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09/02/11--08:00: MBA Applicant Blogger Interview: Rolipolli's Journey (chan 1702379)

  

Next up in our series of featured MBA applicant bloggers is Pardeep, author of the blog, "Rolipolli… a walk through life and path to B-school." Please enjoy Pardeep's thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the MBA admissions process.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to school and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold?

Pardeep: My name is Pardeep, I'm 26 years old, and I’m from India. I graduated from NIT Jalandhar (India) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2007 and I have 4 years of full time work experience from one of the largest independent power producer company in Asia.

Accepted: Why do you want to go to business school? What are some of the factors motivating you?

Pardeep: To change my career path from engineering to social engineering. I want reforms in the education system and education industry of India! Another major reason to go to business school is that I want to start my own business.

What motivates me is the will-to-see-equality in society. I’ve been to Budapest (Hungary) to volunteer for one Roma organization and I do write for various local magazines on issues pertaining to society such as women's empowerment, discrimination and child labor.  

Accepted: How many times did you take the GMAT? Are you happy with your score? Are you planning on retaking the exam? Are you preparing differently the second time around?

Pardeep: I’ve taken the GMAT once and I wasn’t happy with the score so I’m planning to take the GMAT again for the last time. On the first attempt, I had no strategy to handle Reading Comprehension passages; I would say this was the biggest mistake I ever made! GMAT knows well how and where to exploit test takers, so one needs to have strong strategies to handle all the sections. I’m taking Veritas GMAT classes and GMATPrepNow classes this time and I hope these classes will save me with guidance and strategies.    

Accepted: When do you plan on applying to business school? Which schools will you apply to? Do you think you'll apply to a "safety school"?

Pardeep: I will apply next year; then I will have about 5 years of experience and nothing much new left at my present job to learn. I’ve decided to apply to Babson College because it’s been ranked no. 1 in entrepreneurship for the last 18 years or so, also keeping my interest of social entrepreneurship in mind. Other colleges of my choice are Carnegie Mellon (Tepper), HKUST, Michigan State University and a few others.

About “safety schools", I’ve not still decided whether I should apply to these but I will think about these depending on my GMAT score.

Accepted: Have your parents' success (or lack of success) influenced your desire to go into business? Please explain.

Pardeep: My parents are teachers (the first educated people in my family), who always inspired me to go for my dreams and do something for the betterment of the society. Yes, my parents' struggle for life inspires me to do better than their expectations. Both my parents once upon a time used to work in fields and used to sell ‘grass’ but they never let anything come between their aim and studied. After that they gave me and my two brothers the best education they could provide despite facing many problems and I became a mechanical engineer and my two brothers became medical surgeons!      

Now, when I see kids working as child labor in farms, tea stalls, railway stations and almost everywhere I feel like crying, and all this inspires me to be fruitful for these kids. As my parents say,” Every child is special and deserves better education. Free education now or fill prisons later.”

Accepted: Do you follow current MBA admissions news? If so, which news sources do you read?

Pardeep: I follow MBA admissions news mostly on Twitter, GMATCLUB, Accepted.com, ClearAdmit.com and StacyBlackman.com.   

Accepted: Why did you choose to blog about the MBA application experience?

Pardeep: I decided to blog about the MBA application experience because I wanted to document my journey so that I could look back at my posts while writing my essays and also get some help from fellow applicants. I wanted to keep things organized.

I also wanted to interact with other incredible applicants and wanted to help make sure that future applicants don’t make the same mistakes I made.

There is another personal reason behind blogging -- I also want to be a writer one day! :-)  

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com's blog, Accepted Admissions Almanac? If you want to share your MBA admissions journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/02/11--17:00: Law School News Roundup (chan 1702379)

  

• The Council of the American Bar Association (ABA) announced that the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions plans on beginning to collect job placement data from law schools, and more importantly, will start making “schools accountable for the completeness and accuracy of that data.” Starting in September the annual law school questionnaire will include questions on the nature of graduates’ employment, or unemployment.
• University of Virginia School of Law’s newspaper revealed that the school has had a hard time finding jobs for graduates this year.  Despite the fact that UVA was number nine in the last US News rankings, the Virginia Law Weekly claims that approximately 100 students from this year’s graduating class of 372 have yet to find permanent employment.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the legal sector has added 4,000 jobs this past July. While that does not necessarily mean that law firms are recovering from the recession, it may hint that times are getting better.
• Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law has received full accreditation from the American Bar Association.  The Earle Mack School of Law has a one-of-a-kind co-op model, which arranges semester-long placements for students who want to work part-time or full-time.  The school has been opened since 2006 and has already graduated 404 students.
• UCLA School of Law has announced that it received a $10 million gift from Lowell Milken to create the Lowell Milken Institute for Business and Law. This donation is the largest in UCLA School of Law’s history.
• Above the Law takes a look at a research paper revealing which law schools produce the most law firm partners. Examining this list can give prospective or current law students an idea of what kind alumni network is or could be available to them. The top 10 schools, with the number of post-1986 partners in parenthesis, are: Harvard (946), Georgetown (729), NYU (543), Virginia (527), Columbia (516), G. Washington (447), Michigan (444), Chicago (426), Texas (384), and Northwestern (365).
• Above the Law looks at how the blog, “Confessions of an Aspiring Yale Transfer Student,” started by Wake Forest University School of Law 1L, Tammy Hsu, infuriated many law students. Tammy Hsu’s blog was all about her plans to transfer into Yale Law School, but it was harshly criticized in threads on Top Law Schools and AutoAdmit. Tsu’s experience can serve as a warning to all current and future law school students: be carefully what you put on the internet, because anyone can find it and you might regret it.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best






09/04/11--08:00: College Admissions News Roundup (chan 1702379)

  

• The Chronicle of Education looks at the new legislation signed in Texas, House Bill 3025, that requires all students to “file degree plans” upon completion of 45 hours of coursework.  This new legislation is meant to help focus students on their career goals and prevent them from taking too long to graduate or dropping out of college altogether.
• California used to be considered an affordable place for higher education, but The LA Times looks at research from Cal State Sacramento that shows that California’s education system is in decline.  California is no longer on the cutting edge of affordability and the research findings show that the state’s tuition and fee increases are higher than the national average.
• DoSomething.org is partnering with Macy’s to run a Do Good, Look Good Campaign that offers two $500 scholarships to the winning participants.  Starting now until October 15, if you report a way in which you are taking action in your community you have the opportunity to win a $500 scholarship. Projects will be judged based on creativity and impact. To learn more about the contests rules and regulations go to: http://www.DoSomething.org/macys/reportback.
• Inside Higher Ed writes about a new movement to create doctoral programs in remedial and developmental education. More than one-third of all students beginning college have taken at least one remedial course, and there is a need for more specialization in the area.  At the moment there is only one existing doctoral program in developmental education at Grambling State University, however, the field is growing.
• The Chronicle of Education writes about a growing trend: pathway programs, programs designed to prepare international students for American colleges. Pathway programs bring together intensive language instruction, support services, and a typical first-year curriculum. Although these preparatory programs are controversial in some academic circles, they have yielded very successful and interesting results.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best









09/05/11--08:00: Position Yourself Right with Our Newest On-Demand Webinar (chan 1702379)

  

Our most recent webinar, Accepted Positioning System: A Guide to MBA Admissions, is now available online for your anytime, anywhere viewing.

The one-hour webinar, presented by Accepted.com Founder & CEO, Linda Abraham, covers important admissions topics including the 4 key steps to choosing the best MBA programs for you, how to evaluate your qualifications, the foundation of a strong MBA application, and more!

Attended the webinar when it aired live? Review what you learned by watching the video again. Missed the event? Now's your chance to catch up and get the info you need to position yourself right in the journey to MBA admissions success.

View or download Accepted Positioning System: A Guide to MBA Admissions now!

