Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
Last visit was: 08 Dec 2024, 17:10 |
It is currently 08 Dec 2024, 17:10 |
|
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
12:00 PM EST
-12:45 PM EST
08:30 AM PST
-09:30 AM PST
10:00 AM PST
-11:00 AM PST
10:00 AM PST
-11:00 AM PST
01:00 PM EST
-03:00 PM EST
10:00 AM EST
-10:30 AM EST
03:00 PM EST
-04:00 PM EST
08:00 PM PST
-09:00 PM PST
08:30 AM EST
-09:15 AM EST
08:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
09:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Duke MBA Application Deadlines and Essay Advice: 2023-2024 |
Duke Fuqua has confirmed its essay questions for 2023-2024 MBA hopefuls. Both required essays have remained the same this year. For those interested in applying to Duke Fuqua, the school offers an early action deadline, along with three regular rounds. The Duke MBA Application Deadlines Are: Early Action: September 7, 2023 Round 1: September 28, 2023 Round 2: January 9, 2024 Round 3: February 22, 2024 Please see below for Personal MBA Coach’s tips on how to answer the Duke MBA essays. Personal MBA Coach’s Tips for the Duke MBA Essays: First, there is a required short answer question: What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first choice career plan and your alternate plan. This is a simple short-answer goals essay. Check out Personal MBA Coach’s blog on writing winning essays for some more advice. Also, make sure to check this quick tips video on developing your MBA career goals: [youtube2]p> About Personal MBA Coach The post Duke MBA Application Deadlines and Essay Advice: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: What is on Admissions Directors’ Mind in 2023 |
This week Personal MBA Coach attended the annual Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) conference at Columbia Business School and the Yale School of Management. The Personal MBA Coach team was delighted to meet with admissions directors from top MBA programs including Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Kellogg, Yale School of Management, Tuck, Duke Fuqua, UVA Darden, Berkeley Haas, Michigan Ross, INSEAD, Texas McCombs and others at our annual conference. The conference gives Personal MBA Coach a great opportunity to catch up with top schools, find out what is on their minds, discuss top MBA application trends, and gain a sneak peek into the 2023-2024 MBA application season. Throughout the 4-day conference admissions directors answered many of our applicants’ most pressing questions. Now that the AIGAC conference is over, Personal MBA Coach would like to share a few of the most interesting ones: Question: Should I Use ChatGPT to write my essays? Answer: The short answer here is no. While AI has many exciting applications, you should not plan to use CHATGPT to write your essays. Some top MBA programs are implementing strict honor codes, banning the use of software such as ChatGPT altogether. Others have not yet announced policies, and one or two schools are allowing limited use of the software. However, regardless of the official stance, nearly all admissions directors agree that artificial intelligence cannot generate authentic essays that truly tell your personal story. Those looking for shortcuts in developing their applications are likely to miss valuable opportunities to shine and could face honor code violations. Question: Do I need to have overcome a large trauma to write a compelling MBA essay? Answer: No! In fact, a number of admissions directors are growing tired of reading trauma essays, particularly ones that have little to no connection to the applicant’s reason for applying to business school. While few topics were deemed to be off limits, admissions directors stressed that the essays are your chance to tell YOUR story and how an MBA fits in. While overcoming adversity could be integral to your own educational journey, this is often not the case. So instead of reaching to think of a traumatic story to tell, consider what really makes you unique. (For more details on how to develop a compelling personal story, check out the Articulating Your Personal Story blog). We cannot stress the value of authenticity enough. Question: Should I plan to take the GMAT Focus this year? Answer: Most likely not. We were fortunate to gain insight from GMAC during the conference about the new test and how it differs from the traditional GMAT. We also learned how many admissions directors are viewing this new test. While preparation material was just released by GMAC this week, the GMAT Focus is not currently being offered. Registration for this new exam does not open until August 29, 2023, and testing will begin in Q4. However, the traditional GMAT should be available long enough to allow nearly all round 1 and round 2 applicants to take the existing GMAT exam. In fact, Harvard Business School has already announced that it will not accept the GMAT Focus for non-2+2 applicants this year. We would not be surprised if other schools make similar announcements. While most schools, particularly those with round 3 (or late round 2) deadlines will have no choice but to take the new exam, the general consensus was that those targeting this application cycle should plan to take the current GMAT. Question: What is the best way to engage with top MBA programs? Answer: While there is no one best way to learn about your target programs, nearly all admissions directors stressed the importance of putting in the time and effort to learn more about their programs. Many of the virtual engagement options that were launched during the pandemic remain, and visiting campus is NOT a must. Plus, admissions directors are back on the road this year. Take the time to find out when your target schools will be in your area. Finally, use students as a resource. Columbia Business School, for example, spoke extensively about the school’s Hermes Society with over 200 student members while Yale SOM has a similar Student Ambassadors program. Question: Do I need to have solid goals before I apply? Answer: At Personal MBA Coach, developing compelling goals with our clients is a crucial part of our process. While not all schools require applicants to outline their goals in the application, the majority of admissions directors recommended that candidates have a solid understanding of their target path, why it makes sense for them and how they will get there. However, regardless of whether they are asking candidates about their goals, all admissions directors recognize that your goals may very well change on campus, and this is expected. So, take the time to think about how the MBA fits in with your overall path, but rest assured that this path is NOT set in stone. Looking for more insight? The Personal MBA Coach blog will be providing school-specific advice on how you handle each business school’s MBA applications. Need help crafting your 2023 MBA Application Strategies? Reach out to Personal MBA Coach to find out more about our Comprehensive MBA Packages and how we helped our clients earn more than $10M in scholarships last year. The post What is on Admissions Directors’ Mind in 2023 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: What is on Admissions Directors’ Minds in 2023 |
This week Personal MBA Coach attended the annual Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) conference at Columbia Business School and the Yale School of Management. The Personal MBA Coach team was delighted to meet with admissions directors from top MBA programs including Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Kellogg, Yale School of Management, Tuck, Duke Fuqua, UVA Darden, Berkeley Haas, Michigan Ross, INSEAD, Texas McCombs and others at our annual conference. The conference gives Personal MBA Coach a great opportunity to catch up with top schools, find out what is on their minds, discuss top MBA application trends, and gain a sneak peek into the 2023-2024 MBA application season. Throughout the 4-day conference admissions directors answered many of our applicants’ most pressing questions. Now that the AIGAC conference is over, Personal MBA Coach would like to share a few of the most interesting ones: Question: Should I Use ChatGPT to write my essays? Answer: The short answer here is no. While AI has many exciting applications, you should not plan to use CHATGPT to write your essays. Some top MBA programs are implementing strict honor codes, banning the use of software such as ChatGPT altogether. Others have not yet announced policies, and one or two schools are allowing limited use of the software. However, regardless of the official stance, nearly all admissions directors agree that artificial intelligence cannot generate authentic essays that truly tell your personal story. Those looking for shortcuts in developing their applications are likely to miss valuable opportunities to shine and could face honor code violations. Question: Do I need to have overcome a large trauma to write a compelling MBA essay? Answer: No! In fact, a number of admissions directors are growing tired of reading trauma essays, particularly ones that have little to no connection to the applicant’s reason for applying to business school. While few topics were deemed to be off limits, admissions directors stressed that the essays are your chance to tell YOUR story and how an MBA fits in. While overcoming adversity could be integral to your own educational journey, this is often not the case. So instead of reaching to think of a traumatic story to tell, consider what really makes you unique. (For more details on how to develop a compelling personal story, check out the Articulating Your Personal Story blog). We cannot stress the value of authenticity enough. Question: Should I plan to take the GMAT Focus this year? Answer: Most likely not. We were fortunate to gain insight from GMAC during the conference about the new test and how it differs from the traditional GMAT. We also learned how many admissions directors are viewing this new test. While preparation material was just released by GMAC this week, the GMAT Focus is not currently being offered. Registration for this new exam does not open until August 29, 2023, and testing will begin in Q4. However, the traditional GMAT should be available long enough to allow nearly all round 1 and round 2 applicants to take the existing GMAT exam. In fact, Harvard Business School has already announced that it will not accept the GMAT Focus for non-2+2 applicants this year. We would not be surprised if other schools make similar announcements. While most schools, particularly those with round 3 (or late round 2) deadlines