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Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog

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IESE Fall 2018 MBA Essay Question [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   29 Jun 2017, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: IESE Fall 2018 MBA Essay Question

Spain’s IESE Business School has posted the following essay questions, found within the online MBA application, for the 2017-18 admissions cycle.

Essay Question 1
Please answer ONE (and only one) of the following two questions. (300 words)

  • If you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? Please give examples of both your strengths & weaknesses.
  • Describe a recent situation (1-2 years ago maximum) that demonstrates your fit with IESE’s mission and values.
Essay Question 2 (Optional)
I wish that the application had asked me…

This essay can be submitted either written (200 words) or as a video (max 2:00 minutes total in length). We are aware that you are not a media professional.

***

For more information on applying, please visit the IESE admissions website.
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Which Set of MBA Essays Should You Focus on First? [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   03 Jul 2017, 11:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Which Set of MBA Essays Should You Focus on First?
While not all Class of 2020 MBA applications have gone live yet, many have—and other programs have posted their essay questions so that applicants can at least get going on their drafts. But how should you pick which school to start with?

Some people prefer to start with the essay set that’s due first—which is totally fine—but that may not be the best strategy for other b-school hopefuls. It might simply come down to what you feel most motivated to work on right now, because we all know that if you’re dreading something, you’ll find reasons to keep putting it off.

Since you have less than three months before the majority of Round 1 deadlines, another tactic is to start with the school you want to get into the most. You will inevitably end up circling back and revising those essays as the due date nears, but it may help lower your stress level to know that you’re giving yourself the absolute most time possible to work on your dream school.

Another option is to review the essays for all of the schools you’re interested in and then pick the most extensive set to begin drafting. That way, you may be able to leverage some content—such as the explanation of your short- and long-term career goals—for your remaining applications.

Or, you could take the exact opposite approach: start with the school whose essays seem the least daunting. It’ll be that much easier for the words and thoughts to start flowing if you already have ideas about what to write. This process is about creating momentum to carry yourself through the coming weeks, and getting one school crossed off your list sooner rather than later can be a huge motivator.

So if a voice in the back of your head is telling you to start with School X, listen to that voice and get going!

Think of it this way:



 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

The team at Stacy Blackman Consulting

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Tuesday Tips: UT McCombs School Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   04 Jul 2017, 12:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: UT McCombs School Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips

The UT McCombs School of Business is a globally recognized MBA program, located in Austin, Texas, a center of technology and business for the region.

When approaching these essay questions think about the reasons you are pursuing an MBA, particularly at McCombs. Thorough school research will help you come up with specifics, by taking to current or former students, visiting campus, or attending admissions events.

Stacey Kammerdiener, Senior Texas Full-Time MBA Admissions Officer advises, “While it may be tempting, do us (and yourself) a favor and avoid the snooze-fest/shock-factor extremes. Instead, approach your essays genuinely and with reflection.” More advice can be found at the Texas MBA Insider blog.

ESSAY ONE

Introduce yourself.

Select only one communication method that you would like to use for your response.

• Write an essay (250 words), OR

• Share a video introduction (one minute)

For an open-ended essay with a creative option (the video) it can be daunting to think of a topic. Rather than focusing on how you are going to communicate, start thinking about what you want to communicate to the Texas MBA admissions committee by introducing yourself to your new study group.

The best essays will dive deep into your motivations and aspirations, perhaps getting into your cultural background, formative moments in your life and friends, family and colleagues who have influenced you. To identify one or two key stories you may want to tell, think about those pivotal moments of change in your life.

For many people the transition from high school to college and from college to work led to personal change. Others had formative childhood experiences or experiences that led to shifts in perspective like travel or living outside your home country. Any one of these moments could be a good way to illustrate who you are and what motivates you.

Once you have identified the content of your essay you can decide how to present it. A video could give you the opportunity to add elements of emotion, such as humor, that are harder to convey in writing. A video also allows you to include graphics, photos or other visual elements. If your story fits better into a written narrative you may choose the written essay instead.

If you choose a video essay you will still want to write a script for your video. Think about the bullet points you want to cover, and any important points you need to convey. If you decide to talk into the camera, rehearsing will be especially important, and consider having a friend or family member there so you can talk to a person instead of the camera. If you are able to edit the video after you record footage it will be easier to keep it smooth and on topic. Either way, make sure you take the time to record several takes of the video content so you can choose the best one to submit to McCombs.

ESSAY TWO

Picture yourself at graduation. Describe how you spent your two years as a Texas MBA student, and how that experience helped to prepare you for the post-MBA world. (500 words)

This essay is your opportunity to demonstrate strong fit with the Texas MBA program. As part of your homework before starting this set of essays you have hopefully learned as much as possible about the school, now you can bring in your own aspirations and goals. Use your imagination to think about how you might describe your MBA experience at graduation. You’ll likely have experienced both professional and personal growth, and met interesting people who will be part of your lifelong network.

To help you get started, research some of the unique opportunities at McCombs like the Venture Labs, if you have entrepreneurial dreams, and The MBA+ Program, with opportunities to work with influential companies through a variety of touch points. Being part of the city of Austin is another unique benefit to the program that you may want to consider in the context of your background and goals.

For example, perhaps you were interested in working for a major technology firm to learn product manager skills to use in starting your own business. While at McCombs you might have tested ideas with the Venture Labs, and also consulted for major companies like Adobe or HP to learn how large companies worked. These experiences were likely formative as you made career plans.

Don’t forget the personal – McCombs has an active and engaged student culture with many student organizations you likely joined. And your classmates and friends you made in the program were definitely an influence as well.

OPTIONAL STATEMENT

Please provide any additional information you believe is important and/or address any areas of concern that will be beneficial to the Admissions Committee in considering your application (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). (250 words)

This optional essay provides space for you to add your own context to any information that should be explained to the admissions committee. For example, if you have a lower than average test score, any grades below a C on your transcript, academic probation or a significant resume gap, you can explain here. Keep your explanation concise and factual, and focused on context for the issue rather than excuses.

Stacy Blackman Consulting can provide personalized, strategic guidance for your Texas MBA application. Contact us to learn more.
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Tuesday Tips: The Wharton School Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   04 Jul 2017, 12:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: The Wharton School Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips
The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania has kept this set of essays simple. Specific advice on essays from a student reminds applicants that “the Admissions Committee is looking to understand more about you and your unique personality and how that can ultimately contribute to the Wharton community. We are a student-driven campus and need each and every MBA to bring something to the table.”

As you consider how to approach this set of essays get to know the Wharton community. Some possible ways to connect include campus visits, online research and the many admissions events around the globe. Wharton has a specific culture, and fit with that culture is an important part of the admissions criteria.

Essay 1:

What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words)

This is both a standard career goals question and an inquiry into your personality and potential success in the program. Jordan Mock, WG’16 wrote a blog post with three excellent tips for this essay, in which he says, “Wharton is unique and your essay should reflect that.”

Be careful to answer the specific question in this career goals essay. Notice that you are not asked about your professional background or your key accomplishments outright. To answer the question asked, you will want to focus mainly on the future and what you are planning to pursue with your MBA degree. How will a Wharton MBA help you “connect the three career dots” that Jordan writes about?

To answer the question there is room to add color by using your background information where it is most relevant to your goals. Think about the key moments of your professional life that crystallized your goals for you, and focus on illuminating those decision points rather than reciting your entire resume. Anything unique in your background is always worth highlighting.

Understanding exactly how you fit in will help you describe what Wharton will do for you, as well as navigate interviews and other interactions with the Wharton admissions committee. Consider including specific information from your Wharton research in this essay such as Wharton faculty you would like to study with or unique educational opportunities at Wharton.

When you address your personal goals for the MBA make sure you are making the case for Wharton specifically. Consider what living in Philadelphia might be like, the many clubs and student activities, and leadership development opportunities like traveling to Antarctica with your classmates that may address some of your personal life goals.

Essay 2:

Teamwork is at the core of the Wharton MBA experience with each student contributing unique elements to our collaborative culture. How will you contribute to the Wharton community? (400 words)

Wharton is an intense environment, but also one that takes pride in collaboration and community. This question seeks to understand how you work with others and what your leadership style is. Collaboration and teamwork are important key concepts to illustrate in this essay.

Your contribution to Wharton could be in the classroom, clubs or within small group projects. You might bring your experiences launching a new product to your marketing case studies. Maybe you will lend creative ideas to your learning team as you prepare a research project.

Perhaps you will tutor your learning teammate in accounting principles because he has never done accounting at work. Or you might contribute to the Media and Entertainment Club by leading a career trek or bringing a new speaker to campus. Think about what you have learned in your career and in prior academics that may help those around you.

This essay does not explicitly require examples of teamwork or leadership from your past experiences, but it will be a stronger essay if you provide evidence. Think about a time you demonstrated your collaborative approach to team problem solving, and consider how you can prove what you contributed to your community in your workplace or extracurricular activities.



Additional Question (required for all re-applicants):

Explain how you have reflected on the previous decision about your application, and discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)*

*First-time applicants may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances. (250 words)

All re-applicants are required to provide information that supports your renewed candidacy. The most successful version of the re-applicant essay will provide tangible evidence that you have improved the overall package you are submitting this year.

Improvements like GMAT score or new quantitative classes are especially tangible and convincing, but a promotion, increase in responsibility at work, a job change or even a change of goals and mission can serve as reasonable updates.

A rejection or waitlist last year is a form of feedback, and may have led to soul searching for you. When you describe your changes make sure reflect your ability to take feedback and improve. Describe how you approached the reapplication process after assessing your own strengths and weaknesses as a candidate and making the appropriate efforts to improve.

If you are not a re-applicant you may use this space to address any areas of concern in your application. If you have a low GPA or GMAT, gaps in your resume, grades under a C in any quantitative courses, disciplinary action in undergrad or anything else that you want to explain, this is where you would provide a brief explanation and any supporting evidence to show you have moved past the setback and corrected any concerns.

Contact Stacy Blackman Consulting for customized advice to give you that competitive edge in your Wharton application.
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GMAC Finds Employers Hot for Hiring MBAs [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   05 Jul 2017, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: GMAC Finds Employers Hot for Hiring MBAs
Corporate hiring plans for 2017 point to robust employment opportunities for graduates of MBA and business master’s programs, according to a new employer survey report from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

Globally, 86 percent of companies plan to hire recent MBA graduates this year, up from 79 percent that hired them in 2016. Demand for these MBA graduates is strongest in the United States and Asia-Pacific, where 9 in 10 companies plan to hire these candidates.

“Despite the political uncertainty about the status of immigration and work visas in the United States and other parts of the world, companies are keen to hire graduates from this year’s MBA and business master’s programs, including international candidates,” said Sangeet Chowfla, GMAC president and CEO. “This signifies the value these programs create for students and the vital role their skillsets bring employers.”



At the time GMAC conducted the Corporate Recruiters Survey in early 2017, respondents in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the United States declared their companies are staying the course with plans to hire international graduate business candidates. Overall, 59 percent of the survey respondents plan to hire or are willing to hire MBA and business master’s graduates requiring legal documentation — a gain of seven percentage points from 2016.

Most U.S. companies (55 percent) either plan to hire (28 percent) or are open to hiring (27 percent) an international candidate in 2017 — up from 49 percent that had such plans last year. The technology industry in the U.S. is the most likely to hire international business graduates this year. Half of U.S. tech firms (50 percent) plan to hire such candidates in 2017 — up from 27 percent that planned to hire them last year.

GMAC conducted the 16th annual Corporate Recruiters Survey in February and March 2017 together with survey partners EFMD and MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance (MBA CSEA), in association with 97 participating graduate business schools. Survey findings are based on responses from 959 employers representing more than 628 companies in 51 countries worldwide. Two additional organizations, CEMS and RelishMBA, assisted with recruitment of survey participants.

More Start-Up Companies Plan to Hire B-School Grads This Year

For the first time, this year’s survey report breaks out the responses specifically among start-up companies, revealing a promising 2017 hiring outlook for business school graduates. Three in 4 start-ups plan to hire recent MBA graduates in 2017, up from the 52 percent that hired them in 2016. More start-ups also plan to make 2017 hires from graduates of Master in Management (37 percent), Master of Accounting (23 percent), and Master of Finance (25 percent) programs.

Compensation: MBA Salaries Will Reflect 83 Percent Premium Over Recent Bachelor’s Salaries

Globally, more than half of survey respondents (52 percent) report that MBA base salaries will increase at (34 percent) or above (18 percent) the rate of inflation in 2017. Latin America (74 percent of respondents) and Asia-Pacific (59 percent) have the greatest share of companies that plan to increase MBA salaries either at or above the rate of inflation this year.

A majority of European and U.S. companies (57 percent and 51 percent, respectively) will maintain 2016 salary rates for new MBA hires in 2017. The projected median base starting salary for recent MBA graduates in the U.S. in 2017 is US$110,000, up from a median of US$105,000 in 2016. This represents an 83 percent premium over recent bachelor’s-degree holders in the U.S., who can expect to receive a median starting salary of US$60,000 in 2017.

“Once again, this year’s report brings to light the continued value of the MBA degree to the marketplace,” said Megan Hendricks, executive director of MBA CSEA. “The increased interest in specialty master’s talent provides further indication of the relevance of these programs at our member schools.”
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Georgetown McDonough Fall 2018 MBA Essays [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   06 Jul 2017, 10:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Georgetown McDonough Fall 2018 MBA Essays

The McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University has published the updated application essays for the 2017-18 admissions cycle. Per the admissions website:

We want to hear your story. When responding to our required essays, be authentic and take time to reflect on your goals and past experiences. Craft a response that explains how these experiences led you to pursue an MBA.

  • Essay One: We would like to learn more about you. Please answer the following essay question in 500 words or less: “What matters to you? Please share an experience from your past that illustrates why this matters to you and how it will enable you to contribute during your MBA Program (note: this does not necessarily need to be related to your professional goals).”
  • Video Essay: Please introduce yourself to your future Georgetown MBA cohort in a one minute video. The Admissions Committee would like for you to appear in person during part of your video, and we strongly encourage you to speak outside of the experiences we can read on your resume. You may paste the link to your Youtube or Vimeo video in your application. Please note that we cannot accept private or password protected videos.  For more instructions, view our Video Essay Guide.
  • Optional Essay One: If you are not currently employed full-time, use this essay to provide information about your current activities. (250 words or fewer)
  • Optional Essay Two: Please provide any information you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included. (500 words or fewer)
  • Re-Applicant Essay: Required for re-applicants. How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally. (500 words or fewer)
For additional information on applying, please visit the Georgetown MBA admissions website.
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IU Kelley School Fall 2018 MBA Essays [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   06 Jul 2017, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: IU Kelley School Fall 2018 MBA Essays

Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business has announced the MBA essay questions for the 2017-18 admissions season.

Required Essays 
1. Please discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

2. Please respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

  • My greatest memory is…
  • I’m most afraid of…
  • My greatest challenge has been…
  • I’m most proud of…
3. Please share with the admissions committee an interesting or surprising fact about you (25 words)

Optional Essay
Is there anything else you think we should know as we evaluation your application? If you believe your essays and credentials represent you fairly, you shouldn’t fell obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

For more information on applying, please visit the IU Kelley MBA admissions website.
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IU Kelley School Fall 2018 Application Deadlines [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   06 Jul 2017, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: IU Kelley School Fall 2018 Application Deadlines

The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University has published the following MBA application deadlines for the 2017-18 admissions season.

Early Round
Application due: October 15, 2017

Decision released: by December 20, 2017

Priority Round
Application due: January 5, 2018

Decision released: by March 15, 2018

Third Round
Application due: March 1, 2018

Decision released: by April 30, 2018

Final Round
Application due: April 15, 2018

Decision released: by May 31, 2018

***

Early application is encouraged. The first two deadlines are priority deadlines for merit-based financial aid consideration. For additional information on applying, please visit the Kelley MBA admissions website.
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Oxford MBA Program Announces Fall 2018 Application Essays [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   07 Jul 2017, 10:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Oxford MBA Program Announces Fall 2018 Application Essays

The University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School has published the MBA essay questions for the 2017-18 admissions cycle.

Mandatory essays:
  • Consider a statistic or trend that shocks you. Why it is important to you and how could it be changed for the better? (Maximum 500 words)
  • Is there anything not covered in the application form which you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you? (Maximum 250 words)
If you are applying under the 1+1 scheme you also need to submit the following essay:

  •  Explain why you see this as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your careers and personal development aims (Maximum 250 words)
Re-applicants will need to complete the essays mentioned above and another essay on the topic:

  • What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Maximum 250 words)
When reviewing your essays the Admissions Committee will be looking for evidence of the following: Good communication skills, leadership potential, analytical skills, fit within the Oxford MBA community, among other characteristics.

***

For additional information on the Oxford MBA, please visit theSaïd Business School admissionswebsite.
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Oxford MBA Program’s Fall 2018 Application Deadlines [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   07 Jul 2017, 10:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Oxford MBA Program’s Fall 2018 Application Deadlines

Saïd Business School at University of Oxford has posted the following MBA application deadlines for the 2017-18 admissions season.

Stage 1
Application due: September 29, 2017

Decision released: December 8, 2017

Stage 2
Application due: January 5, 2018

Decision released: March 9, 2018

Stage 3
Application due: March 16, 2018

Decision released: May 4, 2018

Stage 4
Application due: May 11, 2018

Decision released: June 15, 2018

The admissions process to recruit the Oxford MBA Class of 2018-19 will open on August 1, 2017. For additional information on applying, please visit the Said Business Schooladmissions website.
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Tips for Picking the Right MBA Recommenders [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   10 Jul 2017, 09:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tips for Picking the Right MBA Recommenders
Although Round 1 applications aren’t due until the fall, it’s definitely not too early to start thinking about who’s going to support you as you pull together your materials. Your recommenders in particular will play a critical role in the process. So how do you ensure you ask the right people to write letters on your behalf?

The majority of programs require two recommendation letters and usually prefer one of those to be from a direct manager. However, almost all schools will waive that requirement if you think your position (or possible promotion or bonus) would be adversely affected by informing your employer of your intention to go back to school. If that’s the situation you’re in, simply note it briefly in the “Additional Information” or “Optional Essay” space.

You also may be in a position where you don’t have just one direct manager. In that case you have an option of who to approach. In both this scenario and when considering who will write your second letter, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of asking the most appropriate people.

Adcoms greatly prefer to hear from managers and co-workers who know you well, both personally and professionally. They’re looking for more insight into what makes you tick, how you perform in groups, and what your potential is for the future. They are rarely impressed or swayed by a recommender’s title or alumni status—what they care about is whether or not you will be an asset to the program because of what you’ve achieved to date.

One of the biggest mistakes we see applicants make is asking their company’s CEO—who they barely know or may have never even met in person—to write their recommendation letter. If your recommender cannot go into specifics about your accomplishments or provide detailed anecdotes that highlight your positive personality traits, you’ve just missed a huge opportunity to differentiate yourself from the competition.

We suggest taking some time to list out all of the people you could ask to write a letter of support for your MBA applications. Who are your biggest cheerleaders at work? Who would jump at the chance to help you get into your dream school? Who would feel like they, too, got in to Program X if you were accepted? Those are the people to focus in on, because they will go above and beyond to write a stellar—and most importantly, memorable—reference.

Remember:



 

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

The team at Stacy Blackman Consulting

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The Bigger Picture: The Power of Our Perspective [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   11 Jul 2017, 06:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: The Bigger Picture: The Power of Our Perspective
Last night I had dinner with a friend who recently closed down her business. It was an entrepreneurial venture about which she had fantasized for a decade. A few years ago, she took the plunge. With support from her husband, they raised money, built an app, assembled a team and started to grow. Things were moving: they had customers, revenue, buzz…but not quite enough. They encountered the usual avalanche of business challenges: unreliable contractors, slow build schedules, disgruntled customers, uneven revenue, and ultimately, not enough revenue. While my friend and her husband were in perfect agreement that revenue needed to grow, his opinion was that the business model had not panned out; the low revenue was evidence that the business did not have legs. Her take? It was just a problem that needed to be solved. She still believed in the concept, saw scattered evidence that the customers they needed were out there, and decided the basic challenge was finding more of those types of customers.

It got me thinking about the power of our perspective. Really, the incredibly immense power of the way we view things. It’s everything…absolutely everything.

We’ve all heard the expressions:

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

And we all know that two people can view the exact same thing in completely different ways. It’s the same event/idea/image, yet completely different depending on who is viewing it. Look no further than the current US President for evidence.

I recently saw this put to work in the simplest ways on a family trip to Japan. Foods labeled “disgusting” were consumed with gusto when my kids saw how they were made with ingredients they were accustomed to.  Bedtimes made sense only when it was explained what time it was at home. It wasn’t the actual food that mattered, or even the fact that their bodies felt tired: it was their thoughts about these issues,

While perspective is a concept I have known of and taken for granted for as long as I can remember, I have been thinking more lately about consciously shifting my perspective to help me get where I want to go.

Right before school ended, my youngest daughter was playing with some friends by the pool, and she fell in, fully clothed. She was embarrassed and told me, “what if Jake tells the other kids at school tomorrow that I fell in?” I decided to shift the story for her: “Go to school and tell your friends what a funny night you had; you jumped in the pool with your clothes on and it was hilarious!!!” Suddenly, the embarrassment vanished and she was excited to share this silly story with friends.

Next week my family is leaving on a cross country road trip in an RV. It’s been my husband’s dream for years and something that I have resisted. But here we are, and I have been thinking about the smelly bathroom on wheels, the dusty national parks and the very, very close quarters for my rowdy family of five. But now I am shifting my perspective. I am buying the supplies and setting the ground rules I need to make things comfortable. I am talking to the kids about documenting our travels in our revived family blog, Lollipops & Laughter. I am thinking about the friends we will visit on our travels: shout-out to Nicole Small, one of my very best friends, who I met in business school and with whom we will be staying in Jackson Hole. I am getting excited about planning activities and bonding without the distraction of other people, TV, constant connectedness and big city life. I am thinking less about the “porta-potty on wheels” as one friend called it, and more about traditions, making memories and getting back to basics. I am shifting my perspective.



The power of perspective shows up in so many things. My friend Yael quit sugar a few years ago, When I asked her if she misses it, she emphatically replied no. She said that instead of deprivation, she views it as giving a gift to herself.

My son is exceptionally good at coming right home, sitting down and cranking out his homework. When we marvel over his lack of procrastination and self-discipline, he shrugs that he just wants to get it out of the way so he can have fun. In his mind, it’s not discipline – it’s common sense; who wouldn’t want more time to play?

If you have a challenge in front of you, rather than pushing and pushing in the exact same way to get through it, try shifting your perspective. Consider it in a different light and perhaps it will become easy, fun or at least less challenging.

Change your reality just by changing the way you think about it. And then thank the incredible, super-human power of our perspective.

 

 

 

 
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Tuesday Tips: UVA Darden Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   11 Jul 2017, 13:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: UVA Darden Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips

TheDarden School of Business is a top tier MBA program at University of Virginia. Due to the strength of its academic community, UVA has significant entrepreneurial activity and is interested in fostering innovation within the MBA program.

Darden has only one required essay as part of the application. While answering only one essay question may seem simple, it requires discipline to highlight all of the important parts of your profile for the admissions committee in one short essay. Writing a successful essay with such limited space requires you to focus on your most compelling attributes.

Think about the other areas of your application and what they cover. Your academic potential should be highlighted through GMAT or GRE scores and your academic transcripts, leadership and professional accomplishments should come through clearly from your recommendations, and finally your essay is a chance to outline your personal qualities.

When considering which personal qualities to highlight in this essay, consider that leadership is crucial to future Darden MBAs. Your ability to work well within a team of peers is also important to Darden, a school with a small, tight-knit community.

Talking to a current student is a great way to learn more about Darden, and the admissions committee makes it easy for you to reach out, directly on the admissions website.

REQUIRED ESSAY QUESTION

When preparing for class at Darden, students formulate an opinion on each case before meeting with their learning teams and class sections. When encountering different views and perspectives from their own, opinions frequently shift. Tell us about a time when your opinion evolved through discussions with others. (500 words maximum)

This question is called a behavioral essay question, because it asks for information about how you behaved in a specific situation in order to evaluate how you might behave in the future. An essay question that asks for a specific example (“tell us about a time”) is often a behavioral question.

Darden, similar to HBS, is devoted to the case method of teaching. The case method requires the ability to communicate and learn from your peers through discussion-based classes. With a question like this, Darden wants to understand how you behave and interact with others.

When choosing a story to tell for this essay, think about a situation that may also showcase a key accomplishment or tell the admissions committee something about your work tasks or responsibilities. Many jobs require collaboration across teams or within your team, and you have likely worked with a group that contains diverse viewpoints. To answer this question you should clearly lay out the situation, describe what you did, and also take time to describe your thoughts and feelings as your perspectives and opinions changed.

It is particularly important to describe the process you went through as your thinking evolved. Did you change your mind because the facts were clear? Did empathy for another person evolve your viewpoint? Or were you able to see another side of the question because of your own new experiences? Darden is interested in how you think.

Because you have only one essay question to present yourself, make sure you have a trusted reader to tell you if you are effectively communicating why you are going to be a strong leader who deserves a spot in the UVA Darden MBA class.

Looking for perspective in your approach to your Darden MBA application? Contact us to discuss how Stacy Blackman Consulting can help.
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What I Learned From My First Year at the Stanford Graduate School of B [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   12 Jul 2017, 09:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: What I Learned From My First Year at the Stanford Graduate School of Business


Here at SBC, we absolutely love hearing from former clients! Natasha Malpani, now a member of the Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2018, got in touch to share some words of wisdom with the next crop of applicants targeting the world’s top business schools.
The first year of the MBA program has been a whirlwind. I moved to a different country, changed roles, co-founded a company and met some unbelievably amazing people. But I also struggled with adjusting to being a student again, building a new home, career and circle of friends.

Looking back, I’m extremely grateful for both the opportunities and the challenges I faced. In the hopes of making the journey easier for those of you that will be enrolling in business school shortly, these are my key take-aways from the past nine months:

  • Keep an open mind: The most interesting people and opportunities are not always the most obvious or visible ones. Take the time to step away from the whirlwind of recruiting and social events, to truly reflect on what you want to get out of the many opportunities you will have. But also make the time to go to some events that you would never have otherwise chosen to. You never know which conversation will lead to you finding your next role. But even more importantly, be willing to willing to change your first impressions of people. Your peers are every bit as overwhelmed and uncertain as you at the start. Don’t be fooled by the act: no one has their **** together.
  • Learning to learn: You only get out what you put in. Being at a great school, and having access to a ridiculously great network will not help you, unless you’re willing to be confused, challenged and/or unstimulated first. Make the time to do the homework assignments and group projects well. Even if they seem meaningless or unnecessary at the time, they’re being assigned for a reason. The dots will connect over time.
  • The best things take time: The things worth learning, doing and having take time. You cannot rush the process. You will not learn to read financial statements, run a regression or make your best friend in the first week of school. Breathe and lean in to the process. It’s so easy to believe that everyone is smarter than you, is hanging out without you: that you’re the only one that’s lonely or disengaged or confused. Stay away from social media. Get away from your phone and just turn up to events. Alone. You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to connect with people. And in any case, you can’t really plan to make friends. Your community will form in the most unexpected places.
  • Don’t let your calendar control you: Pick the top three things you want to get out of the year. You’re not going to be able to build that company, switch careers, transition to a new geography, be the most popular person on campus and meet your future partner at the same time. Decide how you want to spend your time, or the decision will be made for you: and you might not like where you end up. But don’t forget to always put your mental and physical health first.
  • Entrepreneurship is a buzzword: Building a company is not sexy. Don’t get taken in by the buzz & glamorisation. The work can be overwhelming, boring and repetitive. Building a team & engaging with customers is much harder than building a product. On the other hand, if there really is a problem you want to solve, don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done.
  • Soft skills are harder than hard skills: Developing self-awareness, building relationships and communicating clearly is a lot harder than learning basic programming or design thinking skills. Don’t underestimate the amount of hard work and pain this takes: and make the time to stretch yourself. You will never have this dedicated time and freedom to focus on personal development: or this much room to fail freely, without consequences.
  • Your community will shape you: In the end, you might end up building a $1 billion company, finding your dream job, or your future partner. And you might not. But you will be blown away by the people around you. You will discover that everyone has a story. The more you get to know the people around you, the more you see the distance they have traveled, the more in awe you will be of their courage, strength and perspective. And you will have conversations and experiences that change the way you see the world, and perhaps your self. Stay vulnerable and open. The more you express your weaknesses, the more you will connect with the people around you. Make the time to see yourself and the people around you in a new light.
Ride the wave: it’s only fun when it’s a little choppy.

Photo by Natasha Malpani
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Cornell Johnson Fall 2018 MBA Essays [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   12 Jul 2017, 13:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Cornell Johnson Fall 2018 MBA Essays

The Johnson School of Management at Cornell University has announced a unique twist to the updated essay prompts for the 2017-2018 admissions season. Candidates are required to complete a Goals Statement as well as two essays: 1) Impact Essay and 2) Table of Contents Essay.

Goals Statement
Use this short answer question to succinctly share your short and long term goals. If invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate further and should be prepared to connect your prior experience with your future aspirations.

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences:

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

Industry:

In 5 – 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

Industry:

Impact Essay
This essay is designed to explore the intersection of engagement and community culture. Whether during the program or following graduation, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. To help you explore your potential for impact, we encourage you to engage with our students, alumni, faculty, and professional staff.

You may choose to connect with them via email or phone or in person during one of our on campus or off campus events. As you seek their input and insight, please be respectful of their time and prepare a few discussion points or questions in advance.

At Cornell we value, students who create impact. Please indicate the opportunities for impact that you’ve identified through engagement with our community and describe how what you learned has influenced your decision to apply to Johnson. Please limit your submission to 500 words or fewer.

Table of Contents Essay
This essay is an opportunity to present yourself as an individual. We encourage you to think about your proudest accomplishments, moments of adversity that have been overcome, and interesting personal highlights that will help us to get to know you as a person and potential community member.

You are the author of your Life Story. Please create the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. We value creativity and authenticity and encourage you to approach this essay with your unique style. Alternative submission formats may include a slide presentation, links to pre-existing media (personal website, digital portfolio, YouTube, etc.), as well as visually enhanced written submissions.

Maximum file size is 5 MB. If you choose to submit a written Table of Contents, please limit your submission to 500 words or fewer. Multimedia submissions should be under 5 minutes.

Optional Essay
This essay is required for applicants seeking re-admission and should call attention to the steps taken to strengthen one’s candidacy. Candidates may also use the optional essay to call attention to items needing clarification or to address any gaps in experience.

For additional information, please visit the Johnson School admissions website.
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UNC Kenan-Flagler Fall 2018 MBA Application Deadlines [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   13 Jul 2017, 10:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UNC Kenan-Flagler Fall 2018 MBA Application Deadlines

UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School has announced the following MBA application deadlines for the 2017-18 admissions season.

Round 1 (Early Action)
Application due: October 16, 2017

Decision released: December 11, 217

Round 2
Application due: December 4, 2017

Decision released: January 29, 2018

Round 3
Application due: January 15, 2018

Decision released: March 12, 2018

Round 4*
Application due: March 12, 2018

Decision released: April 23, 2018

*If space is still available in the class, we will accept applications after the Round 4 deadline. Decisions on applications submitted after the Round 4 deadline will be released on a rolling basis.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the application date. For more information, please visit the UNC Kenan-Flagler admissionswebsite.
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UNC Kenan-Flagler Fall 2018 MBA Essays [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   13 Jul 2017, 10:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UNC Kenan-Flagler Fall 2018 MBA Essays

The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina has announced the MBA essay questions for the 2017-18 admissions season.

  • Essay One (Required)

    Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how your professional experience has shaped these goals, why this career option appeals to you, and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. Additionally, please briefly address a backup plan should your short-term goal not come to fruition for any reason. (500 words maximum)
  • Essay Two (Optional)

    What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (300 words maximum)
  • Essay Three (Optional)

    If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)
  • Essay Four (Optional)

    Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum)
For more information, please visit the UNC Kenan-Flagler admissions website.
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Why Your MBA Short List Should Include Dream, Target and (Maybe) Safet [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   14 Jul 2017, 09:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Why Your MBA Short List Should Include Dream, Target and (Maybe) Safety Schools


This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA Blog on U.S.News.com
One of the most important decisions you’ll make during the MBA application process—big surprise—is which schools you’re going to apply to in the first place. I cannot stress enough how important it is to put significant thought into which programs you’re going to dedicate dozens of hours to over the coming months.

The MBA application process takes up a huge amount of time and effort, and most candidates feel overwhelmed with applying to more than the average of four or five schools. Therefore, it’s crucial to be strategic when it comes to school selection and come up with a competitive mix of MBA programs to target.

Dream Schools

The majority of candidates who apply to the leading business schools are bright, personable overachievers who would be an asset to any program. However, each year we see excellent candidates who prematurely take themselves out of the running for some of the top programs. Certain programs have single-digit acceptance rates, and literally thousands of more-than-qualified applicants are turned away each year.

But if you don’t even give yourself a chance at admission, you may always wonder, “What if…” Is there anything worse? B-school is an ambitious dream, so shoot for the stars or you might regret not trying. While the process is extremely competitive, you shouldn’t count yourself out before the game even begins.

That’s why we typically recommend that people ask themselves whether or not getting an MBA is most important to them—or if getting an MBA from a certain school is what really matters most. If you’d truly be at peace with never getting an MBA if you weren’t accepted to School X, then you can move forward by focusing all of your efforts solely on your dream school or schools.

Word of advice: If your test scores are much lower than the average at your dream school, consider giving the GMAT or GRE another shot, and start thinking about how to explain your academic weaknesses and highlight the unique strengths you would bring to the classroom setting.  In any case, come decision time, it’s important to be realistic.

Target Schools

While an acceptance to Harvard Business School or Wharton would thrill almost any applicant, you’re ultimately going to have to balance what school you want to attend with where you can actually get in. Start with the hard data points. As a general guideline, take a look at MBA programs you like where your profile falls within the top 10 percent of admitted students.

Compare your undergraduate GPA, GMAT score, years of work experience and particular industry with those of accepted applicants reported by the school in their class profile page. If your industry is underrepresented, consider that an advantage for your application. Research the schools, make sure you know what’s important to you, and figure out which ones fit well for you. Remember the Golden Rule of MBA admissions—only apply to schools you would be thrilled to attend.

Word of advice: If you’re in an industry that typically makes up a bigger portion of the applicant pool, such as investment banking or consulting, make sure within your application that you think beyond your obvious achievements and differentiate yourself through your essays and interviews by picking stories and experiences that are memorable and unique.

Safety Schools

A good way to determine whether your list should include one or more so-called safety schools is by asking yourself how important it is for you to go to business school next year. Perhaps there’s a compelling reason you need to exit your job and make the move to grad school ASAP. If so, including safety schools among your targets would be a smart strategy.

If the need is immediate, then definitely include a range of schools of varying degrees of competitiveness. The application pool fluctuates each year, and all you need is one admit, so spread some risk around.

It’s important to be pragmatic and align your expectations with the MBA programs that match your particular profile, particularly if your GMAT score isn’t through the roof or your career trajectory has stalled out.

Word of advice: Safety schools don’t mean bad or less desirable schools—they’re simply a more obvious fit with your numbers and profile. Remember though, you’re still not guaranteed an offer of admission. Safety merely means your chances are far greater than at a program with an acceptance rate of 15 percent or lower.

In the end, I can’t overemphasize how important it is to really be yourself in your application and find the school that is right for you.  Contrary to popular belief, it’s not uncommon to be admitted into a more highly ranked program, and denied by a seemingly less competitive one.  That’s because the MBA admissions process is not only about numbers – it’s about numbers and experiences and personalities and fit.
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Make Your Resume MBA-Ready [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   17 Jul 2017, 09:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Make Your Resume MBA-Ready
First, the (kinda) bad news: it’s unlikely you’ll be able to use the current version of your resume for your business school applications. In fact, you’re probably going to want to spend a significant amount of time on a complete resume overhaul. But the good news is that your resume is a very important part of your materials, and the extra work you put into revising it could be what makes the difference between a ding and an interview offer.

A resume gives you one whole page (and, in some special cases—mainly if you’re in your 30s or have military experience—two pages) to tell the adcom why you’d be an asset to their program. From this document, they should be able to clearly understand what sort of work stories you’d be talking about in class, or what sorts of “lessons learned” you’ll be able to speak to from either your professional or community-service experiences.

We recommend:

  • Reworking your resume so that it functions more as a narrative about your career and outside interests (versus a dry list of responsibilities and achievements).
  • Getting rid of acronyms and industry jargon, and then rephrasing your accomplishments so that anyone could understand them.
  • Doing away with any bullet points (or sub-headlines) that only list general, vague or high-level responsibilities for a given role.
  • Deleting unnecessary company or casework/deal descriptions (which are especially popular on consultants’ and bankers’ resumes). You’ll be able to include this information on the school’s application, so no need to repeat it here.
  • Using the space you have to explain exactly what YOU did on a project, showcase specific achievements and results, and highlight your skill progression and increased responsibilities over time.
Since admissions committees and alumni interviewers are looking for people who others will enjoy being around both inside and outside of class, it’s also a great idea to include at least some brief mention of your interests and hobbies at the bottom of the document. A lot of times it’s this information that interviewers use to “break the ice” when they first meet you.

Here’s a little inspiration as you begin to revise your resume so that it will catch the adcom’s attention:



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time,

The team at Stacy Blackman Consulting

***Do you need help differentiating yourself from other MBA applicants? Work with us! Do you want to stay on top of the application process with timely tips like these? Please subscribe to our weekly newsletter and you’ll receive our expert advice straight in your mailbox before it appears on the blog, plus special offers, promotions, discounts, invitations to events, and more.
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Tuesday Tips: MIT Sloan Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   18 Jul 2017, 07:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: MIT Sloan Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips


MIT Sloan School of Management has updated their MBA application essays for this year, keeping the cover letter essay and adding a personal video statement. The Sloan MBA program is focused on innovation with a diverse and accomplished group of students. MIT’s motto is “Mens et Manus” or “Mind and Hand”, which MIT interprets as a mission to transform and improve the world through innovation. According to MIT, its alumni entrepreneur’s companies have generated nearly $2 trillion in annual revenue and millions of jobs. Applicants are expected to be exceptional and continue the tradition of practical innovation.

COVER LETTER

MIT Sloan seek 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 MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Senior Director of Admissions (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

The cover letter is an interesting format for an MBA application, and reflects the MIT goal to admit candidates who have practical ideas and experience. The cover letter is a way to describe your key accomplishments and use them to prove that you embody the criteria for admission outlined by the committee.

Approach this essay as if you are applying for a demanding new job. What would you highlight in your background to prove you take an innovative approach? What are the stories you can tell about your experience that will show you have integrity and passion?

Specifically, think about examples of a time when you have approached a business problem and provided a creative solution. Have you innovated a process at work? Perhaps you have suggested a new approach to a customer problem? Think about times when you have been able to provide a fresh perspective at work and describe what you did in those situations to demonstrate problem-solving skills and passion.

As directed, you should have one or more examples to show what kind of student you will be at Sloan. Those examples can focus on two different accomplishments in your background but should demonstrate the qualities Sloan is seeking.

VIDEO STATEMENT

Please introduce yourself to your future classmates via a brief video statement.

You will need to use an internet-connected computer, with a webcam and microphone.  As part of the application review, the Admission Committee will evaluate your response to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. The simple, open-ended question is designed to help us get to know you better.

• Once the video statement question is viewed you will have 60 seconds to prepare, and then 60 seconds to record your answer.

• You will only have one attempt to record your response.

This video essay is designed to capture your personality and how you think on your feet. Similar to an interview, you won’t have a lot of time to react and prepare, and you won’t have an opportunity to review your response.

We suggest preparing for this video statement the way you might prepare for an interview. The intent is to introduce yourself to your classmates, so you will want to think of interesting personal stories to tell. Consider writing out several possible examples and stories that you could use. For example, you might be passionate about travel and experiencing new cultures. You have made several interesting trips in your life, and each has given you new perspective. Write down each of them and what you learned from each experience.

Maybe you developed a passion for Thai cuisine after a trip there, and have collected Brazilian art from your travels to that country. Think of a few discrete examples and practice those stories and the introduction several times before you open the application link and start recording.

When recording the video essay response, take your time and speak slowly and clearly into the camera. Think of it as an interview, and try to be natural and comfortable as you respond. The most important part is to convey your personality!

OPTIONAL ESSAY

Please provide any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to know that may be helpful in evaluating your candidacy (i.e. choice of recommenders, areas of concern in your academic record, other extenuating circumstances, etc.). This information should be provided in a written format (200 words or less).

This optional essay provides space for you to add your own context to any areas of concern that should be explained to the admissions committee. For example, if you have a lower than average test score, any grades below a C on your transcript, academic probation or a significant resume gap, you can explain here.

Keep your explanation concise and factual, and focused on context for the issue rather than excuses. While last year’s version of the optional essay provided flexibility to use the space to add to your overall application, this question is narrower in scope. If you do not have extenuating circumstances to provide context for, it’s best not to use this optional essay.

Stumped by your MIT Sloan MBA application? Contact Stacy Blackman Consulting to learn how we can help.
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Tuesday Tips: MIT Sloan Fall 2018 MBA Essay Tips [#permalink]
18 Jul 2017, 07:00
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