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/05/11--17:00: MBA Admissions News Roundup (chan 1702379)

  

• On September 7th and 8th business schools all over the world will be taking part in The Economist Group‘s Which MBA? MBA Online Fair. Don’t miss this opportunity to research different programs and engage with admissions officers, deans and recent graduates at your top choice schools –No travel required.  Register today!
• GMAC has posted its first article in a series of Graduate Management News articles that will help MBA applicants navigate the four new question formats appearing on the GMAT exam in 2012.  Each of the additional articles is accompanied by a video that further explains the new types of GMAT questions.
• US News examines the growing number of MBA students using their management degree to go into the nonprofit sector and examines some of the MBA programs that guide students in the nonprofit direction. The Social Enterprise Initiative at Harvard Business School, the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford Graduate School of Business, The Social Enterprise at Kellogg (SEEK) program, and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford's Saïd Business School, are just a few of the programs to help MBA students integrate the business and nonprofit worlds.
• Businessweek takes a look at a new test, the Certified Business Laureate Exam, which is a standardized business skills test for those planning on applying for entry-level corporate jobs. Guy Friedman, the test’s creator, argues that a good mark on the CBL exam could give job applicants a leg up. Even Businessweek believes that the exam could give students that extra edge.
• An article in The Washington Post provides helpful tips for future MBA applicants from admissions officers at five top-ranked MBA programs.  Each admissions officer tackles one of the five main components of the MBA application process: application essays, letters of recommendation, academic credentials, work experience and an entrance interview.
• London Business School announced that it plans on having women make up 30% of its MBA programme this coming year.  This goal was inspired by the target of the 30 Per Cent Club, which is shooting for 30% of British boardroom members to be female by 2015.
• The MBA market is booming in the UK, while applications to MBA programs in the US are slightly down.  The Independent looks at why the London Business School has had 3,500 applications this year, and the demand for business courses in the UK is up 8%—higher than ever before. The top business masters in Britain are: London Business School, Said Business School, Oxford, Cambridge Judge Business School, Lancaster University Management School, Cranfield School of Management, Imperial College Business School, Manchester Business School, Cass Business School, London, Warwick Business School, and Strathclyde Business School.
• Poets and Quants featured Accepted’s own Linda Abraham! In the first article, in a series of MBA essay writing tips, Linda teaches you how to start attacking the scary essay questions thrown at you in the MBA applications. Her most important piece of advice: Start with notes.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best









09/06/11--08:00: Why Use an Admissions Consultant? (chan 1702379)

  

This blog post originally appeared on AIGAC's blog.

There are endless and frequent discussions on forums and message boards questioning the value of admissions consulting. One of the more common arguments against using a consultant runs something like this:

“Everyone I know that’s been accepted and is attending top schools did so without …an admissions consultant…. Is [using a consultant] crucial to top-school acceptance? Absolutely not.”

I’m sure if you took a poll of AIGAC members, the overwhelming majority would have attended grad school without the aid of a consultant. Many, including me, would not have taken a test prep course before applying to graduate school. However, over the last thirty years test preparation went from being an act of desperation, to a competitive edge, to a mainstay of the application process. Today, to maximize chances of a top score and acceptance at the best possible school, virtually all applicants take a test prep course.

The same phenomenon is occurring to admissions consulting, but educational advising is currently at the “competitive edge” stage. At this point, using a consultant is not crucial for some. It is extremely helpful for all.

The question is not whether one can get accepted to business, law, or medical school without a consultant. Many are accepted without professional advising. The question is: Are the advantages of using a consultant worth the cost?

First let’s discuss the ways in which a consultant can help you. We bring:

1. Experience that you lack.
2. Objectivity to a subject that is difficult to be objective about: You
3. Editing skills. Professional writers have editors because their writing benefits from a knowledgeable, critical eye. The same is true for the writing of non-professionals.

How do these benefits justify the cost and provide a critical competitive edge?

Using an admissions consultant can:

1. Enable your acceptance to a “better” school. “Better” implies more professional opportunity, increased earnings, and an educational experience more to your liking. Just looking at dollars and cents, “better” represents potentially tens of thousands of dollars in your pocket during your career.
2. Help you snag a fellowship or scholarship. Savings: tens of thousands of dollars.
3. Save you the cost of reapplication. Applying to medical, law, business school or any other graduate program including application fees and travel expenses can cost several thousand dollars. When you apply one time, you save.
4. Reduce the time, stress, and frustration you (and those close to you) experience during the admissions process. We can guide you so you don’t go down tangents and useless paths or flounder for weeks as you struggle to learn what we know.

So can you gain acceptance to a graduate school without using an admissions consultant? Certainly. Should you try? Only if you don’t value the experience, objectivity, and skill that can provide you with returns many times the cost.

By Linda Abraham, AIGAC‘s vice-president, Accepted.com’s founder and president.









09/06/11--13:00: IE Business School MBA Admissions Q&A This Week! (chan 1702379)

  

IE Business SchoolGet the answers to your IE Business School admissions questions when you join us for an interactive Q&A on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CET. This is your chance to speak with IE's Director of North America Admissions, Jean-Marie Winikates, about important admissions topics, including IE's international reputation, its diverse student body, and its focus on social, ethical, and environmental issues. You can also learn more about IE’s international exchange program and what life is like for b-school students in the heart of Spain. Take advantage of this opportunity to truly discover what IE has to offer and to boost your chances of getting in to this world-class European business school!

Register now to reserve your spot for IE Business School MBA Q&A.

What time is that for me? Click on the link to find out the exact time for your location.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/06/11--16:00: Oxford Said 2012 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips. (chan 1702379)

  

This Oxford Said 2012 MBA Application tip post is one of a series of posts providing MBA application and essay advice for applicants to top MBA programs around the world. Check out the entire 2012 MBA Application Tips series for more valuable MBA essay advice. 

Oxford Said 2012 MBA Essay Questions

Question 1. Explain why you chose your current job. How do you hope  to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA assist you in the development of these ambitions? (Maximum 750 words)

This question presents a slight twist on the classic goals question. In addition to wanting to know how you see your future and how an MBA will help you there, it asks you to explain why you chose your current job.  Don't say it was the only job offer you got. What motivated you to apply? What do you like about it? Given your work experience, how do you see your career developing in the short-term after you graduate. They don't ask here if you want to be president  in 2028. They're just asking about the next five years. Finally, how will an MBA get you from today to your desired tomorrow?

Tell anecdotes and use vivid examples to really make this essay come alive. (Please see Essays That Stick Webinar and Roadmap to Bold & Brilliant Essays Webinar)

Question 2. Which recent development, world event or book has most influenced your thinking and why? (Maximum 1,000 words)

What was your outlook before the event or your reading of this book and how has it  changed your perspective? Although the question doesn't ask for it, how has this epiphany motivated you to alter your behavior? If something is important and influential and you are a person of initiative and commitment, it should also lead to changes in action.

Finally, make sure you answer the "why" part of the question. Your answer may relate to personal experience or your personal background.


If you would like help with your Oxford Said application, please consider Accepted's MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our Oxford Said School Package which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Oxford Said MBA application.

Oxford Said 2012 MBA Deadlines

Application Deadline Final Decision

Stage 1: Oct 14, 2011 Dec 11, 2011

Stage 2: Jan 20, 2012 Mar 23, 2012

Stage 3: Apr 27, 2012 Jun 8, 2012


By Linda Abraham, President and Founder of Accepted.com.

