Dartmouth
GMAT Club REWARDS
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