($) “If all my other Rd 1 apps are crap shouldn’t I go ahead with Columbia ED anyway?”
($) A map to writing Columbia essay 3: “a leader you admire”
Good first drafts aren’t written. They’re assembled.
($) Project planning strategies! Which schools have essay questions that are similar?
Our annual reminder: Ethics matter. (aka: Early Decision at Columbia and Duke are binding)
($) Should you apply Early Action / Early Decision?
Where can you apply for an MBA straight out of college?
($) What if you don’t have that much work experience? Going for an MBA early in career
($) “What about an accelerated MBA like Columbia?”
"achievement" essays
($) Breathless bloat and gloat can backfire.
($) More on that HBS MBA essay
($) A map to writing Columbia essay 3: “a leader you admire”
($) What would it take for you to be the best at something?
($) essay critique! HBS essay from a Navy submariner
($) Another post about the Darden Class of 2021 “evolving leadership style” essay
($) essay critique! Kellogg “a time you have demonstrated leadership”
($) “How much should recommenders material overlap with the stories I relate in my essay?”
"contribution" essays
"failure" essays
We were gonna talk about getting into Columbia today but
($) “Lessons learned” in MBA essays
($) Columbia’s MBA essay 3 – “team failure”
($) How not to confuse your adcom reader
Super Secret SnarkStrategy: How to write a multidimensional essay
($) Lessons learned in essays: “This experience taught me…”
($) Darden’s “most important professional feedback” essay
($) When you’re asked to identify a weakness
($) essay critique/recommendations: The most important piece of constructive feedback…
"personal interest/life experience" essays
($) essay critique! Yale “biggest commitment” essay
($) Here’s a test for Stanford “What matters most?”
($) Essay Critique! Yale “biggest commitment”
($) essay critique! Stanford “What matters most and why” military version
($) essay critique: Stanford “What matters most and why?”
($) Rare Saturday post! Kellogg essay 2 on “growth” (halp!)
"show don't tell"
($) The most important technique you need to learn to write a good MBA admissions essay
($) Another “show, don’t tell” post
($) Being a “thought leader” is not a career goal.
($) Compare and Contrast (Part 2)
($) essay critique! Tuck short and long-term goals / why MBA / why Tuck
"why MBA" essays
($) An essay is an argument redux (with some comments on MBA application theme)
($) “Yo EssaySnark! Please explain again what this ‘school fit’ thing is about?”
($) Already have a Master’s degree? Why do you also need an MBA now?
Why do you need an MBA? No really: Why?
($) A warning in your “Why This School” essay content (and a tip on Kellogg and “growth”)
($) Pitching the adcom with your “Why MBA?” material
($) Why do you even want an MBA?
($) When an essay prompt does not ask for something but you include it anyway
1-year MBA
($) Stanford Admissions gives older BSer the best option in the world.
What if you work for a no-name company? Can you still get in to bschool?
Success Story! The roundabout route – the finale!
($) The CFA could give you a headstart.
($) “Is a 2-year MBA better than 1-year for someone from IT?”
($) If Kellogg said ‘no’ to you…
announcements
Six weeks and counting. (But really five. Or probably four. Or actually just two.)
Happy Memorial Day! Class of 2022 applicants, let’s go! The Countdown has launched!
The Round 1 Countdown is coming!
app dataset
($) When to update the adcom after they have your app
“completely lost on HBS essay and need help”
($) Taking the GMAT: How many times is too many? 2019 edition
One warning about overthinking
Random tips for filling out the app dataset for your MBA programs
($) Maximizing your opportunities on the app dataset
application rounds
($) “What’s the latest I can submit to Columbia Regular Decision and still have a shot?”
($) Just In Time MBA App Prep: What if you JUST decided to apply to bschool? Like, NOW?
($) “I did 4 schools in Rd 1. Should I really be thinking about Rd 2?”
($) “If all my other Rd 1 apps are crap shouldn’t I go ahead with Columbia ED anyway?”
