Expert advice for HBS from Admissions Consultant blogs

From Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts), https://www.mbaadmit.com, email: info@mbaadmit.com

MBA Admit.com: Proudly, one of the most affordable MBA admissions consulting companies.

Interested in learning if we think you can be successful as an MBA applicant? Sign up for a FREE Profile Evaluation directly from Dr. Shel Watts, a Harvard and Oxford graduate with Harvard admissions experience and over 26 years of work with MBA applicants. Send in your resume to info@mbaadmit.com or fill out the form on our homepage at https://www.mbaadmit.com

Ask about our current specials – Comprehensive packages typically range between $1,695 - $2395(Compare with our competitors who charge $4,400!); Basic editing of one application for $950. Valid through November 10, 2017. You can opt to work directly with Dr. Shel on your MBA applications!



Harvard R1 Rejection Without Interview? Steps to Top-10 R2 Success…

Harvard recently informed each Round 1 applicant whether they received an interview invitation. Given the fact that Harvard ultimately rejects approximately 90% of applicants, some of you may not have landed an interview, even if you have impressive qualifications. While this is very disappointing, at MBA Admit.com we have helped many candidates who came to us rejected without interview when applying on their own to top business schools like Stanford, Wharton and Harvard, and with our guidance they were still able to gain admission to a Top-10 MBA program in Round 2.

If you were rejected from Harvard without interview, keep your spirits up and don’t let this outcome make you think that you cannot have success at a Top-10 school. What are some steps to success in Round 2? Consider these:

Identify Shortcomings. First, you should identify the soft spots in your application and candidacy that resulted in your rejection without interview. On occasion, you can get informal insights that provide enough guidance; at other times, a thorough Ding Analysis from a trustworthy company is important for determining precisely what factors were obstacles to your admission. Did you fail to highlight a habit of leadership throughout your application? Was your essay poorly written? Was your GMAT score too low? Did you overestimate the strength of your undergraduate record? Was your short-term goal or long-term goal a poor choice? Were your recommendations strong enough? There are many factors that could lead to a rejection without interview. Just remember, an accurate assessment of your weaknesses is absolutely key for your next steps. Some candidates we have worked with came to us with very inaccurate understandings of what factors were causing their problems in MBA admissions. If you don’t correct the problem(s) in the application or candidacy, you may not have better results in Round 2.

Set Out a Plan to Address the Shortcomings. Once you have a solid understanding of how to strengthen your application or candidacy, make a plan to do so. Some shortcomings can be addressed more easily than others. For example, if your essays were weak but your underlying credentials are strong, you need to get great guidance about how to best present your candidacy through your essays. This is very fixable and with outstanding essays you might be a very viable candidate in Round 2 at other Top-10 schools. Other weaknesses pose greater challenges. For instance, if your GMAT score or GRE score was too weak for Harvard, you need to assess whether it is strong enough for your next target school. If not, you should re-take the exam before the Round 2 deadline.

Pace Yourself. Finally, after identifying key steps you should take to achieve better outcomes, you should select your target schools, note their deadlines and make certain to pace your work so that you make the deadlines. Don't forget, many recommendation writers will go on winter vacation in mid-December, so it will be important that you ask them for recommendations ideally by early December so that the recommendations are submitted by the relevant deadlines.



Interested in securing a detailed “Ding Analysis” that can help you identify the weaknesses and strengths of your rejected application(s)?

You can opt to have our president and founder, Dr. Shel Watts, a professional with Harvard admissions experience, look at your application and draw on nearly 26 years of experience to help you understand your application’s deficits and identify a plan of action.

Feel free to reach out to us for a Ding Analysis at info@mbaadmit.com.

Bloomberg Businessweek has announced its list of 2017’s best business schools in the United States, and Harvard Business School took first place for the third straight year. The 2017  list is characterized by near constant movement, with only two schools in the top 20 holding on to their same position as last year, and the rest of the list shifting up and down in surprising ways.
Businessweek’s Top Ten Business Schools

• Harvard Business School (no change)
• Wharton School (6th in 2016)
• MIT Sloan School of Management (7th in 2016)
• Chicago Booth School of Business (no change)
• Stanford Graduate School of Business (2nd in 2016)
• Duke’s Fuqua School of Business (3rd in 2016)
• Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business (5th in 2016)
• Kellogg School of Management (9th in 2016)
• Columbia Business School (11th in 2016)
• Rice Jones Graduate School of Business (8th in 2016)

Notably, two highly regarded MBA programs lost ground this year, with the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business slipping out of the Top Ten and placing 11th in the new ranking, and UVa Darden School of Business dipping from 12th last year to 17th in 2017.

The Bloomberg ranking methodology includes an employer survey (35% of score), alumni survey (30%), student survey (15%), job placement rate (10%), and starting salary (10%). MBA hopefuls should keep in mind that, because the full-time rankings comprise five elements, it’s possible to rank highly without knocking every category out of the ballpark. For example, Chicago Booth maintained its 4th place standing overall while ranking 35th in the alumni survey rank.

Click on over to Bloomberg Businessweek to see the details for all of the 85 schools ranked in this list. And remember, here at SBC we don’t like to encourage clients to focus too heavily on rankings when they’re making their MBA program selections. However, we also know those headed for b-school really can’t help themselves, so be sure to consider multiple factors when making your final school selection.
Image credit: Michael A. Herzog (CC BY-ND 2.0)
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

The Princeton Review, known for its college rankings in dozens of categories based on how students rate their schools, is now expanding its coverage of business school programs. The company recently released its 2018 annual ranking lists of business schools.

Available on the company’s website, The Princeton Review reports the top 10 ranking schools in 18 categories of interest to students applying to on-campus MBA programs.

In addition, the company announced the result of its 3 rd annual ranking of the top 25 online MBA programs for 2018.

“We want to offer students a truly robust resource to find information about business school programs,” said Robert Franek, Editor-in-Chief, The Princeton Review. “Students who came to us for help selecting their college can now find equally comprehensive information on our website about choosing a business school program. We want students to be aware that on-campus and online MBA programs have different strengths and they can use that information to find the best business school for their interests.”

“Top business schools now offer online MBAs, and employers do see them as credible and valuable,” added Mr. Franek. “For working professionals unable to move to a ‘brick and mortar’ campus for an MBA, these schools offer an opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best business school professors and earn their degree from anywhere in the world.”

How Do On-Campus MBA Students and Online MBA Students Differ?

• Age of student population: On-campus students are younger; the average age is 28 while the average age of online MBA students is 34.
• Work experience: On-campus MBA students average 5 years of work experience; online MBA students average 11 years.
• Starting salary: The average starting salary for students at top on-campus MBA programs is $115,000 vs. $107,000 for students at top online MBA programs.

