Where can you apply for an MBA straight out of college?
($) Academic recommendations, and timing for your MBA recommendations
($) “Is a European MBA the kiss of death?”
Going to a group interview?
Guest Post! “How I Discovered that IESE was the Perfect School For Me”
adcoms we love: IESE
essay critique: ISB essay 2 "three years after you graduate"
Wharton’s new essay questions
"achievement" essays
($) Writing essays for complex environments: When is a deep dive beneficial?
($) Stanford GSB: Optional (not optional!) stories of impact
($) Kellogg essay 1: Leadership and creating value
($) 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
($) Another post about the Darden Class of 2021 “evolving leadership style” essay
"contribution" essays
"failure" essays
We were gonna talk about getting into Columbia today but
($) “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
($) “Should I write about this horrible personal experience in my essays for business school?”
($) “Should I write about my ADHD in my essays for business school?”
($) essay critique: Booth “who you are” essay
($) A question to explore before starting to understand why you want an MBA
($) essay critique! Yale “biggest commitment” essay
($) Here’s a test for Stanford “What matters most?”
($) Essay Critique! Yale “biggest commitment”
($) essay critique! Stanford “What matters most and why” military version
"show don't tell"
($) Writing essays for complex environments: When is a deep dive beneficial?
($) Identifying stellar stories of leadership and impact for MBA apps
($) “Should I write about this horrible personal experience in my essays for business school?”
($) The most important technique you need to learn to write a good MBA admissions essay
"why MBA" essays
($) The importance of explicit “why MBA” content
($) essay critique: Wharton “What do you hope to gain professionally?”
($) Writing Week! Day 4: The problem of the parrot.
($) In your career goals / why MBA essay, everything needs to line up just so.
($) A question to explore before starting to understand why you want an MBA
($) A great way to brainstorm about your post-MBA career goals
($) Backup plans and next steps: What if it’s looking like you might not get in?!??
($) An essay is an argument redux (with some comments on MBA application theme)
($) “Yo EssaySnark! Please explain again what this ‘school fit’ thing is about?”
1-year MBA
($) 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?”
($) If Kellogg said ‘no’ to you…
announcements
The Round 1 Countdown is coming!
Immigration ruling for foreign students in the U.S. rescinded!
Thank you. (And new ‘follow blahg’ option available.)
Kellogg announced first coronavirus case
Six weeks and counting. (But really five. Or probably four. Or actually just two.)
app dataset
($) The submit-then-retest strategy for your GMAT or GRE
($) Columbia’s “Financing Your MBA” application question
($) Pro Tip: Start your Round 2 applications *now*
($) Do “legacies” have an admit advantage?
Another prep step: App Fee Waivers!
($) The MBA app dataset: A real opportunity
Military awards and the Wharton app dataset (with insight for civilians and other schools too)
Bad MBA essay typos (2019 edition)
application rounds
($) “My test score expires this year. Do I need to retest?”
($) Admissions teams like to say there’s no harm in applying in Round 3, you can try again next year
($) Was Round 1 more competitive this year – even more than Round 2?
($) What to keep in mind if you’re thinking of trying for more schools this season
“If they have a waitlist why are they still accepting more apps?”
($) More thoughts on the possibilities and problems with a Round 3 application.
($) Are you starting to think maybe Round 3?
($) Just In Time MBA App Prep: What if you JUST decided to apply to bschool? Like, NOW?
branding and theme
($) 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
($) “Do I need to have experience in my target industry in order to pitch it in my MBA essays?”
Are you ready to change the world?
($) 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?
career goals
($) essay critique! NYU Stern MBA “short and long-term career goals”
($) The importance of explicit “why MBA” content
($) Can you make too much money to get into an MBA program?
($) Which schools focus on your post-MBA career goals?
There are two parts to your pitch: What you say, and how you say it.
($) Do you still want to be an entrepreneur?
($) “Do I need to have experience in my target industry in order to pitch it in my MBA essays?”
($) “How much time should I spend explaining my long-term post-MBA goal in my essays?”
($) WRITING WEEK! Day 2: Reduce the Fluff Factor
“If I knew what I wanted to do with my life, I wouldn’t need an MBA”
consulting
($) essay critique! NYU Stern MBA “short and long-term career goals”
($) WRITING WEEK! Day 2: Reduce the Fluff Factor
($) “I’m just gonna say ‘consulting’ as my MBA goals.”
($) Why do people end up in consulting?
($) Post-MBA career trends at Kellogg
coronavirus
($) The importance of volunteering in an MBA application (coronavirus edition)
($) Impact on covid for international students ready for bschool right now
It’s April 21, 2021 and here’s what we know.
