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Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog

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INSEAD Tops Latest FT Global MBA Rankings [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   28 Jan 2016, 13:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: INSEAD Tops Latest FT Global MBA Rankings
Earlier this week, the Financial Times released its 2016 Global MBA Rankings, and for the first time since the ranking’s launch in 1999, a business school with a strong Asian presence—INSEAD—takes the top spot, rising from fifth place in 2015.



INSEAD, the international business school with campuses in Singapore, Abhu Dahbi, and Fontainebleau, France, also makes history in this particular ranking as it is the first time FT has crowned a one-year MBA program. INSEAD was the first business school in the world to offer a one-year MBA program beginning in 1959.

“As the cost of studying for an MBA has steadily risen, many students are wary of taking on the debt associated with two-year degrees — students are frequently more than $100,000 in debt when they graduate. Though fees and living costs can be substantial, it is often the opportunity cost of lost salary that is the biggest factor,” write FT’s Della Bradshaw and Laurent Ortmans.

This year’s ranking shows a bit more movement than we saw last year, when FT deemed Harvard Business School the top MBA program for the third time in a row. U.S. MBA programs continue to dominate the top ten with seven schools, but this year, Spain’s IESE Business School slipped to 16th place, down from seventh place. Meanwhile, Cambridge Judge Business School comes in at number 10 this year, up from 13th in 2015.

Top Ten FT Global MBA Ranking 2016
  • INSEAD
  • Harvard Business School
  • London Business School
  • University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School
  • Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • Columbia Business School
  • UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
  • Chicago Booth School of Business
  • MIT Sloan School of Management
  • Cambridge-Judge Business School
One interesting development to come out of these latest rankings is the increase in the numbers of women pursuing the MBA. “In 2015, 35 per cent of MBA students were women, up from 30 per cent in 2005. Last year, the proportion of female students topped 40 per cent in 27 schools, a leap from just four schools 10 years ago,” Ortmans reports.

The Financial Times ranking methodology involves assessing MBA programs according to the career progression of alumni, the school’s idea generation, and the diversity of students and faculty. FT data from the past three years is used for alumni-informed criteria.

For more information, visit FT‘s 2016 Global MBA ranking analysis and school profiles.
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Stacy Blackman’s #WOW Campaign Continues to Inspire [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   29 Jan 2016, 13:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Stacy Blackman’s #WOW Campaign Continues to Inspire


We’re wrapping up the fourth week of the Words of Wisdom (WOW) campaign on our social media streams, and the online response has been nothing short of incredible! The goal is to motivate potential MBA candidates with inspirational quotes from the top business schools and our educational partners.

More than 12 elite MBA programs, organizations such as Forté Foundation and The MBA Tour, and our test prep partners have chimed in over the past few weeks. Every Friday during the campaign, we’ve provided a roundup of these motivational messages here on the blog, but you can see them right away on Facebook,  Twitter, and Instagram.

Use the following hashtags:  #WOW #WordsofWisdom #SBCWOW #MBAinspiration and #BeInspired to check it out each day until the campaign ends on February 9th.

We hope these motivational messages inspire you to make 2016 your best year ever!

  • “An MBA education is intended to prepare you for a career, not a job. Never lose sight of what’s best for you in the long run,” advises Robert Dammon, Professor of Financial Economics and Dean of the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.
  • “Sleep is essential for peak performance.  You cannot thrive if your body is deprived.”  GMAT Genius
  • “It’s important that applicants realize that not gaining admission to a school is not a reflection of you as a person or your ability to be successful in your career. One of the biggest challenges for the admissions committee is having too many great candidates to choose from among a competitive pool,” says Dawna Clarke, Director of Admissions at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.
  • “Be ready to raise your hand for new opportunities even when you don’t have the full complement of capabilities,” urges Linda Darragh, Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice at the Kellogg School of Management.
  • Bara Sapir, CEO and Founder of Test Prep NY/SF, says, “For a goal to be effective, you need to clearly articulate for yourself what you want to do, believe you can do it, and then set in motion the tips necessary to make it happen.”
  • “Be unabashedly honest with yourself throughout the process. Why do you want an MBA? Which program culture feels right to you? Why? Go with your heart and not with your head when you make this decision,” suggests Eric Johnson, Executive Director of Graduate Career Services at the IU Kelley School of Business.
  • “When deciding which exam to take—the GMAT or GRE—for your MBA applications, think about your personal strengths.” The Economist Test Prep
  • Allison Jamison, Director of Recruitment at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, says, “Take the opportunity to send a note to your recommenders. Thank them for taking the time to submit on your behalf, and remind them of any deadlines that require their action.  If you have been in contact with admissions officers, students, and/or alumni at your target schools, send them a quick note as well and let them know you are submitting your application.  If appropriate, remind them where and when you met!”
You may also be interested in:
Stacy Blackman’s Words of Wisdom Campaign Heats Up

Stacy Blackman’s Words of Wisdom Campaign Continues

Stacy Blackman’s Words of Wisdom Campaign
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Etiquette After Submitting Your MBA Application [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   01 Feb 2016, 09:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Etiquette After Submitting Your MBA Application
After you’ve submitted your MBA applications and are waiting to hear back from programs, it’s normal to have a moment of panic—either immediately, or at some point a little later on. You’ve been agonizing over your materials for months, and now you just want to know where you’re going to end up already!

When that moment of panic hits, try to remind yourself that you pulled together the absolute best set of materials that you could. Everyone feels extremely anxious in the weeks between due dates and interview invitations, so if there’s anything you can do to keep your mind off of “The Wait”—do it.

What you shouldn’t do, however, is contact the school with “updates” on your candidacy. There are deadlines for a reason. If each of the thousands of hopefuls kept emailing and calling their dream programs after their materials were submitted, the admissions committee would never have time to actually read through those materials and make decisions. The best thing you can do is sit tight and let them do their jobs.

