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Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs

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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   20 Sep 2019, 14:29


Photo by CoWomen on Unsplash

This post first appeared on Sia Admissions' Access blog.

Historically, higher education has been a resource for professional growth, frequently a means of opening doors to otherwise closed opportunities; in other words, academic institutions have been the gatekeepers for professional success.

While times are changing, top institutions still carry weight in opening doors for coveted jobs in industries like consulting, finance, and tech.  There are thousands of applicants each year targeting top business schools where admission rates, for most, are in single digits.

Business school applicants considering the likes of the M7s (Columbia, HBS, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Stanford, Chicago Booth, and Wharton) or any other top 20 programs consistently ask, “what makes a competitive candidate?”

While one may compare an applicant’s profile with a target b-school’s class profile, a precise numeric value on one’s chances of admission is often difficult to predict, as there are external factors at play as well. Who is in and who is out, even among competitive candidates, is also determined by the incumbent’s potential contribution to the cohort’s diversity. The final decision usually depends on the qualitative component of the application, and the experiences and goals driving the candidate to apply to a business program.

That said, while the stitching may differ, there are patterns that make up the fabric of a successful candidate.  

Academic Strength:

Top b-schools have rigorous programs, and admission committees curate the classroom to include students who can handle said rigor. It is, therefore, table stakes for competitive candidates to have strong GPAs and GMAT/GRE scores. Some successful candidates may have struggled during their college days, sometimes having experienced personal hardships or struggling to adjust to college life. While their undergraduate academic record may not be stellar, those successful candidates have taken measurable actions to rectify a less than ideal record and, in turn, have showcased to the admission committee a maturity, a desire to do better, and an ability to overcome adversity and handle the rigorous curriculum.

For those dreaming of a degree from a top-tier business school with a less than ideal academic record, remember that, while past experience and shortcoming cannot be changed, what you do with them and how they are presented will make a significant difference in the outcome of your application.

Community Engagement:

Aspiring business leaders are engaged citizens. They are involved in their community throughout their academic and professional careers, lending a hand and helping make a difference. They are individuals who see gaps or shortcoming in their communities and strive to make it better. Their involvement could include volunteer work, spearheading initiatives, founding non-profits, and several other various ways that demonstrate a human level of compassion and care. What stands out in a competitive candidate’s community engagement is not the number of initiatives involved in, but the passion with which they support their community.

Professional Promise:

While it would be helpful, admission committees cannot foresee the future success of an applicant. Instead, they determine professional promise through a candidate’s historic contributions and achievements that have been presented in the application. It does not mean that successful candidates have similar jobs and work in related industries; on the contrary, applicants from a variety of sectors holding a variety of job titles, apply to and are successful in business school. The common element of a successful applicant’s professional career is their leadership contributions, often not reflected in titles. These are candidates that have demonstrated leadership in their group, their department, or even the organization they serve and have effected meaningful change. These individuals are also trusted by their superiors to be responsible for more than what is in their job description, have often received multiple promotions, and are individuals that others look up to for guidance and direction. Echoing Robin Sharma’s book title – they are leaders without titles.

A vision for the Future:

Perhaps the most crucial element of a competitive candidate is not only that they are doers, but that they are also visionaries. They examine the many communities they belong to or want to be a part of. Competitive candidates evaluate the evidence at hand not as a means of judgment, but as a means of finding ways to improve the future. They focus their passion and speak to the impact they want to make in their community. Most importantly, they understand that nothing is accomplished in a vacuum, and their future success is dependent on the community and the relations they build.  It is not the business school that makes them leaders; instead, they are leaders who choose a top-business school to provide them with the best tools for them to deliver on their visions.

Want your profile evaluated by an expert for competitiveness to top b-schools? Reach out: here.
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   11 Jun 2020, 12:52


Stanford's Graduate School of Business, the top Silicon Valley B-school, is one of the most selective business schools in the world. The school prides itself on innovation in the classroom and emphasis on new ideas and cutting-edge developments.

From the Stanford website, "Our global reputation is hard-earned. Stanford GSB offers unparalleled opportunities that will help you launch a meaningful career and make an impact."

