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Berkeley Haas MBA Deadlines for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   01 Jul 2019, 14:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Berkeley Haas MBA Deadlines for 2019-2020

Are you interested in the full-time MBA program at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business? Then get out your calendar! The Berkeley Haas MBA deadlines for the 2019-2020 admissions cycle have been announced.

Berkeley Haas MBA Deadlines
Round 1
Application due: September 26, 2019

Decision released: December 12, 2019

Round 2
Application due: January 9, 2020

Decision released: March 26, 2020

Round 3
Application due: April 2, 2020

Decision released: May 7, 2020

***

For more information on applying, please visit the Berkeley Haas MBA admissions website. If you need guidance on your Haas MBA application, or wish to discuss your business school plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

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Tuesday Tips: Darden MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   02 Jul 2019, 06:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Darden MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020
The Darden 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. Today, we’re sharing our tips for the Darden MBA essays to help you create a positive impression through your application materials.

Darden now asks a set of short answer questions. These essay questions cover a lot of ground, and it will be useful to think about both your career pursuits and your personal life. The restrictive word counts are difficult to stick to, so stay focused and precise.

When you’re thinking about which stories to highlight in this set of essays, consider that leadership is important. It’s important to the Darden MBA admissions committee that you can work with a team, because Darden has a small, tight-knit community. Darden was recently ranked at the top of the “most inspiring and supportive faculty among all MBA programs” by a Businessweek survey.

Along with a close knit community, Darden offers excellent training in the case method. To learn more, talk to a current student. The admissions committee makes it easy for you to reach out to students directly on the admissions website.

Looking for additional help with your Darden MBA essays and application? Contact us to discuss your candidacy with Stacy Blackman Consulting.


Darden MBA Essays
For the 2019-20 application cycle, Darden will again offer multiple short answer questions. The goal is to get to know all of the various facets of your background and personality.
1. Darden strives to identify and cultivate responsible leaders who follow their purpose. Please provide an example of a situation in which you have made a meaningful impact. (200 words)
This example could be professional or extracurricular, but ideally describes a significant accomplishment that made an impact. That impact could be big or small as long as it was meaningful to you and those around you. Ideally this example is illustrative of your larger interests and passions.

For example, if you are devoted to diversity, perhaps you started a mentoring program or funded internships for underrepresented employees. While the impact of that action may have been limited to your department or company, it shows your values and allows you to discuss how you would make a greater impact on the world when you have the ability and platform to do so.

2. Diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission, and they work best when they are an integral and celebrated part of our community. Read University of Virginia’s Diversity & Inclusion Vision Statement. Share a time in which you engaged with a perspective, identity, community or experience that was different from your own and how it impacted your worldview. (200 words)
This set of essays provides a holistic view of your background, motivations and goals. This question focuses on your perspective on your life and diversity. When you examine your past experiences, when have you been different from those around you? How did that impact you, and how did you handle working across cultures or styles?

Before you start writing, it’s worth reading the full diversity and inclusion statement. In one section, Darden states: “We must be open to diversity changing us, and our institutional structures and culture, if we are to fully realize and leverage its benefits.”

This is directly useful to you as your write your essays. Think about how you have successfully improved the experience of others around you, regardless of similar backgrounds or experiences. Also, consider that diversity has changed you and your worldview, and if so, explain how.

3. The Batten Foundation Worldwide Scholarship provides all Darden students in our full-time MBA program with an opportunity to participate in a Darden Worldwide Course. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to travel, and why? (50 words)
To learn more about Darden’s international programs, visit the Darden website. You can connect with an international location by participating in short visits through a Global Immersion Course or Global Topic Course, spend a semester abroad with an Exchange Program, or work directly with an international business as part of the Global Client Courses.

Darden describes the current programs and countries on the website, and this question asks for your ideal location and why it interests you. Your interest in a particular region could be personal or professional and should have an academic basis. The focus of these international programs is to learn more about the world of business beyond the United States, with that context what would you like to know and where would you like to learn it?



Darden’s iLab Incobator

4. Tell us what you would want your learning team to know about you – personally, professionally, or both? (100 words)
Darden is a community, and the learning team is the smallest unit of that community. You will be assigned a team of diverse classmates to meet before class and discuss your case assignments. The purpose of these discussions is to ensure that all of you are prepared to participate in the class discussion. Ideally the learning team is a supportive environment and allows everyone to learn and express their own point of view.

This essay allows you to introduce yourself to the Darden community while imagining that you are speaking only to a small group of your peers. What should your learning team know about your background? What diverse perspective will you bring to the learning environment? Perhaps you have a unique professional background that will be new to your teammates.

You may be from an underrepresented region of the world, or you have an interesting personal background. In just a few words, describe what you think will set you apart from your peers and be interesting for the team to know about you. To learn more about your potential classmates, talk to a student ambassador or review Darden’s MBA Student Stories.

5. What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and why? (150 words)
This essay question focuses specifically on your short-term career goal. However, you are probably taking your immediate post-MBA job to learn for your bigger goals. Therefore, it makes sense to talk about your overall career aspirations. In the previous questions you have described your personality, motivations, impact and accomplishments. Now, your career goals should fit seamlessly into that story.

Do not be concerned if you are still exploring what you want to do with your life. Darden offers intensive career counseling and you will have an opportunity to explore many career paths in school. The essay question is about why you are pursuing this path and what you hope to get out of it.

The goal of the admissions committee is to understand how you think and plan, and what motivates your career decisions. If you are someone who has a positive impact on others, that should be part of your career aspirations as well. Darden will help you refine your goals and learn the skills you need.

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Tuesday Tips: NYU Stern Essays and Tips for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   02 Jul 2019, 06:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: NYU Stern Essays and Tips for 2019-2020

Are you getting ready to apply to The New York University Stern School of Business? Today, we’re sharing our tips for the NYU Stern essays to help you create a positive impression through your application materials. Stern MBA admissions says it is seeking “students who best exemplifyStern’s core value: IQ+EQ. Our admissions committee takes care to select those who demonstrate strong intellectual ability, superior interpersonal skills, and a desire to create value for business and society.”

The parameters of IQ and EQ that are important to Stern MBA are academic, professional, and personal. The admissions team will evaluate your academic ability mainly through your GMAT and GPA. However, the NYU Stern essays play a crucial part of your application strategy. In particular, they give insight into your career goals and personality.

Again this year NYU Stern asks for two EQ Endorsements with your application.

• The endorsement must be from someone who knows you personally and/or professionally and can act as a persuasive advocate of your EQ strengths.

• More details can be found here and on the NYU admissions website.

We’ve helped countless aspiring NYU Stern MBA students to put together a great application to cut through the clutter. Contact us to learn more.

NYU Stern Essays for 2019-2020
Essay 1: Professional Aspirations

(500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

• What are your short and long-term career goals?

• How will the MBA help you achieve them?
While many people seek an MBA degree, NYU wants to invest in those who can use it most effectively. For example, maybe you’re seeking an MBA for networking or professional credibility. Or, perhaps you want an MBA to learn specific skills to change careers. Whatever your own personal reasons, make sure you can point to specific aspects of the MBA education both generally and at Stern that will help you achieve your goals.

Your post MBA goal should be both achievable and demonstrate the need for an MBA. An MBA from NYU Stern will open professional doors for you. Therefore, you should demonstrate that you are ready to take advantage of those opportunities. Think about a logical sequence that starts with your past work experience, then your MBA education, and ends with your immediate post MBA goal. Ideally your goal pulls from both your current work experience and the skills you will gain in the NYU MBA program.

Personal experience of the campus through visits or student touch points will help you understand why a Stern MBA is the next career step for you. But even if you are halfway around the world, you can illustrate the many ways in which you learned about the NYU Stern experience.



Essay 2: Personal Experience (aka “Pick Six”)

Describe yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

• A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (no more than 3 sentences).

• Six images that help illustrate who you are.

• A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.
NYU Stern has evolved the creative essay asked for many years. This version is more specific, but still gives you freedom to communicate what you want. A favorite American idiom says “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In this essay, you have six pictures to use.

To get started, think about how you will choose the right images to communicate with your future classmates and Stern MBA admissions. Think about the story you want to tell with the six images. Is it a collage of your life, or a progression? How do the pictures work together to tell the story?

While the medium can be anything, your content is the important part of this essay. The best first step is to brainstorm the information you want to convey. Think about your unique personal qualities and what your friends and family value most in you.  Next, ask  yourself how would you want your classmates to see you. Finally, what information would you share with a new friend?

