Calling all HBS Applicants - (2015 Intake) Class of 2017

By Paul Lanzillotti, Amerasia Consulting Group
OUR RANKING OF BUSINESS SCHOOL PROGRAMS BY PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATES ENTERING THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY IN 2014.
Today's blog post is a follow up to our Top MBA Programs in Finance ranking. It's also our continued attempt at ranking top MBA programs by industry and based on publicly available data.

UC Berkeley Haas comes out on top when it comes to sending graduates (as a percentage of all graduates in 2014) back into the technology industry. UCLA Anderson is second, but it's not even close. Hands down, Haas is the place to be if you're into technology and want to work for a related firm in the industry.


BUYER BEWARE
Now before you get too far into interpreting the numbers, a few words of caution. What we have done is an inaugural attempt at a numerically based ranking and its not perfect. It's based on our interpretation of the numbers put forth by top business schools.

• Let us explain. Most MBA career centers report employment numbers according to the categories that we use in our rankings. Some schools break "industry" categories into further sub-categories. Other programs - i.e. Michigan Ross - roll up their industry categories under more general headers like "manufacturing". So you could be a "marketing" professional but be within the manufacturing industry. To be forthright, it's a little confusing. (This is why we have decided to exclude Michigan Ross from some categories until we gather a little more insight into their self-reported numbers.)

None-the-less, we have tried to make sense of it all and to do this we did combine some categories in order to get an apples-to-apples comparison across schools. Clear as mud?
WHY WE USE EMPLOYMENT DATA TO RANK SCHOOLS
Our opinion is that recruiting (i.e. who's hiring) drives most programs "investment" decisions - in students, faculty, courses, experiential initiatives, alumni outreach, etc.  So to know to what a specific MBA program is really all about, you need to see the end result. In other words, what industries are hiring MBA graduates and from what schools?

We compiled this ranking based on information taken directly from the following MBA employment reports.

Haas https://haas.berkeley.edu/groups/careercenter/reports/14-15ReportSummary.pdf

UCLA Anderson https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/Documents/areas/adm/cmc/2014%20PARKER%20CMC%20Employment%20Report%2002.10.15%20LR.pdf

Stanford GSB https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Stanford%20GSB%20Employment%20Report%202013-14.pdf

MIT Sloan https://mitsloan.mit.edu/pdf/Class_of_2014-intern_employment_report.pdf

HBS https://www.hbs.edu/recruiting/mba/data-and-statistics/employment-statistics.html

Wharton https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/your-career/career-statistics.cfm

Kellogg https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/career_employer/employment_statistics.aspx

Chicago Booth https://www.chicagobooth.edu/employmentreport/

Columbia https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/recruiters/employmentreport

NYU Stern https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/career/employment-statistics

Tuck https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/careers/employment-statistics

Yale SOM https://som.yale.edu/yale-som-connect/recruiting/employment-statistics

Michigan Ross https://michiganross.umich.edu/our-community/recruiters

Duke Fuqua https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/mba_recruiting/recruiting_duke/employment_statistics/

Cornell Johnson https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/Career-Management/Employment-Report-for-Two-Year-MBAs

UVA Darden https://www.darden.virginia.edu/recruiters-companies/hire-an-mba/employment-reports/
FINALLY, DOES THE WORLD REALLY NEED ANOTHER BUSINESS SCHOOL RANKING?
We think "yes". We've never felt completely comfortable with the rankings because (to our knowledge) the raw data that drives the US News and Businessweek rankings has never been fully disclosed. So we decided to start over and with the very numbers that the school's career centers are reporting via their respective employment reporting.

That being said, we welcome any constructive feedback you may have. Email us at MBA@amerasiaconsulting.com with comments or if you're looking for an expert admissions consultant to lead you through the application process.

