Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog : Ask Admissions Consultants

StacyBlackman · 2013-12-11T12:44:33-08:00

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Tuesday Tips: 2015 Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips [#permalink]

25 May 2015, 19:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: 2015 Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips

Michigan Ross is a program that emphasizes learning both inside and outside the classroom, and is seeking candidates that are intellectually curious and able to accomplish their goals. Ross is also a close-knit community and fit with the program is important to demonstrate in the application process. Visiting Ross or learning about the program through current students, alumni or faculty would be helpful before starting this set of essays.

The Ross admissions blog states that concise, clear and simple language is prized in the essay portion of the application. Make sure you are using the limited space to explain specifics about you and your experiences and goals rather than generic statements.

Essay One: What are you most proud of and why? How does it shape who you are today? (up to 400 words)

Last year Ross separated the professional and personal in this question, asking candidates to explain what they were most proud of in both realms. This year you have the flexibility to pull from any area of your life to discuss what you are most proud of and why.

If you choose a professional topic remember that intellectual ability, professional achievements and teamwork are all among the qualities the Ross admissions committee is looking for in applicants. As you consider topics for this essay focus on the ones that will demonstrate you are a strong leader and that you can learn from experience.

The personal attributes the admissions committee are looking for in applicants include community engagement and interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills.

When you consider topics for this essay you may want to write about an important extracurricular accomplishment, a challenge you overcame, or an event in your life that highlights something unique about your background. For example, if you have a track record of club leadership through college and afterwards that can be compelling evidence of your community engagement and leadership skills. On the other end of the spectrum perhaps you have spent time outside your home country for school or work and that has shaped your teamwork, interpersonal and communication skills.

In some cases you may be most proud of an accomplishment because of what you learned and how it shaped your career. In other cases the follow up questions are two separate components of the essay. Either way the why behind your pride in accomplishment will reveal what you value most – whether prestige, credit, or the motivation to achieve your goals. Make sure that your values are aligned with how you want to be perceived by the admissions committee.

Whatever you are most proud of, make sure you are addressing why it is important to you. What you learned and how you have used what you learned since in your life can offer invaluable insight as well.

Essay Two: What is your desired career path and why? (up to 400 words)

Michigan Ross is interested to hear what you plan to do after your MBA and what is motivating that decision. The Ross admissions blogis clear that the question is meant to understand your motivation and interests, and that no specific “correct” career is expected. Both traditional and non-traditional MBA goals are welcomed as long as you are sincere about the path you plan to take.

Answering “why” you chose your career path is crucial. As you describe your career path make sure you explain what has led you to pursue it, and why it resonates with you. The answer doesn’t need to be elaborate or dramatic, but it should be convincing and real. The question doesn’t ask “Why MBA?” or “Why Ross?” but you may want to address both questions. Particularly if Ross has unique resources that will help you achieve your goal, it may help your case to explain why Ross.

Stacy Blackman Consulting has worked with successful candidates to Michigan Ross for over a decade and can offer comprehensive strategic advice every step of the way. Contact us to learn more.

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Tuesday Tips: 2015 Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips [#permalink]

26 May 2015, 10:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: 2015 Michigan Ross MBA Essay Tips

Michigan Ross is a program that emphasizes learning both inside and outside the classroom, and is seeking candidates that are intellectually curious and able to accomplish their goals. Ross is also a close-knit community and fit with the program is important to demonstrate in the application process. Visiting Ross or learning about the program through current students, alumni or faculty would be helpful before starting this set of essays.

The Ross admissions blog states that concise, clear and simple language is prized in the essay portion of the application. Make sure you are using the limited space to explain specifics about you and your experiences and goals rather than generic statements.

Essay One: What are you most proud of and why? How does it shape who you are today? (up to 400 words)

Last year Ross separated the professional and personal in this question, asking candidates to explain what they were most proud of in both realms. This year you have the flexibility to pull from any area of your life to discuss what you are most proud of and why.

If you choose a professional topic remember that intellectual ability, professional achievements and teamwork are all among the qualities the Ross admissions committee is looking for in applicants. As you consider topics for this essay focus on the ones that will demonstrate you are a strong leader and that you can learn from experience.

The personal attributes the admissions committee are looking for in applicants include community engagement and interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills.

