Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 06:01 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 06:01

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

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

Track
Your Progress

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

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
SORT BY:
Date
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [1]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
How Will MBA Programs Going “Test-Optional” Affect Your Chances? [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Will MBA Programs Going “Test-Optional” Affect Your Chances?



The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on pretty much every facet of society. This application cycle, more and more MBA programs are electing to waive the GMAT or GRE test as a requirement for applicants. How will this affect acceptance rates?

On Wednesday, May 12th at 10am PT/1pm ET, we’re hosting a live session entitled Applying to Business School in a Test-Optional Application Surge: A Live Q&A with Experts. In this session, you’ll be able to ask our MBA experts your individual questions about how this change will impact your chances and how to adjust your application strategy in light of it. 

The Q&A will be moderated by Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham and feature a panel of three expert MBA consultants: Christie St-John, Natalie Grinblatt Epstein, and Cindy Tokumitsu. You’ll be given information about how the waiving of test requirements will impact application numbers, and how you can find ways to stand out, even with a marked increase in applicants. 

It’s totally free to attend, but you do need to reserve your spot to participate. Don’t wait and let seats fill up—register now!

Register for the live Q&A session:


For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

The post How Will MBA Programs Going “Test-Optional” Affect Your Chances? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2021 [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2021



What are the M7 business schools?


Talk about diversity! Seven distinct, vivid cultures – each with its own history, values, characteristics, opportunities, and challenges.

Sure, there are many commonalities among the M7 schools: all are highly competitive, all feature deep academic resources, all are supported by committed and involved alumni, all attract top-tier recruiters (even in down business cycles). Yet the most important commonality is their individual uniqueness! Their strong and determined “individualism” literally reflects their leadership in the MBA realm. They rise to their prominent position because they are the leaders in their domain, graduate business education. So, they reasonably expect you – their students and prospective students – to have correspondingly high ambitions, whether your domain be finance, healthcare, energy, social entrepreneurship, or something else. 

While these M7 programs all value diversity, together they also represent diversity.

What makes the M7s so magnificent?

Of course, there are other elite MBA programs. These 7 have a history together that continues –their deans connected with each other years ago and formed a group to regularly meet and share information. Eventually these meetings grew beyond just the deans to include others within their admissions offices, creating a consistent flow of information. Meetings and discussions address a range of issues, including best practices for components of the admissions process and responses to current events that directly impact MBA admissions.

A deeper look at the M7s

Harvard Business School



There is not a day I regret going to HBS. The classes I am taking this year have been incredibly valuable, being taught by practitioners who have been incredibly successful in their careers. The case method is also incredibly unique. You are learning from peers who have collective experiences no individual could have themselves – from the military, Tesla, big corporations with different missions and visions, and all are invaluable to my learning experience.
Tess Michaels, second-year student at Harvard Business School, on Admissions Straight Talk

Immersion could be the keyword for the Harvard Business School experience. The cornerstone of the program is the case-study academic approach: students read the case and then intensively analyze it both before and in class. The aim is to train students in real-world, complex decision-making. By continuously engaging with classmates from different functions and industries/sectors in these case discussions, students radically expand their perspectives, thought processes, and knowledge. This immersive experience is heightened and enhanced by the smarts, passion, and ambition of HBS students. Outside of class, these high-achieving, high-energy students participate together in many club and volunteer activities. The two years just fly by, and suddenly you’re graduating, when it seems like you’ve just started at HBS, thanks to the nonstop immersion and engagement.

Average GMAT score: 727

Average GPA: 3.70

Acceptance Rate: 9.2%

What HBS is looking for in applicants:

Given the case approach, HBS seeks students who will carry their weight and contribute fully in the classroom – people who have something to say and the ability to communicate it. Further, they must be able to listen, respond thoughtfully, and adapt to new ideas as the dialogue progresses. Beyond the requisite high accomplishment, people who enthusiastically and capably engage.

For more on this, check out our blog series, What HBS is Looking For?

More HBS Resources:

HBS Class Profile

HBS Application Essay Tips

Get Accepted to HBS Webinar

A Harvard MBA’s Experience & Advice on Writing the Perfect Essay

Interview with an HBS 2+2 Student and Entrepreneur

Work on Your HBS Application with an HBS Admissions Expert

Stanford Graduate School of Business



Stanford wants people of impact. Show the Stanford GSB that you are that kind of person. All the essays should lead Stanford to that conclusion.
Linda Abraham, CEO of Accepted, in her Stanford Application Essay Tips

Transformation, nothing less – that’s what Stanford is about. With its Silicon Valley connection and “mythology” (as one student puts it on the website), innovation, change, and entrepreneurship shape the Stanford program. Its small, elite cohort goes on an exploratory journey together, and many emerge in a different place than they expected starting out. This journey integrates the personal and the professional – in Stanford’s multifaceted pedagogical approach, building business and leadership skills is tied to understanding and defining your mission, your vision. Beyond the MBA classroom students learn from and engage with numerous guest speakers who represent the cutting edge in their fields and are encouraged to access Stanford’s various other top-notch programs, including law, medicine, engineering, humanities, and sciences. During the program Stanford students form a robust, mutually supportive network for testing out ideas, boundaries, and one’s own assumptions and inclinations.



Stanford GSB Average GMAT score: 733

Stanford GSB Average GPA: 3.80

Stanford GSB Acceptance Rate: 8.9%

What Stanford GSB is looking for in applicants: 

Given the above encapsulation of the program, Stanford wants people who will be excellent “fellow travelers.” People who have – and bring to the program – a point of view, a unique perspective. Risk-takers. Change agents. At the same time, they deliberately remain a “work in progress” – always open to new information, ideas, situations and willing to change accordingly. They relish exploration and collaboration.

For more on this, check out our blog series, What Stanford GSB is Looking For.

More Stanford GSB resources:

Stanford MBA Class Profile

Stanford MBA Application Essay Tips

Interview with Recent Stanford GSB Graduates

Get Accepted to Stanford GSB Webinar

Interview with a Stanford GSB Student with a Passion for Both Business and Humanities

Interview with a Stanford GSB Student Combining an MBA with a Tech Startup

Work on Your Stanford GSB Application with an Admissions Expert

MIT Sloan



If you are looking to put the finishing touches on your essay, we recommend you have two people review – someone who knows you really well and can tell you if it sounds like you, and someone who you trust but maybe doesn’t know you as well to get a sense of what the essay does sound like, and judge whether or not it’s the way you want it to be.
Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean, on Admissions Straight Talk

“We welcome wicked problems.” That quote from the MIT MBA website captures what’s special about the MIT Sloan MBA. The MIT cohort learns how to develop robust solutions that can weather uncertainty, ambiguity, and change. And they take pleasure in that learning. Sure, the adcom wants leaders, of a sort – “anti-leaders” – people who become leaders organically by drawing others along the journey to solve a wicked problem. The MIT MBA roots its approach in two concepts that intertwine: invention, entailing creativity and agility, and data-driven analysis, entailing rigor and objectivity. These concepts align with the broader MIT university. Just as a robust process involves iteration, this program supports its pedagogy with ongoing experiential learning opportunities – practice – to reinforce and deepen the learning and ensure the students grasp topics in a real-world context. In essence, the MIT MBA program graduates people who are able to see around corners and are prepared to make constructive use of whatever they encounter. They will probably lead others in the process, but that’s a result of their zeal and/or vision to tackle a compelling problem.

MIT Sloan Average GMAT score: N/A [727 in 2020]

MIT Sloan Average GPA: N/A [3.58 in 2020]

MIT Sloan Acceptance Rate: 14.6%

What MIT Sloan is looking for in applicants:

Can you be guided by the data? MIT seeks students who are open to going where the data leads, even if it contradicts their preferences or assumptions. MIT also seeks people who possess both vision and practical skills. Who are creative and analytic. That doesn’t mean they expect (or want) these qualities 50/50. But, if, say you veer toward creative and visionary, you should still show a record of concrete impact and achievement. Needless to say, in such a program, curiosity and collaboration are also sought.

More MIT Sloan Resources:

MIT MBA Class Profile

MIT Sloan MBA Application Essay Tips

Interview with Dawna Levenson, MIT Sloan’s Assistant Dean of Admissions

Ask Me Anything with MIT Sloan’s Assistant Dean of Admissions

Work on Your MIT Sloan Application with an MIT Admissions Expert

Wharton



We want students to do self-reflection on why they want this degree. We want students to explore the pivot moment (when they decided they wanted to do this) and unpack the talent and treasure they can bring to the MBA. Spend the time and really think about the top three things you will get out of the program.
Blair Mannix, Director of Admissions, on Admissions Straight Talk

The Wharton MBA program is big – almost 900 enrolled students, multiple opportunities for joint degrees and certificates (from law and veterinary medicine to the Lauder program and Harvard Kennedy School), 18 majors, innumerable electives including courses across the 11 other campus schools, and clubs too many to count in several broad categories: professional, athletics, social and special interest, community service, and international and cultural. YET – Wharton does not sacrifice quality for quantity. Each of those many majors is deep and rigorous. Moreover, its tiered structure of 5-6-person Learning Teams at the core selected to be diverse in multiple dimensions, surrounded by Clusters of 70 or so, encircled by Cohorts of about 200, ensures some consistency and drives dynamism throughout the learning process. Especially with the Learning Teams and Cohorts, what you learn from teammates and classmates will help you to and take full advantage of the program’s vast resources – and in turn you can share what you discover about the program with them – your “2 cents” about a class or a major or a club might open a magical door for someone who otherwise would not have encountered it among the abundance of opportunities. While bigness and abundance characterize this program, Wharton has devised the perfect learning structure that personalizes and optimizes it for students.

