Aringo helps MBA candidates prepare outstanding applications (essays, resume/CV, recommendations) for the world's top MBA programs.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Top Business Schools Merge Admissions for Different Programs
The Financial Times reports that a number of top business schools, including Duke, Columbia, Kellogg, and IE are combining the admissions processes for their different MBA programs, meaning that if a candidate is rejected from the Full-Time MBA, the schools can then offer a spot in the Part-Time or Executive MBA programs.
The combined admissions process will allow the schools to identify applicants whose profile is not strong enough for the Full-Time program, but can be a better fit for the school’s other MBA programs. For example, a candidate with a weak GMAT score but impressive professional experience might be more suited for an EMBA program.
Uniting the admissions process will also cut expenses and allow schools to market all their programs together so a candidate can choose which program offers the best fit. Columbia already merged the admissions process for its MBA and EMBA programs two years ago. IE boasts a new system that refers applicants rejected from its International MBA program to other programs and offers guidance in matching them to an alternate program. Using this system, 10% of candidates who applied to one program are currently studying in a different program.
At Michigan, the admissions process was unified about two years ago, and since then, 130 candidates applied to the Part-Time MBA program instead of the EMBA after the school’s admissions counselors advised them to do so.
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
The combined admissions process will allow the schools to identify applicants whose profile is not strong enough for the Full-Time program, but can be a better fit for the school’s other MBA programs. For example, a candidate with a weak GMAT score but impressive professional experience might be more suited for an EMBA program.
Uniting the admissions process will also cut expenses and allow schools to market all their programs together so a candidate can choose which program offers the best fit. Columbia already merged the admissions process for its MBA and EMBA programs two years ago. IE boasts a new system that refers applicants rejected from its International MBA program to other programs and offers guidance in matching them to an alternate program. Using this system, 10% of candidates who applied to one program are currently studying in a different program.
At Michigan, the admissions process was unified about two years ago, and since then, 130 candidates applied to the Part-Time MBA program instead of the EMBA after the school’s admissions counselors advised them to do so.
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Drop in GMAT Scores at Top MBA Programs
The website Poets & Quants reports a drop in median GMAT scores at the top 25 programs for this year’s students, and 15 programs accepted more candidates this year than last year. These two facts can be explained by the decrease in number of applications to the top programs.
The MBA programs at Kellogg, MIT, Tepper, UNC, and USC listed a 10 point decrease in median GMAT score. In contrast, there were 8 schools that reported an increase in median GMAT score, like Stanford with a leap from 730 to 740 (10 points higher than Harvard), Berkeley, and Darden. GMAT scores at Stanford range between 530-790, 490-790 at Harvard, and 560-790 at Wharton.
Some business schools also reported the average GMAT score among all their applicants (including those rejected, or those accepted who chose not to attend): The median GMAT score of all applicants to Harvard was 701, 710 to Berkeley, 705 to Yale (with an average of 688), and 700 to Kellogg, Duke, and Michigan.
In terms of acceptance rates, most top programs reported an increase from 2010, with significant increases at Michigan (32% were accepted compared to 25% last year), USC, and Georgetown. Tuck (18%), Darden (25%), and Tepper (24%) actually reported a decrease in acceptance rates. The most selective program is still Stanford with a 6% acceptance rate, followed by Harvard at 11%, Berkeley at 12%, and MIT and NYU at 13%.
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
The MBA programs at Kellogg, MIT, Tepper, UNC, and USC listed a 10 point decrease in median GMAT score. In contrast, there were 8 schools that reported an increase in median GMAT score, like Stanford with a leap from 730 to 740 (10 points higher than Harvard), Berkeley, and Darden. GMAT scores at Stanford range between 530-790, 490-790 at Harvard, and 560-790 at Wharton.
Some business schools also reported the average GMAT score among all their applicants (including those rejected, or those accepted who chose not to attend): The median GMAT score of all applicants to Harvard was 701, 710 to Berkeley, 705 to Yale (with an average of 688), and 700 to Kellogg, Duke, and Michigan.