Application Deadlines:

The deadlines for the 2020-21 season
are listed below.

Round

Application
Deadline

Admissions
Decision Posted

Round 1

September 15, 2020

December 10, 2020

Round 2

January 6, 2021

April 1, 2021

Round 3

April 6, 2021

May 20, 2021

Applications are due by 4 p.m. PST on the
day of the deadline. For additional information on applying, please visit the
Stanford GSB admissions website.

Essays:

Like previous years, the Stanford Graduate School of Business asks MBA applicants to submit the same two required essay questions. It has retained the 1,150-word limit, with the recommendation of using 750 words for Essay A and 400 for Essay B. Like last year, the applicants can also submit an optional short-answer essay question.

Your
answers to both essay questions combined may not exceed 1,150 words (1,200
words if you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs).  All of you have your own story to tell, so
please allocate these words between the essays in a way that is most effective
for you.

We
recommend up to 750 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B. We often
find effective essays written in far fewer words.

Stanford
GSB offers guidelines and advice on its website for writing essays, "Essays help us learn about who
you are rather than solely what you have done. Other parts of the application
give insight to your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays
reveal the person behind those achievements. In each essay, we want to hear
your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and
dreams. There is no "right answer" to these questions—the best answer
is the one that is truest for you."

Explicit
instructions for formatting are given on Stanford Website. The essays should have
double space with a number on all pages. Only one document that includes both
essays is to be uploaded. The short-answer response will not be uploaded in
your essays upload; use the text boxes in the application for the optional
essay.

When
writing Stanford essays, our best advice is simple: answer the question. Resist
the urge to 'package' yourself into what you think Stanford wants to see. Doing
so will only prevent you from understanding who you are and what you hope to
accomplish. The most impressive essays, after all, are the most authentic ones.

Here is MER's analysis of Stanford
GSB's essays:

Essay
A: What matters most to you, and why?

For
this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once
you've identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might
consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people,
insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

This
is one of the most challenging essays asked by the business schools, and
Stanford has asked applicants this essay question for a long time now. This
essay requires you to introspect and reflect on your experiences and lessons
learned along the journey. The answer to this question will reveal the
undisclosed profound side of the applicant that cannot be found anywhere in the
application. This essay is an opportunity to demonstrate who you are, what
motivates you, and why. We would like you to do some deep self-reflection, so
you can genuinely illustrate who you are and how you became the person you are.
Instead of focusing merely on what you have done or accomplished, share
insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspective. Write from the
heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you.
Focus on the 'why' rather than the 'what.'

We
are who we are because of the experiences and events that we have gone through
in our life. To brainstorm ideas for this essay, you will need to look back and
reflect on your past experiences - growing up years, schooling, college,
professional life, volunteer activities, general interests, etc., and look for
some common thread that runs through some or all of them. Since there is no
direct answer to this essay, do not try to write a response right away.
Prewriting your experiences to identify a unifying theme would be of great
help. Try to focus on life experiences that have shaped your values and
priorities all these years. Don't shy away from sharing the challenging
experiences– often tough experiences make us stronger and instill a zeal in us
to fight. Whatever stories you choose, focus on their impact on your life and
your values.

As
you recount your experiences, make sure to share your thought process- how you
felt, thought, and reacted at that time and what lessons you eventually
learned. I suggest providing a chronological account of events that have
influenced your thoughts, values, and beliefs and have shaped you into a person
you are now with your firm belief system and priorities. Please remember this
essay is not directly about your accomplishments; it is about your values and
perspectives that you have developed over the years. So, your focus has to be
on the events, people, and anecdotes that made you the unique person you are
today. Also, elucidate here how you have translated your values into actions.
This way, your accomplishments will naturally stem from your values and
priorities.

Essay
B: Why Stanford?

Describe
your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize
them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to
address your interest in both programs.

