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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Quick Check Before You Submit! Don’t Make These Three MBA Application Mistakes
With less than one month until Round 1 MBA application deadlines begin (yikes!), we thought it would be a good time for some ‘real talk’, as the saying goes. We’re often asked about the biggest MBA application mistakes we see from MBA hopefuls.

We’ll be the first to say that most ‘mistakes’ aren’t dealbreakers on their own, but below we’re sharing three of the most common things people do that can hurt their chances. Use this list to go back through your near-complete applications and make sure these pitfalls do not apply to you – this ‘quick check’ could make a difference.

MBA Application Mistake #1 – Being Negative (Even When You Feel It’s Warranted)
Unless you’re a star on Bravo or The Bachelorette, most people can’t get away with complaining all the time AND come across as likeable or interesting. Maybe your boss is a total nut who drives you insane. Or maybe you work at a company that is imploding and everyone is jumping ship as morale declines.

Whatever the situation, be mindful of how much airtime you give to venting about it; that takes precious space that you could be using to write about how amazing YOU are!

You may think that it’s important to explain the full context, so the reader “gets” you and your experience. It’s true that background is important. So is getting personal (see #3 below). However, what we often see is this: someone will write three paragraphs describing how horrible their company is then quickly gloss over how that relates to them and their actions.

Flip that – explain the situation honestly and truthfully…but also concisely. Avoid putting down your boss or your job. People generally react negatively when someone speaks ill of another person. Fair or not, especially when you’re young, people often assume that, in fact, you were the problem or that you’re making excuses.

After you briefly present the facts, focus on explaining how you felt, reacted, rose above, or otherwise operated incredibly well despite the situation around you. The reader will get it (and likely be impressed).

MBA Application Mistake #2 – Being a ‘Wanderer’
We really like the quote “not all those who wander are lost”, but it doesn’t relate to b-school applications. The admissions committees at top MBA programs do not want you to be wishy-washy.

It blows us away when we read an application that says something like “my long-term goal might be investment banking but could also be non-profit or general management for a CPG company.” The person reading this is thinking, so basically, you have no idea, and you made no effort to have an idea.

Of course, almost everyone who applies to business school is a little unclear on what life will look like after those two years. Admissions committees know that. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you have a target career that is a logical starting point. Maybe you will change your mind and that’s ok, but at least you can show the admissions committee what you’re excited about, what interests you, and how you will get started with the process.

This is also wise from a logistical standpoint. As soon as school starts, the career and internship talk begins. Companies come to campus for presentations / networking, clubs start prepping people for interviews, etc. You can’t do it all, so you need to have an idea of where to start.

That’s how we encourage people to think about the career goals they describe in their MBA application. Perhaps you are in banking right now and think you want to go into private equity, but also think you might like consulting if you learned more about it. Great! There are fantastic “whys” for each of those, so do your research on both and put the logic behind their appeal down on paper.

For purposes of the application, it’s probably best to focus on one path as your ‘Plan A’ and keep the other in your back pocket as an interesting alternative. Keep in mind that whatever you write is not binding. It’s ok for you to note your starting point and then change your mind once you learn more as a student.

MBA Application Mistake #3 – Coming Across as a Robot
Getting personal and sharing more than you would in typical business writing is among the hardest things for many of our clients. It’s tempting, and natural, to default to simply reiterating your resume and then telling a boilerplate story about what you want to do and why you want to go to business school.

At work, your colleagues don’t typically ask you to explain what made you who you are, what influenced your choices in life, and what that says about you as a leader. So of course, writing in this style is not natural for many people. But it’s necessary for a great application essay, especially to top MBA programs like Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB.

Here’s a trick:  most people have a few ideas of stories or experiences that were pivotal in their lives. Take each of these and ask yourself: 1) how/why did I get that opportunity or experience; 2) is the way that I handled that situation reflective of one of my central traits; 3) if so, how did I get that trait and how else does it show up in my life; and 4) how did I feel about that experience (surprised, afraid, cautious, elated, anxious, etc.) and why?

Questions like this should help you tease out your core values and motivations. Describe these in your essays to give the admissions committee a better picture of who you are as a person beyond your resume.

If you want to discuss how we leverage strategies like these and others to help applicants and reapplicants get into the top MBA programs at a 3x higher rate than average, you can request an initial consultation with our team of top MBA admissions consultants.

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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Chicago Booth Essay Questions & Tips
Are you applying to [url=https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/full-time]Chicago Booth[/url]? If so, read on for the Chicago Booth essay questions and tips to ensure your answers stand out from the pack. We’re also sharing ideas for how to structure your Chicago Booth essay responses based on what we’ve seen be successful in the past.

Our overarching piece of advice for a successful Booth application is to effectively and authentically communicate ‘why Booth’. Booth has a unique culture and seeks students who, while diverse in many ways, share in its ‘defining traits’ – they are intellectually curious, highly independent, and unafraid of bold ideas. Before you begin drafting your essays, give some serious thought to how you embody these characteristics and let this guide the content of your essays.

[b]Chicago Booth Essay Questions[/b]
[list]
[*]How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 words, no maximum).[/*]
[*]An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (Minimum 250 words, no maximum).[/*]
[/list]
[b]Chicago Booth Essay Tips[/b]
Yikes, a MINIMUM Word Limit, How Long Should My Booth Essays Be?
As we said, Boothies are unafraid of bold ideas, and the word count minimum is characteristically unconventional. So, how long should they be? While there is certainly a range, we find the sweet spot to be 400-500 words. You should be able to get your point across in this amount of space and any longer risks losing the reader (who reads A LOT of applications).

Communicating ‘Why Booth’ Is Done Indirectly as Much as It Is Done Directly
Your first reaction when you read the prompt for Essay One may have been ‘Got it, I need to talk about all the Booth classes I plan to take and clubs I will join. Easy.’ Not so fast. And the reason why goes back to our initial piece of advice about showing how you fit with Booth’s unique culture. It’s a given that you will cite some specific Booth classes, clubs, etc. that will help you achieve your goals.  This is the ‘direct’ part and it’s important, but we recommend you do more to really demonstrate that you embody the personality of Boothie.

To the extent possible while remaining authentic, when sharing your goals and the ‘why’ behind them, weave in some details that showcase your bold, independent streak. Maybe your long-term goal is to found a business that fills a need you’ve observed in a certain marketplace – lean into the boldness of your idea as you share these plans. The advice to indirectly demonstrate you embody Booth’s culture extends to the second essay as well. As you consider the facets of your life outside of work that you will share, focus on those that ‘fit’ with the Booth culture. The possibilities are endless, but successful Booth essays begin with a nuanced understanding of what makes the school – and you – unique.

Open-Ended Questions Are Tough, Choose Your Topic Wisely for Essay Two
Speaking of the second essay, you may be wondering what exactly they’re looking for you to discuss in your answer. Open-ended prompts are tough! But they’re also a great opportunity to showcase something awesome about yourself that you haven’t shared elsewhere. And that’s where we recommend you start – take an inventory of the key parts of your ‘personal brand’. Which elements have you weaved into the first essay or are already highlighted sufficiently on your resume? Which elements are not?

The central topic of essay two can be a number of things – you can talk about a passion area, a personal trait, or a defining part of your identity that makes you unique (and impressive to the adcom, of course). Perhaps you have a passion for mentoring females that has informed your past involvements and guides your future plans? Or maybe you are a dedicated marathoner, and this hobby has instilled values that are central to your life? Whatever you discuss, the keys are that it builds upon (doesn’t repeat) the rest of your application and that it is relevant to the qualities Booth seeks in successful applicants. The first essay should highlight what you plan to gain from Booth, the second essay should showcase what you plan to contribute to Booth.   

[b]Chicago Booth Essay Structure Ideas[/b]
For Essay 1, we recommend a structure somewhat like this:
P1: Introduce your short-term and long-term career goals

P2-3: Briefly share the rationale behind your goals, the past experiences you already have that you will leverage in achievement of these goals as well as the skills you need to gain during your MBA to make these goals possible

P4-5: Provide several concrete reasons why Booth is the ideal program for you, tying them back to specific skills you need to gain to achieve your goals or specific characteristics about yourself that align with Booth’s culture

For Essay 2, we recommend a structure somewhat like this:
P1: Introduce the passion, trait, or other topic you will talk about in the essay and preview how it has influenced you

P2-3: Share a story that exemplifies your central topic, ‘showing not telling’ that it is a defining part of who you are (note that, in some cases, it may be appropriate to tell two brief stories that demonstrate how your topic has transcended various phases of your life)

P4: Reflect on how you will leverage the topic you’ve discussed to contribute while at Booth

If you’d like assistance with your Booth essays or your broader MBA application strategy, [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/free-consultation/]click here[/url] to schedule an initial consultation!

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/08/18/chicago-booth-essay/]Chicago Booth Essay Questions & Tips[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: MBA Class Profiles – What They Mean for Your Applications
You may have seen that several top business schools, including [url=https://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/class-profile/]Wharton[/url], [url=https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/full-time-mba/admissions/class-profile]UCLA Anderson[/url], and [url=https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/admissions/class-profile]UVA Darden[/url], recently released 2024 MBA class profiles. While MBA class profiles are always interesting to help understand trends in the business school landscape, there were a number of notable surprises this year.

For those currently in the MBA application phase, what does the data tell us about the competitiveness of the upcoming cycle? The answer is nuanced and far from certain, of course, but here are our high-level takeaways from the latest MBA class profiles.

The Economy Leads, MBA Application Volume Follows
Arguably the biggest headline from the latest MBA class profiles is that application volume was down significantly (14% for Wharton, 20% for UCLA). While startling, it’s important to note that those decreases come on the heels of a big uptick in applications the prior year.

