EssaySnark

  • about
  • contact
  • help
  • sign up
  • login
CLICK FOR MORE!
  • Essay Questions
    • Harvard
    • Stanford
    • Wharton
    • Chicago Booth
    • Kellogg
    • MIT Sloan
    • Tuck
    • NYU Stern
    • Columbia
    • Yale SOM
    • Berkeley Haas
    • UVA Darden
    • Duke Fuqua
    • Michigan Ross
    • UCLA Anderson
    • Cornell
  • Strategy Guides
    • MBA Interviewing Guide
    • Getting Off the Waitlist
    • Applying in Round 3 mini-guide
    • Applying to European Business Schools
    • School-Specific MBA Application Guides
      • Columbia 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Harvard 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Kellogg 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • MIT Sloan 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Chicago Booth 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • *MORE SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDES HERE*
  • MBA Consulting
    • Free essay reviews
    • What stage are you in?
    • Military MBA
    • BIPOC Program
    • Testimonials & Reviews
    • Guest Posts
  • My SnarkCenter
    • My Strategy Guides
    • My Favorite Posts
    • Discounts & Offers

Our Five Faves

October 30, 2014 by EssaySnark - Discusses Darden, Dartmouth Tuck, Yale SOM, Columbia 8 Comments

As an observer of this industry, we have developed strong opinions about “the best” schools and today we’re going to share with you a short list of our current favorite MBA programs – or maybe this is a list of our current favorite MBA adcoms.

You already know that we think rankings are a joke and anyway, the rankings data is unreliable, and we believe that people who are overfocused on rankings are misguided souls and the bottom line is that you should be doing your own research. Even despite all that, we published our own list of “best bschools” awhile back which is potentially useful to BSers everywhere as a gauge of who the schools are accepting and how difficult it is to get in (not just looking at acceptance rates which don’t tell half the picture).

Today is just a lovefest. We’ve done enough dissing of schools lately and we wanted to spread some good will around.

We wanted to recognize the winners – in our book, at least. There are certain schools that are doing it right – that have either started moving in the right direction again, possibly after some missteps in the past, or who are making changes that are applicant-friendly. Who are closer to a 10 on the have-a-clue scale than some of their peers are right now.

Here’s the schools (and admissions teams) that we’re particularly enamored of today:

5. Darden

Darden Admissions Director Sara Neher does these great videos offering super helpful admissions tips – and she’s done them for years, so there’s this whole archive of videos you can waste your time viewing access for insights into their application process. She actually gives real advice too! (Unlike some schools we’ve seen recently.) Darden is consistent in how they run things in admissions, they’re accessible to you BSers in offering regular online chats with their team, and they’re genuinely nice. Not that people at other schools aren’t nice, but at Darden, they’re REALLY nice. You can see the Darden essay questions and our own repository of Darden advice here.

4. Tuck

Another consistent school whose admissions director, Dawna Clarke, also does helpful videos is Tuck . Tuck may not be seen as the most innovative school around in terms of constantly tweaking their program or chasing the latest fad, but they offer a solid education with really smart people and an emphasis on the essentials of business. They are also exceedingly generous in their admissions policies, including one of the applicant-friendliest policies of any school in how they evaluate GMAT scores. You can pick up our Tuck MBA Application Guide if you want to hear us spew forth more of our love for this school, or just check out our page with the Tuck MBA essay questions and other school info here.

3. Yale

We’ve said it before, and we feel even more strongly now: The SOM is one to watch. This is a school that’s got some real energy going. The (relatively) new dean, and their new building, have sparked a fire, and there are faculty and adminstrators alike flocking to New Haven to help bring life to Snyder’s vision. Yale is an interesting place at the moment, which is NOT what we have been saying about them over the past decade. We also like how transparent the admissions team is (though we still don’t agree with Admissions Director Bruce DelMonico’s statement about GMAT retakes). We go into more detail on why we like them – and of course on the Yale application itself – in our Yale MBA strategy guide, or you can start by checking out our page with the Yale MBA essay questions and other school info.

2. Columbia

Ah, Columbia. After raking them over the coals on a regular basis starting several years back, we now are seeing real change. This school has redeemed itself in our eyes and we have no qualms whatsoever in recommending today that anyone go full speed ahead with an application there. It still feels that the school itself may be a little complacent (read: school leadership) but the admissions team is now made up of A-listers and we’ve seen signs of change coming from the student body, too. (We finally got this long-overdue post up about last week about gender dynamics at bschools where Columbia features prominently – and positively.) Our Columbia MBA application guide is incredibly detailed, as is our Columbia essays and insights page – we may have done more Columbia essay critiques here on the blahg than any other school.

That’s a pretty impressive list already. Wondering who gets the #1 spot?