Wharton Average GMAT score: N/A [732 in 2020]

Wharton Average GPA: N/A [3.61 in 2020]

Wharton Acceptance Rate: 23.1%

What Wharton is looking for in applicants: 

Wharton wants applicants who, along with being high performers, are actively engaged in activities and/or interests that contribute somehow – it doesn’t necessarily have to be community service, but some clear and consistent engagement outside work that positively impacts others. Finally, given Wharton’s extensive opportunities and resources, it is essential that applicants show they are resourceful – Wharton does not want its abundance squandered.

More Wharton Resources:

Wharton MBA Class Profile

Wharton MBA Application Essay Tips

9 Tips for Team Interviews

Get Accepted to Wharton Webinar Webinar

How to Present a Winning Wharton Application: Interview with Wharton’s Director of Admissions

A Bain Consultant-Turned Wharton MBA Starts Her Own Business

How This Wharton MBA Created Her Women’s Workwear Brand

Work on Your Wharton Application With an Admissions Expert

Kellogg School of Management



Kellogg values people who are going to be engaged and “all in” with their experience…Bottom line we look at engagement, initiative, and collaboration. High impact, low ego – people who elevate everyone in the room.
Kate Smith, Assistant Dean of Admissions, on Admissions Straight Talk

Teamwork and management remain hallmarks of the Kellogg MBA program – teamwork is a means to the ends of learning content and skills, growing as a leader and manager, preparing for your goals, and contributing to the Kellogg community. Kellogg’s renowned strength in management underpins the academic program with two management-focused majors, “Management Science” and “Managing Organizations,” along with numerous other traditional functional majors. Complementing these pillars of business training, Kellogg has innovated by offering also “Pathways,” which are cross-functional sets of courses that address timely topics, including, to mention a few new ones, “Technology Management,” “Energy and Sustainability,” and “Asset Management.” Students can mix-and-match majors and pathways, benefiting from the accumulated wisdom of the scholars and experts who devise them. Kellogg has innovated in another area as well: it is one of the first US MBA programs to offer a one-year program (for people with some academic business foundation). Not least, Kellogg is renowned for its abundant global opportunities, which are taken by almost half of the students.

Kellogg Average GMAT score: 727

Kellogg Average GPA: 3.6

Kellogg Acceptance Rate: 27.9%

What Kellogg is looking for in applicants: 

Kellogg greatly values work experience that shows exemplary people skills: leadership, teamwork, collaboration, communication and that also presents a record of impactful accomplishment. As Kellogg’s student body is particularly strong in philanthropic activity, including this element is a way to show fit with the program.

More Kellogg Resources:

Kellogg MBA Class Profile

Kellogg MBA Application Essay Tips

All About the Kellogg MBAi, for Students Passionate About Business and Technology

Get a Kellogg MBA: An Interview with Dean of Admissions Kate Smith

Interview with a Kellogg MBA Student

Work on Your Kellogg Application with an Admissions Expert

Chicago Booth



[Booth is] looking for students who demonstrate self-awareness and direction. They want to read your application and see, based on what you’ve done, that you’re going to make a mark on the world.
Linda Abraham, CEO of Accepted, in her Chicago Booth Application Essay Tips

Academic and intellectual rigor balanced by curricular flexibility – this intriguing balancing act is the valuable gift of the Chicago Booth MBA program. Intellectual culture is paramount at Booth – a reflection of the identity of the broader university to which it belongs. In the Booth MBA program, ideas are important – having them, sharing them, challenging them, testing them – and acting on them when the time is right. Booth has unrivalled depth among MBA programs in quantitative and analytic rigor. This is a fantastic asset both for students who want to refine existing strengths in these areas and, also, for students seeking a rock-solid foundation in them. Booth’s flexibility means students tailor their own learning program to their needs, which puts the onus on students to understand what they need. Although students need not take a major, many Booth students do, in fact often pursuing a few, and Booth has compiled a fascinating array of majors that includes both standard items like “Accounting” and “Marketing Strategy” and less common ones like “Behavioral Science” and “Econometrics and Statistics.”

Chicago Booth Average GMAT score: 724

Chicago Booth Average GPA: 3.56

Chicago Booth Acceptance Rate: 27.6%

What Booth is looking for in applicants: 

Because of the program’s flexibility, Booth looks for people who have the self-knowledge, critical thinking skills, and resourcefulness to make the most out of it and use it productively. And because the program values ideas, it looks for applicants who will go beyond practical career training to explore new topics, areas, disciplines, and who will challenge themselves intellectually.

(for more on this, check out Identifying and Articulating Fit With the Booth MBA: Do Your Work Experience and Career Goals Jibe With Booth’s Mission?)

More Chicago Booth Resources:

Booth MBA Class Profile

Booth MBA Application Essay Tips

Get Accepted to Chicago Booth Webinar

Work on Your Chicago Booth Application with an Accepted Admissions Expert

Columbia Business School



To me [what interests me about you as an applicant is] what kind of leader will you prove to be with the people you are around right now. Do you make the people you are around right now better and how do you do that?
Michael Robinson, Director of Admissions, in an AMA Session with Accepted

Its New York City home is integral to Columbia’s MBA program and the program’s identity. Right on its website landing page, the first lines cite the benefit of being “at the very center of business.” Thanks to this location, along with its renowned full-time faculty, Columbia attracts adjuncts and speakers who are thought leaders in many areas of business and beyond, because so many either reside in/near NYC or visit frequently. Because Columbia’s ongoing interaction with the city makes it such a dynamic program, it builds student community from the start through the cluster program – clusters comprise 60-75 diverse students who take all first-year classes together. As for academics, CBS’s depth in finance is unique: along with a “Financed” major, it offers majors in “Private Equity” and “Value Investing.” Other highly acclaimed specializations are “Social Enterprise” and “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management” – the latter strengthened by the plethora of major pharma companies within a couple hours’ drive. The NYC location also reinforces and amplifies the “Entrepreneurship” resources, given the city’s strong tech and fintech ecosystem.

CBS Average GMAT Score: 732

CBS Average GPA: 3.60

CBS Acceptance Rate: 13.6%

What Columbia Business School is looking for in applicants: 

Beyond strong professional and academic track records, Columbia wants people who have a plan – for taking advantage of the CBS resources, for engaging with the surrounding city and its endless opportunities, and for pursuing their defined goals. Because it’s easy to fade into the background in the immensity of NYC and the dynamism of Columbia University, CBS also wants students who can and do forge bonds with peers.

More CBS Resources:

CBS MBA Class Profile

CBS MBA Application Essay Tips

Interview with a Columbia Business School Student

Ask Me Anything, With Columbia MBA Admissions Director Michael Robinson

Get Accepted to Columbia Business School Webinar

Work on Your CBS Application with an MBA Admissions Expert

A final words about the M7s

Given their distinctive personalities, deep and comprehensive resources, and continuous adaptation to rapid economic, social, and technological change, these 7 MBA programs continue to lead in the MBA space. As different as they are, many applicants can find their needs met by several if not all of them – each program will provide a positive life-changing experience in its own unique way. Exploring these programs in depth is a perfect way to kickoff your MBA process, as you will be inspired to create and deliver your absolute best application presentation.

The Accepted team has guided hundreds of applicants to acceptance at the M7s.

Our advisors are ready to walk you through the application process. We will help you figure out which schools you have a chance of getting accepted to (you may be pleasantly surprised!) and guide you every step of the way to ensure that you submit a magnificent, acceptance-worthy application. Learn more about our MBA Admissions Services here.





Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:


The M7 business schools are Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, MIT Sloan School of Management, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School.

Click on the school name for a deeper look at each one!

The post M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2021 appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
MBA Test Waivers: Challenge or Opportunity? [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: MBA Test Waivers: Challenge or Opportunity?
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Applying-to-Business-School-During-an-Applicaiton-Surge-QA-1.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/applying-to-business-school-in-a-test-optional-application-surge?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=mba_application_surge_May2021_p2][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Applying-to-Business-School-During-an-Applicaiton-Surge-QA-1.jpg[/img][/url]

With many more MBA programs choosing to waive the requirement that applicants submit GMAT or GRE scores this cycle, there is bound to be an increase in applications. Whether that translates to reduced odds of acceptance or not remains to be seen. 

After removing the test requirement last year, many MBA programs noticed an increase in qualified candidates. If you’ve been hesitant about applying to b-school because you’ve been intimidated by the standardized test requirements, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Our upcoming live Q&A session, [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/applying-to-business-school-in-a-test-optional-application-surge?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=mba_application_surge_May2021_p2]Applying to Business School in a Test-Optional Application Surge[/url], was crafted to help you navigate these new waters effectively. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to sit for an exam, our experts will talk you through your options. 

While some applicants may see this change as introducing the challenge of increased competition, it may be a massive opportunity for others. If you struggle with standardized tests or simply have been unable to sit for an exam, applying to b-school is no longer necessarily out of your reach. Many schools see that dropping this requirement is helping to engage a more diverse cohort of applicants, so perhaps this is a change that sticks. 