Our takeaway from these swings (and those we’ve witnessed in the past) is that MBA applications ebb and flow with economic cycles and other major world events (ahem, COVID). With unemployment at historical lows, companies likely did everything in their power to keep employees from leaving last year. Relatedly, those who changed jobs amidst ‘the Great Resignation’ may have been reticent to leave a cushy new role so soon.

What does this portend for the future? While no one has a crystal ball, with recession potentially imminent and COVID squarely in the rearview mirror (fingers and toes crossed!), it is easy to see how application volume could tick back up this year, leading to a competitive cycle.

The Balance Between International and Domestic Applicants Drove Shifts in the Data
Another key takeaway from the latest MBA class profiles is that in some cases, the percentage of international students rose substantially – by 12 percentage points to 47% of the class at Anderson, for instance. This likely contributed to other shifts in the data. The proportion of women at UCLA notably dropped while the class composition shifted more towards those who studied engineering in undergrad.

While other programs were able to keep their class composition (as it relates to gender parity and undergraduate field of study) more consistent, it’s reasonable to surmise that they saw a similar uptick in international application volume. Wharton maintained its groundbreaking statistic of enrolling 50% women again this year, perhaps quite intentionally (and commendably!).

If domestic application volume stays low, relatively speaking, does that mean domestic applicants will have an easier go of things this year? And will schools chase Wharton’s precedent-setting gender parity statistic, indicating that superstar female applicants will be highly sought after? No one has the answers, of course, but these are reasonable questions to be asking, in our experience.

So, What Does This All Mean?
At the end of the day, year to year shifts in MBA class profiles is just one lens through which to view trends in the world of business school. Where we are in an application volume ‘cycle’ is likely not going to make or break whether you apply this year or wait (nor should it). It’s safe to say that MBA programs have moved and will continued to move towards a more global, diverse environment that will prepare our future business leaders to foster more inclusive cultures within their organizations. We are all better off as a result!

That said, the best way to increase your chances of admission is to differentiate yourself from other applicants and put your all into the application process. If we can be of assistance, even if it be for a last minute Adcom Trial Run of your round 1 application, please [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/free-consultation/]reach out[/url].

[b] [/b]

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/08/25/mba-class-profiles/]MBA Class Profiles – What They Mean for Your Applications[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: INSEAD Essay Questions & Tips
If you are applying to INSEAD and have begun work on the [url=https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba/admissions]INSEAD essay questions[/url], you’ve likely discovered that there are A LOT of them and each one allows for a fairly robust word count. Be sure to plan for the time commitment involved in applying to this program! There are also video interview questions to complete once you hit submit, so keep that in mind.

Another thing to keep in mind when crafting your INSEAD essay responses is that this program looks for answers that are more direct and tactical than other schools to which you may be applying. The questions are fairly straightforward, so answer them as such. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a ton of thought into your answers, it just means that you should be sure to answer the questions that were asked of you.

INSEAD Essay Questions
Job Essays:
*note that these are somewhat hidden within the application portal and often take clients by surprise!

[list]
[*]Briefly summarize your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (200 words, maximum)[/*]
[*]What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company instead of going to business school? (200 words, maximum)[/*]
[*]Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. Describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (300 words, maximum)[/*]
[*]Discuss your short and long term career aspirations with an MBA from INSEAD. (100 words, maximum)[/*]
[*](Optional) If you are currently not working or if you plan to leave your current employer more than 2 months before the programme starts, please explain your activities and occupations between leaving your job and the start of the programme.[/*]
[/list]
Motivation Essays:
[list]
[*]Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (500 words, maximum)[/*]
[*]Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (400 words, maximum)[/*]
[*]Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc). How are you enriched by these activities? (300 words, maximum)[/*]
[*](Optional) Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (300 words, maximum)[/*]
[/list]
INSEAD Essay Tips
Job Essays:
[list]
[*]When describing your current role, it can be easy to dive into your own day-to-day without providing the necessary context about your company, team, etc. So, start there, providing insight into where your team fits within the organization and filtering down to your role within the team. Avoid industry jargon, and instead provide that context in simple, easy-to-understand terms. Then, highlight one or two of your best accomplishments. It can be tempting to copy and paste the verbiage from your resume, but we discourage this. The word count here allows you to describe these experiences more robustly than a resume allows for (plus the copy/paste method feels a bit lazy, right?).[/*]
[*]This question is essentially asking why you are pursuing an MBA. Yes, you need to directly answer the question about what would be next if you didn’t attend business school, but also use it as an opportunity to share why an MBA will serve you in the long-term. A watch out here specifically for consultants (which we also tell our banker/PE clients) is that you should be careful not to frame business school as the ‘default’ next step in your career. Really reflect on the skills you will gain in business school that you would not have otherwise developed and communicate those in your answer.[/*]
[*]The most critical element of a successful answer to this question lies in the ‘rationale behind your choices’. If you joined BCG directly after undergrad, why was consulting your career path of choice? Particularly if your major was in a seemingly unrelated discipline, help the reader connect the dots between your focus in college and your industry of choice. It might be the case that you chose your career based on a certain set of expectations and, instead, it has shaped you in a vastly different way than you thought it would – that’s ok too and would make for an interesting answer here. The key is to demonstrate that you are self-aware, reflective, and rational when it comes to your choices in life.[/*]
[*]The toughest part of this essay is the word limit. There is a lot to cover in 100 words. Similar to Job Essay #3, you want to share the motivations underlying your post-MBA plans, not just the plans themselves. Further, you want to be fairly detailed and specific, down to the job title, functional area, industry, and perhaps even a few example companies you envision working in after business school (or after a post-MBA role at BCG). Additionally, it’s important to frame your goals in a way that jives with what INSEAD’s program offers – it is likely this will include how the international location and diverse student body will be of benefit to you. Again, there’s a lot to cover, so choose each word wisely (and keep iterating until you can pack all of the material into 100 words)![/*]
[*]As noted, this is an optional essay so don’t hesitate to skip it if it does not apply to you. If it does apply to you, it would be great to highlight ways in which you plan to actively prepare for business school (online courses, short internships, etc.) in the gap you will have before moving to campus.[/*]
[/list]
Motivation Essays:
[list]
[*]This INSEAD essay is the ‘biggie’. It’s also the essay that is the most open to creativity and structural variation. However, despite the longer length, don’t view this essay as an opportunity to present a laundry list of your personality traits. Carefully select 3-4 qualities, perhaps 2-3 strengths and 1 weakness, that best represent your ‘brand’ and also demonstrate you align with [url=https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba/admissions]INSEAD’s admission criteria – Ability to Contribute (essentially interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills), International Motivation, and Leadership Potential. [/url]For each strength you note, showcase an example that ‘proves’ you possess it. Ideally, you vary up the examples between work, extracurriculars, and personal stories to show a well-rounded picture of yourself. And, as it relates to your weakness(es), it’s ok and even recommended to be honest – don’t present a ‘fake weakness’. That said, this is essentially a sales pitch so share a weakness that you are actively working to address (and can point to how) or that business school will help remedy.[/*]
[*]Similar to Motivation Essay #1, this question looks for you to demonstrate that you are self-aware and possess a growth mindset. The stories you tell can be work-related or personal, just be sure to provide some variation compared to the stories you’ve told elsewhere in the application (i.e., balance college, work, extracurricular, personal, etc.) It’s often helpful to jot down the 5-6 best stories you want to tell across all of the essays and then play with their placement (‘move around the puzzle pieces’ as we like to say) until you find an arrangement that both answers the questions AND showcases all of your best material. It’s important to note that this question asks you to focus not just on telling your stories, but on sharing what you learned from them. More specifically, it asks you to describe the interpersonal learnings that resulted from each situation. This emphasis may influence the stories you choose to tell in the first place (i.e., those that have an element of teamwork or interaction with others), but, if you think about it, most stories have some interpersonal dynamic to draw upon. The best ‘learnings’ to share here tend to be those that either 1) you have drawn upon to guide your decisions in subsequent situations (mention that you have done this) OR 2) you can envision leveraging to inform your future behavior (at business school, in your post-MBA career, etc.). For example, perhaps the accomplishment you talk about is when you tutored or mentored a younger individual and helped them be successful in passing a course, getting into college, etc. Think about the interpersonal skills or other tactics you used to help motivate them – what did this teach you about leadership and how will it inform your management style going forward? Those are the types of insights that are most powerful in this context (but of course there are a number of ways to successfully answer the question).[/*]
[*]This is another fairly straightforward question, but it still pays to be strategic. Instead of a laundry list of all your hobbies, it’s best to highlight your most significant activities – those you participate(d) in regularly and for a reasonably substantial amount of time per week/month. In order of priority, it’s best to highlight more recent involvements ahead of ones dating back to college (or before). Further, the admissions committee likes to see an external focus (i.e., community-related activities) and those that involve an element of teamwork. That said, the key thing to show is that you are interested and interesting, so be authentic instead of telling them what you think they want to hear.[/*]
[*]Like the optional essay for other schools, this one can be used to address a lower-than-average GPA/GMAT/GRE, a gap between jobs, why your current manager is not providing a recommendation, more/less work experience than average, etc. There is no need to complete it if you don’t have a specific item to address.[/*]
[/list]
Like we said upfront, the INSEAD essay questions are numerous! And, to add another layer to things, there are ‘video interview’ questions you will be asked to answer after submitting your written application. More specifically, you will receive a link to record your answers to four randomly assigned questions and must do so within 48 hours of submitting your application. For each question, you will have 45 seconds to prepare (collect your thoughts, jot down notes, etc.) and 60 seconds to answer. As best you can, try to view this as an opportunity rather than a stressor. They allow you plenty of opportunity to tell them who you are and why you are a fit for their program – seize it!