will have no choice but to take the new exam, the general consensus was that those targeting this application cycle should plan to take the current GMAT. Question: What is the best way to engage with top MBA programs? Answer: While there is no one best way to learn about your target programs, nearly all admissions directors stressed the importance of putting in the time and effort to learn more about their programs. Many of the virtual engagement options that were launched during the pandemic remain, and visiting campus is NOT a must. Plus, admissions directors are back on the road this year. Take the time to find out when your target schools will be in your area. Finally, use students as a resource. Columbia Business School, for example, spoke extensively about the school’s Hermes Society with over 200 student members while Yale SOM has a similar Student Ambassadors program. Question: Do I need to have solid goals before I apply? Answer: At Personal MBA Coach, developing compelling goals with our clients is a crucial part of our process. While not all schools require applicants to outline their goals in the application, the majority of admissions directors recommended that candidates have a solid understanding of their target path, why it makes sense for them and how they will get there. However, regardless of whether they are asking candidates about their goals, all admissions directors recognize that your goals may very well change on campus, and this is expected. So, take the time to think about how the MBA fits in with your overall path, but rest assured that this path is NOT set in stone. Looking for more insight? The Personal MBA Coach blog will be providing school-specific advice on how you handle each business school’s MBA applications. Need help crafting your 2023 MBA Application Strategies? Reach out to Personal MBA Coach to find out more about our Comprehensive MBA Packages and how we helped our clients earn more than $10M in scholarships last year. The post What is on Admissions Directors’ Minds in 2023 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Wharton MBA Application Deadlines and Wharton MBA Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
The Wharton School has confirmed the 2023-2024 MBA application essays. Again, Wharton has decided to keep its first and second essay questions the same as the previous application cycles. Wharton has an additional required application essay for reapplicants along with an optional essay. Below, please find this year’s deadlines along with Personal MBA Coach’s analysis of the Wharton MBA application essays. The Upcoming Wharton MBA Application Deadlines Are As Follows: Round 1: September 6, 2023 Round 2: January 4, 2024 Round 3: April 2, 2024 2023-2024 Wharton MBA Essays: Founded by a Wharton MBA graduate, Personal MBA Coach is intimately familiar with the Wharton MBA program and the culture at Wharton. We advise candidates to think about each question differently, ensuring answers complement each other AND show readers multiple aspects of their candidacy. Watch this testimonial from a Wharton admit to find out how Personal MBA Coach can help you with your Wharton applications. [youtube2]p> Discuss classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with, etc. Do not include a laundry list. Instead, carefully think through how each offering will allow you to fill in your skill and/or experience gaps. Be sure to show an understanding of Wharton’s culture here. Avoid writing vague statements and copying and pasting content from other MBA application essays. Wharton MBA Essay 2: Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words) Essay 2 gives candidates the opportunity to share past accomplishments and detail potential contributions to the Wharton community. Think about what you have done beyond what is in your resume. Consider items you wish you had space within your resume to elaborate on. Ask yourself what makes you special. This question gives you the freedom to consider talents, impressive extracurricular accomplishments and/or unique professional skills. We advise candidates to think broadly here about what makes them unique and how they have succeeded both professionally and personally in the past. Then, consider how you might share these passions, experiences, and successes with your future peers. Tell the reader how you will improve and enrich the Wharton campus. Be sure to do your research on all that Wharton has to offer and to be specific on the contributions you will make. Is there a club you want to join? Perhaps there is a talent you want to share? As with essay 1, avoid listing items. Instead, select a few unique areas where you will contribute and discuss the mark you hope to leave. Then, as you discuss the specific contributions you will make, tie these to the past experiences you have just brainstormed. A strong essay will cover multiple contributions that flow naturally from your personal story, your passions and your career goals. Required Essay for all Reapplicants: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words) Reapplicants should use the required additional essay to demonstrate growth. We advise candidates to review our tips for reapplicants before tackling this essay. Optional Essay: Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. Looking for more information on Wharton’s MBA program? Check out our Wharton guide to find out what sets the program apart, get the latest class profile information, and more. Ready to apply to Wharton MBA? Reach out to Personal MBA Coach and find out how we can help you today! About Personal MBA Coach The post Wharton MBA Application Deadlines and Wharton MBA Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: University of Virginia Darden MBA Application Essay Analysis 2023-2024 |
The UVA Darden MBA application is open! Do you want to attend an MBA program that puts collaboration and teamwork at the forefront of your experience? If so, UVA Darden School of Business may be a great choice for you. UVA Darden is known for its case-based and customized learning experience. First-year students are assigned to learning teams that enable them to delve deep into case discussions, strengthen their communication skills, and form strong relationships with their classmates. Second-year students at UVA Darden use the tools learned in their first year to personalize their academic experiences, targeting specific career goals and skill sets. If you’re looking to apply to UVA Darden’s MBA program during the 2023-2024 application cycle, the school offers a standardized test waiver. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the admissions committee takes several factors into account when reviewing waivers. Check out Personal MBA Coach’s quick tips video on whether or not you should waive the GMAT: [youtube2]p> Looking for one-on-one support developing a compelling Darden MBA Application? Contact us today to learn more about how Personal MBA Coach’s services can help you get into UVA Darden. The post University of Virginia Darden MBA Application Essay Analysis 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: MIT Sloan Application Advice and Deadlines: 2023-2024 |
This year, the MIT Sloan application remains the same as the previous cycle. Again, the school requests that applicants submit a cover letter, organizational chart and 60-second video statement as part of their application. MIT Sloan also announced that all versions of the GMAT and GRE test will be accepted during the upcoming application cycle (to read more about the new GMAT Focus, click here). Below, please find this year’s 2023-2024 application deadlines along with Personal MBA Coach’s advice on how to tackle the MIT Sloan application. The MIT Sloan Application Deadlines Are: Round 1: September 27, 2023 Round 2: January 17, 2024 Round 3: April 8, 2024 MIT Sloan Cover Letter: MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion. Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the Sloan MIT MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation). Applicants wondering how to get into MIT Sloan should keep in mind that the MIT Sloan cover letter requires quite a different approach from other MBA application essays. Candidates really need to reflect on their most significant accomplishments here and make clear what they will bring to the table once they arrive at Sloan. We advise Sloan MBA candidates to approach this cover letter as they would any professional cover letter. Ask for a place in the MIT Sloan class and tell the reader who you are. This is not the time to repeat your resume but, as with any cover letter, provide greater depth about your character and accomplishments. With such a short letter, you will need to choose each word carefully and select the most compelling stories to tell. Think about MIT’s values as you write this letter and consider instances where you exhibited innovative thinking and leadership. Finally, note SPECIFICALLY how you will bring this experience to the Sloan MIT MBA program and how you will use it to create meaningful contributions within the community. MIT Sloan Video Statement: Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you! Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:
Use your MIT Sloan MBA video essay to share personal aspects of your candidacy. This script is NOT the place to address why Sloan is a good fit or to cover details already included in your resume or your cover letter. Instead, think about what make you unique and what your passions and/or hobbies are. You truly should be INTRODUCING yourself to you classmates here. For the video component of your MIT Sloan application, it is most important to be yourself. This is also a chance for admissions committee members to evaluate applicants’ physical presence and delivery. Keep this in mind as you develop your video and consider factors such as audio quality, demeanor, and fluency in addition to the content itself! While you do not want to memorize the video statement and sound overly rehearsed, we do advise that candidates write out some thoughts/bullets in advance of filming and to practice multiple times! Personal MBA Coach includes analyses of sample videos in its comprehensive packages; reach out today to schedule a consultation and find out more! MIT Sloan Organizational Chart: To help us better understand your current role and the impact that you have on your team and department, please submit an organizational chart. We should be able to clearly understand the internal structure of your organization, where you sit in your organization, and your line of reporting.
