We frequently write posts that are hopefully about inspiration and going beyond the expected financial outcomes, by suggesting that bschool can be this incredible opportunity for personal growth and change, and that you can make the most of it when you go into it with the mindset of seeking out new experiences. That whole lean […]
Continue reading...($) The submit-then-retest strategy for your GMAT or GRE
Well that went fast didn’t it! There’s something very odd that happens to time in that sequence of dates between like December 15th and the first Monday in January. Or maybe that phenomenon of weird-time-experience only happens to those trying to write essays for Round 2 applicants (and the snarks who try to support them). […]
Continue reading...($) The importance of explicit “why MBA” content
The “why MBA” aspect to your pitch in your MBA essays is not just literally stating why you think an MBA is necessary to achieve your goals — though that’s obviously an important part! The most sophisticated “why MBA” essays are about positioning YOU towards THIS SCHOOL. There are two angles of “why MBA” that […]
Continue reading...($) Impact
The way to set yourself apart in your MBA applications is to show what you have done in your career and what you have experienced in this life that makes you a whole person. That sentence may be hard to parse into action. You may be wondering, “OK great, but how do I write my […]
Continue reading...($) The very best messaging for handling an issue with low GPA
One of the most common statements that MBA admissions committees hear from applicants who have rocky academics is, “My GPA does not reflect my ability.” We have cautioned against this before as not quite the ideal. So then, what is? Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends.
Continue reading...Mental health and top universities
UPDATE: And then of course we have the tragic news this morning of another shooting in the U.S., this time on the campus of the University of Virginia… ——————- In the long-ago past here on the blahg, we routinely cautioned candidates to be careful of overdisclosing personal information in their MBA applications. This was a […]
Continue reading...($) “How much should recommenders material overlap with the stories I relate in my essay?”
Basically, the title. And here’s what we say in response! Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends.
Continue reading...($) When you’re asked to identify a weakness
A perennial angle on many schools’ MBA essay questions is an angle asking about strengths and weaknesses. That typically comes up not as a direct question, but instead they ask you to present a challenging experience or your key leadership story or maybe your biggest failure and then discuss what you learned from it. Some...
($) One bad grade: Dealing with a D or an F on your transcript.
Oh nos! You flunked out of a class! Or just flailed mightily, and ended up with a very low mark on your transcript. What do you do about that now? Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends. If you want full support on figuring out what to do and how to...
($) A common mistake when writing essays for Stanford.
Nobody talks about “authenticity” more than the Stanford GSB, yet for many people, it’s really really hard to figure out what it means to write their essays authentically. Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends. Continue reading......