By Adam Hoff and Paul Lanzillotti, Amerasia Consulting Group

Our updated 2015/2016 “How to Apply to Columbia” guide is now available for immediate download. This 12-page PDF is the starting point for prospective MBA applicants to CBS and is provided to at no cost.  Download the Columbia Business School Guide >

Columbia is one of the most interesting and unique business schools in the world, defined by what we see as a series of unique contradictions (no fault of the school’s, we might add).  It’s a program with incredible international resources, yet is a draw for many international candidates primarily because it is seen as so quintessentially “American” being in New York City.   And the location creates another curious push-pull, which is that being in Manhattan gives CBS a huge resource advantage and almost a “business school buffet” where students can access anything and everything they need … yet Columbia must battle against having a “commuter school” feel more than just about any other program by virtue of so many students already living in New York before attending.  Then, of course, there is the Employment Report.  Perhaps no other business school combines the traits of “incredible launching pad for careers” and “very concerned about applicants’ career goals” quite like Columbia.  On its face, many of these contradictions seem like problems, but they aren’t.  They can actually make for an incredible b-school experience … as well as a chance to candidates to thread a needle and show just how perfect they can be for Columbia.

What does this mean and what does it look like for your candidacy?  In a nutshell, it means that Columbia pays closer attention to your career goals (particularly in the short term) than any other business school … which is saying something considering how carefully most MBA programs are checking out short-term goals.  One might go so far as to call Columbia “paternalistic” in their approach, but at the very least, the school is being extremely cautious about who it admits into the program and is using career services as a sounding board to help determine whether specific career aspirations are achievable with a Columbia MBA.   Further, it means showcasing how you will get involved, be part of a community, and bring a unique, expansive perspective with you to campus.

All of this actually serves to create a wonderful opening for those students who are able to probably identify what matters most to Columbia and then communicate a desire to be part of the school’s transformation, while also showing a nuanced and balanced understanding of both the power and limitation of an MBA as it related to securing a job.

If that sounds intimidating, you can rest easy in knowing that we have created this 10-step approach to applying to Columbia.  The following guide will help you understand all of the key hot button issues and major thematic touch points – as well as critical admissions strategies – that will make or break your prospects for gaining admission to one of the world’s most famous business schools.

Download the Columbia Business School Guide >

In an effort to accelerate the progress of women leaders, Harvard Business School announced this week it will launch the Gender Initiative to to support research, teaching, and knowledge dissemination that promotes gender equity in business and society. Inspiration for the Gender Initiative emerged during the 2013 commemoration of the School’s 50th anniversary of admitting women to its two-year MBA program.

“So much of what people think they know about gender is simply not substantiated by empirical evidence but instead is based on gender stereotypes,” says Robin Ely, Harvard Business School’s Diane Doerge Wilson Professor of Business Administration and Senior Associate Dean for Culture and Community.

“We want to develop the Initiative so that Harvard Business School becomes the ‘go-to place’ on gender issues, where both researchers and practitioners can come together to find ways to advance gender equity in the workplace and help both women and men lead whole, fulfilled, and sustainable lives.”

The news comes just as we release the results of Stacy Blackman Consulting’s annual survey of prospective business school applicants, in which more than 34% of respondents believe that the admissions process is less rigorous for women.  Our survey also revealed that 63.46% feel that the lower number of women in business school is a significant issue.

“We have seen that women are very successful in the admissions process, as well as in business school and throughout recruiting,” says Stacy Blackman, President of Stacy Blackman Consulting.  “The issue of women in business school is in the spotlight, and the good news is that it may encourage more women to apply and more schools to improve the environment for women.”
You may also be interested in:
Targeted Tips for Women MBA Applicants

Gender Balance Scorecard at B-Schools Worldwide

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

[caption id="attachment_26317" align="alignleft" width="271"]
HBS Admissions Director, Dee Leopold[/caption]

Dee Leopold, director of MBA admissions at Harvard Business School, made a couple of interesting announcements on her blog last week. For one, the space has been renamed “Direct from the Director,” and will continue to focus solely on updates and information related to the MBA admissions process in an attempt to make the experience as transparent as possible.

The director also revealed that the team at Dillon House will debut a brand-new blog later this month called “MBA Voices,” which will have the following purpose:

“We want to tell you compelling stories from around HBS. We want you to get to know our students, alums and faculty. We want to help you get a better understanding of our clubs, initiatives and the student experience. We want you to gain insight into the career choices our students make and the myriad activities that make our campus come to life.”