“But what if I just got an unexpected promotion?” you might say.

“What if I just singlehandedly brought in $2 million of new business to my firm?”

“What if I was let go two days after the deadline?”

“What if…”

We’ve heard every type of scenario, but the reality is that it’s extremely rare for anything to happen to someone post-deadline (personally or professionally) that would actually change the AdCom’s ultimate decision on his or her candidacy. They’re judging your fit with their program based on a lot of different factors—one new accomplishment probably wouldn’t be enough to sway their decision.

So please, resist the urge to call or email the admissions office after you’ve submitted your materials. Instead, plan to share any exciting updates with them during your interview.

And try not to stress out in the meantime. Remember:



 

 

 

 

 

 

“Students ask me how to find their purpose.  My advice is simple: stop looking for a purpose and start noticing when you get excited by what you are doing.  When you enjoy your work, your purpose usually finds you,” Professor Richard Shell, Wharton School.

See other inspiring quotes like this one in our “Words of Wisdom” series! Make sure you’re following all of Stacy Blackman Consulting’s social media channels for daily inspiration from our partners at top MBA programs.

*** 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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Avoid These 10 Pitfalls in MBA Application Essays [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   02 Feb 2016, 12:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Avoid These 10 Pitfalls in MBA Application Essays


This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA Blog on U.S.News.com
The essay component of the MBA application is a chance to really wow the admissions committee and stand out from potentially thousands of other candidates with similar GMAT scores or GPAs.

There are many ways to craft a stellar essay that will give the reader a better sense of who you are, but there are also several mistakes to avoid as you’re answering these required prompts. Make sure you sidestep the following pitfalls at all costs.

1. Neglecting to answer the question: Applicants often become so determined to drive home a particular point, or worse, drift off into a tangent, that they fail to succinctly answer the question. Don’t answer with “what” when the question asks “how?” or “why?” Business schools create their essays with the goal of finding out how you fit their program, and not answering the question immediately indicates poor fit.

2. Using industry jargon or pretentious language: Never assume the admissions committee member reviewing your application is intimately familiar with your particular industry. Write for a lay audience, and avoid flowery or stuffy language – use familiar words instead.

With hundreds of applications on their desks, the admissions staff has only a few minutes to review each essay. It should be immediately digestible.

3. Basing essays on what you think the admissions committee is looking for: Even if you have a pretty good idea of what a particular business school looks for in MBA candidates, this isn’t the time to remake yourself into what you think their ideal student would be.

This is a major pet peeve of the admissions committee, which is why they have gone to great lengths recently to come up with creative essay prompts. Stay true to yourself and your professional goals.

4. Using a negative tone, or sounding whiny or complaining: As you come up with those great anecdotes to illustrate your leadership, problem-solving or team-building skills, make sure the examples in your essay don’t include criticizing a co-worker or complaints about your supervisor, even in a subtle way. Always keep the tone positive, or it will end up reflecting poorly on you.

5. Lying or exaggerating about your experience: For some applicants, it can be tempting to fudge a few details or embellish a bit in the hopes of making a memorable impression. Just ask news anchor Brian Williams.

But aside from being bad form, the admissions committee has various ways to fact-check a candidate’s claims, and discovering fabricated information would trigger an automatic rejection, even if the mistake was innocent. Be accurate in how you represent yourself.

6. Failing to demonstrate passion: Most MBA applicants aren’t professional writers, and sometimes make the mistake of writing essays that are informative, logical, well-organized and, inadvertently, a snooze fest. This is not the time to repeat your resume in prose form.

You must connect with the person evaluating your application on an emotional level if you hope to stand out. As the University of Texas—Austin McCombs School of Business‘ MBA program recently noted on its admissions blog, “Convince us that you are not only capable, but that you are special and that we will be lacking something without your presence.”

7. Discussing inappropriate topics: While you do want to open up and allow the admissions committee to get to know the person behind the paper, certain subjects do not belong in an essay for business school.

Leave out any mention of religious or political views; avoid the subject of money and how you want to make loads of it after you get your MBA; and steer clear of overt humor in general, unless you are a comedian by profession.

8. Disregarding word count: In almost all instances, the admissions committee has specified a word limit to the essays. With thousands of applications to read each round, they don’t have time to review essays that read like epic tomes.

You can sometimes go over the limit a smidge, but flagrant disregard for the prescribed word count is a red flag that you either have trouble following directions or cannot express yourself concisely.

9. Referencing high school experiences: Unless you did something amazing in your teenage years – started a business, raised an insane amount of money for a fundraiser, built houses for Habitat for Humanity in Kyrgyzstan – stick to anecdotes from your career from the past three years.

Candidates applying straight out of college or with only one year of work experience can mention university accomplishments. But for those with more than two years in the workforce, focus on current career developments instead. Recent examples give the admissions committee a better sense of where you are today, both personally and professionally.

10. Making apologies or excuses: Whether the issue is poor academic performance in the past, being fired from a job or even having a criminal record, applicants feel terrified they will be rejected out of hand if they admit to these kinds of mistakes.

Address the matter directly, take ownership and explain what you learned or how you improved. No excuses or apologies needed – or desired.

MBA essays are a wonderful opportunity to share what makes you a dynamic, multidimensional person. If you can avoid inadvertently committing these mistakes, you’ll stand an excellent chance of creating a positive impression on the admissions committee.

Image credit: Daniel Foster (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
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UCLA Anderson Launches Entrepreneurship Accelerator [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   03 Feb 2016, 09:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: UCLA Anderson Launches Entrepreneurship Accelerator

UCLA Anderson School of Management’s Dean Judy Olian

To meet the needs of an expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus, the UCLA Anderson School of Management has announced the launch of the Anderson Venture Accelerator—a 10,000-square-foot incubator for nascent UCLA startups.