In terms of acceptance rates, most top programs reported an increase from 2010, with significant increases at Michigan (32% were accepted compared to 25% last year), USC, and Georgetown. Tuck (18%), Darden (25%), and Tepper (24%) actually reported a decrease in acceptance rates. The most selective program is still Stanford with a 6% acceptance rate, followed by Harvard at 11%, Berkeley at 12%, and MIT and NYU at 13%.
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Waitlisted? Here are some tips...
At this time of year, many Round 1 applicants receive notification that they have been waitlisted, which means their candidacy will be weighed against applicants from the next rounds. This is disappointing for some applicants and the start of a nerve-wracking wait. What will you do at this time to improve your chances and strengthen your candidacy?
Here are some tips:
1. Take the GMAT again if you think there's some chance you can improve your grade significantly.
2. Visit the campus and request, in advance, a (second) interview with an admissions officer.
3. Get a couple more support emails from students/professors/alumni. Email them to the admissions office.
4. Write a cover letter to the head of admissions detailing recent, significant, positive developments in your career / life (GMAT improvement, new job, promotion, distinctions) and restating your strong interest in the program.
5. If the school doesn't object to additional recommendation letters, get an additional recommendation letter. If there was a significant development in your career (new employer, promotion, distinction) - you can get an additional recommendation letter covering this new development.
6. If the school allows additional essays, select a topic that adds information beyond your original application and write a new essay.
Good luck to all those waiting!
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
Here are some tips:
1. Take the GMAT again if you think there's some chance you can improve your grade significantly.
2. Visit the campus and request, in advance, a (second) interview with an admissions officer.
3. Get a couple more support emails from students/professors/alumni. Email them to the admissions office.
4. Write a cover letter to the head of admissions detailing recent, significant, positive developments in your career / life (GMAT improvement, new job, promotion, distinctions) and restating your strong interest in the program.
5. If the school doesn't object to additional recommendation letters, get an additional recommendation letter. If there was a significant development in your career (new employer, promotion, distinction) - you can get an additional recommendation letter covering this new development.
6. If the school allows additional essays, select a topic that adds information beyond your original application and write a new essay.
Good luck to all those waiting!
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Update from Chicago Business School
Chicago posted an update to its admissions committee blog:
"With the Round One mid-decision deadline approaching on November 9, I wanted to provide you with a brief update on where we are in the review process. Last week we began extending interview invitations to our Round One applicants and will continue to do so through the 9th. You will also be notified if you have not been invited to interview at this time.
Our interviews will occur from Saturday, November 12 through Saturday, December 3.You can choose to interview here at the Harper Center or off-campus with one of our alumni. If you come to campus for your interview, the interview will be conducted by either an Admissions Fellow (one of our second-year students) or an alum. Interviewing on campus is also a great opportunity for you to experience life at Booth.You can sit in on a class (Monday-Friday) and meet current students through lunch and a tour of the building.
While we would love for everyone to come to campus for their interview, we understand that it’s not possible for some of you. Please be assured that we don’t place any preference as to where you interview. Interviewing with one of our fantastic alumni is a great way to learn about the impact that Booth has had on their careers.
Whichever option you choose, we’re looking forward to getting to know you better and hope that you will use the interview to learn more about us."
In addition, Chicago also provided Round 2 applicants with some tips to achieving a good recommendation. Here are a few:
"-Your first letter should be a professional recommendation from a supervisor. However, we understand that it's sometimes not feasible to ask your current supervisor to formally write a letter on your behalf. If you find yourself in this situation, find a professional contact that can speak to your strengths and your weaknesses, such as a past supervisor or client. There is a section on the application where you can explain why you have chosen your recommenders.
-The second letter is up to you. The purpose of the second letter is to give us a different perspective of your skill sets and provide you with an opportunity to add a new voice to your application. Your second letter can be professional in nature or from an organization, club or volunteer project that you are associated with. There is no preference on who supplies your second recommendation; our only guideline is that it should add new and valuable insights to the application.