Should you be planning for pre-MBA travels?
Wherein EssaySnark gets schooled in statistics.
PSA: Even after you’re vaccinated, you still need to mask and socially distance.
There will never be another moment in time like this one.
($) Some schools really threw out the playbook when coronavirus came along.
culture essays
($) MIT Sloan MBA’s interview-invite essay on the “mission” and creating a welcoming environment
($) 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)
($) “Will I be canceled if I change my mind after accepting a school’s offer?”
($) School X or School Y: What if they truly are comparable???
($) What about asking for a deferral?
($) The BSer’s Dilemma: School X? Or School Y with $$? 2021 edition (Part 1)
($) How to do bschool with a partner
Success Story: A former BSer shares the experience of applying — and getting in!
deferred admission for college students
($) essay critique! Yale Silver Scholars – graduating college senior MBA application
Are you hurting your chances later if you try for an MBA now?
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
($) Do you still want to be an entrepreneur?
($) Coronavirus and the MBA: What if you’re graduating this Spring?
($) The simplest guide to MBA career goals. Courtesy of Berkeley Haas.
($) 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
($) There’s really only a few places we’d consider going to learn entrepreneurship.
essay critique
($) essay critique! Yale Silver Scholars – graduating college senior MBA application
($) essay critique! NYU Stern MBA “short and long-term career goals”
($) essay critique: Wharton “What do you hope to gain professionally?”
($) essay critique: Booth “who you are” essay
($) essay critique! Meaningful leadership experiences…
($) essay critique! Yale “biggest commitment” essay
($) 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 types
Applying to Grad School: Personal Statement vs Statement of Purpose
($) The submit-then-retest strategy for your GMAT or GRE
($) The importance of explicit “why MBA” content
($) Writing essays for complex environments: When is a deep dive beneficial?
($) School research idea: What about talking to professors?
($) Applying to The Kennedy School MPP/MBA
($) essay critique: Wharton “What do you hope to gain professionally?”
($) Writing Week! Day 4: The problem of the parrot.
($) Stanford GSB: Optional (not optional!) stories of impact
EssaySnark products & services
Starting on Monday: The MBA App Countdown!
EssaySnark’s pro bono initiatives in support of BIPOC MBA candidates
The Round 1 Countdown is coming!
How to start working on your apps now (even though the apps aren’t out yet)
Which service should I use for which schools?
($) The importance of the pitch
How to flatten the (essay writing) curve
“Ack! Why can’t you just get on the phone and talk to me, EssaySnark!??”
European schools
Some cool schools give feedback
($) International applicants: Should you even be focusing on USA for your MBA?
($) What MBA programs are still viable for Round 3?
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
($) essay critique! LSE Personal Statement
($) essay critique! LBS post-MBA goals
Executive Assessment
($) Should you take the Executive Assessment if you’re trying for a top MBA program?
($) GMAT or GRE – or Executive Assessment???
Our quasi-annual predictions on the coming MBA application season
There’s a new test in town: Should you take the Executive Assessment?
Executive MBA/EMBA
Some cool schools give feedback
Education is changing – especially the MBA
($) Can you make too much money to get into an MBA program?
($) Are you too old to get into business school?
($) GMAT or GRE – or Executive Assessment???
Getting input from admissions BEFORE you apply
Since we’ve been talking about the Executive MBA…
Success Story! A post-MBA retrospective (part 2)
($) Older applicant? Why you may not WANT to go to a full-time program.
family business
($) Who / what situations are greenlit for an MBA app in Round 3?
($) MBA career goals are goals for your career (“Well duh EssaySnark”)
($) “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
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
($) The CFA and the MBA: The one caveat (and the most common mistake for finance candidates)
flavors of MBA
($) Should you get a graduate certificate?
($) essay critique! Yale Silver Scholars – graduating college senior MBA application
Some cool schools give feedback
Education is changing – especially the MBA
($) Can you make too much money to get into an MBA program?
($) Applying to The Kennedy School MPP/MBA
($) International applicants: Should you even be focusing on USA for your MBA?
Most folks don’t want an online-only degree. But if you did…
for further reading
It’s Juneteenth and this is important.
Maybe it really is all in your head
Want to go to work in Big Tech? The FANG story is evolving. (Or devolving.)
($) Are you a foreign student coming to study in the U.S.? GREAT! Now be careful.
Source material and inputs into our deliberation process on this issue #ethics
gaps in the resume
Nobody sets out to be a bad person.
($) “I’ll just explain this situation about my background in the interview.”
general snark
Another quick authenticity post
Things were supposed to be different.
