closeEvents & Promotions
| Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 08:08 |
It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 08:08 |
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
10:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
10:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
02:00 PM EDT
-03:00 PM EDT
03:00 PM PDT
-04:00 PM PDT
07:00 PM PDT
-08:00 PM PDT
10:00 AM PDT
-12:00 PM PDT
13 Jun 2018, 11:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Kellogg School of Management Fall 2019 MBA Essays |
 Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management has posted the MBA essays for the 2018-19 admissions cycle, which remain unchanged from last year. Essay Questions For 2018-2019, the following two essays are required of all applicants:
Melissa Rapp, Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Programs and the MS in Management Studies Program, is a huge fan of the video essay, which Kellogg introduced four years ago. Rapp says it’s the best because, “It gives us the opportunity to hear applicants tell their stories in their own voices. It has taken the two-dimensional application process and made it three-dimensional for every candidate. We have pioneered this technology and are not looking back. Our Career Management Center and alums tell us that more and more companies are using similar technology for initial interviews so it’s good practice for future career moves too.” Per the admissions website: The Video Essay is one component of the application and provides you with an additional opportunity to demonstrate what you will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community – in an interactive way. You will respond to several short video essay questions. The questions are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.
Kellogg offers more insight in this section (see link above) on why the admissions team has a video essay component, what kinds of questions to expect, wardrobe suggestions, as well as answers to many technical questions related to the process. The Kellogg full-time MBA application is now live. For more information on applying, please visit the Kellogg School MBA admissions website. |
14 Jun 2018, 06:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuck School Announces New Evaluation Criteria |
 Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business knows exactly what it’s looking for in prospective MBA candidates, and you may be surprised to find out that “niceness” is at the top of the list. “What we’re looking for is emotional intelligence, empathy, and respect for others,” explains Luke Anthony Peña, executive director of admissions and financial aid, in a statement outlining Tuck’s new evaluation criteria for MBA admissions. “The pathways students take to Tuck are numerous,” notes Peña, “Yet we’ve found that no matter their path to Tuck, there are four attributes that our students consistently demonstrate. We’re now intentionally highlighting those four qualities for prospective students and inviting them to imagine themselves here.” Thinking about applying to this elite business school? Here’s a brief snapshot of the four characteristics the admissions committee members are looking for; follow the link for the full description. SMART Strong test scores and GPA are expected, but being a know-it-all is not. “On the contrary, being smart means practicing confident humility about what you do and do not know. (…) You’re also curious, excited by challenges, and motivated to learn from others’ experiences and expertise.” NICE Nice sometimes gets a bad rap, indicating someone is a pushover or people-pleaser. But niceness is “quintessential” at this MBA program. “Nice Tuck candidates exhibit emotional intelligence. You layer compassion onto courage, and challenge others tactfully and thoughtfully…You act with respect and integrity, even when it’s not convenient or easy. You show empathy for the diverse experiences of others, while also sharing your own.” ACCOMPLISHED Tuck is looking for applicants who have made an impact, but don’t let that scare you. It’s not about the scale of your achievements–it is about making a difference on the job and in your personal life. “Accomplished Tuck candidates don’t just go through the motions, don’t seek to win at any cost, and don’t wilt in tough moments. Instead, you practice good judgment in how to act, both in success and setback, and carefully consider which risks to take.” AWARE Self-reflection is important no matter where you’re applying to business school, but the adcomm team here is taking it to the next level. “Reflection is mandatory at Tuck. You need to understand your values, assess your experiences, and articulate how they’ve shaped your identity and character…Aware Tuck candidates envision what’s ahead. You connect your past experiences and present motivations with your future path, and chart a course forward.” Stay tuned for the Tuck School’s updated MBA essays and reference letter questions in the coming weeks. The application for the Tuck Class of 2021 opens in early July. |
15 Jun 2018, 12:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UC Berkeley Haas Fall 2019 MBA Essays |
 The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley has announced the updated essay questions for the 2018-19 admissions season. Required Essays Essay #1: Tell us a six-word story that reflects a memorable experience in your life-to-date. Elaborate on why it is meaningful to you. (300 words maximum) Tip: A successful six-word story will pique the reader’s interest in the forthcoming explanation. Together, the story and explanation will share a specific and personal experience that helps the reader get to know you better, giving insight into your character, values, or how you would uniquely contribute to the Berkeley-Haas community. View sample six-word stories and video tips from the admissions committee. Essay #2: Briefly describe your immediate post-MBA career goal, and discuss how it will put you on a path to a meaningful and rewarding career. (300 words maximum) Optional Information Optional Information #1: We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.