The accelerator, launched in association with the UCLA library, encourages multidisciplinary collaboration among aspiring Anderson MBA candidates, faculty researchers, undergraduates and graduate students from other schools on campus, and will include mentoring from alumni, experienced entrepreneurs, and the business community.

This technology-rich space is divided into training rooms, collaboration spaces, meeting rooms, and working lounge areas, all of which are conducive to developing the ideas and momentum needed to start businesses. The facility will also host guest speakers, topical seminars and “demo days” for resident companies.

The Anderson Venture Accelerator offers students and researchers an environment that triggers innovation and breakthrough ventures. —Dean Judy Olian

Elaine Hagan, executive director of the Price Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, explains that Anderson’s accelerator has slightly different goals than incubators at other universities.

“We’re taking students through the entrepreneurial experience so they can understand if it’s right for them,” she says. “We’re helping them decide what role they would like to fill or whether or not they like collaborating. There’s an opportunity to learn about themselves.”

The Anderson Venture Accelerator launch is sponsored by Cadillac, which is presenting three $10,000 Cadillac Dare Greatly Awards to each of three outstanding entrepreneurial ventures founded by members of the UCLA community:

  • Leo Petrossian (’14), Dan Hanchey (’13), Robert Hamilton (PhD. ’13 Biomedical Engineering), Neural Analytics
  • Rob Douk (GEMBA ‘16), Behavioral Healthworks, Inc.
  • Layne Haber and Mykolas Marcinkevicius (B.S. ’16), Arctica
“It is important to foster young minds to think differently, carve their own path and provide them the resources to move the world forward,” says Melody Lee, Cadillac director of brand strategy and planning. “Our partnership with the UCLA Anderson Venture Accelerator is a terrific way to recognize those who will change the world for future generations.”
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$10M Gift Will Transform Wharton Leadership Program [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   04 Feb 2016, 13:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: $10M Gift Will Transform Wharton Leadership Program
The University of Pennsylvania’s  Wharton School has received a $10 million commitment from alumna Anne Welsh McNulty that will drive the global reach of the current Wharton Leadership Program and build on its 20-plus years of innovation and impact in leadership development.


Anne McNulty, image courtesy of The Wharton School

In recognition of this transformative gift, the Wharton Leadership Program will be renamed the Anne and John McNulty Leadership Program at the Wharton School, memorializing John’s legacy of  impact and both John and Anne’s passion for preparing individuals to lead in their fields and communities.

The program will continue to provide a holistic approach to coursework, coaching, mentoring, and experiential learning for students of all ages. It will also provide them with the necessary tools to adapt their leadership styles through action, reflection, and experience, and to become global leaders of diverse workforces.

“I believe in the transformative power of developing each individual’s leadership capacity. Wharton’s Leadership Program is uniquely poised to make a real impact that will multiply from its students to businesses and communities and beyond,” says McNulty.

“Wharton was a turning point in our lives,” Anne says, reflecting on her and John’s experience at the school. “It challenged us to think differently and taught us to be more thoughtful and more ambitious. Our time at Wharton motivated us to be active leaders, not only in running businesses, but also in our communities. It is a pleasure for me to support future students so that they may have a similar experience, so that they may reach their potential, and so that they may change the world through the lessons they learn at Wharton.”

Learn more about John and Anne McNulty, and how this new investment will accelerate Wharton’s leadership development initiatives, here.
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Stacy’s #WOW Campaign Inspires Thousands in Social Media [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   05 Feb 2016, 17:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Stacy’s #WOW Campaign Inspires Thousands in Social Media


Have you been keeping an eye out for the Words of Wisdom (WOW) campaign on our social media streams?  For the past few weeks, we’ve been motivating potential MBA candidates with inspirational quotes from the top business schools and our educational partners. Awesome is the only way to describe the massive online response!

More than 12 elite MBA programs, organizations such as Forté Foundation and The MBA Tour, and our test prep partners have chimed in with their advice. Every Friday during the campaign, we’ve provided a roundup of these motivational messages here on the blog, but you can see them right away on Facebook,  Twitter, and Instagram.

Use the following hashtags:  #WOW #WordsofWisdom #SBCWOW #MBAinspiration and #BeInspired to check it out each day until the campaign ends on February 10th.

We hope these motivational messages inspire you to make 2016 your best year ever!

  • “Tuck offers feedback sessions to many candidates who are denied admission or placed on the waiting list. We encourage applicants to take advantage of the opportunity to hear feedback and make every effort to act on the advice that is given, should you decide to reapply next year,” says Dawna Clarke, Director of Admissions at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.
  • “You have incredibly valuable skills that can add a great deal to the civic and philanthropic community. Engaging with community leadership will expand your network, challenge you to think about a different perspective and allow you to give back in a very important way,” says Kellogg School of Management Professor Liz Livingston Howard.
  • “Quick breaks help you rejuvenate. Healthy snacks, stretching, and deep breaths can do wonders.” GMAT Genius
  • “When the process challenges you (as it surely will), remind yourself that this was your goal, and why you wanted to do it. View each challenge as a learning opportunity to handle the next challenge more effectively,” advises Zachary Talmadge, MBA candidate ’16 and president of the Graduate Business Association at the Tepper School of Business.
  • “Make sure to devote yourself and all resources at your disposal not just to good or productive things, but to the very best option available,” urges Kellogg School of Management Professor Leemore Dafny.
  • “The key [to doing well on the GMAT] is to manage your time properly and remember that if you just don’t know how to answer a question, it may be best to skip it, rather than devote too much time to it.” The Economist Test Prep
  • “In making the admissions decision, the admissions committee will consider a bundle of factors including your undergraduate performance, the quality and amount of your work experience, your global exposure, work references, GMAT score, IELTS/TOFEL result (if applicable), etc. There is no single factor that dominates the admissions decision,” explains Crystal Wong, Director of Admissions and Marketing at HKUST Business School.
  • “To get a top score, you need to be in the optimal state of mind: positive, calm and focused,” says Bara Sapir, CEO and Founder of Test Prep NY/SF.
You may also be interested in:
Stacy Blackman’s Words of Wisdom Campaign

