What I wish I'd known about MBA admissions.  

Posted by Dino in ,

Hopefully, I've not spoken too soon in saying that I won't be going through the admissions process again. ©

My experience of applying for business school was one hell of a long haul. I think I first started thinking about doing an MBA in the Fall of 2006. It took me a long time to get myself moving; it took me until early 2008 to get my GMAT done. Then it was a whirlwind season of essays, interviews and everything else. Orlando has posted some excellent advice on shaping up an MBA application. Apart from what he has written, if I were to go through it again, there are some specific things that would have been useful for me to have known upfront. This advice may not be for everyone. What a relief that I don't have to take heed of it.

(1) The GMAT: Do the GMAT Prep software practice tests over and over again, reinstalling and installing the software to squeeze out as many new questions as possible. Particularly in the math section of the GMAT, the questions on the real exam are the same as those in the Prep software except with different numbers substituted in. You will eventually start to recognize the question types, from which you can start developing methods to tackle each type. The Manhattan GMAT forums were great for learning the theory behind the questions. I started copying the questions from the forums and grouping them into similar types. The Manhattan GMAT books are great for understanding the concepts.

(2) Get an "inside" contact. Can you find a recommender who is an alum of the school, yet who is still appropriate to do your recommendation? I know a girl who was denied by all 8 schools she applied to, except the one for which a recommender was an alumnus. I'm sure there are other factors to her applications, but I'm also sure the alumnus appeal is a strong influencer on some schools' adcoms. I know a guy who has gone a step further - he has started developing friendships with current and former student MBA application readers. Will they put in a good word for him when he applies? Perhaps most ambitious would be to impress faculty from the school. If you impressed them, would they make a note? ... Some people might ask "Am I gaining an unfair advantage"? I'm sure the adcoms are already wise to these antics. Among several thousand applicants, you might just be gaining a "fair shot".

(3) Take care of the little things. If you are applying to several schools, your applications will start to look similar - even when you try to make sure they are not. The subtle instructions in the applications are what matter. For example, the Kellogg asks about your "career plan". Harvard asks about your "career vision". Stanford asks about your "career aspiration". Wharton asks about your "career goal". I would suggest mixing up these terms will send alarm bells to the reader.

(4) The hunt for financial scholarships starts now. Applying in R1, I thought I would have plenty of time to look at scholarships and grants after I was admitted. I was wrong. Deadlines for some opportunities are before even the R1 deadlines, such as those for the Rotary Club. If there is one thing harder than getting into B School, it is finding someone that will give you free money to go.

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9 comments

J. Edgar  

Excellent advice D.G.

Incidentally, did you apply to the European B-Schools, or just the US?

If just the US, what formed your decision? Was it the post-MBA job offer in the US?

There was an interesting article on the front page of the FT today. It highlighted the little known condition attached to bailout funds. Essentially, no organization in receipt of bailout money or protection, is allowed to employ H1B applicants henceforth. Any current H1B applications must be cancelled etc.

This silly, myopic protectionist action by the US Govt is likely to have a ti-for-tat reaction from other countries. Secondly, it also creates a problem for the US B-Schools - they will see a further decline in applications, even at Ivy level.

The third problem, is something that was highlighted in last week's Business Week magazine; the US needs immigrants in order to innovate, grow and be entrepreurial. US born citizens generally have the "employee mindset" and thus need a job to go to, (even or perhaps especially American MBA's,) who would much rather have a nice job to go to than take the risk of creating a venture.

9 March 2009 at 23:18
J. Edgar  

Excellent advice D.G.

Incidentally, did you apply to the European B-Schools, or just the US?

If just the US, what formed your decision? Was it the post-MBA job offer in the US?

There was an interesting article on the front page of the FT today. It highlighted the little known condition attached to bailout funds. Essentially, no organization in receipt of bailout money or protection, is allowed to employ H1B applicants henceforth. Any current H1B applications must be cancelled etc.

This silly, myopic protectionist action by the US Govt is likely to have a ti-for-tat reaction from other countries. Secondly, it also creates a problem for the US B-Schools - they will see a further decline in applications, even at Ivy level.

The third problem, is something that was highlighted in last week's Business Week magazine; the US needs immigrants in order to innovate, grow and be entrepreurial. US born citizens generally have the "employee mindset" and thus need a job to go to, (even or perhaps especially American MBA's,) who would much rather have a nice job to go to than take the risk of creating a venture.

9 March 2009 at 23:18
D. G.  

Hi J. Edgar. Thanks for your response. No - I didn't apply to any of the European B-Schools, though I would have considered them in Round 2 if all my Round 1 applications had flopped. My impression has been that the US schools have better links to industry and have a better track record of entrepreneurship. Even at Kellogg, regarded by many as not of the entrepreneurial mould of Stanford or Berkeley, there is a structured program for starting companies, an incubator and various other initiatives.

I'd only apply for a job if my venture does not work out. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to spend my internship working on it while getting someone to pay me. I need to think about the visa thing too.

10 March 2009 at 00:36
D. G.  

Hi J. Edgar. Thanks for your response. No - I didn't apply to any of the European B-Schools, though I would have considered them in Round 2 if all my Round 1 applications had flopped. My impression has been that the US schools have better links to industry and have a better track record of entrepreneurship. Even at Kellogg, regarded by many as not of the entrepreneurial mould of Stanford or Berkeley, there is a structured program for starting companies, an incubator and various other initiatives.

I'd only apply for a job if my venture does not work out. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to spend my internship working on it while getting someone to pay me. I need to think about the visa thing too.

10 March 2009 at 00:36
Palo Alto for a While  

Nice post, D.G. I just posted about deciding if/when to apply.

http://paloaltoforawhile.blogspot.com/2009/03/deciding-to-apply_18.html

Let me know what you think.

20 March 2009 at 16:20
Palo Alto for a While  

Nice post, D.G. I just posted about deciding if/when to apply.

http://paloaltoforawhile.blogspot.com/2009/03/deciding-to-apply_18.html

Let me know what you think.

20 March 2009 at 16:20
Alexander Chaos  

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17 April 2009 at 11:11
Alexander Chaos  

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17 April 2009 at 11:11
Best Business School- APPLY NOW!  

Hello

Thanks for the informative post..But please update here what are the MBA courses offered by Kellogg School of Management..

One Year MBA Program

4 February 2010 at 10:45

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