Clear Admit
Admissions Tip: The Interview Final Touch
Over the last months, we’ve focused on helping applicants prepare to answer the various questions they’ll be posed during their interviews, but there is one in particular to which we have not paid much attention. Today, we wanted to offer a few tips in navigating the nearly inevitable interview finisher: “Do you have any questions for me?” This seems like a harmless inquiry, and indeed poses a great opportunity, but there’s actually a fine line to walk here. You certainly want to take advantage of this opportunity to show the interviewer that you appreciate his or her time, perspective and... Read more »
Admissions Tip: Waitlist Correspondence
In addition to actively evaluating the applications of Round Two applicants at this time of year, many top programs revisit their Round One waitlists and consider the strength of those individuals with respect to the new information about the pool. While schools vary in their receptivity to correspondence from applicants, those programs that do welcome additional materials offer a great chance for waitlisted candidates to reaffirm their interest in the school and keep themselves fresh in the mind of the adcom. With the second-round notification dates for a number schools coming up in a matter of weeks, we wanted to... Read more »
Trivia Tuesday: Residential Housing at Cambridge Judge
Hello again and welcome to this week’s Trivia Tuesday, in which we spotlight program elements that help distinguish the leading business schools from each other. Today we’re taking a look into the Clear Admit School Guide to the Judge Business School at Cambridge University to share an excerpt about the MBA program’s unique residential housing setup. A distinguishing feature of England’s oldest universities, including both Cambridge and Oxford, is the residential college system. Under this system, every undergraduate and graduate student at the university is a member of a smaller college within the university, which provides its students with housing, meals and an... Read more »
Trivia Tuesday: Tuck’s Honor Code
Hello again and welcome to this week’s Trivia Tuesday, in which we spotlight program elements that help distinguish the leading business schools from each other. Today we’re taking a look into the Clear Admit School Guide to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College to share an excerpt about the MBA program’s culture of trust and integrity. “All Tuck students agree to abide by an Academic Honor Principle that emphasizes honesty and integrity both inside and outside the classroom. The honor principle is governed by a student judicial board; faculty and administrators intervene only when students are unable to resolve a... Read more »
Admissions Tip: Navigating the Waitlist
While the past few weeks have seen a number of admits and rejections handed down to round one MBA applicants, the fate of many remains uncertain. There is no reason for waitlisted candidates to lose hope, as the top programs admit a fair number of individuals from the waitlist in round two and thereafter, but we know that cautious optimism does not make the wait for an answer any easier. To help those in this situation make sure that they’re doing all they can, we wanted to share a few waitlist tips: 1. Know—and follow—the rules. Schools vary in their... Read more »
What Would The Best Holiday Present Be For You?
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Admissions Tip: Drafting A Resume
As candidates tackle interviews and preparation for Round 2 applications, we would like to revisit an important aspect of the application: the resume. Given the many roles that the resume plays in the business school application process, drafting a resume (or CV) is an excellent starting point for someone embarking on the next round of MBA applications. Here are several reasons why now is the time to focus on polishing your resume: 1) Crafting a resume can serve as the creative starting point for candidates trying to develop their positioning strategy and career goals for the MBA admissions process. Distilling all... Read more »
Admissions Tip: Avoiding Common Pitfalls, Part II
Last week we offered some advice to help applicants avoid common pitfalls in writing their essays for the Round 2 deadlines. This week we’d like to offer some more advice. Although these tips might not apply to everyone or to every school, these are some good basic strategies to employ. For personalized advice about your applications, contact Clear Admit directly. 1. Think strategically when delving into anecdotes that are highly personal. While breaking up with your college sweetheart may have had some impact on who you are today, you’ll want to be careful about using personal matters as the basis for an essay. While there are certainly... Read more »
Admissions Tip: The Comparison Trap
We wanted to take some time today to discuss a frequently made mistake in the application process. In their desire to make their case to their target MBA programs, many applicants devote sentences and even paragraphs to explaining why the school in question is their “first choice” and arguing its superiority over other schools. Though certainly understandable, this is actually not a very productive exercise. Let’s consider a few reasons why from the schools’ point of view: Tell me something I don’t know. A popular strategy – and not always bad one – for applicants seeking to demonstrate their fit... Read more »
Admissions Tip: MBA Interview Prep
With interview invitations from a number of programs already on their way out to Round One applicants, we wanted to offer some more advice on this element of the admissions process. Last week we posted some very basic etiquette information that will help candidates ensure that everything is in order on the big day. Today, we turn our attention to some steps one can take to prepare for the interview itself. 1) Know what to expect. This might go without saying, but interview types and duration vary across programs. For instance, nearly all invited Stanford applicants interview with alumni, while on-campus Wharton interviews... Read more »
What Will You Do After You Submit All Your Round 1 Applications?