Click here to view a sample MIT organizational chart. There is no right or wrong format for the organizational chart. The key is that is it easy to follow and understand and shows your direct reports (if any) and whom you report to. Most companies should have a chart that you can work from. Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for over 16 years, helping them get into their dream schools, including MIT Sloan. To find out more about how we can help, watch this testimonial video with a Personal MBA Coach client who was admitted to 7 schools, including MIT Sloan: Looking for 1:1 support with your MIT Sloan application? Contact us today to learn how Personal MBA Coach can assist in getting you into MIT Sloan! The post MIT Sloan Application Advice and Deadlines: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Dartmouth Tuck Application Deadlines and Essay Advice: 2023-2024 |
Dartmouth Tuck has officially announced its essay questions for the 2023-2024 application cycle! Located in New England’s Upper Valley, [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/schools/dartmouth-tuck/][b]Dartmouth Tuck[/b][/url] offers small-town charm while providing the resources of a larger area. If you are looking to attend a smaller MBA program but still want access to a cosmopolitan mix of cultures and global connections, Dartmouth Tuck may be a great choice for you. In the most recent reported class profile data, Dartmouth Tuck admitted applicants with an average GMAT score of 726 and an average undergrad GPA of 3.52. Information on the [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/schools/dartmouth-tuck/]class of 2024[/url] also notes that 45% of students identify as female and 43% of students are international (including dual citizens and permanent residents). This year, Tuck has announced two deadlines for each application round. Those who apply before the first deadline are guaranteed an interview. Personal MBA Coach welcomes this change as it encourages applicants not to submit at the last minute (which is something we advise for all of our clients). We recommend that those who have Tuck high on their list take advantage of the interview guarantee. [b]The upcoming Tuck application deadlines are:[/b] [b]Round 1 with Interview Guaranteed/Regular Deadline: [/b]September 1, 2023/September 25, 2023 [b]Round 2 with Interview Guaranteed/Regular Deadline: [/b]December 1, 2023/January 4, 2024 [b]Round 3 with Interview Guaranteed/Regular Deadline:[/b] March 1, 2024/March 25, 2024 [b]The 2023-2024 Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Summary [/b] [b]Before sharing its essays, Tuck shares the following statement:[/b] Tuck classes are diverse by design, but our students share four common characteristics that form the basis of our admissions criteria. Tuck students are smart, accomplished, aware and encouraging; no two candidates are equally strong across all criteria, and you may demonstrate different strengths in different ways. Once again, Tuck asks applicants to answer three required essay questions. This year, Dartmouth Tuck changed the wording of all three essays. Please see below for Personal MBA Coach’s tips on how to answer the Dartmouth Tuck MBA essays. [img]https://www.personalmbacoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/WordPress-Dartmouth-Tuck-Essay-Advice-2.png[/img] [b]Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Essay 1:[/b] [b]Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations? (300 words)[/b] There is a lot to fit into this short 300-word essay. First, candidates need to clearly articulate their goals, including both short-term and long-term aspirations. If you need help thinking through your goals, we have published a [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/how-to-think-about-your-mba-goals/]blog[/url] with our general tips. Next, candidates should reflect upon the skills they will need to succeed in this desired career and SPECIFICALLY how Tuck will help them. Be sure to do your research into everything Tuck has to offer and discuss what you will take advantage of on campus and how. Tuck has a unique program, and it is more than just being close-knit. As always, avoid vague statements here. [b]Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Essay 2: Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words)[/b] For this question, candidates should reflect upon what makes them unique. For some candidates, this uniqueness may be obvious and directly tied to their demographic or socioeconomic background. If this applies to you, be sure not only to share this background but also talk about how it has shaped your values. For other candidates, this uniqueness may be less obvious, and candidates are urged to reflect upon their [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/articulating-your-personal-story/]personal story[/url] when determining what to share. In prior years, Personal MBA Coach has suggested that applicants consider hobbies, passions, skills and aspirations for Tuck’s second essay. While these topics are all still fair game, we urge applicants to dig deeper this year. Take the time to reflect on how these experiences have shaped you. Finally, notice the call to discuss your contributions to Tuck. This means you should discuss the role you will play within the class of 2026 and how you will specifically improve life at Tuck. [b]Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Essay 3: Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words) [/b] Recognizing that actions speak louder than words, Tuck has previously asked for an example of how applicants have demonstrated the school’s values (telling applicants that Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative and empathic). While Tuck is again asking for an example of how applicants have supported someone else, the focus this year has been narrowed, asking only about inclusion. [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/cbs-application-essays/]Columbia Business School[/url] also added a DEI focused question this year, so this change is not surprising. With only 300 words, select a story that is easy to set up. You do not want to use many words explaining the situation; instead, you want to SHOW your actions. This question is yet another opportunity for candidates to allow the Tuck admissions directors to assess what studying and living with them would be like. If you do not have an obvious example here, it is ok to think of inclusion broadly. Personal, professional, volunteer, or other extracurricular examples would all work well. [img]https://www.personalmbacoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/WordPress-Dartmouth-Tuck-Essay-Advice-1.png[/img] [b]Dartmouth Tuck Optional Essay:[/b] [b]Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words) [/b] Tuck also has an optional question that should be answered only by those candidates with unique circumstances. Read our advice on how to address optional essays [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/short-answer-optional-videos/]here[/url]. [b]Dartmouth Tuck Reapplicant Essay: How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words maximum)[/b] Check out this blog for more advice for [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/tackling-the-mba-application-reapplicant-essay/]reapplicants[/url]. Ready to apply to Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program? [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/free-consultation/]Schedule a consultation today[/url] to find out how our [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/services/comprehensive-packages/]Comprehensive Packages[/url] can help you maximize your chances of success at Tuck! The post [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com/dartmouth-tuck-essay-advice/]Dartmouth Tuck Application Deadlines and Essay Advice: 2023-2024[/url] appeared first on [url=https://www.personalmbacoach.com]Personal MBA Coach[/url]. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Kellogg MBA Essay Advice and Application Deadlines: 2023-2024 |
Kellogg School of Management has released its essay questions and application deadlines for the 2023-2024 application cycle. Once again, Kellogg asks applicants to answer two essay questions. This year, Kellogg has changed its application essay and has made the video essay questions (which were optional last year) mandatory. Looking for help with your Kellogg MBA applications? Personal MBA Coach recently welcomed Frenk Nebiu to our team. Frenk is a former Kellogg Admissions Director with 8+ years of professional experience across consulting, higher education, and nonprofits. Reach out today to find out how Frenk and the Personal MBA Coach team can support you with your Kellogg applications through our Comprehensive Packages. The 2023-2024 Kellogg MBA Application Deadlines Are as Follows: Round 1: September 13, 2023 Round 2: January 10, 2024 Round 3: April 3, 2024 Read Personal MBA Coach’s Top Tips For Tackling Kellogg’s MBA Essays Below! Kellogg MBA Essay 1: Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish? (450 words) Kellogg has reworked its leadership essay this year; however, the objective is the same as in recent years: give Kellogg an example of how you are an accomplished leader. Many candidates likely will share a professional story to answer this first prompt. However, strong leadership examples in your extracurricular activities could also work well here. Be sure to think of a significant undertaking where you can clearly articulate the challenge that you overcame. Ideally, with this example you will also demonstrate the value you added. This story also should be easy enough to explain that you do not have to waste too many words setting up the situation. A strong essay will discuss the actions you took and show which specific leadership skills you used in your approach. While this year’s question does not specifically ask, you might consider sharing some learnings from this experience. A strong answer not only will demonstrate your leadership experience but also will highlight your most impressive strengths. Kellogg MBA Essay 2: At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? (450 words) This second Kellogg MBA essay is completely new, replacing Kellogg’s longstanding “values” essay. As we have increasingly seen with other schools this year, Kellogg is giving applicants flexibility to talk about what makes them unique, noting the importance of diversity (though not in these exact words) in the classroom. For this essay, you want to think about how you stand apart from your peers. You can think of this essay as you would any personal story essay (for more on how to think about a personal story essay – check out this blog.) Ask yourself: “What makes me special?” You might also evaluate what you have done beyond what is in your resume or items that you wish you had space within your resume to elaborate on. As you draft you answer, consider how your accomplishments (both in and out of the office), background and/or experiences have shaped you. Then, as you discuss your past, go beyond just telling the reader what you did or how you were raised, and dig deeper. Think about what you have learned from these experiences. Next, and most importantly, tell the reader how these experiences have prepared you to add value on campus. Write about how you might share your passions, perspective, experiences, and successes with your future peers. Tell the reader how you will improve and