5. If you have you ever been responsible for providing significant and continuing financial or supervisory support for someone else, please indicate.
(300 words maximum) Optional Information #2 This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate. **** For more information, please visit the Berkeley MBA admissions website. |
15 Jun 2018, 12:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UC Berkeley Haas Fall 2019 Application Deadlines |
 The UC Berkeley Haas School of Business has posted the following MBA application deadlines for the 2018-19 admissions cycle. Round 1 Application due: September 27, 2018 Decision released: December 13, 2018 Round 2 Application due: January 10, 2019 Decision released: March 14, 2019 Round 3 Application due: April 4, 2019 Decision released: May 9, 2019 All applications must be submitted on or before the application deadline at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. For more information, please visit the Berkeley MBA admissions website. |
18 Jun 2018, 11:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: B-Schools Looking for More Than Just ‘Quant Jocks’ |
|
Many business school applicants worry that they don’t have a strong enough quantitative background to be accepted into a top program. If your entire career has been spent in marketing, for example, how can you convince an admissions committee that you’ll be able to handle core classes like Finance and Accounting? The good news is that business schools have no intention of putting together a graduating class made up of only bankers and accountants. They are well aware that a private equity analyst can learn a lot from a brand manager, and vice versa. So rest assured that adcoms are looking for qualified candidates from allindustries and functions in order to make up a diverse classroom. That being said, adcoms do not want to admit someone who gives them reason to believe they may struggle with an intense MBA curriculum. Thankfully, even if your day-to-day responsibilities don’t include building financial models or “running the numbers,” there are still several other ways an adcom member can assess your analytical skills. We’d suggest asking your recommenders to highlight any analytical work you’ve done — they might even be willing to review your career to date and help you remember quantitative aspects of past projects you may have overlooked. Along those same lines, you should consider rewriting your resume so that quantifiable results of your work are included wherever possible. Adcoms will also be paying attention to your undergraduate grades (specifically in courses like Statistics or Calculus) and your quantitative GMAT score. Clearly there’s nothing you can do about your college grades at this point, but you can (and should) take the GMAT a few times if you don’t do well initially. Invest a lot of time (we’re talking 100+ hours) in preparing and studying, as your score can help prove that you can handle the toughest MBA courses. Remember:  *** 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. |
19 Jun 2018, 06:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Northwestern Kellogg Fall 2019 MBA Essay Tips |
 Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management is a close-knit community that values a diverse community and philanthropy. As Melissa Rapp, Kellogg’s Director of MBA Admissions, explains with a blog post on Kellogg’s Inside Perspective “Kellogg believes deeply in diversity and inclusion and we want to build classes that reflect a wide variety of backgrounds, industries, functions, geographies, and beliefs. The more variety we can put in a class the better the experience is for you. The diversity of perspectives and opinions allow you to broaden your viewpoint and practice the essential skill of learning to collaborate with others who don’t think like you do. You, your experiences and your passions all make you unique and we want to learn about it all. Have the confidence and bravery to tell your story.” To make sure you are perfect for Kellogg and can explain that in this set of essays, do your research on the programs, activities, clubs, classes and professors you are most excited about. While you are reading and conversing with students and alumni, keep looking for ways in which you will contribute to the community. Kellogg now has a video essay as part of the application process, something that Director Rapp is extremely excited about. As she explains, the video essay allows the admissions committee to see the full three-dimensional view of the candidate. Relax and be yourself. You can always practice with the SBC video interview prep to make sure you are absolutely ready for the video essay. REQUIRED ESSAYS Essay One: Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip & inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Tell us about a time you have demonstrated leadership and created lasting value. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn? (450 words) This essay focuses on leadership using a behavioral essay framework (the clue is “tell us about a time…”). The details about exactly what you did, said and learned in your leadership story communicate valuable information about how you approach issues and learn from experience. Director Rapp also says that “creating lasting value” is a key to this essay and you should think about what you have done that endures. As you structure the essay, spend some limited time to set up the background of the story, and then use the majority of the space to describe specifically what you did, thought, felt and how you behaved. Use details to entice the reader and set yourself apart. A few well-placed specifics will add color without adding length to the essay. You have wide latitude in your topic selection, as long as you demonstrated leadership and enduring value. It might be a time that everything went perfectly smoothly and you learned how to work with a group or inspire people to action. On the other hand, it could be a challenging situation where you learned what not to do! Don’t be nervous about showing weakness here, as long as the outcome demonstrates that you have left your mark on the organization. If you choose a challenging situation the learning part of the essay will be crucial. Show you can and do learn from experience. Every leader has to learn and develop, and willingness to be open to feedback and improve will be an asset to your application. Do not neglect mentioning teamwork, which is a core value of Kellogg’s culture. Your leadership experience is likely part of a team at work or in an extracurricular activity, and sensitivity to teamwork and collaboration in any leadership story demonstrates maturity and social skills. Essay Two: Pursuing an MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. How have you grown in the past? How do you intend to grow at Kellogg? (450 words) This essay question is a hybrid of a classic career goals essay and a personal essay. Kellogg is interested in candidates who are able to integrate their personal and professional goals and show how a Kellogg MBA will serve both sides of life. When you describe professional and personal growth in the past, make sure it is relevant to your plans to pursue an MBA at Kellogg. The story you tell in this essay should provide insight into your decision to pursue an MBA and allude to your future goals. Because this isn’t a question about your entire career and personal life thus far, you should choose only one or two main experiences to share. The topic of this essay should also be an experience that demonstrated growth over time. Perhaps you started in an entry-level position at work and progressed into a management role. Or maybe you learned more about yourself by switching jobs and careers, showing progression in your understanding of your goals and aspirations. For the personal angle of the essay you could focus on a passion outside of work that has developed over time and led to personal growth. It’s also possible to have both personal and professional growth in your career. Many people mature significantly in the time period between college and graduate school and typically work and life both contribute to that growth. VIDEO ESSAY The Video Essay is another component of the application and provides you with an additional opportunity to demonstrate what you will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community – in an interactive way. You will respond to several short video essay questions. The questions are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper. One question will be a “get to know you” icebreaker type of question. The second question will be ““What path are you interested in pursuing? How will you get there? Why is this program right for you?” The other question will be a randomly generated question that will be similar to interview questions. Overall the video essay is an opportunity for the admissions committee to get a sense of who you are and your personality beyond your skill with the written word. After you submit your application you will receive your actual video essay questions. Prepare as if you would for an interview, drafting the topics you want to cover and practicing your presentation. Writing some bullet points down in advance will help you remember and focus as you answer the questions. The video should accurately portray your personality and demeanor. Extensive preparation will help you be comfortable and be yourself when you are recording the video, but should not create a feeling that you scripted and are “acting.” Kellogg allows you to practice with the video format a few times before you submit your official video, and it would be useful to do some additional rounds of practice in front of the camera. Dual-degree applicants: For applicants to the MMM or JD-MBA dual degree programs, please explain why that program is right for you. (250 words) Doing your research on Kellogg MBA’s academics and resources will help you answer the question about why you need a dual degree to achieve your goals. If you are applying to the MMM program, you’ll have to show how the degree will prepare you more effectively for your career goals than the MBA alone. Be able to articulate what is different about the Kellogg MMM program as compared to the MBA and other joint degrees. Know the classes you want to take, the professors you hope to work for, and how the MMM experience will be an asset in your future career. Similarly, the JD-MBA at Kellogg is a highly competitive admissions process and will require a very clear explanation of what you will do with both degrees after school. Consider the unique attributes of the Kellogg JD-MBA program as compared to others, and also why you specifically need both a JD and an MBA to achieve your career goals. Re-applicants: Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 word limit) In answering this question make sure you provide tangible evidence that you have improved the overall package you are submitting this year. Some of the most tangible improvements are a stronger GMAT score or grades from new quantitative classes you attended since the last time you applied. Other steps that you can describe include a promotion at work, new volunteer activities, or increased responsibility at work or in your activities. If you don’t have something tangible and external to report, it’s reasonable to discuss how your career goals have changed or your personal aspirations have