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One Brave Supplicant’s full admissions season recapped

July 15, 2016 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

Last year we had the pleasure of working with a particular Brave Supplicant who impressed us with their motivation and thoughtfulness. From what we could see, they were doing everything right in their quest for the MBA: Planning ahead, visiting schools, putting in the work on the GMAT, all of it. They were coming from a crowded pool and they weren’t leaving anything to chance. We felt like they were lining up well… yet the actual admissions process threw some curve balls.

What’s most interesting, though, is where this person started out in their thinking about where they fit the best, and where they ended up. With permission, we’re sharing some of the earliest comments that they left for us on school targets, and the end of the story – captured over a very extended timeframe. As we usually do, in an abundance of caution, we’re omitting the names of the actual schools, just on the off event that some BSer might be recognized from which schools they did (and didn’t) make it into. We believe you should be able to appreciate the progression that’s captured here even without those specific details. Suffice it to say, this BSer was going for only top-tier programs.

In their own words…

August 2015: First dialogue with EssaySnark about schools

(Explaining rationale for their edited list of 3 targets)
I have chosen these schools for the following reasons: focus on healthcare (both curriculum and recruitment), culture (close-knit collaborative community), team-based learning environment and global opportunities.
 
 

October 2015 Update

Hi ES!! Thank you for your amazing feedback and support throughout this process!! Please excuse my recent radio-silence – the last few weeks have been a whirlwind, with a [School 1] campus visit, app deadlines for [School 2] and [School 1], and interview with [School 3]. I still have to complete my on-campus interview with [School 2] and my [School 3] app. I owe you a HUGE THANK YOU for the resources you provide here through the blahg and your services. I’m only at the halfway point, but your resources have removed a large chunk of stress and anxiety from my journey. I will definitely be leaving some positive reviews on your different services here. Thanks again! Hopefully, the next time you hear from me, I will have some good news.
 
 
We replied to that with a question about their school visits, and got this in response:

Campus Visits

The campus visits were interesting.

I attended the [School 1] diversity workshop and it was a breath of fresh air! The alumni I met with blew me away with their honesty and straight talk.

I enjoyed the [School 3] interview experience, as it was obvious that they were really interested in getting to know me, my motivations and my personality. I had done a lot of research on the type of questions they ask, but still a couple of the behavioral questions were unique and surprising.

Overall though, I came away from [School 3] feeling a little strange. It felt like the school lacked a certain…. energy. Also I wasn’t super thrilled by the [specific school-identifying feature redacted] there, although that shouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. I almost felt like I didn’t know the school very well anymore. Not quite what I expected to come away with. Either way, I’m going to attend their weekend for women event. Maybe that will help figure out how I feel about the school.

Next week is my [School 2] interview!! It’s been so many months since I visited, so I’m excited to see what I come away with.

I’ll be sure to keep you posted throughout my journey!
 
 
Due to an unfortunate development outside of their control, this BSer ended up having to push their School 1 app to Round 2 in January, so they had two apps active for Round 1 and one for Round 2. Many months went by, and then in the spring, when the season was wrapping up, EssaySnark pinged them to hear how things went. Here’s what they said:

The big news! April 2016

Hi EssaySnark!

Happy spring to you too and thank you for thinking of me! I’ve been meaning to write to you for a while now. I ended up getting dinged at [School 1] without an interview. I also withdrew myself from the [School 3] wait list back in January, after much contemplation. After connecting with several current students and alums at [School 2], I felt that I didn’t need to look any further. The culture is amazing and the post-MBA prospects for healthcare are even better than I had originally thought. Also, since my husband will remain in [city] for the length of the time I’ll be in school, [School 2] is a much shorter commute for us to meet up over the weekends. I didn’t realize it until the admit, but [School 2] had always been my top choice and the first school that I was sure I wanted to go to. I guess I never dared to imagine the possibility that I might get in. I remember your wise words that one gets into exactly the school that they are destined to go to. Thanks again for your help with my essays and your many blog posts – they went a long way in elevating my messaging that much more. I will be sure to spread the word about your services to other BSers that I meet in the coming years!!
 
I’m all set to quit my job at the end of June, spend some quality time with family and do some traveling before starting school. The journey is just beginning! Can’t wait!!!

The takeaways are: 1) Doing the legwork yourself is important. You never know how you’re going to react to a particular school until it’s YOU reacting to them. This is another example where getting on campus was super helpful for this person. 2) Bschool decisions are all independent events. This is THE SAME PERSON with the same profile, the same strong writing skills, the same thoughtful approach to the essays, yet each of these three schools reacted totally differently:

School 1: Rd 2 – rejected without interview (yes we were surprised at that)
School 2: Rd 1 – accepted
School 3: Rd 1 – waitlisted

All three of these schools are comparable in certain ways, in terms of competitiveness, prestige, etc. They’re all different, too, as this BSer discovered, but the most remarkable thing is the full range of outcomes that this person experienced. It reminds us of a long-ago discussion of “skill vs luck” (in investing, but especially in getting into bschool!).
 
Anyway, as they alluded to in the comments above, we do believe that everyone ends up exactly where they should – and this BSer nailed a major win with their admit. Makes the decision-making easier when the one school that gives you a straight-up admit is an amazing MBA program that others would trade a right arm for an admit to!
 
We were thrilled to see how it worked out for this person (despite some ups and downs in between) and we wish them all the luck in their pursuit of the next big thing!

Filed Under: school visits, Success Stories

« Previous: ($) WHY do you want to be a consultant?
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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.

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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
   
   

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

  • 2020: ($) Updating the admissions office on changes to your profile post-submit: GMAT/GRE/classes
  • 2020: ($) The reality of applying to external scholarships for your graduate education
  • 2019: Harvard Business School is....
  • 2017: Military Candidate Question: "Why does Stanford have a smaller percentage of Vets?"
  • 2016: Success Stories that never materialized
  • 2016: Used to be, the waitlist meant you had a real chance.
  • 2016: ($) The biggest reason why Round 3 is not worth it.
  • 2015: The BSer's Quiz!
  • 2014: ($) Writing essays for MBA scholarship apps
  • 2014: Consider broadening your horizons.
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