enrich the Kellogg community. As with all essays, be specific about the contributions you will make on campus, and less is more. Do not submit a laundry list here. Additional Kellogg MBA Application Essays Kellogg requires candidates considering options other than the full-time MBA to answer these additional essay questions. One-Year applicants: Why is the Kellogg One-Year Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words) MBAi applicants: Why is the Kellogg McCormick MBAi Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (450 words) MMM applicants: Why is the MMM Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words) This year, Kellogg asks applicants to the one-year MBA program, MBAi or MMM program to answer an additional essay. For those unfamiliar with the MMM program, it is a dual degree program offering graduates both an MBA from Kellogg and an MS in Design Innovation from the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. The question for all three programs is essentially the same, but applicants to the MBAi have a little more space to work with. For all three questions, we advise applicants to be very direct both in terms of their career goal (need help on approaching a career goal essay?) and how Kellogg will help. To answer these specialty MBA questions, you want to tell the reader where you are in your career currently, and what gaps you are hoping to close. Next, you want to demonstrate how the unique offerings within your chosen program are best suited to help you close these gaps and reach your goals. Be specific here, outlining what you will take advantage of on campus and how each opportunity will help you. You should also consider how you will contribute specifically to the program of your choice by sharing what you uniquely bring to the table. Be sure not to repeat anything already discussed in essay 2. Reapplicants are also required to answer one additional question: Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words) Reapplicants should use the required additional essay to demonstrate growth. We advise candidates to review our tips for reapplicants before tackling this essay. Kellogg MBA Video Essay Questions “Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.” Finally, the Kellogg video essay questions remain from the previous year as well. This component of the application offers admissions committee members the chance to learn more about you on a personal level. Once you submit your application and payment, you will be able to access the Kellogg video essay through your application status page. You will be asked to answer three questions: Kellogg MBA Video Essay 1: Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee. “We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.” Finally, Kellogg has mandatory video essays this year. This component of the application offers admissions committee members the chance to learn more about you on a personal level. Once you submit your application and payment, you will be able to access the Kellogg video essay through your application status page. Unlike last year, the school has not shared these essay questions in advance. Read Personal MBA Coach’s tips for handling videos and other Kellogg MBA application extras. Schedule a consultation today for 1:1 Kellogg application support. The post Kellogg MBA Essay Advice and Application Deadlines: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: How to Approach the 2023-2024 Wharton EMBA Essays |
The Wharton EMBA application is officially open. The first Wharton EMBA deadline is in October and the second in January. The Wharton EMBA application includes two required essays and one optional essay. Wharton has shortened both essay questions this year. In addition, the second Wharton EMBA essay now matches the full-time essay question. Finally, Wharton no longer gives applicant a choice as to which question to answer. If you are considering an Executive MBA, Wharton’s program is among the top EMBA programs in the world. With campuses in Philadelphia and San Francisco, the program offers working professionals the option to choose the location that best meets their needs. The Wharton EMBA program lasts 24 months. During this time, students have access to career coaching, workshops and resources through Wharton’s MBA Executive Career Advancement Team. Students also can take part in optional Global Modular Courses led by Wharton faculty across the globe. Want to know if the Wharton EMBA program is the right fit for you? Take a look at the class of 2025 profile. On average, students have 13 years of work experience, and their employers often sponsor them. Below, please find the 2023-2024 application deadlines and Personal MBA Coach’s advice on how to tackle the Wharton EMBA application essays along with details about our Executive MBA Packages. Upcoming Wharton EMBA Application Deadlines: Round 1: October 11, 2023 Round 2: January 17, 2024 Wharton EMBA Essays 2023-2024: Wharton EMBA Essay 1: What are your career objectives and how will the Wharton MBA Program for Executives contribute to your attainment of this objective? (400 words maximum) Personal MBA Coach’s Tips: For this first question, we recommend a straightforward response. State your goals clearly and provide some brief perspective on how you arrived at these aspirations. In most cases, candidates should include both a short-term and a long-term goal. This question does not require you to walk through your entire resume. Instead, focus on your past just enough to establish your key skills as well as how and why you will succeed in the future. Be specific about how Wharton will help you close your skill gaps and what opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus. Avoid vague statements and do your research to determine what Wharton specifically will offer you. While you should not include a laundry list, think about classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with. Be sure to show your understanding of Wharton’s culture here as well. With only 400 words, you will feel limited here so be sure to minimize any filler language. Wharton EMBA Essay 2: Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words maximum) Personal MBA Coach’s Tips: This second essay question is required for both full-time and EMBA applicants. In general, our advice for EMBA applicants mirrors our advice for full-time applicants. Be sure to check out our detailed advice for how to tackle this essay question. Keep in mind that, as an EMBA applicant, you may need to be a bit more creative as you consider ways that you will contribute on campus. Essay 3 (Optional): Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (300 words maximum) The third optional essay question should be answered only by those with extenuating circumstances. Read more on our approach to optional essays here. Need help with your EMBA applications? Personal MBA Coach is here to guide you via our Executive MBA Admissions Consulting! The post How to Approach the 2023-2024 Wharton EMBA Essays appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: 10 Tips to Ace Your MBA Admissions Interview |
Being invited to an interview with a business school is exciting and impressive. After completing resumes, essays and applications, your interview is the next big step in the application process. An interview is a vital part of this process and being prepared can help you get the acceptance you are hoping for. Review our tips to succeed in a business school interview to discover ways you can prepare for your big day. 1. Know Your Resume Identify your strongest achievements and have your supporting stories ready. These stories and accomplishments will be the main selling points you can reference to catch your interview’s attention. Your interviewer may ask questions about any portion of your resume, so be prepared to contribute to the conversation and provide exceptional experience details. 2. Prepare in Advance Preparing is one of the best ways to walk confidently into your MBA interview. Understand the interview process and anticipate the questions you may receive. Research the program and connect with others who can give you information about what to expect. 3. Practice Interview Questions Practice makes perfect and you will benefit from practicing your interview beforehand. Find interview questions online or ask a friend to conduct a practice interview with you. The more experience you have with these questions, the more confident you will feel when you walk into the interview. 4. Bring Positive Questions One of the best MBA interview tips is to spend time noting worthwhile questions. Ensure you do not ask questions that the school website could answer. Instead, ask specific and meaningful questions. If you know your interviewer’s name before the interview, find them online. Ask them how they shaped their career and personal growth or about the program’s strengths. 5. Research the Program Always investigate your top programs or schools. Search social media, email professors and ensure your values align with the school. Consider visiting your top choices to get a feel for the community culture. Campus visits allow you to connect with instructors and other students who can give insight into the interview process. 6. Articulate Your Goals Admissions want to know what makes you unique. Explain your career path and walk your interviewer through your path to success. Discuss significant career moves and risks. Articulate your steps to get to your current position and where you plan to go next. Show your passion by connecting past experiences with where you want to be in the future. 7. Recognize Interview Importance In this digital age, your interview may be virtual. However, your setting does not lessen the importance. You should prepare the same whether your interview is virtual or in-person by wearing appropriate clothing, speaking confidently and making eye contact with your interviewer. 8. Understand the MBA Landscape Each school or program will have a different interview process, and industry professionals use various interview techniques. For example, you may meet with an alum who has seen your resume or have an interview where one person converses with you and another observes. Additionally, you may be able to work with a team and exhibit industry knowledge. Prepare for all interview types to get a leg up. 9. Have Consistent Answers Your interviewer may or may not have reviewed your application. They will likely ask you questions similar to those you answered on your application. Ensure you are honest in all responses, so what you say is cohesive with what’s on your written application. 10. Follow up Afterwards Some schools will have a formal follow-up process, while others will not. If your interview discusses the next steps in the process, take notes and mark your calendar. Then, present thank you notes to any alum or professors who helped you through the process. If you do not have contact information, send the card to a general mailing address for them. Interview Support From Personal MBA Coach Nail your interview with Personal MBA Coach. By utilizing our interview consulting services, you can receive one-on-one support from an expert in the industry when it is convenient for you, plus access to many MBA admissions interview tips. We have a 96% success rate of helping clients for over 16 years. Our comprehensive packages provide the support you need at any time in the application process. You can discover professional strategies to ace an MBA interview and receive application story development or post-acceptance support. Reach out to Personal MBA Coach to learn more about our interview consulting services to nail your next interview. The post 10 Tips to Ace Your MBA Admissions Interview appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: UCLA EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