 






09/07/11--08:00: Graduate School News Roundup (chan 1702379)

  

• Inside Higher Ed offers some words of wisdom for graduate students struggling with the challenges of working independently. Nobody wants to hear “nobody cares about you,” but it can be a helpful mantra to remind students that whether you succeed or fail is completely up to you.  If you manage your advisor and believe in your work then you should come out of graduate school alive.
• While there may be an increasing number of students pursuing graduate degrees, The Chronicle of Education reports that two-thirds of students in master’s programs in the US are receiving financial aid, according to the 2007-2008 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. The study also showed that 80% of law students, 82% of medical and other health-sciences students, 75% of professional students, 42% of doctoral students in education, and 14% of Ph.D students are also borrowing money to pay for their education.
• Inside Higher Ed examines the improving employment trends in the political science job market. The number of jobs listed with the American Political Science Association rose 11% in 2010-11, and the number of assistant professor positions rose 15%.  The APSA research also shows which sector of political science has been most successful, who is getting tenure, and follows the placement trends of permanent academics and postdocs.
• Inside Higher Ed writes about a new movement to create doctoral programs in remedial and developmental education. More than one-third of all students beginning college have taken at least one remedial course, and there is a need for more specialization in the area.  At the moment there is only one existing doctoral program in developmental education at Grambling State University, however, the field is growing.
• Slate takes a look at the issues facing graduates students who are overqualified for almost all jobs by the time they enter the job market. The article identifies ways that higher education in the humanities could actually pay off in the future by being more public with the information graduate schools share and training students for real careers.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best



 




09/08/11--08:00: Upcoming Interactive Forté Forum Events for Women (chan 1702379)

  

Registration is now open for September-October Forté Forum events. If you are a woman applying to business school then you won't want to miss this. During the event you will:

• Hear personal stories from MBA women student leaders.
• Meet other women applying to b-school.
• Tour the "MBA School Virtual Neighborhood."
• Connect with representatives from top b-schools.

…and more!

September 13	Los Angeles
September 14	San Francisco
September 15	Houston
September 19	New York I
September 20	New York II
September 26	Atlanta
September 27	Washington, DC
September 28	Boston
September 29	Chicago
October 4	London

 

Learn how an MBA degree can help you boost your career, change careers, or start your own business when you register for a Forté Forum now!

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/09/11--08:00: MBA Applicant Blogger Interview: Motown, Ms. HR, and Mads Mom's Journey (chan 1702379)

  

Next up in our series of featured MBA applicant bloggers are Motown, Ms. HR, and Mads Mom from the blog, "Fortune 800: Our Journey to an MBA." Please enjoy their thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the MBA admissions process.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to school and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold?

Ms. HR: I was born and raised in Michigan. I grew up right outside of Ann Arbor (Canton) so it was no surprise that I wanted to attend the University of Michigan. I graduated from the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!!!) in December 2007 with a BSE in Electrical Engineering.

Mads Mom: I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, but was never an Ohio State fan, although everyone assumes that I should be because I am from Ohio. Obviously, I did the complete opposite and went to the University of Michigan where I graduated in 2007 with a BA in Sociology.

Motown: I was born and raised in Detroit, MI. I also went to the University of Michigan and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Civil Engineering and minor in History.

Accepted: When do you plan on applying to business school? Which schools will you apply to? Do you think you'll apply to a "safety school"?

Ms. HR: I'm planning on applying this year in either round 1 or 2. It depends on when I complete the best application possible for me. I have about 7 schools on my list as of now but I plan on narrowing that list down to 5 schools. My top 3 schools are Cornell, Vanderbilt and Kellogg. I'm DEFINITELY planning on applying to a safety school. I know where I want my career to go and I need an MBA to get there so I'm anxious to get started.

Mads Mom: I am planning to apply to business school for Fall 2012, during round 1 or 2. I have not narrowed my list of schools down yet, but some possible schools include University of Michigan, UCLA, Berkeley, NYU, and Cornell. I will definitely be applying to a "safety school" because I ultimately want to go back to school next year no matter what.

Motown: I’m pretty set on Round 2. That’s when I will have my transcript available for the class I am currently taking and when I know I will be very confident in my application. Also, I want to interview and apply at the same time. Not to mention, I want to visit some schools this Fall before apps are due. I feel like a lot of business schools are great, and I will be happy attending any of the schools I’m applying to, which is why I don’t have a ‘top’ choice. I am applying to 6 schools, 2 are Consortium and the rest are a range of safeties and reaches.

Accepted: Why do you want to go to business school? What are some of the factors motivating you?

Ms. HR:  I want to build some fundamental knowledge on business and HR. Coming from an engineering background I feel like it’s a necessity in order to be successful in my career change to HR Management. The main motivating factor for going back to school is most HR leadership rotational programs require an MBA or Master's in HR. I know that an MBA will give me that fundamental knowledge so I can be successful in my future career. Another motivating factor, is just my pure passion for HR. I've had to work on some projects with HR and after every project I felt like running straight over to HR. I know without a doubt that’s where I’m supposed to be.

Mads Mom: I am a career changer, so I want to go back to business school because I plan to break into the new career field of high tech marketing. Some of the factors that are motivating me include the fact that I want to get into a career that combines my two passions for technology and design. Going back to school will give me the foundation I need, and the possible pay increase doesn't hurt either.
 
Motown: I’ve always had a passion for helping out Detroit. So once I looked at my grad school options and did some research, I realized that an MBA was the best fit for me. I would love to increase my business acumen, expand my network, and hone in on my leadership skills. I desire to first pursue non-profit consulting and then eventually open a non-profit back in Detroit that focuses on urban and economic development.

Accepted: Does cost play a factor in where you're applying? Do you plan on applying for financial aid or scholarships? Has your current job offered to pick up part or all of your b-school tab?

Ms. HR: Cost is a factor but at the same time it’s not really. If I get into my top choice school I doubt I would turn it down due to cost. I've done some research and there is money out there that you can get. I will be working extra hard to try and nail down some scholarships. I also plan on applying for financial aid. My current job does tuition reimbursement but I would have to go to school part time. I would like to take the time off and just focus on school and take in all a full time MBA has to offer as well as expand my network.

Mads Mom: At this point in time, cost is not really playing a factor in where I am applying. I definitely plan on applying for financial aid and scholarships, but I pretty much don't want the factor of money to deter me from going to a great school. My current job has not yet offered to pick up part of my tab, but I haven't asked or persuaded them yet either.

Motown: Cost definitely plays a factor, which is part of the reason I am applying through the Consortium. I also looked into schools that have loan forgiveness programs since I am interested in the non-profit/social enterprise space, which does not pay as lucratively as some other jobs. I will be applying for financial aid and seeking out scholarships/grants as well. My current job doesn’t offer to pay for business school for people that want to go FT.

Accepted: Do you plan on returning to your pre-MBA job (in a more prestigious/lucrative position) after you finish business school? Or do you plan on moving to a new function or industry?

Ms. HR: Eventually I would love to come back and work at my current company. I really enjoy working here but at the same time I would like to work elsewhere for a little bit to gain a different perspective and really see if the grass is greener elsewhere.

Mads Mom: I do not plan on returning to my pre-MBA job because it is in a totally different industry that I want to get into.

Motown: I’ve spoken to a few MBA’s at my company, so it’s not totally out of the picture. But for now, I plan on moving into a new company within a totally new function.

Accepted: What courses or experiences or people have motivated you to go to business school? How?

Ms. HR: The main thing that motivated me to go to business school is the exposure I've had to HR at my current company. That exposure made me realize HR is where I would like to go with my career. An MBA will help get me there. Another motivating factor was hearing the career paths my HR colleagues took. Knowing that an MBA helped some of them tremendously I'm more than willing to go back to school so I too can have some of those same opportunities.

Mads Mom: My mother has a number of degrees and if there was someone that motivated me to go to business school it would be her. Personally, I decided that I wanted a career change and to get where I wanted to go I knew I was going to need and MBA to get there.

Motown: As far as coursework, at Michigan I took this really cool class where we worked with a village in the Dominican Republic where we helped them filter their own clean water. That really changed my perspectives on technology and the possibility of leveraging it to help communities. Also, last fall one particular conversation I had with a JD/MBA was really inspiring and made me finally decide that an MBA was for me in order to reach my future goals. For a long time I thought MBA’s were just people that did investment banking, I had no idea about the wide range of careers that MBA’s could have!

Accepted: Why did you choose to blog about the MBA application experience?

Ms. HR: At first I was really against blogging. I didn't think I would have enough time to write or enough things to say. It was Mads Mom that kept on pushing it and I'm so glad she did. Now that I'm in the groove of things I'm really glad we are documenting our journey. Hopefully it will help current and future applicants out and we will always have detailed memories of our journey. Without question, I've learned a lot from our readers. I think the collaboration between us and the readers benefits everyone. Also for me, blogging makes me think long and hard about the b-school process and I hope this in depth thinking will help me build a great application.

