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03 Aug 2018, 19:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Announcing ORION! |
 Want the unrivaled expertise, personalized diagnosis, and schedule flexibility of a private tutor? And would you also rather not have to pay tutoring prices for that kind of service to raise your GMAT score? You’re in luck. While “GMAT self-study” has traditionally meant grinding through prep books or watching recorded lesson videos, Veritas Prep is excited to announce a GMAT self-study program as adaptive as the GMAT itself. ORION is like a tutor in your pocket (or on your desk), customizing lessons to you to maximize the value of your time as you prepare for the GMAT. What is ORION? 1) ORION is adaptive. Using Item Response Theory – the same scoring method used by the GMAT itself – ORION assesses your ability level across 45 thin-sliced GMAT skills, and then customizes curriculum to you to help you best address your weaknesses. 2) ORION is efficient. ORION’s adaptive algorithm determines when you’ve reached proficiency (and seen a representative breadth of content) within a skill and then graduates you to a higher level of difficulty or moves you on to conquer new ground. But until you demonstrate that you’re ready to move on from a skill, ORION will keep challenging you with content that addresses your weaknesses. This way you spend time where it’s most needed. 3) ORION is flexible. With GMAT content sorted into bite-sized skills, you can make meaningful progress toward your dream score in even 20-30 minutes. 4) ORION is fun. While you can make progress in 20 minutes, we bet you’ll stick around longer. With gamification techniques to reward you for achievement and in-app hints and cheat sheets to give you a nudge you while you’re challenged, ORION makes GMAT preparation upbeat and habit-forming. What are people saying about ORION? Veteran GMAT instructors love the way that ORION organizes practice and prioritizes students’ time: “This is the best way I’ve ever seen to do homework. Quickly get familiar with all the angles of the stuff you’re good at, and spend the bulk of your time really working on the things that you’re not. GMAT prep that’s as adaptive as the test itself…it’s kind of genius.” -Chris Kane, GMAT instructor Students of course love their score improvement, and cite the addictive nature of ORION: “Once I started with my study plan, it took me a month to get my desired score, studying never felt as a burden, on the contrary, it always felt like a game -it is literally like playing an online video game. Sometimes I even felt excited to go back home and keep doing my lessons, and sometimes I would even keep studying for more than double the time than I had previously budgeted, I guess this is what helped me achieve my desired score. Since I started studying with ORION, I couldn’t keep myself away from computer, this is the main reason why I loved the software so much; it kept me engaged, it kept me inspired, and gave me the persistence I had lacked before. I finally got a 700… an enormous weight off of my shoulders!” -Diego Landa, successful student Interested in seeing what ORION is all about? You can try it for free at https://learnwithorion.com, but be forewarned – it’s addictive. The post Announcing ORION! appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
21 Aug 2018, 09:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Use Social Media to Improve Your MBA Applications |
 Many of you spend countless hours on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and other social media. Did you know you could use those sites to help you improve your application to business school? Here’s how. Are you struggling with identifying what your passions are? What motivates you? What makes you tick? Your Instagram might be able to help. Look through your pictures. Do you notice any themes? Perhaps you’re the great organizer for your group of friends. Are there one or two pictures that spark an idea for a really good essay topic? To be successful in your application to business school, it’s important to convey to the admissions committee not only what you’ve done (your accomplishments), but also who you are. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Let your pictures remind you of what inspires you. A strong application to business school will have career goals that are researched, realistic and real. Admissions officers expect that you will have researched your career goals prior to applying. In addition to conducting online research about potential post-MBA career paths, we strongly encourage applicants to conduct “human research.” Use LinkedIn and other networks to find people who currently have your target position and ask them about it. Find out what it would take to transition into such a field. Ideally, speak with hiring managers in the field as well, and learn whether an MBA would be the ideal way to achieve this transition. Then in your essay, you can use lines such as, “In speaking with top performers and hiring managers in this industry, they have recommended…, so I have done… to prepare for the upcoming transition.” You can very clearly and concretely demonstrate that your goals are well researched. It’s said that Facebook is a person’s highlight reel. You can use that to your advantage in crafting your narrative for your business school applications. Looking through Facebook may remind you of times you’ve had an impact on others. Or you might discover you’ve liked a lot of posts about saving the planet and there’s a story there you could share in your essays. Or maybe you’ll notice that you work too much and you should do more outside of work so you’ll have more interesting things to post on Facebook and talk about in your essays! So look back through your social media accounts, even the old ones you may have not used in a while. It may just provide a spark of inspiration to get you moving in the right direction. Whatever stage you’re at with your MBA applications, we can help! Contact us for a free consultation! You can also give us a call at 1-800-925-7737 to speak with an MBA admissions expert about your chances of getting into business school and what you can do to increase them! The post Use Social Media to Improve Your MBA Applications appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
06 Sep 2018, 09:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 5 Reasons Why You Should Take Your MBA Personally |