If you’d like assistance with your INSEAD essay reponses or your broader MBA application strategy, [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/free-consultation/]click here[/url] to schedule an initial consultation!

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/09/01/insead-essay-questions-tips/]INSEAD Essay Questions & Tips[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: MBA Interview Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
With Round 1 deadlines closing in over the next few weeks, many of our clients are (smartly!) turning their focus to MBA interview preparation. We love mock interviewing with them in the lead up to the real thing and, over the years, we’ve gleaned a number of MBA interview pitfalls to which even the most impressive candidates can fall victim.  Here they are and how to avoid them:

MBA Interview Pitfall #1: Jumbling the chronology of your resume walk through.
The opening question asked in most MBA interviews is ‘walk me through your resume’ or ‘tell me about yourself’. First, recognize that these are essentially the same question. The interviewer wants you to share your background, primarily focused on college and thereafter. They want to hear about your career progression and accomplishments, but they also want to understand the ‘why’ behind each of your choices (college major, job changes, etc.).

In our experience, when asked to walk through their resume, many candidates begin with their current role (i.e., the top of their resume) and work their way backwards (i.e., down the page). This can get very confusing and come out awkwardly. We find that it’s way more coherent to begin with college and talk through your experiences chronologically, through to present day.

For each ‘section’ of your resume – college is one ‘section’, as is each job you’ve held – talk about three things: the ‘what’, the ‘why’ and the ‘how’. The ‘what’ refers to a high-level description of your company, function, and role. For college, briefly cover where you went and your major/minor(s). The ‘why’ refers to the rationale behind your decision to pursue that opportunity. As it relates to college, this may entail why you chose your school and/or major. The ‘how’ refers to adding in a top or key accomplishment that highlights your impact or “brings to life” what your group does.

An example could sound like this: “I joined ABC Consulting in their healthcare practice where I focused specifically on operations improvement projects. A defining moment for me was when I partnered with an RN to develop a new process for X hospital to materially reduce the risk of sepsis, a possibly deadly infection. This project gave me a taste of the deep impact I could have through a career in healthcare, but it also made me curious about other questions such as XYZ. So that’s why I took my next role at ABC company, to explore the issue of access…”

After working your way through your current role, it can be a nice touch to wrap up with a brief mention of your involvements or interests outside of work. This framework leads naturally into the likely follow-on discussion of why you are choosing to pursue an MBA at this juncture.

MBA Interview Pitfall #2: Diving into ‘why MBA’ without sharing your career goals.
In addition to sharing your background, the other key thing your interviewer is looking for you to communicate is why you want to pursue an MBA and why their school is at the top of your list. When asked, ‘Why do you want to attend X school?’, we find that clients often get a bit flustered and dive right into the characteristics (classes, clubs, etc.) of that program that are appealing.

This isn’t inherently bad, it’s just hard for the interviewer to interpret why certain things are appealing to you if you haven’t shared the context of your post-MBA career plans first. In our experience, a better approach is to begin by sharing what you plan to do after graduation (immediately and a little further down the road) and then talk about how the program in question will set you up for success in your target career.

It may feel a bit like you are dodging their question at first and that’s ok, so long as the bulk of your answer is spent impressing them with your knowledge of the program and specific insights as to how it is a perfect fit for your needs.

MBA Interview Pitfall #3: Telling stories that are too complex.
A final pitfall we commonly see is responding to [url=https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-master-behavioral-and-situational-interview-questions]behavioral questions[/url] (‘tell me about a time when…’) with stories that require too much upfront context. In our experience, candidates are more apt to flub a complicated story or tell it in a way that is confusing to the interviewer. This makes it difficult for the interviewer to accurately recall what you told them when it comes time to submit their evaluation and, to be honest, people tend to zone out when they don’t follow what someone is talking about.

More importantly, however, spending too much time sharing the upfront context of a story limits the amount of time you can spend on your actions, which are ultimately what you want to emphasize most.  Practice your stories out loud and focus on those where you can cover the ‘setup’ in ~30-45 seconds (max). You want to keep your answer to a behavioral question around two minutes, give or take, so this leaves plenty of time to cover your actions and the ‘result’ of the story.

Did you know that we provide mock interview sessions accompanied by written feedback? We’d love to help you prepare. [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/free-consultation/]Reach out[/url] to learn more.

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/09/08/mba-interview-pitfalls/]MBA Interview Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Tuck Essay Questions & Tips
With just over a week until the Round 1 deadline, many MBA hopefuls are likely hard at work on their Tuck essay questions. The Tuck essay questions are not ones to rush through – demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the Tuck program is key to successfully selling yourself to the school.

In fact, Tuck devotes an entire page on its website to ‘admissions criteria’ – the four characteristics it seeks in successful applicants: smart, accomplished, aware and encouraging. ‘Smart’ and ‘accomplished’ are basically givens for any highly regarded MBA program. However, ‘aware’ and ‘encouraging’ are a bit more specific. After you have solid drafts of your essays, be sure to revisit these criteria and ask yourself (or a trusted friend) whether they come to the forefront. Make sure your letters of recommendation showcase these characteristics as well.

Tuck Essay Questions
  • Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)
  • Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are. (300 words)
  • Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative, and empathetic, even when it is not convenient or easy. Describe a meaningful experience in which you exemplified one or more of these attributes. (300 words)
  • Optional Essay: Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of evaluators, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)
Note: There is a fourth required essay for reapplicants – How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)

Tuck Essay Tips
Thorough Research About Tuck Should Be the Backbone of Each Essay, Especially Essay One
Even more than other schools, Tuck really cares that you’ve taken the time to understand what makes its program unique and why its specific resources fit your goals. This is one school we highly, highly encourage our clients to visit for exactly this reason. If a visit isn’t feasible (on-campus events are still limited in summer / fall 2022), attend enough in-person or virtual events and do enough networking to replicate the knowledge you would have gleaned from the full-scale campus experience (class visit, lunch with students, campus tour, etc.)

Also, take the time to thoroughly reflect on why what you’ve learned matters for your specific circumstances – the way you learn, the skills you are looking to build in school, the connections you need to form. Then, thoughtfully communicate these insights in your essays. Essay one is the obvious place for this, but essay two is another good place to highlight the parts of your personality that will make you a great ‘Tuckie’.

One thing to note for this essay is that it doesn’t ask about your career goals specifically. This is likely because imbedded in the Tuck application are two short-answer questions (each with a 50-word limit) that ask you to share your short-term and long-term career goals. Since the word count is limited in essay one, we don’t recommend restating your career goals here. Instead, pick up where your short answers left off by providing more insight into the “why” behind your goals. That “why” can then shape your specific motivations for pursuing an MBA and be the foundation for your fit with Tuck.

Use Stories to Highlight a Few Distinct Characteristics in Essay Two
While essay three specifically asks you to tell a story, using stories to ‘show not tell’ who you are in essay two is also an optimal strategy. You can claim all day long that you are curious, team-oriented, adventurous, or whatever the case may be, but it’s hard to make this believable if it’s not backed up with an example that demonstrates it.
Given the scant word count, selectivity is key. What are the two or three things (personality traits, elements of your background, values, etc.) that really define who you are? Filter these through Tuck’s four criteria and select the two (or even one, if robust enough) that you don’t highlight elsewhere in the application and align with your personal brand.

After using a brief story or two to demonstrate your selected quality(ies), spend a short paragraph extrapolating how these traits will play out at Tuck and why they will allow you to better the experience of your classmates.

Be Inspired by a Prior Version of Essay Three
A prior version of this essay prompt asked for a time you helped someone succeed and that’s still a good way to frame up this question in your head as you brainstorm potential stories. Once you have some options, filter them (once again) through Tuck’s criteria and, more specifically, the three attributes they’ve listed in the prompt to settle on the ideal one to use.

As you write, be sure to spend the bulk of the content describing your actions in detail. Frame up the context as briefly and simply as you can so that you can maximize the space devoted to the nuances of your approach – beyond the actions you took, drill into your thoughts, words, etc. The word count is limiting, so it will take some trial and error to get this right.

If you’d like assistance with your Tuck essays or your broader MBA application strategy, click here to schedule an initial consultation!

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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: MBA Interview Prep 101: Common Questions, Preparation Techniques, School Specific Insights and More
Relieved that you’ve clicked submit on your Round 1 MBA applications? Congratulations! We know the hard work and late nights that go into crafting those essays and filling in seemingly endless application questions. After you’ve taken a moment to breathe, you may be turning your attention to the next step in the process, MBA interview prep. We’ve got you covered. This article will give you the lay of the MBA interview land, so to speak. Here’s what to expect from the MBA interview and how to prepare.

MBA Interview Formats
In general, MBA interviews are not formulaic. The focus can range from specific questions about your job responsibilities to broad discussions of life, or random questions about philosophies or current events. The uncertainty of this can be intimidating! At the end of the day, know that schools are just trying to size you up as a person and future professional on all your dimensions. Try to be your witty, charming, natural self.

MBA interviews are conducted by students, admissions personnel, and alumni. Don’t dismiss students as the lightweights; they follow a defined protocol and report back to the committee on specific criteria. Their insights and opinions are definitely valued by the admissions committee.

Many programs conduct a “blind” interview, which means that your interviewer has not seen your application and will only have reviewed your resume. During those interviews, it’s important that your story and goals align with what you wrote about in your application because inconsistencies will be obvious when the admissions committee reviews your interview feedback.