The
second essay concentrates on the candidates' career goals and reasons for
pursuing a management degree at Stanford. After you have explained in the first
essay what matters most to you in life, you need to tell why your next step is
a Stanford MBA. Explain why you are interested in pursuing an MBA, and why you
specifically want to attend Stanford GSB. You need to have clarity regarding
your goals and the additional training you require, which a Stanford MBA can
provide.  Thorough research of the school's resources and curriculum will
help you determine how the Stanford MBA program aligns with your aspirations.
Instead of mapping out a specific career path in this essay, applicants should
focus on defining the broad impact they aim to make on a service, a sector, or
society. While Essay A is your opportunity to explain what matters most to you,
Essay B allows you to show how you would use your time at Stanford to further
your career and what matters most to you. In a way, Essay B picks up from
where Essay A ends.

Be
as specific as possible in your response to provide evidence that you have done
your research. You should know everything about the aspects of the program that
interest you the most. Talk about specific classes, programs, collaboration
with other parts of the school, clubs, conferences, or other offerings that
distinguish Stanford from other top business schools. Are there any particular
courses that appeal to you most? Have you met current students and alumni? Have
you attended any admission events that offered you additional insights about
the programs and confirmed your decision to apply to Stanford? Are there any
professors whose classes you are most excited about?

Stanford
likes to see applicants who have big dreams and have the potential to realize
those dreams. Be bold with your aspirations, but at the same time, be realistic
in showing that you have the ability to fulfill your dreams.

Optional
Short-Answer Question:

FromStanford Website,"The two required essays shed light on who you
are and how you imagine Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are
also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most
meaningful to you. In this section, we provide an optional opportunity
to go beyond your resume to discuss some of your contributions more fully.

Please
do not include your short-answer response in your essays upload; use the text
boxes provided in the application."

Question:
Think about times you've created a positive impact, whether in professional,
extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made
it significant to you or others? You are welcome to share up to three examples.
(Up to 1500 characters, approximately 250 words, for each example)

This
optional essay is different from optional essays from other schools. Instead of
asking you about additional information or weakness in your profile, it asks
you to share an achievement when you made a positive impact. So I would
encourage you to not consider this essay as optional and take this as an
opportunity to share your three most significant accomplishments when you made
a positive impact. The admission committee is interested in candidates who have
the capability of making an impact in professional or personal life. Your
achievements can be in any setting- professional, personal, academic, or
community. However, make sure to choose examples/ stories that throw a
spotlight on different aspects of your personality that you have not already shared
in your first essay.

Please
do not simply copy  accomplishments from
your résumé. Include meaningful content not covered already in the resume. Provide
more details about when and how you made a positive impact at work, or in a person's
life, or the community around you, keeping in mind the impact statement of
Stanford  ("Stanford GSB provides
a transformational experience that will change your life and the lives of those
around you.").

For organizing your essay, as
always, we recommend using the STAR method.

  • Situation: What was the situation/challenge that you were addressing
  • Task: What was the task? What were you expected to do?
  • Action: What actions you took to deal with the situation and
    overcome the challenge?
  • Result: What was the result/outcome? What was the impact of your
    actions on you and others? Did it make a difference in the lives of people?
    Explain how? How was the experience meaningful to you and others?

To meet the stringent word limits, make every wordcount.

CommonMyths about Admissions:  Finally, please go through this video by Kristen Moss,
Assistant Dean of admissions at Stanford wherein she talks about common myths that
some students have about admission to Stanford and what is most important in the
application process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... e=emb_logo

Free Resources:

 10 Key Essay Tipswith Examples

 Interviews of  Successful MERStudents

E-book of 30Essays that Worked

Case Studies

Since 2011, MER (myEssayReview) has
helped many applicants get accepted into the top 20 MBA programs, including
Stanford. (Poonam is one of the top 5 mostreviewed consultants on the GMAT Club.)

Do you have questions about your application for the 2020-21 admission? E-mail Poonam at poonam@myessayreview.com or sign up here for a free consultation. cycle

This blog post was first published in myEssayReview  blog.
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   16 Jun 2020, 11:33


Stanford GSB, as expected, did not change the essay questions this year. However, Stanford lowered the combined word limit from 1150 to 1050 words, suggesting clients allocate up to 650 words on Essay A and up to 400 words on Essay B. This will encourage applicants to remain focused and concise in their answers.

