We offer a wealth of tips and strategies across a range of topics—from application advice on Harvard or INSEAD to acing the GMAT, writing essays, navigating MBA interviews and more.
New Stanford GSB Short Answer Essay: 3 Insider Tips
Aug. 19th, 2019
There have been no major changes to the Stanford GSB admissions essays in some 15 years (see our recent how-to article on GSB’s enduring ‘what matters most’ essay) – until now. The noteworthy change for the 2019-2020 season is the addition of the Short-Answer essay. The Optional Short-Answer Essay Question: Think about times you’ve created […]
5 Things to Do Now Before Starting the MBA this Fall
Aug. 13th, 2019
Imagine: How do you want to feel when your head hits the pillow after your first day as an MBA candidate on campus? Thrilled to enter a new chapter of your life surrounded by fascinating people and big ideas, while appropriately daunted by the scope of challenge you’ve undertaken? Or will the quality of your […]
How to Create an MBA Career Vision: Long Term Vs. Short Term Goals
Aug. 7th, 2019
To craft a powerful career vision for the MBA, you must present a coherent narrative that persuasively links your reasons for pursuing an MBA with your past experiences as well as your short- and long-term goals. Once you’ve begun to explore your career vision (see part 1 in this series, How to Create a Career […]
How to Create a Career Vision For Your MBA Application
Aug. 6th, 2019
Articulating your career vision is one of the most critical elements of your entire business school application. A strong career vision not only helps you stand out in the MBA application process, it’s essential for your admissions interviews. It will also help you hit the ground running when you actually begin your MBA, because recruiting […]
How to Answer the New Berkeley Haas MBA Essay Questions
Jul. 26th, 2019
Berkeley Haas revamped all of its essay questions for the 2019-2020 application season (two mandatory, one optional). Gone is the invitation to outline your immediate post-MBA goals and the tricky, Hemingwayesque six-word story prompt. The sentiment behind Haas’s optional, two -sentence question remains intact, albeit slightly distilled from almost 200 words of explicit context-setting for […]
How to Answer Stanford GSB’s Essay: What Matters Most To You and Why?
Jul. 19th, 2019
In opening its application for the 2019-2020 cycle, Stanford GSB demonstrated that its iconic essay question persists for well over a decade: What matters most to you, and why? This elegant query embodies the sentiment ‘simple but not easy.’ It demands a level of profound self-awareness and unapologetic authenticity that can overwhelm the most excellence-driven applicant […]
Brand-building & Storytelling for the MBA: Your How-To Guide
Jul. 13th, 2019
We all have a personal brand, regardless of whether or not you intentionally manage it (and if you don’t, let this be your impetus to start). In short, your personal brand encompasses what you represent, what you stand for and what comes front of mind to people when they see your name. What traits, qualities […]
Tips on Financial Aid for Part-Time MBAs
Jul. 12th, 2019
The harsh reality is that scholarships and grants for part-time MBA students are limited. Many institutions who award scholarships to part-time students offer small awards, and they may not be renewed after the first year, or even first term. Part-time programs often assume that your employer will be sponsoring your degree through tuition assistance. If […]
7 Essential Tips for GMAT Prep
Jun. 26th, 2019
Business schools have reported a significant rise in GMAT averages over the last 15 years. Last fall, the average GMAT score was 732 for the incoming classes of Stanford GSB, Wharton and Kellogg, and for HBS it was 730. And while your GMAT score is just one component in your broader narrative, it’s clear why […]
5 Top Tips: Reapply to Harvard Business School
Jun. 24th, 2019
Don’t presume that Harvard Business School isn’t interested in your candidacy solely because you’ve been rejected before. Often, MBA candidates endure more than one application cycle before securing a coveted place at their dream school. Furthermore, approximately 10 percent of HBS candidates apply more than once. Navigating the process once gives you more concrete information […]
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