Several B-Schools Freeze MBA Tuition

10 Tips To Get You Into the Business School Of Your Dreams

You think you have what it takes, do you? You aced your GMAT. Your references are impeccable. And that consultant has your essays reading like E.B. White. You have dotted every i and crossed every t. You should be a shoo-in, right?

Well, not so fast. You see, you’re competing against the best-of-the-best…from around the globe. Many of them have also scored perfect marks. They’ve worked for the right companies and have the right connections. Some candidates may even have a famous last name (and a big check book). So how do you compete – when you don’t really know who and what you’re up against?

This week, The New York Daily News posted a piece by Evan Forster and David Thomas, authors of The MBA Reality Check and founders of Forster-Thomas, Inc., an MBA consulting firm. Based on their experiences working with admissions leaders and student clients, they shared 10 ways to strengthen your candidacy. Here are some highlights:

“Extracurriculars are everything you do outside of your job responsibilities, from mentoring a kid to joining your company’s peer-review committee. Extracurriculars should not be a “box” you check off, but an expression of your passions and proof that you act on them as a leader.”

“Your goals are the central theme of your candidacy, and until you know what they are, you cannot possibly know why you and the program(s) you are applying to are a fit. Two things: be specific, and make sure it’s about something greater than yourself. For example, it’s not enough to say “I want to be in private equity.” That’s just all about you. Why is private equity the right vehicle for what you want to accomplish?”

“Once you identify how you really lead in your life, write about that—your story doesn’t have to take place in an office. In fact, the dirty little secret is that the best leadership essays often come from outside the workplace”

“Occasionally, an interview may seem really antagonistic and aggressive. Be prepared for it. It’s a test to see if you can hack the pressure. Push back.”

For more insights, click on their column below.

Source: New York Daily News

Blast from the Past:

The Eight Immutable Laws Of MBA Dating

Love is in the air.

It’s bound to happen in every class. Two single people meet. They forge a connection over marketing and martinis. Before you know it, romance blooms. Suddenly, their senses sharpen. Colors pop and scents deepen. Heck, even regression analysis becomes interesting. Ah, it’s a beautiful thing when two prospective MBAs pair up. All is right with the world (for the moment, at least).

I used to joke that the fastest way to end sexual harassment would be to date a co-worker. If you’re in love, you’ll only have eyes for the other person. If you stray, your partner will punish you in ways that’ll make human resources cringe. And if you break up? Well, let’s just say any confidences you shared about childhood humiliations or kinky cravings are ripe for water cooler gossip. B-school is no different. If you break up, you still have to work alongside your former flame. So what are the rules for dating classmates?

Elizabeth Angell, an editor at Allure, shared some answers. According to Angell, business school is “tailor-made for dating.” As one Harvard b-school alum notes, “You’re in a social environment, surrounded by people who are smart, motivated, the right age, at the right time in their lives, and with the free time to date.” And you will have a lot in common with them: similar work experience, similar aspirations.” Even more, students have reached the point where they’re thinking about settling down. However, reaching that point requires facing some uncomfortable truths:

You’ll likely break up with your existing beau by Thanksgiving (It’s called “Black Thursday” for a reason).

MBAs make men more attractive to potential mates, but they also make women more intimidating. (Of course, this is offset by a male-to-female ratio in b-schools that skews in the ladies’ favor).

The b-school pace is high speed and intense. That urgency carries over into student romance. A whirlwind romance can last two weeks…or you could be meeting the parents in two months.