 Top international business schools meet executive talent through One-to-One meetings during Access MBA Tour this Fall. Over the past years the Master of Business Administration (MBA) has become a highly valued degree not only in business-related fields, but in areas as diverse as sports management and aviation. And rightfully so – it can be an asset for professionals who wish to give their managerial career a boost as well as for those who are looking to switch to a different field. Even with increased opportunities for studying in all corners of the world, competition is not to be disregarded. Top MBA programs are looking for ambitious and well-prepared candidates to build a diverse student body and strong alumni network. Applicants need to be ready to invest time and effort into the application process from start to finish. Here is why a personal touch can go a long way. 1) The MBA is a Personal Commitment Deciding to pursue an MBA is a matter for career, lifestyle, and future development. The personality and approach of a school are important factors for MBA candidates to consider. How different MBA programs match one’s expectations is easily discernible by speaking with their representatives in person. 2) Business Meetings with Business Schools Truly determined MBA applicants take the opportunity to talk business with MBA representatives one-on-one – they find out which business schools will enable them to reach their personal and professional goals. MBA meetings also allow applicants to receive feedback on how competitive it is to get admitted to the school. 3) 20 Constructive Minutes Access MBA’s One-to-One events enable professionals to meet the representatives of schools that were carefully selected to correspond to their professional background and expectations. Thus, the school and the MBA candidate are already familiar with one another, and each 20-minute meeting is spent discussing the topics that matter the most. 4) Gain an Admissions Advantage One-to-One MBA event participants get a sneak preview of their chances for admission by asking the right questions and putting forward their best presentation skills. Among the top-ranked, and thus most competitive business schools participating in the Access MBA Tour are IESE, MIT-Sloan, SDA Bocconi, ESCP, ESADE, Duke University, Manchester Business School, McGill University, Cass Business School, Hult, IMD, HHL, and many more. 5) Real-Time Professional Guidance Getting an MBA degree is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and MBA applicants appreciate expert advice. Before, after, and in-between the business school meetings, event visitors can receive free MBA consulting on any aspect of MBA selection, GMAT preparation, funding options, and MBA application strategies to help guarantee a successful business education investment. Why Consider an MBA?
Online registration is free of charge on https://www.accessmba.com/. By registering at least 10 days before the selected MBA event, event participants will receive a profile evaluation and a personalized consultation to identify the most suitable business schools at the event. This article was written by Access MBA, a Veritas Prep partner. The post 5 Reasons Why You Should Take Your MBA Personally appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
14 Sep 2018, 08:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 3 Things to Avoid When Applying to Business School as a Consultant |
 One of the biggest industry feeders to top MBA programs, year in and year out, is consulting. Consultants often come to business schools with an impressive list of client experiences, analytical skills, and business presence. Now, given the surplus of candidates applying from this applicant pool, application season can be very competitive. This competitiveness makes it even more important for consultants to avoid the following issues when applying to MBA programs: 1) They Have No Clear Need for an MBA A career in consulting presents many opportunities to develop a myriad of skills. Consultants are regularly poached to work with some of the top companies in the world, as well. The challenge sometimes for consultants applying to business school then is properly communicating why they actually need an MBA. This may come across as a little odd, given that one would assume if you are applying to business school you should have this detail mapped out, but sometimes a candidate’s rationale can seem muddled in their application. In a weird way, business schools want to feel like they are needed by the applicant, and if there is not a clear opportunity to add value to a person’s life post-MBA, that can be problematic for a candidate applying from such a competitive applicant pool. 2) Using Too Much “We” and Not Enough “I” One of the great advantages of working in consulting is the teamwork-oriented work culture the industry is known for. As MBA programs move increasingly towards a more collaborative approach to learning, the ability to work with others becomes more and more valued. However, given their predominantly team-based work, many consultants struggle to communicate their individual contributions to the greater good of a company. As such, resumes and essays often read as too much “we” and not enough “I,” thus making it difficult for the Admissions Committee to discern the true impact the individual applicant has had during their career. 3) Minimizing Accomplishments Consultants can drive huge impact for clients and their firms on almost every project they work on. This exposure to top companies and major projects on a consistent basis can sometimes make it difficult for consultants to properly contextualize the impact of their work. Avoid minimizing your accomplishments by focusing on your own individual contributions, not just through quantitative numbers but also through qualitative experiences. Focus on highlighting your most impactful moments while contributing a holistic view of your work to best inform the Admissions Committee of your accomplishments. Follow the tips above to avoid wasting all of the great experience you have developed as a consultant when applying to business school. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. Dozie A. is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him here. The post 3 Things to Avoid When Applying to Business School as a Consultant appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
28 Sep 2018, 09:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: MBA Admissions Interviews – What to Expect |
At this time of year we tend to get a lot of questions about the MBA admissions interview process. If you have been invited to interview with one of your target business schools (congratulations!), then here are the main types of questions you can expect to hear:
Good luck in your interview! If you want more hands-on help, take a look at Veritas Prep’s MBA interview preparation services. The post MBA Admissions Interviews – What to Expect appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
