Strategies for Top Schools

Teaching Methods:

1) Case study

2) Lecture

3) Experiential

Columbia

• Finance/banking
• Need to differentiate from similar sounding applicants
• Entrepreneurship: Eugene M. Lang Center- Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund, Entrepreneurial Greenhouse Program, Global Social Venture Competition, Program on Social Intelligence (PSI)

Cornell

• 2 essays
• Small MBA program
• Greatly emphasizes professor accessibility; literally open their homes to students
• Dedication to analytic rigor, action-oriented approach, collaborative learning environment
• Application should highlight: your approach to analyzing problems, analytically driven business solutions, approach to analyzing problems. analytically driven business idea
• No majors, majority of courses electives; strength lies in finance curriculum
• Emphasizes leadership; offer 30 full paid scholarships of students who've demonstrated leadership
• Immersion Learning curriculum - best example of Johnson's action-oriented approach to learning; referred to as the semester in reality - experiential method; hands on approach to Managerial Finance, I-Banking, Brand Mgmt, Manu, e-business, Students visit companies, work on business challenges; great way to display knowledge of Johnson learning model

Dartmouth

• 4 essays - 500 words
• Small, highly respected MBA program; general mgmmt - first year compulsory; second year electives
• More than the average program, they're looking for students who demonstrate strong teamwork skills - should be a main theme
• Leadership also v. important - introduced the Cohen Leadership Development Program - relies on team coursework, peer assessments, one-on-one coaching - extends into secon year - w/series of summits & speaking engagements w/execs
• Make sure you provide convincing proof that you'll be an active alum, preferably by demonstrating commitment to your undergraduate school
• You really need to make sure the school is for you. Even more importantly, you really need to demonstrate why Tuck is for you. - make sure you're passionate about the school in your application; visit the school
• Strong rep in finance and consulting, especially on the east coast - nearly 2/3rds of grads live there after graduating
• Show the school's environment appeals to you and also why the general management approach is what you want out of b-school

Duke

• 810 students
• 2 one page essays, two longer essays
• Innovative curriculum allows for breadth & flexibility
• Students have 4 terms (of 6 weeks each) per year, so they get a taste of many more subjects than students at most schools. They also complete at least 5 electives by the end of their first year, which some students say has led to a competitive advantage heading into summer internships
• Emphasis traditionally on general mgmt, though concentrations can be earned in 2 areas from finance & marketing, to social entrepreneurship and international business. Health Sector Management Program popular (HSM)
• Teamwork an important theme; students refer to themselves as "Team Fuqua," Fuqua - relatively small size - make clear that you understand what it means to be a part of a close-knit community and spell out why it appeals to you
• Students heavily involved in everything going on at the school
• Emphasize your sincere interest in the program.
• Highly competitive school, but yield is quite low; the school wants to make sure you'll enroll - truly demonstrate why you want to enroll
• Placing increasing emphasis on global business. New 3 week program called the Global Institute - places students on learning teams that study issues related to leadership and ethics in the context of a global business climate.

MIT (fill-in)

NYU

• Three 500 word essays
• 815 full-time students
• 60% of students go into finance/investment related jobs
• Finance Dept. by far the school's greatest strength; mostly general curriculum approach
• Can pursue up to 3 specializations - finance, marketing, consulting, real estate, entertainment, and media - NYU, Tisch, Real Estate Institute - opportunities for hands on learning at various partner companies
• School prides itself in giving students real-world applications
• Teamwork should be important in your message
• School less impressed w/individual achievers than with well-grounded people who've excelled in their past jobs by working w/others
• Student involvement is also very important - Stern Student Corporation - Stern's student government; student run clubs and conferences
• School also serious about entrepreneurship - Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies - runs conferences; facilitates mentoring program for entrepreneurs; annual business plan competition one of the most popular of its kind - traditional business plan and social entrepreneurship track
• Show the school Stern is really where you want to be - have convincing reasons why this is the case
• Stern Consulting Corps (SCC) - consulting engagements with non-profits
• Most activities take place at the Kaufman Management Center; Greenwich Village; NYU largest private university in the US
• DBi Program - Doing Business In...

Northwestern

Helpful Hints

I'm reading some helpful hints from the book "Your MBA Game Plan" and want to make note of them:

Overall Process:

• Develop a compelling application story; weave it through application
• The components of your profile should be multi-faceted and consistent with an overall theme.
• Outside of your professional endeavors, what are your personal interests and endeavors?
• Typically, your motivation to make a career change will describe your motivation to make a career change or to bolster your current career path
• Your message should reflect your ability to innovate and your entrepreneurial spirit.
• Characteristics sought: academic aptitude, leadership, an ability to work well with peers/subordinates, integrity, ambition, etc.
• Your application should answer how your career goals will impact an industry, individuals, or society in general.

Timing

• Apply in the first round for 3 reasons:

1. Less applicants
2. Communicates your interest in the school
3. Best for planning purposes - you'll hear back by January

*If your top choice offers early action, you should consider applying then; less applicants still

Interviews

• Set up an interview for all your target schools asap

Recommendations

• Send recommenders 1-2 essays describing your career goals
• Ideally, you should give them 2 months time
• Send them a sample recommendation, resume, etc.

Resume

• Use the school's resume template to create your own. This shows you've done your homework
• 3 sections: "Education," "Experience," "Additional" Info.
• Be succinct; one page, reverse chronological order
• Place the most impressive information upfront
• Emphasize experiences relevant to your career goals
• Focus on your actions and their result, not on the job description
• See sample resume on p. 115-116

Potential Interview Topics

• What are your career goals?
• How would business school play a role in meeting those goals?
• How would your professional and personal experiences enhance the classroom dynamic.
• In what ways have a I acted as a leader to my peers?

Schools

• MIT values analytic ability, Duke it's team oriented approach

How To Demonstrate Fit w/A School:

• Show you understand what the school stands for and why those values are important. (E.g. Darden preaches leadership - give examples of what leadership means to you)
• Show you embody the traits the school most wants to see in its students
• Show you will become very involved in your business school, from contributing to class discussions, to running student organizations to being an active alum in the future
• Show your penchant for working on teams & that you're a sociable person
• You'll want to show you'll actually go to the school if selected

4 Dimensions a B-School is looking for:

1) Innovation

2) Maturity

3) Leadership

4) Teamwork

Leadership: Examples where you've provided others with direction, shown initiative, managed difficult situations in your professional, personal, and academic careers.

Innovation: traditional intellectual ability and creativity. Can be as easy as finding a solution to an every day business problem.

Maturity: You demonstrate multilayered experiences inside and outside the workplace.

Community Service: It's important to show you have aspirations to help society as sa whole and not just your personal bank account.