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Sep 1011:00 AM PDT
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What does a truly strong MBA application resume actually look like? In this session, we break down 3 real MBA resumes from successful applicants who got into top business schools. Using redacted before-and-after versions...
Sep 1012:00 PM IST
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Grab your favorite beverage and spend time chatting with Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions, and Brian Mitchell, Associate Dean of the Full-Time MBA Program. The topic for this Coffee Chat is Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 
Sep 1708:30 PM UTC -05:30
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We’ll discuss how top programs in these regions differ in terms of career opportunities, international exposure, location, and post-MBA prospects, and what applicants should consider when building a well-balanced global MBA shortlist.
Posts: 107
wondering how many applicants are out there with 700+ gmat, good work experience, extracurricular, etc who were denied from all their schools. I'm on my path to becoming one and I don't understand why besides applying in R2. Used the most highly rated consultant company also...
Schools: Stern '13 (M)
Posts: 185
I have no idea how many are dinged, but I will say it happens. Last year I applied in round 2 to 5 schools and was waitlisted or rejected at all 5. I have a 750 gmat, good gpa blah blah blah... I interviewed at most of the schools as well so I just couldn't quite make the final cut. I am an engineer and one school told me last year that basically they already had people matching my profile in R1 that had similar stats to me and to apply in R1 next year. A good gmat score is just one small piece of your application process, just because you get a 700+ gmat doesn't mean you have a ticket punched to a top ten school. I think the essays are probably the most important part of the application process, no matter how good your gmat/gpa/resume are bad essays will sink you. Using a consultant can help with the essays, but still you need to come up with the good core content in the essay. If you are dinged at all your schools consider contacting a different consultant to get some feedback on your entire app. Finally, keep in mind the application process is very subjective. I have seen people get rejected at HBA,wharton, chicago, but get into stanford. You just never know what the adcoms are looking for at which school.
These threads should give you some inspiration. There have been a lot of GMAT Club members who've rebounded from a zero admit season with an acceptance at multiple top schools the following year.
Posts: 107
Great thank you.
SalarymanJ - completely agree it's not just about GMAT. I just put it in the title cause that's a baseline requirement almost. I think I have a killer background and experiences, but i'm close to zero admit...
Personally the only thing I could have done differently is to apply R1 instead of R2
SalarymanJ - completely agree it's not just about GMAT. I just put it in the title cause that's a baseline requirement almost. I think I have a killer background and experiences, but i'm close to zero admit...
Personally the only thing I could have done differently is to apply R1 instead of R2
Posts: 3
I got 750 GMAT, BS and Masters degree from MIT with 3.9/4.0 GPA. Got dinged by all schools WITHOUT an interview or waitlist so far. Columbia is the only one I am waiting on (but things don't look good, the schools are not that different and if I don't get an interview at any of them with my stats, then something is very wrong). My essays were pretty good. I had 3 current HBS students review them before submitting, and they agree that it was on par with their essays that got them admitted. My only weakness is that one of my managers wrote a really crappy recommendation letter and submitted it before asking me to look it over (he spent like 5 min on it, had typos and other weird comments, he said he would go over it with me first, but he just submitted it). I'm gonna go cry because I can't shake the feeling that if I had asked someone else to write the letter, then I would have succeeded (or at least gotten an interview at ONE of the schools). Now even if I want to try again next year, I would be a re-applicant which makes it a lot tougher and it sucks to have lost a year too.
That's a serious concern. One of my recommenders always submitted at the last minute and never let me review them. In the end I only got accepted at his Alma Mater so I guess he actually spent time on that one. Perhaps it's best to not even give the recommender the link to submit the reco without reviewing it first.
rouzbie
Did you just say that you're upset that your recommender didn't let you review what is supposed to be an anonymous recommendation?
ariel
Maybe I should clarify. What I mean is I would remind one of my recommenders several times up to the day of the deadline and then finally on the day of the deadline. For every school I applied to he sounded hurried and stressed out to get the recommendation done about an hour before the deadline. In one or two cases I'm fairly certain he didn't write the recommendation until the day of the deadline. That's what I was upset about
noblepaladin
I don't think the reco is the deal breaker here, they are not too important anyway (basically, applicants usually write them for themselves, and schools know that).
My opinion, you are - paradoxically - too strong for them. For G-d sake, not only your GMAT is stellar, you already have Masters degree - and no less, from MIT!
They wonder why such an accomplished candidate would want an MBA. They may suspect you are in for a "victory lap". Try to address the issue in your essays if you decide to re-apply (and I hope you won't need to), and better yet, think why do you need it indeed. MBA is not a classic academic degree and it's tailored more towards younger career-switchers. You can succeed wherever you go.
Posts: 107
noblepaladin
I feel you. I'm in the same boat and my admissions consultant saw me as one of his strongest candidates...CBS is BAD this year - that kicked off my bad streak. Good luck.
Posts: 22
If you don't mind me asking--which consultant did you happen to use?
noblepaladin
I feel your pain and I actually believe that your recommendation letter could be a deal breaker. Imagine that you're competing with all kinds of amazing people who have great GMAT, GPA, essays and track record and who went to great schools. What's left for schools to compare? Recommendation letter, I strongly believe. School adcoms are smart and experienced and they know whether a recommendation letter is authentic/sincere or not.