On The Princeton Review website, prospective students can find detailed profiles of the business schools, which include admission, academics, financial aid, campus life and career/employment information. In addition to the profiles and the rankings, the site includes helpful business school advice articles about taking the GMAT, crafting a stellar MBA application, and finding a program best tailored to your goals.

“Our purpose is not to rank schools hierarchically or crown any school as ‘best’ overall. Our goal is to provide school profiles combined with multiple rating scores and ranking lists to help applicants choose the best business school for them,” added Franek. “Their program offerings vary considerably, and we salute and highlight those distinctions in our profiles.”
Top On-Campus MBA Programs
The Princeton Review tallied its lists based on its surveys of 23,000 students attending 267 business schools. In these categories, the following schools were ranked #1:

• Best Career Prospects – Harvard University
• Toughest to Get Into – Stanford University
• Best Professors – University of Virginia
• Best Classroom Experience – Stanford University
• Most Competitive Students – Acton School of Business
• Best Campus Environment – University of Virginia
• Best Administered – Acton School of Business
• Greatest Resources for Women – Stanford University
• Greatest Resources for Minority Students – Howard University
• Most Family Friendly – Brigham Young University
• Best Green MBA – University of Vermont

In addition, this year’s survey of 23,000 students evaluated their schools to find the best MBA programs in 7 new categories for (schools below were ranked #1):

• Best MBA for Consulting – Northwestern University
• Best MBA for Finance – Columbia University
• Best MBA for Human Resources – University of Florida
• Best MBA for Management – Stanford University
• Best MBA for Marketing – Northwestern University
• Best MBA for Nonprofit – Columbia University
• Best MBA for Operations – Carnegie Mellon University

Top 10 Online MBA Programs
The Princeton Review surveyed more than 4,700 online MBA students at more than 75 business schools offering online MBAs to come up with this year’s list of top online MBA programs. The Top 10 are:

• Indiana University Bloomington
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Temple University (PA)
• University of Southern California
• University of Florida
• Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
• IE University (Spain)
• Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
• Arizona State University
• Babson College (MA)

Among students surveyed at the top 25 online MBA programs:

• 56% were receiving financial assistance from their employers to pay for their degree: they reported their companies were covering 62% of the degree cost
• 34% reported receiving a promotion while earning their online MBA
• $107,000 was the students’ average base salary upon graduating from the program
• 30% was the average salary increase graduates reported they received after completing the degree

While here at SBC we don’t like to encourage clients to focus too heavily on rankings when they’re making their MBA program selections, we also know those headed for b-school really can’t help themselves. Be sure to consider multiple factors when making your final school selection.
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

The 2017–2018 academic year is in full swing, and students in the Class of 2019 are—hopefully!—settling in nicely for their MBA studies. Around this time of the year, business schools release their latest class profiles to reveal their most recent incoming classes in more detail. Of course, no two classes are exactly alike. Some are smaller in size and enjoy a more intimate environment for their studies, while some are quite large and thus encompass an even greater diversity of students.

We at mbaMission examined the latest class profiles to find out which top-ranked schools welcomed the most sizable enrollments this year. More than 1,000 students enrolled at Columbia Business School in two cohorts, putting its Class of 2019 at 1,019 individuals. Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania were not far behind with 928 and 863 students, respectively. After the top three, class sizes were notably smaller—the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the fourth-largest program this year, welcomed 582 students, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University’s class consisted of 478 individuals. If smaller programs are more your thing, stay tuned for a closer look at the other end of the spectrum…



Share this:

Just wanted to send out best wishes to all who are waiting for a R1 decision from HBS! It's been a long journey and you have endured the essay, the interview, the post reflection interview essay and now the wait is almost over!! Sending great thoughts to all of you! And remember for any sounding board discussions of weighing offers, deciding what's next, anything to do with MBA admissions- we are just a click away at this link: https://stratusadmissionscounseling.com ... b-visitor/

The Round 2 deadline is coming up at Harvard Business School on January 3rd, and there’s no time like the present to review some of the key elements your MBA application should highlight if you’re targeting this upcoming round.

It may not surprise you to learn that high-impact leadership, or what we call the “Big Kahuna” at HBS, is the most important trait the AdCom looks for. When evaluating your leadership potential, the admissions committee will look for evidence that you’ve made a positive impact on the communities of which you’ve been a part, both personally and professionally.

Your past leadership achievements are the best gauge of your potential for realizing your future ambitions, so make sure to highlight instances that support your case in this area. The admissions committee understands you may not have several years of work experience from which to draw. Take comfort in knowing that it’s not about the scale of your achievements – rather, it’s the fact that you left indelible footprints.

Be sure also to focus on service to others in your application. As with leadership, the committee is concerned with the connection between your achievements and how they reflect who you are. Community service is important because a.) it provides insights into your deeper interests and the causes that you care about; and b.) the admissions officers want to see evidence that you’re the type of person who devotes energy to making a community stronger because they may be inviting you into their community.

With a mission to “educate leaders to make a difference in the world,” HBS isn’t looking for candidates who simply want a résumé boost. If you’re applying to Harvard, you have to have passion and vision–think big. Passion is a useful tool for staying motivated and productive, whether it’s in school or business.

But it goes much deeper than simply being passionate about what you’re doing. You need to express your passion in a way that inspires and projects energy onto those you work with. It’s not just your footprints that interest HBS admissions; they also want to see the footprints of those who follow you as you blaze a new trail in an area of passion.

Finally, applicants may want to take advantage of today’s admissions Q&A webinar at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Harvard Business School is closed from December 22 through January 1, so this will be your last chance to communicate with the admissions team regarding any questions that might help as you put those finishing touches on your application over the next two weeks.
Image by Flickr user Chris Han (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

\sqrt{}
sure thing, you should try to find the ways in which you can contribute to those clubs and end a mail to the VP of the club to confirm those contribution,

Want to know what it’s like to interview at Harvard Business School? Harbus, the HBS news organization, interviewed a Class of 2018 applicant during Round 1 and graciously shared the interview with Accepted. Our anonymous interviewee (who was accepted!) is a female manufacturing engineer at a high profile global healthcare company in the U.S.

HBS is about to send out their Round 2 invites…if you’re lucky enough to get one, then you’ll want to check out this first-hand advice!

What happens at an HBS interview? Can you walk us through the day?