UCLA Anderson has shared their Executive MBA application essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle. This year, the school’s application includes two required essay questions and one optional essay. For those interested in the UCLA Anderson EMBA Program, take a look at the latest class profile to assess whether the school may be a good fit for you. Accepted students had an average of 15 years of professional experience and an average of 9 years of management experience. The most recently reported class represents 28 different countries and consists of 36% women. The students come from 36 different industries and held jobs across 22 functions. Below, please find the upcoming application deadlines and our analysis of the UCLA EMBA application essays. The 2023-2024 UCLA EMBA Application Deadlines Are: Round 1: December 1, 2023 Round 2: February 1, 2024 Round 3: May 1, 2024 2023-2024 UCLA EMBA Application Essays: UCLA EMBA Essay 1: Legendary UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden once said that one’s leadership is derived from one’s character. Please provide an example of a time when your own leadership was at its best. (500 words maximum) Personal MBA Coach’s Tips: In this essay, first you want to clearly define what you think leadership means: what traits it encompasses and how it manifests one’s personality. Then, the bulk of the essay should be about a situation/anecdote/time in which you demonstrated those traits, and your leadership was at its best. Pick a situation that is easy to set up so that you can quickly get into the details of what happened, the choices you made, and how you led the situation. Make sure your leadership comes through in the actions you took and in the results you produced. If appropriate, you can conclude with something you may have learned or how this experience may have sharpened your leadership. Finally, end by looking forward: “I hope to build on this at UCLA.” UCLA EMBA Essay 2: Why are you interested in pursuing an MBA at this time? Please share any goal(s) you may have that the MBA will help you achieve. (500 words maximum) Personal MBA Coach’s Tips: This essay is what we refer to as a “goals” essay. This essay is your chance to share your specific short-term and long-term goals. Even if your goal is to remain in your current role (as is often the case for EMBA applicants) you want to be specific in terms of what you hope to accomplish in your career. A strong answer will also tell the reader where you are today and what skills/expertise you have already developed to prepare you for your future ambitions. Finally, you want to include the UCLA programs, classes, clubs, and activities that will help you acquire the skills you need to achieve your future objective(s). Be specific about what you want to learn, making it clear that you researched the school and that you are focused on how to create an optimal learning experience at UCLA. Optional Essay: Are there any additional circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (500 words maximum) The optional UCLA EMBA essay should be addressed only by applicants with extenuating circumstances. Read more about how to answer this optional essay question. Looking for help with your UCLA EMBA applications? Personal MBA Coach’s MJ Shores is a former UCLA Anderson admissions officer and we offer customized Executive MBA admissions consulting packages to maximize your chances of success. The post UCLA EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: What You Should Know about GMT/GRE Waivers |
With round 2 MBA deadlines rapidly approaching, many applicants who have not secured their desired test score (or have not yet had time to take the GMAT, GRE or EA) may be wondering if waiving the GMAT/GRE/EA is an option. The answer is – MAYBE! An increasing number of top MBA programs (including some T10 programs) are giving MBA hopefuls the chance to apply without taking a standardized test. This option can be particularly attractive for applicants who decide to pursue an MBA later in the application cycle and have not had adequate time to devote to studying. Waiving the testing requirement is also appealing for applicants who have not been able to achieve their target score (though if this is you, we do recommend you consider working with one of our expert tutors who can help you figure out where you might be getting stuck before throwing in the testing towel). However, waiving the GMAT/GRE/EA is not an option for all schools and is not recommended for all applicants! To determine whether waiving the test is possible for you, let’s start by taking a look at which schools are offering waivers for 2023-2024 MBA applicants and who is eligible to apply for these waivers. 1 London Business School offers test waivers for applicants who hold a CFA II or above; if you do not meet this requirement, your waiver request will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 2 For Chicago Booth applicants, the test waiver is available only to University of Chicago alumni with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above. 3 If you are applying to Texas McCombs, you must have over three years of work experience to be granted a waiver. 4 NYU Stern offers to waive the test score only for the full-time and Fashion MBA programs. If you are eligible for a waiver at one or more of your target schools, you next need to ask yourself: Is waiving the test in my best interest? You should NOT consider a waiver if you have a low GPA and/or no quantitative experience. Admissions directors need evidence of your ability to handle the academic rigor of an MBA program and, if your GPA is weak, you will need a strong test score to prove you have the potential to succeed. Even with a strong GPA, waiving can also be a riskier option if you are applying from an overrepresented industry or demographic, given that you will be competing against other applicants with a similar background who are highly likely to submit test scores. As you determine whether to waive the GMAT/GRE/EA, ask yourself if there is ANY WAY you can get a competitive score in time. If the answer is YES, Personal MBA Coach recommends that you give it a shot. [img]https://www.personalmbacoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WordPress-–-What-to-change-if-you-are-reapplying.png[/img] However, if you cannot achieve a strong score in time (perhaps standardized tests are not for you or you are reading this in December and really want to apply to round 2), Personal MBA Coach recommends that you evaluate whether a waiver is right for you. To do this, you want to look at your application holistically and determine if there is enough evidence of academic success. Ask yourself the following three questions:
Ultimately, you want to know if your profile is strong enough without the test score and who you are competing against. If you need help evaluating your profile, Personal MBA Coach offers Gut Check services, as well as our holistic Comprehensive Packages! The post What You Should Know about GMT/GRE Waivers appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: What You Should Know about GMAT/GRE Waivers |
With round 2 MBA deadlines rapidly approaching, many applicants who have not secured their desired test score (or have not yet had time to take the GMAT, GRE or EA) may be wondering if waiving the GMAT/GRE/EA is an option. The answer is – MAYBE! An increasing number of top MBA programs (including some T10 programs) are giving MBA hopefuls the chance to apply without taking a standardized test. This option can be particularly attractive for applicants who decide to pursue an MBA later in the application cycle and have not had adequate time to devote to studying. Waiving the testing requirement is also appealing for applicants who have not been able to achieve their target score (though if this is you, we do recommend you consider working with one of our expert tutors who can help you figure out where you might be getting stuck before throwing in the testing towel). However, waiving the GMAT/GRE/EA is not an option for all schools and is not recommended for all applicants! To determine whether waiving the test is possible for you, let’s start by taking a look at which schools are offering waivers for 2023-2024 MBA applicants and who is eligible to apply for these waivers. 1 London Business School offers test waivers for applicants who hold a CFA II or above; if you do not meet this requirement, your waiver request will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 2 For Chicago Booth applicants, the test waiver is available only to University of Chicago alumni with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above. 3 If you are applying to Texas McCombs, you must have over three years of work experience to be granted a waiver. 4 NYU Stern offers to waive the test score only for the full-time and Fashion MBA programs. If you are eligible for a waiver at one or more of your target schools, you next need to ask yourself: Is waiving the test in my best interest? You should NOT consider a waiver if you have a low GPA and/or no quantitative experience. Admissions directors need evidence of your ability to handle the academic rigor of an MBA program and, if your GPA is weak, you will need a strong test score to prove you have the potential to succeed. Even with a strong GPA, waiving can also be a riskier option if you are applying from an overrepresented industry or demographic, given that you will be competing against other applicants with a similar background who are highly likely to submit test scores. As you determine whether to waive the GMAT/GRE/EA, ask yourself if there is ANY WAY you can get a competitive score in time. If the answer is YES, Personal MBA Coach recommends that you give it a shot. [img]https://www.personalmbacoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WordPress-–-What-to-change-if-you-are-reapplying.png[/img] However, if you cannot achieve a strong score in time (perhaps standardized tests are not for you or you are reading this in December and really want to apply to round 2), Personal MBA Coach recommends that you evaluate whether a waiver is right for you. To do this, you want to look at your application holistically and determine if there is enough evidence of academic success. Ask yourself the following three questions:
Ultimately, you want to know if your profile is strong enough without the test score and who you are competing against. If you need help evaluating your profile, Personal MBA Coach offers Gut Check services, as well as our holistic Comprehensive Packages! The post What You Should Know about GMAT/GRE Waivers appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: MIT Sloan EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