Stacy Blackman’s Words of Wisdom Campaign Continues

Stacy Blackman’s Words of Wisdom Campaign Heats Up

Stacy Blackman’s #WOW Campaign Continues to Inspire
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Steer Clear of the MBA Rumor Mill [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   08 Feb 2016, 11:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Steer Clear of the MBA Rumor Mill
Did you hear that Stanford is no longer admitting anyone who scored lower than a 700 on the GMAT?

Or that HBS already filled up its entire class in Round 1 and won’t actually admit anyone they’re interviewing in Round 2?

Or that the way to ace the Wharton group interview is actually to stay silent the entire time?

What? You didn’t hear any of that?

That makes sense, since we completely made up all of the above in order to prove a point about gossip and rumors that can make even the most levelheaded MBA applicant start to fret.

We remember how anxiety inducing it is to wait to hear back from schools. And we’re all too familiar with how easy it is to get sucked into the many message boards there are for MBA hopefuls. Sometimes these online communities can be a great thing: it’s not unheard of for people to end up becoming friends with each other “in real life” after meeting on such a site. Plus, hearing that others are just as stressed out as you are can certainly be a source of comfort.

But please remember that the rumor mill is usually in overdrive on MBA forums, and it’s easy for gossip and hearsay to overshadow the truth. The reality is that no one except those on the AdCom for the schools you’re applying to really knows what’s going on with interview invites, acceptance rates, waitlists, or anything else of importance for prospective students.

In other words, keep this timeless advice in mind when you find yourself starting to worry about the latest MBA rumors:



 

 

 

 

*** 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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Who Scored Big in Kellogg’s Super Bowl Ad Review? [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   09 Feb 2016, 07:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Who Scored Big in Kellogg’s Super Bowl Ad Review?


Half of U.S. homes with televisions tuned in for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, so it’s no wonder advertisers willingly pay millions per minute to grab those viewers’ attention.

Two marketing professors at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management think businesses can learn a lot from which ads resonate with the audience, and for the past twelve years have been leading a panel of MBA students who grade the spots on their effectiveness in real time during the Kellogg School Super Bowl Advertising Review.

This Review uses a strategic academic framework known as ADPLAN to evaluate the effectiveness of Super Bowl spots in building the advertiser’s brand. The acronym instructs viewers to grade ads based on:

Attention: Does the ad engage the audience?

Distinction: Is the execution unique in delivery?

Positioning: Is the appropriate category represented and a strong benefit featured?

Linkage: Will the brand and benefit be remembered?

Amplification: Are viewers’ thoughts favorable?

Net equity: Is the ad consistent with the brand’s history and reputation?

“Toyota’s Prius was a clear winner in this year’s Super Bowl because it kept our attention, had strong linkage to the brand and showcased its benefits,” said Derek D. Rucker, Sandy & Morton Goldman Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies in Marketing, of the spot with the four elusive bank robbers titled “The Longest Chase.”

Other brands that earned top marks include Budweiser, T-Mobile, Doritos, Audi and TurboTax.  Squarespace, LG and Acura received low grades for less effective ads.

“While many advertisers played it safe, our panel found most of the overall advertising worked well with strong branding and many companies communicated a clear point of difference,” said Tim Calkins, Clinical Professor of Marketing, who also leads the Review.

“On the other hand, Squarespace ranked at the bottom of our Ad Review for the second year in a row. This is not a surprise as our panel found it both confusing and lacking a clear point of difference,” he added.

Many advertisers included humor or upbeat themes, with only a few exceptions, including Colgate, SunTrust and Audi.

Courtney Firestone, one of the 69 Kellogg MBA students who participated in the Ad Review panel, said, “As a student, getting to participate in Kellogg’s Super Bowl Ad Review was a great experience to apply what we’ve learned in class.”

A full list of the rankings is available here.

Image credit: Kellogg School of Management
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Stacy Blackman Consulting Honored with 2015 Spectrum Award [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   09 Feb 2016, 18:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Stacy Blackman Consulting Honored with 2015 Spectrum Award
Today we’re excited to share with you our recent recognition by City Beat News, which has presented the 2015 Spectrum Award to Stacy Blackman Consulting for providing excellence in customer care.

About this award:

The Spectrum Award of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction was established to spotlight companies providing exceptional service and experiences to their customers. Our research is done annually and is completely independent and unbiased. The award is only bestowed upon that fraction of companies earning our highest ratings.

Through this award we honor our mission to provide voice to the unheralded small businesses that are the foundation of our communities and to find and promote excellence wherever we find it.

Here at Stacy Blackman Consulting, we strive to provide each and every client with the absolute best experience possible. With our expert guidance and availability on your schedule, we offer assistance that will strengthen all aspects of your MBA applications.

We’re proud of our work, and our stats. Google ‘Stacy Blackman Consulting’ to view the strongest track record of reviews in the industry – appearing on multiple sites all over the Internet dating back to 2001.  In partnership with our clients, we enjoy great success each and every admissions season. Let us know if we can help you achieve your MBA goals—just request a free consultation and we’ll get the conversation rolling.
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Interview Tips from the Darden MBA Program [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   11 Feb 2016, 12:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Interview Tips from the Darden MBA Program
Is the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business on your short list of dream MBA programs? Then be sure to check out this new video blog from the Darden admissions team, which shares solid advice for those hoping to interview at this top-tier MBA program.

