MBA Application Essays : Of Self-Introspection,Insights and other flaff

purple yogi · 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagalguy

Its painful. To think, to gain answers for your actions and take the time to figure out why you did what you did.

.....

Allwin,

after applying to the top schools and getting through to oxford, i have definately realized that one's actions does matter not for the school for but for oneself. Somewhere, i did make something up though very little but not for oxford and sounds ok but i did get into oxford. Also, after getting in i am more clear on what i wnat to do and why i did what i did?

The fact is the B-school for me is one step for bigger things in life and in addition, to this i have realized to take life one step at time and things will happen. You jump with making up stories for admissions in school may just back fire and eventually you are cheating yourself.

I love these talks man, the WHY's..

Rock on

PY

itsrahul

Quote:

Originally Posted by purple yogi

Allwin,

one's actions does matter not for the school for but for oneself.

I concur. I always belive that you can fool the world but cannot fool yourself. A lie now can get you an admit in a school but the same lie would haunt you in future life.

This also reminds me of a famous quote in "To kill a mocking bird". It is abour agreeing to a public opinion which the character does not want to.

"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience"

znaamed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie Derkins

I was just reading the 'Ask Sandy' thread on BW forums.. he quotes HBR “What differentiates a leader from a manager is the ability to figure where to go and enlist the people and groups necessary to get there,” and then says
[well, that actually is something most kids could stress more in their apps, along w. how they did it--SK]

Hmm

Quote:

but some jerks on the forum not only don't admit it but find pleasure in misinterpreting what I say.

You must have a very understanding boyfriend/girlfriend

Susie Derkins

Quote:

Originally Posted by znaamed

You must have a very understanding boyfriend/girlfriend

How cute! Do you have a crush on me?

Crash_test_dummy

Im gonna raise a lot of dust with this post, but what the hey!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie Derkins

AdComm people are just ordinary people... not God's workers judging my life... so take your typical essay "when have your failed and what did you learn"... a deep self-introspection will not result in what AdComm expects...

In fact, sometimes, "adcomms" comprise less-than-ordinary people. At ISB, the first round of elimination of applications is done by...hold your breath....THE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL!! (And this is a fact acknowledged by the school's officials and students). Only after the initial application pile is thrashed down to 20% of the original volume does the REAL adcomm step in. [Quite honestly, the credibility of an adcomm that relies on the judgment of 20-something-olds itself is suspect.] I've personally met with and interacted with these adcomm students at various admission events hosted by ISB. And no offense to the current ISB junta, but i found some of them to be downright dumb; some were kinda smart, but not of a stature that i would be comfortable submitting an application to. The same goes for many US b-schools that conduct their interviews thru their local alumni, who are, again, 20-somethings just out of b school. Now, Im not sure if these kids have the maturity or the experience to appreciate your introspections, insights, and your grand visions of who you are. They want formula.

Anyways, the point im making is...dont get obsessed with the process, look at the result, consider the target audience and speak their language.

Susie Derkins

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crash_test_dummy

In fact, sometimes, "adcomms" comprise less-than-ordinary people. At ISB, the first round of elimination of applications is done by...hold your breath....THE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL!!

I believe "trained second yr students" is the correct phrase

I am sure top B schools choose relatively mature students to do this.. anyway.. the point is.. keep your audience in mind.. that's all... whether it's middle aged AdComm ladies or 2nd yr students... they are looking for similar stuff in your essays.

itsrahul

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie Derkins

I believe "trained second yr students" is the correct phrase

I am sure top B schools choose relatively mature students to do this..

Agree with Susie on this. I have read many admission director' interviews and have never read anywhere that an application is rejected after initial screening by second yr students. I think what happens is that these students write their comments on the essays which are then read by the main ad-comm people.

Crash_test_dummy

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsrahul

Agree with Susie on this. I have read many admission director' interviews and have never read anywhere that an application is rejected after initial screening by second yr students. I think what happens is that these students write their comments on the essays which are then read by the main ad-comm people.

Wishful thinking. If we were to believe everything the adcomm directors say in their interviews, this thread wouldnt exist. You dont expect them to tell you the dirty details of what really happens inside the admission rooms, do you? Im gonna stand by what i said...the students who screened applications at ISB themselves told me that they cut down the pile to about 20-30% of the volume before the actual guys start work on it. This was said by a second year student in the presence of the admission director. The write-comments-and-i'll-review-it etc is the official version.

Crash_test_dummy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie Derkins

I believe "trained second yr students" is the correct phrase I am sure top B schools choose relatively mature students to do this..

Potato-potata. I wasnt very satisfied with most of them "trained" students at ISB at least...i had a 'can-i-speak-to-your-daddy-honey?' moment with most of them.

<quote=itsrahul>
This also reminds me of a famous quote in "To kill a mocking bird". It is abour agreeing to a public opinion which the character does not want to.
"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience"
<quote>

I love quoting movies! This one from pulp fiction fits best on this thread:

"Well, the way they make shows is, they make one show. That show's called a pilot. Then they show that show to the people who make shows, and on the strength of that one show they decide if they're going to make more shows. Some pilots get picked and become television programs. Some don't, become nothing. She starred in one of the shows that became a television program."