We invite you to join our MBA experts Jamie Wright, Natalie Grinblatt Epstein, and Cindy Tokumitsu for this [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/applying-to-business-school-in-a-test-optional-application-surge?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=mba_application_surge_May2021_p2]live session[/url] on Wednesday, May 12th at 10am PT/1pm ET to learn more about how this major change will affect the application process, and what steps you can take to ensure that your application shines.

Register for the live Q&A session:

[url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg[/img][/url]
For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][b]Want an MBA admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/mba-test-waivers-challenge-or-opportunity/]MBA Test Waivers: Challenge or Opportunity?[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Columbia MBA and Booth EMBA Deadlines Extended for the 2021 Applicatio [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Columbia MBA and Booth EMBA Deadlines Extended for the 2021 Application Cycle
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Columbia_Booth_Extended_May_2021-1.jpeg[/img]
[url=https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-answer-mba-application-and-interview-questions-about-covid-19-and-other-major-events-of-2020-video/][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Columbia_Booth_Extended_May_2021-1.jpeg[/img][/url]

Wishing you’d gotten it together to start your desired program this year (after all, who knows what things will look like a year from now)? Feeling a surge of fresh energy to tackle the application process this spring, rather than wait till late summer/fall?

Good news: 2 important graduate business programs, [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/get-accepted-to-columbia-business-school]Columbia MBA[/url] and [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/chicago-booth-mba]Booth EMBA[/url] have extended their application cycle – Columbia MBA to June 1 and Booth EMBA to June 7.

That leaves about one month… In my experience ([url=https://www.accepted.com/aboutus/cindytokumitsu]23 years in this business[/url]), one month is sufficient time to prepare a strong, uncompromised application to a competitive program like these two [b]IF[/b] you:

[list][*]Can work steadily and maintain forward momentum
[/*][*]Have defined goals and a sense of how you’ll get there from here
[/*][*]Have prospective recommenders
[/*][*]Have taken the required test(s)[/*][/list]

In other words, you’re starting from scratch, but it’s not a blank slate.

If you’re considering applying for either of these extended deadlines, check out [url=https://blog.accepted.com/columbia-mba-essays-tips-for-a-successful-application-video/]Linda Abraham’s CBS application tips[/url] blog post or my [url=https://blog.accepted.com/chicago-booth-executive-mba-essay-tips-deadlines/]Booth EMBA application tips[/url]. 

And don’t hesitate to contact me and/or Accepted for more direct help if desired.

[b]For expert guidance with your last minute application, check out Accepted’s [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services/application-packages?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=deadline_updates_cbs_booth&utm_source=blog]MBA Application Packages[/url], which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Columbia and Booth and look forward to helping you too![/b]

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/81523692-31d9-4059-949d-305e535065c9][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/81523692-31d9-4059-949d-305e535065c9.png[/img][/url]

[img]https://blog.accepted.com/cindy-tokumitsu-accepted-consultant/[/img]
Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. [url=https://www.accepted.com/service-request-cindy?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_cindy&utm_source=blog][b]Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/showing-fit-with-booth-and-the-chicago-approach/]Finding and Articulating Fit with the Booth MBA[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/columbia-mba-essays-tips-for-a-successful-application-video/]Columbia MBA Essays: Tips for a Successful Application [Video][/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/from-the-mouths-of-mba-adcom-members/]From the Mouths of MBA Adcom Members: How to Get Accepted[/url][/*][/list]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/columbia-mba-and-booth-emba-deadlines-extended-for-the-2021-application-cycle/]Columbia MBA and Booth EMBA Deadlines Extended for the 2021 Application Cycle[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
IE International MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: IE International MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines



If you’re seeking an international education in an innovative new facility in the middle of a European city’s financial district, then you should consider applying to the International MBA program at Madrid’s IE Business School. Scheduled to open in September 2021, the new IE Tower skyscraper will host 64 classrooms – all with natural light and intelligent control and lighting and 4 of which boast a 360-degree structure. Beyond learning, the Tower’s 50,000 square meters will also house a heated swimming pool, gymnasium, sports courts, art exhibition areas, rehearsal spaces, and meditation areas. 

IE sees the mission of its new building as not only training tomorrow’s business leaders but also serving as a hub for the development of entrepreneurship in Madrid, in particular featuring a Venture Lab and FabLab to foster student startups and design projects, respectively. 

IE’s International MBA program is a one-year program that requires at least one 5-week immersive experience – Start-Up Lab for aspiring entrepreneurs, Business Impact Lab for students interested in hands-on experience in management or strategy with a corporation, Social Impact Lab for those interested in preparing for global not-for-profits and social enterprises, Techlab for those interested in the business potential of disruptive technologies, or a 7-11-week internship for students seeking experience in a specific sector, industry, or role. 

IE International MBA application question

The IE International MBA application requires only one full-length “essay,” which applicants may either submit as prose (250-650 words) or as a presentation/visual format, a distinctive option at IE. The prompt is:

What is the most important thing that you would like us to know that is not in your resume or application?

Since the application form is in fact also very brief, very little will be revealed in it about how you lead nor what has uniquely driven you to the areas in which you have made an impact. Applicants may wish to share an example from their past in which they have adhered to IE’s values of innovation to drive impact and lead change. You may also have space to include how this experience has refined your goals and reasons to pursue the IE International MBA

Since IE welcomes creativity, you may discover that a visual presentation rather than prose allows you to cover more ground. Don’t make the mistake of delivering 10 PowerPoint slides that are covered with words in an attempt to circumvent IE’s word limit. Instead, recognize that this submission is meant to capture the admissions committee’s interest in you, not summarize your entire life. 

Video interview requirement

After submitting your application, applicants will be directed to a 20-30 minute assessment and video interview session with Kira Talent. 

IE International MBA application timeline

IE offers two start dates for its International MBA program, one in September and another in January. With rolling admissions to each of these programs, any time of year is a great time to apply!

Source: IE MBA website

For expert guidance with your IE International MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you too!

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***


By Jennifer Bloom, admissions consultant at Accepted for 20 years and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She is an expert at guiding you to produce application materials that truly differentiate you from the rest of the driven applicant pool. If you would like help with your application, Jennifer can suggest a number of options that work with any budget. Want Jennifer to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!



Related Resources:

The post IE International MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Don’t Miss Out! Live Q&A with MBA Experts Discussing the Effects of Te [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Don’t Miss Out! Live Q&A with MBA Experts Discussing the Effects of Test-Optional Applications
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Applying-to-Business-School-During-an-Applicaiton-Surge-QA.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/applying-to-business-school-in-a-test-optional-application-surge?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=mba_application_surge_May2021_p3][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Applying-to-Business-School-During-an-Applicaiton-Surge-QA.jpg[/img][/url]

Our live Q&A session, [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/applying-to-business-school-in-a-test-optional-application-surge?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=mba_application_surge_May2021_p3]Applying to Business School in a Test-Optional Application Surge[/url], is airing soon.

If you haven’t reserved your spot yet, we’d hate for you to miss out! [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/applying-to-business-school-in-a-test-optional-application-surge?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=mba_application_surge_May2021_p3]Click here[/url] to register now, and join us on Wednesday, May 12th at 10am PT/1pm ET.

It’s hard to say how making the GMAT and GRE optional will ultimately affect MBA acceptance rates, but at a minimum, it’s sure to mean a marked increase in applications.

If your target program has decided to waive this requirement, how can you ensure that your application makes a lasting, positive impact on the adcom?

If you haven’t taken the test yet, should you opt out or in?

Will submitting a less-than-perfect score hurt your chances?

During this session these questions and more will be addressed by our expert panel of MBA consultants—Jamie Wright, Natalie Grinblatt Epstein, and Cindy Tokumitsu. [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/applying-to-business-school-in-a-test-optional-application-surge?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=mba_application_surge_May2021_p3]Reserve your spot today[/url] and start thinking about what questions you’d like them to answer for you. After all, knowledge is the best weapon when facing new circumstances!

Register for the live Q&A session:

[url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg[/img][/url]
For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][b]Want an MBA admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/dont-miss-out-live-qa-with-mba-experts-discussing-the-effects-of-test-optional-applications/]Don’t Miss Out! Live Q&A with MBA Experts Discussing the Effects of Test-Optional Applications[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Upskilling: 4 Steps to Choose your Next Learning Opportunity [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Upskilling: 4 Steps to Choose your Next Learning Opportunity



In today’s ever changing professional world, the nature of each job, the skills it entails, and the tools it utilizes are changing more rapidly than ever. Thus, we are being forced to embrace “ongoing learning,” or “lifelong learning” (continuously learning beyond traditional schooling). The answer to this is “upskilling,” which is the act of developing one’s skillset to stay relevant in your role.

The catch here is that your next online class, certification, graduate program, or any learning opportunity will take you time and potentially cost you money. When you invest in your learning and growth, you want to be as intentional as you would be upon deciding on your next job. While it’s true that any learning is good learning, you still should take time to compare and contrast your options and which program and format of learning will best set you up for success, depending on your goals and ideal career path.

How can you be intentional about which learning opportunity to choose?

