Business Schools Roll Out the Red Carpet for Military Veterans

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 1 Comment

Every year we hear from many applicants with military experience who wonder if they’ll fit in at business school. And, they want to know if business schools are interested in applicants like them. Could MBA programs really be looking for applicants with (in many cases) minimal business experience? Dp companies that hire MBAs want to find this kind of MBA grad?

The short answer is yes! Business schools constantly seek leaders and young professionals with exceptional decision-making ability. Just because you don’t come from a business background, don’t fool yourself into thinking that MBA programs won’t be interested in you. You may have exactly the type of experience and temperament that MBA admissions officers want to see.

One of your best strengths as a military applicant will likely be the leadership experience you bring to the table. Any stories that you can relate about directing a group of men and women to achieve a tangible goal will speak volumes about your ability to lead, and most business schools value this trait above all else. You are also likely to have great examples of teamwork, which will further help an admissions committee picture you fitting into a classroom at its school. Don’t be shy about sharing these stories, even if you think they’ve been told a thousand times before. Focus on these accomplishments in your essays and interview, and — more importantly — spell out what you learned as a result and how it will help you in your next career.

Yes, you will face challenges as a military applicant, too. The most obvious one is that your great experiences have had little to do with business. You therefore need to show the admissions committee that your skills are directly transferable to the business world. More to the point, you need to show that you see how these skills will translate, and that you know what your own strengths and weaknesses are. You may not have any practical experience in marketing or finance, but you understand why it is important that you have knowledge of them. Moreover, you can demonstrate your desire to bolster your knowledge in these areas by taking a pre-MBA course or two, particularly in accounting and finance.

If you have taken any business-oriented courses that won’t show up on your transcripts, be sure to let the admissions committee know about it. Admissions officers will understand that you’re relatively new to the business world — in fact, they love nothing more than an applicant with loads of raw potential whom they can shape into a business leader — but they will look critically for evidence that you have the ability and motivation to learn business principles. It’s less a matter of “I hope they don’t notice I don’t have business experience” and more a matter of “I need to show them what I’ve done to overcome that lack of experience.”

And, it doesn’t hurt that the military may pay for your MBA through the G.I. Bill and other assistance programs available to people with extended service to our nation. You may find that you not only are able to get into a top-ranked MBA program, but that it’s also cheaper than you expected.

To stay on top on all of the latest news in the world of MBA admissions, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Posted in Business School, Military

Get to Know: Kellogg School of Management

Posted on January 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Given the school’s sterling reputation in marketing, its ability to turn out well-rounded general managers, and its high-energy culture, it’s no wonder that so many applicants aim for Kellogg every year. Are you thinking about applying to Kellogg this year? If so, why? How do you know if it’s really is a good fit for you? More importantly, how do you know the Kellogg admissions team will think you’re a good fit for the school?

Today we dig into five things that make the Kellogg MBA experience unique:

Blended Teaching
Kellogg offers perhaps the most blended teaching approach of any of the top business schools, dividing its course styles into three nearly equal parts: case method, lectures, and team projects — all bolstered by the school’s commitment to experiential learning. The classroom approach at Kellogg can often mirror the probing, theoretical approach of a top law school, as distinguished professors push students to go beyond the rules of business by testing theories and assumptions. Classroom participation is one thing that all of Kellogg’s class formats have in common. The curriculum is constantly evolving with the times and the hot topics of the day.

Social Responsibility
The school has a range of opportunities for students to both get involved in their local communities while also building strong skills for a future career in a social venture or nonprofit. The Kellogg Board Fellows program is an opportunity for students to serve on the board of a nonprofit. The Social Enterprise at Kellogg (SEEK) program supports those interested in bringing social benefits to the world through business, and the annual Innovating Social Change conference has been running for well over ten years now, which reinforces the longstanding commitment to the community and social good that is apparent at the Kellogg School. The school’s socially-focused culture is also highlighted by the fact that they have a faculty Director of Diversity and Inclusion (Angela Edwards-Campbell), and these values are emphasized throughout the curriculum.

Global Perspective
A typical Kellogg class is composed of students from 40 different countries. And, another 100 international exchange students come to campus each year, taking the place of the 100 Kellogg students who travel to foreign universities for study abroad opportunities. Beyond this diverse mix of nationality and culture among the student body, Kellogg has focused coursework and experiential learning opportunities specific to the global landscape, such as the Global Lab, Global Initiatives in Management, and a requirement that every student take at least one course with a global focus.

Experiential Learning
Many elite business schools offer their students the chance to study in the field and to get real world experience, but few incorporate the mantra of “learning by doing” to the extent that Kellogg does. From the number of students who participate in business plan competitions, to the wide range of unique opportunities to create and test new technologies offered, Kellogg allows every student to find a way to put his or her theoretical learning to the real world test. The school offers a nearly unparalleled variety of courses and labs that focus almost entirely on learning by doing.

Leadership
Kellogg puts a great deal of focus on leadership, and attempts to elevate good leaders to great ones. One required component in the school’s curriculum is the Leadership Core Series, which is a central part of the first semester and involves a community service project. Specific leadership courses highlight this approach, while a residence series brings in high-level executives as part of a speaking program to discuss leadership issues and concepts surrounding social responsibility. The Business Leadership Club and the Kellogg Student Association rank among the most popular and important student groups at the school.

