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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Show That You Know Your Dream B-Schools |
[img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4559763-734x489.jpg[/img] Have you [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/why-should-you-get-an-mba/]already decided[/url] why you need an MBA and researched schools to [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/focus-fit-business-school/]find your best fit?[/url] Now you’ll want to put that intel into service for your written materials and interviews. Admissions committee members love to see applicants who have done their homework to learn about the unique aspects of their programs. Why do you want an MBA specifically from Stanford, Wharton, or Chicago Booth? Some programs straight-up ask this question in their essays. But even if they don’t, you should still look for ways to address that unspoken question in your applications to those dream B-schools. Always think, “How can I show my knowledge of the school in a way that blends naturally into my essay response or my interview answer?” To spark inspiration, consider the following tactical ways you can convey that you’ve done your research. [b]Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/contact/]free 15-minute advising session[/url] with an SBC Principal Consultant. [/b] [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-shvets-production-7194217-1500x1000.jpg[/img] Business Schools Offer Career Benefits In and Outside the Classroom We constantly remind applicants that they don’t have to be “perfect” candidates to get into an elite MBA program. After all, the primary reason for returning to B-school is to fill in the knowledge gaps that will propel your career forward. In your essays and interviews, mention specific courses you want to take that would expose you to a function you haven’t yet experienced. Say you want to start your own company one day, but your background is heavy in marketing and light on finance—or vice versa. Name-check the essential classes each program offers that will expand your tool kit and prepare you to scratch that entrepreneurial itch. Go beyond the course catalog to explore other aspects of MBA programs that can bolster your functional knowledge. For example, the Wharton School has hosted a [url=https://whartonpevcconference.co/]Private Equity and Venture Capital Conference[/url] for over 25 years. CMU Tepper School of Business has an [url=https://www.energycleantechtepper.com/about]Energy & CleanTech Club[/url] that prepares students for careers in the energy and cleantech industries. You may be fascinated by the world of high-end retail. In that case, the [url=https://www.sternluxuryretail.com/prospective-students]NYU Stern Luxury and Retail Club[/url] is a place to explore everything related to the luxury, retail, hospitality, and spirits industries. Offerings such as finance clubs, marketing conferences, new venture competitions, etc., can help students deepen their expertise in a specific industry. Mention these kinds of program details whenever you’re talking about your career goals. For instance, you could talk about how being in the PE VC club will help you build your network in that area. Likewise, hearing industry leaders who come to speak on campus will allow you to grow your knowledge of the latest trends and insights. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-spencer-davis-4353813-1500x1000.jpg[/img] Dust Off Your Passport Another area where you might have a gap is international experience. Whether your future goals revolve around an industry that’s global or you have a passion for expanding your horizons, make sure you investigate what kind of international experiences are available at the programs you’re interested in. For example, Kellogg School of Management has [url=https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/about/global-opportunities/kwest.aspx]KWEST[/url], a pre-matriculation global experience planned by and for students. Incoming students in Kellogg’s full-time MBA program come together before classes start to travel to nearly 40 countries under the leadership of second-year students, who spend almost a year planning and training for the experience. Over at Harvard Business School, you’ll find the [url=https://www.hbs.edu/mba/academic-experience/Pages/the-field-method.aspx]Field Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development[/url] (FIELD) course. This required first-year class includes an action-oriented global immersion in an emerging market. Meanwhile, Stanford Graduate School of Business has many [url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/academic-experience/global-experiences]global experiences[/url] in the MBA program. STEP, the Stanford-Tsinghua Exchange Program between the GSB and the Tsinghua School of Economics in Beijing, China, is worth a special mention. This cross-cultural learning program offers students from both schools “a more nuanced understanding of doing business in China” as they form long-lasting relationships. Whether it’s a school-sponsored offering or a spring break trip organized by classmates eager to show off their home countries, the travel possibilities you’ll encounter at B-school are life-changing. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-belle-co-1000445-1500x1000.jpg[/img] Become a Name Dropper After you dig into the industry-specific electives, clubs, conferences, and learning opportunities that await at your dream B-schools, here are a few more ways to show you really want to be in their program. You could name-drop a specific professor known for groundbreaking research in the area that interests you. How cool would it be to study under them or pick their brain on an idea you’ve been mulling over? Mentioning current students you’ve talked to is a savvy way to show that you have thoroughly researched the school. But don’t just say, “I talked to Claire Thomas, a second-year student, about her experience.” Instead, incorporate a specific detail about the school that the person mentioned. So a better sentence would be, “After talking with second-year student Claire Thomas about my future goals, she said I should plan to take digital media strategies with Professor Weinstein.” That way, you not only mention somebody there; you now have a specific idea of something you want to do because of their recommendation. And similarly, [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/applicants-should-connect-with-alumni-says-ucla-anderson-dean/]remember those alums[/url]! Say you’re keen on ed tech. You can research where executives or senior managers of various ed tech firms went to school. If any of them graduated from one of your dream B-schools, your essays could mention how you would love to be able to network with them when you’re a student. Or perhaps it’s enough to acknowledge they are an alum and express how much their career has inspired you. [b]SBC is the only firm with a complete panel of former MBA Admissions Officers from every top business school. Learn more about [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/about/mba-admissions-consulting-team/]our exceptional team[/url]![/b] [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/10937732105_b0033d1e64_o-1500x1000.png[/img] Tap Into Personal Interests Another way you can show some love for your dream B-schools is by tying in details about the programs with your interests. For example, SBC consultant Erika mentioned on an episode of the [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/b-schooled-episode-30-conveying-program-knowledge-and-fit/]B-Schooled podcast[/url] that she has worked with an unusually high number of MBA applicants who were in a cappella groups in college. “If the MBA program they’re applying to has an a capella group, such as HBS’s [url=https://www.hbs.edu/mba/blog/post/heard-on-the-street-bringing-the-hbs-community-together-through-harmony]Heard on the Street[/url], it would be a huge miss not to mention it in some way,” Erika says. The applicant could write something like, “I’m so excited to continue nurturing my passion for singing by joining Heard on the Street once I get to campus.” MBA interviewers will often ask what you like to do in your spare time or what you do for fun. This is the perfect opportunity to mention something and then tie it to how you’ll continue doing it at B-school. You may love to ski and want to check out the [url=https://groups.gsb.columbia.edu/snow/home/]Snow Sports Club[/url] at your target program, Columbia Business School. Perhaps you consider yourself a foodie and are applying to the Chicago Booth School of Business. You could mention that you can’t wait to join the [url=https://groups.chicagobooth.edu/epicurean/about/]Epicurean Club[/url]. Often, a student-run or school-sponsored trek is to a specific location, so it will span functions and industries. It might be worth mentioning if your target school is on the East Coast, but the hub of the industry you’re interested in is out west. Many B-schools, such as [url=https://sloangroups.mit.edu/studentlife/treks/]MIT Sloan School of Management[/url] and Duke’s [url=https://blogs.fuqua.duke.edu/duke-mba/2015/03/04/ehssan-torabi/tech-trek-opens-doors-to-major-west-coast-companies]Fuqua School of Business[/url], offer annual Tech Treks to Silicon Valley. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/mark-twain-Facebook-Cover.png[/img] [b]Doing the Legwork Pays Off When it Comes to Getting Into Your Dream B-Schools[/b] Too many applicants mistakenly believe that all top MBA programs are alike and that they offer the same courses, clubs, and experiences. If you write generically about the program you’re applying to while your most direct competitor crackles with excitement about the courses they’ll take and clubs they’ll be involved in, that person will most likely win out. We hope these ideas have helped you figure out ways to show how much you want to be at those dream B-schools you’re applying to. Taking the time to do this legwork often makes the difference between an admissions offer and a ding. *** Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/comprehensive-services/]All-In Partnership[/url] to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume. Contact us today for a [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/contact/]free 15-minute advising session[/url] to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/SBC-consultants-Oxford-Said-LBS-Screenshot-2023-04-24-132403.png[/img] Flickr image by: [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshuab/10937732105/]Joshua B Pitch Please A Cappella[/url] (CC BY-ND 2.0) The post [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/show-that-you-know-your-dream-b-schools/]Show That You Know Your Dream B-Schools[/url] appeared first on [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com]Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting[/url]. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Duke MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Are you targeting Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in the upcoming admissions cycle? Get ready to mark your calendar because here are the Duke MBA deadlines for the 2023-24 application season. Note that Fuqua has added a fourth-round deadline for this new cycle. Duke MBA deadlines Early Action: Application due: September 7, 2023 Decision released: October 19, 2023 Round 1 Application due: September 28, 2023 Decision released: December 8, 2023 Round 2 Application due: January 9, 2024 Decision released: March 12, 2024 Round 3 Application due: February 22, 2024 Decision released: April 5, 2024 Round 4 Application due: April 4, 2024 Decision released: May 10, 2024 A note to applicants about the Duke MBA deadlines: The Early Action option is ideal for applicants who have completed their MBA research and have decided that this is the best program for them. International Applicants: You should apply during Early Action, Round 1, or Round 2 for visa processing. Re-applicants: Reapply during Early Action or Round 1. The application for the MBA Class of 2026 will become available in early July. *** Please visit the Duke Fuqua admissions website for more information on applying. Also, if you need guidance on your Fuqua MBA application or wish to discuss your business school plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on the Stacy Blackman Consulting team: The post Duke MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Berkeley Haas MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Are you interested in the full-time MBA program at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business? Then get out your calendar, because we’ve got the Berkeley Haas MBA deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. Berkeley Haas MBA Deadlines Round 1 Application due: September 14, 2023 Decision released: December 7, 2023 Round 2 Application due: January 4, 2024 Decision released: March 21, 2024 Round 3 Application due: March 28, 2024 Decision released: May 2, 2024 *** 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! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on our consulting team: The post Berkeley Haas MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: NYU Stern MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Is the New York University Stern School of Business on your shortlist of target MBA programs? Then get ready to mark your calendar. The NYU Stern MBA deadlines for the new admissions season have been announced! NYU Stern MBA Deadlines Round 1 Application due: September 18, 2023 Initial notification: December 1, 2023 Round 2 Application due: October 18, 2023 Initial notification: January 1, 2024 Round 3 Application due: January 18, 2024 Initial notification: April 1, 2024 Round 4 Application due: April 18, 2024 Initial notification: Ongoing Fashion and Luxury MBA Program Deadlines Round 1 Application due: September 18, 2023 Initial notification: December 1, 2023 Round 2 Application due: November 15, 2023 Initial notification: February 1, 2024 Round 3 Application due: January 18, 2024 Initial notification: March 1, 2024 Round 4 Application due: February 15, 2024 Initial notification: April 1, 2024 Your application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the day of the deadline. NYU Stern encourages international applicants to the Full-time MBA program to apply earlier in the application cycle to facilitate visa arrangements and to have priority consideration for off-site interviews. For more information on applying, please visit the NYU Stern MBA admissions website. If you need guidance on your Stern MBA application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on our consulting team: Image by Flickr user Peter Skim (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) The post NYU Stern MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Columbia MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Have you been waiting for the Columbia MBA deadlines for the MBA Class of 2026? Get ready to mark your calendar because the Columbia Business School application deadlines for the new admissions season have been announced. Note that the August 2024 application will be available in mid-July. Columbia MBA Deadlines for August Entry Round 1 Deadline: September 13, 2023 Interview Decisions Released: Mid-October Final Decision Released: Mid-December Round 2 Deadline: January 5, 2024 Interview Decisions Released: Early-to-Mid February Final Decision Released: Late March Round 3 Deadline: April 3, 2024 Interview Decisions Released: Mid-to-Late April Final Decision Released: Early May Because Columbia Business School uses a rolling admissions process, it is always to your advantage to apply well before the deadline. To be considered for a particular August round, your application must be completed by 11:59pm Eastern Time on the deadline date for the round in which you apply. Your letter of recommendation and application fee must be submitted by the deadline for your application to be considered complete. If your application is not completed by the deadline for the current round, it will be rolled into the next available application round in the current cycle for consideration. Please note that if you would like to be included in priority consideration for institutional funding, your application must be completed by the Round 1 or Round 2 deadline. January Entry Application Deadline Application Due: September 13, 2023 Applications cannot be reviewed until they are complete. For the January entry applications, missing required materials, such as your recommendation letter, must be received by the Admissions Office within one week of your application submission. *** For more information on applying, please visit the Columbia Business School admissions website. If you need guidance on your CBS application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on our consulting team: The post Columbia MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UC Berkeley Haas MBA Essays for the Class of 2026 |
Are you interested in the full-time MBA program at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business? Then let the brainstorming begin! Here are the updated Haas MBA essays and deadlines for the 2023-2024 application cycle. UC Berkeley Haas MBA Essays Required Essay #1 What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum) Required Essay #2 How will an MBA help you achieve your short-term and long-term career goals? (300 words maximum) Required Essay #3-Video The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles. Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which leadership principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. (Not to exceed 2 minutes.) Required Essay #4-Short Answer Can you please describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace? (150 words max) Optional Essays The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them. Optional Information #1 We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements. 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. Supplemental Information If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A. List, in order of importance, significant community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Include the following information for each using the format below:
If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission. *** For more information on applying, please visit the Haas School admissions website. If you need guidance on your Haas MBA essays 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! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on our consulting team: Haas at Twilight image by Flickr user Wayne Hsieh(CC BY-NC 2.0) The post UC Berkeley Haas MBA Essays for the Class of 2026 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: INSEAD MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Are you interested in an MBA from the highly-ranked international business school INSEAD? Then check out these INSEAD MBA deadlines for the upcoming August and January intakes. INSEAD MBA Deadlines: August Intake (Class of July 2025) Round 1 Application due: September 12, 2023 Decision released: November 17, 2023 Round 2 Application due: November 7, 2023 Decision released: January 12, 2024 Round 3 Application due: January 16, 2024 Decision released: March 22, 2024 Round 4 Application due: March 5, 2024 Decision released: May 10, 2024 INSEAD MBA Deadlines: January Intake (Class of December 2024) Round 3 Application due: June 27, 2023 Decision released: September 1, 2023 Round 4 Application due: August 8, 2023 Decision released: October 6, 2023 *** The new online application form opens approximately two months before each Round 1 application deadline. To be included in a specific round, you must submit your completed application by 23:59 pm Central European Time on the day of the deadline. To enjoy an optimum application experience and to avoid the peak period, INSEAD strongly encourages you to apply a couple of weeks prior to the application deadline, if possible. Competition for each round is equal regardless of the intake or round you apply for. INSEAD reviews the pool of applications submitted within each round independently. This keeps the “offer ratio” (percentage of candidates accepted vs. applications received) fairly constant across all rounds. *** If you need guidance on your INSEAD MBA applications or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! For more information on applying, please visit the INSEAD admissions website. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on our consulting team: The post INSEAD MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Stanford MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Is the Stanford Graduate School of Business on your shortlist of target MBA programs? Then get ready to mark your calendar because here are the Stanford MBA deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions season! Stanford MBA Deadlines Round 1 Application due: September 12, 2023 Decision released: December 7, 2023 Round 2 Application due: January 4, 2024 Decision released: March 28, 2024 Round 3 Application due: April 9, 2024 Decision released: May 23, 2024 The MBA Class of 2026 application will open later this summer. Note that applications are due by 4 p.m. PST on the day of the deadline. For additional information on applying, please visit the Stanford GSB admissions website. If you need guidance on your Stanford MBA application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a glimpse of the AdCom expertise on the SBC team: The post Stanford MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: B-Schooled Podcast #163: Highlighting What You’ve Learned, How You’ve Grown |