The morning of the interview I attended a discussion group and then class. Interacting with current students, seeing the case method in action, and getting a feel for a day in the life of a student was very beneficial, especially before the interview. The admissions committee does a great job creating a comfortable environment where interviewees can get light snacks and refreshments, mingle with other prospective students, and attend events throughout the day. Applicants are taken to a separate waiting room once the interview time approaches. The 30-minute interview goes by very quickly. There is typically one interviewer and one observer, with the interview itself being very conversational.

Was there anything that took you by surprise in the interview?

Rather than generic behavioral questions, the interviewer prepares tailored questions based on your application. This can make the interview more challenging in that the questions are more difficult to predict and prepare for. However, this approach also allows the interviewer to use the time most effectively to get to know you.

What is the single worst thing one can do during the interview? And can you give some examples of unexpected ways one can impress the panel?

The easiest way to derail the interview is probably by not being authentic, either through scripted answers or lack of familiarity with one’s own application. Ways to impress the panel include knowledge of current events in your industry and in other industries, getting them excited about your professional aspirations, and being able to articulate why you chose certain paths.

What are some of the things you should do when you receive an interview invitation (on the week of the interview and on the day before the interview) in order to ensure that one is best prepared for what is to come?

In the weeks leading up to the interview, it is important to familiarize yourself with current events and monitor news for your industry. There are some great resources online with typical interview questions, however I recommend not crafting specific answers but instead focus on high level bullet points. The week of, continue your normal news routine, read your application daily, and reflect on possible questions. The day before, go over the top things you want the interviewer to remember about you, any breaking news, and try to relax as much as possible.

Can you tell us a little about your post-interview reflections?

I made some notes after the interview with key things I wanted to capture in the reflection. The reflection is a good opportunity to recap one’s strengths, clarify anything from the interview, and thank the admissions team. I was glad to have some time before my flight the following day to refine the reflection before the 24-hour deadline.

What were some of the trickiest questions you were asked?

What industry are you interested in besides your current industry? Follow-up question: What is a company you admire in that industry?

If you couldn’t work in [your target industry], what would you do instead?

Do you have any other advice for those who have gotten as far as the interview stage?

Take time to celebrate this achievement. The HBS application and interview process is intense. While it’s important to stay focused through this final hurdle, it’s also important to find outlets to relax so that you don’t burn out leading up to the interview.

Are you ready to prepare for your interview (for HBS or any other program)? Prep with the best for this life-changing experience when you check out Accepted’s Mock Interview Services.





Related Resources:

• MBA Interview Prep: How to Ace Your Interviews, a free guide
• 4 Steps to Preparing for MBA Interviews
• 7 Tips for Writing Harvard Business School’s Post-Interview Reflection

This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help you get accepted!

Peek Weekend, Harvard Business School’s initiative to spark interest in graduate management education among college students who may not have previously considered a career in business, will start taking applications on February 1.

During the three-day event, participants develop a broader understanding of the challenges leaders face, the many dimensions inherent in the business world, and the impact participants can have on their community and the world through organizational leadership.

“As a Peek Weekend participant, you are given the opportunity to visualize whether or not the MBA program aligns with your personal goals,” writes Veronica Chua in the HBS MBA Voices blog.  “Not only was it an eye-opening educational experience, exceeding even my highest expectations, but it filled me with a profound sense of purpose,” she explains.

Peek, which began in 2015 focusing on candidates from women’s colleges, has since expanded to include male applicants, and preference is given to students with no prior academic or professional exposure (including internships) to business or business-related fields.

“Before we applied to Peek Weekend in Spring 2017, we never imagined ourselves going to business school, let alone Harvard Business School,” write Sam Unsworth and Jaideep Wasu—two students from the United Kingdom who penned the piece,10 Reasons Why HBS Peek Weekend was Worth the Trip Across the Pond.

“Attending HBS Peek Weekend has motivated us both to apply to HBS for an MBA in the future. Having experienced a small taste of what life at HBS is like has left a lasting impression on us both,” they conclude.

PEEK will cost $200 per participant, and the program plans to host these rising sophomores, juniors and seniors June 8-10, 2018. Participants will have accommodations on campus, take part in assigned case studies, and meet with faculty, current students, and alumni.

Click here for more information about Peek Weekend, as well as links to sign up for upcoming Peek Weekend webinars.
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Many MBA applicants make the same wrong assumption: No matter which top business school you attend, its teaching style will be more or less the same. While there are similarities across the top-tier programs, each school has a different teaching style. There’s the case method approach; lecture-based instruction; and the experiential learning and team-based focus approach. Some schools concentrate almost entirely on one style, while others employ a mixture.

Finding a fit in teaching style is important, and we advise clients to seek out a program where they can thrive and feel comfortable. However, this piece of the puzzle is often pushed aside, with more weight placed on factors like rankings, career center offerings, location and culture.

In fact, teaching style is often one of the last things applicants focus on. Although there are many different aspects of a program to consider as you select your target schools, we believe this one should have more weight, as it not only directly affects your enjoyment of your two-year investment, but the quality of knowledge that you walk away with.

• Case method: The case method approach was established by Harvard Business School more than a century ago and is still widely used at top MBA programs worldwide. With this method, students analyze and debate authentic management scenarios to create recommendations that the firm in question should employ in the future.

Harvard relies on case studies for approximately 80 percent of its instruction, and students at University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business are exposed to more than 500 cases in a variety of industries and functions during their two-year program.

Considered by many to be the gold standard in management education, the case method relies on lively class discussions with myriad points of view. A good case analysis requires a lot of preparation from students, who must feel at ease sharing their ideas in front of large groups.

Gregarious personalities will thrive in this environment, while shy individuals may cringe at the thought of showing up to class. This is not the learning environment for those uncomfortable speaking in front of strangers or those who fear they might say something embarrassing.

• Lecture: All top MBA programs include courses taught using a lecture format, though some schools stand out for their significant use of this traditional pedagogic technique. Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business uses approximately 50 percent lecture-based instruction, while the lecture format at University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business comes in as a close second at 48 percent.

The Anderson School of Management at UCLA, Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management and Said Business School at the University of Oxford use lectures about 40 percent of the time.

Fans of the lecture method believe this is the best way to concretely teach students the business concepts and theories they will need once they’re back in the work force. This environment may also be more comfortable for introverted students, as well as those who enjoy absorbing the wisdom of a seasoned professor.

In some instances, the lecture approach is simply the most expeditious way to get the information across. Columbia Business School devotes about 40 percent of class time to lecture and 40 percent to case studies.

• Experiential approach: In recent years, more and more schools have expanded the experiential components in their curricula, adding in more team challenges, simulations, field work and extracurricular activities.

A leader in this area of action-based learning is the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor’s Ross School of Business, which has a seven-week, full-time consulting project known as the Multi-disciplinary Action Project. Ross connects first-year MBA students with corporate, entrepreneurial and nonprofit projects both in the U.S. and abroad that require thoughtful recommendations on organizational challenges.