MBA hopefuls will no doubt welcome having this insider view of the top-ranked business school, which may help the undecided take the plunge and apply. We’ll keep you updated here on the launch of this new online space, and make sure to bring to your attention all of the most relevant, interesting stories to come from Harvard Business School’s “MBA Voices” blog. Stay tuned!
You may also be interested in:
Tuesday Tips: 2015 Harvard Business School MBA Application Essay Tips

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

This year Harvard Business School has decided to continue with one open-ended essay. The question has changed slightly and focused emphasis on the case method and your interaction with classmates. The HBS admissions director blog notes that the “optional” element was dropped because: “this season, every applicant submitted a response. We get it. You want to tell us things.”

The most challenging part of this essay is remaining disciplined. With unlimited space to make your case, you may be tempted to compose a laundry list of everything interesting or impressive you have ever done. That urge could backfire, as the essay is used to determine who isn’t a fit for HBS as much as those who deserve the chance to move into the interview round. Maturity, accomplishment, and leadership are highly valued qualities and this essay is your chance to display those qualities through the stories you choose and the voice coming through your writing.

There is one question for the Class of 2018 application essay:

It’s the first day of class at HBS. You are in Aldrich Hall meeting your “section.” This is the group of 90 classmates who will become your close companions in the first-year MBA classroom. Our signature case method participant-based learning model ensures that you will get to know each other very well. The bonds you collectively create throughout this shared experience will be lasting.

Introduce yourself.

Note: Should you enroll at HBS, there will be an opportunity for you to share this with them.

A note on word count: HBS values brevity in essays. Do not be tempted to go overboard with a 2,000 word essay, rather focus on concise and clear writing and consider keeping this essay to 1,200 words or less. Our clients have successfully composed essays anywhere from 500-1,300 words, though you should take a pass through your essay to cut any unnecessary words if you find yourself on the upper end of that range.

The goal of this essay is to know yourself, know HBS, and know how to match the two to demonstrate your fit for the school as you introduce yourself to your classmates. Your first task should be to evaluate all of the other aspects of your candidacy – what is the story your resume tells? What do you think recommenders will say? How does your transcript communicate your skills, accomplishments and interests? Then you need to evaluate how to fill the gaps with the essay.

When you view the recommended video on the case method you can see that diverse perspectives are valuable to the case method experience. Think about what diverse experience you bring. We have found that both personal and career oriented topics can work, and most candidates tell more than one story in the essay. Consider that from your classmates’ perspective the most interesting information will be both personal and professional. You will be studying together and socializing together. Later, you will be professional contacts in your classmates’ career network. In the past we have observed that successful HBS essays also demonstrate of a core driving passion.

As you consider possible stories to tell in this essay keep in mind that HBS has always been highly focused on leadership and wants to accept candidates who have a track record of leadership impact and a success trajectory that indicates upper management potential. Accomplishments have traditionally been a strong focus of HBS essays, and using at least one accomplishment story in this essay may be a good strategy, particularly if your accomplishments are not obvious when reading your resume or transcripts.

A note on what not to do: We see many applicants tempted to include “why HBS” type information in HBS essays. Explaining why the case method specifically is a good fit for you and your learning style is absolutely appropriate, but more detailed “why HBS” content has never been asked for in an HBS application essay question. HBS admissions is quite clear on the value of an HBS degree, and they would rather see you use the space to provide more information about yourself and your candidacy.

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If you are looking for guidance on your HBS MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Harvard Business School has announced the following deadlines for the MBA Class of 2018.
Round 1
Application Due: September 9, 2015

Notification: December 2015 (date TBA)
Round 2
Application Due: January 6, 2016

Notification: March 2016 (date TBA)
Round 3
Application Due: April 4, 2016

Notification: May 2016 (date TBA)

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Application materials are at 12 noon EST on submission deadline dates. To avoid overwhelming server traffic generated by the high volume of applications, candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible prior to the deadline of each round. HBS encourages applicants to apply in the first or second round, as space in the class may be limited by the third round.
You may also be interested in:
HBS Introduces New Class of 2018 MBA Essay Question