In it, Admissions Dean Sara Neher gives an overview of the Darden interview process and stresses the three things candidates should focus on for a successful interview experience, which we’ve summarized below.



Pay attention to first impressions: The interview actually begins before the interview, says Neher, so make sure your interactions with your interviewer—or the person setting up the interview beforehand— via email, by phone or in person, are positive and demonstrate your enthusiasm and positive attitude.

Answer questions in C.A.R. format: Applicants should expect to answer behavioral questions during their interview. The “Tell me about a time when…” question can cover many areas, and Neher suggests framing your answer using the CAR format, which she says she learned while working a Procter and Gamble.

The acronym stands for Context, Action, Result. As you answer the question, you’ll first summarize the situation, then tell the interviewer what you did, and finally discuss what happened afterward. Remember to include anything quantifiable—give them the numbers—whenever possible.

Ask a question at the end of the interview: Your interviewer can learn more about you from the kinds of questions you ask him or her, Neher says. So, think of something you’d like to know that you couldn’t find on the company or school website and that works for many kinds of interviewers, no matter their level.

If you can follow these three steps successfully, you’re sure to ace your Darden interview.

You may also be interested in:
UV Darden Tops Forbes List of Most Satisfied MBAs
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Cornell to Establish Integrated College of Business [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   12 Feb 2016, 08:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Cornell to Establish Integrated College of Business


Cornell University recently announced that it will establish an integrated College of Business that will cement the university’s position as a world-class center of teaching and research for business management and entrepreneurship.

Upon launch, anticipated during the 2016-17 academic year, the College of Business will comprise Cornell’s three accredited business programs: the School of Hotel Administration, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

By unifying all three accredited business schools, Cornell is creating a more comprehensive and collaborative business management program that will benefit students at all academic stages.

Students will have greater opportunity to learn across disciplines and collaborate with a broader network of faculty and fellow students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.

Every leading university must have a great business school to maximize its global impact. —Robert S. Harrison, Chairman of the Cornell University Board of Trustees

This new environment will create even more learning opportunities that have yielded popular, progressive programs, such as Cornell’s undergraduate Business minor and the new Johnson Cornell Tech MBA, and will enable students from any school to pursue a specialty focus in unique programs such as hospitality, real estate, or resource and developmental economics.

Each school will maintain its unique identity and mission, while their collective capabilities will be strengthened by bringing together faculty, curricular offerings, and programs within a cohesive College.

The Cornell College of Business will be one of the most comprehensive business schools in the nation with 145 research faculty and nearly 2,900 undergraduate, professional, and graduate students.

Each school will be presided over by a Dean of the School who will have responsibility for that school’s admissions and academic program. Each school’s faculty will maintain oversight over its academic program. Soumitra Dutta, the current Dean of Johnson, will become Dean of the College of Business.

Dutta called the integration of Cornell’s three accredited business schools a tremendous opportunity to create a unique offering to the world.

“This is a critical moment in the history of Cornell, and it is our responsibility to welcome it, embrace it, and develop it for the future,” he added. “As a whole, business can do more for the world, and we can be an important part of this.”
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MBA Interview Tips: 3 Common Questions [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   15 Feb 2016, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MBA Interview Tips: 3 Common Questions
Round 2 applicants, get ready for your interviews!

Whether you’ve already received an interview invitation or are hoping to get an invite over the next few weeks, you want to make sure you’re prepared to do your best when the big day arrives.

Here are tips for three common MBA-interview questions:

  • Tell me about yourself.
Our first piece of advice: don’t go on and on. It’s easy to do when you’ve been asked such an open-ended question, so make sure you practice your response out loud a few times. There’s no need to recite your life’s story—talking about where you were born, your family, or your childhood is not what they’re looking for here.

We recommend quickly summarizing the highlights of your college years and then moving on to your professional career. Explain why you took the roles you did, what your main responsibilities were, and what you enjoyed or took away from each position. If you’ve stayed at the same company for several years, you could talk about how your responsibilities have increased over time.

[*]Why do you want to go School X?[/list]
If you haven’t discussed your short- and long-term career goals yet, you could begin your response by briefly explaining what you’re hoping to do after graduation. Then you can state the specific skills and knowledge you’ll need to be successful in the future—and how School X can help you fill those gaps.

You should be prepared to mention school-specific examples of courses, clubs, and other aspects of the curriculum that fit with your career goals. In short, do your homework and refresh your memory of School X’s program before your interview!

[*]Is there anything else you’d like to add?[/list]
The worst thing you could say in response to this question is “No.” Even if you’ve had an hour-long discussion that covered everything under the sun and you’re feeling confident about how things have gone, you still should take this opportunity to reiterate why you’re excited about the program and why you’d be an asset to the incoming class.

And, of course, if there’s something specific about your candidacy that you feel could improve your odds and you haven’t been able to discuss it up to this point, now’s the time to do so.

Our parting advice: Be yourself. You want the AdCom to admit you for who you really are, right?

Finally, you might want to jot this down the morning of your interview:



 

 

 

 

 

Looking for additional interview help? Check out Stacy Blackman Consulting’s school-specific interview guides here.

*** 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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Sell Yourself With an MBA Resume [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   16 Feb 2016, 11:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Sell Yourself With an MBA Resume

Demonstrate sharp communication and leadership skills when discussing your duties at work.

This post originally appeared on Stacy’s “Strictly Business” MBA Blog on U.S.News.com
The MBA resume is a whole other animal from the standard curriculum vitae designed to land you a job. The resume you tailor specifically for business schools should offer a quick snapshot of your significant work experiences and accomplishments in three areas that showcase your MBA-relevant skills.

