What’s good, readers around the globe. I’d like to start by wishing you all a happy holiday and passing along a belated “Merry Christmas” for those of you who celebrate it. I hope all of you are getting some quality time in with your loved ones and have enjoyed the time off (if you were able to get some leave from school/work). As we approach the end of 2008, I hope you’ll all think about what’s really important in life and make sure that those who care about you know that those feelings are being reciprocated.
The email below is from an IT professional who is looking at reapplying to business school after not being admitted to his choice schools a couple of years ago. He sent his message back in September, so I don’t know if I’m getting this response to him in time, but I wanted to get back to him anyway. Also, I thought some of you out there might find some of my responses useful. Whew, I seriously have to work on getting through some of those backlogged emails before the start of 2009.
———
LK wrote:
“Hi Marquis,
Hope you are doing well!
I came across you blog and have been reading a lot of posts
I am in process of applying for MBA for fall 2009 session.
Let me give a brief profile of myself:
2004 passout from top engineering college in India (IITB), GPS 3.28 (ranked in top 5 in a class of 35)
GMAT (taken in 2006): 780
Other courses: CFA level 1 cleared + some certification courses from National stock exchange of India in equity/debt markets
Have some extra curricular also.
Working for past 4 years in IT (I know it is almost given for indians
…) in US telecom MNCs’ indian subsidiaries, currently working out of Minneapolis. Have moved over programming job to a position of telecom domain software solution provider, leading a team of 3 (not direct managerial reportees).
I am actually applying for the second time, I applied last for fall 2007 session. This is the summary of the results that time:
Tepper, Stern – WL – rejected
Ross – i/ved – rejected
MIT, Chi, Col – rejected without i/v
Purdue – in with schol – did not join
My focus area is general management with a specialization in Internation business. The diverse nature of my personal and profession experinces has given raise to this interest of mine.
I would like to ask the following questions to you:
1. What is the your opinion of my profile, esp. in comparison to the profiles of people you see around in GSB or anywhere else
2. Do you think there is some extra advantage in reapplying to any of the schools
3. I did not ask for the feedback last time, mostly because I was not even sure what I was going to do next. Do you think I can still ask it?
4. What is your opinion about Stanford GSB regarding the area of my choice?
Thanks much for your help!
Best!
LK”
———
My response:
LK,
I hope this message finds you doing well and having a happy holiday. I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to get back to you, but I’ve had a lot going on in the past couple of months and my Inbox backlog has been a monster. I don’t know if this email is getting to you early enough to help you with your current application process, but I wanted to make sure I replied anyway. OK, let’s get to your questions to see if I can be helpful to you:
1. “What is the your opinion of my profile, esp. in comparison to the profiles of people you see around in GSB or anywhere else?” –> Based on what you’ve told me, you seem to have a very competitive profile for folks I know from top-tier business schools. You’ve got a great GMAT score, decent undergraduate performance, and strong work experience and, while I don’t know about your extracurriculars, it sounds like you at least have some activities in your profile. With your profile, I’m wondering why your application process didn’t go better last time. Part of the problem could have been that you were applying with a relatively low amount of work experience, but that isn’t necessarily a killer. So, that leaves me wondering if the problem was in how your MBA story was laid out in your essays and recommendations. Remember that the “numbers” parts of your application are only components of the total application package, with your essays and recommendations having significant weight too. Keep that in mind as you approach your reapplication process.
2. “Do you think there is some extra advantage in reapplying to any of the schools?” –> I don’t know if there are many extra advantages in reapplying other than you already having some knowledge about the school from your first application process. This is pretty important as a time-saver because one of the most time consuming parts of applying is researching the schools for insights to use in your essays. This time around, you’ll come into the process with that initial research already completed, so you’ll be ready to dive into your essays immediately. Another advantage could be relationships that you might have developed with the admissions people at these schools, but, given the years passed since you applied, you would have to work to re-establish those connections. As you put together your application, you’ll have to develop a “how am I a different applicant today?” story to show that you’re a different person than the one that the schools rejected. This story could be made up of the work experiences, extracurriculars, and better articulated short- and long-term goals you’ve added to your profile since the 2006-2007 application cycle. You just need to be very thoughtful of how you position yourself in your re-application process.
3. “I did not ask for the feedback last time, mostly because I was not even sure what I was going to do next. Do you think I can still ask it?” –> Unfortunately, I think you’ve missed your opportunity to get feedback on your applications because so much time has passed. I don’t even know if most schools are willing to give feedback immediately, but I’d be shocked if one was willing to do so two years later. You’ll just have to try to do your own self-assessment of where your applications fell short the first time so you can make adjustments this time around.
4. “What is your opinion about Stanford GSB regarding the area of my choice?” –> You stated in your email that you want to want to focus on general management with an international business sub-focus. With this in mind, I’d say that Stanford GSB would be a great fit for the type of program you’re seeking. The GSB ranks among the top general management programs in the United States and I’m a HUGE fan of its focus on leadership across its curriculum. Basically, you’d come out of there as, not only a great manager, but with the tools to become a great leader. For the international business focus, you can follow the Global Management Program certificate track offered by the GSB. The GMP program is composed of a set of GMP-labeled courses that a student would take as electives that provide a global perspective on business issues. I didn’t get the GMP certificate myself, but a large percentage of my classmates did and I hear that it is a great educational track.
