Ask Jennifer@Accepted.com: Application-writing advice for the best global B-schools

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by trex08

Hi Jennifer,

I am one of the applicants targetting Asian and UK school for MBA will have 4 years experience again from IT but a varied role. I have given my GMAT its on the lower end.

My query is how do I begin the entire process though its a silly question. I am just researching on the schools currently. I have not made my resume and essays are far away. Still hopfull of making round 1 of most schools.
Do you have any piece of advice as to where to begin with writing good essays?

Regards,
trex08

Hi, Trex. I would say a good place to start is to make a list of your most significant accomplishments and the situations that really made you who you are. These core stories must find their way into the essays and application materials. As you look through these examples, try to find ways to show the obstacles you overcame and what made them the most challenging. Also, try to find ways to quantify your impact.

Start with your first choice school and look at their essays and letters of recommendation. What characteristics are they seeking in their students – hint: the letter of recommendation forms are very clear about the characteristics each is targeting. Make sure you pick the examples from your experiences that demonstrate those attributes.

I can usually work through each school's essays in about a week with a client, so it is certainly possible to start now and apply to several schools first round. Good luck with this challenging process!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by mba_2010

Hello Jennifer,

I am planning to apply in top Indian and European 1 year MBA programs. I have around 9 years of experience in telecommunication product development and GMAT is 700 (V - 38, Q - 48 ), AWA 4.00.

I know my GMAT is in ballpark and AWA is low. Most of the colleges I am planning to apply do not require TOEFL but do you suggest taking TOEFL to explain low AWA score? Someone suggested me taking TOEFL and using additional essay to explain low AWA score.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,
Rajat

Hi, Rajat. I don't think the AWA is anything to worry about. Your GMAT score shows your verbal ability is fine; these are not writing programs you are applying to. I would really only worry if the AWA was less than 3. Unless your pencil broke and you could not complete the AWA, then I cannot imagine what explanation would help your case (and not just bring up and end on a sour note). I would not mention it.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by agent.smith

Hi Jennifer,

I am planning to apply to INSEAD.IE ,IESE,HEC,IMD for fall,09.

I have following scores- GMAT 730(40V,49Q)
TOEFL 103/120.

Education:

Bachelor's in commerce(Honore) - B.com(H) ,First division
Masters in Computers - MCA , First division

Professional Experience

Industry - IT
Work ex - 4+ till this date.

I have 4 year of professional experience till date working in software MNC's in India.I am working in role of a team lead for quite some time and involved in providing technical guidance to team members and general team management. (which i understand in common)

I have recently conceptualised a product idea ,proposed it to my seniors.They liked it and I was entrusted to build a team and implement the idea.We did created prototype. It was launched in market and comapny get a order from big US bank.Will this count as leadership/initiative experience and will act as a differentiator among IT pool applicants?

Global expereince:

Also,I am regularly engaged in client interaction (clients based in US and canada).I have 8-9 months of experience working abroad in Australia,too.

Entreprenurial experience

Also ,I have co-founded a small IT company last year and I work for it on part time basis. It is a registered company and we have 10-12 employees in devleopment and marketing.

Extra curricular

As far as extracurricular is concerened,

I have won merit award at state level exam.

I voluntarily work at a local charitable trust (administartive work and helping in carrying out health programmes like pulse polio,awarness , blood donation camp) and can get reco letter for same.

Also I am involved in CSR activities in my company itself(where I work full
time)


Goal

If I project that my short term career goal is private equity ,will that go against me as I am from IT background.(though i believe it might not as I have bachelors degree in commerce)

Please provide you fedback on my profile.


Best regards,
agent.smith

Hi, Agent.smith. I do like the two significant leadership roles you described – launching a new product from within your company and launching your own successful startup. These are exactly the types of vision and leadership that the MBA programs are seeking.

Your extracurricular involvement sounds less exciting, so I suggest you get more involved in your company's CSR activities, hobnob with the leadership of the company if possible, and make a large impact in this realm as well.

I do worry about your private equity short-term goal. With no finance background, this will seem like a stretch, and statistically few graduates actually enter PE immediately after graduation. I suggest you pursue a more general management goal unless you can prove a solid understanding of the finance industry already.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[brandmanager]

Hi Jen,

Would Request you to evaluate my profile

GMAt- Would write it in Mid Oct,RIght now trying trying to work on my Verbal,which is an area of worry,Managing high 40's & 50's in Quant.Should Cross 720 atleast.