• Leadership: Business schools want to see applicants who already have strong leadership skills. You’ll further groom your management abilities during your MBA program, but the admissions committee wants to know that the foundation is already there.

Give evidence of when you united people behind a common goal, made use of other’s talents and skills, instilled a vision, challenged the status quo, identified a new problem or prioritized the needs of the organization above personal needs.

If you formally manage one or more people, don’t leave that information out. Even if you supervise and mentor someone informally, that should go on the resume as well. If you have played a role in training peers, subordinates or even those senior to you (perhaps on a new type of software), include that on your resume. Anything that shows how you identified an opportunity and took initiative is a great thing to include.

My client, George, was concerned because he did not have a title change throughout his four years at a defense contracting company. Because he worked in an engineering function, increase in responsibility was marked by a raise instead of a new title. My colleagues and I took a look at what George did outside of work to see where he could highlight a leadership role.

George had participated in an annual charity bike ride for the past five years, and we suggested that he volunteer to coordinate the next ride. The event became this bullet point on his resume: “Led annual bike ride to raise money in support of autistic children. Recruited volunteers, coordinated vendors and managed finances. Resulted in 14% increase in revenue over prior year.”

The brief yet compelling example showed the admissions committee not only his leadership abilities, but also his emotional intelligence and service to the community – a winning trifecta every time.

• Communication: With a tech-native generation of applicants as comfortable texting, tweeting and Snapchatting as they are breathing, recruiters often gripe about mediocre writing and speaking skills of today’s newly minted MBAs.

Your MBA resume is prime real estate for showcasing savvy communication skills through crisp writing and well-chosen words. You can make even the most mundane tasks shine as you bullet-point your professional accomplishments.

Here’s a real example of a blah bullet point in a client’s first draft: “Helped with new software implementation.”

Now, a brilliant bullet point: “Spearheaded software upgrade in the San Francisco field office by coordinating with software developer, leading training sessions and facilitating implementation schedule.” The second example offers a much more comprehensive understanding of the scope of the accomplishment.

Getting rid of any technical jargon in your MBA resume also demonstrates effective communication skills. One client originally listed this bullet point on his resume: “Created VA1 Business Acquisition.” Once we translated that into something the MBA admissions audience would understand, the resume said: “Devised and launched outbound communications plan for our premier voice activated product. Product was well received and became cash flow positive within 14 months.” Much better.

• Innovation: You need to make it clear that over the course of your career, you have picked up new skills, assumed new responsibilities, developed as an individual and that all of this growth has been recognized by others.

You can convince the admissions committee that you have a track record of moving the needle by showing continual progression on the job, and by giving examples of when you went above and beyond your expected duties and delivered quantifiable results.

Some applicants have very traditional pre-MBA jobs. If you have been working as a staff consultant at Bain & Company, or as an analyst at Goldman Sachs, chances are the admissions committee will have a pretty good feel for your overall job description.

But this is also an opportunity to illustrate the things that you have done that may set you apart from the typical analyst. In addition to outlining some of your standard activities, you may want to include that you trained a newly hired analyst, led college recruiting efforts or organized an office-wide volunteer initiative. These activities may have taken less of your time, but they are a bit outside of traditional responsibilities and give great insight into how you have made a difference for your firm.

The resume is an important first step in the MBA application process because it forces applicants to take stock of their progression and think about how to articulate that in a succinct way. By focusing on these three goals, you’ll show the admissions committee exactly how you will add something new, exciting and different to their community.

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Sage Advice from Successful MBA Applicants [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   17 Feb 2016, 09:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Sage Advice from Successful MBA Applicants


As one group of business school applicants transitions into becoming accepted students, another group is poised to apply later this year. Why not learn from the successes, failures and decisions of those who have already walked your path?

Here, we share the insights we believe will be most helpful for future applicants.

Biggest mistake you made or almost made in this process?

For the GMAT, I didn’t give myself enough time to prepare properly.

For the application, don’t try to have too many people help you review the essays – your story will be diluted and lose its meaning. Find the important experiences and get help ensuring that your points come across with impact.

Some keys to your success?

Talk with current/recent students from the schools you are targeting. In addition to having recently completed the application process successfully, they can provide great insight to positioning at your school. In my case, my interviewer recognized my resume format as matching the schools and asked me how I was so familiar with the culture.

What did you find most challenging?

I found the broad, open-ended format for some of the essays daunting. I remember one student telling me that he didn’t apply to Stanford because of the question, “What matters most to you and why?”

What was an exercise you went through that was helpful?

I created a list of qualities that I wanted to convey and experienced that demonstrated those qualities. When working with my consultant, I organized the results into a grid to map essay questions to stories.

Not only did this reduce work on the applications, it provided clarity on more challenging open-ended questions. For example, when approaching the Stanford question at the end of my applications, I noticed a recurring theme that kept coming across in my other essays – aha, the solution to what matters most!

How did you put together the following important aspects of your story?

– why MBA?

I wanted to keep an open mind when starting out, so I wrote as many reasons as I could in the beginning. After I was a bit more honest with myself, I removed several of the reasons and reworked ones that might come across as negative.

I think that pursuing an MBA is a time to be optimistic and dream about possibilities – harness this energy and focus on your ability to enact change. After all, if you didn’t think an MBA would provide great opportunities, you would take on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and opportunity costs.

– why this school?

I looked for the common ground with each school and spoke with students or alums from that program. I believe that understanding the culture of the school with lead you to find the right fit, which will come across in the application.

– what are your career goals?

What was most helpful in your interview prep?

I read through several lists of interview questions and prepared talking points. My goal was to have thought through expected questions but not come across as “canned.” I prepped three or four mock sessions to get rid of the interview jitters, and made sure that two sessions were with second-year students familiar with the school’s culture.