($) “What about moving School X to Round 2?”
($) “I’m not ready. Should I just push this stuff off till Round 2?”
Our annual reminder: Ethics matter. (aka: Early Decision at Columbia and Duke are binding)
branding and theme
($) Figuring out what the schools want.
($) Developing your application theme
The problem with the idea of “branding” in your MBA application
($) How to show your authenticity: Storytelling
($) “I have so much stuff, I can’t fit it on a one-page resume.”
“Will your services help me in identifying my themes?”
cancel strategy
($) Canceling your GMAT score is a bad idea (plus, how many schools should you apply to?)
Positive changes to GMAT score cancellation policies
Now there’s no risk to taking the GMAT lots of times. (Or is there?)
($) “Beware of GMAT Score Cancellations” and the optional essay
($) If you cancel your GMAT score, should you reinstate it?
($) GMAT test strategies: Should you cancel your score? (Part 3)
($) Canceling a GMAT score: Impact and how the schools will perceive it (Part 2)
career changer
($) Changing careers? Think through how you’re ready, even if you think that you’re not
($) The simplest guide to MBA career goals. Courtesy of Berkeley Haas.
($) MBA career goals are goals for your career (“Well duh EssaySnark”)
($) Are you proposing too big of a change?
($) Why do people end up in consulting?
($) You need to get out of your pajamas.
($) “I want to work in edtech”
($) “bonkers” Part 2 (can an Engineer really switch over to Finance?)
($) “i’m gonna sound REALLY bonkers at times…” (or, engineering -> finance – help!)
career goals
($) Changing careers? Think through how you’re ready, even if you think that you’re not
($) The simplest guide to MBA career goals. Courtesy of Berkeley Haas.
($) Aiming the post-MBA career goal appropriately
($) “I’m just gonna say ‘consulting’ as my MBA goals.”
($) MBA career goals are goals for your career (“Well duh EssaySnark”)
($) Are you proposing too big of a change?
($) Your task is not to try to impress the bejeebus out of them.
consulting
($) “I’m just gonna say ‘consulting’ as my MBA goals.”
($) Why do people end up in consulting?
($) Post-MBA career trends at Kellogg
($) “I want to work in edtech”
Military Candidates: Consulting as a career goal
($) WHY do you want to be a consultant?
($) “I want to try for School X because they send a lot of grads into consulting.”
culture essays
($) The challenge with any “contribution” essay
($) Wharton essay 2: What will you contribute?
($) The simple way to answer Booth’s essay question this year.
deciding on a school (multiple offers)
($) Deciding on a school: Qualitative factors
($) School X? Or School Y with $$?
($) Why doing your own research is so important
What’s wrong with this picture?
An abundance of riches!! OMG Yay!! …….. eeek now what?!?
($) Choosing between top-ranked MBA programs
($) If you got into a top bschool and now you’re thinking you’re not going to go
($) “What if School D gave me money but I really want to go to School A?”
($) The BSer’s Dilemma: Deciding between two top MBA programs — what do to, what to do?
deferred admission for college students
Early Action/Decision
($) “If all my other Rd 1 apps are crap shouldn’t I go ahead with Columbia ED anyway?”
Our annual reminder: Ethics matter. (aka: Early Decision at Columbia and Duke are binding)
($) Should you apply Early Action / Early Decision?
Columbia MBA early decision deadline & acceptance rate
We were bummed to have discovered this.
($) Renegging on an Early Decision offer
Ethics and your MBA application
($) Columbia MBA: Early Decision, rolling admissions, when to apply
edtech
energy-cleantech-sustainability
entrepreneurship
($) The simplest guide to MBA career goals. Courtesy of Berkeley Haas.
($) MBA career goals are goals for your career (“Well duh EssaySnark”)
($) Is that entrepreneurial experience you had a job? Or an extracurricular activity?
($) Using the MBA to start a company
($) There’s really only a few places we’d consider going to learn entrepreneurship.
($) What does “I want to start a company” mean?