  • Clarify your ideal career path first and foremost! 

    a. This means crystallizing your ideal role, industry, and environment. 

    b. This will make it much easier to assess and determine which skills are most applicable, transferable, and beneficial to propel you on your ideal path, and thus, which learning opportunity will be most impactful and worthwhile.

    c. Be aware of typical mindsets. People often pick learning opportunities for stereotypical reasons without doing their due diligence. Be wary of learning a certain skill or pursuing a program based on what you’ve heard, or based on what you think professionals look for in hiring. Rather, clarify which direction will be most suitable to you, and then uncover which opportunities will be most worthwhile to help you reach your specific goals.

    d. Check out this blog post to learn more about how to pursue the career exploration process.

  • Network with professionals in your target career path to uncover options for skill development opportunities.

    Ask questions like:

    a. Have you personally pursued any course/certification/further education program? If so, which ones? How beneficial did you find these programs? In hindsight, would you have considered any other programs? 

    b. Which learning opportunities do you see your colleagues pursuing? Are there reputable organizations you think I should look into that offer worthwhile courses?

    c. When recruiting candidates for [target] roles:

    i. What hard skills do you look for? 

    ii. Do you see trends in the certain programs they have completed? (i.e. degrees, certifications, etc.)

    iii. What skills or certifications would make me stand out as a candidate?

    d. When working in [target] role:

    i. What skills are most coveted?

    ii. Which skills do you utilize often? 

    iii. Which skills were hardest to attain? 

    iv. Which skills are most respected on your team? 

    v. What are most of your colleagues working on learning? 

    e. As it relates to your next role or career path at large:

    i. Is [this degree or certification] required to pursue [this path]?

    ii. Is [this degree or certification] helpful to pursue [this path]? If so, how?

    iii. Can you share trends of people you have seen pursue his path and how it helped them?

  • Learn deeply about each option (program, course, certification, etc.) that you are considering.

    a. Network!

    i. Connect with folks who currently or previously pursued the program, and/or professionals who work to support and execute that program.

    ii. Be sure you ask any and all open questions you have so you can paint an accurate picture of what the program entails, and thus, you can reflect and more easily make an informed decision.

    b. Research and compare your options based on:

    i. Value: What skills will you gain proficiency in? How valuable do you think the program will be for your growth and learning? How well it will set you up for your ideal path?

    ii. Format: which format do you learn best in? Will this work well with your ideal working style?

    iii. Timeline

    iv. Cost

    v. Reputation

    vi. Any other key criteria that are important to you

  • Use your gut! Sometimes we know a program or learning opportunity is simply interesting and intriguing to us, without knowing where it will lead. This doesn’t mean it is a bad investment of your time. There is definitely value in doing your research, but don’t ignore your intuition.

For assistance applying to graduate programs, check out Accepted’s Admissions Services. We’d be delighted to help guide you successfully through the application process.

For assistance with career exploration and job searching, check out www.iamwoken.com





Rachel Serwetz, Founder/CEO of WOKEN, spent her early professional experience at Goldman Sachs and at Bridgewater Associates. She is an ICF-certified coach, with a Technology MBA from NYU Stern and a BS from Binghamton University. Throughout her career, she has helped hundreds of professionals with career exploration. Her company, WOKEN, is an online career exploration platform that coaches professionals through the process of figuring out their ideal job and career path. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Binghamton University and has previously served as a Career Coach at Columbia University, Flatiron School/WeWork, and Project Activate.

Related Resources:


The post Upskilling: 4 Steps to Choose your Next Learning Opportunity appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
What Prospective MBAs Need to Know About Applying to INSEAD [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: What Prospective MBAs Need to Know About Applying to INSEAD



Discover INSEAD’s unique one-year MBA [Show summary]

Virginie Fougea, Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at INSEAD, shares what’s new for the school’s MBA program and what prospective applicants with global business ambitions should know.

Do you aspire to do business internationally? Consider INSEAD! [Show notes]

Are you a citizen of the world? Do you aspire to be one? Do you have global business ambitions? Then you should be interested in the business school for the world, INSEAD. Its Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Virginie Fougea, is our guest today.

Can you give an overview of the INSEAD MBA program for those listeners who aren’t that familiar with it, focusing on its more distinctive elements? [1:29]

INSEAD was started in 1960. We welcomed our first class around those years. Since the very beginning, we have had very international classes. We have a number of Europeans represented, but also people from outside Europe. Now we have, for example, 92 different nationalities in the current classes, so that is definitely in the DNA of the school. We have a campus in Fontainebleau in France, which is 60 kilometers south of Paris, as well as the campus in Singapore. We have a hub in San Francisco, that is the newest one, and we also have a campus in Abu Dhabi. The idea was to allow people to be on the ground, and not just talk about how to do business in Asia without having put a foot in the continent.

We have an MBA, MiM (Master in Management), Executive MBA, and Executive Master in Finance. For the MBA, we welcome two classes. One in September that starts in the end of August/beginning of September, and one starts in January every year. We welcome roughly 500 students, total per class, with 300 in Fontainebleau and 200 in Singapore.

It used to be really easy for students to move among the campuses, and most students did not attend the entire program in one campus. How have COVID travel restrictions affected that? [3:14]

It did affect some people during their studies. Those who were in the 2020 classes last year, obviously all the borders were closed and you couldn’t reorganize your plans. Those people obviously had to stay on the location where they were. However, quite a number of people decided, when the countries were closing down their borders, to go back home. We had a few people doing that. Others decided to stay in Fontainebleau or in Singapore and keep sharing their apartments with their roommates. To be very honest, now with the quarantine and the fact that the countries have reorganized the travel and the possibility to enter the different countries, we are able to have all our students in person on both our campuses in Fontainebleau and Singapore. For example, we just had the Master in Management students who just all went to Singapore all together. They spent the first part of the program in France, in Fontainebleau, and they all moved — the 90 of them moved — to Singapore for the rest of their program as planned. That’s the idea with the MiM is that they stay together. Obviously they had to plan the quarantine, and we facilitated all the visas and made sure that everyone could join.

What don’t people know about INSEAD that you would like them to know? What’s a common misconception? [5:11]

The first one I hear when I speak with prospective applicants is, “Do I absolutely need a 700 GMAT?” My answer is always, “Well, if you want one, a 700 GMAT for yourself, then go for it.” But if it’s just purely for INSEAD, maybe a 700 is fine, but maybe you want us all to be realistic. What is the score that will make you happy and that will make you feel, “I did well,” because not everyone is comfortable taking a standardized test. Not everyone is good at math, and not everyone is a native English speaker and can fully read and write in English. Depending on all this, we are happy with any score that is more or less above or somewhere close to 600. Anything above is a competitive score for us.

Another misconception is that INSEAD is a great school for consultants, but if you’re interested in finance, it may not be such a great choice. [6:27]

That’s a very good one. One thing that was really interesting, with the Lehman Brothers and all that in 2008, INSEAD managed to have one of the biggest cohorts or groups of people going into the finance sector, post-financial crisis, ahead of schools that had a higher reputation in the domain, in the sector. But we do hear that. To be very honest, I don’t mind; it’s not a reputation that hurts to have. I think it just needs to be put into perspective because an MBA with a fast pace like INSEAD’s intense MBA is very much appreciated by a consulting company. So I’m happy if the consulting companies find talent at INSEAD that are ready for their next mission. Why not? This is not something I would fight against. It’s perfectly fine if they find the talent here. It’s perfectly fine if people want to give it a try. It’s a good way of keeping the learning and the momentum post-MBA going, to go to a consulting firm where you’re put into different roles, in different sectors, different companies for short missions or longer. It makes sense. Why not?

INSEAD is very strong in general management, and its placement in consulting is fantastic, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t be good in finance, entrepreneurship, or other areas. There’s no conflict. Sometimes it’s thought that if you have strength in one area, you can’t be strong in others, and that’s just not true. [8:32]

That’s true. That’s also kind of limiting a career to a post-MBA job. We all work for 20, 30, 40 years, right? You don’t do an MBA just to join a consulting firm for two years post-MBA. You do an MBA because you want to gain access to your network. You want to gain access to continuing education. There are many different reasons. Some people do it for acquiring new skills. Others to change sectors. Others to change location. There’re so many different reasons for doing an MBA that limiting it to just a post-study job is a little bit narrow. We see in the statistics that 20 years post-MBA, more than 80% of graduates have had a stint with entrepreneurship. If you try entrepreneurial ventures at some point in your career, it might not be just right after MBA; it can be 10 years down the road or 20 or 25.

Watch: Get Accepted to INSEAD [Webinar] >>

How has COVID affected the student experience on campus? Are they in class? Is it a hybrid model? What about the kind of informal interactions activities that students had enjoyed pre-COVID? [10:22]

Very early on, we decided to try as much as possible to remain open and to welcome people in person. We welcomed the MiMs on the 1st of September 2020 and the MBAs a couple of weeks after, at the end of September, in person. Obviously at the same time, some people had to be in quarantine, or started in person but then had to move online because they wanted to self-isolate themselves, or for any reason had to be online. We gave the opportunity to everyone who wanted to connect remotely at any point of time. We always have both people who log in and people who are in the classroom. It requires a lot of attention and effort from the faculty. All the faculty assistants have been amazing at facilitating the Zoom sessions and at the same time through the in-person classroom experience.