Education-B.E,Electronics ( 64%),Only saving grace was-got 1st Rank in the university for final Degree Project-98%

Additionally have done 2 yrs Retail Management/Merchandising diploma program from National Institute of Fashion Technology,NIFT,Ministry of textiles(6.6CGPA),NIFT is a Premium College for Fashion Designing Course and related Courses which are related to Textile/Apparel Industry. This program is popularly called AMMM and is reckoned as a premium course, in Apparel/Retail Industry.

Work Ex- Vertical-Retail (Operations,Business development,Marketing).

Worked with No 1 Apparel company of India,for International Brands and was Heading an entire Zone in 1.5 yrs time,Being the youngest Retail manager in the company,handling 6 states for entire retail set up.Have handleded a big team of over 60 people( including front end sales staff),store managers,executives.A good peoples manager.

Current Profile-Marketing Manager in An fortune 100 MNC,for their Service Retail Start Up,Franchising Business.Portfolio has over 120 retail stores.Additional Responsibilty of handling Customer Experience Profile,along with Brand Management,Sales Promotions,Marketing Campaigns,Website Management,etc etc.Have a Sound Knowledge of the Business side,for Retail Set ups

Worked for a Year after Engineering-for a small Electrical components Org( Opted it over Infosys),never wanted to be a software Engineer and do a coding job.

TOtal work Ex, by april 2009-6 yrs

On international exposure front, Been to the US for a month,Holding 10 yr B1/B2.Guess in Sales & Marketing international Exposure is Limited( apart from Dubai etc)

Have won a couple of awards in Retail Ops and Marketing in the organisations have worked for-Have certificates for them.

Additional Work Ex- Visiting faculty for Fashion Retail Management course at NIFT,Associated with 2 of NIFT centres.

Extra Curriculars- President of College-NIFT, Department captain for a couple of sports, Debating etc etc.Master of ceremony for a coupls of events.Lots of involvement in sports.

Worked for Tsunami relief fund for my earlier org,and continue to teach and sponsor 2 young kids of class 4 employees( my house maids children)

Post MBA-want to venture in Retail Consultancy and eventually be an enterpreneur,I want to continue my Hobby/Extra curricular of working as honourary Visiting Faculty in other B-schools.I enjoy Teaching.Would have loved to move into academics, but 4 yrs of fellowship is too much an ask.

Request You to kindly evaluate my profile,Kindly suggest what additional things can be done to strengthen my case

Kindly Suggest, which colleges i should be Targeting at, Only constraint is i would like to go for a 1 yr program.

Cheers

BrandManager

[Accepted]

Originally Posted by urefriendforeve

Hi Jennifer,

I would like your opinion on the following two questions

1) It is very commonly asked from a candidate to explain his/her reasons for doing MBA. What kind of an answer is expected in this case? As i see it, one gets into MBA to open up new career opportunities and also pick up business concepts(especially someone who is from a non-commerce background), and each school has career services who do assist in helping the student figure out what is the best fit for him/her. On the other hand during MBA application procedure, I have found that its never enough to site "into MBA to open up new career opportunities and also pick up business concepts" as a good enough reason. Ofcourse one must know the direction one wants to take, especially a reason for choosing MBA over other specilization and post graduadion courses, but is it really required to know the exact very thing that one wants to do as an MBA.

for example, my response to this question would be " I want to get into an MBA program for academic exposure to business concepts- of which i have very little knowledge of. And post MBA i would like to work in the Automotive High Tech sector and look to roles that help in integration between relevant stake holders(Auto oem's-suppliers-software co's).

However without sounding rigid, in reality i am open to the high tech sector in general. Would admitting this be a sign of a person who does not have focus? Especially because its easy for the admissions committe so say that unfortunately we do not cater to the auto high tech sector speficially, where as its just my first preference and i am willing to compromise on it. Broadly speaking getting back into the high tech sector would be my goal, but as a matter of preference i would like to be involved in the auto side.


2) Very briefly - i have a gmat score of 710 with 5 yrs of experience post graduation. Will not get into further details as i understand this is not the forum.