If you really want to start a company…
($) Is Harvard good for entrepreneurship?
($) “I have a company that I’ll be running while attending bschool…”
essay critique
($) essay critique! Yale “biggest commitment” essay
($) essay critique! Northwestern Kellogg MBA essay on “values”
($) essay critique! Harvard’s “What else should we know?” essay
($) essay critique! The hardest essay in the world, aka Stanford “What matters most?”
($) essay critique! HBS essay from a Navy submariner
($) essay critique! Kellogg “a time you have demonstrated leadership”
($) Essay Critique! Yale “biggest commitment”
($) essay critique! Tuck short and long-term goals / why MBA / why Tuck
($) essay critique! Kellogg “demonstrated leadership and created lasting value”
essay types
($) Breathless bloat and gloat can backfire.
($) essay critique! Yale “biggest commitment” essay
($) Low GMAT Round 2 application tactics: Remediation
($) An essay is an argument redux (with some comments on MBA application theme)
($) More on that HBS MBA essay
($) A map to writing Columbia essay 3: “a leader you admire”
We were gonna talk about getting into Columbia today but
($) “Yo EssaySnark! Please explain again what this ‘school fit’ thing is about?”
EssaySnark products & services
“Ack! Why can’t you just get on the phone and talk to me, EssaySnark!??”
The Round 1 Countdown is coming!
How to start working on your apps now (even though the apps aren’t out yet)
One of our interview prep services is closing down!
Explaining the Essay Ideas App Accelerator
European schools
Some cool schools give feedback
($) What MBA programs are still viable for Round 3?
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
($) essay critique! LSE Personal Statement
($) essay critique! LBS post-MBA goals
Executive Assessment
($) GMAT or GRE – or Executive Assessment???
There’s a new test in town: Should you take the Executive Assessment?
Executive MBA/EMBA
($) Are you too old to get into business school?
($) GMAT or GRE – or Executive Assessment???
Getting input from admissions BEFORE you apply
Some cool schools give feedback
Since we’ve been talking about the Executive MBA…
Success Story! A post-MBA retrospective (part 2)
($) Older applicant? Why you may not WANT to go to a full-time program.
($) What MBA programs are still viable for Round 3?
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
The “E” in “EMBA” does not stand for “Exclusive.” And that’s OK.
family business
($) MBA career goals are goals for your career (“Well duh EssaySnark”)
($) “I saw my [friend/mother/grandfather] go through this experience and now my ambition is to…”
($) Short term goal, long term goal, dream job – OH MY!
Who’s a good fit for the Columbia J-Term?
The importance of career goals
A bschool that seems to be upping its game.
($) Getting an MBA to go back to the family business
($) essay critique! Kellogg career goals
finance
($) Applying where the scholarships are (wherein we talk up Ross, Cornell, Darden, and others)
($) How does venture capital actually work? (Or, how much do you know?)
($) How to break out of the pack
($) “bonkers” Part 2 (can an Engineer really switch over to Finance?)
Guest Post! What Kind of Life Do You Want?
($) essay critique: Columbia essay 1 (background and goals) for finance candidate
The problem with being a yes-man.
($) So you want to be a venture capitalist
($) The CFA and the MBA: The one caveat (and the most common mistake for finance candidates)
flavors of MBA
($) Are you too old to get into business school?
($) GMAT or GRE – or Executive Assessment???
Getting input from admissions BEFORE you apply
Are you hurting your chances later if you try for an MBA now?
Where can you apply for an MBA straight out of college?
Some cool schools give feedback
($) “What about an accelerated MBA like Columbia?”
($) Pros and cons of a part-time MBA
If the full-time option hasn’t panned out, what about a part-time MBA?
for further reading
($) Are you a foreign student coming to study in the U.S.? GREAT! Now be careful.
Source material and inputs into our deliberation process on this issue #ethics
Developing critical thinking skills
How do you know what to believe?
gaps in the resume
Nobody sets out to be a bad person.