05 Oct 2018, 23:36
06 Oct 2018, 00:24
Speed = Distance /Time
09 Oct 2018, 04:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Applying to Business School as an Entrepreneur |
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For the vast majority of business school applicants, pursuing an MBA is primarily about the opportunity to secure employment at their dream corporations. If you are one of the the ambitious few who are interested in entrepreneurship, your MBA dreams may align with incubating your own venture and forgoing the sanctity and security of the more traditional post-MBA career paths. Applying to business school as an entrepreneur sets up a very specific set of considerations applicants should be aware of, however. Let’s discuss a few things that should be considered before applying to MBA programs as an entrepreneur: Chances of Success: How confident are you in the viability of your concept/business? Applying to business school as an entrepreneur is very risky from an application perspective. The Admissions Committee will surely scrutinize your plan and its potential for success, so it is important you have run a similar “stress test” on your concept or business. Generally, business schools want to make sure their students are employed after graduation – an MBA who is not placed at a job at graduation (or 3 months after) can not only bring down the statistics of the school’s post-graduation employment report, but it can also cause that graduate to be an unhappy alumnus, which can lead to a negative perception of their MBA experience. As such, it will be best to make sure your entrepreneurial ambitions are clearly achievable, to both yourself and to the Admissions Committee. Back-up Plan: A high percentage of startup businesses fail. Do you have a contingency plan if your concept fails or if you just decide entrepreneurship is not for you? Schools will be looking to know that you have thought through all of the permutations and combinations of your decision. This can commonly manifest itself as an application question, essay prompt or an interview question, so have an answer ready that is well-thought-out and aligns with your past experiences. Program Support: Are you targeting MBA programs that have a track record of supporting entrepreneurship? The more your school is receptive to the challenges of the entrepreneurial lifestyle, the more well-received your application will be. Don’t think this makes your chances of admission much higher, as these schools are also looking to weed out those less committed to their goals. Also, some programs support entrepreneurs as alumni through funding and loan forgiveness, which could be advantageous during those lean early years of launching your business, and will be handy to keep in mind as you compile your list of target schools. Timeline: Does your timeline for diving into entrepreneurship make sense? Often, applicants will identify entrepreneurship as their short-term post-MBA goal. However, if the road map to starting your business appears a bit murky, shifting this short-term goal to the long-term may help make a better case for your profile. The Admissions Committee tends to be a bit more forgiving with long-term goals, given that so many things can happen before reaching them, but with short-term goals, the expectation is these should be highly achievable. Applying to business school as an entrepreneur can be challenging, but can also represent a tremendous opportunity to pursue your dreams. Consider the above factors before you start your own application process. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or request a free MBA Admissions Consultation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Dozie A. is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him here. The post Applying to Business School as an Entrepreneur appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
19 Oct 2018, 10:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Business School Campus Visit |
 Visiting campus is one of the best ways you can learn about your target MBA programs and not only determine if a program is right for you, but also acquire some school-specific fodder for your applications. This information can transform components of your application – such as the essay, interview, and short answers – into real, customized pieces of content for the admissions decision makers. Before you pack your bags to visit some of the world’s best academic communities, however, read the below tips to make sure you are making the most of your campus visit. 1) Meet with Admissions One of the best parts of visiting campus is the ability to connect with the MBA admissions officers who will eventually review your application. Creating a positive impression with admissions can really pay dividends. Forging a human connection is something that the majority of applicants will not do, so take advantage of the opportunity! Formal opportunities like the various information sessions hosted on campus are no-brainers during a campus visit, but make sure you don’t miss potential chances to also connect with representatives from admissions one-on-one, if possible. 2) Visit a Class Sitting in on an MBA class really helps contextualize the entire business school experience while helping you determine if, academically, a program is right for you. Also, formal class visit programs are often tracked by admissions along with the information sessions, which can signal strong interest to the admissions office. 3) Connect with Students Many programs will have formal programs that allow you to connect with students that share a similar profile as you, such as geographic, academic, interest or other demographic similarities. Informal chats with students can also be just as important, so spending some time on campus in public spaces can facilitate these type of interactions. Most current students will be more than happy to discuss their own personal experiences both on-campus and in the application process, so don’t be afraid to leverage these great sources of information. 4) Explore the Student Community Classes and connections aside, choosing the right business school is an important decision. MBA students spend a lot of time both on-campus and in the immediate area around campus, so taking the time to explore the greater community is a critical aspect of any visit. Determining if big cities such as New York and Los Angeles are a fit for you, or if smaller towns like Hanover or Evanston are more your style, is an integral part of the decision making process. Utilize these four tips to make the most of your business school campus visits. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 to speak with an MBA admissions expert, or sign up for a free consultation and receive personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Dozie A.is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for theKellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. The post 4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Business School Campus Visit appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
