MBA Admissions Mashup: Fine-tuning Your Application & The Road Ahead
Every Wednesday, we share a round-up of the latest news from admissions blogs at the top business schools. In this week’s edition of MBA Admissions Mashup, we take a look at some last minute tips coming from the top business schools and some instructions on what’s next in the process for some applicants.
Most applicants will come across the perplexing optional essay. It’s a tricky situation. Should you answer it? What if you weren’t able to completely answer any of the required essays in full? You have so much to share about yourself and this seems like a great (read: extra) opportunity to extrapolate. Don’t. This essay should be reserved for addressing potential liabilities in one’s application.
In fact, the admissions team at Tuck School of Business notes that the optional essay “isn’t really an essay, but it is very optional. Don’t feel like you have to fill the space, just because we’ve offered it. The optional essay is, however, an opportunity for you to tell us anything else you think we need to know…especially the tricky items you’d rather avoid. You might be able to ignore them but the admissions committee cannot.” In other words, don’t overshare.
Meanwhile, with last week’s Wharton Round 1 deadline in the books, their admissions team shared some news on “what’s next” in the admissions process. For those of you that applied to Wharton, interview invitations are surely weighing on your mind and here’s what Wharton posted on its blog: Invitations to interview will be sent out on Tuesday, November 3rd. For those of you invited, you will participate in the Team Based Discussion (TBD) and one-on-one interview. Take a second to learn more about the TBD from the people who have experienced it firsthand – our current students.” Sit back, and relax.
Yesterday, roughly 600 lucky applicants received their official invitation to interview at Harvard Business School. Congrats! In her Direct from the Director blog, Harvard’s Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Dee Leopold, raved about the impressive pool of applicants: “All of us are impressed. Impressed that you met such an early deadline. Impressed at the variety of ways in which you “introduced yourselves.” Impressed that you have all worked so hard to do well. And we’re pleased – and proud – to be part of this place which you see as a training ground for aspirational leadership. We applaud your intent to make a difference in the world.”
As Round 1 comes to a close, we at Clear Admit are noticing incredible activity on Live Wire. In your interview preparations, peruse our Interview Archive and tips and advice on mastering the MBA admissions interview.
That’s all for this week! Join us next week for the latest edition of MBA Admissions Mashup.
About the Author
Marianne Mondt
Featured Schools
Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies
| Class Size | 75 |
| % Women | 43% |
| % International or Dual Citizens | 64% |