($) “I’ll just explain this situation about my background in the interview.”
general snark
Doing a post-mortem on the experience of applying to business school.
YOU are the only one who needs to be happy with your MBA essays.
A secret about school. (Any school.)
“Ack! Why can’t you just get on the phone and talk to me, EssaySnark!??”
This post is for everyone who INTENDED to do Round 1…
HBS Mid-Cycle Decisions and the Moods of a BSer
Nobody sets out to be a bad person.
general tips
Another “Oh crap. Round 2” post
Winter is coming! (aka, Oh wow, isn’t November a great time to write essays?!??)
10 Things Not to Do at a School Info Session
Random tips for filling out the app dataset for your MBA programs
Prediction: What will cause you the most pain and suffering in the next six months?
($) Speaking about values: What is the Behavioral Assessment at Yale and should you be scared?
Questions to ponder courtesy of UVA Darden!
GMAT/GRE
($) Updating the admissions office on changes to your profile post-submit: GMAT/GRE/classes
($) When to update the adcom after they have your app
($) What GMAT score do we see as “average” these days?
($) Just In Time MBA App Prep: What if you JUST decided to apply to bschool? Like, NOW?
($) Taking the GMAT: How many times is too many? 2019 edition
($) Quick “Is it good enough?” GMAT score post
($) GMAT or GRE – or Executive Assessment???
($) GMAT? or GRE? 2019 edition
($) Canceling your GMAT score is a bad idea (plus, how many schools should you apply to?)
GPA and grades
($) Updating the admissions office on changes to your profile post-submit: GMAT/GRE/classes
Transcripts, transcripts, transcripts
($) Already have a Master’s degree? Why do you also need an MBA now?
International applicant? Plan ahead for your MBA application requirements
($) The factors that make you much more likely to get a scholarship award along with your MBA admit
($) How to get off the waitlist
($) Wherein EssaySnark lays it all out for you.
($) Fewer MBA apps. But stronger applicants. What that means for you.
($) PSA to international MBA applicants: A 4.0 GPA is very rare.
GRE specific info
($) GMAT? or GRE? 2019 edition
($) Explaining a low GMAT or GRE score in your MBA apps
($) GMAT vs GRE strategy questions: Which to take for an MBA?
Just because the schools ACCEPT the GRE does not mean it’s THE SAME.
($) MBA Class of 2018: GMAT? Or GRE? Which is best?
GRE vs GMAT scores submitted to Harvard HBS
($) “I’ve got a GRE and a GMAT score. Should I submit both?” (and, another reason why we love Tuck)
healthcare
($) Applying where the scholarships are (wherein we talk up Ross, Cornell, Darden, and others)
($) Post-MBA career trends at Kellogg
So you want to change the world.
($) The healthcare MBA: Which business schools are best?
($) The MBA and a healthcare career
($) essay critique! Tuck career goals
($) “Should I apply to Wharton’s Health Care Management track?”
If you want to go where the MBA jobs are, go into healthcare.
innovation
internships
You are being brainwashed and used.
($) The pre-MBA internship: Pros and Cons (Part 2)
($) Offers and on-campus recruiting
What salary can you expect if you want to go work at a startup?
interviewing
($) Updating the adcom on a job change
($) International MBA candidate going to interview?
($) “I’m interviewing! Can I update my resume?”
($) “How do I convince my interviewer that I want to go there?”
More advice for interviewing — and any other high-stakes professional interaction
10 Things Not to Do in Your MBA Interview
($) The downsides of alumni interviewing
J-Term/accelerated MBA
($) “What about an accelerated MBA like Columbia?”
Who’s a good fit for the Columbia J-Term?
($) Columbia MBA: Early Decision, rolling admissions, when to apply
JD/MBA
($) The joint MBA/Master’s app including JD/MBA: How do the schools decide?
($) The joint-degree “MBA+” application strategy
($) If you thought you’d go to law school and now…
just for fun
Merry Merry! Enjoy your day off!