31 Oct 2018, 07:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: How to Prepare for Your Business School Interview |
 For many applicants the notification of an interview invite from your dream school is an exciting next step after an arduous application process. All of your hard work has finally paid off with some initial success. However, typically the excitement soon turns to anxiety as candidates begin to realize they have no idea how to prepare for an admissions interview for business school. “Is it just like a regular job interview?” “What type of questions do they ask?” are just some of the common initial questions that can arise once an interview invitation is received. The business school interview should not be viewed as anything new to you. It is more similar to the traditional job interview than you might expect. Just like a regular interview you are aiming to impress and the majority of the interview will be focused on YOU! The key difference with this interview is really just the goal, which in this case is admission to the MBA program of your dreams. We at Veritas Prep recommend preparing for your MBA interview the same way you prepare for any job interview, it starts with knowing your own personal background inside and out along with your motivations for that target business school. Then it’s on to researching your target school and identifying the aspects that make the school uniquely attractive to you. A nice way to do this is to pair up school-specific offerings of interest with an adjoining explanation for why that offering is uniquely attractive to you. This includes academic offerings, extracurricular activities/professional clubs, career support/recruiting strengths, etc. Next you should identify common MBA questions like…
Also, breakthrough candidates will make sure to incorporate the “I” of what they accomplished into their script. Make sure to connect the dots with regards to the steps you’ve taken in your career, and remain structured in your responses. Utilizing the S.T.A.R format (Situation-Task-Action-Result) and talking in buckets – “There are 3 Reasons Why I Want to Go to Fuqua” are other tactics you can incorporate into your preparation for the interview. Finally, take particular note of how the interview style of certain schools can affect your responses. Some schools like Kellogg have “blind” interviews so the interviewer will not have seen your application, so they will not have access to important information like GPA, GMAT, essays etc. Other styles can be influenced by the type of interviewer (Alum vs. Student vs. Admissions) or the location (On Campus vs. Off Campus) which can dictate the type of information you are prepared to share as well as list on your resume for the interview. Don’t let the interview be the end of your business school journey. Prepare accordingly and come decision day you will be all smiles! Want to craft a strong application? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or sign up for a free admissions consultation. Let’s get started! Dozie A. is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. The post How to Prepare for Your Business School Interview appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
01 Nov 2018, 16:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: All About College Admissions Interviews (and How to Ace Yours!) |
 If you are applying to any schools that offer admissions interviews, it’s likely the interview invitation will come shortly after you submit your application. With application deadlines occurring right now and in the coming weeks, it wouldn’t hurt to start preparing for this important part of the application process. Admissions Offices typically employ their large alumni base to conduct admissions interviews. These people are located around the world and can interview applicants based on geographic location. Alumni interviewers are given a “guide” on what to evaluate, not necessarily specific questions to ask. This means that not all interviews will be the same, and each alumni interviewer will use their own questions and tactics to evaluate the same criteria:
In preparation for your interviews, I would recommend coming up with 3–5 questions to ask your interviewer about their school experience. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the institution as well, and having prepared questions is often regarded positively. Don’t forget to remain professional in all of your email correspondence with your interviewer as well. Their evaluation of you begins at the first communication. If you’re interested in coaching for your college admissions interviews, feel free to check out our admissions consulting services! We’d be happy to help you ace your college interview! The post All About College Admissions Interviews (and How to Ace Yours!) appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
07 Nov 2018, 11:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 5 Tips for Veterans Applying to Business School |
 So, you are looking to go back to school to earn your MBA and either plan for or facilitate your transition into a civilian role. Here are a few tips on how to leverage your military experience into a successful business school application. 1) Leadership, leadership, leadership Whether you have been in an active combat situation or manage a satellite program, you have led many teams in your military career, and possibly at a military academy or at boot camp as well. Make sure to highlight leadership examples in your application. Especially for younger candidates, leadership and people management are key, as what you have likely exceeds a comparable civilian candidate. 2) Budget Management As a team or program leader, you probably have managed significant budgets. Add these dollar amounts into your resume to highlight your fiscal responsibility. Chances are, even if they aren’t big for the military, they are probably much bigger than someone your age has had in a civilian role. 3) Critical Thinking Skills / Adaptability The work you did, whether in combat or behind the scenes, had significant implications. You have to quickly assess the situation and think on your feet. You had to adjust your knowledge and training for the circumstances that you are in. These are key skills that business schools look for, and many often teach a class for it! 4) Handling Classified Information You most likely had secret clearance and handled confidential information that had major implications on security. You are a greatly trusted employee. On the flip side, you probably aren’t able to discuss some of the work that you did in your essays or in an interview, nor will your supervisors be able to provide detailed examples in your recommendations. Provide what information that you can, and focus on the demonstration of key skills versus the context. 