One thing many admissions officers focus on is identifying applicants who have a strong record of learning and growth in both their professional and personal lives. With that said, effectively DEMONSTRATING you are open to learning and you have a proven aptitude for growth is often easier said than done. But don’t worry. In this B-Schooled podcast, we share specific tips and suggestions you can use to highlight the things you’ve learned—and the ways you’ve grown—in three areas of your application: your essays, your recommendations, and your interviews. Listening to this podcast is a must for anyone who wants to distinguish themselves as a thoughtful and emotionally intelligent applicant. This B-Schooled episode can be found here, or take a listen on any of the major podcast platforms below. B-Schooled is available on most major podcast apps, including: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher TuneIn Please be sure to subscribe to B-Schooled so that you don’t miss a thing. Also, if there’s something you’d like for us to cover in a future episode, please email podcast@stacyblackman.com. We’d love to hear from you! *** Now, why not hop over to our new MBA community on Discord? That’s where you’ll find exclusive insights from the SBC team, explore our resources, and connect with fellow current and prospective MBA applicants. This is a space to share and learn about the MBA admissions process, whether you’re still debating if business school is for you or you’re already on your way with your application journey. Join the party today! The post B-Schooled Podcast #163: Highlighting What You’ve Learned, How You’ve Grown appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MBB Consulting: Salaries, Trends, Myths & the MBA |
[img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/marten-bjork-6dW3xyQvcYE-unsplash-734x489.jpg[/img] The management consulting career path is considered integral to the early career and/or the professional aspirations of countless MBA applicants that our team has advised over the last two decades. MBB is the acronym that many young professionals use to describe the upper echelon of management consulting: McKinsey, Bain, & BCG (Boston Consulting Group). We’ll cover an array of topics related to management consulting, such as:
In this post, we’re taking a 360-degree view of the management consulting career path. To do so, we’ve tapped into the expertise of Davis Nguyen, CEO of My Consulting Offer. His team of former McKinsey, Bain, and BCG recruiters and consultants work with aspiring consultants to land interviews and win offers. Since its founding, at least 85% of My Consulting Offer’s clients receive at least one consulting offer, with many receiving multiple. We also cull advice from the former MBA Admissions Officers on the Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) team. Specifically, we’ll learn how applicants from the consulting career path can differentiate themselves from the traditional pool. Plus, we’ll tackle how applicants who have pre or post-MBA consulting careers can best position themselves—especially as they aspire to the elite business schools of Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/campaign-creators-gMsnXqILjp4-unsplash-734x489.jpg[/img] The Importance of Having Something Extra A former HBS Admissions Officer on our SBC team shared, “Consultants are the bread and butter of Harvard’s MBA program, and there is an assumption that this is THE desired profile. The reality is that this subset of the population is heavily oversubscribed. If you come from a consulting background, you must be able to demonstrate your unique leadership abilities and that you are progressing at a pace ahead of your peers. You should have something that uniquely defines you in addition to having outstanding academic stats.” Later in this overview, we explore this and other best practices, including sample MBA admit essay excerpts. Davis’s team at My Consulting Offer just released its 2023 reportthat sheds light on the high-paying advantages for MBA full-time hires at these highly-coveted employers: FirmBase SalaryPerformance BonusTotal CashSigning BonusRetirementRelocation BCG Consultant Salary$190,000Up to $43,750Up to $233,750$30,00010% Profit sharing into 401k PL and aboveUp to $8,000 McKinsey Associate Salary$192,000Up to $45,000Up to $237,000$30,0007.5% into 401kUp to $12,000 Bain & Company Consultant Salary$192,000Up to $41,250Up to $233,250$30,000401k Contribution up to $8,000Up to $8,000 Now that we have your attention (money talks!) let’s explore further. What is the MBB consulting career path? Here are key insights shared by Davis Nguyen of My Consulting Offer. Q: Are MBB consulting employers still the most coveted across consulting, or have any lost their luster? The short answer is yes. About 76% of the clients we work with, when we start their planning and ask, “what is your dream firm?” answered McKinsey, Bain, or BCG. The longer answer is that MBB’s preference among candidates is lower than before since (1) other firms have started emerging with specialties and (2) candidates are now more interested than before in these specialties. For example, we’ve had clients who get multiple offers, including at least one MBB, and decline it for another firm. For instance, we had a client who put “McKinsey” as her dream firm and came from a social impact background. But when she discovered and got an offer from Dalberg, a top social impact consulting firm, she opted to sign with Dalberg. We see this happen many times each month. As another example, recently, we had an MBA who declined her BCG offer to join a life science consulting firm because she came from a life science background. She wanted to continue on that path post-consulting, and the exit opportunities at the firm she chose better aligned with her longer-term goals. Q: Do MBB consulting employers find it harder to recruit talent with FAANG / tech becoming so dominant? We hear from the firms we keep in touch with that FAANG/ tech companies and even startups are competing more and more for similar candidates. Even our clients debate between signing their consulting or their tech offer. Nonetheless, firms are still seeing higher numbers of applications coming in. For example, last year, McKinsey saw over 1 million applications coming in, an all-time high. Bain, BCG, and other firms also saw an increase in applicants. More guidance on trends in management consulting recruiting can be found in this webinar: [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2022-06-08-at-12.49.27-PM.png[/img] What are the Top Non-MBB Employers for Consulting? That depends on what you are optimizing for. Are you focused on the top healthcare consulting firm or the firm with the best training that has an office in a particular city? We have a list here of top non-MBB firms. Q: What are the top boutique or industry-specific consulting firms? This listcan also be sorted by specialty. Q: How many applicants apply for a given position? What is the passing rate for top MBB firms? This will vary depending on the firm, city, and title. The pass rate will vary as well depending on multiple factors. But taken as a whole, last year MBB took about 4% of applicants. Q: What firm is known as the most challenging for maintaining work/life balance? This will vary depending on the team more than the firm since your team and the team project drives the project scope. But as a whole, McKinsey consultants tend to log in more hours than others, holding all else equal. However, McKinsey also has one of the best leave-of-absence programs. So, it really depends on the team/project and less on the firm. Q: Which firm is known for the best work/ life balance? Same as above, it comes down to the team and projects more than the firm. But if you are looking for a strategy consulting role that has better than average hours than other firms, internal consulting fits this well from internal consulting teams for the firms themselves, such as Bain’s internal consulting team, to corporate consulting teams, such as CapitalOne’s. Cultural and value differences have been recently covered by PoetsandQuants and are also explained in the chart below. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2022-02-01-at-1.31.52-PM.png[/img] Q: What are examples of front-office, coveted titles for consulting? Job titles will vary from firm to firm, but levels are: Pre-MBA level Consultant (called Associates, Business Analyst, Associate Consultants, and Analysts). Post-MBA level consultant [note you don’t need an MBA to be in this role] such as [Associate, Consultant], Manager (Engagement Manager, Project Leader, Manager, Case Team Leader), Principal (sometimes called Senior Manager or Associate Partner), and Partner/Director Q: What are examples of mid-office (less coveted, lesser paid) titles in consulting? If being client-facing is less of an interest, firms also have teams that specialize in, for example, data (such as BCG GAMMA) and digital work (such as Bain Innovation Exchange) Five Trends to Note
Q: What are typical exit opportunities from the top firms? It varies depending on personal goals and even firm, but some common ones include:
McKinsey Boston Consulting Group Bain & Company Deloitte Starting title post-MBA Associate Consultant Consultant Senior Consultant Academic prerequisites No hard cut-offs for scores or prerequisites Professional prerequisites No “must-have” since consultants can be hired as generalists; for those coming for post-MBA roles, it is assumed that they will have at least 1-2 years of working experience before joining the firm (but this is already mostly filtered by the business school with programs such as 2+2 or Silver Scholars) Sponsorship for the MBA Yes (must have been a Business Analyst before at McKinsey) and commit 2 years after to return post-MBA to McKinsey Yes (must have been an Associate before at BCG) and commit 2 years after to return post-MBA to BCG Yes (must have been an Associate Consultant before at Bain) and commit 2 years after to return post-MBA to Bain (reneging or failure to stay for full commitment results in interest penalty) Yes – GSAP, Graduate School Assistance Program, at least 2-year tenure requirement before being eligible, but must leave before Manager. Requires sponsorship by at least 2 partners and approval by a panel. Must return as Sr Consultant for at least 1 year to get 50% of the MBA fees reimbursed and 2 years for 100% Stereotypes As a firm, McKinsey has earned the nickname “The CEO Factory,” because of the sheer number of ex-McKinsey CEOs found in Fortune 500 companies.* Imagine BCG as the middle child – the nerdy one. You can think of BCG as the brother who carries a pocket protector in his pocket, with rimmed glasses, who probably went to MIT and came up with a groundbreaking thesis that has changed the world.** People often think of Bain as the little sibling who is very eager to prove themselves to the rest of the family. Because they’re the smallest and Bain typically has the least resources, they have to get very creative in their approach.*** The onlinecommentary can reference Deloitte, which can be included when referencing MBBD, as the 4th sibling. * Some prominent examples of this would be Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet/Google, Vittorio Colao CEO of Vodafone, and James Gorman, CEO of Morgan Stanley. Just to name a few. McKinsey is also the first of the big three and was founded before the others and has the largest global footprint of the Big 3. So if you imagine McKinsey, BCG, and Bain as three siblings; McKinsey would be the oldest brother who might dress a bit uptight sometimes, is older, and has the most work experience and thus and is convinced he is always right because of said experience **Quick back story on how BCG started. If you look at McKinsey, they essentially believe that best practices can be applied across companies and across industries and that one should not constantly reinvent the wheel, hence the reason behind their global staffing model. BCG disagreed with this approach, however. Instead, they exclaimed “not every situation is the same. We should take a very academic and rigorous approach to this.” In fact, you might have heard of terms such as a two by two matrix for growth, Porter’s Five Forces, and so forth. These are all theories spearheaded by BCG. The idea with BCG is that their goal when they go in and work with a client is they want to be able to make every engagement, every case, every project unique and different from the last, because of the specific unique context and situation faced by said client. *** They are also the “youngest” because they have historically recruited more positions at the undergraduate/master’s level so unlikely BCG and McKinsey which have a “diamond” shaped level (the fattest part being the post-MBA role); Bain is a pyramid-shaped where the base (entry-level) is the largest part of their consulting staff. Thus you can imagine that more events tend to be geared towards and put together by those in their early 20s than at McKinsey and BCG. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/consulting-4405260-734x453.jpg[/img] Tips for Applicants who Have MMB Consulting in their Pre or Post-MBA Plan Q: Is consulting a common career path for MBA students to pursue? Yes. We’ve outlined industry outplacement data for MBA graduates gleaned from the MBA career reports here: Consulting Industry Finance Industry Harvard 24% 34% Stanford 15% 34% Wharton 24% 36% Kellogg 36% 15% Columbia 34% 33% Chicago 38% 30% MIT Sloan 31% 18% Haas 25% 14% Duke 31% 18% Darden 41% 19% Q: What skills or attributes do consultants have that MBA programs appreciate and what is disliked? Problem-solving, analytical, competitive, deep intellectual and critical thinking. Any air of entitlement is discouraged. Q: How can I stand out? The former Stanford Admissions Officers on our SBC team say, “The GSB is looking for best performers or an interesting twist. Having pursued a paradigm-shift effort at work or otherwise is often helpful. Highlight differences such as special talents, experience, adversity, to separate from the pack.” Above all, make sure you are an interesting person outside of work. What makes you unique? Similarly, the former Wharton Admissions Officer on our team recommends that applicants “Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills in the Team Based Discussion interview as a vital way to stand out from the traditional applicant pool.” Firm sponsorship, any feeder firm leverage, and identity-driven passions shown through externship or secondment are valuable in the MBA admissions process. If you’d like feedback on your MBA profile and recommendations for target business programs through a free candidacy analysis, please request a 15-minute email or phone consultation. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-zen-chung-5538618-1500x1000.jpg[/img] Q: Can you share sample essay excerpts from successful MBA applicants? Sure. “To prepare myself to tackle social problems, my short-term goal is to work on strategic issues for companies across multiple industries in management consulting, for a firm such as Booz & Co. in its Strategy and Leadership practice. I see management consulting as a boot camp in problem-solving which will help me face the challenges of running a social venture.” “In order to succeed as a venture capitalist, in the short-term I plan to complete an MBA from Kellogg and work as a management consultant for a strategy firm specializing in technology companies. This consulting experience will broaden my exposure to multiple disciplines of growth strategy, business operations, finance and resource management. I believe that a successful technology company is born out of a complex interplay between a deep understanding of technical knowledge and creative insight of an entrepreneur.” “My long-term career goal is to give back to the small business community by building on my Columbia education and short-term post MBA goals – tackling business problems in management consulting. My current experience as an entrepreneur has allowed me to experience several different aspects of business, including marketing, accounting, management, etc. which I believe will help me contribute to the Columbia classroom and my goals. These goals are my passions and I hope to achieve them within 10 to 15 years.” “Those who know me will also tell you that my career goal is to follow this passion, becoming a Management Consultant for a company like Bain in its Travel, Hospitality & Leisure practice. After gaining the skillset necessary at a larger firm, I plan to transition to a smaller, niche consulting firm in the industry, eventually achieving the rank of Partner. There, I will lead the practice to ultimately help our clients offer rewarding travel experiences.” What do current MBA students ask about the consulting career path? Again, we turn to Davis Nguyen for his insights on the top questions that current MBA students ask about the management consulting career path. Q: Is it easier to get an offer during Year 1 or Year 2? Firms are emphasizing more and more on filling their hiring goals through 1st year recruiting and building their internship class. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get a full-time offer in Year 2 because you didn’t recruit in Year 1 or you didn’t get an offer in Year 1. Many people still do, including our clients. But this does mean that if you are considering consulting, I would recommend applying in Year 1 as well to increase your odds and at the least gain the experience of consulting recruiting, which is different from other types of recruiting. Q: What are common misconceptions that MBAs have about getting a consulting offer? There are a lot of common myths that we see people “pre-rejecting” themselves with that aren’t true. Five of the common ones are:
Q: I recruited before my MBA but didn’t get an offer. Will firms hold this against me? No. Being rejected before does not mean will be automatically rejected again. Firms actually like it when you have a sustained interest in consulting and, in between your applications, show the progress you have made. We have had numerous clients who had been rejected a year or even a few months prior to starting their MBA and were able to get an offer when they applied as MBA students. Q: Does the city preference I list on my application affect my chances? Yes. The city you list will affect your chances of being interviewed and given an offer. There are many factors that go into play here. If I don’t attend a target MBA school such as HBS, Wharton, or Kellogg, does it mean I can’t get an offer? While it was true before that firms had their “core list” of business schools, and if you didn’t go to that school or were doing a non-traditional MBA, you wouldn’t even be considered. But those days are over. As hiring becomes less globally centralized and more regionally focused, local offices are able to consider which schools they want to recruit from. So, we have clients who didn’t attend a T15 or were on a part-time MBA get offers from McKinsey and other amazing consulting firms. There is more to the recruiting process than the business school you attended. Make sure to reach out to the right people and demonstrate the right traits on your application. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/linkedin-sales-solutions-46bom4lObsA-unsplash-734x489.jpg[/img] This overview has been prepared from the generous insights of My Consulting Offer, which is to aspiring consultants what Stacy Blackman Consulting is for aspiring MBAs. My Consulting Offer is a team of former McKinsey, Bain, and BCG recruiters and consultants who work with you one-on-one, step-by-step, to land you interviews and help you pass your interviews. To date, 85% of the clients they work with have become management consultants at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, and other top firms. Clients have called them “the closest thing to a guaranteed consulting offer.” If you are interested in consulting and want a proven, stress-free, step-by-step process for getting a consulting offer, check out how My Consulting Offer can help you. *** Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/SBC-consultants-HBS-GSB-Haas.png[/img] The post MBB Consulting: Salaries, Trends, Myths & the MBA appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Secure Funding for Your MBA |