Harvard Business School has the yearlong Field Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development course for first-year students, which offers small-group learning experiences that are experiential, immersive and field-based.

This hands-on approach to learning benefits those with an entrepreneurial spirit, as well as generalists who enjoy working in groups and want to learn how to get things done. Unlike the lecture and case methods, which focus on theory, experiential learning encourages students to learn by doing.

As you can see, there is significant variation in how material is presented in an MBA program. Take a close look at your personal preferences and learning style to find the business school that’s best for you.
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

Harvard Business School’s Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship has named 18 people to its inaugural group of Rock Venture Capital Partners, who provide in-person mentoring and advice to HBS student entrepreneurs.

The Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, which has earned accolades as the top provider in the nation of programs for entrepreneurial studies, supports faculty and their research in the field of entrepreneurial management as well as provides the HBS community with the energy and spirit needed for new ideas and innovations to thrive and grow.

“The Rock VC Partner Program brings leading managing and general partners from the top early stage VC firms to Harvard Business School to build relationships with student founders,” says Jodi Gernon, Director of the Rock Center.

“We are delighted to have these outstanding venture capitalists share their wisdom and insights with student entrepreneurs. Thanks to this program, HBS students will have unprecedented access to feedback from top investors regarding their ideas, testing plans, fund-raising activities, and more.”

Since 1947, the study of entrepreneurship has been a vital part of the Harvard Business School MBA program, which includes a required course in the first year curriculum, numerous electives in the second-year, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes the annual New Venture Competition, the Rock Accelerator Program, Rock Summer Fellows, Rock Loan Reduction, and the Rock 100.

Through a community that provides support, access to content, and a gateway to entrepreneurial ecosystems everywhere, the Rock Center helps students and alumni create ventures that revolutionize in both the for-profit and social enterprise sectors.

Learn more about each of the 2018-Rock Venture Capital Partners here.
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

It’s a well-known yet unfortunate fact that most new ventures fail. Harvard Business School’s Rock Center for Entrepreneurship aims to change that outcome for the better for its alumni entrepreneurs with the launch of its Rise Program. The Rock Center Rise Program will help HBS graduates in New York City accelerate the growth of their new enterprises.

Among other benefits, the program will help entrepreneurs navigate through the challenges of building culture, hiring employees, developing leadership skills, managing boards, raising funds, optimizing sales and marketing channels, and growing from a handful of employees to hundreds. Participants in the program must have raised a minimum of $1 million in funding, and their company must be revenue generating.

“There is considerable anecdotal evidence regarding how to scale, but resulting advice does not apply across all companies equally,” says Professor Thomas Eisenmann, Faculty Chair of the Rock Center.

“In the RISE program, HBS faculty members, alongside seasoned entrepreneurs, will convey best practices and frameworks to help entrepreneurs address startup challenges that can make or break a company. The program has been developed to leverage extensive faculty research on what it takes to successfully scale an enterprise,” Eisenmann adds.

The first RISE cohort includes the following HBS alumni-founded companies:

Borrowell

Gamer Sensei

IVY

Orchard Mile

Show Score

The Plunge

Trendalytics

Walden Local

“RISE will provide a focused approach for founders to learn from faculty and peers, discuss issues around scaling, and be inspired. Each session will consist of curated content led by our faculty and successful alumni entrepreneurs and investors. At the end of each session, the Rock Center will host a roundtable discussion, where founders can candidly discuss their challenges or offer guidance and advice to peers,” explains Jodi Gernon, Director of the Rock Center

“With this program, founders will be better equipped to handle the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship.”
Image credit: Michael A. Herzog (CC BY-ND 2.0)
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

From Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts), https://www.mbaadmit.com, email: info@mbaadmit.com

Interested in learning if we think you can be successful as an MBA applicant to a top business school? Feel free to sign up for a FREE Profile Evaluation directly from Dr. Shel Watts, a Harvard and Oxford graduate with Harvard admissions experience and over 25 years of work with MBA applicants. Fill out the profile evaluation form on our homepage at https://www.mbaadmit.com or send your resume to info@mbaadmit.com.

Ask about our current MBA application specials. Comprehensive packages beginning at $1870 (Compare with our competitors who charge $5,200!). Valid through March 31, 2018. Opt to work directly with Dr. Shel on your MBA applications!



HBS: Re-apply After Rejection?

Some of you may have failed to gain an interview at HBS and some of you may have recently received disappointing news following your interview with Harvard. It is very disappointing to make it as far as the interview with HBS and then fail to gain admission. It is equally disappointing to have strong qualifications and not even land the interview. But, the good news is that Harvard indicates that as many as 10% of its class each year are reapplicants who gained admission on their second try (approximately 90 students). We at MBA Admit.com have helped many candidates gain admission on a second try, even when they needed to overcome a huge obstacle such as a poor GMAT score that they could not improve or a disastrous recommendation that had derailed them during their first try (if you apply the very next year, HBS typically reviews the prior application along with the new application).

Success is possible with a reapplication!

If you decide you want to try again to gain admission to HBS, it is important that you first determine what areas of your profile are soft spots that need to be strengthened. If you made it to the interview stage, it could be that the major factor in your rejection was your performance in the admissions interview. If that is the case, during the time you have before reapplying, you should put yourself in environments that make you speak up in a collaborative setting or practice your speaking skills through other activities such as participating in Toastmasters.

You should also review your prior HBS application carefully, or secure a formal Ding Analysis, to determine in which areas you can improve. Perhaps your essay content was off, failing to convey how much impact you have brought through your past achievements (professional, academic, extracurricular) and how you can bring the same sort of impact to HBS. Maybe you failed to demonstrate what HBS refers to as a “Habit of Leadership”. Perhaps you did not come across through your application as someone who loves rigorous debate and new ideas – key attributes HBS looks for. Maybe the admissions committee did not see your short-term or long-term goals as achievable. Perhaps your extracurricular activities should be strengthened. Whatever the shortcomings, once you identify the shortcomings, you should use the time you have before reapplying to improve in those areas.



If you would like a Ding Analysis or assistance in preparing an excellent application, contact us at https://www.mbaadmit.com or send an email to info@mbaadmit.com.

We welcome you to sign up for our FREE informative Newsletter, which provides useful tips, insider information and guidance for applying to top MBA programs. Sign up on the right hand side of our homepage at https://www.mbaadmit.com.