5) Academics Many graduates of the Military Academies have lower GPAs than the range posted by Admissions committees as the target spread. Admissions Committees are aware that grading and use of curves is different at the Military Academies, and the cadets must balance academics with extensive physical training and requirements as well. Focus on your GMAT, and take an extension class or two if you want to provide additional proof that you have the academic background to complete your MBA. We salute you for your service to our country! And we are here to help you with your pursuit of higher education. We have a great team of Admissions Consultants ready to work with you towards your goal. Contact us for more information! If you are interested in receiving more information on our Admissions Consulting services, please call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and YouTube, and follow us on Twitter! Nita Losoponkul, a Veritas Prep head consultant for UCLA, received her undergraduate degree in Engineering from Caltech and went from engineering to operations to global marketing to education management/non-profit. Her non-traditional background allows her to advise students from many areas of study. She has successfully helped low GPA students get admitted into UCLA. The post 5 Tips for Veterans Applying to Business School appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
15 Nov 2018, 13:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Admissions 101: Do Your Letters of Recommendation Have This? |
 When working with admissions consulting clients, we coach them on how to select the best people to write their letters of recommendation. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, hopefully by now you know that they need to know you well, more than just as a friend, and must be able to provide specific stories that support the main themes that you want to highlight in your application. That’s “Page One” as we say around Veritas Prep headquarters — those are all of the basic requirements that you need to cover with your recommendation writers, no matter what. If someone doesn’t even meet those criteria, then he or she definitely should not be on your short list of potential recommenders. But there’s one other rule that you should apply to all of your recommenders, no matter where you know them from or what your relationship is with each of them. This is one thing that MBA admissions officers rarely mention, but not because they want to trick you or hide their intentions. Rather, it’s so blindingly obvious that they normally don’t even bother mentioning it. What is it? We’ll put it in all caps to emphasize a point: Your letters of recommendation must contain “pound the table” enthusiasm about your candidacy! What do we mean? Imagine the application reader, instead of just reading through your files, actually conducting a face-to-face interview with each one of your recommenders. Remember that these people are being called upon to convince the application reader that you’re a terrific candidate. Which would you rather have? A recommender who says, “Yes, this applicant is pretty good (yawn),” or “Look, if you don’t admit this person, you’re making the (pounds the table for emphasis) biggest mistake of your life!!!” We think we know which one we’d prefer. Granted, your letters of recommendation shouldn’t quite be so breathless — you don’t want to sound like you come from an insane asylum, after all — but that sort of enthusiasm is very, very valuable in helping business school admissions officers determine who the real stars in the applicant pool are. After all, who can speak to your potential better than someone who has worked with you for the past couple of years? If that person gets giddy when talking about how great you are… well, it’s hard for admissions officers to ignore that. So how can a letter of recommendation effectively convey this enthusiasm while still sounding professional, without overdoing it? We actually think it’s pretty hard to overdo it (we’d suggest that you err on the side of letting your recommendation writers sound very passionate about your candidacy), but the recommendation format provides ample opportunity for your recommendation writers to do it. Next week we’ll cover exactly how they can go about communicating that you are a “must have” applicant! Applying to business school soon? Call us at (800) 925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissionsexpert. And, be sure to find us on Facebook and YouTube, and follow us on Twitter! The post Admissions 101: Do Your Letters of Recommendation Have This? appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
19 Nov 2018, 08:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Admissions 101: Getting Enthusiastic Letters of Recommendation (Part I) |
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Last week we wrote about how great letters of recommendation contain “Pound the Table!” levels of enthusiasm. It’s nice for your recommenders to write, “He’s a strong employee who will do well in the future,” but that doesn’t grab an MBA admissions officer by the collar and shout, “This person has ‘it,’ and you would be a fool not to admit him!” And that difference easily makes the difference between an admit and a rejection, or an admit and eternal waitlist purgatory. “That’s all well and good,” you’re saying, “but how do I actually get my recommenders to convey this kind of enthusiasm in what they write?” There are a couple of things to ask yourself, and a couple of key steps to take to make sure that your recommenders understand the game, and do their utmost to help you get admitted. Today we’ll look at who in your life will be most likely to produce the kind of enthusiastic letters you need to get into a top-ten MBA program. Choose People Who Know You Well We have written about this countless times before, but first and foremost, your recommenders need to really know you, including your weaknesses (come on, you probably have more than one) and your ambitions. They should know your personality, what makes you laugh, and what you enjoy doing in your free time. They may not actually write about all of this, but if they can’t answer basic