One aspect of being culturally sensitive is paying attention to language.
This will be an even bigger week for some of you.
We just have to say how excited we are!!
general tips
($) Authenticity: What it means, why it matters
($) You as an individual is not the same as you as the applicant.
Public Service Message: Please decline the schools you won’t be attending.
Now is a great time for thank-yous!
($) More skills to reflect on and tips for the business world
Being a leader: Tending to language.
($) What skills will be most desirable by future employers?
getting started
GMAT/GRE
($) How do you evaluate GRE scores? Is “GRE combined” a thing?
($) “My test score expires this year. Do I need to retest?”
Really sorry but we’re not done with the effing GMAT people yet.
Oh how interesting! The GMAT people think the GMAT is a good thing!
($) Why you can’t really rely on class profile data in understanding your own chances
($) What if you took the GMAT when you were still in college…
($) Should you take the Executive Assessment if you’re trying for a top MBA program?
($) Demystifying the differences between the GRE and the GMAT in MBA admissions
($) Is it possible to take the GMAT or GRE too many times?
Trying for H/S/W? Why “Is my GMAT good enough?” is not the right question.
GPA and grades
($) 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
($) How do you evaluate GRE scores? Is “GRE combined” a thing?
($) Demystifying the differences between the GRE and the GMAT in MBA admissions
($) What GRE score is considered competitive this year?
($) 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.
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
A bunch of stuff to use for interview prep
What exactly is going to happen tomorrow?
($) What should you wear to a Zoom interview?
($) You’re interviewing! How to prepare? Here’s one situation
($) Is it time to start prepping?
($) Did your interview invite come with another essay to write?
Practical interviewing tips, courtesy of Darden!
($) MBA interviewing is going to be different this year
J-Term/accelerated MBA
($) “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
Should you be planning for pre-MBA travels?
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
Being a leader: Tending to language.
($) Kellogg essay 1: Leadership and creating value
($) essay critique! Meaningful leadership experiences…
($) MIT Sloan MBA’s interview-invite essay on the “mission” and creating a welcoming environment
Now that most apps are in: What to do with your life
($) A map to writing Columbia essay 3: “a leader you admire”
($) “What projects do I include on my resume for my MBA application?”
lessons learned
We were gonna talk about getting into Columbia today but
A BSer’s Journey: Round 1 Update!
($) Lessons learned in essays: “This experience taught me…”
low GMAT
($) Which future career paths are not going to care if your GMAT is lower?
($) 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.
low GPA
($) Should you get a graduate certificate?
($) 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.”
($) All schools do a “holistic review.” But…
Plea for Help! “Maybe I’m not as qualified as I thought…”
lower-ranked schools
($) 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)
($) If your GMAT was over 730 and you didn’t make it into a school like Emory…
Master's programs
Applying to Grad School: Personal Statement vs Statement of Purpose
($) 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
($) essay critique! LSE Personal Statement
Success Story! With a different ending than you might expect!
($) 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
($) What is the visa situation for potential international MBA students in 2021?
What changes are you making due to coronavirus?
Why you may want to keep coming back to the EssaySnark blahg even though all your apps are in.
Quick application dos and don’ts
From the ‘Snarchives: The Importance of Accomplishments
number of apps
($) Be prepared for this to take awhile
($) It’s not a numbers game. (aka “How many apps should I submit?”)
($) “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?)
($) MIT and NYU are not safety schools
Round 2 Crunch Mode: How many apps should you do?
online MBA
Education is changing – especially the MBA
Most folks don’t want an online-only degree. But if you did…
($) Which schools were already online?
By request: Our thoughts on Arizona State
optional essay
($) The submit-then-retest strategy for your GMAT or GRE
($) “Should I write about my ADHD in my essays for business school?”
($) If it’s worth mentioning, it’s worth naming
($) 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
($) Special Case Situations for MBA Apps: What if you dropped out of grad school?
part-time MBA
Education is changing – especially the MBA
($) Pros and cons of a part-time MBA
If the full-time option hasn’t panned out, what about a part-time MBA?
($) What MBA programs are still viable for Round 3?
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
No cross-referencing, and some comments on applying for a part-time MBA
personal expression
($) 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
Applying to Grad School: Personal Statement vs Statement of Purpose
($) School research idea: What about talking to professors?
($) Applying to The Kennedy School MPP/MBA
($) A question to explore before starting to understand why you want an MBA
planning your strategy
Your cat litter box will be very clean this summer.
($) Authenticity: What it means, why it matters
($) Why you really truly honest to goodness should not do Harvard first.