I would like your recommendation on the schools that i can look at with regards to my interest post MBA(if you find my reasons for MBA compelling enough to answer this question)
Look foward to your response to my "very long" post.

Many thanks
Nishant Khanna

Hi, Nishant. Your goal needs to be defined for many reasons. Off the top of my head, here is a short list of them:
1) to see if you are realistic about what an MBA can do for you
2) to see if you understand what your background has prepared you to do so far
3) to see if you are driven enough and dream big enough to warrant them putting their diploma behind you.

Your goals as you defined them here are very specific, and I highly recommend you go with the automotive role that you mentioned over a more vague high-tech goal (assuming your background is in automotive). Your goals essay would need to explain what business skills and knowledge you have gained so far that will prepare you for that goal in the automotive sector and how each school will add to those skills to prepare you for this goal. You can demonstrate your flexibility and knowledge of the programs by doing research about the specific recruiting of the different schools and finding roles that recent grads filled that would neatly fit your goals.

The schools that best fit this goal include those with links to the automotive and manufacturing industries, for instance Michigan, Kellogg, CMU, MIT, Purdue, and maybe Case Western.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by runaway21

Hi Jennifer,

I am looking forward to US B-Schools and ISB.

1. Please let me know if I at all stand any chance in ISB.

2. As far as US B-school goes, I am keen on applying to UNC, Purdue, Texas-Austin, UIUC. I am looking for an MBA in Information Systems. Please let me know on what do I need to concentrate as I start writing my essays.

Personal Background
Age – 25, Male

Educational Background
SSC: 85.5%
HSC: 85.6%
BE: 80.1% (B.E Civil from a reputed Engineering College in India)

GMAT
700 (Q50-V35 AWA 6.0)

Work Experience
4yrs in IT Consulting
1.5 Yrs: IT Major in India
After training joined as a QA. Worked with clients such as Microsoft Corporation. As a fresher started as a team member and later on became a module leader within 6 months. Worked in diverse cultural groups. Gained experience of face to face Client interaction.
2.5 Yrs: One of Big 4 consulting firm
Working as an IT consultant in the Performance Improvement unit. Worked as a project lead in 3 projects. for US-Clients. I became a subject matter expert and have been recommending clients in setting up different QA processes.

Extra-curricular and Community Work

Have Co-founded an NGO 3 years back after passing out of college with the aim to help the underprivileged students across different states in India. Right now the NGO has been registered and has more than 200 direct beneficiaries. We regularly track the progress of the students by visiting the places and providing them with information and guidance other than monetary assistance. Our one-time initiatives include programs that we take up during floods or other natural disasters.

I am into public Speaking. I have co-founded a Toastmasters Club in my organization. Have taken up leadership Roles to create the platform where co-workers can hone their public speaking and leadership skills. Played part in membership building activities, marketing and currently I am the “Vice-President Education” of the Club. Also involved in networking with a number of Toastmasters Club and organizing Speech Contests.
I have undergone training in Indian Classical music under eminent personalities with International fame. I have completed formal training in Indian painting.


Sports, Hobbies
Played TT and attended several state organized coaching camps but didn’t pursue after High School.
I travel a lot. Trekking (Himalayan Range mainly) is one of my hobbies which helped me a lot in self development. I love reading.


Concerns:
Competition from Indian IT Fraternity. I haven’t worked outside India though I have handled US Clients directly during 90% of my work life.



Thanks..

Hi, Runaway. You need to concentrate your essays on your people management skills and leadership. Use examples from your background at work and in founding and leading the NGO in your essays to demonstrate how you use your understanding of other people's mindset to motivate groups to large impacts. One thing I worry about based on your post is your unwillingness to accept what you personally did as opposed to what the group as a whole did (you said a lot of "we" in your description of the NGO, but not much "I"). While I don't want you to come across as the type of person that does not recognize the input of his team, you do need to own up to your accomplishments and show how you applied your insight and drive to make an impact.

I believe you have a chance at ISB based on your GMAT and experience. You will definitely need to demonstrate to them that your background and future are distinctly Indian and for that reason you are seeking an Indian MBA (to overcome their fears that they are a low choice of yours). I also believe you will need to make sure that your goals align with who recruits on campus.