When you consider topics for this essay you may want to write about an important extracurricular accomplishment, a challenge you overcame, or an event in your life that highlights something unique about your background. For example, if you have a track record of club leadership through college and afterwards that can be compelling evidence of your community engagement and leadership skills. On the other end of the spectrum perhaps you have spent time outside your home country for school or work and that has shaped your teamwork, interpersonal and communication skills.

In some cases you may be most proud of an accomplishment because of what you learned and how it shaped your career. In other cases the follow up questions are two separate components of the essay. Either way the why behind your pride in accomplishment will reveal what you value most – whether prestige, credit, or the motivation to achieve your goals. Make sure that your values are aligned with how you want to be perceived by the admissions committee.

Whatever you are most proud of, make sure you are addressing why it is important to you. What you learned and how you have used what you learned since in your life can offer invaluable insight as well.

Essay Two: What is your desired career path and why? (up to 400 words)

Michigan Ross is interested to hear what you plan to do after your MBA and what is motivating that decision. The Ross admissions blogis clear that the question is meant to understand your motivation and interests, and that no specific “correct” career is expected. Both traditional and non-traditional MBA goals are welcomed as long as you are sincere about the path you plan to take.

Answering “why” you chose your career path is crucial. As you describe your career path make sure you explain what has led you to pursue it, and why it resonates with you. The answer doesn’t need to be elaborate or dramatic, but it should be convincing and real. The question doesn’t ask “Why MBA?” or “Why Ross?” but you may want to address both questions. Particularly if Ross has unique resources that will help you achieve your goal, it may help your case to explain why Ross.

Stacy Blackman Consulting has worked with successful candidates to Michigan Ross for over a decade and can offer comprehensive strategic advice every step of the way. Contact us to learn more.

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Research U.S. MBA Programs Without Visiting Campus [#permalink]

27 May 2015, 11:01

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Research U.S. MBA Programs Without Visiting Campus

This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA Blog on U.S.News.com
Many would agree that visiting campus is the single best way to get a feel for the business schools you are considering. You can sit in on a class, meet current students and really envision yourself as a part of that community.

Often, the campus visit will fuel your excitement about the program, and other times, the in-person experience isn’t quite what you imagined and you’ll know right away that the culture just isn’t a good fit for you.

However, for many MBA hopefuls, particularly those targeting multiple programs and coming from abroad, a campus visit can be a real challenge during the application phase. Whether the problem is the prohibitive expense of air travel and lodging or the time off from work required, these candidates must turn to other sources to fill in the blanks as they decide on which programs to target.

A great starting point for any applicant is connecting with students and alumni at the schools you are considering. Top MBA programs host numerous events around the world each year, so plan on attending the event nearest you in order to meet admissions officers, alumni and current students, and to gain valuable application advice.

These individuals can offer the inside scoop on student life and what makes their school unique. Participating in online information sessions and virtual webinars is another valuable way for candidates to get a better sense of the school’s culture.

Business schools often have programs that connect applicants via email or Skype with current and former students of similar backgrounds and profiles, and this is a great introduction to the program that can help you narrow down which schools to focus on for your MBA. Even if there’s no such formal program in place, most admissions officers will happily put candidates in touch with an alum or current student if asked.

Hugo Varela conducted most of his school research from Madrid, Spain, and was able to visit only one U.S. school in person due to work and financial constraints. Despite that fact, Varela was accepted at MIT Sloan School of Management, Duke University Fuqua School of Business and Dartmouth University Tuck School of Business.

“I tried to talk to current students and attend events hosted by many schools in my city, before and after applying, in order to get to know as much as I could about every school,” says Varela. “This cannot make up for a campus visit, but is the best you can do from afar, and current students and alumni really have been key for me to decide where to apply and where to attend.”

“Reading student blogs and talking to alumni and current students were invaluable in helping me gauge the right schools to apply to,” agrees Vandana Sathpathy, an applicant based in India who received offers of admission to three elite MBA programs without visiting any of the campuses and heads to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University this fall.

She says she was especially impressed by current students who went out of their way to spend time answering questions patiently and enthusiastically, and really showed how passionate they were about their schools.

“There is a wealth of information available online if you are motivated enough to find it – and I was,” Sathpathy adds. In addition to scouring every inch of the school websites, she read the official school blogs and followed all of her target schools on every social media network possible – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and particularly YouTube.