A few programs, like [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2016/11/16/exit-poll-what-is-the-hbs-interview-really-like/]HBS[/url], however, do not have a blind interview and your interviewer will have studied your file and prepared questions accordingly. In those interviews, it’s important to corroborate your written application but also bring new stories into the mix so that you don’t repeat content they already learned about in your essays and short answers.

Other programs, like Wharton, venture away from a one-on-one interview format altogether and offer a Team-Based Discussion, and others throw in curve ball questions like LBS’ case study. We recommend reading about each school’s interview format on their respective websites.

MBA Interview Preparation Techniques
As soon as you can schedule an interview, do so ASAP. Slots can fill up fast—even the first day! It does not matter if you interview early or wait until the end window. Select the date / time that works best for your schedule. Ideally, you will have about a week to prepare for your MBA interview. Preparation is the key to feeling comfortable and confident. Here is what to do:

[list]
[*]Prepare answers to the common questions shown below, particularly the first four on the list (you are virtually certain to be asked these). Practice OUT LOUD, with a partner or in front of a mirror.[/*]
[*]One valuable interview technique to practice is called the STAR method. The idea is that when you are asked a behavioral question (such as, tell me about a time you…), you frame your answer in terms of the following: Situation, Task, Action, Results. This will help you to stay on track and give a thorough answer that provides background, tells exactly what you did and ends with the critical results. To practice this technique, start by creating a spreadsheet with 8-10 stories. Categorize each story, so that it serves as an example of at least one situation, i.e., your leadership story, your failure story… Now you have a list of examples on your “mental shelf”. Practice telling your stories, using the STAR technique, OUT LOUD. When it comes time to interview, you will be able to pull stories off your shelf. You will be prepared with enough stories so that you do not need to repeat.[/*]
[*]Read interview reports on [url=https://clearadmit.com]clearadmit.com[/url]. These are self-reported, so take them with a grain of salt, but they will give you a good sense of the interview questions applicants have been asked in the past.[/*]
[*]Schedule a mock interview with someone in your network that is familiar with the MBA interview process. Live practice with a little bit of pressure to perform is SO important to ensure you do your best on the big day.[/*]
[/list]
Common MBA Interview Questions
Some frequently asked interview questions are listed below. You should have answers to most of these when you go into the interview.

[list]
[*]Walk me through your resume OR tell me about yourself.[/*]
[*]What are your short and long-term goals?[/*]
[*]Why business school?[/*]
[*]Why school x?[/*]
[*]Why now?[/*]
[*]Describe your leadership style.[/*]
[*]3 strengths.[/*]
[*]3 weaknesses.[/*]
[*]How would your friends or colleagues describe you?[/*]
[*]What is your greatest accomplishment?[/*]
[*]Describe a failure.[/*]
[*]Tell me about a time you convinced your boss or client of your idea / plan.[/*]
[*]What do you think you will contribute to the school?[/*]
[*]How would you like to get involved on campus?[/*]
[*]What makes you different from other applicants?[/*]
[*]Tell me about a time you overcame an obstacle.[/*]
[*]On the analytical – creative spectrum, where do you lie?[/*]
[*]How would you describe yourself?[/*]
[*]Who do you most admire?[/*]
[*]Do you have any questions for me?[/*]
[/list]
We wish you the best of luck in your MBA interviews! If you need personalized coaching to prepare, feel free to [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/free-consultation/]reach out[/url].

For further reading on interview preparation, here are a few articles you may find interesting:

[url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/02/16/wharton-team-based-discussion/]Vantage Point MBA Wharton Team Based Discussion: How to Stand Out[/url]

[url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2017/02/08/a-real-insead-interview-experience/]A Real INSEAD Interview Experience[/url]

[url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2016/12/10/exit-polls-interview-reports-for-stanford-haas-sloan-columbia-booth-and-fuqua/]Exit Polls: Interview Reports[/url]

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/09/22/mba-interview-prep/]MBA Interview Prep 101: Common Questions, Preparation Techniques, School Specific Insights and More[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Ever Think of Starting a Business? An Interview with Vantage Point MBA’s Co-Founder      


If you’ve ever thought about starting a business (maybe that is even why you are applying to business school!) or simply enjoy reading about people who’ve taken that leap, we’d love for you to check out Vantage Point MBA Co-Founder Melody Jones’s [url=https://gosolo.subkit.com/melody-jones/]recent interview with digital magazine, GoSolo[/url].

As she shares, Melody and her Co-Founder (and best friend!), Meredith Shields, turned their passion for coaching aspiring MBAs into a thriving [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/team/]team of consultants[/url] that help over one hundred applicants gain admission to top MBA programs each year. She also shares the biggest challenge she’s faced on her entrepreneurial journey, why she is so passionate about MBA admissions consulting, and her top three tips for those thinking of starting a business of their own, excerpted here:

[b]“GoSolo: [/b]What are the top tips you’d give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

[b]Melody:[/b] I love this question! Sharing my experience and lessons learned brings me so much joy.

#1 – Just do it! If I had waited for everything to be just right, for all my questions to be answered, to know exactly what challenges I would face and how I would tackle them BEFORE I started my business, I’m pretty sure I’d still be waiting. While I never encourage carelessness, don’t let perfection get in the way of progress. Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith and trust yourself that you’ll figure it out along the way. If you surround yourself with trusted mentors (and/or an incredible business partner), you’ll always have someone to lean on when inevitable challenges arise.

#2 – Focus on people! Those people can be your clients, your suppliers, and most importantly, your team. Put them first in all that you do, and success will follow. This may seem idealistic, but I’ve seen it make sound business sense too.

#3 – Invest in automation! It’s very easy to implement and maintain manual processes when the business is small and getting off the ground. Initially, it might make sense to try different methods before you figure out what makes sense for your business. However, once you’re ready to hit the gas on growth, automating your processes and systems will enable you to do so seamlessly without needing to work around the clock. For example, investing in a robust CRM system has been a game-changer for my business. It’s worth every penny.”

Read the feature for much more on Melody’s journey, including how she made the transition from investment banking to Columbia Business School to a career in marketing to founding Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting. She inspires us every day and we think she’ll do the same for you!





The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/09/28/ever-think-of-starting-a-business-an-interview-with-vantage-point-mba/]Ever Think of Starting a Business? An Interview with Vantage Point MBA’s Co-Founder      [/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: The HBS Interview – Two Real Life Experiences
If you applied to HBS in Round 1 this year, October 6th is a big day – HBS interview announcement day. We sincerely hope that you received the news you were dreaming about. If you did, be sure to schedule your HBS interview as soon as possible as spot can fill up quickly. And congratulations!

If you weren’t granted an HBS interview, you may have been notified that your application will be under ‘further consideration’. This means that the adcom will reconsider your application alongside those it receives in Round 2, and you may be invited to interview in early February.  This also deserves a hearty congratulations!

If neither of the above apply to you, you may have been given an ‘early release’, HBS’ euphemism for a ding. It’s stings, there’s no getting around it. But know that being granted an interview is extremely competitive – only around 20% of those that applied fall into this bucket. Take a moment to wallow but then look to the future; it’s likely that you’re still waiting to hear from a number of awesome programs.

If you received an HBS interview invite or are just curious what the experience is actually like, you’re in luck! We got the scoop from two former clients who travelled to campus for their HBS interview (and were ultimately accepted). Note that HBS is still offering a Zoom option this year, but they are also returning to in-person interviews on campus and in select cities worldwide. Zoom is fine if an in-person interview isn’t feasible for you, but, in our experience, nothing beats a true face-to-face connection. 

HBS Interview Experience #1 – Rachel
At her scheduled interview time, each interviewer came into the waiting area and called the candidate to which he or she was assigned (kind of like a doctor’s office…or a spa). After being called by her interviewer, for the first five minutes, Rachel expected someone else to walk in the room. After all, HBS is known for its two-on-one interviews. However, that never happened. It was a one-on-one! Later Rachel found out that almost everyone who interviewed that day had a one-on-one. She was told that the candidates who interviewed the following day, on a Monday, were more likely to have a two-on-one interview. In addition, note that the dean is also an interviewer! If you interview with him this year, Rachel was told that you would have a two-on-one with the other interviewer primarily taking notes.

Opening the discussion, Rachel’s interviewer invited her to sit down, not across the table but instead in chairs turned towards each other – very casual. She then explained the process and talked about how she had read all of Rachel’s application materials. Like most candidates, Rachel felt great to hear that someone had invested as much in reading her app as she had in preparing it! The interviewer explained that after the interview, she would prepare a report, Rachel would submit her reflection, then the application would be reviewed in its entirety.

Then they moved on to the questions. Rachel estimated that approximately 5% of her interview was spent on a large extracurricular that she had in college, 85% on her career in consumer packaged goods (CPG), and 10% on her goals. Here’s a sampling of the questions they asked:

  • The interviewer noticed that a very large leadership commitment in college was only mentioned in one bullet point, so she asked for more information
  • How did Rachel decide to work for the company she worked for right after college (Rachel very effectively parlayed her college experience into how she chose her career)
  • How did that company meet or not meet Rachel’s expectations and what advice would she give someone looking to work there – the good and the challenges. Note that the interviewer cited a specific story that Rachel had given in her essays, which made Rachel feel good – she had caught the adcom’s attention in the essay!
  • Describe in more detail the challenge cited in Rachel’s latest job. This question referenced the descriptions that Rachel put into the application form itself where she was asked to cite a specific accomplishment and a challenge for each position she listed
  • Explain how Rachel’s company was tackling the latest trends in health and wellness (her company is not known for healthy products)
  • How is Rachel’s company’s relationship with Wal-Mart and how does she navigate meetings with them
  • The interviewer noted that both of Rachel’s recommenders cited similar pieces of feedback, so she asked Rachel for examples to explain her areas of weakness. Rachel had not seen her recommendations, so initially this was stressful as she hadn’t been aware of what they had written
  • Describe your career interests (note that she was not asked “why MBA” or “why HBS”)
  • Did she want to work for a big or a small company after graduation (Rachel wondered if they had a bias towards big companies, but in our experience, they are simply interested in how you’ve thought about this)
So, what advice does Rachel have for you? Her number one piece of advice was to schedule your class visit and such for another day. She felt like after the interview all she could think about was the interview itself and writing the post-interview reflection. She was glad that her class visit was the next day because she felt like she could really engage versus just worrying.