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Harvard Business School has announced the following deadlines for the MBA Class of 2018.
Round 1
Application Due: September 9, 2015

Notification: December 2015 (date TBA)
Round 2
Application Due: January 6, 2016

Notification: March 2016 (date TBA)
Round 3
Application Due: April 4, 2016

Notification: May 2016 (date TBA)

***

Application materials are at 12 noon EST on submission deadline dates. To avoid overwhelming server traffic generated by the high volume of applications, candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible prior to the deadline of each round. HBS encourages applicants to apply in the first or second round, as space in the class may be limited by the third round.
You may also be interested in:
HBS Introduces New Class of 2018 MBA Essay Question

***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Harvard Business School has decided to switch things up this season and will forgo the optional essay prompt of the previous two years. According to the admissions website, there is one question for the Class of 2018:

It’s the first day of class at HBS. You are in Aldrich Hall meeting your “section.” This is the group of 90 classmates who will become your close companions in the first-year MBA classroom. Our signature case method participant-based learning model ensures that you will get to know each other very well. The bonds you collectively create throughout this shared experience will be lasting.

Introduce yourself.

Note: Should you enroll at HBS, there will be an opportunity for you to share this with them.

Harvard Business School admissions suggests you watch this video about the Case Method before beginning to write. Note that there is no word limit for this question, but as always, the team stresses that the goal is not to overthink, overcraft, and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that anyone outside of your industry would understand.
You may also be interested in:
Harvard Business School 2015-2016 Application Deadlines

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

[caption id="attachment_16925" align="alignright" width="180"]
Make Every Word Count.[/caption]

Change has once again come to the Harvard Business School MBA application. For the upcoming 2015-26 application cycle, there is now one required essay.  For the last two years, it has been optional. Also the prompt has changed.

As it did last year, Harvard does not suggest a word limit. It leaves it to your judgment. The operative word is judgement. Harvard has in the past requested a significant amount of information in the boxes on its application and last year (this year's app isn't live yet.) there were significant word and character limits.

Also, HBS has virtually the same deadlines this year as last. Its round 1 deadline is so far the earliest at September 9, 2015.

There is one question for the Harvard MBA Class of 2018. Here it is:
It's the first day of class at HBS. You are in Aldrich Hall meeting your "section." This is the group of 90 classmates who will become your close companions in the first-year MBA classroom. Our signature case method participant-based learning model ensures that you will get to know each other very well. The bonds you collectively create throughout this shared experience will be lasting.

Introduce yourself.

Note: Should you enroll at HBS, there will be an opportunity for you to share this with them.

We suggest you view this video before beginning to write.

[embed]https://youtu.be/eA5R41F7d9Q[/embed]
There is no word limit for this question. We think you know what guidance we're going to give here. Don't overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don't know your world can understand.

While the advice offered on the site is good, I also want to quote from additional information Dee Leopold gave on her blog as to why they chose this question:
• It’s just about as straightforward and practical as we can make it. It gives you a chance to tell your story however you choose. Imagine simply saying it out loud.  This is what we mean when we’ve been encouraging you to use your own “voice” when approaching this part of the application.  We have no pre-conceived ideas of what “good” looks like. We look forward to lots of variance.

• It’s useful. You will actually be introducing yourself to classmates at HBS.

Tell us again what the essay is for?

• For you: an opportunity to pause and reflect. Business school is a big experience -  it’s exciting, it’s an unknown, it’s a beginning, it’s an investment in your future. Stopping to reflect and gather your thoughts in writing is a useful exercise. That’s not just our opinion -  it’s what we hear from students all the time.

• For us: a chance to get to know you beyond the elements of the application that feel fixed and stationary. Can also be a starting point for interview conversations.

I think the last element that I quoted is critical. "The essay is a chance to get to know you beyond the elements of the application that feel fixed and stationary. Can also be a starting point for interview conversations"

That quote reminds me of last year's optional HBS question:
"We can see your resume, school transcripts, extra-curricular activities, awards, post-MBA career goals, test scores and what your recommenders have to say about you. What else would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy?"

