Ask AdmissionsConsultants

[AdmissionsConsultants]

Originally posted by ash403

Hey david!
Ash again. just wanted to add, i am a girl..:o (hehehe) n this is against all the women`s lib in a way, but ive read a lot abt b-schools considering women applicants partially. is that correct?
Do u think its wise to go to CBS and NYU with my professional aspirations? Its an important bulk of time.n i DO NOT want to squander it on a school which provides the tag but wont deliver the goods..
Thnx, take care,
Ash

Hi Ash.

Yes, you did hear correctly that some schools are slightly partial towards female applicants. Of course, the schools that are the most partial are likely to be the ones you may be least likely to attend. (Chicago with its tough neighborhood comes immediately to mind.)

I’m not as familiar with the SAT as I am the GMAT given my background. I’m very confident in TestMagic’s SAT prep services though. I also have some partiality towards freesat1prep.com as AdmissionsConsultants is the site’s premier sponsor.

Best of luck with your applications!

Sincerely,

David Petersam
703.242.5885

www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/

Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools

[ganza]

Hi, David,

I am working on Harvard topics now and have some problems identifying what's real challenge for me in working with people. I need this in order to write a topic on subject "What do you find most challenging about working with a group?"

Could you please advise me any ideas what's good to write for in this topic?

I for myself can't figure out any challenges in working with people it could be because I am really good in this or that I have never really worked with people.

I of course can fantasize and imagine some situation or find some problems in me with which I am fighting now. But could you please tell me what problem/challenge would be good idea to write about? I mean it mustn't diminish your application (since you're talking about some your difficulties in working with people it can hurt your application), maybe even makes your application better and the same time it is real, I mean many people could have this problem

Or maybe I am looking in totally wrong direction and I should write about something very unique in order to stand out of other applicants?

Thanks,
Gans

[jcliver]

David,

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.
I was originally thinking about waiting until next year to apply to Bschool. I only have two full years of experience, and it seems to me as though my chances would improve with more. However, I just finished my GMAT, and I now think I may apply. Here are my stats:

Undergraduate Experience:

-Freshman year at second tier U.S. school - 4.0 - then transferred

-Graduated from top 15 U.S. school with a 3.5 (excludes freshman year) with a major in Chemistry and Mathematical Economics

-Have had one job at an economic consulting company. I focus on business strategy, market analysis, and asset valuation. I have been promoted once to Sr. Analyst. Since it is a boutique firm, I work directly with upper management, and take a somewhat senior role on some engagements.

-GMAT - 740 (Q47 V46) - taken once

-I don't have too much of a "wow" factor going on. It seems to me that concentrating on work would be enough. I have only coached a boy's basketball team for a few years, but it sounds so insignificant I may not even bring it up. I spent one summer doing chemistry-related research in Florence, Italy. I am a white male.

Do I have enough to consider top 10 schools? I am most interested in Dartmouth, Chicago and Darden. Or do I need more/more significant work experience? I was hoping that my undergraduate experience would help me, although it doesn't seem that Ad Comms take "where you went to school" into consideration. Or do they? Having gone to two different caliber schools, I can certainly say that I got a lot more out of the more difficult one. Also, my chemistry classes were significantly more difficult than my economics classes, weighing down my GPA to 3.5 (my econ-related GPA is 3.8ish)


I would greatly appreciate your response,

best regards,

Jcliver

[paragtandon]

Thanks a lot David.

I appreciate your input.

I am thinking, if I am a stretch candidate, should I do something about it and apply next year? Maybe join some NGOs etc.. What do you think?

[AdmissionsConsultants]

Originally posted by paragtandon


Thanks a lot David.

I appreciate your input.

I am thinking, if I am a stretch candidate, should I do something about it and apply next year? Maybe join some NGOs etc.. What do you think?

Hi and thanks for your follow-up inquiry.

Even if you switched career paths and moved away from IT (which would best help differentiate you), you will still be a stretch as your age is going to start becoming an issue. Additionally, you would probably have to take a substantial pay cut as well.

Best of luck with your applications!

Sincerely,

David Petersam
703.242.5885

www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/

Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools

[ash403]

HI DAvid!
Ive been speaking to a couple of people over here. They say u shud know exactly what u want to do once the MBA is over. Tell me, why are "engineers", IT consultants etc. considered better candidates for higher management placements.
Even in India, they want the typical combinations. Either an engineer with an MBA or a Commerce/finance guy with an MBA? Why is this the case? How are engineers more suited to the job profile?

[AdmissionsConsultants]

Originally posted by ganza

Hi, David,

I am working on Harvard topics now and have some problems identifying what's real challenge for me in working with people. I need this in order to write a topic on subject "What do you find most challenging about working with a group?"

Could you please advise me any ideas what's good to write for in this topic?

I for myself can't figure out any challenges in working with people it could be because I am really good in this or that I have never really worked with people.