She also said to relax. Rumors have it that sometimes HBS has pretty aggressive interviewers. Rachel talked to many people during her two days on campus and only one person had a more “hostile” interview (e.g., he was asked how he thought his goals could possibly be attainable – they told him his goals seemed unreasonable, etc.). Everyone else with whom Rachel spoke had a friendly interviewer.

HBS Interview Experience #2 – Former Client, In His Own Words
I showed up a few hours early, signed in, and grabbed a coffee and breakfast (which I was too nervous to eat). I went through my whole application online and my resume on my laptop as I had heard that anything is fair game at HBS vs. just the resume as with some other schools. Once I felt confident, I went to the pre-interview room and immediately started talking to my fellow interviewees, which really helped me relax and get a better feel for my fit for the school. Then, 15 minutes before our interview time slot, a Taylor Swift song came on, which was the signal for a smaller group of us to head upstairs to the interview rooms. Once up there, I immediately made myself a cup of chamomile tea. I was the only one. Then, we all started chatting again until we each got called in for our interviews.

I had two people present in my interview. The first one introduced herself as the actual interviewer and explained that the other person was a representative from the career office who was there to observe, take notes and opine on my candidacy, but was not going to ask any questions. Still, I made sure to address them both when answering.

Before the interview started, my interviewer said that she wanted this to be a discussion rather than a formal interview. She said that she found my essay very inspiring and thanked me for sharing my story. She asked me to expand on my essay and reinforce how I was able to turn my life around and what I learned from my experiences. She then asked me to clarify my academic background as I have an unconventional path to graduation.

After my personal and educational background, we moved over to my resume and she asked me to expand on a deal I had listed, including my leadership role and how I sourced the deal. Then she asked me about the performance of my group, how we did last year, and what we were focused on this year. This would likely stump most banking associates, but it was fair game for me because I had written on my resume that I was involved with business planning for my group.

Then we moved on to my extracurriculars. There was an awkward moment where she thought I had contradicted my application, but I was able to quickly provide context and we moved on. She asked, “why an MBA, and why now”, and then “what are you still working on” (i.e., your weaknesses).

Then, she ended with “is there anything else we didn’t touch on?” Rather than use this prompt to ask a question, I used this to tell her “why HBS”, since that did not come up in the application or interview, but I thought I had a few unique reasons to justify my fit and I wanted to show how much time and research I had dedicated to learning everything about the program.

When we were done, the representative from the career center walked me out. I took this time to talk to him about the case we had discussed in my lecture visit and mention that the company discussed was one of my dream employers. I also knew that the founders of that company were HBS alumni from my own research, so I made sure to mention that. I am sure it did not tip the scales, but I wanted to get in everything I could.

We hope you found those real life HBS interview experiences helpful! If you will be interviewing and feel a mock interview would help you prepare, please don’t hesitate to reach out. And good luck!

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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Questions to Ask MBA Admissions Officers in Your MBA Interview
As if the stress of preparing what you will say about yourself during your MBA interviews wasn’t enough, you’re likely also trying to think of questions to ask MBA admissions officers, if one (or two!) will be your interviewer. Not to fear, with a number of former MBA interviewers on our team, we can help you come up with some strong questions to ask MBA admissions officers. Importantly, we can also tell you what NOT to ask.

Why Thinking of Great Questions to Ask MBA Admissions Officers Matters
Do the questions you ask really matter, you may wonder? Yes! They demonstrate three key things. First, they show how interested you are in the program based on the research you’ve done. Second, they often demonstrate how well you listened to the interviewer (and attentive listening is key to succeeding in a team environment like business school).

Third and perhaps most importantly, the questions you ask are an important tool for engaging your interviewer and winning him or her over. Like it or not, much of the application assessment process is subjective, including the reports interviewers write after each interview. As such, you want your interviewer to like you and be excited to support you!

So, as you’re coming up with your list of questions to ask MBA admissions officers, keep in mind these common mistakes our team has seen in the Q&A portion of the interview (and what to ask or say instead):

1) “I think I’m all set – I don’t have any questions.”
Oh really? Well, that’s no fun.

MBA admissions officers (and alumni interviewers for that matter) look forward to answering questions about the school. Many current students and alums even volunteer to conduct these interviews, so you can infer that they love talking about their school. If your interviewer gets to spend the last five minutes talking about themselves or their school, the conversation will end on a high note, and they’ll associate that high note with you!

Feelings aside, “no questions” essentially equals “no intellectual curiosity” to most interviewers. We just spoke for 20-30 minutes; if you don’t have any questions, that’s a red flag for me.

2) “What is a weakness of your program?”
You may think that this is a great demonstration of intellectual curiosity and critical analysis. However, recall the recency bias – you want your interview to end on a high note. You want your interviewer to wrap up the interview inspired and excited for your matriculation to the school!

Instead, focus on finding out interesting or subjective information about the program. For example, one of our favorite questions (for adcom interviewers only) is what recruiter feedback has been about the school’s students. Firms that recruit heavily from a school tend to back-channel info to admissions about the perceived quality of candidates and that’s super interesting for applicants. Inherent in a neutral question like this will often be some pros and some areas of development for the school. But allowing them to talk about both is key!

3) “Is an MBA worth it?”
If you are asking this in the interview, you are demonstrating a complete lack of having prepared for this process. This question should have been vetted WELL in advance of being invited to interview.

It would be fair game to ask them, based on what you’ve shared of your goals, what advice they have for how you can best spend your time in the program. You can also glean how forward-thinking and adaptive their program is by asking your interviewer how the curricular areas of focus have evolved during their time working at or attending the school. You could also ask how they see the program continuing to respond to the needs of students in the future.

4) “What percent male/female was last year’s class?”
Aside from #1, this is probably the biggest mistake people make in the Q&A section of their interview. Any question like this is completely off limits because the data is available in less than three clicks on Google.

Never ask a question that is directly answered in the school’s publications – website or otherwise. You can pull down the recruiting report as well as the class profiles and course offerings yourself (and if you haven’t done this, they will wonder if you really put thought into your research). Avoid asking hard facts because they are probably already out there somewhere (and if they aren’t, they won’t tell you anyway).

If you’re preparing for your interviews and looking for advice or a mock interview to trial run your strategy, please reach out!

The post Questions to Ask MBA Admissions Officers in Your MBA Interview appeared first on Vantage Point MBA.
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: MBA Application Timeline – What to Do and When If You’re Applying Round 2
If you’re applying to MBA programs in round 2, now is the time to buckle down and make sure you are adhering to a realistic MBA application timeline. While January may seem far away, there is a lot that goes into strong MBA applications and an MBA application timeline can help ensure you don’t procrastinate.

Ideally, you already have a strong application strategy and personal brand that you’re leveraging to start thinking about how to approach one of the most critical and time-intensive aspects of the applications: the essays. If you’ve done this upfront work and are hitting the ground running right now, bravo! If you’re just starting, below is a suggested MBA application timeline for how to best use the next 10-11 weeks before the first deadlines hit.

Your 11-Week MBA Application Timeline
For the weeks below, we listed what we would expect our clients to have completed or accomplished by the end of that week, give or take. Please note that by this point we expect that you have a GMAT/GRE score or firm test date already so that you can focus more on the actual application. If not, you can assume that test prep is concurrent to the items below.

A few key notes:  we recommend at least five drafts of your resume (this small document is critical to your application) and at least 10 drafts of your first essay set. For each draft, we recommend getting feedback from a variety of different people – alumni of that school, co-workers, a consultant, and/or friends and family who know how the process works. You won’t know the background of the person reviewing your application, so it’s best to get multiple perspectives.

For context, many of our clients complete 10-20 drafts of each essay set, and normally we have 5-8 rounds of editing on a resume. The number of drafts doesn’t correlate with English skills, time spent or overall intelligence. Iteration makes for a better product, so we view drafting as part of the process of getting to success. Many people think better when they can react to something on paper, so getting pen to paper helps spur the creative process. Below we laid out what this might look like at a minimum, but of course it varies by person.