Best wishes,
Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts)
President, MBA Admit.com
Email: info@mbaadmit.com From Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts), https://www.mbaadmit.com, email: info@mbaadmit.com

U.S. News & World Report has announced its ranking of the 2019 Best Graduate Schools, and in the business school category, the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business moved up this year to tie with Harvard Business School for the No. 1 spot among full-time MBA programs for the first time in the history of the U.S. News ranking.
2019 Best Full-Time MBA Programs
1. Harvard Business School (tie)
1. Chicago Booth School of Business (tie)
3. University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
4. Stanford Graduate School of Business
5. MIT Sloan School of Management
6. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
7. UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
8. University of Michigan Ross School of Business
9. Columbia Business School
10. Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business
2019 Best Part-Time MBA Programs
1. UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
2. Chicago Booth School of Business
3. Kellogg School of Management
4. NYU Stern School of Business
5. UCLA Anderson School of Management
6. UM Ross School of Business
7. CMU Tepper School of Business (tie)
7. UT McCombs School of Business (tie)
9. Fisher College of Business-Ohio State (tie)
9. Carlson School of Management-University of Minnesota (tie)
11. Georgetown McDonough School of Business (tie)
11. USC Marshall School of Business (tie)
Methodology
Rankings come from statistical surveys of the programs, as well as reputation surveys sent to more than 20,500 academics and professionals between 2017 and the beginning of 2018. Factors that go into rankings include test scores, starting salaries and employment rates after graduation.

For the first time, U.S. News reduced the value of reported GPA, GRE and GMAT scores for full-time and part-time MBA programs and GRE scores in the education rankings if less than 50 percent of an entering class submitted these scores. U.S. News believes this lack of data means the scores are not representative of the entire class.

“In measuring graduate schools nationwide, our ranking formulas evolve as more and more data become available,” said Robert Morse, chief data strategist at U.S. News, in a statement. “From MBA programs to law schools, our aim is to take full advantage of data that are representative of incoming classes and to provide information, where available, on career placement success.”

Also new this year, the MBA rankings, along with U.S. News’ rankings of online and undergraduate business programs, will be featured in the “Best Business Schools 2019” guidebook, to be published later this spring.

“Prospective students can choose from a range of options to continue their education,” said Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News. “The graduate school rankings and data are a great starting point for applicants to find the program that’s the best fit for them academically and financially.”

 
***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

They say the early bird gets the worm. Almost one month earlier than last year, Harvard Business School (HBS) has released its application essay prompt. Maybe it was able to do so expeditiously because… it made no changes to the question from last year. HBS director of admissions Chad Losee, now entering his third application season, must feel the prompt is effective in eliciting the kind of information the admissions committee finds valuable in evaluating potential students. Our analysis of the prompt and advice on the best way to approach it therefore also remain constant…

“As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?” (no word limit)

Take special note of the word “more” in this straightforward question. With it, the admissions committee is subtly acknowledging that it already has a lot of information about you that it can and will use to get to know you better, including your resume, extracurricular activities, recommendations, short-answer question responses, academic transcripts, and GMAT/GRE score. You should therefore think first about what these portions of your application convey about who you are as an individual and candidate, so you can determine which parts of your profile still need presenting or could benefit from more detail. Now, some applicants may fret that this means they absolutely cannot touch on anything mentioned elsewhere in their application, for fear that the admissions committee will become annoyed and reject them. However, HBS is not asking only for fresh information—it is asking for more, and specifically, whatever “more” you believe the committee needs to evaluate you thoroughly and fairly. So, even though a bullet on your resume may inform the school of a certain fact, if a profoundly important story lurks behind that fact that you feel effectively expresses a key part of your personality or skill set, you should not feel hesitant to share that story. That said, we are not advocating for you to explore your resume in depth, just trying to convey that “more” here does not mean strictly “thus far unmentioned.”

Before we discuss a few approaches you might take in framing this essay, we must note that your goal in writing it is sincerity. The admissions committee is not staffed by robots, seeking to detect a certain “type” of applicant. These are human beings who are trying to get to know you and really want to end up liking you! With this essay, you essentially want to forge a meaningful connection with a complete stranger, and if you try to present yourself as something or someone you are not, you will fail.

You, like many other applicants, may worry that your sincere stories will sound clichéd. For example, if you want to write about making a difference, you may wince simply thinking those words: “making a difference.” But the power of your story does not lie in the theme you choose (if you choose to write thematically, that is) but in the manner in which you reveal your actions. If you have truly made a significant difference in the lives of others and can own that angle by offering powerful anecdotes and demonstrating a deep emotional connection to others and profound purpose in your acts, you can write on this topic. Although more than a few candidates will undoubtedly submit clichéd pieces on making a difference, if you can capture your admissions reader’s attention fully and make a strong enough impression, the cliché aspect will disappear, and he or she will be impressed by your actions and character.

So, what approach might you take to this essay? The prompt is so open-ended that we cannot possibly capture all possible options, but here are a few:

• Thematic approach: You could write about a characteristic or attribute that has woven its way throughout your life or that you have woven into your life. Do some self-exploration and see if you can identify a thread that is common to your greatest achievements, thereby illustrating its importance in bringing you to where you are today. Simply stating that theme is not enough—you need to really guide your reader through the illustrative events in your life to show how and why this theme manifests. In the end, your values are what need to come to the fore in this essay, rather than just a series of discrete episodes. (Note that highlighting your values is necessary with any approach you take to your HBS essay.)”
• Inflection points: Maybe the key events and aspects of your life cannot be neatly captured or categorized within a neat and tidy theme. People are complex, meaning that many are not able to identify a singular “force” that unifies their life experience. If this is you, do not worry—instead, consider discussing a few inflection points that were instrumental in shaping the individual you are today. This does not mean writing a very linear biography or regurgitating your resume in detail. The admissions committee does not need or want such a summary and is instead interested in your ability to reflect on the catalysts in and challenges to your world view and the manifestations thereof. Likewise, you do not need to offer a family history or an overarching explanation of your existence. Simply start with the first significant incident that shaped who you are as an adult, and again, ensure that your essay ultimately reveals your values.
• Singular anecdote: Although this is rare, you may have had a single standout experience that could serve as a microcosm of who you are and what you stand for. If this experience or moment truly defines you and strikes at the essence of your being, you can discuss it and it alone. You do not need to worry that offering just one anecdote will make your essay seem “skimpy” or present you as one-dimensional, as long as the story has inherent strength and power. You will need to delve into the narrative and let the story tell itself; if you are choosing to write a singular anecdote, the story should be sufficiently compelling on its own, without a lot of explanation.