[img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/closeup-money-Pexels-734x619.jpeg[/img] If you’re lucky enough to get an offer of admission from a dream B-school, take time to celebrate your accomplishment! Then once that initial elation subsides, it’s time to focus on the less fun yet critical task of sorting out the funding for your MBA degree. Because besides budgeting for the obvious, like tuition and housing, you’ll need money for other things, too. As SBC consultant Erika advises on [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/b-schooled-podcast-episode-102-financing-your-mba/]this episode[/url] of the B-Schooled podcast, you’ll also want to take advantage of the unique opportunities that will arise—things like international trips and industry treks.”There are tons of social activities during the two years you’ll spend earning your MBA, and that make it such a great bonding experience with your classmates,” Erika says. Keeping all that in mind, you may wonder how you can finance your education without getting saddled with enormous debt. With rising tuition costs and limited funds available, it’s critical to become well-informed about all possible funding sources for business schools. In this comprehensive guide, we’re exploring various avenues, such as scholarships and company sponsorships, that can help ease the burden of financing your MBA degree. You’ll learn how to decode admissions letters for potential financial aid offers and strategies for negotiating extra merit-based funding. We’ll also look at options like grad assistant positions and work-study programs which let learners make money while studying. In addition, we’ll emphasize the importance of completing FAFSA accurately to maximize chances at securing federal loans. Finally, we’ll provide insights on evaluating loan options wisely with a focus on international students’ needs. Don’t let limited funds hold you back from applying for business school. Through scholarship funding, company sponsorship, and/or loan options, you can afford to attend a top MBA program. [b]Curious about your chances of getting into a top-ranked B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/contact/]free 15-minute advising session[/url] with an SBC Principal Consultant. [/b] [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/money-cash-bills-benjamins-viacheslav-bublyk-6WXbPWhT8c8-unsplash-1024x683-1.jpg[/img] MBA Scholarships and Company Sponsorship Worthy applicants often get scared off of applying to a top school, fearing the expense will be too great to bear. This is one of the most pervasive MBA admissions myths out there. But the good news is there are [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/mba-funding-source/]several options available[/url] to help you pay for your MBA. Also, many top schools will work with applicants to ensure cost is not a barrier to attending. Last year, Harvard Business School announced it would boost needs-based financial support for students. Roughly ten percent of students qualify for full-tuition scholarships, which [url=https://www.hbs.edu/news/releases/Pages/full-tuition-scholarships-for-students-with-greatest-need.aspx]will cover $76,000 in tuition and course fees[/url] for each year of the two-year program. Scholarship awards for our clients have risen by 10% percent each year over the past few years. About 20-25% of SBC clients receive scholarships ranging between $10,000 to full-ride offers valued at $200,000. Besides scholarships and fellowships offered by the schools, there are several external opportunities available, including merit-based scholarships and fellowships. A few well-known examples include: [list] [*][url=https://nbmbaa.org/]National Black MBA Association[/url][/*] [*][url=https://militarymba.net/plan-and-prepare/scholarships.html]Military MBA Scholarship[/url][/*] [*][url=https://reachingoutmba.org/fellowship/]Reaching Out LGBT MBA Fellowship[/url][/*] [*][url=https://qs.topuniversities.com/scholarships]QS Leadership Scholarship[/url][/*] [*][url=https://cgsm.org/]The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management[/url][/*] [*][url=https://www.mba.com/how-to-apply/scholarships-and-financing/top-latinx-mba-scholarships]Top Latinx MBA Scholarships[/url][/*] [/list] Another option to consider as funding for your MBA is company sponsorship. Many employers understand the worth of investing in their personnel’s professional growth. So, they might offer partial or full financial help for those seeking higher education. See if your employer has any programs that cover tuition costs or provide other educational benefits. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-thirdman-7994325-1500x1000.jpg[/img] Graduate Assistantships and Work-Study Programs Offer Funding for Your MBA Don’t let limited scholarship opportunities hold you back from pursuing your B-school dreams. Many schools offer assistantships or work-study programs that can help fund your MBA experience. [b]Common Types of Graduate Assistantship Positions:[/b] [list] [*]Teaching Assistant (TA): Help professors with course preparation, grading, and student support.[/*] [*]Research Assistant (RA): Conduct research under the guidance of a faculty member, often related to their area of expertise or an ongoing project.[/*] [*]Administrative Intern: Support various departments within the university by performing administrative tasks such as event planning or data management.[/*] [/list] Ensure you have a successful balance between academic and on-campus work. To achieve this, set clear boundaries around working hours, prioritize time management skills, and communicate with supervisors about workload expectations. Seek academic advisors or career counselors who can provide guidance throughout your MBA journey. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/agence-olloweb-d9ILr-dbEdg-unsplash-1-1500x1000.jpg[/img] Decoding Your Admissions Letter When you receive an admissions letter from a business school, read it carefully. It might contain crucial information about financial aid or merit-based awards. “Every round, I get emails from applicants who stop reading their admissions letter the moment they see the great news that they got in,” SBC consultant Erika says. Look for mentions of merit-based scholarships, MBA fellowships, or other forms of aid in your letter. Different criteria, such as scholastic accomplishment, exam results, and vocation objectives, could decide qualification for certain awards. “The schools use scholarships to help people who truly need it, but also to entice students to choose their program,” Erika adds. “So if you get an admissions letter and make sure you read it thoroughly.” If you believe you deserve more scholarship money than offered at first, don’t hesitate to reach out to the admissions committee. You might be able to negotiate additional funding. Listen to [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/b-schooled-podcast-episode-44-negotiating-merit-scholarships/]B-Schooled Podcast #44[/url]: Negotiating Merit Scholarships for targeted tips. FAFSA – A Key Step in Securing Financial Aid The [url=https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa]Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)[/url] is a must-do for college and grad school students. It determines your eligibility for federal student loan programs, including grants, work-study opportunities, and low-interest loans. Completing the FAFSA accurately is crucial to maximize your chances of securing financial aid. Errors can lead to delays or even disqualification from certain funding sources. So, carefully examining your form before submission is critical. Gather all necessary documents beforehand, such as tax returns and bank statements. Submit the FAFSA as early as possible since some funds are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. [img]https://www.stacyblackman.com/wp-content/uploads/scott-graham-OQMZwNd3ThU-unsplash-1500x1000.jpg[/img] Evaluating Loan Options Don’t jump into accepting loans without considering factors like interest rates, repayment terms, and impact on personal finances during the program. This is especially important for private loans. International students may face unique challenges but can still find suitable financing options. [b]Comparing Federal and Private Loan Options for MBA Students[/b] Federal Loans: These are more favorable due to lower interest rates and flexible repayment plans. Examples include the Direct Unsubsidized Loan and the Grad PLUS Loan. Learn more about these programs from the [url=https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans]Federal Student Aid website[/url]. Private Loans: Offered by banks or other financial institutions, these loans often have higher interest rates and less flexibility in repayment. Be sure to compare multiple lenders before deciding. [b]Tips for International MBA Students Financing Your MBA[/b] MBA candidates from outside the US can explore various funding sources like scholarships offered by their home country’s government or organizations, as well as external MBA scholarships provided by business schools themselves. Additionally, some private lenders offer specialized loan products tailored to international students’ needs. Research your options thoroughly before committing. For example, the [url=https://www.prodigyfinance.com/]Prodigy Finance[/url] platform offers loans to international students without requiring a co-signer or collateral. [b]You are Worth It[/b] During that episode of [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/b-schooled-podcast-episode-102-financing-your-mba/]B-Schooled[/url], SBC consultant Erika recounted a time that Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO Warren Buffett spoke to her class when she was a student at Harvard Business School. “He was just so down to earth and cool,” she recalls. “And he said, ‘the more you learn, the more you earn’.” While all this financial stuff seems overwhelming, remember that an MBA is a long-term investment in yourself, Erika says. It will continue boosting your career potential way after your first job after graduation. “Despite all the loans I took on, and I’m still paying off, I would do it again all over again exactly as I did.” *** The process of finding, applying for, and sorting out MBA financial aid opportunities can be tedious and confusing. If you have already received the admit to your dream MBA program and would like help with applying for financial aid as a US or international candidate, we are here to help with SBC’s [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/mba-financial-aid-costs-tuition/]Financial Aid Advisory[/url] service. Please email [email=info@stacyblackman.com]info@stacyblackman.com[/email] to learn more. The post [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com/blog/funding-for-your-mba/]Secure Funding for Your MBA[/url] appeared first on [url=https://www.stacyblackman.com]Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting[/url]. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Stanford MBA Essay Questions for 2023-2024 |
