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