Below, please find this year’s deadlines along with Personal MBA Coach’s advice on how to approach the two essay questions.

Essay A: “What matters most to you, and why? (650 words suggested)”

This is arguably one of the hardest MBA application questions across all schools. This challenging first question requires candidates to speak from the heart. As Stanford advises, think more about your values here and WHY you made the choices you have made than WHAT you have done.

I recommend you do some serious soul searching before starting. Think about what you are most passionate about. What drives you to get out of bed each morning? If you could spend your time as you wish, what would you do? Ideally, you have acted on this passion and it extends throughout multiple aspects of your life. Then, think carefully about why this matters to you. Did you have an experience as a child? Are you following a passion held by others in your family?

Finally, once you have established the way, you should include some WHAT here. After all, a passion or cause that you have done nothing with will not be very believable. Remember though, this is only PART of this personal essay.

Essay B: “Why Stanford? (400 words suggested )”

In this short essay, candidates have a lot to cover. First, you should set up why you want an MBA. Naturally, this would include what your goals are and what skills you need to develop to achieve these goals.

Then, establish how Stanford will help you to fill these skill gaps. Once again, be specific! Name classes, clubs, programs, etc. and how they will help. Finally, be sure to articulate what attracts you to Stanford’s culture. We realize this is a tall order with a suggested word count of only 400 words so be succinct.

Unlike other schools, Stanford gives the candidate discretion on how to divide the 1150 words (1200 for dual degree candidates) across the two essays. The breakdown above is a suggestion and in general, this is an ideal breakdown for most candidates.

Need help? Personal MBA Coach is willing to be your guide. Founded by a Wharton and MIT graduate, we regularly help applicants navigate their applications each year. We also conduct mock interviews with former M7 interviewers on our team.

Personal MBA Coach has been guiding candidates through all aspects of the MBA application process for 13 years with a 96% success rate. Call us today at +1 617-645-2424 or email scott@personalmbacoach.com for a free consultation on your profile along with how we can help make your MBA dreams a reality!
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   31 Mar 2021, 11:27


With the recent release of the 2022 US News and World Report’s Best Business School Guide, MBA rankings are top of mind for all MBA hopefuls. While MBA rankings are just one factor to consider in the MBA decision-making process, Personal MBA Coach would like to share our thoughts on this latest list.

As Personal MBA Coach recently shared with Business Because readers, average ranking over time is far more important than fluctuations from year-to-year. It is important to keep this in mind as you review this year’s changes.

Somewhat surprisingly, given the fluctuations seen in recent years, all of the top 10 schools from the 2021 US News & World Report rankings remained in 2022’s top 10 list. Dartmouth Tuck (now tied with NYU Stern for 10th place) is the only newcomer to this year’s top 10 list.

2022 Full-Time MBA Rankings: What Changed and What Remained the Same

Once again, Stanford GSB has secured the #1 spot in the US News & World Report MBA rankings. This year, however, it is the sole holder of this position. While Stanford GSB and Wharton shared 1st place in the 2021 rankings, Wharton has dropped to #2 this year. Similarly, while Chicago Booth has earned 3rd place again this year, Kellogg (which shared the #3 spot with Chicago Booth last year) has fallen to #4.

Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan round out the top 5. Though the #5 spot is a repeat ranking for MIT Sloan, Harvard Business School celebrates a slight increase from its previous and lowest-ever position of 6th place.

Columbia Business School jumped slightly from 8th to 7th place. Berkeley Haas also secured 7th place, maintaining the same position from the previous year. For the third year in a row, Yale SOM finished 9th. Rounding out the top 10, NYU Stern secured 10th place for the second year in a row, joined this year by Dartmouth Tuck.

Duke Fuqua retains 12th place this year, while Michigan Ross dropped from #12 to #13. UVA Darden shares 13th place with Michigan Ross, falling from its past position of #11.

Cornell Johnson, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, USC Marshall, UCLA Anderson, Texas McCombs, and UNC Kenan-Flagler completed the top 20, in that order, with Tepper and Marshall tying for 16th place, and Anderson and McCombs tying for 18th.