MIT Sloan School of Management has shared its Executive MBA application essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle. This year, the school’s application essays remain unchanged. Once again, there are four required essay questions (including a statement of purpose) and one optional essay. For those interested in the MIT EMBA Program, take a look at the latest class profile to assess whether the school may be a good fit for you. Keep in mind that MIT Sloan is looking for MBA applicants with considerable pre-MBA experience. In fact, the average EMBA student arrives at Sloan with 17 years of experience. While some EMBA programs will consider less-experienced professionals, MIT Sloan is not one of them. (Wondering if you have enough experience for MIT Sloan’s EMBA program? Reach out today.) The 2024 class had two cohorts of about 63 students each. Those encompassed one-third women, about half international students, and about 17 percent underrepresented minorities. Below, please find the upcoming application deadlines and our analysis of the MIT EMBA application essays. [img]https://www.personalmbacoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WordPress-–-MIT-EMBA.png[/img] The 2023-2024 MIT EMBA Application Deadlines Are: Early Round: December 7, 2023 Round 1: January 11, 2024 Round 2: February 8, 2024 Round 3: March 7, 2024 Round 4: April 4, 2024 Round 5: May 2, 2024 2023-2024 MIT EMBA Application Essays MIT Sloan EMBA Statement of Purpose: Please provide a statement on your personal and professional qualifications. What is motivating you to apply to the MIT Executive MBA at this point in your career? (500 words or less) Open this first MIT Sloan EMBA essay by telling the Admissions Committee where you are in your career. Discuss what you have accomplished in the past and state what you consider to be your main achievements in your field. Next, discuss your short-term and long-term goals. It is acceptable (and often expected) that you remain in the same role post-MBA. Therefore, focus on what you hope to accomplish in this role. Check out this blog for tips on how to articulate your goals. Finally, think through the skills and knowledge you seek to develop to achieve these goals. That should fully explain why you are seeking an Executive MBA at this point in your career. As you discuss your skill gaps, think about the ways in which Sloan can help: cite specific programs, classes, and activities that will position you to conquer any challenges you expect to face in your future career. Do not make a laundry list. Instead, think carefully about what you will take advantage of on campus and how it will help you to achieve your goals. MIT Sloan EMBA Essay 1: Lasting impact can happen on large and small scales. Tell us about how you inspired your team, and what you learned about yourself as a leader, through a recent difficult time. (300 words or less) With 300 words at your disposal, we recommend choosing a recent difficult time that can be easily described and whose complexity is clearly stated. After describing the difficulty, explain quickly and concisely what you did that had impact in this situation: a decision you made or an action you took. Be specific and show the impact or effect it had on your team. Finally, devote the last few sentences to what you learned about yourself from this. Perhaps you rose to a challenge you had not expected, or you discovered leadership skills you did not know you had, or perhaps you learned that people rely on you more than you thought. End by looking toward the future and how the power from that lesson will stick with you. MIT Sloan EMBA Essay 2: MIT Sloan finds strength through diversity. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. We seek to create a community that encompasses all dimensions of diversity and fosters excellence within MIT Sloan. This includes diversity of identity, thought, role, and perspective. Please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. (250 words or less) This short answer is even shorter so, again, choose a situation that can be easily explained. Quickly set the stage for your action: The company was facing a layoff, or colleagues who had been hired were not receiving the proper training, or the company was hiring only white male scientists. Then explain what you did to make the situation or environment more inclusive or better, giving the necessary detail. Show any leadership you practiced and any opposition you may have faced. Finally, cite information/statistics to show how your action made the situation more inclusive or welcoming. If you can show systemic change, even better. Before tackling this short question, you might want to read the prompt for essay 3 to make sure you allocate your stories to the right places and that they complement each other. MIT Sloan EMBA Essay 3: Please tell us about a time when you introduced an idea that changed the way in which your organization approached a business challenge or opportunity. What factors did you consider, what barriers or obstacles did you face, and how did you measure success? (500 words or less) This essay gives you the opportunity to evidence your leadership beyond the brevity confines of the previous essay prompt. Here, choose something meaty from your leadership and initiative pile that you can develop in detail. This does not have to be an initiative in your professional context: It could be extracurricular as well if it brought about lasting change in an organization. Start by sharing the idea and any context readers need to know to appreciate its value. For example, a systemic problem in organizational structure or an opportunity that would be sadly missed because of poor communication between departments. Or a situation that made you think, “Why don’t we try XXX?” Then, discuss how you developed your idea, the research and analysis you put into showing that it would work, any opposition or challenges you faced, and the creative initiative you engaged to put your idea forward and sell it. That is the bulk of the essay. Show your analytical and problem-solving prowess. Finally, tell the Admissions Committee what came of your effort—how the nearly missed opportunity was turned around or how the business problem was solved. Show results through statistics, if possible. Dedicate the final words to any important lessons you may have learned. MIT Sloan EMBA application also has an optional 200-word essay: Here you may provide any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to know that may be helpful in evaluating your candidacy. For example:
Need help with your MIT Sloan EMBA Application? Find out more about how we can help you achieve MBA application success with our EMBA Comprehensive Packages. The post MIT Sloan EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Booth EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has shared its Executive MBA application essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle. This year, the school’s application features two required essays and three optional short-answer essays. For those interested in the Chicago Booth EMBA Program, take a look at the latest class profile to assess whether the school may be a good fit for you. The Chicago Booth EMBA class of 2025 is made up of 209 students representing 45 nationalities. Of these students, 112 have advanced degrees, and a quarter identify as women. Class of 2025 Booth EMBA students had an average of 14 years of work experience and an average age of 38. Twenty-six industries are represented in the Booth EMBA class. Top pre-EMBA industries include technology (18.7%), investment banking/brokerage (8.6%), and investment management/research (8.1%). Top pre-EMBA functions were general management, engineering, and investment management/research. Below please find the upcoming application deadlines and our analysis of the Booth EMBA application essays. The 2023-2024 Chicago Booth Application Deadlines Round 1: Oct. 30, 2023 Round 2: Jan. 15, 2024 Round 3: April 8, 2024 Round 4: June 10, 2024 2023-2024 Chicago Booth EMBA Application Essays Chicago Booth EMBA Essay 1 Why are you seeking an MBA from Chicago Booth and what unique knowledge and experiences do you hope to contribute to the program? (2 page maximum, single-spaced, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman) At two single-spaced pages, this can amount to a very long essay. That said, admissions committees appreciate concise writing, so do not feel compelled to write for writing’s sake (the same writing tips apply to writing full-time and executive MBA essays; check out this blog for more). This essay has a few key foundational parts: Once you have satisfied those, do not add unneeded generalities or fluff. Personal MBA Coach suggests approaching the Chicago Booth EMBA essay by first establishing where you are today professionally. In this introduction, you should briefly discuss the skills and expertise you have mastered. Next, share your post-MBA goals, both short term and long term. As you do this, cite specifics: Chicago Booth wants to know what your plans are, in detail, for your future. It is fine (and common) to remain at the same firm and even in the same role. However, you should clearly articulate your vision, telling the admissions committee what you hope to accomplish and how it will impact your future firm. Next, you want to make clear why you are seeking an MBA now. To do this, discuss what skills it will give you, generally speaking, and how these specific skills will help you to reach your future ambitions. Finally, devote the remainder of the essay to the EMBA program at Booth—courses you will take, programs you will follow—citing specifically the know-how that Booth will edify. This discussion should include not only what you will learn from the program but also what you will bring to Chicago Booth. Think about where you are in your career, special expertise you possess, unique perspectives and experiences you can share, and cite specific ways in which you will funnel/share those to contribute. This final part gives you an opportunity to go a bit beyond the professional arena to share something more personal about you, for example, your involvement in nonprofits, or talents or activities you cultivate. Whatever they are, make sure you show how you will share them specifically through the Booth program and how you will improve the school community as a whole. Personal MBA Coach always recommends that applicants research the school’s particular culture and priorities. While they should, of course, be part of your reason for applying there, it is helpful to keep them in mind while writing about what you will get from a Chicago Booth EMBA and what you will give back to Chicago Booth. Chicago Booth EMBA Essay 2 Please tell us more about your next desired career move. (250 words maximum) This is a standard goals essay – head over to our essay writing blog for more tips on how to approach this type of MBA admissions essay. Here, you want to share specific professional aspirations post-MBA. Don’t get too much into detail though, as with 250 words you won’t have much room. Chicago Booth EMBA Optional Short-Answer Essays (250 words maximum each): Chicago Booth has added three optional short answer essays. As with all optional essays, less is more. Do not feel compelled to answer these questions if they do not apply to you. If, however, you have something valuable to add here, this can be valuable real estate to leverage as you discuss why you are a good fit for the Chicago Booth EMBA program. 1. Academics and Career The Executive MBA Program at Chicago Booth is an academically rigorous course of study that focuses on the fundamental tools of business. As a student, you will draw upon key learnings from coursework and your professional background to make valuable contributions to the classroom. If there is anything else you would like the admissions committee to know about your academic background or professional experience, please share that information here. You may wish to respond to the following prompts: Do you believe your previous academic performance is indicative of your academic potential? If not, please provide specific reasons for your underperformance. Do you have a gap in your professional experience? Are there additional insights that might be useful for the Admissions Committee to know? 2. Commitment to Diversity At the University of Chicago, diversity is not only an ideal to which we strive, but a core institutional value. The Executive MBA Program at Chicago Booth seeks a population of students across different industries, functions, cultures, and geographies. How will your life experiences help you contribute to and participate in this diverse learning environment? 3. Scholarship Consideration Each year, we award a limited number of merit-based scholarships to incoming Executive MBA students at all three program locations. Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic and professional achievement. All candidates are automatically considered, and no additional application is required. However, if you’d like to provide one to two reasons why you should receive a merit-based scholarship, please do so here. Need Help with Your Chicago Booth EMBA application? Check out Personal MBA Coach’s Comprehensive EMBA Packages today. The post Booth EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: NYU Stern EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