been refined as you revamped your applications. Additional Information (Optional) If needed, use this section to briefly describe any extenuating circumstances (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, etc.) (no word count) If there are any areas of concern, this is the correct place to address them. Strike an upbeat tone here and avoid excuses. Explain your issue clearly and focus most of the essay on the correction for the issue. For example, if you had a disciplinary issue in college, spend most of the essay demonstrating that you learned from the experience and have been an ideal citizen ever since. Low GPA issues should be explained here, and if there is a grade of C or below on your transcript the admissions committee will want to know why and feel comfortable it is an outlier in your overall academic record. For academic questions make sure you emphasize your improved performance either later in your college career or in subsequent work or classes since college. Image credit: Mike Willis (CC BY-ND 2.0) |
19 Jun 2018, 07:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Yale School of Management Fall 2019 MBA Essay Tips |
 The Yale School of Management has published the application essay for the 2018-2019 admissions season, and it is the same question as in last year’s application. In his blog post, Assistant Dean of admissions Bruce DelMonico explains: “This application essay question evolved from a conversation with Professor of Organizational Behavior Amy Wrzesniewski about how to get a better sense for what our applicants care about in the world. She notes, ‘Reading about future plans is helpful, but actions speak louder than words. What big commitments have applicants already made in their lives to date, how did they follow through on them, and what does this tell us about who they are? That is what is at the heart of this question’.” While writing this essay keep in mind the Yale SOM’s mission, as explained by Dean Edward A. Snyder: “Yale SOM is persistent and disciplined in our efforts to connect to big issues, to integrate with Yale, to be distinctively global, and to work across all sectors. All of our efforts are guided by a strategy that accounts for how the world has changed over the last several decades and the implications for leadership. The success of our efforts depends entirely on extraordinary alignment and superior teamwork—internally and externally.” Contact us to learn more about designing the best Yale application possible with Stacy Blackman Consulting. Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words maximum) As the Assistant Dean mentions, this question is about your past actions, not what you plan to do. Behavioral questions like this one (the tip off is “describe”) seek to understand how you actually operate in various situations. Think about what a commitment is to you. Was it a job or an organization that you were involved in? Maybe your commitment was to a value or a person. Try to be as specific as possible about your commitment and why it qualifies as the biggest commitment you have ever made. What did you think or say when you were determining what to do? What did you actually do? How did you feel about the result? You may decide to focus on a solo commitment, and that may be entirely appropriate since most MBA applicants are individual contributors. However, ideally you can demonstrate how you work with others as a leader and team member. Yale is a program focused on making a difference in the world and the subject of this question will tell the admissions committee what you value, ideally something that impacts the greater community or world. Regardless of whether you choose an individual or team commitment, try to show how you have made a significant positive impact. Because this is the only essay question in the application and should be used to highlight your personal qualities and leadership ability, make sure your resume and recommendations can answer any questions about your career and accomplishments. The 500-word limit may be daunting. Instead of censoring yourself on the first draft and limiting what you write, start by describing each step in of your accomplishment in detail in terms of what you did, the reaction of others and your own reaction. From there you can cut out anything that is too detailed or too superfluous to the story to maintain the 500-word maximum. Using an outside reader to help you determine what is most important to the story may help you streamline your essay. |
19 Jun 2018, 13:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Cornell Johnson Fall 2019 MBA Application Deadlines |
 The Johnson School of Management at Cornell University has posted the following MBA application deadlines for the 2018-19 admissions season. Two Year MBA Program October Round Application due: October 10, 2018 Final Decision released: December 20, 2018 November Round Application due: November 15, 2018 Final Decision released: February 20, 2019 January Round Application due: January 3, 2019 Final Decision released: April 10, 2019 April Round Application due: April 10, 2019 Final Decision released: May 30, 2019 Following your interview, final decisions, including invitations to join the waitlist, will be released on a rolling basis and posted no later than the date noted for the round in which you submitted your application. One Year MBA Program Early Action Round Application due: September 10, 2018 Final Decision released: November 20, 2018 October Round Application due: October 10, 2018 Final Decision released: December 20, 2018 November Round Application due: November 15, 2018 Final Decision released: February 20, 2019 January Round Application due: January 3, 2019 Final Decision released: March 20, 2019 Rolling March 15, 2019* *After January 3rd, applications will be received and reviewed on a space available basis with a final submission deadline of March 15, 2019. International students requiring F-1 visa sponsorship must apply by the January 3rd deadline. Applications should be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. For more information, please visit the Johnson School MBA admissions website. |
