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You are here: Home / Snarchives for Wharton

($) How do you figure out what major to choose on the MBA app? (with stuff on Wharton essay strategy)

September 9, 2019 by EssaySnark - Discusses Wharton

When they announced their Class of 2021 profile recently, Harvard made a point to say that they’ve updated the industry categories that they use in describing their incoming class. They said that this would be “easier for students” because it’s in line with what their Career Services office uses. We’re a little baffled on how…


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Filed Under: app dataset Bschools: Wharton

($) Project planning strategies! Which schools have essay questions that are similar?

July 29, 2019 by EssaySnark - Discusses Darden, Michigan Ross, Kellogg, Dartmouth Tuck, Wharton, Columbia, Duke Fuqua

DISCLAIMER: This post is not trying to tell you that you can reuse your essays from one school to another! Because really, you can’t. Even if the essay prompt is nearly exactly the same — which, this year, there’s at least one pair of schools where this is true — even when the questions are…


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Filed Under: planning your strategy Bschools: Darden, Michigan Ross, Kellogg, Dartmouth Tuck, Wharton, Columbia, Duke Fuqua

Once more with feeling: Does the dean matter?

June 12, 2019 by EssaySnark - Discusses Wharton, USC Marshall Leave a Comment

As we’ve offered in previous posts, the answer to that is “yes and no.”

We’ll just leave this up for now.

The only time a dean goes from a higher-ranked school to a lower-ranked one is when there's something amiss at the school they're leaving.

— Essay Snark (@EssaySnark) June 11, 2019

We were already cautioning applicants about @USCmarshallMBA and, well….. https://t.co/AtzNht8uUu

— Essay Snark (@EssaySnark) June 11, 2019

 

Ah ok – not effective immediately – he'll stick around at Wharton thru end of 2019-20 academic year. Odd it was announced this way though. Did USC people jump the gun? Why didn't this news come from Wharton first? Not handled well – poor leadership here. https://t.co/9zH2v3mm5Q

— Essay Snark (@EssaySnark) June 11, 2019

Like, how did it happen?

“Hello, Wharton HR? My name is Jane, I’m calling from human resources at USC Marshall. We wanted to get a reference on someone that works there, Geoff Garrett? Do you have a sec to answer a few questions for me about his employment?”

 

 
 

Dang, are we turning into a tea channel?

— Essay Snark (@EssaySnark) June 11, 2019

 

OK gonna let it go now.

Filed Under: leadership Bschools: Wharton, USC Marshall

Getting input from admissions BEFORE you apply

April 10, 2019 by EssaySnark - Discusses Duke Fuqua, Yale SOM, Wharton Leave a Comment

What we’re discussing today is not available for a standard two-year full-time competitive MBA program. However, if you’re interested in an Executive MBA, or potentially certain online or hybrid part-time MBAs — or practically any other graduate educational program in existence — then you typically have an opportunity to connect with an admissions person directly about your profile, your interests, your reasons for considering their program, and your suitability or fit to what they offer.

Again, not available with any big-name MBAs associated with all the brands that come to mind (Harvard Stanford Wharton -> Ross UCLA Duke).

BUT, surprisingly available most anywhere else.

Typically how it works is you submit your resume to them and then schedule a call where they talk about that specific program and how you might be a fit. Sometimes they’ll steer you to another of the degree programs that that school offers, but often it’ll be a way to encourage you to apply to that program specifically. It’s a high-touch approach that they find valuable, since it lets them start to build the relationship and gain exposure to what they offer, and it can be great for you as a potential applicant since they even sometimes coach candidates or steer them in a better direction on issues like which test (GRE or GMAT or for EMBA, Executive Assessment) and what type of score would be needed.

Case in point:

If you’re browsing the Yale SOM website for their MBA for Executives program, you will find this:

Pre-Assessment Resume Request

 

 

There’s a few other schools that offer this too, like Duke with their Global Executive MBA program:

Duke EMBA Interview Request

 

This is merely a reflection of the different market dynamics in effect for these programs. It’s not that they’re not good programs, or they’re not in demand, or they don’t attract a high-caliber candidate. It’s just that they get far less interest from potential students for these tracks compared to the ever-popular full-time MBA, and also because with an executive program, they’re catering to (usually) an older person who is at a different stage of life and many times expects a bit more of the white-gloved treatment given their station in life. More hand-holding of the candidate is common, and this even extends into the actual student experience at many executive MBA programs — to the extent that the school offers catered meals throughout the residency portion of programming, and some schools will have any required textbooks pre-ordered and shipped out to students directly without the student having to deal with the hassle of getting them. That sort of thing.