You may have read through these three options and thought, “What about a fourth option, in which I discuss my goals and why HBS? Certainly they want to know about that!” The HBS admissions committee is a straight-shooting group—if the school wanted candidates to write about their goals and why HBS, or wanted them not to, the prompt would come right out and say so. The reality is that most people should not use this essay to discuss their career ambitions and interest in HBS, because doing so will not reveal that much “more” about them. For example, if you are a consultant who plans to return to consulting after graduation, we cannot imagine a scenario in which addressing your goals and why an HBS MBA is critical would constitute an effective use of this essay. However, if you are a medic at a bush hospital in Uganda and are applying to HBS with the goal of commercializing low-cost technologies to fight infectious diseases, this may well be a fitting topic for your essay, as you seek to connect the dots between your unusual (in a positive sense) career path and your aspirations. In short, for most candidates, we would suggest eschewing a “Why MBA? Why HBS?” approach, but in a few rare cases, it may be appropriate and compelling.

Finally, let us talk about word limits! HBS has not stipulated any particular parameters, but keep in mind that with each word, you are making a claim on someone else’s time—so you better make sure that what you have written is worth that additional time and effort. We expect that most of our clients will use between 850 and 1,000 words, with some using as few as 600 and a small minority using as many as 1,250. We have difficulty imagining a scenario in which an applicant would truly need more than 1,250, but we certainly know of candidates who were accepted with essays that exceeded that high target. In short, take the space you need to tell your story properly and showcase your personality and experience, and then work to reduce your essay to its lowest possible word count, without sacrificing any impact or effectiveness.

Have the Last Word: The Post-Interview Reflection (conditional on being interviewed)

From the admissions committee: “Following the interview, candidates are required to submit a written reflection using our online application system. This must be submitted within 24 hours following the completion of the interview. Detailed instructions will be provided to those applicants who are invited to the interview process.”

For the fourth consecutive year, HBS ask candidates who are granted an interview to complete one more written task. Within 24 hours of interviewing, you must submit some final words of reflection, addressing the question “How well did we get to know you?” As with the application essay, this post-interview reflection is open-ended; you can structure it however you wish and write about whatever you want to tell the committee. HBS urges interviewed applicants not to approach this reflection as a formal essay but instead “as an email you might write to a colleague or supervisor after a meeting.”

Some candidates may find this additional submission intimidating, but we encourage you to view it as an opportunity to reveal new aspects of your profile to the admissions committee. Because your HBS interviewer will have read your entire application before your meeting, you will likely discuss information from your resume, essays, recommendations, etc., during your interview. This post-interview reflection, then, could provide an opening for you to integrate new and different elements of your profile, thereby adding depth to your candidacy. For example, if you could not find a way to include the story of a key life experience of yours into your essays, but your interviewer touches on a similar story or something connected with this experience in your meeting, you would now have license to share that anecdote.

As soon as your interview is over, jot down all the topics covered and stories you discussed. If you interview on campus, note also any observations about your time there. For example, sitting in on a class might have reminded you of a compelling past experience, or participating in the case method may have provided insight into an approach you could use in some way in the future. Maybe the people you met or a building you saw made a meaningful impression on you. Whatever these elements are, tie them to aspects of your background and profile while adding some new thoughts and information about yourself. This last part is key—simply describing your visit will not teach the admissions committee anything about you, and a flat statement like “I loved the case method” will not make you stand out. Similarly, offering a summary of everything the admissions committee already knows about you will not advance your candidacy and would constitute a lost opportunity to keep the committee learning about who you are.

HBS offers some additional advice on the post-interview reflection that we strongly urge you to take seriously and follow:

• We will be much more generous in our reaction to typos and grammatical errors than we will be with pre-packaged responses. Emails that give any indication that they were produced BEFORE you had the interview will raise a flag for us.
• We do not expect you to solicit or receive any outside assistance with this exercise.

As for how long this essay should be, HBS again does not offer a word limit. We have seen successful submissions ranging from 400 words to more than 1,000. We recommend aiming for approximately 500, but adjust as appropriate to thoroughly tell the admissions committee what you feel is important, while striving to be succinct.

HBS receives more than 9,000 applications each year. How will you ensure that your essays will grab the attention of an overworked HBS admissions officer? Join us on Monday, April 30, 2018, for Writing a Standout Harvard Business School Essay, a free webinar during which mbaMission’s founder/president will help you conceptualize your essay ideas and understand how to execute them, so that your experiences truly stand out!

For a thorough exploration of HBS’s academic offerings, defining characteristics, crucial statistics, social life, community/environment, and other key facets of the program, please download your free copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to Harvard Business School.

The Next Step—Mastering Your HBS Interview: Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. Download your complimentary copy of the Harvard Business School Interview Primer today, and be sure to also check out our tailored HBS Mock Interview and Post-Interview Reflection Support.

Poonam, founder and president of myEssayReview, is publishing interviews of her most recent successful students.  This is the latest in the series. Here is a chat with Mansi, who was accepted into 5 top MBA programs –Kellogg, Wharton, INSEAD, Stanford, and Harvard. Mansi is headed to Harvard, her dream school.

Mansi’s interview is published in 4 parts wherein she shares her background, goals, reasons to pursue MBA, unwavering preference for HBS, application strategy and preparation, her success mantra, advice on video essays, and much more.

Now presenting the concluding part of the interview wherein Mansi shares her success mantra and her personal interests and  hobbies.

Poonam: What is the Mantra of your astounding success? Not many people are able to achieve what you have achieved. That is why I would like to know  about the Mantra of your phenomenal success.

Mansi: That is a tough one. I think everyone will have their own set of ways to achieve their goal. For me, number one mantra is hard work. In life, there is no short cut to success. It is the way you look at things. You have to have sleepless nights, and long days, and give enough time to achieve your goal, sacrifice other things in the life, and still maintain a balance. As you had rightly suggested- start early. The best way is to start early to give ample time to application.

The second Mantra is ‘strategy’. If I had pushed myself to apply to Harvard in Round I and had not listened to you, I am sure I could not have accomplished it. The kind of story that I had in Round I or the kind of confidence I had in my story in Round I was much less compared to what I had in Round II. Again, I came to know myself a lot more in  four five months than the two months I had before Round I deadlines. So you have to  strategize really well because your dream school deserves the best of your time, your strategy, and your hard work.  I would advise applicants to  give it enough time and thought, and strategize well.

The third Mantra is the ‘introspection’. Indian applicants have never gone through such a process; they have only prepared course material and taken exams. But B- school application is entirely a different process. It does have an exam which requires a lot of introspection, and it also has an interview process which truly focuses on your soft skills. Lastly, working on your weaknesses is also very important for which self-reflection is the key because unless you know your worth yourself, you will not know what you are weak at. Especially for the interview processes, you should be confident of handling your weaknesses and what you can do to mitigate them.