($) Pro Tip: How to pronounce (and spell!) business school names
law
($) OH NO! Bschools in trouble! (aka, Are MBA applications REALLY tanking?)
leadership
Now that most apps are in: What to do with your life
($) A map to writing Columbia essay 3: “a leader you admire”
($) “What projects do I include on my resume for my MBA application?”
($) If there is a secret to getting into a top MBA program, this is it.
($) How are you ‘differentiated’ part 2
($) What does it mean to be “differentiated” in the context of your MBA applications?
Once more with feeling: Does the dean matter?
If you really want to catch a glimpse of the culture of a school
lessons learned
We were gonna talk about getting into Columbia today but
A BSer’s Journey: Round 1 Update!
($) Lessons learned in essays: “This experience taught me…”
low GMAT
($) Low GMAT Round 2 application tactics: Remediation
($) “My GMAT (or GRE) score is not what I wanted. What do I do now, since Rd 2 is happening?”
($) Explaining a low GMAT or GRE score in your MBA apps
($) If you don’t think you can do better on the GMAT
You made it! Now do this. (Reality Check Dub)
($) Low GMAT? Low GPA? Please don’t say these things in your essays.
($) All schools do a “holistic review.” But…
A BSer asks: “why does LBS take people with 600 gmat score whilst rejecting those with 700+?”
low GPA
($) Got a glitch with your grades? TAKE ACTION NOW!
($) What’s a good undergrad GPA?
($) The very best messaging for handling an issue with low GPA
($) Low GMAT? Low GPA? Please don’t say these things in your essays.
($) Optional essay for low GPA: “I have proven myself since then by excelling at my job.”
($) All schools do a “holistic review.” But…
Plea for Help! “Maybe I’m not as qualified as I thought…”
Success Story! “For you low-GPA types, there is hope!”
We tried. We really did. But we’ve caved.
($) There’s two possible reasons why you didn’t make it in. (But really only one.)
lower-ranked schools
($) What MBA programs are still viable for Round 3?
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
($) We know YOU won’t make these basic interview mistakes.
($) How MBA admissions works at lower-ranked bschools (aka, the advantages of a higher GMAT score)
By request: Our thoughts on Arizona State
The value of a lower-ranked bschool.
($) “Why don’t you ever talk about my school?”
($) Well-known schools with MBA programs you can actually get into (even with your shaky GMAT)
($) If your GMAT was over 730 and you didn’t make it into a school like Emory…
Master's programs
($) The joint MBA/Master’s app including JD/MBA: How do the schools decide?
($) The joint MBA/Master’s app: Is it easier to get in?
($) The joint-degree “MBA+” application strategy
($) essay critique! LSE Personal Statement
Success Story! With a different ending than you might expect!
Applying to Grad School: Personal Statement vs Statement of Purpose
($) If the main reason for getting the MBA is financial…
If you really want to go to Harvard…
Off-the-beaten-path programs, and the school in your backyard
media
($) A comparison of NYU and Ross from one BSer’s perspective
($) The BSer’s Dilemma: Deciding between Michigan Ross and NYU Stern MBA (international student)
miscellaneous
Why you may want to keep coming back to the EssaySnark blahg even though all your apps are in.
Quick application dos and don’ts
From the ‘Snarchives: The Importance of Accomplishments
From the ‘Snarchives: Safety Schools
From the ‘Snarchives: Reasons People Don’t Get In
number of apps
($) “How many schools should I apply to in Round 2?”
($) Please don’t paper the country with apps
($) Canceling your GMAT score is a bad idea (plus, how many schools should you apply to?)
($) MIT and NYU are not safety schools
Round 2 Crunch Mode: How many apps should you do?
($) “How many apps should I do?”
($) “Should I even try this year?”
online MBA
optional essay
($) Low GMAT Round 2 application tactics: Remediation
($) What do you tell the adcom if you’re not getting a recommendation from your boss?
($) Already have a Master’s degree? Why do you also need an MBA now?
($) “How long should the optional essay be?”