These programs often will also waive standardized testing requirements depending on the nature of work experience or past educational background — again, a reflection of the different clientele and the separate market segment that the EMBA resides in (in most places) compared to the oversubscribed F/T MBA tracks.

Even Wharton has this opportunity with their EMBA:

Wharton EMBA Phone Chat Request

(We say “even” in the case of Wharton because this is probably the most competitive EMBA program around — it’s nearly as hard to get into Wharton for Executives, particularly the SF location, as it is their full-time tracks! and they’re not going to waive the testing requirements.)

 

As we said, almost any other non-MBA graduate program offers these opportunities, too, so if you’re wondering if maybe you should ditch all this business-y stuff and follow your heart into an MFA, or you are in love with public policy and you want to try for a program in international development, or practically anything else, these opportunities to speak with an actual admissions person directly are common. This is also something you’ll find at a few of the European full-time programs like ESADE ; it’s not something that most of the top U.S. schools offer since they don’t have the ability to meet all the demand that they would have for it, nor do they really need to worry about convincing anyone to apply or trying to sell their program to any particular candidate.

But if you’re kicking the tires on MBA programs, and wondering if you’re “too old” for a standard full-time MBA (spoiler alert: you’re probably not! not if you can make the case for it, at least), then you might consider scheduling one or two of these pre-assessment phone chat executive MBA interview thingies. It can help you get a feel for the different programs and you can use it as a sounding board for your graduate education plans.

Just be aware of this reality: Most admissions people will be very encouraging of you to apply, almost regardless of whether you do in fact have a chance (read: Wharton). We’ve mentioned this phenomenon about cagey adcom types before; it’s always in their best interest to get you to apply (or reapply, in the case of those admissions teams on the rare full-time programs that offer feedback). They’ll be doing a sell job on you. But in some cases, they may also be candid. If you’re talking to an admissions person at an EMBA program that does not waive the GMAT, and you have a 550, they might directly say if they feel it’s too low for them to make an offer of admission. (We’re not telling you that a 550 is definitely too low at any particular program; we’re saying that certain admissions folks will be forthcoming if they sense a true obstacle to you getting an admit into that track. Or at least they may hint broadly that the test score is a risk, or be particularly encouraging of the suggestion that you try taking the test again. If they do that, take the hint, and take action, before you apply, if you’re really serious about getting in to their school.)

Those calls tend to be fun, since it’s a chance for you to interact directly with an insider who is knowledgeable about what their program can provide as an accelerant to your career. Don’t go into it cold; do your research on your own first! Study their website, talk to your friends who’ve done an EMBA, either at that school or elsewhere, come up with lots of questions that pertain specifically to you and your motivation surrounding graduate education. Use it to your advantage.

You can try the “What are my chances??” question in such a context and it’ll likely be received better than if you lob that at an adcom person work works in the full-time MBA admissions office.

Be sure to dig through all the pages of your school’s website to see about such opportunities, and if an admissions team offers it, then jump on the chance.

 
 

And oh yeah, to mention before someone brings it up in the comments: A handful of full-time MBA programs do indeed do applicant-initiated interviews, where everyone applying has the opportunity to be interviewed as part of their app process. This short list is primarily Tuck — if you can get your butt up to Hanover — and Kellogg — who may or may not waive the interview if they cannot match you up with an alumni to conduct it. Duke also offers this in a limited window at the very start of the admissions season in September.

This applicant-initiated interview opportunity is not the same as what we’re discussing here, which is a chance to meet with AN ADMISSIONS PERSON to discuss the program and your individual profile BEFORE YOU SUBMIT AN APPLICATION. These interviews with Kellogg and Tuck are where the school is actively evaluating you as a candidate to their program. While you shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that ANY interaction with anyone at any school is still part of your evaluation process (meaning, anybody can write a note to place in your file that captures anything exceptionally positive or negative that they experience when they talk to you), these pre-evaluation assessment things are somewhat more casual, and they’re definitely about the school trying to sell to you, instead of the other way around.