I personally heard several similar stories like yours. These people re-applied the following year with completely different recommenders (but of course, proven incremental performance from year over year) and they all got into very good schools.
Don't be discouraged. Shxt happens in life. If you clearly know why you want a MBA, one year delay really doesn't mean much.
Posts: 107
It seems TOUGH to reapply in R1. When I finally receive my dings this year, it will be April 2011. With Apps due by Oct 2011, I would want to start the essays by August. that essentially gives me 3-4 months to 'improve'.....
pacific2atlantic
IMHO, I think part of the problem is that a high percentage of people on this site think that only the top 5 or top 8 or whatever schools are worthy of their effort. They get a 740 GMAT and think that it is HBS, Wharton, Stanford or bust. When you are applying to the top schools, they are a crap shoot no matter what your credentials are. That is just a fact of MBA admissions.
If people were to only read these boards they might think that NYU is a "safety" school for most people
Posts: 107
thmgoodw
I completely agree with you - and agree the 10-13% acceptance rate speaks for itself. However, around 25% of candidates get interviewed, and I think many QUALIFIED (not just people who think they are qualified) have been ding'd without interview from all of their school.
arindamcanada
Joined: 07 Feb 2010
Last visit: 13 Jun 2011
Posts: 105
Affiliations: Professional Engineers (Ontario)
Location: Toronto, Canada
WE 1: Nuclear Consultant - 3+ years
Posts: 105
I would add myself to the same list. 720 GMAT, 3.7 GPA in Engineering, Canadian. 3 years WE. Applied to 6 of the M7 schools. Rejected at all without even an interview. Had really strong essays. Goals were a little unorthodox so that could be a reason for the rejections. Strong Leadership in school, now not as much. Need to look more into my goals and try to get involved even more.
Let me throw my hat into the ring.
720/ low gpa/ 4 yrs work ex in oil and gas doing project risk management.
Dinged from duke and cornell. Cornell infact forgot to send me a rejection letter or update my status
. I had to call them to understand what was my status.
Rd 2 applied to kellogg, darden and Mccombs. So far radio silence from Darden and McCombs soooo.. dear brethren kindly embrace me in this esteemed club.
720/ low gpa/ 4 yrs work ex in oil and gas doing project risk management.
Dinged from duke and cornell. Cornell infact forgot to send me a rejection letter or update my status
. I had to call them to understand what was my status. Rd 2 applied to kellogg, darden and Mccombs. So far radio silence from Darden and McCombs soooo.. dear brethren kindly embrace me in this esteemed club.
I feel you. I'm in the same boat and my admissions consultant saw me as one of his strongest candidates...CBS is BAD this year - that kicked off my bad streak. Good luck.[/quote]
I feel you too. My admission consultant said i am one of the stronger ones for CBS and got dinged after interview. So bumped by the decision. Hopefully good news are on the way!
I feel you too. My admission consultant said i am one of the stronger ones for CBS and got dinged after interview. So bumped by the decision. Hopefully good news are on the way!
upInTheAir
Current Student
Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Last visit: 21 Dec 2011
Posts: 85
Location: Northeast - USA
Schools:UCLA Anderson (IN!!), NYU Stern (IN!!), MIT (R1 Ding), Columbia (RD Ding)
Posts: 85
i have a feeling admissions consultants will tell all of their clients that they are "strong" candidates to get the clients to purchase more hours/packages. my friend has a 580 and a 3.0 from Babson UG and was told that she has a shot at H/S/W for R3 by <big name consulting company that I won't name>.
i personally would take everything the admissions consultants say with a grain of salt. i mean you know your own candidacy and you know the profiles of people who currently attend your school of choice so talk to students/alumns and see if you measure up.
i personally would take everything the admissions consultants say with a grain of salt. i mean you know your own candidacy and you know the profiles of people who currently attend your school of choice so talk to students/alumns and see if you measure up.
Posts: 722
^^^ IM calling BS on this specific story.
I have a 720 and a slightly below 3.0.
I spoke with 9 consultants who offered the "free consultation thing"
The all started with...H/S/W/K/B/T/CBS/etc are damn near impossible. I didnt listen and got what was coming to me. (ding at booth)
Spill the beans....do us all a favor and say which consultant LIED to your friend so we dont end up using them.
For the record I agree with you....consultants say things to get you to buy packages. But if anyone would say a 3.0/580 has a chance at HSW they deserve to be exposed.
I have a 720 and a slightly below 3.0.
I spoke with 9 consultants who offered the "free consultation thing"
The all started with...H/S/W/K/B/T/CBS/etc are damn near impossible. I didnt listen and got what was coming to me. (ding at booth)
Spill the beans....do us all a favor and say which consultant LIED to your friend so we dont end up using them.
For the record I agree with you....consultants say things to get you to buy packages. But if anyone would say a 3.0/580 has a chance at HSW they deserve to be exposed.
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