Stanford Graduate School of Business has confirmed the essay prompts for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. The required Stanford MBA essay questions remain unchanged from previous admissions seasons. Stanford asks for two personal essays in order to gain a greater understanding of applicants’ character and hopes. “In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice,” the admissions team advises. “Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no ‘right answer’ to these questions — the best answer is the one that is truest for you.” Stanford MBA Essay Questions Essay A: What matters most to you, and why? For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives? Essay B: Why Stanford? Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs. Length Both essays combined may not exceed 1,050 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B. We often find effective essays that are written in fewer words. Optional Short-Answer Question In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. If you would like to go beyond your resume to discuss some of your contributions more fully, you are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example) What do we mean by “optional”? We truly mean you have the opportunity to choose. If you feel that you’ve already described your contributions well in other areas of the application, congratulations, you’re done! If not, feel free to use this opportunity to tell us more. Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? *** The Stanford MBA application for the Class of 2026 is officially open. Here are the GSB’s updated application deadlines. For more information, please visit the Stanford GSB admissions website. If you need guidance on your Stanford MBA application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on the Stacy Blackman Consulting team: The post Stanford MBA Essay Questions for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Wharton Application Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Is the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School on your shortlist of target B-schools? Then mark your calendar because here are the Wharton application deadlines for the MBA Class of 2026. Wharton Application Deadlines Round 1 Application due: September 6, 2023 Decision released: December 14, 2023 Round 2 Application due: January 4, 2024 Decision released: March 26, 2024 Round 3 Application due: April 2, 2024 Decision released: May 13, 2024 Deferred Admissions Round Application due: April 24, 2024 Decision released: June 27, 2024 Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the day of the deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline for Round 1 or 2 will get rolled into the next round. Wharton will not accept applications submitted after the Round 3 deadline. Ultimately, by applying earlier in a round, you will have more time to schedule an interview. For this reason, Wharton recommends submitting your application as soon as possible. Notably, some joint degree programs require you to apply during Round 1 or 2. For more information on applying, please visit the Wharton School admissions site. If you need guidance on your Wharton MBA application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the Wharton AdCom expertise on the SBC team: The post Wharton Application Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Wharton MBA Essays for 2023-2024 |
Are you targeting the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School? Then it’s time to shift into high gear. The admissions committee has published the Wharton MBA essays and deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. Wharton MBA Essays for the Class of 2026 The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid, and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest you be yourself. For additional essay writing resources, see the essay tips article. First-time MBA applicants and re-applicants must complete both essays. Essay 1: How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words) Essay 2: Taking into consideration your background—personal, professional, and/or academic—how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words) Required Essay for all Reapplicants: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words) Optional Essay: Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words) *** For more information on applying, please visit the Wharton School admissions site. If you need guidance on your Wharton MBA applications or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the Wharton AdCom expertise on the SBC team: The post Wharton MBA Essays for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Stanford MBA Essay Tips for 2023-2024 |
The Stanford Graduate School of Business has announced the Stanford MBA essay questions for this year’s application. Today, we’re sharing our Stanford MBA essay tips to help you create a positive impression through your application materials. This year’s essays remain unchanged from previous seasons. The admissions committee at Stanford has gained significant insight into applicants by asking, “What matters most, and why?” along with “Why Stanford?” These questions are simple, yet the answers are revealing. Also, the optional essay allows you to go beyond your resume and describe a time you had an impact. What is Stanford Looking For? “The GSB is looking for people who will make a big difference AND have a better shot than most in being able to execute. Stanford GSB students also seem to have this ‘X’ factor associated with them. Almost like an ‘unexpected’ trait, talent, or experience,” says a former GSB admissions officer now on the SBC team. Many students are intimidated to apply to Stanford GSB for their MBA in light of its high ranking and competitive admissions numbers. However, here at Stacy Blackman Consulting, we have worked with hundreds of applicants over the years who have successfully gained admission to Stanford. We shared some of our successful applicants’ essential traits to help everyone get admitted to top-tier schools. Our successful Stanford MBA applicants demonstrated real character. That means they have helped others and shown they share a sense of community. Also, they showed that they cared about the world beyond their material wants and needs in their essays. As Stanford advises, “answer the question. Resist the urge to ‘package’ yourself into what you think Stanford wants to see. Doing so will only prevent us from understanding who you really are and what you hope to accomplish. The most impressive essays are the most authentic.” Therefore, these essays need to be personal and reveal your personality and what drives you. Listen to B-Schooled Podcast Episode #152: Spotlight on Stanford GSB Understanding Stanford’s culture and academics will help you tailor your application. Before starting these essays, it will be helpful to speak to Stanford students and alumni. If you need to start your research online, read stories from current students. You can begin with our former client, Natasha Malpani (pictured). Stanford MBA Essay Tips Length Both essays combined may not exceed 1,050 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 400 words for Essay B. We often find effective essays that are written in fewer words. ESSAY A: WHAT MATTERS MOST TO YOU, AND WHY? For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives? This Stanford MBA essay is about diving deep into what motivates you and why. Topics can range from personal history to big-picture visions of the future. This essay should not be explicitly career related (and the most persuasive essays are likely not career oriented at all). However, some of your themes will likely continue in the following essay, which may focus more on your career. For example, you may have a personal passion that also has led you into a related career aspiration. Your character should shine through, and ideally, introspection and honesty carry through the entire set of essays. To generate ideas, try brainstorming for a few days. Ask friends and family what values they see you demonstrating in your life and choices. What keeps you awake at night? Keep a notebook by your bed so you can record your first thoughts upon waking up. Review your personal history for ideas. When you look back at your life, what do you admire and regret about your choices? Are there moments in your life that have led to a change in direction? Who has impacted your decisions? These are the kind of questions to ask yourself as you brainstorm topics for this essay. It is tough to write such an open-ended and challenging essay. To focus, use detailed and specific anecdotes. Clear examples will provide the reader with images and stories to understand your perspective. After reading hundreds of essays, the ones that have vivid stories in them stand out the most. However, Stanford GSB specifically advises focusing on people and experiences that have influenced you. Accomplishments and achievements are great, but Stanford wants to know you. Don’t be scared of the challenging moments in life – often, self-awareness emerges from challenges. Whatever experiences you choose, it’s imperative to talk about why they impacted your life and your values. Along with colorful examples, talk about how you felt, thought, and reacted both at the time and as you reflected later. The “why” will come out of your reactions to your life experience or people who have influenced you and the resulting introspection. Curious about your chances of getting into Stanford GSB? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant. ESSAY B: WHY STANFORD? Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs. After explaining who you are, you will tell why your next step is a Stanford MBA. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx, make sure you can highlight the advantages of both programs for your situation. For example, you might have significant work experience and also see the benefits of attending a two-year program. Therefore, you could be interested in either option to achieve your goals. The sub-questions for this essay cover both why you are interested in pursuing an MBA and why you specifically want to attend Stanford GSB for your MBA. Stanford GSB wants to know your aspirations will be uniquely satisfied by the program. As a result, school research will help you explain how academics and community matter to you. Be as specific as possible to provide evidence that you have done your research. Have you met current students and alumni? Who are the professors you are excited about? What are the unique programs? Is Stanford’s culture appealing to you, and why? Think about using specific examples, like the career path of one particular alum you admire. If the question seems too vast, take a few minutes to close your eyes and reflect. Envision your life in twenty years. Where do you live? How do you spend your days? What is your favorite activity? Does this vision fit into your career aspirations? Don’t be shy about your ambitions. Once you have identified your dream career, make sure an MBA is a big part of achieving your plans. Also, consider that Stanford likes to see applicants who dream big and have the credibility to achieve their goals. Be bold with your aspirations. Therefore write about global, big-picture issues you would like to solve. Not what your parents or partner want you to do, and not the next job on the corporate ladder. In particular, explain what you—with your unique background and values—want for your life. Even though you should think big, don’t make the mistake of acting as if you are already perfect with no development needed. After all, you are a work in progress, and that’s appropriate. Remember that MBA programs want to help promising candidates reach their goals and be one step on an ambitious career trajectory. Check out the SBC Application Strategy Guide for Stanford Graduate School of Business Optional Short Answer Question In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. If you would like to go beyond your resume to discuss some of your contributions more fully, you are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example) What do we mean by “optional”? We truly mean you have the opportunity to choose. If you feel that you’ve already described your contributions well in other areas of the application, congratulations, you’re done! If not, feel free to use this opportunity to tell us more. Stanford’s MBA essay optional short-answer questions are truly optional. Many applicants to Stanford write personal stories and describe internal motivations in the “what matters most” essay. This leaves very little space to talk about your impact on organizations or teams. If you are one of those applicants, this is the perfect place to show off some of your leadership stories. Optional Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? This Stanford MBA essay focuses on an example of a time when you created an impact. Stanford is looking for people who have inner strength and drive. But also, Stanford seeks those who can influence others. First, think about when you influenced a group. Perhaps you were a leader or a vital team member. Then, think about the positive results of that experience and how you contributed. Finally, describe how it was important to you. Ideally, this significance fits with your overall application themes in the primary essays. And hopefully, it also shows a new side to your candidacy. *** If you need guidance on your Stanford GSB applications or wish to discuss your MBA plans, please reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the elite AdCom expertise on the SBC team: (Image credit: Corey Seeman, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) The post Tuesday Tips: Stanford MBA Essay Tips for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: UC Berkeley Haas Application Essays, Tips for 2023-2024 |
The Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley is a highly selective school with a small class to fill. Therefore, it’s crucial to stand out from the crowd and show how you will benefit the Haas MBA class. These tips for the Berkeley Haas application essays will help you create that positive impression. According to one of the former Haas admissions officers on the SBC team, “Haas is really focused on its experiential learning and it’s four Defining Leadership Principles. Candidates need to know the principles (almost with the ability to recite them by heart) and talk about why at least one of the principles resonates with the candidate.” The new Video essay specifically asks about the principles, and you should also consider them as you answer the other essays in this set. Likewise, keep these principles in mind when you interview with Haas and interact with students and faculty. The Berkeley Haas Application Essays Required Essay #1: What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum) The Haas MBA admissions team has asked creative, open-ended questions for many years. Essay one exemplifies that style. As a first step, think about activities you find completely fascinating—for example, hobbies, sports, or artistic pursuits. Or, maybe there’s an activity at work that absorbs you. Above all, it should reveal something personal and go deeper than your resume. After you have identified a meaningful activity, then you need to describe why. The “why” is more important than the “what” because it reveals who you are. For example, maybe you enjoy research projects. You like to solve problems at work and have the freedom to pursue the question wherever it takes you. In that case, consider whether you enjoy research because it allows you to be creative or solve problems. Delve into your motivations to see what is driving you—being specific about the “why” will help you with all of your essays. Required Essay #2:How will an MBA help you achieve your short-term and long-term career goals? (300 words maximum) This is a traditional essay asking about your career goals and how an MBA from Haas will get you from here to there. While this question does not ask specifically “why Haas?” you should know what is most appealing about the program. According to SBC’s Haas experts, “Haas can get a lot of entrepreneurs, engineers, and people with really untraditional paths because they think Haas is an untraditional program. Folks who want to transition to a start-up or do their own venture really need to have a clear idea why Haas and why now. Their path needs to be very specific and why their career trajectory is either right for a transition or continuing down the same path, but taking a breath for the MBA.” This advice is great for any candidate. Be specific about your path and be very clear about why an MBA is necessary. A few reasons might include the MBA coursework, the network you will build, and the practical experiences you will have. Make sure you have researched Haas thoroughly and know what is available through the program and how you will take advantage. Along with online resources, you can reach out to your personal and professional network. Talking to current and former students is always useful! Are you curious about your chances of getting into Berkeley Haas? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant. Berkeley Sunset photo by Joe Parks Required Essay #3 (Video): The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles. Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which leadership principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. (Not to exceed 2 minutes.) Begin preparation for this video by researching how Haas views leadership by reviewing its set of leadership principles. Question the Status Quo, Confidence without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself are the fundamental principles. For Haas, leadership is both inclusive and bold. Also, Haas prioritizes innovation, community, and collaboration. Next, think about your personal definition of leadership. If you had to define your leadership principles, what would they look like? For example, perhaps helping is a core part of your identity. And, for you, leadership means driving the development of your team. Therefore, you aspire to be a leader who develops others. Then, think about an example you can share in this video that illustrates the leadership principle. If you are focused on developing others, think about a story when you managed a team or project. Or even a mentoring experience either at work or through your network. Once you have figured out what you will say in the video, rehearse a few times before recording. Make sure you are still coming across as conversational and expressing your personality. The reason to use a video instead of a written essay is to understand a bit more about your personality, style, and expression. finally, make sure to show enthusiasm for leadership and your future at Haas. Required Essay #4-Short Answer: Can you please describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace? (150 words max) Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging are important aspects of business culture and MBA admissions. Aside from formal programs that many companies sponsor, being an inclusive leader is crucial for business results. Whether you are personally experienced in being part of an underrepresented community or not, you can be a champion for belonging. This essay is best answered with a short example or two that you can pull from any aspect of your life. Think about when you have participated or led formal efforts to drive diversity or when you have supported justice at school, work, or in your community. For more resources to answer this question, don’t miss this blog post on how to address diversity essays and sample essays. Check out B-Schooled Podcast #116: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the MBA Optional Essays The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them. Optional Information #1 We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements. Berkeley Haas is committed to understanding applicants completely. Therefore, this question provides a chance to go deeper into your family background and your life circumstances. In addition, the admissions committee can understand your accomplishments in context. For example, you might have a highly educated family, and your parents are professionals. But, you moved to another country for college or a job. An experience like that is essential to explain how you learned a new culture or language. Or, maybe your parents are fully employed now. However, there was a period of unemployment in your family that impacted you. Therefore that information shows how you handle challenges at home. Finally, think about times you changed course because of your circumstances. And, think about the areas of your life that asked the most of your resilience. As a result, how have you used those experiences to continue to achieve? 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. Applicants should note there is a specific place to indicate that you won’t have a recommendation from their current supervisor in the supplemental information section. Therefore, 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, any employment gaps or academic issues. 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, explain any supplemental coursework to improve your quantitative profile. Any unexplained gap of several months between two jobs needs addressing. Therefore, if your resume has significant employment gaps, you should describe what you did between jobs. For instance, you can point to additional education, training, volunteering, or traveling during this gap. In addition, re-applicants can describe hard improvements to their candidacy. For example, these could be an improved GMAT score, new grades from quantitative classes, or a promotion. Also, other improvements might include refined career goals and additional leadership opportunities. *** Stacy Blackman Consulting has successfully coached applicants for the Haas MBA each admissions year. Now that you’ve seen these tips for the Berkeley Haas application essays, please contact us to learn more about how we can help you set a winning application strategy. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on the SBC team: Haas at Twilight image by Flickr user Wayne Hsieh (CC BY-NC 2.0) The post Tuesday Tips: UC Berkeley Haas Application Essays, Tips for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: B-Schooled Podcast Episode #164: ChatGPT and Your MBA Essays |