Mads Mom: While doing all my b-school research I came across a number of blogs, and just figured that maybe someone would want to read about mine. I knew I was going to be extra busy because I have a little girl, so pushed for Motown and Ms. HR to get into it together and it seems to be working out great. It's fun to just write a quick note, even if no one reads it, so that you can look back and remember what you went through to get to where you want to go.

Motown: I personally love blogs and read them all the time. So when Mads Mom suggested it, I was excited about it. It’s great to just document this whole, introspective process and be able to look back and see how far we have all come!

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com's blog, Accepted Admissions Almanac? If you want to share your MBA admissions journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

 




09/09/11--16:00: London Business School 2012 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips (chan 1702379)

  

This London Business School 2012 MBA Application tip post is one of a series of posts providing MBA application and essay advice for applicants to top MBA programs around the world. Check out the entire 2012 MBA Application Tips series for more valuable MBA essay advice. 

London Business School 2012 MBA Essay Questions

The Admissions Committee will consider carefully your answers to the following questions.  Please complete all of the essay questions beginning your answer below each question and giving word counts for each answer.  Once complete, please attach this document to your online application following the instructions given on the web form.    

Question 1 (500 words)
Please discuss your career progress to date and explain why now is the right time to undertake an MBA at London Business School?

What were the major decision points and accomplishments in your career? Both relate to your professional progress. To the extent you can highlight above-average progression, the more London Business School will be interested in you. 

What's going to distinguish this essay from your resume? This essay should really focus on at most 3 major elements. And all these elements should point to the logic of an MBA now and ultimately of your answer to the next question. Explicity answer "Why now?", but leave the future goal for Question 2.

Question 2 (300 words)

Where do you see your career progressing five years after graduation and what is your longer term career vision?

Again, LBS is asking about career progression. Start with your immediate post-MBA goal and include job function, industry, and maybe geographic location. If you have a few companies you would like to work for, you can mention that you would like to work for companies like "A, B, or C."  Then how would you see yourself moving forward from that initial position.

The key element in your response to the first part of the question must be realism. Given your answer to Question 1 and an MBA from London Business School, do you need the degree to attain your goals? Are you goals credible and concrete? Are they reasonable?

For the vision element, you can dream a little more and show how your short term goals for the next five years fit into a bigger picture. Do you have an altruistic element to your plan, reveal it (but don't make one up!). Are you thinking strategically about your career? If so, show it.

Question 3 (250 words)
Give a specific example of when you have had to test your leadership and team working skills. Given this experience what role will you play in a first year study group?

Similar to last year's #3. Task #1: learn about study groups at London Business School. Then, reflect on your team experiences. If you have been involved in teams outside of work and your other essays focused on professional experiences, then use this response to discuss another facet of your life. Have you been able to both lead and occasionally take a back seat when others with skills or qualifications you lack are better prepared to lead your group? After thinking about your team experiences and the role of study groups at LBS, show how your past experience will enable you to contribute to your study group.

Question 4 (300 words)
Student involvement is an extremely important part of the London Business School MBA experience and this is reflected in the character of students on campus. Please describe how you will contribute to student clubs and the community and why?

Before answering this question, research student life at LBS . The best answers will directly respond to all elements in the question by showing that you have been involved in similar college, community, or professional organizations in the past. And you will be able to illustrate your abilities to contribute at LBS by discussing your earlier contributions as well as the clubs you would like to be involved in. I recommend you pick two or three that appeal to you, not 10 or 20.  Remember  to answer "and why."


Question 5 (250 words)
London Business School offers a truly global and diverse experience. Describe any significant experiences outside of your home country or culture. What did you gain and how will your experience contribute to London Business School?

This question reflects the importance of international and cross-cultural experiences for London Business School. Note the word limit here. Short and sweet. What were the most 1-2 significant experiences you have had outside your home country, and what did you learn from them? How will you consequently contribute?


Question 6 (250 words)
Considering what you have already included in the application, what else would you like to tell us about yourself?  You can approach this question however you like.

A freebie! An opportunity to write about something not discussed above. Hip-hip hooray! You're not jumping up and down. Hmm. Oh well.

Use this essay to shine a spotlight on an experience or side of you that didn’t fit into the other essays, frequently that will be your non-professional side. Keep in mind the traits LBS seeks and the international nature of London's approach to graduate business education. What about you do you most want them to know and haven’t yet told them? 

You can use this question or the optional to provide context for a weakness in your profile, like a drop in grades or a gap in your job history.

Question 7: Re-applicants only (300 words)
How has your candidacy for the London Business School MBA improved since your last application? Have your views of London Business School or the MBA programme changed since you last applied? 

This is THE key question for all reapplicants. London just asks it explicitly. Please see MBA Reapplicant 101.

Additional Information (This question is optional)
This is not a compulsory essay but please complete if you would like the opportunity to clarify or expand upon any information submitted in your application.

Please see "The Optional Question: To Be or Not to Be."

If you would like help with your London Business School application, please consider Accepted's MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our London Business School Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the LBS MBA application.

LBS 2012 Application Deadlines

Stage 1: October 5, 2011

Stage 2: January 5, 2012

Stage 3: March 1, 2012

Stage 4: April 18, 2012

By Linda Abraham, President and Founder of Accepted.com.




09/11/11--08:00: College Admissions 101: An Introduction to Getting In (chan 1702379)

  

Getting ready to apply to college? Then surely you're familiar with "101 courses" – those undergraduate lectures that provide you with an introductory look into your chosen subject.

We've recently developed some 101 courses for you as well. Our new College Admissions 101 pages will arm you with the basic and necessary college admissions information you need to apply to top colleges successfully.

Each 101 page will introduce you to a college admissions topic (like SAT Prep, the Common Application, or Tips for Parents) by way of free Accepted.com resources, including special reports, webinars, articles, and blog posts.

If you're looking for a way to stay organized while gathering the critical info you need, then these 101 pages will be perfect for you.

Stay on top of your college application effort by browsing our College Admissions 101 pages now!

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/11/11--12:00: UNC Kenan Flagler 2012 MBA Essay Questions and Deadlines (chan 1702379)

  

This UNC Kenan Flagler 2012 MBA Application tip post is one of a series of posts providing MBA application and essay advice for applicants to top MBA programs around the world. Check out the entire 2012 MBA Application Tips series for more valuable MBA essay advice. 

UNC Kenan Flagler 2012 MBA Essay Questions

Some applicants seek the MBA as a career enhancing tool to accelerate advancement in their current field. Career switchers want the MBA to help launch new career paths. UNC Kenan-Flagler recognizes each of these motivations as legitimate reasons to pursue the MBA, and we encourage both types of candidates to apply.

UNC Kenan-Flagler encourages you to assess your known talents and potential skills, understand your personal style, and confirm your values and interests. If you do this prior to beginning your MBA studies, you will be better equipped to navigate the many options the MBA program will provide. There is not enough time to do all the activities and take all the courses that will be available to you. It is important, therefore, to make your choices based on your own development plan. Think of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA application as a first step toward uncovering the unique attributes and goals that will inform your development plan. Please be thoughtful and reflective in your answers.

Essay One (Required)

What are the 2 or 3 strengths or characteristics that have driven your career success thus far? What are the other strengths that you would like to leverage in the future? (500 words maximum)

Rather than list Strength 1, Strength 2, and Strength 3, I recommend you start with one brief story that illustrates 2-3 or your strengths and shows you as a contributor and doer. Then analyze how those traits have contributed to your career success. Remember to describe your accomplishment in terms of impact and to quantify as much as possible.

Remember to weave into your essay the response to the second questions -- a trait that you would like to take advantage of in the future.  


Essay Two (Required)

Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how: your professional experience has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)

What do you see yourself doing immediately upon graduation and what would you like to do ten years from now? Describe why this path attracts you. What experiences have convinced you to pursue it? Why do you need an MBA, especially one with UNC's approach to business education, to proceed down your chosen path. For more tips on writing about post MBA goals, please see MBA Goals 101.