Again, it is important to remember that changes over time are more significant, and these rankings vary from year-to-year and guide-to-guide. For instance, this year’s Financial Times Global MBA Rankings offer very different results than those shared above, in part due to the omission of Harvard Business School, Wharton, and Stanford GSB from their list.

The constant shuffling at the top demonstrates the growing competition among elite business schools. The average GMAT score range among the top 10 schools’ class of 2022 admits was just 13 points (from 720 to 733). Similarly, there was a small variation in average GPA, ranging from 3.5 to 3.8.

There are no longer just a few top programs to consider. While the M7 business schools receive a lot of attention, there are many compelling full-time MBA program options outside of the M7. Personal MBA Coach’s average client applies to five to seven programs to maximize their chances of acceptance.

Beyond MBA rankings, it is essential to consider factors including location, culture, areas of specialization and job placement. Just because a particular business school has a high position in general rankings does not mean that it will better prepare you for your next job. Consider your post-MBA goals and learning style and explore specialized rankings depending on these aspirations.

Finally, available financing also should be a key consideration since you may be able to secure more funding from one school versus another. Last year, Personal MBA Coach’s clients earned over $6M in scholarships. Depending on your personal circumstances, you might be better off selecting a school with a slightly lower ranking if it offers a more favorable financial package. Some M7 schools are very generous with scholarships while others award them much more sparingly.

About Personal MBA Coach:

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2, currently holding the #1 ranking in the US on Poets&Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes a former M7 admissions director and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last year, our clients earned more than $6M in scholarships!

You also may be interested in the following blog posts:

How to Think About MBA Goals

Articulating Your Personal Story

How to Maximize Your Chance for an MBA Scholarship
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   22 Apr 2021, 10:28


As we recently shared in our 5 month MBA application timeline, now is the perfect time for class of 2022 MBA hopefuls to begin their GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment (EA) preparation.

If you have not already begun studying for the GMAT, GRE or EA exam, take this opportunity to sign up with one of Personal MBA Coach’s tutors before our slots fill up later this summer.

Even if you already have a strong GMAT, GRE or EA score, you want to make sure that you are fully maximizing your potential!

To help get you started, below are the questions Personal MBA Coach is asked most often about GMAT, GRE or EA testing.

How important is the GMAT/GRE?

While these tests are just one part of the application and are not the be-all and end-all, they are very important. Further, they will play a more important role for some candidates than for others. If you are applying with a weaker academic record or from a field of study that is less analytically intensive, your score (particularly your quantitative scores) will be key to showing that you can handle the academic rigor of an MBA program.

Additionally, if you are applying from an overrepresented applicant pool, differentiating yourself with a strong GRE/GMAT score will be even more important.

What is a good GMAT score? What is a good GRE score?

While naturally this varies from school to school, it is becoming less common to see students earn admission to top 10-20 schools with a GMAT score below 700. For the Wharton class of 2022, the average GMAT was 722 (the average GRE was 161 V/161 Q). For Stanford GSB, the class of 2022 average was 733 (the average GRE was 165 V/164 Q). Harvard Business School reported a median GMAT score of 730 and median GRE of 163V/163Q for the class of 2022.

When determining your target score, researching average scores is a great way to start. While those with a very strong profile, a unique background, or from an underrepresented applicant pool could gain admission with a below-average score, it is becoming less common to see large numbers of applicants with scores more than 20 to 30 points below average succeed.

In some cases, such as those discussed in the previous question, you may need to score 20 to 30 points above the average to even be on the same playing field as other applicants.

GMAT vs. GRE for MBA – Which should I take?

This question is much easier to answer. Candidates should take whichever test they can score better on. Schools do not have a preference about the two tests, and the GRE has become more common over the past few years.

Personal MBA Coach’s advice is to take a practice test for each and see which one comes more naturally to you. Generally, if quant is a strength the GMAT may be your friend while those stronger in verbal tend to prefer the GRE.

Further, if you have taken one test many times and have not been successful, consider changing gears and trying the other test. Of course, you will need additional preparation for this new test, but that may be worth the effort!