By watching everything from guest lectures, Ted Talks events, orientation videos, talks given by professors at her target schools and even Bollywood Bash Night videos, she says, “I knew the pros and cons of each school by the time I applied, and the reasons I really wanted to go there.”

Positive engagement with the admissions committee via social media is another excellent strategy and could help you stand out in a competitive applicant pool. Schools that actively monitor their social media sites can often answer an applicant’s questions in mere hours, whereas an emailed query could take days to receive a reply. Prospective students should also subscribe to the feeds of student and admissions blogs to find out immediately about any news that could influence their interest in the program.

Online research can’t replace the value of the in-person experience, but candidates who simply cannot visit their selected schools before applying should take comfort in knowing that there are many ways to thoroughly get to know a program without a campus visit to guide them. Diligence and motivation are all you really need.

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Yale SOM 2015-2016 MBA Essay Question [#permalink]

28 May 2015, 11:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Yale SOM 2015-2016 MBA Essay Question

Yale School of Management has confirmed that the essay question for this upcoming admissions season remains unchanged from last year. The 2015-2016 MBA essay prompt is:

The Yale School of Management educates individuals who will have deep and lasting impact on the organizations they lead. Describe how you have positively influenced an organization as an employee, a member, or an outside constituent.

(500 words maximum)
According to Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico, the admissions committee decided to stick with this question because it, “…really gets to the core of what Yale SOM is about and embodies our founding mission of educating leaders for business and society.”

The online application will go live on July 1, 2015, and DelMonico says the school will continue to offer a sliding scale application fee for applicants whose total annual compensation is less than US $20,000, and a further reduced fee for applicants whose compensation is below US $10,000.

For more information, please visit the Yale SOM admissions website.

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UT McCombs 2015-2016 Application Deadlines [#permalink]

29 May 2015, 11:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UT McCombs 2015-2016 Application Deadlines

The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business has announced the following application deadlines for the 2015-2016 MBA admissions season.

Round 1
Application deadline: October 13, 2015

Decision notification: December 17, 2015

Round 2
Application deadline: January 12, 2016

Decision notification: March 29, 2016

Final Round
Application deadline: March 31, 2016

Decision notification: May 12, 2016

***

Applicants should note that Round 1 is the priority deadline for admissions scholarships & fellowships. All materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on the day of the application deadline. The new essays for the fall 2016 application cycle have yet to be announced, and the application will go live in late summer.

For additional information, please visit the UT McCombs MBA admissions website.

You may also be interested in:
Alumni Donate $5M for New Construction at UT McCombs

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Before You Post That Selfie… [#permalink]

01 Jun 2015, 06:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Before You Post That Selfie…

Do you have a profile on any of the major social media platforms? Do you frequently tweet, upload pictures to Instagram or Flickr, or post updates on Facebook? If so, you might want to make sure your online presence won’t derail your MBA application efforts.

If an admissions team is leaning toward admitting you to their program, it’s possible that they could do a quick Google search on your name before making their final decision. If you’ve demonstrated bad judgment by posting pictures of yourself doing not-so-upstanding things or making offensive or otherwise politically incorrect comments, you’ve given them a reason to move your application to the ding pile.

You may remember when The New York Times reported on a high school senior who caused a stir at Bowdoin College after posting disparaging tweets about other attendees at the school’s information session. If some undergraduate admissions committees are using teenagers’ social media behavior against them, it’s possible that business schools won’t be any more forgiving with young adults who should know better.

It doesn’t end with the admissions committee, either. Let’s say you are invited to interview with a local alum. You can be sure that person will try to find out as much information about you as possible before your chat. Once you’re at school, potential internship and full-time employers could perform an even more extensive online background check. Your fellow classmates might do some digging, too!

So while you may believe it’s funny and harmless to post that selfie after you’ve tipped back one too many, think again. There’s a chance you could compromise your MBA candidacy because of a fleeting moment of indiscretion. If an admissions committee member comes across something that raises a red flag, they’ll likely move on to the next candidate.

Remember:

*** Do you want to stay on top of the application process with timely tips like these? Please subscribe to our weekly newsletter and you’ll receive our expert advice straight in your mailbox before it appears on the blog, plus special offers, promotions, discounts, invitations to events, and more.