The NYU Stern School of Business has shared its Executive MBA application essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle. This year, the school’s application includes two required essays and one optional essay. If you are interested in the NYU Stern EMBA Program, last year’s cohort included 60 students, of which a little more than a third were women and 40 percent were international. Take a look at the latest detailed class profile to assess whether the school may be a good fit for you. Below, please find the upcoming application deadlines and our analysis of the NYU EMBA application essays. The 2023-2024 NYU Stern EMBA Application Deadlines For the August entry: March 1, 2024 For the January entry: October 1, 2024 Outside of the deadlines, admissions are rolling. 2023-2024 NYU Stern EMBA Application Essays: NYU Stern Essay 1: Describe your short- and long-term career goals and how the NYU Stern Executive MBA program will help you accomplish them. (500 words maximum, double-spaced) This is a traditional goals essay, intended to show the admissions committee where you are in your career today, where you would like to arrive, and how NYU can help you get there. Start with a paragraph detailing your professional status: what you do, a bit about your accomplishments, your responsibilities, and your areas of expertise. You want your skills to be evident and to show any specific knowledge that sets you apart. Then you want two detailed paragraphs of your goals, both short term and long term. We suggest you flesh out your ambitions down to the roles you want to assume and ideas you want to pursue. Show your vision. Finally, discuss what skills you seek to acquire to fulfil those goals and how a Stern EMBA will help you do that. You should spend the last full paragraph on singular offerings at Stern that will help you develop those skills and prepare to meet the challenges of your goals. Demonstrate that you have studied the Stern EMBA program and planned your time there, showing at the same time what interests you and your awareness of any gaps you need to fill. NYU Stern Essay 2: NYU Stern is committed to helping students develop a deeper set of professional skills and a broader perspective of the role of business in the world. (500 words maximum, double-spaced)
Spend the first few sentences explaining the business issue you are interested in. Choose something you really are interested in so you can show genuine care. From the question we can infer that it should call into play the role of business in the world: In other words, as a business leader, you can do something about it. That opens up a full range of things, from environmental issues to racial and economic disparity, labor laws, unequal pay, pricing, and education. Next, explain why this issue is important to you. This will show your values and concerns and how and you measure the responsibility of business in addressing the world’s problems. Finally, pick apart the issue you chose and offer ways to address it. Use this section as an opportunity to let your leadership, problem-solving, and analytical abilities shine. Come up with a course of action and show how you would implement it using your experience and abilities. Try to consider as many facets of the issue as possible—including those you may not know how to address and how you would deal with that. NYU Stern Optional Essay: Please provide any additional information of which you would like the Admissions Committee to be aware. This may include additional details on your quantitative/academic preparedness through educational or professional experience, further explanation of academic history, current or past gaps in employment or any other information relevant to your application. (500 words maximum, double-spaced) The optional NYU EMBA essay should only be addressed by applicants with extenuating circumstances. Read more about how to answer this optional essay question here. Ready to start your application? Check out how Personal MBA Coach can help you with our EMBA Packages! The post NYU Stern EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Columbia EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
Columbia Business School has confirmed the 2024 Executive MBA application essays. This year, CBS asks EMBA applicants to respond to two essay prompts. The business school also has a third optional essay. If you are looking to join Columbia Business School’s EMBA Program, take a look at the latest class profile to assess whether the school might be a good fit for you. Accepted students had an average of 10 years of work experience. The latest reported class consists of 36% women and 30% international citizens. Below, please find the upcoming application deadlines, as well as Personal MBA Coach’s analysis of the Columbia EMBA application essays. The 2024 Columbia Business School EMBA Application Deadlines Are as Follows: EMBA-NY Saturday: May 2024 Entry Early: January 10, 2024 Final: February 7, 2024 EMBA-NY Fri/Sat: August 2024 Entry Early: March 20, 2024 Final: May 22, 2024 2023-2024 Columbia EMBA Application Essays Columbia Business School EMBA Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words max) The full-time CBS MBA application asks candidates to ask respond to this same prompt. While goals for EMBA applicants will naturally be different (most EMBA applicants will not be looking for new roles post-MBA), your approach to this essay should remain the same. Check out Personal MBA Coach’s essay 1 advice for tips on how to approach CBS’s first EMBA essay. Columbia Business School EMBA Essay 2: Please describe a professional situation where you faced a particular challenge. What was the outcome and what did you learn from the experience about your own strengths and personal development needs? (500 words maximum) Columbia Business School has changed its second required EMBA essay this year. This essay actually reminds us of an essay that Kellogg asked for a number of years. This essay is a great opportunity for EMBA applicants to showcase their leadership in action. While recency is not specifically mentioned, Personal MBA Coach recommends that you select a fairly recent challenge (if you pick an older example, admissions committee members might question why you did not have anything else to share). Five hundred words is a fairly generous limit here, but we still recommend that you avoid a story that is too complex. You do not want to waste half of the essay setting up the situation for the reader. As you tell this story, be specific in detailing your role. Be sure you are “showing” vs. “telling” as you write this essay. For example, do not simply say that you are a collaborative leader; let readers see your collaboration in action. After showing readers what you did to tackle this problem, be sure to discuss the results and the so-what. Finally, tell CBS what you learned from this situation. Remember, this story lets you give the Columbia EMBA admissions committee a clear understanding of both your leadership strengths and your development areas, so it is ok to be humble here. Optional Essay: Is there something else you feel would be helpful for the Admissions Committee to know? An optional third essay will allow you to discuss any topics that do not fall within the purview of the required essays. These might include, but are not limited to:
Most applicants will not need to answer Columbia Business School’s optional EMBA essay. That said, CBS gives applicants a bit more flexibility than other optional essays in terms of an appropriate response. Learn more about how to tackle optional essays here. Ready to get started on your CBS EMBA application? Check out our Comprehensive Packages here and find out how we can help! The post Columbia EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: What If I Am an International Applicant to a US MBA Program? |
Each year, international applicants represent a sizeable percentage of Personal MBA Coach clients. Clients often ask us if being an international student helps or hurts their chances of MBA application success and how they can maximize their chances of acceptance. Q: Does Being an International Student Help My Chances? A: This varies considerably based on the country you are applying from. Business schools are looking to develop well-rounded classes, which means you are going to be evaluated not just on your own stats but on how you add diversity to the class. For example, Wharton’s Full-Time MBA class of 2025 has students from 70 countries. Similarly, in Booth’s class of 2025, 49% of students were born outside of the US. Top US MBA programs receive a large number of applications from certain regions, and if you are coming from one of those regions, your chances of success do decrease. It should come as no surprise that India is one such area. Conversely, there are many countries in which applying to business school, particularly in the US, is not very common. In this case, your odds of success are higher than those of US applicants. This can also change year to year! For example, as Personal MBA Coach founder Scott Edinburgh recently shared in US News & World Reports, last year top programs were actually struggling to recruit students from China, given the lockdowns and test center availability. Q: How Can I Stand Out as an International Student? A: Regardless of where you are applying from, the best way to stand out is to develop a compelling and ownable personal story. Admissions committees want to know how you will improve the business world (and the world at large) when you graduate from their MBA program. They are also looking for evidence of how you will make your unique mark. While doing something remarkable or overcoming a difficult situation can produce strong essay content, it is important to recognize that many applicants write successful essays without this type of material (in fact, admissions directors are discouraging applicants from being too dramatic