questions about you as a person, then they probably don’t know you well enough. So why does it matter so much? Your letters of recommendation need to contain specific examples of you in action. The best recommendations contain a lot of verbs, and we like this rule of thumb, but applicants should take a step back and think about what this means beyond the specific style choices that their recommendation writers will make. If a recommendation writer can’t cite specific examples of why you’re a great leader in the making, or why you are good and acting on constructive feedback, then their letters will sound vague and wishy-washy… Not the stuff that “Pound the Table!” recommendations are made of. Choose People Who Care About You If your recommenders are not at least a slight bit personally invested in seeing you succeed, then how can they write enthusiastic recommendations? Remember that, at least before the interview, admissions officers don’t know you at all beyond the words they see in your application. If they don’t see evidence that those around you adore you and want you to succeed, then that says something about what kind of positive impact you have (or don’t have) on your organization and your community. Now, even if you’ve done everything right and have done amazingly well in your career so far, you still might happen to work with some people who just aren’t inclined to care about others. Or, you may work for someone who in fact doesn’t want to see you get into business school, since they would rather you stay in your current role, for their own selfish reasons. These instances are not your fault, but you still need to steer around those people. If your current boss falls into this “”not enthusiastic” camp, you still may need to get a recommendation from him or her, but will need to augment that recommendation with another one from someone whose level of caring will clearly come through in their application. Choose People Who Believe In You Similarly, if you solicit letters of recommendation from people who just don’t quite envision you kicking butt in business one day, you may be disappointed with their final output. For schools that ask recommenders to rank you against your peers, or against other young professionals they have managed, you will want to work with recommenders who are comfortable giving you “Top 1%”-type ratings for at least most of the questions in the recommendation. Odds are that you will know pretty well who thinks of you as “Top 1%” material or merely as “Top 20%” material. If you’re not sure, be careful. But if you think you have identified someone who believe in your potential, then earning high ratings from them partly depends on properly setting their expectations, which we’ll get into more next time, in Part II! Do you plan on applying to business school soon? Call us at (800) 925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissionsexpert about your letters of recommendation. And, be sure to find us on Facebook and YouTube, and follow us on Twitter! The post Admissions 101: Getting Enthusiastic Letters of Recommendation (Part I) appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
22 Nov 2018, 09:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Happy Thanksgiving from Veritas Prep! |
 Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the past year, give thanks for all the good that is in your life… and be completely stressed out. Between gathering ingredients to roast the perfect turkey, formulating your plan of attack for Black Friday shopping, arranging your holiday decorations (Didn’t we just finish Halloween?), and mentally preparing yourself to interact with family members you may or may not be excited to see, add to that the stress of preparing for your educational future. Whether you are studying to take the GMAT, GRE, SAT or ACT, or are tweaking your dream school application for the tenth time, the holidays are most certainly not the most relaxing time of the year. At Veritas Prep, we’d like to make your holidays just a little less stressful by offering you our biggest discounts of the year for Black Friday: now through November 26, you can save up to $1,000 on test prep and MBA admissions consulting services, and up to $1,500 on college admissions counseling from Veritas Prep! This sale won’t last forever, so check out our discounts below and take advantage of the savings before it’s too late! College Black Friday Sale > MBA Black Friday Sale > From everyone at Veritas Prep, we’d like to take this opportunity to express how thankful we are for our amazing students, instructors, admissions consultants, and staff that we are fortunate to be able to work with every day. We hope that wherever you are in the world, that you have a wonderful holiday weekend. Happy Thanksgiving! The post Happy Thanksgiving from Veritas Prep! appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
26 Nov 2018, 08:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Admissions 101: Getting Enthusiastic Letters of Recommendation (Part II) |
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Last week we wrote about three things you should look for in your recommendation writers to ensure that your letters of recommendation include “Pound the Table!” levels of enthusiasm. Your business school recommendation writers need to know you well, they need to care about you, and they need to believe in you. These criteria may seem a bit obvious, but it’s hard for someone to shout, “This is someone you need to admit to your MBA program!” unless these are all true. For sure, a necessary ingredient is a recommendation writer who’s very willing to write a glowing letter for you. But, even if someone has the best of intentions, how can you be sure he will write a great letter for you? How can you equip them with what they need to help you as much as possible? Today we’ll look at three things you can (no… should!) do to help your recommenders help you as much as possible: Let Them Know That Effusive Praise Is Not Unprofessional When writing an important business letter, especially when you don’t know the recipient, it’s only natural to err on the side of sounding extremely formal. Of course, your recommenders should sound professional, communicate clearly, and write correctly, but that does not mean that they need to sound so stiff that they could be delivering a prepared hostage statement. When we write formal business letters, the voice we use tends to be very monotone, and we tend to avoid using very many superlatives… This is far less likely to grab the reader than something that states, “I’ve managed quite a few young professionals over the past dozen years, and no one has impressed me like [insert your name here] has. Here’s why…” Of