Finally, before you approach the question, watch the video about the HBS case method as recommended by Harvard. We embedded it above.

Note the focus on conversation in both the video and Dee Leopold's advice. How will you start the conversation with your section mates? What would you want them to know about you? Keep in mind that the admissions committee is listening this time, and its members may want to use what you write as a starting point for the "interview conversation."

Other important themes in the video: preparation, engagement, imaging yourself as the protagonist -- the decision maker.   The use of the case method as practice in decision making. If you think other elements of this video are important, please add in the comments box below.

And realize that they want this conversation starter to go beyond what's in the rest of the application.

So what else – really and truly -- do you want both the HBS admissions committee and your future section mates to know about you? What do you want to share  that will show you can participate in the conversation that is the HBS classroom? The answer to that question is not something I can give or even suggest to you in a blog post aimed at the many. (For individual advice, please see Accepted’s MBA Admissions Consulting.) It should be different for each of you. Again, refer to the HBS criteria, as you contemplate possible topics, but the options are infinite. A few possibilities:
•  Context for events described in the required elements that may be of interest to your section mates.

•  Motivations for the decisions or commitments you have made.

•  Challenges you have faced.

•  Something you would like to do at HBS.

•  More depth on an activity or commitment that is particularly important to you.

•  A skill they may be useful to your section

Please don’t limit yourself to these suggestions. I am offering them to stimulate your creativity, not to shut it down.

Since I’ve been in MBA admissions consulting (over 20 years now), HBS has valued concision. And, in today’s tweet- and sound-bite-driven world, it is requiring even shorter responses, at least in the required portion of the application. Don’t take the absence of a word limit on the essay as a license for verbosity. Make every word count. If you must pull a number out of me, don’t go over 800 words. And if you can say what you need to say in less than 800 words, do so. A few caveats and warnings on the essay. It is not:
•   Stanford’s “what matters most to you and why?” or Columbia's #3.

•   The kitchen sink in which you throw everything.

•   An autobiography.

Post- Interview Reflections

[embed]https://youtu.be/HCQkqSlghQI[/embed]

2016 Application Deadlines:

Application Due   
Decisions Released

Round 1   
 09 Sept 2015
 Dec 2015

Round 2
06 Jan 2016
 Mar 2016

Round 3
04 Apr 2016
 May 2016




By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business SchoolsWhat Does Harvard Business School Want?
• Harvard Business School: The Habit of Leadership
• Some HBS Stereotypes: An Interview with Ben Faw

Accepted.com's experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn't, so contact us to get started now!

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​Accepted.com ~T​he Premier Admissions Consultancy​
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This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com, the official blog of Accepted.com.
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FROM HBS Admissions Blog: Class of 2018: Start Your Engines!

It's June 1 and, as promised, the application for the Class of 2018 is live! You can now access the application via our website. Stay tuned for some more information about the Class of 2017 over the coming weeks.

Is My GPA High Enough?

“I’m really concerned about my poor college performance. Is my GPA too low to gain admission to a top MBA program?”

This is one of the most frequent questions we at MBA Admit.com hear from aspiring MBA applicants.

There is no one-size-fits-all response to this query. If you conduct research about each business school’s average GPA for matriculating students, you can gain a sense about how a business school might view your academic record and where you stand in your odds for admission. But, a candidate’s specific profile matters a great deal. When helping candidates to articulate the mitigating factors that explain their less-than-ideal GPA and to shine a light on their significant attributes and achievements, we at MBA Admit.com have helped candidates with GPAs like 2.7 to get into top MBA programs such as those of Stanford, Harvard, Wharton and Columbia.

Many candidates are happy to hear that business schools can be receptive to “mitigating circumstances” and legitimate reasons why a GPA might be lower and thereby give a candidate with such a lower GPA a shot at admission. What are examples of such mitigating circumstances? Consider some of these:

Where did you go to college? If your school was a top-ranked college in its country, the admissions committee may be a little more lenient in accepting a lower GPA than the same GPA of a candidate who attended a much lower-ranked college. A candidate from Yale with a 3.2 might have a strong shot of gaining admission to Harvard Business School, whereas a candidate from a low-ranked college might not.