I of course can fantasize and imagine some situation or find some problems in me with which I am fighting now. But could you please tell me what problem/challenge would be good idea to write about? I mean it mustn't diminish your application (since you're talking about some your difficulties in working with people it can hurt your application), maybe even makes your application better and the same time it is real, I mean many people could have this problem

Or maybe I am looking in totally wrong direction and I should write about something very unique in order to stand out of other applicants?

Thanks,
Gans

Hi Gans and thanks for your inquiry.

It’s kind of tough to help someone select a topic until you get to really know them and you spell this out on the phone. Hence, that is what we do with our clients.

There are a ton of possibilities and I don’t know you well enough to select a specific topic in an Internet forum.

HBS cares about leadership even more than the other b-schools. This is something to keep in mind when strategizing your story and accompanying topic selection. Some general advice though is to be sincere and show the self confidence to uncover a real weakness (as opposed to “Sometimes I expect others to work as hard as me”) and then help demonstrate why an MBA education from HBS will help you overcome this weakness.

Best of luck with your applications!

Sincerely,

David Petersam
703.242.5885

www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/

Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools

[AdmissionsConsultants]

Originally posted by jcliver

David,

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.
I was originally thinking about waiting until next year to apply to Bschool. I only have two full years of experience, and it seems to me as though my chances would improve with more. However, I just finished my GMAT, and I now think I may apply. Here are my stats:

Undergraduate Experience:

-Freshman year at second tier U.S. school - 4.0 - then transferred

-Graduated from top 15 U.S. school with a 3.5 (excludes freshman year) with a major in Chemistry and Mathematical Economics

-Have had one job at an economic consulting company. I focus on business strategy, market analysis, and asset valuation. I have been promoted once to Sr. Analyst. Since it is a boutique firm, I work directly with upper management, and take a somewhat senior role on some engagements.

-GMAT - 740 (Q47 V46) - taken once

-I don't have too much of a "wow" factor going on. It seems to me that concentrating on work would be enough. I have only coached a boy's basketball team for a few years, but it sounds so insignificant I may not even bring it up. I spent one summer doing chemistry-related research in Florence, Italy. I am a white male.

Do I have enough to consider top 10 schools? I am most interested in Dartmouth, Chicago and Darden. Or do I need more/more significant work experience? I was hoping that my undergraduate experience would help me, although it doesn't seem that Ad Comms take "where you went to school" into consideration. Or do they? Having gone to two different caliber schools, I can certainly say that I got a lot more out of the more difficult one. Also, my chemistry classes were significantly more difficult than my economics classes, weighing down my GPA to 3.5 (my econ-related GPA is 3.8ish)


I would greatly appreciate your response,

best regards,

Jcliver

Hi Jcliver and thanks for your inquiry.

Your work experience is not going to be an issue in terms of either quantity or quality. Your GPA and GMAT combined will account for roughly 35% to 40% of an admissions committee’s decision. The quality of the school doesn’t matter much if it’s an accredited U.S. school and not a little-known agricultural focused college. (The same does not hold true for international applicants.) From your perspective, your GPA and GMAT are fine and you easily clear the academic qualifications hurdle.

We are almost always able to find a ‘wow’ factor in our clients’ stories and I’m pretty confident you too have something worth highlighting in an application story somewhere in your background. If you do decide to wait an additional year, be sure your career trajectory continues at its current rate and be sure to increase your extracurricular involvement.

If you would like to discuss your situation in depth with one of our consultants, feel free to contact me directly.

Best of luck with your applications!

Sincerely,

David Petersam
703.242.5885

www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/

Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools

[AdmissionsConsultants]

Originally posted by ash403

HI DAvid!
Ive been speaking to a couple of people over here. They say u shud know exactly what u want to do once the MBA is over. Tell me, why are "engineers", IT consultants etc. considered better candidates for higher management placements.
Even in India, they want the typical combinations. Either an engineer with an MBA or a Commerce/finance guy with an MBA? Why is this the case? How are engineers more suited to the job profile?

Having a clear post-MBA career goal is critical in your applications. We have helped applicants from a wide variety of work backgrounds gain admission to top b-schools.

Best of luck with your applications!

Sincerely,

David Petersam
703.242.5885

www.admissionsconsultants.com/mba/

Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools

[ganza]

Hi, David,

thanks for your reply.
I'd like to use your services (probably silver package).
Should I contact you directly or just make a general order at your website?
Will we have enough time till 16 October - deadline for round1?
I've already agreed with 3 recommenders but guess would need to point them what to write in order for my application to be integral, wouldn't I?

I have already application prepared but need it to be reviewed, need some ideas about extra curricular activities since I think this is my weak point. Had 1 topic alreday written, have material and events to write for 2 other topics and will need guidance for other 3 topics.
Just wonder why Harvard has 6 topics to write while Stanford just 2?!

Some more additional questions.
Suppose I buy silver package then
1. I'd like to be sure that we'll begin at once work on my package, since I have a little time now.
2. I'd like to be sure that I would have swift responses during our interaction via email, so, for example, most of the time edited essays would spend in my mail inbox.
3. I would need as soon as possible (within 1-2 week(s))to know the points my recommenders should mention in order for my package to be integral.

Can I expect all above?

Looking forward for your reply,
Gans