How many times should I take the GMAT?

GMAT scores are valid for 5 years and you can take the exam up to 5 times during a 12-month period. There is also a lifetime maximum of 8 tests, and you can take the test only one time every 16 calendar days.

Further, you can cancel your score and the report does not go to the school if you are not happy with the result. This change has led to candidates taking the exam multiple times. Our average candidate now sits for the exam 2 to 4 times (with some giving the test as many as 6 or 7 attempts.) While this policy may seem great, it has caused average GMAT scores to rise, as more and more candidates cancel low attempts.

How many times should I take the GRE?

You can take the GRE exam once every 21 days and up to 5 times within any 12-month period. GRE scores are valid for 5 years and currently there is no lifetime test limit for the GRE. Like the GMAT, test takers can cancel their score if they are unhappy with the result.

As with the GRE exam, our average candidate sits for the exam 2 to 4 times (with some giving the test as many as 6 or 7 attempts.)

How does online testing differ from the standard GMAT/GRE testing?

The GMAT online exam has 3 full exam sections: Quantitative, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning. Currently, a new version of the online GMAT is being developed to also include the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section. The test is administered using the same time, scoring, and number of items as the test center-based exams.

At this time, the online exam is available in all locations, except for Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan. Like the in-person GMAT, scores are valid for 5 years and count toward the 12-month and lifetime limits. After the test, one retake is available for the online GMAT.

The GRE General Test at Home is offered everywhere that the GRE is normally available (except Mainland China and Iran) and is available seven days a week around the clock, with appointments available as early as 24 hours after you register. The online GRE has the same content, format, and on-screen experience as the test center-based exam. Your GRE score report will not indicate that you took the test at home, and the retake policies are the same as the test center-based exam.

How should I prepare for the GMAT/GRE?

Think about how you learn best and use this to inform your study plan. Personal MBA Coach feels that most applicants do best with one-on-one tutoring, allowing the applicant to target areas where they are struggling the most.

For this reason, we offer a variety of one-on-one tutoring packages with tutors who scored in the 99th+ percentile on the GMAT and GRE exams and are graduates of MIT, Harvard, UPenn, Yale, Columbia and more. Take a look at our tutoring services here.

What is the Executive Assessment (EA) exam?

The EA exam was designed for experienced professionals interested in pursuing advanced education and is most often used by those applying for EMBA programs, though some full-time and part-time programs also accept the EA. The 90-minute exam was created to assess the skills and knowledge of experienced professionals and evaluate business school readiness.

At this time, Berkeley Haas, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Duke Fuqua, INSEAD, London Business School, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, UVA Darden, Wharton and Yale SOM programs accept the EA for Executive MBA candidates. Columbia Business School, Duke Fuqua, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, and UVA Darden also accept EA scores for full-time MBA applicants.

Personal MBA Coach provides dedicated one-on-one EA tutoring. The EA is a shorter test so if you are short on time, it may be a good option to take advantage of our Executive Assessment test prep.

About Personal MBA Coach:

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2, currently holding the #1 ranking in the US on Poets&Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes a former M7 admissions director and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last year, our clients earned more than $6M in scholarships!

You also may like these other MBA application tips and updates:

Bouncing Back from an MBA Rejection

Personal MBA Coach's Take on the 2021 FT Global MBA Rankings

Berkeley Haas, UVA Darden, Michigan Ross, USC Marshall & Texas McCombs Admit with $70K Scholarship
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   26 Jan 2022, 13:18
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In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in business schools’ offering Deferred MBA programs. This enables them to secure attractive candidates and cultivate their development prior to commencing the program. Thus far, only ten of the top-20 MBA programs offer the deferred option, namely Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, Columbia Business School, Darden, and Tepper. Each program offers a slight variation from the traditional deferred MBA, and students interested in it should delve deeper into the specific schools’ offerings and requirements to make the right selection.