Essay Three (Required)

What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (500 words maximum)

Everyone has a story. What's yours? What makes you tick? What would you like the admissions committee to know about you -- you the human being, the individual? What hobbies and experiences will differentiate you from the IT guy, consultant, real estate developer, or banker that the adcom just read about? How will your perspective contribute to the classroom and community at Kenan-Flagler?


Essay Four (Optional)

If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had course work in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum) 

This is pretty straightforward. Just answer it. You may also want to highlight professional preparation that you have already had in quantitative areas.

Essay Five (Optional)

Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum) 

My favorite: The optional essay. A gift allowing you to give the adcom one more reason to admit you.

UNC Kenan Flagler 2012 MBA Deadline

 

	Application    Due	Decisions Released
Round 1 (EA)	Oct 21, 2011	Dec 12, 2011
Round 2	Dec 2, 2011	Feb 6, 2012
Round 3	Jan 6, 2012	Mar 19, 2012
Round 4	Mar 16, 2012	Apr 30, 2012

If you would like help with your Kenan-Flagler MBA application, please consider Accepted's MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our UNC School Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Kenan-Flagler MBA application.

By Linda Abraham, President and Founder of Accepted.com.




09/11/11--18:00: Wharton MBA Admissions Q&A Tomorrow! (chan 1702379)

  

Do you have questions about U Penn Wharton's flexible yet rigorous curriculum? Do you want to hear more about the school's emphasis on "leadership in action," its collaborative environment, or its strong alumni network? Ask all your pressing MBA admissions questions to Wharton's Ankur Kumar, Deputy Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, and Anthony Penna, Associate Director of Admissions, in an interactive admissions Q&A, on Monday, September 12, 2011, at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM GMT. If you are applying to Wharton – one of the top three business schools – then this is an outstanding opportunity to ask all your questions and learn more about what life is like at the top.

Register now to reserve your spot for our View from the Top: Wharton MBA Admissions Q&A.

What time is that for me? Click on the link to find out the exact time for your location.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/12/11--08:00: New GRE Book Reviews: Wrap Up and Video (chan 1702379)

  

This post is courtesy of our friends at Magoosh.

Here are a few hypothetical scenarios to help you figure out what material you should (and shouldn't!) use while studying for the revised GRE…

If you need help with Verbal:

The strategies in Princeton Review are both clearly presented and helpful. There are exercises that will allow you to practice techniques, and the questions are a good place to start, as well. Once you become more confident, and want to move on to more difficult content, you can use Barron’s. However, do not rely too much on Barron’s strategies, as, more often than not, they might confuse you. Simply use Barron’s for content.

At this point, you should transition to the ETS material. You may want to start off by taking a test from the PowerPrep software. This will set a baseline, and help you focus on the areas that you need the most work on. If you need extra content on reading comprehension, then you can use Kaplan. I’d also recommend buying the GMAT Official Guide, especially if you need help on the critical reasoning component of critical reading.

If you are struggling with Quant:

Pick up a copy of McGraw-Hill’s Conquering the GRE Math. Make sure you are comfortable with most of the basics covered in the book. Do not feel you have to do every problem. Work on the math fundamentals that you are struggling the most with.

At this point, transition to The Princeton Review Math guide. The strategies are helpful, but you may work through the questions quickly. I would also recommend the SAT College Board book. The same range of concepts is covered, and with 600 practice questions, ranging from easy to difficult, you’ll have plenty of practice.

You’ll notice that I’m staying away from a lot of material for the new GRE. Just because it says "New GRE" doesn’t mean the content is the best. Stay tuned for an upcoming post in which I’ll talk about content that, while not developed for the new GRE, will actually help you prep for the new GRE.

In order to not forget the idiosyncrasies of the new GRE environment, you should also start prepping with Barron’s, especially once your math confidence is higher. Then...

If you want to score in the top 90% in Verbal

First off, your vocabulary has to be strong. I’ll be discussing vocabulary in-depth starting tomorrow, but you should know most of the vocabulary from the Word Smart Series, as well as any vocabulary I’ve included in my blog posts.

If you want to score at this level, I’ll assume that you’ve already got a strong handle on strategies, and are simply hunting around for the best content to hone your skills. For Reading Comprehension:

• The 10^th Edition for the old GRE
• Official LSAT Prep Tests
• GMAT Official Guide
• Official Guide for new GRE (ETS)

For TC/SE:

• Official Guide for new GRE (ETS)
• Magoosh (without sounding biased, we have some of the most difficult content on the market)
• Barron’s New GRE is okay for Sentence Equivalence (Text Completions are lacking)

If you want to score in the top 90% for Quant:

If you cover the material listed below, there will be little that can surprise you on test day. In fact, a good way to think of it is to imagine you are preparing for the GMAT. You can even take a free GMAT test on-line. If you can score in the top 90% in GMAT, the GRE math should be a cakewalk.

• GMAT Official Guide
• Official Guide for New GRE (ETS)
• Magoosh (again, I am not trying to be biased, and I think you will agree—our math content is much, much more difficult than the stuff mentioned in the books I’ve reviewed)

If you'd like more specifics, here are the individual reviews for each of the books:

• McGraw-Hill's New GRE: 2011-2012 Edition Grade: D-
• Kaplan New GRE Premier 2011-2012 Grade: D+
• Barron’s New GRE 19th Edition Grade: B-
• Princeton Review: Cracking the New GRE 2012 Grade: C
• McGraw-Hill's Conquering the New GRE Math Grade: A-
• ETS's Official Guide to the GRE Revised General Test Grade: A+/C
• ETS’s Old GRE Material: Practicing to Take the General Test 10th Edition (Big Book) Grade: C+/D-

This blog post was originally posted here.







09/12/11--17:00: 2012 Michigan Ross School of Business MBA Admissions Q&A with Soojin Kwon Koh and Jon Fuller Posted (chan 1702379)

  

Have you been trying to understand what top MBA programs look for in their applicants? Then check out the 2012 Michigan Ross School of Business MBA Admissions Q&A with Soojin Kwon Koh and Jon Fuller. You can read the transcript and access the audio of the Q&A on our website, to learn more about how Michigan Ross selects the best and the brightest.

To give you an idea of the kind of tips Soojin Kwon Koh offers future applicants, here is a helpful excerpt describing the best way for an MBA re-applicant to make sure their application stands out the second time around:

Linda Abraham: Cyril asks, “What advice would you offer to re-applicants? Does it make sense to apply early? What difference does the admissions team expect to see in this year’s application as opposed to the one they’ve rejected last year?”

Soojin Kwon Koh: We get that question on the road quite a bit. We are always welcoming re-applicants.... It shows that they’ve really thought about the school. What we encourage re-applicants to do is to look at your own application from the eyes of the admissions committee, keeping in mind that we are looking at over 3,000 applications. We are evaluating people relative to the pool.......What we are really looking for is somebody to be thoughtful about why they think they are a stronger applicant now. What have I accomplished? ... If over the past year, between applications, you really haven’t done that much, then I would advise maybe waiting until round 2 instead of applying in round 1, to make sure you’ve got the enhancements strongly in place, whether it is a new test score and/or accomplishments at work, or rewriting an essay or two if you think that was the area where you may not have been as competitive...

So it’s really taking a strong, hard look at your application. Not just thinking about yourself where you are now, but relative to what you’ve submitted before. Think about how far you’ve come. And that is what we are going to look for – where you are now….We actually do admit quite a few re-applicants, though the ones that are most successful are the ones who have some significant improvements and enhancements to their candidacy over the past year.

To learn more about how to apply, or reapply to Ross check out the full transcript here. And don’t forget to also check out Accepted’s website for MBA admissions consulting and editing to help you when you apply – whether you are a first-time applicant or MBA reapplicant.  