Have you thought about using an artificial intelligence tool like ChatGPT to write your MBA essays? B-Schooled host Erika faces her fear of this technology in order to convince you NOT to. As tempting as it is, AI-generated essays will not get you into a good business school. And while ChatGPT and the like can produce a coherent essay with perfect grammar, they will never be able to replicate the introspection found in a stellar MBA essay. If you’re on the fence about using this technology, you won’t want to miss this podcast! Listen to B-Schooled episode #164 here or on any of the podcast apps listed below. B-Schooled is available on most major podcast apps, including: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher TuneIn Please be sure to subscribe to B-Schooled so that you don’t miss a thing. Also, if there’s something you’d like for us to cover in a future episode, please email podcast@stacyblackman.com. We’d love to hear from you! *** Now, why not hop over to our new MBA community on Discord? That’s where you’ll find exclusive insights from the SBC team, explore our resources, and connect with fellow current and prospective MBA applicants. This is a space to share and learn about the MBA admissions process, whether you’re still debating if business school is for you or you’re already on your way with your application journey. Join the party today! The post B-Schooled Podcast Episode #164: ChatGPT and Your MBA Essays appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Darden MBA Essays for the Class of 2026 |
Is the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business on your shortlist of target MBA programs? Then get ready to hit the ground running by previewing the Darden MBA essays and deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. UVA Darden will release the complete application in the coming weeks. Darden MBA Essays For the 2023–24 application cycle, Darden will again feature short essay questions that provide a broader platform for applicants to highlight their experiences through multi-dimensional narratives. These questions are a great opportunity for you to help the Darden Admissions Committee understand who you are and who you will be at Darden. Community of Belonging What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words) Inclusive Impact Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words) Careers With Purpose At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words) Advice from Darden’s AdCom: Remember: We are not reading your responses with a prescribed or “right” answer in mind. We want to get to know you, not us. These questions are our opportunity to begin to get a sense of your voice, your perspective, your experiences and your writing ability. In fact, how you choose to answer a particular question is often as insightful as what you choose to write about. The best essay responses are those that are responsive to the question but also authentic and genuine. Whenever possible, show don’t tell. One of our favorite application tips involves this feedback stage – when you share your responses with your friend, don’t tell them the prompts (at least initially). See if they can guess the questions based upon your responses. If they can, you are well on your way to finalizing your answers! *** For more information on applying, please visit the Darden School admissions site. If you need guidance on your Darden MBA essays or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the AdCom expertise on our team: The post Darden MBA Essays for the Class of 2026 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Yale MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 |
Are you interested in applying to the Yale School of Management? Then open up your calendar because the Yale MBA deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions season have just been announced! Yale MBA Deadlines Round 1 Application due: September 12, 2023 Decision released: December 5, 2023 Round 2 Application due: January 4, 2024 Decision released: March 26, 2024 Round 3 Application due: April 9, 2024 Decision released: May 16, 2024 For more information on applying, please visit the Yale SOM admissions site. If you need guidance on your MBA applications or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the expertise of the SBC consulting team: The post Yale MBA Deadlines for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Darden MBA Essay Tips for 2023-2024 |
Are you applying to the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business this year? Make sure to read on for tips to learn more about what Darden is looking for. In these Darden MBA essay tips, we focus on leadership and a sense of passion and purpose. In all of these essays, you will want to communicate who you are and what motivates you. Also, consider both your career and your personal life in your essays. The restrictive word counts can be challenging, so stay focused and precise in your responses. How should you highlight personal qualities in these brief essays? First, consider that leadership is crucial to future Darden MBAs. Also, teamwork is essential at Darden, a school with a small, tight-knit community. The case study method is the primary teaching method, similar to Harvard Business School. Engaging with the case method requires the ability to communicate clearly and bring your perspective to the conversation. Curious about your chances of getting into UVA Darden? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant. Darden MBA Essay Tips For the 2023–24 application cycle, Darden will again feature short essay questions that provide a broader platform for applicants to highlight their experiences through multi-dimensional narratives. These questions are a great opportunity for you to help the Darden Admissions Committee understand who you are and who you will be at Darden. Essay 1: Community of Belonging What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words) At Darden, your classmates are crucial to your learning. 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, your classmates are part of a supportive community. This essay allows you to introduce yourself to the Darden community. What should your classmates know about your background? What diverse perspective will you bring to the learning environment? Perhaps you have unique professional experiences that will be new to the class. You may be from an underrepresented region of the world, or you have a compelling personal background. In just a few words, describe what you think will set you apart from your peers and be interesting for the class to know about you. Learn more about your potential classmates by talking to a student ambassador or reviewing Darden’sMBA Student Stories. Essay 2: Inclusive Impact Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words) This question focuses specifically on diversity and inclusion. Therefore, you should consider your record of engagement with diverse identities and communities in your example. Past experience is a great predictor of future performance, and specific examples provide the most insight into your behavior. If you have not spent a significant amount of time outside your own country or culture, look at college or work. Many people live and work with diverse groups at university or the workplace, which can be a good source of inspiration. For example, perhaps you started a mentoring program or funded internships for underrepresented employees. It’s possible only your department or company felt the impact of that action. However, it shows your values and allows you to discuss how you would significantly affect change at Darden. In addition, you may have found that you learned about yourself as well. Perhaps in your advocacy, you learned a more nuanced approach to a community or people. Or, you may have discovered your own blind spots and biases. Self-reflection is welcome in this question. Don’t miss B-Schooled Podcast Episode #115: Spotlight on Darden As you write, make sure you place your story in historical context and navigate power dynamics effectively. In that case, reading resources like the HBR collection on racism in the workplace may be useful. Finally, Darden wants to know how you will bring your advocacy to the MBA program. Consider what you have learned about yourself and how to advocate for a diverse team. How will your unique background contribute to inclusion for everyone? Essay 3: Careers With Purpose At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words) This question focuses on your short-term career goal. However, it also asks in the context of your overall long-term career vision. Your career goals should fit seamlessly into your personal story. Do not get intimidated by career goals questions 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. Simply put, the essay question seeks to understand why you are pursuing this path and what you hope to get out of it. The goal is to gain insight into how you think and plan and what motivates your career decisions. If you are inspired by what you have experienced as a leader and as someone who positively impacts others, that inspiration should be part of your career aspirations. Darden will help you refine your goals and learn the skills you need. We hope these Darden MBA essay tips help you draft impactful essays that will make your candidacy shine. Please visit the admissions page at UVA Darden School of Business for more information about the program. *** Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our All-In Partnership to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team. The post Tuesday Tips: Darden MBA Essay Tips for 2023-2024 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting. |
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