Poonam: That is right. It is a process of self-discovery, and by the time you reached Harvard Application, you had already discovered yourself.

Mansi: Absolutely.

Poonam: And I have memorized all your stories by heart.

Mansi: Yes. I know. And sometimes, I was actually amazed, when you would return my essays with comments that  this example does not fit this essay as much as the other example. You remembered all my stories which at times I had forgotten. You rightly said that this is a process of self-discovery. I also remember the 30 minute Harvard interview that happened in Mumbai; those 30 minutes felt like 3 hours, as we had a conversation which I would normally have with somebody in 3 hours. It was short, yet it covered almost every aspect of my life, professional as well as personal. If I had not known about myself that well, I could not have given that 3 hours’ worth of information in thirty minutes.

Poonam: True.  It has truly been a long and arduous journey. You must have made many personal sacrifices as well. Would you like to share those with us?

Mansi: Yes, Poonam. Very rightly said. You have to work hard towards what is really important to you. And in that particular process, you have to sacrifice other things to achieve what you really want to. As you are aware, I am married, and I had sacrificed a lot of my family time. At the same time, I am really thankful to my husband who has been immensely supportive all this while. I had to miss family time, festivals, get -togethers, and weddings. I am blessed to have a supportive family and husband. I will share this one particular incident when we were celebrating Deepawali at my in-laws place in Mumbai. I had gotten my first interview invite from Kellogg which was right after Deepawali, and  my husband prepared for all pooja and stuff while I was preparing for my interview questions. So yes, I had sacrificed a lot of different things- birthdays, family functions,  TV and movies, but I am sure that at the end of day, those are totally worth it.

Poonam: Definitely. They all must be very proud of you for this extraordinary achievement. I am proud of you.

Mansi: Thank you, Poonam. Yes, they are.

Poonam:  Let us talk about something outside of professional area. What are your hobbies, interests? What are your favorite books?

Mansi: As you know very well, I love to dance. Throughout my entire application process, I used to go for my dance class at least once a week to rejuvenate myself. I occasionally read science fiction. I am not a regular reader though.

Poonam: You are a certified Scuba diver as well.

Mansi: Yes. I am a certified scuba diver. I have dived in many countries such as Malaysia, India, Maldives, and Thailand. I can dive up to 18ft. Next month, I and my husband are going to Thailand for another diving trip after a gap of one year.

Poonam: Very good. Mansi, will you like to share anything that I have not asked?

Mansi: I have discussed almost all the aspects of application process. Again, key parts of your application process are- have a strong GMAT score, partner with a good consultant, strategize in which Round and which schools you apply to, start early, give yourself enough time for self-reflection, and definitely work hard. There is no short cut to success. Give your best. I am sure you can achieve what you want.

Poonam: Thank you for sharing your story. Your story will be inspirational for the prospective applicants.

Mansi: Thank you, Poonam. This is not only my story; this is your story as well.

Poonam: It is really nice of you to think that way.

Mansi:  This is a process you can’t do alone. This is a process where you need supportive people around you. So equal amount of thank you to you as well.

Poonam: Thank you so much. It was my privilege. I really enjoyed being part of your MBA journey. And I wish you good luck with Harvard. I hope you will have a wonderful time there. I will like to get in touch with you later.

Mansi: Definitely. I will keep you updated with my case studies at HBS.

Poonam: Wonderful. Thank you. It was a pleasure chatting with you.

Note: 

• Please  click at the following link to watch Mansi’s Video Interview:               https://youtu.be/5gmTESri_8Q
• You may connect with Mansi via LinkedIn  :
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mansi-dhiman-439b2449/
• For those who have not read the first 3 parts of the interview, here are the links:

Part 1- Mansi's Background, Goals, Reasons to do MBA, and Preference for HBS

https://myessayreview.com/student-interviews/indian-engineers-journey-5-top-mba-programs-including-dream-school-harvard/

Part 2- Mansi's' Application Strategy, Planning and Preparation

https://myessayreview.com/student-interviews/indian-engineers-journey-5-top-mba-programs-including-dream-school-harvard-part-2/

Part 3- Mansis’ Most Challenging Part of the Application Process, and her advice on video essays

https://myessayreview.com/student-interviews/indian-engineers-journey-5-tops-mba-programs-including-dream-school-harvard-part-3/

This interview was first published in  myEssayReview blog.

For questions, email Poonam at poonam@myessayreview.com

LinkedIn/ Facebook

 

From Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts), https://www.mbaadmit.com, email: info@mbaadmit.com

Interested in learning if we think you can be successful as an MBA applicant to a top business school? Feel free to sign up for a FREE Profile Evaluation directly from Dr. Shel Watts, a Harvard and Oxford graduate with Harvard admissions experience and over 25 years of work with MBA applicants. Fill out the profile evaluation form on our homepage at https://www.mbaadmit.com or send your resume to info@mbaadmit.com.

Ask about our current MBA application specials. Comprehensive packages beginning at $1795 (Compare with our competitors who charge $5,200!). Valid through May 5, 2018. Opt to work directly with Dr. Shel on your MBA applications!



Harvard MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines 2018-19



Deadlines

On 18 April 2018, the Harvard Business School (HBS) Admissions Director announced two of Harvard Business School’s deadlines for the 2018-2019 admissions season via the HBS admissions blog. Here they are:

Round 1: September 5, 2018
Round 2: January 3, 2019


Online Application

HBS will release the online application in early June 2018.


HBS Essay

Harvard has once again offered only one essay prompt as a part of its MBA application. The sole essay has no specific topic and no word limit! This year once again, Harvard’s MBA essay topic is:

“As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?” No word limit.

If you are like many candidates in the last few years, this essay topic may have you very unnerved, uncertain about what material to present. After all, the rejection rate at Harvard Business School for applicants to the Class of 2018 was 89%. Approximately 9,759 candidates applied to Harvard’s MBA program and HBS admitted a mere 11%. Moreover, Harvard now boasts a 91% yield – that is, 91% of admitted candidates matriculated. Very impressive!

The take-away: Harvard is in great demand and those candidates who are admitted are more than happy to attend this prestigious and renowned institution. Competition is keen, and hence it is imperative that you prepare an outstanding application if you hope to gain an admissions interview. Here are some practices to observe and ideas to guide you as you assess how you should approach the one admissions essay topic that HBS is offering this year.

Review the Business School Materials Offered

In introducing their MBA programs, many business schools including Harvard provide links to information about the programs. For instance, there are HBS videos about the Harvard Business School experience and common qualities of current students. There are also other HBS videos that allow you to take a good look at the school’s culture. You can glean a strong understanding of what qualities HBS values in students. After reviewing materials like this, take a solid look at your credentials and experiences. Do you have some of the valued characteristics and experiences? How can you show that you can fit in and contribute at HBS? Consider including comments about these matters in your essay.