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As Round 1 Deadlines Approach, What Loose Strings Are You Left Tying?
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How Are You Using The Word Count Guidelines?
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What Do You Look Forward To The Most About Pre-Term?
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Trivia Tuesday: Public Management and Social Innovation at Stanford GSB
This week in Trivia Tuesday, in which we highlight the distinguishing aspects of top business schools, we’re opening up our Stanford School Guide for a closer look at their Public Management and Social Innovation Program. “The Public Management Program (PMP) was founded in 1960s by then-dean Arjay Miller to promote communication and collaboration between leaders of government and business. His experience as president of Ford Motor Companies provided the impetus for this initiative; in this role, he witnessed firsthand the misunderstandings between politicians and those in the private sector. The PMP became part of the Center for Social Innovation in 2000, and today the Center has the broader mission... Read more »
Admissions Tip: Using Rankings to Your Advantage
There are numerous sources that can knowledgeably rank the “top” MBA programs. However, because business schools receive different rankings depending on the sources’ criteria, it can be difficult to understand which are the “best” schools. Therefore today we’d like to talk about how b-school applicants can use rankings to discover the “best” schools—for them. Although the general merits of each school are important, we also believe that it is important for MBA applicants to rank schools based on their individual needs and interests. Therefore we encourage students to use official MBA school rankings in the following ways: 1. Use rankings... Read more »
Trivia Tuesday: The Case Method at Harvard Business School
This week for Trivia Tuesday, we take a peek inside our Harvard School Guide to give you the scoop on their use of the case study method. “Harvard’s mission is to ‘educate leaders who make a difference in the world.’ HBS seeks to accomplish this mission by admitting individuals with proven leadership skills and demonstrated records of success and then imparting the knowledge and skills they will need to be effective across a range of business situations. To accomplish this objective, the school places heavy emphasis on the case method of instruction. “The case method defines Harvard’s MBA program. There are two components to the approach: the... Read more »
The MBA Tour Summer 2014 Events
If you’re considering pursuing an MBA, attending an MBA fair is a great place to start. The MBA Tour is hosting nine events across the U.S. this July, starting in Chicago on July 16. What are the benefits of attending an MBA Tour conference? Hear from students who have attended here! COLLECT INFORMATION AND EASILY COMPARE PROGRAMS MBA Panel Presentations cover valuable business school admissions topics and answer a wide range of MBA applicant questions. The panels are hosted by professionals with expertise spanning several topics, including: Preparing Your MBA Application, Financing Your MBA, and GMAT Strategy. School Presentations highlight unique program features in... Read more »
Admissions Tip: School-Hosted Blogs
As the summer progresses and applicants begin researching their target schools in more depth, we would like to highlight a valuable research tool: school-hosted blogs. The last few years have seen a significant increase in the number of MBA student blogs hosted by schools’ admissions offices, as well as in admissions offices’ use of blogs to keep applicants informed of deadlines, admissions policies and events. Both types of blogs are useful throughout the admissions cycle; the factual information in the admissions office blogs is helpful in understanding and planning for the application process, while the student blogs offer valuable insights... Read more »