To stay on top on all of the latest news and analysis of Kellogg admissions, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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How to Prepare for the Integrated Reasoning Section on the New GMAT

Posted on January 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

The GMAT’s new Integrated Reasoning section is still a few months away from going live, but applicants are already buzzing about this new question type. They want to know what the new Integrated Reasoning section is, and — more importantly — how to prepare for it.

Integrated Reasoning question present students with various data — presented various forms, including words, charts, and tables — and challenges them to pull out key insights to answer multiple questions about what’s going on. The questions vary by type, but they all measure your ability to truly perform analysis, rather than your ability to apply rote rules or memorize content.

With the new Integrated Reasoning section, the GMAT gets closer than ever before to measuring the type of analytical skills that truly matter in business school and beyond. These questions actually look quite similar to the mini-case studies MBA students get when interviewing for management consulting or some finance jobs. This sort of exercise is a great measure of someone’s analytical abilities. So often applicants hear “analytical” and assume this means “quant” or “numbers,” but great analysis actually goes much deeper and is much more challenging than just crunching numbers. That skill is just what many recruiters at top business schools look for, which is why it makes sense for the GMAT to measure it as well as a standardized test can.

So, how do you prepare for Integrated Reasoning questions? The good news is that, if you prepare for the GMAT the right way, that work will already help you succeed on the Integrated Reasoning section. Furthermore, as this section is designed to test your analytical abilities in a business context, your day-to-day activities will help you prepare, and you should note items such as “which data are most relevant to a decision” and “how could this information be displayed graphically to highlight important trends” when you perform professional and personal tasks that involve numbers and decisions.

To get start, we recommend looking at some of the GMAT Integrated Reasoning resources that Veritas Prep has created, including sample questions. Give yourself enough time and approach the Next-Generation GMAT with the right mindset, and you should have no trouble with the new section of the exam.

To stay on top on all of the latest news in MBA admissions and GMAT preparation, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Posted in GMAT, Integrated Reasoning

Get to Know: Fuqua School of Business

Posted on January 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

Given the Fuqua School of Business’s tight-knit culture, growing global footprint, and strength in academic areas such as marketing, it’s no surprise that it attracts so mnay top-flight applicants every year. We are often surprised, however, by how many applicants apply to Duke without understanding the school and knowing whether or not it’s a good fit for them. We always urge these applicants to go back and do their homework a bit more before they start crafting their Duke applications.

Today we present five reasons why Fuqua may be a great place for you to spend two years as an MBA student:

You’ve got some work experience under your belt
Fuqua traditionally prefers that students in the Daytime MBA have about five years of work experience, though there is some flexibility on this requirement for stellar candidates.

You’re a less experienced candidate
The MMS degree is a great option for those coming straight from college, and the Cross-Continent MBA also sometimes accepts students with a little less work experience (though some years of work experience — and a current job — are definitely required).

You want to go into energy, including green energy
Whether you want to go into investment banking or become a sell-side commodities analyst, or you want to push innovations in alternative energy, or you care about sustainability in business, Duke is increasing its attentions in these critical areas and could be a great choice to launch or reposition your career.

You want to go into healthcare
There are few other programs with anything like the depth and breadth of healthcare management available at Duke. For those looking to accelerate their progression in an existing career or someone interested in transitioning over to hospital management, clinical outcomes, or the payer side, Duke’s Health Sector Management MBA and the other educational options are hard to beat.

You want a truly unique international MBA education
The Cross-Continent and the Global Executive tracks are both in a class of their own in terms of providing immersive opportunities with an exceptionally diverse cohort. If your career has already put you in the international arena, these are definitely worth investigating. Duke’s focus on global business is evident across all the school and makes the North Carolina campus more diverse than might be expected.

To stay on top on all of the latest news and analysis of Fuqua admissions, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Get to Know: Ross School of Business

Posted on January 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

When clients talk to us and list the handful of MBA programs to which they’re applying, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is often on the list. Given the school’s strong academics, impressive alumni reach, and strength in multiple academic disciplines, it’s no wonder that so many people apply to Ross each year.

Today we dig into five reasons why you should consider Ross

You have a little more work experience
With an average of 5 years of experience for incoming students, Ross wants to see some significant work history. In fact, the admissions office states outright that it is “difficult to be admitted” straight from college. They generally require at least a year or two of high-quality work experience — preferably a bit more before seriously considering an applicant. Unlike some other schools, Ross will not even accept an application from someone who is currently a college senior.

You’re interested in sustainability or want to launch a social venture
Ross has led the way with socially responsible business and sustainability, with a focus on these issues for much longer than any other school. Ross has a well established track record of educating social entrepreneurs and supporting ventures with a heart. If you want a “green” education, there’s not another school that can easily top Ross.

You’d like to get your MBA while keeping your day job
Ross has some very practical part-time programs, including the Ross Global time-shifted and globe-trotting track which is geared for those doing business in Asia.