Building a narrative through images
Your six images may be all personal, all professional (not recommended!), demonstrate deeper meaning for you personally, or aspirational and future oriented. You might want to show a journey you have taken or a person who is important to you. Or you could show a vision of your future desires and plans. Build a narrative of the six images and consider what you are communicating about yourself.

Isser Gallogly, associate dean of MBA admissions and innovation, has said that this question evolved to be similar to the kind of post you might share on social media to tell your friends about your life. Images are more and more important in digital communication. This essay asks you to use images as the primary form (drawings, photos, infographics, or any other images you choose).

The one sentence caption for each image will also be an opportunity to contextualize. If you show an image of a happy family, what does that say about your past or future? Who are the people to you? If you have an image of a place you can use the words to explain its importance to you.

Essay 3: Additional Information (Optional)

(250 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.
This optional essay allows you to explain anything that is not clear in your application. Maybe your academic record shows any grades of C or below in a quantitative course, or your GMAT is low. If so, you will want to explain that you are academically prepared. Any explanation should include the reasons why you will perform strongly in your academic courses at NYU.

If you have a gap in work experience this is the place to provide context. Describe what you were doing during the gap.Take the time to explain but not excuse. Finally, remember that you never need to use the optional essay if the information in your application is straightforward on its own.

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MIT MBA Essay Update for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   02 Jul 2019, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MIT MBA Essay Update for 2019-2020
MIT Sloan School of Management has updated the application requirements for its full-time MBA program. Take a look at these MIT MBA essay updates for the 2019-2020 admissions cycle.

MIT MBA Essay and Application Requirements
MIT Sloan does not ask a traditional essay question as part of the application for admission to the full-time program. 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 the Assistant Deans of Admissions, Rod Garcia and Dawna Levenson (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Resume
Please submit a one-page resume (Times New Roman 10 point font preferred) that includes your employment history and academic record in reverse chronological order. Other information appropriate to a business resume is welcomed and encouraged, including extracurricular activities, awards, and achievements. Please REDACT your name, address, and contact information. For formatting purposes, please list the information in the following order:

  • Education – please feel free to include relevant awards, scholarships, professional societies
  • Work Experience – please list in reverse chronological order and include: company name, title, results-oriented bullets that demonstrate your skill set, and dates.
  • Additional information – languages, extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, special skills/interests (if appropriate)
Video Statement
Please take a minute to introduce yourself to your future classmates via video. Include a bit on your past experience and why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your MBA. 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.

Upload the video file according to the detailed instructions within the application. We support the following file formats: .avi, .flv, .m1v, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .webm, .wmv

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.

Additional requirements beyond the MIT MBA essay/cover letter
Applicants must submit two additional references besides the individual you choose to write your letter of recommendation. Also, applicants need to upload an organizational chart which outlines the internal structure of your department and company.

***

For more information on applying, please visit the MIT Sloan admissions website. If you need guidance on your MIT MBA essay and application, or wish to discuss your business school plans, don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

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MIT Sloan Deadlines for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   02 Jul 2019, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MIT Sloan Deadlines for 2019-2020

Are you interested in the full-time MBA program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management? Then get out your calendar! The MIT Sloan deadlines for the 2019-2020 MBA admissions cycle have been announced.

MIT Sloan Deadlines
Round 1
Application due: October 1, 2019

Decision released: December 18, 2019

Round 2
Application due: January 21, 2020

Decision released: March 31, 2020

Round 3
Application due: April 9, 2020

Decision released: May 7, 2020

Applications must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. EST

Decisions will be released early for some candidates who will be denied admission without an interview.  Re-applicants may submit an application in any round. LGO applicants must apply in the LGO Round.

***

For more information on applying, please visit the MIT Sloan admissions website. If you need guidance on your MIT MBA essay and application, or wish to discuss your business school plans, don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

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When Will the Robots Replace Us? [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   08 Jul 2019, 14:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: When Will the Robots Replace Us?


This post originally appeared on the Blacklight, our new newsletter for professionals.
Remember in The Avengers: Age of Ultron, when Tony Stark creates Ultron to help humans establish world peace? And then Ultron decides that the best way to do that is to exterminate mankind completely? Okay, so fears about artificial intelligence (AI) taking over the world haven’t quite reached that level. (Unless you’re Elon Musk).

But, a lot of people really do fear that AI will take all our jobs. Before you know it, we’ll have no way to earn a living, and no sense of self. An in-depthreport from NBC News warns that we must rethink how we look at AI. The purpose is not only to make our jobs more efficient.

Artificial intelligence will also replace our minds.
This, they say, could affect our social well-being and lead to a growing unemployment rate. Jobs in the food and restaurant industries, investment, banking, shipping, and legal fields are all at risk. Even careers in higher education face a threat.

Meanwhile, James Surowieki at Wired sees scant proof that the robots will take away all our jobs. He argues that overall, AI has not allowed companies to produce more with fewer people. In fact, he believes productivity gains over the past decade have been low, compared to historical standards.

The robots have already risen
But as outlets such as Mashable, Gizmodo and The Atlantic point out, machines have already replaced many jobs. When was the last time you booked a vacation through a human travel agent? Have you gone into a bank lately to make a deposit with a teller? Don’t we use email a thousand times more often than snail-mailing a letter to someone?

Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is here to stay. And yes, robots will take many of our jobs. Often, they already have. So far, we’ve been able to cope. Going forward, we need to stay educated and willing to reinvent ourselves and our careers.

***

Did you enjoy this post?  Our newsletter the Blacklight aims to illuminate with every dispatch that lands in your inbox. If you’re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goal posts closer, sign up today.

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Tuesday Tips: Berkeley Haas Application Essays and Tips for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   09 Jul 2019, 06:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Berkeley Haas Application Essays and Tips for 2019-2020


The Haas School of Business at University of California Berkeley is a highly selective school with a small class to fill. Above all, it’s important to stand out from the crowd. Namely, showing fit with the culture and program of the Haas MBA class is key. Today, we’re sharing our tips for the Berkeley Haas application essays to help you create a positive impression through your application materials.

Berkeley Haas has changed the required essays a bit this season. In particular, they’re more leadership focused, yet still give you the space to be creative. School research will be important. Note that the Haas MBA admissions committee has a series of videos and tips posted on the website that can help you prepare. Ready? Let’s dive in.

Tips for the Berkeley Haas Application Essays
Required Essay #1

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)
Haas MBA admissions has asked creative and open-ended questions for many years. This essay is a new version of that style of essay. First, brainstorm your favorite activities that are the most engaging to you.

Think about what you lose time pursuing, or find completely absorbing. A hobby, sport or an artistic pursuit could work here. Another idea is an activity at work that absorbs you or you find fascinating. Ideally, your activity reveals something personal about you. It should go beyond your resume and recommendations.

After you have identified a meaningful activity, then you need to describe why. The “why” is more important than the “what.” The “why” reveals something about your natural talents and skills.

For example, maybe you enjoy research projects. You like to solve problems at work, and to have the freedom to pursue the question wherever it takes you. Do you enjoy research because it allows you to be creative to solve problems? Delve into your own motivations and see what is really driving your talents. Being specific about why you do what you do will help you with all of your essays.

Required Essay #2

At Berkeley Haas, we are redefining leadership. We value different opinions and perspectives, recognizing that we always have more to learn about others’ lived experiences and histories. We encourage speaking up and listening, and courageously use our power to address barriers and drive change for positive impact.
Tell us how a Berkeley Haas MBA would enhance your leadership profile, incorporating specific examples. (300 words max)
This essay specifically asks for examples. The admissions committee knows that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. They want to see when you have shown leadership in the past. Specific examples also extend to showing what you know about Haas and demonstrating the specifics that will enhance your leadership profile.

Specifically, note that Haas defines leadership in a way that is both inclusive and bold. Think about the times in your work and life that show these qualities. When have you stood up for something you believe in? For example, have you ever used your voice to express an opinion where it was not necessarily safe or welcome? That is a demonstration of bravery.

In particular, Haas wants to see that you have stood up for others. Consider describing a time when you have listened to other voices on your team and changed your point of view, or included a diverse viewpoint.