What was your major? Some majors are known to be very difficult and time-intensive. Students in these majors often graduate with GPAs that are lower when compared side-by-side with candidates who have a GPA from a much “softer” major. Admissions committees are aware of this. For example, at many top colleges, students who graduate with electrical engineering degrees may have relatively lower GPAs than those graduating with an art history degree. If your major was known to be tough, you should point that out in the essays and recommendations.

What is your gender? Sorry guys — gals do sometimes have an easier time in MBA admissions. It is a matter of simple supply and demand in most cases. In many cases, fewer women apply to given business schools than men and admissions committees value the presence of women in top MBA programs, so women seem to sometimes receive a little more leeway on the GPA.

Did you have to work your way through school to support yourself or your family financially? Admissions committees are often sympathetic to legitimate hardships paired with a well-written explanation.

Did you simply have a bumpy start or choose the wrong major early on, only to find you blossomed in your latter years of college? This can matter. Make sure to point this out to the admissions committee. You will want them to believe that the performance of your latter college years is what is truly indicative of your talents, abilities and potential.

There are many other factors that can affect the GPA assessment. If you are concerned about your GPA, think about how admissions committees will view your GPA, and what mitigating factors you could use to positively affect that view. This can help you understand whether your GPA will be seen as a strength or a weakness in your MBA application.

Would you like a free profile evaluation? Feel free to send us a copy of your resume (send to info@mbaadmit.com) or fill out the profile evaluation form on our homepage at https://mbaadmit.com/.

Feel free to reach out to us if you would like assistance in the MBA application process.

Best wishes,
Dr. Shel and the Team at MBA Admit.com
email: info@mbaadmit.com
https://mbaadmit.com

How Important is My GPA 4 Years After College?

Some business school applicants simply never “gained their footing” in their undergraduate years. Perhaps moving far from home to attend college was difficult for them and they did not achieve high grades. Perhaps they chose the wrong major and never applied themselves to courses in which they had only lackluster interest. Perhaps they chose to party too hard and made poor choices in balancing “work” with “fun”. Yet, following their undergraduate years, those same applicants blossomed in their business careers. Some such MBA applicants might have already enjoyed 2-3 promotions before applying to business school, which speaks to their professional success. But, their undergraduate GPA tells a different story. That GPA could be a 3.0, a 2.8, or a 2.5. Perhaps a tad bit lower. A question that looms large in the minds of such applicants is, “After four years of outstanding work experience, will my weak undergraduate GPA still sink me in my quest for admission to a top business school?”

This is a situation that we at MBA Admit.com deal with very frequently, and we have great expertise in helping candidates override less-than-ideal GPAs. The good news is that, even for applicants with less work experience than four years, if you put together a business school application skillfully, it is possible in many cases to overcome a low GPA to gain admission to a top business school. Certainly, the undergraduate performance will represent a weak spot in your candidacy, but you can address this through the application. Addressing it does not mean simply writing a paragraph about it in the “optional” section of the application (which may or may not be a good idea, depending on the candidate and the circumstances). Rather, addressing the matter can also mean drawing attention – through the MBA essays and recommendations – to the other notable achievements that convey to the admissions committee that after four years, your defining and relevant achievements are your professional successes, not your academic performance. At MBA Admit.com, we have helped candidates with GPAs as low as 2.7 and 2.8 to gain admission to the business schools of Stanford, Harvard, Wharton and Columbia. It’s all about the strategy implemented through the application.

Would you like a free profile evaluation? Fill out our profile evaluation form on our homepage at https://mbaadmit.com
Good luck in the admissions process!