Whether you call it hybrid or asynchronous, we are all used to this, but whatever the new terminology, what I do know is that the bottom line is we want people in person as much as possible, respecting the fact that some will have to be online at some point, and that it might be just two weeks away and then coming back. We realize that. That is the bottom line.

Then to your question about what has changed, obviously it changed the delivery format, with a lot more content online. Also the recruitment activities obviously moved online, or the vast majority at least. A lot has moved online in format, but also in content. The content was adjusted to fit the new world and new opportunities. So the faculty developed new content to be relevant to what was happening currently in the world.

Are students meeting online or offline for club activities and extracurricular activities, or does that depend upon the location and the level of shutdown at a particular point in time? [13:03]

That will depend. Indeed, the student clubs are still meeting whenever possible in person. However, they also leverage what turned out to be good opportunities because we have seen, for example, the entrepreneurship club or the African club have managed to have guest speakers online that they would have never been able to bring on campus otherwise. That was really interesting to see that the quality of the speakers was mentioned more often from within the student population. They could have access to people that otherwise would have had to travel all the way to Fontainebleau or Singapore and who appreciated not having to commute.

You were last on Admissions Straight Talk in November 2018 for Episode 285. It was a really informative discussion of the different elements of INSEAD’s application: the essays, the CVs, the letters of rec, and the video interview. Has anything changed in the application or your evaluation process in the last two and a half years? [14:28]

Yes and no. No, in that the first essay remains the same, and the number of questions are the same, but it did change a little bit in what we see in terms of expectations and what people are writing to us, and applicants’ expectations.

We see more and more people being interested in or discussing their sense of purpose or how they could make an impact on their family, on their company, on their community. The reason why we did not change the essays and rarely change them is because we’re pretty transparent. We answer questions from a lot of prospective applicants all the time. We’re pretty transparent because at the end of the day, we want to offer a chance for people to join INSEAD. It’s not a process where we feel, “Who can we eliminate?” It’s the contrary. People can showcase who they are and why they think INSEAD matches their values, what they would like to achieve in the future, not just post-MBA, as we just discussed. Hence, the questions can remain the same as long as people have this understanding that it’s about them.

Since we are all different, we all think differently. We all have different value sets. As long as you have an opportunity to explain those passions, those motivations, then that makes a unique essay, right? That’s the way we go about it. Also, the application journey, we view it as part of a starting point. It starts a little bit with the marketing activities and those first initial contacts, but it also, together with the application form, is a career journey that people start. This self-introspection and reflection. Why do they want an MBA at this point in their career? Why this school rather than the other one? For that reason, the essays can remain pretty much the same.

[youtube2]figure>

[/youtube2]

What advice would you give to someone in the midst of preparing for an application for your January 2022 intake? In other words, that would be your June 18th or your July 30th deadline. [27:41]

We will have places for the last round. However, if people are heavily dependent and relying on scholarship, then round four is a little bit risky because we will have fewer scholarship offerings for that round. Also, it can be a little bit stretched. We have an onboarding online module that is happening before the start of the program. The program is one year, but we kind of start two months or three months before by releasing some material. This material is not mandatory, but highly recommended. So if people are admitted with the last round, sometimes, if they’re not taking days off and they plan to work until the start of the program, they find it very difficult to complete the material. We have things like CV preparation, how to prepare a winning CV, mock interviews. We have a number of activities with the career development center. They’re quite important. We also have a management course. We also have a coaching program that starts before. People can complete it in one week, by locking themselves in their bedroom for a week. It can be completed in a week, but it’s recommended you do it approximately a couple of hours per week, over a window of two months, for example. So that’s much better and more beneficial.

Round four has a little bit of this disadvantage, unless people are ready to quit their jobs the moment they hear about the final decision, and they already have the finances sorted and they’re ready to come to Fontainebleau, and they don’t need a visa, or are ready to go to Singapore because they already have an entry pass for Singapore, for example. Bearing that in mind, the selection will be the same and the quality we’re looking for will be the same.

What advice would you give to someone thinking ahead to a fall 2022 matriculation or later? Any suggestions for them? [30:15]

First of all, well done, because it’s something that takes a couple of months or more, maybe even a couple of years to decide to do an MBA. The GMAT prep, we covered that. The essays, it’s important to dedicate time. But it’s also informing the people you will ask for recommendations. It’s not doing you any favors to write to the person, “Can you please recommend me for this program?” 24 hours before the application deadline. It’s usually recommended that you explain your thought process, explain “why an MBA,” and then maybe what you would like to showcase, and then the person can write a meaningful letter of recommendation. Otherwise, it’s a missed opportunity. We see answers like, “I cannot comment on this.” I always feel that’s a pity, and we just disregard the letter of recommendation. It’s a waste of a recommendation.

What would you have liked me to ask you? [31:46]

Maybe a question on the size of the class, and of future classes. We had a smaller class in September 2020, and we had a bigger class in January 2021. So what we decided to do for next year is go back to normal class size. The idea was that when we reduced the class size for the September 2020 intake, we didn’t know, first of all, what to expect. We all had heard about clusters and social distancing, but technically, logistically, how do you make that happen? So the dean had a number of town halls and forums with the incoming students asking them, what do you expect? What would you recommend we do? And a number of people requested the possibility to defer, which we agreed to. So we welcomed 300-plus in September 2020, and we increased the January class to accommodate the deferrals.

Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about INSEAD’s MBA program? [33:27]

We’ll be happy to stay in touch with any prospective applicants. People can always check the website at insead.edu.



Related links:


Related shows:


Subscribe:

   
       



Podcast Feed

The post What Prospective MBAs Need to Know About Applying to INSEAD [Episode 417] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
4 Sure-Fire Ways to Ace Essays Showing Resilience in the Face of Failu [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Ace Essays Showing Resilience in the Face of Failure
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4-Sure-Fire-Ways-to-Ace-Essays-Showing-Resilience-in-the-Face-of-Failure.jpg[/img]
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4-Sure-Fire-Ways-to-Ace-Essays-Showing-Resilience-in-the-Face-of-Failure.jpg[/img]

Recently we worked with a client [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba]applying to MBA programs[/url] who had experienced a failure that could have been the kiss of death for his job. Not only could it have gotten him fired, it also risked ending a lucrative business relationship between his employer and a major customer.

How one applicant transformed a failure into a professional leap forward

This is what happened: the applicant had worked in the analytics department of the company, and he had a role in interpreting some data incorrectly. This incorrect reading led them to recommend a strategy for their customer that was the exact opposite of what it should have been. What a disaster! Our client, the applicant, didn’t discover this huge mistake until after the new strategy had been implemented. 

He could have watched from afar as the strategy failed. Instead, he came clean and told the truth. He waited for the blowback, expecting the worst.  

Instead, he was rewarded for his integrity and telling the truth, despite the risk to his reputation. As a result, he not only kept his job, but the relationship between his employer and their customer even flourished. When this client was faced with the personal failure essay question and what he learned from the experience, he was ready. 

“Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be.”

Essay questions dealing with failure, risk, mistakes, and difficult interactions or conflict often make applicants cringe and bite their nails. After all, you are so eager to demonstrate how you have succeeded in your endeavors. You want to show the admissions committees through [url=https://reports.accepted.com/guide/from-example-to-exemplary-guide]your essays and personal statements[/url] that you are on top of your game, ready to conquer the world. The last thing you want to do is to wave a flag announcing the particulars of when and where you have fallen short, or even failed. 

However, questions about failure and resilience are frequently asked precisely because they provide a window into your character. How resilient are you in the face of a setback or failure? What did you learn from the experience, about yourself, about the world of business, about relationships, about communication? What wisdom have you gained? Are you able to convincingly show that you view your stumble as an inevitable, even essential step on the road to achievement?

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be.” So take heart: reading about setbacks is an opportunity for you to shine by [url=https://blog.accepted.com/proving-character-traits-in-your-application-essays/]showing your humility, commitment to growth, and determination[/url] to apply lessons learned. Reading about setbacks allows the admissions committee to learn about what you’re really made of.

4 ways to transform setbacks into achievements

[list][*][b]Demonstrate how your failure led to success[/b].

The mistake you made might have led you to discover a new idea or invention that you otherwise would not have encountered. Your setback or failure could have spurred you on to strengthen your skills or knowledge base. Making lemonade out of lemons leads to forward momentum in your professional life.

You may have heard the famous story about when someone asked Thomas Edison, “How can you keep going when your scientific experiments (prior to developing the light bulb) have failed so many times?” He answered, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that my invention won’t work.” You don’t need the genius of Edison to adopt some of his tenacity and make it your own.

Be specific when you offer your examples in the essay. Perhaps you made a mistake in the lab that cost you weeks of work. However, in the process you learned something important about lab techniques, and now you’ve acquired more fastidious research practices. (Note: this needs to go way beyond the normal trial-and-error nature of research.)

In the realm of a personal failure, perhaps you neglected an important relationship to the point where you lost that relationship entirely. As a result, you’ve made a point of treating people with particular respect.You cannot just state this as a general, unproven fact. Prove it by sharing real-life anecdotes where you behaved differently, more purposefully and sensitively, as an investment in your relationships.