Leadership profile directly relates to your long-term goals. As a result, it will be useful to describe those goals here. Haas values people who have a passion for their pursuits. What drives you to pursue your long-term career goals? How are your goals meaningful to you? Perhaps you will be able to impact the lives of others, lead change, or drive innovation. Your motivations are important to explore and describe to the admissions committee.

Finally, consider how Haas will help you enhance your leadership skills and style. Research specific classes, professors, clubs and activities that you think will help hone your skills and improve your career opportunities.



Optional Essays
We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements:

1. What is the highest level of education completed by your parent(s) or guardian(s)?

• Did not complete high school

• High school diploma or equivalency (GED) Associate’s degree (junior college) or vocational degree/license

• Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS)

• Master’s degree (MA, MS)

• Doctorate or professional degree (MD, JD, DDS)

2. What is the most recent occupation of your parent(s) or guardian(s)?

• Unemployed

• Homemaker

• Laborer

• Skilled worker

• Professional

3. If you were raised in one of the following household types, please indicate:

• Raised by a single parent

• Raised by an extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)

• Raised in a multi-generational home

• Raised in foster care

4. What was the primary language spoken in your childhood home?

5. If you have you ever been responsible for providing significant and continuing financial or supervisory support for someone else, please indicate:

• Child

• Spouse

• Sibling

• Parent

• Extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)

• Other

6. Please elaborate on any of your above responses. Alternatively, you may use this opportunity to expand on other hardships or unusual life circumstances that may help us understand the context of your opportunities, achievements, and impact. (300 words maximum)

Berkeley Haas seeks diversity across many dimensions
Berkeley Haas is committed to understanding applicants completely. By seeking deeper background into your family and your life circumstances, your accomplishments can be contextualized. Questions 1-5 are self-explanatory and should be answered honestly.

In Question 6 you have the choice to either elaborate on your life circumstances as described in Questions 1-5, or to discuss a new piece of information about hardships or life circumstances. This new information can help the admissions committee understand your background more completely.

For example, you might come from a highly educated family and your parents are professionals, but you moved to another country for college or a job. You might have felt challenged while speaking a second language and trying to acclimate to a new culture. Or maybe your parents are fully employed now, but there was a period of unemployment in your family. During that period you learned how to thrive in a different way than you had expected.

It’s possible that, while not personally expected to care for an ailing family member, nonetheless a family illness impacted your life. You might have changed course because of circumstances. Think about the areas of your life that asked the most of your resilience and ability to overcome. How have you used those experiences to continue to achieve and impact those around you?



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.
By the way, there is a specific place to indicate that you won’t have a recommendation from your current supervisor in the supplemental information section, so you do not need to explain that here in the optional essay.

Haas recommends using this space to address any information you could not adequately cover elsewhere, specifically suggesting that any employment gaps or academic issues should be covered here.

Of course, candidates with a strong quantitative background like an engineering or hard sciences degree, or with work background in a quantitative field like finance, don’t need to further explain quantitative skills.

Otherwise, you can use one or two examples to demonstrate that you have an analytical mind. Use examples to show you take a quantitative approach to problem solving and evaluating data. Alternatively, if you have taken any supplemental coursework to improve your quantitative profile, this is the place to describe and explain that coursework.

A short gap between school and a secured job is not necessary to explain. However, an unexplained gap of several months between two jobs should be addressed. If your resume has significant employment gaps you should describe what you did between jobs in this space. Ideally you can point to additional education, training, volunteering or traveling that you engaged in while unemployed.

Finally, reapplicants can describe hard improvements to your candidacy such as an improved GMAT score, new grades from quantitative classes, or a promotion. Other improvements might include refined career goals and additional leadership responsibilities at work or within a volunteer activity.

***

Stacy Blackman Consulting has successfully coached applicants to the Haas MBA each admissions year. Now that you’ve seen these tips for the Berkeley Haas application essays, contact us to learn more about how we can help you set a winning application strategy.

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Tuesday Tips: MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Video Advice for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   09 Jul 2019, 12:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Video Advice for 2019-2020

Are you targeting the MIT Sloan School of Management this application season? Today, we’re sharing our tips for the MIT Sloan cover letter and personal video statement to help you create a positive impression through your application materials.

The MIT Sloan MBA admissions committee has put together a set of useful video tips on their YouTube channel, including a “day in the life” of a Sloan student. In watching the videos, you can see what Sloan values.

Students at MIT Sloan are engaged, creative, and thinking outside the typical MBA frameworks. A study group profiled in the videos includes engineering and design students. One student in the video just returned from a trip to Africa. The video describes vibrant social events and life in Cambridge and Boston.

Experiencing MIT Sloan in person, through networking, or virtually, can also show you if you can see yourself there. Then, your task is to convince the admissions committee that you are MIT Sloan MBA material.

MIT Sloan Cover Letter
MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world.
We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.
Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the 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 the Assistant Deans of Admissions, Rod Garcia and Dawna Levenson (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).
The MIT Sloan cover letter format has been used for many years to select candidates. In some ways, this structure reflects the MIT goal to admit candidates with practical (though innovative) ideas and experience. In addition, the cover letter is a way to describe your key accomplishments and use them to prove that you embody the outlined criteria for admission. Those criteria are: independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers.

Take the MIT Sloan cover letter idea literally and approach this essay as if you were applying for a demanding new job. Can you highlight key stories in your background to prove you take an innovative approach? How can you tell stories that will show you have integrity and passion?

Specifically, use one or more concise illustrations. For example, you could discuss 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. For each story, describe what you did in those situations to demonstrate problem-solving skills and passion.

While showcasing your skills and talents is crucial, don’t forget to demonstrate your ability to work with others and support them. Also note that MIT Sloan is on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. Therefore, you want to demonstrate that you will be an asset to the community and will embody a collaborative approach.



Video Statement
Please take a minute to introduce yourself to your future classmates via video. Include a bit on your past experience and why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your MBA. 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.
Upload the video file according to the detailed instructions within the application. We support the following file formats: .avi, .flv, .m1v, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .webm, .wmv
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.
As the MIT admissions committee advises in a short video, this format is all about getting to know you better. Areas evaluated include your presence, passions, and your interests. Because you will need to record the video in one take, we suggest preparing for this video statement like an interview. Write down the stories you might tell about yourself—ideally personal, interesting, and revealing of who you are. Then, practice.

First, brainstorm stories that reveal the real you. For example, you might be passionate about travel and experiencing new cultures. Have you made several interesting trips in your life? It’s likely each has given you new perspective. Maybe you developed a passion for Thai cuisine after a trip. Perhaps you have collected Brazilian art from your travels to that country.

Think of a few discrete examples. Second, practice, practice, and practice those stories until you feel comfortable. Third, put the stories and the introduction together, and practice the flow before you start recording.

Finally, when recording the video essay response, take your time and speak slowly and clearly into the camera. Though it will feel awkward, try to be natural and comfortable as you respond. The most important goal is to convey your personality. Remember, the admissions committee wants you be authentic and have fun!

***

Stumped by your MIT MBA application? Contact Stacy Blackman Consulting to learn how we can help. We can even help you practice for the video essay!

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IESE MBA Application Deadlines for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   10 Jul 2019, 13:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: IESE MBA Application Deadlines for 2019-2020


Are you targeting one of the top MBA programs in Europe, Spain’s IESE Business School? The IESE MBA application for the 2019-2020 admissions season is now open!

IESE MBA Application Deadlines
Early Decision Round
Application due: September 3, 2019

Decision by: October 18, 2019

Round 1
Application due: October 10, 2019

Decision by: December 5, 2019

Round 2
Application due: January 8, 2020

Decision by: March 3, 2020

Round 3
Application due: March 3, 2020

Decision by: May 8, 2020

Round 4
Application due: May 5, 2020

Decision by: June 12, 2020

IESE recommends candidates send in their application prior to the deadline to avoid the rush and get ahead with the process. Applying early will give applicants more chances to earn a scholarship as well.

***

For more information on applying, please visit the IESE MBA admissions website. If you need guidance on your IESE MBA essay and application, or wish to discuss your business school plans, don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

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IESE MBA Application Essays for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   10 Jul 2019, 13:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: IESE MBA Application Essays for 2019-2020


Is IESE Business School in Spain on your shortlist of target MBA programs? Then let the brainstorming begin! You’ll find the IESE MBA application essays for the 2019-2020 admission season within the online application.