course, hopefully that’s true (read Part I again to be sure!). If it’s not, then you may need to keep looking for another recommender. Arm Them with Specific Examples to Illustrate Your Greatness Even when your recommenders love you and want to see you succeed, when they sit down to start writing your letters of recommendation, they may not realize that it’s simply not enough to say, “This applicant has great leadership skills.” They need to say, “This applicant has great leadership skills, and here’s an example from a few months ago to show you why.” And, once they do realize that “show, don’t tell” is in fact the name of the game, they probably won’t have multiple examples handy to help back up their statements about you. Your job therefore is to provide them with these examples, in written form. If you’re wondering if providing such a “cheat sheet” is ethical or is a good idea, the answer is an unequivocal “Yes!” to both. Don’t leave your recommenders wondering how to shoe how great you really are. Tell Them It’s Okay to Ask for Help When you give your recommenders the necessary forms, deadlines, and key background information about yourself, it’s often too easy for them to feel that they need to go off on their own and not come back until they have a final recommendation for you. Definitely do not let them suffer alone or allow them to put things off to the last minute. They’re busy, for sure, but it also may be writer’s block that is keeping them from digging into the task at hand. Let them know that it’s okay to ask for help, or to show you a sample paragraph and ask, “Do I seem to be on the right track here?” Doing so will make their jobs easier, and will give you peace of mind as you know that things are happening. Do you plan on applying to business school soon? Call us at (800) 925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissionsexpert about your candidacy. And, be sure to find us on Facebook and YouTube, and follow us on Twitter! The post Admissions 101: Getting Enthusiastic Letters of Recommendation (Part II) appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
06 Dec 2018, 12:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 3 Common Mistakes MBA Applicants Make Choosing Essay Topics |
 One of the most undervalued steps in the business school essay-writing process is to make sure the essay ties in with all of the other components of the MBA application – the resume, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and GMAT scores. In the process and stress of making the major life decision of attending business school, many applicants often anchor their essays by one of the common factors below, and thus, lose out on presenting a stronger overall profile. Let’s examine these mistakes one by one: Professional Domain A candidate’s pre-MBA industry, company, and job function are all important, so it is understandable that these may be top of mind when brainstorming for examples and highlights to include in your essay. When it comes to the MBA application essay, however, it is always best to consider mixing in different elements of your life experiences – ones that would help complement your resume and not just elaborate on what the reader will already glean from it. Extracurricular activities, especially those that are not related to your profession, help show a multidimensional personality, so it would be wise to discuss the ones you are involved with in your essays. For instance, an accomplished banker with excellent academics may be better off sharing leadership experiences with his mountain hiking group rather than detailing how he was able to do well in the CFA exams. In this case, valuable space in the essays can be better used to show additional dimensions of the applicant’s profile. Most Performed Activity Another common error, especially when creating your resume and even preparing for your interview, is to focus on the activities you perform most frequently. As critical as operational and maintenance tasks are, it would be better to play up more attention-grabbing tasks. For example, it would be better to showcase how you led the financial review for your company’s new distribution model or new product lines than to describe the regular payroll disbursements you assist with. In short, when asked to describe what you do, it is not always best to prioritize your activities by the number of hours you spend on them. Instead, choose the ones that would be the most exciting to discuss, and the ones that will highlight more of your strengths. Technical Accomplishments Applicants from technical fields typically want to share their most technically challenging work. Sharing complexity does demonstrate deep expertise, and that your company trusts you to take on tremendous responsibilities, however you must also consider if there are better examples that would better showcase your experiences with collaboration and leadership. Remember, the MBA is geared towards developing your ability to work with people, whether it is through motivating teams of people, mentoring individuals, or managing challenging relationships. Thus, details on your technical accomplishments should be shared in a way that is understandable to non-industry readers. Details on these more technical achievements should be descriptive enough to show impact and expertise, but concise enough that you still have room to display the key transferable skills you learned from this accomplishment, such as leadership and teamwork. Following the tips above should help you decide how to use the limited space in your MBA application and present a complete picture of your unique personality. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or request a free MBA Admissions Consultation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! And as always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Written by Edison Cu, a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for INSEAD. You can read more articles by him here. The post 3 Common Mistakes MBA Applicants Make Choosing Essay Topics appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
07 Dec 2018, 13:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: What to Do If Your College Applications Are Deferred |