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/13/11--08:00: College Admissions News Roundup (chan 1702379)

  

• The New York Times announces Michele M. Moody, the first woman and the first black dean of Columbia College, is resigning after two years in her position. Moody says she is leaving as a result of certain administrative changes that would “diminish or eliminate her authority.”  Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University, promises that an interim dean will be named soon.
• To everyone’s surprise, the sociology job market has taken a turn for the better.  According to the American Sociological Association, assistant professor and open rank positions in sociology increased by 32% in 2010, reports Inside Higher Ed. Roberta Spalter-Roth, director of research at the association, says, "[T]he job market in sociology appears to have bottomed out and a recovery seems to have begun.”  
• According to The Chronicle of Education, undergraduate business programs are increasingly making liberal arts an integral part of their programs. As such, The Chronicle interviewed Bentley University’s Dean, Daniel L. Everett, about the ways in which the university has successfully integrated business and liberal arts.
• US News gives readers a window into the criteria University of Rochester uses when dispensing merit-based scholarship. The paper examines how colleges decide who is deserving of these awards by looking at the amount of money given based on various award criteria.
• The Chronicle of Education announced that University of Southern California has launched its seven-year $6-billion fundraising campaign, the largest ever in higher education.  USC hopes the campaign will help revive the school’s endowment, attract strong faculty and assist with capital projects. The campaign is off to a great start and has already raised $1 billion.
• The New York Times looks at a report published by the Pew Hispanic Center showing that Hispanics enrollment in college has risen 24% from 2009-2010. Currently, 1.8 million Hispanics are enrolled in US colleges, making Hispanics the largest minority group on American college campuses.
• The Chronicle of Education reports that due to tough economic times colleges’ tuition discount rates have increased over the past ten years. In 2000 the average tuition discount rates for all undergraduates was 33.6% and in 2010 it was 37.1%.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best






09/13/11--17:00: Ivy League and the Common App: New, Updated Info! (chan 1702379)

  

It's a new application season, which means we have new advice for college applicants using the 2012 Common Application.

We've updated our special report, Ivy League and Common Application Tips: How to Get Accepted, to reflect these changes, offering Ivy League applicants up-to-date advice on how to answer the Common App questions and individual school supplements.

Stay current, stay informed, and receive the best Ivy League-Common App advice out there when you download Ivy League and Common Application Tips: How to Get Accepted now!

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/14/11--08:00: Law School News Roundup (chan 1702379)

  

• Student Loan Burden Soars. Above the Law believes that the student loan market is going to crash and suggests law school applicants begin thinking about whether their education is worth what they are paying for it.  While a good education can give you a boost, in these economic times with student debt climbing 25% since 2008, “it’s just not enough of a boost to cancel out the high cost of education.”
• And Another Ranking Takes it on the Chin. If you thought the critiques of law school rankings had finally ended, Above The Law takes a jab at the National Jurist’s fifth annual list of the 60 ‘Best Value’ law schools. While the National Jurist has changed its ranking methodology to include “fairness,” this additional category has put schools ranked 121 in US News high up on the National Jurist’s list.
• Milken Donation to UCLA Law. The National Law Journal reports on the much debated $10 million donated to UCLA Law School by Lowell Milken to fund the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy. Law professor Lynn Stout has sparked a lot of controversy by arguing that accepting the gift may “tarnish” the school, due to Milken’s history with securities regulators. However, Dean Rachel Moran responded: "We do not believe that decades-old, unproven allegations should serve as a basis for rejecting a gift from a person who has made enormous contributions to the betterment of others and now wishes to do even more."
• Paying Back Student Loans. Although there has been much written about the difficulty law school graduates are having finding employment, The Connecticut Law Tribune does a good job of summarizing the issues many new lawyers deal with when having to pay back their loans. The ABA is doing a lot to tackle the issue, but student loans are still one of the biggest concerns—if not the biggest concern—for graduating law students.
• Stats Sink. The Washington Post reports that law school applications are down 10% nationwide, because of the difficulties law graduates have faced in the job market. At University of Missouri enrollment is down 11%, at UCLA it is down 16%, University of Michigan had a decrease in enrollment of 14%, and Washington University has also had a 12% decrease in enrollment. An even scarier statistic is that only slightly more than two-thirds of spring 2010 graduates had jobs requiring law licenses nine months later—and only 87.4 percent of the class of 2010 had any sort of job nine months after graduation.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best









09/15/11--22:17: GMAC Survey Reveals New Trends (chan 1702379)

  

The Graduate Management Admissions Council’s annual Application Trends Survey reveals up-and-down admissions trends in specialized master’s programs in finance and management, as well as MBA programs. While the economy remains shaky and applications are down at full-time MBA programs, graduate business schools continue to receive strong applications from highly qualified applicants. Schools also report an increasing number of applications from international candidates.

Important survey findings include:

• 67% of full-time, two-year MBA programs report a decline in application volume in 2011. Down approximately 10% from 2010, according to the WSJ.
• 83% of masters in finance programs report an increase in application volume, as did 69% of masters in management programs.
• Most schools claim that “applicant quality” has increased or remained the same in 2011.
•  For all degree types covered in this survey, schools report an increase in applications from foreign students, with India and China leading the way.
• Part-time MBA programs report fairly flat application volume.
• Executive MBA programs were down from 2010, but up from 2009.
• Almost 75% of two-year full-time MBA applicants in 2011 were from outside a school’s local area. 45% of applicants come from outside the US.
• 57% of one-year full-time MBA programs reported a decline in application volume.

So what’s your take on these numbers? Can you explain the sudden attraction of Masters in Finance programs? My guess is that it correlates with an increase in applications from India and China, two areas of the world where applicants tend to excel in number crunching. Many MiFs are also one-year programs, which makes them less costly, although that fact hasn’t saved the one-year MBA programs.

My main take-away: there is opportunity in these numbers, specifically the decline in MBA applications. And while the elite schools may not be hurting for applicants, I strongly suspect that the decline is affecting all programs at least somewhat.

If you are a borderline applicant or even a competitive but not stellar MBA applicant, you will have a slightly better chance of acceptance this year than last.  And maybe even a better chance this year than next year. GMAT volume for the first half of 2011 is up.

 “Ah,” you say, “but the economy!” Valid concern.  (See “Look at the Economy! Is Now the Right Time to Apply to Business School?”)

I can’t tell you what the economy will be like in 2014. And I certainly don’t recommend applying if you aren’t ready. I can tell you that those intrepid souls who applied to b-school in 2002 and 2003 when applications were way down, graduated into a growing economy in 2005 and 2006. They had plenty of job offers.

So if you know you need an MBA to achieve your professional goals, this year could be a great year to apply. At least that’s my take.

By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com

 









09/15/11--22:30: 2012 US News Rankings Released (chan 1702379)

  

The moment we’ve all been waiting for…the 2012 US News & World Report’s list of the best national universities is finally here! Although the rankings remain pretty similar to last year’s, there is a surprising number of ties this year:

Top 10 Universities

1. Harvard University (tied)

1. Princeton University (tied)

3. Yale University

4. Columbia University

5. California Institute of Technology (tied)

5. Massachusetts institute of Technology (tied)

5. Stanford University (tied)

5. University of Chicago (tied)

5. University of Pennsylvania (tied)

10. Duke University (tied)

 

Here are some of the other new rankings, offering a bit more variety:

 

Top 10 Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rates

1. Curtis Institute of Music (4%)

2. Alice Lloyd College (7%)

3. Harvard University (7%)

4. Stanford University (7%)

5. Cooper Union (8%)

6. United States Naval Academy (8%)

7. Yale University (8%)

8. Brown University (9%)

9. Princeton University (9%)

10. College of the Ozarks (10%)

 

Top 10 Colleges that Offer the Best Value

1. Harvard University (61.4% receive aid; average discount is 73%)

2. Yale University (56.6% receive aid; average discount is 73%)

3. Princeton University (59.4% receive aid; average discount is 68%)

4. Stanford University (51.2% receive aid, average discount is 70%)

5. MIT (62.6% receive aid; average discount is 66%)

6. Columbia University (50.3% receive aid; average discount is 68%)

7. Dartmouth College (52.4% receive aid; average discount is 65%)

8. California Institute of Technology (53.1% receive aid; average discount is 59%)

9. Duke University (43.2% receive aid; average discount is 64%)

10. Cornell University (47.8% receive aid; average discount is 64%)

Other rankings include: A+ options for B students, the campuses with the most ethnic diversity, and the schools with the highest graduation rates. You may also want to check out the article, “Ensuring the Accuracy of the Best Colleges Rankings and Data,” which explains how US News calculates rankings. Don’t forget that rankings aren’t everything, and it is more important to think about what you want in a college than what some rankings say are important. Remember:, the data in the rankings is more valuable than the rankings themselves.