For the week of October 24:
[list]
[*]Application weaknesses (low GPA, light extracurriculars, etc.) have been identified and you are actively working to address / mitigate them[/*]
[*]Well-defined personal brand and/or story that has been vetted by at least three other people for being personal, differentiating, interesting, and visionary[/*]
[*]Schools researched and selected; [url=https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/admissions-events/Pages/default.aspx]virtual presentations[/url] attended or at least signed-up for[/*]
[*]Resume drafts in process and being reviewed by someone other than you and your family (co-workers, friends, former classmates, consultant, etc.)[/*]
[*]Recommender packets prepared and meetings scheduled to explain the process and get them energized about your story and goals[/*]
[/list]
October 31:
[list]
[*]Resume finalized[/*]
[*]Drafts for School 1’s essays complete and being reviewed by someone else for feedback on content, readability, and how well they address the key dimensions that the adcoms are looking for[/*]
[*]Conversations scheduled with your MBA alumni friends to learn more detail about their experiences and programs, so you have more context for your essays[/*]
[/list]
November 7:
[list]
[*]Second and third drafts completed for School 1’s essays with reviews by friends, family, co-workers and/or a consultant[/*]
[*]First draft of School 2’s essays completed and being reviewed[/*]
[/list]
November 14:
[list]
[*]Continue drafting Schools 1 and 2 (as noted earlier, 10+ versions of essay set number 1 is normal; we generally see fewer iterations for subsequent schools)[/*]
[*]First draft of School 3’s essays completed and being reviewed[/*]
[/list]
November 21:
[list]
[*]Check-in with recommenders to make sure they have a plan of attack[/*]
[*]Second and third drafts of School 3’s essays completed and being reviewed[/*]
[*]Continue drafting Schools 1 and 2[/*]
[/list]
November 28:
[list]
[*]First draft of School 4’s essays completed and being reviewed[/*]
[*]Finalize School 1’s essays[/*]
[/list]
December 5:
[list]
[*]Start the application form for School 1 (completing the embedded ‘mini questions’, determining how to leverage all of the space to maximize the information you share etc.)[/*]
[*]Continue drafting on Schools 2 and 3[/*]
[/list]
December 12:
[list]
[*]Second and third drafts of School 4’s essays completed and being reviewed[/*]
[*]Finalize School 2’s essays[/*]
[*]Continue drafting on School 3[/*]
[/list]
December 19:
[list]
[*]Send your completed School 1 application to someone to review in entirety and provide feedback (optimally someone who knows about the process like an MBA alum, etc.)[/*]
[*]Finalize School 3’s essays[/*]
[*]Continue drafting School 4[/*]
[*]Complete the remaining application forms for Schools 2-4[/*]
[/list]
December 26:
[list]
[*]Finalize School 4’s essays[/*]
[*]Send your completed applications to alums or other reviewers for final checks and integrate feedback accordingly[/*]
[*]Check-in with recommenders[/*]
[/list]
January 2:
[list]
[*]First Week of Deadlines![/*]
[/list]
I know what we’ve laid out seems intense…because it is. But trust us that this process is not the place to cut corners. Your competition isn’t and it takes a lot of work to stand out.

We are still accepting clients for Round 2 and are happy to talk about how we can help. Please request a consultation [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/request-consultation/]here[/url].

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/10/18/mba-application-timeline-2/]MBA Application Timeline – What to Do and When If You’re Applying Round 2[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Three Tips for Writing Compelling MBA Essays
If you’re applying to business school in [url=https://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/application-timeline-deadlines/]Round 2[/url], you probably know that writing compelling MBA essays is the foundation of a successful application. In fact, in our experience, writing compelling MBA essays has become increasingly important to admissions success. There are a lot of candidates out there who are qualified on paper and can gather strong recommendation letters. But admissions committees want to know more about you than just the facts and will rely on your essays – what you choose to share and how you share it – to get to know you on a deeper level.

So, how do you make sure you are writing compelling MBA essays that catch the admissions committee’s attention? Here are our top three tips. 

Tip #1 – Cut to the chase.
Conventional wisdom (or your high school English Lit teacher!) may tell you that the key to writing compelling MBA essays is a catchy opening and interesting prose. In our opinion, though, it’s actually much more straightforward (boring, even).

From a style and structure standpoint, simple and direct is best. Answer the essay question upfront, ideally in the first paragraph, and then use the remaining paragraphs to support that answer. Sometimes clients feel that they are ‘giving away the punch line’ by doing this – that’s ok! Admissions committees read a lot of essays and likely re-review them briefly as they discuss candidates. Make sure they know the main point you are trying to get across without having to dig.

The same goes for body paragraphs. Begin each one with a strong topic sentence that crystallizes the main point of that paragraph and then share the details. Not only is this helpful for reader comprehension, but it forces you to ensure that each of your paragraphs truly does serve a clear purpose in support of the thesis you shared up top.

Tip #2 – Show don’t tell.
Once you’ve developed the skeleton of your essay – the direct answer to the essay question and supporting topic sentences described above – you need to ‘prove’ to the admissions committee that what you’ve asserted is authentically true.

The best way to do this is by sharing brief examples or anecdotes that describe how you’ve acted in past situations, a concept known as ‘showing not telling’. Anyone can claim that they are driven by a desire to give back; not everyone can support this claim by sharing how they started a mentorship program at a low-income school that increased college matriculation statistics. The latter is much more believable and compelling.

This advice may feel harder to operationalize when discussing future plans, like your post-MBA career goals. In other words, how do you ‘prove’ that your goals are truly your goals and not just something you are putting down on paper because it sounds reasonable to an admissions committee? The key here is to leverage anecdotes (again, show don’t tell) to provide the rationale for why you are targeting the role, companies, industry, etc. that you are. Perhaps you plan to work in strategy for a biomedical company after having had a relative find relief from a chronic disease through a new biomedical therapy. That feels much more authentic than just saying you find the field interesting.     

Tip #3 – Ask for feedback but not too much.
As admissions consultants, one piece of advice we always stress with clients is to start early and iterate often. Essays, in particular, become much more cohesive, logical, and convincing when the writer’s thinking is challenged, and they are forced to really hone their points.

That said, there can be too much of a good thing. In an attempt to gather as many viewpoints as possible, we find that some applicants socialize their essays too broadly. Sometimes they seek feedback from (well-meaning) people in their network who simply don’t have context for the qualities MBA programs value and advise accordingly. Other times they incorporate bits of feedback from a variety of people and their essays begin to feel jumbled and confusing.

In our experience, best practice is to select 2-3 people who are committed to your success and familiar with the MBA admissions process (current students, alums, your consultant, etc.). Especially as your essays become further developed, don’t be afraid to zero them in on a certain question (i.e., do you feel my rationale for wanting to work in tech is convincing?). You are the quarterback of your essays and should be leveraging the players on your team as necessary.

We hope those tips are help ensure you are writing compelling MBA essays! We are still accepting Round 2 clients so if you would like help with your essays (or any other part of your applications), we’d love to chat and see if we’re a good fit. You can request an initial consultation [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/request-consultation/]here[/url].

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/10/27/writing-compelling-mba-essays/]Three Tips for Writing Compelling MBA Essays[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: How To Write Sloan’s Pre-Interview Essays
If you submitted a Round 1 application to MIT Sloan’s MBA program – or perhaps you are planning to apply in Round 2 – you may have been surprised as to how little you were required to write. While many of Sloan’s peer programs require several 400- to 500-word essays, Sloan’s only written requirement is a 300-word ‘cover letter’. That is, until the interview stage. For those selected to interview, Sloan requires two additional 250-word essays. Wondering how to write Sloan’s pre-interview essays? We’ve got you covered.

Sloan’s Pre-Interview Essay Questions
First, here are the prompts for Sloan’s pre-interview essays:

  • The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.
  • We are interested in learning more about how you make data-driven decisions and communicate results. Please select one of the following prompts to respond to:
    • Please select an existing data visualization and in 250 words or less explain why it matters to you. The data visualization should be uploaded as a PDF. Examples may come from current events, a business analysis, or personal research (e.g. climate change, COVID maps, etc.).
    • In 250 words or less, please describe a recent data-driven decision you had to make, and include one slide presenting your analysis. The slide may include a data visualization example and should present data used in a professional context. Your slide must be uploaded as a PDF.
Advice for Writing Sloan’s Pre-Interview Essays
Before we dive into more specific advice, it’s helpful to consider what Sloan is looking to learn about applicants through this phase of the process. According to our resident Sloan guru (and former Sloan adcom), Kristen Lindeman, the intent of each question is quite targeted. She shares that “For Essay 1, Sloan is looking for fit and to ensure that the applicant aligns with their mission. It also is an opportunity to showcase contribution. Essay 2 is meant to demonstrate analytical ability, and ability to translate data into impact/recommendations.”

With that guidance in mind, let’s get a little more granular. As the prompt denotes, the first essay should center around one discrete story. It can be an example from work, a current extracurricular or even a college organization in a pinch, although something more recent is ideal.

The most important criteria for the story you select is that you and your actions are the central characters. Sometimes people think that, because something they did only impacted a small number of people, their contribution is not significant enough for the adcom to care about. This is not necessarily true! If it is something you took the initiative to do (as opposed to being asked) and your efforts improved the experience of even a few (in a DEI-focused way), that can make for a powerful essay. Past clients have written about driving initiatives around inclusion, making the recruiting process more welcoming to underrepresented populations and facilitating group dynamics that encouraged quieter team members to speak up.

The second essay can be more intimidating for applicants, particularly those who don’t work in heavily quantitative environments. As the prompt indicates, you can either choose to use a data visualization you created for a work project and explain what it shows (in layman’s terms) or use a data visualization you found that shows something you care about. The key is that the data component of the analysis should be the driver of a decision (or change in course) or something that caused a change in your own viewpoint. In other words, in contrast with the first essay, here the data should be the central character. In addition to explaining the data in an understandable way, tell the adcom why that data matters.

For example, a past client showed data around regional covid vaccination rates that demonstrated how underrepresented minorities were less likely to be vaccinated due to limited supply/healthcare distrust while at the same time being at the highest risk of getting covid due to working high-contact jobs and lacking paid leave. She wanted to work in health care to address these types of equity issues, so the data was very relevant to her goals.

Another client who worked in investment management showed data that had been presented to her firm by a company seeking funding. At first blush, it showed robust growth trends that the company’s management said would continue. This candidate was skeptical because of some factors not shown in the data and convinced her company not to do the deal. She made the very valid point that when examining data, context is everything.