IESE MBA Application Essays
Application Essay #1
What do you want to be remembered for? (word limit 300 max)

Application Essay #2
Describe your short and medium term post-MBA goals? (word limit 300 max)

Optional Essay
I wish the admissions committee had asked me… (word limit 300 max)

***

For more information on applying, visit the IESE MBA admissions website. If you need guidance on your IESE MBA application essays, or wish to discuss your business school plans, don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

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Which MBA Application to Start With First? [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   11 Jul 2019, 07:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Which MBA Application to Start With First?
While not all Class of 2022 MBA applications have gone live yet, many have — and most programs have posted their essay questions so that applicants can at least get going on their drafts. But how should you pick which MBA application to start with?

Some people prefer to start with the essay set that’s due first. That’s totally fine, but 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. We all know that if you’re dreading something, you’ll find reasons to keep putting it off.

 ‘Easy’ vs. ‘Dream’ Business School First
You have about two months before the majority of Round 1 deadlines hit. So, another tactic to help you decide which MBA application to start with first is choosing 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 you can reduce your stress level by allowing the 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. Then, pick the most extensive set to begin drafting. That way, you can leverage 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.  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

***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.

This post originally published in July 2018 and has been updated.

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What’s Your Wish with Susan B. West, Owner of M2 Well-Being [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   15 Jul 2019, 10:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: What’s Your Wish with Susan B. West, Owner of M2 Well-Being
In our interview series What’s Your Wish, we bring you career and life insights from inspiring business leaders. Find out how they landed where they are today. What makes them tick. How they have overcome obstacles. Advice they would offer to recent graduates. And always, what is their wish for young professionals.
Meet Susan B. West, Owner and General Manager at M2 Well-Being, a mobile mindfulness studio that brings mindfulness training to the workplace.


What’s the highlight of your career so far?
The highlights of my career come from the decisions that represented the most risk for me. And they each paid off in very different ways.

For example, I bought a one-way ticket to Santiago, Chile with no job or prospects, less than a year after graduating from college. I had a nice marketing role at a local bank in Philadelphia, but was driven to get international experience, hoped to work in consumer packaged goods for the marketing training and wanted to explore my roots (both my parents were raised there).

Despite not having a recognized degree (BA in International Relations) and failing psychological tests (I didn’t fit into the profile of a “typical Chilean woman”), I was hired as an Assistant Brand Manager at Procter & Gamble, Chile. It was a spectacular professional training ground and provided a solid foundation for my career. Plus it was a huge life adventure. I thought I would spend a year or two in Santiago, but stayed for four.

Then there’s the time I Initially declined a promotion at Arizona State University because they asked me to increase my part-time hours (3 days/ week) to full-time. My son was six months old then, and full-time hours didn’t feel like the right balance for me. But after two weeks of giving it more thought, I went to my boss, told him I wanted the expanded role, and thought I could do it well working part-time hours.

Lucky for me, he gave me a chance to prove I could, and I did. I was the only person on the senior management team (or on my marketing and communications team) who worked part-time. There was some internal resistance to my schedule, but we all made it work for six years. I was proud and gratified that I paved a different path.

Another career highlight was when I decided I was worthy of risking capital. Over the years, I started a of couple businesses and even quit paying “day” jobs to pursue them. But if the business required more investment than the opportunity cost of my income, I lost my nerve.

It took one year of research, pitching and cheerleading to gather the courage to launch and lead M2. There were (are) So.Many.Things I had no idea how to do or approach. But I took a leap of faith, and I’m so glad I did. However this unfolds, I know I will not regret it and I am curious to see where it will lead.

Is there anything you wish people knew about your company?
Too often, I hear that mindfulness is for hippies, new-agers, religious people, slackers or the otherwise lost and forlorn. In fact, mindfulness is practiced by corporate and government leaders, neuroscientists, professional athletes, first responders, military personnel and people of all walks of life and pursuits.

One in 5 people will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime. But despite its prevalence, many of us are hesitant to prioritize our mental well-being. That could mean reaching out for support when you’re going through a challenge, recognizing you need a break, or taking a class to improve the way you handle stress.

We don’t question the importance of choosing nutritious foods, or the positive impact of physical exercise on our health. Advocating for our mental well-being should be just as accepted, too. One of M2’s intentions is to bring people together to support and enhance their mental health and capacity for resilience.



RV “before” picture

What surprised you most about your current role?
I can like sales! As a career marketer, I have always appreciated being one degree of separation away from sales and direct revenue generation. Closing deals made me uncomfortable. Now I am an owner-operator, so my tasks range from driving the mobile studio, to directing branding and marketing, to bookkeeping, to hiring and managing talent, to business development and sales.

But it’s the latter that makes or breaks my business at this point. While I’ve always managed products or services that I care about and know provide important value, this is the first time in my career that I feel completely at ease evangelizing, and it’s made pitching and selling super doable.



Mobile studio exterior

How do you increase motivation when you are just not feeling it?
  • Schedule it. Whether it’s a presentation, a confrontation or an activity I don’t enjoy, I put it on my to-do list and on my calendar. And I discipline myself to focus on that activity only. There is a lot of research that discourages multi-tasking, and it’s especially self-defeating when motivation is weak.
  • Examine it (or meditate on it). Sometimes it helps to be curious about why I’m not feeling motivated. Negative feelings about myself or the business can make any activity seem like a chore. Am I feeling insecure about our revenue pipeline? Or how participants are engaging with our service? I try to put some distance between me and my thoughts and feelings, and identify if there’s an emotional burden I can try to let go or diminish.
  • Step away from it. Sometimes I just need a break or a rest. I give myself permission to do something totally different– exercise, work on a crossword puzzle, prepare a meal, admire my dog—and come back later.
What have you found helps you in terms of organization or productivity?
Paper lists for daily tasks (nothing beats the subtle action of scratching out a completed to-do item) and quarterly, published goal setting and tracking to focus the bigger picture and keep priorities and activities on track.

How do you turn off when you leave the office?
My ongoing intention is to be present in whatever I’m doing. Work is always on my mind. So are my kids. As is what’s for dinner. Mindfulness appeals to me because I am trying to tame my monkey mind and be less wrapped up in the stories I create.

It’s a daily, hourly practice and journey that includes intermittent 30- second check-ins (a few deep breaths); “Do Not Disturb” on my phone so it pings me less often; scheduling fewer activities for me and my family overall; and making an effort to notice my body or thoughts. I don’t turn off, but I do practice letting go and returning to wherever I am. Sometimes I succeed and often I don’t. But I keep trying.



Mobile studio inside.

Do you have any recs for free time? (apps, books, podcasts, movies, music)
While I spend my fair share of time scrolling social media, I make a big effort to get away from electronics each day. Every week includes hiking with a friend, yoga, meditating, reading fiction and listening to podcasts (I’m kind of obsessed, though perhaps that doesn’t count as “away from electronics”). I also spend an inordinate amount of time talking on the phone (the good old fashioned way) with close friends.

What should a recent grad be looking for in a new career opportunity?
I find it hard to dispense general advice since everyone’s circumstances and aspirations are so different. But I can share what was very valuable about my experience in my early 20s.

  • Work or intern during college. Before my senior year I interned at an NGO in Washington, DC; it helped me decide to pursue a path in business instead. Since I took almost no business classes, I opted for another internship second semester senior year– in marketing at a bank– to help pave the path. That turned into a job which turned into a career.
  • I joined a bigger organization with complex products, services and budgets. Procter & Gamble had structured training and the opportunity to experience all facets of product ideation, development, launch and growth. Broad exposure was critical for skill development. 
  • Unless you’re pursuing a career that requires graduate school as an entry point, get work experience before continuing. Education is a great investment, but a big one. It should be part of a discrete plan; it’s not a good alternative to buy time to make a plan.
What’s your wish for young professionals?
I wish you the awareness to know what really matters to you and the courage to seek it out, even if it defies traditional roles or culture. We are all pretty preoccupied with external “shoulds” that don’t fully satisfy us deep down. I also wish you the flexibility and patience to accept that you may not have it right away and that it will require sacrifices.

Mastering skills and developing expertise takes time, practice, effort, discomfort and humility. So does earning trust, credibility and building a network. Listen carefully. Judge less. Be kind to yourself and others, always.

***

Now that you’ve learned all about the journey of Susan B. West, check out our previous What’s Your Wish interviews! Read Money, Meaning, and the MBA, with UCLA Anderson Marketing Professor Dr Cassie Mogilner Holmes, and get to know Suzanne Ginestro, Chief Marketing Officer at Quest Nutrition.