[/*][*][b]Show that you truly understand why something went wrong.
[/b]
[b]In an effective failure or resilience essay, explaining “what went wrong” is only half the game. You must also explain to the best of your ability “why it went wrong.” [/b]

This will show the adcom that you have invested the effort to think and reflect about the role you might have played in the situation. Don’t simply place blame on circumstances. Explain the process by which you sought real answers and real solutions. Make sure to relate some of the steps you have taken to avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

As an example, if you had pushed colleagues hard to complete a work project that resulted in their resentment toward you (and no benefit to the project), you could write about the focused attention you now pay to their colleagues’ suggestions and efforts. Offer at least one specific example of how those efforts have paid off.

[/*][*][b]Focus on what you’ve learned on a personal level[/b].

Learning from mistakes helps you change and grow as a person. You may view and analyze situations or people differently now; make decisions more deliberately; taken a course in time management to help better juggle all your responsibilities without dropping the ball; began therapy to help with the anxiety you feel when work pressure feels overwhelming.

Your explanations will have more power if you can also show a “before and after” situation. The “before” stressed-out, perhaps not well organized person staying up till 3 a.m. to get it all done and still delivering haphazard work, versus the “after” person practicing time management and mindfulness skills, coping with responsibilities more calmly, deliberately, and competently. Demonstrating these changes will present you as more mature and emotionally intelligent–traits valued by the admissions committee.

4. [b]Show them how you’ve become more resilient.[/b]

“Resilience” has become an overused word, nearly a cliche, so let’s remind ourselves of what it is: the building of inner strength and fortitude in the face of conflict, pain, or disappointment. Successful adults need resilience, so it’s understandable that colleges and universities want to know that you’ve got game in this department. [/*][/list]

Our advice on writing a resilience [url=https://blog.accepted.com/tag/college-application-essays/]college essay[/url] echoes the advice we’ve given on writing personal failure essays. State the initial situation where you needed resilience, and then show–specifically and through personal anecdotes–how you flexed your resilience muscles, growing stronger as a result.

What did you do to pick yourself up, improve, acknowledge effort, persist, and ultimately succeed? By [url=https://blog.accepted.com/proving-character-traits-in-your-application-essays/]portraying these qualities in your essay[/url], you will convince the adcom that you have the self-awareness, maturity, and dedication to thrive, despite an occasional stumble. In choosing an example to write about, consider which experiences helped you grow the most. Which ones have made you a better person, a stronger person, more prepared to face adversity in the future? How are you different now as a result of confronting the negative situation? Do you have concrete examples to show how the changes you made as a result of the failure or weakness have led to success? Oftentimes a weakness is a flip side of a strength, so perhaps a weakness served you well at some point? For example, perhaps the fact that you are “too detail-oriented” resulted in discovering a critical error? Identifying your weakness – from a perspective of maturity and introspection – may have prompted you to take steps to ameliorate it.

Be thoughtful in your responses to questions on weakness or failure. [url=https://reports.accepted.com/guide/leadership-in-admissions-2]Successful leaders[/url] must have honesty and integrity as part of their DNA, and be able to see and admit to failures and weaknesses. As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar pointed out, “It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts.” 

[b]Nobody’s perfect, but a “perfect” answer to these questions just might get you admitted! To make sure your essays reflect you at your best, [url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=resilience&utm_source=blog]work with us[/url]. Every consultant at Accepted has years of experience in college admissions and helping applicants gain coveted acceptances at top schools worldwide. Let them do the same for you! [/b]

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/4751002f-5aa9-40d8-bb71-6d43a4318bd2][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/4751002f-5aa9-40d8-bb71-6d43a4318bd2.png[/img][/url]

[url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_gen&utm_source=blog][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg[/img][/url]
For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to top undergraduate and graduate programs. Our expert team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, PhDs, and professional writers who have advised clients to acceptance at top programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, MIT, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern.
[url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_gen&utm_source=blog][b]Want an admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/guide/leadership-in-admissions-2]Leadership in Admissions[/url], a free guide[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/writing-about-overcoming-obstacles-in-your-application-essays/]Writing About Overcoming Obstacles in Your Application Essays[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/flaws-make-you-real-2/]Flaws Make You Real[/url][/*][/list]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/writing-about-resilience-in-the-face-of-failure/]4 Sure-Fire Ways to Ace Essays Showing Resilience in the Face of Failure[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
5 Tips for Writing About Extracurricular Activities You Started at the [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: 5 Tips for Writing About Extracurricular Activities You Started at the Last Minute
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/5-tips-for-writing-about-extracurricular-activities-you-started-at-the-last-minute.jpg[/img]
[url=https://blog.accepted.com/tag/grad-application-essays/][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/5-tips-for-writing-about-extracurricular-activities-you-started-at-the-last-minute.jpg[/img][/url]

You are this close to finishing your application, but in the section that asks you about your extracurricular activities, you freeze up. I don’t really have any extracurricular activities, you think. What should I do now? How will I be able to stand out from the competition?

We’re glad you asked. Team Accepted has worked with countless applicants who have found themselves in this exact nail-biting dilemma. They frantically search for a non-school or non-work endeavor to latch onto, hoping that the activity will reflect well on them. They hope the adcom won’t pay too much attention to the fact that they just started the activity two months before the application due date. (Yikes!)

We are here to ease your mind by offering these 5 ideas: 

[list][*][b]You may already have some extracurriculars and haven’t recognized them[/b]

It’s unlikely that your life consists solely of school and/or work and basic life maintenance. Look at your weekly or monthly calendar to discover unique experiences that could be considered “extracurricular.” You don’t need clear-cut activities such as, “Acted as president of the chess club” or “Volunteered in a local soup kitchen.” Do you sing in a choir on Tuesday nights? Participate in a weekly fiction writing circle with friends? Are you an avid gamer? Do you do yoga, meditation, or are you training for a half-marathon? Do you have a podcast, moderate a discussion group on Clubhouse, or are you learning website design? Do you run an Etsy shop? Do you have a standing weekly “date” with a grandparent who is otherwise alone most of the time?

These are all completely valid, growth-oriented ways to invest time outside of work or school. Each has the potential to reveal your passions, interests, and goals. Some may have helped you develop [url=https://blog.accepted.com/display-teamwork-in-application-essays/]leadership skills[/url]. With others, your gains may be physical, creative, intellectual, social, professional, or emotional-psychological. They will all broaden you as a more fully evolved individual to the admissions committee.

[/*][*][b]Better late than never[/b]

Some applicants think they’d be better off bypassing the subject of extracurriculars entirely, rather than highlight the slightly suspicious timing of having so recently begun the activity. No one wants to come across as phony.

We agree that showing long-term extracurricular activities would have been preferable, but showing recent and short-term involvements are better than none. (And they will certainly be better than having your main extracurricular activity consist of kicking yourself over and over again for your lack of planning.)

Now’s not the time to harp on regrets; now is the time to act. Get out there and do something.

[/*][*][b]Even short-term involvement can transform you[/b]

Keep in mind that participation in non-school and non-work activities, even if just for a limited period of time, will elevate your flat, one-dimensional admissions profile into a more vibrant, colorful, and interesting candidate profile. Not only will you be viewed in a more holistic way, but your new involvement may also quickly begin to expand your own vision, understanding, skills, and potential.

Now’s your chance to transform yourself from a pile of grades and scores into a real, live human being – one who pursues his or her [url=https://blog.accepted.com/passion-action-dedication/]interests and passions[/url] outside of the work and school arenas.

[/*][*][b]Your application efforts may be delayed or extended
[/b]
Another reason to jump right into an extracurricular activity even though you may feel like it’s too last minute is because you don’t know the outcome of your application effort. For example, you may decide for one reason or another to push off applying until the following year. [url=https://blog.accepted.com/waitlist-updates-advice/]You may get waitlisted[/url] or you may get dinged from all your top choice schools and decide to reapply next year. Whatever the case, this could be the beginning of what turns out to be an entire year of extracurricular involvement.

[/*][*][b]Hobbies are good for YOU[/b]

Forget for a minute that you’re applying to school (if that’s even possible!) and think about what’s actually good for you. It’s not healthy to sit at work for 18+ hours a day in an office or at home before crashing on the couch because you’re too tired to make it to bed. Forget the application process completely– finding something to do that is unrelated to work, school, or other obligations will enrich your life. The right activities will energize you physically and creatively, and make you a happier person.
[/*][/list]

Take home message: It’s NEVER too late to get involved in some meaningful, interesting, enriching, and fun extracurricular activity!

[b]At Team Accepted, our experienced consultants will help you create an enriched, interesting, and outstanding application. From helping you choose the right programs to identifying your strongest experiences, academic credentials, skills, and even extracurricular activities, [url=https://www.accepted.com/grad/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=extracurriculars_last_minute&utm_source=blog]we are your partners on your road to ACCEPTANCE[/url]! [/b]

By Judy Gruen, former Accepted admissions consultant. Judy holds a Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University. She is the co-author of Accepted’s first full-length book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools. [b][url=https://www.accepted.com/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_Judy&utm_source=blog]Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch![/url][/b]

[url=https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/58291/f2606217-625b-4d34-8132-8b085897c5c7][img]https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/58291/f2606217-625b-4d34-8132-8b085897c5c7.png[/img][/url]

[b]Related Resources:[/b]

[list][*][url=https://reports.accepted.com/guide/from-example-to-exemplary-guide]From Example to Exemplary[/url], a free guide[/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/display-teamwork-in-application-essays/]4 Ways to Display Teamwork in Application Essays[/url][/*][*][url=https://blog.accepted.com/add-detail-social-enterprisecommunity-service-goals/]Add Detail to Your Social Enterprise/Community Service Goals[/url][/*][/list]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/4-tips-for-writing-about-extracurricular-activities/]5 Tips for Writing About Extracurricular Activities You Started at the Last Minute[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Wharton Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021-2022] [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Wharton Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021-2022]



The Wharton EMBA adcom, through its three required questions, expresses its values and its interest in students who share those values. Its questions ask you to show both vision and responsiveness to uncertainty. Essentially you will need to show both focus and flexibility.

