IN at MIT Sloan and Kellogg. Happy to take questions

[bombomba]

Hi everyone.

I haven't been here for a while. I used this site a lot (and tried to contribute to it) when preparing for my GMAT. Anyhow, I applied to three MBA programs (based on career goals, location, and well, brand): Harvard Business School (HBS), MIT Sloan, and Northwestern Kellogg. I'm accepted to Sloan and Kellogg, and will be at Sloan this Fall.

I've learned a lot here, and now I like to help out. In addition to Sloan and Kellogg, I'm also familiar with Stanford GSB and HBS because I have several friends going there. Feel free to ask me anything regarding the MBA admission process.

Good luck everyone.

[luve]

Awesome School!!!

I will be the first to say CONGRATULATION!
Anyway, I have some question and hope to see your reply.

Q. Would you please sort in order of the importance among, GMAT, GPA, Work Experiences, Essay... for getting into Top MBA program?

[bombomba]

Thx.

> GMAT, GPA, Work Experiences, Essay

Different schools place these things in slightly different order... but in general:

1 .Work (and XC) Experiences - This is the biggest thing. It determines which group of applicants you'll be competing against, and do you have the "right" background for the school. Career progression is also a big one: promotions, raises, additional responsibilities. And provide interesting, consistent, and leadership-type XC activities; that's how schools tell the difference between Banker 308 and Banker 309 (and the rest of 200 bankers).

2. Eassay - Use the essay to present yourself, to highlight, explain, provide details of your work experience, and most importantly, DEMONSTRATE your personal quality (mature, sincere, honest, etc.). Demonstrte = SHOW, not tell. Gives examples and results. You can't really change your past (work experience, GPA, etc), but you can make your essay compelling

3. GMAT & GPA - These are like hurdles: you need to clear them, but it doesn't matter by how much (e.g. The diff. between GMAT = 740 and 780 is VERY SMALL. Schools need to know that a) you're smart enuf to handle to the work (financial analysis, accounting, etc.) and b) you're mature/serious about school. NO top school will admit you based on GMAT/GPA ALONE, but a high GMAT/GPA surely helps.

[thaiva]

Congradt'z bombomba awesome news!!

Best Wishes for the future...

[dafir]

Originally posted by bombomba

Hi everyone.

I haven't been here for a while. I used this site a lot (and tried to contribute to it) when preparing for my GMAT. Anyhow, I applied to three MBA programs (based on career goals, location, and well, brand): Harvard Business School (HBS), MIT Sloan, and Northwestern Kellogg. I'm accepted to Sloan and Kellogg, and will be at Sloan this Fall.

I've learned a lot here, and now I like to help out. In addition to Sloan and Kellogg, I'm also familiar with Stanford GSB and HBS because I have several friends going there. Feel free to ask me anything regarding the MBA admission process.

Good luck everyone.

Congratulations,

You did it. Now, you can rest for a while after the long long admission process.

Me too, I will rest for a week before I start looking for a way to finance my studies.

Enjoy your success

[luve]

A big thanks for your reply,
Nothing to say beside, Best Luck on MIT.

Luve

[btraub]

Congratulations bombomba on a job well done!
Would you be able to provide a rundown of your credentials (GMAT, GPA, Work, etc...)? and the topics of some of your essays?

Also, any clue as to why you didnt get in at HBS?

Thanks and best of luck,
btraub

[Erin]

bombomba, long time no see! I'm very happy to hear of your success, and I'd like to offer you my sincere congratulations on your admission! Well done!!

And also, thanks for your offer to help others, I really appreciate it.

[bombomba]

btraub: A snapshot
- Male Chinese Canadian
- 4.5 yr hi-tech, marketing & engineering pos.
- GPA 3.7, canada top engineering school
- B. degree in EE and Econ.
- GMAT 760
- Good, but not great, XC

Essay topics: There is no room for creativity since the schools ask specific topics for their essays. For each school I used a mixed of examples: professional, XC, personal experience. Try to highlight the qualities that fit the school's MANTRA: HBS = leadership (work with/thru different groups of people, take STRONG initiative, etc); Kellogg = teamwork & self-awareness; Sloan = collaboration, logical thinking, & innovation. Yes, they do overlap, and you really need to show all these qualities for all schools, but the difference is where you place your emphasis.

As for HBS... well.... although I try not to over-analyze my rejection, I did seek feedback from friends at HBS/got into HBS but are now somewhere else and those infamous "consultants" - to find some "closure", I guess. The two main reasons, as I've concluded, are:

1. work exp. - HBS takes very few engineers, and those who are in (and I know quite a few) either worked for an int'l "blue-chip" company - HBS favourites: Microsoft, IBM, GE, etc. esp. in those "leadership rotational programs" - or started their own company (note: worked for a start-up does NOT count). Actually, many ppl there did both.

2. No big XC. There are ppl who started their own NGO, support group, etc. Starting your own organization is a BIG thing at HBS - say a 5 ppl support group for laid-off workers looking for jobs. The key is you started it, and it's your own.

Hope this helps.

[bombomba]

Originally posted by Erin Billy

bombomba, long time no see! I'm very happy to hear of your success, and I'd like to offer you my sincere congratulations on your admission! Well done!!

And also, thanks for your offer to help others, I really appreciate it.

Thanks, Erin.
And thank you very much for starting and maintaining this forum. It helped me a lot during my GMAT days.