-Choose people who know you well. Fancy titles and famous companies are great, but they won't help if the Admissions Committee senses the recommender doesn't know you or your work well. Make sure your recommenders are close enough to provide specific and relevant examples.
-Meet with your recommenders beforehand. It's an opportunity to refresh their memory on your past projects and goals, as well as to tell them about Booth. Recent connections can make for richer and more powerful letters of recommendation, which is important in making a great impression.
-Don't rush your recommender. Be mindful of a recommender's time. You want them to feel they have enough time to write a great letter, not just a good one. We suggest a month's notice at minimum, if possible. Plus, that gives you time to meet with him/her before they write the letter and for a follow up meeting.
-Don't write your own letter. In today's busy world where everyone is multi-tasking and overscheduled, it's not uncommon for a recommender to suggest that you write your own letter. But take our advice - please don't do it! Since the committee can usually recognize your writing style from other parts of the application, it's best that the recommender write the letter.
-Send a thank you note. Your recommenders took time to write letters on your behalf so it's important that you follow up with a thank you note or card. They'll know that you appreciated their help."
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
"With the Round One mid-decision deadline approaching on November 9, I wanted to provide you with a brief update on where we are in the review process. Last week we began extending interview invitations to our Round One applicants and will continue to do so through the 9th. You will also be notified if you have not been invited to interview at this time.
Our interviews will occur from Saturday, November 12 through Saturday, December 3.You can choose to interview here at the Harper Center or off-campus with one of our alumni. If you come to campus for your interview, the interview will be conducted by either an Admissions Fellow (one of our second-year students) or an alum. Interviewing on campus is also a great opportunity for you to experience life at Booth.You can sit in on a class (Monday-Friday) and meet current students through lunch and a tour of the building.
While we would love for everyone to come to campus for their interview, we understand that it’s not possible for some of you. Please be assured that we don’t place any preference as to where you interview. Interviewing with one of our fantastic alumni is a great way to learn about the impact that Booth has had on their careers.
Whichever option you choose, we’re looking forward to getting to know you better and hope that you will use the interview to learn more about us."
In addition, Chicago also provided Round 2 applicants with some tips to achieving a good recommendation. Here are a few:
"-Your first letter should be a professional recommendation from a supervisor. However, we understand that it's sometimes not feasible to ask your current supervisor to formally write a letter on your behalf. If you find yourself in this situation, find a professional contact that can speak to your strengths and your weaknesses, such as a past supervisor or client. There is a section on the application where you can explain why you have chosen your recommenders.
-The second letter is up to you. The purpose of the second letter is to give us a different perspective of your skill sets and provide you with an opportunity to add a new voice to your application. Your second letter can be professional in nature or from an organization, club or volunteer project that you are associated with. There is no preference on who supplies your second recommendation; our only guideline is that it should add new and valuable insights to the application.
-Choose people who know you well. Fancy titles and famous companies are great, but they won't help if the Admissions Committee senses the recommender doesn't know you or your work well. Make sure your recommenders are close enough to provide specific and relevant examples.
-Meet with your recommenders beforehand. It's an opportunity to refresh their memory on your past projects and goals, as well as to tell them about Booth. Recent connections can make for richer and more powerful letters of recommendation, which is important in making a great impression.
-Don't rush your recommender. Be mindful of a recommender's time. You want them to feel they have enough time to write a great letter, not just a good one. We suggest a month's notice at minimum, if possible. Plus, that gives you time to meet with him/her before they write the letter and for a follow up meeting.
-Don't write your own letter. In today's busy world where everyone is multi-tasking and overscheduled, it's not uncommon for a recommender to suggest that you write your own letter. But take our advice - please don't do it! Since the committee can usually recognize your writing style from other parts of the application, it's best that the recommender write the letter.
-Send a thank you note. Your recommenders took time to write letters on your behalf so it's important that you follow up with a thank you note or card. They'll know that you appreciated their help."
Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Friday, November 04, 2011
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
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