20 Jun 2018, 06:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Chicago Booth Announces Fall 2019 Essays |
 The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business has decided to switch up the essay requirements for the 2018-2019 admissions season. The new application no longer features the photo prompt of the previous two cycles and instead asks two questions of MBA applicants. As Admissions Officer Donna Swinford explains on the Full-Time MBA Admissions Blog, “At Booth, passions and ambitions serve as a compass in navigating our choice-rich environment. This year, you will find we want to get right at those motivations—to the things that inspire you and your post-MBA future.” Required MBA Essays Essay One: How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250 word minimum) Essay Two: Chicago Booth immerses you in a choice-rich environment. How have your interests, leadership experiences, and other passions influenced the choices in your life? (250 word minimum) Response Guidelines:
Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? (300 word maximum) Re-applicant Question Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 word maximum) For more information about applying to the Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit the admissions website. |
20 Jun 2018, 06:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Chicago Booth Fall 2019 MBA Application Deadlines |
 The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has posted the following MBA application deadlines for the 2017-18 admissions season. Round 1 Application due: September 27, 2018 Decision released: December 6, 2018 Round 2 Application due: January 3, 2019 Decision released: March 21, 2019 Round 3 Application due: April 4, 2019 Decision released: May 16, 2019 All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time. For more information about applying to Chicago Booth, please visit the Booth admissions website. |
21 Jun 2018, 06:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: How to Pay for Your MBA |
 Guest post from our friends at CommonBond Congratulations! You got into business school. The GMAT, video essays, and admissions interviews are (thankfully) behind you. In front of you are new friends, new skills and opportunities, and maybe even new stamps in your passport. Before you start packing, though, you’ll need a game plan for funding your MBA journey. CommonBond was started by MBAs, so we’ve been there before. Below are some tips to help you figure out how to pay for business school and everything it entails. Cost of Attendance (COA) The first thing to figure out when deciding how to pay for b-school is your school’s cost of attendance. The COA includes tuition, room and board, and certain fees and is the legal maximum amount you can borrow in student loans. Check out CommonBond’s MBA Loan Calculator to figure out your school’s COA. In addition to the COA, you’ll also want to factor in other expenses and cushions like b-school travel, commuting, and relocation. Funding Options There are a number of options to consider when figuring out how to fund your MBA. These include personal savings, scholarships/fellowships, company sponsorship, federal loans (e.g. Stafford, Direct Grad PLUS), private loans, and family loans, among others. Funding options carry different benefits and tradeoffs. Some loans offer benefits like deferment, forbearance, employment protections, or no pre-payment penalties. Additionally, you’ll want to assess different loan provider features like interest rates, customer service, ease of process, reputation, and network/community. At the end of the day, how you fund your MBA is highly specific to your personal situation. Here are just some additional considerations as you evaluate options:
There are two types of federal loans available to MBAs:
Private Loans Private loans are another type of funding available to MBA students and may carry lower rates compared to federal loans. They also feature some of their own unique benefits. Most private lenders offer both fixed and variable rate options. With a fixed rate, your interest rate and monthly payments are fixed over the life of the loan; with a variable rate, your interest rate and subsequent monthly payments may fluctuate over time based on market dynamics. At CommonBond, our MBA Student Loan starts at 6.07% APR and is available without a cosigner.3 [i] Private loans may also offer benefits beyond lower rates. For example, all CommonBond members get access to our award-winning customer care team and if borrowers run into financial difficulties, the CommonBridge protection program lets them temporarily postpone payments. When to Apply If you’re taking out loans for b-school, you’ll want to lock down your funding at least a month before classes start. If you want to get started today with CommonBond and knock one more thing off your pre-MBA “to-do” list, apply for an MBA loan here. If you have any questions throughout the process, feel free to reach out to our Care Team. Image credit: Alpha Stock Images CC BY-SA 3.0 **** 1. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is based off a rate of 6.595%, and assumes a one-time capitalization of interest at the end of a deferment period, a 1.07% origination fee, a single disbursement, and full deferment (in which there is a 21-month in-school deferment and a six-month grace period). 2. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is based off a rate of 7.595%, and assumes a one-time capitalization of interest at the end of a deferment period, a 4.26% origination fee, a single disbursement, and full deferment (in which there is a 21-month in-school deferment and a six-month grace period). 3. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is based off a rate of 6.04%, a one-time capitalization of interest at the end of a deferment period, a 2% origination fee, one single disbursement, and the full deferment payment plan option (in which there is a 21-month in-school deferment and a six-month grace period). All loans are eligible for a 0.25% reduction in interest rate by agreeing to automatic payment withdrawals once in repayment, which is reflected in the CB APR shown. Variable rates may increase after consummation and the variable rate includes the 1-month LIBOR of 1.98% as of May 25, 2018. |
21 Jun 2018, 12:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UV Darden School Announces Fall 2019 MBA Essay Questions |
 The University of Virginia Darden School of Business has announced it will forgo its traditional single long essay question this year, and instead will ask applicants to answer multiple short essays for the 2018-2019 admissions cycle. “We want to get to know all of the various facets of your background and personality,” the Darden admissions team explains. Required Essay Questions “Tell us what you would want your learning team to know about you – personal, professional or both.” (100 words) “Each year, Darden connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to go with Darden? And why?” (50 words) “Darden strives to identify and cultivate leaders who follow their purpose. At this stage, how would you describe your evolving leadership style and please provide an example.” (200 words) “Please provide an example of a situation in which you have made a meaningful impact.” (200 words) “What is your short-term, post-MBA career goal and why?” (150 words) For more information about the program, please visit the Darden MBA admissions website. Image by Andrew Shurtleff, courtesy of University of Virginia |
21 Jun 2018, 13:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UV Darden School Announces Fall 2019 Deadlines |
|
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business has announced the following MBA application deadlines for the 2018-2019 admissions season, and will now offer an Early Action deadline. Early Action is for candidates who believe that Darden School is their first-choice school. These applicants have the opportunity to schedule their own interview and do not have to wait for an invitation. Early Action candidates can interview beginning in mid-July through the end of September. Interview slots will be available online in early July and filled on a first come, first served basis. Applicants living in the U.S. are required to interview on the Darden Grounds if they apply in the Early Action round. Candidates living outside of the U.S. and who apply in the Early Action round will have the option to interview via Skype during the open interview period. Early Action Application due: September 7, 2018 Decision released: October 17, 2018 Round 1 Application due: October 4, 2018 Decision released: December 12, 2018 Round 2 Application due: January 10, 2019 Decision released: March 20, 2019 Round 3 Application due: April 3, 2019 Decision released: May 8, 2019 All applications for the full-time MBA are due by 12:00 p.m. EST (noon) on the deadline day. For more information on applying to UV Darden School of Business, please visit the Darden admissions website. Image by Andrew Shurtleff, courtesy of University of Virginia |
21 Jun 2018, 13:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UNC Kenan-Flagler Fall 2019 MBA Application Deadlines |
 UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School has announced the following MBA application deadlines for the 2018-19 admissions season. Round 1 (Early Action) Application due: October 15, 2018 Decision released: December 7, 2018 Round 2 Application due: December 10, 2018 Decision released: February 1, 2019 Round 3 Application due: January 14, 2019 Decision released: March 15, 2019 Round 4* Application due: March 11, 2019 Decision released: April 19, 2019 *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 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the application date. For more information, please visit the UNC Kenan-Flagler admissionswebsite. |
22 Jun 2018, 06:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MBA Applicants Have Great Expectations |
 The 2018 MBA Applicant Survey, released this week by the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC), confirms the great expectations candidates bring to the business school admissions process. On one hand, they continue to expect a lot from business schools:
It’s apparent that candidate expectations continue to be shaped by many sources, beginning online. More than 80% of surveyed applicants turn to school websites for information. They are the most valuable school-related resources, followed by online information sessions, current student referrals and alumni referrals. The admissions officer/director/team rounds out the top five most valuable school-specific resources. LinkedIn is the most cited social media channel for candidates, followed by YouTube and Facebook. Of particular interest, Quora is more popular than Instagram or Twitter. The most valuable independent resources for applicants are online communities/forums, followed by MBA rankings and family/friends/work colleagues. Admissions consultants and their websites/blogs are also included in the top five. The seven schools ranked highest in getting to know applicants well include, in order:
Participating schools include Haas School of Business, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, Columbia Business School, Booth School of Business , Ross School of Business, UT McCombs School of Business, Yale School of Management, London Business School, and many other top-ranked MBA programs in the United States and around the world. As noted above, nearly 2,000 applicants completed the survey, which includes 1,377 respondents who applied to at least one school. The majority are male (62%) and 42% live in the U.S. There’s tons of interesting information in this year’s survey, so follow the link above to learn more about the mindsets of your fellow MBA applicants. |
22 Jun 2018, 13:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MIT Sloan Announces Fall 2019 MBA Application Deadlines |
 The MIT Sloan School of Management has posted the following application deadlines for the 2018-19 admissions cycle. Round 1 Application due: September 25, 2018 Decision released: December 19, 2018 Round 2 Application due: January 22, 2019 Decision released: April 2, 2019 Round 3 Application due: April 8, 2019 Decision released: May 8, 2019 Applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. EST. For more information, please visit the MIT Sloan admissions website. |
22 Jun 2018, 13:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UT McCombs School Posts Fall 2019 Application Deadlines |
 The UT McCombs School of Business has posted the following MBA application deadlines for the 2018-19 admissions cycle. Round 1 Application due: October 9, 2018 Decision released: December 18, 2018 Round 2 Application due: January 8, 2019 Decision released: March 28, 2019 Round 3 Application due: April 2, 2019 Decision released: May 9, 2019 Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. CST on the day of the deadline. Applicants should note that Round 1 is the priority deadline for scholarships and fellowships at the Texas MBA program. For additional information on applying, please visit the Texas MBA admissions website. |
25 Jun 2018, 06:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Turn a Critical Eye to Your Social Media Profile |
|
Do you have a profile on any of the major social media platforms? Do you frequently tweet, upload pictures to Instagram or Flickr, or post updates on Facebook? If so, you might want to make sure your online presence won’t derail your MBA application efforts. If an admissions team is leaning toward admitting you to their program, it’s possible that they could do a quick Google search on your name before making their final decision. If you’ve demonstrated bad judgment by posting pictures of yourself doing not-so-upstanding things or making crude or otherwise politically incorrect comments, you’ve given them a reason to move your application to the ding pile. You may have heard that last year, Harvard College rescinded admissions offers to ten students who had posted offensive memes in a private Facebook group. A few years earlier, The New York Times reported on a high school senior who caused a stir at Bowdoin College after posting disparaging tweets about other attendees at the school’s information session. If some undergraduate admissions committees are using teenagers’ social media behavior against them, it’s possible that business schools won’t be any more forgiving with adults who should know better. It doesn’t end with the admissions committee, either. Let’s say you are invited to interview with a local alum; that person might try to find out as much information about you as possible before your chat. Once you’re at school, potential internship and full-time employers could perform an even more extensive online background check. Your fellow classmates might do some digging, too! So while you may believe it’s funny and harmless to post that selfie after you’ve tipped back one too many, think again. There’s a chance you could compromise your MBA candidacy because of a fleeting moment of indiscretion. If an admissions committee member comes across something that raises a red flag, they’ll likely move on to the next candidate. Remember:  *** Until next time, The team at Stacy Blackman Consulting 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. Concerned about your online brand? Work with Stacy Blackman Consulting on your social media strategy. |
25 Jun 2018, 16:01
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MIT Sloan School Announces Fall 2019 MBA Essay, Video Statement |
 The MIT Sloan School of Management has posted its application requirements for the 2018-19 admissions season. The cover letter as essay is still in play, and Sloan also asks applicants to provide a brief video statement. Here’s how each component is explained on the MIT Sloan admissions site: Cover Letter MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion. Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the 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). Video Statement Please introduce yourself to your future classmates via abrief video statement. This video will be used for application purposes only and will not be shared. 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. Videos should be a single take (no editing) lasting no more than one minute and consisting of you speaking directly to the camera. We recommend using an application such as QuickTime or iMovie to record yourself. Should you experience difficulties uploading your file, please ensure that you’re using a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) on the fastest wired Internet connection available. An intermittent or slow Internet connection can cause uploads to timeout. 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). Visit the MIT Sloan admissions website for more information on the technical requirements for the video statement. The application for the MIT Sloan MBA program will go live in mid to late July. Image credit: Vitor Pamplona (CC BY 2.0) |
26 Jun 2018, 06:00
| FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Chicago Booth Fall 2019 MBA Essay Tips |
|
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is consistently rated in the top echelon of MBA programs in the United States and is known for a strong intellectual community. For the first time in many years, Chicago has abandoned the creative and open-ended essay question. Rather than agonizing over visual presentations, this year’s applicants can answer straightforward essay questions. The one interesting thing to note about this set of questions is that while most schools ask for word limits on their essays, Chicago is setting a word minimum for the required essay responses. Your first step is to do as much school research as possible on Chicago. Visit campus. Attend events. Speak to alumni. Read the admissions blog. Whatever you are capable of doing to experience the community for yourself before starting your application will be invaluable as you set pen to paper. Reviewing the Chicago Booth admissions criteria will be useful as you approach these questions. Booth is a school with a tradition of intellectual rigor, non-conformity, and innovation. Along with academics, Chicago will be looking for demonstrated leadership, team building skills and community involvement, as well as your fit with Chicago Booth. Academic ability will largely be communicated through your GPA/GMAT, transcripts and other fixed data points, though intellectual curiosity can be demonstrated in the essays and the interview. Personal qualities, leadership, and career direction are all aspects that you can communicate through this set of admissions essays. ESSAY QUESTIONS Essay One: How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250 word minimum) This career goals essay is the ideal way to describe your track record of success and sense of personal direction. You can also demonstrate that you have realistic expectations for your Booth MBA. While career goals should be aspirational, they should also be achievable given your background and the education you will gain at Booth. Think about what you have done thus far in your career. What have you learned? How can you use your past experience to inform your future goals? This question asks for both immediate and long-term goals, as well as asking why Booth is the right place for you to pursue your MBA. Thorough research into your career path and the options for its development at Booth will allow you to answer this question fully and with conviction. Essay Two: Chicago Booth immerses you in a choice-rich environment. How have your interests, leadership experiences, and other passions influenced the choices in your life? (250 word minimum) Chicago Booth is looking for self-aware leaders with a sense of purpose. If you are immersed in an environment that offers many choices, how do you find your own sense of direction? This is an opportunity to provide context for the choices that you have made and to tell the admissions committee about your leadership experiences. This essay should communicate who you are and what motivates you. It’s useful to provide concrete stories about your interests, leadership experiences and other passions, but also important to describe why those experiences impacted your life choices. This essay is an opportunity to describe personal and extracurricular examples as well as work accomplishments to present a full picture of who you are. Perhaps you chose your career path out of intellectual curiosity for the field, but you chose to work outside your home country because of a passion for travel and new experiences. Describing both the personal and professional thought process and decision making structure will add more detail to give the admissions committee a holistic sense of you and your potential. Optional Essay: Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? (300 word maximum) This optional essay is a flexible question, allowing you to provide the information you need to put forward the best possible application. If you have any areas that need to be explained in your profile, such as academic issues or gaps in work experience, this is the ideal place to add more detail. Because the essay is open-ended you can also use it to add any additional information you wanted to inform the admissions committee about. Anything from an interesting personal background to meaningful extracurricular could be relevant context to add to a successful application. Re-applicant Question: Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 word maximum) This is an interesting re-applicant question, because rather than asking how your candidacy has improved, Booth asks how your perspective has changed. If you have improved your test scores, taken relevant classes, earned a promotion or changed jobs that will still be useful information to communicate, but you should use the space to talk about how you have reflected on yourself and your goals since the last time you applied to Booth. You may have learned more about your career path, formed new relationships, or changed your future direction. This is an ideal essay to demonstrate self-awareness, leadership qualities and a realistic sense of how the Booth MBA fits into your future plans. Contact Stacy Blackman Consulting to learn more about how we can help you approach your Booth application. |
|
|
||