Dr. Shel and the Team at MBA Admit.com

https://mbaadmit.com/

info@mbaadmit.com

Specific Factors to Help Override a Less-than-Ideal GPA


There are some broad factors that the admissions committee will take into account as reasons that can justify a lower-than-ideal GPA (and hence the admissions committee might not be looking at your lower-than-ideal GPA as a problem at all). These factors can vary from what we at MBA Admit.com call “extreme extenuating circumstances” to “reasonably acceptable explanations.” When trying to override a less-than-ideal GPA in order to gain admission to a top MBA program, it is often helpful if you have one of these extenuating circumstances or reasonably acceptable explanations as to why your GPA was lower. Let’s consider some examples…

Major event that explains the lower-than-ideal GPA: Did you lose a very close relative and your grades suffered for a while? Did your parent lose their job, causing stress on the family and anxiety for you, causing your grades to drop? Major events like these can help explain a lower-than-ideal GPA to the satisfaction of the admissions committee.

Challenging circumstances to overcome: Were you the first in your family to attend college and it took a little adjustment in your first 18 months before your grades reflected your abilities? The committee will often take circumstances like these into consideration.

Working your way through school financially: In many cases such as this, the committee will realize you were juggling work with your academics and may be more understanding if your GPA is slightly lower.

Medical or physical challenge: If you had to overcome some major medical or physical challenge, the admissions committee will sometimes give you leeway on the GPA.

There are, of course, other variations. See a link below for a list and explanation of eight additional “extreme extenuating circumstances” and “reasonably acceptable explanations.”

The take away: a less-than-ideal GPA is not always a deal-killer in MBA admissions. If any of these circumstances above apply to you, or if you had comparably difficult circumstances, then the admissions committee may still consider your GPA – while lower than the matriculating average – to still be acceptable.

For a more comprehensive list of “extreme extenuating circumstances” and “reasonably acceptable explanations,” click https://mbaadmit.com/category/overriding-a-low-gpa/.

Feel free to reach out to us if you would like a free profile evaluation or assistance with the MBA admissions process. We can be reached at info@mbaadmit.com. Our website is https://mbaadmit.com/.

Best wishes,

Dr. Shel and the Team at MBA Admit.com

https://mbaadmit.com/

info@mbaadmit.com

Strategies for Redirecting Attention Away from a Less-than-Ideal GPA

There are many strategies that can be effective for redirecting attention away from a less-than-ideal GPA to successes and achievements that can potentially persuade a business school admissions committee to grant admission to you. Essays are usually key, as are the recommendations. Your GMAT score, an “alternative transcript”, and your work experience can also help offset a lower GPA.

Essays and Recommendations

Your application should sing praises as it highlights the credentials that indicate you are an excellent candidate from all angles. In doing so, you should address your low GPA. But, addressing a low GPA does not mean simply writing a paragraph about it in the “optional” section of the application, which some candidates might choose to do. You can address the matter indirectly by shining a light on your other achievements that convey to the admissions committee that your defining and relevant achievements are your professional successes – not your academic performance. This should be an emphasis of your admissions essays. You should present essay content that demonstrates the deepening and broadening of your professional skills and experiences, reinforcing the idea that you have matured into a highly effective and impactful young professional and that you are no longer defined by your undergraduate performance.

Strive to secure recommendation letters that emphasize this same message. The recommendations should rave about you, stressing how outstanding you are in general, how you are a stand-out compared with peers, and how bright your future is.

GMAT Score and Alternative Transcript

When seeking to override a less-than-ideal GPA in order to gain admission to a top MBA program, ideally your GMAT score should be strong, which will also reinforce the idea that you have strong skills and great potential. To provide evidence of strong skills and the capacity to do MBA-level classwork, some candidates with weak GPAs take business courses after college at a reputable and reasonably prestigious institution, building an “alternative transcript” that provides evidence of their current abilities. Such courses can be taken in person or online.

Work Experience

Having a substantial amount of work experience can help also. With at least three years of experience, you can present essay content that demonstrates the depth and breadth of your professional skills and experiences. You can reinforce the idea that you are no longer defined by your undergraduate experience.

We at MBA Admit.com have helped candidates with GPAs as low as 2.7 get into top business schools such as Stanford, Harvard and Wharton. In most cases, it is ultimately your entire candidacy that matters, so take the time to put together a compelling application.

Would you like a free profile evaluation? Fill out the profile evaluation form on our homepage at https://mbaadmit.com/.