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Tuesday Tips: Duke MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   16 Jul 2019, 06:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Duke MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020


Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business is a community oriented program seeking a diverse class of accomplished students. Today, we’re sharing our tips for the Duke MBA essays to help you create a positive impression on the admissions committee.

Admissions director Shari Hubert has written some excellent blog posts about what they look for in the Duke Fuqua application process. As Hubert wrote in December 2017, “This place is truly special. It wasn’t long after joining Fuqua in October that I came to that realization, and every day I continue to encounter things that affirm it. … I’ve been struck by how real and authentic everyone is, and getting to know my colleagues and our students has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my job so far.”

For the Duke MBA essays, communicate who you are and why you should join Team Fuqua. Starting your research and personal networking now will help you prepare the most effective essays for your Duke Fuqua application.

Stacy Blackman Consulting can help you prepare a compelling, individualized strategy to approach your Duke Fuqua application this year, contact us to learn more.

Duke MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020
Required short-answer essay questions
For each question, respond in 500 characters only (the equivalent of about 100 words).

1. Why is pursuing an MBA the right next step for you?

2. What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first choice career plan and your alternate plan.
This career goals essay asks for your plan for an MBA and your future career goals in this two-part question. Because both parts should fit together, think big picture and focus on the overall story trajectory. What would be the most logical (and interesting) progression from your current skill set to a Duke MBA? How will your next step flow from the combination of your MBA and your past experiences? The career goals essay is about your ability to assess your background and plan your future. It’s not a promise you are required to fulfill.

As you consider your alternative path, think about plans that fit with your background and goals. Also, show what you could explore if your first plan doesn’t work out. Flexibility is useful in a changing world, and useful for these short-answer Duke MBA essays.

For example, you could be focused on becoming a marketing executive in the consumer packaged goods industry. Therefore, you might be interested in a company like General Mills. If you don’t find the right job in that industry after Duke, maybe you would consider marketing for a retailer, such as Target. This could be an alternate career path because it allows you to develop a marketing career as well, just in a different industry.

Or, you may have two separate interests and want to consider both of them. Your Plan A is to join a strategy consulting firm after graduation. However, if you don’t receive a job at your top choice firm you would think about co-founding a start up as another possible path. Think about your range of interests and go from there.

Because you have limited space in these Duke MBA essays, boil your plans down to a clear statement. Any plans for an MBA and career goals you discuss should be supported by the information provided in your resume, recommendations, and other essays. In particular, Duke Fuqua should be a clear training ground for your future career.



FIRST REQUIRED ESSAY: 25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF
Instructions: Present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed two pages.
For context: Fuqua believes different types of people, points of view, and experiences bring out the best in everyone. And above all, we place a premium on succeeding while making a positive impact on businesses, organizations, and the world. These ways of thinking set the Duke MBA experience apart, and this concept extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration.
When a new person joins the Admissions team, we ask that person to share with everyone in the office a list of “25 Random Things About Yourself.” As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire’s professional and academic background, so learning these “25 Random Things” helps us get to know someone’s personality, background, special talents, and more.
In this spirit, the admissions committee also wants to get to know you–beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. You can share with us important life experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with us your list of “25 Random Things” about YOU.
This Duke MBA essay is entirely open-ended. As a result, you can cover your personal background, work experiences, values and hobbies. If you have a particularly interesting story, this is the place to tell that story. Make sure that any topics that are personal are also relevant to your Duke Fuqua application.

Director Hubert’s Random Things


Director Hubert has posted her own 25 random things, including items from her famous aunt to her love of vegetables. This list shows her personality and also ranges from the serious to the frivolous. Consider that range as you compose your own list.

Coming up with 25 random things to list in this essay may seem daunting at first. To jump-start your creative process you may want to brainstorm with friends and family about what is most interesting and memorable about you. Or keep a notebook with you to record ideas as you go about your activities.

Once you have 25 random things, how do you structure your list? There’s a few possible ways: chronologically, chunking the list into themes, or even alphabetically. You could organize the list so that it builds from shorter to longer items. Another idea is to intersperse some of the 25 random things that require a paragraph explanation between sets of things that are easy to understand in one sentence.

Structuring the list to make it easy to read and follow will be appreciated. But, resist the urge to package the list too perfectly. Content is always the most important factor in these Duke MBA essays. Also, remember that the main point of this essay is to show Fuqua your personality, and interests. This makes the essay a crucial part of your overall Duke Fuqua application.

Second required essay: The Fuqua community and you
Instructions: Your response should be no more than two pages in length.

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society.
Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of experiential learning and individual development experiences. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, how do you see yourself engaging in and contributing to our community outside of the classroom?
In your application, be very specific about why Team Fuqua is the right place for you. The best Duke MBA essays will be personal, while demonstrating you have done your homework on Fuqua. Everyone benefits from a diverse alumni network, but what specifically do you want to give and receive from your classmates?

Describe clubs and classes you want to join at Fuqua. Also, offer specific examples from your past experiences to show your consistent passions.

Your fit with the program is crucial to this Duke Fuqua application. In addition, it will be ideal to show the personal qualities that Duke Fuqua prizes. The Duke MBA program is especially interested in your role within the community. Community involvement has significant weight in your Duke Fuqua application. If you research thoroughly, you should be able to show you will be a strong contributor to Team Fuqua.

This essay can also be a place to talk about how the Duke MBA fits into your career goals. What do you know now that will be enhanced through your Fuqua MBA education? And what crucial aspects of the skill set required for your future career will be augmented by attending Duke?

However, the main focus should be your community involvement. Think about how you plan to improve the experience of others at Duke.

Tell us more
If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware (such as unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance), please explain them in an optional essay.
Please do not upload additional essays or additional recommendations in this area of the application, and limit your response to one page.
The Admissions committee at Fuqua asks that you use this space only to explain extenuating circumstances. So, don’t use this essay just to add new information to your Duke Fuqua application. If you have a low GPA, lack a recommendation from your current supervisor or have gaps in work history this is the place to address it. If you do not have any of those areas to explain, skip the question and focus on the other essays.

When approaching any concerns about your background in the optional essay it’s important to show that your recent performance, whether academic or professional, has demonstrated recovery from the issues of the past.

Your goal is to remove questions from your application. To do that, address any information the admissions committee needs to know to evaluate your application. In a factual and positive manner, write that you know there could be questions about your background, but you have thoroughly improved in any areas necessary. That will be the best way to show you are now ready to contribute to the program at Duke Fuqua.

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Yale MBA Application Tips from Current Students [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   19 Jul 2019, 07:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Yale MBA Application Tips from Current Students

Whether you plan to submit a Yale MBA application or apply elsewhere, we’ve got great advice to pass along.  Take a look at these tips from current Yale School of Management students. When asked what advice they would offer this year’s MBA hopefuls, here are a few of their best nuggets.

Research exhaustively 
Business school is a huge, expensive proposition. For that reason, conducting ample research to find out every detail you can about each school is vital.

“Try to get as many data points on schools as possible. The first step is research, research, research. Each business school has unique characteristics that make it stand out from the others. I found the ones that spoke to me and my interests and took a deeper dive on those. That meant getting on the phone with current students and still more online research. The next step was to actually interact with the schools—go to presentations, go to events, visit campuses, and connect with admissions.” – Rayan Mansour ’20

Prepare thoroughly
Create  a timeline that incorporates the schools to which you will apply and in what particular round. Working backward from this timeline should help you set goals in terms of GMAT preparation, essay writing, planning to attend events, etc.

“It may sound simple, but once you have a sense of what schools you will apply to, make sure to really understand all of the application requirements! MBA applicants are typically working full time and are generally busy people, and it will help you in the long run to know the nuances of each school’s application requirements. There are differences across schools, such as essay question prompts and required supplemental information. It gave me a lot of peace of mind to map everything out and avoid some last-minute surprises before submitting my applications.” – Rebecca Baehr ’20

It’s okay to ask for help
It can be hard to stay motivated when you are faced with so many competing responsibilities, both as an applicant and from the real world. Never underestimate the importance of having someone you can vent to who knows exactly what it feels like in your shoes.