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Harvard Business School 2015 Commencement Highlights [#permalink]

02 Jun 2015, 06:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Harvard Business School 2015 Commencement Highlights

Harvard Business School held its 105th Commencement exercises last Thursday, and we wanted to share a video of the event so that it may motivate many of you only just beginning your journey toward business school over these next few months.

In his remarks to graduates (seen in the video below), Dean Nitin Nohria spoke about the three Ps—purpose, perseverance, and perspective—and how these characteristics will play a vital role in the 2015 MBA graduates’ careers and lives after HBS.

It’s easy to sustain energy and enthusiasm for your work, says Nohria, when you have a powerful belief in the good that you’re doing, and the knowledge that your work has a greater purpose. Business can be a powerful force for good in society, and you’ll always learn something by standing in another place with another view.

“We encourage you to continue to pursue work with a purpose, to draw on perseverance in the face of challenges, and to seek perspective when making and reflecting on the decisions that lie ahead,” Nohria said in closing his address. “Be assured that the faculty will be rooting for you to become leaders who will make a difference in the world and in the lives of all you touch.”

Harvard Business School’s 2015 graduates say their MBA experience has taught them to think bigger, lead through their values, and have a better sense of self. We hope this brief glimpse has inspired our readers to strive for those same life lessons, wherever your MBA plans lead you.

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Tuck School of Business 2015-2016 Application Deadlines [#permalink]

03 Jun 2015, 18:01

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuck School of Business 2015-2016 Application Deadlines

The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth has posted the following application deadlines for the upcoming MBA admissions season.

Early Action Round

Application deadline: October 7, 2015

Decision notification: December 17, 2015

November Round

Application deadline: November 4, 2015

Decision notification: February 12, 2016

January Round

Application deadline: January 6, 2016

Decision notification: March 11, 2016

April Round

Application deadline: April 4, 2016

Decision notification: May 13, 2016

First Round Consortium Application Due: October 15, 2015
Second Round Consortium Application Due: January 5, 2016
For more information, please visit the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business admissions website.

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UT McCombs 2015-2016 MBA Application Essays [#permalink]

04 Jun 2015, 11:01

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UT McCombs 2015-2016 MBA Application Essays

The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business has announced the updated MBA essay questions for the 2015-2016 admissions cycle. The two required prompts and one optional one are:

Essay One: At The University of Texas at Austin, what starts here changes the world. You are at the Texas MBA Orientation for the Class of 2018, meeting your cohort for the first time. Please introduce yourself to your new classmates, including relevant information about your personal and professional life.

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

Write an essay (250 words)
Share a video introduction (one minute)
Share your https://gmatclub.com/chat profile

Essay Two: The McCombs School of Business is where leadership is earned. We have an inclusive environment where our dynamic and driven students take an active role in the Texas MBA community. Please discuss why the Texas MBA is the ideal program for you, what you hope to achieve, and how you will contribute to your classmates’ experience. (500 words)

Optional Essay:

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

For additional information about the Texas MBA program, please visit the McCombs admissions website.

You may also be interested in:
UT McCombs 2015-2016 MBA Application Deadlines

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Whelan to Lead NYU Stern’s New Center for Sustainable Business [#permalink]

05 Jun 2015, 11:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Whelan to Lead NYU Stern’s New Center for Sustainable Business

New York University Stern School of Business will launch a new Center for Sustainable Business in January 2016, and has announced that Tensie Whelan, currently the president of the Rainforest Alliance and a key leader in the realm of environmental activism and stewardship, will join the Stern faculty to establish and lead it. The Center will assist future and current business leaders in tackling the environmental and human challenges confronting business and society today.

Whelan, an alumna of NYU (BA ’80), brings to Stern 25 years of experience working on local, national and international environmental and sustainability issues. As president of the Rainforest Alliance, Whelan built the organization from a $4.5 million budget to $50 million, transforming the engagement of business with sustainability and recruiting 5,000 companies in more than 60 countries to work with the organization. She partnered closely with sustainability leaders from multinationals, CEOs from around the world, key NGO and United Nations leaders, as well as funders.

“Stern puts a premium on value creation for business as well as society, a philosophy that matches my own,” noted Whelan. “Coupled with its prime location in New York, home to the financial sector, Silicon Alley, the UN and NGOs, Stern has an unprecedented opportunity to drive this conversation. I’m honored to have the chance to pursue this mission with my colleagues at Stern,” she added.