($) No really. When can I get started?
($) Why you can’t really rely on class profile data in understanding your own chances
($) Should you get a graduate certificate?
($) “Will I be canceled if I change my mind after accepting a school’s offer?”
($) The disadvantage of working at a big-name company pre-MBA
($) Should you take the Executive Assessment if you’re trying for a top MBA program?
profile assessments
Trying for H/S/W? Why “Is my GMAT good enough?” is not the right question.
($) “No really. What are my chances???”
($) Can you be too old to get into an MBA program?
($) Can you make too much money to get into an MBA program?
($) A Stanford applicant case study: Avoidable mistakes
($) How do you know if you’re “Harvard material”?
reapplying
($) “Will I be canceled if I change my mind after accepting a school’s offer?”
Some cool schools give feedback
($) Can you get blacklisted by a bschool?
($) More thoughts on the possibilities and problems with a Round 3 application.
($) Reapplicant advice: What to change? What to stay the same?
($) If you get feedback from the adcoms…
($) Reapplicant advice: “What can I do to increase my chances?”
recommendations
($) Pre-season planning for MBA letters of recommendation
($) Be sure to update your recommenders on outcomes – even if you don’t get in.
Now is a great time for thank-yous!
($) Letters of support for your waitlisted application.
($) What if your recommender still hasn’t submitted the rec yet?
($) Getting into bschool: Does who you know matter?
That thin line between being smart and cheating.
($) What do you tell the adcom if you’re not getting a recommendation from your boss?
($) If you’re applying to bschool, should you waive your right to see your recs?
recruiting
($) Which future career paths are not going to care if your GMAT is lower?
($) Which bschool you go to matters FOR YOUR FIRST JOB ONLY
($) 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.
rejection
($) Be sure to update your recommenders on outcomes – even if you don’t get in.
($) What does being rejected really MEAN and how can you process it?
Some cool schools give feedback
Probably the most common response is “But why?”
The reasons why Michigan Ross’s “waitlist everybody” Rd 1 decision is so cruel.
($) Can you be too old to get into an MBA program?
What if you’ve collected more rejections than invitations?
What Harvard says to you on Tuesday is near-meaningless
resumes
($) Job titles can be their own form of jargon!
($) Getting your MBA resume to a single page
($) The difference between a resume and a CV and which is best for an MBA application
($) Pro tips for constructing incredible soundbites on your MBA resume
Want to see a good resume format? Wharton delivers
($) 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?”
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
rolling
($) When should a Columbia Regular Decision MBA app get submitted?
What “rolling admissions” means right now
($) Coronavirus and the MBA: International applicants and admits
($) “What’s the latest I can submit to Columbia Regular Decision and still have a shot?”
Columbia MBA early decision deadline & acceptance rate
What do you do if you missed Round 2 AND YOU STILL WANT TO APPLY SOMEWHERE NOW?
($) Columbia MBA: Early Decision, rolling admissions, when to apply
($) If you’re aiming at Columbia Regular Decision… when to submit?
Round 3
($) Admissions teams like to say there’s no harm in applying in Round 3, you can try again next year
($) What to keep in mind if you’re thinking of trying for more schools this season
“If they have a waitlist why are they still accepting more apps?”
($) More thoughts on the possibilities and problems with a Round 3 application.
($) Are you starting to think maybe Round 3?
($) Just In Time MBA App Prep: What if you JUST decided to apply to bschool? Like, NOW?
school fit
($) One often overlooked benefit to going to business school
Is “cultural fit” possibly a bad thing?
($) The importance of explicit “why MBA” content
($) Can you be too old to get into an MBA program?
($) School research idea: What about talking to professors?
($) Which MBA programs care if you care about their culture?
($) Should you care about a bschool’s culture?
($) If you really want to geek out on the “school fit” question
school reviews & insights
More on schools doing things well
Radcom of the Year Award for 2020: UVA Darden
The reasons why Michigan Ross’s “waitlist everybody” Rd 1 decision is so cruel.
Some schools are being hard-asses about standardized testing and test scores (and a rant)
What MIT did not succeed at doing with their Class of 2022 admissions strategy.
($) Some schools really threw out the playbook when coronavirus came along.
($) Which MBA programs care if you care about their culture?
More “wow the world in 2020 omg” and also bschools are changing and that gives us hope
school visits
Duke’s admissions policies in the face of coronavirus are … what? (UPDATED!)
($) So how do you research a bschool?
Success Story! A post-MBA retrospective (part 3)
Handy Guide to How to Ask Questions at an Info Session!
($) You need to get out of your pajamas.
