The perennial question we get around here is “What can I do to improve my chances?” Let’s open up that sometimes sensitive subject of academics. Premium content starts here… If you’re reading this in email, click through to get the full ‘Snark! ———– ———– Premium content ends. …
($) The main argument in favor of a larger school
Or maybe we should append to that title: “…if you’re Harvard.”
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($) “What about an accelerated MBA like Columbia?”
Note: Just because we’re blahgging about this today is not meant as a signal that you should try submitting a Columbia full-time MBA app right now! The rolling admissions means that they’re really far along with their admits and it’s got low probability of a win at this stage of the cycle.
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($) What does “I want to start a company” mean?
This simple sentence can be empowering – or it can really trip you up and even embarrass you depending on the context and to whom you are saying it.
And maybe, after the events of the past few weeks especially and more broadly months, you’re starting to second-guess that whole idea in the first place.
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($) MBA acceptance and deferred admission
Thinking about seeing if your school will let you push out the start to your MBA?
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($) “No extracurriculars after college” continued
Yesterday we posted a question from a Brave Supplicant who was worried about their lack of extracurriculars, and we stated that probably, they were overthinking things. If you didn’t read that original question, you probably should go back before continuing, so you get the full picture of what this BSer was asking about. Here’s our…
($) “Request for help: No extracurricular after college”
Today we’ll share a question from a BSer who did pretty darned good in the application process and is guaranteed to be starting bschool in the fall; which one is still up in the air, as there are some apps still in play, but there are at least a couple admits to their name already….
Waitlisted? What not to do.
This is reblahgged from the ‘snarchives because unfortunately it’s apparently needed advice again at this time of year… We talk about the waitlist being a glass-half-FULL thing and nobody believes it. Yes, it’s true that being put on the waitlist is not an offer of admission — yet! However, it is up to you whether…
($) School research idea: What about talking to professors?
We frequently write posts that are hopefully about inspiration and going beyond the expected financial outcomes, by suggesting that bschool can be this incredible opportunity for personal growth and change, and that you can make the most of it when you go into it with the mindset of seeking out new experiences. That whole lean in thing.
Even before all that, you knew about the importance of learning about a school as part of your process of applying — and you’ve been doing it!
You’ve been attending their webinars and signing up for discussions with students.
Maybe one of those Zooms was a presentation by a professor about her research focus at the school.
What about emailing her to see if she can spend time with you on the phone?
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Start planning for your admit!
You may be in the in-between phase, all apps done, interviews already completed, hopes of additional invites starting to fade, and you’re wondering what you should be doing with your time.
The other important task to tackle?
Take a serious look at your finances.
If you’re successful with these apps — and we certainly hope that you are!!! — then very soon, you’re going to be faced with the prospect of paying for it.
If you already got in during Round 1, you’re already thinking about this.
When they extend an offer to you, the school will give you some time to think about it, but then they’ll need you to commit. That takes the form of a deposit to hold your spot in the class. These can range from around $1,000 at some schools to closer to $5,000 at others (the amount and the timing of when it comes due usually depends on how competitive the school and which round you applied in).
You’ll need to have a credit card that can accept a big charge, or in some cases, you actually need cash available, and will have to plan for a bank transfer or maybe you can send in a paper check if you’re U.S. based. Duke is one school that does not take credit cards for their deposits and others may also be restrictive on how it is submitted.
And then, soon after, you’ll be hit with additional deposits, and the reality of relocating to whatever city or in some cases new country your school is in will begin to hit.
Start looking at these logistics NOW. At least the financial ones.
You don’t want to count your chickens before they’re hatched; you have a whole process to go through, with interviews and everything, before you’ll know you’re admitted, but you still don’t want to be caught flat-footed. This is information that you should’ve explored previously but many people do not. We’ve heard of a few BSers over the years who turned down an offer at a very good school because they realized only after they’d been admitted that they could not afford it.
Bschool is expensive! Start planning ahead.
We cover these important planning considerations and more in our Admitted Student’s Guide — you can pick it up now if you’re feeling optimistic, or come back later once you’ve got the happy news in hand!!