 

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

 




09/16/11--08:00: MBA Applicant Blogger Interview: Abhishek's Journey (chan 1702379)

  

Next up in our series of featured MBA applicant bloggers is Abhishek, author of the blog, "Beyond GMAT: The Quest Begins." Please enjoy Abhishek's thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the MBA admissions process.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to school and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold?
 
Abhishek: I am Abhishek Chakravarty, a middle class Bengali Brahmin boy born in Palamu, in the tribal state of Jharkhand, India. I went to Sacred Heart School, the only English medium school in the district of Palamu and later graduated from Manipal Institute of Technology in Karnataka, India as an electrical and electronics engineer in 2007.

Accepted: When do you plan on applying to business school? Which schools will you apply to? Do you think you'll apply to a "safety school"?

Abhishek: I will apply to b-schools this year for full-time MBA curriculums commencing in 2012. I will apply to top US and non-US (India and Singapore) business schools. My application spectrum includes one from the Top 10, three from the Top 20 and two Safety Schools. (Two considering the fact that I want to get back to work latest by 2014. Fingers crossed!).
 
Accepted: How many times did you take the GMAT? Are you happy with your score?
 
Abhishek: I took the GMAT once and got a 710. Although I feel I underachieved by 20-30 points, I am not complaining; a 710 would still make me competitive for top b-schools provided I have stellar apps.
 
Accepted: Does cost play a factor in where you're applying? Do you plan on applying for financial aid or scholarships? Has your current job offered to pick up part or all of your b-school tab?
 
Abhishek: Coming from a middle class Indian family, cost of the b-school is definitely one of the factors that will determine where I am applying. I understand that getting a top MBA is a significant investment and I need to figure out all possible sources of funding that would help me attend a particular b-school. In that light, scholarships become hugely important.

My post MBA plans are to enter the core Information technology consulting business. And since my current company is more of a services company, it offering to pick up all or part of my b-school tab is more or less ruled out, and is not an option really.
 
Accepted: What courses or experiences or people have motivated you to go to business school? How?
 
Abhishek: I am well versed in technology processes and I foresee a paradigm shift towards the way we look at technology. However, I lack formal management skills and definitely need better insights into the details of just how an enterprise takes shape, and survives. Also, the recent technological developments and changing business scenarios around these developments make a strong case for attending a b- school. Needless to say, a top MBA will not only expand my professional horizons but also equip me with strong networks to give my career a boost in the right direction.
 
Accepted: How has the current economy affected your decision to attend business school?
 
Abhishek: The current world economy while extremely volatile is also full of opportunities. It's best to sit back, get your business basics right and learn from the present failures. I am an optimist all the way, and while the current economy does not emit great vibes, I sense a lot of activity in the technology domain. I want to be done with business basics and bolster my networks while things look down, because when they start looking back up (and we all know they will), I want to see myself as somebody who used the volatility to his advantage.

In the end, the current economy has not affected my decision to attend business school.
 
Accepted: Why did you choose to blog about the MBA application experience?
 
Abhishek: With a full-time job and simultaneously preparing for the GMAT, I came across a lot of issues that needed to be addressed. These issues ranged from what to study for the GMAT to where to apply after one had the GMAT score ready! And I always found most answers on the MBA blogging forums. Since I myself was a recipient of such useful data and information while I prepared for the GMAT and as I apply to b-schools, I decided to tell my application journey as well and add to the store of very useful advice. It not only helps future GMAT aspirants in their quest to the best GMAT, but also keeps fellow applicants informed and motivated about important b-school info and save a lot of valuable time.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com's blog, Accepted Admissions Almanac? If you want to share your MBA admissions journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best



 




09/16/11--17:00: Medical School News Round Up (chan 1702379)

  

• Out With The Old and In with the New - The Daily Pennsylvania announced that Larry Jameson is the new dean of Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Arthur Rubenstein is stepping down from these positions, but he will stay on at Penn as a professor.
• Medical Students Mistreated - The American Medical Association revealed that according to the Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) around 17%-20% of medical students reported having experienced mistreatment. At the Annual Meeting, the AMA began looking for the definition of resident mistreatment and tried to find ways to identify whether it is in fact occurring as often as it appears, and how to stop it. The AMA plans on discussing this issue further in an invitational meeting that will take place in December.
• Doctors Need Insurance Too - Inside Higher Ed reports that a study done, including data from 115 American medical schools, revealed that only 22% of medical students’ health insurances cover mental health and substance abuse issues without a cost-sharing requirement (even though medical students have higher rates of depression than other students and are equally at risk for substance abuse issues). While medical schools are working to remedy the issue, national regulations are necessary to better protect medical students.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best






-          Out With The Old and In with the New - The Daily Pennsylvania announced that Larry Jameson is the new dean of Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Arthur Rubenstein is stepping down from these positions, but he will stay on at Penn as a professor.

-          Medical Students Mistreated - The American Medical Association revealed that according to the Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) around 17%-20% of medical students reported having experienced mistreatment. At the Annual Meeting, the AMA began looking for the definition of resident mistreatment and tried to find ways to identify whether it is in fact occurring as often as it appears, and how to stop it. The AMA plans on discussing this issue further in an invitational meeting that will take place in December.

-          Doctors Need Insurance Too - Inside Higher Ed reports that a study done, including data from 115 American medical schools, revealed that only 22% of medical students’ health insurances cover mental health and substance abuse issues without a cost-sharing requirement (even though medical students have higher rates of depression than other students and are equally at risk for substance abuse issues). While medical schools are working to remedy the issue, national regulations are necessary to better protect medical students.




09/16/11--17:00: Don't Neglect Your Law School or MBA Letters of Rec! (chan 1702379)

  

Learn how to give your law school and MBA letters of recommendation the attention they deserve when you buy this month's featured ebooks, Law School Letters of Recommendation that Rock or MBA Letters of Recommendation that Rock.

Through September 30, 2011, you can buy these tip-filled ebooks at 20% off the cover price when you enter coupon code LOR20 at checkout. You'll save money AND get the advice you need to score winning LORs, just in time to apply to your top choice law school or MBA program.

Don't push off this critical task until the last minute – the result of hasty LOR-seeking usually ends badly. The key to LOR success is found in the timing, not to mention finding the right people to write your LORs and supplying them with the right materials. Learn how you can land letters of recommendation that rock when you buy Law School Letters of Recommendation that Rock or MBA Letters of Recommendation that Rock today!

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/18/11--20:00: Subscribe to our New and Improved Blog (chan 1702379)

  

We've done away with the old and have created a new and improved blog. The blog address is the same, but the RSS feed subscription is new. If you're reading this, then that means you are still subscribed to our old feed. Update your RSS feed now to receive the new blog posts from our new blog.

Once subscribed, you'll see that our new blog has a simplified, clean interface and improved comment abilities using Disqus. We think it's great…and we know you'll love it too!

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Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best




09/21/11--17:00: Are You Cut Out for a Combined BS/MD Program? (chan 1702379)

  

Well, there's only one way to find out – download Accepted.com's newest special report, Am I Cut Out for a Combined BS/MD Program?, and discover if your talents and ambitions match up with those sought by adcoms at top BS/MD programs.

This FREE special report, written by Accepted.com college admissions pro, Whitney Bruce, details the steps you need to take to determine if the rigorous joint BS/MD program is right for you. Whitney will provide those applicants who are still "on the fence" regarding their decision with clear pros and cons for applying to a joint program, as well as tips and hints for the actual application process. She will also offer a window into what the admissions committees are seeking when reviewing applications and ways in which you can best present yourself to impress them and land a seat in the program of your choice.

Download Am I Cut Out for a Combined BS/MD Program? now to begin your journey to BS/MD success!  