“What’s remarkable about Tensie is not only her courage and conviction to imagine a world in which profit and principle can co-exist, but also her skill and will to transform that vision into action,” said Peter Henry, dean of NYU Stern. “We encourage our students to embrace the tools of business when it comes to tackling some of the world’s most intractable problems. Tensie is the ideal role model to lead by example on issues that are critical to long-term prosperity and economic growth.”

As director of the Center, Whelan will partner with faculty at Stern and across New York University, as well as with leading practitioners from business and civil society, to create new undergraduate, graduate and executive education courses that emphasize real-world experiential learning.

In addition to research and teaching activities, each year the Center will convene groups of companies from different sectors and parts of the world with stakeholders and experts to explore solutions for a major environment and development challenge in the business sector. Whelan will begin teaching in January 2016.

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What to Do if You’re Light on Extracurriculars [#permalink]

08 Jun 2015, 06:01

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: What to Do if You’re Light on Extracurriculars

If you’re applying to business schools in Round 1, the process of pulling your materials together will consume much of your life in the coming months. Of particular focus will be planning how to best position yourself. If you’ve taken on leadership roles in volunteer organizations or have actively engaged with a nonprofit you’re passionate about, you’ll want to be sure you play up that angle in your materials.

But what if you’ve done nothing on that front? No volunteering, no extracurricular involvement—nada. Is your candidacy doomed?

No. Admissions committees understand that it’s extremely hard for some people to have meaningful involvement in an organization outside of work. This is often the case for those whose jobs constantly keep them on the road, or whose typical workday doesn’t even afford them the opportunity for a full night’s sleep. So the good news is that we have certainly seen compelling candidates be accepted to top programs even though they lack post-college extracurriculars.

However, if you weren’t involved in anything outside of class when you were an undergraduate, either, that might be a red flag. The MBA experience is about leveraging all facets of your life—not just what you’ve achieved on the job—to help your classmates learn.

So if you have no volunteer work or extracurricular activities to talk about, brainstorm what other relevant things you could share with fellow students in class. Think along the lines of travel or cultural experiences, or even a family situation. What else are you passionate about besides your job, and how has that passion manifested itself?

While it could look disingenuous to join a bunch of volunteer organizations in the months leading up to Round 1 deadlines, you could always see if your employer has any community-focused committees or sponsors any local events that you could get involved with in the near future.

Admissions committees are looking for well-rounded people. Remember:

*** Do you want to stay on top of the application process with timely tips like these? Please subscribe to our weekly newsletter and you’ll receive our expert advice straight in your mailbox before it appears on the blog, plus special offers, promotions, discounts, invitations to events, and more.

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5 Key Qualities of Successful MBA Applications [#permalink]

09 Jun 2015, 10:01

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: 5 Key Qualities of Successful MBA Applications

This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA Blog on U.S.News.com
Every MBA candidate brings something unique to the table, but business schools are always on the lookout for specific qualities as they review the thousands of applications that cross their desks each season. If you can convince the admissions committee that you possess the following five qualities, you’ll put yourself leagues ahead of everyone else within your applicant pool.

1. A leadership track record: Business schools want to develop leaders who will contribute positively to society, and applicants should show how they have begun to lead others even before setting foot on campus. But this does not have to mean coming up with grand and sweeping examples that forever changed the course of history at your company.

Think about a time when you motivated others to do something, when you marshaled resources to solve a problem, when you brought a fresh idea or new way of thinking to your organization and most importantly, how you worked to inspire others and bring out the best in them. The aim is to show where you made an impact, no matter the size.

One former client, George, had participated in an annual charity bike ride for the past five years. He felt his application lacked compelling examples of leadership, so we suggested that he volunteer to lead the coordination of the next ride. His responsibilities included recruiting volunteers, coordinating vendors and collecting funds.

[Find out 3 Surprising Application Mistakes Prospective MBAs Make]

George’s leadership of the team ultimately helped to increase the amount raised in the ride by 14 percent. George used this experience to write a strong leadership essay for each of his target schools, and it ultimately helped him gain admission to MIT experience in quantitative subjects, it won’t be a hindrance once you hit those core courses.

If this is a problem area for you, tackle it head-on. Allow ample time for test prep, retake the test a few times, complement your score by acing a college-level quantitative course or point out any quantitative skills used on the job to support your ability to handle the material of the program.