We hope that gets your mind going as you sit down to write Sloan’s pre-interview essays! As you prepare for your interview, here are a few more articles you may find interesting:

MBA Interview Prep 101 | Vantage Point MBA

MBA Interview Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them | Vantage Point MBA

MBA Interview Prep – How to Plan for the Unexpected | Vantage Point MBA

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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Applying to MBA Programs While Unemployed
If you’re one of the many who have been impacted by recent tech sector layoffs, you are likely pondering the next steps in your career. Change and uncertainty are scary, but they can also result in important reflection on what you want that next step to be. If business school has been in the back of your mind, perhaps now is the call to action you need to submit your applications. If so, this article is for you! We’re sharing our top three tips for applying to MBA programs while unemployed.

First a note on timing. Round 2 deadlines are approaching quickly, with many occurring in early January. However, with appropriate focus, it is still possible to put your applications together in time. [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/03/03/round-3-mba-applications-the-truth/]We generally steer clients away from applying in Round 3[/url] if they can avoid it.

Applying in Round 2 is even more feasible if you already have a valid GMAT score, as prepping to take the exam AND producing solid application materials will be tough with only six weeks to go. A test score waiver may also be an option. In fact, [url=https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/blog/2022/11/14/kellogg-offers-test-waiver-tech-employees.aspx]Kellogg just announced that they are offering test score waivers[/url] to former tech employees who apply by the Round 2 deadline.

So, besides the tight timeline, what do you need to know about applying to MBA programs while unemployed or with a gap on your resume from a past period of unemployment? Our overarching advice is to be proactive. Here are three ways to do that:

1) Address the elephant in the room.
The last thing the admissions committees want to do is search around to understand an employment gap they see on your resume. As a rule of thumb, explain any gap that is three months or longer in the optional essay (the data form may have a place for this as well). If you are applying to MBA programs while unemployed, even if it hasn’t been three months, you should also provide an explanation.

If you are currently unemployed, explain the reason for your separation from your prior employer but be careful to avoid placing blame (on the company or yourself!). It can also help to highlight accelerated career progression and/or above average performance ratings you earned prior to leaving; this proactively addresses the adcom’s potential concern that you do not excel relative to peers.

2) Take action.
Even if you are accepted to business school beginning next fall, you still have roughly ten months until you matriculate. You also have at least three months until you hear final decisions from schools. Whether you launch into full job search mode or not, admissions committees want to see that you are making the most of your time away from work.

It may seem daunting to be networking and interviewing for new jobs while working on applications, but we would urge you to consider it.  While admissions committees read the news and don’t view a layoff as a dealbreaker, by remaining on the career sidelines you are decreasing your competitiveness as an MBA applicant. You’re also putting all your eggs in the MBA basket, so to speak.

While you are in job search, which may take a while and that’s ok, think about ways you can continue to add value – to your community, an organization in need (check out Taproot for ideas), or even just to yourself. Knowing that the admissions committee will be considering your actions when they assess your application, now is not the time to tread water (which is boring anyway!).

3) Reflect and discuss your insights.
As with any major life change, leaving your job likely triggered a period of self-reflection. Perhaps you gave more thought to the type of organization you want to be a part of or even whether your current career path is right for you after all. Use this to your advantage!

View the circumstances as an opportunity to pivot towards the type of work you see yourself doing post-MBA and beyond. If a holistic shift isn’t possible (after all, you are planning to get an MBA for a reason), perhaps your next role can help build some of the skills you will ultimately need to make your desired transition. The adcom will take note if you explain this rationale in your application essays!

As an example, a past client of mine knew she had a passion for nonprofit work, but her early career had led her down a different path. In advance of her MBA applications, she found herself at a crossroads and actively sought a position in the nonprofit space. While the role she accepted was functionally different from what she hopes to do post-MBA, demonstrating knowledge of the nonprofit sector made for a compelling application and she was accepted (with full scholarship!) to her top choice program.

We are still accepting clients for Round 2. If you’re considering throwing your hat in the ring and want some help strategizing, click [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/request-consultation/]here[/url] to schedule a free consultation.

The post [url=https://vantagepointmba.com/2022/11/17/applying-to-mba-programs-while-unemployed/]Applying to MBA Programs While Unemployed[/url] appeared first on [url=https://vantagepointmba.com]Vantage Point MBA[/url].
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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Post-MBA Goals – Will My Short-Term Plans Resonate with the Admissions Committee?
You’re probably aware that ambitious, yet realistic post-MBA goals are critical to a compelling business school application. Not only that, understanding how business school will accelerate or pivot your career path is essential to justifying the financial and time investment required to pursue an MBA.

Many clients we speak with have a general sense of their post-MBA goals (or at least what they don’t want to do) but have trouble zeroing in on post-MBA goals at the level of specificity admissions committees expect. Clients are also often concerned whether the post-MBA goals they envision will resonate with their target programs.

As such, post-MBA goals is the topic we’re covering in today’s article, specifically short-term post-MBA goals. Short-term post-MBA goals refer to the job you will seek right after graduation and perhaps an intermediate step directly thereafter.

We will be focusing on how to craft and communicate your short-term post-MBA goals in your MBA application. Of course, this is a highly personalized discussion, but there are some overarching principles that can guide your thinking.

When it comes to the role you will target directly after business school, the admissions committee is looking for it to check three boxes:

#1 – It is something employers hire for out of their program.
Note that we’re not suggesting you have to say you will target the same five or so career paths that every other MBA is looking to pursue (consulting, tech product management, private equity / venture capital, etc.). We’re not even saying your short-term post-MBA goals must be something companies recruit for ‘on campus’ as opposed to something that will require a little leg work on your part.

Instead, we’re suggesting that you convey a realistic understanding of the seniority level at which a company may recruit a new MBA and whether your targeted industry / function is somewhere the program has placed graduates in the past. Specificity is important here, even going so far as to spell out the position you will target (i.e., Associate Marketing Manager) and a few companies you would be excited to work for.

#2 – Your background makes it realistic that employers will consider you for this position.
Some post-MBA career paths are more restrictive than others when it comes to the specific skills recruiters expect you to have. For example, in our experience, investment banks are open to people from a wide variety of pre-MBA fields so long as the person is willing to work hard and can demonstrate aptitude in the interviews.

On the other hand, breaking into product management at a large technology company can be difficult without prior technical work experience and/or an engineering degree. We’re not saying it can’t be done and would never discourage someone from trying for the role of their dreams. That said, the admissions committees at top MBA programs may be weary of someone who doesn’t at least acknowledge that they are fighting an uphill battle and perhaps present a more realistic ‘Plan B’.

Like it or not, top MBA programs are laser focused on their employment statistics relative to peer schools. The current economic climate, with some of the largest tech employers announcing layoffs, may only heighten schools’ focus on employability. As such, MBA programs will continue to focus on accepting people with realistic post-MBA plans.

#3 – Your short-term post-MBA goals are a logical steppingstone to your long-term goals.
Long-term post-MBA goals will be the focus of an upcoming article, but we’ll briefly touch on them here, as they are inherently intertwined with your near-term plans.

It’s ok for long-term career goals – where you dream of being 10-15 years down the road – to be less of a sure bet than your target post-MBA role. In fact, they should be both aspirational and inspirational, tying into your core values and passions.

But, while it’s great to dream big, you also need to have a vision of how to get there and this is where your short-term goals come in. The role you target out of business school should set you on the path towards your long-term goal, building the skills you will need for success in your dream career.

A Few Examples…
To help put theory into practice, here are a few strong examples of post-MBA goals from past clients:

“My short-term goal is to join the financial institutions or technology group of a leading investment bank, which will provide the valuation and due diligence skills required of a well-rounded investor and enable my long-term goal of investing in growth-stage FinTech companies that foster progress in financial education and decision-making.”

“A post-MBA role in strategy consulting will build upon my deep experience in the education industry and allow me to put the skills gained at [X school] into practice across a wide variety of business challenges, setting me up for success as the founder of an educational technology company.”

Look for an upcoming article on crafting compelling long-term goals! In the meantime, if you would like personalized advice on your post-MBA plans, reach out to request a free 30-minute consultation.

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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: Top MBA Program Comparison and How to Use It
Deciding where to apply? Our newly updated Top MBA Program Comparison tool can help! This sortable table ranks the top business schools on dimensions such as class size, average post-MBA salary, top recruited industries and more. It also includes the key criteria (GPA, GMAT, etc.) to help assess where you are likely to be a competitive applicant.

Being thoughtful about school selection is critical and it goes way beyond the rankings. Not only is the degree expensive, but the application process is too (not to mention time consuming). You want to limit your list to a small number of schools that make the most sense for you while maximizing your chances of admission. Furthermore, “fit” plays a huge role in the admissions process. If you don’t make the effort to research which schools are right for you and why, you’ll have a hard time convincing the adcom that their school is the right place for you.

Using the Top MBA Program Comparison Tool
If you are just beginning the school selection process, we recommend using our tool as follows:

Step 1: With your GMAT/GRE score and undergraduate GPA in hand, go down the list and find the programs where your stats meet the average. That will give you a good idea of the range of schools where you’re competitive and where you’re a bit of an outlier.

Other factors such as age, work experience, nationality, etc. will then skew your range up or down slightly. You may need to do some additional research to understand how your work experience compares to past admitted students, for example. Similarly, nationality can work for you or against you, depending on how many applicants from your country apply to your schools. If you’re not sure where you stand, this is a great opportunity to get a profile review by a professional through the forums or with an MBA admissions consultant.