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Photo credit: Walt Stoneburner




09/23/11--08:00: MBA Applicant Blogger Interviews: Sanket's Journey (chan 1702379)

  

Next up in our series of featured MBA applicant bloggers is Sanket, author of the blog, "My GMAT and MBA Journey…Freeing my mind from Fears, Doubts & Disbeliefs…Believing I CAN!!" Please enjoy Sanket's thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the MBA admissions process.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to school and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold?

Sanket: A Production engineer by education, an industrial engineer by experience, a passionate writer (three published articles, currently writing my first book), an amateur photographer, a student of Vipassana meditation for the last nine years, a volunteer, a blogger and let's not forget, a big procrastinator (that GMAT is still pending). It’s not my name but what I do that defines me; but people call me Sanket!

I am Sanket. In Marathi (my mother tongue) Sanket means a symbol, an indication. So what do I symbolize? At any given point of time, any of the things mentioned above define me.

I belong to Sangli, a small town in Maharashtra. I completed most of my schooling and Junior college education in Nasik, Maharashtra, India and received my Bachelor of Production Engineering from University of Pune (one of the top ranked universities in Maharashtra) with First Class in Distinction, in 2005.

I started my career as a consultant (productivity improvement and lean manufacturing) with a relatively small boutique consulting firm. I worked there for 2.5 years and then moved to the automobile industry with Mahindra Chakan to understand the difference between knowing the path and walking the path, i.e. understanding the difference between recommending some things to clients and actually doing the things with my own hands. I worked there for 2.5 years, and for past year I have been working with Volkswagen, India. So, after investing almost six years in the manufacturing industry, I am ready to go to b-school to take my career to the next level.

Accepted: How long have you planned on applying to business school?

Sanket: How long? Do you ever think of "Time" when you are with your girlfriend? Time almost stops when she is around you, doesn't it? If you are a photographer then do you ever think how long you have been waiting for that perfect click? The answer is NO. You are committed to the perfect click irrespective time. When you are totally in love with something, you seldom think of time; it becomes relative.

The same logic applies to my experience with the b-school application process. I am in love with this entire process. People say it is daunting but I ask them – How can the process of telling something about you be daunting? How can sharing your most profound experiences with the admission committee be time consuming? Whatever others say, I love the process, irrespective of the outcome of this year’s application cycle, I have loved it, the introspection provided lot of insights during the process.

To answer your question, I have been interacting with b-school students for the last three years. To date I have interacted with more than 100 students from more than 12 b-schools which of course include some of the top 10 schools. So a systematic approach and huge investment of time are at stake in this year’s application process. Surely, it was worth doing this!!

Accepted: Why do you want to go to business school? What are some of the factors motivating you?

Sanket: Let me tell you a story.

On my last birthday, we had a great party. When I was paying the bill (some thousands of rupees), I just thought – The amount of this bill equals to the monthly salary of a waiter who was serving us. Why the cost of my enjoyment for a couple of hours equal to the monthly salary of a common man? Why is there so much economic disparity? I remember Bill Gates' speech on this subject at the Harvard Business School. He asked, "Why aren't the brightest, most intelligent minds used to solve toughest questions in the world?" I don’t know, really I don’t know, how I am going to do it but my long term vision is to do something, at least play my part in closing the gap of economic disparity, especially in a developing country like India. In India we have lot of issues in front of us – education, career guidance, healthcare, and corruption. I am still understanding my true calling to focus on one of these issues because I cannot focus on all of them.

To understand the complexity in any one these issues, my knowledge of production engineering is very limited. Knowledge of business fundamentals along with transferable skills I have developed during my professional experience really will help in understanding these issues in-depth.

Also, I believe these issues are best solved with a public-private partnership than solely relying on the government. Through business, we can really find some great solutions to these problems. For example, the concept of "Reverse Innovation" by Professor Vijay Govindrajan has created evolution in creating cheapest healthcare products in rural India. So, essentially I want to be in the business of serving people at the bottom of the pyramid.

I know this is not a perfect answer to the career goals essay question but I am still working on it!

Accepted: Where do you plan on applying to b-school? What sort of criteria did you use in choosing where you'd like to attend?

Sanket: I have mentioned somewhere in my blog, that choosing a b school is analogous to choosing your life partner or girlfriend.

There is something about your girlfriend which only you can figure out; you somehow connect with her deeply enough to able to spend your entire life with her. It may not be possible to define that in terms of words or language, but you know somewhere deep inside that SHE is the one, you just know it! I mean if you ask me what it is about Genelia that makes her my favorite heroine, I may not be able to tell you, but it’s just there, something only she has. So my school selection is based on “Just want to be there schools,” as I told you, after lot of interaction with students and alumni from these category schools, I just know that I want to be there come what may!! Perhaps that is the only criteria I used in my b-school selection process.

These schools by default satisfied other important factors such as brand, value, resources and joint degree programs to achieve career objectives, the availability of a loan without a co-signer, no TOEFL requirement, team oriented and collaborative culture.

No wonder, last year, I got Clear Admit’s BOB award for "Best School Selection Advice."

Accepted: Do you have topics in mind for your MBA application essays?

Sanket: Going by the B-School and Girlfriend analogy, in my opinion essays can be treated analogous to the way you propose to your girlfriend. Apart from knowing that there is something in her that attracts you, you also know that she is important to you.

Essay writing essentially starts with a lot of introspection. On my blog, I have several entries on this topic. For example, I maintain something I call "a book of dreams." I always carry it with me and It essentially contains all the ideas I come across when I am travelling, brushing my teeth, taking a bath, drinking my coffee, volunteering and so on; it’s just a random collection of thoughts to understand my thinking pattern. This pattern identification has proved to be essential in the essay writing process.

To answer your question, surely I have finalized the topics for almost all of essays for my target schools. I am currently fine-tuning them to fit them into the word limits and let me tell you writing essays has been a wonderful experience.

Accepted: How important is a "name brand" MBA program to you? Are you only applying to top 10 programs?

Sanket: I am applying to some colleges in the top 10, but so called "brand name" and ranking are not only factors in choosing the schools.

My experience with current students and alumni, their involvement in answering my questions, their response time, their willingness and depth in answering my critical questions, their passion to share their b-school experiences tell me a lot about the b-school and the culture there.

For example, a couple of Tuck students wrote blog posts to answer my questions and former Chicago Booth Admissions Director Rose Martenelli wrote a post on her blog answering one of my questions. A Kellogg student remembered my name and contact number and gave me call when he was here for Diwali vacation. Another Kellogg student discussed my idea (we discussed his consulting project over mails, fortunately my current experience in the manufacturing industry was helpful to him) in his learning team at Kellogg.

I ask myself – If these people are investing so much time in me (still a prospective applicant) then how much more supportive will they be when I am part their community as a student??

These things mean a lot to me and such experiences help in narrowing down the schools. So, definitely not only "brand name" but these touchy feely experiences are important factor in my school selection.

Accepted: Why did you choose to blog about the MBA application experience?

Sanket: By this time, you must have understood, I love writing. I love sharing my experiences with others, I love learning through others’ experiences, their thoughts, and perspectives. So this blog was basically an attempt to connect with the rest of the MBA applicant bloggers and learn from their experience, at the same time share my perspective and learning in the process.

But the real impetus came from my experience in guiding a couple of friends in the application process. Last year, I helped a friend write his MBA application for AIM and another friend write his ISB application. We all worked together professionally, so I helped them choose the topics for the essays and critically reviewing their essays and choose the right schools for them. I also wrote a recommendation and so on.

Reflecting upon this, I thought that my experience can be really useful to some of my fellow applicants, so just started writing. Also this blog serves as practice (in terms generating ideas, developing and structuring them, as well as seeing the responses) for my upcoming book. I get lot of ideas for my book when I post on this blog, so it been a very wonderful experience.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com's blog, Accepted Admissions Almanac? If you want to share your MBA admissions journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

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09/23/11--17:00: What Are You Still Doing Over Here? (chan 1702379)

  

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10/06/11--08:09: We miss you! (chan 1702379)

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