($) Explaining a low GMAT or GRE score in your MBA apps
($) Special Case Situations for MBA Apps: What if you dropped out of grad school?
($) The very best messaging for handling an issue with low GPA
($) Low GMAT? Low GPA? Please don’t say these things in your essays.
($) Optional essay for low GPA: “I have proven myself since then by excelling at my job.”
part-time MBA
($) Pros and cons of a part-time MBA
If the full-time option hasn’t panned out, what about a part-time MBA?
($) What MBA programs are still viable for Round 3?
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
No cross-referencing, and some comments on applying for a part-time MBA
Success Story! “One admit is all you need”
($) Essay Critique! Career Goals essay! Except…
Just like with bschools, EMBA programs are not all created equally.
personal expression
($) Here’s a test for Stanford “What matters most?”
($) “Is a regular text essay OK for Booth?”
($) If you’re doing a PowerPoint for Stern, Booth, or MIT
Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose
($) essay critique! LSE Personal Statement
Applying to Grad School: Personal Statement vs Statement of Purpose
planning your strategy
($) Updating the adcom on a job change
($) “My GMAT (or GRE) score is not what I wanted. What do I do now, since Rd 2 is happening?”
($) You got in somewhere good. Should you try for somewhere better?
($) “Which order should I do my remaining apps in?”
($) “How many schools should I apply to in Round 2?”
($) Please don’t paper the country with apps
($) Are you too old to get into business school?
Ethics & Professionalism: Changing jobs during the MBA app process
($) “I did 4 schools in Rd 1. Should I really be thinking about Rd 2?”
profile assessments
Another “Oh crap. Round 2” post
($) A Stanford applicant case study: Avoidable mistakes
($) If you get feedback from the adcoms…
($) Career Readiness Competencies: What employers — and adcoms — look for
($) It’s impossible to predict your outcome based on aggregate data
($) What REALLY matters in MBA admissions?
($) “i’m gonna sound REALLY bonkers at times…” (or, engineering -> finance – help!)
reapplying
($) Reapplicant advice: What to change? What to stay the same?
($) If you get feedback from the adcoms…
Some cool schools give feedback
($) Reapplicant advice: “What can I do to increase my chances?”
Lay of the Land: Leveraging the app dataset
($) International Re-applicants to U.S. schools who still haven’t made it in
($) What to do if it looks like you’re not making it in this year
recommendations
($) Getting into bschool: Does who you know matter?
That thin line between being smart and cheating.
($) What do you tell the adcom if you’re not getting a recommendation from your boss?
($) If you’re applying to bschool, should you waive your right to see your recs?
($) When you want to ask that one person for a recommendation…. but….
Now is a great time for thank-yous!
($) “My job title doesn’t reflect my actual job.”
($) Sophisticated application strategies: Who says what?
recruiting
($) Which bschool you go to matters FOR YOUR FIRST JOB ONLY
($) If you’re hoping to be a Class of 2022 graduate, please read this.
($) International MBA Wanna-Be? Darden has given you a goldmine.
($) International MBA students and post-MBA employment in the U.S.
($) Trends in recruiting international MBA graduates
($) Offers and on-campus recruiting
($) What REALLY matters in MBA admissions?
($) How much does MBA ranking really matter? Here’s one angle.
What salary can you expect if you want to go work at a startup?
rejection
Why it hurts so much to get rejected from bschool
Some cool schools give feedback
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: All MBA decisions are independent events.
Success Story! “I could present myself as a better applicant…”
The major problem with the way Harvard Business School manages admissions.
resumes
($) Resume dead weight, aka, easy things you can cut
($) “I’m interviewing! Can I update my resume?”
($) “What projects do I include on my resume for my MBA application?”
($) Putting your resume into the school’s format
retest strategy
($) When to update the adcom after they have your app
($) Taking the GMAT: How many times is too many? 2019 edition
($) If you don’t think you can do better on the GMAT
($) How many times taking the GMAT is too many?
($) Multiple GMAT attempts. All of them low.
($) Taking the GMAT: How many times is too many?