How did you select your recommenders?

Some schools now require a direct supervisor. I’m fortunate to have a great boss and an unofficial mentor in senior management at my current company. Having worked together for about five years, they understood that going back to school would help me reach my goals.

How did you prep your recommenders?

I provided recommenders with my list of stories, essay outlines, a sample recommendation, and important qualities and themes early in the process. After they had a chance to review my information and I developed more structure in my essays, I arranged quick meetings to clarify my positioning and answer any questions.

What was helpful when you hit writer’s block?

Early on, I found talking with certain people about my ideas left me energized and excited. When I couldn’t progress, I would arrange a meeting to gather feedback and get the juices flowing.

How did you stay motivated?

Once I truly decided that I wanted to go down this path, it was never a question. Having my friends and family encourage and remind me of my goals did help, however.

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Doing an MBA in London [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   18 Feb 2016, 12:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Doing an MBA in London


Just about everyone knows that life across the pond is expensive. If you’ve applied to the MBA program at London Business School or have that school on your radar for the future, you’ll want to check out this informative cost-of-living post published on the LBS Admissions Office Blog by financial aid officer, Kathleen Bell.

London Business School is a significant investment in your future, writes Bell, though the cost of living varies from person to person depending on the choices they make.

“But, we can provide you with a rough guide to understanding the cost,” Bell assures. “We’ve surveyed our student population to find out what their monthly expenses are including renting their flat, utility bills, transportation, and socialising.”

Here are some of the key points to consider/expenses to plan for:

  • Average monthly expenditure for MBA students: £2,395 ($3,433.20)
  • Average rent: £1,273.92 ($1,826.23)
  • Socializing: £452.53 ($648.72)
  • 47 percent of renters live with another person; 17 percent live with two other people
Flat sharing is a great alternative for many students, says Bell, including Arly, a 2015 MBA grad.  “He thought it was important to live close to the School and rented a flat with two other students.(…) By flat sharing, it allowed Arly to keep his cost down, which then provided the opportunity to attend more cultural treks,” Bell explains.

A majority of students choose to live close to campus, where rents ten to run higher. But, according to LBS, a number of students wish they had known how easy it was to commute to the school from anywhere across London. Living a bit further out would have reduced that significant expense.

You may also be interested in:
London Business School Fall 2016 MBA Essay Tips

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NYU Stern Inaugurates Center for Sustainable Business [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   19 Feb 2016, 12:00
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: NYU Stern Inaugurates Center for Sustainable Business


The new Center for Sustainable Business at New York University’s Stern School of Business officially launched this week with $1 million in funding from the Citi Foundation to put its vision—a better world through better business—into practice.

For more than a decade, Stern and the Citi Foundation have collaborated on programming to educate students about ways for the private and public sectors to work together to address the world’s most intractable problems and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

With this new funding and the establishment of a dedicated research center under the leadership of founding Director Tensie Whelan, the school continues to invest in developing future leaders who can excel at balancing profit with principle.


Tensie Whelan, NYU Stern

“We are grateful to the Citi Foundation for investing in our center’s vision to equip students with practical knowledge that will empower them to use sustainable business practices to innovate, reduce risk, and create competitive advantages for their future employers while protecting the planet,” said Whelan, a leading environmentalist and the former president of Rainforest Alliance.

“With global climate issues, water scarcity and the increasing rate of urbanization, business leaders can no longer afford to put sustainability on the periphery. Through new corporate case studies, coursework, research and an ongoing dialogue with the companies that are leading by example, we aim to instill a different mindset in our students,” Whelan added.

During this launch period, Whelan will introduce Stern students to the Center for Sustainable Business with a TED-style talk, “Ten Minutes to Save the World,” at the Social Innovation Symposium, hosted by the Social Enterprise Association MBA club; a Fireside Chat with CEO Guillaume Le Cunff of Nespresso USA during Social Impact Week; and a Jobs Fair, in partnership with Collectively and VICE media, in which students and prospective employers engage around the future of work and network for jobs that embrace innovation and purpose.

“The widespread approval of the Paris Climate Agreement has raised the stakes even further to accelerate global environmental and social progress,” said Brandee McHale, president of the Citi Foundation.

“We know the private sector has a critical role in helping to execute these landmark efforts and deploy solutions to the world’s most pressing sustainable development needs,” she continued. “The Citi Foundation is proud to be a founding funder of the center to help prepare the business leaders of today and tomorrow with the tools to understand and address these complex environmental and social challenges.”

You may also be interested in:
Whelan to Lead NYU Stern’s New Center for Sustainable Business
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Yes, You Should Thank Your MBA Interviewer [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   22 Feb 2016, 13:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: Yes, You Should Thank Your MBA Interviewer
Our clients often ask us if they should write thank-you notes to their interviewers. While handwritten messages of appreciation will always be a classy move—and we certainly encourage applicants to write such notes if they’re so inclined—an email message is just as acceptable in this day and age.

Plus, you know it will get to your interviewer more quickly, perhaps before they need to turn in their notes or (if they’re part of the AdCom) make a final decision about your candidacy.

The most important thing is to ensure you have your interviewer’s contact information. This is especially critical if your discussion is taking place on campus and you won’t know who your interviewer is going to be until you arrive. Don’t forget to ask for that person’s business card when you’re wrapping up!

If you’re interviewing with a local alum, then you’ll have already been supplied with their email address.

As for the content of the message, you shouldn’t feel the need to go on and on. There are only two must-includes: 1) thank the interviewer for his or her time and 2) reiterate your interest in the program. If you can throw in a sentence or two that references something you talked about, all the better.

But a thank-you note is not the place to try and sell yourself any further or write another mini-essay. The point is to show that you’re excited about and thankful for the opportunity to be considered for a spot in Program X.