Typically, the deferred MBA allows students with no prior full-time professional experience to secure a seat at a coveted MBA program. Students in their senior year of university or master’s students in their final year of study can apply to secure a seat 2-5 years in advance of their MBA program's start date. During this time, most programs provide resources and a network that students can leverage to make bold moves in their careers that enable them to gain broader experiences and be more well-rounded professionals. The deferred program is particularly attractive for those joining industries with little representation in business schools or those seeking to be in the start-up space before commencing an MBA.  

To secure a seat at a deferred MBA program, business schools consider several elements of a candidate’s profile. Our Sia Admissions clients have been able to secure seats at these coveted institutions by focusing on at least these main four (4) criteria:

[*]Metrics[/*][/list]

While the traditional 2-year MBA programs are competitive, gaining admission to a deferred MBA is substantially more challenging. Let’s take Harvard Business School (HBS) as an example. HBS boasts an admission rate for its 2-year MBA program at 10.3%, while the 2+2 program (HBS’ deferred MBA) has an 8% admission rate. The prestige of these top programs means that they can accept the best of the best – students with exceptional academics and GMAT/GRE scores, unique life experiences, and impressive achievements. Therefore, to have a chance at being considered for a deferred MBA, academic success and strong GMAT/GRE scores are table stakes.  

  • Engagement

Though a deferred applicant does not have any prior full-time work experience, it does not mean that an applicant is competitive without any prior engagements. The schools will evaluate a candidate’s impact and future potential based on their engagements in their community, whether that’s extracurriculars or the community beyond academia. Typically, a successful candidate will also leverage their alma mater’s professional clubs to build experience and demonstrate impact. While engagement beyond a candidate’s academic setting is not required, the greater the impact and wider the scope, the higher the probability of gaining admission in this competitive pool.

  • Goals

Like a traditional MBA candidate, a successful deferred applicant clearly articulates why they need to secure an MBA at this point in their career. These ambitious goals typically require taking professional risks before commencing an MBA, a move many are not comfortable making before securing a seat at their desired MBA program. This means that the typical Consulting or IB candidates who do not intend to change career before joining an MBA program may not be the ideal candidate for this program, given that the traditional MBA program sees many such profiles.  

  •  Job

By the application deadline (typically in April), candidates must have secured a position following their undergraduate or graduate studies. The b-schools are seeking ambitious, mission-driven candidates who are continuously looking for ways to develop professionally and plan several steps ahead. Therefore, if you are considering a deferred MBA for the 2021-2022 application cycle and have not yet secured your job, take note that this is a crucial step in your admission success.
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   14 Jul 2022, 06:30
The 2022-2023 MBA application season is upon us, and many top MBA programs already released deadlines, essay questions and online application forms for the MBA programs that start in 2023. Here is a quick update of what we have so far:

The following business schools have published their MBA programs’ deadlines for 2022-2023:

  • Harvard Business School
  • Chicago Booth
  • Stanford
  • Wharton Business School
  • MIT Sloan
  • Columbia Business School
  • Virginia Darden
  • INSEAD
  • Northwestern Kellogg
  • NYU Stern
  • Michigan Ross
  • UCLA Anderson
  • Duke Fuqua
  • Dartmouth Tuck
  • Yale SOM
  • Cornell Johnson
  • Cornell Tech
  • Cambridge Judge

The following schools published their essay questions for 2022-2023:

  • Harvard Business School
  • Chicago Booth
  • Stanford
  • Wharton Business School
  • Columbia Business School
  • Northwestern Kellogg
  • NYU Stern
  • Yale SOM
  • Berkeley Haas
  • Virginia Darden
  • London Business School

The following business schools have opened their online applications for MBA programs in 2022-2023:

  • Stanford
  • Harvard Business School
  • Chicago Booth
  • Wharton Business School
  • Columbia Business School
  • Northwestern Kellogg
  • NYU Stern
  • Virginia Darden
  • Yale SOM
  • Duke Fuqua

By the way, some MBA programs are continuing to offer GMAT/GRE waivers to 2023 MBA candidates - visit this post for more info, and feel free to get in touch with ARINGO for help with your MBA applications!
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink] New post   02 Sep 2023, 04:15
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Re: Expert advice for Stanford from Admissions Consultant blogs [#permalink]
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