A Holistic Approach

Even with one single open-ended, no-word-limit essay to write, it is important that your entire application conveys the strengths of your candidacy and also addresses any weaknesses (indirectly or directly). All parts of your application must work wonderfully together to convey your message and story to the committee. The resume, recommendations and application form take on much more importance in this context. Indeed, the application form and resume are often “missed opportunities”, where candidates fail to showcase their greatest assets for admission. Remember, the admissions committee sees your application form and resume before the essays. These are your “first impression” – and first impressions last! Use this space well. It will free you to focus more deeply on important themes in your essay.

You should stand back, determine which of your achievements, experiences, skills, activities and credentials are most important for admissions success, and make certain that these are highlighted somewhere in your application. HBS, for instance, provides spaces for the applicant to mention very important parts of their portfolio. These spaces are divided mainly into three sections on the application form: employment, academics, and activities. Take the time to consider what you will highlight on your resume and application form. Try to communicate well with your recommendation writers, so that they can introduce useful information through their recommendations for you.

With such a holistic view of your application, you can be confident that if you have explained on the application form how you contributed excellently as you served as a board member of an important nonprofit, you may not need to elaborate on that also in the essay. Likewise, if you have clearly indicated the strength of your GPA and awards on your resume, you may not need to refer to this again in your essay.

Strategy is the Key

After reviewing your key strengths in the areas of your professional, academic, extracurricular and personal achievements, and after checking to make sure most of these are reflected somewhere in your application (resume, recommendations and application form), you are free to focus in on the essay. Make certain to shine a light on value-added information that can help get you to an “Admitted!” outcome. Taking the opportunity to shine a light on your winning attributes in your essay is what we at MBA Admit.com call “strategic content”. Whether you convey your unique strengths and attributes effectively can make all the difference between acceptance and rejection. You should strive to present a compelling blend of topics that highlight your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

“Creative Strategy” for the Open-Ended Single Essay

Even though Harvard’s sole essay is open-ended, you are still seeking to paint a clear, well thought-out picture of who you are and your qualifications. With an open-ended, no-word-limit essay, you have ample space and creative freedom to implement your strategy. In addressing the no-word-limit essay, blend in references to the topics you have determined merit more space in your application and, in addition, think about these matters:

Length

Don’t submit a book-of-an-essay that is 3,000 words or longer. We are sure you have led an amazing life and have enough accomplishments to fill a 3,000 essay, but the admissions committee will not want to read something that long and may be left thinking your ego is a little too healthy in size.

In most cases, you also should not submit a hyper-short essay that is 100 words or less. To do this can be read as arrogant, even if your credentials are outstanding in every way (professional, academic, and extracurricular). Are there exceptions to this? Of course. If you are an under-represented candidate who graduated Summa Cum Laude from an Ivy League college, have had promotions at a prestigious company like Morgan Stanley, have always received the top performance ratings, scored a 770 GMAT score, were student government president for three years during college and are certain you will receive glowing recommendations, perhaps you can afford to submit the 100-word essay. The rest of your application will speak amazingly to your credentials! But, most candidates don’t fit this profile, so you should use the essay as premium space to “make your case” to the admission committee.

As you decide on the ideal length, bear in mind that in the past couple of years, a typical-length MBA admissions essay set allowed for approximately 1,000-1,600 words, so that can give you a sense of what might be considered appropriate and not excessive in terms of a word limit. You may be able to state your case in 600-1,100 words.

Tone

What about the tone of the essay? Is it okay to make the essay tone more casual? Yes. Is it okay to make the essay tone more formal? Yes. There is not necessarily a right or wrong choice; it is a matter of what is the best choice for the needs of your candidacy and application. That is, given your candidacy, what style would be effective? There are countless ways to compose a compelling essay. But remember, the ultimate purpose of the essay is to persuade the Harvard admissions committee to say “yes” to your candidacy. Adopt a style that can advance you toward that end.

Self-constructed prompt

When an essay topic is as open-ended as Harvard’s this year, some candidates make the mistake of constructing an essay that wanders in too many directions, rambles in parts and is not coherent. One way to help ensure you write a strong essay is to determine your own essay prompt. Thinking about what that prompt is can help you create a theme that permeates the whole essay. You may end up mentioning a mixture of professional, academic and extracurricular successes, and that is fine. But, they should not be clumped together in a scattered sort of way. Flesh out what your theme is. For instance, a successful essay might present topics that reflect the theme, “This is what has influenced me to be who I am today.” Alternatively, a successful essay might reflect themes such as, “These are the things that motivate my future goals,” or “This is who I intend to be in 10 years,” or “This is my personal story and why my passion for my profession is so deep.” The possibilities go on. With such a potentially long essay, make sure your essay holds together well.

Specific personal values

As you draft, also bear other matters in mind. Certain schools value specific personal values and characteristics. Schools like Harvard, for instance, value proven leadership, strong ethics, curiosity and innovation. Consider including topics that show you have these traits.

Why HBS? Long-term goal? What can you contribute?

It is okay to touch on more traditional topics also. For instance, what are your long-term goals? Why is Harvard right for you? What can you contribute to HBS and through your future career? But, try not to present a dry essay that simply answers the common MBA essay question, “What are your long-term goals and why our school?” If that was precisely what HBS wanted to hear about, it would have presented that as the essay prompt.

Other elements of style

Please also bear in mind that your style can vary greatly with an open-ended, no-word-limit essay. Even if you choose to write the essay as if the topic was about what has influenced you to be who you are today, you can do this by taking us back in time to a pivotal life event. Or you can take us forward in time to who you intend to be and reflect on the influences that have put you on a path to this vision. Or you can adopt a straight-forward style and simply recount your main messages. Don’t restrict yourself, but also don’t forget that your adopted style should be – above all else – effective. It is better to have a straight-forward style that got you an “Accepted” reply than a creative style that failed to convey the key attributes that would have elicited a positive response from the admissions committee.

The application is your very important “marketing package”, so use it well!

Good luck in your writing process and feel free to reach out to us at https://www.mbaadmit.com if you need some assistance!!



We welcome you to sign up for our FREE informative Newsletter, which provides useful tips, insider information and guidance for applying to top MBA programs. Sign up on the right hand side of our homepage at https://www.mbaadmit.com.

Best wishes,
Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts)
President, MBA Admit.com
Email: info@mbaadmit.com From Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts), https://www.mbaadmit.com, email: info@mbaadmit.com