 If you applied to college under any Early Application deadlines this year, you’re probably anxiously checking your email to learn the result. Early Application decisions will be released by schools shortly, and there are a few things that could happen… Best Case Scenario: You’re accepted! If you applied under an Early Decision deadline, it means you are bound to attend, so it’s time to buy the school t-shirt and start planning your next steps! If you applied under an Early Action or Restrictive Early Action deadline, it means you can keep this acceptance in your back pocket and choose to explore other options if you’d like. Either way… congratulations! Worst Case Scenario: You’re denied. This stinks, and it will probably be really disappointing news. Take time to process your feelings and accept your fate, and then focus all of your energy on finishing compelling applications to the rest of the schools on your list. Scenario 3: You’re deferred. If you’re deferred, it means that the admissions committee thinks you are a competitive applicant, but they want to see how competitive you are against the applicants who apply under Regular Decision. They are deferring your application to the Regular Decision round, and now you will get their final admissions decision in March. There are a few things you can do in the next few weeks to boost your candidacy. First and foremost, do not inundate your admissions representative with emails and questions. Take the time to craft your strategy and send them just one communication. When you reach out, you should highlight any and all of the accomplishments and updates in your candidacy from when you submitted your application until now. Did you win an award? Did you earn straight As in your classes? Were you chosen as the Captain of a sports team? All of this information should be shared with them, as they can take it into consideration when reviewing your application against the Regular Decision applicant pool. In the end, it’s not the end of the road if you are deferred. It’s important to make sure you submit other competitive applications in the meantime, but there is still a glimmer of hope that you’ll get an admit decision soon! The post What to Do If Your College Applications Are Deferred appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
28 Jan 2019, 18:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: All About Business School Interviews: Questions and Much More |
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The process of applying to business school involves several steps. Filling out an admissions application, writing an essay, and submitting GMAT or GRE scores are just a few of those steps. Another important step is the interview. An interview allows business school admissions officials to get a look at the student behind the application. It also gives a student the chance to ask the admissions officials a few questions. At Veritas Prep, our knowledgeable consultants help students prepare their admissions application, create a convincing essay, and organize all of the documents and deadlines involved in applying to business school. We know what business schools are looking for, and we share that valuable information with our students. Consider some typical questions asked of business school applicants, and learn some other helpful tips for students getting ready for an interview: Typical Questions Asked During Business School Interviews For students who want to study business, interview questions can range from the academic to the personal. Generally, the official conducting the interview starts by asking a student why they want to attend that school. The interviewer is looking for specific answers to this question. For instance, a student may bring up certain internship opportunities available due to the school’s longtime relationship with a variety of companies. Or a student may mention the school’s average class size of just 30 students. These answers show that the candidate is familiar with what the school has to offer. Another typical question asked in business school interviews concerns a student’s strengths and weaknesses. This question reveals the character, motivation, and work ethic of a student. The answer helps to reveal a student’s suitability for the study program. It’s a good idea for a student to mention what they are doing to improve in any weak areas. Generally, students are asked about their career plans and how a degree from business school will help them in the pursuit of a particular profession. Students will also be asked about their academic accomplishments and their leadership skills. All of these answers and others help an interviewer to envision the candidate as a student in the business school. How to Prep for the Interview One of the best ways to prepare for interview questions is to review a school’s website. Most school websites include information about class size and faculty member qualifications. Also, there are statistics on the number of students who find jobs after graduation. This is an efficient way to find specific facts. Students should practice answering potential questions with a friend or family member. The person playing the interviewer can offer helpful suggestions on how the student can improve upon certain answers. Plus, students can use this opportunity to come up with questions for the interviewer about the school and its courses. Our consultants at Veritas Prep have the skills and experience to assist students as they prep for their business school interview. Our online experts have inside knowledge about the admissions process. What to Bring to the Interview Most of the time, a business school has a copy of a student’s résumé at the interview, but it’s a good idea for students to bring a few extra copies of their résumé with them too, since there might be additional officials in the interview room. Students may also want to bring a copy of their GMAT or GRE test scores as well as a copy of their latest transcript. A student may not need to take any of these documents out of their folder, but it’s a good idea to have them on hand just in case. What to Wear to the Interview Dressing in an appropriate way plays a part in a student’s success in an interview at a school of business. Interview questions and answers are the most important elements of an interview, but a student must also make a good visual impression. It’s best for a student to wear conservative clothes and have a well-groomed appearance. A student doesn’t have to invest in designer clothes to make a positive impression on an interviewer – just look neat and professional. Our MBA consultants at Veritas Prep guide students through the process of applying to business school. We have the resources to prepare students for the GMAT, advise them on their admissions application, and offer strategies for success in business school interviews. Call or email Veritas Prep today and let us partner with you on the path toward an advanced degree in business. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. The post All About Business School Interviews: Questions and Much More appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
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