  • Essay question 1 focuses on your goals and Wharton’s important role in helping you achieve them.

  • Essay question 2 invites you to share your recent experiences regarding the pandemic.

  • Essay question 3 seeks confirmation that you understand in practical terms what a commitment to attending the program involves.

Wharton Executive MBA application essays

Wharton Executive MBA essay #1

What are your career objectives and how will the Wharton MBA Program for Executives contribute to your attainment of this objective? (750 word limit)

An effective (and natural) way to start is to briefly sketch your current career situation to set the context. You can then progress to detailing your future goals – in doing so, clarify how each step leads to the next or builds on the previous one, creating an organic flow. In describing your goals at any given point, indicate why you are taking that step or pursuing that role; this “why” is what truly animates your goals, elevating them from explanation to a story. Put more detail into the roles you plan immediately post-MBA and the several years following; longer-term goals need less detail, but they still should show a clear direction.

In discussing how the program will benefit you, describe what skills and knowledge you need at specific future roles/positions and how the program meets those needs. Also refer to the structure and special features of the program, detailing how they will support you and your goals.

Structurally, there are three approaches to this part: (a) weave in the “Why Wharton?” details after each goals phase, (b) have a separate “Why Wharton?” paragraph containing this entire discussion holistically, or (c) a mix of (a) and (b), adding some specific “Why Wharton?” points into the goals section and then an additional paragraph with more encompassing “Why Wharton?” points. All three work; use the one you find most natural.

Check out the rest of our school-specific EMBA application essay tips >>

Wharton Executive MBA essay #2

During the spring of 2020, Wharton Professor Mauro Guillen created and taught the course “The Impact of Coronavirus.” As part of this course, Prof. Guillen interviewed Prof. Sigal Barsade on the concept of emotional contagion and its impact on leadership. Please review this interview and then respond to the question below: Profs. Mauro Guillen & Sigal Barsade discuss Emotional Contagion What have you learned about yourself during the Coronavirus pandemic? Please share special examples about how these times have impacted you personally and professionally. (750 word limit)

Interestingly, the question asks you to listen to the interview, but does not ask you to write about or respond to it.  Even so, I suggest that for at least some of your examples, address the issues (directly or indirectly) discussed in the interview. Why? By referencing the interview, the adcom is asking you to clarify fit with the program through your examples. 

Here are some pointers:

  • Rather than simply listing numerous examples of how you’ve been impacted by the coronavirus, present 2-3 examples of special significance (covering both personal and professional) and write with some detail about each. 

  • For each point, conclude with a bit of reflection and insight about the experience – after all, it’s not just the facts that count but what you have to say about them, what you’ve gleaned from them, that you’ll bring to the MBA table. 

  • As for structure, if you organically come up with an overarching theme, great – use it, but, if not, don’t worry and don’t strain for it; rather, focus on getting quality substance out of each example/story.

  • Given the question, you will be zooming in on quite recent experiences, but within each anecdote there may be opportunity to “refer back” to important or impressive elements of your experience, perhaps contrasting before/after or growth from point A to point B. E.g., one client was leading an in-house largely expat team comprising many different countries and cultures; once COVID hit, her team members were quite isolated from loved ones far away in sometimes dire circumstances, causing the team members ongoing anxiety and stress. She realized that part of her role became helping them deal with that isolation and anxiety and providing personal support. She wrote about her earlier strong leadership of a diverse team, how she’s adapting now to the new more emotional demands, and how the experience influenced her perspective and values.

  • Make sure you not only reflect how you have been affected by COVID, but include how you have responded, adapted, and helped others cope through a difficult period.

There’s another slant to this question to bear in mind: adaptability. It requires you to discuss how you have adapted in real-time to a global crisis. While you’ll naturally address this, you needn’t have all the answers or have every issue perfectly worked out. It’s been a struggle, and many if not most people are still in somewhat of a trail-and-error mode. But do convey awareness of the need and willingness to adapt and lead within immense uncertainty, even if you’re figuring it out as you go (and who isn’t?).

Wharton Executive MBA essay #3

Given your already demanding job and the desire to remain committed to important family and personal obligations, how do you plan to handle this additional demand on your time once you enroll? (500 word limit)

This straightforward question deserves a straightforward answer. Discuss the accommodations you will make at work, such as delegating more, adjusting travel schedules, etc. Don’t mention every single thing you can think of – focus on the most significant two or three adjustments.

Also address your personal responsibilities and how you will meet them with this additional significant demand on your time and energy; even acknowledging that you’ll have less time at the playground with your toddler or mentioning the support of your significant other will show that you’re facing this issue squarely. If you’ve already successfully balanced school and working full time, definitely mention it.

Wharton Executive MBA essay #4 (Optional)

If necessary, you may use this optional essay to explain any extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware. (300 word limit)

Only use this essay if you need to address extenuating circumstances. That includes issues such as a gap in the resume, a bad grade, not having a supervisor provide a recommendation.

For expert guidance with your Wharton EMBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top EMBA and MBA programs and look forward to helping you too!

Wharton EMBA application deadlines for 2021-2022

Application deadline Round 1December 8, 2021 (11:59 p.m. PST)Round 2February 9, 2022 (11:59 p.m. PST)

Source: Wharton website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***




Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

The post Wharton Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021-2022] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
How Should I Choose Which Essay Questions to Answer When I Have Choice [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: How Should I Choose Which Essay Questions to Answer When I Have Choices?



You’re sitting down to face your application, and you are glad to see that you can choose which essay questions to answer. You’re not stuck answering a particular set of questions. 

It’s good to know you have options. After all, you are determined to answer the questions that allow you to portray yourself at your best – to present your most impressive qualifications and talents, and to demonstrate to the adcom that you’re top applicant material.

But you also feel slightly insecure–what if you make a mistake and don’t choose the essay question you really should have answered? What factors should you consider when selecting the best essays to answer? [If you are applying to college through the Common Application, you can use these tips to help you pick which prompt to respond to.] 

Here are our recommendations about choosing which essays to write about: 

  • Choose the questions that will complement other elements of your application 

    The essays allow you to round out and complement other information or topics that appear elsewhere in your application, such as your resume/CV, letters of recommendation, and transcript. For example, your resume presents only a snapshot of your work history, but cannot go into depth on any aspect of it. In an essay, you can relate a fuller story about a particular achievement or experience (professional or non-professional) that will help the adcom appreciate your skills, earned wisdom, or goals. 

  • Write within your comfort zone 

    You’re often told to stretch beyond your comfort zones, and it’s true–this is where growth comes from. But with these essays, there’s no reason to push yourself to write about something where you feel you’re on less solid ground. For example, if your career vision is still fuzzy, don’t pick a question that asks you to paint that picture. Choose questions where you feel confident that you have something of substance to say.

Bottom line? Write the essays that will allow you to express yourself authentically. Don’t try to be something or someone that you think the admissions board wants to see. Because you know what? They want to see the real you. 

Is your application shaping up to be as competitive as possible? Don’t risk a second-rate presentation to the adcom. Our consultants know the admissions field inside and out, and have helped thousands of applicants get into the schools of their choice. They can do the same for you, leading you on the road to Acceptance!


For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to top undergraduate and graduate programs. Our expert team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, PhDs, and professional writers who have advised clients to acceptance at top programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, MIT, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern.
Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!



Related Resources:

From Example to Exemplary, a free guide
“I’m Smart, Really I Am!” Proving Character Traits in your Essays
Can You Use the Same Personal Statement for Different Schools?

The post How Should I Choose Which Essay Questions to Answer When I Have Choices? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Test-Taking Advice for People with Learning Disabilities or Test Anxie [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Test-Taking Advice for People with Learning Disabilities or Test Anxiety



Nobody likes taking tests, right? Well, perhaps a few of you out there get psyched at the chance of showing how well you have boned up for your exams. But most people facing a timed test can’t wait to get it out of the way. Even those who are fairly confident of their abilities will feel that uncomfortable pressure to perform.

Some of you, though, will always struggle on tests. You may have a learning disability. You may become highly anxious beforehand. Perhaps a medical condition makes taking tests more difficult. You can’t afford to freeze up when the clock starts ticking. Some MBA programs allow you to apply for a waiver, though not all. And your request may be denied. 

What can you to do? Here are some suggestions from Accepted consultants:

  • Practice mindfulness

    We live in an anxious age, which is why the mindfulness movement continues to flourish. There are hundreds of books, apps, and other resources to help calm a mind on overdrive. “Whether you suffer from test anxiety, a learning disability, or simply live a typically hectic life, mindfulness practices such as guided imagery, meditation, and mindful, deep breathing can ease your mind and soul,” observes Accepted consultant Natalie Grinblatt Epstein. “I have suggested these kinds of exercises to many clients, and I believe it helped to position them better at work, school, or on tests. Many people use these apps and tools simply to relax enough to get a good night’s rest.”   