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by $hanky

Hey Jen

Can u guide me for an international MBA programme.I need a lot of info,u can think that i am beginner with a too less of info in this feild..
My requirements are below..
I wanna join cllg in fall 2009 or starting 2010..I will be having 3+ IT exprnc by then. I have started my preparation for GMAT..
I have heard getting something around 700+ would do the needful, but still i would like to hear about the latest scores with the exprnc they demand???
Also i want to do something that would not let my technology exprnc go waste,i wanted to have MBA in IT field..wot are all the available options/courses i can target??
What is the course fees(have heard its currently above $50,000)???
I am thinking of setteling back in india after that ,wot is the scope of this after that??


Thanks!!

Wow, $hanky, you are a greenhorn! The good news is that you are young and have a year or two to do this research. There are a few places that I believe will be helpful as you start your research into specific MBA programs.

BusinessWeek online has a nice ranking of the programs and also a lot of details about each one (be sure to click on the Full-Time MBA tab after the page opens so that you do not waste time researching undergraduate programs!). As an Indian applicant, you will want your GMAT score to be above the average of the programs to which you apply, and BW includes the average GMAT of last year's entering class (they have not yet updated for the 2008-2009 entering class). You can click on the links for different schools and find out more about their program strengths, admissions systems, and recruiting.

I also like the Financial Times' rankings since they include all of the global programs in one table instead of dividing according to global region as BW does.

There are also several blogs by current business school students where you can gain insight into "the life of" and help you identify the programs in which you will fit in best. I also suggest that you subscribe now to the Accepted blog to get into the mindset of your applications themselves.

These courses are very expensive, yes, so you need to understand what you are investing in and what it can help you achieve before you throw that money away.

Good luck with your research!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by gmat__800

Hi Jennifer,
My profile is
GMAT score: 770
TOEFL score: 117/120

Academics: I have done MCA from India (Distinction) from a top rated university.

Work Experience: 5 years in an MNC (as an IT professional) by the time I take admission. I have been working as a client-facing team leader for last 3 years in Europe. Work profile mainly involves interacting with the client and handling the teams located in offshore location (India).

Extra curricular: Not beyond my college.

Awards and merits: Received many awards/merits at school and college/graduation level. Topped various exams etc.

I have following 2 queries:
1. Which colleges are in reachable category and which are in sure shot category. Europe and US (top 10-20 only).

2. I want to switch to consulting, but how best can i justify this in my essays considering only IT specific (client is a finance company) experience in my professional life.

Hi, Gmat_800. Your academics and GMAT position you well, but I would like to hear more about what you've done for your company and its clients. I often describe the GMAT and undergrad statistics as the foundation of a house: everyone wants a strong foundation for their house, but no one buys a house just because it has a strong foundation. You need to show us that you have the nice views, good air flow, and beautiful architecture that the top MBA programs are seeking .

Assuming that you have the leadership and impact that the top programs are seeking, then I do believe your chances are good at the top 10. Most of these programs actually "specialize" in preparing professionals for management consulting careers, so what you really need to explain in your essays is what business skills and knowledge you have gained that transfer to other industries.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by arunsdevine

Cant this be viewed as a normal career switch? Like people moving from writing software to strategy consulting? And, in such cases, they dont generally demonstrate their expertise in the domain they wish to switch to, right?

Unfortunately, Arunsdevine, no. Any career switch must be made with a foundation of transferable skills. No one will be accepted to the top MBA programs arguing that his goal is to move to strategy consulting if he does not demonstrate that he has analytical abilities, problem solving experience, and the interpersonal skills necessary to guide clients and project teams. The same goes for your goal in sports management: you will need to demonstrate that you bring a set of skills essential to this industry and have the potential to succeed in it based on your experience. The non-traditional goal can be compelling because it is exciting and different, but you still must prove that you can succeed in it.

Good luck with the pursuit!

Regard,
Jennifer Bloom, CPRW
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[Accepted]

Originally Posted by applicant

Hi Jenifer,

For an assignment, I would have to go to USA soon.
But the timing is such that the trip will be after the R1 deadlines for some colleges.
My question is, to bring in the US experience in my essays, etc, should I apply in R2? Or should I go ahead with the applications and submit them in R1 and maybe mention that I'd be going to US shortly and hope to gain such and such experience/exposure....
I wanted your advice on this issue

Thanks in advance,
Applicant

Hi, Applicant. US experience, or foreign experience of any kind, is not a prereq