Some AdComs need to make accept and denial decisions very quickly, so you shouldn’t let more than 24 hours go by before you send your message. If you interviewed in the morning, send it before the business day is over. If your talk was in the late afternoon or evening, get your email out first thing the next morning.

If you have to type out a quick message from your phone because you’ll be traveling back home after the interview, please don’t forget to read things over carefully to ensure spellcheck or auto-correct didn’t do you wrong. You don’t want the last impression you leave to be a negative one!

Finally, don’t worry if you don’t get a response after you’ve sent your message. Some schools have strict policies regarding post-interview contact with applicants and don’t want to risk their communication being misinterpreted.

Have MBA hopefuls been accepted to their dream programs without writing any sort of thank-you note? Yes, of course. But showing that you have manners and are aware of the proper etiquette is never a bad move—it’s just the right thing to do.

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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MBA Remains a Strong Value Proposition, Says GMAC Survey [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   23 Feb 2016, 07:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: MBA Remains a Strong Value Proposition, Says GMAC Survey
The return on investment, or ROI, of a full-time two-year MBA fluctuates in accordance with prevailing economic conditions, yet it has remained positive three years after graduation in 19 of the past 20 years, according to findings in the Graduate Management Admission Council‘s (GMAC) 2016 Alumni Perspectives Survey Report published today.


Of the more than 14,000 alumni surveyed, a vast majority said their education was personally (93 percent of respondents), professionally (89 percent), and financially (75 percent) rewarding. More than 4 in 5 alumni expressed satisfaction with their education.

“People make the decision to invest in a graduate management education to meet a variety of different aspirations and needs, and the vast majority are enthusiastic about their investment and inspired by their experience,” said Bob Alig, GMAC’s executive vice president for school products.

“Business schools enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for career success and to achieve personal and financial fulfillment,” he added.

Financial Rewards
GMAC’s survey shows the dollar value such a degree can bring. Business school alumni earn a median of US$2.5 million in cumulative base salary over 20 years following graduation.

This is a half-million dollars more in median cumulative base salary than they would earn if they did not go to business school and had consistently earned 5 percent annual salary increases, and a million dollars more than if they did not go to business school and had consistently earned 3 percent annual salary increases.

Alumni — on average — recoup their b-school investment within 4 years after graduation depending on the type of program attended.

Survey findings also reveal that women highly value their graduate management education with 96 percent rating their degree as a good to outstanding value. They tend to receive an initial boost in salary post-degree that is similar to men — US$20,000 on average.

Nevertheless, the gender pay gap persists among business school alumni; most likely a continuation of the trend of lower salaries women earned prior to entering business school.

Professional Rewards
Graduate business degrees unlock employment opportunities in a variety of industries and job functions. They also help elevate many alumni to higher job levels in their organizations. Approximately 3 in 4 alumni (73 percent) say their degree resulted in faster career advancement. Two-thirds (68 percent) of alumni are satisfied with their current job and employer.

Satisfaction and total hours worked weekly both tend to increase as alumni move up the corporate ladder. And, a majority of alumni say their graduate management education helped them to develop their leadership potential (80 percent) and grow their professional networks (70 percent).

Nine in 10 (93 percent) alumni say they would pursue their graduate management education again. In addition, alumni are extremely likely to recommend their program to peers. Overall, the net promoter score, or NPS — a widely used metric of customer loyalty — is strong among graduates of all types of business programs.

The NPS among all graduate business programs combined is plus 45 on the net promoter scale. (An NPS higher than 0 is considered good; an NPS of plus 50 is excellent.)

Personal Rewards
Business schools enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities that in turn enhance their personal well-being. Two in 3 (65 percent) survey respondents noted improved job satisfaction and 50 percent believed business school prepared them for managing work-life balance.

“The findings of this survey are further evidence that a graduate management education delivers strong personal, professional and financial value to alumni,” said Alig. “The ROI numbers illustrate that a business degree is an efficient investment in terms of recouping costs and an effective asset for accelerating alumni careers.”

GMAC conducted the Alumni Perspectives Survey in October and November 2015. The 14,279 alumni who participated in this survey represent more than 275 graduate business programs at 70 universities in 20 locations worldwide that partnered with GMAC in this study.
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The Economist Hosts Virtual MBA Fair [#permalink] Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog   24 Feb 2016, 06:01
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FROM Stacy Blackman Consulting Blog: The Economist Hosts Virtual MBA Fair


You can never be too prepared for your business school applications, and MBA fairs are a great way to connect with admissions teams while learning about specific programs. MBA fairs that are free and conveniently take place online are even better.

At The Economist’s MBA Fair (which is taking place today and tomorrow) you’ll learn: you’ll learn:

  • Common Myths about the GMAT presented by the Graduate Management Admission Council, a.k.a. the creators of the GMAT. There are a lot of false ideas out there about this important admissions exam, so be sure to attend this session led by the makers of the exam so that you’re up to speed on what’s true and what definitely isn’t.
2.    Insider Tips for Getting onto an MBA at an Elite School presented by the head of MBA recruitment at Henley Business School. With top business schools rejecting up to 90% of their applicants, aspiring MBAs need to adopt a strategic approach to the recruitment and admissions process. Check out this important presentation for tips on selecting the right school as well as how to get in.

3.    How to enter into a $25,000 MBA scholarship contest hosted by The Economist’s Which MBA team. MBAs are a hefty investment, so twice per year The Economist awards a major MBA scholarship to the top performer in its Brightest Minds contest. Get all the details as well as your questions answered at the fair so you can enter to win.

To view the full agenda for today and tomorrow, check out the official MBA fair page. There’s still some space left and attendance is free, so what are you waiting for? See you there!
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