Filed Under: Executive MBA/EMBA Bschools: Duke Fuqua, Yale SOM, Wharton

($) What if you don’t have that much work experience? Going for an MBA early in career

April 1, 2019 by EssaySnark - Discusses Wharton, Columbia

Used to be, certain schools would hardly even consider an applicant without at least three-ish years of post-college work experience. Those particular schools still have a relatively high average number of years of experience for their entering classes but we’re seeing signs of cracks in the walls, where they’re now being more open to considering…


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Filed Under: planning your strategy Tagged With: trends Bschools: Wharton, Columbia

What is the waitlist? (or, OH NO!!!)

December 7, 2018 by EssaySnark - Discusses Harvard, Chicago Booth, Wharton, Columbia

Round 1 decisions for many top schools coming out this week. You all hope hope pray pray… and for some, huge letdown. They put you on the waitlist. “What does this mean? Am I doomed?” No. EssaySnark sees people get into the best schools off the waitlist all the time. We had two clients get…


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Filed Under: waitlist/deferred decision Bschools: Harvard, Chicago Booth, Wharton, Columbia

($) The joint MBA/Master’s app including JD/MBA: How do the schools decide?

July 10, 2018 by EssaySnark - Discusses Wharton, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan, HKS, Kellogg

As a follow-on to yesterday’s post on joint MBA + Master’s programs and is it easier to get in, here are some specifics on how things are evaluated. Most universities handle admissions separately for each of their schools. It’s like each school — the business school, the law school — is operating individually within the…


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Filed Under: JD/MBA, Master's programs, planning your strategy Bschools: Wharton, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan, HKS, Kellogg

($) The joint MBA/Master’s app: Is it easier to get in?

July 9, 2018 by EssaySnark - Discusses MIT Sloan, Harvard, Kellogg, Dartmouth Tuck, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Columbia

We’ve previously spoken of applying for an MBA along with another graduate degree and today we’ll offer additional points to consider as you’re thinking about dual-degree application strategy, including the perennial question of “Is it easier to get in?????” New programs typically do not get that much interest, so app volumes are usually lower, which…


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Filed Under: flavors of MBA, Master's programs, selecting schools Bschools: MIT Sloan, Harvard, Kellogg, Dartmouth Tuck, Wharton, Stanford GSB, Columbia

($) Which top bschools interviewed lots of applicants in Round 1?

January 16, 2018 by EssaySnark - Discusses Michigan Ross, Wharton, Columbia, MIT Sloan

Multiple Choice:

When an adcom issues interviews to lots of their candidates in Round 1, that means:

1. They’re being nice
2. They have a lot of uncertainty in how the season will play out
3. Lots of applicants were disappointed on decision day

 
 


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Filed Under: application rounds, interviewing Bschools: Michigan Ross, Wharton, Columbia, MIT Sloan

($) When an essay prompt does not ask for something but you include it anyway

September 20, 2017 by EssaySnark - Discusses Wharton

This is in the category of ‘unforced error.’ There are plenty of ways to muff up an essay but it’s always a shame to see a BSer muff things up in content that they aren’t even being asked to write about. Take Wharton essay 1: What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton…


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Filed Under: "why MBA" essays, writing essays Bschools: Wharton

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2019 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

    The 2019 Columbia MBA Application Guide - if you're applying to Columbia this season, GET YOUR APP IN NOW!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2019 applications
   
    The 2019 Harvard MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School - ready to help you with your interview prep!
   
    The 2019 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2022
   
    The 2019 MIT Essay Guide with brand-new material on the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for 2019!
   
    The 2019 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2022 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for 2019!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for 2019!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for Class of 2022    
    The 2019 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for 2019!
   
    The 2019 Cornell Johnson MBA Application Guide - with help on career goals, and impact, and back-of-the-resume assignments, plus a new section on the Cornell Tech MBA Personal Statement!
SnarkStrategies MBA Guide for Cornell - covers the 2019 essays!
   
    The 2019 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 2019 essays!
   
    The 2019 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 2019!
   
    The 2019 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your "nice" and "aware" etc essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2019 and the nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The 2019 UVA Darden MBA Application Guide gives insights on the purposeful leader with impact, and the diversity essay, plus the Batten scholarship essays, and Early Action, and everything else going on here! s
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Darden MBA - completely overhauled for the Class of 2022 requirements!
   
    The 2019 Michigan Ross Application Guide - covers the short-answer questions and your short-term goal essay too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Ross - revised for 2019!
   
    The 2019 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2022 essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA - overhauled to help you with the personal essay!
   


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