One of the most challenging essay questions of all time is Stanford’s prompt asking: “What matters most to you and why?” So simple! Such a straightforward question! And yet… so incredibly difficult to do well!! As we did last week, when we shared actual real-live feedback offered to a Harvard applicant struggling with how to […]
Continue reading...More on rankings (Columbia and undergrad)
Back in March, we shared with you how a professor at Columbia University had investigated the data reported by Columbia to U.S. News about undergraduate admissions. Here’s the original analysis by Dr. Michael Thaddeus , unsurprisingly a math professor there. After the school administrators got over their anger and embarrassment, they apparently did the right […]
Continue reading...Making meaning out of a great leader
Regardless of your nationality and where you grew up, we’re assuming that most of you have heard of The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo source: Smithsonian In the U.S., today is the day that we have designated as a national holiday to honor his legacy. Some states don’t recognize the holiday at all; […]
Continue reading...($) UCLA essay on “recent events”
For those of you considering applying to UCLA Anderson, we’ve got some ideas for the main essay that they are asking you to write about, which is this: How have recent events influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both? (250 words maximum) We welcome reflection on any events […]
Continue reading...($) ROI and the MBA
This perhaps snarkier-than-standard post from several years back is worth reblahgging just as a way to maybe open things up in how you’re looking at the MBA and what you’re hoping to do with the next few years of your life. As with most everything here on the blahg, it’s heavy on the opinion, so […]
Continue reading...($) Authenticity and values: Your most important guideposts.
When we talk about things like “authenticity” and “values” you may think we’re also talking about things like “branding and theme” — and we’re not really. Authenticity and values are part of who you are (or, ahem, hopefully not you but in some cases, are not) regardless of whether we’re talking MBA applications or friendships. […]
Continue reading...How to make decisions
Today is one of those rando posts that we put up from time to time where we talk about life stuff. It’s all related to getting an MBA and maximizing opportunities, we promise. Keep reading and see if you agree. Imagine you’re involved in this hobby. You’ve joined a local group of other […]
Continue reading...($) What is your purpose in going to bschool?
We’ve been dealing with heavy topics this week. Let’s pick up the applying-to-bschool thread again more directly, yet in a way that still maintains that thread and overall theme of values. Whether you’ve already gotten in and are getting used to the idea of packing up your things and moving to a new city in […]
Continue reading...($) One more post on culture
There’s a trust deficit across America. It’s not going to be solved by voting in one person or another — but it would help to have a leader who models decency. The amount that Americans have simply accepted lying, cheating, and bullying is astounding. Yes there are multiple ways to view any event, however […]
Continue reading...($) The back-and-forth roundabout process of figuring out which schools to apply to
Figuring out your short-list of schools can be challenging. We have been giving different angles and insights into various schools over the past few weeks, including our discussion of MBA programs through the lens of their responsiveness to coronavirus in Spring 2020. Hmmm. Lots of questions, aren’t there. Yet these questions can be helpful in […]
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