A little nudge from your application buddy, and having a sense of support, community and accountability to another person in the MBA trenches, can go a long way toward keeping your motivation levels running high and your eye on the prize.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Reach out to current students or recent alumni to hear about why they chose a certain school, reach out to friends and family for help revising your essays, set up a GMAT study plan with a friend. The application process can be challenging, and having a support network will make a world of a difference.” – Jordan Woll ’20

It’s a lot to absorb, but the sooner you hash out all of the details, the better prepared you’ll be to fine-tune your application and polish those essays. If you need guidance on your Yale MBA essays, we can help! Or, check out any of our SBC strategy guides to help you learn the secrets for creating standout application essays.

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Keep Impostor Syndrome in Check [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   22 Jul 2019, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Keep Impostor Syndrome in Check


This post originally appeared on the Blacklight, our new newsletter for professionals.
Do you often worry that any moment, a colleague, professor, or your boss will realize you are a total fraud? Sure, you’re accomplished and exude confidence on the outside. But secretly, you fear everyone will realize that you aren’t as smart, talented, or capable as they believe. If so, impostor syndrome is the likely culprit of those persistent self-doubts and fears. (This quiz will help settle the matter if you’re not sure.)

Clinical Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes coined the term in 1978 to describe low expectations of successor a feeling of intellectual fraudulence. Guess who else suffers from I.S.? Michelle Obama. Howard Schultz. Lady Gaga. Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor. Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Tom Hanks. And…let’s just say it’s a long list and you’re in good company.

There are still days when I wake up feeling like a fraud,
not sure I should be where I am.—Sheryl Sandberg

In fact, 70 percent of people will experience impostor syndrome at some point in their career. Take a look around the room at your next meeting. Chances are, the majority of people sitting there also struggle with massive self-doubt. The next time you feel like a fake who’s about to be unmasked, try these three strategies to keep your impostor syndrome in check.

Own your successes


Don’t shrug off wins such as landing a killer new job, promotion, or getting into a top-ranked grad school as mere luck. Nuh-uh. Hard work, determination, skills, and talent are the reasons for your success. That voice trying to convince you that every triumph you’ve ever had is due to some kind of accident is merely a distortion of reality. Mute that sucker and celebrate your accomplishments! You earned them and deserve to enjoy the results of your hard work.

Ditch the goal of perfection
Do you set unreasonably high goals for yourself? Not meeting them usually leads to frustration, disappointment, and thus “confirmation” that you really don’t measure up. And even if you do manage to meet that lofty goal, there’s still something you could have done better.



Striving for perfection can adversely affect your career if you avoid challenges for fear you’ll make a mistake. Instead, set reasonable goals and accept when the result is “good enough.” To be clear, it’s not about aiming for mediocrity, notes Valerie Young, author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women. It’s about living in the real world.

“What it does mean is, with some obvious exceptions such as performing surgery or flying an airplane, not everything you do deserves 100 percent. It’s a matter of being selective about where you put your efforts and not wasting time fussing over routine tasks when an adequate effort is all that is required. If you get a chance to go back and make improvements later, great—if not, move on.”

Seek opinions from a trusted source


If you doubt whether your accomplishments have come as a result of your own efforts, check in with others for impartial feedback. Ask a supervisor what they think of your job performance—their comments might be the wake-up call your doubting self needs. Now, we shouldn’t rely solely on external sources for validation. But hearing the unvarnished truth from a trusted friend or mentor can provide clarity. It can also help re-frame your distorted self-impression.

The next time impostor syndrome strikes, and you doubt whether you deserve a place at the table, remember that hard work, talent, and drive got you where you are today. As this affirming TedTalk points out,

“We may never be able to banish these feelings entirely, but we can have open conversations about academic or professional challenges. With increasing awareness of how common these experiences are, perhaps we can feel freer to be frank about our feelings and build confidence in some simple truths: you have talent, you are capable, and you belong.”

***

Did you enjoy this post?  Our newsletter the Blacklight aims to illuminate with every dispatch that lands in your inbox. If you’re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goal posts closer, sign up today.

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INSEAD MBA Essays for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   22 Jul 2019, 18:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: INSEAD MBA Essays for 2019-2020

The INSEAD application for the September 2020 intake is now live. You’ll find the INSEAD MBA essays within the online application.  Once again, INSEAD asks applicants to answer a series of short-answer job description essays as well as motivation essays.

INSEAD MBA Essays for 2019-2020
Job Description Essays
The job questions are not essays. Hence, the number of words is not so important. People need to be comfortable writing 3 lines or 20. Some applicants work for companies that are well known and only 3 lines are sufficient to describe them; others work for small companies where it is more important to give the full picture.

Essay 1
Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (short answer)

Essay 2
What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company? (short answer)

Essay 3
Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. Describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (short answer)

Essay 4
Discuss your short and long term career aspirations with or without an MBA from INSEAD. (short answer)

Optional
If you are currently not working or if you plan to leave your current employer more than 2 months before the programme starts, please explain your activities and occupations between leaving your job and the start of the programme.

Motivation Essays
Essay 1
Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (approximately 500 words)

Essay 2
Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (approximately 400 words)

Essay 3
Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc). How are you enriched by these activities? (approximately 300 words)

Optional
Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (approximately 300 words)

***

Wondering how to get started on your INSEAD MBA essays? Check out this article with essay writing tips direct from the school’s admissions team. For more information on applying, visit the INSEAD MBA admissions website.

If you need guidance on your INSEAD MBA application, or wish to discuss your business school plans, don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

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Tuesday Tips: Cornell MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   23 Jul 2019, 06:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Cornell MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020

Are you targeting Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management? The MBA application is now live, so it’s time to tackle those Cornell MBA essays. Cornell Johnson is a flexible MBA program within an Ivy League campus. Consider for your Cornell MBA application that Cornell Johnson offers multiple full-time options. Some of the options include a one-year MBA, specialized executive programs, and the Cornell Tech MBA in Ithaca and NYC.

Whatever your goals and background, Cornell has a program that can help you achieve your goals. Johnson also works to integrate the MBA experience into the larger Cornell community and to leverage coursework at the other top-ranked graduate programs to provide more opportunity to Johnson students.

When approaching the Cornell MBA essays, set your application strategy before you start working. Then, identify the program at Cornell you are most interested in. Do some serious school research. This means research the faculty, coursework and career opportunities. Also, examine your background and goals to see what is most important to explain as part of your story.

In addition, inject a layer of personal background and experiences—what makes you truly unique. Finally, make sure you have solid academics, work experience and extracurriculars. These can be covered in your Cornell MBA essays, resume, or recommendations. If you identify any holes in your profile or story, take the time to fill them prior to starting your application. You can explain anything necessary in the optional essay.

To talk to Stacy Blackman Consulting about your Cornell MBA essays, contact us! Learn more about applying at the Cornell Johnson website.

Cornell MBA Essays and Tips
Goals Statement
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:

How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals?

This short answer question is a quick way to cover the relevant career goals questions for your Cornell MBA application. Make sure that your answers are clear and are consistent with your recommenders.

Once you have identified your industry, company, and role in both the short- and long-term, you can briefly answer how your past experiences have led you to your goals. Then, think about the pivotal moments in your career and how they have prepared you for the next step, or have helped to realize your passions.

Finally, pick a very brief example to cover here. In addition, you can use your resume and recommendations to showcase any other skills you need to accomplish your goals. You can explain more about your accomplishments and leadership in the Impact Essay.

Impact Essay
At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. How do you intend to make an impact during the next several years of your education and/or career? (350 words maximum)
The Cornell Johnson admissions committee advises you to use this essay “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.”

The first step to answering this question is to do your research. Ideally you will have an opportunity to either visit Johnson or to attend an admissions event in your city. Or, as Johnson suggests, connect via phone or email. Another way to find a personal connection is to reach out friends, family and work colleagues to see if anyone knows a current or future member of the Johnson community.

As you prepare for conversations to learn more about Cornell Johnson, think about programs, extracurricular activities and the informal ways that students might interact. Johnson offers groups for interests ranging from cooking to ice hockey, and has professional clubs for every possible career path. Those formal groups, or connecting in a classroom or party, may be ways you make connections at Johnson. Showing that you know the school well is important for a successful Cornell MBA application.

Once you have identified opportunities to contribute to campus life at Johnson, ideally you support your story with evidence from your past experiences. For example, maybe you want to bring new speakers to the Johnson Marketing Association because you have contributed to your young professionals group at work. Explain that you have successfully organized events featuring major speakers for a large group of people, and can bring that skill to create impact for your peers at Johnson.