[Learn how to Effective Ways to Address Academic Strengths On MBA Applications]

3. Exhibit excellent communication skills: The general principles of finance and accounting are easily learned at business school, but recruiters frequently gripe ?that even MBA graduates from the most elite institutions need to work harder at cultivating soft skills.

You’ll impress the admissions committee right out of the gate if you can demonstrate that you already possess strong communication skills. Highlight experiences that show you work well with others and that prove you can make a presentation in a persuasive, professional manner. Or, show how your effective communication skills have helped you land a client or seal a deal.

If this is an area you need to work on, reach out to mentors or supervisors whose communication skills you admire and ask for advice on how they read their audience, navigate meetings, and how they have cultivated their own interpersonal abilities for business success.

4. Set realistic post-MBA career plans: It’s not uncommon for MBA applicants to be uncertain about their career goals. Nevertheless, you need to be very concrete about short and long term goals in your application. Explaining why you chose your career path is crucial.

As you describe your career trajectory, make sure you explain what has led you to pursue it and why it resonates with you. The answer doesn’t need to be elaborate or dramatic, but it should be convincing and real.

[Get do’s and don’ts of convincing MBA programs you’re a fit.]

Whether they discuss it openly, business schools are very concerned with job placement statistics. If they can’t help their MBA graduates find jobs, the ripple effect leads to fewer applicants in the future and lower yield.

Are you sure that the industry you want to work in is one that typically hires MBAs? The admissions committee needs to know your career plans are achievable with an MBA degree.

5. Get enthusiastic recommenders: Letters of recommendation are one of the most compelling components of the application, and also the most unsettling for applicants since it’s the one aspect you cannot entirely control. Make sure your recommenders are close enough to provide specific and relevant examples of your work and, above all, make sure they share in your excitement about going to business school.

Whether the mistake is choosing someone who doesn’t know you well enough to provide a convincing recommendation, not adequately preparing your recommender, or unwittingly selecting a supervisor who is not 100 percent supportive of your MBA plans, there’s nothing worse than discovering your chances at admission were torpedoed by a lukewarm endorsement.

So there you have it – five essential details that can make or break your MBA application. Study them well and with any luck, you’ll sail through the admissions process and sidestep many of the common red flags plaguing lesser-prepared applicants.

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Tuesday Tips: Yale School of Management MBA Essay Tips [#permalink]

09 Jun 2015, 19:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuesday Tips: Yale School of Management MBA Essay Tips

Yale SOM’s essay question has remained unchanged this year. Yale has found that the answers to the essay question are insightful and demonstrates whether a candidate fits with the Yale core mission.

With only one essay question, and no specific career goals essay, make sure your resume and recommendations showcase your key accomplishments. You may want to highlight specific projects at work that have most excited you and shaped your future goals and discuss why. Strategically designing additional application components can add some insight to your background and enhance your candidacy.

The Yale School of Management educates individuals who will have deep and lasting impact on the organizations they lead. Describe how you have positively influenced an organization as an employee, a member, or an outside constituent.

Impact and leadership are key components to this question. Impact could range from driving business results for your company to starting an affinity group for an underrepresented employee population. Overall the impact story should be one that you are proud of and that showcases both your values and your leadership traits. Remember the type of MBA student Yale is most interested in admitting. Ideally you are coming across as an intellectually curious student with a diverse background deeply interested in the integrated curriculum.

Behavioral questions like this one seek to understand how you actually operate in various situations. Try to be as specific as possible about how you positively influenced the organization. What did you think or say when you were determining what to do? What did you actually do? How did you feel about the result? Start by describing each step in detail in terms of what you did, the reaction of others and your own reaction. From there you can cut out anything that is too detailed or too superfluous to the story to maintain the 500 word maximum.

You may decide to focus on a key solo accomplishment at work, and that may be entirely appropriate since most MBA applicants are individual contributors. However, ideally you can demonstrate how you work with others as a leader. Regardless of whether you choose an individual or team accomplishment it should show a significant positive impact on the organization or people within the organization.

Contact us To learn more about designing the best Yale application possible with Stacy Blackman Consulting.

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Tuck School of Business 2015-2016 MBA Essay Topics [#permalink]

10 Jun 2015, 10:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Tuck School of Business 2015-2016 MBA Essay Topics

The Tuck 360: MBA Blog provided a preview yesterday of the updated MBA essay questions that will be a part of the Fall 2016 application to Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. While there are no major thematic changes over last year’s essay prompts, do pay close attention to the subtle shifts in nuance in these revised questions.