(Re)taking the GMAT? Be as prepared as possible – in every way
Round 3
($) Just In Time MBA App Prep: What if you JUST decided to apply to bschool? Like, NOW?
An abundance of riches!! OMG Yay!! …….. eeek now what?!?
($) If you’re still thinking about a Round 3 app (even though we told you not to) read this.
($) Admissions teams like to say there’s no harm in applying in Round 3, you can try again next year
If you’re just joining us: Why applying to Columbia now is a bad idea.
($) MIT and NYU are not safety schools
FINALLY a school acknowledges reality. Thank you HBS!
($) What MBA programs are still viable for Round 3?
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
school fit
($) More on the finance-guy (or gal) candidate applying to business school
School research, people. That’s what you can be working on right now. SCHOOL RESEARCH.
($) Why doing your own research is so important
($) “I want to go to your school because of the network.”
($) “Yo EssaySnark! Please explain again what this ‘school fit’ thing is about?”
($) How to mention a personal or “convenience factor” reason for choosing a school
($) Essay writing is not plug-and-play
($) If there is a secret to getting into a top MBA program, this is it.
Don’t believe what you hear a school say about other schools
school reviews & insights
“completely lost on HBS essay and need help”
($) Yet another “Ack! I don’t know what to write in my Harvard HBS MBA essay!” post
Here’s how to prove that at Harvard, it’s not all about the essay*
From a BSer of years past, helping you with Harvard in small ways
($) Another example of the “Harvard type”
($) Kellogg’s 2019 MBA essays on “impact” and “values”
($) Pro Tip: How to pronounce (and spell!) business school names
($) Setting the stage: A post about writing an essay for Stanford
school visits
($) So how do you research a bschool?
Are you thinking about trying for an MBA this year? Here’s a critical next step.
Success Story! A post-MBA retrospective (part 3)
Handy Guide to How to Ask Questions at an Info Session!
($) You need to get out of your pajamas.
The best thing you can do if you haven’t done it yet.
The reason why MIT’s adcom is rad and a big tip for everyone interested in going to bschool
Success Story! “Did I get in because of the things I did…or in spite of them?”
selecting schools
($) “My GMAT (or GRE) score is not what I wanted. What do I do now, since Rd 2 is happening?”
($) You got in somewhere good. Should you try for somewhere better?
($) Great bschools that may be easier for you to break into during Round 2 (and which to maybe skip)
($) Using those MBA employment reports (international applicant edition)
If you really want to catch a glimpse of the culture of a school
Two (of many) approaches to picking the right bschool for you
What the adcoms say is not necessarily what the applicant hears (and more about partners).
($) Applying where the scholarships are (wherein we talk up Ross, Cornell, Darden, and others)
social enterprise
Success Stories
Success Story! To round out the year and the decade on the happiest of notes
Success Story! That tells you about the hardest part of the process!
EssaySnark’s admittedly self-serving posting of comments from a former BSer
Success Story! A post-MBA retrospective (part 3)
Success Story! A post-MBA retrospective (part 2)
Success Story! A post-MBA retrospective (part 1)
Success Story! “I decided to get feedback on what I am doing wrong.”
switching jobs before applying
($) Updating the adcom on a job change
Ethics & Professionalism: Changing jobs during the MBA app process
($) If you get fired, do you need to tell the adcom?
“I want to quit my job and go to bschool”
($) In the middle of applying to bschool, you get this fabulous new job opportunity…
($) Question from a waitlisted BSer: “I hope the adcom does not take this negatively…”
($) “Will I be blacklisted if I change my mind after accepting a school’s offer?”
($) When you can update your MBA app after submission
Success Story! In a completely different way…
($) Taking extended time off of work for GMAT and essays is not advised.
technology
($) “I want to work at Google” aka career goals and interviewing
($) Post-MBA career trends at Kellogg
($) essay critique! LBS post-MBA goals
the admissions consulting industry
($) A Stanford applicant case study: Avoidable mistakes
We don’t publish sample essays for your own benefit, and now we have science to back that policy up
($) So how competitive will MBA admissions be this year?