Back of Your Resume Essay
The front page of your resume has given us a sense of your professional experience and accomplishments as well as your academic summary and extracurricular involvement. If the back page reflects “the rest of your story,” please help us get to know you better by sharing ONE example of a life experience, achievement, or passion that will give us a sense of who you are as a potential community member.
Of all the Cornell MBA essays, this one will show the admissions committee who you are on a personal level. Think about highlighting areas you may not have been able to touch on in the previous essays. Consider an example that demonstrates your unique personal attributes. Another idea might be to focus on community involvement. For example, if you have a consistent theme of involvement in a charity or activity, this is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate why you became involved and what you have done over the years.

As the Admissions Committee suggests: “We encourage you to think about your proudest accomplishments, interests and passions, and personal highlights that will help us to get to know you as a person and potential community member. We value creativity and authenticity and encourage you to approach this essay with your unique style.“

This essay can be written as a 500-word essay, or delivered in one of the alternative submission formats: a slide presentation, links to pre-existing media (personal website, digital portfolio, YouTube, etc.), or visually enhanced written submissions.

If you use an alternative format, you should tailor the format you use to the message you want to send. For example, if you discuss your involvement in a cultural activity a YouTube video would be a good way to show that experience.

Or, if you have a start-up idea you may want to showcase it on a website or through a slide presentation. Don’t be too distracted by format, though. While a creative format might impress the admissions committee, substance is the most important part of the essay.

Optional Essay
You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson (350 words maximum).
If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application and candidacy since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Admissions Policy for additional information about re-applying (350 words maximum).
This optional essay allows for either an explanation of any weaknesses in your application, or additional information. Your issue could be a poor GPA or GMAT. Or you might have concerns with your undergraduate record. Possibly you were unable to provide a recommendation from a current supervisor. If any of those issues exist, this is the place to give the background.

Briefly describe the situation and what may have contributed to the issue (illness, family difficulties, etc.). Make sure you don’t editorialize—facts only. Focus the balance of your essay on looking forward. What have you done in the recent past to demonstrate your skills and intelligence?

For re-applicants, this is the place to explain what you have done since your last application. Make sure to strengthen your case for admission. If you have a new GMAT score or took classes in calculus or statistics, you have a solid case for improved academics. A promotion could signal career development and leadership.

Even if you don’t have a clear-cut update to describe, use this space to explain how you have improved your career goals or fit with Cornell.

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Tuesday Tips: Tuck MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020 [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   23 Jul 2019, 07:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Tuck MBA Essays and Tips for 2019-2020

The Tuck MBA essays are out, and we have the latest tips for you! The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth has a small student body and a rural location, combined with world-class faculty and academic focus. The admissions committee has spent considerable time developing a clear set of criteria for admissions. Through their Tuck MBA essays, successful applicants will show they are: smart, nice, accomplished and aware.

The essays map directly to aware and nice, explained Luke Anthony Peña, executive director of admissions and financial aid at the Tuck School, in an announcement last year about the changes.

The admissions committee expects that the other two criteria—smart and accomplished—will be covered elsewhere in the application. This year, he said: “We have been pleased with the quality and caliber of aspiring wise leaders for whom all four of the criteria have resonated.”

Stacy Blackman Consulting can help you put together successful Tuck MBA essays. Contact us to learn more about the customized assistance we can provide for you. To learn more about the Tuck MBA application, visit the Tuck MBA admissions website.

Tuck MBA Essays
Essay One: Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)
Being aware is one of the four criteria for successful Tuck MBA essays. To show awareness in this essay, spend some time considering your goals. Also, think about why you think an MBA is the right choice. Finally, consider why Tuck is the right place for you.

Once you have decided upon your goals, you must articulate them in this essay. Make sure you have done research on Tuck. Use your research to show why Tuck is the right place for your next step. Being aware also means seeing the opportunities available at Tuck. To make goals that are appropriate for you, considering your background and MBA, also shows you are aware.

Essay Two: Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are. (300 words)
Make sure you have spent time learning about Tuck and why you think you are a fit with the community. This essay will show that you are aware of your own individuality. Also, that you understand how you interact with others. And, by reaching out to current students and alumni, you will learn more about the Tuck experience. That will help you better understand how you fit in at Tuck, and write better Tuck MBA  essays.

Once you understand Tuck, think about the experiences that have shaped you. This essay is an ideal place to talk about some of your past experiences. For example, what you have experienced in various communities and what you have contributed or learned.

If you are struggling to come up with a topic to discuss, talk to your friends and family about any stories that remind them of your unique personality and how you interact with others. Sometimes talking with the people who know you the best can aid your self-awareness.

Essay Three: Tuck students invest generously in one another’s success even when it is not convenient or easy. Share an example of how you helped someone else succeed. (300 words)
Tuck is a team-oriented culture. It’s important to be a nice person who wants to help others. This essay can show your personality and teamwork skills. Think about times that you invested in another person’s success even when inconvenient. Maybe you helped a competitor at work. Or, someone who was not in a position to help you. It’s easy to be nice in a low-stakes environment. It is hard to be nice when it doesn’t personally benefit you.

Think about your behavior in a team. Do you help your teammates understand issues or argue with them? How do you resolve conflict? When have you helped someone when it was not noticed or required? Choose a time when you have truly been a nice and helpful teammate and then explain the situation, what you did, and the result.

If there were any lessons learned that you have applied since then, describe those lessons.

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Successful Reapplicant to Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   24 Jul 2019, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Successful Reapplicant to Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB


After receiving rejections from six top schools, successful reapplicant Ed Redden won acceptances to both Harvard and Stanford’s MBA programs.

Everyone hates rejection. But when it comes in the form of a ding from your dream business school, the disappointment is amplified. You’re already emotionally drained from the application experience, out hundreds or even thousands of dollars in MBA application fees, travel expenses to visit the schools, or wardrobe updates to impress your MBA interviewers. For many rejected MBA candidates, having to wait another year to start business school feels like pure agony.

Where did I go wrong?

What could I have done differently?

What does the admissions committee really want from applicants?

These questions plague dinged candidates each season. Unfortunately, the schools rarely convey exactly what caused your application to land in the denied pile.

When we met Ed Redden last year, he had submitted six failed applications. But the rejections from Harvard and Stanford GSB in particular made him question whether he should even try to apply again.

Yet, he was a compelling candidate. He graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from Notre Dame University in 2013. Redden has spent the past five years working for General Electric Co. in a variety of roles with increasing responsibility. He leads a group of more than 55 employees across five manufacturing product lines for GE.

Doubts About Reapplying
“There was a lot of self-doubt and questioning about what my future would be,” he admits. “Should I re-apply or focus on the career I already had going? I knew I didn’t put my best application forward, but was it worth it to try again? Did I even have a chance as a reapplicant, or had I blown my chance?”

Many applicants face this crossroads—whether to forgo business school completely and focus on their current career path—at the end of an unsuccessful admissions cycle. No one can answer that question but you. However, the important takeaway is that one failed attempt does not mean you’ve blown your chance forever.

“During my first round of applications I remember feeling very confused about what it was the adcom was looking for in a good candidate,” Redden explains. “It often felt like admissions was a black box and I was hopelessly trying to crack the code. I knew deep inside that I was a good candidate for top MBA programs and had great experiences that would add value to the classroom. I just needed help telling my story.”

3 Common Mistakes in MBA Applications
Without direct feedback from the admissions committee, you must do some sleuthing yourself to determine what your weaknesses were. After a complete review, we uncovered three common mistakes Redden made during his first time applying. These issues likely hindered his chances at these top MBA programs.

A successful reapplicant must put in a lot of time and energy. Candidates must really do their homework about the schools they have targeted. You need to create compelling essays that convince the adcom how a particular program will help you reach your career goals. Essays should also provide a window into how you will contribute to the school as a student and eventual alumni.

Work and personal factors caused Redden to rush his applications.  That translated into a generic approach, rather than focusing on each school and tailoring the application to speak to that program’s unique culture and values. The third and most consequential weakness, we realized, was with his recommenders. “I didn’t give my recommenders much direction or background,” he admits. “They were not familiar with the MBA application process and had never written a letter of recommendation like that before.”

Guiding Your MBA Recommenders
To remedy this issue when he reapplied, we suggested Redden create a “recommender package.” This offers helpful instruction on both process and content. Provide your recommenders with a list of your strengths and characteristics that you plan to highlight in the application. Since many schools ask recommenders about your weaknesses or areas of development, give the recommender a growth area for you as well as examples of how you’re working on it.