with their writing, as Personal MBA Coach learned during the 2023 AIGAC conference in June—more on this here). Most important is that your essays fit with your story and paint a clear picture of who you are as a student, classmate, employee, and overall individual. It is also important that your application shows you are aware of the realities of job searching as an international candidate. For example, if you hope to work in the US post-MBA, be sure that your target industry frequently sponsors H1B visas. Not sure where to begin? Personal MBA Coach finds that personal story development is one of the areas in which clients require the most guidance. Find out how we help candidates craft focused, logical, and unique personal stories via our comprehensive services. Q: Which Business School Accepts the Highest Number of International Candidates? A: Candidates applying to US schools from other countries often want to know the best MBA programs for international students. At the top US business schools, international students make up a significant portion of the student body. Columbia Business School’s class of 2024 was composed of 51% international citizens. Yale SOM recently reported that 50% of students in the class of 2025 are international. Berkeley Haas’s and MIT Sloan’s most recent class profiles reported 47% and 40% international students, respectively. Harvard and Kellogg reported 39% international citizens, followed by Stanford GSB and Chicago Booth (both 36%). Please keep in mind that not all schools report class profiles the same way. Q: Does It Matter if I Plan to Stay in the US after Business School? A: The short answer here is no. Personal MBA Coach has seen no evidence of bias toward applicants whose goals will keep them in the US. While developing logical, compelling, and realistic goals is a crucial part of the MBA application process, no blanket preference is given to your future country of residence. Find out more about developing a compelling goal statement in this quick tips video. Ready to take the plunge? Check out how Personal MBA Coach can help you with our Comprehensive Packages. The post What If I Am an International Applicant to a US MBA Program? appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Berkeley Haas EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
The Haas School of Business at Berkeley has shared its Executive MBA application essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle. This year, the school’s application features two short, required essays. For those interested in the Haas EMBA Program, take a look at the latest class profile to assess whether the school may be a good fit for you. With 75 students in the 2024 class, the Berkeley Haas EMBA program is tiny: it has about one-third women, about half students born outside the U.S., and about 10% underrepresented minorities. Below, please find the upcoming application deadlines and our analysis of the Berkeley Haas EMBA application essays. The 2023-2024 Haas EMBA Application Deadlines Round 1: October 30, 2023 Round 2: February 1, 2024 Round 3: April 2, 2024 2023-2024 Berkeley Haas EMBA Application Essays Berkeley Haas EMBA Essay 1: Personal Story A person’s identity is shaped by many different aspects, including family, culture, To help admissions get to know you please share something about yourself that may not be evident in other parts of your application. Examples might include information about your family, culture, hobbies, and lived experiences. Please avoid professional topics. (300-word limit). With 300 words at your disposal, your thoughts must be clear and your pencil sharp. You want to choose ONE thing in the list of facets that make up your identity. You do not want a short list. Choose something that is defining for you, which means you need to be able to articulate exactly how it defines you. Does it impact your choices? Has it impacted your career? Or is it simply an aspect of you that enlightens your priorities, professional or spiritual. It could also be an event. Start with a sentence or two describing the aspect you have chosen: “From childhood I grew up in the forest in Amazonia.” Or “I am a Master chess player.” Or “I am a tango dancer and have traveled to 38 countries dancing.” Then spend the rest of your word space telling the Admissions Committee what that means to you or how it has determined your path—OR determines your future choices: Because I grew up in Amazonia, I witnessed both the beauty and the devastation of the environment, and this has motivated me to protect endangered species through my work.” By the way, about its essays Haas says, “There is no right answer. We just want to get to know you better.” Berkeley Haas EMBA Essay 2: Professional Statement As a working professional, you have developed unique skills, knowledge or experience in your career. Please summarize your primary area of professional expertise or knowledge. Highlight any aspect(s) that makes you unique or sets you apart from your peers. (150-word limit) Berkeley Haas EMBA Essay 2 is about your professional experiences. In this essay, you have even fewer words, so you want to get to the point quickly: “In my work at Shell Oil I developed expertise in the extraction of oil through the XXX specific technology. This technology is on the cusp of extraction science, and I am one of 8 people in the oil industry to know it inside and out.” If you do not have the fortune to distinguish yourself quite so singularly, try to find special things you bring to the table and link them quickly to what that means in practice in terms of your goals: “My analysis of expert opinions in chemical spills litigation has given me expertise in the areas of chemical cleanup and monetary assessment of damages, which positions me to excel with firms that specialize in environmental consulting.” This is not a time to be humble: Focus on what makes you great. Looking for help crafting a compelling Berkeley Haas Executive MBA application? Check out Personal MBA Coach’s Comprehensive EMBA Packages today. The post Berkeley Haas EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |
FROM Personal MBA Coach: Fuqua EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 |
The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University has shared its Executive MBA application essays for the 2023-2024 application cycle. This year, the school’s application includes three short essay questions and one optional essay. For those interested in the Duke Fuqua EMBA Program, take a look at the latest class profile to assess whether the school may be a good fit for you. Enrollment for the classes of 2022 – 2024 ranged from 180 to 195 students: 48% of the class of 2024 identified as a minority (23% as an underrepresented minority) and 29% were women. Duke EMBA students ranged from 33 to 56 years of age and had an average of 11 years of work experience. The upcoming deadlines for the Duke EMBA program are December 6, 2023; January 4, 2024; February 1, 2024; March 6, 2024, and April 3, 2024. Below, please find our analysis of the Duke Fuqua EMBA application essays. 2023-2024 Duke Fuqua EMBA Application Essays NOTE: Your responses should use a font size no less than 10-point. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing. There is no word limit for the first question. Duke EMBA Short Answer Question 1: Pursuing an MBA offers a fantastic springboard to your desired career goals. What are some professional milestones you’ve set for yourself or challenges you’re currently facing? How do you think Fuqua’s Executive MBA specifically will help you achieve your goals and navigate those challenges? While there is no word limit, this is a SHORT answer question. Start with a very short discussion on where you are today in your career. Follow this opening with a brief section on your goals, which should include those “milestones” the school mentions. Your goals can (and often will be) a position within your existing firm. However, if you are seeking a higher level of leadership, state that and what challenges that will bring. Finally, give the admissions committee an idea of the classes/programs/initiatives that Fuqua offers that will help prepare you to meet the challenges ahead. Be sure to be specific, both about the programs/classes you want to follow and what you will learn from them. Keep in mind the Fuqua culture and how it will enrich you. Duke EMBA Short Answer Question 2: Please respond to one of the two prompts below in 250 words or less:
As you determine which option to select, think about your own strengths and pick the option that best lets you share these strengths with the Duke admissions committee. While there is no wrong choice, if you have something unique to contribute, you may want to select the second option. If you choose to answer the first prompt, make sure to be specific and to the point. Tell the admissions committee briefly about the situation. Then, detail both the team’s approach and your role within the team. Try to keep a healthy balance between discussing how the team worked and what you contributed to the success. If you pick the second option, think about what skills, experiences or perspectives you will contribute on campus. You can approach this more traditionally by discussing clubs you will join, roles you will seek on campus or ways you might volunteer at Duke. However, you might also think about your contributions more broadly. If you have a unique background, how might you share this to enrich the Duke community? Be sure that it is clear to the reader why contributing to this area is important to you! Duke EMBA Short Answer Question 3: The Admissions Team wants to get to know YOU – beyond your professional and academic achievements shared with us in the application. Please share with us 10 random things about you. This could include important life experiences, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you, uniquely you. Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 10. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer. Try to have fun with this question. Choose things that, taken together, give the admissions committee a fuller picture of you: things you love, interests that makes you tick, sources of glee, sadness, curiosity, wonder. Funny things, moving things, surprising things. It is good to choose things that show both the active, outer side of you and your inner world. Make sure the items in this list are not repetitive of anything above or easily implied: for example, If you head up an arts nonprofit, avoid “I love art.” Make sure each thing says something about YOU: If you mention your favorite movie or favorite food, say why: Do not waste word space just listing things. While the list is called “random,” it is really more meaningful than that. While there is no word limit, we suggest brevity: Say as much as is needed for context and for each item to make sense. Funny things are welcome! Optional Essay: Tell us more If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). The Optional Essay is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances. This essay should be addressed only by applicants with extenuating circumstances. Read more about how to answer this optional essay question here. Looking for help developing or fine-tuning your Duke Fuqua essays? Personal MBA Coach is here to help. Check out our EMBA Comprehensive packages today! The post Fuqua EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2023-2024 appeared first on Personal MBA Coach. |