That thin line between being smart and cheating.
Do you want someone to tell you that you will get in? Or do you want someone to tell you the truth?
($) OH NO! Bschools in trouble! (aka, Are MBA applications REALLY tanking?)
No, you don’t need to work for a big company to get into a top school. But there is one advantage.
TOEFL
($) MBA programs that don’t require the TOEFL for international applicants
EssaySnark’s 2016 Radcom Award
Success Story! “One admit is all you need”
($) The best timing for a TOEFL
($) The TOEFL is not the most important part (unless it is).
tuition
($) The reality of applying to external scholarships for your graduate education
Inflation is low. Why is MBA tuition increasing AT ALL?
($) The factors that make you much more likely to get a scholarship award along with your MBA admit
($) Applying where the scholarships are (wherein we talk up Ross, Cornell, Darden, and others)
($) Start planning for your admit!
($) One weird trick (no really!) about financing your MBA
How are you going to pay for it?
($) Success Story! Sometimes it takes awhile – and sometimes it really pays off!
values
($) essay critique! Yale “biggest commitment” essay
Do you really want to change the world?
video essays
($) Should you include a picture?
($) If you’re doing a PowerPoint for Stern, Booth, or MIT
($) Video essay/short-answer interview tips
So you’re gonna do a video essay
volunteering
Volunteering and MBA applicants from the non-profit world
($) Exploring the BSer’s claim: “I work too much to do any volunteering.”
($) “What can I do to improve my chances?” Volunteering edition
($) “No extracurriculars after college” continued
($) “Request for help: No extracurricular after college”
($) Answering some questions on MBA app strategy!
($) The value of volunteering on an MBA app
Authenticity means sharing who you are.
waitlist/deferred decision
($) What does the Round 1 waitlist look like for Class of 2022 candidates?
Oh no! The waitlist! (Round 1 2019 edition)
($) How to mention a personal or “convenience factor” reason for choosing a school
($) If you’re still on the waitlist for the Class of 2021
($) How to get off the waitlist
What is the waitlist? (or, OH NO!!!)
($) Success Story! Sometimes it takes awhile – and sometimes it really pays off!
($) If you’re on the Round 1 waitlist will you have a shot this year?
“I’m waitlisted, and the adcom wants me to retake the GMAT…”
($) “I’m on the waitlist. Can I ask my interviewer for feedback?”
word limits
($) What if your essays are underlimit?
($) Formatting your MBA application essays
($) “I’ll just explain this situation about my background in the interview.”
($) Reapplicants and the optional essay: What goes where?
($) The big problem with Columbia’s choose-your-own-length essays
($) The other MAJOR problem with Columbia’s essays this year
A guiding principle in essay strategy: Don’t outstay your welcome.
Hyphenating words does not reduce your word count.
work history
($) Updating the adcom on a job change
($) When to update the adcom after they have your app
($) In this competitive season… Warnings to the stereotypical finance-guy applicant
No, you don’t need to work for a big company to get into a top school. But there is one advantage.
writing essays
($) Breathless bloat and gloat can backfire.
Don’t wait to deliver the punchline
“completely lost on HBS essay and need help”
($) An essay is an argument redux (with some comments on MBA application theme)
($) Yet another “Ack! I don’t know what to write in my Harvard HBS MBA essay!” post
We don’t publish sample essays for your own benefit, and now we have science to back that policy up
($) Your task is not to try to impress the bejeebus out of them.
($) Examining those non-answers answers from the presidential debate!
writing tips
This is how the process works.
Learning to be a better writer (like, hey, the way EssaySnark coaches!) can help you at Amazon
($) How to test your own writing for logic, clarity, and meaning.
Tiny writing issues that can make it hard on your reader.
($) Tuck’s unfortunately too-short essay questions
A great way to prepare for Round 1: Keep a journal
($) Don’t waste essay space telling the reader what they already know.