You’re interested in study supply chain or operations
The one-year MSCM degree is not an MBA but it is appealing for certain types of people looking to advance in operations, and it is a unique degree not found at many other schools. Ross also has strong offerings for MBA students pursuing careers in this function.

You like the idea of attending a large state school
As a state school, the tuition at Ross is about $5,000 per year lower for Michigan residents, but even out-of-state students will find that the overall bill is less than most other Top 10 schools, and the cost of living in Ann Arbor is certainly less than the cost of living in most cities on the right and left coasts.

To stay on top on all of the latest news and analysis of Ross admissions, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Posted in Michigan, Ross

Get to Know: Columbia Business School

Posted on December 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

Columbia Business School attracts more applications than nearly any other MBA program every year. It’s no surprise, given how many grads Columbia places into high-paying Wall Street jobs every year. What may surprise you, though, is how many applicants apply to Columbia without really knowing whether or not it’s a good fit for them. We always urge these applicants to go back and do their homework a bit more before they start crafting their Columbia applications.

Are you thinking about applying to Columbia? How do you know if Columbia really is a good fit for you? Today we present a few things you should know as you research the school. The more these things sound like you, the more you should consider Columbia Business School:

You want an accelerated program
As mentioned above, the Columbia J-Term is the only accelerated MBA program available in the U.S. It’s not the right option for everyone, but if you are committed to your existing career and just need more skills to advance, or if you’re an entrepreneur or will be returning to a family business, the J-Term can be an ideal choice, with lower opportunity cost than the traditional two-year track.

You have a bit more work experience
While Columbia will review any application that comes in, it’s tougher for younger candidates to be successful here, while those with more work experience might see a favorable outcome.

You want an EMBA from two great programs
Earning your degree through one of Columbia’s Executive MBA programs, in partnership with either London Business School, or UC Berkeley’s Haas School, means that you will be an alumni of both programs, offering a combined breadth of opportunities and resources unheard of for graduates of most elite programs.

You want to work on Wall Street
This hardly needs to be mentioned, but in case it’s not obvious: Columbia is a major feeder program to the bulge bracket i-banks, hedge funds, and the most elite financial institutions in the world. Goldman Sachs only recruits at a handful of schools: here, and at Wharton and LBS. If you want to play with the big boys, this could be the place for you.

Want more advice on getting into Columbia Business School? We cover Columbia in detail in our book, Your MBA Game Plan, which is now in its 3rd edition! And, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Get to Know: MIT Sloan

Posted on December 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

MIT’s Sloan School of Management is well known for producing grads with strong quantitative skills. But there’s a lot more to Sloan than spreadsheets and operations models. If you’re aiming for the top business schools, you will want to take a long, hard look at Sloan. But how do you know if Sloan is a good fit for you? Today we dig into six things that make MIT Sloan different than other top business schools. If you like the way these sound, then Sloan should probably be on your short list of MBA programs:

Open access to information
Not just Sloan, but all of MIT believes in sharing information, and the school is a pioneer in the way it’s made its educational content — nearly all of it — available for free on the web through the MIT OpenCourseWare initiative. This includes a vast array of Sloan courses, from undergraduate to graduate to PhD. These course materials are open to everyone, though the school does not grant degrees or certificates or provide any proof of completion, and it is no substitute for the actual MBA experience.

A challenging curriculum
The first semester at MIT is notoriously challenging — more so even than other top schools. All students take the same set of five required core courses in that first term, and it’s said to be grueling. Most schools have a fixed core that extends over two semesters and while challenging, typically isn’t quite as brutal as the one-semester core at Sloan.

A flexible curriculum
The reward for completing that difficult core curriculum is that students are given the freedom to design much of their own educational experience thereafter. Many students focus on fulfilling the requirements of one of the certificate programs, and others create an informal specialization of their own. However, past that initial semester, Sloan does not dictate which classes students must take, which means that the educational experience can be tailored at MIT more than it can at some of its peers.

Truncated admissions processes
Besides the differences in academics, MIT also is different in how it handles MBA admissions: Sloan has just two application rounds for its standard MBA program, with deadlines in October and in January. Each of the other Sloan degree programs, including the Leaders for Global Organizations and the new Master of Finance, has its own separate deadline as well, which is usually much earlier than those at other top schools.

Technology
Given the strength of MIT and engineering, it’s no surprise that Sloan has a superior offering in the area of tech ventures and IT. Innovation is a buzzword at many top business schools, but Sloan embodies it, particularly in the area of high tech. Support for an entrepreneur in launching a new venture at business school is stronger at MIT than almost anywhere else.

Sustainability
Sloan has a concerted focus on “green” business, and the relatively new Certificate in Sustainability is one of the few formal programs of its kind at any top school. Sloan also has a track record for putting its money where its mouth is: not only is the new E62 building going to be LEED certified for environmental friendliness, but MIT’s admissions team recently invested in Apple iPads in order to make their entire admissions process paper-free.

Looking for more advice on getting into MIT Sloan? We cover Sloan in detail in our book, Your MBA Game Plan, which is now in its 3rd edition! And, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Posted in MIT Sloan