MBAXPLOIT: STEPS 1-2-3 to a MBA future.

Are you currently working on your Wharton MBA application? You feel Wharton MBA is actually for you? Then, you need to attend the Wharton Information Session and experience Wharton first-hand. Visit http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/admissions/events/ReceptIntl.cfm to register for the event that is happening close to you.

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Selecting the right business school (‘b-school’) is the most important decision in the application process. Before limiting your options to high profile schools, investigate all possible options available to you as a consumer of graduate management education.

Invest time in asking appropriate questions and collecting the right information, and focus on programmes that will best fit your personal and professional goals - only a fraction of the 1500 graduate management programmes worldwide will be a suitable match for you. Before you begin, make sure your career-related goals and personal considerations are well-defined. Identify a range of schools that meet your needs, and compile a select list to which you will apply. Eliminate any schools that do not closely match your personal and professional goals. Continue Reading »

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Haas School of Business has released the application calendar for class of 2009 business school applicants as follows:

Full details can be found at HAAS

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Are you currently considering going for your MBA program? Identifying the MBA program that is right for you is not easy. You want to be sure the business school you select will help you develop the technical and interpersonal skills that will allow you to be successful in today’s business environment. You want a school that will challenge and stretch you, in an environment that provides the tools and resources for you to succeed. Then, The University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business is definitely a school to consider.

Darden Graduate School of Business has been integrating career services into its standard curriculum for the past three years. In fact, Darden faculty spends the first week of classes helping students understand the results of their self-assessment tests and write detailed career plans. The graduating class of 2005 had an 86% job placement rate at graduation, with 96% finding employment three months later. Moreover, graduates also demonstrate innovative leadership practices honed at Darden. Continue Reading »

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I began my search for business school last year by identifying those programmes that fit my basic requirements. There are two aspects to this:

• Your Needs i.e. what you want to learn and gain from the programme, the type of experience you want to have etc.
• Your Circumstances i.e. the practical considerations.

You will want to decide if on the content of what you want, what your MBA focus will be and the electives you will be interested in. Moreover, you need to find out if the programme runs where you are or want to be. Do you want to study in Europe or America? Continue Reading »

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You may be in a fix right now about deciding whether to attend full-time business school or part-time business school, and there are many considerations. The learning experience, though comparable, is not the same. So, it really does come down to what your objectives are and how well the particular program meets those objectives. Moreover, you need to consider if you are willing to trade your present salary to go for a full time program.

MBApodcaster put up the views of three experts in a podcast. Two are college deans representing those points of view, plus a student who recently wrestled with this question. You may be surprised to learn it is not a cut and dried answer. Visit mbapocaster to listen to the full interview.

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Whether you are speaking with current students or touring the campus yourself, it is helpful to approach these information-gathering experiences with as clear a sense of what matters to you as possible. Here are a few broad categories to consider:

1) Facilities - Are state of the art classrooms and impressive new architecture a priority for you? Would you prefer a school that is headquarted in a single building to one spread over a larger campus? What about wireless access and use of technology in teaching? If any of these factors are of significant importance and could tip the balance between schools on your list of target programs, you’ll want to do this sort of research up front. If visiting yourself, we’d recommend that you take pictures or write up your thoughts after the fact while your impression is still fresh in your mind.

2) Surroundings - In addition to the campus itself, you’ll want to allow yourself some time to ask about and explore the larger city, town or rural location. Where do students live, eat and socialize? What is the cost of living? How do they get from place to place (parking or public transit may be an issue)? Are you interested in an active night life, or a wholesome place to raise a family? While considerations of academics and post-graduation career prospects generally take priority, you will be spending two years of your live in business school and these more subtle factors can often tip the balance in favor of a certain program when all other elements are more or less equal. Continue Reading »

Looking back at my application process and experience, here is some high level advice for future applicants. I will keep it brief………….

GMAT: Set a test date, set a study schedule, determine where you at in terms of knowledge by taking a practice/diagnosis test, then practice, practice & practice. I used the 11th edition OG GMAT book and Kaplan book. If you have undisciplined studying habits (especially being out of school for a few years), sign up for a class. Unfortunately, my work schedule didnt allow me to sign up with any class but putting a simple study calendar helped me stay focused. I had only 3 weeks to prepare for the exam. This is the most unenjoyable, in fact down right boring, and unstimulating part of the application process.

Goals: It’s essential to know what you want to do with your life after MBA. Understanding what you are passionate about, what interests you have and how a MBA will help you get there will make the essay portion of the application process much much easier and, believe it or not, enjoyable. Before looking at a single application I started thinking about why I wanted a MBA. I had to answer the “why now” question. Can I pursue my professional and business interests without a MBA and how does a MBA help me align myself with my long term goals etc….Think about these things and it will make your life much more simpler when it comes down to tackling the essays.

Picking the schools: Before picking any particular school, think about what you want to get out of school. Do you want a large class or a smaller more intimate community feel; Is your focus/interests offered by the school; what kind of student body are you looking for (international vs. US), case based method vs. lecture vs. a mix of both, big city vs. small city, what student run activities/initiatives that might interest you….These are some of the things I had to think about that helped me narrow down my choices.

So, you’ve been working for a few years and you’re feeling the itch for an MBA. Now what’s next?

Most people like me will definitely find the prospect of returning to school (especially full-time) daunting. You might quail at the thought of undertaking such a drastic change, but I’ve come to realise that the first few steps are the most important, and with proper planning you can not only enhance your chances for success, you can also protect your downside…

Based on my own blinkered opinion of the process, here’re a few things you can start doing now:
1) Register at GMAC.org. Read up on the GMAT exam and take the diagnostic test. Taking the test early will be your first differentiator within the applicant pool. Since schools always look at your highest score, taking the GMAT by July will not only make the fireworks seem so much more cheerful, but also leave you with enough time to take it again… and again… and again, if need be.

2) Start thinking about your budget for the MBA application process. Budget not just your financial resources, but also the amount of time available to you. This is crucial because selecting too many schools can leave you with half-baked applications. It might not seem so bad now, but when you’re looking at deadlines within days of one another, the work will pile up awfully fast. Continue Reading »

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Have you decided an MBA is right for you? If so, now it’s time to find the MBA program that meets your needs.

Spend some time thinking about what is important to you … Are you concerned about an MBA program’s location? placement rates? reputation? specialties? tuition? alumni network? teaching methods?

Once you know what you’re looking for, you now need to determine which schools best meet your needs. There are several resources that contain overviews MBA programs. For example, Business Week, Financial Times and US News & World Report all publish rankings and profiles of schools in their magazines and on their websites.

After you start developing a short list of schools, you should do as much research as possible on each school. An MBA is a big investment of time and money and you want to be sure you find the program that is right for you. Continue Reading »