Note: That’s not to say that you shouldn’t apply to your dream school even if you fall outside of its range; but in those cases, it always makes sense to hedge your bets with a couple of target (i.e., “safer”) schools. (No top school is “safe”, but there will be programs where your profile is more competitive than their averages.)

Step 2: Narrow down from there. Once you have an idea of where you’re competitive, identify the schools that are the best fit for your profile and objectives.

Here are some factors to consider in your research:

Class size: this one really boils down to personal preference. Programs like HBS and Wharton, for example, have large class sizes (>850 students) while others like Haas and Tuck have more intimate class sizes (<300 students). The size of your class will play a big role in the type of experience you have during your two years at a top MBA program. It’s important to understand the pros and cons of each and determine which one is better aligned to your objectives. For example, small programs boast tight-knit, congenial communities while larger programs offer greater breadth and diversity in each class.

Recruiting statistics: applying to schools that have a history of placing graduates in your dream job(s) simply makes sense. While all the top schools will have diversified employment statistics, you may see some bias towards consulting, tech, etc. That’s not to say that you should write-off a school simply because your target industry isn’t the #1 recruited industry. It’s simply another factor to consider.

Location: this is one that we encourage you to be flexible with as much as possible. Remember that it’s only for two years and all the top programs have widely influential brands that will in no way limit your career options to a 50-mile radius from campus.

On the other hand, if your post-MBA goals are concentrated in a specific geography (i.e., NYC for finance and fashion, Bay Area for tech, etc.) then it does make sense that programs in those areas would rise to the top of your list. If you have a strong affinity for urban vs. rural locations, don’t ignore it entirely – just don’t let geography be the sole deciding factor.

Next Steps After You Consult the Top MBA Program Comparison Tool
The rest of the process is more art than science. Beyond those shown in our Top MBA Comparison tool, consider factors such as:

Teaching method: this is a big one, particularly if you’re considering HBS or Darden where the case method dominates most of the curriculum. If you’re not sure what the case method is, we strongly suggest reading up on it because it creates a unique classroom dynamic (relies on class participation – students do 85% of the talking in class, involves cold-calling, requires thorough preparation of the case prior to class, etc.) The other teaching methods you’ll find in the top programs are lectures and experiential learning (think immersion classes, team-based exercises, etc.) Pay attention to this and how it differs between schools because it will have a big impact on how you learn for the next two years.

Academic strength or research focus: let’s start by clarifying that all of the top MBA programs offer a general management education with a broad selection of electives across all business subject areas (marketing, finance, operations, entrepreneurship, etc.). In other words, you will have access to fantastic professors and cutting-edge academics in any subject no matter which school you attend. Gone are the days of Wharton being only a “finance” school or Kellogg being only a “marketing” school. With that said, certain programs may offer greater resources or specific programming dedicated to your area of focus. For example, Columbia has the Value Investing program, Wharton has theHealth Care Management major, NYU Stern has the Luxury Marketing specialization, etc. Depending on which industry or function you’re targeting after business school, it may make sense to apply to a top MBA program that has a strong legacy in that field, either from the strength of the curriculum, breadth of electives, caliber of the faculty, prominence of research, or otherwise.

Culture: this one is a bit trickier to figure out, especially when you’re just starting the research process. It’s hard to really understand how the schools are different from simply browsing their websites. This is where engaging with the school (visiting campus if possible, attending info sessions, etc.) and speaking with alums and current students really pays off. After a couple different discussions, you’ll start to get a sense for how the programs are different from each other. In terms of which culture is right for you, that’s a matter of personal preference. If you have an independent streak, then maybe Booth is right for you. On the other hand, looking for a supportive, team-oriented environment? Kellogg or Tuck may be right up your alley. Lastly, we’ll say that while certain programs may have “reputations” that you’ve heard of, we recommend doing your own independent homework and deciding if you agree or not (they’re often over-stated, over-simplified, or outdated in our experience).

Bottom Line
After a certain amount of research, you’ll get a “gut” sense of the programs that are right for you on multiple levels. Try to keep an open mind while remaining true to yourself and your goals. Best of luck!

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FROM Vantage Point MBA Admissions Blog: MBA Waitlist Strategy – 10 Dos and Don’ts
So, you’re on the waitlist for your dream school? It wasn’t the decision you were hoping for, but the good news is that you’re still in the running. Being on the waitlist means that the adcom really liked you and thought you would be a great fit for their program but, for any number of reasons, wasn’t able to extend you an offer of admission – yet. The “yet” is what we’re writing about today. What can you do to get out of waitlist limbo? Inspired by our experience with clients over the years, here is a list of 10 DOs and DON’Ts for your MBA waitlist strategy. Hint: don’t just wait!

MBA Waitlist Strategy ‘DOs’
#1 – Carefully read the waitlist instructions.

And follow them. This may seem like a given but we’re surprised how often this step is overlooked. The waitlist instructions provide a lot of useful information, including how to opt into the waitlist (if needed), what kinds of updates the school accepts, contact information for your waitlist manager, etc.

This information can differ from school to school so, if you’re on more than one waitlist, it’s important to understand what levers are at your disposal for each. Then you can start planning out your MBA waitlist strategy.

#2 – Honestly assess your application and identify any opportunities for improvement.

The key to a successful MBA waitlist strategy is ensuring it addresses the reasons the school chose to waitlist versus admit you. In our experience, the most common of these include: a lower-than-average test score or GPA, light extracurriculars, too little or too much work experience, unclear or inauthentic career goals, and undifferentiated experience (especially if you come from an overrepresented pool like banking or consulting). Ultimately, the opportunity areas differ for each person so it’s important to take a critical eye to your application (and perhaps get a second opinion) to determine where and how you can improve.

#3 – Be proactive.

We’ll say it again – the key to a successful MBA waitlist strategy is action. If your GMAT score was on the low side, consider a retake. If your GPA was below average, consider enrolling in an online class (think statistics, accounting, finance, etc.) from an accredited institution to provide further evidence of your academic aptitude. Bulking up your extracurriculars can be challenging given the shorter timeline you’re dealing with, but Taproot and Catchafire can be places to look if you want to add something with impact and do it quickly.

Once you’ve done what you can, you need to share it with the adcom. Within the constraints of their waitlist instructions of course, the best way to do this is by submitting an update letter(s). The key to a successful update letter is to provide new information, not repeat material already included in your application. In addition to the things noted above, new information can include a promotion at work, additional reasons for fit with the program, or how you’ll contribute to the school.

#4 – Think outside the box.

So far, we’ve explored the “tried and true” ways to actively manage your waitlist status. However, being on the waitlist is also a great opportunity to get a little creative (so long as it doesn’t violate the school’s waitlist instructions).

For instance, more schools are now accepting video letters (i.e., Chicago Booth), so using that medium to provide meaningful updates while showcasing your personality and “putting a face to your name” could be a great option. Another idea is to have a current student or alum who knows you well submit a letter of support that details why you’re a good fit for their school. In general, if you have a unique skill or talent, don’t be shy about leveraging it to provide a memorable waitlist update – just make sure it’s appropriate.

#5 – Explicitly state that you’ll enroll if admitted.

The school wants reassurance that you will enroll if admitted off the waitlist. Remember that not everyone on the waitlist is as committed to the school as you are. So, in everything you do, let the school know that you remain committed to their program and that it’s your #1 choice (if that’s the case). No need to beat around the bush with this one – just say it directly.

MBA Waitlist Strategy ‘DON’Ts’
#1 – Freak out, panic, or lose hope.

I know this is easier said than done, but now is not the time to despair. Your efforts (and emotions) are better spent on taking constructive action. Stay confident (if you’re on the waitlist, it means that you have what it takes) and try not to compare yourself with others. Put your head down and focus on #1-5 above. We’ve seen applicants get off the waitlist as late as August so it’s not over until you get an official rejection from the school.

#2 – Try to “hack” the waitlist process.

As admissions consultants, we get this a lot. “What are my chances of getting off the waitlist?” “What could I do that would automatically get me off the waitlist?” Unfortunately, as with all things MBA admissions, the waitlist process is not formulaic and there’s no magic bullet. Trying to predict your chances of getting off the waitlist may seem like a good way to get some level of certainty during the wait, but it’s really not productive or helpful. Again, your efforts will be best spent on taking actions that strengthen your profile.

#3 – Submit new essays with every update.

As mentioned above, the purpose of an update letter is to provide new, relevant information that will strengthen your profile and help the adcom in their final decision. The adcom receives a lot of communication and you don’t want to make their job any harder by submitting multi-page letters and/or information that was already included in your application. Your update letter(s) should be factual, direct, and succinct. Think of them more as press releases than essays.

#4 – Harass the adcom or your waitlist manager.

I know we spent the entire first half of this guide outlining all the ways to be an active ‘waitlistee’, but you also want to be thoughtful in every interaction and update you provide. You want to be proactive without being aggressive. Remember that the adcom is evaluating your interpersonal skills and determining whether you would represent the school well in front of recruiters. The schools have a reputation to uphold, after all. Make sure that your behavior is desirable.

#5 – Get complacent.

After all the effort you put into your resume, essays, and interview prep, you may be reluctant to load up your to-do list with more application “stuff”. However, now is not the time to get lazy or give up. A short-term investment in re-taking the GMAT (ugh!), crafting an update letter, etc. has the potential for long-term payoff. Get going!

On the waitlist and wondering what your next steps should be? We’re happy to help! We offer a 2-hour waitlist strategy package that includes a review of your prior application, a customized waitlist plan, and at least one review of your waitlist letter.Request a free consultation today.

The post MBA Waitlist Strategy – 10 Dos and Don’ts appeared first on Vantage Point MBA.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
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