[*]Plan to spend time on GRE/GMAT prep

You have lots of options in test prep. There are online courses, and off-line courses will soon return. There are also lots of self-study materials. Finally, if you want your test-prep customized to your needs and availability, consider hiring a tutor. “If you have a learning disability, look for a tutor who specializes in that specific issue,” adds Grinblatt Epstein.  [/list]

[*]Take supplemental courses

If you anticipate not doing well on the GRE or GMAT even with test prep, and a waiver seems unlikely, enroll in quant-oriented classes, either through community colleges, extension programs, or online learning programs, such as HBS CORe or MBAmath.com. Scoring A’s in these classes will put the icing on the cake, showing the adcoms that you can and will do well in a business related academic environment. Also, investing in these courses demonstrates motivation and a commitment to succeed. [/list]

[*]Make friends with the optional essay

This wide-open space allows you to write about anything you want the adcom to know about you that you didn’t have the opportunity to share elsewhere. Accepted consultant Esmeralda Cardenal suggests, “The optional essay can be key to showing the school why you have not tested well, but hopefully you can also contrast those lower scores with a consistently higher GPA. You can also tell a story about a relevant successful achievement at work or school that demonstrates your verbal and/or quantitative abilities.” Overall, a solid track record of good grades will counterbalance lower test scores and show what you are capable of.  [/list]

[*]Get tested for a learning disability

“Sometimes, learning disabilities remain undiagnosed even into adulthood,” observes Grinblatt Epstein. “I have suspected learning disabilities in several clients, and while I cannot make a diagnosis, I have strongly suggested they go for testing. If a learning disability is documented, you can ask for GRE or GMAT accommodations, providing you extra time, on those exams.”  

[*]Ask for disability accommodations

Esmeralda Cardenal reports that most of her clients who successfully sought accommodations were also those with previously diagnosed learning disabilities. “One client with dyslexia received accommodation and was successfully admitted to London Business School as well as Columbia,” she says. If you have a diagnosis of one kind or another that would qualify for accommodation, consultant Jamie Wright advises, “Contact the GMAC or ETS to discuss your options. Remember that each organization has slightly different processes, so make sure to carefully review the application requirements and processes for requesting the extra time.” [/list]

[*]Ask recommenders to talk up your skills

The folks writing your letters of recommendation already intend to build you up, but Jamie Wright recommends asking them to particularly highlight relevant experiences and achievements. “Recommenders can give evidence of when you have employed the kind of skills necessary to succeed at work and that show you can also succeed in an MBA classroom,” she says.   [/list]

[*]Reconsider your school options if necessary

Many of our clients with learning issues have gained acceptance to their target schools given GRE or GMAT accommodations. However, if despite all your efforts your test results are still disappointing, Esmeralda Cardenal suggests, “It’s time to adjust your school choices so that your GMAT-GRE scores are not too far off the mark, and apply to a few safety schools as well.”  [/list]

Even with a learning disability, an MBA can still be within reach. Let our consultants help assess your profile, guide your choices for the best programs for you, hone your application, and coach you in confidence-boosting, targeted interview prep. Check out our MBA Services Packages to get the personalized, one-on-one attention you need to GET ACCEPTED!



By Judy Gruen, former Accepted admissions consultant. Judy holds a Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University. She is the co-author of Accepted’s first full-length book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• The Quick Guide to Admissions Resumes, free guide
• Writing About Overcoming Obstacles in Your Application Essays, a short video
4 Tips for Highlighting Your Strengths in Your Application Essays

The post Test-Taking Advice for People with Learning Disabilities or Test Anxiety appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Are You HBS Material? [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Are You HBS Material?



Harvard Business School has consistently remained one of the highest regarded MBA programs in the world.

Last year, just 12% of applicants earned a spot in its incoming class. With COVID-19 driving a continued increase in applications, the class of 2023 can expect much the same odds. 

If HBS is your #1 choice, your application will need to be tailored appropriately to their specifications. You must find ways to show the value that only you can bring, while simultaneously demonstrating fit with their program. 

On Wednesday, June 2nd, we’ll be presenting a masterclass titled Get Accepted to Harvard Business School.

This one-hour session will be hosted by Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham, who has helped scores of students get into HBS over her 25+ year tenure in admissions consulting. We’re offering two sessions for your convenience: 10am PT/1pm ET & 5pm PT/8pm ET. 

It’s free to attend, but you must register to hold your spot. Click below to choose the time slot that works best for you and we’ll see you on June 2nd! 

Register for the masterclass:


For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
The post Are You HBS Material? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Worried About MBA Application Surge? Listen to the Experts! [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Worried About MBA Application Surge? Listen to the Experts!



Many MBA programs have chosen to make the GMAT and GRE optional for applicants this year.

If you’re worried about how that might affect applicant numbers—and therefore, your chances of acceptance—you need to check out our recent live Q&A, Applying to Business School in a Test-Optional Application Surge.

It’s available free of charge for on-demand viewing now!

Watch the live Q&A session:


For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
The post Worried About MBA Application Surge? Listen to the Experts! appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
What Harvard Business School Is Looking For: The Habit of Leadership [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: What Harvard Business School Is Looking For: The Habit of Leadership



Thank you, Harvard Business School. That’s what applicants should think when they visit the program’s website and find “habit of leadership” on its “Who are we looking for?” admissions page.

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

What is habit?

There are a gazillion excellent articles and treatises on the meaning of leadership. Many if not most of them are valid – it’s a concept that’s inherently contextual. I’m focusing on the other word. The key to this message is habit.

Habit is…

  • ACTIVE
    A habit is something that is done. It’s not something bestowed upon you (like the title Team Lead) and it’s not something ascended to (advanced to Project Manager). Whether good or bad, habits are something you do.
  • REFLEXIVE
    A habit is a part of you. You may think about it objectively in your mind, but it’s also part of your behavior. Yet that doesn’t automatically mean it’s innate – a habit may be learned (you probably know someone who trained herself to become more patient or more decisive or less defensive). Therefore, if you aren’t a “born leader,” you can still develop the habit of leadership.
    << FREE WEBINAR: Get Accepted to Harvard Business School >>
  • KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES
    You exercise the habit of leadership in school, in your family, with friends, at work, in your community. It means that when something needs doing or when you perceive an opportunity for positive impact, you shift into gear to make it happen – even if it’s hard, even if it’s not your designated role, even if you’re not sure exactly how you’ll do it. Simply, it’s what you do.
  • SOMETIMES INVISIBLE

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

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

How to demonstrate your habit of leadership

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

Work with an experienced admissions consultant who will guide you as you mine your experiences and then craft an application that demonstrates the habit of leadership that HBS is seeking.




Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Leadership in Admissions, a free guide
• What Does Harvard Business School Want?, a short video
• Harvard Business School MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines

The post What Harvard Business School Is Looking For: The Habit of Leadership appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Posts: 6448
Own Kudos [?]: 844 [0]
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Send PM
Do You Know the 4 Key Principles to Acceptance at HBS? [#permalink]
Expert Reply
FROM Accepted.com Blog: Do You Know the 4 Key Principles to Acceptance at HBS?
[img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Get-Accepted-to-Harvard-Business-School-Register-Now.jpg[/img]
[url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/harvard-business-school?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Get_Accepted_to_HBS_June2021_p2][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Get-Accepted-to-Harvard-Business-School-Register-Now.jpg[/img][/url]

Harvard.

The very name commands attention and respect. If you’ve always dreamed of earning your MBA from this iconic Ivy League school, you know that you need a foolproof application strategy.

You will be competing against some of the best and brightest minds in business. How can you ensure that you shine brightest of all? By seeking and applying the advice and guidance of a seasoned expert, of course! 

Our June 2nd masterclass, [url=https://reports.accepted.com/mba/webinar/harvard-business-school?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_source=webinar&utm_medium=Get_Accepted_to_HBS_June2021_p2]Get Accepted to Harvard Business School[/url], will provide  an hour-long study in how to create a knockout application for HBS. Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham leads the charge, imparting decades of wisdom to attendees and revealing the four primary principles of getting accepted to this illustrious program. 

To make sure as many Harvard hopefuls as possible can attend, we’re offering two time slots for this masterclass. You can join us at 10am PT/1pm ET OR 5pm PT/8pm ET. Seats are going quickly for both sessions, so don’t wait. Grab your spot today!

Register for the masterclass:

[url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][img]https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/accepted_admissions_consulting.jpg[/img][/url]
For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. [url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/services?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_medium=blog_bio_mba&utm_source=blog][b]Want an MBA admissions expert [/b][b]to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch![/b][/url]
The post [url=https://blog.accepted.com/applying-to-hbs-heres-what-you-need-to-know-now/]Do You Know the 4 Key Principles to Acceptance at HBS?[/url] appeared first on [url=https://blog.accepted.com]Accepted Admissions Blog[/url].
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
GMAT Club Bot
Do You Know the 4 Key Principles to Acceptance at HBS? [#permalink]
   1  ...  103   104   105   106   107  ...  122   

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne