Calling Chicago GSB 2008 applicants

they definitely read apps before the deadline. i was at a wash dc event before the deadline and rose talked about how shes loved the powerpoint presentations she had seen. i even asked her if they read apps before the deadline and she said yes.

More on these powerpoint presenations and what people have been up to so far :

https://www.chicagotribune.com/services/ ... 7865.story

If you actually read through this article, it says that applications have increased 65% from 2 years ago. That is a really scary thought. I believe the trend will be same for all the top 15 schools. Its just going to make our life very difficult. I also do not blame the schools but I believe they should not go for diversity for the sake of diversity. I know the reasoning that nobody wants to be in a class full of quant jocks. But I also do not want to see rejection over another candidate purely on the basis that he/she is from a underrepresented section. I fail to see how being from a underrepresented section is a means to adding diversity to the class. I know to some this must seem like a bunch of sour grapes coming from a over represented pool. But schools must seriously think this point over.

Diversity is much more important than you think. They could easily fill a class with a bunch of former bankers and consultants from ivy league level schools, while raising their mean GMAT to 730. Now a class filled with people like that is going to be missing perspectives different than what those people bring.

Remember the decision process more well rounded than simply deciding based on academics. Yes we all would love a 780 GMAT, a 3.8gpa from Princeton...but if you do that and then have crappy work experience, should you get in over someone from State U with a 3.3 who got a 710 but has extremely amazing WE and extras?

I can see why someone who has to face the stiffest competition would feel that way, I mean we have all seen the stats of Indians making up 5% (rough representation of HBS) of a class when we know they make up a far greater percentage of applications. But in reality when you show up to school if you saw 650 people just like you then you would be disappointed. Besides this is what the work world is like, they recruit for diversity so why would schools be any different since they are trying to provide these companies with future employees.

To maximize your chances you need to realize who you are competing against and understand how to best position yourself against them. Realize that a lot of those people have similar backgrounds and work experience so you really need to execute better and present your strengths in a more compelling manner. There are definitely some very interesting experiences and backgrounds for Indians, its just a matter of letting the adcoms see that instead of just another person with a 750+ from a great school, who works in a very common job.

You never want to be forgettable in this process, basically you dont want them to be able to replace your name with 50 other peoples and have it work. Just like you dont want to write why you are choosing the school and have it read like: I want to attend (insert which ever school this apps is for) because of their academic rigor, great profs, incredible students, and great job opportunities...That is a sentence you can reuse in every essay with just changing the school name and its not going to help prove you know the school and fit.

Agree on most points with you riveripper. Its just the frustation of the application process and the ding from Kellogg that have been really consuming me. I keep hearing so many theories during the application process that it really confuses me.
But I have moved on. I have 2 more interviews for other schools coming up so hedging my bets on that.

tsaditya the process is stressful so you definitely aren't alone in that. This year is going to be extremely tough for almost everyone applying, yes some demographics will have it tougher than others. But applications are WAY up and so is quality. It sucks that its getting harder but there are the same number of seats at the top schools while competition is definitinely growing.

I think many people tend to over-think the admission process. The diversity is definitely a distinctive factor, but I doubt that a school would admit a less competent applicant over an uber smart one just because of his ethnicity or origin. My opinion is that top schools just get so many great applications, that they can afford the luxury of being picky with that.

Agree. It’s all about putting forth the best application...PERIOD. Just because someone has a 770 GMAT doesn't make them an automatic admit. I think the GMAT is gaining less and less relevance to the overall admissions process. GMAT doesn’t give an AO an impression of what you bring to the classroom and to the school. The one complaint I heard from every AO I talked to is the lack of writing skills.

Diversity is not just about background but also it pertains to thought. Each school is looking to compile the best class of intellectuals from different perspectives to make for a dynamic environment.

A 700+ GMAT is nothing special anymore. Heck a 730+ is becoming fairly common. All a good GMAT does is get your foot in the door. Its up to your essays, resume, recommendations, and all that to close the deal.

somewhere in the chat transcript Rose said they don't care much about the undergrad GPA...what do you guys think about that? I LIKE IT! LOL.

Any good ideas on how to tide over this weekend??

I am considering to surround myself in a mist of vodka, gin and rum...

Going right now to my company's Xmas Party, if it is similar to last year's it's going to be Red and Porto wine .

Tomorrow I'm going to rest and on Sunday I have a family lunch, so just today I can drink "a little".

But it's going to be very hard this weekend...

Well, I was the one who asked that question b/c my GPA is average... and an alumn from the GSB I met in Paris told me that a good GPA was important to get in... But, while his pre-MBA professional experience was interesting, his undergrad institution was an extremely average school (and I am being nice), and I do not consider it fair to equally compare his GPA with mine...

Anyway, my conclusion is, if your GPA is low, you will need to do some damage control...

I think GPA is very important, but also has to do with your age...the younger you are, the more it becomes important.
I agree with Cereal...that school matter! In my opinion, if you graduated engineering from MIT with a 3.2 would look much better than a not-so-difficult major from no name school with 3.9 GPA.

wow. I was reading through the latest GSB chat transcript - apparently they interviewed 60% of R1 applicants. That seems unusually high.
Is this a new trend or has GSB traditionally interviewed a high number of applicants?

Ok. Is Wharton's rule that "+/- 10% is going to be fine (and remain unnoticed)" for essays applicable to Chicago's 1st essay (goal essay). My word count at the moment - 1609 words