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11 Mar 2020, 09:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Improve Your MBA Candidacy Now for Fall Applications |
 If you plan to apply to business school in the upcoming admissions cycle, you may think it impossible to improve your MBA candidacy in such a short amount of time. Not true! You can take action in three important areas right now that will pay dividends in the fall. Academic Enhancement Did you major in liberal arts? Is your undergrad GPA 3.2 or below? In both of these scenarios, you may want to consider taking quantitative classes to enhance your academic profile. When in doubt about the strength of your test scores, consult your target schools’ admitted student profile page and compare them to the median reported score. If you took the GMAT once or twice and did not receive the score you think you are capable of, consider taking a prep course to remind you how to solve those high school math logic problems. Retake the GMAT until you get the score you feel good about. Or, prove you have the quantitative chops by acing a college-level statistics, microeconomics, or calculus course at the local community college. For applicants who can’t raise their GMAT score enough, consider taking the GRE and see how the two scores stack up. Fortunately, most MBA admissions teams take a holistic view of an individual’s candidacy. Enthusiastic recommendation letters that also address the applicant’s quant skills will carry significant weight with the committee. Extracurricular Involvement A strong focus on work is great. But it’s important to showcase other aspects of your personality, too. This helps prove that you bring a diverse set of skills to an MBA program. Community involvement demonstrates that you have a larger view of the world. Specifically, it shows you see what’s happening outside of your office and that you want to contribute in some way. But what if you haven’t had the time or energy to devote to outside interests and passions due to your 80-hour pre-MBA work week? Many applicants share this dilemma. In any case, you should still try to find ways to subtly up your community engagement in the coming months. This isn’t about gaming the process with some new-found volunteering involvement, however. The best way to seamlessly incorporate extracurriculars is to think about longstanding passions and interests and build upon them. Have you volunteered for a certain group before? Check in to see what else you can help them with that’s more high profile. Or, ask if there are any open leadership roles that would be a good fit.  Don’t get hung up on traditional volunteer work, though. There are many ways to show your diversity that can improve your MBA candidacy. The key is to think hard about what excites you. Get creative and discover how you can leverage those interests for a greater good. Leadership Development Business schools want to see applicants with proven leadership skills that can be further developed through an MBA program. A promotion between now and the fall would be the ideal scenario. But you don’t have to wait for your supervisor to act in order to enhance your overall leadership and management potential for business school applications. Letting others know you want to further develop your people skills may uncover new opportunities to go above and beyond. Volunteer for that cross-functional team or project. Offer to help your boss with a tough long-term goal. Or, get involved with employee groups at work—whether through volunteering in the community or promoting diversity in your company. All of these avenues can provide great material for your resume and essays.  To show leadership without clear career progression, look again to your extracurricular activities and think about taking on a leadership role. Can you find a way to lead with ideas, to show success because of your influence, communication skills, or ability to motivate people? This is your chance to demonstrate that you can run a project and motivate a team. The spring and summer months can be very fruitful for your personal and professional development. More precisely, it’s a great time to improve your MBA candidacy. With a little advanced planning and a commitment of just a few hours a week, applicants can do a great deal to enhance their profile before that final rush of the fall and winter. Main photo credit: Skokie Public Library (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) The post Improve Your MBA Candidacy Now for Fall Applications appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
13 Mar 2020, 05:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: COVID-19 Admissions Updates from HBS |
 Harvard Business School has announced temporary changes to admissions and campus visit procedures as they grapple with COVID-19. Round 2 applicants will still receive an admissions status update at noon on March 31, 2020. However, the school will not hold the traditional Admitted Student Welcome (ASW) event for round two admits. The suspension complies with university guidelines prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people, in effect until April 30, 2020. According to HBS admissions director Chad Losee’s recent blog update, the school is “working hard on virtual alternatives for you to learn more about the HBS experience and have all of your questions answered before you need to make a decision on our offer.” Campus Tours As of March 16, 2020, Harvard Business School will also suspend its campus visit program. Losee expressed regret over the necessity to halt these valuable in-person research opportunities for prospective applicants. He noted that for now, people can tap into the school’s online resources. These include virtual campus tours, a Case Method explainer, and resources to learn about student life. COVID-19 and global information sessions COVID-19 is officially a global pandemic, and as such, HBS will suspend all of its international information sessions. The university has restricted travel to help avoid spreading the virus, Losee explained. Meanwhile, the admissions team is working to come up with virtual gatherings, he added. “We plan to tailor these opportunities by geography, industry, and other affinity groups so that you can learn more about what HBS offers for someone with your background and interests,” Losee said. For now, Harvard Business School has not canceled the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) or the Peek Weekend Program for college students in June. These two programs invite interested students to campus, where they stay in HBS residence halls and participate in MBA case studies. Finally, Losee urged applicants to check the HBS website frequently for updates, as recommendations related to COVID-19 are continually changing. “We understand that this disruption to our normal slate of admissions activities may be disappointing to some of you. Truth be told, we are sad too,” Losee said, adding, “We hope you understand our desire, and the university’s guidelines, to put your health and safety first.” The post COVID-19 Admissions Updates from HBS appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
16 Mar 2020, 15:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Advice for Applicants in the Time of Coronavirus |
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Normally, we use this space to bring you the latest news from MBA programs or provide timely tips to help you create the strongest MBA application possible. But business-as-usual feels strange when we’re living through an alarming moment in history. The global pandemic COVID-19 has forced most of us to eliminate social interactions and hunker down at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. That’s what I’m doing, and I hope all of you are hanging in there, both health-wise and mentally. Yesterday, I was reminded that SBC was born in the wake of 9/11. I had recently gotten married, and my husband and I traveled around the world for our honeymoon. Shortly after returning home to San Francisco, the world as we knew it came to an end. After the terrorist attacks, and then the dot-com bust, the Bay Area became a wasteland. I had no job and no prospects. So, where am I going with this? What I hope to convey is that beyond the darkness, there is light. The coronavirus is scary, but know that better things await us as we shake up routines and take time to reflect on our lives, relationships, and goals. The 9/11 tragedy forced me to think bigger, look inward and innovate. Here we are today—the leading MBA consulting firm in a field that didn’t really exist before 2001. Right now, instead of feeling paralyzed by this moment, I hope we can try to find ways to maintain normalcy. We’re fortunate that the majority of the admissions process happens online. As a prospective MBA applicant, this is an opportunity to turn your focus toward research and self-discovery. Remember:  To-Do List for Your Coronavirus Quarantine