Then the recommender can speak to your maturity and awareness, showing schools you intend to hit the ground running and improve through their program. You want to make it as easy as possible for them to write glowing letters. That way, a recommender package is a win-win for all. Don’t leave it to your recommender to remember everything you’ve ever done, and definitely don’t leave this process to chance. Your recommenders will appreciate your assistance and thoroughness. This simple step can turn you into a successful reapplicant next time.

Redden says he devoted much more time and attention to his recommenders during the re-application process.

“I chose each recommender for specific and different reasons and worked with them as opposed to throwing it over the fence and simply hoping they wrote a good letter.  I was intentional on what aspects of our relationship I wanted them to focus on and what achievements or experiences I wanted them to highlight. The letter they wrote was fully their own but it was much better aligned with my overall SBC strategy as a re-applicant,” he notes.

GMAT Score and Career Goals
Although his career path and goals, and GMAT score, didn’t change from one application cycle to the next, Redden says he adapted a much more honest and authentic approach to the essays. He also had better structure that reflected a strategic focus the second time around.

“Through conversations with my consultant and a lot of self-reflection, I came to better understand what unique experiences and perspectives I brought to the table, how that would best resonate with each school, and how best to highlight that in my application,” he explains.

On the surface, many applicants to elite MBA programs share similar backgrounds and traits. Ambitious, driven, and accomplished, they  have strong academic records and impressive test scores. But just because candidates share these characteristics doesn’t mean their MBA application essays have to beat the same drum.

When brainstorming stories from your background to share in your MBA essays, you should absolutely include some traditional work stuff. But also think about family, friendships, languages, interests, passions, and dreams. These categories aren’t “business-y,” but do reveal character traits you want to emphasize.

Why an MBA Resume Matters
Redden also created a better, stronger resume tailored specifically for his applications. Your resume should signal to the admissions team what sort of work stories you’d talk about in class. In addition, the resume should preview some “lessons learned” from either your professional or community-service experiences.

Adcom members have often told us that the resume is just as important as the essays. The extra work you put into revising it could make the difference between a ding and an interview offer. To pick up some tips for your own resume, check out our resume guide here.

About his final decision, he says,  “I could not make a ‘wrong’ choice, and would have loved to attend either school (or both if I could!). After a lot of self-reflection it came down to who I wanted to be and the type of leader I wanted to become. Both schools would strengthen and develop different aspects of my leadership ability and it was ultimately a personal decision about what school I believed to be the right fit for me.” This successful reapplicant chose Stanford, and started its MBA program last fall.

We are grateful to Ed for placing his trust in SBC and for agreeing to share his story. We hope you feel inspired to shoot for the stars—even if you have failed. It doesn’t take a perfect 4.0 or an 800 test score to become a successful reapplicant. You don’t need to manage a team of 40 people. However, you do need focus, resilience and the proper strategy.

This article originally published in July 2018 on Poets & Quants. It has been updated.

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MBA Reapplicant Success Story: From 24 Apps, 19 Dings to 1st in Class [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   26 Jul 2019, 13:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MBA Reapplicant Success Story: From 24 Apps, 19 Dings to 1st in Class at Emory
We have an inspirational MBA reapplicant success story to share with you today! “I wrote 24 applications over two years and was turned down nineteen times in a row before anyone said yes. All said-and-done, I received only two ‘yeses.’  Hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars I spent trying to get in, and was rejected over and over,” shares Ed Luggen.



Perseverance paid off for MBA reapplicant Ed Luggen.

When Luggen signed on us in 2015, he had received more rejections than almost anyone we had ever worked with. The fact that he wanted to persevere was a true testament to his character, his resilience, drive and problem-solving abilities.

In 2018, Luggen received his MBA from Emory’s Goizueta Business School, graduating #1 in the class. He was on the dean’s list for four semesters at Goizueta, receiving the most outstanding academic achievement award. Before going to Emory, Luggen was an associate attorney at Kurtz & Blum in the Raleigh-Durham area for just over three years.

He graduated summa cum laude with his law degree from Michigan State University in 2012. Luggen earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Miami University. He did his MBA internship at Ford Motor Co. in global strategy. Luggen then  started a career with The Boston Consulting Group in July 2018.

This accomplishment was a test of character. Throughout his long journey, Luggen leveraged the challenges he faced and the wisdom he acquired through the admissions cycles to gain an admit to Emory GBS. This, despite his low undergrad GPA and a career that MBA admissions likely viewed as unfocused.

Within his story are five lessons that any MBA reapplicant—and first-time applicants—can benefit from.

#1 Embrace being the underdog
Ed’s success should serve as an engaging example for those who have had difficult setbacks and imperfect academic statistics.  He offers the following advice to others in this underdog category.

“It’s going to be tougher for you than it will be for many other applicants and future classmates.  You are going to have to work harder to get admitted. Know your story and how to tell it in a compelling fashion. Spend more time networking to create opportunities,” he counsels.

With our help, Ed learned to embrace his shortcomings rather than trying to hide them. He learned to reveal the character created by his hardship and shortcomings.  MBA admissions officers know that struggle builds character.  Ed advises, “If you can turn your weakness into a strength, show the toughness your life has instilled in you, exercise the determination that’s gotten you this far, and package it in a polished and compelling story, you will find a school and a company that value you.”

#2 Don’t let adversity trip you up
“The biggest challenge in the application process was finding a school that would believe in me and my potential. That, and staying resolved in the face of rejection,” shares Luggen.  Ed knew he was good enough and stuck with it using the strategy developed with the Stacy Blackman Consulting team.

“I see now that it was a necessary process that landed me exactly where I should have been: at a school that appreciated my strengths and cared for my success.  Emory GBS was the perfect place for me, and my early struggles made me appreciate the school and the opportunities it brought me all the more.  Goizueta believed in me, and two years later I graduated first in my class.” Developing resilience is incredibly important during the MBA process, but it’s also essential in life. To be successful, you need to learn how to bounce back and try again.

#3 One size doesn’t fit all
The MBA is not a one-size-fits-all degree. In reality, not every business school is equipped to help every person reach his or her unique professional goals.  After his experience at Goizueta with peers he described as “remarkable, yet down-to-earth,” Luggen advises future students to carefully consider student culture and community.

Ed shares, “Building a network of former classmates who will answer when you call and alumni who will go out of their way for you because they know where you’ve come from and the character your shared experience has built, that’s what it’s really about.”

Find an MBA program that appreciates what you have to offer, as it will be better suited to helping you achieve your unique professional aspirations. “I’ve left GBS feeling like I grew as a person and belonged to something very special.  Every student there was impressive in some way or another, and it was rewarding to get to know them as people and learn their strengths. You can take basic corporate finance anywhere, but leaving school feeling like you’ve been enriched in all facets of your life is a priceless benefit.” Also, Luggen adds, “GBS’s career opportunities well outpaced its position in the rankings.”

#4 The MBA reapplicant must be laser focused
Nothing beats hard work and defined goals.  As Luggen says, “Many pursue an MBA… because it seems like a good next step in their life process; a foregone conclusion. But the people who really succeed both in their recruiting and academically know what they want and what they’re working toward. Knowing what you want will likely help you craft the story you tell to the MBA admissions committee, to recruiters, to contacts, and to classmates.  People love stories, and particularly they like good stories.  The ability to tell a good story about yourself and why you have chosen your goals help in many ways.”

#5 Stay tough and enlist the support you need
“My other advice is to stay tough,” says Luggen. After so many rejections, he could have given up, but he regrouped, and tried again with a different approach. When it came to recruiting, he similarly had to keep the faith.

“We had a few rock-star students who seemed to get every interview they applied for. But the majority of us would get dinged for reasons unknown, walking out of an interview thinking it went great.  We get declined for a first-round interview without explanation, even though we think ourselves a good fit.  We get to the final decision round and go home empty-handed on the same flight as our cheering classmates thinking ‘why them instead of me?’ That’s the life, though. Embrace it, keep faith in yourself, and let it make you stronger.”

We so appreciate MBA reapplicant Ed for placing his trust in SBC. We know many of you will feel as inspired by Ed’s journey as we have been!

Ed’s journey first appeared on the SBC blog and as a guest post for Poets & Quants in August 2018. It has been updated.

The post MBA Reapplicant Success Story: From 24 Apps, 19 Dings to 1st in Class at Emory appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting.
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