Feel free to reach out to us if you would like assistance in the MBA application process.

Dr. Shel and the Team at MBA Admit.com

https://mbaadmit.com/

info@mbaadmit.com

FROM HBS Admissions Blog: Class of 2017 - Preliminary Profile

As promised, here's a very early peek at the Class of 2017. This is a preliminary profile - we will post the final matriculating class profile at the very end of August.

If you’re applying to Harvard Business School, then you’ll want to attend Accepted’s upcoming webinar, Get Accepted to Harvard Business School.

During the webinar, Linda Abraham, Accepted’s CEO and founder, will discuss important application tips that apply specifically to Harvard’s application, including 4 key steps for HBS acceptance!



Mark your calendars! The webinar will air live on Wednesday, June 24th at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM EST.

Reserve your spot for Get Accepted to Harvard Business School today and get one step closer to securing your seat in the Harvard HBS class of 2018!



 
Accepted.com's experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn't, so contact us to get started now!

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This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com, the official blog of Accepted.com.
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Thank you, Harvard Business School. IMHO, that’s what applicants should think when they visit the program’s website and find “habit of leadership” on its “Who are we looking for?” admissions page.

It’s common knowledge that HBS values leadership, but with this phrase, the adcom succinctly expresses how they view leadership – dynamic, deep, intrinsic, long-term. It’s something you possess and bring to your experiences, not something that happens to describe your involvement in a few isolated incidents (i.e., the proverbial “leadership experience”). Not just HBS applicants, but all b-school applicants can benefit from reflecting on the phrase – and then determining how they embody it in their actions.

There are a gazillion excellent articles and treatises on the meaning of leadership. And most of them are valid. I’m focusing on the other word. The key to this message is habit. First, it’s active. It’s something done. It’s not something bestowed upon you (like the title Team Lead) and it’s not something ascended to (advanced to Project Manager). Whether good or bad, habits are something you do.

Second, a habit is reflexive, a part of you. You may think about it objectively in your mind, but it’s also behavior. Yet that doesn’t automatically mean it’s innate – a habit may be learned (you probably know someone who trained herself to become more patient or more decisive or less defensive). Therefore, if you aren’t a “born leader,” you can still develop the habit of leadership.

A habit knows no boundaries. You exercise the habit of leadership in school, in your family, with friends, at work, in your community. It means that when something needs doing or when you perceive an opportunity for positive impact, you shift into gear to make it happen – even if it’s hard, even if it’s not your designated role, even if you’re not sure exactly how you’ll do it. Simply, it’s what you do.

Because it’s action oriented, not title or ego oriented, the habit of leadership, ironically, may sometimes seem invisible, a hidden force. Routine and regular. Example: your friends, tired after a long day of canoeing on the Delaware River, squabble about where to go for dinner. You gently draw the group’s focus to the two most feasible options, proposed by two different members of the group; everyone starts to feel enthusiastic again. They may not consciously recognize your leadership; in fact, the person who proposed the “winning” idea might feel like the leader! (More irony: real leadership often allows others to feel like the top dog.) Of course, the opposite is also true sometimes: your leadership habit may require you to visibly assert an opposing vision or emphatically convince people to join you in taking a risk.

While this quality is something HBS explicitly seeks, any b-school adcom will value it – after all, someone with “leadership experience” isn’t necessarily a leader fundamentally, but someone with the “habit of leadership” is. All b-schools want leaders.

Having the habit of leadership is great, but it’s only helpful to the application if you express it effectively. That means – you’ve heard it from us ad infinitum – use example and anecdote. Look for opportunities to weave in the message of your habit of leadership, even in essays on other topics. Also, try to bring it out in your resume and your interviews. Ask your recommenders to highlight it. It can only enhance your application and your candidacy.




By Cindy Tokumitsu, author and co-author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports, including Why MBA and Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her fifteen years with Accepted.com.

Related Resources:
• Harvard Business School 2016 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines
• Life as an HBS MBA Student
• What Does Harvard Business School Want?

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This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com, the official blog of Accepted.com.
​​Accepted.com's experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn't, so contact us to get started now!