Simply use the promo code DISTANCE at checkout. Let these valuable resources help you fill your time and inspire you to think deeply about how business school can launch you into the next phase of your career. For now, I wish you all a safe, healthy week for you and your loved ones. We will get to the other side of this darkness. And can become more reflective and resilient because of it. All my best,  PS: Please be patient if you encounter any issues during the checkout process, and remember the offer is only good for our guides. With offers like this in the past, heavy traffic has jammed the system. We’ll do our best to resolve any problems as quickly as we can. The post Advice for Applicants in the Time of Coronavirus appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
17 Mar 2020, 11:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Two Schools Share Top Spot in US News 2021 Ranking |
 This year, U.S. News and World Report made room for two elite programs to share first place. Stanford’s Graduate School of Business now joins last year’s winner, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, in a tie for the top MBA program in the US News 2021 ranking of the best business schools. The sharing trend continues for the next in line. Kellogg School of Management jumped from its three-way tie at 6th place last year to join the Chicago Booth School of Business in a two-way tie for third place. MIT’s Sloan School of Management ranks 5th this time around, in a slight slip from its position tied at third last year. Meanwhile, in what might be one of the ranking’s biggest surprises, Harvard Business School slipped from third to 6th place this year—its lowest rank ever. Here’s a look at the order line up in the new ranking: US News Top Ten Best Business Schools #1 Stanford Graduate School of Business (tie) #1 Wharton School (tie) #3 Kellogg School of Management (tie) #3 Chicago Booth School of Business (tie) #5 MIT Sloan School of Management #6 Harvard Business School #7 UC Berkeley Haas School of Business #8 Columbia Business School #9 Yale School of Management #10 NYU Stern School of Business Compared to last year, there was a lot of reshuffling of the top ten. The Fuqua School of Business and Michigan Ross School fell out of the top list and are now in a tie for 12th place. Meanwhile, NYU Stern bumped up two spots to snag no. 10 on this list. At the same time, both MIT Sloan and Columbia Business School slipped two places to rank fifth and eighth, respectively. While the top ten’s players are all familiar, seven of this year’s top ten had a change in rank. Methodology of the US News 2021 Ranking Factors that go into rankings include test scores, starting salaries and employment rates after graduation. Rankings come from statistical surveys of the programs, as well as reputation surveys sent to 477 AACSB-accredited MBA programs between fall 2019 and early 2020. A total of 364 responded to the US News 2021 ranking. Of those, US News ranked 131 because they provided enough of the required data on their full-time MBA program to calculate the full-time MBA rankings, based on a weighted average of the indicators described in detail here. (For an analysis of this year’s rankings, check out this story by editor-in-chief John A. Byrne at Poets & Quants.) MBA Rankings are a Tricky Subject Most applicants put an enormous amount of credence in rankings when making their school selections, but the results aren’t always as clear-cut as they seem. It’s important to remember that the various media outlets publishing this information each have a specific focal point, which often differs from their competitors. At times, it can feel more like an “apples and oranges” comparison. We encourage prospective applicants to think hard about the data points that are important to your own career path when determining the value of a particular ranking. You don’t have to go to the best business school of all. Just figure out which MBA program is the best one for you. The post Two Schools Share Top Spot in US News 2021 Ranking appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
19 Mar 2020, 13:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Top Ten Blog Posts-March 2020 Edition |
 Wondering which blog posts this year’s crop of MBA applicants visits the most on the Stacy Blackman Consulting site? We were, too! Thanks to modern technology—AKA Google analytics—you now have the news you need right at your fingertips. Without further ado… SBC’s top ten most-visited blog posts for the first quarter of 2020. Application Strategies Worth Noting Successful Reapplicant to Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB For many rejected MBA candidates, having to wait another year to start business school feels like pure agony. When we first met Ed Redden, he had submitted six failed applications. But the rejections from Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business, in particular, made him question whether he should even try to apply again. CharacterPrevails: Stanford & HarvardBusiness School MBA Applications Have you ever heard of the term “double admits”? That’s what we in the MBA admissions consulting industry call those singular applicants who receive admissions offers from both Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business. We’ve worked with many top applicants this MBA admissions season who achieved this impressive feat—some with scholarships to boot. Here we analyze eight cases—and we have eight specific takeaways to share. Waitlisted MBA Applicants are Still in the Game Ultimately, the decision to stay on the waitlist depends on your interest level in that particular MBA program. If it’s your top choice, you may want to remain on the list until school begins. This could mean moving quickly and giving up a deposit on a school that has offered you firm admission. If the program is not your first choice, or you would like to settle your MBA plans before school starts, you may choose to remove your name from the list. If that’s the case, do so promptly and give someone else a chance at their MBA dream. Don’tFear Those MBA Admissions Background Checks The vast majority of people shouldn’t stress over this verification process. Business schools aren’t on a mission to grill candidates about every last detail of their applications. They simply want to ensure that applicants have honestly represented themselves, their experience, and their accomplishments. Blog Posts with Program-Specific Intel MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Video Advice for 2019-2020 Take the MIT Sloan cover letter idea literally and approach this essay as if you were applying for a demanding new job. One of the former MIT Admissions Officers on the SBC team shared that MIT seeks applicants who can navigate, “problems of progressive complexity, ability to adapt to ambiguous situations, independence of thought, humility/consideration for others.” Face-Off: Oxford vs. Cambridge In SBC’s blog series Face-Off, we tease out the strengths and differences between two similarly ranked, or located, b-schools. Plus, we’ll highlight unique elements of their admissions processes. Let’s kick things off by looking at the differences between the Oxford MBA application versus that of the University of Cambridge Judge School of Business. Stanford MBA Essay Tips for 2019-2020 We’re sharing our Stanford MBA essay tips to help you create a positive impression through your application materials. Although the required questions are the same as prior years, Stanford has added an optional short-answer essay this season. These questions are simple, yet the answers are revealing. Also, the new optional essay allows you to go beyond your resume and describe a time you had an impact. Important Letters (0f recommendation and thanks) Tips for a Killer MBA Recommendation Letter Most applicants select their references, direct them to the proper forms, and hope for the best. But actually, you can have a significant influence on the quality of your recommendations. When SBC clients ask for advice on choosing who should write their MBA recommendation letter, we tell them to keep these critical elements in mind. What Makes a Great MBA Recommendation Letter The recommendation letter forms an integral part of your MBA application package and can make—or break—your chances of admission. Ideally, the MBA recommendation letter provides the admissions committee with a fresh perspective on your skill sets. Above all, your recommenders should enhance your application by offering new and valuable insights into you as a person. MBA Interview Thank-You Notes Our clients often ask us if they should write thank-you notes to their interviewers. While handwritten messages of appreciation will always be a classy move — and we certainly encourage applicants to write such letters if they’re so inclined — an email message is just as acceptable in this day and age. *** We hope this roundup of blog posts serves as a helpful jumping-off point as you begin to prepare for your application journey in 2020 and beyond. The post Top Ten Blog Posts-March 2020 Edition appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
23 Mar 2020, 19:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: COVID-19 Prompts ETS to Offer the GRE at Home |
 Test centers around the world have temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. But that doesn’t have to throw your business school plans out the window. Today, ETS announced it is temporarily offering a GRE test at home option in selected areas. This version is identical in content, format and on-screen experience to the version taken at a test center. You take it on your own computer at home, and a human proctor online monitors the test through ProctorU. Online registration opens on Monday, March 23 in the following countries and administrative regions:
These at-home solutions are identical in content, format, on-screen experience, scoring and pricing as the GRE General Test taken at a test center. Every feature that students would expect in the test center will still be available to test takers via this solution. This includes the ability to preview, skip questions, review and change answers on the GRE General Test. “It was imperative for us to create a timely, flexible and reliable solution to allow students the opportunity to take these tests, so that they can complete time-sensitive applications that will allow them to continue on their educational journeys,” said Alberto Acereda, Executive Director of the Global Higher Education Division at ETS. “Test takers can expect the same valid and reliable tests from the comfort of home.” Human Proctors to Monitor GRE at Home Test Takers ETS is taking every precaution to ensure that the tests students will take from home meet the highest standards for validity, reliability, and security. These tests will employ multiple best-in-class security measures. Both real-time human monitoring and artificial intelligence technology can see and respond to even the hardest-to-detect incidents. To register for the at-home option for the GRE General Test, students can sign in or create an ETS account here. Once logged in, students can select and pay for their test, and upon doing so will receive an email from ProctorU with instructions on how to schedule their test date and time. “We understand the challenges that our test takers are facing worldwide and are pleased to now offer an option to safely test at home without compromising the integrity of our tests,” said Srikant Gopal, Executive Director of the TOEFL® Program (also offered at home). “ETS prides itself on its test security measures, and this solution is consistent with those self-imposed high standards, which are relied upon by institutions around the world who trust that these tests provide an accurate picture of an applicant’s abilities.” The post COVID-19 Prompts ETS to Offer the GRE at Home appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
24 Mar 2020, 06:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Stop Waiting for the “Perfect” Moment |
 Many of us are hanging on to something special because we’re waiting for just the right moment to enjoy it. Maybe it’s that bottle of Bordeaux you brought back from your vacay in France. Or a box of Dixon Fire golf balls. Perhaps there’s a gift certificate for a luxury spa lingering on your nightstand. But researchers have found a problem with all this waiting. Namely, that the “pursuit of the perfect time to enjoy an indulgence is the enemy of actually enjoying a good experience.” Wait, what? Cue the record scratch. UCLA Anderson’s Suzanne B. Shu and UPenn’s Marissa Sharif make the case that our compulsion to wait for the perfect situation—called occasion matching in academic circles—is partly driven by the fact that we’re afraid we’ll use up an item too early and will regret it. What if we miss out on a more ideal moment in the future? Yet, we hear about occasion-matching fails all the time. Only we call them unused frequent flyer miles or vacation days, expired gift cards, or (argh!) when your fancy-pants chocolates go all dusty white. The duo conducted several experiments to explore the intersection of an item’s perceived specialness and our desire to match its consumption to a special occasion. In study after study, they found that “the more special the origin story, the bigger the pull to wait for a special occasion.” Nothing wrong with second-best As with most things in life, waiting for the Single Best Moment to enjoy something leads to missed opportunities. Shu and Sharif’s work on occasion matching is a strong reminder that self-control, though well-intended, can be overused. Delays made with the hope of one day having the ultimate consumption experience often backfire, they say. Either it never happens at all, or it doesn’t end up being nearly as good as you had imagined. Having a “second-best” experience right now is far better than waiting for some potentially amazing one in the hazy, distant future. So go for the guaranteed win and start enjoying those little luxuries today. True, it may not be the “perfect” moment. But you can make it perfectly good enough. *** Did you enjoy this post about missed opportunities? It originally appeared on the Blacklight, our weekly newsletter for professionals. At the Blacklight, we aim to illuminate with every dispatch that lands in your inbox. If you’re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goalposts closer, sign up today! The post Stop Waiting for the “Perfect” Moment appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
24 Mar 2020, 18:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Coronavirus Admissions Updates for Round 3 |
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[img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/hand-person-girl-woman-thoughtful-decision-1080572-pxhere.com_-734x551.jpg[/img] There is a lot of uncertainty worldwide as we grapple with the COVID-19 outbreak. For business schools that still have a third or final round to come, that means adapting to meet the needs and circumstances of MBA applicants. Here are the latest coronavirus admissions updates as of March 24, 2020. Please note that this list only includes schools that are still accepting applications for the 2019-2020 admissions cycle. Also, be aware that ETS announced an at home, virtual option to [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/gre-at-home/]take the GRE[/url] beginning March 27. Likewise, GMAC is currently working on an online testing alternative. This interim solution is targeted for availability in mid-April. [b]Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business—Round 3 deadline is March 30, 2020.[/b] Tuck School will maintain the set round 3 deadline, but allow applications on a rolling basis thereafter in a one-time Round 4 for those who need additional time. Additionally, the school has suspended applicant-initiated interviews for the remainder of this cycle. Read more about how Tuck is adapting to the COVID-19 crisis in this [url=https://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/mba/blog/tuck-admissions-covid-19-update]Tuck admissions update[/url] from Director Luke Anthony Peña. [b]Michigan Ross School of Business—Priority Round 3 Deadline is March 30, 2020. [/b] Director Soojin Kown provided these coronavirus admissions updates in her [url=https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-mba/admissions/admissions-blog/2020/03/17/round-2-decision-release-extended-round]latest MBA admissions blog post[/url]: Due to the impact that COVID-19 has had on GMAT/GRE testing opportunities, we are extending our Round 3 deadline. The priority deadline will remain March 30, but we will accept applications until May 29. Applications received after the priority deadline will be evaluated on a rolling basis. International applicants are highly encouraged to apply by the priority deadline in order to ensure enough time for visas to be processed. If you have questions, please email [email=rossadmissions@umich.edu]rossadmissions@umich.edu[/email]. [b]UT McCombs School of Business—Round 3 is March 31, 2020/ Round 4 is April 28, 2020.[/b] The UT McCombs School of Business will allow candidates to submit applications to the full-time MBA program in Round 3 without a test score. Applicants need to send in their scores as soon as they receive them. However, you don’t need to pay the application fee until you can submit your test score and your application is considered complete. Also, note the following from the [url=https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/MBA/Full-Time/Application-Process]Texas MBA admissions team[/url]: An admissions decision cannot be made until we receive your official test score. If your official score report is not received by May 7, 2020, your application will be rolled into Round 4 (for domestic applicants only) or withdrawn (international applicants). A withdrawn application is not a denial and will not impact applications in future cycles. [b]Chicago Booth School of Business—Round 3 Deadline is April 2, 2020.[/b] The Round 3 deadline remains in effect. However, due to GMAT testing center closures around the globe, Booth will accept test scores for R3 applicants through an [url=https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/admissions]extended deadline[/url] of July 1, 2020. [b]UC Berkeley Haas School of Business—Round 3 Deadline is April 2, 2020. [/b] The Round 3 deadline remains in effect. As of March 24, the school has not announced any changes to the [url=https://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions]admissions process.[/url] [b]UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business—Round 3 Deadline is April 6, 2020.[/b] The Round 3 deadline remains in effect. As of March 24, the school has not announced any changes to the [url=https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/programs/mba/full-time-mba/admissions/requirements-deadlines/]admissions process[/url]. [b]Kellogg School of Management—Round 3 Deadline is April 8, 2020.[/b] The Kellogg School has kept the April 8, 2020 deadline for Round 3 applicants. The decision release day also stays in effect on May 13, 2020. If the coronavirus has affected applicants’ ability to fulfill the GMAT/GRE/TOEFL/IELTS testing requirement, the school encourages them to continue working on applications. Follow [url=https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/policies/coronavirus.aspx]this link[/url] for information on how to proceed if you have no score, or would like to retest. [b]Stanford Graduate School of Business–Round 3 Deadline is April 8, 2020.[/b] Stanford is not shifting the Round 3 deadline. However, they understand there are some unusual circumstances this year due to COVID-19. With testing centers closing in many locations around the world, the GSB admissions team says they will be as flexible as they can in terms of score reporting. The admissions team also encourages applicants to apply in Round 3 even if they have issues with delayed recommendation letters, have not yet taken the GMAT, or who plan to retake the exam after April 8. Read more about the Stanford GSB response to COVID-19 [url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/contact]here[/url]. [b]Cornell Johnson School of Management—April Round Deadline is April 8, 2020[/b] The Round 3 deadline remains unchanged. However, the Johnson School will provide flexibility with testing submissions. Here’s a coronavirus admissions update from the [url=https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions/covid-19/]school website[/url]: Please let us know of any changes to your testing status by email. This will help us keep an accurate understanding of your overall application status. As testing centers update their own operating statuses, we will work with impacted candidates and adjust our MBA application review timelines. [b]MIT Sloan School of Management—Round 3 Deadline is April 9, 2020.[/b] While MIT Sloan acknowledges the uncertainties of COVID-19, as of March 24, the school says it will not affect the admissions process for the remaining cycle. The admissions criteria, process, and timeline remain unchanged. Per the [url=https://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba#admissions]MIT Sloan admissions[/url] page: The timeline for MBA Round 3 remains the same. All applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm EST on April 9, 2020. Applicants invited to interview will be notified in mid to late April and all interviews will be conducted via Skype. Final decisions for MBA Round 3 will be released on May 7, 2020. [b]The Wharton School—Round 3 Deadline moved to April 15, 2020. [/b] The Wharton School has decided to [url=https://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/mba-admissions/deadlines-update/]extend the Round 3 deadline[/url] by two weeks after feedback from worried applicants. Also, the new Advance Access deadline is May 27, 2020. Wharton MBA admissions will release Round 2 decisions on March 26, 2020, as previously planned. Round 3 and [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/wharton-mba-advance-access/]Advance Access[/url] applicants may still submit their applications without having sat for a standardized test. Read Wharton’s testing updates [url=https://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/mba-admissions/application-updates/]here[/url]. [b]UCLA Anderson School of Management—Round 3 Deadline is April 16, 2020.[/b] According to the UCLA Anderson [url=https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/full-time-mba/admissions]website[/url], as of March 24, the school has not made official changes for full-time MBA prospective students due to COVID-19. A banner on the site states the following: We are updating our applicants via email and are working with them on an individual basis to address any concerns. Currently, there are no changes to deadlines, decision dates, program start dates, policies or requirements. [b]Georgetown McDonough School of Business—Round 4 Deadline is April 27, 2020.[/b] The Round 4 deadline remains in effect. As of March 24, the school has not announced any changes to the [url=https://msb.georgetown.edu/mba/]admissions process[/url]. [b]Yale School of Management—Round 3 Extended Deadline is May 27, 2020. [/b] On March 24th, Assistant Dean for Admissions, Bruce DelMonico, announced the creation of an [url=https://som.yale.edu/blog/from-the-assistant-dean-for-admissions-announcing-an-additional-round-3-extended-deadline]extended Round 3 deadline[/url] of May 27, 2020. This is for candidates unable to submit by the standard deadline, or who have incomplete applications as of April 14. DelMonico says Yale SOM will notify Round 3 Extended applicants of their admission decision in the second half of June. [b]Columbia Business School—Application Deadline for the August 2020 Class moved to June 1, 2020[/b] Last week, an email from Amanda Carlson, CBS’s Assistant Dean of Admissions, explained the school’s decision to push back the Round 3 deadline beyond its original date of April 10, 2020. As Carlson noted: Due to uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus, [url=https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/]Columbia Business School[/url] will extend our application deadline for the August 2020 class until June 1, 2020. We plan to admit more candidates toward the end of this application cycle in anticipation that some of our admitted students may struggle, for a variety of reasons, to start in August 2020. If you are thinking about submitting an application to Columbia Business School, and wonder if it’s too late, it’s not. We are extending the deadline and plan to admit more candidates who will be a great fit in our community. [b]UV Darden School of Business—Rolling Round 3 Deadline through July 15, 2020.[/b] On March 24, [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2020/03/24/unprecedented-flexibility-round-3/]Darden announced[/url] that its R3 deadline, originally April 6, 2020, would become a rolling deadline until mid-July. The application will remain open until this date to enable applicants to submit missing elements of their application, Darden explained. Follow the link above for more updates on recommendation letters, testing, and the interview process. A note on visas for international students Last week, the U.S. government [url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-routine-visa-services.html]suspended routine visa services[/url] globally. We hope that the public health crisis improves in the coming months and the visa suspension is lifted. However, for the moment, the situation raises doubts about non-U.S. students’ plans to study in the United States this fall. Be sure to check in with your target schools directly for the latest information. We hope these coronavirus admissions updates will help you navigate this unusual process of applying in Round 3 in 2020. The post [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/coronavirus-admissions-updates-round-3/]Coronavirus Admissions Updates for Round 3[/url] appeared first on [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com]Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting[/url]. [img]https://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/StacyBlackman/~4/XEU1nPEyIZ0[/img] |
26 Mar 2020, 14:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: How Will the Coronavirus Affect International Applicants? |
 Over the last few weeks, we’ve fielded many questions on how might the coronavirus affect international applicants. Primarily, admitted candidates fear they won’t be able to secure visas due to the COVID-19 crisis. But prospective MBA applicants also worry that their chances of admission will shrink because of the ongoing pandemic. Those are both valid concerns. To clarify the situation, we’d like to share our perspective based on conversations the former admissions officers on our team have had with several top-tier MBA programs. As of now, we don’t expect any schools to delay the start of their semesters. Current wisdom indicates that the situation in the U.S. and worldwide should improve by mid- to late summer. If that holds, we would expect consulates to resume visa interviews. Here are two constants to remember. Elite business schools will continue to admit the candidates they feel are the best fit for their programs. Secondly, schools always admit more applicants than they know will attend. In this current scenario, many schools might consider accepting slightly more people than usual to hedge against any yield fallout. Harvard Business School MBA Admissions Director Chad Losee recently shared that this year’s unprecedented circumstances have also prompted the school to maintain a larger waitlist than usual. However, we don’t think any MBA program will start basing admission decisions on the progression of the pandemic. This much we’ve heard directly from MBA admissions representatives. Worst-case scenario, programs could allow admits to defer until fall 2021 if they can’t get their visa for fall 2020. The bottom line: candidates should keep their focus on presenting a robust application—the rest is just noise and distraction. How will test center closures affect MBA applicants? We’ve seen a raft of Round 3 updates from MBA programs, and the majority focus on providing flexibility for submitting test scores. If you haven’t yet taken take the exam, we encourage you to monitor the updates issued from ETS and GMAC. Earlier this week, ETS announced it is temporarily offering a GRE test at home option in selected areas beginning March 27, 2020. We also know that GMAC has started to explore online alternatives for assessment delivery in affected regions. They aim to have that available mid-April or sooner. GMAC says it plans to offer this interim solution at a lower cost than the standard GMAT exam to support test takers and schools during this difficult time. As we’ve noted, many top programs have extended deadlines and moved to review applications without a test score temporarily. But none have yet waived the requirement altogether. Therefore, candidates should still expect to provide a valid test score to enroll in the fall if admitted. Will the coronavirus affect international applicants’ appeal? Schools remain very interested in international candidates, for the same reasons as always. They want to make every effort to enroll as diverse and qualified a class as possible for fall 2021. Programs will turn to virtual recruiting options during this disruptive period, and their immigration offices are also monitoring the situation and continuing to assist incoming students. They have all risen to the occasion, and institution by institution, will make every effort to get students to campus for the fall. No one has a crystal ball right now to predict the impact on class yield, or the full extent of how might the coronavirus affect international MBA applicants. There will be variability across programs. U.S. programs have issued statements to candidates to explain the next steps. Also, they are making every effort to reassure candidates that their processes for evaluation, interviews, and decisions will continue undeterred. Thanks to technology, this is possible. For now, each MBA candidate needs to stay abreast of what is happening in their region and at their consulate. Vigilance and proactiveness remain important for this crisis, as for any business challenge. Being an MBA student means committing to finding creative solutions to pressing problems. So candidates should step back, take a deep breath, shift perspective, and approach this as another challenge to overcome to achieve their goals. The post How Will the Coronavirus Affect International Applicants? appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
30 Mar 2020, 16:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: How to Impress the Kellogg Admissions Committee |
Here at Stacy Blackman Consulting, we love to share insider knowledge gleaned from our stellar team of MBA admissions experts. Did you know that SBC is the only MBA admissions firm with a complete panel of former Admissions Officers from every M7 program and the elite European MBA programs? Today, we bring you insight from SBC consultant Caryn, a former admissions officer at Kellogg School of Management. Here is Caryn’s advice on how to impress the Kellogg admissions committee. What is a common challenge that applicants face? The biggest challenge for applicants is differentiating themselves from other applicants of similar backgrounds. I see this regularly with candidates from oversubscribed professional backgrounds, such as consulting and banking. It also occurs with oversubscribed populations from particular areas of the world. To overcome these challenges, we focus on presenting the full story behind the applicant. That means highlighting unique points of difference throughout the entire application, from the essays to resume, to interview and beyond. For example, instead of just discussing that a client closed X number of banking transactions, we would highlight what he/she did that was not the norm on these transactions. So things like “led at a level above,” “reporting directly to the MD,” or “presented to C-level client on multiple occasions.” As much as possible, we highlight areas of accomplishment or unique background stories to help differentiate them from the applicant pool. What should applicants do to impress the Kellogg admissions committee? Admissions committees always want to see you highlight the traditional areas of interest: leadership, communication, analytical abilities, and community involvement. For Kellogg in particular, I’d really focus on your ability to work within a collaborative environment. Demonstrate how you’d be involved in the program from a leadership aspect. Kellogg’s focus on educating and inspiring “brave leaders who build strong organizations. . .” should be demonstrated not only in your background but in your future plans as well. People who work best in solo settings, owning just their own work, will not feel comfortable in Kellogg’s highly collaborative atmosphere. I would avoid relaying that you are a solo practitioner in this area. While I’d highlight your accomplishments, I’d look to balance that with the benefit of working with your teams. Also, avoid solely focusing on “I did this, I did that” or casting blame on teammates. Those two tactics are the surest way to leave a bad impression on the adcom. Any final tips to share?  Do your research! As Kellogg has two interview components (video and live), you have a tremendous opportunity to display your in-depth knowledge before the Kellogg admissions committee. Research how you’ll plan to take advantage of Kellogg’s broad offerings. Think about everything from particular programs, classes and even professors, to specific extracurriculars you’ll participate in. Kellogg wants students to hit the ground running from Day 1. Do your research and make sure to demonstrate it where possible! You can read more of Caryn’s advice on how to get into Kellogg School of Management in this premium article on Business Insider. The post How to Impress the Kellogg Admissions Committee appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
01 Apr 2020, 16:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: GMAT Coronavirus Updates |
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[img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/corona-4970836_1920-734x489.jpg[/img] In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, testing centers worldwide have temporarily closed their doors. Undeterred by this hurdle, the [url=https://www.gmac.com/why-gmac/gmac-news/update-on-coronavirus]Graduate Management Admission Council[/url] (GMAC) is working quickly to create an in-home, online GMAT test. Today, we’re sharing these GMAT coronavirus updates so that MBA applicants can adapt to these trying circumstances and still pursue their business school plans. [b]The online GMAT exam will go live in mid-April. According to GMAC:[/b] This interim GMAT exam will provide a comparable structure, number of items, and scoring as delivered in test centers. The Quant, Verbal and IR sections (no AWA section) will have the same number of items and the same time for completion. This will allow us to maintain the same score scale for both the Section Scores and Total Score. GMAC says it will modify check-in and security protocols to accommodate online delivery. In addition, they will use remote proctors to maintain test integrity. The company plans to make the test available in impacted markets outside of China. Meanwhile, GMAC continues to work with Chinese authorities to come up with a workable solution for mainland test-takers. As we mentioned in this [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/coronavirus-affect-international-applicants/]update for international applicants[/url], GMAC will offer this interim exam at a lower cost than the standard GMAT exam. Other GMAT coronavirus updates to remember [list] [*]GMAC has temporarily waived all GMAT exam reschedule fees during the COVID-19 outbreak.[/*] [*]Registrants with canceled appointments due to the coronavirus will receive a full refund of their test fees and any appointment reschedule and cancellation fees.[/*] [*]If your appointment has been canceled, it will not automatically be rescheduled. You will need to schedule a new test-taking appointment.[/*] [*]As of March 25, GMAC will waive GMAT exam score reinstatement fees. Your score will be automatically sent to programs you selected in the test center prior to your score cancellation.[/*] [/list] Finally, GMAC says it looks forward to helping candidates and schools with this high-caliber, interim GMAT option. Stay tuned for more GMAT coronavirus updates and registration information in the coming weeks. Image by [url=https://pixabay.com/users/ornaw-8155178/]Orna Wachman[/url] via Pixabay The post [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/gmat-coronavirus-update/]GMAT Coronavirus Updates[/url] appeared first on [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com]Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting[/url]. [img]https://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/StacyBlackman/~4/yhutfp6QX0Q[/img] |
03 Apr 2020, 16:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Wharton to Offer Quantitative Finance Major |
 Starting next year, MBA students at the Wharton School can now choose quantitative finance as a major. The offering comes thanks to a newly announced $8 million gift from alumnus Bruce Jacobs. The school will also use the award to add an endowed professorship. In addition, it will provide $25,000 tuition scholarships for qualified second-year MBA students. A new chapter in Quantitative Finance Together, these students will form an elite group of Jacobs Scholars. Their focus will be on applying financial economics to security pricing and asset management. This new MBA major in quantitative finance will include considerable cross-disciplinary content. These include content from accounting; statistics; and operations, information, and decisions. The quantitative finance major will appeal to students with strong quant backgrounds in a variety of subjects. In particular, it will attract engineers and computer science majors aspiring to develop skills for quantitative applications in finance. At the same time, students in the major will hone their technical expertise and leadership skills. They will emerge well-prepared for a wide range of careers in the financial industry, Wharton School says. Such careers include quantitative asset management and trading, financial engineering, risk management, and applied research. Jacobs, the co-founder of Jacobs Levy Equity Management, holds a master’s degree in applied economics and a doctorate in finance from Wharton, where he spent five years teaching prior to entering the private sector. “Bruce is a pioneer and innovator in connecting academic research with investment management, and we are honored that he is making this bold new step in his immense ongoing support of the School,” said Wharton Dean Geoff Garrett in a statement. “My aspiration in giving to Wharton is to build a community of people interested and invested in quantitative finance and to spark a ripple effect on a global scale,” Jacobs explained. “I can think of no better time for this initiative as we face new economic, health, and markets issues that will shape the world economy for decades.” The post Wharton to Offer Quantitative Finance Major appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
08 Apr 2020, 06:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Kaizen and the 1% Approach |
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[img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/48980489292_39244748a7_c-1-734x369.jpg[/img] We love an extreme makeover as much as the next person, but most of us resist radical change in our own lives. If we’re honest, it requires more work than most of us can muster. That’s why you need to embrace the philosophy of kaizen if lasting transformation is your goal. In Japanese, “kai” means change, and “zen” means good, so the concept translates as “change for better” or continuous improvement. A consistent yet gradual approach is what makes kaizen effective and painless. When done in small increments over time, you can develop—or break—habits for good. Check out these examples of how to put the kaizen mindset put into action: [list] [*]You want to run a 5K—start by taking a 15-minute walk.[/*] [*]You want to read more books—read just one page.[/*] [*]You want to save $500—put $1 a day into your piggy bank.[/*] [*]You want to reduce your sugar intake—use 1/4 tsp less sugar in your coffee or tea.[/*] [/list] On the surface, it may seem bonkers that such tiny efforts could help you achieve a larger goal. But don’t get swayed by how simple it sounds and start adding in more because it’s too easy. We’re looking for compound interest here. Even a 1% daily improvement adds up to something powerful. For example, you increase your walking time each day and eventually add in a few minutes of jogging. The next time you pick up that book, you’ll read a couple more pages. Before long, you’ve read a whole chapter. Get the idea? Kaizen at the office To boost productivity and optimize your workspace, apply the kaizen principle known as the “5S Method”: [list] [*]Seiri (Sort)—Separate all the unnecessary things and get rid of them.[/*] [*]Seiton (Set in order)—A place for everything and everything in its place. This increases your concentration and will decrease unnecessary distractions.[/*] [*]Seiso (Shine)—Keep the working environment tidy.[/*] [*]Seiketsu (Standardize)—Make cleaning and checking a routine habit. Use self-discipline to stay organized daily.[/*] [*]**** (Sustain)—Standardize the previous four steps to make the process continual and open for improvements. Think about how you use your workspace and make changes as needed.[/*] [/list] As you can see, kaizen also focuses on eliminating waste. What that looks like at your workplace will vary. Some people might waste energy reading and answering emails that interrupt their concentration. Put in place strategies such as batch processing, creating email whitelists and blacklists, turning off notifications, etc. to streamline email processing time and tame your inbox. On the factory floor, this means wasted movement, [url=https://lifehacker.com/practice-your-personal-kaizen-207029]Lifehacker[/url] points out. Having the necessary tools set up within arm’s reach avoids wasted steps. Now multiply that time saved by two hundred workers, and you’ll see a significant boost in productivity. Workers use less energy and thus feel better—a win-win for everybody. Why it works When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens — and when it happens, it lasts. — John Wooden, basketball player In essence, Kaizen doesn’t focus on the outcome—it’s all about the process. But by devoting yourself to the process every single day, significant results are all but guaranteed. *** Did you enjoy this post about self-improvement? It originally appeared on [url=https://theblacklight.co/newsletter/]the Blacklight[/url], our weekly newsletter for professionals. At the Blacklight, we [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/blacklight-career-hacks-life-inspo/]aim to illuminate[/url] with every dispatch that lands in your inbox. If you’re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goalposts closer, [url=https://theblacklight.co/]sign up[/url] today! image credit: Flickr user [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/182229932@N07/48980489292]www.epictop10.com[/url] (CC BY 2.0) The post [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/kaizen-approach/]Kaizen and the 1% Approach[/url] appeared first on [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com]Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting[/url]. [img]https://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/StacyBlackman/~4/0a8XEwu3WSA[/img] |
10 Apr 2020, 07:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Coronavirus MBA Volunteering Ideas |
 Are you applying to business schools in the next application cycle? Clearly, 2020 will be like no other admissions season on record. The coronavirus outbreak has already affected the application strategies of many MBA hopefuls. Campus visits are out of the question. MBA fairs have all moved online. Your once-imminent promotion may have stalled if your company is scrambling to adapt in the wake of COVID-19. You may wonder if it’s possible to strengthen your leadership profile and continue extracurriculars in the coming months. Rest assured, you can make a significant impact, even during the quarantine. In fact, the type of volunteering effort you make now could leave an indelible impression on the admissions committee. Top-ranked MBA programs aren’t looking for number-crunching robots to fill their seats. They seek multidimensional candidates with interests and passions outside of work. In particular, they want to know you have committed to serving your community in a meaningful way. The COVID-19 pandemic is scary, but it can also inspire you to find new ways to be useful. It’s time to get creative and rise to the occasion. Here are a few coronavirus MBA volunteering ideas we’ve come up with so far. Stay at Home but Stay Involved  Ideally, you have already had leadership roles in volunteer organizations in the past. Can you continue to build upon those activities in a remote capacity? If not, then explore other options unique to this moment in time. Your coronavirus MBA volunteering activities should be things that resonate with you. There are many different ways to add value today on both small and large scales. “This COVID-19 outbreak provides an unprecedented opportunity for candidates to step up and demonstrate their service-oriented attitude by helping their communities,” says SBC principal consultant Bill. Some ideas include arranging meal donations from local restaurants to frontline healthcare workers. You could also organize a fundraiser through a non-profit to raise money for any number of causes. Think of food pantries, blood drives, or providing WiFi hotspots for low-income students, for example. Many MBA applicants are already involved with mentoring youth. Consider creating Zoom online tutoring, or community programs for non-profits that usually host afterschool classes for kids. You could help create enrichment programs for schools unable to offer online instruction. Social isolation has caused severe mental health issues for many people. The elderly are especially vulnerable right now. Consider volunteering at an organization addressing the needs of seniors. For instance, the non-profit Dorot in New York City provides “caring calls” to older adults. For an option outside the house, think about something like Meals on Wheels. They need drivers to deliver food to homebound seniors.  One SBC client has trained to become a crisis counselor through the Crisis Text Line. This crisis-intervention and counseling service is conducted through SMS text. Volunteers must first complete 30 hours of training. Then, they commit to volunteering 4 hours per week until they reach 200 hours. From an MBA admissions standpoint, this type of meaningful commitment will stand out. Relate your coronavirus MBA volunteering to future career goals At SBC, we encourage clients to contribute in ways that relate to their future career goals. “This is an ideal time to get your feet wet in your desired function or industry sector,” advises SBC consultant Dione. “So put on your entrepreneurial, problem-solving hats!” Applicants can start by thinking about problems that have arisen in the nonprofits or communities they support. Think about solutions that leverage your expertise or show your potential for success in your future career goal, Dione suggests, adding, “The more significant the impact and the more innovative the solution, the better.” The pandemic has brought to light many dysfunctional socio-political issues we must address if we want to rebuild a stronger society in the wake of this disaster, Bill adds. “Creating or participating in a platform dedicated to dealing with these broader issues would demonstrate a passion for driving lasting and beneficial change—a vital element when considering the quality of one’s MBA candidacy.” The post Coronavirus MBA Volunteering Ideas appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
13 Apr 2020, 14:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Chicago Booth is STEM MBA Certified |
 Today’s business leaders need to have backgrounds in science, tech, engineering, and math to help solve our most challenging issues. Earlier this month, Chicago Booth School of Business Dean Madhav Rajan made an announcement that’s music to the ears of many international students. Now, Booth is STEM MBA certified for Optional Practical Training (OPT) purposes. A recent MBA Admissions Blog entry says this change expands eligibility from two concentrations to the entire MBA degree. It also lets F-1 visa holders apply for an additional 24 months of training through work experience after their MBA. Ultimately, says the AdCom team, the STEM designation can help international students gain more than just experience. They might also earn a promotion and pay off part of their student debt. Booth believes the STEM-certified MBA offers far-reaching professional and personal benefits to its international students. Having a diverse community adds an extra dimension to your business education, says the Booth AdCom, as instructors and classmates share their unique perspectives. Chicago Booth considers its community of international students and faculty members essential to the school’s vitality. Follow the link below to learn more about Booth’s commitment to helping international students. You can also read how its Office of Internal Affairs is working with international MBA candidates during the COVID-19 crisis. news source: Chicago Booth STEM MBA and Additional Support The post Chicago Booth is STEM MBA Certified appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
14 Apr 2020, 14:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Fuqua Adding a 4th Round Amid Covid-19 Crisis |
 The third round deadline at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business passed on March 11, 2020. However, the COVID-19 crisis has seriouslyimpacted Round 3 applicants around the world. With test centers shuttered, many prospective students could not take an exam or complete their application on time. In response, Duke Fuqua is adding a 4th round deadline, Shari Hubert, Fuqua’s associate dean of admissions, announced today. The new application deadline is May 19, 2020. Considerations for Fuqua’s Round 4 applicants Keep these points in mind if you plan to apply in this round. Interviews: All interviews will now occur via Skype with a second-year Daytime MBA student, staff member, or alumnus. “We believe the interview process is critical allowing us to learn more about a student and provide them the chance to interact with a member of the community,” Hubert explained. Standardized Testing: Fuqua accepts both GMAT and GRE scores. Beginning with Round 4, they will now accept the Executive Assessment (EA) without prior approval. Fuqua does not require the official score report at the time of application. Candidates need only to self-report their scores and provide official scores when admitted. Administrators of the GMAT and GRE tests have made it possible for prospective students to take these tests from a home environment. Please check the GMAC or ETS websites for more information. Connect with Fuqua: Applicants can schedule a 15-minute chat with a member of the admissions team to ask any questions they have about the admissions process. As a thank you for taking the time to attend a virtual event or speak with us, Fuqua will waive the student’s application fee if they plan on applying in Round 4. International Students: International students may apply in the new Round 4. Fuqua believes that with the later start date, students should have sufficient time to collect required visa paperwork. However, students should be prepared to move quickly after admission. Keep in mind the possibility of lingering delays in embassies and visas office around the world. Coronavirus will affect start dates at Fuqua In addition to Fuqua adding a 4th round, today, we also received the first clear signal of how the coronavirus might affect start dates at business schools this fall. Calling it a “difficult decision,” Hubert explained that start dates for the Daytime MBA program have shifted in order to allow as many students as possible to join them in Durham. Orientation will now start on August 31, and classes will begin on September 3, 2020. Travel restrictions and/or visa processing delays may affect students’ ability to make it to campus for the new start date. The AdCom team has prepared for this possibility, Hubert assured. Fuqua plans to offer an option in which people can begin the program online alongside their classmates on the campus. They can then join the cohort in Durham as soon as possible. Coronavirus will not halt instruction Hubert acknowledged that the school has closely monitored the trajectory of the pandemic with Duke medical officials. She also believes this delayed start offers the best chance for the whole community to start together physically on campus. “However, we will hold to these start dates regardless of how the pandemic evolves. We are prepared to start classes with a combination of some students online and others on-campus,” Hubert explained. “We are also prepared to start all students online in the unlikely event that public health restrictions prevent us from being on-campus.” The post Fuqua Adding a 4th Round Amid Covid-19 Crisis appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
14 Apr 2020, 17:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Kellogg School Will Waive GMAT, GRE for Round 3 Applicants |
 We’re living through a unique moment in history as the whole world grapples with the COVID-19 outbreak. Business schools, for their part, are adapting tomeet the current challenges facing many Round 3 applicants. But one elite school has gone beyond any other thus far. An announcement came out today that the Kellogg School will waive GMAT and GRE standardized test requirements for applicants applying in Round 3. In sharing this unprecedented decision, Kate Smith, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, said, “Your goals matter. Nothing about the disruption you are experiencing should hold you back. So we’re removing what you and your future classmates have identified as a potential barrier to finalizing your applications in time for the extended deadlines.” While online options for the GMAT and GRE have or will soon become available, Smith says Kellogg understands that such delivery methods do not accommodate everyone. They also potentially present new challenges of studying in a crunched timeline, she added. If you already have a test score and feel it will strengthen your application, you may send it in. Kellogg will also continue to accept scores from GMAC and ETS’s online testing alternatives. Applicants should note that the Kellogg School will waive the GMAT/GRE requirement specifically for this unique moment in time. It is not an indicator for future admissions cycles. Also, Kellogg’s other admissions standards and criteria have not changed. “We’re as committed as ever to bringing together a student body comprising diverse, accomplished and driven individuals,” Smith said. A second chance for waitlisted/dinged applicants? Finally, Smith noted that applicants who were waitlisted or denied in Rounds 1 or 2 may submit an appeal to have their application reconsidered. Check in with the Kellogg AdCom team for specific instructions for how to do so in the coming days. If you have questions about your application, please get in touch with the Kellogg admissions office. “Kellogg will always be a place that puts its community first, and the same goes for future students,” Smith said. “We look forward to reviewing your applications and welcoming our new classes to Kellogg.” The post Kellogg School Will Waive GMAT, GRE for Round 3 Applicants appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
15 Apr 2020, 10:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: GMAT Online Testing Begins on April 20 |
 The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered testing centers around the world. In response, the Graduate Management Admission Council moved quickly to create an alternative GMAT solution that is accessible online. After much anticipation, yesterday GMAC announced the release of its GMAT Online exam. The interim GMAT Online exam will help candidates feel safe while meeting upcoming application deadlines. It will also offer business schools everywhere a relevant way to evaluate candidates for their admissions process. As we mentioned in this update for international applicants, GMAC will offer this interim exam at a lower cost than the standard GMAT exam. GMAT Online Test Structure GMAC has made the interim solution available on both Mac and PC platforms to impacted test-takers across the globe. However, the exam will not be accessible in some countries due to regulatory restrictions. These regions include mainland China, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, Slovenia, and North Korea. Additionally, GMAC is working to provide appropriate online options for candidates with disabilities who meet specific eligibility criteria. GMAC says it will modify check-in and security protocols to accommodate online delivery. In addition, they will use remote proctors to maintain test integrity. The Quantitative, Verbal and Integrated Reasoning sections (omitting the Analytical Writing Assessment section) will have the same type and number of items and the same time for completion. This creates consistency in content and structure with the GMAT exam administered in test centers. It will also use the same scoring algorithm and score scale for the Section Scores and Total Score as the test center-based version. Appointments for around-the-clock test dates begin on April 20, 2020, and run through June 15, 2020. At that time, GMAC will reevaluate the need for the interim solution. Candidates who wish to register for the GMAT Online exam can learn more here: www.mba.com/gmatonline The post GMAT Online Testing Begins on April 20 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
17 Apr 2020, 14:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Wharton to Livestream Virtual Campus Tour |
 So, how can you research schools and get a feel for their campuses during the COVID-19 crisis? Business schools worldwide have adapted to meet this need of prospective MBA applicants by ramping up an array of virtual campus tour options. If you’re targeting the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, get ready for the next best thing to an in-person experience. The top-ranked school will livestream a campus tour led by a Wharton student on April 21st at 12:30 p.m. EST. Join first-year MBA student Caitlin Lohrenz as she gives a virtual overview of the Wharton campus. Throughout the tour, Caitlin will discuss daily student activities, academics, commuting, and more. Following the virtual tour, Caitlin will answer your questions live. Until in-person visits can resume safely, think of the virtual campus tour as a jumping-off point for your school selection process. You can register for the event here. The post Wharton to Livestream Virtual Campus Tour appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
22 Apr 2020, 10:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Innovation Requires a Growth Mindset |
 “Fresh ideas from the Blacklight” SBC’s Weekly Newsletter for Professionals We know Silicon Valley for its “fail fast, fail often” ethos. Yet failure still carries a crippling stigma for many people outside of tech. If you value creativity and innovation, then it’s time to shake off those shameful feelings. Embrace failure as a chance to grow and a necessary stepping stone on the path to success. Indeed, history offers plenty of examples of innovation born from trial and error. Engineers Al Fielding and Marc Chavannes created bubble wrap in 1960. But they first tried to market it as a trendy new textured wallpaper. The lubricant WD-40 required many attempts to get the formula right. Its name stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try. In the 1930s, Cleo and Noah McVicker invented Play-Doh—as a wallpaper cleaner. And that famous little blue pill? Doctors first developed it to treat hypertension. But they soon realized Viagra worked muuuch better for a completely different ailment. And the list goes on. You see, there’s a silver lining behind most failures. The key is not giving up. Continue to put in the effort, pivot, and try again. Your perseverance will pay off. Innovation is all in your mind (set) Whether you’ll be able to let failure lead you to innovation depends on what kind of mindset you have. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck hit on the notion that people with a fixed mindset believe their intelligence, creative talents, and character are immutable traits. People who have a growth mindset, meanwhile, believe that they can develop their core abilities through dedication and hard work. Our brains and talent are only the starting point, Dweck discovered. “People often confuse a growth mindset with being flexible or open-minded or with having a positive outlook — qualities they believe they’ve simply always had,” Dweck wrote in Harvard Business Review. “My colleagues and I call this a false growth mindset,” she explained. “Everyone is actually a mixture of fixed and growth mindsets, and that mixture continually evolves with experience.” Getting on board with failure But it’s not just people who need to become more accepting of their mistakes. In this interview with Medium, professor Luis Martins of UT McCombs School of Business said companies need to walk the walk as well if innovation is the real goal. “Most organizations celebrate the people who pick good ideas. They also reward the people who don’t make any mistakes,” Martins explained. “Unless you make it a norm, it’s a one-off. But if everybody is trying and failing, any one failure is not that spectacular — nobody is stopping to look at you.” Dweck has also studied organizations and found that growth-minded companies often promote from within their ranks. Fixed mindset ones, meanwhile, look to outsiders. This group also places a high value on credentials and past accomplishments. In contrast, growth-mindset firms admire potential and passion for learning. “Focusing on pedigree…is not as effective as looking for people who love challenges, who want to grow, and who want to collaborate,” Dweck said. In other words, companies that strive for innovation should start by considering their hiring criteria. Finally, we’ll leave you with this thought from Walt Disney. “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Oh, and he once got fired from a newspaper job for not being creative enough. Go figure. *** Did you enjoy this post about innovation? It originally appeared on the Blacklight, our weekly newsletter for professionals. At the Blacklight, we aim to illuminate with every dispatch that lands in your inbox. If you’re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goalposts closer, sign up today! The post Innovation Requires a Growth Mindset appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
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