You’ll have to wait till tomorrow to find out. (Update: It’s posted here!)

(If you want to make a guess, the comments are open – we’ll be curious to see what people think!)

Filed Under: school reviews & insights Tagged With: rankings Bschools: Darden, Dartmouth Tuck, Yale SOM, Columbia

« Previous: Real-life business school dilemmas
Next: Our Current #1 Favorite Business School »

So who the heck is EssaySnark, anyway?!

We're the snarky experts in MBA admissions!

Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

Want EssaySnark's personal assistance with your MBA applications? Start with our menu of consulting services and please read the Help FAQ to learn how we operate. Still have questions after doing all that? Email Team EssaySnark at gethelpnow at essaysnark dot com.

Good luck on your apps, Brave Supplicant!

Here's what others have said about this:

  1. sahilb89 says

    October 30, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    My guess for # 1 spot is Fuqua.

    I don’t have the experience Snark has with all the adcoms and admission policies but as a Fuqua applicant, it has been a pleasure to apply to Duke.

    Great essay questions that allow me to tell the school who I am, reputation as a reapplicant-friendly school, and application fee reduction for visiting the campus or attending information session are some of the policies that stood out to me.

    Reply
  2. bmiller says

    October 30, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    My guess is Stanford. It has always been, and will be the #1 school on Snark’s list.

    Reply
  3. essaysnark says

    October 30, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    Interesting to see the guesses for the #1 spot! We’ll have to see if either of you two are right. 😉

    Reply
  4. MBAjunkie16 says

    October 30, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    My guess will be Ross! Barring the recent criticism of their recommendation questions, the ES and Ross lovefest on the blahg comes up every few weeks :).

    Reply
    • essaysnark says

      October 30, 2014 at 7:59 pm

      Another good guess! We’ll have to see!

      Reply
    • OldSalt says

      October 30, 2014 at 11:47 pm

      I too thought Ross…then I remembered the recent Snarkicism directed at Michigan for the single Letter of Rec…

      Could be HBS for the recent GMAT/GRE transparency, but ranking HBS #1 seems, well, kind of lame.

      I’m gonna go with Booth here. Just a gut feeling.

      Reply
      • essaysnark says

        October 31, 2014 at 12:49 am

        “Snarkicism” – we’re gonna have to remember that one!!!

        Reply
  5. MJ says

    October 31, 2014 at 5:38 am

    My instinct says Ross. But, I could be wrong. I didn’t expect CBS to be #2.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to MJ Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up for the 'Snark via email

Enter your address to get weekday blahg posts by email.

UPCOMING MBA APP DEADLINES

  • INSEAD Jan '22 Intake Rd 2
    in 1 month, 2 weeks, 0 days, 17 hours
  • (expected) HBS Class of 2024 app requirements released
    in 1 month, 4 weeks, 0 days, 18 hours
  • (expected) Columbia J-Term/ED app to open
    in 2 months, 3 weeks, 5 days, 18 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 Intake Rd 3
    in 3 months, 1 week, 2 days, 17 hours
   
From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

Brave Supplicants' latest reviews on The 'Snark


Feb 11, 2021
by hopeful on MBA Interview Prep: Custom Practice Questions
Helpful

Just wanted to say thank you for these questions! A lot of them were really tailored to my profile, ... Read more

Apr 10, 2020
by George on EssaySnark
Great Starting Point

I thought getting over the GRE/GMAT hurdle was fairly straightforward--disciplined study then test execution... Read more

Apr 10, 2020
by George on Single Shot Express MBA Essay Review
Worth Every Penny

I used the Single Shot Express to decimate essay #1 at my first-choice school. Paired with the school... Read more






Not sure where to begin with EssaySnark?
Our Snark Selector
will tell you!



What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: "What should I do with my summer?"
  • 2019: ($) Got a glitch with your grades? TAKE ACTION NOW!
  • 2018: Should you care who the dean is?
  • 2018: Does it matter who the dean is? 2018 edition
  • 2017: If you really want to go to Harvard...
  • 2016: Another little quiz
  • 2016: ($) When your safety school is actually a stretch school.
  • 2015: ($) Deciding on a school: Does location matter?
  • 2013: Success Story! "It's complicated..."
  • 2012: "School X, or School Y with $$$?" (Part who knows)
My Tweets

See the Top U.S. Business Schools on a Map!


EssaySnark is currently available! We're accepting new clients! Standard turnarounds apply. If you're in a hurry, Speedy Review is available!

EssaySnark® is a registered trademark. All content copyright © 2010–2021 Snarkolicious Press · Privacy Policy

Where should you start with EssaySnark?

Which EssaySnark service is right for you? Answer a few questions to find out!

This field must be set to Everyone - then in the Settings -> HTML -> After Fields screen there's JavaScript to hide it.
Sending