My answers above might not have yielded the answers you were looking for, but that’s my current read on your situation. I hope you found them to be somewhat useful as you look at reapplying to school. Good luck on your MBA application process this time around. Happy holidays!
-Marquis
The email below is from an IT professional who is looking at reapplying to business school after not being admitted to his choice schools a couple of years ago. He sent his message back in September, so I don’t know if I’m getting this response to him in time, but I wanted to get back to him anyway. Also, I thought some of you out there might find some of my responses useful. Whew, I seriously have to work on getting through some of those backlogged emails before the start of 2009.
———
LK wrote:
“Hi Marquis,
Hope you are doing well!
I came across you blog and have been reading a lot of posts
I am in process of applying for MBA for fall 2009 session.
Let me give a brief profile of myself:
2004 passout from top engineering college in India (IITB), GPS 3.28 (ranked in top 5 in a class of 35)
GMAT (taken in 2006): 780
Other courses: CFA level 1 cleared + some certification courses from National stock exchange of India in equity/debt markets
Have some extra curricular also.
Working for past 4 years in IT (I know it is almost given for indians
…) in US telecom MNCs’ indian subsidiaries, currently working out of Minneapolis. Have moved over programming job to a position of telecom domain software solution provider, leading a team of 3 (not direct managerial reportees).I am actually applying for the second time, I applied last for fall 2007 session. This is the summary of the results that time:
Tepper, Stern – WL – rejected
Ross – i/ved – rejected
MIT, Chi, Col – rejected without i/v
Purdue – in with schol – did not join
My focus area is general management with a specialization in Internation business. The diverse nature of my personal and profession experinces has given raise to this interest of mine.
I would like to ask the following questions to you:
1. What is the your opinion of my profile, esp. in comparison to the profiles of people you see around in GSB or anywhere else
2. Do you think there is some extra advantage in reapplying to any of the schools
3. I did not ask for the feedback last time, mostly because I was not even sure what I was going to do next. Do you think I can still ask it?
4. What is your opinion about Stanford GSB regarding the area of my choice?
Thanks much for your help!
Best!
LK”
———
My response:
LK,
I hope this message finds you doing well and having a happy holiday. I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to get back to you, but I’ve had a lot going on in the past couple of months and my Inbox backlog has been a monster. I don’t know if this email is getting to you early enough to help you with your current application process, but I wanted to make sure I replied anyway. OK, let’s get to your questions to see if I can be helpful to you:
1. “What is the your opinion of my profile, esp. in comparison to the profiles of people you see around in GSB or anywhere else?” –> Based on what you’ve told me, you seem to have a very competitive profile for folks I know from top-tier business schools. You’ve got a great GMAT score, decent undergraduate performance, and strong work experience and, while I don’t know about your extracurriculars, it sounds like you at least have some activities in your profile. With your profile, I’m wondering why your application process didn’t go better last time. Part of the problem could have been that you were applying with a relatively low amount of work experience, but that isn’t necessarily a killer. So, that leaves me wondering if the problem was in how your MBA story was laid out in your essays and recommendations. Remember that the “numbers” parts of your application are only components of the total application package, with your essays and recommendations having significant weight too. Keep that in mind as you approach your reapplication process.
2. “Do you think there is some extra advantage in reapplying to any of the schools?” –> I don’t know if there are many extra advantages in reapplying other than you already having some knowledge about the school from your first application process. This is pretty important as a time-saver because one of the most time consuming parts of applying is researching the schools for insights to use in your essays. This time around, you’ll come into the process with that initial research already completed, so you’ll be ready to dive into your essays immediately. Another advantage could be relationships that you might have developed with the admissions people at these schools, but, given the years passed since you applied, you would have to work to re-establish those connections. As you put together your application, you’ll have to develop a “how am I a different applicant today?” story to show that you’re a different person than the one that the schools rejected. This story could be made up of the work experiences, extracurriculars, and better articulated short- and long-term goals you’ve added to your profile since the 2006-2007 application cycle. You just need to be very thoughtful of how you position yourself in your re-application process.
3. “I did not ask for the feedback last time, mostly because I was not even sure what I was going to do next. Do you think I can still ask it?” –> Unfortunately, I think you’ve missed your opportunity to get feedback on your applications because so much time has passed. I don’t even know if most schools are willing to give feedback immediately, but I’d be shocked if one was willing to do so two years later. You’ll just have to try to do your own self-assessment of where your applications fell short the first time so you can make adjustments this time around.
4. “What is your opinion about Stanford GSB regarding the area of my choice?” –> You stated in your email that you want to want to focus on general management with an international business sub-focus. With this in mind, I’d say that Stanford GSB would be a great fit for the type of program you’re seeking. The GSB ranks among the top general management programs in the United States and I’m a HUGE fan of its focus on leadership across its curriculum. Basically, you’d come out of there as, not only a great manager, but with the tools to become a great leader. For the international business focus, you can follow the Global Management Program certificate track offered by the GSB. The GMP program is composed of a set of GMP-labeled courses that a student would take as electives that provide a global perspective on business issues. I didn’t get the GMP certificate myself, but a large percentage of my classmates did and I hear that it is a great educational track.
My answers above might not have yielded the answers you were looking for, but that’s my current read on your situation. I hope you found them to be somewhat useful as you look at reapplying to school. Good luck on your MBA application process this time around. Happy holidays!
-Marquis
Marquis – another great post. Wanted you to know that I did a quick write-up about your blog over at managementconsulted.com so feel free to check it out.
Best of luck with the new year!