read this stuff somewhere so thought wud put it up. tho slightly out of context ..
here you go ........
Deconstructing Business Schools.
It wasn’t easy for me to get straight answers regarding business school admissions. I’ve tried to summarize ‘real’ answers after speaking with several students and admissions committee members from schools such as Michigan, Tuck, Wharton, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, CMU, Kellog, Columbia, Berkeley and INSEAD. Hope this is useful.
1. Can you get into any respectable B-School without a GMAT?
No.
2. How important is the GMAT score?
Very. It’s very important to get a 700+ score to get into a top 10 B-school Most schools claim that it’s not very important, the unsaid part of the statement is that, you should’ve done something special to have them discount a low GMAT score.
If you have several years of experience then a good GMAT score counts even more. B-School curriculum is intense and there is a high correlation between a high GMAT score and being comfortable with the course load in the program.
Transcripts from schools outside of the US don’t count as much. If you hv an international degree (outside the US) a high GMAT score is imperative
3. What are the essays about?
You need to answer five basic questions. Most essays are built around getting the answers to these questions.
3a. Why MBA?
3b. Why a particular school?
3c. Why now?
3d. Short term goals
3e. Long term goals
4. Why are essays required?
Challenges faced by a CEO are abstract. People who've not been in-charge of a venture cannot relate to these challenges therefore find essays a bore and having no purpose. Essays expose that difference.
Essays bring out the candidates' vision, articulation and stamina to push things through. These aspects are intangible but absolutely essential to the candidates long term viability as a business leader.
5. How do I know which school I should apply to?
Min requirement to ge into a Top 10 US B-School
700+ GMAT score + 5 years of experience + reasonable GPA + very very articulate.
(Don't assume you hv good communication skills. Be objective. Imho, B-Schools expect their average student to carry on a conversation about nothing at all with a total stranger. If you can only talk about things you know like work, technology, cricket but find yourself stumped when confronted with talking about the weather, the Boston Red Sox, or emotional strain living in New York after 9-11, consider yourself challenged.)
6. Should I apply to schools outside the US?
No. A MBA degree from outside the US is not recognized by corporations here. People have a tough time finding a job out of INSEAD, the top international B-School.
7. How much time is required to prepare for the GMAT?
Three weeks. Spend at least 3 hours a day.
Take at least 20 practice tests. Write the essays at the beginning of the test. The essays are not a big part of the application. If you have trouble concentrating for long periods try and finish the essays in 15 minutes instead of the allotted 30.
Read ‘Woe is I’ by Patricia ‘O Conner and another on Critical Reasoning. Visit Princeton Review’s discussion boards at
www.review.com
Avoid Kaplan. Go through the GMAC Official guide, Princeton Review and LSAT guides for practice.
Get additional tests at
www.gmatplus.com. You can buy second hand gmatplus tests at the review.com website.
8. Do Kaplan classes help?
No. They are too expensive about $1100 for 11 sessions once or twice a week.
9. How many schools should I apply to?
Make three tiers and put three schools in each. 9 schools are plenty.
Stretch:
Reachable:
Safety:
10. Which school(s) is right for me?
First, read through the rankings. There are six rankings in order of importance
1. Business Week Rankings. Started in 1988, published once in two years.
2. Financial Times
3. U.S. News and World Report. Published yearly
4. Wall Street Journal Rankings. Started in 2000 published yearly.
5. Economist Intelligence Unit Rankings
6. The Economist poll of polls
A good summary of these rankings and the criteria involved can be found at
http://www.economist.com/displayStor...ory_ID=1383461
11. How do I know which school is right for me?
Schools stress about ‘FIT’. Factors to consider, coursework focus, and brand/ranking.
12. How much does the program cost?
Most programs cost ~$30K in tuition per year. Some state schools cost $20K a year.
Everyone manages to get 0% loans if admitted to a top school. Once admitted the school will take care that you get a loan.
13. Where should I interview?
On campus.
14. Which rounds should I apply in?
Apply in the first round to smaller schools, which take 500 odd students a year. Examples MIT, Tuck.
Apply in first or second round for larger schools like Harvard, Wharton and Kellog.
Never apply in the third round.
15. Who should I get recommendations from? How many are required
Immediate boss at the present firm. Another immediate boss at previous firm. Professors are a big no-no.
Harvard requires 3 recommendation letters.
Most other schools require 2.
Do not send more than the required number of recommendation letters.
16. Is it better to get a recommendation from a VP or someone who knows you well?
VP is preferred.
17. Is it better to work for a big company or small?
Doesn’t matter. How you articulate what you did is more important.
18. What should I highlight in my resume? (Due to Ajay Dawar)
The CARLA principle. Context, Action, Result, Learning, Applicability
19. What should I bring out in my essays?
Leadership. Challenges. Innovation.
20. Does knowing an alumnus help? What about students in the admissions committee?
Yes. Students will give you a feel, maybe some tips but no direct impact.
21. My Impression about B-schools I visited
Tuck: Very heavy on sharing and teamwork. Everyone knows everyone else. Alumni very helpful. 80% live in dorms on campus. Middle of nowhere. Nearest airport 30 miles away. Very very cold.
MIT: Too geeky. Students have raw intellectual power. Everyone knows everyone else. Alumni helpful. Everyone lives off campus.
Harvard: Class size of 900 divided into sections of 90. Everyone is a section knows everyone else. Big on brand. Do as you please. 60% live on campus
Wharton: Class size of 1500 divided into clusters of 240, which in turn are divided into cohorts of 60. Very loose bonding, no one lives on campus. Very smart people.
MIchigan: Middle of no where. Very very cold. Geeky. Focused student body.
Chicago: Very corporate culture. Raw intellectual power of candidates. Focus on established industries.
Kellogg: High on team spirit and feeling good. Very very helpful alumni and students.
Berkeley: Disconnected student body.
22. Why do I need to do an MBA?
Networking, brand (which opens doors) and coursework teaches you rules of thumb on how to build a business.
23. Where can I read sample essays?
Avoid reading samples essays available at Barnes and Nobles. Be honest and write your own. Don't consult a professional its not worth it.
24. Should I go to a big school or small?
If you care about bonding with people go to a small school otherwise definitely a big school. Brand and alumni connection is most important thing one goes to a B-school for. Everything else is pretty even among top schools.
25. MIT essay evaluation procedure.
First, one reviewer, who’s being doing this job 25 years reviews and writes comments.
Second another guy does the same. Then a third person reviews is independently. Then they sit down in a room and discuss the application. Student is admitted only if there is consensus.
26. Part time or Full time.
Even though the coursework is the same, a part time MBA doesn’t let you network at the same level neither is the brand that heavy. Students are not fully committed to the program.
The only time a part time MBA makes sense is because it saves you money.
27. What about IIM and ISB?
Bad idea. Low on brand and diversity of student body. Most business learning occurs by learning through experience of others.
This option is ideal for people who would love to tackle business challenges in India. Anyone who wants to work internationally should only consider US schools.
28. Can I get academic recommendations?
No
29. How do i get into a B-School if my background is average? (GMAT 680-710, 5 yrs of IT experience)
Believe in something like your life depends on it.
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