The best thing you can do if you haven’t done it yet.
The reason why MIT’s adcom is rad and a big tip for everyone interested in going to bschool
Success Story! “Did I get in because of the things I did…or in spite of them?”
selecting schools
($) What does “quality” mean when it comes to top MBA programs?
($) Targeting MBA programs based on your personal values.
($) Going beyond the MBA rankings: How do you choose which bschools to apply to?
($) False negatives, false positives, and you.
($) Talking to current students about their bschool experience
Bschool is what you make of it.
($) How to do bschool with a partner
social enterprise
Success Stories
Success Story! Why you’re going through all of this stress and upheaval in your life
Success Story: A former BSer shares the experience of applying — and getting in!
More experiences from a Round 1 admit!
Advice from a Success Story! Experiences from a Round 1 admit
Success Story! To round out the year and the decade on the happiest of notes
Success Story! That tells you about the hardest part of the process!
EssaySnark’s admittedly self-serving posting of comments from a former BSer
switching jobs before applying
($) “Will I be canceled if I change my mind after accepting a school’s offer?”
($) Updating the adcom on a job change
Ethics & Professionalism: Changing jobs during the MBA app process
($) 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…”
technology
Want to go to work in Big Tech? The FANG story is evolving. (Or devolving.)
($) “I want to work at Google” aka career goals and interviewing
($) Post-MBA career trends at Kellogg
($) essay critique! LBS post-MBA goals
the admissions consulting industry
Really sorry but we’re not done with the effing GMAT people yet.
Oh how interesting! The GMAT people think the GMAT is a good thing!
($) Does it help to go with an MBA admissions consultant who has worked in MBA admissions?
Does your MBA admissions consultant need to have an MBA in order to be any good?
($) When a 740 GMAT isn’t really a 740 GMAT
Some schools are being hard-asses about standardized testing and test scores (and a rant)
($) A Stanford applicant case study: Avoidable mistakes
the world
Should bschools go test-optional?
Nobody’s thinking about writing essays right now. Right?
Take care of yourselves today.
There will never be another moment in time like this one.
($) Are we seeing stronger applicants this year?
($) What’s going to happen to the economy and should you care about that right now?
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
($) The TOEFL is not the most important part (unless it is).
tuition
Will you be looking more closely at affordability as part of your MBA plans?
Did you know that there may be more essays to write?
($) Columbia’s “Financing Your MBA” application question
($) Can you make too much money to get into an MBA program?
This is why tuition at top schools shouldn’t be reduced
($) To Round 3 or not to Round 3?
($) The reality of applying to external scholarships for your graduate education
Inflation is low. Why is MBA tuition increasing AT ALL?
($) The factors that make you much more likely to get a scholarship award along with your MBA admit
Uncategorized
values
($) What is your purpose in going to bschool?
($) The back-and-forth roundabout process of figuring out which schools to apply to
($) What are values and why might they matter in your quest for getting an MBA?
Not done yet: More on microaggressions
Not to be alarmist, but…. Things are going to get bad.
video essays
($) 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
($) The value of volunteering on an MBA app
($) The importance of volunteering in an MBA application (coronavirus edition)
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”
($) Answering some questions on MBA app strategy!
waitlist/deferred decision
($) More waitlist discussions and insights
($) Waitlist prospects for Round 2
“If they have a waitlist why are they still accepting more apps?”
($) Letters of support for your waitlisted application.
The reasons why Michigan Ross’s “waitlist everybody” Rd 1 decision is so cruel.
word limits
($) Is it OK for your essay to be overlimit?
($) 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
($) The other MAJOR problem with Columbia’s essays this year
A guiding principle in essay strategy: Don’t outstay your welcome.
work history
($) 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
($) Don’t let the essay get in the way of the story.
($) How to make your essays more powerful. (With whiskey.)
($) For HBS especially: Essays reveal so much.
($) Writing essays for complex environments: When is a deep dive beneficial?
($) Identifying stellar stories of leadership and impact for MBA apps
Ermahgad! Proof for all advice EssaySnark is spewing!
($) Going beyond that first tentative step: Starting in on the ideation phase
Figuring out how to get started
Why we don’t provide sample essays — and even a warning from Duke about it
writing tips
($) A great way to prepare for Round 1: Keep a journal
($) Sweating the small stuff: Formatting decisions on MBA essays
($) Job titles can be their own form of jargon!
“I will exploit this opportunity to go on to build greater success.”
($) Identifying stellar stories of leadership and impact for MBA apps
($) You can’t write your introduction first. It won’t make any sense.
There are two parts to your pitch: What you say, and how you say it.