Essays
1. What are your short- and long-term goals? Why do you need an MBA to achieve those goals? Why are you interested in Tuck specifically?

2. Tell us about your most meaningful leadership experience and what role you played. How will that experience contribute to the learning environment at Tuck?

3. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.

4. (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.

***

The Tuck admissions team encourages applicants to respond fully but concisely to these essay questions, and to limit the length of their responses to 500 words for each essay. The Dartmouth Tuck application will go live later this summer.

You may also be interested in:
The recently announced 2015-2016 MBA application deadlines at Tuck.

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UC Berkeley Haas 2015-2016 MBA Essay Questions [#permalink]

10 Jun 2015, 11:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UC Berkeley Haas 2015-2016 MBA Essay Questions

The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley has announced the updated MBA essay questions for the fall 2016 application. The culture of the school is governed by four defining principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. In answering these essay questions, candidates should reflect on the values, experiences, and accomplishments that have shaped them.

Essays

If you could choose one song that expresses who you are, what is it and why? (250 word maximum)
Please respond to one of the following prompts: (250 word maximum)
- Describe an experience that has fundamentally changed the way you see the world and how it transformed you.
- Describe a significant accomplishment and why it makes you proud.
- Describe a difficult decision you have made and why it was challenging.
Tell us about your path to business school and your future plans. How will the Berkeley-Haas experience help you along this journey? (500 word maximum)
Optional: Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? You may also use this essay to provide further explanation of employment gaps or your quantitative abilities. (500 word maximum)

The Fall 2016 application deadlines will be posted in June, and the online application will be available in August.

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UCLA Anderson 2015-2016 MBA Application Deadlines [#permalink]

10 Jun 2015, 11:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UCLA Anderson 2015-2016 MBA Application Deadlines

The UCLA Anderson School of Management has announced the following application deadlines for the 2015-2016 MBA admissions season.

Round 1
Application due: October 6, 2015

Decision released: December 15, 2015

Round 2
Application due: January 5, 2016

Decision released: March 29, 2016

Round 3
Application due: April 12, 2016

Decision released: May 24, 2016

Completed applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on the day of the deadline. Rounds 1 and 2 are comparable in terms of your chances of admission, the school explains, adding that Round 3 is slightly more competitive, although there will be sufficient room for strong candidates. Apply at the time that is best for you.

For more information, please visit the UCLA Anderson School of Management admissions website.

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NYU Stern 2015-2016 Deadlines, Essay Questions [#permalink]

11 Jun 2015, 11:00

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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: NYU Stern 2015-2016 Deadlines, Essay Questions

New York University’s Stern School of Business has announced the application deadlines and MBA essay questions for the 2015-2016 admissions season.

Round 1

Application due: October 15, 2015

Initial notification by: December 15, 2015

Round 2

Application due: November 15, 2015

Initial notification by: February 15, 2016

Round 3

Application due: January 15, 2016

Initial notification by: April 1, 2016

Round 4

Application due: March 15, 2016

Initial notification by: June 1, 2016

Online applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the day of the deadline. NYU Stern encourages international applicants to apply by the November 15 deadline to facilitate visa arrangements and to have priority consideration for off-site interviews, if desired.

Essay Questions
Essay 1: Professional Aspirations

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

Why pursue an MBA (or dual degree) at this point in your life?
What actions have you taken to determine that Stern is the best fit for your MBA experience?
What do you see yourself doing professionally upon graduation?

Essay 2: Personal Expression

Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use almost any method to convey your message (e.g. words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative.

If you submit a non-written piece for this essay (i.e., artwork or multimedia) or if you submit this essay via mail, please upload a brief description of your submission with your online application.

Please note the following guidelines and restrictions:

Your submission becomes the property of NYU Stern and cannot be returned for any reason.
If you submit a written essay, it should be 500 words maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font.
If you submit a video or audio file, it should be five minutes maximum. NYU Stern accepts most common video formats.mail and labeling instructions.

The online application is undergoing annual updates and will be available in August. For more information, please visit the NYU Stern admissions website.

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NYU Stern 2015-2016 Deadlines, Essay Questions [#permalink]

11 Jun 2015, 11:00

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